The Larve of the Furniture Beetles. 221 
Westwood! figures the Jarva of an Anobwwm and also its maxille and 
mandibles. Sharp? has figured the larva of A. panicewm. 
None of these figures affords definite characters for the identification of 
species, however, and it is hoped that the following descriptions may serve 
to supply that want. 
MATERIAL. 
The material on which these descriptions and notes are based has been 
derived from various sources. In all cases the larve have been obtained 
working alongside the adult insect, and no larve have been used whose 
identity has not been so confirmed. 
The material for the work on A. domesticum has been obtained from 
three sources, beech panelling from a dwelling-house in London, a willow 
basket-work mat, and rough boarding from an outhouse in Aberdeen. 
The Hrnobius mollis material has been got from larch paling posts in 
Aberdeenshire. Anobiwm panicewm was received in quantity in dog biscuits 
through the courtesy of Mr C. J. Gahan, M.A. For Lyctus canaliculatus 
I am indebted to Mr J. C. F. Fryer, M.A.; and for LZ. brunneus to Mr R. 
Burdon, M.A., of Cambridge. Dr Stewart MacDougall supplied the Ptadinus 
material, obtained from a chair in a church in Arran. The description, 
figures and notes on Xestobiwm tesselatwm are the result of work done by 
me as Sir John Wolfe Barry student at the Imperial College of Science and 
Technology, London, and are published here by the courtesy of Professor 
Maxwell Lefroy. 
METHODS. 
As far as possible the larve for examination have been kept in their 
natural habitat until required. They were then boiled for a minute and 
preserved in 3 per cent. formalin. For the general examination living 
larvee were used, in order that their natural aspect might be obtained, 
Boiling invariably causes the larve to distend, causing the head to 
appear unduly small. The head, on account of its structure and thicker 
chitin, does not extend. Further, the natural attitude of the Anobiid and 
Lyctid larvee is curved ; boiling tends to straighten them. 
For detailed examination the larvee were boiled for about five minutes 
in dilute (10 per cent.) caustic potash, and then allowed to cool in the 
solution for ten minutes. After being washed in water they were ready 
for dissection. Careful boiling in the caustic is essential, otherwise the 
larve may burst. On boiling in caustic potash the contents of the 
1 Westwood, Classification of Insects, vol. i., p. 269, et. seq. 
2 Sharp, Camb. Nat. Hist., vol. vi., ‘‘ Insects,” p. 247. 
