FLOUR MOTH. 
53 
On recent inquiry as to the state of tilings, I received the following 
reply from the owner :—“ If it lay in my power I should be only too 
glad to assist in getting clear of the moths: unfortunately I cannot. 
They are here as bad, or worse than ever; so bad, in fact, that I have 
found it necessary to stop working my mill. I am at a loss to know 
what is going to be done if the pest spreads, as it seems likely to do. 
“ I happened some little while ago to be in a large warehouse 
belonging to one of the Canal Companies, where a very large quantity 
of grain, flour, &c., is trans-shipped, and I saw plenty of moths flying 
about there; in fact, I rather think I must have got them from there ; 
so I fear there is little doubt but they will spread.” 
On the 5th of February, I received an application from a firm in the 
North of England, on the part of mill owners in a very large way of 
business in a distant part of the country, in which they mentioned :— 
“ We would like to know how to get rid of the maggots of a small moth 
which is now becoming a serious practical nuisance in English flour 
mills. It is supposed that they first came here in a cargo of Russian 
Wheat, and are now taking up a firm hold in flour mills. Would 
sulphurous-acid gas be likely to kill them ? ” 
After examination of specimens so as to ascertain that it was abso¬ 
lutely the Ephestia kuhniella that was present, I forwarded information 
as to the best known method of treatment, and subsequently received 
a report from the proprietor as to partial success of measures used, 
and also misfortune occurring from over-application. These I give 
further on under preventive measures. But the result was by no 
means entirely satisfactory, as will be seen in the following letter, sent 
me on Nov. 9th, in reply to my inquiries :— 
“I am sorry I cannot give you a receipt for getting rid of them 
entirely, nor much information about them. Cleanliness is a great 
enemy to them, of course, and we have not adopted any stronger 
measures since giving up the sulphur. I was recently told by some 
millwrights who were working for us that in some mills the plague is 
very much worse than we have had it. They mentioned a mill in ” 
[locality named, Ed.] “ where moths were excessively numerous and 
troublesome. 
“ PS.—I was over several mills in Edinburgh and one at Dundee 
in July, but did not see any there.” (Signed by head of mill firm). 
The facts of the infestation being present at large steam mills in 
widely separated parts of England, it being in the Canal Company’s 
warehouse, as above mentioned, my own knowledge of it being spread 
round one infested centre to the great annoyance of the neighbourhood, 
and various lesser observations, besides the overwhelming appearance 
first recorded in warehouses in East London, show the firm root the 
pest has taken. 
