74 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO VEGETATION. 



measuring only about one tenth of an inch in length, exclusive 

 of the snout. This beetle, the Calandra ( SUophilus) Oryzce* 

 or rice-weevil, is not entirely confined to rice, but depredates 

 upon wheat, and also on Indian corn. In the Southern States 

 it is called t/ic black weevil, to distinguish it from other insects 

 that infest grain. I am not aware that these weevils attack 

 wheat in New England ; but 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 pro- 

 ductions. 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 protected 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 gar- 

 ners. 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, however, the rice 

 well seeded for a future harvest of weevil-grubs. In due time 

 the eggs are hatched, the grubs live securely and unseen in the 

 centre of the rice, devouring a considerable portion of its sub- 

 stance, and when fully grown they gnaw a little hole through 

 the end of the grain, artfully stopping it up again with parti- 

 cles 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 then should 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 



* Curculio OryzcB of Linnceus. 



