THE WEEVIL, WOLF, ETC. 137 



walls and beams, and flying about only at night, unless dis- 

 turbed. 



246. The female lays one or two eggs on each grain of wheat, 

 until she has deposited thirty or more. They require the assist- 

 ance of a magnifying glass in order that they may be distin- 

 guished. The small white worms penetrate grain, and close up 

 the aperture with their roundish white excrement, which is held 

 together by a fine web. When a single grain is not sufficient for 

 its nourishment, the larva unites a second grain to the first by the 

 same web, and thus ultimately adds together a great number. 



247. .In August and September they arrive at maturity, when 

 they leave their wheat heaps, and seek for a place in which to 

 undergo their metamorphosis. They form cocoons by working 

 bits of wood into their web, in any chink of the floor, 

 walls or roof. These cocoons look like grains of wheat dusted 

 over. They assume a chysalis state in March, April and May, 

 according to the season. In two or three weeks they take the 

 form of the perfect insect or moth. 



Nat. Size. 



THE WOLF. Magnified. 



CATERPILLAR. 



CATERPILLAR. Magnified. 



248. The following remedies are suggested by Mr. Curtis : 

 Floor of granary scoured with soft soap, and well brushed with a 

 stiff broom ; roof and beams whitewashed. The moths may be 

 destroyed in spring by burning lights or lamps in the granaries 



