36 
ficial, does not check this advancing enemy very econ, the successful 
operation of large mills will be seriously, if not permanently, in- 
j urG(l» 
DISCOVERY IN NEW YORK STATE. 
In response to my article on the flour moth in the March (1895) 
number of the “American Miller,” I received several interesting 
letters pertaining to the same subject. One of these - revealed a 
new locality for the pest; the first positive record of its appear¬ 
ance in mills in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.. 
Iho letter, dated March 10, 189o, came from the head miller 
(name and the exact locality omitted by request) of a firm in 
southwestern New York, and reads as follows: 
“Your article which appeared in the ‘American Miller’ of this 
month has no doubt been read with a great deal of interest. Of 
course it can only be appreciated by those who have been afflicted 
with the flour moth in their mills. I have had charge of some of 
the best and largest mills in this country, and have never had 
any trouble with this insect until about a year ago, at which time 
it took possession of the entire plant in about two weeks’ time. 
I was forced to shut down and take out elevator spoutp. The 
covers were removed from the spouts, and the birds’ nests, as we 
call them, were taken out by the bushel. I would not have be¬ 
lieved it had any one informed me, but such was actually the 
case. I have been a contributor to the milling press now and 
then, but have not dared to say anything about it on account of 
being scored by those who have been fortunate enough to escape 
their presence. I have tried everything to get rid of them, and I 
think I have succeeded, fairly well by using metal spouts through¬ 
out the mill.” 
Upon receipt of this interesting corrnnunication, I immediately 
wiote the miller asking for samples of the material containing 
the larvae, and March 20 I received two packages of flour literally 
filled with the worms, pupae, and several dead adult moths. The 
material was placed in a breeding-cage, and the following day 
(March 21) three adult females emerged, leaving no doubt about 
the identity of the species. Two more females emerged the 25th; 
and the first male appeared April 10. With this material I con¬ 
ducted a series of experiments, mentioned later in this paper. The 
letter accompanying this material is of general interest, and I quote 
it in full: 
‘Your favor of the 13th instant is received and noted. I mail 
you two samples of the webs, as per request, one taken from au 
elevator leg, and the other from a hopper in a porcelain roller 
mill, grinding fine purified middlings. I will answer your ques¬ 
tion as to how they originated in this mill, as near as I can. 
This mill has been run by the [-J Milling Company for 
years on a system as nearly perfect as any mill can be" run. 
About eighteen months ago this firm surrendered to the First 
National Rank of this city, and one of the stockholders became 
office manager. This gentleman, not being acquainted with the 
