21 
that four larvae, or the beetles that developed from them, had died in 
the interim and were then devoured by their fellows. In any case, the 
adult was not reared, and no published statement was made of the larva 
having been found living' in the condiment. 
The capability of this species to breed in other seeds was demon- 
strated by the discovery of the larvae living upon "kola," an edible 
leguminous seed somewhat resembling a cowpea. The insect had evi- 
dently been first attracted by the dead bodies of the original inhabitant 
of the seeds, the weevil, Bruchus ehinensis, but had afterwards fed upon 
the seeds, even hollowing them out and leaving only the empty shells. 
In a similar manner, larva- were found, together with those of Atta- 
genus, in millet and pumpkin seeds that had formerly been inhabited 
by the polyphagous Indian-meal moth, Plodia interjjunctella. 1 
Teogoderma sterxale Jayne. 
Among the samples of infested seeds selected from the Department 
exhibits were several containing larvae that were entirely unknown to 
me. They seemed to belong to the genus Trogoderma, but differed 
considerably from T. tar sale, with which in one or two jars they were 
associated. 
The infested jars were kept in a moderately heated basement room 
and the first of April a few imagos made their appearance. At about 
the same time specimens of this same species were referred to this 
office for identification by the Division of Economic Ornithology and 
Mammalogy. Subsequent search discovered many individuals in all 
stages in jars of linseed, castor beans, silkworm cocoons, and red-clover 
seed. In the jar of cocoons, which were riddled with holes and utterly 
unfit for exhibition, this species was associated with Trogoderma tar- 
sale and a few individuals of Attagenus piceus. and it is fairly certain 
that it was in these cocoons that the insects were originally intro- 
duced in the museum and that they had been there for several years. 
Specimens reared here at Washington agree fairly well witli certain 
color variations identified as T. sternale Jayne in the National Museum 
from Xew Mexico. This species was described in 1883 from material 
from Xew Mexico, California, Arizona, and Texas (see Proc, A in. lint. 
Soc, Vol. XX, p. 363), and as Dr. G. II. Horn, to whom specimens were 
submitted for verification, concurs in the above opinion, we may con- 
sider the Washington material as belonging to this species. Its orig- 
inal habitat can scarcely be conjectured, but 1 surmise that it. as well 
a- /'. tarsals and other indoor Species, is exotic and probably tropical. 
Its first published habitat tends to indicate that it might have been 
introduced through Mexico or Central America. The California locality 
from which Mr. Jayne had material was probably southern California, 
'Since the preparation <>t" this paper was completed Dr, John Hamiltoj 
recorded the breeding of Trogoderma tanaU in packed figs (Canadian Entomoli 
Vol. XXVIII, p. 262. Oot., L896 , 
