77/£ INSECT WORLD. 



193 



infests the hives of the common honey-bee, and is more or less 

 of a nuisance in some localities. 



The almost inevitable exception occurs in this family also, and 

 the species of Corynefcs, blue or part blue and part orange in 

 color, live upon dead or dry animal matter, often attacking pro- • 

 visions. The "red-legged ham-beetle," C. rufipes, is of this 

 type, and will serve to illustrate the series. The measures recom- 

 mended as against the Dermestidce will answer here as well. 



In the family Ptinidce we have an aggregation of oddities diffi- 

 cult of general definition, save that as a rule the species are 

 small, with retracted head, more or less cvlindrical firm body, and 

 firm wing-covers. They feed in the larval as well as adult con- 

 dition on dry animal or vegetable matter, though some species 

 attack green vegetation. Many live in dead branches or twigs, 

 and only a few are of sufficient interest to be especially noted. 

 Of these is the "death-watch," Sitodrepa panicea, so named 

 from the ticking sound frequently made by the beetle when 

 working in wood, which superstition has interpreted as a warning 

 of approaching death. It works also in a great variety of other 

 substances, ranging from gunwads to roots of hellebore and old 

 books, as a fleshy, white, grub-like larva, with a brown head and 

 a surface covered with short, brown, bristle-like hairs. Where 

 the nature of the article admits of such treatment, exposure to 

 the fumes of bisulphide of carbon is a good remedy, as is also 

 saturating with gasoline or benzine. A liberal use of paint with 

 plenty of turpentine is indicated in other cases, and sometimes 

 mere cleanliness following the destruction of hopelessly infested 

 material will answer every purpose. 



Of the same general shape, but larger and broader, with smooth 

 instead of striated wing-covers and a "humped" form, is the 

 Lasioderma serricorne, popularly known as the "tobacco-" or 

 " cigarette-beetle." It is a great lover of tobacco in all its forms, 

 the larva relishing plug, long or fine cut, chewing or smoking, in 

 cigarette, cigar, or leaf, almost equally well, and injuring it 

 materially for the human user of the " weed." The matter is an 

 important one to manufacturers, who deal with it in a variety of 

 ways ; but it does not particularly interest the farmer. 



Among the wood-feeders the species of Bostrychus and Sin- 

 oxylon are of interest, their larvae sometimes boring into fruit-trees. 



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