292 INSECTS 



plants about 1909 by Mr A. H. Cockayne. Mr Philpott writing in 

 1917 says: 



This beetle is common about houses wherever dry dead animal matter 

 is to be found. For this reason it is often met with in disused bee-hives 

 and comb-frames. It is the worst enemy the entomological collection has 

 to be guarded against. Houses badly infested with the White Pine borer 

 (Anobium domesticum) are often found to be infested with Ptinus fur also. 

 They probably feed on such of the borers as fail to emerge from the timber. 

 P. fur does not bore into the wood, though it often scoops out a little 

 depression for the purpose of pupating in. It is not confined to buildings, 

 but is found in the depths of the bush and high up on the mountains. 

 I do not know anjrthing of its first appearance in New Zealand, but its 

 acquaintance was forced on me as soon as I began to make a collection 

 of Lepidoptera, about 27 years ago. 



It is probable that this was one of the species, referred to by Sir 

 Joseph Banks in his Journal (see p. 341), as making their bread on 

 board ship almost uneatable. It readily attacks grain. "At one time 

 it was considered to be so largely an animal feeder as to have been 

 called by De Geer vrtllette carnassidre, the ' carnivorous borer.' " 



Mr W. W. Smith informed me (April, 1919) that this very quick 

 and active beetle is common among plants growing in warm borders, 

 where it shelters under fleshy leaves and in similar situations. It 

 is abundant in New Plymouth. 



Anobium sp. (probably tesselatum) 



This species is recorded by Dr Hilgendorf from North Canterbury, 

 where it was found to be very destructive in the English Church, 

 Ashley, in December, 1916. The mature beetle emerges from the 

 wood during several months of the year. It is larger than the preceding 

 species, and has a circular gold spot on its back. 



This is the insect popularly known in Britain as the Death Watch,- 

 on account of the ticking noise made by striking the walls of their 

 burrows with its head or jaws. 



Mr W. W. Smith (April, 1919) says it is very common in Taranaki. 



Anobium domesticum, Linn. Wood-borer ; White-pine-borer 



This destructive beetle was first observed by Captain Broun in 

 1875 at Tairua. Its ravages are extended to many kinds of wood, 

 but white-pine or kahikatea is the timber most readily attacked. 

 "Entire buildings have been reduced to a substance resembling saw- 

 dust." Professor Kirk, writing in 1904, after an examination of white- 

 pine and other timbers, found that all specimens attacked by the 

 borer contained considerable quantities of starch in the wood-cells. 

 He recommended that the timber be felled in early spring, when the 



