Willis Grant Johnson wrote 71 articles for American Miller entitled “Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills” and a number of others between 1895 and 1907. The following references for the columns by Johnson in the trade journal American Miller were not included in our earlier publications and are important additions to our reference lists in these earlier publications.
According to Osborn (1937), Johnson (1866-1908) began entomological career at Stanford University, but had studied earlier at Ohio State University. He was assistant at Stanford from 1891-1892 and at Champaign, Illinois from 1894-1896 and Entomologist at Maryland Experiment Station from 1896-1901. He was editor of American Agriculturalist.
While Johnson was writing the columns, he also wrote a book on fumigation entitled, Fumigation methods, a practical treatise for farmers, fruit growers, nurserymen, gardeners, florists, millers, grain dealers, transportation companies, colleges and experiment station workers, etc., that was published in 1902 by Orange Judd, New York. Back and Cotton in their 1926 paper, The cadelle. USDA Bulletin 1428, credit Johnson’s column (1895 p. 661, 1896 p. 114, 1898 p. 440) with originating the common name “bolting cloth beetle” for the cadelle.
Johnson numbered his columns in American Miller from 2-68, the first column was unnumbered (given the number 1 below) and three times he used the same column number twice. Johnson wrote 6 columns in 1895 (1-6), 6 in 1896 (7-12), 4 in 1897 (13-16), 6 in 1898 (17-22), 2 in 1899 (23-27), 5 in 1900 (28-32), 3 in 1901 (34-36), 3 in 1902 (37-39), 4 in 1903 (40-43), 3 in 1904 (44-45), 5 in 1905 (46-49), 9 in 1906 (50-58), 11 in 1907 (59-68). List of topics covered or insect species identified and the state from which the insects were received, and citations for each of his columns are given below. Each topic or insect species is followed by the number or numbers of his column in which these were discussed.
Johnson discussed 36 insect species in his columns and had received infested samples so the insects could be correctly identified. Ephestia kuehniella and Tribolium confusum are by far the most widely distributed pests with both being found in 21 states and Canada and Mexico. The discussed species include 4 parasitoids (Habrobracon hebetor, Mesostenus gracilis, Omorga columbiana and an unidentified parasite of grain beetles) and 2 predators (Reduvius personatus and Scenopenus fenestralis).
Johnson emphasized thoroughly cleaning and burning of old bags and the silk matting clogging elevators and spouts of mills followed by fumigation with carbon disulfide and later hydrogen cyanide. He also discussed many innovations such as water traps, fumigation rooms, replacing wooden spouting with metal, white washing to seal cracks in walls, heat sterilization of packaged breakfast cereal, steam cleaning, inspection and accepting only uninfested grain or flour, insect resistant packaging and releasing parasites to control Ephestia kuehniella. One miller ran steam pipes throughout the building and disinfested with steam once per week. The miller said that one man with steam can do the work of 20 with broom or brush. Johnson discussed used bags and equipment, railcars and field infestation as sources of insect infestation. He describes Ephestia kuehniella in the calling position, although pheromones had not been discovered yet.
List of topics and insect species
Ahasverus advena 50
Alphitobius diaperinus, California 7
Amara impuncticollis and Amara cupreolata established mill Canada 42
Attagenus unicolor, Canada 17, 61
Attagenus unicolor, Kansas 39
Attagenus unicolor, Massachusetts 7
Attagenus unicolor, Maryland 3, 7
Attagenus unicolor, Michigan 61
Attagenus unicolor, Minnesota 37
Attagenus unicolor, Ohio 3, 7
Attagenus unicolor, South Dakota 6, 7
Attagenus unicolor, Utah 5, 13
Burn old bags etc. 1, 23, 44, 46, 60
Calculated hydrogen cyanide needed for mill 47, 55, 59, 64, 65, 68
Carbon bisulfide (Fuma) 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 23, 32, 34, 46, 58
Cathartus quadricollis 50
Cathartus quadricollis, Michigan 54
Clean thoroughly 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 14, 16, 23, 31, 32, 40, 43, 59, 60, 64, 66
Dermestes lardarius, Idaho 66
Disposal hydrogen cyanide residue 53, 54, 68
Ephestia kuehniella 35
Ephestia kuehniella, Alabama 16
Ephestia kuehnella, California 5, 6, 7, 13, 24, 28, 37
Ephestia kuehniella, Canada 6, 13, 16, 23, 24, 28, 41, 47, 52, 59, 61
Ephestia kuehniella, Colorado 16
Ephestia kuehnella, Clog spouts with silk 5
Ephestia kuehniella, female calling with abdomen protruding between wings 23
Ephestia kuehniella, first reported California 1892 6
Ephestia kuehniella, first reported Ontario, Canada in 1889 6, 7
Ephestia kuehniella, mature larva crawl to find pupation site 6
Ephestia kuehniella, Illinois 55, 59, 61
Ephestia kuehniella, Indiana 38, 55, 59, 61, 62, 64
Ephestia kuehniella, Iowa 45, 66
Ephestia kuehniella, Kansas 58, 59, 61, 66
Ephestia kuehniella, list of first records 52
Ephestia kuehniella, Maryland 52, 59, 61
Ephestia kuehniella, Mexico 13, 16
Ephestia kuehniella, Michigan 56, 59, 61, 62, 66
Ephestia kuehniella, Minnesota 28, 44, 58
Ephestia kuehniella, Missouri 46
Ephestia kuehniella, Montana 46
Ephestia kuehniella, Nebraska 62
Ephestia kuehniella, New Hampshire 42
Ephestia kuehniella, New Mexico 16
Ephestia kuehniella, New York 7, 13, 24, 28, 41, 46, 55, 59, 61
Ephestia kuehniella, Ohio 24, 28, 45, 56, 59, 61, 62, 65
Ephestia kuehniella, Pennsylvania 7, 13, 17, 24, 28, 59, 61
Ephestia kuehniella, Texas 65
Ephestia kuehniella, Washington 41, 62
Ephestia kuehniella, Wisconsin 44
Fan to cool heating rice South Carolina 31
Field infestation wheat and corn by Sitotroga cerealella 30
Figure of larva and adult of Attagenus unicolor 37, 52
Figures of adult, larva and pupa of Attagenus unicolor 15
Figure of Ephestia kuehniella 7
Figures of larva, pupa and adult of Ephestia kuehniella 16, 23, 40, 50, 52
Figure of silk matting by Ephestia kuehniella 16, 23, 38, 46
Figure of mite 43
Figures of siro mite and longior mite 39
Figure of Oryzaephilus surinamensis adult 1
Figures of larva, pupa and adult of Oryzaephilus surinamensis 15, 58
Figure of Plodia interpunctella 48, 50, 57
Figures of larva, pupa and adult of Pyralis faarinalis 31, 34, 47, 50, 54
Figure of kernels silked together by Pyralis farinalis 31
Figure of Reduvius (Opiscaetes) personatus 58
Figure of roaches 29, 41
Figures of larva, pupa and adult of Sitophilus 20, 43, 68
Figures of larva, pupa and adult of Sitotroga cerealella 43
Figures of adult, larva and pupa of Tenebrio molitor 15, 34, 55
Figures of adult of Tenebrio obscurus 41
Figures of larva, pupa and adult of Tenebrio obscurus 40
Figures of Tenebroides mauritanicus adult and larvae 4, 8
Figures of larva, pupa and adult of Tenebroides mauritanicus 15, 20, 42, 47, 55
Figures of adult, larva and pupa of Tribolium castaneum and mouth parts 3
Figures of adult, larva and pupa of Tribolium confusum 15, 40, 47, 50, 56, 68
Fumgate with sulfur smoke 5
Gnatocerus cornutus 50
Gnathocerus cornutus, California 7
Gnatocerus maxillosus 50
Grain beetle parasites from Pennsylvania 34
Habrobracon hebetor egg to adult in 2 weeks 6
Habrobracon hebetor eliminating Ephestia kuehniella in England 6
Habrobracon hebetor, first record on Ephestia kuehniella 6
Habrobracon hebetor on Plodia interpuctella in Massachusetts 6
Habrobracon hebetor parasite Ephestia kuehniella 28
Heat sterilization packaged breakfast food 30
Hydrogen cyanide fumigant 23, 29, 31, 34, 36, 40, 43, 44, 46, 47, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 67
Insect resistant packaging 30
Inspect and accept only the uninfested grain 5
Insurance company refused permission to fumigate 35
Larger crock so hydrogen cyanide does not bubble over 57
Mesostenus gracilis parasite Ephestia kuehniella 28
Mite, Arkansas 58
Mite, Canada 52
Mite, Michigan 55, 61
Mite, Ohio 12, 13, 39
Mite, Pennsylvania 25
Mite, Wisconsin 43
Moistened gunny sack to trap Tenebrio molitor 17
Nemapogon granella 4, 57, 58
Nemapogon granella, California 47
Nemapogon granella, Canada 47
Nemapogon granella, Connecticut 61
Nemapogon granella, Michigan 56, 61
Omorga columbiana parasite Ephestia kuehniella 28
Opens mill cold weather 44
Oryzaephilus surinamensis 50
Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Illinois 7, 13
Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Maryland 13, 17
Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Massachusetts 1, 7
Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Michigan 7, 10, 13
Oryzaephilus surinamensis, New York 26, 28
Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Pennsylvania 24, 28
Oryzaephilus surinamensis, South Dakota 6, 7
Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Utah 6, 7
Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Washington 17
Palorus ratzeburgi 50
Parasites Ephestia kuehniella from Pennsylvania 25
Paris green in molasses and wheat bran bait for roaches 17
Plodia interpunctella 35
Plodia interpunctella, Illinois 13
Plodia interpunctella, Indiana 61
Plodia interpunctella, Maryland 13
Plodia interpunctella, Mexico 13
Plodia interpunctella, Ohio 13
Plodia interpunctella, Pennsylvania 57
Psocids from South Carolina 36, 48
Ptinus brunneus, Iowa 62
Ptinus fur, Canada 59, 61
Pyralis farinalis, California 6, 7
Pyralis farinalis, Illinois 7, 47
Pyralis farinalis, Indiana 61
Pyralis farinalis, Oregon 7, 13
Pyralis farinalis, New York 13
Pyralis farinalis, North Dakota 34
Pyralis farinalis, Pennsylvania 31, 57
Reduvius (Opiscaetes) personatus prey on Tribolium confusum 57, 58, 61
Remote device for dropping cyanide into sulfuric acid 56
Replace wooden spouts with metal spouts 5, 7
Roaches 18, 19, 20, 29, 30
Roaches, Kansas 8 17
Roaches, North Carolina 41
Roaches, Ohio 17
Room to fumigate incoming bags, equipment, ingredients, etc. 56, 59, 61
Scenopenus fenestralis, Illinois 7
Scenopenus fenestralis, Massachusetts 2, 7
Scenopenus fenestralis, Ohio 4, 7
Sending parasites to control Ephestia kuehniella 25
Sitophilus granarius, California 7, 68
Sitophilus granarius, Ohio 4, 7
Sitophilus granarius, Pennsylvania 24
Sitophilus granarius, Utah 5, 7
Sitophilus oryzae, Illinois 7
Sitophilus oryzae, Kansas 7
Sitophilus oryzae, Massachusetts 43
Sitophilus oryzae, Ohio 4
Sitophilus oryzae, Pennsylvania 28
Sitophilus oryzae, Utah 65
Sitophilus spp. 50
Sitotroga cerealella 50
Sitotroga cerealella, Illinois 7, 13
Sitotroga cerealella, Indiana 51, 61
Sitotroga cerealella, Ohio 13, 43
Sitotroga cerealella, Maryland 13
Sitotroga cerealella, Pennsylvania 13
Sitotroga cerealella, Virginia 13
Source infestation 44, 66
Steam heat to disinfest mill 43, 44
Steam pipes to clean mill 5
Stored tobacco fumigated 48
Sulfur dioxide fumigant on flour 54, 55
Tenebrio molitor 50
Tenebrio molitor, Canada 17
Tenebrio molitor, Kentucky 34
Tenebrio molitor, Pennsylvania 24, 28
Tenebrio obscurus, Colorado 41
Tenebrio obscurus, Minnesota 2, 5, 7, 40
Tenebrio obscurus, Oregon 7
Tenebrio obscurus, Utah 5, 7
Tenebroides californica, California 6
Tenebroides corticalis 4
Tenebroides mauritanicus 50
Tenebroides mauritanicus, California 7
Tenebroides mauritanicus, Canada 17
Tenebroides mauritanicus, Illinois 7, 47
Tenebroides mauritanicus, Michigan 61
Tenebroides mauritanicus, Minnesota 40
Tenebroides mauritanicus, New Jersey 17, 28
Tenebroides mauritanicus, New York 8
Tenebroides mauritanicus, Ohio 4, 7, 61
Tenebroides mauritanicus, Oklahoma 67
Tenebroides mauritanicus, Pennsylvania 24, 28
Tenebroides mauritanicus, South Dakota 6, 7, 56, 61
Tribolium confusum 35
Tribolium confusum, California 6, 7, 13
Tribolium confusum, Canada 28
Tribolium confusum, Illinois 7, 13, 28
Tribolium confusum, Indiana 7, 28, 64
Tribolium confusum, Iowa 17
Tribolium confusum, Kansas 13
Tribolium confusum, Kentucky 56, 61
Tribolium confusum, Mexico 13
Tribolium confusum, Michigan 11, 13, 17, 61
Tribolium confusum, Minnesota 7, 13
Tribolium confusum, Missouri 28
Tribolium confusum, Montana 13
Tribolium confusum, New York 7, 13
Tribolium confusum, North Dakota 28
Tribolium confusum, Ohio 1, 4, 7, 13, 17
Tribolium confusum, Oregon 7
Tribolium confusum, Pennsylvania 7, 13, 24, 28, 34
Tribolium confusum, South Dakota 6, 7
Tribolium confusum, Texas 17, 61
Tribolium confusum, Utah 13
Tribolium confusum, Virginia 13
Tribolium confusum, Washington 17
Tribolium confusum, Wyoming 1
Tribolium madens, Montana 13
Tribolium madens, Utah 7, 13
Tribolium madens, Washington 15, 17
Water in bucket to capture Ephestia kuehniella 55
White wash to fill cracks 31
Citations:
Osborn, Herbert 1937. Fragments of Entomological History including some personal recollections of men and events. Published by the Author, Columbus, Ohio.
Johnson, W. G. 1895. Insects in flour and grain. Amer. Miller 23: 33.
Johnson, W. G. 1895. The Mediterranean flour moth. Amer. Miller 23: 198.
Johnson, W. G. 1895. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills. American Miller 23: 276.
Johnson, W. G. 1895. The Mediterranean flour moth in New York. American Miller 23: 347.
Johnson, W. G. 1895. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. II. American Miller 23: 422.
Johnson, W. G. 1895. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. III. American Miller 23: 511.
Johnson, W. G. 1895. Insects injurious to stored grain No. I. American Miller 23:587.
Johnson, W. G. 1895. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. IV. American Miller 23: 661.
Johnson, W. G. 1895. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. V. American Miller 23: 738-739.
Johnson, W. G. 1895. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. VI. American Miller 23: 810-811.
Johnson, W. G. 1896. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. VII. Amer. Miller 24: 32-33.
Johnson, W. G. 1896. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. VIII. Amer. Miller 24: 114.
Johnson, W. G. 1896. Indian-meal moth. American Miller 24: 270. (Reprinted from March issue of American Elevator and Grain Trade.)
Johnson, W. G. 1896. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. IX. American Miller 24: 342-343.
Johnson, W. G. 1986. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. X. American Miller 24: 501.
Johnson, W. G. 1896. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XI. American Miller 24: 725.
Johnson, W. G. 1896. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XII. American Miller 24: 875.
Johnson, W. G. 1896. Silk fabric made by insect larvae. American Miller 24: 271-272.
Johnson, W. G. 1897. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XIII. American Miller 25: 24.
Johnson, W. G. 1897. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XIV. American Miller 25: 423-424.
Johnson, W. G. 1897. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XV. American Miller 25: 496.
Johnson, W. G. 1897. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XVI. American Miller 25: 728.
Johnson, W. G. 1898. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XVII. American Miller 26: 39-40.
Johnson, W. G. 1898. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XVIII. American Miller 26: 201.
Johnson, W. G. 1898. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XIX. American Miller 26: 283-284.
Johnson, W. G. 1898. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XX. American Miller 26: 363.
Johnson, W. G. 1898. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XXI. Amer. Miller 26: 440.
Johnson, W. G. 1898. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XXIII. American Miller 26: 844-845.
Johnson, W. G. 1899. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XXIII. American Miller 27: 385.
Johnson, W. G. 1899. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XXIV. American Miller 27: 463-864.
Johnson, W. G. 1899. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XXV . American Miller 27: 612-613.
Johnson, W. G. 1899. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XXVI. American Miller 27: 773.
Johnson, W. G. 1899. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XXVII . American Miller 27: 847-848.
Johnson, W. G. 1899. Hydrocyanic acid gas as a remedy for insects in mills. American Miller 27: 684-685.
Johnson, W. G. 1899. Hydrocyanic acid gas as a remedy for insects in mills and other enclosures II. American Miller 27: 849-850.
Johnson, W. G. 1900. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XXVIII. American Miller 28: 128.
Johnson, W. G. 1900. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XXIX. American Miller 28: 292-293.
Johnson, W. G. 1900. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XXX. American Millers 28: 385-386.
Johnson, W. G. 1900. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XXXI American Miller 28: 526-527.
Johnson, W. G. 1900. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XXXII American Miller 28: 692-693.
Johnson, W. G. 1900. Hydrocyanic acid gas and mill pests. American Miller 28: 370.
Johnson, W. G. 1901. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XXXIV. American Miller 29: 33.
Johnson, W. G. 1901. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XXXV. American Miller 29: 455.
Johnson, W. G. 1901. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XXXVI. American Miller 29: 862-863.
Johnson, W. G. 1902. “Answers to Queries and Notes on Insect Injuries in Mills no. XXXVII.” American Miller 30: 134-135.
Johnson, W. G. 1902. “Answers to Queries and Notes on Insect Injuries in Mills no. XXXVIII.” American Miller 30: 466.
Johnson, W. G. 1902. “Answers to Queries and Notes on Insect Injuries in Mills no. XXXIX.” American Miller 30: 649.
Johnson, W. G. 1903. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XL. American Miller 31: 472.
Johnson, W. G. 1903. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XLI. American Miller 31: 556.
Johnson, W. G. 1903. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XLII. American Miller 31: 741.
Johnson, W. G. 1903. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XLIII. American Miller 31: 974.
Johnson, W. G. 1904a. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XLIV. American Miller 32: 45.
Johnson, W. G. 1904b. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XLIV. American Miller 32: 489.
Johnson, W. G. 1904. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XLV. American Miller 32: 569.
Johnson, W. G. 1905. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XLVI. American Miller 33: 640.
Johnson, W. G. 1905. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XLVII. American Miller 33: 749-750.
Johnson, W. G. 1905a. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XLVIII. American Miller 33: 828-829.
Johnson, W. G. 1905b. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XLVIII. American Miller 33: 904-905
Johnson, W. G. 1905. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. XLIX. American Miller 33: 988-989.
Johnson, W. G. 1906. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. L. American Miller 34: 44.
Johnson, W. G. 1906. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. LI. American Miller 34: 146-147.
Johnson, W. G. 1906. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. LII. American Miller 34: 479-480.
Johnson, W. G. 1906. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. LIII. American Miller 34: 565-566.
Johnson, W. G. 1906. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. LIV. American Miller 34: 657-658.
Johnson, W. G. 1906. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. LV. American Miller 34: 741-743.
Johnson, W. G. 1906. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. LVI. American Miller 34: 823.
Johnson, W. G. 1906. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. LVII. American Miller 34: 905-906.
Johnson, W. G. 1906. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills No. LVIII. American Miller 34:981-982.
Johnson, W. G. 1907. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills no. LIX. American Miller 35: 43-44.
Johnson, W. G. 1907. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills no. LX. American Miller 35: 208-209.
Johnson, W. G. 1907a. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills no. LXI. American Miller 35: 43-44.
Johnson, W. G. 1907b. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills no. LXI. American Miller 35: 297-298.
Johnson, W. G. 1907. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills no. LXII. American Miller 35: 379-380.
Johnson, W. G. 1907. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills no. LXIII. American Miller 35: 456-457.
Johnson, W. G. 1907. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills no. LXIV. American Miller 35: 539.
Johnson, W. G. 1907. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills no. LXV. American Miller 35: 722.
Johnson, W. G. 1907. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills no. LXVI. American Miller, 35: 806.
Johnson, W. G. 1907. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills no. LXVII. American Miller 35: 889.
Johnson, W. G. 1907. Answers to queries and notes on insect injuries in mills no. LXVIII. American Miller 35: 973.
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