The Washington bee. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1884-1922, 1895-11-02
THE WICKED WEEVM.
Uncle Sam to Try to Stamp Out the Insect
Grain-Destroyer.

Uncle Sam to Try to Stamp Out the IHsec,
Graln-Destroyer.
The pernicious weevils are making
themselves so obnoxious in this country
that experts Of the Department of Agri-
culture are now engaged in making q
special study Of them. Every year they
destroy many millions OF dollars worth
of stored cereals in granaries and ele-
vators. In fact, the question how to
fight them is one of serious and growing
economic Importance. Strange to say
very little scientific attention has beer
directed to these insects up to date. an6
not much is known about them. 1t
reckoned that they cause an annua
loss Of over 81, G00, 900 in Texas alone. an
in 1893 the corn crop Of Alabama wa
damaged by them to the extent of ST.
10000.
There are about forty species of thes'
insects, some of which are beetles an
others moths. Nearly all Of them ar,
assisted immigrants, having been i'm
ported from abroad in cargoes Of grain
In this manner they have been distrif
uted by commerce to all parts of tn.
world.
Three of the species actually live If
he kernels, while the others feed on tn,
starchy contents. Grain infested by
them is unfit for human consumption.
and has been known to cause serious ILL
ness. 1t is poisonous to horses. and il
not wholesome even for swine. Poul
try, however. find it palateable and nu
tritious. The moths especially are
prolific that the progeny Of single pail
in a twelve-month will number many
thousands capable of destroying sew
eral tons of grain. Fortunately, the in
crease Of these pests is checked to some
extent by natural enemies, among
which are spiders that inhabit mills and
granaries. In the fields they are preyed
Upon by birds and bats.
One Of the worst OF these insects is
the familiar "granary weevil." which is
mentioned in the Georges of Virgil
Its ravages made it known long before
the Christian era. It is native to the
region of the Mediterranean. Having
been domesticated for so long time. it
has lost the use of its wings. The
female punctures the kernel with he1
snout and inserts an egg from which is
Matched little worm that lives in the
hull and feeds on the starchy interior.
Quite as bad as this beetle Is moth
that comes from the Mediterranean re-
gion also. The larva, which Is known
In the United States as the lily weevil."
does most injury to corn and wheat. In
six months grain infested by it loses 40
per cent. in weight and Is per cent. of its
starchy matter. incidentally. it Is rem
dered totally unfit for food. and bread
made from wheat infested by the insect
is said to have caused an epidemic re-
Gently in France. The pest was noticed
in North Carolina as early as 1928.
Another wicked imported bug Is the
rice weevil." It originated in India.
whence it has been distributed by COM
merce all over the world. At present 1t
does as much harm as any other known
insect. being serious pest in the South
ern States. In the tropics generally it
does enormous damage. Formerly.
when long voyages were necessary in
importing grain from the East. it fire.
Quently destroyed whole cargoes, hav
Ing plenty Of time to multiply. The adult
beetles Of this species cause much trou-
BILE in storehouses and groceries by in
yading boxes Of crackers, cakes. yeast
cakes and macaroni and barrels and
bins of -four and meal. They can sub
sist for months on sugar, and some
times they burrow into ripening peaches
and grapes.
A new grain-destroyer has recently
attracted attention in this country, and
has earned for itself the title of "scourge
of the flour MILL" It Is the "Mediter-
ranean flour moth" The caterpillars
spin webs which make the flour clotted
and lumpy, so that the machinery in
the mills becomes clogged and has to be
stopped for a considerable time. The
larvae prefer flour or meal, but they
flourish also on bran, prepared cereal
foods and crackers.
This subject is considered of such i'm
portance that much space will be
devoted to it in the forthcoming Year
Book OF the Department Of Agriculture
The remarks made therein are based
upon recent study OF weevils and their
habits by Mr.. F. H. Chittenden, of the
Bureau Of Entomology. Farmers are
informed that the best remedy for such
mischief is bisulphide Of carbon. which
may be applied in moderately tight bins
by simply pouring the liquid into shall
low pans or on bits of cotton waste and
them about on the surface
Of the grain.
The stuff rapidly evaporates, and the
vapor. being heavier than air. descends
and permeates the mass of grain, kill.
Ing all insects as we'll as rats and mice
which it may contain.
In France number Of machines have
been devised for the treatment of in
tested grain. Into these the grain is
poured and either revolved while ex-
posed to heat or subjected to a violent
agitation, which kills the insects. FIRE.
quent handling Of grain by shovelling,
or transferring from one recep-
tacle to another is destructive to the
moths, as they are unable to extricate
themselves from the mass and perish in
the attempt. The practice of storing
grain in large bulk is also recommended.
as the surface layers only become in
Tested. Natives in India store their
wheat in alright pits to preserve it
from the rice weevil. and condemn ven
[ilation. In Europe and America. on
the other hand, ventilation is practised
with decided benefit.
Good-Natured Napoleon III.
1t was a few evenings before the EN-