October, '19] SCIENTIFIC NOTES 407 



Scientific Notes 



An Imported Feeder on Stored Peanuts. While inspecting warehouses for the 

 State Food Administrator, a heavy infestation of a moth, resembhng Ephestia kueh- 

 niella, was found in peanuts imported from China. About five hundred tons of pea- 

 nuts had been stored on this floor for six months. The bags were piled about ten deep, 

 while the infestation was confined mostly to the two or three upper layers. Many of 

 the sacks in the upper tier were completely covered by the silken web which the cater- 

 pillar spins, in this way also resembling the Mediterranean flour moth. The loss, as 

 with most insects attacking stored foods, came not alone in the destruction of the 

 peanut kernel but in the large amount of frass and webbing present on the uneaten 

 nut. Both hulled and unhulled peanuts were attacked. The deterioration was so 

 marked that the attention of the State Food Inspector was called to the infestation 

 and he promptly confiscated the most heavily infested portions. 



The larvae pupated between the sacks or on the walls and ceilings, there being 

 apparently two or more generations through the summer. Caterpillars pupating in 

 October did not emerge in the laboratory until the first part of April. 



The male moth is 10 to 12 mm. long, light gray in color, with a yellowish brown 

 stripe 4 to 5 mm. long in the center and lengthwise of the wing. A distinct black spot 

 is found at the posterior end of this stripe. The female moth is 15 to 16 mm. long, a 

 uniform grayish color, distinctly lighter than E. kuehniella. The fore wings show no 

 other markings except a deep black spot about 8 mm. back from the base of the wing. 

 The larv£e are of the same general appearance as E. kuehniella. 



This moth was identified by Mr. August Busck as Aphomia {Paralipsa, Melisso- 

 blates) gularis, Zeller of the family Galleridce. It was described (Horae. Soc. Entom. 

 Rossicae, vol. xiii, p. 74, pi. 1, fig. 26, plate 2, fig. 27, 1877) from Japan and recorded 

 from China, India and Valdivostock. He comments as follows, "It is presumably a 

 scavenger, feeding in the decayed peanuts and it might well prove of some economic 

 importance if it was introduced into the United States. It is the first record of its 

 coming to our shores as far as I know." 



E. R. DE Ong, University of California. 



The Imported Red Spider (Paratetranychus pilosus Can. & Fanz.) Attacking Apple 

 Foliage. This mite has been reported from Canada by Mr. L. Caesar but has not 

 hitherto been recorded from the United States. Specimens of this mite were kindly 

 determined by Dr. H. E. Ewing through the courtesy of Dr. A. L. Quaintance. The 

 European plum seems to be its preferred host, although it has been found, according 

 to Caesar, on apple, sour cherry, pear, peach, hawthorn, mountain ash and rose. It 

 has become established on apple in Adams County, Pennsylvania. Specimens have 

 been taken from widely separated orchards throughout the county. The foliage of 

 infested orchards becomes brownish or yellowish in color and presents a very sickly 

 appearance. Reports of similar injury have been received from Franklyn County, 

 Pennsylvania, which may prove to be cau.scd by the same species. 



Injury by this species was first noted during the summer of 1918, although the 

 owner of one orchard states that he has noticed similar injury for the past three or 

 four years. During the winter of 1918-1919 the eggs were found very abundant in 

 orchards where the injury had been serious tl»e previous summer. The smaller 

 branches were covered with eggs, especially on the under sides, giving the branches a 

 reddish color and attracting the attention of many. In the spring the first reports 

 were received from laborers, working in orchards, who were annoyed by the abun- 

 dance of these mites and the tickling sensation produced by those which had fallen 

 from the trees. 



