THE TOBACCO BEETLE. 



13 



! :;. o.-^Cigars showing work of a solpugid, or jointed s?pider. The holes were torn by 

 ihp solpugid in onler to reach larvae and pupae of the tobacco beetle within the cigars. 



served on many occasions, and it is not uncommon to find leaf 

 tobacco or other food substances, which have been exposed to low 

 temperatures, completely free from all live stages of the tobacco 

 beetle, although its condition <hoAvs that there had been a heavy 

 infestation previously. 



DRYIXG OUT AND MOLDING OF FOOD SUBSTANCES. 



The multiplication of the beetles is checked severely when the food 

 suljstance is exposed to excessive evaporation, and when it becomes 

 moldy, as it does frequently, more or less complete extermination of 

 the beetles results. It is often owing to this fact that infestation 

 from damaged or worthless products which have become mold}' does 

 not extend to uninfested products near by. 



PARASITIC AND PREDACIOUS ENEMIES OF THE TOBACCO BEETLE. 



Among enemies that prey upon the tobacco beetle the most im- 

 portant, so far as known, is a reddish-brown beetle ^ about one-fourth 

 of an inch in length. Both the adult and its larva, a pink worm 

 slightly larger than the adult, feed ravenously on different stages of 

 the tobacco beetle. 



Several species of four-winged, wasplike parasites - of the tobacco 

 beetle are found in infested warehouses and manufactured tobacco. 

 Some of these are extremely almndant and doubtless are important 

 factors in natural control. 



Thaneroelerun ffirodi Chevrolat : order Coleoptera. family Cleridae. 

 AplcHtomorpha pratti Crawford. A. vandinei Tucker, and other species. 



