BEETLES. 



253 



insects, notably the Red Grain Beetle. This belief is so firmly held that 

 the dermestid is introduced in the grain infested with 

 insects as a check on them. 



The Cheroot Beetle l is a small active insect, 

 whose larvae are found principally in cheroots and 

 tobacco, but also in opium, saffron, ginger, etc. It 

 is closely allied to a similar insect now almost 

 cosmopolitan, which attacks tobacco in all its forms 

 elsewhere. 



The two Red Grain Beetles 2 are very common 

 in India, feeding upon grain, biscuits, and having 

 a great liking for dried insects. Both are cosmo- 

 politan and they are distinguishable only with 

 some care. 



FIG. 303. 

 The Biscuit Beetle. 



Weevil * of the West Indies, 

 an insect attacking diseased 

 canes and at one time be- 

 lieved to do much harm. 



In addition to the above 

 species, there is a distinct 

 family which attacks pulse. 

 These beetles lay their eggs 

 on the dried pulse, small 

 yellow eggs very closely 

 resembling certain scale 1 



FIG. 302. 



The Wheat Beetle. 

 (Magnified.) 



Areca Nut Weevil 3 is a widely 

 spread insect which attacks the areca nuts 

 and is also a common insect in old dry 

 cotton bolls; its larvae live in the seeds of 

 old cotton bolls left on the plants, and 

 immense numbers can be bred from them. 

 Probably the insect has many other foods. 

 Finally, the notorious "Cask Weevil" may 

 be mentioned, a species found to attack 

 beer casks in India, not from a taste for 

 the contents but for the wood which is its 

 natural food. This species is the Sugarcane 







Tin 



FIG. 304. 



Toothed Grain Beetle. Larva in the middle ; 

 on l/ie right. (Magnified.) 



1 Latioderma iestcemn. Daft. (Ptinielsu.) 



2 TriboliumfemtyineMn. F. and T. 

 Confusum. Dw. (Tenebrionidse.) 



3 ArcBcenis fasciculatus. Deg. (Anthribidse.) 

 * Xyleborus perforans. Well. (Scolytida?.) 



