June 1895.] 



INJURIOUS INSECTS AND FUNGI. 



37 



The Corn Beetle {Lmmophlaiis ferriigineiis, Steph ; testaeeus, 



Paov). 



This beetle, described by Curtis under the name of the Corn 

 Cucujus, Cacujits tesiaceus, does much harm to grain, particularly 

 wheat. It is very often found, in company with Sitophilus 

 (Calandra) granaria and Sitophilus or y zee, in wheat that has 

 been for some time in store, as well as in wheat that has just 

 arrived from foreign countries. Some ^^heat from Australia, 

 recently examined, contained quantities of LcBmophlceus ferru- 

 g incus and its larva?, together with a few pupa cases, and many 

 specimens of both species of Sitophilus. The larvj^e were in the 

 grains of wheat, and at the bottom of the box in wliich they 

 arrived, but no larvae of Sitophilus were found in this wheat. In 

 many cases the grains were completely cleared out, being mere 

 shells. In this instance, as the wheat had only recently arrived, 

 it must be concluded that the beetles were shipped with the wheat, 

 or that they were in the vessel in which it was brought over. 



Last year, foreign wheat wliich had been lying for some time in 

 a London granary was examined, and found to be swarming with 

 Sitophilus weevils and with beetles and larvse of LcmnophlcBus 

 ferrugineus. The latter were more numerous and active than the 

 Sitophilus, and appeared to be much less influenced by the cold. 

 The Lcemophlceus ferrugineus is said to be cosmopolitan, but Pro- 

 fessor Riley remarks that its naturalisation in the United States 

 is doubtful. It was found in betel nuts from Johore exhibited 

 at the " World's Columbian Exposition," as noticed in Professor 

 Riley's report. A smaller species of Lcemophlceus designated 

 pusillus was also discovered in corn and meal exhibited at the 

 same Exposition. This species is seen frequently in this country, 

 but it is much smaller than L. ferrugineus, and differs from it 

 in several respects. 



