The material on which the following notes
and descriptions are made was originally supplied by
Dr. R. S. MacDougall in June 1929. The origin of
the material is unknown. The insects were in ground
nut cake (Arachis hypogea) and had been lying in
Edinburgh for three or four years.This material supplied my stock during all
the experiments and no difficulty was experienced in
getting any of the stages of development at any time
of the year.For the purpose of. making observations the
insects were placed in circular glass topped tin boxes
(3 -4" dian. x 1" deep) . These were more satisfactory
than cardboard boxes of the same description as the
insects can bite holes through cardboard.The Ptinids are principally stored.produce
pests having world -wide distribution through being
transported in articles of commerce.Niptus holóleucus and Ptinus fur are well known
cosmopolitan insects and are very destructive pests,
doing a great deal of damage to stored products and
textiles.In common with other members of the family, the
species under consideration is a stored product pest
capable of doing considerable damage both in the adul
and larval stages due to the fact that it can adapt
itself to a wide variety of food material of animal
as well as of vegetable origin.Being a comparatively recent introduction to
Europe, its economic importance has.notyet been full
ascertained, although it, is reported from various
quarters doing considerable damage.So far no work on the life- history and habits of
Ptinus tectus, either. in Britain or elsewhere, has
been published. Several isolated records and observations are to be found in the literature, however.As a thorough knowledge of the biology and life - history of a pest is essential for_its successful con
trol, it is to be hoped that the following investigation on the structure and biology of Ptinus tectus
will contribute to this end
