6 Farmers Bulletin 1260. 
early stages are almost identical in habit and appearance with those 
of the granary weevil and need not be further described. The rice 
lic. 2.—Life stages of the rice or black weevil in wheat: a, Well-grown larva; b. pupa; 
e, adult feeding upon kernel. Note in e the hole in lower portion of kernel made by 
the adult on leaving the seed, and at two points higher up shallow holes made by the 
adult in feeding upon the seed after emergence. The adult weevil is at once dis- 
tinguished from the granary weevil, shown in figure 1, by the four light reddish brown 
or yellow spots on its wing covers, by the possession of wings beneath the wing covers, 
and by the many rounded punctures on the back behind its head. 
Fic. 3.—The rice or black weevil: Many adult weevils caught in the mesh of a cloth sack 
containing pearled barley. Compare their size with that of the barley kernels. Aduit 
weevils when disturbed usually ‘‘ play possum,” but if spread upon a cloth in the sun 
the live ones will soon show signs of life. 
weevil is a strong flier. The adults fly from granaries to the fields 
of grain and there start the infestation that often proves so dis- 
astrous after the grain has been harvested. During summer weather 
