No. 104.] 99 



EpHESTIA. KiJHNIELLA AS A PeST IN MiLLS. 



The following correspondence was had in relation to a Tineid 

 moth which was infesting flouring mills in Germany, and was sup- 

 posed to have been introduced from the United States : 



Imperial German Consulate General, ) 

 .New York, February 2, 1885. f 



To Prof. J. A. Lintner, State Entomologist : 



Dear Sir. — A very destructive insect lias been recently introduced into Ger- 

 many. It is a motli, imported with wheat or Indian corn, and capable of repro- 

 ducing itself rapidly. The appearance of ihis insect has caused great alarm, 

 especially among the millers, because in some instances it has become necessary 

 to suspend work in order to free the bins and machinery which were choked by 

 the lodgment in them of myriads of the pest. Mr. Zeller, the well-known ento- 

 mologist, has classified this small moth, the worm of which only lives upon Hour 

 or meal, as of the family Phycidcs. 



You will confer a great favor by kindly informing me of what is known to you 

 about the existence of the mentioned insect in this country, and the means which 

 are employed in order to destroy it. 



With best thanks in advance for the desired information. 



Very respectfully yours, 



A. SEIGEL, 



Consul- General. 



Eeplj to the above communication was made, under date of Feb- 

 ruary 11th, to the effect that no American insect was known having 

 the habits above stated. If Prof. Zeller, in his study of the 

 insect, had given it a scientific name, could its name be communi- 

 cated to me ? If the name was unknown, then, if examples of the 

 insect in as many of its four stages as could be obtained, together 

 with specimens of the infested grain, could be sent, it w^ould probably 

 give the means of identifying the species and of indicating the best 

 means for its destruction. 



To the above inquiry, answer was returned, by the Consul-Gen- 

 eral under date of February 16th, that the insect referred to was 

 named Ephestia Kuknieila Zeller. 



This was answered in a brief note, acknowledging the reception 

 of the name of the insect, stating that none of our entomologists 

 knew it as a native species, and having learned where it had been 

 described and an account been given of its habits by Prof. Zeller, 

 in a German periodical, it was hoped that, as soon as access could be 

 had to this publication, suggestions for some eflicient means for 

 meeting the injuries of the pest could be made. 



The following letter was subsequently sent : 



