Tenthrède of wheat
Grain Growing Deserves Study, Francis J. S. Holmes. Extension
Service, Manitoba Department of Agriculture and Immigration, 1940's
Archives du Manitoba, FC2147
This grub of the wheat stem saw fly was roused from hibernation
in wheat stubble awaiting transformation to the fly stage in spring.
Deposited in the straw as an egg then hatching out, knows how,
after cutting off the stem above ground level, he manages to plug
the open end for protection. Developed to resist the sawfly, the
stem of Rescue wheat has no hollow space to accommodate the pest.
A crop in the bin is by no means safe from all hazards since
these granary weevils and other insects can attack the grain in
storage. Usually they're confined to elevators where grain is
stored for fairly long periods. Some of our war time grain annexes
were badly infested. Our commonest pest in this country do not
cause as much damage as the granary weevil which simply hollows
out the kernel of grain leaving nothing but a shell of bran.