46 



FLOUR MILLS AND STORES. 



Mediterranean Flour Moth. Ephestia kuJmiella, Zeller. 



EpHESTU KiiHNIELLA. 



Mediterranean Flour Moth, magnified ; outline showing natural size. 



The attack of the Flour Moth contmues steadily to spread, and as, 

 besides other localities, I am aware of it being present in Yorkshire, 

 Cheshire, and Carnarvonshire, it may be considered to be fairly 

 established in the country. 



So far as appears at present, this spread will go on until the losses 

 from the fairly overwhelming nature of the infestation, where it is once 

 permitted to establish itself in Wheat mills and stores, so absolutely 

 furce it on attention, that the nature of the attack will be known at 

 a glance, and protective as well as remedial measures be brought 

 to bear. 



At present, so far as I may judge from applications to myself, 

 millers suffering under this injurious attack naturally keep the matter 

 as quiet as they possibly can ; and enquiries which I receive on the 

 subject being in business confidence, I am unable to give the requisite 

 cautions in the neighbourhood of infested premises. But though it is 

 a matter of great difficulty and expense to clear a mill where the pest 

 has once made good its entrance, still much might be done by other 

 millers, store and warehouse owners, bakers, householders (in fact by 

 all purchasers or holders of Wheat flour), being on the alert as to the 

 condition of the consignments sent them, and also of their own 

 returned sacks. In one instance reported to me, where this moth (duly 

 identified) "swarmed," the millers stated that it first came in some 

 returned empties (sacks). They noticed these grubs at the time, but 

 " did not consider them of any importance." All Wheat-flour millers 

 should have such information accessible as will enable them to 

 recognise this pest when they see it. 



The moth is of the shape figured above, and of the size of the figure 

 in outline ; the colour of the fore wings rather pale grey, with darker 

 markings ; the hinder wings whitish and semi-transparent. 



The grubs or caterpillars, when full grown, are somewhat over half 



