CONTROL OF DRIED-FRUIT INSECTS IN" CALIFORNIA. 3 



and the injury is first noticed by the retailer or the consumer. 

 Moreover, the retailer is inclined, to be somewhat reticent regarding 

 the presence of wormy fruit in his establishment, although an exami- 

 nation frequently shows such to be the case. A few retail grocers 

 stated that the "worms" were especially troublesome during the 

 summer months, and while the majority of those interrogated, ad- 

 mitted with reluctance that they ever received wormy fruit, it was, 

 no doubt, present in their stores at the time. Many companies 

 claimed that it would be difficult to secure the exact figures, but 

 admitted that they usually sold a considerable quantity as hog feed 

 during the season. A wholesale grocer stated that his annual loss 

 on dried fruits returned because of insect infestation was about $50 

 but that the loss in 1912 approximated $150. These are only a few 

 individual instances, and the greatest aggregate loss is through small 

 quantities of infested fruit which are thrown away or sold as hog 

 feed, the retailer preferring the loss of a small quantity of fruit to the 

 trouble of returning it to the wholesaler. It is readily apparent, 

 however, that the annual loss must in the aggregate be considerable. 

 For the reason that no estimates can be made of the injuries by 

 the Indian-meal moth to fruits in California, it is worth stating that 

 according to figures furnished by Dr. Chittenden in 1910, there was 

 a loss to the peanut industry, through the ravages of this species, 

 amounting to 20 per cent, or, at a conservative estimate, $3, 000,000. * 



PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. 



Observations begun in 1911 in central California, with headquar- 

 ters at Sacramento, with special reference to insects attacking dried 

 figs, were soon extended to all dried-fruit insects. It was found that 

 in most cases insects were present in the field where the fruit is dried, 

 that they were quite numerous around the packing houses, and that 

 they were present in warehouses and stores in sufficient numbers to 

 threaten severe infestation to boxes of dried fruit that might be 

 stored there. There are usually one or more cracks or openings in 

 the boxes (PI. II, fig. 2) through which an insect or mite can readily 

 crawl. The paper used in lining the boxes does not to any extent 

 prevent their entrance. 



These preliminary observations led to the conclusion that the 

 problem could not be successfully combated by attacking it at any 

 one point, but that the methods of drying, storing, processing, 

 packing, and shipping should be investigated. 



THE INDIAN-MEAL MOTH. 



The life history of the Indian-meal moth (Plodia interpunctella 

 Hiibn.) will vary with the prevailing temperature, but was deter- 



^openoe, C H. The Indian-meal Moth and "Weevil-cut " Peanuts. U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Ent., 

 Cir. 142, 6 p., 1 fig., Sept. 16, 1912. See p. 1. 



