THE SKIN BEETLES. 



595 



is touched or jarred they feign death and fall off. The proper 

 name of this species is somewhat in doubt. C. triste was described 

 from California and pickorne from "Pennsylvania to Georgia" by 

 LeConte on the same page. Jayne says the two are synonyms. 

 Casey says triste is a west coast species and that he has not seen 

 picicome, but that it is probably a valid species. If the two are dis- 

 tinct, our species should bear the latter name. 



VII. Anthrenus Geoff. 1864. (Gr., "a buzzing insect.") 



Short, compact species, readily known by having the thorax 

 broad at base and narrow in front, its lateral margins bent under 

 the body and divided by a deep groove or pit for the reception of the 

 antennal club ; the mouth parts except labrum covered by the pro- 

 jecting prosternum, and surface covered by small, variegated scales 

 instead of the usual hairy pubescence. They are the worst of 

 museum pests, being especially destructive to dried insects. Five 

 or six species are known from the United States, four of which 

 occur in Indiana. 



KEY TO INDIANA SPECIES OF ANTHRENUS. 



a, Antennae 11-jointed, the club 3-jointed. 



1). Eyes emarginate; scales of surface coarse, large, triangular, as wide 

 as long; antennal club oval, 

 c. White scales on elytra in two or three narrow, sinuous bands or 

 spots; these usually connected with projections from a stripe 

 of orange scales along the suture. 1136. scrophularue. 



cc. White scales of elytra confluent into a broad median or sub-basal 

 band. 1137. thoracicus. 



blj. Eyes entire; scales fine, elongate, three times as long as wide; an- 

 tenna! club oblong. 1138. verbasci. 

 aa. Antennae 8-jointed, club 2-jointed; eyes entire; scales small, triangular. 



1139. CASTANE-E. 



1136 (3444). Anthrenus scrophularue Linn.. System Nat., II, 1766, 568. 



Ovate, rather convex. Elytra 

 marked with a longitudinal sutural 

 stripe and an apical spot of brick 

 red or dull yellow scales, the stripe 

 with three equidistant lateral projec- 

 tions of the same color, the first two \ 

 of which join narrow, sinuous white 

 bands. Body beneath black, covered 

 with white and orange scales. Length 

 2.2-3.5 mm. (Fig. 227.) 



Lake, Cass. Wabash and Ma- J % ' : ^S9P^ N b 



rion counties; scarce. April 27- 



December 26. This is the carpet Fig. 227. (After miey.) 



