30 THE FIG MOTH. 
posedly laid. The temperature during this period had been by no 
means as high as in the minimum-period experiments with Plodia 
interpunctella, but during the last 2 weeks the thermometer had 
registered above 80° F. most of the time, ranging from 73° to 89°, 
with an average of about 82° F. 
From the foregoing it will be seen that the minimum period of 
the life cycle in midsummer in the Middle Atlantic region of the 
United States is about 5 weeks and the periods in late autumn and 
spring 7 weeks. The species hibernates in the larval and the moth 
states and does not breed out to any extent during the colder months, 
but occasionally adults emerge in superheated rooms. 
The egg state, it has been shown, may last no longer than 3J days, 
although in cool weather this period may be protracted into 2 weeks. 
Deducting the minimum periods of egg and pupa from the 36 days 
covered by the entire life cycle in midsummer we would have left 
13 clays for the midsummer larval period. From this may be deduced 
the following: Egg period, 3^ to 14 days; larval period, 13 to 30 
days; pupal period, 8^ to 24 days; life cycle, 36 to 48 days. 
The period of the hibernating larva has not been observed, but 
from analogy it appears certain that this period will vary greatly, 
some individuals remaining as larvae months longer than others, 
irrespective of heat, moisture, or other conditions. 
If the insect should happen to be breeding in a large mass of rice 
or corn meal, it could develop at the same rate as the Mediterranean 
flour moth, producing as many as six generations per annum, but in 
figs, walnuts, and similar material, where no great amount of arti- 
ficial heat could be engendered, no more than four generations are 
probably produced in the average storehouse temperature. In our 
colder climates, where the species might be temporarily introduced, 
perhaps no more than three, or even two, generations would be 
produced. 
NATURAL ENEMIES. 
Two species of parasites which have received previous notice 13 
have been observed by the writer, in addition to a mite, preying upon 
this moth. Undoubtedly it has many other natural enemies. 
Hadrobracon hebetor Say. — On many occasions the little braconid 
Hadrobracon hebetor Say, which is now a well-known parasite of 
Ephestia huehniella and Plodia interpunctella, was reared from the 
larva? of this moth in walnuts, cacao beans, and other food materials. 
It was found in abundance at Smyrna attacking its host in figs. This 
species is illustrated in figure 3. 
Omorga frumentaria Rond. (fig. 4.), also a parasite of grain and 
meal-feeding moths, was reared at this office from E. cautella. In 
one instance where the parasite was found in large numbers in a jar 
