The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1895-11-09
The WICKED WEEVu.

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The pernicious weeyils ere making
thesn,elvee % obnoxious In this coun-
try that experts OF the department Of
agriculture are now engaged In making
: special study Of them. Every year
they destroy many millions Of dollars
worth Of stored cereals In granaries
end elevators. In fact, the question
how to Tight them II ono Of serious
and growing economic importance.
Strange to say, very little scientific at-
tention has been directed to these In
sects up to date, and not much il known
about them. It II reckoned that they
cause IN annual loss OF over one mil
lion dollars in Texas alone, and in 1898
the corn crop Of Alabama was dam
aged by them to the extent OF one mill
lion nix hundred and seventy thon-
sand dollars.
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
distributed by commerce to all parts Of
the world.
Three OF the species actually live In
the kernels, while the others feed on the
rtarchy contents. Grain infested by
them ID unfit for human consumption
and has been known to cause serious ill-
ness. It is poisonous to horses and IL
not wholesome even for swine. PouI-
try, however, find it palatable and nu-
tritious. The moths especially are go
prolific that the progeny Of single pair
in 4 twelvemonth will number many
thousands, capable Of destroying sew
eral tons of grain. Fortunately, the in
crease Of these pests il 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
il mentioned in the Georges Of Virgil.
It's ravages made it known long before
the Christian era. It il native to the
region of the Mediterranean. Having
been domesticated for 30 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 hatched . little worm that lives in
the hull and feeds ON the starchy in.
terror.
Quite a. bad ~ this beetle IL . moth
that comes from the Mediterranean re-
gion also. The larva, which ID known
in the United States as the "dy weevil, !"
does most injury to corn and wheat.
In six months grain infested by it loses
forty per cent. in weight and seventy
i've per cent. of its starchy matter. In.
cidentally, it ID rendered totally unfit
tor 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 Car9lina
az early 40 1728.
Another wicked imported bug is the
.4rice weevel." 1T originated In India,
whence 1t has been distributed by COM
merce all over the world. At present 1t
does Al much harm as any other known
insect, being . serious pest in the
southern states. In the tropics gener-
lilly It does enormous damage. For
merly, when long voyages were neces-
Aary in importing grain from the east.
it:frequently destroyed whole cargoes.
having plenty Of time to multiply. 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
ind bins Of -four and meal. They can
subsist for months ON sugar. and
sometimes they burrow into ripening
peaches and grapes.
A new grain-destroyer has recently
attracted attention in this country.
ind has earned for itself the title Of
s.scourge Of the flour MILL" It is the
Mediterranean flour moth" The cater
pillar spins webs which make the -four
clotted and lumpy, 70 that the machin-
cry In the mills becomes clogged and
has 70 be stopped for considerable
time. The larvae prefer flour or meal.
but they flourish also on bran, prepared
cereal foods and crackers.
This subject u considered Of such Inn
rortance that much space viii be de-
voted 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 Nr. F. 81. Chittenden. Of the
bureeu Of entomology. Farmers are
informed that tie hest remedy for arch
mischief n hisulphide Of carbon, which
may be applied in moderately tight
bins By simply pouring the liquid into
shallow pans or On bits Of cotton
wuste and distributing them about on
the surface of the grain.
The stun rapidly evaporptes, and thr
yaTor, beinG heavier than air. deseends
and pesueaAes the mass at erain, kill
Iuk III Insects - well = rats and rf5ce
wAicA It nay eontain n. Z. World.
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