126 



PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS. 



victim relentlessly, even entering insect boxes infested by its host, as 

 the writer had once occasion to observe. A diminutive mite, Hetcrojnis 

 ventricosus Kewp., also preys upon this as well as many other species 

 of like habits, attacking it in its larval and pupal condition. 



THE CIGARETTE BEETLE. 



(Lasiodcrma serricorne Fab.) 





Fig. G3. 



a 



-Lasioderma serricorne: a, larva; h, pupa; c, beetle; <1. sai 



enlarged; e, antenna — much enlarged (original). 



Another little beetle, superficially resembling the preceding species 

 and having very similar habits, often occurs in houses. As its English 

 name indicates, it is chiefly known as a destroyer of tobacco, and as such, 

 in the opinion of many thinking people, should be classified with bene- 

 ficial insects. It is by no means so common as the drug-store beetle, 

 but it is on the increase and doubtless will in time be found to have 

 nearly the same range of food materials. As a tobacco feeder it out- 

 ranks that species, and also appears to favor 

 certain medicinal plants not so often affected 

 by the Sitodrepa. 



Of household supplies it has been found, 

 in the experience of the writer as well as of 

 others, infesting cayeune pepper, ginger, rhu- 

 barb, rice, figs, yeast cakes, and prepared fish 

 food. It has been reported as destructive to 

 silk and plush upholstery, and the past year 

 did considerable damage to dried and pre- 

 served herbarium specimens in Washington. 

 Of drugs it is partial to ergot and turmeric, 

 and tobacco it devours in every form, in the 

 leaf and when made up into chewing plug, 



Fig. 64. — Lasioderma serricorne: . , , n . 



Head of larva, shown above: leg Cigarettes, and Cigars. 



of larva below— much enlarged This species is of about the same size and 

 (original). ^ olor ag ^ drug-store beetle, but, as may 



be seen in the figure (63, c), is more robust and the elytra are not 

 striated. The head is more prominent and the antennae are nearly 

 uniformly serrate, not ending in a three-jointed club (fig. 03, e). The 

 larva, represented at d in curved position at rest, is more wrinkled 



