206 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Fia. 3. Work of little Grain-moth in field corn, slightly enlarged (Original). 



MEDITERRANEAN FLOUR-MOTH. 



(Ephcstia kuehniella.*) 



A small moth, the larvae or caterpillar of which spins webs in fioiir-mills, clogging the 

 machinery and felting the tlour. 



Something more than fifteen years ago, an insignificant little moth 

 appeared in this country, and since that time it has spread over a good 

 part of America, from California to New York and Pennsylvania, here 

 and there — Minnesota, Alabama, Colorado, North Carolina and Canada 

 liave suffered. During the past year the creature came to light in our 

 state.f It was expected, of course, being bound to arrive sooner or later. 

 The appearance of this little creature is very deceptive, something less 

 than half an inch long; and under an inch, when measured from tip to 

 tip of the extended "snngs, of a dull-gray, leaden color, and very deli- 

 cately built. The creature appears incapable of bringing about such wide- 

 spread havoc. The injury is caused by the larvae or caterpillars, not 

 so much because of the food that is eaten as b}' the habits of spinning 

 silken threads wherever they go. 



The figure gives a very good idea of the appearance of the creature. 

 The small white cateri)illar has the head and part of the first thoracic 

 segment light brown. There are five pairs of false-legs beside the six 

 true, jointed legs of the anterior region. These larvae travel every- 

 Vt'^here, through the flour and sometimes in the grain, spinning very tine 

 silken webs which felt the flour together and make it lumpy. They 



* This identification was kindly verified by Mr. F. H. Chittenden of the National Burrau of En- 

 tomology. 



t Since writing the above, the writer has received Information from Mr. F. H Cliittenden of the 

 Nationa' Dept., who states that on July 5th, 1902, he received specimens of this species in flour from 

 Michigan. 



