Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-05-19
Concerning the Pea
and Bean Weevils.

Orono, Me, May 1S.-tSpeciaD.-S So
frequent are the inquiries which come
to the Maine Agricultural Experiment.
Station concerning the pea and bean
weevils that this account is givar as
repsonse
The single round hole frequently
found in seed peas is due To the pea
weevil, tBruehus pisorum), 4 blaekish
beetle about onefifth of an inch long,
covered with brown puhescence and
marked with black and white variga-
tions. The young insect is whitish
grub which when very small is often
an unsupported inhabtant of green
peas. In seed peas however. the in
sect has grown large enough 20 be de-
tected as an unwecomc partaker of
the crop.
HOLDING OVER SEED.-A simple
and effective remedy, and one that has
been in operation for fifty years or
more. consists merely in keeping seed
peas in a close receptacle, such as d
tight bag or box, over one season De-
fore planting
| FUMIGA1ION WITH BISULPHIDE
OF CARBON.-When it is desired to
plant the first season after gathering
| the seed. bags in which peas have been
kept tightly closed should be placed
| in tight box or vessel and disinfect-
ed with bisulphide of carbon, at the
| rate of an ounce or two To 100 pounds
| of seed. This method will Kill the wee
wills without destroying the Sermative
| power of the seed, ard its effectiveness
| is in proportion to the tiShtness Of the
receptacle. Benzne and naphtha or gas
oline will serve the same purpose In
| the use of all these remedies care
| should be observed. on account OF their
| inAammabiity, not to treat material in
| the immediate vicinity of fire, such as
| a lighted lamp or cigar
HEARTBEAT is Of galue in destroy
! ing insects in stored material, and II
has been found by experiment that q
| temperature of 145 degrees f. Will XII
| the weevills in the seed without injury
| to the germative property OF the seed
! A similar remedy consists III soaking
| infested seed for one minute III boillhs
| water A longer time is apt to inIure IL
| for planting.
The common bean WeeVil (Bruchus
ebtectusl is a smaller but more dang
erous insect than the pei Weevil for II
| not only develops in the growing peas
| in the pod but continues to breed II
| the stored seed until it is worthless
either for planting or food. This insect
| is about an eighth of an inch long an
| of notified olive brown color. Ovel
| 20 of these pests have been found with
| in single bean and several genera
| tions develop during the year.
From the fact that tie species con
! tinues to breed for upward of yea
in dried seed it is obvious that neithe
the expedent of holding over seed TO
a year before planting nor that o
planting late for seed stock would b.
productive of good, as in the case O
the pea weevil. Recourse must there
fore be had to fumigation or to heat
and the earlier the seed is treated afte
it has been gathered the better the re
suit.
Just before it is planted seed infeste,
with this bean weevil should be light,
thrown into water. Badly injured sect
will float, and may then be picked on
or poured off and destroyed. Sount
seed only should be reserved for plant
ing.
The chronological records of tn
Maine Agricultural Experiment Station
show that the bean weevil has beel
troublesome in Maine for more than 2
years and that 1t is widely distribute,
in this State. In view of the fac. tina
50 many beans are raised and eater