240 



HOUSEHOLD INSECTS 



North Carolina and Virginia. From 

 thence it has spread over the Southern 

 states and as far north as Massachu- 

 setts, New York, and Michigan. It is 

 more destructive in the South than 

 elsewhere because of the warmer cli- 

 mate, and it is primarily a pest of 

 stored grains rather than of household 

 products, although it is often found in 

 popcorn (Fig. 73), rice, and other 

 cereals. 



Life history and habits. — It is ex- 

 ceedingly destructive to stored grains, 

 especially in the South. It has been 

 known to reduce the weight of grain 

 50 per cent in a few months. It in- 

 creases very rapidly and because of the 

 . secluded habits of the larva is difficult 



tiG. 73. — Ear of 



popcorn infested to control in any way except by heat 



with larvae of the and f um i gat ion. ' 

 Angoumois grain ° 



moth. The moth is light grayish-brown or 



straw-colored with its wings lightly 

 mottled and lined with black, especially 

 near the tips. The wings are long and 

 narrow and the hind pair is fringed with 

 long, delicate hairs along the posterior 

 margins. The moths resemble clothes 

 moths in general appearance and habits 

 of flying, but they are somewhat larger, 

 for their wings expand a little more than 

 one-half an inch. 



The moths deposit their white eggs 



Fig. 74. — Egg of 

 Angoumois grain 

 moth, enlarged. 



