256 



INSECTS INFESTING GllAlN. 



(lie Aiijoumois ^ Grain Moth, lias been fouiid attacking- corn. This moth 



lays its eg'g's on the grain, the 

 larvae i-ating straight in and 

 spending their larval life 

 within. The moth is a small 

 handsome insect, found flying 

 in granaries and ware-houses. 

 At least one other ^ moth is 

 common in India on flour and 

 meal. The larva of this species 

 is found making silken web- 

 bing to which the meal becomes 

 attached, the whole forming- 

 galleries in which the larva 

 lives. These peculiar webbed 

 masses of meal or flour are 

 characteristic and easily seen. 



Fig. 309. 



The Tamarind Beetle. Larra bfloiv ; pujja on 



the riyht. {Mctfjnifitd.) 



Treatment. 



Food-grains, dried food-stuffs and seeds of all kinds are liable to the 

 attacks of these insects and are sure to be infested sooner or later if 

 precautions are not taken. The following are the principal precautions 

 which should be adopted in the preservation 

 of all seeds, grain and food-stuffs from insects. 



(1) Before placing seeds in a godown or a 

 room of any description, make sure that it is 

 clean, and that there is no refuse or spilt grain 

 in which the insects could breed or hide. 



(2) Never store seeds that are already 

 infested with insects or that could be harbouring 

 o-rain beetles ; one beetle is sufficient to infect 

 the seeds, and the increase in a few generations 

 of beetles will be suflficient to destroy the seeds. 



(3) Keep all grain, seeds, etc., in tight 

 vessels. It is useless to store grain in an open 

 receptacle, exposed 1o weevils. Sooner or later 

 insects will come to the grain and lay eggs 



» Gelechia cerealella. Oliv. (Tiuelidse./ | ^ Epheslia calnritella. Oliv. (Pyralidse.) 



Fio. 310. 



The larfje I'lilse Beetle. 



(Maffiiifed.) 



