THE GENESEE FAEMEE. 



TINEA GRANELLA — GRAIN MOTH. 



This insect is called in Englisli works " The Mottled Woolen Moth," and has received 

 the scientific appellation of Tinea granclla. The caterpillars do incredible injury to grain 

 stored in barns and ware-houses, after it is separated from the straw and chatF. From 

 April till August the little moth is found in granaries, resting by day on the walls and 

 beams, and flying about only at night, unless disturbed. Soon after theyhave escaped from 

 the chrysales the sexes pair, and the ftrraale lays one or two eggs on each grain of wheat, 

 until she has deposited thirty or more ; they are so minute as to be invisible without a 

 magnifying glass, when they appear of an oval shape, and of a yellowish-white color. 



Description of Platk. — a, A grain of wheat opened to sliow the cavity in which the caterpillar 

 of Tinea granella had fed, with the excrement at tlie apex, b. Several grains united by the same 

 caterpillar, c, Tlie caterpillar of Tinea (jrauclia. d, Tlie same magnified, e, A group of the cocoons 

 spun by the same. /, The chrysalis taken ont of a cocoon, magnified, ff, A chrysalis sticking in a 

 ooccoon after the moth was hatched, h, Thua granella at rest, i, The same flying and magnified. 



The small white worms hatch in a ftsw days, and immediately penetrate the grain, 

 carefully closing up the aperture with, their roundish white excrement, which is held 

 together by a fine web. Fig. a represents this web, and the excrement attached at the 

 apex of the grain. When a single grain is not sufficient for its nourishment, the larva 

 unites a second grain to the first by the same web ; and by repeating the process Joins 

 several together, and thereby forms a secure habitation, which at the same time is well 

 stored with provisions. When the maggots are almost full-grown, they often leave their 

 lodgings in great numbers, running over the grain and covering the whole surface so 

 efiectually with a thick web of a grayish-white color, that scarcely a grain of wheat is 

 visible. In August or September the caterpillars arrive at maturity, when they leave the 

 grain heaps and search for a safe and suitable place to undergo their metamorphosis, 

 and at this period they are most observed. They form their cocoons by gnawing the 

 wood and working it up into their web, in any chink in the floor, walls, or roof, which 

 are frequently swarming with them ; and these cocoons, being of the form and size of a 

 grain of wheat, look like one dusted over. It there remains in its snug and warm berth 

 in the larva state through the winter, and does not change to a chrysalis until the month 

 of March following, and in a backward spring not until May. The pupa is of a deep 

 chestnut color, the abdominal rings being of a shining yellow tint, and tJie apex is fur- 

 nished with two little points. In two or three weeks after they have assumed the pupa 

 form the moth hatches, and, it is said, vshh almost perfect wings at its birth, leaving the 

 empty chrysalis sticking half out of the cocoon. 



It is difficult to guard against the introduction of this moth, since it deposits its eggs 

 on the sheaves in the field, as well as after the grain is stored and threshed out, and will 

 feed as freely upon barley, rye, and oats, as upon wheat. It is, however, not difficult to 

 suggest palliatives, if not remedies ; and if the following rules are strictly observed, few 

 persons wiJl suffer from the inroads of this insect : 



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