The Portland daily press., 1877-01-31
CARPET Bug.

Those who are thrifty householders, who
care for the preservation of whatever carpets
may cover their floor, be they of ingram or
tapestry, of Velours or the richest and most
costly kind manufactured-aDd to those who
possess carriage furniture, cushions, seats,
blankets, robes, will this article be found of
interest. Through the courtesy of DR.. Lint
ner, New York State Entomologist, we are
enabled to speak "by the book" of that new
and pestiferous insect (new as far as this
country is concerned) the Anthrenus scrOph-
utdrtR, famiiarly known in Europe as the
"carpet bug" 1t belongs to the family Der
naestidg, which comprises many of those de-
structive insects whose operations bring to
mind the biblical quotation of moths, etc.
Care must be taken not to confound it with
the well-known carpet moth, from which it
differs entirely, both in appearance and habit.
Concealng itself beneath the carpet or in the
folds of rugs and cushioned seats, it preys not
only upon woolen but cotton fabrics, and is
therefore to be apprehended where ordinary
moths would never be found. Sometimes it
will follow the lines of cracks across floor,
eating holes in carpet frequently an inch in
diameter. DIR. Lintner describes it su bstanti-
ally as tollows:-
"A small ovate object, about one-tenth of
an inch in length, thickly clothed with num-
erous short bristle-like hairs, and terminat-
ing in pencil of these forming tail. 1t is
exceedingly active in its motions, and slides
away very rapidly. Like the house-ly it dis
appears in winter, aud eats only during the
summer months.
II captured several of the larvae and fed
them upon pieces of carpet in order to rear
them. In September they had evidently
matured and had assumed their quiescent
pupal state within the skin of the larvae, first
rent by split along the back for the escape of
the perfect insect. At this stageI was led by
study OF Its character to refer it, in all proba-
blllty, TO the genus Anthrenus, Week before
last mad the great qualification of obtaining
from the pupe the first example of the per-
feet insect. 1t was very minute beetle, ap-
proximately one-tenth of an inch in length.
bnt beautifully marked in prettily arranged
combination of red, white, and brown.
had, beyond doubt, correctly referred it to it's
proper genus. The detection of this insect
adds to our fauna another species of the
dreaded genus of Antlsrenus, perhaps to
equal in its Obstructive agency the wel-known
museum pest the 4. uarius (formerly known
al Il. musgorum) the obtrusive guest of all
our collections of natural history, whose raw
ages it seems impossible fully to guard against,
and SO exceedingly difficult to CONTROL"
In Schenectady. N. Y, it has been found,
1t is believed, in eoery house, and in Utica,
ulscoFeIeu 10 Sucn an extent that the h0uSe-
Keepers have searched carefully, too often
with success. DR.. Lintner also says of these
insects:-
sit is necessary to look for them frequent
ly, and for the greater convenience of repeat
ed search many of the housekeepers have left
their carpets unnailed."
OF course, as Winter is approaching, there
need be little fear for some months of DIVER
sifed increase, but, like the Colorado beetle,
II will probably spread rapidly, and. therefore,
ample warning is given to learn its habits and
guard against its inroads. -Iagf, Field Dc Farm