REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I904 409 



Miscellaneous 



Owl beetle (Alaus oculatus Linn.). This is the largest 

 of our native snapping beetles, measuring as it does from a little 

 over I inch to 2^ inches in length. It is black, usually well sprinkled 

 with irregular, white markings and may be recognized at once by 

 the conspicuous white bordered, eyelike spots on the prothorax, 

 markings which give the beetle its specific and common names. 

 It is sometimes called the eyed elater. This species is brought to 

 notice frequently with inquiry as to its life history and habits, 

 and the following brief notes are appended for this reason. 



The larva of this giant snapping beetle is about 2^ inches long, 

 nearly ^ inch in breadth, flattened, reddish yellow in color, and 

 is frequently found in decaying appletree wood. Formerly it 

 was supposed to live on deca^dng wood. The late Dr Lugger in 

 writing on this insect, makes the significant observation that all 

 larvae he had reared would have perished had they not been pro- 

 vided with live insects which they soon found and devoured. If 

 this be true, this species is not only interesting but decidedly bene- 

 ficial. This beetle is a prominent representative of a very large 

 family, all of which possess the power of projecting themselves 

 suddenly into the air to a considerable hight, by the use of a pecu- 

 liar apparatus on the ventral surface. A stout spine on the thorax 

 extends back into a socket in the abdomen, and by bending its 

 body the beetle can raise this spine and rest it on the edge of the 

 socket and then, with a sudden muscular exertion, spring it back 

 into the cavity. The result is that the beetle produces a peculiar 

 snapping, rather startling sensation when held inverted in the hand, 

 and smaller species belonging to this family are able to project them- 

 selves into the air to a hight several times their length. This is 

 not true, however, of the form under consideration. This device 

 has apparently no other use than to enable the beetle to regain 

 its feet, as otherwise it is nearly helpless whenever it falls on its 

 back. 



Larder beetle (Dermestes lardarius. Linn.). This 

 oval, black beetle has been the cause of complaint in several in- 

 stances, and maybe easily distinguished by the rather broad, some- 

 what indistinct yellowish band on the anterior portion of the wing 

 covers. It measures about .3 of an inch in length, and the brown- 

 ish larva when full grown is about ^ inch long, dark brown and 

 rather sparsely clothed with stiff, brownish hairs, which are as 

 long or longer than the body. This species feeds mostly on dried 

 animal matter of various kinds, such as bacon, dried meats and 



