Tenebrionidae 463 



Family tenebrionidak 



MEALWORMS, BLAPSTINUS MOESTUS AND TENEBRIO 



MOLITOR 



William LeRay and Norma Ford, University oj Toronto 



IN addition to the common meal worm (Tenebrio molitor), used quite 

 generally as food for fish, frogs, birds, etc., we are finding it most 

 profitable to have a supply of the smaller and more delicate larvae of 

 Blapstinus moestns. The latter are especially suitable as food for the 

 smaller animals, such as the swamp tree frog (Pseudacris feriarum) and 

 the Spring Peeper (Hyla crucijer). Moreover these larvae can with- 

 stand moisture better than T. molitor and do not die as quickly if dropped 

 into a damp jar with Amphibia. Another point in their favor is their 

 more rapid development. 



In rearing either of these larvae, boxes of smooth galvanized iron are 

 set up. The smoothness of the sides of the container is important to pre- 

 vent the escape of the larvae, since it is preferable to leave the boxes 

 open. Each box should be about 2x1% feet and have a depth of 1 foot. 

 Over the bottom is spread chick-growing mash to a depth of % mcn an ^ 

 this is covered by 4 or 5 layers of burlap, with a sprinkling of mash 

 under each layer of cloth. If possible several hundred worms should 

 be placed in the box. Each day the box is sprinkled with water. In 

 about 3 months it will be seething with larvae. In our department six 

 boxes in various stages of development are kept running. 



An old box, in which the mash has been reduced to a powder, 

 may contain many eggs. If this powder is left as a foundation, over 

 which fresh mash and burlap are laid, a rich growth of larvae may 

 result. 



THE CULTURE OF TRIBOLIUM CONFUSUM 



Thomas Park, School oj Hygiene and Public Health 



THIS beetle is easy to culture and requires neither expensive appa- 

 ratus nor elaborate technique for its maintenance. The eggs are 

 about 0.4 mm. wide and 0.6 mm. long. The larvae are active, burrowing 

 forms which pass through from 6 to 11 instars in their metamorphosis, 

 depending upon the temperature and type of culture medium. The 

 pupal stage is the earliest in which the sex of individuals may be de- 

 termined on the basis of external characteristics. The sexes may readily 

 be differentiated by examining the ventral, posterior end of the pupa 

 under low magnification (preferably binocular dissecting microscope). 

 On the terminal segment the female has a pair of small appendages 



