ENTOMOLOGY. 561 



ENTOMOLOGY. 



The carpet beetle, or Buffalo moth, L. O. Howard {TJ. S. Dept. 

 Agr., Division of Entomology Circular 5, 2d ser., pp. 4, Jig. 1). — Notes, 

 chiefly compiled, on tlie liistory, distributiou, liabits, and treatment of 

 Anthrenns scrophulariw. Since the introduction of tliis small black 

 beetle from Europe in 1874 it has spread over most of the Northern 

 States. The adults issue throughout the fall, winter, and spring-, and 

 after laying their eg^s migrate to various scrophidariaceous and com- 

 posite plants. There are usually 2 annual generations, and the larvae 

 work under carpets and woolen goods, making irregular holes or long 

 slits. 



Where the presence of the pest is noticed, thorough and long con- 

 tinued measures must be taken to eradicate it. Carpets must be taken 

 up, beaten, and sprayed with benzin, out of doors, and the floors 

 thoroughly swept, dusted, and washed down with hot water, after which 

 kerosene or benzin is to be poured into the cracks and sprayed under 

 the baseboards. Before relaying carpets tarred roofing paper should 

 be laid on tlie floor, at least around the edges. Local attacks may be 

 checked by laying a damp cloth smoothly over the part of the carpet 

 attacked and ironing it with a hot iron, when the steam will kill the 

 larvfc immediately beneath. The discarding of carpets, to be replaced 

 by polished floors and rugs, is advocated. 



The chestnut and its weevil, G. McCarthy {¥orth Carolina Sta, 

 Bui. 105, pp. 267-272). — To learn the present condition of the chestnut 

 industry a circular was sent to about 100 persons in the State and to 

 horticulturists and entomologists in other States, soliciting information 

 in regard to the chestnut weevil, its prevalence, ravages, and treatment. 

 Abstracts of 15 replies are cited and descriptive and life history notes 

 and remedies for the weevil are given. 



The chestnut weevil {Balaninus prohoscoideus) is about the size of the 

 pea weevil, yellowish, with rusty spots and lines on the wing covers, 

 and possessing a snout in the female twice the length of the body and 

 somewhat shorter in the male. The white cylindrical grub is about ^ 

 in. long when full grown. The beetles appear on the chestnut trees dur- 

 ing the blossoming season or a little later, and from 1 to 1 eggs are laid 

 in each burr. There is but 1 brood a year. The grub reaches maturity 

 soon after the ripening of the nuts and usually escapes shortly after the 

 burr falls to the ground. It enters the ground, where it changes to the 

 j)upa state, emerging as the adult in the following spring. 



As remedies hand picking is advised and further assorting the nuts 

 by throwing them into water, w'hen the infested ones will float and may 

 be skimmed off. Storing the nuts in tight boxes immediately after 

 gathering and in 2 weeks treating them with carbon bisulphid is pro- 

 posed, and also spraying the trees soon after blooming with London 

 purple or Paris green, 1 lb. to 200 gal. of water, and jarring the treea 

 during the blooming period. 

 12982— No. 6 6 



