XI. 
NOTES 
ON CERTAIN COLEOPTEROUS INSECTS 
FOUND IN CITY WAREHOUSES.* 
BY G. A. LEWCOCK. 
I have no doubt it has frequently occurred to many entomologists 
that our knowledge of common insects in general is sometimes very 
deficient ; and, although many persons affect a derision of matters 
relating to common insects, yet it is absolutely necessary that we 
should acquire this knowledge. The lepidopterist and the coleopterist 
may be well versed in things pertaining to their favourite Order, 
but outside of these subjects they either do not care or do not trouble 
to interest themselves. Therefore, when information is sought by 
persons who, in c promiscuous manner, pick up stray insects, more 
especially indoor species, it is little wonder that the lepidopterist is as 
much at a loss for information respecting coleopterous species as the 
coleopterist is on subjects relating to lepidoptera. Consequently, 
they often fail to enlighten an inquirer as to the name, habits, or 
nature of an insect. 
I do not think it possible for entomologists, who go to and from 
business daily, and mix with their fellow-men, to avoid a betrayal of 
their knowledge of entomology ; it may be owing to a casual remark, 
or by a direct inquiry. Some years ago, soon after I came to London, 
this happened to myself. One day in the City my attention w T as - 
attracted by someone who had picked up a “creeping thing” from 
the floor, and placed it on the table. “ Look what a lot of legs it has 
got,” said the captor; “ and doesn’t it run ? ” I looked at the creature, 
and replied “ Yes ; but there are only six legs.” This remark created 
some astonishment, and caused a further examination, when it w 7 as 
seen that six was the correct number of legs. A little more conversa¬ 
tion took place, and I then explained that the animal in question was 
the larva of a beetle named Dermestes lardarius. This piece of informa¬ 
tion was received with laughter, as nothing so much delights the 
non-scientific portion of our community as the sound of entomological 
names. After this I became the recipient of anything that happened 
to turn up—were they beetles, bugs, spiders, or cockroaches. 
With reference to the name Dermestes , this term is frequently 
confounded with “ domestic,” and one often hears of the Domestic 
lardarius in the City, as the species is of common occurrence there. 
The two words, how T ever, have totally different meaning; the scientific 
name Dermestes being derived from the Greek, and means a devourer 
of skin, which is descriptive of the habits of the beetle ; while domestic 
* Read at City of London Entomological and Natural History Society, April 4, 1893. 
