3 Park Place, Suite 307 Phone: 301-731-4535 [email protected] Annapolis, MD 21401-3722 USA Fax: 301-731-4538 www.entsoc.org Entomological Society of America Proposal Form for new Common Name or Change of ESA-Approved Common Name Complete this form and e-mail to [email protected]. Submissions will not be considered unless this form is filled out completely. The proposer is expected to be familiar with the rules, recommendations, and procedures outlined in the “Use and Submission of Common Names” on the ESA website. 1. Proposed new common name: Indian meal moth 2. Previously approved common name (if any): Indianmeal moth 3. Scientific name (genus, species, author): Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) Order: Lepidoptera Family: Pyralidae Supporting Information 4. Reasons supporting the need for the proposed common name: The existing common name involves use of a contracted form of the words "Indian" and "meal" that is awkward, and infrequently used, compared to the proposed modification. It is also misleading in that it appears to suggest the insect is associated with "Indianmeal", which is a non-existent material. Instead this species feeds on all manner of milled grain meal-type of materials. The origin of the existing name refers to the association of this insect with corn meal, a product sometimes known as "Indian meal" in the mid 19th Century. The ESA name is a unique contraction of "Indian meal", which is now an archaic name. However, given the long history of use of the common name for this very important stored products insect this proposal seeks only to modify the use of the contracted form. A few years ago a few stored products entomologists (James Throne, Shiva Mohandass, and Frank Arthur) did a review of this issue amongst themselves. This was provided to me by James Throne as a personal communication document. I am including this review in its entirety: "During the late 1800's, an American entomologist, Asa Fitch, named the adult of a whitish-yellow larva infesting corn meal as the Indian meal moth, indicating an insect infesting a Native American Indian staple food. Today, P. interpunctella is known by several common names, such as pantry moth, millers moth, Indian meal moth, and Indianmeal moth. The latter two names are commonly used in scientific journals. Many European, Asian, African, and Australian journals use the common name Indian meal moth. The journals of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) mandate use of the common name Indianmeal moth; however, some articles have been published in ESA journals using the name Indian meal moth (Sauer et al., 2002; Sedlacek et al., 2001; Doud and Phillips, 2000). This confusion in ESA journals results from a typographical error in the 1997 ESA publication “Common Names of Insects and Related Organisms” (ESA 1997). In that publication, the common name was listed as “Indian meal moth”; however, a later note (ESA 1999) indicates that the name was a typographical error and should have been “Indianmeal moth”. There are perhaps equal number of scientific publications citing both names, potentially leading to confusion among scientists, publishers, and amateur entomologists. We recommend use of the common name "Indian meal moth" as a majority of journals, dictionaries, and encyclopedias use this form of name which has a literal meaning, historic background, and world- wide usage among entomologists. The literal meaning found in dictionaries is that Indian meal is the same as corn meal; hence, Fitch’s original common name for the insect." Thomas Phillips, in response to a request for comment on this proposal, answered with a comment also worth including: "I was so pleased to see Whitney's proposal for the change in ESA common name for Plodia interpunctella. It urns out that David Hagstrum (copied here) and I were preparing to write exactly such a proposal in the next weeks or months. "If my scanner were working today I would have scanned and sent what David believes is the first use of a US common name, in its original intention (if those in the 19th century thought about such things...). David gave me a copy of a 3-page report by good ole Asa Fitch in a publication to the NY State Agriculture Society in 1856 in which Fitch makes a new species description on page 320 of "...THE INDIAN MEAL MOTH, Tinea Zea, new species (Plate 4, Fig 1)...". My guess is that Hubner had eventually (or previously) came up with the correct species name of Plodia interpunctella. The more relevant point is that the first use of the common name in the US was apparently the one we now want to return to with your much-needed proposal!" 5. Stage or characteristic to which the proposed common name refers. (Note: If the description involves a physical feature it is strongly encouraged that an image of the organism be provided with this submission.): This is a very common species, worldwide that is associated with milled and processed grain products, included ground "meal" type of materials. Plodia interpunctella also feeds on nuts, dried fruits, dried vegetables, chocolate, and other stored food products. However, since the words "Indian" "meal" and "moth", in some combination are universally used to describe this species, a new name deviating from this is not considered. 6. Distribution (include references): N/A 7. Principal hosts (include references): N/A 8. References containing previous use of the proposed common name: An internet search was done March 10, 2014 using the key words "Indianmeal moth". In the first 3 pages of the search were Extension fact sheets from seven states (Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia) that were using "Indian meal moth". This common name was also used by 5 commercial companies involved in pest control (Orkin, PestKill, Bug Clinic, Do-it- Yourself Pest Control, Planet Natural). It was also used by BugGuide and the National Pest Control Association. Wikipedia used "Indian meal moth" as the initial spelling, indicating that it was also spelled as "Indianmeal moth". The same search indicated Extension fact sheets from four states (Oklahoma, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky) with the spelling "Indianmeal moth". One commercial company (Adam's Pest Control) also used the name. Many research articles dealing with Plodia interpunctella appear to avoid use of any common name. However "Indian meal moth" seems to have been used in most referreed publications including a 2007 ARS review of its biology and management (http://ars.usda.gov/sp2userfiles/place/54300530/pdf/980_JSPR_43.302.pdf ) and a 2000 article in the Journal of Economic Entomology (http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.1603/0022-0493- 93.6.1842) 9. References using common names (give names) other than that proposed: The name "Indianmeal moth" is the present name formally recognized by the Entomological Society of America Common Names database. As such it is used in some publications, as indicated in the above entry. This name is sometimes seen referred to as the "Indian mealmoth" or "meal moth", but this is far less commonly used than is "Indianmeal moth" or "Indian meal moth". 10. Other insects or organisms to which the proposed common name might apply: None 11. Steps you have taken to consult with other workers who are familiar with the insect or organism as to suitability of and need for the proposed common name: Supports proposal: Bhadriraju Subramanyam, Department of Grain Science, Kansas State University Jim Throne, USDA-ARS San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center Thomas Phillips, Department of Entomology, Kansas State University James F. Campbell, Research Entomologist, USDA ARS CGAHR, Manhattan, Kansas Rizana Mahroof, Department of Biological Sciences, South Carolina State University A comment by Dr. Mahroof in conclusion: "I could not agree more with Tom and Jim. It has been a long-standing confusion with the common name of Plodia interpunctella, and I am glad to see that you have taken initiative to submit a proposal to change the common name. While rest of the world uses the common name as Indian mean moth, we still remain using Indianmeal moth, apparently, as records show, is a typographical error and not a real word. Thank you for making necessary steps to change the common name of P. interpunctella. I fully support this effort. " Proposed by: Whitney Cranshaw Address: Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80521 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (970) 491-6781 Date submitted: .