The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-13
INSECT PESTS AT THE WORLDS FAIR.
Prof Riley Corrects Exaggerated and Sea-
,atIonaI Newspaper Reports.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 12.-Prok c. Y. Riley, en-
tomoloGist OF the Department OF Agriculture
issued bulletin to-day in regard to the in
sects in the foreign exhibits OF the World's
Fair. He says that beginning with the first
week OF October and continuing at intervals
up to date. a number OF newspaper articles
have appeared bearing upon the subject Of the
insect infested grain exhibits.
From these accounts. nearly all OF which are
more or loss erroneous. all sorts OF opinions
have become prevalent as to the ultimate dan
ger OF the introduction OF new and undesirable
insect pests Indeed. he says. some newspa-
pers. especially in New York. have seemed
to take delight 10 mAgnifying the dan
ger and in rejecting upon Chicago and
the Exposition. and have even used a
report made by him to W. j. Buchanan. Chief
OF the Department Of Agriculture o. the Expo-
stion. and reproduced il as a basis for exag-
gerated and sensational articles. Under the
circumstances. he thinks . full and truthful
statement of the facts may serve useful pur-
pose.
In the first newspaper accounts which
appeared. the damage was with great
uniformity attributed 10 the weeyiI,"
which. with equal uniformity. was said
TO DO Q new species introduced into
the Agricultural building in some OF the
foreign exhibits For the benefit Of the general
reader Prof. Riley says. it should be stated
that while there are but two trys grain
weeyils known to be established in this eoun-
try viz the rice wesyil lca!aElird OTyzasl and
the grain weeyil &C. grandrid. a score or two
manner OF cAlAndrA are OF common occur
renee with Us, and several OF them are popu-
larry but erToneously known as grain wsevils.
asst July Prof Riley wrote 10 one Of his as
sistants at Chicago. =. III. Chittenden. to keep
lookout for new insects in tue foreign grain
m hrnH FIasaNnF IN
summer and fall ~ the earlier species iound.
represented chiefly ny dead specimens taken
he says few were indeed new hut the living
insects all proved to be OF common and we'll
toward the close OF September many species
not hitherto observed began To make their Gp-
pearanre ia such mum bsrs in the Agricultural
building as 10 cause very general alarm among
the exhibitors OF agTicul, ural pruducts. Cof-
T-spqpdence was had with the division and
sioneIs all proved 10 be well-known species
already existing in this country. The
work Of Investigation was kept up and
Prot Riley details the action that was tax en-
by the various state commissioners. as well as
and the foreign Tepresentstives The results
Of the inquiry we're set forth at the time. but
ia view OF the recent eS.gEeIated reports
species OF anI consequence were found. He
thu. concludes his uulletin:
those from which the greatest danger was to
be apprshended, viz the unknown species OF
spermophaGus. are tropical species. aud could
hardly become acc.lmated at the North. One or
more Of them might have become established
In the extreme southern states II theY lad
ssca ped but do not hesitate TO say. consider
ing all the facts. that the probabilities of such
a contin gsncy are slight and that no species
which anset stored grain or other vegetable
products have been distributed or have found
a iOothOld IN regions where they could
multiply aud become 10 uriOus, On the whole.
therefore. Il mar be confidently stated that .
thorough review OF the facts gives assurance
that no dangerous lntrOductions were made
not previously found within our borders should
become established, they arc U. such a nature
as not 10 compare With the more cosmopolitan
aud Injurious SPECIES which already Ahect our
grain aud which We already have 70 contend
With