86 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA : 



This pest is common throughout Australia, and in 

 Victoria it has given no end of trouble, the larvae having 

 been found in boxes of dried fruits, apples, peaches, 

 apricots, figs, and prunes. It also breeds in walnuts, 

 almonds, and seeds of various kinds, and especially in 

 flour and grain. 



In our plate we have endeavoured to give some faint 

 idea of the damage done to dried almonds, the specimens 

 from which the drawings have been made being taken 

 from both imported and locally-grown products. 



As showing the amount of damage which these insects 

 have done to wheat, Mr. Froggatt states — " It has been 

 bred in great numbers from a sample of wheat sent to me 

 by the late James Stephenson (Secretary of the Board of 

 Exports), with a note that 1,000 bags had been shipped to 

 London, and that the wheat was said to have been grown 

 at Coolamon, but there was some doubt about the exact 

 locality. Soon after it had been placed in a jar, it was 

 swarming with caterpillars, and the contents of the jar 

 became so matted together with the silken filaments that 

 they could be lifted out in an almost solid mass, and, on 

 examination, fully 90 per cent, of the grains were found 

 to have the end containing the embryo eaten out. Num- 

 bers of the larvae were found in bran, and others in a box 

 of dried raisins." 



Mr. Froggatt states that in America it is called " The 

 Indian Meal Moth," though even there it feeds upon all 

 kinds of dried foods. 



Prevention and Remedies. 

 Cleanliness in the store or factory, and a constant over- 

 hauling of the grain or dried fruits therein stored, would 

 appear to be the best of preventive measures. Should the 

 pest obtain a foothold, treating by either the excessive 

 temperature process, or by a thorough fumigation, com- 

 bined with a careful culling out of all the affected grain 

 or fruit, seems to be the only successful methods so far. 



