COLEOPTERA. — DERMESTIDjE. 159 



vol. iv. pi. 7.), Lyonnet (Rechcrc/ies Posth. vol. i. pi. 11. Dermest. lar- 

 darius), Bouche {Naturgesch. der Tnsecten, i. 189. Larva Derm, mu- 

 rinus), Mieneken [Naturforscher; st. iii.), Meyer ( Voig(s Magaz. 

 7 band. 4 St.). This form of larva is considered by Mr. MacLeay as at 

 the very extremity of the Chilopodiform section, and that it is from it 

 that we pass to the Chilognathimorpha. Some species of this family 

 undergo the pupa state {Jig. 14. 17. pupa of Dermestes) in the sub- 

 stances upon which the larva; have fed, without forming any cocoon ; 

 others, however, as the Megatoma undatum, are said to spin a silken 

 case. I have, however, found the last-named insect in the winter 

 months, evidently just arrived at the perfect state, and still inclosed 

 within the exuviaj of its larvae, which had served it for a cocoon ; a 

 peculiarity which we shall also notice in Anthrenus. Mr. Waterhouse 

 has also observed the same in Tiresias serra (^Ent. Mag. vol. iii. 

 p. 412.) 



The larva of Attagenus Pellio, according to Latreille, is long, of a 

 reddish-brown colour, and shining ; clothed with hairs, those at the ex- 

 tremity of the body forming a tail. Its motions are very irregular, 

 creeping along by fits and starts. 



Latreille observes that the larvae of the Dermestidae closely re- 

 semble those of Anthrenus, the chief difference consisting in the 

 fascicles of hairs at the extremity of the body in the latter. Li Atta- 

 genus, however, as just noticed, the hairs form a tail, and the perfect 

 insects, especially Attag. 3-fasciatus, bears a great resemblance to the 

 perfect Anthreni. I have also observed that In a larva which I found 

 under the bark of birch trees inhabited by Megatoma undatum, and 

 which I have no doubt was the larva of that species, the extremity 

 of the body is furnished with two bundles of hairs, which it expands 

 like a fan, and to which it imparts a tremulous motion, so rapid as 

 scarcely to allow the fans of hair to be perceived whilst it lasts. I 

 have also found in the dried body of a Scjuilla (one of the Crustacea) 

 a larva in all respects resembling that of Ucrmestes, except that tlie 

 extremity of the body is not armed with the two hooks. I have also 

 found the exuvia; of the larvae of some species of Dermestes in boxes 

 of Chinese insects. The larva of Tiresias serra (^Jig. 14. 18.) has 

 been described by Mr. George Waterhouse in the Entomological 

 Mag. vol. ii. p. '575. It is of an elongate-ovate, and depressed form, 

 narrowed towards the tail, and covered with long brown hairs ; the ter- 

 minal segment of the body being also furnished with a long brush of 



