i66 



THE ALUMNI JOURNAL, 



I were found only two specimens, one in ulmus 

 and another in zingiber, (unlimed). 



Figs. I and 2. l,athridius-filiformis, Gyll., (x 30.) 



Fig. 3. An unnamed Coleoptera, probably exotic (x. 30) 

 No. 3 represents a species of coleoptera, 

 * 'probably exotic and not yet recognized by any 

 specific name in this country." "So far as we 

 know," says Mr. Howard, referring also to 

 lathridius, "these little beetles, feed for the most 

 part, upon minute fungi or moulds which ac- 

 cumulate upon vegetable matter in damp places 

 like cellars, and it is not probable that they are 

 the primary authors of the damage to drugs or 

 herbs kept in store." This statement by Mr. 

 Howard corresponds with experience, as the 

 drugs before mentioned have been kept in a 

 comparatively damp place. During the sum- 

 mer vacation and in the fall before the steam 

 was turned on the building, a considerable 

 amount of fungoid growths had accumulated in 

 the vicinity in which the drugs were kept. 

 Many of the drugs had become so injured by 

 fungus growths as to be utterly useless. 



The most abundant pest in the crude drug 

 stock appears to be sitrodrepa panicea (fig. 4), 



belonging to the family ptinidae, a family whose 

 members in both larval and adult stages feed 

 on dead, dry vegetable and animal matter. 

 This family comprises a number of small beet- 

 les rarely exceeding a quarter of an inch in 

 length and usually brownish in color, A promi- 

 nent characteristic is the hood-like pro-thorax, 

 the head being so bent or drawn back under it 

 as to be almost concealed (fig. 4 b). The indi- 

 viduals classified under the specific name of 

 panicea are most abundant in this family. They 

 are from two to three millimeters long, with 

 the brown sub-cylindrical body almost entirely 

 covered with many fine, short, yellowish hairs, 

 which on the surface of the body, are arranged 

 in parallel longitudinal lines; the upper surface 

 of the body, the wing covers, is finely striated 

 (see fig. 4, a). The young or larva of this 

 beetle is a small white grub with three pairs of 

 of legs and strong, dark brown jaws. The grub 

 when lying at rest usually assumes a semicir- 

 cular position (see c, fig. 4). They feed vorac- 

 iously upon drugs and pass from the grub to 

 the beetle very rapidly. The beetle feeds upon 

 the drug by means of strong, biting jaws. The 

 whole life of the insect is passed in the can or 

 container of the drug. It is almost omniverous 

 and has been found regaling itself upon Colom- 

 bo, aconite, mustard, belladonna, pokeroot, 

 angelica, ginseng, etc. 



Remedies: — In fighting insects [which infest 

 drug tissues, it is needless to say that those 

 means employed by entomologists, consisting 

 of arsenical sprays, etc., are out of the question. 

 It is possible, however, to use a treatment 



Fig. 4. Sitrodrepa panicea, Linue. a, Dorsal view; b. 



side view; c. larva. 

 which is practicable, namely the treatment of 

 the drug with the vapor of carbon bisulphide. 



