PULSE BEETLES. 



The Store Forms. 



Almost all pulses such as gram, lablab, peas and beans 

 are liable to attack by species of tiny beetles which develop 

 inside the seeds and gradually render them unfit for human 

 consumption. A number of these confine their depreda- 

 tions to the field and cease to attack when the crop is har- 

 vested and stored. Other species, however, do the greater 



Fig. 1. — Damaged seeds showing beetles, their eggs, and the holes through which 

 they came out. At tlie coiners above are shown enlarged the two 

 species concerned. 



part of the injury while the seed is in the store although 

 they may get their start while the crop is in the field. The 

 seeds in either case are damaged by the excavations of the 

 larvae which complete their development inside them. 

 Those that are so injured, show usually one or more round 

 holes through which the adult beetles have emerged and 

 small shining ivory specks which are eggs or egg shells from 

 which the larvae have hatched out (Fig. 1). The infested seeds 

 will rapidlv accumulate among them a mass of dead beetles 



c 



