1900 J ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 85 



any foreign insect to gain access to the interior. I followed this coarse on the 25th May, 

 and the (J. occldentalis I introduced to the Talpinus larva I took direct from its paper 

 in the shallow box, as I did all the insects with which I fed my Talpinus, and dropped 

 it into the larger tin box. On exploring the interior of this box in the evening of the 

 25th I found a second Marmoratus larva (very minule) feeding on the body of the newly 

 introduced Colias. 



On 28th May I introduced another C, occidentalis, caught under and treated in 

 precisely similar fashion to the others above mentioned, and soon afterwards observed a 

 third [little Talpinus larva on the bottom of the tin box. There were now three of 

 these larvae, and for the first time '! introduced to them a small piece of coyote fur. This, 

 however, was not touched until the carcases still remaining had been devoured, and there 

 was no further increase in the family. On the 4th June, however, I placed two more 

 fresh C. occidentalis in the box (both caught as before) and as I had now become accus- 

 tomed to mysterious additions to the family I presently observed without surprise a 

 minute Talpinus crawling from just under the right wing of the last introduced 

 butterfly. Here then were four larvte, all of which had been obtained through freshly 

 captured butterflies, and none of which could have possibly crawled into the deep, close- 

 lidded tin box, nor can I imagine that they could by any possibility have gained admis- 

 sion to the shallow tin collecting box and to the folded papers within, unless they were 

 already on the bodies of the butterflies when captured. In which case their activity 

 seems little short of marvellous. 



Although on subsequently ceasing to feed the larvae with butterflies they ate the fur 

 hide, they nevertheless deserted it again for bodies of insects whf n I once more introduced 

 that kind of food. I have even found one in the dead body of a common house fly. 



In closing these few remarks I may add that I procured a dozen of these larvae from 

 butterflies in the above described fishion this year. The first to pupate did so on 7th 

 July and hatched on 9th August. 



OBSERVATIONS ON SEVERAL SPECIES OF DERMESTID^. 

 By F. M. Webster, Wooster, 0. 



The necrophagous habits of many of the species of this family of insects are well 

 known, but it is doubtful if the phytophagous habits are very much less emphasized in 

 other species. 



By turns unicolor Say, is, perhaps, best known as the Raspberry Fruit beetle, and I 

 have observed it feeding, usually in pairs, on the blossoms of Geum, either rivale L, or 

 album Croael. Byturus tomentosus Fab., is destructive to the Raspberry in England. 



The common introduced species, Dermestes lardarius Linn., while affecting dried 

 skins, meats, etc., is also fond of bread and other grain products, and has twice been 

 reported as destroying honey comb. D. vulpinus Fab., has been reported as damaging 

 tobacco. Ji 



Perimegatoma cylindricum Kirby, var. angulare, has been reported as a possible 

 enemy of the Fluted scale, leery a purchasi Maskell. 



Atlagenus piceus Oli^., has become so destructive to woolen fabrics and carpets as 

 to receive the name of Pitchy or Black Oarpet-beetle. It has been sent to me from 

 Indiana breeding in beet seeds, larvae, pupse, and adults all being present in the seeds 

 when received. 



Trogoderma ornatum Say, though beyond a doubt a museum pest, is a vegetable 

 feeder as well. From the seed of the garden sunflower, collected May 28, 1899, this 

 beetle emerged, in the insectary, June 17, 1900. From seeds of Ambrosia trifida, col- 

 lected October 10, 1899, a specimen emerged in the insectary, May 19, 1900. From 

 seed cluster of Eidhemia gramini/olia, collected October 12, 1899, beetles emerged in 

 the insectary, March 31, 1900. These seeds were infested by unknown larvae when 

 collected. 



Anthrenus scrophularice Linn, so well known as a carpet beetle, I have, for years, 

 ound in abundance during early spring, in the blossoms of the Tulip, and almost in- 

 variably in those of a pure white color, or nearly so. I fully believe that this is more 



