240 INSECT ARTIZANS AND THEIR WORK 



With most insect larvas it is imperative that — 

 except when they are in hibernation — they should 

 have a continuous supply of food ; but Anthrenus 

 is lord of his appetite. If a dry carcase is at hand 

 he can enjoy it, and if nothing eatable presents 

 itself he can wait with patience, adopting the equiva- 

 lent of the hungry man's expedient of tightening 

 his belt. Anthrenus has no distinct belt to tighten, 

 but he throws off his too roomy skin and pre- 

 sumably feels more comfortable in a new and less 

 expanded one. Then he waits, and if the prospect 

 of a meal is still unduly far off, he moults again. 



But for the bad taste exhibited by this grub in 

 the selection of naturalists' stores for his dining- 

 room, he would probably be considered a very in- 

 teresting insect ; but we do not remember to have 

 heard him spoken of with any amount of admiration 

 even in the heart-to-heart talks of entomologists. 



His upper side is clothed with long, stiff brown 

 hairs and the under side with shorter and paler 

 hairs. His six long, jointed legs are fringed with 

 similar stiff hairs. On each side of three segments 

 of his hind body he has these hairs arranged in 

 bundles, which are normally laid against the back, 

 but can be erected at wilL If you attempt to 

 pick up this small grub with your finger and thumb 

 you will find it is an impossible feat, the hairs 

 being so arranged that it slips from your grip. This 

 arrangement probably facilitates its passage through 

 minute crevices and into the interior of the carcases 

 it is destroying. 



