THE KICE MOTH. 



that it was thought to be especially attached to currants, that it is 

 imported into England with Eangoon rice, which seems to be its nat- 

 ural food, and that there is little doubt that anything that will suf- 

 fice for the genus Ephestia will be equally nourishing to the pres- 

 ent species. This insect was also obtained in tins of army biscuit, 

 but no particulars are given as to its breeding habits beyond what 

 has already been said. The larva has been observed in Paris in the 

 grain of sesame {Sesamum orieniale) from Sudan, West Africa. 



Plate IV and Plate V, A, illustrate the manner in which the 

 cocoons of the rice moth are made by the larva in confining the 





Pig. 2. — Army biscuit showing holes eaten by larvce of the rice moth and webbing by 

 same. (After Durrant and Bevei-idge.) 



grains of rice by means of silken threads. Text figure 2 shows in- 

 jury by the larvae to an army biscuit, and Plate V, B, injury to cacao 

 beans. 



REPORTED INJURIES. 



One of the firms which experienced trouble from this pest stated 

 that the raw cacao beans, when received in bags, are stored in rooms 

 about 16 feet high, some of the bags being piled nearly to the ceiling 

 and others about 8 feet high. When the bags are disturbed the moths 

 fly from between them and on examination numerous larvae and 

 cocoons may be found in such locations. Cocoons occupied or empty 

 may be observed in almost any crevice in the walls of the storerooms. 



