300 EDITORIAL. 



50-kilograiii barrel of argol was nearly full and throughout the mass it 

 was infested with larvae and cocoons of the first-mentioned species. As 

 the barrel had been open for some time there was a possibility that the 

 beetles might have entered it after it had reached Manila. I therefore 

 examined a fresh barrel of argol which was kept in another part of the 

 building. The outside of this package was in perfect condition and 

 showed no signs of holes^ but its contents were infested throughout. 

 The surface of the argol was covered with a shiny mass of dead and 

 living beetles of 0. scotias Fabr. The above-mentioned facts convinced 

 nle that this species was introduced or imported with the argol from 

 the United States. This species probably found suitable climatic con- 

 ditions and multiplied rapidly. In the literature which I have consulted 

 I find no mention of this species having been detected in argol, although 

 it seems to have a somewhat peculiar sense of taste. Some authors 

 mention it as feeding on the dust of granaries f Laboulbene * found it 

 on an Egyptian mummy in large numbers ; Lucas ^ saw larvas and adults 

 feeding on red pepper {Capsicum annuum Linn.), and Stierlin " on the 

 wool of sheep. 



Should this beetle at any time adapt itself to food of more economic 

 value and imijortance than the variety mentioned, serious damage might 

 arise. 



W. SCHULTZE. 



"Boieldieu, "Monographie des Ptiniores," Ann. Soc. Ent. de Fratice (1856) (3), 

 4, 679. 



*Loc. cit. (1872) (5), 2, 29 (Bull.). 



^Loc. cit. (1884) (6), 4, 76 and 124 (Bull.). 



'Calwer's Edferbuch (1893), 397. 



