32 BULLETIN 737, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



plication is largely checked. In all cases observed in rearing experi- 

 ments, the insects failed to develop properly if the food substance 

 became too dry or if the larvae or pupae were not protected from 

 excessive evaporation. 



MOLD IN FOOD SUBSTANCES. 



The growth of mold in the food substance usually results in the 

 complete extermination of the beetle. This has been obss. in 



many instances. It is often owing to this fact that infestation from 

 damaged or worthless products does not extend to uninfested prod- 

 ucts near by. 



INSECT ENEMIES. 



Several species of insects have been found to destroy the tobacco 

 beetle and some of these appear to be widely distributed. While both 

 predatory and parasitic insects are important factors in the repres- 

 sion of the tobacco beetle, the insect still is able to maintain itself 

 successfully in all localities where it has become established. 



Predacious Insects. 



THANEROCLERUS GIRODI Chevrolat. 



Among predatoiy enemies of the tobacco beetle the most important, 

 so far as is known, is the clerid beetle Thaneroclei^us girodi Chevrolat 

 (PI. II, fig. 3 ; PI. Ill, fig. 5 ; PL IV) . This beetle was found in un- 

 usually large numbers at Key West, Fla., and is a very important 

 factor at that cigar-manufacturing center in keeping the tobacco 

 beetle in check. It was first found in the United States by Dr. W. 

 D. Hunter and Mr. A. C. Morgan, of the Bureau of Entomology, at 

 Key West, Fla., in April, 1912 (78). Specimens of the beetle were 

 determined by Mr. E. A. Schwarz, of the Bureau of Entomology. The 

 insect has since been found by the writer to be more or less common, 

 but much less abundant, at Tampa, St. Petersburg, Jacksonville, and 

 Quincy, Fla., and was found in tobacco stored in a tobacco barn at 

 Tallahassee, Fla., in 1914 by Mr. J. R. Watson, State entomologist of 

 Florida. Specimens were also located at Richmond, Va., in a pack- 

 age of smoking tobacco infested with the tobacco beetle, which had 

 been returned to the manufacturers from Galveston, Tex. Mr. John 

 Wardlow, of Key West. Fla., stated that he had observed the beetle 

 frequently in the bales of cigar tobacco imported from Habana, Cuba. 

 Among Cuban cigar makers the insect seems to be well known. They 

 state that it is common in cigar factories in Habana, where it is called 

 the " bicho grande " or " big bug" to distinguish it from he smaller 

 species, the tobacco beetle {Lasiodevrnw serHcorne), upt ' Mch it 



