lottJom lotejs on llatural |btcrt) 



Vol. 1. 



PROVIDENCE, NOVEMBER, 1884. 



Entered at the Providence Post-Offiee as Seeond-Class Matter. 



No. XI. 



!]|mihom Tfotas nnf attiral f iston|, 



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What Is the Buffalo Moth? 



Many articles have appeared in the col- 

 umns of the daily newspapers, and in 

 magazines devoted wholly or in part to 

 science, and still there is a constant inquiry 

 as to " What is the Buffalo Moth, or Buf- 

 falo Bug?" 



The name carries dismay into the heart 

 of the good housewife, who, having heard 

 that such a creature exists among 

 us, is tormented by reasonable 

 fears and visions of carpets and 

 drapery destroyed. 



It is not a moth at all ; the 

 larvae (commonly and incorrectly 

 called worms) of certain small 

 moths, Tinm fcq^ehella, Linn., do 

 eat carpets, but the creature now 

 under consideration does not have 

 soft and feathery wings like a 

 moth or butterfly, but is a beetle 

 about 0.08 of an inch in length, 

 and two-thirds as broad, hard to 



the touch, and in color a mixture of rust}'' 

 black, dull red and white ; running rapidl}' 

 or drawing up his legs snugly and feigning 

 death. Crush him whenever found, but look 

 out still more carefully for the larva, which 

 is 0.25 of an inch long, oval in shape, and 

 covered with long, brown hairs. The in- 

 sect works much more destruction in this 

 state than when perfected to the beetle. 

 These larvae are said to moult very fre- 

 quently, and the cast-off skins, split open 

 on the back, are to be found lying about 

 the fields of their depredations. 



Benzine is in general, if applied in liberal 

 quantity and for a considerable length of 

 time, fatal to them, but its proper applica- 

 tion to our heav}' carpets and large rooms 

 is hardl}' possible, its inflammabilit}^ being 

 an objection. If carpets were not tacked 

 down, and the edges were frequently turned 

 over and swept, it would do some good, as 

 these pests, like all others of similar habits, 

 are best pleased to work in quietness and 

 in the dark. Therefore shake often, and 

 give to the light, woolen clothing, fur rugs, 

 feather dusters, and the bunches of peacock 

 feathers now so much in vogue for home 

 decoration. 



Waxed or oiled floors may be covered 

 with rugs that can be frequently taken up, 

 and that fashion has been forced upon our 

 European brethren by this and other carpet- 

 destroying insects. 



The name is Avthrenus scrofularia^ and 

 they belong with the same group of role- 



Anth7-enus scrofukiria\ 

 larvii", c, pupa; (f, imago. 



