RICE 633 



trachypygus, Burm.) which, contrary to the habits of the 

 water weevil, attacks the rice fields when they are dry, 

 feeding on the young roots of the rice, and laying its eggs 

 there. Both larvae and the adults perish at the last 

 flooding of the rice. This insect may be controlled by 

 crop rotation and destroying all volunteer rice. 



The rice stalk borer is the larva of a moth (Chilo ple- 

 jadellus, Zinck.) allied to the insect which attacks maize 

 and sugar cane in a similar manner. It is 1 inch long when 

 full grown, whitish, having longitudinal subdorsal stripes 

 of reddish brown, and works throughout the culm from 

 the base to the panicle. A second brood is developed on 

 volunteer rice at edges of fields later in the season. The 

 best means of control is to cut the stubble, volunteer 

 rice, and weeds after harvest, as close to the ground as 

 possible, and burn the material. 



The rice weevil, destructive to stored rice, is described 

 in another place (533). 



713. The ricebird (Dolichonyx oryziwrus). Several 

 birds feed on rice at times, but the ricebird or reed- 

 bird or bobolink is the greatest bird enemy of the 

 Carolina rice-planter. Hosts of these birds visit the rice 

 fields at the time of planting in the spring, devouring the 

 seed grain before the fields are flooded, and again at 

 harvest time in the fall, when, if the maturing grain is 

 " in the milk," they eat it to a ruinous extent. To pre- 

 vent total destruction during these periods, thousands of 

 men and boys with guns, are employed as " bird minders," 

 to scare the birds away with blank cartridges. Still the 

 number of birds arriving each year appears in no wise 

 diminished. In some places it is estimated that the 

 average loss due to this bird is 4 to 4| bushels to the 

 acre. 



