THE TOBACCO BEETLE. 35 



This insect, peculiar to Cuba, has been found by Girod in cases of injured 

 tobacco (injured presumably by the cigarette beetle) and was given tc me by 

 M. Ant. Grouvelle. It is likely to be predacious upon the larvae and perfect 

 insects of the genus Catorama. 



As the tobacco beetle, Lasioderma serricorne, was formerly in- 

 cluded in the genus Catorama, the surmise made by Chevrolat con- 

 cerning the food habits of the clerid has been found correct. Studies 

 of the life history of the insect were made by the writer at Key West, 

 Fla., in 1912. At temperatures varying from 80° to 90° F. the 

 period of incubation was found to average about nine days. The 

 eggs were laid singly as a rule, but sometimes were found in groups 

 of two and three. Eggs usually were found in the burrows in cigars 

 formed by the tobacco beetle. The largest number secured from a 

 single female was 18 eggs. Pupation required from five to eight 

 days, the average pupal period being about seven days. Pupation 

 may take place in any secluded locality. The greater number of 

 pupae were found in holes in infested cigars. The larval periods as 

 observed from three specimens were 42, 51, and 62 days respectively. 

 From the development of a number of partly grown larva? kept for 

 about 30 days the larval period is thought to correspond closely to 

 that of larvae of its host, the tobacco beetle, the exact length of the 

 period varying with temperature conditions and the abundance of 

 food. Adults kept in tubes with cigars did not bore into the wrapper, 

 but holes already made by the tobacco beetle were considerably en- 

 larged. Adults of Thaneroclerus girodi feed on the larva, pupa, and 

 adult stages and on dead adults of Lasioderma serricorne, as well as 

 on dead adults of their own species. The larvae of the predacious 

 , beetle feed on eggs, larvae, and pupae of Lasioderma. Both larvae 

 and adults are cannibalistic when deprived of other food, this habit 

 enabling the species to survive for a considerable length of time after 

 all the Lasioderma obtainable have been devoured. When other food 

 can not be obtained, these predacious larvae feed upon the eggs, larvae, 

 and pupae, and the predacious adults on the eggs, larvae, and pupae 

 of their own species. The abundance of these beetles at times doubt- 

 less accounts for the complete disappearance of the tobacco beetle in 

 boxes of damaged cigars, so often noticed in certain cigar factories. 



Parasitic Insects. 



Several species of hymenopterous parasites of the tobacco beetle 

 have been recorded. Some of these are extremely abundant in in- 

 fested leaf tobacco in warehouses and are without doubt important in 

 natural control. 



Aplestomorpha pratti Crawford is one of the more common species 

 and has been found in various localities from Richmond, Va., south- 

 ward to Key West, Fla. 



