CLASSIFICATION OF THE DERMESTIDAE O 



tisetal tufts, an ornamentation of the epipharynx different from that 

 found in the previously discussed groups, and a three-segmented max- 

 illary palpus (fig. 3, E). The tribe Megatomini (fig. 1, D) is com- 

 posed of the genera whose members are elongate and fusiform, 

 typically with the greatest width of the body through the thorax (pre- 

 served specimens sometimes have the abdomen distended, giving the 

 greatest width through the abdomen). In these larvae the tergites 

 never curve anterolaterally about the bases of the hastisetal tufts but 

 have the setae arising from the tergites. The tribe Anthrenini (fig. 

 1, C) is composed of the single genus Anthrenus F., whose members 

 are compact and oval, typically with the greatest width of the body 

 through abdominal segments 2 to 5. The tribe Ctesiini, so far as 

 known, consists of the single species Ctesias serra (F.), the larva of 

 which is distinguished by the suboblong shape of the body, the short 

 and narrow abdominal segments 1 to 3 forming a constriction of the 

 body at this point, and the long pronotum, which is about as long as 

 the combined lengths of the mesonotum and metanotum. 



Lepesme and Paulian (/) propose the separation of the Anthre- 

 niuae into two tribes, Megatomini and Anthrenini, but it is difficult 

 to find some one character which will differentiate the Megatomini 

 in its entirety from the Anthrenini if the species Ctesias serra is 

 retained in the former tribe. Those authors characterize the Megato- 

 mini by the^ presence of two longitudinal rods (epipharyngeal rods) 

 on the epipharynx and the presence of a long setal brush (caudal 

 brush) at the apex of the abdomen. According to them, the Anthre- 

 nini lack these characters. Both structures, however, are present in 

 the genus Anthrenm, which constitutes the latter tribe. The epi- 

 pharyngeal rods occur in all species, and the caudal brush in the 

 verbascz : tyipe larvae is composed of a few, fairly long, usually in- 

 wardly curving setae, except in the earlier stages, where the brush is 

 long and whorled, whereas in the scrojihidariae-ty^e, larvae the 

 caudal brush is distinct, long, and straight, and sometimes somewhat 

 hidden by the long lateral setae of the posterior abdominal segments. 



Larsson (5) more nearly approaches a satisfactory distinction of 

 the two groups by characterizing the Megatomini as having the 

 greatest width of the body through the thorax and the Anthrenini 

 by having the greatest width through abdominal segments 2 to 5. 

 However, a study of preserved larvae of Ctesias serra reveals that the 

 width through the fourth abdominal segment is equal to the greatest 

 width through the thorax. Also, the larva is somewhat compact and 

 similar to larvae of the genus Anthrenus. Nevertheless, as shown by 

 the characters previously given, the larva of C. serra is distinct from 

 the larvae of the species constituting either Megatomini or Anthrenini. 



Consideration of the Genera of Anthreninae 



A study of the larvae of Entomotrogus megatomoides Reitt., 

 Eucnocerus anthrenoides Sharp, ancj several species of Trogoderma 

 Latr. revealed no characters by which the three genera could be 

 separated. On the other hand, they agree in all constant characters, 

 indicating the probability that the species of Entomotrogus Ganglb., 

 Eucnocerus Sharp, and Trogoderma may be congeneric. Lepesme 

 and Paulian, however, differentiate Entomotrogus from Trogoderma 



