Reports to various Correspondents. 
95 
The Fire-brat ( Thermobia fur norum) in an Hotel 
in London. 
Information was asked by a correspondent regarding a pest at an 
hotel in London, identified by Mr. C. 0. Waterhouse as Thermobia 
furnorum . This pest had been very troublesome and had got from 
the bakery to the upper floor. Steps were, however, soon taken by 
the management. The floor was taken up and spaces filled in with 
cement, woodwork painted with muriatic acid and sulphur burned in 
the bakery. 
This was satisfactory treatment, for the secretary of the hotel 
wrote in January that “ the steps taken to exterminate this pest, by 
sulphur, acids and live steam, and by filling up every nook and 
cranny in the basement with cement, appear to have been, at any 
rate for the present, efficacious.” 
Thermobia furnorum is one of the two British Lepismids ; the 
common species being Lepisma saccharina or the Silver Fish. 
The Thermobia is popularly called the “ fire-brat ” by bakers. It 
was recently found in bakeries at Cambridge and other places. 
B. ANIMALS DESTRUCTIVE TO FURNITURE, BOOKS, 
DRAPERY AND CLOTHING. 
The Larder Beetles damaging Hosiery sent to 
Japan. 
A communication was received from a large firm of hosiers 
regarding the damage done to some goods that had been spoilt by 
insects and returned to them from Japan. 
The insects that had damaged the parcels of underclothing sent 
to Japan and returned on account ol the damage were beetles of two 
species, viz., (1) Dermcstes lardarius, and (2) Dermestes vnlpinns. 
They are known under a variety of popular names, such as Bacon 
Beetles, Carpet Beetles, Store Beetles, etc. 
They aie both common warehouse pests in England and are 
frequently inquired about. These two Dermestes are found all over 
the world, being carried from place to place with merchandise. 
They do most harm in their larval stage, but the beetles also 
cause serious loss. Almost all dry goods seem subject to their 
