BULLETIN 235, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Fig. 1. — The Indian-meal moth (Plodia interpunctella): a. Moth; 

 6, chrysalis; c, caterpillar; d, head of same; e, first abdominal 

 segment of same; /, caterpillar, dorsal view, a, b, c,f, Somewhat 

 enlarged; d, e, more enlarged. (From Chittenden.) 



INSECTS CONCERNED IN THE INJURY. 



During the progress of this investigation a study of the insect forms 

 most injurious to dried fruits in California has been pursued, with the 



result that the follow- 

 ing species have been 

 collected, the more 

 important being con- 

 sidered later in sepa- 

 rate paragraphs. 



The Indian-meal 

 moth (Plodia inter- 

 punctella Hiibn.) (fig. 

 1) is probably the 

 most common and 

 destructive of these 

 pests, its large size 

 making it particularly 

 conspicuous, while the nature of its attack renders infested fruit most 

 disgusting in appearance. (See PI. I, figs. 1, 2.) The fig moth {Ephes- 

 tia cautella Walk.) (fig. 2) is next in importance among the moths, 

 while a variety of 

 beetles, including the 

 dried-fruit beetle 

 (CarpopTiilus hemij)- 

 terus L.), the saw- 

 toothed grain beetle 

 (Silvanus surinamen- 

 sis L.), the foreign 

 grain beetle (Cathar- 

 tus advena Waltl) , 

 and a fungus beetle 

 (Flenoticus serratus 

 Gyll.), are generally 

 in j urious . Two sugar 

 mites (TyroglypTius siro Gerv. and T. longior Gerv.) are also fre- 

 quently found. The pomace flies (DrosopMla ampdopliila Loew) 

 attack only the sweet, watery fruits, or those that arc fermenting, and 

 can hardly be considered as dried-fruit insects. Ants are occasion- 

 ally found in dried fruits, but do not breed therein, and can usually 

 be best attacked by destroying their nests outside the packing house. 



ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF DRIED-FRUIT INSECTS. 



The annual financial loss to all who handle dried fruits from the 

 Pacific coast would be very difficult to estimate, since these prod- 

 ucts are rapidly distributed by the packers over a large territory, 



Fig. 2. — The fig moth (Ephestia cautella): a, Moth; 6, denuded wing, 

 showing venation; c, larva, dorsal view; d, two egg mas es. a, b, c, 

 Enlarged about four times; d , more enlarged. (From Chittenden.) 



