10 The Philippine Journal of Science mz 



INSECTS MISTAKEN FOR THE CIGARETTE BEETLE 



Many species of insects are found in dried tobacco in the Philip- 

 pine Islands, and these are often mistaken for the cigarette 

 beetle. Those most commonly mistaken are a species of Curcu- 

 lionidse, the rice weevil (Calandra oryzae Linn.), a species of 

 Bostrychidae, the shot-hole bamboo borer {Dinoderus brevis 

 Horn), and a species of Cleridse. These insects are very abun- 

 dant, especially the shot-hole borer. Its appearance in tobacco 

 is easily accounted for. In the country all tobacco is cured in 

 bamboo sheds, and as this beetle feeds upon and breeds in bam- 

 boo, its occurrence in tobacco is purely accidental. 



The clerid is predaceous on the larvae and pupse of the cigarette 

 beetle and, therefore, is to be considered as beneficial. It is not 

 uncommon to find earwigs in tobacco bales; these are also mis- 

 taken for the cigarette beetle. 



NATURAL CONTROL 



There are many agencies concerned in the natural control of 

 the cigarette beetle, the principal ones of which are the predatory 

 enemies and parasites. 



PREDATORY ENEMIES 



So far, in the Philippines, but one species of insect has been 

 found which preys upon the cigarette beetle. This is the Clerid 

 mentioned above. (Plate I, figs. 10 to 13.) It can be found 

 running freely through the bales of tobacco. It feeds raven- 

 ously, both in the larval and adult stages, upon the larvae and 

 pupae of the cigarette beetle. Six adult Clerids devoured 31 

 larvae of the cigarette beetle in a single night. 



There is little doubt that birds, such as swallows and sparrows, 

 which are very abundant in and around tobacco warehouses, 

 especially in the country, play a part in natural control, but 

 since no opportunity was afforded for a study of them it can- 

 not be stated to what extent they are of value. 



PARASITES 



The parasites bred from the cigarette beetle belong to one 

 species of Hymenoptera of the family Chalciiddae (Norbanus * sp., 

 Plate I, figs. 8 and 9.) This insect has been bred in the labora- 

 tory and has also been collected in the adult stage in infested 



' Determined by FuUaway. 



