Beyer: Trogoderma inclusa. 377 



several months of starvation, during which the larvae had molted 

 several times, the skins were never attacked. This fact was also 

 proven in the collar dissections which I made. In one collar in 

 particular, which had been kept in stock for three years after the 

 infestation was noticed, nearly all' of the rye seed had been de- 

 voured, and the straw and inner surface of the collar were literally 

 full of molted skins, and a large percentage of the larvae had escaped 

 from the collar. 



Just before molting the specimens become inactive, and a break 

 appears in the larval skin along the median dorsal line. This ex- 

 tends from the head along the thorax and partly down the abdo- 

 men (see plate XL). The larva assumes a semicircular position, 

 which permits the extrication of the thorax and the head. The legs 

 are then pulled out of their covering, and the light-colored larva 

 crawls out of the exuvia. Its soft covering soon hardens and be- 

 comes chitinous, and within a few hours assumes the natural yel- 

 lowish-brown color. 



PUPATION. 



When the larva reaches full growth the pupa begins to form 

 within the last larval skin. This is noticeable by the size, shape and 

 the lack of movement or locomotion. The pupa is slightly shorter, 

 larger in diameter, and apparently makes no movements. Four or 

 five days later the skin splits down the median dorsal line and the 

 light-yellowish pupa is exposed. The period of molting lasts from 

 ten to twenty days at ordinary room temperature. When the insects 

 are fully developed they emerge through the large dorsal opening 

 of the pupal skin. Should a specimen be forced out of the larval 

 case when not fully matured, though capable of locomotion, it in- 

 variably returns to its former position within the protective larval 

 skin upon coming in contact with it. The pupae upon emerging 

 are of a whitish color ; then comes the darkening of the hair on the 

 thorax and elytra. In three or four days the thorax and elytra take 

 on a reddish color, commencing at the thorax and shading back. 

 The female remains in the pupa case a day or two longer than the 

 male. The average life of the adult is about eighteen days. 



FOOD HABITS. 



I have found that this species can subsist upon a large variety of 

 substances. In considering the relative value of some of the sub- 

 stances as food for the larva, I found that the pest apparently 

 thrives best on cereals. As was formerly stated, the larvae were, in 

 their natural state, in almost every instance found living on the 



