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STORED PRODUCT INSECTS 
Decaying peaches bring infestation to figs.—-On account of the im— 
portance of the dried fruit beetle, Carpophilus hemipterus L., as a pest 
of figs, H. ©. Donohoe, of Fresno, Calif., made, on October 5, a survey 
throughout a 140-acre peach orchard. On account of market conditions 
the 1932 crop in this orchard was not harvested, but allowed to fall and 
rot on the ground. Although no signs of infestation by Ephestia spp. 
were seen, Mr. Donohoe estimated that the fruit beneath each tree contained 
an average of at least 12,000 larvae and adult nitidulid beetles, for 
the most part C. hemipterus. Granting about 100 bearing trees to the 
acre, there would be an estimated 168,000,000 Carpophilus beetles de— 
veloping in the orchard ready under favorable conditions to fly to fig 
orchards. One thus sees how adverse market conditions and lack of 
disposal of fallen fruit in connection with the peach crop may be detri—- 
mental to the fig crop. 
Losses due to fig moths.--Perez Simmons, of Fresno, writes that, 
if one assumes a 1932 crop of about 13,3500 tons of dried figs and bases 
computations on averages secured by B. J. Howard, of the Food and Drug 
Administration, covering detected infestations, and consequent loss 
in sales value, of deliveries made at packing houses, the estimated loss 
to fig growers this year on account of infestation by insects will total 
about $216,000, not including fruit culled out on ranches. The greatest 
part of this loss was caused by moth larvae, chiefly Ephestia figuli- 
lella Greg. 
Conditions influencing pea weevil infestation—-Experiments to 
determine the relation of the time of planting peas and time of bloom— 
ing to the amount of weevil (Bruchus pisorum L.) infestation are re— 
ported by Tom Brindley, of Moscow, Idaho. "No absolute relationship 
seems to exist between either of these dates and the amount of weevil 
infestation. There is, however, a general decrease noticeable in the 
amount of weevil infestation in the later plantings. * * * One of the 
outstanding points, to me, * * * ig the fact that the pea weevil seems to 
be able to lay eggs and infest peas as long as there is a supply of pea 
pollen on which the adults can feed and pods present on which they can 
lay their eggs. From my observations, peas planted on the same day 
furnish pods for egg deposition for about 25 days; yet in laboratory 
tests the weevils laid for 84 days and no doubt would have continued 
for a longer time had the weather remained warm. The weevils were 
taken into a warm room, but failed to remain active." 


and in unshelled peas, 66 per cent. In view of the practice of holding 
seed peas for two years in sto:age before planting, this high survival 
about 15 months after harvesting is important. 
