4io Journal of Agricultural Research vol. xx, no.o 



In the eight southern States of North America where the weevil is 

 most abundant and destructive, 350,000,000 bushels of corn were pro- 

 duced in the year 191 8. Of this vast amount it is estimated that approxi- 

 mately $28,000,000 worth was destroyed by the rice weevil alone. This 

 represents only a small portion of the annual world crop of corn and a 

 considerably smaller portion of the world crop of grains that are attacked 

 by this weevil. 



To cite another instance of the ravages of this weevil, Fitch (2) records 

 that from 145 tons of American corn, \% tons of weevils were screened 

 out or, in round numbers, about 4,056,729,600 weevils, a truly enormous 

 number. Such an occurrence as this was by no means rare in earlier 

 times when cargoes of grain were transported long distances in slow- 

 going vessels; in fact, it was not uncommon for whole cargoes to be 

 destroyed by the weevil or rendered unfit for use. 



At present losses are particularly severe in India, Mexico, South 

 America, and other tropical countries where the weather conditions are 

 such that the weevil can breed unchecked the year round. 



Loss is occasioned by the feeding activities of both the grubs or larvae 

 and the adult beetles. The feeding of the larvae is confined chiefly to 

 the seeds of our common grains, but the adults feed on a great variety of 

 seeds, fruits, and .other foodstuffs. In addition to the loss in weight 

 caused by the feeding of the larvae and weevils, infested grain is often 

 rendered unfit for consumption and has poor powers of germination. 



FOOD OF ADULT WEEVILS 



The adult weevils feed on a great variety of seeds and seed products. 

 The following list has been compiled from the numerous reports of the 

 feeding habits of this weevil: Rice, wheat, corn, barley, rye, hulled oats, 

 buckwheat, maize, chickpeas, table beans, millet, chestnuts, cashew 

 nuts, bird seed, seed of Nebulium sp., hemp seed, Job's tears (Coixa 

 lachryma), packages of "feuilles de sagon," packages of cereals, tobacco, 

 peaches, grapes, apples, mulberries, bags of meal, yeast cakes, biscuits, 

 macaroni, cakes, crackers, wheat flour, rice flour, and white bread and 

 other wheat products. The author has found the adult weevils burrowing 

 and feeding in the berries of the Chinaberry tree, in both Irish and sweet 

 potatoes, and in the seed of the avocado. In the laboratory they showed 

 a liking for most kinds of ripe fruits, and it was found that they would 

 live indefinitely on a majority of the wild berries growing in the vicinity 

 of the laboratory. With such adaptable food habits as this long list 

 would indicate it is little wonder that this weevil is so widespread and 

 causes so much damage. 



FOOD OF LARVAE 



The larvae or grubs of the rice weevil are much more restricted in their 

 diet than are the adult beetles, owing to the fact that they pass the entire 

 larval period within a single seed and are limited to seeds that contain 



