228 HOUSEHOLD INSECTS 



The larvse and pupae of both species of meal-worms are used 

 for bird food and are grown in quantity by bird supply 

 houses. The beetles will increase readily and rapidly 

 when placed with a supply of bran or meal. 



The larvse are found in granaries, storehouses, bake- 

 shops, barns, dw r elling-houses, and grocery stores. The 

 author has found them in numbers in oat bins. The 

 larva? eat meal, flour, bread, cake, and cereals. 



Since they so frequently occur in mills, they are un- 

 doubtedly ground up with meal and we probably eat the 

 remains greatly diluted. However, none of us seem to be 

 any worse for it and we trust that no one will be deterred 

 from eating and enjoying all forms of corn-meal products. 



Appearance of the beetle and "worms." The beetle 

 is dull black, often reddish-black and about one-half inch 

 long. Running lengthwise of the wing-covers on the back 

 are sixteen deep furrows plainly visible to the eye. The 

 antennas are conspicuous, although not long, and look like 

 a string of black beads (Plate III) . In this species the third 

 segment of each antenna is noticeably longer than the cor- 

 responding segment in the beetle of the yellow meal-worm. 



The larva? of meal-worms are long, slender, and cylin- 

 drical. The skin is evidently heavily chitinized and 

 therefore rather hard. The meal-worms are about one 

 inch long, yellow in color, but shading off into yellowish- 

 brown at either end and at the joining of the segments. 

 The posterior segment of the abdomen ends in two minute 

 dark-colored spines. They are furnished with three pairs 

 of very serviceable legs, which enable them to travel quite 

 fast unless they are on a polished surface. 



When the larva attains its growth it changes to the pupa. 

 The pupa is whitish in color and about five-eighths of an 



