130 THIETIETH REPORT ON THE STATE MUSEUM. [18] 



visible, as the insect by the aid of a peculiar muscular arrange 

 ment, has the power of folding them out of sight along its 

 sides. The body has the appearance of being banded in two 

 shades of brown the darker band being the central portion 

 of each ring, and the lighter, the connecting portion of the 

 rings, known as the incisure. By turning it upon its back, 

 the six little legs, of which it makes such good use, can be 

 seen, in vigorous efforts to regain its former position its 

 struggles while in this condition sometimes producing a series 

 of jumps of about an eighth of an inch in length. 



Having attained its full growth, it prepares for its pupal 

 change without the construction of a cocoon or any other 

 provision than merely seeking some convenient retreat. .Here 

 it remains in a quiet state, unaltered in external appearance, 

 except somewhat contracted in length, until it has nearly com 

 pleted its pupation, when the skin is rent along its back, and, 

 through the fissure, the pupa is seen. A few weeks having 

 passed, the pupal skin in its turn is split dorsally, and the 

 brightly colored wing- covers of the beetle are disclosed. Still 

 a few additional days of repose are required for its full devel 

 opment, when the now fully matured beetle crawls from its 

 protective coverings of pupal case and larval skin, and appears 

 in its perfect form its final stage. 



The earliest beetles emerge in the month of October, and 

 continue to make their appearance during the fall, winter and 

 spring months. Soon after their appearance probably, they 

 pair, and the females deposit their eggs for another brood of 

 the carpet-eating larvae. 



The beetle is quite small smaller than would ordinarily 

 be expected from the size of the larva being only about 

 one-eighth of an inch long by one-twelfth broad. An 

 average of five examples before me gives, length .125 inch, 

 breadth .085 inch. Its form is almost a perfect ellipse as seen 

 from above ; its back and under surface are quite rounded. 

 When turned upon its back, it often for a few moments coun 

 terfeits death, with its legs so closely folded to the surface as 

 scarcely to be seen, and in this state the ordinary observer 

 might be at a loss to know the lower from the upper side. 



It is a beautifully marked little insect in its contrasting 

 colors of white, black and scarlet, arranged as follows : The 

 edge of each wing- cover, where they meet on the back, is 

 bordered with red (forming a central red line), with three red 



