60 ORDER COLEOPTERA. 



Ips QUADR18IGNATA. ( Plate xxui, fig. 6.) 



Head and thorax black : elytra black, with two yellow spots on each elytrum, shining ; 

 the jjosterior spot is somewhat oval j upper and outer angles black. 



Ips bipustulatus. ( Plate xxiii, fig. 8.) 



Color brown, dull : elytra marked with two large yellow dots. Length about two and a 

 half lines. 



Cacujides. 



Genps CUCUJUS. Colydium ( Herbst). 

 Antennfe short, moniliibrm or clavate ; basal joint short. 



CucDJOs CLAViPEs. ( Plate xxii, fig. 2.) 



Depressed, flat or compressed : color uniform, inclining to brick-red ; abdomen below 

 dark, and nearly black upon the margins. Length about half an inch. 



Dersiestes lardarius. ( Plate xxii, fig. 5.) 



Body oval, subconvex, black, with a gray bar passing across the anterior part of the elytra, 

 in which are three dots on each el}"trum. 



The genus Dermestes is named from derma^ a skin, with which the larvse make great 

 ravages, eating the surface so as to cause the hair to fall off. The Dermestes lardarius com- 

 mits its depredations in houses, usually in furs, meat, pork, bacon (whence it is sometimes 

 called bacon bug)y collections of insects, etc. when stored away without protection. It is 

 about one-fourtb of an inch long, nearly black ; the base of the elytra ash-color, with 

 three small black spots. 



This species is active in attacking all animal collections of natural history : from this 

 depredator, they are best protected by arsenic. Articles of domestic consumption should 

 be preserved by preventative measures, such as enclosing hams in canvass and white- 

 washing them. 



The Dermestes vulpinus is distinguished from the lardarius, by having the elytra entirely 

 black, and the under sides and under parts covered with white scales. It is very destruc- 

 tive to hides, in which it is imported. In France, it has been observed to perforate walls 

 built of stone soft enough to be broken by the nail. It is found in America, Europe and 

 Asia. 



There are several other insects which are destructive to skins, and to anatomical and 

 nutural history collections : one of them is the Anthrenus museorum (Byrr. museorum, 

 Linn.). It is not a native of this country : it is, however, replaced by the A. destructor, 



