b MISC. PUBLICATION 511, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



by the relative lengths of the second and last antennal segments, a 

 character which did not prove reliable in a study of several species 

 of Trogoderma examined in the present study. 



The characters of the larvae of Perimegatoma vespulae agree for 

 the most part with those possessed by the larvae of Trogoderma, but 

 they differ in the maximum number of proximal sensory cups on the 

 epipharynx. Although an examination of the larvae revealed char- 

 acters similar to those found in Trogoderma. some students of the 

 adults believe this species should be placed near Megatoma Hbst., the 

 larvae of which were not available for stinty and comparison. 



The genus Labrocerus Sharp is classified by Dalla Torre (2) in 

 his Attageninae, but the larvae have structures characteristic of the 

 Anthreninae. Furthermore, larvae of this genus from Hawaii possess 

 characters similar to those of the genera Thaiunaglossa Redt. and 

 Cryjrtorhopalum Guer. The larvae of Perimegatoma Horn, retaining 

 the principal characters of the Megatomini, have on the epipharynx 

 a medianly located, loosely grouped set of sensory papillae in which 

 the papillae are distinctly separated from one another, a character 

 found in the genus Anthrenus. 



TAXONOMIC TREATMENT OF THE FAMILY 



Family Characters 



The following characters will serve to distinguish the dermestid 

 larvae from those of other coleopterous families : 



Body densely covered with long or short spinulate setae, sometimes with 

 hastisetae ; head hypognathous and subglobular ; epicranial and frontal sutures 

 present; irons triangular; antennae three-segmented, second segment "with an 

 accessory papilla ; legs five-segmented, with tarsus and claw fused into a single 

 claw-shaped, terminal tarsungular segment ; urogomphi usually absent, when 

 present solid; gula present; maxillary articulating areas small, not large and 

 cushioned ; labrum anteriorly emarginate, laterally rounded ; labro-epipharyngeal 

 margin with series of setae, setae progressively larger and broader from lateral 

 margins to middle, middle setae similar or dissimilar to lateral setal series ; 

 mandible distally rounded, sometimes dentate or pointed, with or without 

 retinaculum and basal setal brush; maxillary palpus 3- or 4-segmented ; galea 

 simple, setiferous ; lacinia distally armed with one or more long, strong, slightly 

 curved, sclerotized and pigmented spurs ; labial palpus two-segmented ; ligula 

 bilobed. 



Key to the Subfamilies and Genera 4 



1. Urogomphi present (fig. 2, H) ; tenth abdominal segment complo.tely 



encircled by a sclerotized ring Dermestinae (Dermcstes), p. 8. 



Urogomphi absent ; tenth abdominal segment not completely encircled 

 by a sclerotized ring 2 



2. Body with hastisetae (see footnote 3, p. 4 and fig. 3, F) and hastisetal 



tufts ; epipharynx with distal sensory papillae, a median pair, and a 

 proximal transverse series of sensory cups (figs. 4, E and F; 5, 7) 



and F) Anthreninae, pp. 10-13. 



Body without hastisetae and hastisetal tufts; ornamentation of epi- 

 pharynx otherwise (fig. 4, A, B, C, and D) 3 



* As it is desirable to make the key applicable to the exuviae, -which may become distended 

 as well as to the larvae, key characters to the tribes are not given. 



