FLIES AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD INSECTS 



43 



The saw-toothed grain beetle^ is one of the smallest and most 

 persistent of the grain beetles. It is only about i/io of an inch long, 

 reddish brown, flattened and easily recognized by the peculiar 

 saw edge along the sides of the thorax. It displays a marked 

 preference for all cereal preparations though it occurs in pre- 



Fig. 26 Saw-toothed grain beetle: a, beetle, from above; b, pupa, from below; c, grub 

 or larva; all enlarged. (After Chittenden, U. S. Dep't Agric. Div. Ent. Bui. 4. 

 n. s. 1896) 



served fruits, nuts and seeds and has been recorded as injuring 

 yeast cakes, mace, snuff and even red pepper. This species will 

 breed for extended periods in packages of cereals. The writer had 

 his attention called recently to a case where this beetle multiplied 



Fig. 27 Confused flour beetle: a, beetle from above; b, grub or larva, from above; 

 c, pupa, from below; all enlarged; d, e, and f, structural details. (After Chittenden, 

 U. S. Dep't Agric. Div. Ent. Bui. 4. n. s. 1896) 



by the millions in a brewery, spread therefrom to adjacent houses 

 and caused a great deal of annoyance by getting into everything, 

 not excepting clothing that was worn and bedding in use. 



^Silvanus surinamensis Linn. 



