AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 115 



THE BUFFALO CARPET BEETLE. 



Anthrenus ScrojihuJarice, L. 



Order Coleopteka : Family Dermestid^. 



Duiing the last few years we have received letters from the 

 western and southwestern part of Maine regarding an insect doing 

 much damage to carpets and woolen clothing. Several times these 

 letters have been accompanied by specimens, leaving no doubt that 

 the pest is the insect whose name appears at the head of this arti- 

 cle. This insect is called the buffalo bug in Maine, but in other 

 localities is variously known as the carpet beetle, buffalo carpet 

 beetle and buffalo moth. 



Perhaps the many common names given to an insect is of little 

 importance, but they are confusing and are apt to annoy the 

 systematist who insists upon exact use of terms. To the practical 

 man the important points are identification ; a knowledge of how 

 to cope with it, if injurious, and how to utilize its good qualities 

 if beneficial. 



This insect belongs to the order Coleoptera, which embraces the 

 hard-winged insects called beetles. To call it a "bug," which is 

 the name belonging to insects like the squash bug {Hemiptera), or 

 to call it a "moth," which is a term restricted to a portion of the 

 scaled winged insects {Lepidoptera) would be entomologically 

 incorrect. This insect is properly called a beetle, and in allusion 

 to the shaggy appearance of the larvffi, and the fact that it injures 

 carpets the name Buffalo Carpet Beetle would be appropriate. 



HISTORY AND DISTRIBUTION. 



The insect was first described by Linnaeus in 1758. On account 

 of its feeding upon plants of the genus Scrophularia he named it 

 Anthrenus Scrophularioi. It is now known, however, to feed upon 

 a wide range of plants including fruit trees, tulips and roses. 

 Though a vegetable feeder by nature it readily changed its dietary 

 and in Europe as early as 1779 was known to frequent houses 

 and to destroy collections of insects and plants, clothes, furs, 

 leather and victuals. It was known in Europe in 1855 as The 

 Common Flower Beetle. It is an interesting example of the power 



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