THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



67 



Anthrenus SCrophulariaB is the carpet bug of the Americans. The 

 larvae are very destructive to carpets in that country. I have received muti- 

 lated specimens from the South of England, where they had fed on carpets. 



Anthrenus musseorum is often found in the larval state in natural 

 history collections, eating skins, hairs and feathers. Erom the minute size 

 of these insects it is difficult to keep them out of boxes of insects. The 

 larvae seem insensible to the effects of camphor. 



Anthrenus. — Various species feed on the dried skins of animals. 



Corynetes coeruleus, ruficollis, rufipes, and violaceus, feed in 

 the larval and perfect state on carrion and dead animal matter, dried skins, 

 old bones, &c. They are sometimes found in calico printers' stores, dry- 

 salters, &c. These insects seem to accompany Dermestes. 



Ptinus sexpunctatus is found in houses in Scotland and Carlisle. 

 When touched it simulates death. All the Ptinida are destructive, and 

 rather resemble spiders. 



Ptinus fur ^- The larvae are very injurious to herbaria, and other collec- 

 tions of natural history ; also woollen cloth, wheat, and other grain in gran- 

 aries. The sexes in this genus vary so much in form that they are often 

 mistaken for other species. 



PtinUS latro has been found feeding in collections of insects. 



Niptus hololeucas resembles a yellow spider. This species was 

 introduced into this country about fifty years since, through commerce, it is 

 now a very common species, and doing a great amount of damage by eating 

 holes, when in the larval state, into furniture, books, flooring, rolls of paper, 

 bobbins of silk, &c, quite destroying the latter material. They have converted 

 a bottle of dried sage, into a bottle of this species of insect, by feeding on it. 

 f It is a beautiful object for the microscope. 



Niptus crenatus. — A much smaller species than the preceding, is often 

 found devouring collections of natural history objects, it is also found in 

 cellars in which provisions are stored and in bakehouses. 



Mezium afEne* — This is a curious looking creature, more like a spider 

 than a beetle. When at rest on the walls of drysalters' warehouses it looks 

 like a drop of blood, its elytra being smooth and shining. I am not certain 

 on what it feeds, but it is probably destructive. 



Gibbium SCOtias resembles the preceding species. It occurs in old houses, 

 and drysalters' warehouses, it is probably destructive. It has been found in 

 the ruins at Pompeii. 



