262 HOUSEHOLD INSECTS 



trast to the shining brown of the granary weevil. 

 Perhaps the most obvious difference by which the two 

 weevils may be readily separated is the fact that the wing 

 covers of the rice weevil have four red spots, one on each 

 outer corner, as shown in the illustration (Fig. 81). The 

 thorax of the rice weevil is closely pitted with round 

 punctures in contrast to the oval, shallow punctures 

 present on the thorax of the granary weevil. Moreover, 

 the wings of the rice weevil are well developed and the 

 insect can fly very readily. 



The rice weevil is more apt to be found in households 

 than the granary weevil, for it feeds upon the grains of 

 rice and often invades boxes of 

 crackers, cakes, and other bread- 

 stuffs, and is found in barrels 

 of flour and sacks of meal. 



The eggs are laid within a 

 kernel of corn or grain of wheat, 

 where they hatch in about three 



FIG. 82. Larva of the rice , r , i. t * A 



weevil, (x 10.) days. Ihe larva is short, tat, 



and whitish (Fig. 82) and lives 



within the grain for about sixteen days, when it trans- 

 forms to a pupa (Fig. 83) which remains quietly within 

 the grain from three to nine days. The adult beetle 

 does not emerge from the grain as soon as it is formed, 

 but remains within the kernel eating out the inside for 

 several days. The life cycle is usually passed, under 

 favorable conditions, in about thirty-five days. The 

 adults are found in the fields during the summer, espe- 

 cially on the ears of corn. In the autumn they migrate 

 to the barns and granaries where their food is stored. 

 Methods of controlling the grain weevils. The most 



