THE RICE WATER- WEEVIL. 19 



which it might be spread for some distance by wind. Probably the 

 only danger would be to live stock having access to the water the 

 drinking of which would be a remote possibility. 



CULTURAL MANAGEMENT. 



Clean cultural management in dealing with the weevil as with 

 other crop pests is advisable. By restricting the growth of the 

 various grasses and other plants, particularly the objectionable red 

 variety of rice, which grow along and within canals, ditches, and 

 water holes, much advantage could be derived toward the suppression 

 of the breeding of the weevils on the uncultivated host plants. Drain- 

 age of bayous, sinks, and water holes would doubtless be of great 

 benefit for the control of the weevil alone. 



Leveling of the surface of fields that are to be planted in rice and 

 plowing in such a manner as to avoid dead furrows as much as possi- 

 ble would obviate many of the depressions which on being deeply 

 flooded conduce to a high infestation of the plants in such places. 



Finally, a thorough preparation of the soil before planting is to be 

 recommended, in order that grass and weeds may be eradicated with- 

 out the necessity of deep flooding for the purpose of drowning them. 

 This will permit very shallow flooding with periods of draining or 

 mere soaking of fields for the control of infestation and the better- 

 ment of the crops. 



SUMMARY. 



The rice water- weevil causes more damage to rice crops in the 

 Southern States than any other insect affecting rice plants. When it 

 is in the larval stage it commits severe injuries to rice plants by de- 

 stroying the roots. Some harm is done by the adults in feeding on 

 the leaves. 



The insect chooses food plants that grow in wet places and it 

 breeds only where it finds water. Eggs are evidently laid on roots in 

 water or mud, under which conditions the larva? hatch, feed, grow, 

 and transform into pupa?, and finally the adults mature and emerge. 



Two generations may possibly be produced in a season, but one 

 generation seems to be the rule. Adults pass the winter in hiberna- 

 tion, appearing in spring and invading the rice fields. 



The most practical means of controlling the weevil consists in the 

 practice of draining and allowing infested rice fields to dry suffi- 

 ciently at the proper time or before the attacks of larva 1 have greatly 

 weakened the plants. Alternate flooding and drying, if carried out 

 properly, will accomplish the same results. Very shallow flooding 

 or soaking of fields restrains infestation. Fertilization assists the 

 plants to overcome injury. 



