THE INDIAN WHEAT AND RICE WEEVIL. 



CALANDRA (SITOPHILUS) ORYZiE, Linn. 



In the latter part o£ June grains may be seen in the heaps of 



,, , n ^, , wheat that has been harvested in the early part of 



Nature 01 the damage. , . , i i i -ii i • 



the hot weather, eacn with a hole drilled into it, 



and a considerable part of the contents eaten away; this is the work of 

 the wheat weevil Calaudra {Silcp/iilus) oryza of Linnseus. The per- 

 fect beetles may at the same time be found creeping about the upper 

 layers of the grain and coming to the surface in large numbers when the 

 heap is disturbed. From the end of June onwards, when no measures 

 are taken to check the pest, the amount of damage steadily increases, as 

 much as 5 per cent, of the wheat being sometimes destroyed. 



The soft varieties of wheat are the most attacked ; Delhi, Buxa, and 

 Hanskhali^ wheat being the worst, while hard red wheat is but slightly 

 damaged. 



The amount of loss occasioned by weevil is estimated^ by Messrs. 

 Estimate of amouut Ralli Brothers at an average of 24 per cent., the 

 of loss. maximum being 5 per cent, and the minimum 



one per cent. Taking the value of wheat exported at six million^ pounds 

 sterling, the annual loss occasioned by weevil in exported wheat alone is 

 £150,UOO. This sum, however, in reality represents but a fraction of the 

 real loss, as it does not take into account the damage done to wheat 

 consumed in the country, or any of the loss occasioned to rice, which is 

 also attacked by the same weevil, besides the loss indirectly occasioned 

 owing to the dilHculty of storing the grain. 



Besides the actual pecuniary loss occasioned by weevil there is some 

 Unwbolesomeness of evidence to show that the Hour made from vveevily 

 weevily graiu. wheat, in which a certain number of the insects 



are ground up, is likely to be injurious to health ; as the beetles contain 

 certain vesicant properties,' which are known to be powerful irritants 

 to the urinary organs even in extremely minute doses.* 



* Messrs. Ealli Brothers' answers to queries. 



^ Statistical Atlas of India, puge 36, estimate for 1885. 



s Vide American Kntomolo^ist I, pagje 179; and Trausacticus of the Entomological 

 Society of London, Vol. I, page 241 (183H). 



* Note by Dr. G. M, Giles. - ' 



B 



