The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1851-12-12
From the Gsnesss IN. W Farmer.
THE PEA-BUG--BRUcHUs Prsr.

THE PEA-BUG--B BRucHus PrsI.
MrssRs. EDrroRs:--I shall be greatly
obliged il you will inform me through
The columns Of the Farmer, some method
Of preserving peas from the attacks of ,he
bug OF pea weavil. My peas have been
destroyed by bugs the two seasons pas,.
and il preventive could be discovered.
| doubt not that il would be very bene.
fetal TO many o! your readers. n.--BENJ, G.
DAr.-Toledo, May, 1851.
II may be interesting TO our readers
not familiar with the subject, to learn.
something Of the habits Of the pea-bug.
Early in summer, when the peas arc in,
flower and forming pods, the female
beetle deposits an egg in almost every
pea. When matured, the pea docs not:
appear injured, but on close examina-
ton we can discover in each a minute
black speck, which is the larta. Dr.,
Harris says; "The eggs are laid only
dnring the night, Or in cloudy weather.
Each egg is placed opposite the pea, and
the holes through which they pass are so
fine as scarcely to be seen, and are soon
closed" The larva remains in the peA
all winter, gradually consuming iis inter-
nal substance, aud in spring il 10 trans
formed into perfect insect, pierces the
skin, and emerges 10 deposit lis eggs in
the new pods. The lsrva has a soft
whi,ish body, and a head small, scaly,.
and armed with strong and sharp cutting
mandbles. The maggo., when itresches
maturity, gnaws circular hole 10 tho
husk or skin Of the pea, and even cuts
round the inner surface which covers the
aperture; SO that, when changed to
beetle, by slight dilstion OF its body il
forces off the lid and emerges the nAw-.
born Bruchus. In many Of the peas The
insect will be found dead. Whether
this arises from lower temperature than
they are accustomed to, not invigoratinR
than sufficiently 10 leave their haLi,s.
tions, or whether they return 10 feed
when they canno. mako their escape
readily, which is the case when the peas
are confined in sacks, or heaped up 10 . /,
warehouse, has not been determined.
The vitality Of the seed is not usually
destroyed; as the egg is deposited in the
side Of the pea, where the insec, when
hatched energies, leaving The germ un-
injured. Il is doubtful, however, whether
the plants raised from such peas arc %
strong and healthy as those from pertec,
seed; and they should therefore never
be used for seed when il can be avoided.
This insect, though common in all
older states, is almost wholly unknown
in Canada, owing perhaps TO its not be-
ing able TO Withstand the severity Of
Canadian winter. Hence thousands Of
bushels Of peas are annually brought
from Canada TO the United States for
seed.
Remedies and Preuenfires. Late SOW.
ing has often proved successful preven-.
tive against the ravages Of Tie pea.bug..
II sown the last Of May OF first Of June,
the peas viii, not blossom or form their
pods until after the beetles have disap.
peared. But peas sown so late often,
suffer from the drouth, and rarely yieldl
very abundant crop. II 10 recom-.
mended in Hopey's Magazine TO subject
the peas Immediately after they are
gathered to the action Of boiling water
for one minute; by this means the larve
are destroyed, which are at this time just
below the integaments Of the pea, with.
out affecting the vitality Of the seeds.
if the peas remain in the boiling water
four minutes, most Of them will be killed.
TO kiln-dry the peas at a heat Of 100
deg. TO l40 deg. will answer the same
purpose, and does not destroy the germ.
When they are Intended foS culinary pur-.
poses, some such means should be taken
to destroy the larym, as instances are
given by French writer's where persona
have been poisoned from eating worm
eaten peas, containing the maggo,s and
beetles Of the Bruchns RiI.-w. Rr.