76 ASSOCIATION OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGISTS. 



partial inspection along the main road, covering only a small part of 

 each town. In two cases colonies were found which had been intro- 

 duced in 11)04. As far as Ave are at present able to ascertain, the 

 infestation is confined to the co^st towns. There can be no doubt 

 that the insect was mostly introduced by the unusually heavy auto- 

 mobile traffic during the past summer. This suggests the possibility 

 of introduction by automobile into New York or New Jersey. These 

 infestations in New Hampshire represent an average spread of about 

 60 miles from the point from which the caterpillars must have been 

 carried. This shows the possibility of a much more rapid spread of 

 this dreaded pest than has been previously observed. 



In the two cases where the pest was clearly introduced in 1004, 

 from 25 to 30 nests were found in each instance this year. This is 

 interesting as showing the possible annual rate of increase where the 

 insect occurs in only small numljers. AVhere abundant, the increase 

 is undoubtedly more rapid, though we have seen no observations 

 upon the matter, for the predaceous enemies would not be relatively 

 as effective. When it is considered that an egg mass contains 400 or 

 more eggs, the mortality which allows but 25 or 30 females to mature 

 is rather surprising. 



An interesting case of injury by the toothed Dermestes beetle (Der- 

 mestes imlpinus Fab.) was brought to our attention in the fall of 

 1904. One of our largest manufacturers of ice-cream freezers sent 

 us specimens of staves from tubs which they had exported to Ger- 

 many for which payment had been refused on account of their having 

 been badly injured by this dermestid. The Germans claimed that 

 the insects probably laid their eggs in the uncut lumber and that they 

 remained unnoticed until they developed in transit. This was, of 

 course, impossible. The shipment was some six weeks in transit. 

 The infested tub returned showed very clearly that the larvae had 

 eaten short burrows into the ends of the staves in which to pupate, 

 some of the pupae being found dead in them, but no larva?. Undoubt- 

 edly the tubs were stored either at the dock or in the vessel near in- 

 fested hides or other animal products, the larvae swarming from them 

 to i^upate boring into the soft wood of the tubs. Previous records of 

 such injury to wood are known." 



The entomological evidence furnished the company enabled them to 

 settle the bill satisfactorily without loss. The incident brought out 

 the present lack of exact knowledge of the life history of this and 

 allied species and its importance to commerce; for, as in this case, 

 the entomologist's evidence might fix the liability for loss upon the 

 consignor, consignee, or transportation company. 



a See Insect Life, III, p. 344; Ent. Mo. Mag., IV, p. 161, 1884. 



