52 Fr.OTTR AND GRAIN BEETLES. [1899 



America, E. A. 0.], "where it is sometimes called ' Flour Weevil.' 

 and is often injurious to grain, meal, flour, and a great variety of other 

 products" (C. V. R.). 



In No. 4, vol. vii., of the above-named work, in a paper by Mr. F. 

 H. Chittenden, it is mentioned at p. 329 that the writer had " seen 

 specimens of the Tribolium ferruijincum from North Carolina, South 

 Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Te^as, Nebraska, Oklahoma, 

 and California" (F. H. C). Many other localities are given, but the 

 above observations are quite enough to show that whether in cargoes 

 of grain or flour, there is every possibility of this pest, T. femtgineum, 

 being shipped from almost any warm locality. 



Tribolium confyisum, Duv. — In the above observations I have tried 

 to limit them to T. ferrugineiim, but for business purposes some notice 

 should be taken of Tribolium covfxisnm, Duv., as this species is recorded 

 as "being almost an exact counterpart of the Rust-red Flour Beetle 

 [T. ferrugineum),'" to closely resemble it "in colour, form, and size," 

 and also in habits and life-history. This species differs from the 

 "Rust-red" Flour Beetle in the antennae, or horns, being less com- 

 pletely club-shaped — that is, they are gradually thickened to the 

 extremity ; in T. ferriigineum the last three joints forming a kind of 

 club, in confusiim the last Jive or six joints are wider than the preceding. 

 Also this species has a broader head, and the sides of the head are 

 expanded at the sides beyond the eyes. 



Of this species it is said* : — " Tribulium confusum, Duv., derives 

 its name from the fact that the species has been generally confused 

 with ferrngineum. Prior to the appearance of Duval's description, 

 published in 1868, both species were known under the latter name, 

 and until within the year " [1895 — E. A. 0.] "the same has been the 

 case in America. As a consequence, our literature, mostly treating of 

 ferrngineum, may refer to either species." Without again going over 

 details of geographical distribution, it may be mentioned that it occurs 

 in England, France, Germany, and Italy, and is very generally distri- 

 buted in the world, notably America ; it is stated in 1896 that this 

 species "has been reported as injurious in nearly every State and 

 Territory in the Union." 



Of this kind, it is stated : — "The tiny clear white eggs are attached 

 to some convenient surface in the cracks or on the sides of the bag, 

 barrel, or other receptacle in which the infested substance is contained. 

 These hatch into minute larvae, which feed for a period depending on 

 the temperature, and then transform to naked white pupae, which in 

 due time change to beetles, wliich copulate soon after transformation, 

 and another generation enters upon its life round. In this manner 



* See 'Insect Life,' vol. vii., No. 4, p. 329, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

 Washington, U.S.A. 



