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FESTS OF THE HOUSEHOLD AND STORED PRODUCTS 



The Pea Weevil {Laria (Bruchus) pisorum L.) 



The adult pea weevil is similar in appearance to the bean weevil, 

 but is a little larger and has a shorter thorax. The grubs live in 

 peas, hatching from eggs laid on the pods early in the season by the 



adults, while the peas are still in 

 the field. Unlike the bean weevil 

 this pest never goes on breeding in 

 the dried, stored product. 



The grubs are in the peas when 

 they are gathered. In the South 

 the adults emerge before the next 

 planting time, but in the North the 

 insect is still in the seed when it is 

 planted. 



Emergence of the adults may be 



accelerated by keeping the peas in 



a warm place. Seed may be held 



over for a season. The best treatment, however, is fumigation with 



carbon bisulphide or carbon tetrachloride. 



Fig. 588. — The Pea Weevil. En- 

 larged and natural size. Original. 



Weevils in Nuts 



The white, thick grubs often found in chestnuts, pecans, and hickory 

 nuts are familiar to all. Their exit holes also, where the mature grub 

 has cut its way out through the shell, are commonly recognized. 



The adults of these grubs are beetles, one fourth to one third inch 

 long, yellowish in general color with darker markings, and charac- 

 terized by an extremely long snout, slender as a pin. Biting jaws are 

 located at the end of the snout. 



There are three species concerned : the Larger Chestnut Weevil 

 (Balaninus prohoscideus Fab.) ; the Chestnut Weevil (Balaninus 

 rectus Say) ; and the Pecan, or Hickory Nut Weevil {Balaninus 

 caryce Horn.). All are similar in appearance, and their habits are 

 much the same. 



Direct means of control of these pests in the field is not possible. 



