252 HOUSEHOLD INSECTS 



The segments of the antennae of the confused flour- 

 beetle gradually enlarge from the base to the tip of the 

 antenna, thus forming a gradually clavate organ. On 

 the other hand, the last few segments of the antennae 

 of the rust-red beetle are much larger than the preceding 

 ones, thus forming a suddenly clavate organ. 



Again, the margins of the head of the confused flour- 

 beetle are expanded and notched or angulated at the eyes, 

 while the margins of the head of the rust-red beetle are 

 nearly continuous at the eyes. 



REFERENCES TO ECONOMIC LITERATURE ON THE FLOUR-BEETLES 



1896. CHITTENDEN, F. H. Insects affecting cereals and other 

 dry vegetable foods. Bull. 4, n.s., U. S. Bu. Ent, pp. 113-114. 



1912. GIRAULT, A. A. Insects injurious to stored grains and their 

 ground products. Bull. 156, 111. Expt. Stat. 



THE INDIAN-MEAL MOTH 



Plodia interpunctella 



The writer first became acquainted with this insect, in 

 a practical way, as a pest in packages of raisins in his own 

 larder. As a matter of fact, it is a common household 

 pest and the larvae are found in all sorts of stored products. 

 It probably finds its way commonly into houses by being 

 brought in in supplies from grocery and feed stores. 

 Not long ago the remains of a box of graham crackers 

 were brought up from a grocery store for examination 

 and determination of the kind of worms that were de- 

 stroying this article of food. In a few days an adult moth 

 appeared and proved to be the Indian-meal moth, as we 

 had predicted from an examination of the larvae. 



