12 



Rhine. The ground color of the front wings of the tj'pical speci- 

 mens bred by Zeller was pure yellow or nearly brownish, while 

 those bred by Karsch were glossy lead-g?ay, but Karsch considers 

 them one species. The only moth he found in American litera- 

 ture that approached kuehniella was Fitch's Tinea zees, which is 

 the same as Plodia inter punctella; but Fitch's description of the 

 latter species did not agree with that of Zeller's species. Dr. 

 Karsch thought, nevertheless, that zecB might prove to be a vari- 

 ety of kuehniella. 



In an editorial note in the Eniomologische Nachrichten for 

 1885 (pp. 46, 47), the* statement is made that this pest had ap- 

 peared in some mills near Bremworde. The burning of sulphur 

 and the application of bisulphide of carbon were found useless, 

 and the mills were stopped acd thoroughly cleaned. It is asserted 

 that the insect, in that locality, is of American origin, and was 

 introduced with American wheat. The same periodical, for the 

 same year (pp. 239, 240), contains another note, reviewing a com- 

 munication from Prof. Landois to the Brauuschweiger Tage- 

 blaif, in which the statement is made that this pest is by far the 

 most annoying and dangerous insect affecting wheat or flour. 



Professor P. C. T. Snellen published in 1885 (7) an illustrated 

 article of considerable importance on this insect, which included 

 a summary of Prof. Zeller's article already referred to, and a 

 comparison of kuehniella with other European species of Ephestia. 



Mr. A, Seigel, German Consul-General at New York City, be- 

 ing asked by some of bis countrymen to find out what he could 

 regarding Ephestia kuehniella in this country, and to ascertain if 

 possible the means employed for its destruction, addressed a letter 

 on the subject to Dr. J. A. Lintner, State Entomologist of New 

 York, under date of February 2, 1885, who replied that he had 

 no knowledge of the pest as an American insect, and that if 

 it existed in the United States it was as yet unknown, as no such 

 habits had been manifested in any of our flouriug-mills by any 

 species akin to Ephestia kuehniella. He refers to Plodia inter- 

 punciella, and suggests several remedies for the destruction of 

 the flour moth; viz., bisulphide of carbon, sulphur, and trapping. 

 This, I believe, is the first published statement in American liter- 

 ature (8) regarding this pest. 



The next note I find on this insect is by Mr. W. Thompson, of 

 Stoney Stratford, Bucks, England (9). Larvse found feeding on 

 rice cones were given him by a friend in October, 1886, from 

 which moths emerged during November and December. At first 

 the insect was thought to be Myelois ceratonioi and was so re- 

 ported; but specimens sent to Mr, Barrett in April, 1887, were 

 identified by him as Ephestia kuehniella. In the same volume 

 of the same journal (10) Mr. J. W. Tutt gives a short account 

 of the feeding habits of this insect, and records the breeding of 

 the adult moth from larvae given him by Prof. T. D. A. Oock- 

 erell, collected originally from a cargo of flour at the London 

 docks. In June, 1887, larvae from this same source were exhibited 

 by Prof. Cockerell at a meeting of the South London Ento- 



