120 Observations on the Wheat-Moth. 



ture. I think it was in the year 1784, that they ap- 

 peared in considerable abundance, after harvest, and 

 continued until the setting in of the Avinter, when 

 they all disappeared. It was supposed, that they 

 were destroyed by the frosts, the cold of that winter 

 having been rather more severe than those of ordi- 

 nary winters. From that time, none of these insects 

 were seen until 1794 or 1795. At this time, the 

 damage experienced from them was very consider- 

 able, and entirely confined within a small space, about 

 the mouth of Pennypack-Creek*. It was universally 

 believed, that they were introduced in some wheat, 

 that was brought to the mill, from one of the southern 

 states (I think, Virginia) ; but the ensuing winter 

 totally destroyed them. 



From the year 1794 or 1795, I cannot learn, that 

 a single one of them was seen, until the year 1801. 

 Some few were observed in the granaries, after the 

 harvest of this year ; but they did not excite the at- 

 tention of the people before the following year. In- 

 deed, so little notice was taken of them, that the 

 circumstance of their being seen was only recalled by 

 the appearance of so great a number in 1802. 



In the month of August of this year, they seemed 

 to make their appearance very suddenly : but, pro- 

 bably, they were overlooked for a time, from remiss- 

 ness in observation. They were first seen on the 



1 A branch of the Delaware : its mouth is about nine miles above 

 Philadelphia. Editor. 



