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small plots of grass in front of the houses, they were very common. The spot where I 

 took most of those I captured was a plot of grass about ten feet by seven, in which there 

 was a Syringa between two Deutzias, both species of shrubs being in blossom. The Alypias 

 constantly frequented the latter, and were there easily taken with a pill box, but though 

 they occasionally alighted on the leaves of the Syringa, I never saw them visit the flowers. 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO DRUGS. 

 By William Edwin Saunders, Ph. G., London, Ont. 



In this paper is given simply what has been noted by the writer during a study of 

 those insects extending over more than a year. 



Sivodrepa panicea. — This is the elliptical, reddish brown beetle, about one-eighth of 

 an inch long, which is found in almost every edible drug, and in some, such as aconite 

 root and capsicum, that would be pronounced far from edible. In addition to these two 

 drugs, I have found it in bitter almonds, sweet almonds, angelica, bon.eset, calumba, cha- 

 momile, chocolate, coriander, dandelion, elm bark, ergot, extract of licorice, German 

 chamomile, orris root, prince's pine, rhubarb, squill, and sweet flag. 



The larva is white, with a brown head, is about twice as long as the beetle when 

 full grown, although it is seldom or never seen stretched out at full length, always re- 

 maining curled up in a ball. It will in time fairly honeycomb a piece of root with small 

 holes about one-twenty-fifth of an inch in diameter, at the end of which it is generally to 

 be seen at home. Under the influence of camphor, these larvae become uneasy, but being 

 apparently unable to crawl away, resign themselves to their fate, and seem to thrive just 

 as well with camphor as without it. 



Galandra remotopunctata. — This is a small, black beetle, about the size of the last, 

 -with what is popularly termed a " snout," projecting from the front of the head down- 

 wards. Under the microscope the back, thorax, and head are seen to be finely pitted, 

 giving the insect a rough appearance. It was found in large numbers, the larva feeding 

 on pearl barley, inside of which it lives, the egg being probably laid in the grain by 

 the parent, and on hatching, the little insect makes its home there, eating all but the 

 shell, and sometimes attacking the grain from the outside. 



Tenehrioides mauritanica, a species of "meal-worm," was found in pearl barley, and 

 one specimen in calumba. It is a dark brown beetle, five-sixteenths of an inch long, the 

 head and thorax forming nearly half the total length, and the mouth being fringed with 

 hair. The back, which at first sight appears perfectly smooth, proves to be, when ex- 

 amined under the microscope, longitudinally corrugated. The larva is nearly half an 

 inch long, white, with a brown head, and between the jaws is a row of hair as in the 

 perfect insect. The posterior end is furnished with a pair of claspers. 



Trebolium ferrugineum is a flat, reddish brown beetle, about one-eighth of an inch 

 long, appearing smooth to the naked eye, though the microscope shows the back numer- 

 ously pitted. These insects affect patent foods and similar substances, and the beetles 

 are possessed of remarkable longevity, as proved by the fact that I have kept a few alive 

 for two months in a small box with a little ceralina, which seems to be their favourite food. 

 Whether the beetles themselves eat it or not I do not know, but they certainly have a 

 ■liking for the dead bodies of other beetles. 



Silvanus surinamensis is a narrow, brown beetle, almost one-eighth of an inch long, 

 with a pitted and longitudinally corrugated back. One specimen only was found, on 

 anthemis. 



Anthrenus varius. — This insect has been found onlv in cantharides, but I believe, 

 also attacks other animal drugs, such as castoreum. During the month of July there 

 •emerges from the egg a very active larva, densely covered on the tops of the segments 

 with stiff" brown hairs, which, at the posterior end, point towards the centre of the back 

 forming a ridge, and when the insect is annoyed, it has the power of dividing the ridge 

 in the centre and throwing it down on each side in a fan-like position, the object of which 



