distant, lateral projections of the same color, the first two of which 

 join sinuous, white, imperfectly defined bands The posterior is ob- 

 scurely connected with a red spot at the end of the wing-covers, and 

 there is usually a small white spot at the base. The under side of the 

 body is black, more or less covered with red and white scales. 

 Length, from one-seventh to one-eleventh of an inch. The colors 

 are subject to considerable variation. The red band along the middle 

 of the back is sometimes replaced by white, and the first two bands 

 of white on the wing-covers run together, forming one broad, white 

 band. 



THE PITCHY CARPP:T BEETLE. 



Attagenus piceus Oliv. 



The larva of this beetle is often found feeding on carpets in the 

 same manner as the Buffalo ca)[)et beetle, and sometimes associated 

 with it. The full-grown larva is about one-third of an inch in length ; 

 of a brownish color, ringed with whitish between the segments, larg- 

 est near the head, and tapering towards the posterior extremity, 

 which is provided with a long pencil of diverging hairs. The whole 

 surface of the body is covered with short, coarse, brown hairs, which 

 are so arranged as to give a smooth and somewhat glossy appearance 

 to the larva, which is quite hard and wiry. It crawls quite rap- 

 idly, with a peculiar gliding movement. 



The perfect beetle is from one-fifth to one-seventh of an inch in 

 length, more elongated than the Buffalo carpet beetle, black, and 

 clothed with minute yellowish or brownish hairs, giving the beetle a 

 general brownish color, varying from light brown to dark pitchy 

 brown. There is but one generation in a year, as indicated by those 

 which I have bred, for larvae found in June did not transform to the 

 perfect beetle until the following May. 



The remedies for this pest are the same as for the Buffalo beetle. 



THE LARDER OR BACON BEETLE. 



Derrtiesies lardarius Linn. 



This beetle belongs to the same family as the two carpet beetles 

 already described, and often proves a great pest in our houses. The 

 larvae attack all kinds of food that contain fat, as roast-beef, hams, 

 bacon, old cheese, etc., also feathers, skins, hair, bees-wax, and 



