including the almond moth, Ephestia cautella (Wlkr.), the Indian-meal moth, 
Plodia interpunctella (hbn.), and the Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga 
cerealella Guar The first two of these species commonly breed in the 
suface layers of the peanuts. They are readily detected by the silken 
webbing they leave on the peanuts, or upon the burlap bags if the peanuts 
are sacked, and by the flight of the adults in the free spaces of the ware- 
housee Many warehousemen attribute all injury to these moths and are un- 
aware that other species are at work deep within the stack of peanuts. 
The Angoumois grain moth works at mich deeper levels than do the other 
moths. It does not leave any webbing, but the adults can be seen in flight 
the same as the other species. 
The second group of insects is composed of numerous species of beetles, 
including the saw-toothed grain beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.), the 
flat grain beetle, Laemopholoeus pusillus (Schonh.), the Cadelle, Teneb- 
roides mauritanicus (LDR the flour beetles Tribolium confusum Duv. and T. 
castaneum (Hbst.), and others. These work deep within the pile and often 
are never noticed by the warehouseman until the peanuts are removed from 
storagee 
Sources of Infestation 
The insects that attack farmers! stock peanuts in storage come from 
sources within the warehouse. Peanuts are usually free of stored-product 
insects when they are brought in from the field. 
Peanut warehouses often have quantities of old peanuts lodged on or 
in ledges, beams, window sills, elevators, elevator wells, conveyors, and 
other places. In addition, spilled peanuts, grains, or animal feeds usu- 
ally are present in loading areas. Such materials are usually infested and 
serve as a means of perpetuating insects from one period to the next when 
the warehouse is filled. Some insects also fly or crawl from other ware- 
houses or storage places in the neighborhood, These species breed in many 
other materials than peanuts, including grains, seeds, and feeds, and they 
can also exist in trash and dust containing vegetable materials. 
Period of Insect Activity 
Peanuts can become infested as soon as they are placed in storage in 
the fall, if local sources of infestation are present. As cool weather 
advances in late November and December, insect activity will be limited 
and the degree of infestation will probably not increase until spring. 
Moths will be seen flying on warm days during the winter, however. 
