[25] Report of the State Entomologist. 121 



It is the larva that commits by far the greater depredations, the 

 perfect insect being comparatively harmless, except as it continues 

 the species by the deposit of its eggB. In one instance, however, I 

 have known it to attack and destroy some insects while exposed on 

 the preparing boards. 



Its Attack on Bacon. 



In the instance in which inquiry is made, where the larvse were 

 found in bacon hanging in a garret in paper and muslin sacks, 

 the attack may have originated in the deposit of eggs before the meat 

 was sacked, or subsequently through some break or opening in the 

 sacks. In the former case, the larva sent must have been of the 

 second brood, for the time required for the eggs to develop into beetles 

 would not exceed six weeks. The only definite knowledge that we appear 

 to have, in the literature at my command, of the length of time required 

 for any of its stages, is the statement of Dr. Horn,* that " the insect 

 remains in its pupa for a period varying from three to four days to a 

 week or even more, depending princiiDally on the warmth of the 

 locality." 



Difficulty of Preventing Attack. 



No way is known of preventing attack when meat is exposed where 

 the insect occurs. The only security would seem to be in bagging 

 while free from egg-deposit, in such a manner that the meat shall be 

 protected in bags of such a character or so treated that the young 

 larvae would not penetrate them to reach their food. Would not this 

 be secured by a thick coating of lime-wash? 



It is, therefore, quite important that the appearance of the 

 beetle and of its larva should be known, so that they may be 

 looked for and killed whenever discovei'ed, and their ordinary 

 rapid multiplication by this means prevented. The cast larval skins 

 (exuviae) which are thrown off from time to time during growth, 

 often disclose the lurking places of the active larvae, buried within 

 the substance on which they are preying. There are apparently 

 several broods throughout the year, so that meat is liable to attack 

 at any time. 



It has been stated recently that when the insect is known to occur 

 in a house, they may be attracted by baits of old cheese, from which 

 they may be gathered and destroyed. 



* Proceedings of the Entomological Societu of Pliiladelplda, i, 1861, p. 28. 



16 



