59 



has a red snipe down the middle of the back, widening into projections 

 at three intervals. When disturbed it "plays 'possum," folding np its 



legs and antenna- and feigning death. As a general thing the beetles 

 begin to appear in the fall, and continue to issue, in heated houses, 

 throughout the winter and following spring. Soon after issuing they 

 pair, and the females lay their eggs in convenient spots. The i 

 hatch, under favorable conditions, in a few days, and the larvae, with 

 plenty of food, develop quite rapidly. Their development is retarded 

 by cold weather or lack of food, and they remain alive in the larval 

 state, in such conditions, and particularly in a dry atmosphere, for an 

 almost indefinite period, molting frequently and feeding upon their cast 

 skins. Under normal conditions, however, the skin is cast about six 

 times, and there is, probably, in the Xorth, not more than two annual 

 generations. When the 1 irva reaches full growth the yellowish pnpa 

 is formed within the last larval skin. Eventually this skin splits down 

 the back and reveals the pupa, from which the beetle emerges later. 

 The beetles are day fliers, and when not engaged in l^'j.'j: laying are 

 attracted to the light. They fly to the windows, and may often be found 

 upon the sills or panes. Where they can fly out through an open window 

 they do so, and are strongly attracted to the flowers of certain plants, 

 particularly the family Scrophulariaceae, but also to certain Composita'. 

 such as milfoil [Achillea millefolium). The flowers of Spira-a are also 

 strongly attractive to the beetles. It is probable, however, that this 

 migration from the house takes place, under ordinary circumstances, 

 after the eggs have been laid. 



In Europe the insect is not especially noted as a household pest, and 

 we are inclined to think that this is owing to the fact that carpets are 

 little used. In fact, we believe that only where carpets are extensively 

 used are the conditions favorable for the great increase of the insect 

 Carpets once put down are seldom taken up for a year, and in the 

 meantime the insect develops uninterruptedly. Where polished floors 

 and rugs are used the rugs are often taken tip and beaten, and in the 

 same way woolens and furs are never allowed to remain undisturbed 

 for an entire year. It is a well-known fact that the carpet habit i^ a 

 bad one from other points of view, and there is little doubt that if car- 

 pets were more generally discarded in our more Northern States the 

 "buffalo bug" would gradually cease to be the household pest that it 

 is to-day. The insect is known in Europe as a museum pest, but has 

 not acquired this habit to any great extent in this country. It is 

 known to have this habit in Cambridge, Mass.. and Detroit. Mich., as 

 well as in San Francisco, Gal., but not in other localities. In all of 

 these three cases it had been imported from Europe in insect collections. 



REMEDIES. 



There is no easy way to keep the carpet beetle in check. When it 

 lias once taken possession of a house nothing but the most thorough 



