178 INSECTS AFFECTING THE ORANGE. 



INSECTS IN DRY FRUIT. 

 BLASTOBASIS ciTRicoLELLA Chambers. 



This small moth, belonging to the family Tineidse, is described iii the 

 Keport of the Commissioner of Agriculture for 1879, p. 207, where the 

 following note concerning it occurs : 



" From a dry orange which was found at Jacksonville, Fla., in the 

 latter part of January, and preserved on account of its being infested 

 by a small beetle (Arceocerus fasciculatm), there issued rather unex- 

 pectedly on March 17 a small gray Tineid moth, which was referred to 

 Mr. Chambers for determination. * * * " The full description is 

 given on the same page. 



ORANGE-EATING TINEID. 15 



Another minute moth of the same family as the preceding (Tineidce) 

 was bred from the pupa found in a crevice of the rind of a split orange. 

 The pupa was enveloped loosely with silk, in which were entangled the 

 droppings of the larva, and was otherwise surrounded with evidences 

 that the insect had fed upon the dry portions of the rind. The moth 

 issued early in October acd proved a very handsome insect of dark color, 

 with scales of lustrous lead-color on the upper wings and body, the sur- 

 face having a violet sheen. The head and thorax are iridescent dove- 

 color. On the margin of the upper wing, at its base, is a membranous 

 flap (costal fold), which can be folded beneath the wing or opened widely, 

 disclosing a lining of delicate hairs, arranged in three tufts, the lower 

 one forming, when erect, a rosette of lemon-yellow color ; above this a 

 tuft of orange yellow, and the upper tuft a pencil of purple hairs. 



ARCEOCERUS FASCICULATUS (De G.). 



This little brownish beetle is commonly found in dry or blasted bolls 

 of cotton. It is also said to be injurious to coffee in Brazil. In the Re- 

 port of the Commissioner of Agriculture for 1879, p. 206, mention is made 

 of its occurrence in a dry orange. The larva and pupa, as well as the 

 . perfect insect, were obtained at the same time. 



WHITE ANTS (TERMITES) IN FRUIT. 



The fruit of the Citron, when growing upon recumbent branches and 

 when touching the earth, is frequently entered by Termites and entirely 

 .destroyed by them. Oranges which have fallen from the trees and are 

 allowed to remain upon the ground are also attacked, but less fre- 

 .quently than the citron. The Termites feed upon the thick inner rind 

 of the citron, and upon the membranous divisions m the orange, They 



