542 Lhe New Carpet Beetle—Anthrenus Scrophularie. | August, 
everything in their way.” From this account we may infer an 
almost incalculable capability of increase if left to itself, and draw 
the lesson of the absolute necessity of combatting its invasion by 
every Means in our power. 
It will unquestionably prove an exceedingly difficult pest to 
dislodge. The ordinary applications of camphor, pepper, tobacco, 
turpentine, carbolic acid, etc., are powerless against it. It has 
even been asserted that it “ grows fat” on these substances. An 
effectual means of destruction, and preventive against new inva- 
sions, is still to be discovered. The free use of benzine has been 
recommended in some of our journals, to be used in the satura- 
tion of cotton, with which to fill the joinings of the floors and 
crevices beneath the base-boards. This is to be done during the 
winter months, at which time the insect will be occupying these 
retreats, either in its perfect beetle form, or as eggs deposited-for 
another brood; to either of these the direct application of ben- 
zine would be fatal. To some of my correspondents I have sug- 
gested the pouring of kerosene oil in the crevices of the floors, 
and filling of all places of retreat with cotton saturated with the 
oil. I would regard this as less dangerous in its use than ben- 
zine, and equally efficient.. 
The recommendation recently made in several of our news- 
papers, of the Persian insect-powder for the destruction of the 
insect, I believe to be of no value. I have not deemed it worth 
the trouble of experimenting with, but I have been told by those 
who have given it a trial that it has been found to be of no avail 
whatever. 
The insect has not as yet become sufficiently abundant in New 
York to be found resorting to plants for its food. The variety 
Anthrenus lepidus, which was introduced in California sufficiently 
long ago to permit its complete naturalization, was discovered 
there, in numbers, feeding upon some of the Composite. The 
Anthrenus varius is often found, in its perfect state, taking its food 
from the blossoms of different plants in the garden or field. I 
have met with it abundantly on peonies. It has also been found 
to frequent the rocket flower, Hesperis matronalis, a fragrant and 
showy perennial. If the plants known to be attractive to the A. 
varius can be introduced into our houses, and made to flower 
during the months of April and May, I believe that the carpet- 
beetles would be drawn to them in preference to windows, per- 
ee as soon as does emerge from the pupe. 
