Growth and development of larvae of the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), and the maize weevil, S. zeamais Motschulsky, reared on a meridic diet at 32°C and 65% RH, were compared. Although the mean larval weight of S. zeamais after 11 days on the diet was 4.36±1.07 mg compared with 3.01±0.59 mg for S. oryzae, the developmental times of the different life stages were nearly identical for both species. Adult emergence (eclosion) for both species began after 17 days and was complete after 23 days, with 93.5% of the S. oryzae larvae and 80% of the S. zeamais larvae emerging as adults. The larval growth rates of S. oryzae and the granary weevil, S. granaries (L.), also were directly compared. Not only were the rice weevil larvae more uniform in their developmental times, but the larvae reached maturity and pupated an average of 8.5 days earlier than did the larvae of S. granaries. The utility of using these rearing procedures to assess the effects of varietal nutritional differences among cereals upon larval development and survival is discussed.