GRAIN-INSECTS. Several insects attack and damage stored grain of all sorts. The most conspicuous one is the caterpillar of a small, grayish-brown and black tineid moth (Gelechia cerealella), allied to the clothes-moth and called 'corn-moth' in Great Britain, but known in the United States as fly-weevil and Angoumois grain moth, from the old Province of Angoumois, France, where it has long been extremely destruc tive. It is most abundant in our Southern States, where, on account of it, grain cannot long be stored. It may at times attack other sub stances, such as books, pasteboard, woolen goods, or even wood. Salt mixed with the grain is said to be useful in checking the ravages of the larva., and the frequent turning over of the grain de stroys both eggs and larvae. When emptied, granaries should be thoroughly cleaned and whitewashed.
A different tineid, also called grain-moth (Tines granella), is another widespread and seri ous pest, especially to stored wheat; and a third moth (Ephestia kiihinella), which since 1877 has been a source of vast damage in Europe, ap peared in destructive numbers in North America about 1890. It multiplies with amazing rapidity,
makes clots in flour or meal, or binds together grains of wheat, Indian corn, etc., by its silk spinning and voracious caterpillars, and is ex tremely difficult to get rid of. Another de structive species of the same genus is also known. Consult Insect Life, vol. ii. (Washington, 1890).
Small beetles (weevils) of various kinds attack stored grain, especially those of the genus Calan dra. They are minute, numerous, and lay eggs upon the kernels; the larvae hatched from these bore into and consume the body of the grain, whence they emerge as perfect beetles in the autumn. The most approved remedy is to sub mit the grain to dry heat of not less than 130° F.. or to the fumes of carbon disulphide. See, also, CORN-INSECTS; and for insects attacking growing cereals. see the names of the plants, as RYE; WHEAT ; etc.