Dermestidae 459 



tention is paid to the culture. The containers are cleaned about once a 

 month. This is accomplished by sifting the fish-scrap with a No. 10 

 mesh sieve, which keeps back the larvae. The tin cans are then thor- 

 oughly cleaned, a fresh layer of fish-scrap and other food added, and the 

 larvae put back in the containers. Otherwise cultures are not disturbed, 

 except when food is added, until the adults emerge. In practice about 

 three cultures are started a week, assuring an ample supply of adults at 

 all times. Adult insects are kept in separate containers with the ex- 

 ception of those used for starting new cultures. 



M. E. D. 



Reference 



For rearing Dermestes lardarius and other dermestids see p. 242. 



CARPET BEETLES 



Grace H. Griswold, Cornell University 



SEVERAL species of carpet beetles {Anthrenus scrophulariae, A. 

 verbasci, A. vorax, Attagenus piceus, and Trogoderma versicolor*) 

 have been reared successfully at the Cornell Insectary on a varied diet 

 consisting of woolen cloth, rat fur, chicken feathers, and fish meal. Since 

 many carpet beetles like cereals, a small amount of 3-minute oat flakes 

 has usually been provided in addition to the other foods mentioned. 

 Cultures may be kept going in large tin salve boxes or in %-pint cylin- 

 drical cardboard cartons such as are commonly used for cottage cheese. 

 Where large colonies are desired, the gallon-size "Seal-right" cartons 

 will be found very useful. Adults of two of the common carpet beetles 

 {Anthrenus scrophulariae and A. verbasci) will usually be found feeding 

 on blossoms of Van Houtte's Spiraea during late May and early June. 

 If some of these beetles are collected and placed in small tin salve boxes 

 with bits of woolen cloth, the females will probably lay eggs and colonies 

 may thus be started with little effort. 



Reference 

 Family Nitidulidae 

 For rearing of members of this family see p. 453. 



* Editor's Note: J. E. Wodsedalek says {Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 5:367, 1912) that Tro- 

 goderma tarsalis may be found in all stages of development throughout the year in well 

 heated buildings. Under favorable conditions with ordinary room temperature and plenty 

 of food two and a partial third generation have been obtained in one year. There is a 

 wide variety of substances on which this species can subsist. The pests seem to thrive 

 best on dried insects and fish. 



Adolph A. Beyer says {Kan. Univ. Sci. Bull. 14:373. 1922) that adults of T. inclusa 

 [ = versicolor] mated a day or two after emergence. Eggs, varying in number from 10 to 

 50, were placed indiscriminately on the bottoms of the petri dish containers from 4 to 

 6 days after copulation. The young larvae hatched from 8 to 12 days later at ordinary 

 room temperature. The young larvae were reared entirely on rye grain. This species 

 apparently thrives best on cereals. M. E. D. 



