American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-07-28
Volume v.

when once known is easily distinguished. When
the eggs are hatched upon the in the field, the
young caterpilers soon find means to glide in be
tween the chaff and the grain, ard IN that situation
ney pierce the latter, as was said before generally
in the furrow, but sometimes at the pointed enc
which Is a little hairy. As the hu.ks Of barley are
narder and stick much closer to the grain than hose
OF wheat, is almost always the point that ,hes.
caterpillars enter, by means OF small opening per
ceptiblr in that part. Notwithstanding the industry
of this insect II seems highly probable that he young
ones meet with great difficulties in their a,tempts -
ger into the grain. since very many Of then die br-
fore they can effect Judgment in the mealy sub,
stance. But considering the vast fecundy OF the
females, if prodgious numbers of them did nr.
perish, it would be hardly possible TO sngls
grain Of any kind The people of Angoumois were
strongly OF opinion that the mischief occasioned by
ths insect was peculiar to the grain Of their country.
and that what was brought to them from other places
always escaped unhurt. To clear up this point.
Messrs. Duhanel and Tilet, put into different
gsssrs wheat of the growth Of other province, and,
With grains in each glass. some oil these butte, flies
actually coupled. They soon saw the female Icy
her eggs upon these grains, and afterwards the ater
pillars hatch and make their way into them Their
further observations proved that the principal caU>s
of the spreading of this evil is. that the insect se
which muplies exceedingly. is conveyed tt other
lparts with the grain in which is enclosed. When
evera grain was opened in which the caterpillar
not fully grown, deal of flower yet remained but
when full grown, nothing was left but the skin
bran so destitute Of -four not TO dscolor clear
water. Hogs would not touch these hus when
Igiven to them unmxed. The length OF the cater.
pillar when full grown is very little than the
twelfth part of inch and its thickness is at most
equal to hall the circumference Of the grain that
contains it. lta body is smooth ard entirely white,
it is thickest towards the head, in which may
perceive its mouth, two large eyes and two kinds Of
Ihasr had l.. hno.u A. tE-
the body. II has sixteen legs, Of which the eight
intermediate and membranous only ANAL promi
nences so minue as not to be distinguished even
with the help of microscope unless the insect be
laid upon its side.
| The caterpillar exactly enclosed in its grain, be.
fore it is changed into an aurrlia makes therein
small trap door which remains shut. The butterfly
being entirely formed 10 the aurelia. breaks the
skin Of it at he end opens with its head this little
trap, and comes out at the hole which was covered
and shut by it. AS soon as the butterflies are out
Of The grains which contained them. they couple
and the females lay their eggs in the before
related. This insect, like all others of the same
specics remains longer or shorter time in its diff
fcrent states according to the temperature Of the
air. II will continue three months in the state Of
an aurelia if put into icehouse, and the butterfly
does not 10 that case come out till after it has been
removed into much warmer air. The comiog
out of the butterflies 10 generally denoted by great
heat in the heaps OF grain or in the shesyes accor
ding it is laid up in or the other. This heat
certainly accelerates the Matching oil the insects,
for prodlgious muudes OF butte aies issue out Of
the heated grain in few days after the ferment has
taken place When the harvest is cut, and warm
rains fall at that time. this heat comes very soon,
and then these insects make an extremely rapid
progress. A hot and dry season which hardcns the
grain may defer the evil and perhaps lessen il lit
lie, but this is all These caterpilla,s enclosed in
IA =
screened from the viossi,udes of the air, and when
circumstances are favorable again make their ap-
pcarance. Al harvest time butte, aies ere seen to
come out of some grains which we're already empty
and entirely consumed before they were reaped.
Probably these FIRST butterflies couple aud lay lheis
eggs upon the other unreaped ears, and part of
these eggs are destroyed by the action OF The fai.
when the grain is thrcshed end cleaned soon eer
its being cut; but the caterpillais are hatched
very speedily in hot weather, ane many OF them
enter into the grain that rcapng and shelter them
selves there's they will do all their mischief If speedy
care be not taken to sAe them. Gran reapsd and
piled up heats and the transformations OF the in
sccts enclosed in it are then the sooner effected.
When the shesves are stirred, vast numbers of but
terfies come out of them and the grains from hch
they issue are empty OF -four and absolutely spoiled.
The moment these butterfi are out Of their p isoD
they couple and lay their eggs upon the which
they find in the barn. Part Of these eggs and Of
the young catcrpisrs may certainly be destroyed
BY the fail and winnow il used speedily. Floating
the grain does effectually separate the damaged
from the sound; for that in which the caerpillars
have net eaten much of the -four will sink along
with the good, and the insect will remain TO finish
lis work which is facilitated By the softenng oil the
grain in the water. To grind the whole produce
of the crop Immediately aftsr harvest, wee II prac-
ticable would be attended with nconyenie"ees; aud
though The friction Of the mllsonea should destroy
almos all the insects it is certain but that some