Continued
Lifecycle:
The egg, larva, and
pupa stages of both weevils occur in the grain kernels and
are rarely seen. Feeding is done within the grain kernel,
and adults cut exit holes to emerge. Emergence holes of the
granary weevil are larger than those of the rice weevil,
and tend to be more ragged than smooth and round. Females
drill a tiny hole in the grain kernel, deposit an egg in
the cavity, then plug the hole with a gelatinous secretion.
The egg hatches into a young larva which bores toward the
center of the kernel, feeds, grows, and pupates there. New
adults bore emergence holes from the inside, then leave to
mate and begin a new generation. See the picture below of
weevils as they emerge.
Female grain weevils lay from 36 to 254 eggs at a rate of 2-3
a day. At 80 to 86°F, 75 to 90% relative humidity, eggs hatch
in wheat with a moisture content of 13.5 to 19.6% in 3 days.
Larvae mature in 18 days, and the pupa in 6 days. The life cycle
is about 30 to 40 days during the summer, and 123 to 148 days
during the winter, depending on temperature. Adults live 7 to
8 months. Female rice weevils lay between 300 to 400 eggs, with
the life cycle requiring about 32 days for completion. Rice weevil
adults live 3 to 6 months, infesting grain in the field, especially
in the tropics and sub-tropics, in fact it is one of the most
serious pests. Two larvae can develop in one wheat kernel, but
only one larva of the granary weevil can develop per wheat kernel.
Both granary and rice weevils feign death by drawing up their
legs close to the body, falling, and remaining silent when disturbed.
Again the treatment is the same for all stored product insects: |