20. Januar ipii. 



No. 2. 



XXVII. Jahrgang. 



Societas entomologica 



Organ für den internationalen Entomologen =Verein. 



Journal de la Société entomologique internationale. 



Journal of the International Entomological Society. 



„Vereinigt mit Entomologischer Rundschau und Insektenbörse." 



Gegründet 1886 von Fritz Rü/ä, fortgeführt von seinen Erben unter Mitwirkung bedeutender Entomologen und hervorragender Fachleute. 



Toute la correspondance scientifique et 

 les contributions originales sont à envoyer 

 aux Héritiers de Mr. Fritz Riihl à Zu- 

 rich V. Pour toutes les autres communi- 

 cations, payements etc. s'adresser à Ver- 

 lag des Seitz'schen Werkes (Alfred 

 Kernen), Stuttgart, Poststr. 7. 



Aile wissenschaftlichen Mitteilungen und 

 Originalbeiträge sind an Herrn Fritz 

 Rühl's Erben in Zürich V zu richten, 

 geschäftliche Mitteilungen, Zahlungen etc. 

 dagegen direkt an den Verlag des Seitz- 

 schen Werkes (Alfred Kernen), Stutt- 

 gart, Poststr. 7. 



Any scientific correspondence and origi- 

 nal contributions to be addressed to Mr. 

 Fritz Rühl's Heirs in Zürich V. All 

 other communications, payments etc. to be 

 sent to Verlag des Seitz'schen Werkes 

 (Alfred Kernen), Stuttgart, Poststr. 7. 



Die Societas entomologica erscheint gemeiusam mit der Entomologischen Rundschau und der Insektenborse. 



Abonnementspreis der 3 vereinigten Zeitschriften Mk. 1.50 vierteljährlich bei postfreier Zusendung innerhalb Deutschland und 



Oesterreich, fürs Ausland Portozuschlag — 50 Pfennig vierteljährlich. Erfüllungsort beiderseits Stuttgart. 



57: 16. 5 



Insects destructive to Books.^) 



By Williatn R. Reinick. 



Chief of the Department of Public Documents, 

 The Free Library of Philadelphia. 



Through and through the inspired leaves, 

 Ye naaggots, make your windings ; 



But oh! respect his lordship's taste, 

 And spare his golden bindings. 



Robert Burns. 



The leather is destroyed by a number of species of 

 beetles, such as Lasioderma serricorne, Attagenus 

 piceus, Dermestes lardarius, and Anthrenus scrophu- 

 lariae. 



Wood Bindings. — The beetles, Anöbmm 

 hirtum ancl Ptilinus serricornis, are found making 

 galleries in the wooden covers of books. 



Poisons Used, Mineral. — We have in 

 the minerals of the earth many poisons, one of which, 

 arsenic, is of especial interest, as it has been tlie esta- 

 blished rule of the wall paper manufacturers to use 

 it in large quantities; and this poison is one that 

 attracts various species of insects on account of its 

 medicinal value. Just as human beings take poisons 

 in proportionate ratio to the needs of their systems, 

 and especially arsenic, for their health, so do the in- 

 sects and lower forms of life, which have an instinct 

 beyond the ordinary comprehension, need it; and 

 they find it in the wall papers and colored illustrations 

 printed on the bindings and in books. Where sulphur 

 is used, other species will be attracted, and so on witli 

 the various poisons which are used in the arts. The 

 ,, bed-bug" also finds food in the poison used, such 

 as arsenic, Paris green, etc. The idea that this insect 

 is found only where uncleanliness prevails has long 



1) Reprinted from American Journal of Pharmacy 

 1910. 



since been rejected, as it is constantly found where ab- 

 solute cleanliness prevails. 



Flies will cling to wall paper, especially in damp 

 weather. This is due to the moisture in the atmosphere 

 causing the poisons in the paper, which flies are pri- 

 marily after, to become soft enough for them to eat. 



Gases; from Heat. — It is accepted as a 

 fact by scientists to-day that the nature and character 

 of life, in the material sense of evolution, has for its 

 base the heat generated by the physical sun, assisted 

 by the moisture of the atmosphere, and the darkened 

 chambers of the earth, which are necessary in the first 

 stages of all life production. Books in a very dry 

 and warm location will be found to be subject to at- 

 tacks of species of Thysanura and Collembola, which 

 are naturally attracted by heat; and, as heat rises, 

 the books on the top shelves will be found to be the 

 ones damaged by these insects. They are seldom 

 found where it is damp. 



The spring-tails. Lepidocyrius americanus, and the 

 silver-fish, Lepisma saccharina, come under this group. 



Gases; Poisonous, etc.. Combined. — 

 The tree, from which is made the A^-ood pulp used in the 

 manufacture of paper, has its roots shooting down 

 into the bowels of the earth, and its branches and 

 leaves reaching up into the heavens. The roots are 

 fed by a varied combination of elements, mineral, ga- 

 seous, and vegetable, and these elements, taken in 

 by the roots, are by a wonderful system of arteries 

 carried into every portion of the tree, and insects are, 

 thus able to get all elements that are necessary for 

 them to sustain life. The pores of the skin are the 

 health holes of the body, and in a sore, unless it is 

 sterilized, life is bound to start, and that first life again 

 is worm life, no matter how carefully the wound is 

 protected on the outside. If a microscope was used, 

 the body would be found to be covered with ani- 

 mated matter. The insects, preying upon animal life, 

 are after the poisons exuded by the blood and skin. 



