Ho. L] Further Notes. 53 



from specimens of the moths. An attempt was made in the Museum to 

 rear the two chrysalids of the pest which were received ; no moths, how- 

 ever, were obtained, but from. one of the chrysalids emerged a chalcid fly 

 of the species Chalcis (Brachymeria) euplma, which has also been bred 

 from the Dooars tea pest Dasychhra thwaitesii (see page 3£). Parasites 

 of this kind are probably partly responsible for the disappearance of the 

 pest, and Dr. Tomes is of opinion that the birds discovered and devoured 

 those that were not destroyed by the parasites. 



It is hoped that fuller particulars may be obtained when this pest 

 nest makes its appearance. 



\ Information 1 has been received from Mr. J. Blackwood, of injury 



.... to white rice, shipped both from Calcutta and 



A gram moth. .... 



London, while lying in Kingston, Jamaica. The 



injury is due to a grain moth, which from the description appears to 

 be Tinea granella (or the " Wolf Moth")- 



One Jamaica firm writes that up to 1882 rice could be held for as 

 long as twelve months without injury, but that, lately, rice shipped from 

 Calcutta has been found affected a fortnight after receipt; and one ship- 

 ment from London, three weeks after it was landed, had to be sold far 

 below its original market- value; part of it indeed being actually thrown 

 away. The firm writes— 



"A small moth, like the moth that attacks furniture at home, seems to be the 

 enemy; the rice becomes filled with millions of small worms that collect hundreds of 

 grains around them enfolded in a web which is inseparable, and the grains are then 

 eaten through to a shell. Yellow rice does not appear to suffer so quickly, but, as we 

 expect shortly 1,500 to 1,700 bags, it is a serious question. We have not now a bag 

 on our wharf, and at considerable expense we have had every store on our premises 

 cleaned, whitewashed and disinfected with carbolic acid, and will stow every bag in 

 sprinkled salt in the hope of curing the evil which threatens the extinction of our 

 trade. We ascribe this visitation to low stores, which since the fire of 1882 are 

 now by law all covered with iron, and not being sufficiently ventilated, generate too 

 much heat. Our losses have been heavy, but the worst effect is that we fear to hold 

 any stocks, without which the trade would virtually have to be abandoned." 



The conditions which control the increase of this pest do not seem to 

 be completely understood, the insect occurring all over the world but 

 only occasionally doing serious injury. Reports have not reached the 

 Museum of injury by it in India, but there is evidence to show that it 

 already exists here, and so at any time may become destructive. 



Curtis in his work "Farm Insects, " p. 315 (Edinburgh 1860 ), 

 gives an excellent account of this pest. He notices that when the 

 larvas have become full-fed in the heaps of grain, they hide themselves 

 away in cracks and crannies, sometimes burrowing for a considerable 

 distance into hard wood, in order to secure shelter during their chrysalis 



1 Dated Calcutta, 20th June 1888. 



