68 The Bulletin. 



leaf or the manufactured plug, fine-cut cigarettes and cigars. Fig. 

 55 shows the results of the operations of this insect upon a bundle 

 of fancy wrappers which had been stored for several years in the 

 State Museum. This insect is often very troublesome in tobacco 

 warehouses, but usually does most of its damage in cigar stands by 

 drilling small holes in the cigars and cigarettes, thus destroying 

 their commercial value. 



As small as this insect is, it is attacked by a four-winged parasite. 

 Although this parasite has never been found in great numbers, it is 

 undoubtedly a slight check upon the increase of this pest. 



Control. 



Preventives. — This insect is so minute that it is often able to 

 gain entrance to stored products without being noticed. General 

 cleanliness is, however, an excellent preventive. In fact, in mild 

 cases the only remedy required is a thorough cleaning of the infested 

 premises and a free use of gasoline. 



Remedies.' — In small cigar stands this insect may be easily handled 

 by fumigating with carbon-bisulphide. A tight box should be pro- 

 vided and the stored tobacco placed in this. The carbon-bisulphide 

 should be placed in saucers or shallow pans, the lid of the box re- 

 placed and the whole allowed to remain for from 12 to 24 hours. 

 An ounce of the chemical is sufficient to fumigate a box which con- 

 tains 50 cubic feet. Carbon-bisulphide has a very characteristic 

 odor, but this soon disappears if the tobacco is exposed to the air. It 

 must be borne in mind, however, that carbon-bisulphide is a danger- 

 ously inflammable substance, and no light should be brought in con- 

 tact with it, as an explosion would result. 



Gasoline may also be used quite effectively against this insect. 

 It may be sprayed or sprinkled liberally over everything, taking 

 especial care to get it into all cracks and crevices. The room should 

 then be closed tightly and allowed to remain for about 12 hours. 

 The same precautions about lights should be used with gasoline as 

 were mentioned above under carbon-bisulphide. 



In large warehouses the control of this insect is a different prob- 

 lem. Some warehousemen secure absolute relief by steaming the 

 infested rooms, and where the building is not tight and steam is 

 accessible there is perhaps no better remedy. In the modern brick 

 warehouses and in other warehouses where steam is not accessible 

 it would perhaps be more economical to fumigate with hydro-cyanic 

 acid gas. This is a dangerously poison gas and should be used accord- 

 ingly. It is made by placing potassium cyanide in a solution of 

 sulphuric acid. For every 1,000 cubic feet of air space in the ware- 

 house take — 



10 ounces potassium cyanide (98% pure). 



20 ounces sulphuric acid (pure). 



40 ounces water. 



