28 



BULLETIN 131, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Fig. 8. — The tobacco flea-beetle 

 (Epitrix parvula) : a, Adult ; 

 b, larva, side view ; c, pupa, 

 from below. Enlarged. (Chit- 

 tenden. ) 



and its general appearance will serve readily to distinguish it from 

 the tobacco beetle. Several species of insects which occasionally are 

 found living or feeding in dried tobacco are likely to be mistaken. for 

 the tobacco beetle. These are enumerated below. 



A reddish-brown beetle {Thaneroclerus 

 girodi Chevrolat) , considerably larger than 

 the tobacco beetle, often may be found in 

 tobacco or in boxes of cigars. This species 

 feeds on the different stages of the tobacco 

 beetle. The adult, larva, and pupa stages 

 are shown in Plate II, figure 3; Plate III, 

 figure 5 ; and Plate IV. This insect is more 

 fully discussed in the section dealing with 

 the parasitic and predacious enemies of the 

 tobacco beetle. 



The larger tobacco beetle {Catorama 

 tabaci Guerin) (PI. II, fig. 1 ; PI. Ill, figs. 

 2, 4; text figs. 9 and 10) attacks cured to- 

 bacco and tobacco seed in much the same 

 manner as does the common tobacco or 

 " cigarette " beetle (Lasioderma serricorne) 

 and its larger size makes it still more 

 destructive than is the common species. Cigar tobacco injured b} r 

 Catorama tabaci is shown in figure 6. So far as known this species 

 has been reported only from three localities in the United States. 

 It was found in tobacco in this country for the first time in 1912. 

 One of the leading cigar companies at Key West, Fla., reported the 

 insect to the Bureau of Entomology and sent specimens collected in 

 a shipment of cigar tobacco from 

 Habana, Cuba. At about the same 

 time a similar report accompanied 

 by specimens was received from a 

 cigar company located in Philadel- 

 phia, the beetles having been found 

 also in a shipment of Habana to- 

 bacco. In the following year speci- 

 mens of the Catorama were taken 

 by Mr. A. C. Morgan of the Bureau 

 of Entomology in bales of Habana tobacco which were being re- 

 moved from a bonded warehouse at Key West, Fla., and also by 

 the writer, in a bonded warehouse in Tampa, Fla. The records ob- 

 tained indicate that the insect is native to Cuba. It was introduced 

 into Paris, France, from Cuba and was first described by Guerin- 

 Meneville (11) from the Paris importations in 1850, having been 

 found in Habana cigars. 



Fig. 9. — The larger tobacco beetle 

 (Catorama tabaci) : Antenna of 

 adult. Greatly enlarged. 



