284 JOrKNA[. OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 10 



railway station platform used for the reception of grain, flour, and 

 feed at Branchville, Md. 



During July, 1898, correspondence was had with a milling company 

 at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, in regard to several species of grain insects, of 

 which this insect was one. September 25, 1906, the late M. V. 

 Slingerland sent this species in a lot of mill products from Plattsburg, 

 N. Y. which was also infested by the European grain moth {Tineo 

 granella L.). 



Mr. Schwarz informs the writer that at Dallas, on the Hood River 

 in Oregon, the species is often found out of doors, being commonly 

 beaten from bushes and found running on the sand, and that in the 

 District of Columbia it inhabits a fungus growing upon trees. 



In the streets of Washington, D. C, the beetles occur in great 

 numbers on the window-panes of stores, where they are attracted by 

 the electric lights. The l)eetles are comparatively active, free runners 

 and flyers. 



A number of experiments were made by the writer to ascertain the 

 true habits and life-history of the species. Beetles taken at electric 

 light and placed in dry cornn\eal June 13 perished without any larvae 

 developing. Beetles afterward placed in cornmeal, which was kept 

 moist and in which fermentation took place, lived for a long time 

 and several generations were developed. That a considerable degree 

 of moisture is necessary to this species when in an immature condition 

 was proved when in the course of dry experiments all died and shriv- 

 elled up in a very short time. Even a portion of those which were 

 confined in vials fitted with rubber stoppers met with a like fate. 



At one time beetles were placed in fermenting cornmeal (May 10) 

 and a new generation was produced in 38 days; the weather being cool, 

 will account for the periocl. 



In a rearing of fermenting meal and flour in which the beetles were 

 placed on June 22, a new generation of beetles was produced in 32 

 days. During half of this time the weather was unseasonably cool, 

 but it was ascertained by means of a thermometer that the temperature 

 of the rearing jar was about 10° F. warmer than that of the room in 

 which the experiment took place. 



The eggs were not observed, but the pupa period was ascertained 

 to be six days in the hot weather of August. Allowing six days for the 

 probable period of the egg, this will give a larval period of between 

 thi*ee and four weeks for ordinary summer weather. 



Literature 



The literature of this species is practically limited to descriptive 

 matter and to brief notices of hal)its or occurrence. 



