116 MAINE STATE COLLEGE 



some insects have of adapting themselves to new surroundings and 

 new food. 



Though known in Europe for over a hundred years, it was not 

 detected in America until ]S50. when Dr. Le Conte fouod a variety 

 of it on flowers in California. It was, according to Le Conte^ 

 probably imported during the Spanish occupancy of that country. 

 It was on the Pacific coast that it was rechristened "the buffalo 

 bug." 



In the Eastern states^they were first discovered near Buffalo, 

 New York, in 1872, and a little later in Massachusetts. Dr. Hagen 

 investigated the matter in Boston, and found that the infested 

 carpets came largely from a single large carpet house, and he 

 inferred that the pest was introduced in imported carpets 



Since its introduction it has spread more or less, and ie now 

 known in all of the New England states, as far west as Illinois and 

 as far south as Washington. In Europe it has not figured as a 

 carpet beetle, as carpets are little used, and rugs more common. 

 The insect is retiring in his habits and does not thrive in rugs, 

 which are frequently taken up and shaken. Perhaps in the grow- 

 ing custom in this country of using rugs, housekeepers will find a 

 means of controlling this insect, which is now in many localities 

 the greatest household pest. 



TVe have but little data regarding their introduction or even dis- 

 tribution or prevalence in Maine. Nearly eight years ago we re- 

 ceived a single complaint, and presume they have been in the 

 State for years. They probably came in from the way of Massa- 

 chusetts through carpets purchased in Boston. We have had com- 

 plaints from Bangor and Belfast, the eastern p%rt of the State. 

 This article, we hope, will call attention to the pest and bring 

 it to light and help determine its distribution. We will be 

 pleased to examine any carpet insects sent us, but be very 

 careful if specimens are sent to put them in a tight tin or 

 metal box, ichivh should be inclosed in an oyJer wooden or 

 pasteboard box. We would also like to have those who know 

 positively that the buffalo carpet beetle is in their neighborhood 

 send a postal card to that effect. There are several other small 

 beetles that destroy carpets, also carpet moths, and besides other 

 harmless small beetles are often found in houses, and are liable to 

 be mistaken for this pest. The only safe way is to have the insect 

 identified by an entomologist. Prof. Lintner gives a case where a 



