THE INSECT WORLD. 



179 



for much mischief in tanneries and factories producing leather 

 goods. Where fumigation is possible, bisulphide of carbon may 

 be employed with good effect, while gasoline readily destroys 

 both beetles and lar^-ae where it can be brought into contact with 

 them. 



Larvae similar to those above described, but much smaller, are 

 often found in museum collections on mounted animals, eating 

 the skins, hair, and feathers, and in entomological collections, 

 destroying the specimens entirely. The beetles from these 

 larvae are smaller and more ovate, and belong to the genera 

 Trogoderma or Megatoma. They are often found on flowers 



Fig. 158. 



The carpet-beetle, Anthreniis scrophularicE . — a, larva ; b, larval skin split to expose 

 the pupa within it ; c, pupa ; d, beetle. 



in this stage, in company with species of Anthre7ius, in which 

 the larvae are stouter, more clumsy, equally clothed with hairs, 

 but with the ability to expand two larger tufts posteriorly. 

 Anthrenus also contains museum pests as well as the ' ' carpet- 

 beetle," A. scrophularia, which feeds on woollens in the larval 

 condition, and is then better known as the " buffalo-moth," from 

 its tufted appearance. The beetles are very broadly oval, with 

 brick-red scales along the middle of the wing-covers, and two 

 irregular white scaly bands transversely across the elytra. I have 

 found them very early in spring under the loose bark of trees 

 where they had passed the winter. Later they fly into open 

 windows, and lay their eggs wherever they find a supply of 



