10 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



killed in passing through the sterilizer ; and from 200 to 300 lbs. 

 weight of dead weevils are secured from the total amount 

 of wheat (2,500 bags) treated during a single shift of eight 

 hours ; and as it is estimated that there are about 442,000 

 weevils to the lb. the grand total is immense ; but happily 

 the insects can no longer continue their trade of levying 

 tribute as the sterilizer has done its work so thoroughly. 



Neither the treatment with C0 2 nor the sterilizing process 

 impairs the food value or the gluten properties of the wheat 

 in any way ; and the sterilized grain, when properly stacked 

 and housed, remains free from fresh attacks for many months, 

 approximately 9 to 12. 



The weevils which are most destructive and troublesome 

 are (1) Rhizopertha dominica ; (2) Calandra granaria ; and 

 (3) C. oryzce. The first is very destructive and troublesome 

 and at times it flies in millions ; the second does the most 

 damage but being unable to fly is more easily controlled than 

 is Calandra oryzce. Many million bushels of wheat have 

 been destroyed by these insects in Australia ; but it must be 

 remembered that the conditions under which that enormous 

 bulk of wheat remained stored for some years in Australia 

 were quite exceptional, and are very unlikely ever to occur 

 again. 



