THE RICE MOTH. 9 
Some forms of beetles, however, are able to continue feeding in the 
absence of moisture until the supply of food is exhausted. 
The saw-toothed grain beetle (Silvanus surinamensis L.) has been 
found in several instances associated with the rice moth. Obviously 
it plays the same role with this species as with other moths — a scav- 
enger, although a decidedly noxious pest. 
The rust-red flour beetle (Tribolium ferrugineum Fab.) has been 
observed in the same situations as the saw-toothed grain beetle. 
The lesser grain-borer (Rhizopertha dominica Fab.) was received 
in rice from Porto Rico associated with stages of the rice moth. 
The Siamese grain beetle {Lophocateres pwsilla Oliv.) was ob- 
served breeding in numbers in a sample of Porto Rican rice some 
time after receipt, showing that the immature stages were present at 
an earlier date. 
The rice weevil ( Calandra oryza L. ) was present in small numbers 
in most of the samples inspected. It was noticeable in broken rice 
that the beetles which developed in such small quarters were not as 
large as those which are found in soft kernels of corn and wheat. 
The color of the beetles taken in broken rice was brighter and they 
had the appearance of being a distinct species. 
HISTORY AND LITERATURE. 
While the rice moth probably has been present in Europe for 
many years, it was not until 1866 that it was discovered in York, 
England, and described as a new species by Stainton (1). It was 
found in imported dried "currants" (Passulae corinthicae) , called 
" Corinthian currants," but in reality a well-known species of grape. 
In 1875 Barrett (2) mentioned the occurrence of this species in fruit 
warehouses in London, together with other insects of similar habits. 
In 1885 (3), 1893 (4), and 1901 (7) Ragonot wrote, in technical 
articles, in regard to the classification and characters of this species, 
without reference to its injurious habits. In 1895 Meyrick (5) gave 
a brief technical description of the adult, stating that the larva 
occurs in dried " currants." In 1897 (6) the author mentioned this 
species in a list of insects likely to occur in this country in dried 
fruit. In 1909-10 Fletcher (8) recorded the species as occurring in 
rice from the West Indies. 
In 1913 Durrant and Beveridge (9) wrote the most extensive ac- 
count of the insect which had appeared to that date, referring espe- 
cially to its occurrence in army biscuits and the temperature which 
would destroy this and other species of related habits. An article 
dealing with this insect, by Otto H. Swezey (10), appeared the same 
year. 
In 1908 the rice moth came to the attention of Mr. Jacob Kotinsky 
of the Bureau of Entomology, at that time in Hawaii, who found it 
