6 
side, a slight impressed dorsal line; base with the edge almost ang- 
ulated, central lobe almost truncate; scut-d quadrate, whitish, long- 
itudinally divided by a dusky line ; elytra with the intersticial lines 
having a slight appearance of alternating whitish and dusky; on 
the middle of the third intersticial line is a more abbreviated 
whitish line; posterior thighs with a black spine and two smaller 
ones. 
Length over one-tenth of an inch. 
The whitish or cinereous markings are not very striking; on 
the elytra they may sometimes be traced into two obselete macular 
bands. 
The above, and reference to the cut, will be sufficient means for 
identifying the insect. It is needless to say that infested beans or 
peas are unfit for food, and that sowing infested seed will multiply 
the evil. Hence, coining now to the means of destruction. Of the 
various means there is only one safe and easily used agent where 
the beans are to be used as a food. This is Bisulfide of Carbon. It 
is also the best medium for the destruction of insect life in all 
insect-infested seeds or grains. 
Exposure to the vapor of this volatile liquid is an infallible 
means of killing our bean and pea weevils. The infested beans 
may be put in some tight vessel, box, or bin, with a cup containing 
Bisulfide of Carbon upon them, covering up closely and leaving 
them for a day or two. The heavy vapor — about two and one-half 
times heavier than common air — given off will descend and kill all 
\he animal life present, without injury to the germ, or impairment 
for use as food after suitable exposure to the air. This valuable 
insecticide — available against a large number of our insect enemies 
— may be purchased at drug stores at the moderate price, by the 
pound, of about thirty cents. *A small quantity of it will suffice. 
It has been found, in experiments on a large scale made in India 
for killing the weevils that there infest stored grain quite seriously, 
that one pound and a half is amply sufficient for use in a ton of 
grain, provided that the grain is inclosed in tight ’"'ssels. As the 
vapor is quite inflammable, precaution should always be taken not 
to bring a light in contact with it. 
The sooner the remedy can be applied to the infested beans 
after their ripening and gathering, the greater will be their value for 
food. As at that <ar!y time, the presence of the insect within is not 
so readily detected, it would be wise, if in all localities where it has 
obtained a foothold, that examination be made before storing, either 
by careful inspection of the surface, or, what would be preferable, 
opening a number and examining their 'nterior. 
It is evident in the light that we now have, that this pest may 
not be exterminated from a locality by tlie refraining, by common 
consent, for a year or two, from the culture of the bean, as we have 
