Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-01-02

Of BY entomoloeis,s until about 1877
when it was observed in nourmills il
Europe.
It had never been named, described
or even observed before.
1t may have existed for thousand.
of years, but il had never bothered
fourmills before, 40 far Is known,
and remained entirely undiscovered.
mo, it is not strange that it should
have remained undiscovered by ento-
mologists," said Mr.. johnson.
'1'here are $500 new species Of in
scots discovered and classified every
year."
"Several years after it gained a
foothold in Germany and Belgium"
Mr.. johnson went on, "is appeared in
England, and it was given the popular
name of Mediterranean flour. moth,
because the -four merchants found the
Mediterranean countries infested with
it and it was supposed to have been
brought from there. 1t did not create
much attention in England until
1885,"
1t seemed odd that an insect in this
late age of the world should discover
for the FIRST time that flour was good
eating and that Aourmills made good
homes after letting fourmilIs alone
for ages, but Mr.. johnson could not
explain this late progressive move of
the -four. moth.
at may have been some change
in the life conditions of the insect"
he said.
The pest was FIRST noticed in Amer.
CA in 1883 or 1889, and chiefly in
Canada, where it has bAffled the most
determined aud expensive efforts TO
eradicate it.
II have traced it's origin on this
coast rs far east as Chicago" said the
professor. "lt was brought here III
some second hand Aourmill machinery,
bought in Chicago in 1890. The
pest probably reached Chicago and
thu mill where the machinery was
bought from an infested Canadian
port. The machinery was stored in
an attic Of the San Francisco mill
where it first appeared, and the fol-
lowing year the manager of the mill
noticed the moths flying on, in Il Q
cylinders. 1t began to trouble him
aud he triei sulphur fumes, but the
moth had come to stay"
This may have been the origin Of
the pest here, but one of the Leaving
nillers Of the city said Yesterday that
the old Genes>ee and Caledonia mills
in San Francisco, that have since
burned down, were bothered by il
three years ago and had to shut down
at times.
"My attention was first called to it
here several months ago, When l
noticrd the moths fl.ing ahou, a large
San Francisco mill that | was going
through, and the manager told me
that h. had tried in every wav to ge,
rid Of them. but had failed. have
paid three visits to that mill and !
have conducted five series of expert.
ments with the insect here"
A specimen case, in which dried
specimens in all stages of develop.
ment were stuck on pins, lay on the
tahl.', ana half.dozen wide necked
bottles that we're used as incubators
and nurseries stood on the table with
a dozen other bottles of entomology.
cal interest.
"You see the grub, which appears
white in the -four, has really pinkish
tinge." he said.
"This is cracked oats in the bottom
and few young larvae in it. but it is
almost impossible to see Them" he
said. picking up gauze.covered
bottle.
He picked up small glass jar and
said:
"rhere was a pint Of flour in there
with some eggs in it at first. Now
feel of it."
The pint of -four was a tough mass
that had to be torn apart like bunch |
Of tow, and it was dark with old CO.
coons and lar,e.
THAT is what clogs the Mills" he
said.
"This is what may he found in
aoursscks," and lie opened another jar
aud picked up bunch OF floury cob
webs.
"rhe moth always prefers oatmeal,
ruckwheat and the meals called
breakfast food, and the larvae will pass
over wheat flour to get to them If they
ate near. Such meals and 1ours will
De oitenest found infected, and it is
about them that complaints are most
'r+quent.
"The second time l visited the mill
where first found it i, had greatly
increased aud the moths were flying