No. 4.] GYPSY MOTH APPENDIX. 475 



AN EGG-EATING BEETLE. 



A. P. BURGESS, M.S. 



Broken egg-clusters of the gypsy moth are of somewhat fre- 

 quent occurrence in the infested region, and the scattered eggs 

 that fall from them delay and complicate the task of exterminat- 

 ing the moth. The egg-clusters are broken by birds, squirrels, 

 ice, rain, and sometimes, as in the case to be described, by insects. 

 The damage from this latter cause may be compensated by the 

 destruction of eggs. 



On Oct. 9, 1897, several of these infested egg-clusters were 

 found at Maiden. They had been deposited on the woodwork of 

 a building, just above the brick foundation. Some were appar- 

 ently intact, with the exception of a small hole in the surface ; 

 while in other cases little remained except the hairy covering of 

 the nest, compacted in small masses. On close examination larva' 

 was found within some of the nests. The infested clusters were 

 collected and taken to the insectary for study. After keeping 

 these egg-clusters for a short time, it was found that the larvae 

 were feeding on the eggs, as shown by the empty shells remaining 

 in the jars where the insects were confined. A small part of the 

 hairy covering also was consumed. The larvae under observation 

 at the insectary continued to feed until the room in which they 

 were kept was closed for the winter. They hibernated success- 

 fully, and in April, after the room had been heated for a few 

 weeks, changed to pupa?, from which two adults of Anthrenus 

 verba8ci Linn, emerged May 3, and others followed at intervals of 

 a few days. 



During the lai'val stage about one-third of the eggs and one- 

 half of the hair contained in the clusters supplied were consumed. 

 Although the larva' feed chiefly beneath the surface of the egg- 

 masses, some of the eggs are loosened to such a degree that they 

 might be scattered easily by rain or wind. 



This insect has gained much notoriety as a museum pest; but 



