224 



AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE BULLETINS. 



ously slitted even across whole breadths^ sent with these larval carpet beetles 

 specimens of the common clothes moth, large cut worm moths, and several 

 other insects which he had found in and about his house, and asked which 

 was the real culprit. Another who had had a beautiful and costly shawl cut 

 in twain as by a pair of scissors, sent the insects in all stages, but supposed, 

 contrary to the fact, that the beetles and not the larvfe were the trans- 

 gressors. Others are entirely ignorant of the cause of the damage. 



WHAT IS IT? 



This enemy is a beetle, and should be known as " The Carpet Beetle.'" It 

 is often, though very improperly, called the " Biiilalo Carpet Moth." The 

 first part of this name, said to be given it because of its hairy appearance 

 reminding one of a buffalo, and not from the city of Buffalo, is entirely 

 unnecessary and may well be dropped, while the fact that this is a beetle and 

 no moth at all, should surely relegate the last part of the name to oblivion. 

 Carpet beetle tells the whole story and the truth, and so let this be its 

 name. 



This beetle belongs to the family Dermestidse, and is closely related to 

 Dermestes lardarius, the bacon beetle, which thrives upon dried insects, and 

 other museum specimens, as well as most kinds of animal tissue. This last 

 insect is often a great nuisance in museums. I also find it frequently about 

 the combs in the apiary, where it feeds upon the dead bees and perhaps on 

 pollen. The carpet beetle is still more closely related to the Anthrenus 

 varius, which has similar habits to the Dermestes lardarius, and is even more 

 to be dreaded, as its small size makes it more difficult to fence against it, 

 and renders it more likely to escape detection when it is working its 

 mischief. 



A. varius, like A. scrojjJndarim, is often seen on flowers when the insect is 

 in the mature state. 



Carpet Beetle much magnified, small lines show real size, a, b, larvae, c, pupa, d, beetle. 



The minute, but 



THE CARPET BEETLE DESCKIBED. 



handsome beetle, d. in Fig. 



is only one-eighth of an 

 inch long, and about two-thirds as broad as long. The main color is black, 

 while a dorsal red line extends longitudinally, bordering each wing-cover 

 internally, and is marked by three projections on each wing-cover. Opposite 

 these red projections on the outside of each wing-cover are three white spots. 

 This handsome little pest will be found in concealed places from October 

 till the following spring. As the beetle does not eat, no harm will be done 



