REPORT OF TilE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



347 



bore into the kernels, leaving almost imperceptible openings. With 

 wheat it is stated that a single grain has never more than one occupant, 

 but with corn two or more are usually to be found. The larva is smooth 

 and white, with a brownish head and prothorncic plate (Plate VI, Fig. 

 2,a). Witt the smaller grains it has been interred, from the tact that the 

 quantity of excrement in the grain seems Less with the full grown larvae 

 than with the younger ones, that the larva 1 eat their own excrement 

 once or twice. At full growth the larva cuts a circular hole in the 

 cortex of the seed for the exit of the future moth, without, however, 

 displacing the stopper thus formed. It then spins a delicate cocoon 

 within the grain, in which it transforms to pupa (Plate VI, Fig. 2, b). 

 The moth (Plate VI, Fiy. 2, c) issues through the previously prepared 

 hole and is of a very light grayish-brown color, more or less spotted 

 with black, and with an expanse of wing of about half an inch (12.5 Ium ). 

 Ears of uorn frequently have every kernel affected by one or more larva}, 

 and present the appearance of our figure (Plate VI, Fig. 3) after the 

 moths have issued. 



NUMBER OF ANNUAL GENERATIONS. 



In Europe there are two broods a year, the moths issuing in May and 

 June and again in November, with occasionally an intervening brood. 

 We may repeat the oft-quoted statement of Olivier : u One thing worthy 

 of remark is that the moths which hatch in the month of May from the 

 grain shut up iu the granaries, hasten to get out by the windows and to 

 gain the fields, instead of which those that come forth immediately after 

 the harvest make no attempt to escape. It seems that their instiuct 

 informs them that they will then find no more provision in the fields 

 for the support of their posterity J 9 In this country the number of broods 

 seems to be the same (two) in the more northern States, as observed by 

 Harris in Massachusetts. Farther south, however, Mr. Ruffiu found 

 that all the stages were passed through from September 2 to October 

 o\ and he inferred that in the climate of Lower Virginia there are at 

 least live successive generations from June to October. He also con- 

 cludes that while there is a continued reproduction of the insect at 

 short intervals in stored grain, comparatively few eggs are deposited on 

 corn in the field j but this is a point which must vary to a considerable 

 extent with tin 1 climate, and we know that the farther south we go the 

 more corn is infested in the field. 



RESULTS OF ITS WORK. 



Aside from the great loss in weight which grain suffers from the 

 attacks of this insect, its germinative power is lost and the Qualities 

 necessary for nourishing food are taken away. We translate from Dr. 

 Herpin : "The bread made from wheat attacked by the Ahicita, and es- 

 pecially when the flour has not been suitably bolted, contains the debris 

 of the bodies and excrement of the insect. It has a disagreeable and 

 loathsome taste, which is very lasting. It lacks adhesiveness and breaks 

 lip in water like a lump of dirt. It is even said that a very dangerous 

 throat disease results from the use of this unhealthy food — a disease 

 which has been epidemic for some years in regions infested by the Alu- 

 cita. It manifests itself by gangrenous ulcerations which form in the 

 back of the mouth; the sick succumb in a lew hours and cannot be 

 aided." 



