The Indian Wheat and Rice Weevil. 25 



BuxAE Agency, 



The 13th Fehruanj 188S. 

 Wheat Weevils. 

 We beg to reply to your questions regarding wheat weevils as follows : — 



1. Soft wheat is more easily attacked by weevils than other varieties. 



2. Weevils attack wheat everywhere, but in districts where wells are not in use the 

 damage done by weevils is greater. 



3. Wheat thrashed in March is not attacked by weevils till about early iu June, 

 At this time the wheat is quite dry. When old weevilled wheat gets mixed with fresh 

 wheat, the insects will attack the former only. 



4. We have found that most damage is done after the rains. The wind which succeeds 

 the monsoon is favourable for the propagation of the insects, whilst by the middle ot 

 Tebruary most of them die. From March to May wheat is almost free from weevils. 



5. Wheat weevils attack also all other kinds of grain except oilseeds. 



6. Wheat weevils are found iu granaries, and in any place where grains are kept. If 

 grains are kept in bags, in the open, the weevils will attack the contents. 



7. The best remedy is the system of preserving wheat in wells, used all over India : a 

 hole is dug from 16 to 20 feet deep and from 10 to 12 feet round ; this is filled up with 

 wheat except the top ; the bottom and the sides are stuffed with " Boossa, " minced straw ; 

 tlie top is covered with earth formed iu a heap, 3 feet above the ground, to protect the 

 wheat against rain. In this way the grains are never attacked by weevils, as long as the 

 VPell is air-tight. 



Grain kept in bags are attacked more easily and suffer far more damage than grain 

 kept in heaps, as being more exposed to the air. 



Grain kept in a heap, iu a pucca godown, perfectly closed and filled up to the top, 

 will not suffer much damage. The weevils will attack the grain all round the walls and at 

 the top, but will not attack the central part as it is air-tight. When wheat is kept in 

 heaps, the larger the heaps the better. 



Spreading wheat to the sun and stirring it once or twice will make the weevils leave it. 



Weevils avoid the sun, consequently iu spreading out the grain it must not be thicker 

 than 5 of au inch, otherwise the weevils, instead of leaving the grain, will remain under- 

 neath it. 



Samples of grains kept in boxes are not attacked by weevils, if kept with camphor. 



8. We do not know of any insects that destroy the weevils. 



Patna Agency, 



The 13th February 18SS. 

 Wheat Weevils. 



In answer to your letter, dated 25th ultimo, we beg to say : — 



1. Soft wheat is sooner affected by weevil than hard. 



2. Wheat is more affected in some districts than in others. 



3. We find that it is during the rains that most of the damage is done by weevils, and 

 that wheat is entirely free from attack before the rainy season. 



4. Weevils attack grain only, i.e., wheat, maize, pulse, &c., but do not attack seeds. 



5. Weevils attack grain everywhere except iu underground granaries (local term, 

 khad). 



6. So far as we can learn, there are no other remedies employed out here, except the 

 above (khad). 



Kone of the remedies mentioned by you in page 2, ^'o. 6, a, b, r, d, e are employed 

 against weevil out here. AVe do not know of any insects or other animals that destroy 

 weevils. 



