The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-03-20

jecting laterally The body has the appear
ance of being banded in two shades of
brown, the darker band being the central
portion of each ring, and the lighter the
connecting portion of the rings. by turning
the larva upon its back six legs may be
seen, and in this position in its struggles to
regain its former condition it will sometimes
produce Il series of jumps about an eighth
Of an inch in length.
The larva having attained full growth,
prepares for its third stage by seeking some
convenient retreat in a rrevlce where 1t Will
not be disturbed, and without construction
of a cocoon of any kind it takes on the
condition of a pupa. 1t remains quiet, UNI
altered in external appearance except some
what contracted in length until it has near
ly completed its pupation. when the skin is
rent along the back, and through the ifs
sure the pupa may be seen. In this condi-
ton it remains for Il few weeks, when the
pupal case also opens along the back and
the brightly -colored wing-covers of the
beetle are disclosed. Still u few additional
days of repose are required for its de-
velopment, when the fully-matured beetle
crawls from its protective covering of pu-
pal case and larva skin and appears in its
perfect form-ts fourth and final stage,
seeking its. mates and providing for the con-
tnuation of its species
The earliest beetles appear in the month
of October. and continue to emerge through
the fall, winter and spring Their greatest
abundance within doors is in the month of
May. In April and May the beetles may
often be found upon the windows of infest-
ed roomsto which they have been attracted
by the light, or through which they may be
attempting to escape in search of their veg
etable food.
This insect, though comparatively new
conner, is related to family that has been
long known and always held in bad repute.
nf nf
threnus on museum preparations our ex-
posed geological preparations have to be
sailed with arsenic and our botanical col
lectons made proof against ravages by the
use of corrosive sublimate. Bad blood
seems to run through the whole family and
II shows itself at every opportunity.
This Anthrenus scropularie, like our own
ancestry, came from the old world. Just
when it came over no one exactly knows.
1t, or nearly allied species, Was found by
DR. LeConte in 1850, feeding on flowers at
San Francisco and San Jose. aud he sug-
gests it may have been imported into Call
fornia from southern Europe during the
Spanish occupation of the country. Dr.
LeConte believed that for the Eastern
States it wac imported with carpets brought
to New York. In Europe this Anthrenus
has never been known to prey upon carpets
and its specific name ScrOpulortU indicates
that it lives upon a certain family of plants.
veloped new tastes, apparently installing
the beautiful lowered carpets for the geuu-
inc flowers themselves. No one seems to
really know from what center these de-
structive insects have gone forth, They
were known in Oregon in 1872, and in New
York city in 1874, and few years later
they seem to have distributed themselves
pretty generally through the different States
Of the Union.
In certain places the attacks of the insect
seem particularly virulent, carrying dlsmay
to the housekeepers of the region Winged
as the perfect insect is there is no good rea-
son why it may not go where it chooses,
finding an attractive home wherever car
pets and other luxuries abound.
With this outlook we begin to make IN
pIires What shall we do How shall we
protect ourselves against this minute enc
myi These questions, easy to ask, are Just
now hard to answer. We may be told
what not to do--not to get anxious not feel
Az though we would fly. Flying in this case
would not help the matter at all. First,we
must be courageous. Then we must be ex-
pectant. We will recall past experiences.
We will expect something to come to our
relief. We remember that not many years
ago the currant worm threatened to Kill and
did kill many of our currant bushes. None
of lis trouble ourselves about the currant
worm now. A couple of dustings of the
bushes in the season with hellebOre and we
have currants enough. The Colorado beet
lie did damage few seasons but with Paris
green at our command we now defy Its at
tacks.
e So the effective protective against this An
MrenUs will come, though perhaps not quite
so soon as we could wish Until the RENE
dy is forthcoming we can be on the alert
and take precautionary measures. We may
recall the the tactics of the enemy and so
be better ready to meet him. He wants
ttxHrn
and always lines of safe retreat. Let us
not furnish these. The crevices along the
baseboards of the room and the cracks
along the floor should be hlled. Putty, tai
low, cotton batting saturated with Kerosene
will answer; the first will be most perma-
nent. Be sparing Of tacks in putting down
the carpet. as the vicinity of tack il good
lurking place for the foe. 1t may be better
not to use tacks at all. The plan is to give
the enemy neither aid nor comfort, give no
hiding place nor convenient retreat.
If one is suspicious that the insect may
already be in the house, thenla search should
be instantly made; unused trunks, drawers
closets and packages should be turned out
particularly should attics and higher rooms
be carefully looked over. The casts of the
larvae left in moulting will be AN indication
of the presence of the insect itself This
accommodating and perhaps cutting off the
scouts of the foe may prevent II disastrous
campaign later In lne sedsOn
If the insect has already come, then the
war is inevitable. How long the struggle is
to last no one can tell, but it should be en-
tered upon by the housekeeper with the de-
termination that it shall be sharp, decis-
i've, and if possible. short. Victory must
come, though it may be delayed. The enc
my must be dislodged ;the edges of the car
pets must be loosened and frequent sys-
tematic search made; smaller articles
should be thoroughly shaken in the open
air.
For our defence against the insect as well
as for our attack upon it we have a stock OF
materials which will help us somewhat land
by and by we shall find something thorough.
| ly effective. For the best remedies and pre-
ventives against the ARthreauS We mus
go to the writings of Prof Lutheran quott
| largely from him ~ We have already done
| He says the best method of preserving
woolens from attack is by the use of some
strong-smelling substance, rs creosote OF
| carbolic acid. To protect Il carpet not ye
| infested he recommends Ras-tar roofing pa
per, cut in strips of perhaps eighteen inches
| broad and laid around the room beneath
the carpet adjoining the base boards. Wher
occurring in numbers beneath Il carpet. tn,
best agent for their destruction is benzine
| although kerosene is almost "a good Thi,