CONTROL OF HOUSEHOLD INSECTS 



41 



ments, drugs of various kinds and dried herbarium specimens. 

 It is best known on account of its work in tobacco, cigarettes in 

 packages being frequently perforated by this tiny pest. 



Spider beetles. The white marked spider beetle' is a small, 

 reddish brown form with four white marks on its wing covers. Its 

 long antennae and legs and subglobular body are suggestive of a 

 spider, hence the common name. This species feeds upon a large 

 variety of dried vegetable and animal substances, such as insect 

 collections, dried plants and herbaria, red pepper, cotton seed, 

 refuse wool, and is said to be injurious to furs, clothing, roots, 

 grain, stuffed animals, etc. The brown spider beetle^ lives with 

 the preceding, has similar habits and differs principally in the 

 absence of the white markings. 



Fig- 33 Bean weevil, seen from 

 above, enlarged. (Original) 



Fig. 34 Pea weevil, seen from above, en- 

 larged. (Original) 



The pea weeviP and various bean weevils* are stout, grayish 

 weevils most easily recognized by their occurring respectively 

 in peas and beans. The original infestation usually occurs in the 

 field, though these insects are capable of breeding for extended 

 periods in the dried seeds of their food plants. 



Control measures. It is comparatively easy, with the exercise 

 of a moderate degree of care, to avoid serious injury by any of 



'Ptinus fur Linn. 

 =Ptinus brunneus Duft. 

 'Bruchus pisorum Linn. 

 *B. obtectus Say and others. 



