THE so-called "buffalo moths" are not moths; they are beetles and very distinct from the true clothes moths. In this country there are six species,[1] at least, that attack museum materials and household fabrics, but of these only four[2] have proved serious household pests in America. All species are capable of subsisting upon dried animal remains, and thrive upon them perhaps as well as upon the fine fabrics of wool, hair, feathers, fur, and silk. [1] _Anthrenus scrophulariae_ L., _A. museorum_ L., _A. fasciatus_ Hbst., _A. lepidus_ LeC, _A. verbasci_ L., and _Attagenus piceus_ Oliv. [2] _Anthrenus scrophulariae_ L., _A. verbasci_ L., _A. fasciatus_ Hbst., and _Attagenus piceus_ Oliv. Carpet beetles pass through life cycles, or generations, consisting of egg, larva or grub, pupa, and adult or beetle. These stages differ greatly in appearance. The beetles are broadly oval and about three-sixteenths to one-fourth of an inch long; black, but with this blackness often obscured by tiny red, orange, brown, yellow, or white scales which form color designs characteristic of the species. These scales, which are modified hairs, are easily rubbed off, revealing the black color of the body beneath. The larvæ, or grubs (as the larvæ of beetles are often called) are brownish or black and variously clothed with stiff hairs, as shown in Figures 1 and 8, or with a long tuft of hairs at the end of the body, as shown in Figure 5. Carpet beetles pass through not more than two generations annually, and more often only one, and there are records of certain individuals requiring much longer, even three years, to complete their growth. The following accounts are given of the four most important species. THE COMMON CARPET BEETLE.[3] [3] _Anthrenus scrophulariae_ L. The common carpet beetle was known as _the_ carpet beetle in the years following its introduction into America when floors were more commonly than, now covered entirely with carpets that were tacked down along the edges, thus giving the larvæ an undisturbed shelter favorable to their development. Originally a pest in Europe, where it is still common, it was introduced into this country about 1874, probably at Boston and New York simultaneously. No stage of this common carpet beetle is longer than three-sixteenths to one-fourth of an inch. The general proportions of larva, pupa, and adult are shown in Figure 1. The rich reddish brown larvæ are clothed with stiff dark brown hairs which are longer around the sides, and still longer at the ends, than upon the back. [Illustration: Fig. 1.--The common carpet beetle: _a_, Larva, dorsal view; _b_, pupa within larval skin; _c_, pupa, ventral view; _d_, adult. All enlarged (Riley.)]