CHAPTER VIII. 

 "WEEVIL" IN GRAIN. 



The enterprising farmer who stores his grain, awaiting 

 a higher price, is often sadly disappointed, when he sells at 

 the top of the market, to find that it has been so riddled 

 by '^weevil" that it brings no more than had it been sold 

 previonsly. 



The term '^ weevil'^ is rather a comprehensive one, 

 being commonly applied to almost every insect infesting 

 stored food-products. But only four species are commonly 

 injurious in the farm -granary. 



Grain-weevils, 



Of these the Granary-weevil (Calandrn granaria Linn.) 

 and the Rice-weevil {C. oryzce) (Fig. 88) are the most 

 common and widely distributed. Both of these insects 

 have infested grain from the most ancient times, so long, 

 in fact, that the granary-weevil has lost the use of its wings 

 and remains entirely indoors. They are small, brown 

 beetles, from one-eighth to one-sixth of an inch in length, 

 with long snouts which are of great service in boring into 

 the kernels of grain. By means of them the females 

 puncture the grain and then insert an egg iii the cavity. 

 The larva hatching from this is without legs, somewhat 

 shorter than the adult, white in color, and of a very robust 



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