64 



J. K. WODSKDALEK 



thai the Carpet Beetles lay their eggs before they desert the 

 houses. When their phototaxis is reversed they are attracted 

 to the wiiK lows by the light and make their escape if possible. 

 When they reach the open air they are attracted by certain 

 flowers, particularly of the family Scrophulariaceae. The blos- 

 soms of Spiraea on which they may be found by the thousands 

 here in Madison, are also strongly attractive to the beetles. It 

 is very probable that they spend the remainder of their lives 

 on the blossoms, never returning to the houses. At any rate, 

 they are harmless at this stage and if eradication would be 

 e fleeted they must be destroyed before they lay their eggs. 



THE BLACK CARPET BEETLE (ATTAGEXUS PICEUS) 



The black carpet beetle, another of the Dermestidae, pos- 

 sesses habits somewhat similar to those of A. scrophulariae and 

 T. tarsale. Observations and experimental work on this spe- 

 cies seem to indicate that it behaves practically the same in its 

 phototactic reactions as do the other two beetles mentioned. 

 However, I have been able to secure only a small number of 

 specimens of this species and the results obtained, therefore, 

 are not entirely conclusive as in the case of T. tarsale and A. 

 scrophulariae, both of which were obtainable in large numbers. 



The carpet beetle (Anthrenus scrophulariae): a, larva, dorsal view; 

 ft, pupa within larval skin; c, pupa, ventral view; d, adult. All enlarged (from 



