INSECT POWDER. 19 



1905, mentioned turmeric and chrome alum as adulterants, and gave 

 methods for their detection. Three years later Grieb (107) found 

 a sample adulterated with borax. 



In 1912 Linke (173) mentioned the following: Pyre thrum stems, 

 flowers of other species of Chrysanthemum, calendula flowers, 

 curcuma, lead chromate, barium chromatc, euphorbium, and quillaja 

 bark. He stated that the last two are added to increase the aroma 

 of a powder. In the same year Sattler (238) reported lead chro- 

 mate as an adulterant. 



Jiittner (150), who visited the insect-powder-producing regions 

 of Dalmatia and Montenegro in 1912, calls attention to the extensive 

 grinding of Pyrethrum stems in those countries. In order to make 

 this stem powder correspond in color to the genuine insect powder, 

 lead chromate is used, and, to increase the odor, from 1 to 2 per cent 

 of pepper powder is sometimes added. 



Siedler (150) mentions another substance used to color insect 

 30wder, namely, yellow wood, or the heartwood of CMoropTiora 

 tinctoria. He mentions also Pyrethrum indicum, Bellis perennis, 

 Tanacetum vulgare, chamomile, quassia powder, pepper, powdered 

 aloes, euphorbium powder, senna leaves, and flowers of "Margherita 

 silvatica" as adulterants. The last name is unknown in botanical 

 nomenclature, and Siedler considers it to be a fantastic designation 

 for an unknown adulterant. Marguerite, however, is a common 

 name for C.frutescens, which may be the flower meant. In a later 

 article Siedler (257) stated that, compared to adulteration with 

 tem powder, adulteration with foreign flowers is insignificant. 



Slaus-Kantschieder (261), in 1913, stated that in Dalmatia the 

 nost usual form of adulteration of insect powder consists in grinding 

 \dth the flowers a part of the flower stems called '^stecco." Lead 

 jhromate, barium chromate, powdered bricks, starch, curcuma, and 

 )owdered almond shells are also mentioned by him as adulterants. 



enjamin F. Chase, United States consul at Fiume, imder date of 

 December 15, 1915, reported that in Dalmatia it is customary to add 



per cent of borax to the inferior grades of insect powder. 



In addition to the powdered stems of the Pyrethrum plant, which 

 ave been the most extensive means of adulteration, other adulterants 

 etected in the Insecticide and Fungicide Laboratory during the past 



years have been lead chromate, potassium chromate, barium chro- 



ate, curcuma, sand, leaves of the Pyrethrum plant, and oxeye 

 aisy flowers (dirysanthemumleucantliemum). 



Roark and Keenan ^ have made a special study of the adulteration 

 f insect powder with powdered oxeye daisy flowers, and have de- 



ribed means for its detection. 



I U.S.Dept. Agr. Bull. 795, issued July 28, 1919. 



