1899] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 207 



DEPARTMENT OF ECOHOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 



Edited by Prof, JOHN B. SMITH, Sc, D., New Brunswick, N, J, 



Papers for this department are solicited. They should be sent to the editor, 

 Prof. John R Smith, Sc D., New Brunswick, N. J. 



Seven New Localities for the Mediterranean Flour Moth, 

 Ephestia kuehniella.— In response to a brief article of mine in The 

 American Miller for May, 1899, I have received matted flour con- 

 taining larvae and pupae of the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia 

 kuehniella, from seven diflferent sources, none of which having been 

 previously reported, so far as 1 am aware. One lot is from Stark 

 county, Ohio, the first reported from that State, and represents a 

 very serious outbreak. The mill is being torn dowrn Another 

 package is from Los Angeles county, California. Three lotsai-e 

 from New York State representing Erie, Allegeny and Oswego 

 counties. Two are from Canada, one of which comes from York 

 district along Lake Ontario, while the other is from Leeds district 

 along the St- Lawrence River. Each one of my correspondents 

 report* the same disastrous results formerly reported by myself and 

 others, following the establisliment of this insect in a mill. lam also 

 impressed with the fact that this pest is gradually spreading along 

 the water courses of the Great Lakes, and inland along the lines of 

 the railroads. It will certainly be to the advantage of all millers 

 to be on their guard. and take immediate steps for the suppression 

 of the pest should it appear on their premises. I am now making 

 some experimental tests with hydrocyanic acid gas for the des- 

 truction of this and other insects in mills and closed buildings. Re- 

 sults thus far are very satisfactory, aud I believe the gas will come 

 into extensive use for such purposes very soon. 



W G. Johnson, 

 CoU^e Park, Md. 



The New Peach Mite.— With regard to the several references to 

 "The New Peach Mite," which have appeared in Entomological 

 News since last December, it may be interesting to some of your 

 readers to learn that in all probability the same or a very similar 

 pest occurs in Western Australia. 



During my stay in that colony (1896-7) I had several opportuni- 

 ties of observing a peculiar silvering of the upper surfaces of the 

 leaves of some deciduous fruit trees This was due to the attack of 

 a very smale Phytoptus. The injury appeared to me more pro- 

 nounced during autumn, coming into evidence after most of the 

 peach crop had been marketed. It did not seem to be of a very 

 serious nature and was taken into little account by orchardists : and 

 though no doubt a great deal of the functions of the affected leaver 



