The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-07-07
The mI.LK-WEEFIL..

The rayages CT The M;lt-waevil (Cectls r7g54
1rtic3i have been widespread in the great Wheat
countless Of the Border, and in yoiy a.aa7 r.
stances have been almost destructive OF the crop
Never within our recollection did the wheat crop
look more promising on the lst of June fhsn
this year. and now We have not seen field in
the Cumberland Valley that is not more or less
5lighted by the yellow or black rust, or injured
to greater or less degree by what Is popularity
known as the AIi!l,-weeyiI This deadly foe e
the husbandman Is recent plague in this i'm
mediate section. Several years ago it attacked
the wheat in thus Valley, for the first time, and
we believe that it has been serious in its rava-
ges but two years prior TO 1855. This year
however, it seems 20 have been general and fear
fully successful in its operations.
The name wceviI IS given in this country to
at least six different kinds of insects; two of
which are moths, two are flies and two are
beetles. Taa scientific researches show nearly
four thousand species Of the wesv.', but there
are but six which are poPularIy known, or are
Of material Importance TO the farmer. The
vyeeviI in the winged state IS arl-shelad beetle
and Is distinguishes from other insects by bav-
ing the foTepart Of the head prolonged into a
broad muzze, or large and a2ca slender 3aout,
10 the end of which the opening Of the mouth
and the small b9ny jaws are placed. They are
Gc-Y hurtfOl to iian!s by boring into the leaves,
bark, bads, fruits and saeis, ana feeding upon
the soft substance therein contained. They are
diurnaI insects end love to venture out Of thsir
retreats to enjoy the sunshine. They arc q the
same genus as the Hessian Fly, but while the
family resemblance Is quite striking, there are
in 4,,If. nd l,l
its The female parent OF thIs terrible scourge
appears about the middle OF June, and takes
shelter daring the day on the lower part Of the
wheat stocks. Toward sunset they may be seen
in large numbers, Just when the wheat is flow
ering, deposit their eggs in the head. They
resemble common gnats somewhat, and are
classified with ther. in chronological descrip-
tions The body IS less than ona-lweifth Of an
inch long, Of a citron yellow, or sometimes in
clined 70 orange. Theeyes are large, jet black,
and lhe wings long ana transparent. The f2-
uaale hes 4 long oyipositor about tue size OF the
thread Of the silk-worm, which she thrusts be-
tween the gIunes where the grain Is to fora,
and there deposits her eggs, where they are
sheltered. hatched and nourished. They begin
the deposit whenever the wheat head energes
from tho leaves, and continue il until the head
Is in bloom The grain then becomes too hard
20 furnish the Larvae with nutriment. They will
however traverse wheat fields and whole Sec
tions Of country, and select the late spots or
felds TO continue their fatal work even after
the crop generally has become too far advanced
for them
The Larvae when hatched are white, but soon
change 20 yellow, and are sometimes found in
numbers from fifteen to twenty on a single kerr
mel of wheat. They feed on the mill; Of the
grain when it is IN a fcid or entirely soft state
and thQs prevent the development of the grain.
Often when ten or dozen eggs are deposited
in sinele glume, they will entirely exhaust the
material Cor the formation of The grain, and
when the stock is cut. the chaff will be found
without any kernel whatever inside Of it; but
when one or several are deposited on grain,
they abstract but portion Of the nutriuent