ye 
end seven species of blowfly larval parasites in the United States, and 
they are all indicated to be of considerable economic value in control of 
blowflies. When the work was first started last year only one larval par- 
asite with quite restricted distribution was known to parasitize blowflies 
in the United States." 
STORED PRODUCT INSECTS 
Commercial rearing of clothes-moth larvae--food requirements.—- 
During the past 10 years there has been a large and continuous demand 
for cultures of the webbing clothes moth (Tineola biselliella Hum.) 
for use by various commercial laboratories, particularly in connection 
with the testing of moth-proofing solutions. For some years past thous- 
ands of moth eggs and larvae were shipped from Germany to New York City 
for this purpose, and today one man in New Jersey raises and sells clothes- 
moth larvae to the trade. The experience of the Bureau early indicated 
that clean, pure wool fabrics are exceedingly poor food upon which to 
rear moth cultures. On such materials the mortality usually is 99 per 
cent or over. It was found that foods containing raw animal substances 
such as dead insects, dried blood, casein, fish meal, and uncleaned 
feathers and furs, served best as foods. Some of the best cultures ever 
noticed developed on grasshopper meal from South Africa, Wallace Colman, 
Takoma Park, Md., has discovered also that sprinkling woollen cloth or 
raw wool with dehydrated and pulverized brewers' yeast added a food sub- 
stance that greatly accelerated the growth and reduced the mortality of 
moth larvae. In an experiment extending over a month, brought to a close 
in November, it was found that larvae fed on clean woollen cloth lost 
43 per cent of their weight, as compared with a gain of 28 per cent for 
those fed on the same cloth to which yeast had been added, Similarly, 
larvae fed on raw wool gained 3 per cent in weight, as compared with a 
gain in the same period of 32 per cent for those fed upon raw wool to 
which yeast has been added. 
Losses in figs reduced by shade cloths.-~The work of Dwight F. 
Barnes in fig orchards and drying yards near Fresno, Calif., during the 
past season has just been summarized by Perez Simmons, who estimates that 
during the past season fig growers lost about $216,000 in actual cash, 
mostly as a result of deductions because of infestations by the raisin 
moth (Eohestia figulilella Greg.). It is believed that a large part of 
this loss can be prevented by the use of shade cloths in drying yards. 
These cloths have never been experimented with in the dried-fruit estab- 
lishments previous to this year. Mr. Barnes's tabulated data indicate a 
steady and rapid increase in infestation in the fruit left exposed in dry- 
ing yards where it was handled in accordance with the usual custom of the 
dried—-fruit industry, whereas the infestation of fruit exposed in the same 
yards but kept under shade cloth remained practically nil. At the end 
of a period of six weeks, the infestation by Ephestia larvae was found 
to be about 40 times greater on the fruit dried by the usual method. 
The, Dried Fruit Association of California has invited Messrs. Simmons 
