2 BULLETIN 235, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
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 Hibn.) (fig. 
1) is probably the 
Fic. 1.—The Indian-meal moth (Plodia interpunctella): a, Moth; most common and 
b, chrysalis; c, caterpillar; d, head of same; e, first abdominal destructive of these 
segment of same; /, caterpillar, dorsal view. a, b,c, /, Somewhat tap oS Nae : 
pests, its large size 
enlarged; d,¢, more enlarged. (From Chittenden.) i : : 
2 making it particularly 
conspicuous, while the nature of its attack renders infested fruit most 
disgusting in appearance. (See Pl.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 
(Carpophilus hemip- 
terus. L.), the saw- 
toothed grain beetle 
(Silvanus surinamen- . 
sis L.), the foreign 
grain beetle (Cathar- 
tus advena Waltl), 
and a fungus beetle 
(Henoticus serratus Fic. 2—The fig moth (Ephestia cautellz): c, Moth; b, denuded wing, 
if. are nerally showing venation; c, larva, dorsal view; d, two egg mases. a,b,c, 
Gy a oe tei Enlarged about four times; d, more enlarged. (From Chittenden.) 
injurious. Twosugar 
mites (T'yroglyphus siro Gerv. and T. longior Gerv.) are also fre- 
quently found. The pomace flies (Drosophila ampelophila Loew) 
attack only the sweet, watery fruits, or those that are 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, 
