SPECIES INJURIOUS TO WOOLEN GOODS, ETC. 



61 



THE BLACK CARPET BEETLE. 

 Attagi nus pi< ■< us I >li\\ 



This carpet beetle occurs in general in the same situations in which 

 the preceding species is found. The larva is an active, light-brown, 

 somewhat cylindrical creature, clothed with closely appressed hairs, 



and with a long terminal tuft of hairs at the end of the body. It is 

 readily distinguished from the so-called ••buffalo moth" by its shape 

 and in general by its lighter color. It is not so fond of working in 

 cracks and cutting long slits in carpets, and in general is not so dan- 

 gerous a species as the other. 



This insect has been a denizen of the United States certainly since 

 1854. It is widespread in Europe and Asia, and first attracted atten- 

 tion as a carpet insect in this country in 1879, when Dr. Lintner found 



Fig. 24. — Attagenus piceus : o, larva: b. pupa: c, adult: <i. dorsal abdominal s<>cments of papa; above, 

 at left, male and female antennae— all enlarged (original). 



it in connection with the "buffalo moth" at Schenectady. X. V. It had 

 previously been observed by Hagen in Cambridge, in the Museum of Nat- 

 ural History, at an early date, and had been found in feathers by Walsh. 

 Since 1880 it has become very abundant in Washington. 1). 0., and 

 here takes the place of Anthrenus scrophularite. It has been received 

 at the division of entomology from Goflstown, X. II . : Hartford. ( Jonn.j 

 New York City, Lawrence. Long Island, N. V.: Washington and Cha- 

 grin Falls. Ohio; Detroit, Agricultural College. Charlotte, and Drain. 

 Mich.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Wadestown, W. Va., and Memphis, Tenn. 

 From hearsay information the writer believes that it is also more 

 or less abundant in houses in Charleston. S. C, Savannah. Ca.. and 

 Jacksonville. Fla. 



The adult insect 18 a small, oval, black beetle of the general appearance 



