Reports to the I ^ nurd of A i^ricultiirc. 45 

 Insects and Mites in Furniture. 



S«mu' funiiture luul Imusi'lioM jH'sts sent by n coi-n'SjxHMlfiil of 

 the WovixA from Whitchurch. (}lamor>,'anshii-u, i>n)ve<l to lie two species. 

 They were (i) the so-cullcd " l)cath Watch " {Atropon tiivinatoria) — 

 the same name is j^iveii to certain funiiture l>eetles, Anohium teMel- 

 latum, etc. — and (ii) Mites hehtnuini; to tlie {^enus Gh/rijihaz/uji, and 

 were (!. (fomrstints, De CJeer, the (7/ifrij)fuii/iis ninntr, (ierv. Sj)«*ci- 

 mcns have K'cn .sent to A. Miihai'l, E«|. for identification. They 

 aix' hoth U'sl destroyed by fumij,'alion. Sulphur is usually cmi>b»yed, 

 Vnit if l>oth the pests are i>articularly abundant the rooms .should l)e 

 fumi^ited with hvdrocvanic aci«l jms as well. Rooms should l>e 

 well brushed down and the fltM»rs wa.shed with .soft-.S(jap and water, 

 liooks, etc., which harbour the Atropos should l>e subjected to the 

 fumes of l)enzine in closed boxes. Fumii^ation with sulphur answers 

 U'st for the mites, but is not so effective upon the Atmpoa, hence 

 hvdrocvanic jja.s is mentioned. (A full n'jxut on household mites 

 is given <in paj^e 120.) 



SUB-GKOrr ('. FOOD. 

 I. The Larder Beetle. 



(/Ay//<t.s/« lurilariiui, L.) 



Some insects sent by Mr. KdgJir .T. Lewis to the Hoanl of 

 Agricultuiv, and which had Ijeen attacking' and causing damage 

 to winter-cuivd Imcon, proved to be the Liiilcr Ixjelle (Denncstf^ 

 lanlarius). This insect is common to North America, Eun>jK', and 

 Asia. It atiacks not only Iwicon and hams, but cheese, horns, 

 skins, feathers, hair, silk and other dry go^nls. Fresh hams and 

 Ijacon are not .so liable to l)C attackwl as those that are slightly 

 tainted, impro\H*rly cured or injured in any way. The Ivetles are 

 very ilisjMised to lay their eggs in any crevice, ami have pn)lmbly 

 done .so in this case where the muslin bags are* .sewn up. The larvje 

 are very minute when first hatched and can ea-sily ]»enelnite muslin 

 unless it is veiT tine. The larva- as thev mature burv themselves iu 



• ■ • 



the Imcon. but at first they feed on the exterior. 



Ti:KVT.ME.ST. 



Hacon is liest hung a.-* 1^ •..•inetimes done in America, in thin 

 pa|H>r bags, care being taken that ••11 iv,\'\,t-i nn- <b.>i«d,or el.se the 



