36 



ficial, does not check this advancing enemf^ very ecod, the successful 

 operation of large mills will be seriously, if not permanently, in- 

 jured. 



DISCOVEKY IN NEW YOKK STATE. 



In response to my article on the flour moth in the March (1895) 

 number of the "American Miller," I received several interesting 

 letters pertaining to the same subject. One of these revealed a 

 new locality for the pest; the first positive record of its appear- 

 ance in mills in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. 

 The letter, dated March 10, 1895, came from the head miller 

 (name and the exact locality omitted by request) of a firm in 

 southwestern New York, and reads as follows: 



"Your article which appeared in the 'American Miller' of this 

 month has no doubt been read with a great deal of interest. Of 

 course it can only be appreciated by those who have been afflicted 

 with the flour moth in their mills. I have had charge of some of 

 the best and largest mills in this country, and have never had 

 any trouble with this insect until about a year ago, at which time 

 it took possession of the entire plant in about two weeks' time. 

 I was forced to shut down and take out elevator spoutF. The 

 covers were removed from the spouts, and the birds' nests, as we 

 call them, were taken out by the bushel. I would not have be- 

 lieved it had any one informed me, but such was actually the 

 case. I have been a contributor to the milling press now and 

 then, but have not dared to say anything about it on account of 

 being scored by those who have been fortunate enough to escape 

 their presence. I have tried everything to get rid of them, and I 

 think I have succeeded fairly well by using metal spouts through- 

 out the mill." 



Upon receipt of this interesting communication, I immediately 

 wrote the miller asking for samples o£ the material containing 

 the larvae, and March 20 I received two packages of flour literally 

 tilled with the worm?, pupae, and several dead adult moths. The 

 rnaterial was placed in a breeding-cage, and the following day 

 (March 21) three adult females emerged, leaving no doubt about 

 the identity of the species. Two more females emerged the 25th; 

 and the first male appeared April 10. "With this material I con- 

 ducted a series of experiments, mentioned later in this paper. The 

 letler accompanying this material is of general interest, and I quote 

 it in full: 



"Your favor of the 13th instant is received and noted. I mail 

 you two samples of the webs, as per request, one taken from an 

 elevator leg, and the other from a hopper in a porcelain roller 

 mill, grinding fine purified middlings. I will answer your ques- 

 tion as to ho;v they originated in this mill, as near as I can. 



This mill has been run by the [ J Milling Company for 



years on a system as nearly perfect as any mill can be run. 

 About eighteen months ago this firm surrendered to the First 

 National Bank of this city, and one of the stockholders became 

 office manager. This gentleman, not being acquainted with the 



