NATURAL HISTORY AND HABITS. 



The adult insect is a minute, ])r()ad-oval beetle, about three-six- 

 teenths of an inch long, black in color, but is covered with exceed- 

 ingly minute scales, which give it a marbled black-and-white appear- 

 ance. It has also a red stripe down the middle of the back, widen- 

 ing into projections at three intervals. When disturbed it "plays 

 'possum," folding up its legs and antenncT and feigning death. As 

 a general thing the beetles begin to appear in the fall, and continue 

 to issue, in heated houses, throughout the winter and following 

 spring. Soon after issuing they pair, and the females lay their eggs 

 in convenient spots. The eggs hatch, under favorable conditions, 

 in a few days, and the larva% with plenty of food, develop quite 

 rapidly. Their development is retarded by cold weather or by lack 

 of food, and they remain alive in the larval state, in such conditions, 

 and particularly in a dry atmosphere, for an almost indefinite period, 

 molting frequently and feeding upon their cast skins. Under nor- 

 mal conditions, however, the skin is cast about six times, and there 

 are, probably, in the north, not more than two annual generations. 

 When the larva reaches full growth the yellowish pupa is formed 

 within the last larval skin. Eventually this skin splits down the 

 bar-k and reveals the pupa, from which the beetle emerges later. 

 The beetles are day-fliers, and when not engaged in egg-laying are 

 attracted to the light. They fly to the windows, and may often be 

 found upon the sills or panes. Where they can fly out through an 

 open window they do so, and are strongly attracted to the flowers of 

 certain plants, particularly of the faujily Scrophulariacea\ but also 

 to certain Composite, such as milfoil {AcMllea tmllefolium) . The 

 flowers of Spirtea are also strongly attractive to the beetles. It is 

 probable, however, that this migration from the house takes place, 

 under ordinary circumstances, after the eggs have been laid. 



In Europe the insect is not especially noted as a household pest, 

 and we are inclined to think that this is owing to the fact that car- 

 pets are little used. In fact, we believe that only where carpets are 

 extensively used are the conditions favorable for the great increase 

 of the insect. Carpets once put down are seldom taken up for a 

 year, and in the meantime the insect develops uninterruptedly. 

 Where polished floors and rugs are used, or straw mattings and 

 rugs, the rugs are often taken up and beaten, and in the same way 

 woolens and furs are never allowed to I'eniain undisturbed for an 

 entire year. It is a well-known fact tiiat the carpet habit is a bad 

 one from other points of view, and there is little doubt that if carpets 

 were more generally discarded in our Northern States the "Buffalo 

 bug" would gradually cease to be the prominent household pest that 

 it is to-day. The insect is known in Europe as a museum pest, but 



