CHAPTER XI 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO MEATS, CHEESE, AND 

 CONDIMENTS 



SMOKED and dry-cured meats of nearly all kinds are 

 subject to injury from the larvse of certain beetles, 

 while cheese is often attacked by myriads of mites and 

 the larvse of certain flies. Condiments, like ginger, 

 pepper, and other spices, together with various drugs 

 stored in the pantry, are also seriously damaged by the 

 larvae of a few small beetles. Fortunately, most of 

 these pests are not frequent visitors of the household. 



THE LARDER BEETLE 



Dermestes lardarius 



Ham, bacon, and other kinds of meats that happen to be 

 stored in the larder are sometimes attacked by small, 

 brown, hairy larvse, about one-half inch long when full- 

 grown, that often cause considerable injury and become 

 the source of a good deal of worry to the housekeeper. 

 The larva may be recognized by its hairy body, and its 

 meat-eating habits together with the fact that it bears 

 two short, curved, stiff spines on the top of the last ab- 

 dominal segment. These larvae not only attack food 

 products, but they feed upon horn, hoofs, skins, beeswax, 

 feathers, and hair, and, moreover, become pests upon 

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