INJURIOUS INSECTS OF 1904. 37 



The so-called "bolting-cloth beetle" {Tencbroidcs mauntaniciis) 

 of California eats larva and pupa of flour moth and larva and adult 

 of Tribolimn. 



History of the Moth and Its Geographical Distribution. 



The origin of this pest cannot be stated definitely. It is probable 

 that it always has been a widespread species, but not arousing at- 

 tention until, atracted by flour and related products in mills, it 

 changed its habits and became prominent as a menace to the flour 

 milling industry. When first named by Zeller it was supposed by 

 him to have been introduced from America, and it was so stated, 

 but it was found by him in an inland town of Germany, Halle, be- 

 fore he knew of it at any seaport, and the same thing could be 

 said of its first officially reported appearance in France. One miller 

 has said with emphasis that he knew of its occurrence in Paris as 

 early as 1840, and another claims that it was in Constantinople in 

 1872, both statements, coming from dififerent sources, affording ad- 

 ditional proof that it is not of American origin, where it was not 

 officially reported until 1889 (Canada). There is evidence that it 

 was in America a few years previous to this date, not, however, 

 until long after it was known in Europe. In 1885 it was declared 

 to be a dreaded pest in many Mediterranean ports, though no state- 

 ment was made as to how long it had existed in those places. It 

 is reported from Chili, from Mexico, New Mexico, from the island 

 of Jamaica, and in 1890 what was evidently this species was re- 

 ported from South Africa. A practical miller, who has since had 

 experience with the pest in California, asserts that it was in Schles- 

 wig-Holstein, Germany, in 1858, although the first recorded ob- 

 servation from Germany is in 1877. Freight cars and ships may 

 easily be the means of carrying it. either as Qgg, worm or moth, 

 to regions remote from the scene of its earlier appearance. 



It would be impossible to review in this publication the ex- 

 tensive literature upon this pest, nor is it necessary to list the bib- 

 liographical references. In order, however, to give an idea of its 

 spread which is approximately correct, we list the following dates 

 taken chiefly from Johnson's bibliographical list, and under each 

 date insert the locality or localities where the moth appeared that 



