1877.] The Museum Mite. 481 
When an insect is known to be attacked by Tyroglyphus it is 
best to isolate it in a very dry box. If the insect is glossy the 
mites which have got into itshould be removed with a fine camel- 
hair brush. If the insect is scarcely attacked, it can be replaced 
_ on condition of being watched. But very often one sees reap- 
pearing on the body of an insect which has been simply cleaned 
or brushed, new Tyroglyphi which come from within or from the 
cavities of the joints where they are apt to gather in large num- 
bers. This shows that the cleansing has been insufficient. One 
can then have recourse to the heat of the stove or oven. © This 
proceeding is inconvenient when the insect turns out to be what 
is technically called “greasy.” Besides, although the Tyro- 
glyphi may not resist the effect of a high temperature, the eggs 
often do, especially when they are situated in the a of the 
body, and the mites swarm again soon after. 
We can scarcely recommend pure water, for if the bread of 
the dirty insects is washed, it penetrates into the inside, leaving 
a humidity unfavorable to the object in view. 
Aleohol is good for all the insects which can stand its action 
without being hurt in their colors, hairs, or scales. It will not 
do for Lepidoptera, but we have often placed beetles that are 
hard and polished in a flask with a large mouth without taking 
the trouble of cleaning them. The pin holding the insect is 
stuck into the under side of the cork, and the body soaks in alco- 
hol without going to the bottom of the vessel. An immersion 
of several hours or a day is sufficient. Either simple alcohol, or 
alcohol containing a small solution of corrosive sublimate, will 
answer. After a bath of an hour in the latter, the insect should 
be washed in pure alcohol to carry off the sublimate, which, 
without this precaution, forms a whitish crust and corrodes the 
pins. We prefer to use alcohol with arsenic or saturated with 
strychnine, which, in ridding the insects from the Tyroglyphi, 
has the advantage of preserving them also against the Anthreni. 
Besides alcohol, there are liquids which seour the insects per- 
fectly, killing the Acarids and carrying off their favorite aliment. 
These very useful liquids are ether, benzine, essence of naphtha. 
Dr. Leconte has utilized the “atomizer” for thoroughly and 
imperceptibly besprinkling the insects with such liquids. 
. Grenier and Aubé devised an apparatus for exposing 
the i isesi without removal to the vapors of such chemicals. It 
is a large necrentôme of tin, with fastenings, made with a trench, 
to be filled with water, so as to submerge the edge of the cover, 
VOL. XI. — no. 8. 81 
