INSECTS INJURIOUS TO CEREALS 



233 



the confused flour beetle. The head and thorax are finely 

 punctate and the wing covers are longitudinally ridged. 

 The prothorax and head are distinctly separated from the 

 rest of the body, as shown in Fig. 67. The larva, shown 

 in Fig. 68, is whitish or flesh-colored and about three- 

 fourths of an inch long when full grown. The head, 

 prothorax, and tip of the abdomen are dark reddish-brown. 

 The last two segments of the thorax 

 are also usually brownish. The end 

 of the abdomen bears two dark 

 corneous hooks. Altogether the larva 

 is quite formidable in appearance, 

 although it is perfectly harmless. 

 The pupa is white and, as we describe 

 later, is formed in a cell burrowed out 

 in soft wood, at least when the wood 

 is available. 



There has been considerable differ- 

 ence of opinion as to whether this 

 insect lived upon plant food or upon 

 other insects and small animals. 

 There is no doubt about its being 

 herbivorous, for it has been proven 

 again and again that it feeds upon 

 various grains. Chittenden says he has proven through 

 experiments that it is also predaceous. 



Some years ago several specimens of the adult beetles 

 and larvae were sent to this department by a correspondent 

 in Ohio. They were infesting wheat in a granary and had 

 injured the grain badly. Curiously enough, when the 

 larvae became nearly full-grown they burrowed into the 

 pine boards forming the bins and changed to pupae within 



Fig. 68. — Larva of the 

 Cadelle. (X 3.) 



