THE TOBACCO BEETLE. 35 
This insect, peculiar to Cuba, has been found by Girod in cases of injured 
tobacco (injured presumably by the cigarette beetle) and was given te me by 
M. Ant. Grouvelle. It is likely to be predacious upon the larve and perfect 
insects of the genus Catorama. 
As the tobacco beetle, Lasioderma serricorne, was formerly in- 
cluded in the genus Catorama, the surmise made by Chevrolat con- 
cerning the food habits of the clerid has been found correct. Studies 
of the life history of the insect were made by the writer at Key West, 
Fla., in 1912, At temperatures varying from 80° to 90° F. the 
period of incubation was found to average about nine days. The 
egos were laid singly as a rule, but sometimes were found in groups 
of two and three. Eggs usually were found in the burrows in cigars 
formed by the tobacco beetle. The largest number secured from a 
single female was 18 eggs. Pupation required from five to eight 
days, the average pupal period being about seven days. Pupation 
may take place in any secluded locality. The greater number of 
pup were found in holes in infested cigars. The larval periods as 
observed from three specimens were 42, 51, and 62 days respectively. 
From the development of a number of partly grown larve kept for 
about 30 days the larval period is thought to correspond closely to 
that of larve of its host, the tobacco beetle, the exact length of the 
period varying with temperature conditions and the abundance of 
food. Adults kept in tubes with cigars did not bore into the wrapper, 
but holes already made by the tobacco beetle were considerably en- 
larged. Adults of Thaneroclerus girodi feed on the larva, pupa, and 
adult stages and on dead adults of Zasioderma serricorne, as well as 
on dead adults of their own species. The larve of the predacious 
beetle feed on eggs, larve, and pupe of Lasioderma. Both larve 
and adults are cannibalistic when deprived of other food, this habit 
enabling the species to survive for a considerable length of time after 
all the Lasioderma obtainable have been devoured. When other food 
can not be obtained, these predacious larvee feed upon the eggs, larvae, 
and pupe, and the predacious adults on the eggs, larvee, and pup 
of their own species. The abundance of these beetles at times doubt- 
less accounts for the complete disappearance of the tobacco beetle in 
boxes of damaged cigars, so often noticed in certain cigar factories. 
PARASITIC INSECTS. 
Several species of hymenopterous parasites of the tobacco beetle 
have been recorded. Some of these are extremely abundant in in- 
Tested leaf tobacco in warehouses and are without doubt important in 
natural control. 
Aplestomorpha pratti Crawford is one of the more common species 
and has been found in various localities from Richmond, Ves ., south- 
ward to » Key West, Fla, 
