THE WEEVIL.' 24? 



Corn weevil Destructive ro granaries. 



The parent insect lays its eggs in grains of 

 corn, probably one in each grain. Here the 

 larvae, on being hatched, continue for some time 

 to live, and it is very difficult to discover them, 

 as they lie concealed within. They increase 

 their size, and with it their dwelling:, at the ex- 



f 1^,* 



pense of the interior or farinaceous parts of the 

 grain on which they feed. Corn-lofts are often 

 laid waste by these grubs, whose numbers are 

 sometimes so great as to devour nearly the whole 

 of their contents. When the grub has attained 

 its full size, it still remains within the grain, hid- 

 den under the empty husk. There, being trans- 

 formed, it becomes a chrysalis; and, when it has 

 attained its perfect state, it forces its way out. 



The grains that are thus attacked, being in ex- 

 terior appearance still large and full, are not 

 easily discovered by the eye. If, however, they 

 are thrown into water, their lightness soon detects 

 them. 



In order to rid a granary of these destructive 

 insects, farmers are told to spread their corn in 

 the sun, when they will creep out of their holes; 

 and, by often stirring the corn while in this situ- 

 ation, it is supposed they may be completely ex- 

 pelled. It is also said that they may be destroyed 

 by strewing boughs of elder, or branches of hen- 

 bane among the corn. But a more effectual 

 mode of banishing them was adopted by a gen- 

 tleman in Paris, who, about the month of June, 

 when his granaries and barns, that had been 



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