Evening star., 1902-03-01
CIGARETTE BEETLES
THEY ARE A DREADED ENEMY TO
THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY.
In Porto Rico They Also Have a Well
Developed Taste for
Shoes.

Written for The Evening Star
Shoes form a big item in the supply ac-
count of the United States army. Colonel
Patten of the quartermaster generals Of
flee was, therefore, naturally alarmed over
a report recently received from Porto Rico.
1t showed that the stock issued to the SOL
diers in that island was being destroyed
by an insect which ate it's way through the
leather in all directions. Sample shoes
sent to the department looked like minia-
ture hneycombS. 1t was an entirely new
experience and had never happened to
army shoes In this country. The damaged
shoes were referred to the Agricultural De-
partment for an investigation. The ento-
mologist of that department reported that
the well-knOwn cigarette beetle was re-
sponsible for the damage, and said the in
sect could be destroyed by the fumes Of
bisulphide Of carbon. Full details as to the
use of this chemical compound are given
in farmers bulletin No. 145. Although the
insect has not been reported in the Philip
pines, Colonel Patten has informed the
quartermasters in That military division of
the results Of the investigation in order
that should a similar condition arise there
the proper steps might be taken to prevent
injury to shoes and all other quartermas-
ters' supplies of which leather is a COM
pOnent part.
The Department of Agriculture recently
published a bulletin in regard to the cigar
ette beetle, from which it appears that the
insect Is dreaded enemy to the tobacco
industry. The name cigarette beetle is
more or less misnomer, since the in
sect not only feeds in all kinds of dried
tobacco. and even in snuff but also in
many other substances, such as rhubarb,
ginger, cayenne pepper, ergot. turmeric,
yeast cakes, rice, figs, prepared fish food
and dried plants prepared for the her
barium.
How It Works.
Working as it does in all kinds of cured
toba eco and living In this substance during
all stages of it's existence. 1t damages Gig
arettes and cigars principally by boring
out OF them, making round holes in the
wrappers SO that they will not draw. Leaf
tobacco is injured for wrapping purposes
by being punctured with holes made both
by the larvae and the beetles. and filters
and fine cut are injured by the reduction
Of their substance by the actual amount
consumed by the larvae. The adulteration
of fine cut by the bodies of the insects and
by their excrement is also kind Of dam
age, though one chronological authority
insists that he buys infested short cut by
preference, both because he can get it
cheaper and because the bodies Of the in
sects impart distinct and not disagree
able flavor to the tobacco. He admits.
however, that 1t Is a cultivated taste.
The cigarette beetle is practically Co.'S
mopolitan. and probably occurs in most
tobacco factories in the southern states,
as well as in most wholesale drug stores.
III tHe Adi soutH liiiS liASeCt HultlpileS rap
idly throughout the greater part Of the
year. and its development Is practically
continuous in artificially warmed factories
farther north.
1t is only within comparatively recent
years that the cigarette beetle has become
at all serious to tobacco manufacturers in
this country, but 1t has been increasing
and spreading Of late, and-at the present
time it is found not only in many factories.
but also in warehouses. tobacco barns and
retail establishments. AS already indicated.
bisulphide of carbon may be used to good
advantage In the destruction of these
pests. but thorough steaming Is regarded
as the most efficient agent.