Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1893-12-22
II FEEDS On CARPETS
TIE TRoUBLEsoME CARPET BEE
TIE" OR BUFFALO BUG"
First Discovered About Twenty Years
AgO-The Pest Described-How IL
May BE DESTROYED.

HE carpet beetle (Anthrenus
scropularial also known as
1.-THE buffalo bug" was, like
f. almost every other nOxious
insect to be found in this country, in
troduced from Europe, and, though it
has hardly been in the country twenty
/ years, has thoroughly made its home
among us and has done incalculsble
/ damage.
Professor J. A. Lintner, the State
entomologist, in one of his reports
says that the insect was first discov-
] cred in 1874, aud he found it in his
own house at Schenectady in 1876. In
describing the pest he writes:
The earliest beetles emerge in Octo-
Der and continue appearing during
the fall, winter and spring months.
They pair soon after appearance, and
/ the female almost at once lays eggs in
cracks of the floor and in hooks, 30
that during the next summer the car
pet may be yet more eaten.
The beetle is quite small, smaller
than would be ordinarily expected,
considering the size of the larva-be-
ing only about one-eighth of an inch
long by one-twelfth of an inch broad.
1t is almost perfect ellipse and its
back and under surface are rounded.
When turned upon its back it coun-
terfeits death, with its legs 80 closely
folded to the surface as scarcely Do be
seen, and in this state the ordinary OBJ
server might be at loss to know the
lower from the upper side.
1t is beautifully marked insect, in
its contrasting colors Of white, black
and scarlet, arranged as follows: The
edge of the wing covers, where they
meet on the back, is bordered with
red, forming a center red line, with
three deep red projections from it out
wardly-one on the middle of the back
and one other toward each end. A.
the extreme tip of the wing-covers is
widening of the bordering line,
making almost fourth projection
from it. The first projection near the
head is connected with a white spot,
running upward on the middle OF the
front border of the wing-cover. On
the outer border Of the wing-covers
are three white spots, nearly opposite
the red projections. The intermediate
pieces are black. The segments of the
body beneath are covered with pale
red scales, and the thoracic region,
which bears the legs, with whltish
scales.
Professor w. Beuttenmuller ento-
mologist at the Natural History
museum, said few days ago; These
insects have done consideraC 'e damage
to carpets and rugs since the little
pests were introduced here, twenty
years ago. Those carpets, however,
which are frequently taken up and
shaken are little, if at all,
damaged, for they are no longer
comfortable dwelling place for this in
sect, which is of secretive and re-
firing disposition.
'Ito seems probable that the pest
was imported simultaneously by car
pet dealers in New York and Boston,
and thence shipped in goods to inland
cities DIR r. Hagen. OF Cambridge,
in 1875, for instance, traced three
quarters of the infected carpets
brought to his notice to particular
line of goods sold in single estab-
lishment in Boston. At the present
day this insect is one of the greatest
household pests in the New England
States. 1t destroys carpets and all
wooden goods, while furs do not escape
its attacks.
"The beetles fly to the windows and
may often be caught upon the panes
of glass they are also captured out Of
doors upon flowers. The insect gen.
orally attacks the carpets around the
borders Of the room. The remedies
are benzoline and napthaline but per-
haps the best way to get rid Of them is
to lay wet cloth over the carpet and
iron with Il hot hat-iron; the steam
generated will certainly kill every larva
1t comes in contact with. Other rem
edies are oamphor, pepper, tobacco,
turpentine and carbolic acid"
Inquiry was made of one Of the larg-
est carpet dealers ss to what he adj
vised as the best way to destroy the
pest. "Pest Ny dear sir, we don't
consider it pest, In fact the buff
ialo bug is one OF our best consumers;
but il people want to get rid of them
I can recommend the following; Take
every piece of furniture out OF the
room and open every door and win
dow; and II ii is u windy day all the
better. Take stiff broom and sweep
over the carpet with strong hand,
paying particular attention to the
edges and those spots over which fur
n,ture has boon resting, This done,
say once month, will effeotually keep
away the carpet bug"
1t may DO added that the name "buf-
ialo bug" was not derived from the city
of that name in this State, but was given
to the insect years ago in California
owing to its miniature resemblance to
the now almost extinct animal. II had
been probably brought to California
from Europe by tho spaniards. New
York Tribune