FAMILY DERMESTIDJE 



179 



require probably only a few days for hatching, long enough 

 when laid on insects, so that it is possible for the insects to 

 be transferred from one box to another and to introduce 

 them into new boxes. In case of hams and bacon, these 

 eggs may be on the hams when they pass from one dealer 

 to another. The larva; grow most rapidly during the sum- 

 mer months and if there are any distinct broods it would 

 be the rapidly developing generations in the summer time. 

 But the broods are not very sharply marked. There may 

 be two or three broods, but the development is irregular 

 enough; so that they are developing at all times of the year. 

 The larvae do the feeding and devour the tissue, and the 



Fig. 128.— a powder-post beetle {Lyctus vlanicollis) : o, larva; 6, adult; c, 

 pupa; line to right of adult represents natural length. (Chittenden, Div. 

 Ent., U. S. Dept. Ag.) 



pupation takes place early. The larvae may burrow through 

 paper or wooden cases and then give rise to adults in a 

 comparati\'ely short time. 



Museum Beetle. — A related species — the museum beetle — 

 is more a musciun pest and less a pest in other ways. It 

 lives in skins of mounted animals and other dried animal 

 tissue. 



Carpet Beetles.- — Closely related is the carpet beetle, which 

 is a pest in fur and woollen goods and seldom if ever known 

 as a pest in museums. It is fond of woollen carpets and 

 furs. These seem to be its particular food supply. It was 

 introduced from Europe and has spread over the entire 



