1879.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
351 
among house-keepers, so thoroughly attached to 
the creature that causes so much mischief, that, 
however incorrect it may be entomologically, the 
attempt to give it any other name, such as “Carpet 
Beetle,” will be fruitless. Iu the popular mind, 
the Clothes Moth is the caterpillar that does the 
mischief, and not the perfect insect, as that is gen¬ 
erally called the “Moth Miller,” indicating that it 
is something that belongs to the moth. So when 
we mentioned “the beetle of the Buffalo Moth,” 
we did so in a popular sense, meaning the perfect in¬ 
sect of the caterpillar so destructive to carpets, etc. 
Second, What Is the Buffalo Moth ?—Like the Clothes 
Moth, this insect is mischievous only in its larval or 
grub state. The magnified “moth” is shown in 
figure 1; its length (shown by a line at the side), 
when full-grown, is about three-sixteenths of an 
inch, but, including the hairs, considerably longer. 
It is clothed with brownish hairs, those on the sides 
being in tufts, and at the tail end they form a sort 
of pencil. It is probably this shaggiuess, with 
nearly black hairs, that gave it the name of “Buf¬ 
falo Moth.” Upon its underside are six small legs, 
which allow of rapid movement. The grub, when 
full grown, enters into the pupa state, and remains 
dormant for some time; in a few weeks the skin 
splits, and the perfect insect, or beetle, comes forth. 
The beetle is shown in figure 2, considerably mag¬ 
nified, its real length being indicated by a line at 
one side. It is about one-eighth 
of an inch long, and is marked 
with black, scarlet, and white. The 
edges of the wing-covers, where 
they meet, are bordered with scar¬ 
let, making a central line of that 
color down the back; there are 
other red markings and three white 
spots on the outer border of the 
wing-covers, the rest being black. 
The perfect beetles appear at vari¬ 
ous times during the fall, winter, 
and spring, and, in the spring at least, are found 
on spiraeas and some other common garden flowers. 
Its scientific name is Anthrenus scrophularia. It is a 
native of Europe, and is supposed to have been im¬ 
ported in foreign carpets—an additional argument 
for the encouragement of home manufactures. It 
is a close relative of Anthrenus muscorum (or A. va- 
rius), a well-known and dreaded pest in museums. 
Its Introduction .—The Buffalo Moth appears to 
tyave first attracted attention in the year 1874—vari¬ 
ous newspaper accounts appearing before the insect 
came into the hands of entomologists ; it seems to 
have been noticed in the Western part of the State 
of New York, and in Wineonsin about the same 
time. In 1876, it was reported as especially abun¬ 
dant iu the city of Schenectady, and lately Pough¬ 
keepsie and other cities along the Hudson have 
been destructively visited by it. Lately its spread 
has been most rapid, as we hear of it from nearly 
every Atlantic State, to those of the far West. 
The cabinets of Entomologists have contained, for 
several years, Anthrenus lepidus, from beyond the 
Rocky Mountains ; this, we are informed by that 
careful entomologist, Mr. A. S. Fuller, is now 
regarded as a mere variety, differing somewhat in 
color from the “ Buffalo ” beetle ; it is common in 
California, Oregon, etc., and is supposed to have 
been introduced by the Spaniards. 
How It Works .—Its destructiveness has been es¬ 
pecially manifested upon 
carpets, hence it has been 
called “ Carpet Beetle ” 
and “Carpet-bug.” It 
works under the edges of 
the carpets, making large 
holes near their margins. 
Where there are cracks 
between the floor-boards, 
it will sometimes follow 
these, as they offer hid¬ 
ing places, and working 
Fig. 2. perfect insect along them cut off whole 
of buffalo moth. breadths of the carpet as 
if it had been done with shears. But it does not 
restrict itself to carpets ; woollen articles of cloth¬ 
ing, whether packed away or hanging up, are at¬ 
tacked by it, and it seems to fancy feathers as well 
as wool. The specimen from which figure 1 was 
drawn was captured by one of the officers of the 
Orange Judd Company upon a child’s hat, in the 
trimming of which some feathers were used. The 
hat had been put away in a box, and when taken 
out this summer, all the feathers were completely 
destroyed. According to some accounts, tins in¬ 
sect has taken possession of houses that have been 
closed for a year, Or more, during the absence of the 
family, and the havoc they have caused lias been 
most disastrous. 
The Remedies .—We have several times given the 
most effective—laying a wet folded sheet along the 
edges of the carpet, and passing hot irons over it, 
to liberate an abundance of steam, which, penetrat¬ 
ing the carpet and the cracks below, will kill the 
moth. Where the insects can not be readily picked 
from articles of clothing, these may be put into a 
tight box, or a close vessel, such as a wash-boiler, 
and benzine poured over them ; the vapor of the 
benzine will in a few hours destroy all insect life. 
Before carpets are laid, the cracks in the floor, and 
Fig. 1.— WAVE INSERTION. 
especially between the base-board and clie floor, 
which are favorite retreats, should be closed, if 
small by putty, or if wide by plaster of Paris ; we 
have no doubt that hard-soap would be of service 
for this purpose. AVherever the beetles are found, i 
and, according to Doct. Lintner, they often gather 
upon the windows, whether found here, or upon 
spiraeas and other garden flowers, they should be 
destroyed in spite of their beauty. The beetle, 
figure 2, is from one of Prof. Riley’s figures, and 
we are indebted to notes kindly furnished by Mr. 
A. 8. Fuller, and an article by Doct. J. A. Lintner 
in the Report of the N. Y. State Museum of Natural 
History for some facts in the history of this insect. 
Easily Made Insertions. 
The engravings here given, are from specimens 
of Insertion sent us by Mrs. “ E. M. S.,” Passaic, 
N. J. We have selected four kinds from among 
the many patterns, and show them of actual size. 
Insertions being the accepted name for an ornamen¬ 
tal fabric, put between the portions of a garment, 
the use of them will he understood. The ground¬ 
work of these Insertions is cotton mosquito lace, 
which may be obtained at the dry goods stores of 
any size or mesh to suit the taste. The size shown 
in the engravings, is perhaps the most convenient 
to work upon. The thread used in these, is the 
double and single “ A ” brand. Figure lisa grace¬ 
ful waved design, made by passsing the needle 
Fig. 3.— A VINE FORM. 
—which should be a large one—through the meshes 
of the lace, in a curved line. Figures 2 and 4, are 
made with a larger thread. In figure 3, a diagonal 
loop is formed, making a vine-like figure, with a 
Fig. 1.— BUF¬ 
FALO MOTH. 
central stem. Much more elaborate designs are 
made—in fact, the limit to this work depends only 
upon the patience and ingenuity of the designer. 
Fig. 4.— DIAGONAL DESIGN. 
Those here given, are of the more simple kinds, 
easily and rapidly made, look neat, and are durable. 
Some Recipes from Michigan. 
The following recipes come from a house-keep¬ 
ing friend in Michigan, and have the merit of hav¬ 
ing been thoroughly tested: 
Snow' Pudding.— Soak half a box of Gelatine in 
half a cup of cold AVater half an hour. Then pour 
on half a pint of boiling Water ; add 2 cups Sugar 
and the juice of 1 Lemon ; when the mixture is 
cold, add the whites of 3 Eggs, and beat all togeth¬ 
er 1 hour. Then make a custard of 1 pint Milk, 
the yolks of 3 Eggs, 24 tablespoons of Sugar ; set 
on ice until cold ; when wanted for the table, flavor 
the custard with Lemon, and pour over the molded 
pudding.—I beat one hour, or until it is done, which 
is shown by its piling up like foam. This pudding 
is a very beautiful dish, and one that I make when 
1 wish something particularly nice. 
A HANDY STEP LADDER. 
AV hite Sponge Cake. — 1}? cup Sugar (pulver¬ 
ized), lj^ cup Flour, 1 tablespoonful Baking Pow¬ 
der, 1 do. of Corn Starch. Sift the ingredients to¬ 
gether, and stir lightly into the thoroughly beaten 
whites of 10 Eggs. Flavor to taste. Bake in a 
deep tin, with a paper on the top. 
Coffee Cake. —1 cup cold Coffee, % cup But¬ 
ter, 1 cup Sugar, 1 cup Molasses, 1 teaspoonful So¬ 
da dissolved in the coffee, 1 Egg, 1 cup Raisins, 1 
teaspoonful Cinnamon, 1 do. Nutmeg. Flour 
enough to make a batter so stiff that the fruit will 
not settle. Bake in a slow oven. 
White Citron Cake.— 2 cups Sugar, % cup But¬ 
ter, whites of 4 Eggs, 1 cup cold Water, 3 cups sift¬ 
ed Flour, 2 teaspooufuls of Baking Powder, 1 */ s 
teacupful of sliced Citron. These are to be mixed 
as follows : work the butter and sugar to a cream, 
add the water; then 2 cups of the flour, and half 
the egg, which has been beaten to a froth. Stir 
this well some time, then add the rest of the flour, 
into which has been mixed the baking powder, and 
lastly the remainder of the beaten egg. When all 
has been beaten well, add the citron and beat again. 
Another Step ladder. —“ E. M. F.,” Lans¬ 
ing, Mich., sends us a drawing of a step-lad¬ 
der, or “steps” as it is usually called. The 
engraving speaks for itself, as the length, 
breadth, and thickness of all the parts are given. 
