COLEOPTERA. 71 



maize or Indian corn also. I have seen stored Southern corn 

 swarming with them ; and, should they multiply and extend in this 

 section of the country, they will become a source of serious 

 injury to one of the most valuable of our staple productions. It 

 is said that this weevil lays its eggs on the rice in the fields, as 

 soon as the grain begins to swell. If this indeed be true, we have 

 very little to fear from it here, our Indian corn being so well pro- 

 tected by the husks that it would probably escape from any injury, 

 if attacked. On the contrary, if the insects multiply in stored 

 grain, then our utmost care will be necessary to prevent them 

 from infesting our own garners. The parent beetle bores a hole 

 into the grain, and drops therein a single egg, going from one grain 

 to another till all her eggs are laid. She then dies, leaving, how- 

 ever, the rice well seeded for a future harvest of weevil-grubs. 

 In due time the eggs are hatched, the grubs live securely and un- 

 seen in the centre of the rice, devouring a considerable portion of 

 its substance, and when fully grown they gnaw a little hole through 

 the end of the grain, artfully stopping it up again with particles of 

 rice-flour, and then are changed to pupae. This usually occurs 

 during the winter ; and in the following spring the insects are 

 transformed to beetles, and come out of the grain. By winnowing 

 and sifting the rice in the spring, the beetles can be separated, and 

 should then be gathered immediately and destroyed. 



The sudden change of the temperature that generally occurs in 

 the early part of May, brings out great numbers of insects, from 

 their winter-quarters, to enjoy the sunshine and the ardent heat 

 which are congenial to their natures. While a continued hum 

 is heard, among the branches of the trees, from thousands of bees 

 and flies, drawn thither by the fragrance of the bursting buds and 

 the tender foliage, and the very ground beneath our feet seems 

 teeming with insect life, swarms of little beetles of various kinds 

 come forth to try their wings, and, with an uncertain and heavy 

 flight, launch into the air. Among these beetles there are many 

 of a dull red or fox color, nearly cylindrical in form, tapering a 

 very little before, obtusely rounded at both extremities, and about 

 one quarter of an inch in length. They are seen slowly creeping 

 upon the sides of wooden buildings, resting on the tops offences, 

 or wheeling about in the air, and every now and then suddenly 



