150 THE STUDY OF INSECTS 



Family Dermestid.-e 

 The Dermestids 



There are several families of small beetles that feed on decaying 

 matter, or on skins, furs, and dried animal substances. The most im- 

 portant of these is the Dermestidae, as several species belonging to this 

 family destroy household stores or goods. 



The dermestids can be distinguished from most of the other beetles 

 with similar habits by the fact that the wing-covers completely cover the 

 abdomen. They are chiefly small beetles, although one of the common 

 species measures ^ of an inch in length. They are usually oval, plump 

 beetles, with pale gray or brown markings, which are formed of minute 

 scales, which can be rubbed off. These beetles have the habit of pretend- 

 ing that they are dead when they are disturbed; they will roll over on 

 their backs with their legs meekly folded and lie still for a long period. 



The larvae do much more damage than the adults. They are active, 

 and are clothed with long hairs. These hairs are covered throughout 

 their entire length with microscopic barbs. 



This family is represented in our fauna by about one hundred thirty 

 species; the following are some of the more important to these. 



The larder-beetle, Dermestes lardarius. — This pest of the larder is 

 the most common of the larger members of this family. It measures 

 about \ of an inch in length, and is black except the basal half of its 

 wing-covers, which are pale buff or brownish-yellow. This lighter 

 portion is usually crossed by a band of black spots, three on 

 K each wing-cover (Fig. 257). The larva feeds on dead animal 

 [^ matter, as meat, skins, feathers, and cheese. It is often a 

 serious pest where bacon or ham is stored. When full-grown it 

 is about \ an inch in length, dark brown above, whitish below, 

 and rather thickly covered with long, brown hairs. It is said that these 

 insects can be attracted by baits of old cheese, from which they may be 

 gathered and destroyed. 



The carpet-beetle, Anthrenus scrophularice. — This is a well-known 

 household pest. It is an introduced European insect, which was first 

 recognized as a serious pest in this country about 1874. It feeds in its 

 larval state on carpets, woollens, furs, and feathers; and for a consider- 

 able period was exceedingly destructive. The larva is well known to 

 many housekeepers as the buffalo-moth. It is a short, fat grub, about 

 I of an inch in length when full-grown, and densely clothed with dark 

 brown hairs. It lives in the cracks of floors, near the edges of rooms, 

 and beneath furniture, where it eats holes in the carpet. It also enters 

 wardrobes and destroys clothing. The adult is a pretty little beetle 

 which may be found in infested houses, in the spring, on the ceilings 

 and windows. It measures from T *2 to \ of an inch in length and is 

 clothed with black, white, and brick-red scales. There is a whitish spot 

 on each side of the prothorax, and three irregular, whitish spots on the 

 outer margin of each wing-cover; along the suture where the two wing- 

 covers meet there is a band of brick-red scales, which is widened in 

 several places. It is worth while to learn to know this beetle; for a 

 lady-bug which often winters in our houses is frequently mistaken for it. 



