ENrOMOLQGIOAL SOCLETY OF ONTARIO. 



AN ATTACK OF EPHESTIA INTERPUNOTELLA. 



By H a. Stevenson, London. 



Attack. — Slender white or pinkish cylindrical caterpillars from one-half to three- 

 quarter inches in length, with reddish brown heads ; a dark brown stripe runs along the 

 side. The caterpillars were found feeding on raisins, prunes, rice, currants, dried apples, 

 and wherever found they could be traced by whitish silk threads or webs. The caterpillars, 

 when full-grown, spin close whitish or greyish -white cocoons about a half-inch long and 

 one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter. When the caterpillars emerge from the cocoons 

 they are a narrow rolled-up like moth, and are a brownish-grey color with a golden lustre. 

 A more complete report of this insect is contained on page 77 of Mr. Fletcher's report 

 in the Experimental Farm Reports for the year 1889. 



On August 17th I was called to a wholesale warehouse in this city (London), where 

 they said they were troubled for the last three days with a small moth, which was increas- 

 ing very rapidly. When I went down there these small moths were flying all over the 

 warehouse in great abundance, from the cellar to attic ; they were even on the outside of 

 the front door, and they had originally started at the back door. I asked them where 

 they came from, and they replied that they did not know where they came from, as the 

 first were observed only three days before, so, after looking over the place [ came 

 across a shipment of Sultana raisins behind the back door and alongside the elevator. 

 There were about 500 boxes, and the V)Oxes were almost covered with the caterpillars 

 and the moths. The moths were flying about in great abundance. A great number of 

 the caterpillars had fallen down the elevator into tlie cellar, and some had also climbed 

 up the supports of the elevator into the upper stories. The caterpillars had also pene- 

 trated into the adjoining rooms, and were swarming over the tea chests in great numbers 

 — in fact, were into everything. 



The raisins had been imported from Smyrna by Liverpool and Montreal, on October 

 20th, 1893, and had remained in the warehouse since then. 



In three days from the time they were first noticed they had swarmed all over the 

 warehouse. 



Remedies — \ recommended that the raisins and the tea chests, which were swarming 

 with the caterpillars and moths should be placed in some large boxes which were air- 

 tight, and in which some bisulphide of carbon had been exposed in open dishes and left 

 for a time. The moths and caterpillars on the tea chests soon fell oil, as they had not 

 penetrated into the interior. But the raisins were left over night in the boxes and the 

 pests were soon destroyed. The firm tried spraying the place with the bisulphide, but it 

 dissolved all the rubber atomizers used. 



At night some bisulphide of carbon was exposed through the ditlerent parts of the 

 warehouse, and the proprietor collected the keys from the different employees and cau- 

 tioned them about the use of lights, as the bisulphide of carbon is very inflammable, and 

 the whole warehouse was swept thoroughly through with a good stiff broom. 



The raisins were unpacked and picked over and thoroughly cleaned and reboxed again 

 as good as new. I have been in the warehouse several times since, and have not noticed 

 the recurrence of the insect. 



Thanks are due to Mr. Moffat, who at once identified the insect and compared it 

 with the specimens in the Society's collection. And thanks are also due to Mr. J. 

 Fletcher, of Ottawa, to whom specimens were sent, which he identified as Ephfstia 

 interpunctella, and also for his immediate reply concerning the destruction of the pest 



