260 



INSECTS INFESTING GRAIN. 



an air-tig-ht cover. Any really air-tight box, bin or vessel can be nsod 



for fumigating-. 

 , . Provided the strength and period men- 



/Mfk\ tioned are not exceeded, no harm will 



^^^K^ T be done to the grain either for food or for 



/^^^■V^ M^^y beetles are found boring in bam- 



/ ^^r *l p, boo and dry timber. These belong chiefly 

 ^ to a single family of small cylindrical brown 

 beetles, the prothorax hard and round, the 

 head more or less concealed, the general 

 structure fitted for life in the cylindrical 

 tunnels made in the wood. The life history 

 is passed in the bamboos or other food. 

 Bamboos are soaked in water in the belief 

 that this affords protection and makes the 



Fig. 314. 

 Bamhoo-horing Beetle. 

 bamboo unpalatable to the insect. 

 There is apparently good founda- 

 tion for the belief though the 

 precise way in which the water 

 acts is not known. Soaking in 

 salt water is also said to be effica- 

 cious. In general a varnished 

 bamboo is immune from attack 

 so long as the varnish is not 

 worn, as is a painted one. Soaking 

 in kerosene or painting with 

 kerosene, followed by an application 

 of linseed oil, is good not only 

 for the bamboos but for furniture 

 and all wooden articles that are 

 attacked. This is effective when the 

 wood is already infested. Where 

 bamboos are to be used in the roof 

 of a house or in any similar 

 position not in a room or exposed, 

 painting with a solution of arsenic 

 is a sufficient protection. 



Fig. 315. 



Areca Nut Weevil. 



a, larva; b, pupa ; c, d, imago. {Magnified.) 



