CHAPTER XI 



THE FIG-MOTH ^ {Ephestia cautdla) 



All' amico mondagli il fico. 



{Italian Proverb.) 



The extension of the War to Turkey and 

 Asia Minor has drawn attention to the exis- 

 tence of certain insects whose larvae exercise 

 a very deleterious effect on valuable food- 

 supplies in the Near East. The inhabitants 

 of Asiatic Turkey, without knowing it, have 

 from time immemorial adopted the advice 

 of Captain Cuttle: 'Train up a fig-tree in 

 the way it should go, and when you are old 



sit under the shade on it. Overhaul the 



Well,' said the Captain, ' on second thoughts, 

 ' I ain't quite certain where that's to be found, 

 but when found, make a note of.' 



Asia Minor may indeed be described as 

 the fig-ground of the East, and anything that 

 interferes with the fig as a food is likely to 

 interfere with the well-being of our troops 



1 The figures illustrating this article are taken from The Report 

 of the Fig-moth in Smyrna, Bui. 104. Bureau of Entomology, 

 Washington, 1911. 



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