INSECTS INJURIOUS TO STORED GRAINS 



181 



wheat-grains. They spin a fine silken web as they go from seed 

 to seed, to which they become attached, and to which is added a 

 large amount of excrement, thus spoiling for food much more 

 grain than is actually injured. 



The moth has a wing-expanse of an inch; the inner third 

 of the fore-wings being a whitish-gray, and the outer portion 

 reddish-brown, with a coppery lustre. 



The Meal Snout-moth* (Fig. 155) is of a light brown color, 



FIG. 155. The meal snout-moth (Pyralis farinalis): a, adult moth; 6, larva; 

 c, pupa in cocoon twice natural size. (After Chittenden, U. S. Dept. 

 Agr.) 



the thorax, base, and tips of the fore-wings being darker brown. 

 The wings expand nearly an inch and are otherwise marked 

 with whitish lines as shown in the figure. It is very similar to 

 the last-mentioned species in its habits, constructing long tubes 

 with silk and particles of the food in which it is living. The life- 

 history is completed in about eight weeks, and four generations 

 may occur in a year. The moisture of "heated" grain is most 

 favorable for the development of this pest, and it need not be 

 feared if grain is kept in a clean, dry place. 



The Pink corn-wormf has recently assumed importance in 

 the southern states as an enemy of stored corn. It is a moth 

 similar in shape to the Anguomois grain-moth, but smaller and 

 different in color. Its wing expanse is less than one-half inch 

 and its color is chestnut-brown with whitish-yellow markings. 

 There are long fringes on the margins of both pairs of wings. 

 The eggs are first laid on corn in the field, usually following injury 

 from the earworm or other insect. Later generations attack corn in 

 the crib. The larvae are small pinkish caterpillars. They feed on 

 grain and even on husks and cobs and spin webs wherever they go. 



* Pyralis farinalis Linn. Family Pyralididce. 

 t Batrachedra rileyi Wals. Family Elachistidce. 



