Angoumois Grain Moth. 
13 
ties of corn many larve form their emergence holes at the base of 
the kernel, so that the moth in attempting to escape from the kernel 
finds itself wedged in by the surrounding kernels and forced to 
starve, since only the larva of the moth can feed on grain. Although 
many moths in an ear may lose their lives in this way, yet enough 
emerge normally to cause heavy infestations. 
It is interesting to record that while the young larva can not eat 
through corn shucks to reach the kernels, those hatching from eggs 
laid through breaks in the shuck covering may be so numerous, 
particularly in storage, that they spread to and enter nearly all the 
kernels on an ear, even those kernels well covered 
by the shuck. While the newly hatched Jarva 
can not eat through the shuck to the kernel, the 
mature larva, which is much stronger, may bore 
its way out from the kernel through the shuck 
covering to the exterior. Instances have been 
found where the larva of the Angoumois grain 
moth has eaten through eight and nine thick- 
nesses of shuck covering, though ordinarily es- 
cape is not effected where there are this number 
of thicknesses. Infestation of kernels at the tip 
of an ear may take place if the silk has been 
eaten out, thus leaving a channel down which 
either the moth or the newly hatched larva can 
crawl. While the infestations that occur through 
eaten-out silk channels and through breaks in the 
shuck covering are not in themselves usually of 
importance from the standpoint of grain actually 
destroyed, they are of immense importance as 
“leaven ” for the subsequent infestation of entire 
crops held carelessly in storage.‘ 
FIELD INFESTATION OF WHEAT. 
It has been stated lalready that the adult of the 
«first generation of the Angoumois grain moth in- 
stinctively flies from the crib or storage house to 
the near-by fields of grain as the crop is approach- 
ing maturity. It also has been stated that the 
Itc. 11.—A head of ma- 
turing wheat showing 
three adult Angoumois 
grain moths that have 
flown from the crib 
to the field of ripen- 
ing grain and are 
seeking to lay eggs 
upon the head. 
4If the Angoumois grain moth were the only pest farmers had to contend with it 
would be better to keep corn in storage with the shucks on, as good shuck cover is a 
great aid to conservation of corn against this pest. Unfortunately in sections where 
the moth is a serious pest of corn, the corn is also attacked by the rice or “ black ” weevil 
against which shucks are of far less protection. If corn is shucked at harvest and fumi- 
gated at once, so practical experience on the southern farms is proving, losses are either 
greatly reduced or entirely prevented in storage, 
