INSECTS AFFECTING CEREALS, ETC. 127 



and hairy than that of Sitodrepa. and differs as well in the structure of 



the head and legs see fig. 64). The pupa, shown at fig. 63, b, is white 

 and is incased, like other ptinids, in a fragile cocoon. 



THE WHITE MARKED SPIDER BEETLE. 

 (I'timts fur Linn. ) 



Two more species of this same family and of somewhat similar habits 

 to the two beetles just mentioned are sufficiently common in storerooms 



and cellars, particularly of old houses, and especially in the North, to 

 attract occasional notice. The more important of these is Ptinus fur. 

 which may be called the white-marked spider beetle, to distinguish it 

 from the allied Ft. brunneus. which is uniform brown in color. This 

 beetle is reddish brown, with four white bands on fts elytra. It has 

 long antennae and legs and a more or less globular body, and strongly 

 suggests a spider in general appearance. The sexes differ considerably. 

 the female being much more robust than her consort. 



As long ago as 1706 Linnaeus gave an account of this species, which 

 he stated was very injurious in libraries. It occurs also in old barns, 

 warehouses, and .museums, and is credited with feeding upon a variety 

 of substances, vegetable and animal, including insect collections and 

 dried plants in herbaria. It has also been recorded as living in boxes of 

 red pepper, and during March of the present year was so reported by 

 Mr. R. C. Lyle. who furnished us with specimens in the infested sub- 

 stance brought from his home at Cedar Springs, Mien. Many years 

 ago it was severely injurious to flour at Versailles. France, and two 

 years since Mr. James Fletcher received complaints of its occurring 

 abundantly in flour at Orillia and Toronto. Canada. 



During 1894 we received specimens of this insect, with information 

 that they had been discovered near 'Concord, X. H.. in a barn in 

 which were stored a hundred or more bags of cotton seed. They had 

 devoured the bags and increased so enormously as to cover the build- 

 ings: had invaded neighboring houses, and were attacking clothing of 

 all kinds. The owner of this barn, who also conducted a stoic was 

 greatly alarmed for fear they would spread throughout the town, and 

 serious apprehension was felt in the infested locality that the insect 

 might become a public nuisance. 



When to the items just mentioned we add that Dr. George Dimmock 

 found this species swarming in a barrel of refuse wool covered with 

 sheep's dung, and in which it was doubtless breeding, and that, to the 

 writer's personal knowledge, the adults are attracted to fresh fruit, we 

 sum up the principal tacts known regarding this insect in America: 

 but if we are to believe all the bad things that are said of it in Europe, 

 it is capable of becoming a serious pest if once permitted to gain 

 sufficient headway, for it is accused of depredating upon furs and cloth- 

 ing, roots, grain, and stuffed animals, and of invading seed stores, 

 apothecaries' wares, and cracker stores. 



