COLEOPTERA 507 



insect does not have a chance to breed as it does under carpets which 

 are tacked to the floor and taken up only once or twice a year. The 

 larva is well known to many housekeepers as the buffalo-moth. It 

 is a short, fat grub, about 5 mm. 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 

 2.2 mm. to 3.5 mm. 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. The carpet -beetle 

 in its adult state feeds on the pollen of flowers. Sometimes it aboimds 

 on the blossoms of currant, cherry, and other fruits. The best way 

 to avoid the ravages of this pest is to use rugs instead of carpets, and 

 to trap the larvae by placing woollen cloths on the floors of closets. 

 By shaking such cloths over a paper once a week, the larvae can be 

 captured. 



The change from carpets to rugs is a very desirable one; for 

 carpets that are tacked to the floor and taken up only once or twice 

 a year are unwholesome. The change need not be a very expensive 

 one. As carpets wear out they may be replaced with rugs; and 

 good carpets can be made over into rugs. If the floors are not polished, 

 as is usually the case where it was planned to cover them with carpets, 

 they can be made presentable by filling the cracks with putty and 

 painting the boards where they are to be exposed. 



The museiim pests, Anthrenus verhdsci and Anthrenus museorum. — 

 There are two minute species of this family that are a constant source 

 of annoyance to those having collections of insects. The adult 

 beetles measure from 2 mm. to 3 mm. in length, and are very convex. 

 They deposit their eggs on specimens in our collections; and the 

 larvae feed upon the specimens, often destroying them. In order to 

 preserve a collection of insects it is necessary that they should be 

 kept in tight cases, so that these pests cannot gain access to them. 

 Specimens should not be left exposed except when in use. And the 

 entire collection should be carefully examined at least once a month. 

 The injury is done by the larvae, which are small, plump, hairy grubs. 

 Their presence is indicated by a fine dust that falls on to the bottom 

 of the case from the infested specimens. These larvae can be destroyed 

 by pouring a small quantity of carbon disulphide into the case, and 

 keeping it tightly closed for a day or two. Benzine poured on a bit 

 of cotton in the box will cause the pests to leave the specimens, when 

 they may be taken from the box and destroyed. But we have found 

 carbon bisulphide the better agent for the destruction of these pests. 



