Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-10-23
THE WICKED WEEVIL.
Uncle Sam Trying to Stamp Out
the Insect.
R0PS WORTH MILLIONS RUINED.
The Little Pests Live Unseen In the
Grain, and Nibble Away the Ker-
nels-New Remedies.

The pernicious weevils are making
themselves So obnoxious in this country
that experts of the Department. of Agri-
culture are now engaged in making a
special study of them. Every year they
destroy many millions of dollars worth
of stored cereals in granaries and ele-
yators. In fact, the question how to
fight them is one of serious and grow
ing economic Importance. Strange to
say, very little scientific attention has
been directed to these insects up to
date, and not much is known about
them. 1t is reokoned that they cause
an annual loss of over $l,000,000 in
Texas alone, and in 1898 the corn crop
of Alabama was damaged by them to
the extent of $l.670.000.
There are about forty species of these
insects, some of which are beetles and
others moths. Nearly all of them are
assisted immigrants, having been inn
ported from abroad in cargoes of grain.
In this manner they have been distrib-
uted by commerce to all parts Of the
world.
Three of the species actually live in
the kernels. while the others feed on
the starchy contents. Grain infested
by them is unfit for human oonsump-
tion, and has been known to cause SER
ious illness. 1t is poisonous to horses.
and is not wholesome even for swine.
Poultry, however, find it palatable and
nutritious. The moths especially are
so prolific that the progeny Of single
pair in twelve-month will number
many thousands, capable Of destroying
several tons of grain. Fortunately,
the increase 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 "granaIy weeyil." which
is mentioned in the Georgics of Virgil.
It's ravages made it known long before
the Christian era. 1t is native to the
region of the Mediterranean. Having
been domestieated for SO long time,
it has lost the use of its wings. The
female punctures the kernel with her
snout and inserts an egg from which
is Matched little worm that lives in
the hull ana feeds on the starchy in
terror.
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 "f1y Vice.
vii" does most injury to corn and
wheat. In six months grain infested
by it looses 40 per cent. in weight and
70 per cent of its starchy matter. In
cidentally. it is rendered totally unfit
for food, and bread made from wheat
infested by the insect is said to have
caused an epidemic recently in France.
The pest was noticed in North Caro-
lima as early as 1913.
Another wicked imported bug is the
whence it has been distributed by COM
merce all over the world. At present
it does as much harm as any other
known insect, being a serious pest in
the Southern States. In the tropics
generally it does enormous damage.
Formerly. when long voyages were
necessary in importing grain from the
East, it frequently destroyed whole
cargoes. having plenty of time to null
tiply. The adult beetles of this species
cause much trouble in storehouses and
groceries by invading boxes of crackers,
cakes, yeast cakes and macaroni and
barrels and bins of -four and meal.
T1oxv o. or he
and sometimes they burrow into ripen-
ing 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. " 1t is the
Mediterranean flour moth" The cat
erpillars spin webs which make the
-four clotted and lumpy. 80 that the
machinery in the mills becomes ologged
and has to be stopped for consider
able time. The larvae prefer -four or
meal, but they flourish also on bran,
prepared cereal foods and crackers.
This subject is considered of such
Importance that much space will be de-
voted to it in the forthcoming Year
Book OF the Department OF Agrlcul-
ture. The remarks made therein are
based upon recent study of weevils and
their habits by Mr.. f. H. Chittenden,
of the Bureau of Entomology. Far.
mers are informed that the best remedy
for such mischief is bisulphide of car
bon. which may be applied in moder'
ately tight bins by simply pouring the
liquid into shallow pans or on bits Of
cotton waste and distributing them
about on the surface of the grain.
The stuff rapidly evaporates, and the
yapor, being heavier than air, descend'
and permeates the mass Of grain. kill
ing all insects as we'll as rats and mice
: which it may contain.
: In France a number of machines
have been devised for the treatment o