THE SKIN BEETLES. 591 



1125 (3421). Dermestbs talpinls Mmuii., Bull. Mosc, II, 1843, 2.j7. 



Elongate, subcylindrical. Thorax densely clotlied with variegated hairs ; 

 elytra black, clothed with dark bluish-gray, ehiy-yellow and black hairs; 

 antenna; fuscous ; femora with white rings at middle. Length 5.5-6.5 mm. 



Lawrence County; scarce. j\lay 9. Known heretofore from 

 Idaho and Nevada, '\\'estward. Verified l)y H. C Fall. 



*]126 (3428). Debmestes ntlpinus Kab., .Spec. Ins., I, 1781, 04. 



Elongate, subconvex. Elytra piceous, uniformly and rather sparsely 

 clothed with a mixture of black and grayish-yellow hairs ; last ventral seg- 

 ment brown with two white spots at base. Fourth ventral segment of male 

 with a median pit bearing a bunch of brown hairs. Length 6-9 mm. 



Lake, Vigo. Putnam and ]Monrne counties; frequent. January 

 33-December 12. Hibernates. 



1127 (3424). Debmestes pulcheb Lee, Proc. Phil. Acad. Nat. Sci., VIL 

 1854, 108. 

 Oblong-oval, subdepressed. Head, thorax and basal fifth of elytra uni- 

 form pale reddish-brown ; remainder of elytra black. Length 6-6.5 mm. 



Marion County; scarce. Hibernates. Alareh 20-December 11. 

 Taken from beneath bark of ash logs. 



*1128 (3425). Debmestes laedaeius Linn., Faun. Suec, 140. 



Elongate, moderately convex. Black or piceous; 

 elytra with base marked as shown in Fig. 22:! ; under 

 surface and legs black with fine, sparse yellowish 

 pubescence. Thorax black with a few small isolated 

 tufts of yellowish pubescence, finely and densely- punc- 

 tate. Length 6-7.5 mm. (Fig. 223.) 



Throughout the State; frequent. February 

 7--July"21. This species, known as the "ham 

 beetle," the "larder beetle," etc., has been 

 widely distributed by commerce and is often a 

 household pest, especially where bacon and hams 

 are stored. It is said that they can be attracted 

 by baits of old cheese and then gathered and de- Bijfi N^'ser*Div. I™"'!): 

 stroyed. Where a smoke-house or storeroom is ' ' ^°^' ^^'''^ 

 overrun with the beetle, its contents should be cleared out and thi' 

 room either sprayed with benzine or subjected to strong fumes 

 of bisulphide of carbon. Where a ham or other object is already 

 infested, the afl'ectcd portion should be cut away and the surface 

 of the remainder washed with a vers^ weak' solution of carbolic 

 acid. If thereafter the windows are screened with fine wire gauze 

 and the doors k-ept tightly closed, the contents will probably be 



r3.8— 23402] 



