2 BULLETIN 737, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
last two names may have originated from confusion of the species 
with a field insect, the tobacco flea-beetle, Epitrix parvula, which 
attacks growing tobacco, the holes eaten in the leaf showing in the 
cured leaf tobacco and somewhat resembling holes made by the true 
tobacco beetle, Lasioderma serricorne. The name “cigarette beetle” 
has been quite generally used in entomological literature but is not 
suitable as it conveys the impression 
that the insect confines its work to 
cigarettes whereas it is a general 
feeder upon all cured tobacco prod- 
ucts. Throughout this bulletin the 
name “tobacco beetle,’ which was 
used by Mr. E. A. Schwarz in earher 
accounts of the insect, is adopted, 
as the present consideration of the 
insect refers to its depredations 
upon all forms of cured and manu- 
factured tobacco. 
nent antee hea as tet re tp 
THE CHARACTER OF ITS INJURY. 
The injury caused by the tobacco 
beetle is very great, owing to its 
habit of occupying its food sub- 
stance during all stages of its life. 
The principal damage is done by the 
larva or “worm” stage, and with 
tobacco, as with other food sub- 
stances, the actual amount consumed 
usually is of far less importance 
than is the presence of refuse, ex- 
crement, dust, and the dead beetles, 
which render the manufactured 
product unsalable. 
The insect damages cigars (fig. 
3 1) and pressed tobacco by burrow- 
a ipoetie (Lasioderma serricorne) show. ing small cylindrical tunnels which 
ing burrows of larye and exit holes Jater become filled with dust and ex- 
aE crement. In cigars the holes may 
extend from one side to the other, and in some instances the holes 
or galleries may wind through the filler of the cigar, a large part 
of the interior being thus destroyed without external evidence of 
injury to the wrapper. The larve often will work between two 
closely packed cigars, slitting both wrappers lengthwise for some 
distance, and the pupal cells frequently are constructed between 
Sepa nemalineet cet RE eam RRREtE Ie ntact e ee Ale NA 
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