The Rice Moth

UNIT ED ST AT E S DE PART ME N T OF AGRI CUL T URE

BULLETIN No. 783

Contrib u tion from the B u reau of E n tomology

L . O . HOW ARD, Chief

F SS O AL AP 'ul 14 1919 hin t n D . P O P W as g o , . c R E I N ER y ,

I H T HE RICE MOT .

F CH I T T E N DE N By . H . ,

r c T ru ck- Cro Insec t Inves i ations E ntomologis t I n Cha g e f p t g .

CON TE N TS .

a P ge. t— r F ood habits ﬂ r n r b Rep o ted i 'u ies w e s r —n Lif hi to y w A ss oci a ted in sec ts

— w u r Q_ History and litera t e w Con trol mea su res m Su mmary m L iteratu re cited w — D

INTRODUCTION .

Amon of s roducts which oh g the insect enemies tored p have ‘ been in t or served recently this country , a small whi ish larva caterpillar Gora m ha l ni of the moth n/ cep o ca Stainton (Pl . I ) has attracted atten t i - ion by ts injuries . It resembles somewhat the better kn own ﬁg

E hes tia earn-t ll k no moth ( p e ' Wal ) . It has t been noted as a pest of

no E ~ t importance , and has been given common or nglish name . As i is somewhat widely r eported a s destructive to stored r ice it may

. 1911 s be called the rice moth Beginning with October, , complaint of damage by this insect were received froma ﬁrm manufactur a an ing chocolate in western Pennsylvania , and a year l ter from

' u ﬁrm m not other man facturing in the sa e State , but the species was ﬁ 916 positively identi ed until 1 .

NA TURE O F IN'UR'.

The ﬁrst correspondent of the Bureau of E ntomology who wrote

' ' ‘ of this insect stated that beans of c ac ao ( T heobroma; cacao) imported to b the from the Tropics were subject attack y larva . Apparently it

10440 9 ° — 19 U L L E T IN 783 U . 8 . P R or GR CU L U R . 2 B , DE A TMENT A I T E

the s laid its eggs in beans , which are sometimes warehou ed for several months , in the country from which they were shipped . During this period of storageadditional generations of larvae are hatched which destroy large quantities of the cacao beans or render them unﬁt for sale . The rice moths have been found most numerous in the un older beans and also occur ab dantly in cocoa nibs , in cocoa in

s powdered form , in refuse cocoa dust and in ground cacao shell , so that they may be said to feed on any form of the cacao bean from

ﬁ a or the shells to the nished or edible rticle , cocoa chocolate in d n s pow er , in cakes , and in co fection , whether the substance is sweet

ened or unsweetened . L ater moths and lar v ae of this species were received in r ice from different sources which will be mentioned here

after . This Species works in much the same manner as do the ﬁg moth (E ph t u l es ia ca te la Walk . ) and the Indian - meal moth (Plodia in ter pnnotella form ing a still stronger thread than do these re a — owi n w n en a on of the r c e o 18 .t an d m t F I G 1 . iagra s h g i g i i h forms , . D m v t m t A er u rra n a n d B e er Corc ra c e ha lon ica . ( ft D t ( y p ) v ting the infested ma

iago. ) I n teri al more closely . deed,this thread or webbing in the case of powdered cocoa becomes so dense that in close quarters the moths when emerging are scarcely a able to make their exit . As consequence of this and of the further e to fact that the food supply b comes too dry be eaten , many of the i s u r ﬁ o in larvae perish . This tr e not only under a ti cial c nditions the ’ i n laboratory but has been noted manufacturers storerooms .

DESCRIPTIV E .

THE MOT H.

' the rice re While , as previously stated , moth resembles in certain spects some of our common moths which breed in stored cereals , dried fruits , and similar material , it does not belong to the same lepi

o rous f a P rali d pte group , being a member of a dif erent f mily , the y d ae G alleriin ae , and subfamily , the , and closely related to a small group of moths which are best known as occurri ng in the combs of and B everidge

’ Antenna w s u scou s as al o nt w o r er s e hiti h f ; b 'i ith s me da k fuscous c ales . H ea d and T hom a' er a e u scous so e es w is uscou s or arker v y p l f , m tim hit h f , d F re w n er a e u s o s he e n r n a uscous . o s c u t s o e or les s c e f i g v y p l f , v i m i di t d by a r er uscous sc a n and w a en enc to suf us on o er th e w o e wn d k f li g , ith t d y f i v h l i g, e'cept along the dorsu m which remains of the pale ground - color ; in some s ec en s the ar er ar n s are almost a b sent in o ers er is a en enc p im d k m ki g , th th e t d y to or two rre u ar ran s erse a r nes one at the end of the ce the f m i g l t v d k li , ll, o er at a ou a the w n - en w so e ar s a n owar the ase th b t h lf i g l gth , ith m d k h di g t d b ; a more or les s di stinct dark spot occurs on the margin at the end of ea ch vein ; a s s w so ad ' u r f d r er sc a E ar 4— 2 m c a e u cou e e o a es . . a t. 1 4 ili p l f , ith m mi t k l p m . n w n s uscous s n n w s us cous c a w a s a er Hi d i g , El f ; 9 hi i g hiti h f ; ili ith lightly p l d me and ne at e r as e. A b o n L e s a e uscou s li th i b g p l f .

S'N ON 'M ' .

2 r r h l nic ain . R a onot E nt M Ma 2 Co c a c e o a St t . o. . 2 . 2 1 8 a . 23 8 5 . y p , g , g , v , p , , M lis o la tes e ha lonioa S ain E nt Mo Ma 2— 17 e s b c t t . . . . 2 17 3 p p , g , v , p . ,

1865 .

i r n a - M m 1 M l s ob l s eella R . a ﬁ e s a tes t an li s . e . L e . . 49 45 . p g H mp , p , p , pl , , g ﬁ 2 1 1 23 l. 51 . 6 90 . ; p , g ,

T ineo sis e b ro ae D ar n I n i M n s h o I s sc t . e . 1 n 1 t m o 5 . 59 19 3 p y , . , v . , . , p , .

T HE EGG .

PI. 11.

T he e s ha e a ear u s er are ar a e in s a e and a e at one end gg v p ly l t , v i bl h p , h v '

‘ ni l s m wha like a of er n r T h r usua l a d ecided e o e t c a u s . e e s a e l y pp , th t t i f it gg su ﬁc en l ar e to b e readi seen w ou the aid of a en s and rese e f i t y l g ly ith t l , mbl somewhat those of the Mediterran ean flou r moth ( E phestia knehniella h 'a d en s on a n een a ned T e e c t im i s h ve ot b obt i .

PI A . III , .

T he larva when fully developed b ears some resemblance to that of Plodia in t l T he su res of th e o n are s o ew a ore ronounce the erpnnc tel a . tu 'i ts m h t m p d enera co or ar es o w e to a r sl b u s ra w h oc casmnal g l l v i fr m hit di ty , ightly l i h g y it r a earance of the ar ae is du h ar faint greenish tint s . This di ty pp l v e to t e d k er a on ch e eed and is es ec all e den in the a ur a es mat i l whi th y f p i y vi t imm t e s t g . L arvae which have f ed on ri ce a re more nearly white than those which develop n from cacao preparatio s . B UL L 783 U . s . E P R E or GR CU L U R 4 ETIN , D A TM NT A I T E .

T h e ea w ou the an i es is run ca e an er or an d su ru nca e h d , ith t m d bl , t t t i ly bt t

s r or T he enera co or is ra er ar on - e ow n n r wn o e . e c e to o p t i ly g l l th d k h y y ll , i li d b . T he orac c a e is a e one - e ow we e at the su ure an d w e a th i pl t p l h y y ll , ll divid d t , hil

i e arker on the ou er ar in is near u ni or in co or. T he a na a e l ttl d t m g , ly f m l l pl t h is er a e s carce arker an t e o n s . T he ree a rs of ore e s ar v y p l , ly d th 'i t th p i f l g e r er n an r n n T he r w h ana e s n a o d o e . o e s t e are a so ro en th l g p mi t p l g , ith l l g , l p mi t r r O s er e u n er a s r n en h ra n r b u t sho te . b v d d t o g l s t e spi cles a d pilife ous tu bercles a re nu e b ut s inc and the u es cen c e a ou s arse an d of ﬁn e e' u re mi t di t t , p b , lth gh p t t , is ra er on so e a rs e n n ear as on a s the w of th e o th l g, m h i b i g ly l g idth b dy . T h era e en w en ' en e is a ou 13 a nd h rea s e a v g l gth h e t d d b t mm . t e g te t width ou ab t mm .

T HE PU PA .

PI B C. . III , ,

r n h a res es a of o er c r - n I n general appea a ce t e pup embl th t th e eal feedi g moths .

’ w T h or is ro us nd h arran n T he enera co or is a e e o . e a t e e e of g l l p l y ll f m b t , g m t th e s e en s is we s own in P a e I I I and C the a er u s ra n the gm t ll h l t , B , l tt ill t ti g n n ese a er ' en n ar ventral arrangement of th e l egs a d wi g pa ds . Th l tt e t d e ly to n n n n T h s n r s s e en s w the a e e u a e a o a se e . e e e i e c s o t p ltim t bd mi l gm t y , f h p im , h r r a r s u w en near n ran s or a on e eco e c me ely as ci cul r a ea b t h i g t f m ti th y b m bla k . nn e e r n th os er r ar n T he T he ante al sh ath s slightly ove lap o e p t io m gi . best c arac ers a ear on the dorsumthe s or e an ara e e e a e on h t pp , h t m di p ll l l v t d l gi tudinal nes e en e n c ara c er s c as e are near ac an d u e li vid tly b i g h t i ti , th y ly bl k ' it T h s rac es ar s a b u t s nc T he na se en r e . a distinctly ma ked . pi l e m ll di ti t l gm t ears at the a e' our rocesses the an er or ones e n in th e na ure of b p f p , t i b i g t n short spi es . N aturally there is a differenc e in the proport ion s of the pupa of this spec ies

a s in the a u the en ar i n ro . to 9 . d lt , l gth v y g f m mm mm When about to transform the larva prepares a cocoon by joining together, by means of silken threads, a mass of the material on which

I V . o it is feeding, as shown in Plate , A An exposed coc on is illus I rated V . t in Plate , B

DISTRIB UTION .

While Oorcym cepha lon ica is known to occur in portions of E s su urope , Asia , Africa , and outhern and in lar America , it is by no 1 9 - means truly cosmopolitan . Durrant and Beveridge ( ) record the c K Mediterranean region , India and Ceylon , the Co os eeling Islands , as Kei t N assalan d L a Christm Island , the Islands, wes ern Sudan , y ,

é a a an d G e t . R union , P r , Brazil , and Cuba renada , W s Indies Rago

7 . not ( ) records Italy , the Ionian Islands, and the Seychelles To

' o this list may be added Port Rico , Mexico , Hawaii , and Penn sylvania.

FOOD HAB ITS .

According to the authors just mentioned the rice moth would ap e E pear to be of eastern origin , introduc d into urope and elsewhere by the rice trade , and this is undoubtedly true . They further state

' 1 L r r c e 1 4 F igu res in parenthes es refer t o ite a tu e it d , p . . D of A r c u ure . 8 . B ul. 7 3 . U . S . ept g i lt PLATE I .

T HE R I CE MOT H ( C ORC'RA CE PHALO N I CA ) .

s Muc n ar r s in ural os on at re . e e . A Matu e moth; B , ame nat p iti t h l g d l 8 De ' B u . 7 3 , U . 5 . pt . of Agric ult ure . PLAT E l I .

E GG S OF T HE R I CE MOTH. HI GHL' E NLA RG E D. 8 D o u . ept . f Ag ric lt ure . PLATE

STAGES O F T HE R I CE MOTH.

w M n r A L ar a B u a orsal ew 0 sa e en ra V e . uc e a e . v ; , p p , d vi ; , m , v t l i h l g d B ul 7 D . 8 3 U . S e of A , . pt . g ric ult ure . PLATE IV .

C OCOO NS O F T HE R I CE MOTH.

A E ' ri r wn ra ns f r B cocoon e' s re o a of r c r ns E nlar e . e o s o o ce o e e a . t , h i g g i i ; , p d by m v l i g i g d B ul 7 8 3 U . S D . , . e t . of A ric ult ure . p g PLAT E V .

W O RK O F T HE R I CE MOTH. M A ass of r ce c ose a e o e her b ar ae B cacao ean s s ar a ac e . i l ly m tt d t g t y l v ; , b imil ly tt k d

T H E R H ICE MOT . 5

c c that it was thought to be espe ially atta hed to currants , that it is E a imported into ngl nd with Rangoon rice , which seems to be its nat a ural food , and that there is little doubt th t anything that will suf ﬁce for the genus E phestia will be equally nourishing to the pres

s . b ent specie This insect was also obtained in tins of army iscuit , but no particulars are given as to its breeding habits beyond what has already been said . The larva has been observed in Paris in the S mariu m rien tate es a . grain of s ame ( o ) from Sudan , West Africa a I V w Pl te V and Plate , A , illustrate the manner in hich the cocoons of the rice moth are made by the larva in conﬁning the

F I 2 — A rm G . , y biscuit showing h oles eaten by larvae of the ri ce moth and webbing by

e A er rran an d B e er e. sam . ( ft Du t v idg )

a ﬁ 2 in gr ins of rice by means of silken threads . Text gure shows a e V jury by the larv e to an army biscuit, and Plat , B , injury to cacao beans .

REPORTED IN'URIE S .

One of the ﬁrms which experienced trouble from this pest stated c are s that the raw cacao beans , when re eived in bags , stored in room 16 e to n about feet high , some of the bags being piled n arly the ceili g and others about 8 feet high . When the bags are disturbed the moths

‘ ﬂy from between them and on examination numerous larvae and cocoons may be found in such locations . Cocoons occupied or empty e o may b bserved in almost any crevice in the walls of the storerooms . 6 B U L L 783 U . 8 . P R OF GR CU L R ETIN , DE A TMENT A I TU E .

' r n ote that the a Cor espondents also oldest cacao beans are , as rule ,

the most heavily infested .

6 1914 10 of s s ecies ~ wer May , , moths thi p e placed in a rearing j ar

. 27 with cacao beans as food One moth was still alive on May , but n 21 was fou d dead the following day , having lived days without food . to According Dyar the tongue is completely absent in this moth , so

it is un able to feed . No evidence of insect. attack could be noted a 9 through the glass j ar when ex mined on July , but when some of the

beans , which had become moldy on account of the moist weather dur

O t . ing this period , were pened , a ma ure larv a and a cocoon contain

ing a pupa were found . Attack was conﬁned chieﬂy to beans that

already had been injured more or less . 1 1 Aﬁ h l 8 9 6 . c e c March , , Dr Carl , United States Publi Health Serv R ‘ . is a W . n a l tter i n ebb ed ice , San Juan, P , fur hed moths and pup e, the c e t in up ri e , and stated that the sp cies infes s warehouses Porto Rico , a that the eggs are l id in sacks of cereals , and that the developing larvae

‘ un ﬁ um s m render the cereals t for h an con u ption . The merchants at is e oe San Juan claim 1that the rice infest d bef r it reaches that port and that nearly all of it is concentrated at N ew Orleans or G alveston

. ih for shipment The claim is not made , however , although it is n s ferred , that the i sect is hipped from the United States , but it seems more probable that the moth has been established in Porto Rico E for a number of years . Agents of the Bureau of ntomology spent much time from 1908 to 1916 investigatin g insects injurious to rice N ew s G and other stored products from Orlean and alveston , but they

did not observe this insect at these or other ports . It may have been introduced recently through carelessness in vessels returning from f hi Porto Rico containing foodstuf s on w ch it was able to subsist . On

. a March 22 Dr . Michel sent additional specimens of larv e in infested a rice . The larv e were all paler than were those reared from darker and s substances , such as chocolate similar product , and as a result it nl was noted that the piliferous tubercles were plai y visible , whereas

m . 12 in the darker for s they were scarcely noticeable September , 1916 u a a , n merous larv e and some pup e of this species were received in

rice from the same source . The correspondent stated that some of the moths had been breeding continuously since the previous Feb

ru ar . y, and that they thrived at room temperatures 19 1916 e b May , , samples of rice inf sted y this species were again 18 received , and on September the Bureau of Chemistry reported ﬁ that this speci c shipment of rice was California grown , milled in N ew ' San Francisco , and shipped via Panama Canal to ork City 3 0 ' where it was held for about days , and then reshipped to San aun , R e P . , where upon its arrival the buyers rej cted it because the ' ' u market had declined , but not on acco nt of vermin , as the rice t b was apparently in sound condition . The rice was kept until Oc o er H H T E RICE MOT . 7

30 , and in the meantime the rice moth and other pests developed and

c G . the ri e was condemned by the United States overnment Finally , N ew n an d the rice was shipped to Orleans to be reco ditioned , was put into a condition satisfactory to the Federal authorities . e 7 a firm Dec mber of that ye r, a chocolate in Pennsylvania , which previously had furnished specimens , wrote that the moths disappear with the arrival of cold weather and are not seen again until the following spring . During the late spring months and all summer v T he r c they are in e idence . greatest t ouble is experien ed from the ' fi l aying of eggs by the moths on the nished chocolate and cocoa . The eggs hatch inmto larvae and the customer naturally Objects to wormy goods . Atte pts were being made to avoid this as much as possible by keeping finished materials covered .

L IFE HISTOR'.

The complete life history of the ric e moth has not been ascertained . The progress which might have been made with other insects in similar investigations was prevented in this case by the fact that seldom more than two generations were obtained in a single rearing ﬁ l j ar of cocoa or related substances . When con ned in arge numbers ae s E the larv , like others of imilar habits , such as phestia , travel , evi dently in an endeavor to secure a suitable location for transforma

a a e o . tion to pup e, to a gre ter xtent than do the ther species This might explain the fact that the pupal cases or cocoons u sually are found the o c either on the outside of bags at point of c nta t in the piles , or in

s . the folds of the burlap sacks , which provide more or le s shelter In the rearing j ars , although small pieces of cloth were inserted to form a k a shelters for the pup e , the thic webbing spun by the larv e com letel e p y covered the infested material , prev nting the exit of the

. s moths , which died without being able to reproduce Thi fact is mentioned because it happened in the cas e of a half dozen rearing 8 j ars of large size ( about liters capacity) . c e i It has been as ertained , nev rtheless , that the insect requ res only a short time to develop from larva to adultfthis period being de dependent on temperature . The entire summer period for trans a b 28 42 4 t 6 form tion from egg to egg is etween and days , or from o W weeks , but this period ould be prolonged considerably In cooler

~ weather . Better results attended rearI ng experiments with this Species in

- infested rice from Porto Rico . From a lot of moths which depositc d 26 8 eggs about May a new generation of moths began to issue July , 4 a a s . this period having b een passed in 3 days , or pproxim tely 6 week ° ° 52 82 F . ma The temperature ranged from to , reaching the ximum or only on a few occasions , and the average mean temperature for ° 0 ° the experiment was from 68 to 7 F . 8 B UL L 783 U . 5 . P R OF GR U L ETIN , DE A TMENT A IC TU RE .

The question has been raised by importers and manufacturers as to whether or not it is possible to retard the development of the rice moth in order that control measures may be un dertaken at desirable i t mes . While it was not possible to undertake any experiments along this line , it is known from analogy that development could be ns co iderably retarded by cold storage . The egg peri od might be l i 3 10 extended from the normal ength of t me , to days , to about a month ; the larval period to 6 months or more ; and the pupal period 5 14 4 i from the normal of from to days to weeks or longer , mak ng a possible total of about 8 months .

l - s ec1es Whi e complete life history data of this p would be desirable, what has been learned is sufﬁcient to show that such life - history s n ot ff studie would di er essentially from those of related species ,

- such as the Mediterranean ﬂour moth and the Indian meal moth , and it has b een developed that there is a practical certainty of four generations ann uall y and a possibility of as many as ‘ six in high temperatures .

A A D SSO CI TE INSECTS .

fi E hestia cau tellat k The g moth ( p Wal ) , as previously stated , has n hi in bee associated with t s species infested rice and cocoa products . n ni e In one reari g jar contai ng the rice moth br eding in cocoa , 18 1915 a of received June , , the larv e the latter were full grown on 2 ar August 7. The ' was examined again on Septemb er 10 and appar e n fi ae ntly contai ed only the g moth with its larv . This latter had evi ' dentl run a a a y out the former , its larv e perh ps feeding on the larv e a hi c in un and pup e of the rice moth , w h nature is not an usual oc cur 1 . a in rence Some , however , rem ined , and a few days the rice moth I hi fi reappeared . n t s particular rearing cage the g moth must have s o deposited her eggs through the me h covering the jar, alth ugh this

- s was decidedly thick and closely woven . Fig moth female have been known to do this in previous ins tances .

- Plo r un t l The Indian meal moth ( dia inte p c e la a . ) developed in great numbers in a ' lot of chocolate in which the rice moth had been reproducing abundantly , completely devouring the edible material and then perishing .

’ It may be noted that when closely conﬁned with edib le material the three moths mentioned , in common with others which feed upon t stored produc s , frequently perish because of the compact webbing which prevents escape and the lack of moisture which produces n excessive dryi g of their food supply , curtailing the longer repro duction period of the s pecies .

1 T h l ar f h wor nt L a een n o e ee n on th e va o t e c abb age m ( P o ia rap ae . ) h ve b t d f di g e ’ e of t he ca a e o r A r h r R e T h orn arw r h i mdea gg s bb g l ope ( u tog ap e b as eic a e il y ) . e c e o m ( C o

ob s olete F ab . i w n n ) s al so ell k own t o b e c an ib alistic . T H E R C H I E MOT . 9

o t Some forms of beetles , h wever , are able o continue feeding In the absence of misture Until the supply of food i s exhausted

’ o t r S ilv a/nu s snﬂ n men sas L a The saw t o hed g ain beetle ( a . ) h s been

found In several instances associated with the rice moth . Obviously it plays the same rOle with this species as with other moths— a scav

i s . enger , although a decidedly nox ou pest ' T rib aum erru ineu m b The rust red ﬂour beetle ( ol f g Fa. has been

saw- observed In the same situations as the toothed grain beetle .

- Rhie er tho; omini The lesser grain borer ( op d on Fab . ) was received s he h in rice from Porto Rico as ociated with stages of t rice mot . ’ L ho t r The Siamese grain beetle ( op cwe es puealla Oliv . ) was ob r served _ breeding in numbe s in a sample of Porto Rican rice some t r: re time af e ceipt , showing that the immature stages were present at an earlier date . O l n r The rice weevil ( n a dm o yea L . ) was present 1n small numbers

In most of the samples in spected . It was noticeable in broken rice that the beetles which developed in such small quarters were not as an large as those which are found in soft kernels of corn d wheat . The color of the beetles taken in broken rice was brighter and they had the appearance of being a distinct species .

HISTOR' AN D L ITERA TURE .

While the rice moth prob abl y has been present in E urope for ‘ 1866 t ' many years , it was not until tha it was discovered in ork , E n s g land , and de cribed as a new species by Stainton It was F os su lae oomn thioae found In imported dried currants ( ) , c alled ' ut b e . Corinthian currants , In reality a well known speci s of grape In 1875 Barrett (2 ) mentioned the occurrence of this species in fruit

L o . warehouses in ndon , together with other insects of similar habits 188 5 18 93 1901 7 Ra onot In and ( ) g wrote , in technical ﬁ s articles , in regard to the classi cation and characters of thi species , 1895 without reference to its injurious habits . In Meyrick ( 5) gave t th a brief technical description of the adult , stating tha e larva

' ' 189 6 a occurs in dried currants . In 7 ( ) the uthor mentioned this speci es In a list of insects likely to occur in this country in dried

1909— 10 8 r i fruit . In Fletcher ( ) ecorded the species as occurr ng In rice from the West Indies . In 1913 Durrant and Beveridge ( 9) wrote the most extensive ac O f e count the insect which had appeared to that date , ref rring espe cially to its occurrence In army biscuits and the temperature which would destroy this and other species of related habits . An article

t b . a dealing with this insec , y Otto H Swezey ppeared the same

r yc a . Kotin k In 1908 the rice moth came to the attention of Mr . Jacob s y E of the Bureau of ntomology , at that time in Hawaii , who found it B U L L 783 U . . P R OF GR CU L U R ETIN , S DE A TMENT A I T E .

l . u 10 1909 breeding in a feed warehouse in Honolu u in July On J ly , , Ka n a w e . it as captured at Point by Mr Swezey . The latter part of the same month moths were foun d emerging from a package of r cracked wheat obtained f om a Honolulu grocery . Mr. Swezey expressed the opinion that although the species is a E uropean moth e nl apparently not recorded at that time in the United States , it c rtai y ni must have reached Honolulu from the U ted States . ' The habits of the moth are well described b y Barrett He un E Plodia states that when disturbed in ﬂight , like phestia and , it l m o darts down in a zigzag and a most im ediately comes t rest . To run ward evening the males about , quivering their wings in a peculiar il in n mann er . The moth shows considerable sk l selecting for a resti g place the projections of rough beams, to which , owing to its rough , blunt head and closely folded wings , it bears so close a resemblance that Barrett states he has taken specimens between his ﬁn gers before se n he could satisfy him lf that they were not projecting spli ters . i a i This can be read ly appreciated by reference to Pl te I , B , wh ch l s . u hows the moth at rest The moth is pec iarly sluggish , even more r a s o than those of the other gene a . B rrett writes of this and of a related species ( E phestia ) that they were being replenished con stantl t e r i y from impor ed dried fruits , sinc every cargo of f u t a s r swarmed with the larv e, ome of which died f om change of climate

u e . and other ca s s , but many of which came to maturity He states that it is obvious that places in which old currants have been of i stored are the most potent sources infestation , the new fruit com ng into harbor during the month of September when the moths are al 'f ready plentiful . He believed that the dif erent s pecies occurred in about equal numb ers and was certain that they had formed a settle s ment from which it would be no easy ta k to expel them .

CONTROL MEA SURE S .

Warehouses and other structures in which the rice moth has b e o come established shoul d be cleansed th roughly . Any bags which n contain or have contained i fested rice or other cereal , cacao beans , mi m cocoa or si lar material , or dried fruits should be fu igated ; all o corners , cracks , and crevices which may harb r the insect should be o b rnin brushed out ; and all refuse promptly destr yed b y u g . The walls and ﬂoors then may be washed down with a soluble creosote

o . e disinfectant , or a solution of comm n salt The brush s used should f t oul be stif and s rong , and every point sh d be reached so as to make the compartment perfectly clean . The machinery also should be cleaned thoroughly and the entire

- plant fumigated with hydrocyanic acid gas . In small plants either m carbon disulphid or sulphur dioxid may be employed for fu igation ,

1 2 B U L L 783 U . s . PAR OF GR CU L ETIN , DE TMENT A I TU RE .

A steam pressure of from 75 to 100 pounds may be employed adv an ta eousl g y. Since bags of compact material are heated to the center ﬁ with dif culty , so far as possible they should b e separated before for in s t treatment to facilitate uniform heating , eé s and their larvae become more active upon the application of the heat and may work ff their way to the center of the bags in their e orts to escape it . Better res ults may be obtained by providing the radiators with

water traps or vents . Rice and cacao beans should not be exposed to a temperature above 13 0 ° F . for more than one hour, as excessive splitting takes pl ace In r t o ice , especially if bleached , and , owing the excessively oily nature

of cacao beans , they may become rancid .

‘ G e af a ermination in the case of som seeds , such as peanuts , is not f ected even by an exposure of six hours to a temperature as high as , 140 ° F . but it is best to be on the safe side in thetreatment of com modities affected by this moth until we have had more experience ° a . 40 long this line It should be added that a temperature of 1 F . is se — a a fatal to most forms of in ct life in a short time larv e, pup e, and

- a . e n in dults The Indian meal moth , it has b en lear ed by experiment the E In Bureau of ntomology , dies less than half an hour when so

exposed .

MI I E D FU GAT ON M THO S.

- H'DROC'A N IC A CID GA S .

For the fumigation of buildings and other structures inhabited by

— is the rice moth , the hydrocyanic acid gas process the most useful .

Indeed , it is now the standard remedy for practically all insects s a ffecting stored products . It has been in use for this purpo e for about 20 years and most progressive millers are familiar with the

- method of application . Information in regard to hydrocyanic acid g as fumigation has been furnished by the Bureau of E ntomology in various bulletins a n d other publications . In the earlier ones the use of cyanid of potash or potassium cyanid was advised , but owing to conditions brought about by the war it is now impossible to secure mi i this che cal , and as a result cyanid of soda or sodium cyan d is

n mu ch ' chea er bei g used , and while somewhat expensive , is p than the c orresponding potash salt . The formula is as follows

n S odium avoirdupoi s ou ce_ _

S ulphuric a cid ﬂ u id ounces _ _ W a ter

’ Information in regard to this method is furnished in Farmers ' ' - 699 G as . Bulletin , Hydrocyanic acid Against Household Insects IVhile this , as the title shows , is especially for dwellings , the methods advised can be adapted readily to mills and storehouses . f T H E R C H I E MOT . 1 3

- s s Hydrocyanic acid gas , it must be tated , is the most poi onous

substance in common use , but it is still employed very extensively i in fumigating mills and dwell ngs , and if the directions in the bulletins cited are carefully carried out there Is really no danger to

human beings .

CARBON DISU L PH ID.

Before the general adeption of hydrocyamc - acI d gas as a means

of fumigating buildings , carbon disulphid was considered a standard , of and it is still value , particularly on a small scale , as a substitute

- m for hydrocyanic acid gas . It is extre ely inﬂammable , however , e which has led to its abandonment in many localities . Dir ctions for its use are given in Farmers ’ Bulletin 799 1 Carbon Disulphid as an ' Insecticide .

SUMMA R'.

1 O rc ' . o c halonic taint has The rice moth ( ym ep a S . ) been known s 1911 was ﬁ to occur in the United State only since , and not identi ed 1916 until . 2 h . as Its origin is unknown , but it been introduced at many points

t n ot a in other continents and is as ye strictly cosmopolit n . It has E n been found commonly in ngla d , where it was introduced in rice ,

d a B urma l - i r an n . chieﬂy from India , and a so d ied fruits 3 e s . Its habit of feeding on cacao b an Is probably an acquired one . E s m i vidently it is inclined to be omnivorou , since it breeds r ce f a i o t s dried ruits , the v r us produc s of cacao , uch as cocoa , cacao l and t w t s she ls swee ened and uns ee ened chocolate , ship biscuit , and , w . t sesame seeds It displays , ho ever, no par iality for any of these

food substances . 4 I ts has . complete life history not been traced , but , like other o ce a do r species , it reprodu s nearly the year round under average e a n t r conditions . In the Unit d St tes i festa ions appea to die down b ut s from time to time , are stimulated through new shipment of

cacao beans from South America and Central . America . 0 I w . t produces copious and dense external ebbing to which food

c a te s . materials, such as rice , ocoa , and other m t r , trongly adhere In this respect its work and injury resemble those of the ﬁg moth

- E hestia can tella . c ( p Walk ) and related spe ies , and the Indian meal moth (Plodia in terpwnc tella

' 6 ) While it has been recognized only from western Pennsylvania o and Porto Rico , it occurs with ut doubt at other points , and dealers i t n rice , chocolate , and similar impor ed dry edibles should keep a

‘ ’ 1 T he F a rmers B u lletin s men tioned ma y b e obtain ed free on application to th e Divi sion

of u c a on s U n e S a es e ar en of A r cu u re. P bli ti , it d t t D p tm t g i lt 14 B U L L 783 U . s . P R OF GR ETIN , DE A TMENT A ICUL TU RE . lookout for the species to prevent it from gaining entrance and b e s in o s coming e tablished large wareh use and similar plants . 7 l a . It wi l undoubtedly incre se in injuriousnes s in time unl ess t proper measures are taken to s amp it out by thorough treatment .

L A R D ITER TU E CITE .

T A IN T ON S . , H . T D r 1866 . esc f n w on o a e s ec es of the a i G all eridae. I n E n ipti p i f m ly t . M M — o. a 2 . 186 6 . 1 72 1 73 g , v , , p .

Or i nal des cr on a s M elis s ob la t es e h olon i ig ipti p c p c a n . s from 'ork p , ' E n ro ri ed cu rran g , f m d ts ( imported ) .

B A T T C G RRE , . .

1 8 7 5 . On th e s ec es of E est a occu rr n in G re r a I E n a n n . p i ph i i g t B it i . t M M 11 2 o a . . 69 . . g , v , p

2 2 : I n frui wareh ou s s in r r a e 7 e e cur an s . N o es on a s P g t d i d t t h bit .

R A N T E L GO O . , .

1885 . R e s on of th e ri s s ec es of P c ae and G all erid I n vi i B ti h p i hy itid m. E n M Ma 22 1 — 1 — 2 t o. . 88 5 6 7 3 . g , v , , p . . P a ges 22— 2 3 : Remarks ; pl a ced in g enu s Corcyra fr om t h e c oun t ry of it s s s r n uppo ed o igi .

9 ono r a i des G all riina t Ph citin ae n R m ﬁ 18 3 . e e e e . I o an o N M M g ph y , .

L i s . é o res su r les e do tere . 7 a n Petersb our M m i p p t . S i t g . n f a e ﬁ 4 n n ﬁ l tr s ea d o e 1 . 3 a l u s a o : . e t o . 3 . 18 I l ti H f m l , pl , g ; v i , p , g .

I E ME'R CK , .

A an ok f r L er 4 L n n 18 95 o o s e o a . 8 3 . u s . o o . . h db B iti h pid pt p , ill d

4 : T e ni cal es cr t n of th o h n Page 3 8 ch d ip io e m t a d bri ef n otes .

I N D N F CH T T E E , . H .

- 18 97 o e t e n own ins ec a ec in s ore e e a e ro u c s . . S m lit l k ts ff t g t d v g t bl p d t D A Di E n B l n U . . e . r v . u s 45 . 10 ﬁ t . . 8 . . s S pt g . , p , g .

Pa g e 1 0 : Mere m en ti on as a - sp ecies lik ely t o b e fou n d in thi s cou n t ry in r d ied fruit . L A N T E . . R GO O ,

ll ii M ir r r R o an off N . o es su 1901 . ono ra e des G a e n ae. I n é M g phi m , . , M m L i r 421— a n P r r 8 07 . ete ou . l d es . 5 es e o te . sb p p t , p . S i t g

— l fi l 1 fi fin n n s 2 3 an d . 2 6 of a es 49 1 4 9 3 . 4 5 . 5 . : e o e u P g , p , g , p , g D iti g e r on f c h lonic an t ra n s lin lla ' s n n a n d Corcyra , d s c ipti o ep a a d ee ( y o ym ) c pl a te of ea h .

F L T CH . E ER , T , B 1909 — 10 L e o era e'c u s e of the or r c ae and ne ae w pid pt , l iv T t i id Ti id , ith some remarks on their di stribution and mean s of di sp ersal n I r n L nn oc a . S s f h In an O n a s . a mon gs t the i lands o t e di ce T i . — 2 1 Zoo o . 265 3 23 . 17 5 . 3 . . , v , l gy , p , pl P ag es 29 6 an d 3 1 6 : R ec ord ed from W es t I n dies ; mention a s c omm on in r r s i ce s to e .

D A N H n E VERI D E d W . W . O 9 U T ' . a G ( ) RR , . , B , . 1 1 A r ina r re or of e e erature reac e in a r scu s 9 3 . p elim y p t th t mp h d my bi it ur n a n es ec a w re erence to the es ruc on of d i g b ki g, p i lly ith f d t ti '

- ' u r. the or e ﬂ ou r o E es a kiihniella Zeller. I n o imp t d m th , ph ti M r 2 n 1 — 4 R o A r ed . Co s . 0 o. 6 5 63 7 l . y . my p , v , , p

— a es 6 3 3 6 3 4 : O c cu rren c e in ar s cu es cr on ogra , P g my bi it , d ipti , bibli phy

n n s on f h h l a and n ur . a d di s tributio ; illu t ra ti s o t e m ot , a rv , i ' y H 'TH E RICE MOT . 1 5

Z T T ( 10 ) SW E E', O O H .

w alleriids . I n Proc awa an E n o oc ono n . S . 1913 . N o es o t o . t g H ii t m , H

— l l aw 2 . 211 212 Ii u a . , H ii , v , p . Page 21 2 : O ccu rren ce in Hawaii in 1 9 08 — 1 9 09 in a feed h ou s e a nd in r hea c a cked w t .

D'AR . G . ( 11 ) , H

ll r n ee n in a ao o I n I n s I n i n n . A a e n e c c s . s c e s 1 o 1 . t . . 5 19 3 . g f di g p d M , v , ,

r eri' on f T in O si n an d es cr on f he b r m n Cha act ati o e p S . g , d ipti o T . t o o ae . sp . , ' H a s foll ows Da rk gra y ; fore win g with ou t ma rkin gs . in d wi n g

aler s ra . T he ea is h ea u e a n d w h t h e n arrow p , ilky g y h d vily t ft d it , o n d n s h ns ec h a s e of a T n E ' n e 1 3 — 1 5 e w s e t e t e c e . a s p i t i g g iv i t p t i id p ,

ADDIT IO N A L CO PI E S OF THI S PU B LICATION MA' B E PROCU RED FROM THE SU PERIN TEN DEN T O F DOCU MEN TS G OV ERN MEN T PRIN TIN G OFFICE W AS G T D C HI N . ON , . AT 10 CE NT S PE R CO P' V

W A S H I N GT O N 2 G O V ERN ME N T PRI N T I N G OF F I CE 2 1 919