PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
63 
since, I remarked, as I thought, a curious fungus growing from the beams in one 
end of the loft. I cut a quantity of it away with my knife, and found that the wood, 
which was partially decayed, was tunnelled out in every direction by similar larvae, 
and even in some places the sound parts of the beams pierced like wood affected 
with dry rot. The particles cut out during the process of boring were conveyed to 
the end of the tunnel, and, being held together by a web-like substance, projected 
in patches of from one-half to three-quarters of an inch in depth from the beams, 
and formed the excrescence which at first caught my attention. Some time pre¬ 
vious to this, the warehouseman called me to look at a large quantity of (as he 
thought) sea sand which remained after the removal of a quantity of wheat, and 
which he imagined must have been mixed for the purpose of adulteration. On a 
superficial examination the resemblance was very striking, but on lifting it in the 
hand its lightness at once told that it was very different. On close examination I 
found it was entirely composed of the rejectamenta of the larvae alluded to. 
The quantity on the loft was very considerable, which shows how destructive the 
moths are. The wheat is eaten in a peculiar manner. In every instance, as before 
mentioned, the germinating end is destroyed, and the exterior coat of the grain 
consumed in preference to the interior. In this they differ from the weevils, which 
hollow out the interior of the grain, leaving the exterior almost untouched. I do 
not mean to say that the larvse refrain from touching any portion but the outside 
of the wheat, but that they appear to prefer it to the interior. It may be worth 
mentioning, that in most cases where the cocoons were fastened to the walls, a 
number of these gnawed grains were attached to the webs; but this may, I think, 
be perhaps attributed to the wheat becoming entangled during the turning or shifting 
on the loft. In the beginning of April of the present year I placed a quantity of 
the wood cut from the beams, and well filled with larvae and cocoons, in a box, and 
about the end of the month, on opening it, I found that a few moths had come out. 
A peculiarity in their habit deserves to be noticed—namely, on opening the box in 
which they were they did not at first attempt to fly, but ran quickly about, hiding 
wherever they could amongst the contents, and, if well concealed, would not stir 
unless again disturbed. 
The species which occurred were Tinea granella, T. cloacella (a single 
specimen), GEcophora pseudospretella, and Endrosis fenestrella. Of these, 
Tinea granella were in the greatest abundance. Their larva are about one- 
fourth of an inch in length, and whitish, with a reddish-brown head; 
chrysalis brown and semi-transparent. Numbers of these larvae were found em¬ 
bedded in old wood, and very many of them also hanging from the outside of the 
beam, presenting an appearance somewhat similar to the larvae figured and described 
by Mr. Halid ay, as infesting the horns of oreas canna, which larvae were supposed 
to belong to the Tineidae —•Vide Page 23, plate 1, fig. 3. 
The next in abundance was (E. pseudospretella: its larvse closely resemble those 
already described, differing chiefly in size, being larger and more active. The pupa 
does not call for any particular description. 
As for that “ universal scavenger,” Endrosis fenestrella, I need say but little, 
owing to its being already so familiar to entomologists. Eor the identification of 
the species enumerated (with the exception of T. cloacella, determined by Rev. 
A. R. Hogan), I am indebted to the kindness of E. Percival Wright, Esq., who 
forwarded them to H. T. Stainton, Esq. 
Mr. Andrews observed that the subject of Mr. Haughton’s paper was most 
valuable, entering as it did upon a field of inquiry with regard to the destructive 
properties of a class of insects whose ravages were not easily guarded against. 
They were the pest of the naturalist (?) as well as the farmer. He hoped that Mr, 
Haughton, from the favourable opportunities he had, would continue his observa¬ 
tions, and endeavour to note the changes, and to obtain the pupa and perfect 
insects, of the several species. They appeared more abundant in England than in 
this country, and several species had been noticed to Mr. Andrews in the farm 
granaries. The chief was the Tinea Granella. Preparations of vinegar and salt 
had been used to destroy them, but stronger remedies too frequently tainted the 
wheat or other grain. 
