The varied carpet beetle in the adult stage flies about in tremendous numbers. During May, 1922, the writer could capture them by the thousands upon at least 30 species of flowers found in public gardens in Washington, D. C. Single white roses often attracted more than 100 beetles, while a single stalk of a common herbaceous Spiraea harbored more than 1,000 specimens. The beetles often fly in large numbers rather high above the ground. A gentleman[8] after painting a portion of the tin roof of his house during early May returned 24 hours later to complete the painting, only to find that during the interim an average of two varied carpet beetles to the square inch had become entangled in the fresh paint. The writer observed two adults fly into his city apartment in Washington through an open window during early March, 1922. These flights of adults are of extreme importance to the householder, because they emphasize how readily carpet beetles may spread from house to house during spring and early summer. Window screens will exclude all except the smallest specimens if they fit tightly, but the average removable screen does not fit tightly enough to prevent adult carpet beetles from crawling into the house between screen and window frame.
[8] H. S. Barber.
Fig. 9.—The varied carpet beetle: Dorsal view of well-grown larva. Greatly enlarged.
THE FURNITURE CARPET BEETLE.[9]
[9] Anthrenus fasciatus Herbst.
The carpet beetle or dermestid[10] here discussed has had no common name, but may be called the furniture carpet beetle ([Fig. 10]). It, too, is a European pest introduced into this country. It has been reported from Algeria, Spain, Greece, southern Russia Mesopotamia, and the East Indies It was first recognized in America during 1911, from specimens sent the American Museum of Natural History, New York City, from an upholsterer in Augusta, Ga. The specimen were taken from the curled hair of furniture upholstered 12 to 15 years previous to 1911. Investigation indicated that the hair used in this furniture came from Russia. The pest was not again noted in America until April, 1915, when it was found seriously damaging an upholstered chair in the White House. Since then, particularly during the last several years, many pieces of furniture and mattresses in different sections have been reported badly damaged.
[10] So called because, like the other carpet beetles, it belongs to the family Dermestidae.
In all instances the furniture was upholstered with curled hair and moss, and in some cases the hair had been completely devoured by the larvæ, in association with smaller numbers of the common carpet beetle, the black carpet beetle, and the webbing clothes moth. (Figs. [11] and [12].)