22 INJURIOUS INSECTS OF 1904. 



female may mate with several males, laying eggs between the dif- 

 ferent matings. 



As regards the food habits of this insect ; rice flour is a dainty 

 dish for the larvae, as is flour made from buckwheat. Any infested 

 mill which keeps flour in sacks before shipping may hear sooner 

 or later from the consumer or retailer that "the flour is wormy." 

 This is caused by the female moth pushing her ovipositor through 

 the sack and laying her eggs in the flour inside. Crackers, germea, 

 rolled wheat, oatmeal and corn meal are all said to suffer. 



The moth is evidently a continuous breeder in warm localities, 

 in warm mills for instance. It is a well known fact that cold re- 

 tards and warmth hastens its development, millers sometimes tak- 

 ing advantage of the first point to keep the pest in check. 



Fig. 9. — a, cocoon from below showing pupa through the thin silk attaching cocoon to some 

 surface; b, same from above, enlarged. — Riley and Howard in Insect Life. 



Dr. Fletcher of Canada, says in connection with the outbreak 

 there, that there are probably two normal broods, one in the spring, 

 another in the autumn, but he thinks he raised as many as three 

 distinct broods in a warm room during the winter. F. H. Chit- 

 tenden, of Washington, claims that in the warmest weather in that 

 locality the life cycle occupies only five weeks. 



