Buffalo Beetles 



227 



substance to enrich the soil and by their labors, 

 united with those of the carrion beetles, etc., destroy- 

 ing svich portions of these remains as are left un- 

 touclied by the flesh 



flies that only con- 

 sume the soft por- 

 tions of carcasses. 

 Like the perfect in- 

 sects, their larvjE are 

 seldom observed 

 upon the surface of 

 matters which they 

 attack. 



The female lays 

 its eggs on the speci- 

 mens in one's cabinet 

 and the mean, bristly 

 little larva eats its 

 way into one's choicest objects, hides inside of 

 them and eats out all the inside parts, leaving only 

 a thin shell which falls apart with the slightest 

 jolt. \Mien you examine your cabinet of speci- 

 mens and notice fine dust under some of them 

 you can be sure that the baby skin-eater or der- 

 mcstes is at work destroying your specimens. 



