OBSERVATIONS ON ANTHRENUS VARIUS Fab., ANTHRENUS MUSÆORUM Lin., TROGODERMA ORNATA Say, AND SITODREPA PANICEA Lin.

Extract

Anthrenus VariusFab.—Entomologists generally are well enough acquainted with the appearance of this insect, and but too well with the work of its larvæ; but as to the time required for its development there is not the same unanimity of knowledge,—some stating that it requires a year for its various transformations; others, that only a few weeks are necessary. The following is my experience: May, 1879, I placed a female in a paper collar box with some refuse Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. This box stood on the mantel-piece in my office, and consequently the temperature was nearly uniform summer and winter. An examination two months afterwards revealed several small larvæ. These were inspected monthly, and appeared to have attained their growth by the 1st of December, though they remained active during the winter. The first pupæ were observed March 5th, and the first beetle on the 26th. From that time to May 1st thirty-five developed in all,—the product of this one beetle. Three females and two males were left in the box, and six weeks afterwards young larvæ were observed. They were inspected monthly, and followed the same course as observed the previous year. From April to May, (1881), seventy-five beetles were taken from the box. How many were left in unknown.