Reports to various Correspondents. loi 



The larva is dull whitish with a brownish dorsal line and pale 

 reddish-brown head. The larva is found in May and June. It is 

 recorded from Birkenhead, Bristol, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and London. 

 I have found it in port wine corks at Wye. It probably occurs in 

 most large cellars and vaults over the country, and is thus spread 

 to the cellars in houses. I have noticed that the " frass " {i.e., debris) 

 collects around the top of the neck of the bottles where the corks are 

 not properly sealed over. The moth undoubtedly lays eggs on the 

 parts of the corks exposed, and will go on breeding in the cellar year 

 after year. They will also lay the eggs on corks left about and 

 apparently on fungi in the cellars as well, so a cellar should be 

 disinfected to check them. 



Although this is the chief cork pest, other insects are found in 

 corks. Numerous beetles also occur, but it is not known how many 

 go to devour the cork or to eat fungi or the larva; of the Tineid Moth. 

 Various species of Cryptophagu.^ occur in cellars and feed on fungi, 

 and sometimes occur in corks in plenty in company with the Tineid 

 larvce. 



The beetles may be in the corks and eat their way out even 

 through the wax. They may be in the corks before they are used for 

 bottling or they may attack them afterwards. 



With regard to your questions, all I can answer is as follows : — 



(1). The name of the chief cork pest is Oinophila V-flava ; corks 

 may or may not be infected before being used. 



(2). I do not know the length of life of the larva. 



(3). The wine should be recorked. 



(4). Infection spreads througli a cellar by the pests laying eggs 

 in the various corks. 



I should disinfect the cellars when the moth appears in July and 

 August now and again with sulpliur. It is no good, of course, except 

 when the moth is out. I do not know the effect of formalin. Corks 

 should be well sealed over the neck of the bottles, and nothing but 

 sound corks should ])e used. What part fungi play I do not know; 

 I have written to Kew, and am told nothing is known on the subject 

 of fungi attacking corks, nor what species the fungi are. 



Dr. Newton Pitt replied as follows : — •' I am much obliged to you 

 for your kind answers to my inquiries concerning the diseases of 

 corks which are the cause of ftpoiling many thousand pouncU worth of 

 v?wc in London every year. I am astonislied to learn from you that 

 really no one has ever taken sullicient interest in the (piestion to 

 study the matter and to decide what slimild be done. 1 le:irn that 

 th(!re is hnrdly ;" large; wine ccllnr in London which is not troubled 



