Semi-Centennial Volume. 81 



on reaching the kernel, examinations of the rice were frequently made 

 at later intervals in efforts to obtain proof of any development of the 

 larval stagre. The emergence of a moth on May 9 afforded the first posi- 

 tive evidence of active infestation. Furthermore, the detection of a pupa 

 in each of three other grains was noted on the 15th, 17th and 21st of the 

 same month. 



A disposition on the part of the larvae to wander away for a short 

 distance from their hatching place seemed to be denoted by the emer- 

 gence of two moths from rough grains that had been kept in different 

 tubes than the one in which the eggs had been deposited. The origin of 

 these moths could be explained only by the probability that newly- 

 hatched larvae had escaped through the fine gauze covering the vent 

 in the cork of the tube in which they should have remained, and then 

 they had likely crawled to other tubes within their reach, thereby ef- 

 fecting entrance through the same kind of gauze into the interior of 

 the latter. No other way could be conceived that would account for the 

 unexpected cases of introdliction in such surroundings. As an extremely 

 minute size of the young larvae is implied by the circumstances, the 

 ability of the caterpillars to crawl through meshes of coarse bagging 

 cannot be questioned. 



The inference drawn from these particular occurrences adds strength 

 to an assumption previously formed that the larvae at the time when they 

 issue from eggs are capable of engaging in a dispersive movement be- 

 fore they attack grains. This belief is further supported by a con- 

 templation of the probable procedure of the adults in effecting oviposition 

 only between the meshes of sacks filled with rice or else at no consider- 

 able depth within the contents, owing to the evident hindrances against 

 obtaining ingress. The point is urged that the occurrence of infested 

 grains within the interior of bags likely becomes due to a dispersal of 

 larvae in variable courses of more or less length, extending from a prior 

 deposition of eggs which would naturally be expected to have been at- 

 tached somewhere on the exterior where places of convenient accessi- 

 bility are offered to the laying parent. Such premises seem to be more 

 consistent than to suppose that a gravid moth could have oviposited on 

 the particular grains at much of a distance inside. 



The sign which drew attention to the pupal stage, as will be men- 

 tioned later, appeared as a small blotch on the surface of the infested 

 grain. On inserting the point of a pin into the blotch that was first 

 observed, the surface readily parted, and the breach disclosed a pupa 

 occupying a cavity within the kernel. The blotch in this case had been 

 produced on the broad side of the face midway on the grain, but in the 

 subsequent instances, its position was close to the edge or else near an 

 end. While being moderately perceptible to the naked eye in all cases, 

 the discolored surface was found to be extremely thin and slightly 

 puffed outwards when viewed under a magnifier, but yet it always seemed 

 to be intact at this state of advancement. 



These observations led to the conclusion that the larva when full 

 grown and about ready to pupate gnaws a place out from its cavity to 



6 — Arad. Sii. — 2199 



