92 



Fam.— DERMESTIDjE. 



The name of this family is derived from derma, a skin ; and is given 

 to these insects in allusion to the injury done by their larvae to dried 

 skins and furs. 



This family contains small beetles, which are distinguished from 

 other closely allied forms by having the abdomen completely covered 

 by the elytra, and by the sternum which is advanced under the mouth 

 " like a chin-cloth," or muffler. They are usually marked by light- 

 colored spots on a dark ground, these spots being composed of minute 

 scales which can be rubbed off. The antennae are enlarged or clubbed 

 at the tip. 



Not only are they troublesome in warehouses where hides and furs 

 are stored, in museums and natural history collections, but one species 

 at least {Dermestes lardarius, Linn) enters our larders and smoke-houses, 

 and olten in the larva state does serious injury to our bacon. 



DERMESTES LARDARIUS — Linn. 



This beetle is a little under a third of an inch 

 long, oblong-oval in form, with the antennae en- 

 larged at the end, legs short ; black with the base 

 for front part of the wing-cases of a gray-buff 

 'color. The larvae are brown hairy worms. They 

 are frequently found in cabinets and other nat- 

 ural history collection, and unless speedily ex- 

 terminated will destroy those in which they ob- 

 tain a hold. 



Numerous devices have been resorted to to 

 preserve bacon from their attacks which cannot 

 be explained here. 

 Dermestes lardakhs, Linn. Spec, char. Imago. — Oblong-oval beetle ; tho 

 thorax rounded and narrowed in front, the posterior margin as wide 

 as the elytra, covered with minute hairs, sprinkled with small tufts 

 of buff hair. General color dark or black. Elytra finely and thickly 

 punctured, with very indistinct striae ; on the base is a broad pale 

 band composed of buff-colored pubescence in which are some brown- 

 ish or black denuded spots, and on the posterior margin is a some- 

 what flexuous buff patch. The body beneath is piceous-black with 

 the breast densely and the abdomen sparingly covered with a shining 

 buff color. Legs piceous-black. Antennae brown, with the club 

 dusky. Length one-fourth to one-third of an inch ; width about three- 

 sevenths of the length. 



The well-kno^'n bacon beetle. 



The following species are mentioned on account of the injury they 

 sometimes occasion to furs, skins, museums and natural history col- 

 lections : 



ATTAGENUS PELLIO — Linn. 



Form of the body antenna?, and thorax similar to the preceding 

 species. 



