THE LITTLE RED ANT 299 



Control. Infested material may be heated to 125 or 150 

 degrees F., allowing sufficient time at this temperature for the 

 heat to penetrate the material. The fumes of carbon bisulfid 

 will also kill the beetle. 



The Cigarette Beetle (Lasioderma serricorne Fab.). This is 

 a light brown beetle, one-eighth of an inch long (Fig. 308), which 

 infests tobacco, cigarettes, and a great variety of foodstuffs, as 

 well as condiments, drugs, and dried herbarium specimens. 



When abundant and injurious, materials offering it food supply 

 should be kept in insect-proof receptacles. Heat can be used to 

 destroy it, as in the case of the drug store beetle. (See page 221, 

 under Tobacco insects.) 



The White-marked Spider Beetle. This is a small, reddish- 

 brown beetle (Ptinus fur Linn.) with four white marks on the wing- 



FIG. 308. The cigarette beetle: a, larva; b, pupa; c and d, adults; c, antenna. (U. S. Bu. Ent.) 



covers. The antennae or feelers are long, and the legs are long 

 and slender, resembling the legs of a spider. The body is more or 

 less globular. 



Injury. Both the adults and larvae feed on dried fruits and 

 animal substances, as well as upon cereals, flour, insect collections, 

 dried plants, red pepper, cotton seed, refuse wool, furs, clothing, 

 roots, grains, stuffed animals, etc. 



Control. Infested material may be freed by heat or, if prac- 

 ticable, by fumigation with carbon bisulfid. Museum specimens 

 are generally protected by rendering them inaccessible to the in- 

 sect. As in the majority of household pests, food material which 

 is left undisturbed for a long time is more likely to be infested. 



The Little Red Ant. The very small red ant (Monomorium 

 pharaonis Linn.) (Fig. 309), is rarely found out of doors, but is 

 frequently seen in houses, living in colonies. When found in the 

 house it is extremely troublesome. The life history is, in a general 



