Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-09-10

Mr.. EpiToR IL find from observation and
conversation with farmers that our wheat
crop is being seriously affected by tho dep
relations of worm which eats the kernel
whilst in the milk OF immatured state. and as
considerable uneasiness is felt lest this new
pest should prove to be the wcevil (Calandra
Granaria) for in that case the ripenng ana
harvesting Of the grain would be no barrier
to it's ravagcs, few extracts from different
authors may relieve US from any unnecessary
fears.
Mr. Harris in his valuable Report on the
insects Of Massachusetts, injurious to vegeta-
ton" saws the term weevil in this country,
is applied to at least six different kinds of
insects Two Of which are moths, two are
aes and two beetles. The two last (Calandra
Granaria and the Sylvanus Surinamensis) arc
the two that attack the grain in the granary ;
the first is the true corn weevil of Europe
the last is the wcevil commonly found in this
country Leuwcnhock published his obser-
vations on the economy of the Calandria as
early as 16S7--Oliver in the Encyclopedia
Methodique gives a very full and minute ac-
/ count of this insect.
The following from work by J. +. Garyit
/ Of Albany. will be fully satisfactory as to the
two kinds Of wecyil
"It is somewhat depressed, and varies in
color from deep pitch to a chestnut the
/ head is semi-globose, produced anteriorly in
/ TO a longish, smooth cylindrical snout which
I is shortest in the males it is slightly curved
and sparngly punctured with two lines ex-
tcnding almost from the base of the head to
the apex forming two deep channels before
the eyes, where the rostrum is dilated eyes
black, vertical ovate, finely graduated and
Depressed. The antcnne are nine jointed
the barrel joint being long, stout and cliyatC
and forms an angle with the remainder; the
termin ones forming oval, conlcal, little
shiny club pubescent at the tip the thoraN
is twice as broad as the head, oval, little
truncated the surface is coarsely punctured
with oval points, scutcllum minute and oval ;
wing voycrs exactly equal to the thorax and
head, being oyate truncato and not covering
the apex of the abdomen. There are nine
deep puncturcd channels down each, produc-
ing short, pale bristles and the two raised
burrows on each side of the suture, have q
long line Of pupctures The six legs nr'
punctured strong and stout, and all have
hook or claw at the extremity. The tarsi arr
rehexue and four jointed, spongy beneath
basal Joint sub-clayate, second ovate, thirt
broader and slightly bilobed, fourth clovate
and furnished with two minute claws lcngti
nearly two lines. They attack grain in tn
bin and are sometimes so numerous as t.
destroy the whole. After the sexes hav
paired the female makes hole in the kerne
of wheat and deposits an egg. These hole
are not perpendicular, but oblique to the sur
face, and are stopped with gluten of the colo
of corn. Oliver says there is but one to eac
kernel. Garyit says he has frequently sec
two, one in each lobe. In due time a sma
footless grub is Matched, which, during il
growth, eats out the entire contents of Il
kernel it is very white, and the body
, composed of nine prominent round rings, it
line in length, and has a yellow round hea
with organs proper for gnawing; when it h
attained its growth, it is changed into
nymph of a clear white and transparent; t.
days after this the perfect insect eats its WI
out. 1t is different with the Calandra fro
most insects in that, that what was their lo
in the larya state is their food now, and
- sooner are they issued from their nymph sta
than they proceed to pierce another kerr
and feed upon its contents. The sexes "
not pair when the thermometer is below
p degrees j. w. S.