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- 
1Popenoe, C. H. The Indian-meal Mothand ‘‘Weevil-cut ”’ PEELE: U.S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Ent., 
Cir. 142,6 p., 1 fig., Sept. 16,1912. See p. 1. 
