Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-12-30

Grain Moth and It's Destruction.
No other insect in Maryland and the
South has done so much damage TO
stored wheat and corn as has the lit
tie insect known as the grain moth IL
is also known as the white n.y.,
"weevil," stack fly" etc. In Mary
land it is especially injurious to stored
wheat, and very often so Injuries the
seed that it is unfit for planting. Corn
coming from the South, especially the
flint variety, is apt to be full OF these
insects. Recently manufacturer OF
hominy in Baltimore told me they hao
much trouble from this insect in their
corn. An exporter Of grain also told
me they had to be on the constant
lookout for this pest in every cargo OF
corn or wheat received from the Soutn.
Last fall and winter, while attending
the various farmers institutes in the
different counties, almost Invariably
this pest came up for discussion. II
was originally imported from Europe
by the early settlers of Virginia IN
their supplies of wheat brought from
the old country. Once established on
American soil, it has spread far ana
wide throughout the United States,
Texas. perhaps, suffering more tnan
any other state from it's ravages. Mucn
unnecessary loss is incurred each sea-
son simply from lack of information
concerning it's habits and remedies
for its destruction. 1t is not difhcult
to detect the presence OF this insect
in wheat and corn in store. The grain
is light and very often peppered full OF
little round holes about the size OF
pins head, the interior of the grain
having been eaten out by the young OF
the moth. Very often the attack is so
bad that nothing but an empty hull Is
left. The parent insect responsible
for this destruction is a small gray
moth, resembling a clothes moth, and
measures only about half an inch with
its wings spread. It has satiny lus-
ter, and its hind wings are deeply
fringed. The eggs are deposited upon
the grain both in the field and in the
granary. Usually about a week passes
before the egg matches. The young
worm Immediately eats it's way into
the kernel, where it feeds about three
weeks before maturity is reached. It
then transforms to pupa, from which
the adult moth emerges little later.
It passes the winter in barns, gran
aries, storehouses, etc., and when es-
tablished in an elevator or granary
will breed generation after generation.
Soon after harvest the moth flies out
from the granaries to the fields and
deposits her eggs upon wheat still in
shock or stack. The larva passes
through the thresher in the grain I'M
hurt, and is carried back to the gran
airy, etc. 1t is plain from these facts
that if granaries are kept free from
this pest the shocks will not become
infested in the fields. If an individual
farmer, however, takes the trouble to
disinfect his granary, his wheat shocks
will be infested from moths coming
from the storehouses Of his neighbors,
provided he does not thresh very soon
after harvest or before the eggs hatch
and the larvae penetrate the grain.
know there is more or less difficulty in
getting a thresher at the proper time,
and where the wheat must be left in
the fields the farmer should disinfect
his granary soon after the wheat is
stored. This insect has several nat,
ural enemies, and I have bred several
small-winged parasites from it. No
doubt these agents keep it in check
to limited extent; but we must look
to other sources for more efficient rem
edies. The most satisfactory remedy
now known is from the fumes of BIZ
sulphide of carbon. This chemical is
very infammable, volatile, foul
smelling liquid, as clear as water, with
a vapor so much heavier than air it
will penetrate every possible crack and
crevice in a storehouse or bin. 1t can
be thrown directly upon the grain
without injuring it's vitality or it's edi-
BILE qualities. Many persons hesitate
about using this bisulphide of carbon
for fear of fire or injury to the grain.
I have never heard of case where a
fire was caused by the use of this sub
stance, or where grain was injured.
where it was used cautiously. Gun.
powder, gasoline, kerosene, etc., are
dangerously explosive when carelessly
handled: and so is bisulphide of car
bon. This latter is not explosive in
the same sense as gunpowder; but, like
gasoline and kerosene, it's fumes must
be. mechanically mixed with the air be-
fore It will cause an explosion. There
is no danger whatever it used properly.
One pound of bisulphide of carbon to
every one hundred bushels of grain is
all that is necessary for the destruction
of insects. It is best to place the ma
terial in shallow dishes or pans upon
the grain, and then close the bin tight
ly for at least twenty-four hours. Many
persons make mistake by not using
enough of the substance, and then saw
it Is of no account. 1t is an easy mat
ter to estimate the number of bushels
of grain in any enclosure, and then it
is not a difficult task to calculate how
many pounds of bisulphide should be
applied. If it is desired to fumigate
empty bins, ETC., one pound of the
chemical should be used for every 1000
cuhic foot ne Dir cnaro