The two chestnut weevils are the principal insects attacking the nuts.
These are exceedingly well-known in certain large areas where the
chestnut is grown and in these areas both are often extremely abundant.
Unless checked in some way they often render whole crops unfit for use.
One of most effective means of control is to plant trees only in well
populated poultry yards; however, in large developments, this is
impracticable and other methods must be employed. In preliminary work
carried on by the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine at
Beltsville, DDT has given very encouraging results in the control of the
weevil. The weevils have sometimes been called curculios, under which
name they were well discussed by Brooks and Cotton.[3] The Japanese
Beetle is also a serious pest as chestnut leaves are among its favorite
foods. Control methods have been given by Hadley.[4] Another insect pest
which feeds on the leaves is the June bug or May beetle. It works mainly
at night and feeds on the newest leaves. It is seldom seen and usually
disappears about the time when the operator becomes aware of its
presence.
[Footnote 3: Fred B. Brooks and Richard T. Cotton, "Chestnut Curculios."
U. S. Dept. Agr. Tech. Bul. 180. 1929.]
[Footnote 4: C. H. Hadley, "The Japanese Beetle and its Control." U. S.
Dept. Agr. Farmers' Bul. 1856. 1940.]