(The text of this intercalated page should immediately precede the heading. 
Granary Beetles and Weevils, on page 66.) 
The Meat Snout-moth 
(Pyralis farinalis Linn.) 
Hidden away in whatever substance is infested by it, the cater¬ 
pillar of this beautiful moth is seldom seen. Its habits are some¬ 
what similar to those of the Mediterranean flour-moth in that it 
lives within a silken tube, but it is more indiscriminate in its food. 
Thus it may feed upon the chaff from shelled corn in preference to 
the corn itself. Its silken tube is finely made, and completely cov¬ 
ered by attached particles of the food. 
The adult, or moth, of this species is really a very beautiful 
insect. Its wings are delicately colored, the base and outer por¬ 
tions of the front wings are brownish, and the whole of the middle 
portion is dusky whitish. Two wavy whitish lines cross these 
wings separating the light middle section from the brownish basal 
and apical parts. The hind wings are dusky whitish, with two 
wavy whitish lines running thru them and with a few brownish 
spots of varying size near the hind margin. The eggs are laid in 
masses and are irregular in shape. The caterpillar is dirty grayish 
in appearance, darker at both ends, the head brownish red. The 
pupa is brownish red and is enveloped by a cocoon. 
The life history of this insect is not well known, but there are 
probably at least four or five generations in a season. Under ordi¬ 
nary conditions a generation has been known to develop in eight 
weeks in spring, and a shorter period may be expected at higher 
temperatures. 
Altho a general feeder, this insect seems nevertheless to prefer 
waste matter, in damp places—accumulations of straw, chaff, meal, 
or other waste products from the granary or mill, occurring in 
corners, outhouses, and the like. It has also been reported to feed 
on hay, straw, corn, clover, seeds, dried plants, the grains and their 
products, and vegetable garbage. 
Again, thoro cleanliness in regard to accumulations of rubbish 
in corners and so on, is prophylactic against this insect, and usually 
all that is required when the premises become infested is cleaning 
up and burning the infested material. If this is not possible, one 
should fumigate with carbon bisulfid, or use artificial heat. 
