96 Second Report on Economic Zoology . 
depredations. They may exist almost anywhere, where they can 
find food. 
In answer to another communication, in which the pest was 
stated to have been found in the warehouse belonging to the firm, the 
following answer was sent : — 
The beetles ( Dcrmestes lardarius and D. vulpinus) will breed and 
live amongst any organic substances. They certainly may feed upon 
paste, but I do not think it likely. It is almost impossible to say 
where they breed without seeing the surroundings. Thorough 
washing down with paraffin emulsion and then whitewashing would 
probably do good, but for store pests I think fumigation most 
successful. 
“ Three methods are employed, (1) Burning Sulphur, (2) Hydro- 
cyanic Acid Gas, (3) Bisulphide of Carbon. The second is most 
successful, but has to be done carefully, the substances and fumes 
being deadly poisons to man. 
“ I enclose cutting from my report just appearing on this fumiga- 
tion. Should you object to use it, then fall back on burning 
Sulphur.” 
The beetles and lame sent were kept with the underclothing 
returned from Japan and it was found that they eat small areas of 
the woollen goods in the larval stage, but I could trace no damage 
done by the adults. As a rule the damage was caused by the larvae 
eating small elongated patches, which disfigured the material. They 
bred readily in the articles sent. 
Furniture and Clothes Moths. 
A correspondent at Clapton, N.E., wrote that “a sofa covered 
with a woollen fabric known as * saddle-bags ’ has had for some year 
or so past certain bare patches, and only the other day I discovered 
on the surface of the sofa some larvae of the Clothes Moths, which of 
course I immediately destroyed. In spite of all due precautions I 
have taken from time to time, viz., overhauling, brushing and 
placing insect powder in the crevices, the effects of the moth are 
gradually showing in other parts, and I am afraid of the covering of 
other articles of furniture in the room being attacked by this pest.” 
To certain questions the following reply was sent 
“ With regard to the Clothes Moth larvae that are damaging your 
furniture, 1 imagine them to be the J iTicolct J)'isclhclla i of Hummel , 
in any case the treatment would be much the same for all three 
species. With regard to your questions, I should advise spraying the 
