Poste ce « SASS, : ka
wae A ee 2k if

paw) Se
ot BULL LETIN No. 4, New ‘SERIES, eevee: Panion

U Be DE PARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,

he

oe a eae _ DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

HS .# 00>). THE PRINCIPAL

UNITED STATES.

L. 0. HOWARD_AND C. L. MARLATT.

ae iS . ‘WITH A CHAPTER ON

BY

F. H. CHITTENDEN.

WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFIOE.

1902.

- INSECTS AFFECTING DRY VEGETABLE FOODS

ie

BULLETIN No. 4.—New SERIES, REVISED EDITION.

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
' DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

THE PRINCIPAL

HOUSEHOLD INSECTS

OF THE

UNITED STATES.

BNG

LY OF HOWARD AND C. L. MARLATT.

WITH A CHAPTER ON

INSECTS AFFECTING DRY VEGETABLE FOODS,

BY

EF. H. CHITTENDEN.

—— ——— —> A
EZ uy
SSS"

WASHINGTON: |
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

Loos

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO REVISED EDITION.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY,
Washington, D. C., May 24, 1899.

Sir: I have the honor to submit for publication the accompanying
slightly revised copy of Bulletin No. 4, New Series, of this division,
containing an account of the principal household insects of the United
States. It will be substantially a reprint of the first edition, which
was published nearly three years ago, a few comparatively unimportant
corrections having been made, and a few short paragraphs having been
added. Thus itis by no means a complete revision.

Respectfully,
L. O. HOWARD,

Entomologist.
Hon. JAMES WILSON,

Secretary of Agriculture.

CONTENTS.

ENERODUCTION ...-..------- gene hia Renae ee ale Ce ie pie poet ae as oe
CHAPTER I.—MOSQUITOES AND FLEAS. (By L. O. Howard)-......--....--...-
MberraantaOS CC NOME SDN.) 2c oe aot Sete a ese acc nc Sse et cee ek we}
The cat and dog flea (Pulex serraticeps Gerv.).......--.-----+----- cee
CHAPTER II.—THE BEDBUG AND CONE-NOSE. (By C. L. Marlatt).........-.-.
Mhemedbuc(Cunex leciularius Linn.) 2520002 2 scan ow Soe ee ee ee ee
The blood-sucking cone-nose (Conorhinus sanguisuga Lec.) .---.-----.----
CHAPTER JII.—HoUSE FLIES, CENTIPEDES, AND OTHER INSECTS THAT ARE
ANNOYING RATHER THAN DIRECTLY INJURIOUS. (By L. O. Howard and

Se eNG A cht seen ee tS ee ea Pon dade ooo beemess Kens a0
ibieuse ses irisca domestica,.et al.). (oO: A.) 2.2.5.2 52. S22 ere es eee
The house centipede (Scutigera forceps Raf.). (C.L.M.).-.---.----..-----
The clover mite (Bryobia pratensis Garm.). (C.L.M.)......-.--....-.-.--
The house cricket (Gryllus domesticus Linn). (C.L.M.).......--.--.----:
The paper wasp-( Vespa germanica Fab.). - (C..M.)-2:.----.---..---2----
CHAPTER IV.—SPECIES INJURIOUS TO WOOLEN GOODS, CLOTHING, CARPETS,

UPHOLSTERY, ETC. (By L. O. Howard and C. L. Marlatt) -....---..---.-
The carpet beetle or “‘buffalo moth” (Anthrenus scrophularie Linn.).
Sierae erase TON pt ree ge a te ee ae nn Sones eee meee

The black carpet beetle (Attagenus piceus Ol.). (L.O.H.) ------.--.-----
The clothes moths (Tinea pellionella, et al.) (C.L.M.) --....:...-.--.--.-
CHAPTER V.—SPECIES INJURIOUS TO WALL PAPER, BOOKS, TIMBER, ETC. (By
epleasebel hist) mete st cy i oo. oa Ss Sais pele Stee Set ew ee a Seee
Mieanaitne ami (CLCrmes flavipes WOll.) 5-5 S52... Sosk aves ted eeitees tees ss-
Bhemiivertish.( Lepisma-saccharing Linn.) <2... 22-2... 2.22 ss 2 ees oe
ihe hook louse (Atropos divinatoria Fab.) .:...-....-- 2-20-2225 +20 ------
The American spring-tail (Lepidocyrtus americanus Marl.).--..-.-.--------
CHAPTER VI.—COCKROACHES AND HOUSE ANTS. (By C. L. Marlatt) -....-.--
Cockroaches ( Periplaneta americana, et al.)....-..------ BE Op RS Bees
iPMeuse 2nis (Movomorium pharaonis, et dls) 222... a. ~~ ve con se eee ==
CHAPTER VII.—SOME INSECTS AFFECTING CHEESE, HAMS, FRUIT, AND VINEGAR.
Pesapale ee RE ONVEAEC) = 5 ee Sa ia pt ook oo ss eco owes eee

The cheese, ham, and flour mites ( Tyroglyphus longior and Tyroglyphus siro) .
The cheese skipper or ham skipper (Piophila casei Linn) --...----...-----
The red-legged ham beetle (Necrobia rufipes Fab.).----------.------------
Whe tarder peetle (Vermestes lardarius Winn:) 220-5. .2- 24. 2222222. 25-2 2cs--
Thetiuit ilies or vinegar ilies (Drosophila spp.).---.2---------- <.-.-.----
CHAPTER VIII.—INSECTS AFFECTING CEREALS AND OTHER DRY VEGETABLE
HOGS. adv wet nil bonden yo. 2208 thc sae ots oS eo. LS Poco Se eee oo ee
Bibbrerethernt ee iecea le Seen 8 Sg Es pce ig Oe ee eae ES eek ee wee os
Bpbs se riaGs 21 Nua IOI ee es 2b ers Sates a os Sak PS SOAs Se me
LEE LEERSR NUS PE Ty) SS nea AS eee ga ae pe
DORR ae ac TU er Siew heer a nS re re Se See as ee
thers -smereibeehlecnd iisrallWwese so os So eee Peek ws - Soo Soe
Species of occasional occurrence in vegetable stores........-...-2.------

ILLUSTRATIONS.

ele CALOX: PUTLOONS > AGUILL-S 2) = O22 oe e PoL Se oe sows cawccc cece -c 565555
2.—Culex pungens: eggs and young larve .......-..-..-.006--+--20--
o_-Gulex.puncens > head-of larva). His festa eo. OSS 62S eae Scns ese
4.—Culex-pungens: larva and pup@ -......-..--...--..- aE aa eS
ea OXSCLEALICE PS: CLO, AG@UIb, CtGr= 22. - is soe Soe se teks eS cee
Be ONES OLEAMCOPS aE Veh ec eee ir ae ciao ee Sete cccn cece
iO tMeKe LOCH Arius) AC WL +226 Soe 2 J oS ag BE Sa Sis SD e sec se 8,
8.—Cimex lectularius: egg and young larva....-.-..----.2---2----0-,
i enmextectularius: larval stages :225522.222.0. 52-22 S22 Seto. lk

10.—Conorhinus sanguisuga: pupa and adults .......-...--.-..--.----
i1.—Conorhinus sanguisuga: larva and egg.-....-...---.-.----+-------
12.—Conorhinus sanguisuga: head, showing mouth-paris ....--...--.-
13.—Musca domestica: adult, puparium, etc ..--..-..--------.-.------
ie MSC Aj GOMeCStL CA WAanVas. f2 0s. Semi y oe eS sees e sa cee eee
15.—Musca domestica: pupa-.....--. eas Res reyes, Se ne ear eS
tie SemeIO era tOlCE pss AGULG. 226 see 25 Ses eo cee ko eee tee Lp ae
2ST MSR AO LES OY FWA ei Se = De ee Ve oe ee
18.—Bryobia pratensis: females and details. ..-..........-.-------.----
i PMO DTACCNSIS: IADVA a. 2.3 sek ok eee hse hd dicus Sade eben
20.—Gryllus domesticus: adult ...-.....---. SE ee Ae ge aa
eae eV Als ASSIMNNIS sb. 328s oe eee Sen SE el eae
eis BYVAL Se ASSL a WAN OS) 5 oceans hs eh ae Sete saab ee oo
23. aAntinrenus scrophalariz: all stages :.. 2... 2.222.222 -1. 25. --s-
ie AC eNUS.PICCUS alll SbASES* 22-2) 2 c= 6 eats on oes es eas eke
Zo wines petionellia: adwit.and larva’ 225.2225. J25-25-2.02222<2 ---
26.—Tineola biselliella: adult, larva, and cocoon......---....--.------
27.—Trichophaga tapetzella: adult moth --....:-.---.----------------
Zoe ores lavipes: male.and female.. 2: 2.22.2 Jen% 2s sce eee.
29.—Termes flavipes: head of winged female ...........-.-.-.---.----
30.—Termes flavipes: newly hatched larva and egg -..-.-...---...----
31.—Termes flavipes: different forms .......---- Bn ES Ra ea aaah
pee PISML SACCHAriNan sAGU b= fe. 22 Hoo ee = aoe Se kee eek
Soe episma GOMesbiCas AAULb A. 25 i522 SSS SER ek ke eee se
sie ALEONOS Givin AtOLia ACU b — 2 ones ood Sse eS SSeS che oe ES
35.—Lepidocyrtus americanus: adult, dorsal view ...-..-.----.--------
36.—Lepidocyrtus americanus: adult, ventral view -..-------- Eee as
37.—Lepidocyrtus americanus: adult, lateral view-.-...---.---.....--
Jo: criplaneta americana: adulb:: 02.2.2... o.5- ceo eS Pee ck eee
39.—Periplaneta americana: egg capsule ....-...--.---.--------------
40.—Periplaneta australasie: adult and pupa-.....-....-..-.----------
41.—Periplaneta orientalis: different forms -....--........-----.------
42.—Phyllodromia germanica: various stages ..:-...-..----.---------
43.—Monomorium pharaonis: female and worker.........--..-.--.----
44.—Monomorium minutum: male, female, and worker............--..

INI NAD
wnoat

3 >

1

CO
[NW ©

CO
bo

84

oo

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page
Fic. 45.—Tetramorium cespitum: different forms ................--...---- 98
46.—Tyroglyphus longior: male and female............-....--..-.---- 100
47.—Tyroglyphus siro: female.........--..----- Dae eines Ss Rae ee meee ey |) 3
48. —Piophila casei: differemt forms: ..2- 25-62-42 - 2a eee 103
49.—-Necrobia rufipes: larva and adult) 2. 5-. 2122 2225150) ee 105
50.—Dermestes lardarius: larva, pupa, and adult ..-.............---- 108
51.—Drosophila ampelophila: different stages ..........-....-....--.. 110
52.—Tribolium confusum and ferrugineum: different stages........... 113
53.—_Echocerus cornutus:-aduit male... 1-2 224. -.-5 08 ee ee ee 115
54.—Tenebrio molitor: different stages ...-.....-.-..--- A ete eet 116
55.—Tenebrio obscurus: ‘adult'male <2... 422525. =. 62 118
56.—Plodia interpunctella: different stages .........-....---.--------- 119
57.—Pyralis farinalis.: adult moth, ete 222252. eee 119
58.—Pyralis farinalis: eggs, larva, ete -(-o25. 2 oee. 22 ote eee 120
59.—Silvanus surinamensis: larva, pupa, and adult .... . eae HY ee Tule
60.—Tenebroides mauritanicus: larva, pupa, and adult .-.........-..- 123
61.—Sitodrepa panicea: larva, pupa, and adult .-..........- hel ae ea 124
62.—Sitodrepa panicea: head of larva .........--....-------- gee secre 125
63.—Lasioderma serricorne: larva, pupa, and adult ..-....-.--...--..- 126
64.—Lasioderma serricorne: head of larva.......0....---cleesse seen 126

INTRODUCTION.

On an average, from 500 to 600 letters of inquiry are received at this
office each month. A very considerable number of these inquiries
relate to insects which are found in houses and which either annoy the
occupants by their direct attacks or are injurious to household goods
and provisions. The available literature on this class of insects is not
extensive. Prof. C. H. Fernaid, of the Massachusetts Agricultural
Experiment Station, published a short bulletin on the general subject
some three years ago, but only a few of the most prominent insects of
this class were treated. Other American articles are scattered in
various publications, in the reports of the State entomologists and .
bulletins of the entomologists of the State agricultural experiment
stations, and in the entomological and other scientific journals. A
small volume was published in England in 1893, which bears the title
of Our Household Insects, by Mr. Edward A. Butler, a competent
entomologist, who has brought together a mass of interesting facts,
This little volume, however, treats of English insects only. There is
abundant room, then, for the present publication. Much that is pre-
sented herewith is based upon original observations in the office, and all
. accessible publications upon the species treated have been consulted.
As will be observed from the title-page, the preparation of the bulletin
has been the joint work of the writer and of Messrs. Marlatt and Chit-
tenden. Mr. Chittenden’s work has been confined to a concluding
chapter on the subject of the species that affect dry vegetable foods, a
labor for which he is particularly well fitted by reason of his long
study of these species. There has been no systematic division in the
work of the main portion of the bulletin between the writer and Mr.
Marlatt. Each of us has chosen the topics in which he felt especially
interested. It results that longer or shorter articles by one or the
other are arranged according to the proper position of the topic in the
scheme as a whole and are not brought together under the respective
authors. The authorship of the individual articles, however, may be
readily accredited by the fact that not only is it displayed in the table
of contents, but by the further fact that the contributions are initialed
in every case.

The very curious but not unexpected condition has been shown in
the preparation of this bulletin that of some of our commonest house
hold insects the life history is not known with any degree of exactness.

fond

(

3 INTRODUCTION.

Of such common species as the household centipede (Scutigera forceps)
and the “silver fish” or ‘ slicker” (Lepisma spp.) careful studies yet
remain to be made, and it is hoped that one of the incidental benefits
which will result from the publication of this bulletin will be this indi-
cation of topics of desired investigation to students. The illustrations
have all been made by Miss Sullivan, with the exception of those of
the cheese skipper and ham beetles and the house centipede, which
have been prepared by Mr. Otto Heidemann. A1Il drawings have been
made under the supervision of the author of the section in which they

appear.
L. O. se:

THE PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS

OF THE
UNITED SLATES.
CHAPTER I.
MOSQUITOES AND FLEAS.

= seer By L. O. HOWARD.

MOSQUITOES.
(Culicide spp.)

Although mosquitoes are out-of-door insects, they may be considered
appropriately under the head of household pests, for the reason that
they enter houses, to the torment of the inhabitants, all through the
summer months, and many of them pass the winter in cellars. In fact,
it is probably safe to say that no distinctive household pest causes as
much annoyance as the mosquito.

We are accustomed to think and speak of the mosquito as if there
were but one species; yet, to our knowledge, there are no less than
eight species, for example, which are more or less common in the Dis-
trict of Columbia, and the writer has noticed at New Orleans, La.,
certainly four different species at the same season of the year, while at
Christmas time a fifth species, smaller than the others, causes consid-
erable trouble in the houses of that city. In Trinidad Mr. Urich states
that he has observed at least ten different species, while Dr. Williston
has described several from the island of St. Vincent. In his Catalogue
of the Diptera of North America Baron Osten Sacken records twenty-
one from North America, and it is perhaps safe to say that not half of
the species are described. In the collection of the United States
National Museum there are twenty distinct species, all of which have
been authentically determined by Mr. Coquillett.

The common species at Washington in the months of May and June
is Culex pungens Wied. Isay the common species, but do not wish to
be understood as saying that mosquitoes are common in Washington at
that time of the year. Asa matter of fact, the city is singularly free
from this little pest, and this is largely due to the reclamation of the
marshes of the Potomac River, which in war times and for a number
of years afterwards caused the inhabitants of this city to suffer severely
from this insect. As late as 1875, it is said, it was almost impossible
to spend any of the night hours near the marshes without smudges.

Later in the season other species become abundant.
9

10 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

The writer, in the course of certain observations, has carried C. pun-
gens through approximately two generations in the early part of the
season. It is strange that recent and definite observations upon accu-

SX -

: ~ <u Des
1 SRE
1

vy

wy
&

ah

Ss

SS

Fic. 1.—Culex pungens: a, female, from side; b, male, from above; ¢, front tarsus of same; d, middle

tarsus; ¢, hind tarsus; f, genitalia of same; g, scales from hind border of wing; h, scales from disk
of wing—enlarged (original).

rately determined species of many of our commonest insects have not
been published. This is mainly due to the fact that most entomologists
have a way of saving time by following the observations of older writers.

MOSQUITOES AND FLEAS. : 11

This is all well enough where the species and the conditions are identi-
eal, but when, as is the case with such an insect as that under observa-
tion, the principal observations were made upon a different, though
congeneric, species, and in another part of the globe, where climatic
and other conditions differ, the custom is unfortunate. There is not, in
any of our published works, a thoroughly satisfactory figure of a well-
determined species of mosquito, or of its earlier stages. ‘The statements
‘quoted in the text-books and manuals date back, in general, to the time
of Réaumur, one hundred and fifty years ago. These observations were
made in the month of May, upon a species (Culex pipiens) which does
not occur in North America, and in the one locality of Paris, France.
The notes made upon C. pungens at Washington possess, therefore, some
scientific importance.

Fic. 2.—Oulex pungens: Egg-mass above in center; young larva, greatly enlarged, at right; young
larve, not so much enlarged, below; enlarged eggs above at left (original).

The operation of egg-laying was not observed, but it probably takes
place in the very early morning hours. The eggs are laid in the usual
boat-shaped mass, just as those of C. pipiens, as described by Réaumur.
We say boat-shaped mass, because that is the ordinary expression. As
a matter of fact, however, the egg masses are of all sorts of shapes.
The most common one is the pointed ellipse, convex below and concave
above, all the eggs perpendicular, in six to thirteen longitudinal rows,
with from 3 or 4to 40eggsina row. The number of eggs in each batch
varies from 200 to 400. Asseen from above, the egg-mass is gray brown;
from below, silvery white, the latter appearance being due to the air
film. It seems impossible to wet these egg masses. They may be
pushed under water, but bob up, apparently as dry as ever. The egg
mass separates rather regularly and the eggs are not stuck together

rs

3 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

very firmly. After they have hatched the mass will disintegrate in a
few days, even in perfectly still water.

The individual eggs are 0.7 mm. in length and 0.16 mm. in diameter
at the base. They are slender, broader and blunt at bottom, slenderer
and somewhat pointed at tip. The tip is always dark grayish brown in
color, while the rest of the egg is dirty white. Repeated observations
show that the eggs hatch, under advantageous conditions, certainly as
soon as sixteen hours. Water buckets containing no egg masses, placed
out at night, were found to contain egg masses at 8 o’clock in the morning,
which, as above stated, were probably laid in the early morning, before
daylight. These eggs, the third week in May, began to hatch quite
regularly at 2 o’clock in the afternoon of the same day on warm days.
In cooler weather they sometimes remained unhatched until the second
day. If we apply the evidence of European observers to this species,
the period of the egg state may be under twelve hours; but there is a
possibility that they are laid earlier in the night, which accounts for the
fact that sixteen hours is the shortest period which we can definitely
mention.

The larve issue: from the underside of the egg masses, and are ex-
tremely active at birth. When first observed it is easy to fall into an
error regarding the length of time which they can remain under water,
or rather without coming to the surface to breathe, since, in striving to
come to the surface for air, many of them will strike the underside of
the egg mass and remain there for many minutes. It is altogether
likely, however, that they get air at this point through the eggs or
through the air film by which the egg mass is surrounded, and that
they are as readily drowned by continuous immersion as are the older
ones, as will be shown later.

One of the first peculiarities which strikes one on observing these ©
newly hatched larve under the lens is that the tufts of filaments which
are conspicuous at the mouth are in absolutely constant vibration.
This peculiarity, and the wriggling of the larve through the water, and
their great activity, render them interesting objects of study. In gen-
eral, the larve, passing through apparently three different stages, reach
maturity and transform to pupe in a minimum of seven days. When
nearly full grown their movements were studied with more care, as
they were easier to observe than when newly hatched. At this time
the larva remains near the surface of the water, with its respiratory
siphon at the exact surface and its mouth filaments in constant vibra. ~
tion, directing food into the mouth cavity. Occasionally the larva
descends to the bottom, but, though repeatedly timed, a healthy indi-
vidual was never seen to remain voluntarily below the surface more
than a minute. In ascending it comes up with an effort, with a series
of jerks and wrigglings with its tail. It descends without effort, but
ascends with difficulty; in other words, its specific gravity seems to be ~
greater than that of the water. As soon, however, as the respiratory

MOSQUITOES AND FLEAS. | is

siphon reaches the surface, fresh air flows into its trachee, and the
physical properties of the so-called surface film of the water assist it
in maintaining its position.

In the first edition of this work the writer erroneously attributed an
error to Prof. L. C. Miall in regard to the ninth body segment with its
terminal flaps. This was due to a wrong reading of Professor Miall’s
accurate book on aquatic insects.

The respiratory tube takes its origin from the tip of the eighth abdomi-
nal segment, and the very large trachew can be seen extending to its
extremity, where they have a double orifice. The ninth segment of
the abdomen is armed at the tip with four flaps and six hairs,as shown
in fig. 4. These flaps are gill-like in appearance, though they are prob-
ably simply locomotory in function. With so remarkably developed an

Fic. 3.—Culex pungens: Head of larva from below at left; same from above at right—greatly enlarged
(original).

apparatus for direct air breathing there is no necessity for gill struct-
ures. Raschke! and Hurst? consider that the larva breathes both by
the anus and by these giil flaps, as well as by the large trachee which
open at the tip of the respiratory tube. Maschke considers that these
trachez are so unnecessarily large that they possess a hydrostatic
function. The writer is inclined to believe that the gill flaps may be
functional as branchial structures in the young larva, but that they
largely lose this office in later life.

After seven or eight days, at a minimum, as just stated, the larva
transforms to pupa. The pupa, as has been repeatedly pointed out
with other species, differs most pronouncedly from the larva in the
creat swelling of the thoracic segments. In this stage the insect is

*Raschke, Die Larve von Culex nemorosus, Berlin, 1887.
2Hurst, The Pupal Stage of Culex, Manchester, 1890.

14 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

lighter than water. It remains motionless at the surface, and when
disturbed does not sink without effort, as does the larva, but is only
able to descend by a violent muscular action. It wriggles and swims
as actively as does the larva, and soon reaches the bottom of the jar
or breeding place. As soon as it ceases to exert itself, however, it
floats gradually up to the surface of the water again. The fact, how-
ever, that the larva, after itis once below the surface of the water, sinks
rather than rises, accounts for the death of many individuals. If they
become sick or weak, or for any reason are unable to exert sufficient
muscular force to wriggle to the surface at frequent intervals, they will
actually drown, and the writer has seen many of them die in this way. -
It seems almost like a contradiction in terms to speak of an aquatic
insect drowning, but this is a frequent cause of mortality among wrig-
glers. This fact also explains the efficacy of the remedial treatment
which causes the surface of the water to become covered with a film of
oil of any kind. Aside from the actual insecticide effect of the oil, the
larvee drown from not being able toreach the air. The structure of the
pupa differs in no material respect from that of corresponding stages
of Kuropean species, as so admirably figured and described by the older
writers, notably Réaumur and Swammerdam,' and needs no description
in view of the care with which the figures accompanying this article ~
have been drawn. The air tubes no longer open at the anal end of the
body, but through two trumpet-shaped sclerites on the thorax, from
which it results that the pupa remains upright at the surface, instead
of with the head downward. There is a very apparent object in this
reversal of the position of the body, since the adult insect issues from
the thorax and needs the floating skin to supportitself while its wings
are expanding. 3

In general, the adult insects issue from the pupz that are two days
old. This gives what is probably the minimum generation for this
species as ten days, namely, sixteen to twenty-four hours for the egg,
seven days for the larva, and two days for the pupa. The individuals
emerging on the first day were invariably males. On the second day
the great majority were males, but there were also a few females. The
preponderance of males continued to hold for three days; later the
females were in the majority. In confinement the males died quickly:
several lived for four days, but none for more than that period. The
females, however, lived for a much longer time. Some were kept alive
without food, in a confined space of not more than 4 inches deep by 6
across, for three weeks. But one egg mass was deposited in confine-
ment. This was deposited on the morning of June 30 by a female which
issued from the pupa June 27. No further observations were made
upon the time elapsing between the emergence of the female and the
laying of the eggs. but in no case, probably, does it exceed a few days.

1 Even Bonanni, in 1691, gave very fair figures of the larva and pupa of a European -
species. Micrographia Curiosa, Rome, MDCXCI, Pars. II, Tab. I.

MOSQUITOES AND FLEAS. 15

The length of time which elapses for a generation, which we have
just mentioned, is almost indefinitely enlarged if the weather be cool.
As a matter of fact, a long spell of cool weather followed the issuing of
the adults just mentioned. Larve were watched for twenty days, dur-
ing which time they did not reach full growth.

The extreme shortness of this June generation is significant. It
accounts for the fact that swarms of mosquifoes may develop upon
occasion in surface pools of rain water, which may dry up entirely in

Fic. 4.—Culex pungens: Full-grown larva at left; pupa at right above, its anal segment below--all
greatly enlarged (original).

the course of two weeks, or in a chance bucket of water left undis-
turbed for that length of time. Further, the shortness of this genera-
tion was, while not unexpected, not at allin accordance with any pub-
lished statements as to the length of life of any immature mosquito of
any Species. But these published statements, as previously shown,
were nearly all based upon observations made in a colder climate and
in the month of May.

On August 1 Mr. F. C. Pratt, an assistant in the division of ento-

16 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

mology, brought in from Lakeland, Md., a small place 9 miles from
Washington, specimens of a large and very ferocious mosquito, which
Mr. Coquillett determined as Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say, a species
which had previously been observed at Washington in August. This
mosquito was very abundant at Lakeland at the time, and its egys
were obtained, but rearing operations were interrupted by absence from
Washington. At the same time the commonest of the mosquitoes
at Washington was found to be Culex consobrinus. This latter species
was one which was studied by the writer in 1892 in the Catskill Moun-
tains, near Tannersville, Greene County, N. Y. This species in Wash-
ington became, during August, more abundant than C. pungens. Octo-
ber 25, however, the writer found both species in his house, which they
had evidently entered for hibernation. In 1893 several specimens of
pungens were taken in the month of January in the cellar of his house
in Georgetown. This hibernation in cellars as well as in outhouses
is very common, although it is not frequently referred to.. Specimens
of C. consobrinus were received in November, 1894, from J. M. Wade, of
Boston, with the statement that they were abundant in his cellar in
that city. The cellar was very cold, although in one corner there was
a tin furnace pipe. The mosquitoes avoided the warm corner, and were .
always thickest in the cold parts of the cellar. So abundant were they
that if a lamp were held up the inside of the chimney would soon be
covered half an inch thick with their bodies.

The degree of cold seems to make no difference with this successful
hibernation. Arctic explorers have long since recorded the abundance
of mosquitoes in the extreme north. In the narrative of C. F. Hall’s
second arctic expedition the statementis made that mosquitoes appeared
on the 7th of July, 1869, in extraordinary abundance. Dr. E. Sterling,
of Cleveland, Ohio, has sent us an account of the appearance of mos-
quitoes by thousands in March, 1844, when he was on a snowshoe trip
from Mackinaw to Sault Ste. Marie. Their extraordinary numbers at
this season of the year is remarkable, indicating a most plentiful
hibernation. Mr. H. Stewart, of North Carolina, has written us of a
similar experience on the north shore of Lake Superior in 1866. On
warm days in March, when the snow was several feet deep and the ice
on the lake 5 feet in thickness, mosquitoes appeared in swarms, ‘literally
blackening the banks of snow in the sheltered places.” The Indians
told Mr. Stewart that the mosquitoes lived through the winter, and
that the old ones were the most annoying to them. May 9, 1896, Mr. —
Lugger sent the writer from St. Anthony Park, Minn., specimens of C.
consobrinus, stating that it came in a genuine swarm in April, with a
heavy snowstorm, at a time when 21 of the LEY were covered with
ice— Minnesota’s most certain er op.”

It is a well-known fact that the adult male mosquito does not neces-
sarily take nourishment, and that the adult female does not necessarily
rely upon the blood of warm-blooded animals. They are plant feeders -

MOSQUITOES AND FLEAS. . 17

and have also been recorded as feeding upon insects. Dr. Hagen men-
tions taking a species in the Northwest feeding upon the chrysalis of a
butterfly, while scattered through the seven volumes of Insect Life are
a number of records of observations of a vegetarian habit, one writer
stating that he has seen them with their beaks inserted in boiled
potatoes on the table, and another that he has seen watermelon rinds
with many mosquitoes settled upon them and busily engaged in sucking
the juices. Mosquitoes undoubtedly feed normally on the juices of
plants, and not one in a million ever gets an opportunity to taste the
blood of a warm-blooded animal. When we think of the enormous
tracts of marsh land into which warm-blooded animals never pene-
trate, and in which mosquitoes are breeding in countless numbers, the
truth of this statement becomes apparent. The males have been
observed sipping at drops of water, and one instance of a fondness for
molasses has been recorded. Mr. HE. A. Schwarz has observed one
drinking beer.

The literature of popular entomology is full of instances of the enor-
mous numbers in which mosquitoes occasionally occur, but a new
instance may not be out of place here. Mr. Schwarz tells the writer
that he has never seen, even in New Jersey, mosquitoes to compare in
numbers with those at Corpus Christi, Tex. When the wind blows from
any other direction than south, he says, hundreds of thousands of mil-
lions of mosquitoes blow in upon the town. Great herds of hundreds
of horses run before the mosquitoes in order to get to the water. With
a change of wind, however, the mosquitoes blow away.

REMEDIES AGAINST MOSQUITOES.

Of the remedies in use in houses the burning of pyrethrum powder
and the catching of the mosquitoes on the walls with kerosene in cups,
_ as described in Insect Life (Vol. V, p. 143), are probably the best, next
to a thorough screening and mosquito bars about the bed. It may be of
interest to mention incidentally a remedy in use among the Chinese, as
recorded in Robert Fortune’s ‘“‘ Residence Among the Chinese: Scenes
and Adventures Among the Chinese in 1853-1856” (London, 1857).
Long-necked bags of paper, half an inch in diameter and 2 feet long, are
filled with the following substances: Hither pine or juniper sawdust,
- mixed with a small quantity of ““nu-wang” and 1 ounce of arsenic.
These substances are well mixed and run into the bags in a dry state;
each bag is coiled like a snake and wrapped and tied with thread. The
outer end is lighted and the coil laid on a board. Two coils are suffi-
cient for an ordinary-sized room, and 100 coils sell for 6 cents. Mr.
Mun YenChung, of the Chinese legation, has been good enough to inform
the writer that by ‘“nu-wang” Mr, Fortune probably meant liu-wang
(brimstone).

Altogether the most satisfactory ways of fighting mosquitoes are
those which result in the destruction of the larve or the abolition of

21470—No. 4 2

18 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

their breeding places. In not every locality are these measures feasible,
but in many places there is absolutely no necessity for the mosquito
annoyance. The three main preventive measures are the draining of
breeding places, the introduction of small fish into fishless breeding
places, and the treatment of such pools with kerosene. These are three
alternatives, any one of which will be efficacious, and any one of which
may be used where there are reasons against the trial of the others.

In 1892 the writer published the first account of extensive out of-doors
experiments to determine the actual effect upon the mosquitoes of a
thin layer of kerosene upon the surface of water in breeding pools and
the relative amount to be used. He showed the quantity of kerosene
necessary for a given water surface, and demonstrated further that
not only are the larve and pup thereby destroyed almost immedi-
ately, but that the female mosquitoes are not deterred from attempt-
ing to oviposit upon the surface of the water, and that they are thus
destroyed in large numbers before their eggs are laid. He also showed
approximately the length of time for which one such treatment would
remain operative. No originality was claimed for the suggestion, bunt
only for the more or less exact experimentation. The writer himself,
as early as 1867, bad found that kerosene would kill mosquito larve,
and the same knowledge was probably put in practice, although without ©
publicity, in other parts of the country. In fact, Mr. H. E.. Weed states
(Insect Lite, Vol. VII, p. 212) that in the French quarter of New Orleans
it has been a common practice for many years to place kerosene in the
water tanks to lessen the numbers of mosquitoes in a given locality,
although he knew nothing that had been written to show that such was
the case, and he says: ‘In this age of advancement we can no longer
go by hearsay evidence.” Suggestions as to the use of kerosene, and
even experiments on a water surface 10 inches square, showing that.
the larve could be killed: by kerosene, were recorded by Mrs. C. B.
Aaron in her Lamborn prize essay and published in the work entitled
— “Dragon Flies versus Mosquitoes” (D. Appleton & Co., 1890). Mr. W.
Beutenmiiller also in the same work made the same suggestion.

The quantity of kerosene to be practically used, as shown by the
writer’s experiments, is approximately 1 ounce to 15 square feet of
water surface, and ordinarily the application need not be renewed for
one month. Since 1892 several demonstrations, on both a large and a
small scale, have been made. ‘Two localities were rid of the mosquito
plague under the supervision of the writer by the use of kerosene
alone. Mr. Weed, in the article above mentioned, states that he rid
the college campus of the Mississippi Agricultural College of mosquitoes
by the treatment with kerosene of eleven large water tanks. Dr. John
B. Smith has recorded, though without details, success with this remedy
in two cases on Long Island (Insect Life, Vol. VI, p. 91). Prof. J. H.
Comstock tells the writer that a similar series of experiments, with
perfectly satisfactory results, was carried out by Mr. Vernon L. Kel- -
‘ogg on the campus of Stanford University, at Palo Alto, Cal. In this

MOSQUITOES AND. FLEAS. : 19

-ease post holes filled with surface water were treated, with the result

that the mosquito plague was almost immediately alleviated. |

Additional experiments on a somewhat larger scale have been made
by Rev. John D. Long at Oak Island Beach, Long Island Sound, and
by Mr. W. R. Hopson, near Bridgeport, Conn., also on the shores of
Long Island Sound, the experiments in both cases indicating the effi-
eacy of the remedy when applied intelligently. I have not been able
to learn the details of Mr. Hopson’s operations, but am told that they
included extensive draining as well as the use of kerosene.

It is not, however, the great sea marshes along the coast, where mos-

quitoes breed in countless numbers, which we can expect to treat by

this method, but the inland places, where the mosquito supply is derived
from comparatively small swamps and circumscribed pools. In most
localities people endure the torment or direct their remedies against
the adult insect only, without the slightest attempt to investigate the
source of the supply, when the very first step should be the undertak-
ing of such an investigation. In ‘Gleanings in Bee Culture” (October
1, 1895) we notice the statement in the California column that in some
California towns the pit or vault behind water-closets is subject to
flushing with water during the irrigation of the land near by. A
period of several weeks elapses before more water is turned in, and in
the meantime the water becomes stagnant and the breeding place of
millions of mosquitoes. Then, as the correspondent says, *‘people go
around wondering where all the mosquitoes come from, put up screens,
burn buhach, and make a great fuss.” Nothing could be easier than
to pour an ounce of kerosene into each of these pits, and all danger
from mosquitoes will have passed.

In many houses in Baltimore, Md., the sewage drains first into wells
or sinks in the backyard, and thence in some cases into sewers, and in
other cases is pumped out periodically. These wells invariably have
open privies built over them, and the mosquitoes, which breed in the
stagnant contents of the sinks, have free egress into the open air back
of the houses. Hence parts of Baltimore much further removed from
either running or stagnant water than certain parts of Washington,
where no mosquitoes are found, are terribly mosquito ridden, and sleep
without mosquito bars is. from May to December, almost impossible.
Specimens of Culex pungens captured November 5 in such a privy as
described have been brought to the writer from Baltimore by one of his
assistants, Mr. R. M. Reese.

Kerosene has been tried by Mr. Reese in one case in Baltimore, and
two treatments of a privy made about May 1 and June 1, respectively;
seemed to diminish the numbers of the pest in that particular house;
but without concerted action of all the householders in a given block
(all the houses, be it remembered, being exactly alike in the method of
Sewage disposal) no great amount of good could be accomplished.
With such concerted action, however, there seems to be no reason why

20 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

the mosquito plague could not be greatly diminished in many, if not
most, parts of Baltimore at a very small expense. Usually one well
serves two houses, the privies being built in pairs, so that one treatment
would suffice for two dwellings.

On ponds of any size the quickest and most perfect method of form-
ing a film of kerosene will be to spray the oil over the suriace of the
water.

The remedy which depends upon draining breeding places needs no
extended discussion. Naturally the draining off of the water of pools
will prevent mosquitoes from breeding there, and the possibility of
such draining and the means by which it may be done will vary with
each individual case. The writer is informed that an elaborate bit of
work which has been done at Virginia Beach bears on this method.
Behind the hotels at this place, the hotels themselves fronting upon
the beach, was a large fresh-water lake, which, with its adjoining
swamps, was a source of mosquito supply, and it was further feared
that it made the neighborhood malarious. Two canals were cut from
the lake to the ocean, and by means of machinery the water of the
lake was changed from a body of fresh to a body of salt water. Water
that is somewhat brackish will support mosquitoes, but water which
is purely salt will destroy them.

The introduction of fish into fishless breeding places is another mat-
ter. It may be undesirable to treat certain breeding places with kero-
sene, aS, for instance, water which is intended for drinking, although
this has been done without harm in tanks where, as is customary, the
drinking supply is drawn from the bottom of the tank. An interesting
case noted in Insect Life (Vol. [V, p. 223), in which a pair of carp was
placed in each of several tanks, in the Riviera, is a case in point. The
value of most small fishes for the purpose of destroying mosquito |
larvee was well indicated by an experience described to us by Mr.
C. H. Russell, of Bridgeport, Conn. In this casea very high tide broke
away a dike and flooded the salt meadows of Stratford, a small town
a few miles from Bridgeport. The receding tide left two small lakes,
nearly side by side and of the same size. In one lake the tide left a
dozen ormore small fishes, while the other was fishless. An examination
by Mr. Russell in the summer of 1891 showed that while the fishless
lake contained tens of thousands of mosquito larve, that containing
the fish had no larve.

The use of carp for this purpose has been mentioned in the preceding —
paragraph, but most small fish will answer as well. The writer knows
of none that will be better than either of the common Ittle stickle-
backs (Gasterosteus aculeatus or Pygosteus pungitius). They are small,
but very active and very voracious. Mr. F. W. Urich, of Trinidad,
has written us that there is a little cyprinoid common in that island
which answers admirably for this purpose. This fish has not been —
specifically determined, but we hope to make an effort to introduce it

MOSQUITOES AND FLEAS. ~ : 2H,

into our Southern States, if it proves to be new to our fauna. At Bee-
ville, Tex., a little fish is used for this purpose which is there called a
perch, although we have not been able to find out just what the species
is. They soon eat up the mosquito larve, however, and in order to keep
them alive the people adopt an ingenious fly trap, which they keep in
. their houses and in which about a quart of flies a day is caught. These
flies are then fed to the fish. This makes a little circle which strikes
us aS particularly ingenious and pleasant. The fly traps catch the
flies and rid the house of that pest. The flies are fed to the fish in
the water tanks and keep them alive in order that they may feed on
the mosquito larve, thus keeping the houses free of mnosquitoes.

Where kerosene is considered objectionable, and where fish can not:
be readily obtained, there is another course left open. It is the con-
stant artificial agitation of the water, since mosquitoes will oviposit
only in still water. At San Diego, Tex., in the summer there are no
streams for many miles, but plenty of mosquitoes breed in the water
tanks. Some enterprising individuals keep their tanks free by putting
in a little wheel, which is turned by the windmill, and keeps the water
almost constantly agitated.

THE MOSQUITOES OF THE COUNTRY AT LARGE.

In the introductory paragraph the writer has indicated that we have
numerous species among the mosquitoes of the United States and that
several different species may occur in the same locality. It happens,
however, that no definite knowledge exists, even among entomologists
as to the exact species which may be found in any given locality. The
desirability of a careful study of our mosquitoes is therefore apparent.
As a preliminary step, the writer borrowed all of the mosquitoes from
the collections of Prof. Lawrence Bruner, of the University of Nebraska,
Lincoln, Nebr.; Prof. J. H. Comstock, of Cornell University, Ithaca,
N. Y.; Prof. H. Garman, of the agricultural experiment station at
Lexington, Ky.; Prof. C. P. Gillette, agricultural experiment station,
Fort Collins, Colo.; Prof. C. W. Johnson, Wagner Free Institute, Phil-
adelphia, Pa.; Prof. Otto Lugger, agricultural experiment station,
St. Anthony Park, Minn.; Dr. W. A. Nason, Algonquin, Ill., and Mr.
Th. Pergande, Washington, D.C. The material thus received, together
with the collection of Culicide of the department of insects in the
National Museum, was placed in the hands of Mr. D. W. Coquillett for
specific study.

The results of this study were interesting. Mr. Coquillett had under
his hands mosquitoes from nearly all portions of the United States.
He found that the material represented twenty different species, of five
genera, and was able to make out some important synonymical facts.
In the distribution of certain species the results were unexpected. It
was found that some of the commoner forms, viz, Culex consobrinus,
C. excitans, C. perturbans, C. posticatus, C. pungens, Prosophora ciliata,

22 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

Anopheles punctipennis, and A. quadrimaculata, occur all over the
country, from New England to Texas, and even to southern California.
In almost any given locality in the United States, therefore, one would
probably be able to find all of these eight species, with perhaps two or
three additional ones. 4

The list which follows was drawn up by Mr. Coquillett, and embodies,
in part, the results of his studies. It must be remembered that, after
all, the material was scanty, since no one has taken the trouble to
thoroughly collect mosquitoes. The list represents, however, a distinct
and important advance on our former knowledge of these annoying
creatures.

LIST OF THE MOSQUITOES OF THE UNITED STATES.
(A) Species examined by D. W. Coquillett.

Culex consobrinus Desv. 3 males, 18 females. ;

Synonyms: Culex punctor Kirby; C. impatiens Walk.; C. pinguis Walk.; C. inor-
natus Will. (the latter synonymy based on a study of one of Williston’s co-
type specimens).

Habitat: White Mountains, N. H.; Beverly, Mass., September 28 (Nat. Mus.);
Catskill Mountains, Greene County, N. Y., 2,500 feet (Howard) ; Illinois, March
21, April 29, May 6, October 16 (Nason); St. Anthony Park, Minn., April, May,
on snow (Lugger); Saskatchewan River, British America; South Dakota (Nat.

‘Mus.); Lincoln, Nebr., May, September (Bruner); Colorado (Nat. Mus.); Los.

Angeles, Cal., February (Coquillett); Argus Mountains, Cal., April (Nat. Mus.) ;
Santa Fé, N. Mex., July (Cockerell).

Culex excitans Walk. 3 males, 2 females.
Habitat: New Bedford, Mass. (Johnson); Lincoln, Nebr., May (Bruner); Santa
Fé, N. Mex., July (Cockerell).
Culex excrucians Walk. 3 females.
Habitat: Ithaca, N. Y., July 14 (Comstock).

Culex fasciatus Fabr. 4 males, 2 females.
Synonyms: Culex teniatus Wied.; Culex mosquito Desv. (non Arribalzaga).
Habitat: Georgia, August (Coquillett) ; Natchitoches, La., October 6 (Johnson) ;
Isle of Pines, W. I. (Scudder); Kingston, Jamaica, July 13 (Johnson).

Culex impiger Walk. 14 males, 50 females.

Synonym: Culex implacabilis Walk.

Habitat: White Mountains, N. H.; Beverly, Mass., May 24, June 2 (Nat. Mus.);
Ithaca, N. Y., July 9 and 17, August 28; Wilmuth, N. Y., June 10 (Comstock) ;
Saskatchewan River, British America (Nat. Mus.); Minnesota (Lugger);
Loudon County, Va., Aug. 26 (Pratt); Tyrone, Ky., July 14 (Garman); Georgia
(Nat. Mus.) ; Mesilla, N. Mex., (Cockerell); Isleof Pines, W. 1. (Scudder); Port-
land, Jamaica (Johnson).

Culex perturbans Walk. 8 females.
Habitat: Lakeland, Md., August 8 (Pratt); Virginia, August: 17 (Pergande) ;
Tick Island, Fla., May 12 (Johnson); Texas (Nat. Mus.).
Culex posticatus Wied. 5 females.
Synonym: Culex musicus Say.
Habitat: Montgomery County, Pa., July 17 (Johnson); Texas (Nat. Mus.).
Culex pungens Wied. 25 males, 103 females.

Habitat: White Mountains, N. H.; Beverly, Mass., September 5; Cambridge,
Mass., September 16 to November 5; Boston, Mass.; Baltimore, Md., Novem-
ber 5 (Nat. Mus.), November 26 (Lugger); Charlton Heights, Md., December 1

MOSQUITOES AND FLEAS. De

(Pratt); District of Columbia, January 30, March 5, May 6 and 15, June 28, July
11, August, October 10, 15, 25, and 31, November 4, 8, 13, 16, and 23, December
23 (Pergande); Ithaca, N. Y., May 29, July 17, August 28 (Comstock); Illinois
(Nason); Minnesota (Lugger); Lincoln, Nebr., September 20 (Bruner); Lex-
ington, Ky., November 10 (Garman); New Orleans, La., December 17 (Howard) ;
San Antonio, Tex., May 5 (Marlatt); Georgia, August (Coquillett); Portland,
Jamaica (Johnson).

Culex signifer Coq. 1 female.

Habitat: District of Columbia, June (Coquillett).

Culex stimulans Walk. 13 males, 54 females.

Habitat: White Mountains, N. H.; Beverly, Mass., June 2, July 9; Cambridge,
Mass., May; Jamaica Plain, Mass., August 25 (Nat. Mus.); Baltimore, Md.
(Lugger); Illinois, August 1, September 15, October 5 (Nason); Agricultural
College, Mich. (Gillette); Saskatchewan River, British America (Nat. Mus.);
Lincoln, Nebr. (Bruner); Colorado (Nat. Mus.); Ithaca, N. Y., June 13, 18, 29,
July 14, August 28; Wilmuth, N. Y., June 10 (Comstock); Georgia (Nat. Mus.).

Culex tarsalis Coq. 1 male, 4 females.
Habitat: Argus Mountains, Cal., April; Folsom, Cal., July 3 (Nat. Mus.).
Culex triseriata Say. 3 females.

Habitat: White Mountains, N. H. (Nat. Mus.); Delaware County, Pa., June 12

(Johnson); Washington, D. C., May 5, Loudon County, Va. (Pratt).

Culex teeniorhynchus Wied. 1 male, 32 females.
(Not the Culex teniorhynchus Wied. of Arribalzaga.)

Habitat: Maine, August; Beverly, Mass., June, September 15 (Nat. Mus.);
Avalon, Anglesea, and Atlantic City, N. J., July 10 to 29 (Johnson); Far
Rockaway, Long Island, N. Y., Aug. 30 (Howard); District of Columbia
(Pergande); Georgia (Nat. Mus.); St. Augustine and Charlotte Harbor, Fla..
July; Portland, Jamaica (Johnson).

Psorophora ciliata Fabr. 2 males, 29 females.

Habitat: Dorchester, Mass. (Nat. Mus.); Washington, D. C. (Chittenden);
Westville, N. J., July 2 (Johnson); Illinois (Nason); Brooklyn Bridge, Ky.,
June 23 (Garman); Lincoln, Nebr., July, August (Bruner); Los Angeles, Cal.
(Coquillett); San Diego, Tex., May 15 (Schwarz); Florida, July (Nat. Mus.).

Anopheles crucians Wied. 3 females.
Habitat: District of Columbia, April 27 (Pergande); Georgia (Nat. Mus.).
Anopheles punctipennis Say. 5 males, 13 females.

(Considered by Wiedemann to be the same species as his Anopheles crucians, but
the two are certainly distinct.) :

Synonym: Culex hyemalis Fitch (wrongly referred to Anopheles quadrimaculata
in the Osten Sacken Catalogue).

Habitat: Castleton, Vt., February 1 (temperature 6° F.); Beverly, Mass., Sep-
tember 19, October 2; Cambridge, Mass., June 16, September 30, October 20
(Nat. Mus.); Charlton Heights, Md., March 31, November 17 (Pratt); District
of Columbia, June 6, October 15, 25, and 31 (Pergande); Philadelphia, Pa..,
October 12 (Johnson); Ithaca, N. Y., April 17, August 28 (Comstock); Illinois,
October 16 (Nason); Texas (Nat. Mus.); Mesilla, N, Mex. (Cockerell); Port-
land, Jamaica (Johnson). :

Anopheles quadrimaculata Say. 3 males, 31 females.
Habitat: Berlin Falls, N. H., August (Nat. Mus.); Ithaca, N. Y., January, July
31, November 28 (Comstock); Lakeland, Md., August 8; Charlton Heights,
Md., November 24 (Pratt); District of Columbia, July, October 15, November
2 and 14 (Pergande); Illinois, September 10, October 10 (Nason); St. Anthony
Park, Minn., December 11 (Lugger); Tick Island, Fla., May 12 (Johnson);
Texas (Nat. Mus.).

24 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

Megarhinus ferox Wied. 1 male.

Habitat: District of Columbia, August 22 (Pergande).
Megarhinus rutilus Coq. 3 males, 5 females.

Habitat: North Carolina; Georgiana, Fla. (Nat. Mus.).

Aédes sapphirinus O.8. 1 female.
Habitat: Ithaca, N. Y. (Comstock).

(B) Species recorded from the United States, but not included in the material studied.

Culex rubidus Desvoidy, Culicides, ete. Carolina.
Culex testaceus v. d. Wulp, Tijdschr. v. Entom., 2d ser., II, 128, Tab. III, f. 1. Wis-
consin. ;
Culex incidens Thomson, Eugenie’s Resa, etc., 443. California.
Culex territans Walker, Dipt. Saund., 428. United States.
Psorophora boscit Desvoidy, Culicides, ete. Carolina.
Anopheles annulimanus v. d. Wulp, Tijdschr. v. Entom., 2d ser., II, 129, Tab. III, f, 2.
Wisconsin. , :
Anopheles ferruginosus Wiedemann, Auss. Zw., I, 12. New Orleans (Wied.); on the
Mississippi (Say). ;
Culex quinquefasciatus Say, Journ. Ac. Phil., III, 10, 2; Compl. Wr., II, 39.
(Change of name by Wied.)
_ Anopheles maculipennis Meigen (Kuropean species, which also occurs in North America,
according to Loew, Sillim. Journ., n. ser., Vol. XX XVII, 317).
Anopheles nigripes Staeger (European species, which also occurs in North America,
according to Loew, Sillim. Journ., n. ser., Vol. XX XVII, 317).
Aédes fuscus O. Sacken, Western Diptera, 191. Cambridge, Mass.

THE CAT AND DOG FLBEA..
(Pulex serraticeps Gerv.)

Examination of many specimens of fleas sent to the Department in
recent years shows that the species which commonly overruns houses

during the damp summers, in our Kastern cities at least, is not, as many

have supposed, the human flea (Pulex irritans), but the common cos-
mopolitan flea of the dog and the cat (Pulex serraticeps). There is wide-

spread ignorance as to the transformations of this insect, and even the |

average entomologist is puzzled to know where to consult good figures
of the different stages and a detailed account of the life history. The
figures accompanying this article have been prepared to fill this want,
and the following account of the transformations has been drawn up
from notes made during the summer of 1895, at the request of the
writer, by Mr. Pergande, of the division of entomology. The best two

of the previously published articles are, one by Laboulbéne, in the .

Annales de la Société Entomologique de France, 1872, pp. 267-273, PI.
XIII, and the other by W. J. Simmons, read before the Microscopical
Society of Calcutta, March 5, 1888, and printed in The American
Monthly Microscopical Journal for December, 1888, with no illustra-
tions.!

1Ritzema has written an article on the natural history of the dog tlea, which, -

however, could not be consulted by the writer.

MOSQUITOES AND FLEAS. 25

Laboulbene describes carefully the pretty, oval, waxy white or
opaque, porcelain-colored, smooth egg, which reaches 0.5 mm. in
length. He describes the external appearance of the larve and recites
their extremely rapid movements, which are made by means of the
bristles with which they are furnished, and particularly by means of
the tubercle and the hair-like spines below the head. He placed larvie
upon dust, with birds’ feathers mixed with dried blood, upon which
they developed perfectly. Others were put on the sweepings of a room,
and developed just as well. Laboulbéne at first believed that blood
was necessary for the nourishment of the larve, the reddish-colored
contents of the digestive tract making him think so; but he found they
would flourish and complete their metamorphoses in sweepings in which
there was no trace of blood. He coneluded that all that has been said
on Pulea irritans nourishing its young on dried blood is very problem-

Fic. 5.—-Pulex serraticeps ; a, egg; b, larva in cocoon; c, pupa; d, adult; e, mouth-parts of same from
side; f, labium of same from below: g, antenna of same—all enlarged (original).

atical. In his opinion the larvee of the cat flea for the most part live
upon the ground in spots where cats stay, and that they live in the
dust in the cracks of the floor. The cocoon he described as ovoid,
almost rounded, brown and granular, because it is covered with dust,
delicate, bat difficult to open, attached by one surface. It is about
2.5mm. by 2.75mm. The only statement in the article regarding the
length of the different stages is to the effect that the pupal condition
lasts from one to two weeks.

Mr. Simmons found the eggs upon a cloth upon which a dog had
been sleeping, in the midst of a dust composed of fragments of cuticle,
hairs, fibers, and pellets of dried blood, the last being probably the nat-
ural excreta of-the fleas. In fifty hours most of the eggs hatched. The
Jarve are described, and the statement is made that in seven days they
began to spin their cocoons. They remained in the cocoons eight days,

26 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

when the adults emerged, completing their transformations seventeen
days after the eggs were deposited.

The eggs of the flea under consideration are deposited between the
hairs of the infested animals, but are not fastened to them, so that when
the animal moves about or lies down numbers of the eggs will be dis-
lodged and drop to the ground or the floor or wherever the animal may
be at the time. An easy way to collect them, therefore, is to lay a strip
of cloth for the animal to sleep upon, and afterwards brush the cloth
into a receptacle, in which the eggs will be found in numbers. Some
difficulty was found in securing proper conditions of moisture to bring
about successful rearing, and some detailed account of our experience
will be of vaiue to persons who desire to repeat the rearing in order to
secure material for microscopic study, and will be at the same time
suggestive as bearing on the conditions under which the insect will
multiply in houses.

On June 27 a number of eggs were collected and placed in two glass
vessels, one large and one small, each containing a layer of sand at the
bottom, next a layer of sawdust, and on top of this a layer of rich soil.
The eggs were placed between two layers of blotting paper on top of
the soil. On June 29 fourteen of the eggs had hatched in the small
vessel, and the larve had crawled at once down into the sawdust.

On July 1 some of the eggs were found to have hatched in the large
vessel, and the alimentary canal of the larve was already brownish,
indicating that they had been feeding to some extent and presumably
upon the particles of dried blood collected with the eggs and placed
with them between the layers of blotting paper. By July 11 all of these
larvee in both vessels had died, apparently without having cast a skin.
They were very active during most of this period, crawling rapidly

about when disturbed. Some were noticed to feed upon particles of |

peat which was placed with them. From some of these individuals
fig.6 was made. On the second antennal joint there was apparent a
sensorial spot, and on or near the base of the antennz were two small,
slender, fleshy tubercles and a few granulations on each side, some dis-
tanee behind the antenne. At the base of the head above occurred.a
small, apparently well-differentiated sclerite, as indicated in fig. 6, b, the
purpose of which we can not surmise. Immediately behind it, on the
anterior border of the first thoracic segment, is apparently a delicate
sculpturing, indicating a thickening of the integument at this point.

The posterior border of this segment is a somewhat similar, faintly —

indicated band. The first nine segments bear each four dorsal bristles
and, on each side, one ventro-lateral bristle, near the posterior margin.
The two following segments bear each six dorsal bristles and one ventro-
lateral bristle, and the penultimate segment eight dorsal and one ven-
tral bristle. These bristles become gradually longer toward the end of
the body. The last segment is without long bristles, although there is
a semicircular transverse row of numerous fine hairs and a small pateh

Te eS a ee -

MOSQUITOES AND FLEAS. 2M

of still finer hairs on each of the anal lobes near the base of the anal
prolegs, as shown in fig. 6, ¢.

On July 6 another lot of eggs was placed in each of the two different
vessels. One lot was kept moist and the other dry, and both lots were
provided with nothing but the particles of dried blood and a few
crumbs of dry bread. On July 8 it was discovered that all of the eggs
had hatched. Both vessels had been kept closed under a glass cover.
Those between the layers of damp blotting paper had apparently not
fed. Some were dead, having crawied up the sides of the vessel.
Those in the dry receptable were very lively and had fed abundantly,
so that the whole alimentary canal, from one end to the other, was
dark brown.

Fic. 6— Pulex serraticeps: a, larva; b, head; .c, anal end of same—greatly enlarged (original).

On July 9 the larve in the dry receptacle had cast the first skin,
but upon careful examination were seen to agree perfectly with those
of the first stage, except that they were larger. No trace of eyes could
be found in either stage. The mandibles apparently bore four blunt
teeth. At this date the larve kept in the moist receptacle had not
cast a skin, and appeared almost colorless, having fed very little. In
both vessels, however, all the larve were very active and ran about
very briskly. Their movements when crawling recall those of many
Tineid larve. Ten individuals of the second stage were removed to
another vessel to see whether they would cast a second skin.

On July 10 all of the larve in the original moist vessel died. Those
in the dry vessel, which had been fed with bread crumbs, were still
erowing nicely, and were very active. By July 15 all the larve which
had been transferred, to watch for further molts, had died without

28 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

‘molting. They either stuck to the crumbs, which were rather greasy,
or to the sides of the glass, which had also become somewhat greasy.
On the same date the larve in the dry vessel, from which these ten
had been removed, commenced to spin up. Many were restlessly run-
ning about in search of suitable places for spinning, and some had even
reached the top of the biotting paper. A thin layer of gray cotton
was placed between the two blotting papers to give them suitable
spinning places. The eggs hatched in two days, having been kept dry
all the time. The first skin was cast two days after hatching, and the
beginning of spinning occurred eight days after hatching.

By July 19 no more specimens had spun up and many had died. The
receptacle seemed to be too dry and too hot, and the blotting paper was
somewhat moistened. But one pupa was found, which was that of a
larva which began to spin July 15. July 21 no others had spun up,
although they were still very lively. The pupa had become brownish.
July 22 the adult flea issued over night and escaped through the cov-
ering. From that time until July 29 no more spun cocoons, and many
of them died. On July 30 one of the survivors commenced to spin,
twenty-four days after hatching. The cocoon is delicate, white in
color, and is very well shown at fig. 5.

On August 2 this larva, which commenced to spin July 21, changed
to pupa. On August 6 it was still white in color, becoming somewhat
yellowish on the 7th and quite brown on the 8th. On the 9th the adult
flea was found to have issued overnight. The pupa state, therefore,
lasted about eight days, and it is to be noted that the pupa remains
white until shortly before the emergence of the adult. It was supposed
that the pupa stage in this instance was longer than usual, on account
of the fact that the larval stage was so very much longer than in the
first instance.

On July 11 another series of experiments was started, in order to
gauge the variation in the duration of the stages and settle the ques-
tion of the number of larval molts. Eggs collected on this date
hatched July 13. On July 16, of fifteen larva eleven had cast the first
skin. On July 18 five specimens cast the second skin. July 19 the
weather was extremely warm and a number of the larve died. July 20
the heat continued, and more died. On July 25 seven larvee which had
east the first skin remained; one of them had begun to spin up. There
were on the morning of this date three cast skins in the receptacle, so

that there are apparently three molts. In this final state the bristles.

have become longer and the mandibles have two teeth at the apex.
The remaining four were carried on until August 8, when the last one
died, none of them having succeeded in casting a third skin. Of the
entire lot, but one was reared to the pupa state, and this pupa was
preserved in alcohol for drawing. The record of this advanced speci-

men shows three molts, and that it began to spin eight days after

hatching. The average of the others shows that the eggs hatch in

so ee

MOSQUITOES AND FLEAS. 29

from two to four days and that some of the larve cast their first skin
‘three to four days later, and a second skin two to six days later.

On July 15 another series was begun. The eggs collected on this
date began to hatch on the 17th and all had hatched by the morning
of the 18th. July 21 some of them had cast the first skin.

August 1 the first one spun up; August 3, two more; August 6, two
more. At this date the first one which constructed its cocoon turned
brown. August 7 one full-grown larva transformed to pupa without
spinning a cocoon. August 12 the first adult emerged. A summary
for this lot shows that the eggs hatch in from two to four days and
that the larve cast the first skin from five to seven days later. Some
spun up sixteen to twenty days after hatching, and the imago appeared
six days later.

Observation of these last two lots shows that the larve are very apt
to die if kept too dry or too moist. They also need plenty of air.

July 20 another series was begun. Eggs collected on this date
hatched the following day. July 24 the first skin was cast; July 26, in
one case a second skin was cast. July 27 three more cast a second
skin, and on this date one individual spun its cocoon. July 29 three
more began to spin; on July 30 many more. On July 30 the first one
that began to spin was found to have changed to pupa. August 2
many cocoons were found. Some of the larve, disturbed while spin-
ning, left the incomplete cocoon and transformed to pupa outside of it.
Most of the advanced specimens were placed in alcohol, and it was not
until August 14 that an adult was allowed to emerge.

This series of observations showed that the eggs hatched about one
day after being placed in the vessels. The larve cast their first skin
in from three to seven days, and their second skin in from three to four
days. They commenced spinning in from seven to fourteen days after
hatching, and the imago appeared five days later.

From these observations it appears that in summer at Washington
many specimens will undergo their transformations quite as rapidly as
Mr. Simmons found to be the case at Calcutta, and that an entire gen-
eration may develop in little more than a fortnight; also that an excess
of moisture is prejudicial to the successful development of the insect
and that in the same way the breeding place must not be too dry. The
little particles of blood found among the eggs on the cloth upon
which the infested animal has slept are probably the excrement of the
adult fleas. This substance in itself, together with what vegetable
dust is found in the places where these larvee rear themselves, suffices

for the larval food.
REMEDIES.

Flea larve will not develop successfully in situations where they are
likely to be disturbed. That they will develop in the dust in the cracks
in floors which are not frequently swept has been observed by the
writer. The overrunning of houses in summer during the temporary

30 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

absence of the occupants is undoubtedly due to the development of
a brood of fleas in the dust in the cracks of the floor from eggs which
have been dropped by some pet dog or cat. This overrunning is
more liable to occur in moist than in excessively dry summer weather,
and it is more likely to occur during the absence of the occupants of
the house, for the reason that the floors do not, under such cireum-
stances, receive their customary sweeping. The use of carpets or
straw mattings, in our opinion, favors their development under the cir-
cumstances above mentioned. The young larve are so slender and so
active that they readily penetrate the interstices of both sorts of cover-
ings and find an abiding place in some crack where they are not likely
to be disturbed.

That it is not difficult to destroy this flea in its early stages is shown
by the difficulty we have had in rearing it; but to destroy the adult fleas
is another matter. Their extreme activity and great hardiness render
any but the most strenuous measures unsuccessful. In such cases we
have tried a number of the ordinarily recommended remedies in vain.
Even the persistent use of California buhach and other pyrethrum
powders, and, what seems still stranger, a free sprinkling of floor mat-
ting with benzine, were ineffectual in one particular case of extreme
infestation. In fact, it was not until all the floor mattings had been
taken up and the floor washed down with hot soapsuds that the flea
pest abated. In another case, however, the writer found that a single
application of California buhach, freely applied, was perfectly success-
ful; and in a third case a single thorough application of benzine also
resulted in perfect success. The pyrethrum application was made in a
Brooklyn (N. Y.) house, and the benzine application in a Washington
residence. The frequently recommended newspaper remedy of placing’.
a piece of raw meat in the center of a piece of sticky fly paper has been
thoroughly tried by the writer, without the slightest success. As a
palliative measure, however, the plan adopted by Professor Gage in
the McGraw Building of Cornell University, and described at length
on page 422 of Vol. VII, Insect Life, may be worth trying. It will be
remembered that Professor Gage tied sheets of sticky fly paper, with
the sticky side out, around the legs of the janitor of the building, who
then for several hours walked up and down the floor of the infested
room, with the result that all or nearly all of the fleas jumped on his
ankles, as they will always do, and were caught by the fly paper.

In his recent summary of the described fleas (Canadian Entomolo-
gist, August, 1895, pp. 221-222) Mr. C. F. Baker shows that there are
forty-seven valid species, which attack all sorts of warm-blooded
animals. The species which we have just considered (Pulex serrati-
ceps Gervais) is, as he states, the common cat and dog flea, well known
over all parts of the world. Mr. Baker further states that, “besides
the various wild cats and dogs, it has been reported from Herpestes
ichneumon (Pharach’s rat), Fetorius putorius (common polecat of

_ MOSQUITOES AND FLEAS. : 51

Europe), Hyena striata (striped hyena), Lepus timidus (common hare),
and Procyon lotor (raccoon). It is also said to occasionally sip human
blood [sic/]. I have specimens from various parts of North America,
and also from Europe.” Many unfortunate inhabitants of New York,
Philadelphia, Washington, and Baltimore during the past few summers
will be able to verify Mr. Baker’s statement that the species occasion-
ally sips human blood! This species may be distinguished at a glance
from the so-called human flea (Pulex irritans) by the fact that the latter
species does not possess the strong recurved spines on the margin of
the head, which show so distinctly in fig. 5.

ADDENDUM.

The so-cailed permanganate of potash remedy against mosquitoes.—
During 1898 a newspaper article, purporting to be copied from the
Public Health Journal, was widely published throughout the country.
It claimed that a handful of permanganate of potash will oxidize a
10-acre swamp, kill its embryo insects, and keep it free from organic
matter for thirty days, at a cost of 25 cents, and that the insect in all
of its stages can be instantly killed by contact with minute quantities
of the substance.

The article showed great ignorance in the life history of the mosquito,
but it gained such wide credence that experiments were undertaken by
the writer. It was found that small quantities of the chemical had no
effect whatever on the larvee, which were, however, killed by using »
amounts so large that, instead of using ‘a handful to a 10-acre swamp,”
at least a wagon load would have to be used to accomplish any result.
Moreover, after the use of this large amount and after the larvee were
killed, the same water twenty-four hours later sustained freshly hatched
mosquito larve perfectly, so that even were a person to go to the pro-
hibitive expense of killing mosquito larve in a swamp with perman-
ganate of potash, the same task would have to be done over again two
days later.

: CHAPTER II.
THE BEDBUG AND CONE-NOSE.

By C. L. Maruarr.

THE BEDBUG.

(Cimex lectularius Linn.) .

This disgusting human parasite, the very discussion of which is
tabooed in polite society, 1s practically limited to houses of the meaner
sort, or where the owners are indifferent or careless, or to hostelries
not always of the cheaper kind. The careful housekeeper would feel it
a Signal disgrace to have her chambers invaded by this insect, and, in
point of fact, where ordinary care and vigilance are maintained the
danger in this direction is very slight. The presence of this insect,
however, is not necessarily an indication of neglect or carelessness, for,’

Fic. 7.—Cimez lectularius: a, adult female, gorged with blood; b, same, from below; c, rudimentary
wing-pad; d, mouth-parts—all enlarged (original).

little as the idea may be relished, it may often gain access in spite of
the best of care and the adoption of all reasonable precautions. It is
very apt to get into the trunks and satchels of travelers, and may thus
be introduced into homes. Unfortunately, also, it is quite capable of
migrating from one house to another, and will often continue to come
from an adjoining house, sometimes for a period of several months,
gaining entrance daily. Such migration is especially apt to take place
if the human inhabitants of an infested house leave it. With the
32

THE BEDBUG AND CONE-NOSE. » 33

failure of their usual source of food, the migratory instinct is devel-
oped, and escaping through windows, they pass along walls, water pipes,
or gutters, and thus gain entrance into adjoining houses. It is expe-
dient, therefore, to consider this insect, unsavory as the subject may
be, since, as shown, it may be anyone’s misfortune to have his premises
temporarily invaded.

As with nearly all the insects associated with man, the bedbug has
had the habits now characteristic of it as far back as the records run.
It was undoubtedly of common oceurrence in the dwellings of the
ancient peoples of Asia. The Romans were well acquainted pile it, giv-
ing it the name Cimex. It was supposed by Pliny (and this was doubt-
less the common belief among the Romans) to have medicinal properties,
and it was recommended, among other things, as a specific for the bites
of serpents. It is said to have been first introduced into England in
1503, but the references to it are of such a nature as to make it very
probable that it had been there long previously. Two hundred and fifty

Fig. 8.— Cimex lectularius. Egg and newly hatched larva of bedbug: a, larva from below; b, larva
from above; c, claw; d, egg; e, hair or spine of larva—greatly enlarged; natural size of larva and
egg indicated by hate lines (original).

years tater it was reported to be very abundant in the seaport towns,
but was scarcely known inland. It has been inferred that the folowing
reference from the old English Bible of 1551 is to this insect: “Thou
Shalt not nede to be afriad for eny Bugges by night” (Psalm XCI, 5).

One of the old English names was “wall-louse.” It was afterwards
very well known as the “chinch,” which continued to be the common
appellation for it until within a century or two, and is still used in parts
of this country. The origin of the name “bedbug” is not known, but
it is such a descriptive one that it would seem to have been very natu-
rally suggested. Almost everywhere there are local names for this
parasite, as, for illustration, around Boston they are called “ chintzes”
and ‘‘chinches,” and from Baltimore comes the name “mahogany flat,”
while in New York they are styled ‘‘red coats.” :

The bedbug has accompanied man wherever he has gone. Vessels
are almost sure to be infested with it. It is not especially limited by
cold, and is known to occur well north. It probably came to this

21470—No. 4——3

34 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

country with the earliest colonists, at least Kalm, writing in 1748-49,
stated that it was plentiful in the English colonies and in Canada,
though unknown among the Indians.

The bedbug belongs to the order Hemiptera, which includes the true
bugs or piercing insects, characterized by possessing a piercing and
sucking beak. The bedbug is to man what the chinch bug is to grains
or the squash bug to cucurbs. Like nearly all the insects parasitic on
animals, however, it is degraded structurally, its parasitic nature and
the slight aoesenie for extensive locomotion having resulted, after
many ages doubtless, in the loss of wings and the assumption of a
comparatively simple structure. The wings are represented by the
merest rudiments, barely recognizable pads, and it lacks the simple
eyes or ocelli of most other true bugs. In form it is much flattened,
obovate, and in color is rust red, with the abdomen more or less tinged
with black. ‘The absence of wings is a most fortunate circumstance,
since otherwise thcre would be no safety from it even for the most
careful and thorough of housekeepers. Some slight variation in length
of wing pads has been observed, but none with wings showing any
considerable development have ever been found.

A closely allied species is a parasitic messmate in the nests of the
common barn or eaves swallow in this country, and it often happens that
the nests of these birds are fairly alive with these vermin. The latter
not infrequently gain access to houses, and cause the housekeeper con-
siderable momentary alarm. At least three species oceur also in Eng-
land, all very closely resembling the bedbug. One of these is found in
pigeon cotes, another in the nests of the English martin, and a third in
places frequented by bats. What seems to be the true bedbug, or at
least. a mere variety, also occurs occasionally in poultry houses.!

The most characteristic feature of the insect is the very distinct and
disagreeable odor which it exhales, an odor well known to all who have
been familiar with it as the “buggy ” odor. This odor is by no means
limited to the bedbug, but is characteristic of most plant bugs also.
The common chinch bug affecting small grains and the squash bugs all
possess this odor, and it is quite as pungent with these plant-feeding
forms as with the human parasite. The possession of this odor, dis-
agreeable as it is, is, after all, a most fortunate circumstance, as it is of
considerable assistance in detecting the presence of these vermin. The
odor comes from glands, situated in various parts of the body, which
secrete a clear, oily, volatile liquid. The possession of this odor is cer-
tainly, with the plant-feeding forms, a means of protection against
insectivorous birds, rendering these insects obnoxious or distasteful to
their feathered enemies. With the bedbug it is probably an illustration
of a very common phenomenon among animals, the persistence of a
characteristic which is no longer of any especial value to the possessor
of it. The natural enemies of true bugs, against which this odor serves _

1JInsect Life, Vol, VI, p. 166, Osborn.

THE BEDBUG AND CONE-NOSE.. 35

as a means of protection, in the conditions under which the bedbug
lives, are kept away from it, and the roach, which will be shown later
to feed on bedbugs, is evidently not deterred by the odor, while the com-
mon house ant, which will also attack the bedbug, seems not to find this
odor disagreeable. ,

The bedbug is thoroughly nocturnal in habit and displays a certain
degree of wariness and caution, or intelligence, in its efforts at con-
cealment during the day. It thrives particularly in filthy apartments
and in old houses which are full of cracks and crevices in which it can
conceal itself beyond easy reach. It usually leaves the bed at the
approach of daylight to go into concealment either in cracks in the
bedstead, if it be one of the old wooden variety, or behind wainscoting,
or under loose wall paper, where it manifests its gregarious habit by col-
lecting in masses together. The old-fashioned heavy wooden bedsteads
are especially favorable for the concealment and multiplication of this

Fic. 9.—Cimez lectularius: a, tirst larval skin shed at first moult; ?, second larval stage taken imme-
diately after emerging from a; c, same after first meal, distended with blood (original).

insect, and the general use in later years of iron and brass bedsteads
has very greatly facilitated its eradication. They are not apt to be
very active in winter, especially in cold rooms, and ordinarily hibernate
in their places of concealment.

The bedbug, though normaliy feeding on human blood, seems to be
able to subsist for a time at least on much simpler food, and in fact the
evidence is pretty conclusive that itis able to get more or less suste-
nance from the juices of moistened wood, or the moisture in the accu-
mulations of dust, etc., in crevices in flooring. No other explanation
would seem to account for the fact that houses long unoccupied are

found, on being reinhabitated, to be thoroughly stocked with bedbugs.
- There is a very prevalent belief among the old settlers in the West
that this insect normally lives on dead or diseased cottonwood logs,
and is almost certain to be abundant in log houses of this wood. This
belief was recently voiced by Capt. S. M. Swigert, U.S’ A., who reports
that it often occurs in numbers under the bark of dead trees of cotton-

36 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

wood (Populus monilifera), especially along the Big and Little Horn
rivers in Montana.

The origin of this misconception—for such it is—so far as the out-of-
door occurrence is concerned, is probably, as pointed out by Professor
Riley, from a confusion of the bedbug with the immature stages of an
entirely distinct insect (Aradus sp.) which somewhat resembles the
former and often occurs under cottonwood bark. In houses, green or
moist cottonwood logs or lumber may actually furnish sustenance in
the absence of human food. ‘The bedbug is, however, known to be
able to survive for long periods without food, specimens having been
kept. for a year in a sealed vial, with absolutely no means of sustenance
whatever, and in unoccupied houses it can undoubtedly undergo fasts
of extreme length. Individuals obtained from eggs have been kept
in small sealed vials in this office for several months, remaining active
and sprightly in spite of the fact that they had never taken any nour-
ishment whatever.

Extraordinary stories are current of the remarkable infelieeees of
this insect in circumventing various efforts to prevent its gaining access
to beds. Most of these are undoubtedly exaggerations, but the inher-
ited experience of many centuries of companionship with man, during
which the bedbug has always found its host an active enemy, has
resulted in a knowledge of the habits of the human animal and a facil- —
ity of concealment, particularly as evidenced by its abandoning beds
and going often to distant quarters for protection and hiding during
daylight, which indicate considerable apparent intelligence.

The bite of the bedbug is decidedly poisonous to some individuals,
resulting in a slight swelling and disagreeable inflammation. To such
persons the presence of bedbugs is sufficient to cause the greatest
uneasiness, if not to put sleep and rest entirely out of the question.
With others, however, who are less sensitive, the presence of the bugs
may not be recognized at all, and, except for the occasional staining of
the linen by a crushed individual, their presence might be entirely
overlooked. The inflammation experienced by sensitive persons seems
to result merely from the puncture of the skin by the sharp piercing
setee which constitute the puncturing element of the mouth parts, as

there seems to be no secretion of poison other than the natural fluids
of the mouth.

The biting organ of the bedbug is exactly like that of other hemip-
terous insects. It consists of a rather heavy, fleshy under lip (the only
part ordinarily seen in examining the insect), within which lie four
thread-like hard filaments or setz which glide over each other with
an alternating motion and pierce the flesh. The blood is drawn up
through the beak, which is closely applied to the point of puncture,
and the alternating motion of these setz in the flesh causes the biood
to flow more freely. The details of the structure of the beak are shown
in the accompanying sketch (fig. 7, d). In common with other insects

THE BEDBUG AND CONE-NOSE. : 37

which attack men, it is entirely possible for these pests to be transmit-
ters of contagious diseases.

Like its allies, the bedbug undergoes an incomplete metamorphosis,
the young being very similar to their parents in appearance, structure,
and in habit. The eggs are white oval objects, having a little project-
ing rim around one edge, and are laid in batches of from one-half dozen
to fifty in cracks and crevices where the bugs go for concealment. The
eggs hatch in a week or ten days, and the young escape by pushing
the lid within the projecting rim from the shell. At first they are yel-
lowish white, nearly transparent, the brown color of the more mature
insect increasing with the later molts. During the course of develop-
ment the skin is shed five times, and with the last molt the minute
wing pads characteristic of the adult insect make their appearance.
A period of about eleven weeks has been supposed to be necessary
for the complete maturity of this insect, but we have found this period
subject to great variation, depending on warmth and food supply.
Breeding experiments conducted at this office indicate, under most
favorable conditions, a period averaging eight days between moltings
and between the laying of the eggs and their hatching, giving about
seven weeks as the period from egg to adult insect. Some individuals
under the same conditions will, however, remain two to three weeks
between moltings, and without food as already shown they may
remain unchanged for an indefinite time. Ordinarily but one meal is
taken between molts, so that each bedbug must puncture its host
five times before becoming mature and at least once afterwards before
it again develops eggs. ‘They are said to lay several batches of eggs
during the season, and are extremely prolific, as occasionally realized
by the housekeeper, to her chagrin and embarrassment.

REMEDIES.

The bedbug, on account of its habits of concealment, is usually
beyond the reach of powders, and the ordinary insect powders, such
as pyrethrum, are ot practically no avail against it. If iron or brass
bedsteads are used the eradication of the insect is comparatively easy.
With large wooden bedsteads, furnishing many cracks and crevices
into which the bugs can force their flat, thin bodies, their extermina-
tion becomes a matter of considerable difficulty. The most practical
way to effect this end is by very liberal applications of benzine or
kerosene or any other of the petroleum oils. These must be introduced
into all crevices with small brushes or feathers, or by injecting with
small syringes. Corrosive sublimate is also of value, and oil of tur-
pentine may be used in the same way. The liberal use of hot water
_wherever it may be employed without danger to furniture, etc., is also
an effectual method of destroying both eggs and active bugs. Various
bedbug remedies and mixtures are for sale, most of them containing
one or the other of the ingredients mentioned, and they are frequently.

38 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

of value. The great desideratum, however, in a case of this kind, is a
daily inspection of beds and bedding and of all crevices and locations
about the premises where these vermin may have gone for conceal-
ment. A vigorous campaign should, in the course of a week or so at
the outside, result in the extermination of this very obnoxious and
embarrassing pest. In the case of rooms containing books or where
liquid applications are inadvisable, a thorough fumigation with brim-
stone is, on the authority of Dr. J. A. Lintner, New York State ento-
mologist, an effective means of destruction. He says:

Place in the center of the room a dish containing about 4 ounces of brimstone,
within a larger vessel, so that the possible overflowing of the burning mass may not
injure the carpet or set fire to the floor. After removing from the room all such.
metallic surfaces as might be affected by the fumes, close every aperture, even the
keyholes, and set fire to the brimstone. When four or five hours. have elapsed, the
room may be entered and the windows opened for a thorough airing.

The fact that the bedbug has a very effective enemy in the common
house cockroach has already been alluded to, and is_ particularly
described in the chapter on the cockroach. Another common insect
visitor in houses, and a very annoying one also to the careful house-
keeper, the little red ant (Monomorium pharaonis), is also known to be
a very active and effective enemy of the bedbug. Mr. Theo. Pergande,

of this office, informs me that during the late war, when he was -

with the Union army, he occupied at one time barracks at Meridian,

Miss., which had been abandoned by the Southern troops some

time before. The premises proved to be swarming with bedbugs;
but very shortly afterwards the little red house ant discovered the
presence of the bedbugs and came in in enormous numbers, and Mr.
Pergande witnessed the very interesting and pleasing sight of the bed-
bugs being dismembered or carried away bodily by these very minute
ants, many times smaller than the bugs which they were handling so

successfully. The result was thatin a single day the bedbug nuisance ~

was completely abated. The liking of red ants for bedbugs is con-
firmed also by a correspondent writing from Florida (F.C. M. Boggess),
who goes so far as to heartily recommend the artificial introduction of
the ants to abate this bug nuisance. (Insect Life, Vol. VI, p. 340.)
Bedbugs and other household insects, however, are not of the sort
which it is convenient or profitable to turn over to their natural ene-
mies in the hope that eradication by this means will follow, and the

fact of their being preyed upon by other insects furnishes no excuse to -

the housekeeper for not instituting prompt remedial measures.

THE BLOOD-SUCKING CONE-NOSE.
(Conorhinus sanguisuga Lec. )

Somewhat allied to the bedbug in habit is another true bug, Cono-
rhinus sangwisuga, bearing the very descriptive and appropriate popu-
lar name of the ‘blood-sucking cone-nose,” or sometimes called the

THE BEDBUG AND CONE-NOSE. | 7 39

Texas or Mexican bedbug, or simply the big bedbug. Until recently it
has been a rare visitant in houses, and is still practically unknown in
Eastern cities, but in country. places, particularly in the Mississippi
Valley, is now often found in bedrooms, and its bite is very severe and
painful, resulting in much more pronounced a and inflammation
than in the case of the bedbug.

The cone-nose belongs to the group of true bugs which includes
predaceous species, or those which normally feed on other insects
rather than on plant juices. The members of the genus Conorhinus
are mostly South American, and, on the authority of Burmeister,
have the habit in the adult state of living, in part at least, on the
blood of mammals.
The normal food of
our species is, how-
ever, unquestionably
other insects, and its
liking for human
blood is evidently a
habit of recent ac-
quisition and limited
to the full-grown in-
sect, and probably
only a small percent-
age of these ever
taste blood. Miss
Bertha Kimball
(Trans. Kans. Acad.
ser, Vol. XXIV, p.
128, 1896) reports
that they are often
found in poultry
houses, and that

when abundant they Fig. 10.—Conorhinus sanguisuga: a, first pupal stage; b, second pupal
attack horses in _ stage; ¢, adult bug; d, same, lateral view—all enlarged to same

barns, and probably «= *“!e ovisina)- ,
other domestic animals. In houses it has been found with bedbugs, and
will unquestionably feed upon them, especially if it can secure speci-
mens already charged with human blood, and it has been actually
observed eating what was taken to be a young roach. In captivity Miss
. Kimball has succeeded in feeding both young and adults on house flies.
That the blood-taking habit may be easily acquired is shown by the fact
that many common plant bugs, if captured, will pierce the flesh, and
several of the species which are attracted to light at night and settle
on one’s hand will pierce the skin and fill themselves with blood.

The accompanying figures of this insect represent the egg, newly
hatched larve, and last arval stage, drawn to the same scale (fig. 11),
and the pupal stages aiid the adult, also drawn to a scale, but less

SS

sc eee ae

40 | PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

magnified than the others (fig. 10). The eggs and young larve have
recently been described for the first time by Miss Kimball (1. ¢.), and
this summer a large number of specimens in all stages were received
from the West, from which the accompanying figures were made.
From these specimens many eggs were obtained, and later, larve.

The cone-nose is a rather large insect, measuring an ince in length
and characterized by a flattened body and very.narrow, pointed head
and short, strong beak. In color it is dark brown, with the light areas
indicated in the figure pinkish. Its “‘buggy” odor is even more intense
than that of the bedbug.. It is anight flyer and is attracted into open

Fie. 11 —Oonorhinus sanguisuga: a, larva, second stage; b, newly
hatched larva; c,egg with sculpturing of surface shown at side—all
enlarged to same scale—(original).

windows by lights. It conceals itself during the day under any ieee
object, often leaving beds which it may have frequented during the night.
The adult is not apt to take flight, but can run rather swiftly.

The eggs are white, changing to yellow and pink before hatching, and
of the peculiar shape indicated in the illustration. The young hatch
within twenty days. There are at least two larval stages (fig. 11, a, b)
and two pupal stages (fig. 10, a, b), the latter characterized by the pres-
ence of distinct wing pads.- In all these stages the insect is active and
predaceous. The eggs are normally deposited and the early stages are
undoubtedly passed out of doors, the food of the immature forms being
other insects. The eggs which may be dropped indoors must fail
normally to mature adults, and in fact immature specin:ens are rarely
found indoors, and the wingless and rather sluggish larve and pupz
would have little opportunity of reaching the higher animals under any
circumstances. It winters, both in the partly grown and the adult

1
P
P

THE BEDBUG AND CONE-NOSE. ees 4]

state, often under bark of trees or in any similar protection, and only in
its nocturnal spring and early summer flights does it become an enemy
of man in the effort to gratify its taste for human blood.

This insect is particularly abundant and usually enters houses in
early spring (April and May), sometimes in considerable numbers, and
seems to be decidedly on the inerease in the region which it particu-
larly affects—the plains region from Texas northward and westward.
A correspondent in Indian Territory reported having in the course of
a Short while killed upward of a dozen. They were usually found in
the bed or near by, and their connection with the injury was often
very plainly evident by their being found turgid with blood.

The common California species closely resembles in appearance and
habits the one named at the head of this section, but is a distinct
species and apparently undescribed. The
local name in California for this insect is
‘monitor bug.”

The results of the bite of the cone-nose
on the human subject vary a good deal
with the susceptibility of the person bit-
ten, but are often of a very serious and
alarming character. The piercing of the
skin is evidently accompanied by the
injection of some poisonous liquid or
venom, making a sore, itching wound,
accompanied with a burning pain lasting
sometimes from two to four days, and
Fi. 12.—Conorhinus sanguisuga:a,head, often associated with swellings, which

pee peal @ same; fromueside may extend over a ood déal of the body.

with piercing sete removed from : ase : Pat s

sheath and with tip of one of them en- That there is a spécific poison injected is

Jarged; ¢, same, from below—much en- jndicated rather conclusively by the very

larged (original). .

. constant and uniform character of the
Symptoms in nearly all cases of bites by this insect. It has, however,
been suggested that the very serious results which sometimes follow
its bite may be due to the fact that it has previously thrust its beak
into some decaying animal matter, causing a certain amount of blood
poisoning in the patient. This theory has support in the facts stated
by the late J. B. Lembert, of California, who says that he has noticed
that the species of Conorhinus occurring on the Pacific Slope is
attracted by carrion. Mr. Lembert described the effect on himself
of a sting by this insect on the middle toe of the left foot. Following
the sting an itching sensation extended up the leg, large blotches
manifesting themselves on the upper part of the limb and extending
up to the hands and arms. His lips swelled, and the itching and
swelling extended over the head, and he was also much nauseated.
‘The itching abated after four or five hours, but the swelling did not go
down until the next day. A correspondent, writing to Prof. J. W.

4? PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS. Zz
Toumey, describes similar results from a sting from one of these insects
in Arizona. The patient, a woman, broke out over the body and limbs
with red blotches or welts, like a severe case of measles, from a sting
on the shoulder. Bathing with sweet oil soon reduced the dangerous
symptoms, which were accompanied with severe headache and nausea.
Similar results following the puncture of this insect have been reported
from Indian Territory, Kansas, and elsewhere. Miss Kimball (1. c¢.)
says that some relief from the effects of the bites of this insect is
afforded by camphor, ammonia, and the ordinary remedies for insect
stings. .

To attempt to control the out-of-door multiplicatien of this insect is

' manifestly out of the question, and in the-screening of the entrances

of houses or chambers is the only practical method of protection. It
hardly needs stating that all examples found should be promptly
killed.

CHAPTER III.

HOUSE FLIES, CENTIPEDES, AND OTHER INSECTS THAT ARE
ANNOYING RATHER THAN DIRECTLY INJURIOUS,

By L. O. Howarp and C. L. MaRtatTr,
HOUSE FLIES.

(Musca domestica, et al.)

In common parlance there is but one house fly, although a number of
‘species are in the habit of entering houses and cause more or less
annoyance. The most abundant form is the house fly proper (Musca
domestica Linn.). It is a medium-sized, grayish fly, with its mouth
parts spread out at the tip for sucking up liquid substances. It breeds
in manure and dooryard filth and is found in nearly all parts of the

Fie. 13.—Musca domestica: a, adult male; b, proboscis and palpus of same; ¢, terminal joints of
antenne; d, head of female; e, puparium; /, anterior spiracle—all enlarged (original).
world. On account of the conformation of its mouth parts, the house
fly can not bite, yet no impression is stronger in the minds of most
people than that this insect does occasionally bite. This impression is
due to the frequent occurrence in houses of another fly (Stomoxys calei-
trans), Which may be called the stable fly, and which, while closely

resembling the house fly (so closely, in fact, as to deceive anyone but an
43

44 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

entomologist), differs from it in the important particular that its mouth |

parts are formed for piercing the skin. It is perhaps second in point
of abundance to the house fly in most DE EOES, of the Northeastern
States.

A third species, commonly called the cluster fly (Pollenia Pudi is a
very frequent visitant of houses, particularly in the spring and fall.
This fly is somewhat iarger than the house fly, with a dark-colored,
smooth abdomen and a sprinkling of yellowish hair. _Itis net so active
as the house fly, and particularly in the fall is very sluggish. At such
times it may be picked up readily, and is very subject to the attacks of
a fungus disease which causes it to die upon window panes surrounded
by a whitish efflorescence. Occasionally this fly oceurs in houses in

such numbers as to cause great annoyance, but such occurrences are_

comparatively rare.

A fourth species is another stable fly known as Cyrtoneura stabulans,
and a fifth, rather commoner than the last, is the so-called bluebottle
fly (Calliphora erythrocephala). This insect is also called the blowfly
or meat fly, and breeds in decaying animal material. Another species,
about the size of the bluebottle, which breeds abundantly in cow-
dung and is also found in houses, although usually in less numbers
than the others, is also commonly called the bluebottle or green- bottle
fly (Lucilia en

There is still another species, smaller than any of those so far men-
tioned, which is known to entomologists as Homalomyia canicularis,
sometimes called the small house fly. It is distinguished from the
ordinary house fly by its paler and more pointed body and conical shape.
The male, which is much commoner than the female, has large pale
patches at the base of the abdomen, which are translucent. When

seen on a window pane the light shines through that part of the body. .

Not much complaint would be made of house flies were the true house
fly a nonexistent form. Under ordinary circumstances it far outnum-
bers all other species in houses. Common and widespread as this
species is, there is very general ignorance, as with many other extremely
common insects, as to its life history and habits outside of the adult
stage. Writing in 1873, Dr. A.S. Packard! showed that no one in this
eduntry had up to that time investigated its habits, and that even in
Europe but little attention had been given to it. He showed that the
habits were mentioned in only three works, one of which was published

during the present century, with figures so poor and inadequate as to -

be actually misleading. De Geer (1752) showed that t..e larva lives in
warm and humid dung, but did not say how long it remains in the
different stages. Bouché (1834)states that the larv.1livesin horse and
fowls dung, especially when warm; he did not, however, give the
length of the larval state. |

1On the Transformations of the Common House Fly, with Notes on Allied Forms.
Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. XVI, 1874, p. 136.

eo

HOUSE FLIES, CENTIPEDES, AND OTHER INSECTS. A5

Dr. Packard studied the species with some care, and obtained large
numbers of the eggs by exposing horse manure. He carefully followed
the transformations of the insect, and gave descriptions of all stages.
He found the duration. of the egg state to be twenty-four hours, the
duration of the larval state five to seven days, and of the pupal state
five to seven days. The period from the time of hatching to the exelu-
sion of the adult, therefore, occupies, according to Packard, from ten to
fourteen days. His observations were made at Salem, Mass.

As is quite to be expected, as we go further south the house fly
becomes more numerous and more troublesome. The number of gen-
erations annually increases as the season becomes longer, and with the
warm climate the develop-
ment of the larve becomes
more rapid. A few rearing
experiments were made in
this office during the summer
of 1895, and it was unexpect.
edly found that the house fly
is a difficult insect to rear in
confinement. Buzzing about
everywhere, and apparently
living with ease under the
most adverse conditions, it is
nevertheless, when confined
in the warm season of the
year to a small receptacle,
not at all tenacious of life.
It results from this fact, for
example, that it is almost
impossible to ascertain the
length of the life of the house
fly in the adult condition. Fic. 14.—Musea domestica: a, full-grown larva; b, one of
On June 26 a small quantity its anterior spiracles; c, side view of head; d, hind end
of fresh horse manure was of body showing anal spiracles; e, side view of head;

: toes J, head from above; g, head of young larva from above;
exposed in afly-infested room ‘i, eges—all enlarged (original).
for afew minutes. The flies
deposited their eggs freely and immediately in this substance.! At the
same time the specimens were confined in a giass dish 7.5 inches in diam-
eterand 3 inchesin height. In this dish was a layer of moist sand, cov-
ered with a layer of fresh horse manure, and the vessel was covered with
a piece of gauze. On the following morning all the flies, twenty-four in
number, were dead, and not a single egg had been laid. A fresh sup-
ply of flies was introduced into the same vessel, and the next morning all
were dead and no eggs had been laid. The cover was now removed from
this vessel and ‘the latter vere in a glass cylinder 14 inches meh ue

1The experiments which follow were conducted by Mr. DEAN: Coquillett.

I ORL L DIO ALE EEL LE LIL DEA ET

46 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

top of which was covered with gauze, and twenty flies introduced.
This was at noon; by 4 o’clock in the afternoon no eggs could be found,
but at 9 o’clock the next morning two clusters of eggshells, one cluster
containing 26 and the other 45 eggs, were found. The eggs had been
deposited in small cavities between the sides of the vessel and the
manure, at a depth of about a quarter of an inch below the surface,
but were not arranged in any regular order. Afterwards several black-
berries, cherries, and partly decayed apples were placed in this vessel,
and more flies were introduced. A single egg was found the next day
on the upper side of one of the blackberries. At a later date experi-
ments were tried in the same jar with fresh cow manure. Apparently
no eggs were deposited until the third day, when two small clusters
were observed. These hatched in due time, but all the larve died
| before attaining full growth.
g gc These experiments were
= hardly extensive enough to al-
low us to generalize, but so far
, as they go they seem to show
4 that horse manure is the favorite
‘] - breeding place of the house fly.
Continuous observations mace
upon the offspring of flies which
bred most freely in this last-
named substance indicated that
the larve molt twice and that
there are thus three distinct
Fic. 15.—Musca domestica: a, pupa removed from larval Stages. The periods of
puparium; b, hind end of body of larva in second development were found to be
stage; c, anal Spiracles of larva in first stage —all about as follows: Egg from de-
enlarged (original). we : s
position to hatching, one-third

se

_ of a day; hatching of larva to first molt, one day; first to second molt,

one day; second molt to pupation, three days; pupation to issuing of
the adult, five days; total life round, approximately ten days. There
is thus abundance of time for the development of twelve or thirteen
generations in the climate of Washington every summer.

The number of eggs laid by an individual fly is undoubtedly very
large, averaging about 120, and the enormous numbers in which the
insects occur is thus plainly accounted for, especially when we consider
the abundance and universal occurrence of appropriate larval food. —
The different stages of the insect are well illustrated in the accompany-
ing figures and need no description.

Taschenberg in his Praktische Insektenkunde, iv, 1880, 102-107, gives
a good popular account of the house fly, but leaves the impression that
the duration of a generation is much longer than we have indicated.
He also states that the female lays its eggs on a great variety of sub-
stances, particularly on spoiled and moist food stuffs, decaying meat, —

HOUSE FLIES, CENTIPEDES, AND OTHER INSECTS. AT

. meat broth, cut melons, dead animals, in manure pits, on manure heaps,
and even in cuspidors and open snuff boxes. The fact remains how-
ever that horse manure forms the principal breeding place, and that in
- confinement we have been unable to rear it to maturity on any other
substance. |

There is not much that need be said about remedies for house flies.
A careful screening of windows and doors during the summer months,
with the supplementary use of sticky fly paper, is a method known to
everyone, and there seems to be little hope in the near future of much
relief by doing away with the breeding places. A single stable in
which a horse is kept will supply house flies for an extended neighbor-
hood. People living in agricultural communities will probably never
be rid of the pest, but in cities, with better methods of disposal of
garbage and with the lessening of the numbers of horses and horse
stables consequent upon electric street railways and bicycles, and
probably horseless carriages, the time may come, and before very long
when window screens may be discarded. The prompt gathering of

horse manure which may be treated with lime or kept in a specially —

prepared pit would greatly abate the fly nuisance, and city ordinances
compelling horse owners to follow some such course are desirable.
Absolute cleanliness, even under existing circumstances, will always
result in a diminution of the numbers of the house fly, and, as will be
pointed out in other cases in this bulletin, most household insects are
less attracted to the premises of whatis known as the ‘old-fashioned
housekeeper than to those of the other kind.

The house fly has a number of natural enemies, and, as will be pointed
out in the next section of this bulletin, the common house centipede
destroys it in considerable numbers; there is a small reddish mite
which frequently covers its body and gradually destroys it; it is sub-
ject to the attacks of hymenopterous parasites in its larval condition,
and itis destroyed by predatory beetles at the same time. The most
effectiveenemy, however, is a fungous disease known as Hmpusina musce,
which carries off flies in large numbers, particularly toward the close
of the season. The epidemic ceases in December, and although many
thousands are killed by it, the remarkable rapidity of development in
the early summer months soon more than replaces the thousands thus

destroyed.
Or EW.

THE HOUSE CENTIPEDE.

(Seutigera forceps Raf.)

This centipede, particularly within the last ten or twelve years, has —

become altogether too common an object in dwelling houses in the
Middle and Northern States for the peace of mind of theinmates. Itisa
very fragile creature, capable of very rapid movements, and elevated con-
siderably above the surface upon which it runs by very numerous long
legs. It may often be seen darting across floors with very great speed,

48 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

occasionally stopping suddenly and remaining absolutely motionless,
presently to resume its rapid movements, often darting directly at
inmates of the house, particularly women, evidently with a desire to con-
cealitself beneath their dresses, and thus creating considerable conster-
nation. The creature is not a true insect, but belongs to the Myriopoda,
commonly known as centipedes or thousand-legs, and is sometimes
called the “skein” centipede, from the fact that when crushed or
motionless it looks, from its numerous long legs, like a mass of fila-
ments or threads. It is a creature of the damp, and is particularly
abundant in bathrooms, moist closets, and cel-

lars, multiplying excessively also in conserv-

atories, especially about places where pots are

stored, and near heating pipes. In houses it

f will often be dislodged from behind furniture

or be seen to run rapidly across the room,
either in search of food or concealment. If
examined ciosely its very cleanly habits may
occasionally be manifested in that it may be
observed: to pass its long legs, one after an-
other, through its mandibles, to remove any
adhering dust. Its rather weird appearance,

quently its altogether too friendly way of ap-
proaching people, give it great interest, and,
with its increasing abundance in the North,
make it a subject of frequent inquiry. Itisa
- Southern species, its normal habitat being in
the southern tier of States and southwestward
through Texas into Mexico. It has slowly
spread northward, having been observed in
Pennsylvania as early as 1849, and reaching
New York and Massachusetts twenty or
twenty-five years ago, but for many years after
its first appearance in the latter States it was
| of rare occurrence. It is now very common
throughout New York and the New England
FIG.16.—Seutigera forceps: Adult— States, and extends westward well beyond
Ie dans ieee the Mississippi, probably to the mountains.
It is a very delicate creature, and it is almost impossible to catch it,
even should one desire to do so, without dismembering several of its
numerous legs or crushing it. If crushed under the foot, as one’s first
impulse would suggest, nothing remains but a mass of intertwined
limbs, giving it the appearance of a tangle of threads. If captured, so
that it can be more easily examined, it will be found to consist of a
worm-like body of an inch or a little more in length, armed at the head
with a pair of very long, slender antennz, and along the sides with a

its peculiar manner of locomotion, and fre- -

a

HOUSE FLIES, CENTIPEDES, AND OTHER INSECTS. AQ

fringe of fifteen pairs of long legs. The last pair are much longer than

the others, in the female more than twice the length of the body. In
color it is of a grayish yellow, marked above with three longitudinal
dark stripes. Examination of its mouth parts shows that they are very
powerful, and fitted for biting, indicating a predatory or carnivorous
habit. :

The indications of its mouth parts are borne out by its food habits,
besides being indicated by the known food habits of the other members
of the group of centipedes to which it belongs. It was inferred, before
any direct observations were made, that its food was probably house
flies, roaches, and any other insect inhabitants of dwellings. Later
many direct observations have confirmed this inference, and in cap-

Fic. 17.—Seutigera forceps: a, newly-hatched individual; b, one of legs of
same; c, terminal segment of body showing undeveloped legs coiled up
within—all enlarged (original).

tivity, on the authority of Professor Hargitt, it feeds readily on roaches,
house flies, and other insects. Miss Murtfeldt reports also having
observed specimens devouring small moths. During the act of devour-
ing a moth they kept their numerous long legs vibrating with incredible
swiftness, so as fo give the appearance of a hazy spot or space sur-
rounding the fluttering moth (Insect Life, Vol. VI, p. 258). It is sup-
posed also to feed on the bedbug, and doubtless will eat any insect
which it captures, and its quickness and agility leave few iusects safe
from it. | : ,

Messrs. Fletcher and Howard observed its mode of capturing the
croton bug, which is interesting as illustrating the habits of this centi-
pede and its allies. In this instance the centipede sprang over its

21470—No, 4——-4

50 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

prey, inclosing and caging it with its many legs. In its habit of spring-
ing after its prey this centipede is similar to spiders, which it also
resembles in its rapacious habits. It would therefore seem to be a very
efficient enemy of many of our house pests. The common idea that it
probably feeds on household goods and woolens or other clothing has
no basis in fact. _

The popular belief is that this centipede is extremely poisonous,
and, as it belongs with the poisonous group of centipedes, it can not
be questioned but that the bite of the creature is probably somewhat
poisonous as well as painful, though the seriousness of the results will
be dependent, as in all similar cases, on the susceptibility of the patient.
The poison injected in the act of biting is probably merely to assist in
numbing and quieting its victim, and in spite of its abundance in houses
in the North, and for many years its much greater abundance in the
South, very few cases are recorded of its having bitten any human

being, and it is very questionable whether it would ever, unprovoked, ©

attack any large animal. If pressed with the bare foot or hand, or if
caught between sheets in beds, this, like almost any other insect, will
unquestionably bite in self-defense, and the few such cases on record
indicate that severe swelling and pain may result from the poison
injected. Prompt dressing of the wound with ammonia will greatly
alleviate the disagreeable symptoms.

Little is known of the early life history of this Myriaped. It is.

found in the adult state in houses during practically the entire year.
Half-grown individuals are also found frequently during the summer.
A newly-born specimen was recently found by Mr. H. G. Hubbard in
the Department Insectary under a moist section of a log, and differed
from the older forms chiefly in possessing fewer legs. Its character-
istics are indicated in the accompanying illustration (fig. 17). Inthe
half-grown and later stages it does not differ materially from the adult,
except in size, and its habits throughout life are probably subject to
little variation. }

If it were not for its uncanny appearance, which is hardly calculated
to inspire contidence, especially when it is darting at one with great
speed, and the rather poisonous nature of its bite, it would not neces-

sarily be an unwelcome visitor in houses, but, on the contrary, to be

looked upon rather as an aid in keeping in check various household
pests. Its appearance in our dwellings, however, will not often be wel-
come notwithstanding its useful role. It can be best controlled by
promptly destroying all the individuals which make their appearance,
and by keeping the moist places in houses free from any object behind
which it can conceal itself, or at least subjecting such locations to
freqent inspection. In places near water pipes, or in storerooms where
it may secrete itself and occur in some numbers, a tree use of fresh

pyrethrum powder is to be advised.
: C..L. M.

:
F
:
4

ees, te ea ee

HOUSE FLIES, CENTIPEDES, AND OTHER INSECTS. 51

THE CLOVER MITE.
(Bryobia pratensis Garm.)

The subject of this section is a very minute reddish mite, less than a
millimeter in length, which, particularly in the Middle States, fre-
quently enters houses in enormous numbers in autumn, causing consid-
erable consternation and arousing very natural fears. Aside from the

J

cS
‘-
|

Fig. 18.—Bryobia pratensis: a, female from above; b, same, ventral view, with legs removed; ¢
and d, tarsal claws; e, proboscis and palpifrom below; /, proboscis enlarged; g, palpus enlarged; h,
one-of the body scales; 7, scale from outer cephalo-thoracic prominence; j, scale from inner cephalo-
thoracic prominence; k, serrate hair from basal joint of leg; 1, same from penultimate joint; m,
spine of last joint—a, b, greatly enlarged; c-m, still more enlarged (from Riley and Marlatt).

52 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

disagreeableness of its mere presence, it has no objectionable conse-
quences. This mite is somewhat allied to the common red mite of
greenhouses, and in fact has a similar habit, but lives out of doors on
vegetation and has a decided preference for clover, whence its common
name of clover mite. It occurs very commonly in the Northern and
Central States from Massachusetts to California, and is frequently
abundant on various orchard and shade trees. In the mountain ranges
of the Pacific Coast its eggs have been found in enormous numbers on
the bark of various mountain trees, especially the cottonwood (Populus
tremuloides). These eggs are often massed two or three layers deep,

and their reddish color entirely obscures

MN 3 fp : the natural color of thie bark. One writer |
Sh A , States that he found at least 50 square feet
ek NY of these eggs on the south sides of the

trunks of cottonwoods at an elevation of
6,000 to 8,000 feet. In the Eastern and
Central States the eggs are found similarly
placed in the crotches of orchard and shade
trees, and frequently in sufficient numbers
to give a reddish color to small areas.
Complaints of this mite have been received
from a great many sources in the Middle
and Eastern States. That they are a nui-
sance in houses is due to their habit of
Fig. 19.—Bryobia pratensis: Newly- migrating in the fall, possibly for shelter
ye enlarged Oy in search of food. In the case of house
invasions the mites will almost invariably
be found to have:come from some near-by vegetation, usually from the
surrounding lawns. After they have once gained entrance they may
-be exterminated by a liberal and abundant use of insect powders, fumi-
gating with burning brimstone, or spraying with benzine, care being
taken, if the latter substance be used, to see that no fire is present. If
the invasion be discovered at the very outset, it may be stopped by
spraying the sides of the house very liberally with kerosene or by treat-
ing the surrounding lawns with a spray of kerosene emulsion.
Cli. M:

THE HOUSE CRICKET.
(Gryllus domesticus Linn.)

No insect inhabitants of dwellings are better known than the domestic
or hearth crickets, not so much from observation of the insects them-
selves as from familiarity with their vibrant, shrilling song notes,
which, while thoroughly inharmonious in themselves, are, partly from
the difficulty in locating the songster, often given a superstitious sig-
nificance and taken, according to the mood of the listener, to be either

HOUSE FLIES, CENTIPEDES, AND OTHER INSECTS. 53

a harbinger of good and indicative of cheerfulness and plenty, or to
give rise to melancholy and to betoken misfortune. The former idea
prevails, however, and Cowper expresses the common belief that the—

Sounds inharmonious in themselves and harsh,

Yet heard in scenes where peace forever reigns,

And only there, please highly for their sake.

The common name “cricket” is descriptive ct its cheerful, chirping
note, and is derived from the imitative French popular name “ cricri”
(from criquer). Similar descriptive names are applied to it in many
foreign tongues. | |

The introduction of the domestic cricket of Europe into America
was probably at a very early date, at least in portions of the country.
Kalm, a careful and scientific observer, writing in 1749 of this insect,
says that they are ‘‘ abundant in Canada,
especially in the country, where these dis-
agreeable guests lodge in the chimneys;
nor are they uncommon in the towns.
They stay here both summer and winter,
and frequently cut clothes in pieces for
pastime.” The year before, however, he
writes that he had not met with them in
any of the houses in Pennsylvania or
New Jersey.)

The occurrence of this insect in Canada
in comparative abundance has since been
confirmed by Provancher and Caulfield,
and in various Eastern towns in the ihe jh ee ee
United States by Uhbler, Glover. and others. b, Perak OTT size (elaine).
It has also been observed in various States
westward to and beyond the Mississippi. It does not seem to be at
all common on this continent, however, except in Canada, and the more
familiar insect to most Americans is one or other of our brownish-black
field crickets, which often enter houses and accommodate themselves
to domesticity almost as completely as the true European hearth
cricket. Our native crickets are more robust and of larger size, but
present the same tendency of location and food habits as their Euro-
pean relatives. A species (Gryllus assimilis Fab.) often found in
houses in Washington is represented in fig. 21. The following account
of the imported domestic cricket applies in the main also to any of our
native species which are acquiring domesticity. Our species are, how-
ever, not known to breed in houses, although it is not at all improb-
able that this is now occasionally true of some of them.

The house cricket belongs to the jumping or saltatorial family of the
Orthoptera, being closely allied to the common field crickets and the
curious mole’cricket. The normal mode of progression is by a series of

‘Travels, Vol. I, p. 318; il, p. 256.

5A PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

leaps, the hind femora being greatly thickened and enlarged, kangaroo-
like. Incolor the housecricket is light yelowish-brown, and its squarish
body and spherical head are very characteristic. Theantenne or feelers
are very long and thread-like, exceeding the body in length.

The chirping song of the cricket is produced only by the male, and
is supposed to be a love call. If so, it has been pointed out that it
evidently betokens, on account of its long continuance, a ‘patient per-
sistence which deserves the highest encomium. It is produced by the
friction or stridulation of the upper wings over each other. At the
base of each of these wings is a large tale-like spot—the crepitaculam—
which is characterized by
its inflated appearance
and its very coarse, irreg-
ular veining. By rasping
or scraping the file-like
under surface of one wing
over the roughening of the
other the vibrant note of
the cricket is produced.
The song is, therefore,
analogous to that made

than to the voiceor sounds
of higher animals. Tobe
at all significant to the in-
sect, however, it must be
heard, and what seems to
be the insect ear is found
in curious organs on the
fore tibiz, represented in
the illustration (fig. 21,
¢, d, é, Ti
Fic. 21.—Gryllus assimilis: a, female; b, male; c, d, fore tibie, The house cricket usu-
inner and outer views showing drums of ear; e and /, drums ally oceurs on the ground
or tympana—enlarged. (original). :
floor of dwellings, and
evinces its liking for warmth by often occurring in the vicinity of
fireplaces, concealing itself between the bricks of chimneys or behind
baseboards, frequently burrowing into the mortar of walls. It is par-
ticularly apt to abound in bakehouses. It is rarely very abundant,
but at times multiplies excessively and becomes a very serious luisance.
During cold weather, or in cold rooms in winter, it remains torpid, but
under the influence of warmth it becomes active and musical. It is
easily kept in captivity as a pet, and will reward the possessor by
furnishing an abundance of its peculiar melody, and in Spain it is often
kept, it is reported, in cages, as we do singing birds. It is in the main
nocturnal in its habits, coming out in the dusk of evening and roaming

by an instrument. rather -

HOUSE FLIES, CENTIPEDES, AND OTHER INSECTS. 55

about the house for whatever food materials it may discover. It feeds
readily on bread crumbs or almost any food product to which it can
get access, and is particularly attracted to liquids, in its eagerness to
get at which it often meets death by drowning. It is a very pugnacious
insect and will bite vigorously if captured, and is also predaceous or
carnivorous, like most of its outdoor allies. It is supposed to feed on
various other house insects, such as the cockroach and is also probably
- cannibalistic. A pair of a native species kept in a cage by the writer,
for a short period manifested the greatest friendliness, but the male
shortly afterwards made a very substantial meal of his companion.

The crickets, in common with most other Orthoptera, will occasion-
ally, in pure wantonness seemingly, cut and injure fabrics, and are
particularly apt to cut into wet clothing, evidently from their liking
for moisture. Any of the
common field grasshop-
pers or crickets, entering
houses, are apt to try
their sharp jaws on cur-
tains, garments, etc., and
Dr. J. A. Lintner records!
the case of a suit of cloth-
ing just from the tailor
which was completely
Tuined in a night by
a common black field
cricket (Gryllus luctuosus),
_which had entered an open
window in some numbers. Fre. 22.—Gryllus assimilis: a, wing of female; 6, wing of
There is a popul ar super- male showing more irregular and coarser veining--enlarged

ee é (original).

‘stition also to the effect 2
that if a cricket be killed its relatives will promptly cut the garments
of the offender. .

In Europe, and undoubtedly also in this country, the hearth cricket
is found in houses in all sizes, from the very young to the full-grown
insects, and probably often deposits its eggs and goes through its
entire transformations within the four walls of dwellings. In summer
it also appears frequently out of doors in Europe about hedges and in
gardens, returning to the house for protection at the approach of cold
weather, and being apparently unable to winter out. of doors, at least
in cold climates. in this country it has been taken at electric lights
out of doors. Its eggs, judging from our knowledge of allied species,
are deposited in clusters, and the young resemble their parents very
closely, except in size and in lacking wings; they present also no
variation in habit.

So much superstition and popular interest attaches to the house

18th Rept. Ins. N. Y., p. 179.

56 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

cricket that frequently there is a strong feeling against destroying it;
and to many it is a pleasant incentive to revery, filling the mind with
pleasant contemplations, and perhaps lulling the wakeful to restful
Sleep. Not to all, however, does it appeal in this way, and for those
to whom its notes are rasping and irritating, and who fear for the
safety of their garments, or are otherwise evilly disposed toward it,
the following methods of control will be of interest:

It may be readily destroyed by taking advantage of its liking for
liquids, and any vessel containing beer or other liquid placed about
will usually result in crickets being collected and drowned in numbers.
It may also be destroyed by the distribution of uncooked vegetables,
such as ground-up carrots or potatoes, strongly poisoned with arsenic.
In the use of poisoned baits in dwellings great care, however, should

always be exercised.
C. a. Me

THE PAPER WASP.
( Vespa germanica Fab.)

It frequently happens, more particularly in suburban places and in
the country, that the common yellow jackets or paper wasps, notably
Vespa germanica Fab, will have their nests near dwellings and mul-

tiply to such an extent as to become serious nuisances about houses, to.

which they are attracted by the moisture about wells or to fruit refuse.

Under these circumstances they become a source of some danger from ~

the liability of their stinging horses. Unless houses are carefully
screened they will frequently be attracted into them in considerable
numbers, and on account of their pugnacious disposition render meal
taking a proceeding of considerable risk. They have a great fondness
for all sweetened liquids and will swarm over fruit, especially melons.

The species most apt to be annoying in houses in the East is the one
mentioned at the head of this article. It is of Huropean origin, and,
like many other introduced animals, as the English sparrow, for exam-
ple, has become even more numerous in its new home than in its old,
It sometimes nests in trees in Europe, but in this country commonly
dwells in large underground colonies located usually only a few inches
below the surface, and often in the deserted nests of field mice, which
have been cleaned out and greatly enlarged by their insect tenants.

The nest consists of a loose papery envelope, within which are from
four to eight stories or tiers of combs, attached to each other with strong
central supports. The largest combs sometimes have a diameter of 12
inches and the larger nests a capacity of upward of one-half bushel.
Throughout the summer a colony contains, in addition to the queen
mother, workers only. The perfectly sexed individuals, females or
queens and males, appear only in the fall, usually in September, are
much larger than the workers, and are reared in special cells of large
Size in the undermost or last constructed of the combs.

HOUSE FLIES, CENTIPEDES, AND OTHER INSECTS. 5

With the approach of cold weather the nests are abandoned, most
of the individuals, including all the workers and males, perishing, and
only the perfect females, the product of the last fall brood, wintering
over. Early in spring these over-wintered females come out of the
cracks in logs or holes in-walls, ete., in which they have hibernated, and
unaided originate new colonies of workers, which by midsummer often
contain 20,000 or more individuals. No honey, wax, or pollen is stored
in the nests, but the young are fed by the workers on a liquid derived
from insects or other substances eaten.

The paper wasps havea number of natural enemies. They are cap-
tured and devoured by two species of robber flies, and in addition their
underground nests, as I am informed by woodmen, are frequently dug
out by foxes and skunks, which feed on the larvee and pupe contained
in them.

The best means of abating the wasp nuisance is to discover the nest
and destroy the inmates. Ordinarily by watching individual wasps the
nest can be located, and the introduction of a few spoonfuls of chloro-
form or bisulphide of carbon into the entrance, after all have come in for
the night, will suffice to destroy the inhabitants.

Other Vespas, especially the common bald-faced hornet ( Vespa macu-
lata Linn.), which builds large paper nests in trees, also enter houses,
but not so abundantly as the small yellow and black species referred to.
The slender yellowish- brown wasps (Polistes spp.), which build uncovered
combs attached to rafters and in trees, are also frequent visitors in
houses, but are not so pugnacious and will rarely attack anyone unless
they are accidentally taken hold of or their nests disturbed. All of these
wasps are of more or less service to housekeepers in that they are

active enemies of the common honse flv.
C. L. M.

CHAPTER IV.

SPECIES INJURIOUS TO WOOLEN GOODS, CLOTHING, CARPETS, |
UPHOLSTERY, ETC. |

By L. O. Howarp and C. L. MARLATT.

THE CARPET BEETLE, OR “BUFFALO MOTH.”

(Anthrenus scrophularie Linn.)

All the year round, in well-heated houses, but more frequently in
summer and fall, an active brown larva a quarter of an inch or less in .
length and clothed with stiff brown hairs, which are longer around the
sides and still longer at the ends than on the back, feeds upon carpets
and woolen goods, working in a hidden manner from the under surface,
sometimes making irregular holes, but more frequently following the
line of a floor crack and cutting long slits in a carpet.

Fig. 23.—Anthrenus scrophularie: a, larva, dorsal view; b, pupa within larval skin; c, pupa, ventral
view; d, adult—all enlarged—(from Riley).

This insect in the United States is known as a carpet beetle in the
northern part of the country only. Beginning with Massachusetts, it.
extends west to Kansas. It is not known as a carpet beetle in Wash-
ington or Baltimore, and is not common in Philadelphia, but abounds
in New York, Boston, all the New England States, and west through
Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Hlinois, Iowa, and Kansas. It is
originally a European insect and is found in all parts of Europe. It
was imported into this country about 1874, probably almost simultane-
ously at New York and Boston. It has long been known on the Pacific
Coast, but not, so far as we are aware, in the role of a carpet enemy.

The adult insect is a small, broad-oval beetle, about three-sixteenths
of an inch long, black in color, but is covered with exceedingly minute

scales, which give it a marbled black-and-white appearance. It also
58

SPECIES INJURIOUS TO WOOLEN GOODS, ETC. Ho

has a red stripe down the middle of the back, widening into projections
at three intervals. When disturbed it ‘“‘ plays ’possum,” folding up its
legs and antenne and feigning death. As a general thing the beetles
begin to appear in the fall, and continue to issue, in heated houses,
throughout the winter and following spring. Soon after issuing they
pair, and the females lay their eggs in convenient spots. The eggs
hatch, under favorable conditions, in a few days, and the larvae, with
plenty of food, develop quite rapidly. Their development is retarded
by cold weather or lack of food, and they remain alive in the larval
state, in such conditions, and particularly in a dry atmosphere, for an
almost indefinite period, molting frequehtly and feeding upon their cast
skins. Under normal conditions, however, the skin is cast about six
times, and there is, probably, in the North,-not more than two annual
generations. When the larva reaches full growth the yellowish pupa
is formed within the last larval skin. Eventually this skin splits down
the back and reveals the pupa, from which the beetle emerges later.
The beetles are day fliers, and when not engaged in egg laying are
attracted to the light. They fly to the windows, and may often be found
upon thesills or panes. Where they can fly out through an open window
they do so, and are strongly attracted to the flowers of certain plants,
particularly the family Scrophulariacez, but also to certain Composite,
such as milfoil (Achillea millefolium). The flowers of Spirea are also
strongly attractive to the beetles. It is probable, however, that this
migration from the house takes place, under ordinary circumstances,
after the eggs have been laid. |

In Europe the insect is not especially noted as a household pest, and
we are inclined to think that this is owing to the fact that carpets are
jittle used. In fact, we believe that only where carpets are extensively
used are the conditions favorable for the great increase of the insect.
Carpets once put down are seldom taken up for a year, and in the
meantime the insect develops uninterruptedly. Where polished floors
and rugs are used the rugs are often taken up and beaten, and in the
same way woolens and furs are never allowed to remain undisturbed
for an entire year. It is a well-known fact that the carpet habit is a
bad one from other points of view, and there is little doubt that if car-
_ pets were more generally discarded in our more Northern States the
“buffalo bug” would gradually cease to be the household pest that it
is to-day. The insect is known in Europe as a museum pest, but has
not acquired this habit to any great extent in this country. It is
known to have this habit in Cambridge, Mass., and Detroit, Mich., as
well as in San Francisco, Cal., but not in other localities. In all of
these three cases it had been imported from Europe in insect collections.

REMEDIES.

There is no easy way to keep the carpet beetle in check. When it
has once taken possession of a house nothing but the most thorough

Fn

60 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

and long-continued measures will eradicate it. The practice of annual
house cleaning, so often carelessly and ‘hurriedly performed, is, as we
have shown above, peculiarly favorable to the development of the
insect. Two house cleanings would be better than one, and if but one,
it would be better to undertake it in midsummer than at any other time
of the year. Where convenience or conservatism den ands an adher-
ence to the old custom, however, we have simply to insist upon extreme
thoroughness and a slight variation in the customary methods. The
rooms should be attended to one or twoat atime. The carpets should
be taken up, thoroughly beaten, and sprayed out of. doors with ben-
zine. and allowed to air for several hours. Therooms themselves shouid
be thoroughly swept and dusted, the floors washed down with hot water,
the cracks carefully cleaned out, and kerosene or benzine poured into
the cracks and sprayed under the baseboards. The extreme inflamma-
bility of benzine, and even its vapor when confined, should be remem-
bered and fire carefully guarded against. Where the floors are poorly
constructed and the cracks are wide it will be a good idea to fill the .
eracks with plaster of paris in a liquid state; this will afterwards set
and lessen the number of harboring places for the insect. Before relay-
ing the carpet tarred roofing paper should be laid upon the floor, at -
least around the edges, but preferably over the entire surface, and when
the carpet is relaid it will be well to tack it down rather lightly, so that
it can be occasionally lifted at the edges and examined for the presence
of the insect. Later in the season, if such an examination shows the
insect to have made its appearance, a good though somewhat laborious
remedy consists in laying a damp cloth smoothly over the suspected
spot of the carpet and ironing it with ahotiron. The steam thus gen-
erated will pass through the carpet and kill the insects immediately
beneath it.

The measures used in the care of furs, rugs, and woolen goods gen-
erally to prevent the work of this insect during the summer are prac-
tically identical with those recommended for the clothes moths,
elsewhere mentioned. The most perfect and simplest is storage at a
temperature of from 40 to 42°F. For the cheaper methods the reader
is referred to the chapter on clothes moths. |

These strenuous measures, if persisted in, are the only hope of the
good housekeeper, so long as the system of heavy carpets covering the
entire floor surface is adhered to. Good housekeepers are conservative
people, but we expect eventually to see a more general adoption of the
rug or of the square of carpet, which may at all times be readily exam- -
ined and treated if found necessary. Where the floors are bad the
practice of laying straw mattings under the rugs produces a sightly
appearance, and, while not. as cleanly as a bare floor, affords still fewer

harboring places for this insect.
L. O. H.

SPECIES INJURIOUS TO WOOLEN GOODS, ETC. 61

THE BLACK CARPET BEETLE.
(Attagenus piceus Oliv.)

This carpet beetle occurs in general in the same situations in which
the preceding species is found. The larva is an active, light-brown,
somewhat cylindrical creature, clothed with closely appressed hairs,
and with a long terminal tuft of hairs at the end of the body. - It is
readily distinguished from the so-called ‘buffalo moth” by its shape
and in general by its lighter color. It is not so fond of working in
eracks and cutting long slits in carpets, and in general is not so dan-
eerous a species as the other.

This insect has been a denizen of the United States certainly since
1854. It is widespread in Europe and Asia, and first attracted atten-
tion as a carpet insect in this country in 1879, when Dr. Lintner found

Fie. 24.—A ttagenus piceus: a, larva; b, pupa; ¢, adult; d, dorsal abdominal segments of pupa; above,
at left, male and female antennz—all enlarged (origina)).

it in connection with the ‘‘buffalo moth” at Schenectady, N. Y. Ithad
previously been observed by Hagen in Cambridge, in the Museum of Nat-
ural History, at an early date, and had been found in feathers by Walsh.
Since 1880 it has become very abundant in Washington, D. C., and
here takes the place of Anthrenus scrophularie. It has been received
at the division of entomology from Goffstown, N. H.; Hartford, Conn. ;
New York City, Lawrence, Long Island, N. Y.; Washington and Cha-
grin Falls, Ohio; Detroit, Agricultural College, Charlotte, and Drain,
-Mich.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Wadestown, W. Va., and Memphis, Tenn.
From hearsay information the writer believes that it is also more
or less abundant in houses in Charleston, 8S. ©., Savannah, Ga., and
Jacksonville, Fla.

The adult insect is a small, oval, black beetle of the general appearance

62 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

indicated in the figure. It is readily distinguished from Anthrenus

scrophularve. Its natural history has not been studied in detail, but
there is little doubt that it is similar to that of the other species. It
seems to have a particular predilection for feathers and has several
times been observed to produce in feather beds a peculiar felting of the
ticking. It has also been known to infest flour mills and is to a certain
extent a feeder upon cereal products. It is a museum pest of consid-

erable importance, and, in fact, when first discovered in connection
with the Anthrenus, by Dr. Lintner, it was supposed to be present
around the margin of carpets simply in search of dead flies and other
animal matter, such as cast skins of Anthrenus, «te. In 1878 Dr. Hagen

stated in the Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History that

during late years this insect had propagated to a fearful extent in many
houses in Cambridge, and that he believed it to be responsible for fully

half of all the destruction ascribed to the previous species. In the
arranged collection of the Museum of Comparative Zoology it occurred

only rarely, and Dr. Hagen always found a crack or a slit in the infested

box through which the thin and slender young larva had entered. The
insect, he said, could always be recognized by the small, globular, ocher-

ous excrement. Mr. Schwarz, writing in 1890, spoke of the recent

increase in numbers of this insect in Washington, D.C. As a museum

pest he had found it frequently in insect boxes which were not quite

tight, but, fortunately, this species does not seem to be able to enter

through as small a crack as Anthrenus or Trogoderma. In January,

1892, Mrs. Horace French, of Elgin, Kane County, Ill., wrote us that

many houses in Elgin were infested both by this species and by the

buffalo carpet beetle. The black carpet beetle, however, seemed, accord-

ing to the correspondent, to work constantly through the year, unmind-

ful of change of temperature, while the other species did little damage

except during the warmer months. Her own house was completely.
overrun, and after taking up the carpets and discovering the full extent

of their ravages it was deemed unsafe to replace them.

Until recently we had made but one attempt to follow out the detailed
life history. This was in June, 1882, when the beetle seemed to be
especially numerous, flying into the open windows of the office. A num-
ber were placed June 20 in a jar with pieces of rag. On June 23 six
eges were found to have been deposited, three of which were already
much shriveled, apparently not fertilized. The color of the eggs was
white and they were extremely soft and of broad oval shape, with irreg-
ular striate sculpturing, like the markings on the paln of one’s hand. —
No further eggs were deposited and those previously laid did not hatch.

Quite recently, in the course of his studies of insects injurious to
stored food, Mr. Chittenden, of this office, has many times met with
the larva of this species in seeds and other vegetable products in the
museum of the Department. He has shown that the larva will breed
successfully from the egg in flour and meal. Incidentally, he observed —

SPECIES INJURIOUS TO WOOLEN GOODS, ETC. 63

that the beetles begin to appear in houses in Washington, D. C., as
early as the last of April and occur in the greatest numbers during the
hot spells late in May and early in June. By the middle of June their
numbers become less. Beginning on May 6, beetles were placed from
time to time into a jar with woolen cloth. On June 13 certain larve
measuring about 1 mm. in length were found. A year from the placing
of the first beetles in the jar the largest larve were found to be only |
4.5mm. long. Isolated full-grown larve were several times observed
to pupate, with the result that the pupal stage was found to last from
six to fifteen days. In Mr. Chittenden’s experiments in rearing this
insect two years were required for its development from egg to beetle.

REMEDIES.

Owing to the similarity of habits, the same remedies may be used
against this insect as against the buffalo carpet beetle. Notwith-
standing Mrs. French’s experience to the contrary, we do not consider
it as serious a household pest as the other species.

ee OF Es

THE CLOTHES MOTHS.
(Tinea pellionella, et al.)

The destructive work of the larve of the small moths commonly
known as clothes moths, and also as carpet moths, fur moths, ete., in
woolen fabrics, fur, and similar material, during the warm months of
summer in the North,
and in the South at any
season, is an altogether 2
too common experi- BB
ence. The preference
they so often show for -
woolen or fur garments
gives these insects a
much more general in-
terest than is perhaps
trueofany other house- yy
hold pest. Not only Fig. 25.—Tinea pellionella: a, adult; b, larva; c, larva in case—en-

larged (from Riley).
are they a pest to the
good housekeeper, but the bachelor, whose interest in domestic mat-
ters might otherwise remain at a low ebb, knows to his sorrow of
their abundance in the disastrous results of their presence in his
wardrobe. .

The little yellowish or buff-colored moths sometimes seen flit-
ting about rooms, attracted to lamps at night or dislodged from in-
fested garments, are themselves harmless enough; in fact their mouth
parts are rudimentary, and they can not enjoy even the ordinary

a
4) Ny AIMEE .

alll ‘
aay) kannst’ yun

Lp . f —
Ze } Hee me
CMA Le phd dy) Hi} yl f ik ’

64 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

pleasures of the winged existence of other moths in sampling the nectar
of flowers. It is, therefore, to the larve only that the destructive work
is due.

The clothes moths all belong to the group of minute Lepidoptera
known as Tineina, the old Latin name for cloth wornis of all sorts, and
are characterized by very narrow wings, fringed with long hairs. The
common species of clothes moths have been associated with man from
the earliest times and are thoroughly cosmopolitan. They are all prob-
ably of Old World origin, none of them being indigenous to the United
States. That they were well known to the ancients is shown by Job’s
reference to ‘‘a garment that is moth eaten,” and Pliny has given such
an accurate description of one of them as to lead to the easy identifica-
tion of the species. That they were early introduced into the United
States is shown by Pehr Kalm, the Swedish scientist whom we have
previously quoted and whoseemed to takea keen interest in house pests.
He reported these Tineids to be abundant in 1748 in Philadelphia,
then a straggling village, and says that clothes, worsted gloves, and
other woolen stuffs hung up all summer were often eaten through and
through by the worms, and furs were so ruined that the hair would
come off in handfuls.! j

What led to the first association of these and other household pests
with man is an interesting problem. in the case of the clothes moths,
the larve of all of which can, in case of necessity, still subsist on
almost any dry animal matter, their early association with man was
probably in the role of scavengers, and in prehistoric times they proba-
bly fed on waste animal material about human habitations and on fur
garments. The fondness they exhibit nowadays for tailor-made suits
and expensive products of the loom is simply an illustration of their
ability to keep pace with man in his development in the matter of
clothing from the skin garments of savagery to the artistic products
of the modern tailor and dressmaker.

Three common destructive species of clothes moths occur in this
country. Much conftsion, however, exists in all the early writings
on these insects, all three species being inextricably mixed in the
descriptions and accounts of habits. Collections of these moths were
submitted some years ago by Professors Fernald and Riley to Lord
Walsingham, of Merton Hall, England, the world’s authority on
Tineids, and from the latter’s careful diagnosis it is now possible to
easily separate and recognize the diffent species.

The common injurious clothes moths are the case-making species
(Tinea pellionella Linn.), the webbing species or Southern clothes moth
(Tineola biselliella Hummel), and the gallery species or tapestry moth
(Trichophaga tapetzella Linn.).

A few. other species which normally infest animal products may

1Kalm’s Travels, Vol. I, p. 317.

SPECIES INJURIOUS TO WOOLEN GOODS, ETC. 65

occasionally also injure woolens, but are not of sufficient importance to
be here noted. .

The case-making clothes moth (Tinea pellionella Linn.) (fig. 25) is
‘the only species which constructs for its protection a true transport-
able case. It was characterized by Linneus and carefully studied by
Réaumur early in the last century. Its more interesting habits have
caused it to be often a subject of investigation, and its life history will
serve to illustrate the habits of all the clothes moths.

The moth expands about half an inch, or from 10 to 14 mm. _ Its head
and forewings are grayish yellow, with indistinct fuscous spots on the
middle of the wings. The hind wings are white or grayish and silky,
It is the common species in the North, being widely distributed and
very destructive. Its larva feeds on woolens, carpets, etc., and is espe-
cially destructive to furs and feathers. In the North it has but one
annual generation, the moths appearing from June to August, and, on
the authority of Professor Fernald, even in rooms kept uniformly
heated night and day it never occurs in the larval state in winter. In
the South, however, it appears from January to October, and has two
or even more broods annually.

Pliny says of its larva that it ‘‘is clad in a jacket, gradually forming
for itself its own garment, like the snail in its shell, and when this is
taken from it, it immediately dies; but when its garment has reached its
proper dimensions it changes into a chrysalis, from which, at the proper
time, the moth issues.”

The larva is a dull white caterpillar, with the head and the upper
part of the next segment light brown, and is never seen free from its
movable case or jacket, the construction of which is its firsttask. Ifit
be necessary for it to change its position, the head and first segment are
thrust out of the case, leaving the thoracic legs free, with which it
crawls, dragging its case after it to any suitable situation. With the
growth of the larva it becomes necessary from time to time to enlarge
the case both in length and circumference, and this is-accomplished in
a very interesting way. Without leaving its case the larva makes a
slit halfway down one side and inserts a triangular gore of new mate-
rial. <A similar insertion is made on the opposite side, and the larva
reverses itself without leaving the case and makes corresponding slits
and additions in the other half. The case is lengthened by successive
additions to either end. Exteriorly the case appears to be a matted
mass of small particles of wool; interiorly it is ined with soft, whitish
silk. By transferring the larva from time to time to fabrics of different
colors the case may be made to assume as varied a pattern as the
experimenter desires, and will illustrate, in its coloring, the peculiar
method of making the enlargements and additions described.

On reaching full growth the larva attaches its case by silken threads
to the garment or other material upon which it has been feeding, or
sometimes carries it long distances. In one instance numbers of them

21470—No. 4 5

66 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

were noticed to have scaled a 15-foot wall to attach their cases in ar
angle of the cornice of the ceiling. It undergoes its transformations
to the chrysalis within the larval case, and under normal conditions the
moth emerges three weeks later, the chrysalis having previously worked
partly out of the larval case to facilitate the escape of the moth. The
latter has an irregular flight and can also run rapidly. It has a dis-
tinct aversion to light and usually promptly conceals itself in garments
or crevices whenever it is frightened from its resting place. The moths
are comparatively short lived, not long surviving the deposition of their
eggs for a new generation of destructive larve. The eggs are minute,
not easily visible to the naked eye, and are commonly placed directly
on the material which is to furnish the larve with food. In some cases
they may be deposited in tke crevices of trunks or boxes, through which
the newly hatched larve enter.

In working in feathers this insect occasionally causes a felting very
similar to that produced by the dermestid beetle Attagenus piceus ().61).

The protection afforded by the seclusion of this insect in houses does
not prevent its having insect ene-
mies, and at least two hymenop-
terous parasites have been reared
in this country from its larval

Da Sof ( NOI” cases. These are Hyperacmus

= Unypyy, Ly a oy = ~. WS E i -
Med Dy, “ana ah gs s099o tinew Riley MS., and Apanteles
~~ “Se... i Wg N Taree carpatus Say, both reared from

specimens collected in Michigan.
een, \—> The webbing or Southern
p< —_ clothes moth (Tineola_ Diselliella
Fic. 26.—Tineola biselliella: moth, larva, cocoon Hummel) (ig. 26) x the TORE
and empty pupa-skin—enlargea (after Riley). abundant and injurious species in
the latitude of Washington and
southward. It also occurs farther north, though in somewhat less
numbers than the preceding species. It presents two annual broods
even in the Northern States, the first appearing in June from eggs
deposited in May, and the second in August and September. It is
about the size of pellionella. The forewings are, however, uniformiy
pale ocherous, without markings or spots. Its larva feeds on a large
variety of animal substances—woolens, hair, feathers, furs, and in Eng-
land it has even been observed to feed on cobwebs in the corners of
rooms, and in confinement has been successfully reared on this rather
dainty food substance. The report that it feeds on dried plants in
herbaria is rather open to question, as its other recorded food materials
are all of animal origin.

Frequently this species is a very troublesome pest in museums, par-
ticularly in collections of the larger moths. Prof. F. M. Webster, of
Wooster, Ohio, has had some of his large moths badly riddled by its
larve, and Dr. Hagen also records it as feeding on insect collections.

SUB iin spo

SPECIES INJURIOUS TO WOOLEN GOODS, ETC. 67

Dr. Riley reared it in conjunction with the angoumois grain moth (Sito-
troga cerealella) from grain, it being apparent that its larve had sub-
sisted on dead specimens of the grain moth. It is very apt to attack
large Lepidoptera on the spreading board, and has, in fact, been carried
through several generations on dried specimens of moths.

Its general animal-feeding habit is further indicated by the interest-
ing case reported by Dr. J. C. Merrill, U.S. A., who submitted a sample
ean of beef meal which had been rejected as ‘‘weevilly.” The damage
proved to be due to the larve of Tineola biselliella and goes to sub-
stantiate the theory already advanced that clothes moths were scaven-
gers in their earliest association with man.

The larva of this moth constructs no case, but spius a silky or more
properly cobwebby path wherever it goes. When full grown it builds
a cocoon of silk, intermixed with bits of wool, resembling somewhat the
case of pellionelia, but more irregular in outline. Within this it under-
goes its transformation to the chrysalis, and the moth in emerging
leaves its pupal shell projecting
out of the cocoon, as with the pre-
ceding species.

The tapestry moth (7richophaga
tapetzella Linn.) (fig. 27) is rare in
the United States. It is much
larger than either of the other two
species, measuring three-fourths
inch in expanse of wings, and is
more striking in coloration. The
head is white, the basal third of the forewings black, with the exterior
two-thirds of a creamy white, more or less obscured on the middle with
gray; the hind wings are pale gray. |

It normally affects rather coarser and heavier cloths than the smaller
species and is more apt to occur in carpets, horse blankets, and tapes-
tries than in the finer and thinner woolen fabrics. It also affects felting,
furs, and skins, and is a common source of damage to the woolen
upholstering of carriages, being rather more apt to occur in carriage
houses and barns than indwelling houses. Its larva enters directly into
the material which it infests, constructing burrows or galleries lined more
or less completely with silk. Within these galleries it is protected and
concealed during its larval life, and later undergoes its transformations
without other protection than that afforded by the gallery. The dam-
age 1s dué aS much or more to its burrowing as to the actual amount of
the material consumed for food.

One of the parasites reared from pellionella (Apanteles carpatus Say)
has also been reared from this species at St. Louis, Mo.

Fic. 27.—Trichophaga tapetzella: adult moth—
enlarged (after Riley).

68 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHULD INSECTS.

REMEDIES.

There is no easy method of preventing the damage doue by clothes
moths, and to maintain the integrity of woolens or other materials
which they are likely to attack demands constant vigilance, with fre-
quent inspection and treatment. In general they are liable to affect
injuriously only articles which are put away and left undisturbed for
some little time. Articles in daily-or weekly use, and apartments fre-
quently aired and swept, or used as living rooms, are not apt to be seri-
ously affected. Carpets under these conditions are rarely attacked,
except sometimes around the borders, where the insects are not so much
disturbed by walking and sweeping. Agitation, such as beating, shak-
ing or brushing, and exposure to air and sunlight are old remedies and
still among the best at command. Various repellants, such as tobacco,
camphor, naphthaline cones or balls, and cedar chips or sprigs, have a
certain value if the garments are not already stocked with eggs or
larve. The odors of these repellants are so disagreeable to the parent
moths that they are not apt to come to deposit their eggs as long as
the odor is strong. As it weakens the protection decreases, and if the
eggs or larve are already present, these odors have no effect on their
development; while if the moths are inclosed with the stored material
to be protected by these repellants, so that they can not escape, they
will of necessity deposit their eggs and the destructive work of the
larvee will be little, if at all, restricted. After woolens have been given
a vigorous and thorough treatment and aired and exposed to sunlight,
however, it is of some advantage in packing them away to inclose with
them any of the repellants mentioned. Cedar chests and wardrobes
are of value in proportion to the freedom of the material from infesta-
tion when stored away; but as the odor of the wood is largely lost with
age, in the course of a few years the protection greatly decreases..
Furs and garments may also be stored in boxes or trunks which have
been lined with the heavy tar paper used in buildings. New papering
should be given to such receptacles every year or two. Similarly, the
tarred-paper moth bags are of some value, always, however, first sub-
jecting the materials to the treatment outlined above.

To protect carpets, clothes, and cloth-covered furniture, furs, ete.,
they should be thoroughly beaten, shaken, brushed, and exposed as
long as is practicable to the sunlight in early spring, either in April,
May, or June, depending on the latitude. The brushing of garments is
a very important consideration, to remove the eggs or young larve,
which might escape notice.. Such material can then be hung away in
clothes closets which have been thoroughly cleaned and, if necessary,
sprayed with benzine about the cracks of the floor and the baseboards.
If no other protection be given, they should be examined at least once
a month during summer, brushed, and, if necessary, exposed to the
sunlight.

SPECIES INJURIOUS TO WOOLEN GOODS, ETC. 69

It would be more convenient, however, to so inclose or wrap up such
material as to prevent the access of the moths to it, after it has once
been thoroughly treated and aired. This can be easily effected in the
ease of clothing and furs by wrapping them up tightly in stout paper,
or inclosing in well-made bags of cotton or linen cloth or strong paper.
' Dr. Howard has adopted a plan which is inexpensive and which he.
has found eminently satisfactory. For a smail sum he secured a num-
ber of the large pasteboard boxes such as tailors use, and in these
packs away all winter clothing, gumming a strip of wrapping paper
around the edge, so as to seal up the box completely and leave no
cracks. These boxes with care will last many years. With ‘thorough
preliminary treatment it will not be necessary to use the tar-impregnated
paper sacks sold as moth protectors, which may be objectionable on
account of the odor.

The method of protection adopted by one of the leading furriers of
Washington, who also has a large business and experience in storing
costly furs, etc., is practically the course already outlined.

Furs, etc., when received are first most thoroughly and vigorously
beaten with small sticks, to dislodge all loosened hair and the larve or
moths. They are then gone over carefully with a steel comb and packed
away in large boxes lined with heavy tar roofing paper, or in closets
similarly lined with this paper. An examination is made every two to
four weeks, and, if necessary at any time, any garment requiring it is
rebeaten andcombed. During many years of experience in this climate,
which is especially favorable to moth damage, this merchant has pre-
vented any serious injury from moths.

A common method of protection followed by larger dealers in carpets
and furs, etc., is the use of cold storage for protection. In all large
towns anyone can avail himself of this means by patronizing storage
companies, and protection will be guaranteed. A temperature main-
tained at 40° F. is protective, but often a much lower temperature is
maintained—down to 20° F.

In the case of cloth-covered furniture and cloth-lined carriages which
are. stored or left unused for considerable periods in summer it will
probably be necessary to spray them twice or three times, viz, in April,
June, and August with benzine or naphtha, to protect them from moths.
These substances can be applied very readily with any small spraying
device and will not harm the material, but caution must be exercised
on account of their inflammability. Another means of protecting such
articles is to sponge them very carefully with a dilute solution of corro-
sive sublimate in alcohol made just strong enough not to leave a white
stain.

Cra Mi:

CHAPTER V. :
SPECIES INJURIOUS TO WALL PAPER, BOOKS, TIMBERS, ETC.

By C. L. MarwatTrT,
THE WHITE ANT.
(Termes flavipes Koil.)

No insect occurring in houses is capable of doing greater damage
than the one under consideration. Its injuries are often hidden and
concealed until the damage is beyond repair, and as it affects the integ-
rity of the building itself as well as its contents, the importance of the
insect becomes very evident. Fortunately it is not often present in
the North in houses, but as the Tropics are approached the injuries
from it in dwellings or other structures of wood are of common expe-
rience and often of the most serious nature, causing the sudden crum-
bling of bridges, wharves, and settling of floors or buildings.

Fia. 28.—Termes flavipes: a,adult male; b, terminal abdominal segments of same from below; c, same
of female; d, nale, side view somewhat inflated by treatment with ammonia; é, abdomen of female,
side view; f, tarsus, showing joints and claw; a, d, ¢, enlarged; b, c, f, greatly enlarged (original).

The term “white ant,” by which this insect is universally known, is
entirely inappropriate in so far as it indicates any relationship with the
true ants. Strictly speaking, the white ant is not an ant at all, but
belongs with the Neuroptera and is allied to the dragon flies and May
flies. The only analogy with ants is in superficial resemblance and in
the social habits of the two groups, in which great similarity exists.
The popular acquaintance with the termite or white ant is mainly

70

SPECIES iNJURIOUS TO WALL PAPER, BOOKS, ETC. 71

derived from witnessing its nuptial spring flight, when the small,
brownish, ant-like creatures with long glistening white wings emerge
from cracks in the ground or from crevices in buildings, swarming out
sometimes in enormous numbers, so that they may often be swept up
by the quart. These winged individuals are not the ones which do the
damage, however, and are a mere colonizing form. The real depreda-
tors are soft-bodied, large-headed, milky-white insects, less than a
quarter of an inch in length, which may often be found in numbers
under rotting boards or in decaying stumps. These last are the work-
ers and soldiers (fig. 31, ¢ and d), and constitute the bulk of the colony
for most of the year, the winged migrating forms, consisting of the
sexed individuals, appearing normally only once a year, usually in
Spring or early summer.

The white ants present, in an entirely distinct order of insects,
another of those most curious problems of communal societies which
find so many examples among the ants, bees, and wasps. A colony of
white ants includes workers, soldiers, the young of the various forms,
and, at the proper season of the year, the winged males and females;
also a Single parent pair, the specially developed king and queen. In
the case of the common white ant of this country (Termes flavipes), the
true fully developed queen or mother of the colony and her consort,
the fully developed king or male, have never been found. The soldiers
or workers are degraded or undeveloped individuals of both sexes,
differing in this respect from ants and bees, in which the workers are
all undeveloped females. |

The economy of the termites is almost exactly analogous to that of
the ants and bees. The workers attend to all the duties of the colony,
make the excavations, build the nests, care for the young, and protect
and minister to the wants of the queen or mother ant. In this they are
assisted somewhat by the soldiers, whose duty, however, is also pro-
tective, their enormous development of head and jaws indicating their
role as the fighters or defenders of the colony. Both the workers and
soldiers are blind. The colonizing individuals differ from the others in
being fully developed sexually and in possession of very long wings,
which normally lie flat over each other, the upper wings concealing the
lower, and both projecting beyond the abdomen. These wings have a
very peculiar suture near the base, where they can be readily broken
off, leaving mere stumps. At the time of the spring flight the winged
individuals emerge from the colony very rapidly, frequently swarming
in clouds out of doors, and after a short flight fall to the ground and
very soon succeed in breaking off their long, clumsy wings at the suture
referred to. In this swarming or nuptial flight they come out in pairs
and under favorable conditions each pair might establish a new colony,
but in point of fact this probably rarely if ever happens. They are
weak flyers,-clumsy, and not capable of extensive locomotion on foot,
and are promptly preyed upon and destroyed by many insectivorous
animals, and rarely indeed do any of the individuals escape.

72 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

Theoretically, if one of these pairs succeeded in finding a decaying
stump or other suitable condition at hand, they would enter it, and the
king and queen, being both active, would attend to the wants of the new
colony and superintend the rearing of the first brood of workers and
soldiers, which would then assume the laborious duties of the young
colony. Thereafter the queen, by constant and liberal feeding and
absolute inaction, would increase immensely, her abdomen becoming
many thousand times its original size. She would practically lose the
power of locomotion and become a mere egg-laying machine of enormous
capacity. Allied species whose habits have been studied in this par-
ticular indicate an egg-laying rate of 60 per minute, or something like
80,000 per day. |

In the absence of a queen, however, white ants are able to develop
from avery young larva or a nymph of what would otherwise become a
winged female what is known as a supplementary queen, which is never ~
winged and never leaves the colony. This supplementary queen (fig.
31, a) is smaller than the perfect sexed queen, but subserves all the needs

Fig. 29.—Termes flavipes: a, head of winged female viewed from above; 6, same . from Pelow, with
mouth parts opened out—greatly enlarged (original).

of the colony in the matter of egg Jaying, and is the only parent insect ©
so far found in the nests of the common white ant in this country.
Whether a true queen exists or not is, therefore. open to question; if
not, all the individuals which escape in the spring and summer migra-
tions must perish, and this swarming would, therefore, have to be con-
sidered a mere survival of a once useful feature in the economy of this
insect, now no longer, or rarely, of service.

The normal method of the formation of new colonies is probably by
the mere division or splitting up of old ones or the carrying of infested
logs or timbers from one point to another.

The development of these curious insects is very sunple. There is
scarcely any metamorphosis, the change from the young larva to the
adult being very gradual and without any marked difference in struc-
ture. They feed on decaying wood or vegetable material of any sort,
and are able to carry their excavations into any timbers which are
moistened, or into furniture, books, or papers stored in rooms which
are at all moist. Their food is the finely divided material into which

SPECIES INJURIOUS TO WALL PAPER, BOOKS, ETC. (3

they bore, and from which they seem to be able to extract a certain
amount of nourishment, sometimes redevouring the same material sey-
eraltimes. They are also somewhat cannibalistic, and will devour the
superfluous members of the colony without compunction, and normally
consume all dead individuals, cast skins, and otherrefuse material. They
may also feed to a certain extent on the liquids produced by the decaying
vegetable matter in which they live, and perhaps on the fungoid ele-
ments resulting from such decay. They are capable also of exuding a
sort of nectar, which is used to feed the young and the royal pair, and
which they also generously give to each other.

All except the migrating winged forms are incapable of enduring
full sunlight, and the soft, delicate bodies of the workers, soldiers, and
yuong rapidly shrivel when exposed.
In all their operations, theretore, they
carefully conceal themselves, and in
their mining of timbers or books and
papers the surface is always left intact,
and whenever it is necessary for them
to extend their colonies it is only done
under the protection of covered run-
ways, which they construct of par-
ticles of comminuted wood or little
pellets of excrement. In this way the # ef
damage which they are doing is often CUELNXS \ o
entirely hidden, and not until furni- Fic. 30.—Termes flavipes: a, newly-hatched
ture breaks down or the underpinning a a ish: ie Fee ogee
and timbers of houses or floors yield
is the injury recognized. The swarming of winged individuals in the
early summer, if in or about houses, is an indication of their injurious
presence and warrants an immediate investigation to prevent serious
damage later on.

The common termite of America is very widespread, occurring from
the Atlantic to the Pacific and from Canada southward to the Gulf.
- It has been found on the mountains of Colorado and Washington ata
height of over 7,000 feet. In prairie regions it may often be seen during
the swarming season issuing from the ground at frequent intervals
over large pasture tracts, where it must feed on the roots of grass and
other herbage. It has also been carried to other countries and is a
common and often very injurious enemy of buildings and libraries
in Hurope. A closely allied and equally injurious European species
(Termes lucifugus) has also been brought to this country in exchange for
ours, but compared with our own species is somewhat rare though
already widely distributed. In this country serious damage to build-
ings from the white ant has not been of common occurrence, especially
in the North, except in some notable instances. In Europe our
species has caused greater damage, and some years ago gained access
to one of the Imperial hothouses at Vienna, and in spite of all efforts

(4 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

to save the building it was necessary ultimately to tear it down and
replace it with an iron structure. In this country instanees are on
record of very serious damage to books and papers. An accumulation
of books and papers belonging to the State of Illinois was thoroughly
ruined by their attacks. A school library in South Carolina, which
had been left closed for the summer, was found-on being opened in the
autumn to be completely eaten out and rendered valueless. In the
Department of Agriculture an accumulation of records and documents
stored in a vault which was not thoroughly dry, and allowed to remain
undisturbed for several years, on examination proved to be thoroughly

Fic. 31.—Termes flavipes: a, queen; b, nymph of winged female; c, worker; d, soldier—all enlarged
(original).

mined and ruined by white ants. Humboldt, on the authority of
Hagen, accounts for the rarity of old books in New Spain by the fre-
quency of the destructive work of these insects. .

Numerous instances of damage to underpinning of buildings and to
timbers are also on record. The flooring of one of the largest sections
of the United States National Museum has, for some years back, been
annually undermined and weakened by a very large colony of these
pests which could not be located, and finally the present season the
authorities solved the problem by replacing the wood floor with one of -
cement. A few years ago it was found necessary to tear down and

SPECIES INJURIOUS TO WALL PAPER, BOOKS, ETC. 75

rebuild three frame buildings in Washington in consequence of the
work of this insidious foe.

Damage of the sort mentioned has occurred as far north as Boston,
but, as stated, greatly increases as one approaches the Tropics, where the
warmth and moisture are especially suited to the development and mul-
tiplication of these insects. Here houses and furniture are never safe
from attack. The sudden crumbling into masses of dust of chairs, desks,
or other furniture, and the mining and destruction of collections of books
and papers, are matters of common experience, very little hint of the
damage being given by a surface inspection, even when the interior of
timbers or boards has been thoroughly eaten out, leaving a mere paper
shell. While confining their work almost solely to moistened or decay-
ing timbers or vegetable material of any sort, books, and papers that
are somewhat moist, they are known to work also in living trees, carry-
ing their inines through the moist and nearly dead heart wood. In this
way some valuable trees in Boston were so injured as to make their
removal necessary. In Florida they are often the cause of great damage
to orange trees, working around the crowns and in the roots of trees.
They are sometimes also the occasion of considerable loss in conserva-
tories, attacking cuttings and the roots of plants. In prairie regions
also their work must necessarily be of the latter nature.

The white ant is not confined to country places, but is just as apt to
occur in the midst of towns, and especially in buildings which are sur.
rounded by open lawns containing growing trees and flower beds richly
manured. |

The first means of protection, therefore, consists in surrounding all
libraries or buildings in which articles of value are stored with clear
spaces and graveled or asphalted walks. The normal habit of these
insects of breeding in decaying stumps and partially rotted posts or
boards immediately suggests the wisdom of the prompt removal of all
such material which would otherwise facilitate the formation or per-
petuation of their colonies. Complete dryness in buildings is an impor-
tant means of rendering them safe from attack, and the presence of
flying termites at any time in the spring or summer should be followed
immediately by a prompt investigation to locate the colony and deter-
mine the possibilities of damage. The point of emergence of winged
individuals may approximately, though not always, indicate the location
of the colony, and if it can be got at by the removal of flooring or
opening the walls, the colony may be destroyed by the removal of the
decaying or weakened timbers and a thorough drenching with steam,
hot water, or, preferably, kerosene or some other petroleum oil. The
destruction of winged individuals as they emerge is of no value what-
ever; the colony itself must be reached or future damage will not be
interfered with in the least. If the colony be inaccessible it may some-
times be possible to inject into the walls or crevices, from which the
winged individuals are emerging, kerosene in sufficient quantity te
reach the main nest, if the conditions be such as to indicate that it may

76 | PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

be near by, and by this means most, if not all, of the inmates may be
killed. In all districts of the South Go aeed papers ot libraries
and stored papers should be made.

The advisability, in regions where the ant is likely to be especially
destructive, of giving all buildings a stone foundation or imbedding all
the lower timbers and joists in cement will be at once evident.

THE SILVER FISH.

(Lepisma saccharina Linn.)

This insect is often one of the most troublesome enemies of books,
papers, card labels in museums, and starched clothing, and occasionally
stored food substances. Its peculiar fish-like form and scaly, glistening
body, together with its very rapid movements and active efforts at
concealment whenever it is uncovered,
have attached considerable popular in-
terest to it and have resulted in its
receiving a number of more or less deserip-
tive popular names, such as silver fish,
silver louse, silver witch, sugar fish, etc.
The species named above is the common
one in England, but also occurs in this
country, and, like most other domestic
insects, is now practically cosmopolitan.
It has a number of near allies, which
closely resemble it, both in appearance
and habits. One of these (Lepisma (Ther-
mobia) domestica Pack.) has certain pe-
culiarities of habit which will be referred
to later. The peculiar appearance of the
common silver fish early drew attention
to it, and a fairly accurate description of
aie: an ee eee adult— jit, given in a little work published in

eran London in 1665 by the Royal Society, is
interesting enough to reproduce:

Itis asmall, silvery, shining worm or moth which I found much conversant among
books and papers, and is supposed to be that which corrodes and eats holes through
the leaves and covers. It appears to the naked eye a small, glittering, pearl-colored
moth, which, upon the removing of books and papers in the summer, is often observed
very nimbly to scud and pack away to some lurking cranny where it may better
protect itself from any appearing dangers. Its head appears big and blunt, and its”
body tapers from it toward the tail, smaller and smaller, being shaped almost like a
carret.!

On account of its always shunning the light and its ability to run
very rapidly to places of concealment, it is not often seen and is most

1 Micrographia, R. Hooke, London, 1665.

“SPECIES INJURIOUS TO WALL PAPER, BOOKS, ETC. (7
difficult to capture, and being clothed with smooth, glistening scales, it
will slip from between the fingers and is almost impossible to secure
without crushing or damaging. It is one of the most serious pests in
libraries, particularly to the binding of books, and will frequently eat
off the gold lettering to get at the paste beneath, or, as reported by
Mr. P. R. Uhler, of Baltimore, often gnaws off white slips glued on the
backs of books. Heavily glazed paper seems very attractive to this
insect, and it has frequently happened that the labels in museum col-
lections have been disfigured or destroyed by it, the glazed surface
having been entirely
eaten off. In some
cases books printed on
heavily sized paper
will have the surface
of the leaves a good
deal scraped, leaving
only the portions cov-
ered by theink. [twill
also eat any starched
clothing, linen, or cur-
tains, and has been
known to do very se-
rious damage to silks
which had probably
been stiffened with
sizing. Itsdamagein
houses, in addition to
its injury to -books,
consists in causing
the wall paper to scale
off by its feeding on
the starch paste. It
occasionally gets into
vegetable drugs or

similar material left Fie. 33. Lepisma domestica: adult female—enlarged (original)
undisturbed for long

periods. It is reported also to eat occasionally into carpets and plush-
covered furniture, but this is open to question.

_ The silver fish belongs to the lowest order of insects—the Thysa-
nura—is wingless, and of very simple structure. It is a worm-like
insect about one-third of an inch in length, tapering from near the
head to the extremity of the body. The head carries two prominent
antenne, and at the tip of the body are three long, bristle-shaped
appendages, one pointing directly backward and the other two extend-
ing out at a considerable angle. The entire surface of the body is cov-
ered with very minute scales like those of a moth. Six legs spring

(eines PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

from the thorax, and, while not very long, they are powerful and enable
the insect to run with great rapidity.

In certain peculiarities of structure, and also in their habits, these
anomalous insects much remind one of roaches, and their quick, gliding
movements and flattened bodies greatly heighten this resemblance.
More striking than all, however, is the remarkable development of the
cox:e or basal joints of the legs in the silver fish, which finds its counter-
part in roaches, and, taken in connection with the other features of
resemblance, seems to point to a very close alliance between the two
groups, if, indeed, the silver fish are not merely structurally degraded
forms of roaches and to be properly classed with the Blattide. :

The general distribution of the insect about rooms, in bookeases,
and under wall paper renders the application of insecticides difficult
and often impracticable. It readily succumbs to pyrethrum, and where-
ever this can be applied, as on book shelves, it furnishes the best means
of control. For starched clothing and similar objects liable to be
injured by it there are no means except frequent handling and airing
and the destruction by hand of all specimens discovered. Little dam-
age is liabie to occur in houses except in comparatively moist situ-
ations or where stored objects remain undisturbed for a year or more.

Another of the common silver fishes of this country, referred to in
the opening paragraph, has developed a novel habit of frequenting
ovens and fireplaces, and seemingly revels in an amount of heat which
would be fatal to most other insects. It disports itself in numbers
about the openings of ranges and over thé hot bricks and metal, mani-
festing a most surprising immunity from the effects of high tempera-
ture. This heat-loving or bakehouse species (fig. 33) was described in
1873 as Lepisma domestica by Packard, who reported it to be common
about fireplaces at Salem, Mass. This species is also very abundant in
Washington. What is evidently this same insect has become very com-
mon, particularly in the last year or two, in England and on the Conti-
nent, where it manifests the same liking for hot places exhibited by it
in this country. The habit of this species of congregating in bake-
houses and dwellings, about fireplaces and ovens, has given rise to the
common appellation for it in England of ‘ fire-brat.” Similar descriptive
names are applied to them also on the Continent. This species closely
resembles the common silver fish in size and general appearance, but
may be readily distinguished from it by the presence on the upper
surface of dusky markings. It also possesses well-marked structural
differences, which have led to its late reference to a distinct genus—
Thermobia. An Italian entomologist, Rovelli, has described this insect
under the descriptive name furnorum, from its inhabiting ovens, and
the name of the genus to which it is now assigned by English entomolo-
gists is also descriptive of its heat-loving character. A Dutch ento-
mologist, Oudemans, reports that he has found it in abundance in all
bakehouses that he has examined in Amsterdam, where it is well known
to bakers and has received a number of familiar names.

SPECIES INJURIOUS TO WALL PAPER, BOOKS, ETC. 79

THE BOOK-LOUSE.
(Atropos divinatoria Fab.)

This pale, louse-like insect, measuring less than 1 mm. in length, usu-
ally occurs in houses, though rarely in any numbers, and is most often
seen on opening old musty volumes, scampering across the page to con-
ceal itself elsewhere. From this habit comes its popular name of book-
louse. It is one of the smallest of insects, nearly colorless, and almost
invisible to the unaided eye, except as its active movements attract
one’s-attention. It belongs to the family Psocide, and is somewhat
closely allied to the white ants, belonging in the same order. There are
a number of species of psocids which frequent houses, all popularly
styled book-lice, and having habits and characteristics very similar to
the one named above, which is the more common and annoying species,

a wees ee

CL
Fic. 34.—Atropos divinatoria: a, adult from below; 6, same from above: /, maxillary palpus: ¢, max-
illa (?):; d, mandible; c, labium—all enlarged (original).

and may be taken as thetype. All these troublesome house species are
soft-bodied, wingless, degraded creatures, representing the very lowest
form of insect life. A great many species, also, live out of doors, many
of these being winged and somewhat resembling plant-lice. They fre-
quently occur in numbers on the bark of trees and the walls of buildings,
and feed on lichens or decaying vegetable matter. The Psocide are
biting insects, having well-developed mandibles and other month parts.

One of the most interesting features in connection with the common
house species, and from which it takes sometimes the name ‘“‘death-
watch,” is the reputation it has of making a ticking sound, supposed to
prognosticate dire consequences ‘to some inmate of the house. That it
can make some such noise, probably by striking its head against some
hard object, seems te be pretty well established in spite of the seeming

80 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

impossibility of an audible sound being produced in this way by so
small an insect. This psocid is not, however, the true deathwatch.
This doubtful honor is shared by a near ally, also a psocid, and having
similar habits (Clothalla pulsatoria), and certain wood-boring beetles,
which frequently work in the timbers of houses.

The house species, and particularly the one named at the head of
this chapter, are widely distributed, almost cosmopolitan, and are
occasionally the source of very considerable annoyance and damage.
Throughout the warm season they may be frequently seen in cupboards,
on window ledges, or library shelves, especially among books or papers
which are seldom used. They are practically omnivorous, feeding on-
any animal or vegetable matter, and are especially fond of the starchy
paste used in book bindings or for attaching wall paper. They also
feed on flour, meal, and other farinaceous substances, and are frequently
very destructive to collections of natural history objects.

Under ordinary circumstances these insects are not especially injuri-
ous in dwelling houses, and it is only where the materials which they
are capable of injuring or in which they will breed are left undisturbed
for long periods that they are apt to multiply and cause any Serious
damage. Occasionally, however, they will multiply in excessive nuin- ©
bers in some available food supply-and swarm over the house, to the
ereat consternation of the housekeeper. In cases of such extraordi-
nary multiplication, so difficult are they to reach in the many recesses
in which they can conceal themselves that the most persistent and
thorough cleansing and fumigating are scarcely of any avail. For-
tunately, such instances of excessive multiplication are rare, but
there are several notable cases on record. The straw or husk fillings
of mattresses or beds seem to be especially favorable locations for their
multiplication, and in the worst cases of infestation the psocids have
come from such sources. Small species of psocids are often extraor-
dinarily abundant in straw in barns and stables, and Dr. Lintner
quotes Mr. McLachlan, of London, England, as having found myriads
of the species under discussion in the straw coverings of wine bottles.

Mr. Alfred C. Stokes, Trenton, N. J. (Insect Life, Vol. I, p. 144),
reports a case which may be taken as a sample of several recorded
instances of a similar nature. He says that in a new house kept by
very neat occupants a mattress of hair and corn husks which had been
purchased some six months before was found in September, after the
house had been closed about six weeks, to be so covered with these
insects that “a pin point could not have been put down without touch-
ing one or more of the bugs.” The side of the lower sheet next the
mattress was likewise covered, and further search showed the walls and
in fact the entire house to be swarming with them. A sweep of the
hand over the walls would gather them by thousands; bureau drawers
were swarming with them, and they were under every object and in
everything. The mattress was found to contain millions of them and

SPECIES INJURIOUS TO WALL PAPER, BOOKS, ETC. 81

seemed to be the source of supply. The measures taken were most
thorough. The mattress was promptly removed; walls and floors were
washed with borax and corrosive sublimate solution; carpets were
steam cleaned; pyrethrum was freely used; furniture was beaten,
cleaned, and varnished, the struggle being kept up for a year with all
the persistence of an extraordinarily neat housekeeper. The insect
continued to have the best of it, however, and persisted, though in
diminished numbers.

The family then removed to a hotel and for days the house was fumi-
gated with burning sulphur and the scrubbing was repeated. The
insect was still not entirely exterminated and the house was vacated
again and subjected to the vapor of benzine. The insects, two years
after the removal of the mattress, were reported to be still in the house,
greatly reduced, but to be found in dark corners.

An almost exact duplication of this experience is reported by Dr.
J. A. Lintner (Second Report, p. 198) as occurring in a residence in
Otsego County, N. Y., the infestation coming originally from straw-
filled ticks.

In aggravated cases of the kind noted nothing but the most thorough
steps will be of avail. The source of supply, if in straw or husk ticks,
should be promptly removed and the contents of the ticks or mattresses
burned.

Carpets and bedding should be steam cleaned and floors should be
thoroughly washed with soapsuds and the walls washed and repapered
or painted. Benzine or gasoline should be applied freely to all possible
retreats or to furniture which can not be otherwise cleaned. Thorough
fumigation with brimstone, as recommended for the bedbug (see p. 38),
or like fumigation with bisulphide of carbon, will destroy many of the
psocids if the room can be tightly closed for several hours.

There is no means of preventing the occasional occurrence of psocids
in houses, but unless exceptional opportunities are furnished they will
rarely be troublesome, and occasional examinations of book shelves or
other locations where they are apt to appear, with a liberal dusting of
pyrethrum powder whenever necessary, will ordinarily keep them in
check. With plenty of air and light and in apartments in daily use
they rarely appear in any numbers. The use of straw or husk filled
ticks or mattresses would seem inadvisable or at least should be discon-
tinued at the first indication of being at all subject to infestation.

THE AMERICAN SPRING-TAIL.

(Lepidocyrtus americanus Marlatt. )

This very anomalous little insect, measuring scarcely more than one-
tenth of an inch, silvery gray in color, with purple or violet markings,
may be frequently observed in houses in situations similar to those fre-
quented by the two species last described. In common with the silver

21470—No. 4——6

82 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

fish, it belongs to the order of insects known as Aptera (wingless), from
the fact of their having no vestige of wings throughout life.

The simple structure of these insects, and particularly their resem- —
blance to the larval state of winged insects, has Jed to the belief that
they are the primitive forms of insect life. That this is true is, however,
by no means certain, and they may rather be degraded or debased
examples of some of the higher orders of insects. The species figured
herewith is not infrequently found in dwellings in Washington, but is
apparently undescribed, and, in fact, little is known of the American
species. Itis, however, closely allied to a European form (L. cervicalis),
often found in cellars, and figured by Sir John Lubbock in his mono-
graph on these insects (Pl. XXV). Another allied European species
(Seira domestica) has been named from the fact of its being a frequenter
of houses.

YS ~ —s
Fe
L
= = Ps ae
prensa Nw
Zeta N
¢,
4,
Fic. 35.—Spring-tail (Lepidocyrtus americanus) Fig. 36.—Spring-tail (Lepidocyrtus americanus)

view from above (original). view from beneath (original).

These insects belong to the suborder Collembola, which (following
Sharp) is distinguished from the other suborder of Aptera, Thysanura,
by having but five body segments instead of ten, and possessing a
very peculiar ventral tube on the first segment, and commonly also a
terminal spring, by means of which these creatures leap with great
agility, and from which they take their common name of ‘“‘spring-tails.”

These insects, though very abundant, have been very little studied,
and little is known of their life habits. They often multiply in extraor-
dinary numbers, especially in moist situations, swarming on the sur-
face of stagnant water or on wet soil. They seem to be very tolerant
of cold, and we have interesting accounts of the occurrence of a spe-
cies related to the one figured in the Arctic regions on melting snow
fields and on glaciers, where they are known as “snow fleas” or ‘‘ snow
worms.” Other interesting forms occur in caves, and in the Mammoth
Cave in Kentucky they are notably abundant. In houses they may
often be found on window sills, in bathrooms, and sometimes, under

SPECIES INJURIOUS TO WALL PAPER, BOOKS, ETC. 83

favorable situations, in very considerable numbers. Especially are
they apt to occur where there are window plants or in small conserva-
tories, but are not confined to these situations. Very little is known of
their food habits, but they are supposed to subsist on refuse or chiefly
decaying vegetable matter. |

The striking peculiarities of these insects are in the remarkable
ventral tube and the strong saltatorial appendage of the extremity
ofthebody. The
first arises from
the forward body .—™
segment, and |
seems to act in
this species as a
sort of a retainer
for the leaping
organ, or spring
proper, as shown
meme. 306. It is
said to secrete a
viscid fluid, which Fic. 37.—Spring-tail (Lepidecyrtus americanus): a, lateral view of fe-
enables the insect male; b, foot of same; c, tip of spring-tail; d, body scale; e, upper lip

to better adhere or labium; f, mandible or jaws; g, lower jaws and lower lip or maxille
and iabium—(original).

tusmooth vertical

surfaces. The so-called catch,” or retainer proper, is Shown in a small
projection between the hind pair of legs and the spring (fig. 37), and
_ grasps the latter near the middle. The springing organ is two-jointed,
the last joint being bifurcate, and its terminals inclosing the ventral
tube. Itis shown in normal position in fig. 36, and as it appears when
leaping in fig. 37,a.

These insects can not survive dryness, and, while they will not often
occur in sufficient numbers to be particularly objectionable, the removal
of the moist objects or surfaces on which they congregate and the
maintenance of dry conditions will cause them to soon disappear.

A correspondent reports that, having been troubled by these or allied
insects for years in cellars and pantries, relief was finally obtained by
giving the shelves, cupboards, and walls a thorough coating of white-
wash inside and out. The pests abandoned the premises and were no
longer troublesome. This remedy will be worth trying, especially in
cellars and basement rooms, where there is likelihood of dampness and
consequent abundance of these insects.

CHAPTER VI.
COCKROACHES AND HOUSE ANTS.

By C. lL. Marrarn
COCKROACHES.
(Periplaneta americana et al.)

Roaches are among the commonest and most offensive of the insects
which frequent human habitations. They were well known to the
ancients, who called them lucifuga, from their habit of always shunning —
the light. The common English name for them, or, more properly, for
the common domestic English species, is “‘black beetle.” In America
this name has not been adopted to any extent for this insect, which was

Fic. 38.—The American roach (Periplaneta americana): a, view from above; b, from beneath—both
enlarged one-third (original).

early introduced here, and the term “roach,” or ‘‘cockroach,” is the
common appellation of all the domestic species. The little German
roach, however, is very generally known as the Croton bug, from its
early association with the Croton waterworks system in New York City.
The popular designations of this insect in Germany illustrate in an

84

COCKROACHES AND HOUSE ANTS. 85

amusing way both sectional and racial prejudices. In north Germany
these roaches are known as “‘Schwaben,” a name which applies to the
inhabitants of south Germany, and the latter section “even up” by call-
ing them “Preussen,” after the north Germans. In east Germany they
are called ‘‘Russen,” and in west Germany “ Franzosen,” the two latter
appellations indicating a certain national antipathy to rival countries
as well as a fanciful idea as to origin. Still other names are ‘‘Spanier,”
dating from the time of Charles V, and ‘‘ Dane,” from Denmark.

DISTRIBUTION AND HISTORY.

The roaches belong to a very extensive family, the Blattide, com-
paratively few of which, fortunately, have become domesticated. In
temperate countries some four or five species are very common house-
hold pests, and a few occur wild in woods; but they are essentially
inhabitants of warm countries, and in the Tropics the house species are
very numerous, and the wild species occur in great number and variety,
many of them being striking in shape, coloration, and size, one species
expanding more than 6 inches. The inability of the domestic roaches
to withstand unusual cold was illustrated by the fact that the severe
weather in the winter of 1894 in Florida, which was so destructive to
the citrus groves, on the authority of Mr. H. G. Hubbard, destroyed
all the roaches, even those in houses, except a few unusually well pro-
tected. Under suitable conditions in the more northern latitude the
domestic species often multiply prodigiously, and even in the far north
a species occurs in the huts of the Laplanders, and sometimes entirely
devours the stores of dried fish put away for winter consumption.

While the domestic species are few in number, nearly a thousand
species of Blattidz have been described and preserved in collections,
and it is estimated that perhaps upward of 5,000 species occur at the
present time in different parts of the world. The great majority of the
roaches live out of doors, subsisting on living vegetation, and oceasion-
ally in warm countries are very injurious to cultivated plants.

The roach is one of the most primitive and ancient insects, in the
sense of its early appearance on the globe, fossil remains of roaches
occurring in abundance in the early coal formations, ages before the
more common forms of insect life of the present day had begun to
appear. The species now existing are few in number in comparison
with the abundance of forms in the Carboniferous age, which might
with propriety be called the age of cockroaches, the moisture and
warmth of that distant period being alike favorable to plant UL
and the multiplication of this family of insects.

The house roaches of today were undoubtedly very early associated
with man in his primitive dwellings, and through: the agency of com-
merce have followed him wherever navigation has extendeil. In fact,
on shipboard they are always especially numerous and troublesome,
the moisture and heat of the vessels being particularly favorable to

86 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

their development. Itis supposed that the common oriental cockroach
or so-called ‘‘black beetle” of Europe (Periplaneta orientaiis) is of
Asiatic origin, and it is thought to have been introduced into Europe
in the last two or three hundred years. The original home of this and
the other common European species (Hctobia germanica) is, however,
obscure, and in point of fact they have probably both been associated
with man from the earliest times, and naturally would come into the
newly settled portions of Europe from the older civilizations of Asia
and Egypt. |

Of the other two domestic species especially considered in this paper
the Australian roach (P. australasie), as its name implies, is a native of-
Australia, and the American roach (P. americana) of tropical America.

Rarely do two of the domestic species occur in any numbers together
in the same house. Often also of two neighboring districts one may be
infested with one species, while in the other a distinct species is the
commoner one. The different species are thus seemingly somewhat
antagonistic, and it is even supposed that they may prey upon each
other, the less numerous species being often driven out.

STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS.

Although among the oldest insects geologically, roaches have not
departed notably from the early types, and form one of the most persist-
ent groups among insects. The house species are rather uniformly dark _.
brown or dark colored, a coloration which corresponds with their habit
of concealment during daylight. They are smooth and slippery insects,
and in shape broad and flattened. The head is inflexed under the body,
so that the mouth -parts are directed backward and the eyes directed
downward, conforming with their groveling habits. The antenne are
very long and slender, often having upward of 100 joints. The males
usually have two pairs of wings, the outer ones somewhat coriaceous and
the inner ones more membranous and once folded longitudinally. In
Some species, as, for instance, the black beetle, the females are nearly
wingless. The legs are long and powerful and armed with numerous
strong bristles or spines. The mouth parts are well developed and with
strong biting jaws, enabling them to eat all sorts of substances.

HABITS AND LIFE HISTORY.

In houses roaches are particularly abundant in pantries and kitchens,
especially in the neighborhood of fireplaces, on account of the heat.
For the same reason they are often abundant in the oven rooms of
bakeries or wherever the temperature is maintained above the normal.
They conceal themselves during the day behind baseboards, furniture,
or wherever security and partial protection from the light are afforded.
Their very flat, thin bodies enable them to squeeze themselves into
small cracks or spaces where their presence would not be suspected
and where they are out of the reach of enemies. Unless routed out by

COCKROACHES AND HOUSE ANTS. _ 87

the moving of furniture or disturbed in their hiding places, they are
rarely seen, and if so uncovered, make off with wonderful celerity, with
a scurrying, nervous gait, and usually are able to elude all efforts at
their capture or destruction. It may often happen that their presence,
at least in the abundance in which they occur, is hardly realized by
the housekeeper, unless they are surprised in their midnight feasts.
Coming into a kitchen or pantry suddenly, a sound of the rustling of
numerous objects will come to the ear, and if a light be introduced,
often the floor or shelves will be seen covered with scurrying roaclies
hastening to places of concealment. In districts where the large
American roach occurs they sometimes swarm in this way at night in
such numbers that upon entering a small room in which they are con-
gregated one will be repeatedly struck and scratched on the face and
hands by the insects in their frantic flight to gain concealment.

The black roach is less active and wary than the others, and particu-
larly the German roach, which is especially agile and shy.

The domestic roaches are practically omnivorous, feeding on almost
any dead animal matter, cereal products, and food materials of all sorts.
They are also said to eat their own cast skins and egg cases, and it is
supposed that they will attack other species of roaches, or are, perhaps,
occasionally cannibalistic. They will also eat or gnaw woolens, leather
(as of shoes or furniture), and frequently are the cause of extensive
damage to the cloth and leather bindings of books in libraries and
publishing houses. The sizing or paste used on the cloth covers and in
the binding of books seems to be very attractive. The surface of the
covers of cloth-bound books is often much scraped and disfigured, par-
ticularly by the German cockroach (Ketobia germanica), and the gold
lettering is sometimes eaten off to get at the albumen paste. On ship-
board the damage is often very extensive, on account of the vast num-
bers of cockroaches which frequently occur there, and we have reliable
accounts of entire supplies of ship biscuits having been eaten up or
ruined by roaches.

The damage they do is not only in the products actually consumed,
but in the soiling and rendering nauseous of everything with which
they come in contact. They leave, wherever they occur in any num-
bers, a fetid, nauseous odor, well known as the ‘‘roachy” odor, which
is persistent and can not be removed from shelves and dishes without
washing with soap and boiling water. Food supplies so tainted are
beyond redemption. This odor comes partly from their excrement, but
chiefly from a dark-colored fluid exuded from the mouth of the insect,
with which it stains its runways, and also in part, doubtless, from the
scent glands, which occur on the bodies of both sexes between certain
segments of the abdomen, and which secrete an oily liquid possessing
avery characteristic and disagreeable odor. It frequently happens
that shelves on which dishes are placed become impregnated with this
roachy odor, and this is imparted to and retained by dishes to such an
extent that everything served in them, particularly liquids, as coffee or

88 - PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

tea, will be noticed to have a peculiar, disgusting, foreign taste and
odor, the source of which may be a puzzle and will naturally be sup-
posed to come from the food rather than from the dish.

The roaches are normally scavengers in habit and may at times be of
actual service in this direction by eating up and removing any dead
animal material.

One other redeeming trait has been recorded of them, namely, that
they will prey upon that other grievous pest of houses which are not
subjected to careful supervision, the bedbug. Their habits in this direc-
tion have been recorded several times. One writer, in a narrative of a
voyage (Foster’s Voyage, Vol. I, p. 373), makes the following statement-
in this connection: |

Cockroaches, those nuisances to ships, are plentiful at St. Helena, and yet, bad as
they are, they. are more endurable than bugs. Previous to our arrival here in the
Chanticleer, we had suffered great inconvenience from the latter, but the cockroaches
no sooner made their appearance than the bugs entirely disappeared. The fact is
that the cockroach preys upon them and leaves no sign or vestige of where they have
been. So that it is a most valuable insect. !

The cockroach is, however, far too much of a nuisance itself to war-
rant its being recommended as a means of eradicating even the much
more disagreeable insect referred to.”

The local spread of roaches from house to house is undoubtedly
often effected by their being introduced with supplies, furniture. goods,
etc. That the Croton bug, or German roach, and probably the other
species also, may develop a migratory instinct has been witnessed by
Dr. Howard and the writer in Washington. (See Insect Life, Vol.
VII, p. 349.)

This very interesting instance of what seems to have been a true
migration, in which an army of thousands of roaches by one common
impulse abandoned their old quarters and started on a search for a more
favorable location, illustrates, as pointed. out by Dr. Howard, what is
probably of frequent occurrence under the cover of darkness, and
accounts for the way in which new houses frequently become suddenly
overrun with these vermin.

Proc, Dnt. soe. cond., 1359, Nes. 3, peat.
2The following interesting letter from Mr. Herbert H. Smith, the collector and
naturalist, gives a vivid picture of the roach nuisance in the Tropics:

“Cockroaches are so common in Brazilian country houses that nobody pays any
attention to them. They have an unpleasant way of getting into provision boxes,
and they deface books, shoes, and sometimes clothing. Where wall paper is used
they soon eat it off in unsightly patches, no doubt seeking the paste beneath. But at
Corumba, on the upper Paraguay, I came across the cockroach inanew role. Inthe
house where we were staying there were nearly a dozen children, and every one of
them had their eyelashes more or less eaten off by cockroaches—a large brown spe-
cies, one of the commonest kind throughout Brazil. The eyelashes were bitten oft
irregularly, in some places quite close to the lid. Like most Brazilians, these chil-
dren had very long, black eyelashes, and their appearance thus defaced was odd
enough. The trouble was confined to children, I suppose because they are heavy
sleepers and do not disturb the insects at work. My wife and I sometimes brushed
cockroaches from our faces at night, but thought nothing more of the matter. The
roaches also bite off bits of the toe nails. Brazilians very properly encourage the
large house spiders, because they tend to rid the house of other insect pests.”

COCKROACHES AND HOUSE ANTS. 89

LIFE HISTORY.

The roach in its different stages from egg to adult shows compara
tively little variation in appearance or habits. The young are very:

much like the adult, except in point of size and in lacking wings, if

the latter be winged in the adult state. In their mode of oviposition
they present, however, a very anomalous and péculiar habit. The eggs,
instead of being deposited separately, as with most other insects, are
brought together within the abdomen of the mother into a hard, horny
pod or capsule which often nearly fills the body of the parent. This
capsule contains a considerable number of eggs, the number varying
in the different species, arranged in two rows, the position of the eggs
being indicated on the exterior of the capsule by transverse lateral
impressions. When fully formed and
charged with eggs the capsule is often
partly extruded from the female abdomen
and retained in this position sometimes
for weeks, or until the young larve are *
ready to emerge. The capsule is oval, Fie. 39.—Egg-capsule of Periplaneta
elongate, or somewhat bean shaped, and = americana: a, side; b, end view—nat-
: : ural size indicated by outline figure
one of its edges is usually serrate. The (oyiginai).
young are in some instances assisted to
escape by the parent, who with her feet aids in splitting the capsule
on the serrate edge to facilitate their exit. On hatching, it is said, the
young are often kept together by the parent and brooded over and
cared for, and at least a colony of young will usually be found associated
with one or two older individuals. These insects are more or less gre-
garious, notably so in the case of the black beetle of Europe and to a
less extent with the German and American roaches.

They pass through a variable number of molts, sometimes as many
as seven, the skin splitting along the back and the insects coming out
white, soft, but rapidly hardening and assuming the normal color.
Some astounding statements have been made as to the length of time
required for the development of the roach from the egg to the adult.
Four or five years have been said to be necessary for an individual to ©
reach full growth; but more recent breeding experiments have not
altogether confirmed these statements. Their development, however,
is unquestionably slow, and probably under the most favorable condi-
tions rarely is more than one generation per year produced. In colder
countries the breeding and growth are practically restricted to the
warm season. During the winter months they go into concealment
and partial hibernation. Hctobia germanica has been shown to reach
ful] growth in a variable period from four and a half to six months
(Hummel, Essais Entomologiques, No. 1, St. Petersburg, 1821). The
common American roach (Periplaneta americana) has been carried from
the egg to the adult state in our insectary. Young hatching July 11

90) : PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

from an egg case received from Eagle Pass, Tex., reached the adult
stage between March 14 and June 12 of the following year, indicating
a period of nearly twelve months for complete development. The rate
of growth of the roach undoubtedly depends very largely on food and
temperature, and under unfavorable conditions the time required for
development may undoubtedly be vastly lengthened. The abundance
of roaches is, therefore, apparently not accounted for so much by their
rapidity of multiplication as by their unusual ability to preserve
themselves from ordinary means of destruction and by the scarcity of
natural enemies.

THE COMMON DOMESTIC ROACHES.

The four roaches which have been made the subject of illustrations
represent the species which occur most commonly in houses, bakeries,
or on shipboard. The numerous tropical house species, many of which
are perhaps only partially domesticated, and the subarctic roach of high
altitudes and of the extreme north have been omitted. —

The American roach (Periplaneta americana) (fig. 38) is the native or
_ indigenous species of this continent, originating, it is supposed, in trop-
ical or subtropical America.

The ancient and rather quaint account of this insect! quoted below
in a footnote indicates that this species early came to the notice
of our forefathers. Its domesticity doubtless resulted from ages of
association with the aborigines. It has now become thoroughly cosmo-
politan, and is unquestionably the most injurious and annoying of the
species occurring on vessels. It is sometimes numerous also in green-
houses, causing cousiderable injury to tender plants. It is a notorious
house pest and occasionally vies with the German roach in its injuries
to book bindings. One of the most serious cases of injury of this sort
was reported by the Treasury Department. The backs, sometimes
entirely, of both cloth and leather bound books were eaten off to get
at the starchy paste used in the binding. (Insect Life, Vol. I, p. 67-70.)

It is very abundant in the Middle and Western States, where it has
been until recently practically the only troublesome house species. In
the East it is not often so common as are one or other of the following
species and especially germanica. In foreign countries it has not become
widespread and is largely confined to seaport towns. In size it is

' The cockroach.—These are very troublesome and destructive vermin, and are so
numerous and voracious, that it is impossible to keep Victuals of any kind from
being devoured by them, without close covering. They are flat, and so thin that_
few chests or boxes can exclude them. They eat not only leather, parchment and
woollen, but linen and paper. They disappear in Winter, and appear most numer-
ous in the hottest days in Summer. It is at night they commit their depredations,
and bite people in their beds, especially children’s fingers that are greasy. They lay
innumerable eggs, creeping into the holes of old walls and rubbish, where they
lie torpid all the Winter. Some have wings, and others are without—perhaps of
different Sexes. ‘Catestby: Nat. Hist. Carolina, 1748, Vol. II, p. 10.)

COCKROACHES AND HOUSE ANTS. 91

larger than any of the other domestic species, and it is light brown in
color, the wings being unusually long, powerful, and well developed
in both sexes. :

The Australian roach (Periplaneta australasie) resembles very closely
the last species, but differs strikingly in the brighter and more defi-
nitely limited yellow band on the prothorax and in the yellow dash on
the sides of the upper wings (see fig. 40). In the United States it is
the most abundant and troublesome species in Florida and some of the
other Southern States. It is already practically cosmopolitan.

Fie. 40.—The Australian roach (Periplaneta australasie): a, male with spread
wings; b, female; c, pupa—all life-size (original).

The oriental cockroach, or black beetle (Periplaneta orientalis), is the
common European and particularly the English species, and is notable
for the fact that the female is nearly wingless in the adult state. The
wings of the male also are shortened, not reaching to the extremity of the
body. In color it is very dark brown, almost black, shining, and rather
robust, much stouter than the other species, making its English name
of “black beetle” quite appropriate. This species is notably gregarious
in habit, individuals living together in colonies in the most amicable
way, the small ones being allowed by the larger ones to sit on them,
run over them, and nestle beneath them without any resentment being
shown. This species was a common and troublesome pest in the British

92 ~ PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

colonies early in the eighteenth century, although unknown at the same
time in the French Canadian possessions.!

It then seemed to be commonly known as the mill beetle. The
early Duteh called them Aakerlach, and in the Swede settlements they

: were known as Brodetare
(bread eaters). It is now
very common in houses in
the East, but is quite gener-
ally distributed, and is the
common species even So far
removed from the Atlantic
seaboard as New Mexico.
The characteristics of this
insect are shown in the
accompanying illustration
(fig. 41).

The German cockroach,
Ectobia (Phyllodromia) ger-
manica, is particularly
abundant in Germany and
Fic. 41.—The oriental roach (Periplaneta orientalis): a, neighboring Kuropean

female; b, male; c, side view of female; d, half-grown countries, but, like most of

specimen—all natural size (original). the other domestic species,
has become world-wide in distribution. In this country it is very often

!

styled the Croton bug, this designation coming from the fact, already —
alluded to, that attention was first prominently drawn to it at the time

of the completion cf the Croton system of waterworks in New York
City. Lt” had
probably been
introduced long
previously, but
the extension of
the waterworks
system and of
piping atforded it
means of ingress
into residences,
and greatly vise Fig. 42.—The German roach (Hetobia germanica): a, first stage; b, second

courage d its stage; c, third stage; d, fourth stage; e, adult; /, adult female with egs-
spread and faeili- case; g, egg-case—enlarged ; h, adult with wings spread—all natural size

except g. (From Riley.)
tated its multi-
plication. The dampness of water pipes is faworanle to it, and it may
be carried by the pressure of the water long distances ioeen the
pipes without injury. This roach has so multiplied in the eastern
United States that it has now become the commonest and best known

1 See Kalm’s Travels, Vol. I, p. 321; II, p. 256.

COCKROACHES AND HOUSE ANTS. 93

of the domestic species, and its injuries to food products, books, etc.,
and the disgusting results of its presence in pantries, storehouses, and
bakeries, give it really a greater economic importance than any of the
other species.

It is very light brown in color, and characteristically marked on the
thorax with two dark-brown stripes. It is more active and wary than
the larger species and much more difficult to eradicate. It is the
smallest of the domestic species, rarely exceeding five-eighths of an
inch in length, and multiplies much more rapidly than the others, the
breeding period being shorter and the number of eggs in the capsules
ereater than with the larger roaches. The injuries effected by it to
cloth-bound reports have been the source of very considerable annoy-
ance at the Department of Agriculture and in the large libraries of
Eastern towns and colleges. The characteristics of the different stages,
from the egg to the adult, are shown in the illustration (fig. 42).

REMEDIES.

Like the crows among birds, the roaches among insects are appar-
ently unusually well endowed with the ability to guard themselves
against enemies, displaying great intelligence in keeping out of the
way of the irate housekeeper and in avoiding food or other substances
which have been doctored with poisons for their benefit. Their keen-
ness in this direction is unquestionably the inheritance of many cen-
turies during which the hand of man has ever been raised against
them.

The means against these insects, including always vigilance and
cleanliness as important preventives, are three, namely, destruction by
poisons, by fumigation with poisonous gases, and by trapping.

Poisons.—As just noted, roaches often seem to display a knowledge
of the presence of poisons in food, and, notwithstanding their practi-
cally omnivorous habits, a very little arsenic in baits seems to be
readily detected by them. In attempting to eradicate roaches from
the Department storerooms where cloth-bound books are kept various
paste mixtures containing arsenic were tried, but the roaches inva-
riably refused to feed on them in the least. This applies particularly
to the German roach, or Croton bug, and may not hold so strongly
with the less wary and perhaps less intelligent larger roaches.

A common remedy suggested for roaches consists in the liberal use of
pyrethrum powder or buhach, and when this is persisted in consider-
able relief will be gained. It is not a perfect remedy, however, and is
at best but a temporary expedient, while it has the additional disad-
vantage of soiling the shelves or other objects over which it is dusted.
When tsed it should be fresh and liberally applied. Roaches are often
paralyzed by it when not killed outright, and the morning after an
application the infested premises should be gone over and all the dead
or partially paralyzed roaches swept up and burned.

94 | PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

There are many proprietary substances which claim to be fairly
effective roach poisons. The usefulness of most of these is, however,
very problematical, and disappointment will ordinarily follow their
application. The only one of these that has given very satisfactory
results is a phosphorous paste, also sold in the form of pills. It prob-
ably consists of sweetened flour paste containing phosphorus, and is
spread on bits of paper or cardboard and placed in the runways of the
roaches. It has been used very successfully in the Department to free
desks from Croton bugs, numbers of the dead insects being found in the
drawers every day during the time the poison was kept about.

Fumigation.—W herever roaches infest small rooms or apartments-
which may be sealed up nearly air-tight, and also on shipboard, the
roach nuisance can be greatly abated by the proper use of poisonous
gases, notably bisulphide of carbon. This substance, distributed about
a pantry or room in open vessels, will evaporate, and, if used in suffi-
cient quantity, will destroy roaches. Unless the room can be very
tightly sealed up, however, the vapor dissipates so rapidly that its
effect will be lost before the roaches are killed. The hatches of ships,
especially of smaller coasting vessels, may be battened down, a very
liberal application of bisulphide of carbon having been previously made
throughout the interior. If left for twenty-four hours the roaches and
all other vermin will unquestionably have been destroyed. In the use
of this substance it must be always borne in mind that it is violently
explosive in the presence of fire, aud every possible precaution should
be taken to see that no fire is in or about the premises during the treat-
ment. Itis also deadly to higher animals, and compartments should
be thoroughly aired after fumigation. A safer remedy of the same
nature consists in burning pyrethrum in the infested apartment. The
smoke and vapors generated by the burning of this insecticide are
often more effective in destroying roaches than the application of the
substance in the ordinary way as a powder. There is no attendant
danger of explosion, and the only precaution necessary is to see that
the room is kept tightly closed for from six to twelve hours. The smoke
of burning gunpowder is also very obnoxious and deadly to roaches,
particularly the black English roach. On the authority of Mr. Theo.
Pergande, gunpowder is commonly used in Germany to drive these
roaches out of their haunts about fireplaces. The method consists in
molding cones of the moistened powder and placing them in the empty
fireplace and lighting them. The smoke coming from the burning
powder causes the roaches to come out of the crevices about the
chimney and fire bricks in great numbers, and rapidly paralyzes or
kills them, so that they may be afterwards swept up and destroyed.
This remedy will only apply to old houses with large fireplaces, and
has no especial significance for the modern house. It is presented,
however, aS a means applicable wherever conditions similar to those
described oceur.

Trapping.—Various forms of traps have been very successfully

COCKROACHES AND HOUSE ANTs. 95

employed in England and on the continent of Europe as a means of col-
lecting and destroying roaches. These devices are all so constructed
that the roaches may easily get into them and can not afterwards
escape. The destruction of the roaches is effected either by the liquid
into which they fall or by dousing them with hot water. A few of the
common forms of traps and the methods of using them are here
described.

A French trap consists of a box containing an attractive bait, the
cover of which is replaced by four glass plates inclined toward the
center. Theroaches fall from the covering glasses into the box and are
unable to escape. A similar trap used in England is described by
Westwood. It consists of a small wooden box in which a circular hole
is cut in the top and fitted with a glass ring, so that it is impossible for
the roaches to escape. This trap is baited nightly, and the catch thrown
each morning into boiling water. A simpler form of trap, which I am
informed by Mr. F.C. Pratt is very successfully used in London, Eng-
land, consists of any deep vessel or jar, against which a number of
sticks are placed, and bent over so that they project into the interior of
the vessel for a few inches. The vessel is partially filled with stale beer
or ale, a liquid for which roaches seem to have a special fondness. In
the morning these vessels are found charged with great quantities of
dead and dying roaches, which have climbed up the inclined sticks and
slipped off into the vessel. We have had fair success with this last
method against the oriental roach in Washington, but against the more
wary and active Croton bug it is comparatively useless.

Traps of the sort described, placed in pantries or bakeries, will unques-
tionably destroy great quantities of roaches, and keep them, perhaps,
more effectively in check than the use of the troublesome insect powders
or the distribution of poisoned bait, especially as the latter are so often

ineffective.
NATURAL ENEMIES AND PARASITES.

The common European egg parasite of the roach, Hvania appendi-
gaster, is now probably widely distributed. It occurs in the United
States and has also been found in Cuba. Unfortunately, its usefulness
is largely impaired by the occurrence of a secondary parasite, Hntedon
hagenowt, which preys upon and destroys the first, and has also been
introduced into this country with it.

A correspondent informs us also that the common tree frog will clear
rooms of roaches over night very effectually.

HOUSE ANTS.
(Monomorium pharaonis, et al.)
There are a number of species of ants often occurring in houses, the
- more important of which are common to both hemispheres, and are

probably of Old World origin. One of these, the little red ant (Monomo-
rium pharaonis Linn.), has become thoroughly domesticated and passes

96 | PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

its entire existence in houses, having its nests in the walls or beneath
the flooring, and usually forming its new colonies in similar favorable
situations. ‘T'wo other ants are very common nuisances in houses,
namely, the little black ant (Monomorium minutum Mayr) and the
pavement ant of the Atlantic Seaboard (Tetramorium ccespitum Linn.).
None of these ants are so destructive to household effects or supplies
as they are annoying from the mere fact of their presence and their
faculty for “getting into” articles of food, particularly sugars, sirups,
and other sweets. Having once gained access to stores of this sort,
the news of the discovery is at once conveyed to the colony, and in an
incredibly short time the premises are swarming with these unwelcome
visitors. :

In habits and life history these ants are all much alike, and, in com-
mon with other social insects, present that most complex and inter-
esting phase of communal life, with its accompanying division of Jabor
and diversity of forms of individuals, all working together in the most
perfect harmony and accord. The spec-
imens ordinarily seen in houses are all
neuters, or workers. In the colony itself,
if it be discovered and
opened, will be found
also the larger wing-
less females and, at
the proper season, the
winged males and fe-
males. During most
of the year, however,

the colony consists

Fie. 43.—The red ant (Monomorium pharaonis): a, female; }, almost exclusively of
worker—enlarged (from Riley).

workers, with one or
more perfect wingless females. Winged males and females are pro-
duced during the summer and almost immediately take their nuptial
flight. The males soon perish, and the females shortly afterwards
tear off their own wings, which are but feebly attached, and set about
the establishment of new colonies. The eggs, which are produced
in extraordinary numbers by the usually solitary queen mother, are
very minute, oval, whitish objects, and are cared for by the workers,
the young larve being fed in very much the same way as in the colo-
nies of the hive bee. The so-called ant eggs, in the popular concep-
tion, are not eggs at all, but the white larve and pupz, and, if of
females or males, are much larger than the workers and many times
larger than the true eggs.

As a house species the red ant (Monomorium pharaonis Linn.) (fig. 43)
is the common one. It is practically cosmopolitan, and its exact origin
is unknown. This species, nesting habitually in the walls of houses or
beneath flooring, is often difficult to eradicate. There is no means of

COCKROACHES AND HOUSE ANTS. 97

doing this except to locate the nest by following the workers back to
their point of entrance. If in a wall the inmates may sometimes be
reached by injecting bisulphide of carbon or alittle kerosene. If under
flooring it may sometimes be possible to get at them by taking up a
section. Unless the colony can be reached and destroyed all other
measures will be of only temporary avail.

The little black ant(Monomoriwm minutum Mayr) (fig. 44) i is not strictly
a house species, although frequently occurring indoors, and becoming at

times quite as troublesome as the red ant. Its colonies usually occur

under stones in yards, but are frequently found in the fields, and wili
be recognized from the little pyramids of fine grains of soil which sur-

Fig. 44.—The little black ant (Monomorium minutum): a, female; 6, same with wings; c, male; d,
workers; ¢, pupa; f, larva; g, egg of worker—all enlarged (original).

round the entrances to the excavations. If these colonies be opened
they will be found to contain workers and usually one or more very
much larger gravid females. This species, when occurring in houses,
can often be traced to its outdoor colony, and the destruction of this
will prevent further trouble.

The pavement ant of our Eastern cities (Tetramorium cespitum Linn.)
(fig. 45) is in Europe the common meadow ant, and is two or three times
larger than either of the other species referred to. . It was early intro-
duced into this country, and, while not yet reported from the West, is
very common in Eastern towns, and particularly here in Washington.
It has readily accommodated itself to the conditions of urban existence,

21470—No. 4———7

98 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

and commonly has its colonies under pavements, where it is often diffi-
cult of access, or beneath flagging or stonesin yards. Itis often a more

persistent and pestilent house nuisance than the true house ant.

This seems to be the species referred to by Kalm! in 1748 as often
occurring in houses in Philadelphia and manifesting a great fondness
for sweets. He records also some interesting experiments made by
Mr. (Benjamin?) Franklin, indicating the ability of these ants to commu-
nicate with one another.

The colonies of the pavement ant are often large, and they may fre-
quently be uncovered in masses of a quart or more on turning over
stones in yards or lifting flagging in paths. -

‘This ant may be often with little difficulty traced to its nest, which,

_ ifaccessible, or not thoroughly protected by unbroken pavement, as of

Fic. 45.—The pavement ant (Tetramorium cespitum): a, winged female; 6, same without wings;
c, male; d, worker; ¢, larva of female; 7, head of same; g, pupa of same—all enlarged (original).

asphalt, can be rather easily exterminated. So well established is the
species, however, that new colonies will usually soon take the place of
those destroyed.

Drenching the nests with boiling water or saturating them with coal
oil, which latter also may be introduced into cracks in pavements or
walls, are effective means of abating the nuisance of this ant.

There are several other ants closely resembling this last, mostly
species of Lasius, some foreign and some native, which form large
colonies in yards, throwing up earthen ant hills, beneath which are
extensive systems of underground galleries. These may often get into
near-by houses and become quite as troublesome as the ants already
mentioned.

Excellent success has been had in destroying these ants with the use
of bisulphide of carbon applied in their nests: The method consists in
pouring an ounce or two of the bisulphide into each of a number of

————

1Kalm’s Travels, Vol. I, p. 238.

COCKROACHES AND HOUSE ANTS. 99

holes made in the nest with a stick, promptly closing the holes with the

foot. The bisulphide penetrates through the underground tunnels

and kills the ants in enormous numbers, and if applied with sufficient

liberality will exterminate the whole colony.
Whenever the nests of any of these ants can not be located, Here 1S
no other resource but the temporary expedient of destroying them

- wherever they occur in the house. The best means of effecting this

end is to attract them to small bits of sponge moistened with sweetened
water and placed in the situations where they are most numerous.
These sponges may be collected several times daily and the ants
Swarming in them destroyed by immersion in hot water. It is reported
also that « sirup made by dissolving borax and sugar in boiling water
will effect the destruction of the ants readily and in numbers. The
removal of tle attracting substances, wherever practicable, should
always be the first step.

That it is possible to drive ants away from household supplies by the
use of repellants is asserted by a Washington lady who has been much
troubled in the past with these pests. Her practice, which she says
has always given complete satisfaction, consists in placing gum cam-
phor, either free or wrapped loosely in paper, in pantry, sugar barrel,
or other situation infested with ants. The odor of the camphor seems
to be very distasteful to them and they promptly leave the premises.

CHAPTER “VI:
SOME INSECTS AFFECTING CHEESE, HAMS, FRUIT, AND VINEGAR. .

By L. O. HOWARD.

THE CHEESE, HAM, AND FLOUR MITES.
(Tyroglyphus longior L. and T. siro Gerv.)

Very minute, more or less colorless, eight-legged creatures swarm in
numbers over and in old cheese and various stored products, such as
dried meats, dried fruit, vanilla, and flour of different kinds. The
species may be distinguished by the illustrations. Tyroglyphus longior

Fic. 46.—Tyroglyphus longior: a, female; b, male—greatly enlarged (after Canestrini).

is more rapid in its movements, larger in size, with longer and more cyl.
indrical body, and longer and more numerous shining hairs sticking out
on thesides. The two species are frequently found feeding in common.

Both species are common to Europe and the United States, and both

have probably been carried to all parts of the world in food supplies.
100

SOME INSECTS AFFECTING CHEESE, HAMS, FRUIT, ETC. 101

Aristotle knew the cheese mites and spoke of them as the smallest
of living creatures. Many subsequent writers have figured them and
mentioned them, but the full life history was not known until 1868,
when Claparéede determined that the genus Hypopus was composed of
forms which are steps in the development of true tyroglyphids.

All through the summer months, and in warm houses during the
winter months, these creatures breed with astonishing rapidity and
fecundity. The rapidity of multiplication and the extraordinary num-
bers in which these mites will occur under favorable conditions are
almost incredible. In 1882 7. longior was found in an Ohio packing
house, covering the dried and packed refuse (ready for sale as a fertil-
izer) in a layer which in some places was half an inch in thickness. At
a low estimate 1 square inch of such a layer would contain 100,000 indi-
viduals. The females bring forth their young alive, and these in turn
reach full growth and reproduce, until a_
cheese, once infested by a few, swarms with
the crawling multitude, which cause its solid
mass to crumble and become mixed with
excremental pellets and cast-off skins.
Through the summer months the mites are
soft bodied and have comparatively feeble
powers of locomotion, and when they have
become numerous enough to devour the
whole of a cheese, with no other food at
hand, it was for a long time a puzzle to know
what became of them and to understand of.
how a cheese could become affected without / i \\\
eontact with another infested cheese or i \
without being placed in an infested room. It
has been ascertained, however, that when
necessity requires it, and when the insects 1! 47-—Tyroglyphus stro: female—-

: greatly enlarged (after Berlese). ,
happen to be in the proper stage of growth,
they have the power of not only almost indefinitely prolonging exist-
ence, but of undergoing a complete change of form, acquiring hard,
brown protective coverings into which all of the legs can be drawn in
repose. Back in Van Leeuwenhoek’s time this Dutch naturalist showed
that even the softer form can undergo a fast of eleven weeks without
apparent discomfort, and it is now known that in the hard-shell or
Hypopus state it may remain for many months without food.

In the majority of cases, however, where a given cheese is completely
destroyed, all of the young and old mites perish and only those of
middle age which are ready to take on the Hypopus condition survive.
These fortunate survivors, possessing their souls with patience, retire
into their shells and fast and wait, and as everything comes to him who
waits, some lucky day a mouse or house fly or some other insect comes
that way, and the little mite clings to it and is carried away to some

aie anaeee

een

102 : PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSEC'IS.

spot where another cheese or food in some other form is at hand. It
is in this way, as well as by the more readily understood means, that
new cheese becomes infested and that the insect makes its appearance
in pantries supposed to be perfectly clean.

REMEDIES AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES.

‘When we consider the great hardihood and extreme tenacity of life
of this insect in the Hypopus condition, and the fact that almost every
flying or crawling thing may become its common carrier, the difficulty
of disinfecting a storeroom and of keeping it disinfected becomes very
plain. Nothing, in fact, but the utmost cleanliness and watchfulness —
will prevent the appearance of the mites. When they have once entered
a cheese, for example, there is no remedy except to cut out the infested
portions. All energies must be bent toward prevention. If a given
room seems to be badly infested it should be cleaned out, fumigated
with sulphur, and washed out thoroughly with kerosene emulsion. —
Food supplies liable to be infested should be inspected daily during ~
hot weather.

It is a point of considerable interest and of some practical account
that there often occur, where these mites are present in numbers, one or
more species of predaceous mites which feed exclusively on the injurious
individuals and tend to greatly lessen their numbers. Some years ago
a gentleman in Milwaukee sent the writer some thousands of mites
which were found in a bin of wheat in an old elevator. They occurred.
in such numbers that every morning a quart or more could be swept .
up below the spout where they had sifted out. An examination of
Specimens sent showed that three species of predaceous mites were
present among the others, and one of them was so numerous that there
was no hesitation in writing to the Milwaukee gentleman that the pre-
daceous mites would probably soon destroy the wheat feeders and thus
the pest of mites would correct itself. The prediction was speedily
verified in part a week or so later, when the correspondent wrote: “As
you say, the parasitic mites have largely destroyed the smaller ones,
and I suppose when their food is all gone they will die of starvation.”

THE CHEESE SKIPPER OR HAM SKIPPER.
(Piophila casei Linn.)

A small, glistening, black, two-winged fly lays its eggs on cheese,
smoked ham, and chipped beef. The eggs hatch into small white cylin-
drical maggots which feed upon the cheese or meat and rapidly reach
fall growth, at which time they are one-fifth of an inch in length. The
mageot is commonly called *‘ skipper” from its wonderful leaping pow-
ers, which it possesses in common with certain other fly larve, all of
which are devoid of legs. The leap is made by bringing the two ends
of the body together and suddenly releasing them like a spring. In
this way it will sometimes jump 3 or 4 inches.

ae
- Fi

et ee el ee,

t
}

t

:

.
;

SOME INSECTS AFFECTING CHEESE, HAMS, FRUIT, ETC. 103

This insect, like so many other household species, is cosmopolitan,
and was doubtless originally imported from Europe into the United
States.

Careful observations on the life history of this species have been
made by several writers. In 1892 Miss M. E. Murtfeldt, whose atten-
tion was called to the species on account of the great damage which it
was represented to be doing in certain Western packing and curing
establishments, studied the life history of the summer generation.
The eggs were shown by Miss Murtfeldt to be deposited in. more or less
compact clusters of from 5 to 15, and also scattered singly. In her
observation jars the average number was 30 to a single female, but it is
possible that under these abnormal conditions the number was smaller

Fie. 48.—Piophila casei: a, larva; b, puparium; c, pupa; d, male fly; e, female with wings folded—all
enlarged (original).

than usual. The egg is white, slender, oblong, slightly curved, 1 mm.
in length, with a diameter of about one-fourth its length. Hatching
takes place within thirty-six hours. The larva is cylindrical, tapering
gradually toward anterior end, and truncate posteriorly, furnished at
hinder extremity with two horny projecting stigmata and a pair of
fleshy filaments. The larva completes its growth in from seven to eight
days, attaining a length of from 7 to9 mm. While feeding, if the food
supply is sufficient it does not move about much, entire clusters of
larve often completing their growth in the same crevice in which the
mother flies deposited their eggs. When mature, however, it moves
away to some dry spot, contracts in length, assumes a yellowish color,
and gradually forms into a golden-brown puparium 4 or 5mm. in length.

1Insect Life, Vol. VI, pp. 170-175.

|

104. PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

In ten days the adult fly issues. Miss Murtfeldt was unable to make
the fly lay its eggs on fresh meat of any kind, nor did she find that it

_ was able to breed upon meat which was simply salty. The average

duration of adult larvee, according to her observations, does not exceed
a week, and thus the entire life cycle may be concluded in three weeks.
These observations were made in August. |

During February of the same year specimens of the same insect were
sent by a Kansas packing house to Mr. V. L. Kellogg, then of the
Kansas State University. At that time of the year his breeding notes
show that the egg state occupied about four days, the larva state about
two weeks, and the pupa state one week.! The adults lived in the-
breeding jars from six days to two weeks after issuing from the puparia.
Larve kept with ham and bacon did not take at all kindly to cheese
to which they were removed. Careful observations on the life history in
Europe have been made by Dr. H. F. Kessler.?, Dr. Kessler found that
the average time in developing from the egg to the adult is four to five -
weeks, with two or three generations during the summer, the last
generation occurring in September, the larva over-wintering in the
puparium and transforming to pupain May. Other writers say that
the insect passes the winter in the adult stage.

As a cheese insect in this country this fly does not play as impor-
tant a réle as it does as an enemy to smoked meat. It is a matter of
observation that the mother fly seems to prefer the older and richer
cheeses in which to deposit eggs. Her taste is excellent, and while
it is a fair thing to say that ‘‘skippery” cheese is usually the best, it
will hardly do to support the conclusion that it is good because it is
‘‘skippery,” although this conclusion is current among a certain class
of cheese eaters. With the abundance of the species in packing
houses we have nothing to do in this connection. When occurring
upon hams it seems to prefer the outer fatty portions.

REMEDIES.

All that we have said of the preventives for the cheese and meat
mites will answer equally well for the “skipper.” Portions of cheese
and hams attacked should be cut out, shelves of pantries should be
kept scrupulously clean, and the kerosene-cmulsion wash used when it
has once been determined that the insect is present in numbers. Every
crack should be carefully washed out, since the puparia might be found
in such situations. Close screening of the windows of pantries is
advised to keep out the fly.

1Trans. Kans. Acad. Sci., Vol. XIII, 114-115.
2 Bericht d. Ver. f. Naturk. z. Cassel, Vols. XXIX u. XXX, pp. 538-60.

Bis
b ex)

J A;

3
,
3

SOME INSECTS AFFECTING CHEESE, HAMS, FRUIT, ETC. 105

THE RED-LEGGED HAM BEETLE.
(Necrobia rufipes DeG.)

Two or three species of small beetles belonging to the family Cleride,

and which are normally scavengers, feed occasionally upon dried meats

and other stored animal products. The most abundant one in this
country is the species indicated in the title. It is a small, rather slen-
der beetle of dark bluish color, with reddish legs. Its larvaisa slender

worm, and is at first white, with a brown head and two small hooks at

the end of the body. As it becomes older it becomes darker, aud when

full grown is grayish white, with a series of brown patches above. It

is then rather more than one-half an inch in length and transforms

within a paper-like cocoon. From the appearance of this cocoon the

insect has become known
as the ‘‘paper worm” to
dealers in hams and dried
NOW
Necrobia rufipes is a cos-
mopolitan species, oceur-
ring all over the United
States, in HKurope, Austra-
lia, Africa, and the Hast
Indies. Itis hardly aspe-
cies that causes aconstant
drain upon the profits of
the trade, but occasion-
ally, under exceptional
Fic. 49.—Necrobia rufipes: a, larva; b, head circumstances, it becomes
of same; c, adult beetie—a, c, enlarged; extremely abundant, and
Lh Ue bascalycalarecd (Cueva may ruin many hams. It
is by no means uncommon, and is particularly abundant in the West
and South.

The injuries caused by this insect are generally due to careless pack-
ing of hams or to the accidental cutting or cracking or even to a con-
siderable stretching or fraying of the canvas covering.

As indicated above, this insect is not confined to hams for its food, but
lives upon other dead animal matter, not always waiting, however, as do
certain other insects, for decomposition to set in before beginning its
attacks. The beetle, appearing in May or June, either having bred in
the storehouse or-storeroom in question, or having flown in from the
outside, is attracted to the hams, and wherever it can find the slightest
bit of exposed meat it lays a number of minute, narrow, whitish eggs.
Such hams as have been injured by overheating or by hanging too long
in the sun, from rain, and particularly those which have become slimy
from lying too long in the pile, are those which attract it most; but it
never seems to lay eggs except where the meat is more or less exposed,

LOG 23 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

or, at all events, if it does lay the eggs, the young grubs, on hatching,
fail to reach the meat, except where they are not obliged to penetrate
the canvas.

The larvee hatch in a few days and burrow into the fatty tissue near
the rind, growing rapidly, and seeming to congregate, by preference,
in the hollow of the bone at the butt end of the ham. As stated above,

they are, when first hatched, white in color, with a brown head and two

small hooks at the end of the body. They are slender and very active,
and upon reaching full growth they either gnaw into the muscle of the

ham or occasionally eat into a neighboring beam, forming a glistening,

paper-like cocoon,-which appears granulated on the outside. Within_
this cocoon the larva casts its skin and assumes the pupa State, issuing
as a perfect beetle in a longer or a shorter time. According to Dr.
Riley, who treated this species in his Sixth Report on the Insects of
Missouri (p. 96), there are several generations in the course of a year
at St. Louis, but the winter is invariably passed in the larval condition, ~
the first beeties appearing, as previously stated, not earlier than the
1st of May, and usually not before the middle of that month.!

REMEDIES

The only remedies which need be insisted upon in case of customary
damage to ham by this insect are the early and very careful packing of
the hams and the use of strong canvas, impenetrable by the insect, and
which is not likely to fray or break. These measures are the divect
result of the knowledge of the life history of the insect.

Two instances in the experience of Dr. Riley are of sufficient interest
to deserve specific mention. [In 1871 and in previous years the firm of
Francis Whittaker & Sons, of St. Louis, had suffered serious loss from
the damage done by this beetle. After an investigation of the facts
they were advised that all of the canvasing on the hams should be done
earlier than was customary, or prior to the first of May, and also that a
heavier canvas be used, to prevent the possibility of its giving way
upon the small ends. This advice was followed, with the result that
during the ensuing year not a single ham was lost or returned by a
customer on account of worms.

The second case was that of 8. 8. Pierce, of Boston, who, in May,
1873, received 22 tierces of hams from a Cincinnati fan The hams
were taken from the casks and hung in the loft, and not examined until
August, when they were found to be full of worms. Claim was made
on the packers for damages, and it was finally agreed to leave the
matter to referees, who were selected from prominent packers, and who
decided in favor of the Cincinnati firm. The fact is, however, as could

IMr. Schwarz states that he has found the adult beetles in the dead of winter in
Detroit, Mich., and Cambridge, Mass., and calls our attention to the fact that the
species is recorded by H. T. Fay in his article on winter collecting (Proc. Entom.
Soc. Phil., Vol. I, p. 197, 1862).

SOME INSECTS AFFECTING CHEESE, HAMS, FRUIT, ETC. 107

readily have been shown had an expert entomologist been called in,
that if the covering of the hams was sound, and had been kept intact

; while in the hands of the Boston firm, as seems to have been proven
by them, the eggs must have been laid before the hams left Cincinnati.
4 The difference in climate between Cincinnati and Boston would also

give added weight to the Boston claim. The lack of knowledge of the

actual facts governing the case is shown by the written opinion of one

of the packing experts, who stated that, whereas the Cincinnati firm had

previously used manila paper in packing their hams, they had begun to
§ use husk, which was ‘very likely to contain the germ from which the
: worm is bred.”!

The insect is hardly a factor in housekeeping except in the country,
where a farmer may put up a small number of hams for home consump-
tion during the ensuing year. In ordinary households a wormy ham
} need only be returned to the dealer from whom it was bought.

a a ee

| THE LARDER BEETLE.
(Dermestes lardarius Linn.)

A dark-brown beetle of the shape illustrated in the figure, with a
pale, yellowish-brown band containing six black dots across the upper
half of the wing covers, three-tenths of an inch in length. The larva
is brown and hairy, tapers from head to tail, and is furnished with
two short, curved, horny spines on top of the last joint of the body.
It is a common museum pest, and is found in many kinds of animal
food products, such as hams, bacon, and other kinds of meat, old cheese
(of which it seems to be especially fond), horn, hoofs, skins, beeswax,
silkworm cocoous, feathers, and hair. It has never been recorded as
damaging woolen cloth, and its popular name, ‘‘larder” or ‘bacon”
beetle, is a very appropriate one.

The insect has long been known in the United States. It is also
found in all parts of Europeand in Asia. It is considered by Dr. Ham-
ilton to be probably a native of the United States as well as introduced
by commerce. It seems to occur in all parts of this country.

There are recorded no full and definite statements regarding the life
history of this species, and we have made no observations which will
enable us to give the length of life, duration of different stages, and
other facts of equal interest. Under favorable conditions, however,
the insect is unquestionably a rapid breeder. Miss Caroline E. Heus-
tis, of St. John, New Brunswick, in the August (1878) number of the
Canadian Entomologist, states that five weeks after placing a female
im a glass jar, with a piece of meat, she found a large and flourishing
colony of larve, most of them full grown. Dr. G. H. Horn, in the
Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Philadelphia (Vol. I, 1861,
p. 28), states that the insect remains in the pupa condition for a period
varying from three or four days to a week, or even more, depending
principally on the warmth of the locality. From this statement we see

tp atti cae te eatin as

pane

108. PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

that an entire generation may be developed in six weeks. Therefore,
the increase of the insect may be very rapid and there may be four or
five generations annually. The larva, when feeding upon dried and
smoked meat, according to Dr. Horn, is usually seen creeping on the
surface of the meat. For food it prefers such as contains fat and con-
nective tissue, seldom attacking the muscular portions. It does not
bury itself in its food until about the time of assunting the pupa state.
In general, the beetles make their way into houses in May and June,

and at once deposit their eggs on their favorite food if they can obtain

aecess to it. Where this is impossible they will lay their eggs, as will
other beetles of the same family, near small cracks, so that the young

Fig. 50.—Dermestes lardarius: a, larva; b, pupa; c, adult beetle—all enlarged (original).

larve when hatched can crawl through. Dr. Riley, in his Sixth Mis-
souri Report, states that fresh hams are not so liable to attack by this
insect as are those which are tainted or injured. -

REMEDIES.

Where a storeroom is overrun with this insect its contents should be
cleared out, so far as practicable, and the room should either be sprayed
with benzine or subjected to strong fumes of bisulphide of carbon.
Where an article of diet such as a ham, has begun to be infested, the
affected portion should be cut away and the surface should be washed
with a very diiute carbolic solution. Miss Heustis, in the article above-
mentioned, showed that tallow was very offensive and destructive to
this insect, but there is seldom a case where this interesting b.t of
knowledge can be utilized. Dr. Hagen, when he first came to Cam-
bridge, found his office overrun with this insect. On a sunny day in

SOME INSECTS AFFECTING CHEESE, HAMS, FRUIT, ETC. 109

November the southern outer wall was speckled with them. He suc-
ceeded in ridding the establishment by trapping them day after day
with a piece of cheese. The cheese proved to be extremely-attractive,
and he destroyed them by hand two or three times a day until he had
practically exterminated them. Shortly after the introduction of the
Pasteur system of silkworm moth inspection for pébrine in France,
according to Maurice Girard, great damage was done by this Dermestid,
which attacked first the bodies of the moths as they were attached to
their egg receptacles. They laid their eggs in the moths, and their larve
first ate the bodies and afterwards the silkworm eggs themselves, thus
occasioning in 1871 at Pont Gisquet a loss of one-third of the egg crop.
The remedial measures adopted were to screen the windows with a very
fine wire gauze to prevent the entrance of beetles and afterwards to
submit the rooms to fumigation with bisulphide of carbon or corrosive
sublimate.

An interesting case of damage to bacon was mentioned by Dr. Lint-
ner in the Cultivator and Country Gentleman for June 26, 1884. An
individual in Walkersville, Md., had found bacon hung up in paper
meat sacks the 1st of March affected with beetles, and larve later in
the season, presumably in June. The beetles must have oviposited in
the bacon before sacking, or there must have been cracks in the paper
bags through which the young larve entered. The date of the bag-
ging renders the former hypothesis improbable. The instance seemed
to show the necessity for very careful and early bagging. The slightest
erack or slit in the paper would be large enough to allow the entrance
of the newly hatched larva, since the beetles will lay their eggs near
such a crack or siit. Dr. Lintner further a:lvised a thorough white-
washing of the apartment in which the sacks were hung, which in this
case was a garret.

THE FRUIT FLIES OR VINEGAR FLIBS.
(Drosophila spp.)

There are in North America about thirty species of light-brown flies
belonging to the genus Drosophila, of which perhaps the majority
breed in the juices of decaying and fermenting fruit. Their larve are
small, white, slender maggots, and are frequently found in canned fruits
and pickles which have been imperfectly sealed, occurring mostly near
the top of the jars, but living without inconvenience in the briny or
vinegary liquid and transforming within brown puparia around the
edges of the jar. The commonest species seem to be D. ampelophila
Loew and D. amena Loew.

The majority of the species are strictly North American, and this
includes the two specially mentioned in the paragraph above, although
D. ampelophila has also been found in Cuba. Several species, however,
are common to Hurope and the United States, for example, D. funebris,
D. graminum, and D. transversa. D. ampelophila seems the commonest

TO = PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

species all over the United States and is mainly reupunalm for the
injury to canned fruits and pickles.

All of the species of Drosophila are probably rapid breeders. Care-
ful descriptions of the early stages of D. ampelophila and D. amena
are given by Professor Comstock in the Annual Report of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture for 1881-82. The first-named species he calls the
vine-loving pomace fly, and he met with it frequently in the course of
an investigation of the apple maggot (Trypeta pomonella), the flies en-
tering apples which had been injured by the Trypeta, completing the
work of disintegration and hastening decay. They are found com-
monly, according to Comstock, about the refuse of cider mills and fer-
menting vats of grape pomace. D. amena he found to be associated
with the former species in apples previously damaged by the Trypeta,
but it was not so abundant as D. ampelophila. ‘The larve of both

Fig. 51.—Drosophila ampelophila: a, adult fly; b, antenna; c, base of tibia and first tarsal joint; d,
puparium, side view; e, same, dorsal view; /, larva; g, anal segment of same—a, d, e, f, much enlarged ;
b, c, g, still more enlarged (original).

species, and presumably other species of the genus as well, are fur-

nished with strong anal spiracles through which the larve is able to

breathe by protuding simply the end of its body to the air. There are
also delicate tufts about the anal spiracles which may be branchial in
their character.

Professor Forbes, in the Transactions of the Illinois State Horticul-
tural Society, 1884, mentions the damage done by D. ampelophila to the
grape crop at Moline, Ill. He states that they attack most frequently
grapes which have been mutilated by birds or damaged by rot, but
once having commenced on a cluster are likely to pass from one Deaty:
to another, the flies meantime constantly laying eggs.

Dr. Lintner, in his first report as State entomologist of New York,
mentions the habits of the European species, showing that D. gllaiees
occurs in fermented liquids in cellars, such as wine, cider, vinegar, and
beer, and also in decayed potatoes. He also states that a species had
been sent to him as damaging flour paste. He had observed particu-
larly a species which occurred in a jar of mustard pickles. The larve,

SOME INSECTS AFFECTING CHEESE, HAMS, FRUIT, ETC. I111

when nearly full grown, left the liquid and advanced to the side and
top of the glass jar where he had placed them, where they could be
observed feeding on condensed moisture. They transformed to puparia,
from which the first flies issued in four days.

Mr. G. J. Bowles, in the Canadian Entomologist for June, 1882,
figures roughly the different stages of D. ampelophila and gives an
account of its damage to raspberry vinegar. An earthenware jar had
been nearly filled with raspberries and vinegar. On opening the jar
about ten days later (August 16) it was found to be swarming with
the larvee and cocoons of the insect. Hundreds of -the larve were
crawling on the sides of the jar and the underside of the cover, while
pupe were found abundantly, single and in clusters, particularly where
the cover touched the top of the jar. The short time required for the
preduction of so many individuals was surprising. Mr. Bowles half
filled a covered tumbler ‘with the pickled raspberries and larve, and
they continued to produce flies for several weeks. The following season
‘the same observer noticed that the flies were attracted to some rasp-
berry wine in process of fermentation, hovering about the jars and
alighting upon the. corks, evidently seeking for an opening through
which they might pass to lay their eggs. At another time he placed a
few raspberries, with a small quantity of vinegar, in a pickle jar with a
loose cover. <A fortnight afterwards a number of larvee were seen in
the bottle, and several pupz were attached to its sides.

This statement, together with Dr. Lintner’s, that the pupal state may
last but four days, shows that a brood may develop in twenty days.
The general habits of these insects are well understood by almost every
housewife. The writer has often observed them about his own house,
and has seen the larve working under conditions described by Mr.
Bowles, and he is informed by Mr. Marlatt that one of the species is
extremely abundant at Manhattan, Kans., and that in his own house-
hold the greatest care was necessary to prevent them from entering
_ fruit jars.

REMEDIES.

The common entrance of these little Drosophilas into pantries and
storerooms, as well as into dining rooms where fruit is kept upon the
sideboard, is another argument in favor of careful window screening.
Where they have once entered a jar of fruit it is not necessary to throw
away the entire contents of the jar, since the larve occur only on the
top layers. These may be removed, and the remainder of the contents
may often prove pure and sweet. AJl fruit canned while hot and her-
metically sealed will be safe. The flies will lay their eggs upon the jar,
perhaps, or upon the cloth covering, and an almost imperceptible open-
ing will suffice for the newly hatched maggot to enter; so the sealing
must be perfect. An occasional puffing of pyrethrum about the store-
room will destroy the flies which may have gained entrance. Where a
jar has once been opened its contents can be preserved where these
insects are numerous only by placing it in some tight receptacle.

CHAPTER VIII.

INSECTS AFFECTING CEREALS AND OTHER DRY VEGETABLE
FOODS.

By F. H. CHITTENDEN.

Of the many insects that infest the granary, flouring mill, and ware.
house, a considerable proportion contrive at times to find their way
into habitations. A small number of these are of almost universal
occurrence in the household, and several others are frequently brought
into the pantry or storeroom in cereal foods, dried fruits, and other
merchandise.

Not so long ago that it has passed out of remembrance it was cus-
tomary in well-regulated households, even in large cities, to set aside a
room, in addition to the cupboard and cellar, for the storage of barrels
of flour, bags of meal, boxes of raisins, dried apples, and the like, and
such custom still prevails in country homes; but at the present time
city housekeepers purchase for the most part in small quantities at the
‘‘corner grocery” from time to time as required. As a consequence, the
city housewife, unless she should happen to reside in the immediate
neighborhood of a store or warehouse, is not so subject to annoyance
from storeroom inseets as are her country cousins. There is this differ.
ence, however, th..t the farmer’s wife is prone to look upon as a neces-
sary evil what the city housekeeper may behold as a veritable calamity.
Fortunately, the insects that breed in dry vegetable foods and that dis-
play a disposition to make a permanent abode of the storeroom number
not more than about a dozen, the remainder, of which a few forms will
be selected for passing notice, being only casual visitants and readily
controlled under ordinary conditions. 3

THE FLOUR BEETLES.

Several little flattened beetles of a shining reddish brown color and
similar appearance generally so frequently occur in bags and barrels
of flour as to have earned the popular title of ‘‘ flour weevils.” They
live upon cereal and other seeds and various other stored produets, but
generally prefer flour and meal and patented an of diet containing
farinaceous matter.

Their eggs are often deposited in the flour in the mills, and these and
the larve they produce, being minute and pale in color, readily escape
notice; but after the flour has been barreled or placed in bags and left
unopened for any length of time the aduit beetles make their appear-
ance, and in due course the flour is ruined, for when the insects have

112

£
|
j

INSECTS AFFECTING CEREALS, ETC. LS

time to propagate they soon convert the flour into a gray useless mass.
A part of the annoyance to purchaser, dealer, and manufacturer is due
to the fact that the insects are highly offensive, a few specimens being
sufficient to impart a disagreeable and persistent odor to the infested

substance.

THE CONFUSED FLOUR BEETLE.
(Tribolium confusum Duy.)

The most injurious enemy to prepared cereal foods is undoubtedly the
above-mentioned species. Singularly enough, in less than two years
from the time of its first recognition as a distinct species occurring in
this country, this insect had been reported as injurious in nearly every
State and Territory in the Union. The divisional experience of a sin-
gle year, 1894, shows that more complaints are made of injuries by
this than of any other granivorous species. Mr. W. G. Johnson, in the
American Miller of January 1, 1896, speaking of this insect as a mill
pest, says that it was the most troublesome species of the year 1895,
and expresses the
belief that it had
cost the millers of
the United States
over $100,000 in
manufactured prod-
ucts during that

year.
The mature in-

sect is shining red-
dish brown in color
and resembles in
miniature the
neu t. of the. fa-

miliar meal-worm ye. 32.—Tribotium confusum: a, beetle; b, larva; ¢, pupa—all enlarged;
(Tenebrio), which d, lateral lobe of abdomen of pupa; e, head of beetle, showing an-

d tenna; f, same of TV. ferruginewm—all greatly enlarged (author’s
will be referred tO snustration). x

further on. It is
scarcely a sixth of an inch long, being almost an exact counterpart of

the rust-red flour beetle (7. ferrugineum), with which it has been gen-
erally confused, but may be distinguished by the structure of the
antenne, which are only gradually clavate, by its broader head, the
cheeks being expanded at the sides and angulated at the eyes. The
thorax above is gradually narrowed behind, its hind angles being more
orlessacute. The adult beetle is shown, enlarged, in the accompanying
illastration (fig. 52) at a, and the head and antenne, still more enlarged,
ate. Thbhesame parts of ferrugineum are presented at f for comparison.

This species, like nearly all the others that frequent the family store
room, is what is termed a general feeder. It prefers, however, prepared
cereals, and hence is most troublesome in flour, corn meal, oatmeal,

21470--—No, 4——8

114 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

cracked wheat, and patented foods, but likewise infests in the writer’s
experience such useful commodities as ginger, cayenne pepper, baking
powder, orris root, snuff, slippery elm, peanuts, peas, beans, and seeds
of various kinds thatare kept long in store. It sometimes also attacks
cabinets of dried insects. 3

As an instance of the nature of injury to flour in households may be
mentioned an experience recently reported, as it is one that may fall to
the lot-of any housekeeper. The house had been closed for six weeks,
and on the return of the family the flour, which was kept in a large
wooden bucket with tightly fitting cover, and known to the trade as a
kanakin, was swarming with the larve and beetles of this species.”
The damaged flour was removed and the bucket refilled, only to be again
found with the insects at work in the fresh material. A personal exami-
nation by the writer showed that the insects, or enough of them to
cause reinfestation, had remained in the cracks of the bucket and in
holes that they and their larve, or Silvanus surinamensis, which accom- |
panied them, had made in the soft wood. The bucket was again
emptied and then scalded, which had the effect of killing all the insects
except a few which were discovered to have escaped through holes
which they had made in the bottom. The bottom was then painted.

Two reports have reached this office of injury by this species to bak-
ing powder. In one instance considerable damage had been done,
resulting in the loss of an entire consignment, necessitating its replace-
ment by the manufacturers, not to mention the annoyance to all parties
concerned. Customers were returning boxes of the powder almost as
soon as opened, on account of the presence of these heetles. The baking
powder, of which wheat flour was in this instance one of the ingredients,
is put up for sale in tight tin boxes, and so closely covered with paper
as to be practically air-tight; consequently the insects must have gained
entrance at the manufactory before the boxes were covered.

The life history of this species is in brief as follows: The tiny, clear
white eggs are attached to some convenient surface in the cracks or on
the sides of the bag, barrel, or other receptacle in which the infested
substance is contained. These hatch into minute larve, which feed for
a period, depending upon the temperature, and then transform to naked,
white pups, which in due time change to beetles, which copulate soon
after transformation, and another generation enters upon its life round.
In this manner several broods are generated in the course of a year.
From observations conducted by the writer it has been learned that
this insect is capable in an exceptionally hign temperature of under-
going its entire round of existence from egg to imago in thirty-six days.
The minimum period of incubation was not ascertained, but it may be
assumed as about six days. This, with six days for the pupal period,
gives twenty-four days as the shortest developmental period of the
larva. In cooler weather these periods last two or three times as long.

INSECTS AFFECTING CEREALS, ETC. 115

In weil-heated buildings in a latitude like that of Washington we thus
have the possibility of at least four generations a year.
The mature larva is shown in figure 52 at b, the pupa at ¢ and d.

THE RUST-RED FLOUR BEETLE.
( Tribolium ferrugineum Fab. )

This species, as previously stated, closely resembles the ‘first-men-
tioned flour beetle in color, form and size, but may be distinguished
hy the form of the head, which is not expanded beyond the eyes at the
sides, and by the antenne, which terminate in a distinct three-jointed
club (see fig. 52, /). In its habits and life history this insect closely
resembles its congener, 7. confusuwm, but it is apparently somewhat
restricted to the Southern States, although occasionally found in the
North. It is often reported in flour, meal, and grain, and is sometimes
shipped north in consignments of rice.

THE BROAD-HORNED FLOUR BEETLE.
(Echocerus cornutus Fab.)

A third flour beetle that sometimes finds its way into houses is the
one above mentioned. It so closely resembles the two preceding spe-
cies that the females particularly are with difficulty disti' guished from
them. The male, with its broad, conspicuous man-
dibular horns,is shown at fig.53. The general habits
of this species also so nearly resemble those of Tri-
bolium that it will be unnecessary to give more than
a brief mention of its known foods. It has been
found in ground cereals of various sorts, including
flour, meal, ‘‘germea,” rolled barley, bread, army
biscuit, maize, wheat, and rice. In southern Califor-
nia it occurs even under bark, showing complete
acclimatization. It is somewhat limited in distribu-
tion in the United States, but is frequently met with rie. 53.—Eehocerus cor-
in large seaport towns, especially on the Pacific ”vtus: male beetle—

- : enlarged (original).
Coast, and is on the increase elsewhere. In some
parts of Europe, according to report, if is a veritable pest in bakeries
by getting irto the flour and into the masses of fermenting dough that
accumulate upon the molds used in baking bread.

THE MEAL-WORMS.

Two species of beetles and their larve, the latter familiar to nearly
everyone under the name ‘“ meal-worms,” attract attention by reason

- of their large size and somewhat serpent-like appearance when they

invade the family flour barrel, the feed box, bags of bran or meal, or
are turned up in unexpected places. These are among the many species

ee

116%. PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

that develop in refuse grain dust and mill products that are carelessly
permitted to accumulate in the dark corners and out-of-the-way places
in flouring mills, bakeries, stores, and stables. The two species are
about equally common and do not differ materially in their habits,
and although abundant enough wherever grain is stored, do little or no
damage to seed stock, being found mostly in corn meal and other ground
products. They are also of some importance as eneinies to ship biscuit.

As with some of the other storehouse insects, the Tenebrios are not
an unmixed evil, for they have a commercial value to the bird fancier,
being used as food for nightingales, mocking birds, and other feathered
songsters. |

THE YELLOW MEAL-WORM.
(Tenebrio molitor Linn. )

The above-mentioned species is the meal-worm most often referred
to in scientific literature. Its name— Tenebrio, meaning one who shuns
the light; molitor, a miller—is suggestive of its habits and was given
to it by Linnzus in the year 1761 Accounts of its larva, however,
appeared many years
earlier, one of these, by
Thomas Moufet, dating
back to the year 1634.
As it is in the larval
stage that this insectis
best known, the name—
‘““vellow meal - worm”
is Suggested to distin-
guish it from the con-
generic species, which
ismuch darker in color.
The larva (see fig. 54, a)
is cylindrical, long, and
slender, attaining a
length of upward of an
Fig. 54.—Tenebrio molitor: a, larva; b, pupa; c, female beetle; d, inch and being about

egg, with surrounding case; e, antenna—a, b,c, d, about twice eight times as long

natural size; e, more enlarged (author’s illustration, reengraved). as broad. It is waxen
in appearance, much resembling a wireworm. In color it is yellow,
shading to darker ochreous toward each end and near the articulation
of each joint. The anal extremity terminates in two minute spines,
not in a single point, as figured and described by Westwood and other
writers. The pupa (b) is white, and the adult insect, as will readily be
seen by reference to the illustration, (c) resembles on a large seale one of
the flour beetles. Itis considerably over half an inch long, somewhat
flattened, shining, and nearly black. An enlarged antenna is shown
at é.

—— eee

lt i i tS

ener eo. a.

|
:
:

INSECTS AFFECTING CEREALS, ETC. — 117

The eggs are white, bean-shaped, and about one-twentieth of an
inch long, and are deposited by the parent beetle in the meal or other
substance which is to serve as the food of the future larva, singly or
in groups, as high as fourteen or sixteen being laid in a single day.
They are adhesive when first extruded and become attached to any
surface upon which they are laid, and also take on a coating of par-
ticles of meal or other material. In the illustration, at d, an egg is
shown in profile with its covering of meal.

The beetles begin to appear in the latitude of Washington in April
and May, occurring most abundantly in the latter month and in June,
when they run and fly actively about in search of their mates and of a
new place for the deposition of their eggs. In about two weeks from
the time the eggs are laid the infant meal-worm, which is at first clear
white in color and with prominent antenne and legs, makes its appear-
ance. It soon turns yellow, and as it feeds voraciously its growth is
rapid. in three months it attains approximate maturity, and from then
till the following spring undergoes little change. After having shed
about a dozen skins, beginning from soon after its hatching, it changes
to pupa and in this state remains about a fortnight. It will, there-
fore, be noticed that this species is annual in development, a single
brood only appearing each year. The beetles are nocturnal, and, being
moderately strong flyers, are often attracted to lights. They have the
pungent odor characteristie of the family Tenebrionide.

In 1889 a physician sent us larval specimens of this meal-worm
reported to have been ejected from the stomach of a patient, and there
are many other records of similar occurrences of these larve in the
human body. We also received during the year a specimen of this
insect, with an accompanying newspaper clipping giving an account of
its having been taken in a hotel from a large pin cushion filled with
“shorts.” The noise made by the beetles scratching about in endeay-
oring to obtain their exit from the cushion had caused a guest to com-
plain that his room was haunted. (See Insect Life, Vol. II, p. 148.)

THE DARK MEAL-WORM.

(Tenebrio obscurus Linn.)

The darker of the two meal-worm larvx has been ‘called by writers
the American meal-worm, an obvious misnomer, as this species, like the
preceding, in all probability came originally from temperate Europe

or Asia, and is, like other species most commonly found in the store-

house, an introduced cosmopolite.

The mature insect, illustrated at fig. 55, is very similar to the parent
of the yellow meal-worm, being of nearly the same dimensions, but
distinguishable by its color, which is dull, piceous black. There are
other points of difference, notably in the antenne, the third joint in the
present species being perceptibly longer than in molitor. The larva also

1 WS eae PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

resembles that of the preceding, differing chiefly in its much darker
brownish markings. The pupa, however, is of the same whitish color.

The beetles, in the writer’s experience, ap-
pear considerably earlier than do those of the
yellow meal-worm. At. Washington they
may be found from the latter part of Febru-
ary till July, occurring most abundantly in
April and May.

In 1890 a correspondent sent specimens of
larve that had been found in a grocery store
in a parcel of adulterated ground black pep-
per, and in the year 1896 we received a lot of
living larve from Dr. J. B. Porter, of Glen-
dale, Ohio, that had been found in a box of
commercial soda ash. We have also speci-
mens that were taken among phosphate fer-
PERLE LEN Dus tilizers, cotton seed, and cotton meal. It
should be unnecessary to remark that these larve did not feed upon
the chemicals, although they lived in them for some time.

THE MEAL MOTHS.

Two species of moths, in addition to the clothes moths, are habitual
frequenters of the household, the one attracting notice through the
depredations of its larva in a variety of articles, the other chiefly by

its beautiful appearance in the winged form.

THE INDIAN-MEAL MOTH.
(Plodia interpunctella Huebn.)

A small moth of about the same size as the clothes moths, which it

somewhat resembles when in flight, is very often found in stores, and

through them is brought into the household, where it is an all-round
nuisance, feeding upon almost anything edible. It makes its home
almost everywhere, and is very sure to be found in boxes of preserved
fruits if these are left open for any time, but does not disdain fruits
that have been left in barrels to rot and dry up, as frequently happens.

The common name of this insect is sufficiently indicative of its fond-
ness for meal, and it feeds as well upon flour and upon grain of all
sorts, ground or whole. In the writer’s experience it breeds also in
chick-peas and table beans, peanuts, English walnuts, almonds, edible
acorns, chocolate beans, dried fruits of all kinds, including currants,
raisins, peaches, apples, apricots, prunes, plums, and cherries, and seeds
of several sorts. It has also been recorded as infesting clover seed,
garlic heads, dried roots of dandelion, pecan nuts, and cinnamon bark,
and has been reported to invade beehives, and does considerable damage
at times in museums, feeding on herbarium specimens, and even attack-
ing dried insects.

The adult moth has a wing expanse of between a half and three-
quarters of an inch, and is of the general appearance represented in

INSECTS AFFECTING CEREALS, ETC. 149

the illustration (fig. 56, a). The outer two-thirds of the fore-wings are
reddish brown, with a coppery luster; the inner portion and the hind-
wings are light dirty
grayish. The larva,
or caterpillar, shown
atc, d, e, and f, meas-
ures when full grown
about half an inch and
varies in color, being
whitish, with light
rose, yellowish or
greenish tints. The Fic. 56.--Plodia interpunctella: a, moth; b, chrysalis; ¢, caterpil-
pupa (d)is light brown lar, lateral view; jf, dorsal view—somewhat enlarged; d, head,

and ¢, first abdominal segment of caterpillar—more enlarged (au-
in color. thor's illustration).

The eggs are minute and white, and are deposited, to the number of
350, singly and in groups of from three to a dozen or more, upon
whatever substance the female may see fit to select for the sustenance
of her offspring. In four or more days they hatch, and in four or more
weeks another brood is produced. In this manner a succession of
generations appears which will vary, according to the temperature of
the building that the insect inhabits, from four to possibly six or seven
a year.

The caterpillars spin a certain amount of silk as they feed, joining
together particles of their food and excrement, and thus injure for food

' several times the amount of material that they consume. When fully
matured they crawl hither and thither, trailing large quantities of their
silken threads after them, in their search for a suitable place for trans-
formation, and finally surround themselves in a cylindrical silken web,
in which they change to chrysalids and then to moths.

& THE MEAL SNOUT-MOTH.
(Pyralis farinalis Linn.) -

This species in its mature condition is-the most attractive of all
household insects. It measures across its expanded fore-wings upward

Fic. 57.—Pyralis farinalis: a, adult moth; b, larva; c, pupa in cocoon—
4 twice natural size (author’s illustration, reengraved).

of three-quarters of an inch. Its dark colors are of different shades
of brown, with reddish reflections; the lighter colors are whitish and

120-3" PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

form the pattern shown in the iliustration (fig. 57, a). The caterpillar
(b) is whitish, shading off to a darker color at either end, and with a
reddish head. The pupa, shown in its enveloping cover of silk at ¢,
and naked at fig. 58, ¢, is reddish brown.

The habits of this moth are peculiar. The larvee subsist chiefly upon
cereals, but seem not to prefer them in any particular condition, feed-
ing alike on the seed, whole or ground, bran, husk, or straw. They
will attack other seeds and dried plants, and are at times injurious to
hay, particularly clover. They are also reported to feed upon stored
potatoes. Larve have been brought to this office in flour and speci-
mens of the insect’s work have been seen in sweet marjoram, an herb-
used in cooking. The caterpillars live in long tubes or tunnels com-
posed of silk and particles of meal or other material, and while thus
incased in the obscure corners in which
they habitually live are completely con-
cealed from observation. When mature ©
they leave them and construct cocoon-like
cases and undergo transformation within.

The life history of the meal snout-moth
has not until recently been properly under-
stood, efforts to rear and observe it having
proved unsatisfactory. Certain European
writers have expressed the belief that the
species is biennial in development, but ex-
Fig. 58. Pyralis farinalis: a, egg- periments recently conducted go to prove

mass; Ub, eggs, more enlarged; ¢, egg 5 :

showing embryo within; d, larva, b least four generations .a year. The spe-

dorsal view; ¢, pupa—all enlarged cies has been carried through all its stages .

(author’s illustration, reengraved). in spring in about eight weeks.

From recent experience it would seem that comparatively little danger
need be apprehended from injuries. by this insect if material upon which
it is likely to feed be kept ina clean, dry place. Almost without excep.
tion, the cases of damage attributable to it have occurred in cellars,
upon floors, in outhouses, or in places where refuse vegetable matter
had accumulated.

THE GRAIN BEETLES.

There are two clavicorn beetles, known, respectively, as the saw-
toothed grain beetle and the cadelle, of omnivorous habits and universal
distribution, that commonly occur in dwellings as well as in granaries,
mills, and warehouses. The former is so small as to readily escape
notice except when it is present in numbers; the latter, though seldom
occurring in abundance, is conspicuous, both as larya and beetle, on
account of its size. The two species resemble each other in being
partially carnivorous and predaceous, foilowing in the wake of other
insects like the Indian-meal moth, the cadelle particularly making
atonement for its ravages in the pantry supplies by destroying such -

small insects as cross its path that it is able to overcome.
, Gay i

INSECTS AFFECTING CEREALS, ETC. 121

THE SAW-TOOTHED GRAIN BEETLE.
(Silvanus surinamensis Linn. )

- Taken all in all, this is perhaps the commonest insect that habitually
abides in groceries, and, excepting the so-called Croton bug, the one

‘most often found in the pantry. Wherever anything edible is stored

this insect will be found. It is chiefly vegetarian, but is almost omniv-
orous, and is especially fond of cereals and breadstuffs, preserved fruits,
nuts, and seeds of various kinds. Among other commodities of the
household that are subject to its depredations may be mentioned yeast
cakes, mace, snuff, and red pepper. :

The mature beetles will feed upon sugar and have been reported in
starch, tobacco, and dried meats, but it is doubtful if the insect will
breed in such substances. The beetles or their larve have the bad

Fic. 59.—Silvanus surinamensis: a, beetle; b, pupa; c, larva—all enlarged; d, antenna of larva—
more enlarged (author’s illustration).

habit of perforating the paper bags in which flour and other comesti-
bles are kept. When present in boxes of fruit—and they are very
sure to be there if the covers are left off thoughout the summer—there
may be no visible evidence of their presence until the bottom is reached,
but here they will be found in great numbers, and when disturbed
scamper off in the greatest haste. This insect is almost invariably
present wherever the Indian meal moth is found, and the list of the
food products that have been mentioned as subject to this moth’s
attack will answer about equally well for the beetle.

As an instance of unusual trouble caused by this insect may be
mentioned the case cited by Taschenberg of the beetles having invaded
sleeping apartments adjoining a brewery where stores were kept and
annoying the sleepers at night by nipping them in their beds.

This beetle is a member of the family Cucujide. It is only about
one-tenth of an inch long, slender, much flattened, and of a chocolate-

‘|

122 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

brown color. The antenne are clavate, or club-shaped, and the thorax
has two shallow, longitudinal grooves on the upper surface and bears
six minute teeth like those of a saw on each side, as indicated at fig.
59,0. ; |

The larva is somewhat depressed, and nearly white in color, with
darker markings, as Shown in the illustration (c).. It has six legs and
an abdominal proleg, and is exceedingly active, running about, nibbling
here aud there. |

When fully matured the larva fastens itself by means of some
adhesive matter, evidently excrementitious, to any convenient surface,
and thus attached transforms to pupa and afterward toimago. When
the insect is living in such granular substances as oatmeal and cracked
wheat a delicate case is constructed of fragments of these materials,
but when in flour and meal often no covering is made. From data
acquired by experiment it is estimated that there may be six or seven
generations of this insect annually in the latitude of the District of
Columbia. During the summer months the life cycle requires but
twenty-four days; in spring, from six to ten weeks. At Washington,
it has been learned, the species winters over in the adult state, even in
a well-warmed indoor temperature.

THE CADELLE.

(Tenebroides mauritanicus Linn.)

The term ‘“ cadelle” was first proposed years ago in France for the
larva of this insect. The Latin name was given to it in 1758, when it
was described as a species of Tenebrio and classified with the meal-
worms, the adult of which it very slightly resembles in its somber
color and depressed elongate form. It belongs, however, to a distinct
family, the Trogositide, and is considerably smaller than the meal-
worm beetles, measuring about a third of an inch. It is very dark, —
shining brown in color, much flattened, and of the somewhat oblong
form indicated in the illustration (fig. 60, a). The antenna is shown,
much enlarged on page 123. The general appearance of the larva is
Shown atc. It is fleshy and slender, measuring when full grown nearly
three-fourths of aninch. It is whitish in color, with head and tip of
the anal segment dark brown, the latter terminating in two dark cor-
neous hooks. The three thoracic segments are also marked with dark
brown, as indicated in the figure. The pupa (bd) is white.

There has always been a difference of opinion in regard to the nature
of the food of Tenebroides mauritanicus, some claiming that the insect
was carnivorous. It has been satisfactorily proven through experiment
by the writer that the insect is both herbivorous and predaceous. It is
most often found in cereals and in nuts, but may be occasionally taken

in other materials.

= eh eR gc

INSECTS AFFECTING CEREALS, ETC. | 123

If personal experience and divisional records be any criterion, this
species excels all other grain feeders in its. proclivity for obtruding its
presence in unexpected places. It is a most unwelcome guest at all
times, its large size, both in the larval and adult stages, rendering its
appearance conspicuous, not to say alarming’-or disgusting, to most
persons. In the pages of Insect Life we have noted its presence in
milk (Vol. I, p. 112), the evidence being that the milk had been adul-
terated with some farinaceous material in which the beetle had lived as
larva. On pages 314 and 360 it is mentioned as having tunneled for a
long time through a flask of an insecticide (white hellebore) which was

Fie. 60.—Tenebroides mauritanicus: a, adult beetle with greatly en-
larged antenna above; b, pupa; c, larva—all enlarged (original).

found by experiment to be of sufficient strength to kill currant worms.
Again, on pages 274-275 of Volume VI we note the presence of this
and other insects in refined sugar. Mr. R. 8. Clifton, of this. office,
recently showed the writer a larva found in powdered sugar, with the
information that the sugar had been returned promptly to the grocer
of whom it had just been purchased. In granulated sugar the occur-
rence of this and probably of other insects is generally the result of
accident, as it has never been proven that insects breed in sugar in this
condition. In the case of pulverized sugar, however, the presence of
insects would at least create a suspicion of adulteration with flour,

a PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS. _ :

Contrary to the rule with regard to indoor species, there is every
reason to believe that this insect is of American nativity. It differs
also from most other storehouse species in being annual in its develop-
ment, propagating, it is true, throughout the warm season, but bringing
forth only a single brood each year.

THE DRUG-STORE BEETLE AND ITS ALLIES.

THE DRUG-STORE BEETLE.
(Sitodrepa panicea Linn.)

One of the commonest of storehouse pests is the little Sitodrepa
panicea, a frequent visitor in habitations, which it enters at open
windows.

This beetle is a member of the family Ptinide. It is cylindrical in
form, measuring about a tenth of an inch in length, and is of a uniform
light-brown color, with very fine, silky pubescence.. The elytra are dis-
tinctly striated and the antennz terminate in an elongate three jointed

Fia. 61.—Sitodrepa panicea: a, larva; b, pupa; ¢, beetle, dorsal view; d, lateral view—all much

enlarged; ¢, antenna—more enlarged (author’s illustration, reengraved).
club. Fig. 61, c, shows the beetle with antennez extended, e represent-
ing an antenna greatly enlarged. When at rest the head is retracted
into the peculiar hood-like thorax, as shown in profile at d, and with the
legs and antenn folded under and tightly appressed to the body, the
little creature easily escapes observation. The larva is white, with
darker mouth-parts, and of the cylindrical curved form indicated at a.
The characteristic form of the head and legs is reproduced at fig. 62.
The pupa, illustrated at b, is white.

The insect received its Latin name from its occurrence in dry bread
(panis), and in Europe it is still known as the bread beetle, but its chief
injuries are to druggists’ supplies; hence the name drug-store beetle.
Its depredations do not stop here, however, for it invades alike stores
of all kinds, mills, granaries, and tobacco warehouses. Of household
wares its preference is for flour, meal, breakfast foods, and condiments.
It is especially partial to red pepper, and is often found in ginger, rhu-
barb, chamomile, boneset, and other roots and herbs that were kept in

INSECTS AFFECTING CEREALS, ETC. 125

the farmhouse in our grandmothers’ day. It also sometimes gets into
dried beans and peas, chocolate, black pepper, powdered coffee, licorice,
peppermint, almonds, and seeds of every description.

The subject of injuries wrought by this species has formed the text
of a considerable literature, going back to the year 1721, when Pastor
Frisch found the larva feeding upon rye bread, and including, besides
damage of the nature referred to, injury to drawings and paintings,
manuscripts and books. Some singular instances are recorded of its
injuries as a bookworm. The late Dr. Hagen wrote that he once saw
‘‘a whole shelf of theological books, two hundred years old, traveled
through transversely” by the larva of this insect, and still another
record is published of injury by this species, or Ptinus fur, to twenty-
seven folio volumes, which it is said were “ perforated in a straight line
by one and the same insect, and so regular was the tunnel that a string
could be passed through the whole length of it
and the entire set of books lifted up at once.”

In pharmacies it runs nearly the whole gamut
of everything kept in store, from insipid gluten
wafers to such acrid substances as wormwood,
from the aromatic cardamom and anise to the
deadly aconite and belladonna. It is particularly
abundant in roots, such as orris and flag, and
sometimes infests cantharides.

It is recorded to have established a colony in a

human skeleton which had been dried with the
ligaments left on, and the writer has seen speci-
mens taken from a mummy. It has even been agi
said to perforate tin foil and sheet lead, and that leg of larva below—much
it will “‘eat anything except cast iron.” In short, #72? emia).
a whole chapter could be devoted to the food material of this insect, as
nothing seems to come amiss to it and its voracious larva. The sub-
ject may conclude with the statement that this Division has received
complaints from tour different correspondents of injury to gun wad-
ding, and there are several records of injury to boots and shoes and
sheet cork. |

The larve bore into hard substances like roots, tunneling them in
every direction, and feed also upon the powder which soon forms and
is cast out of their burrows. In powdery substances the larvee form
little round balls or cells, which become cocoons, in which they undergo
transformation to pupze and then to the adult insect. I have reared
the insect from egg to beetle in two months, and as it habitually lives
in artificially heated buildings and breeds out through the winter
months, there may be at least four broods in a moderately warm
atmosphere.

Minute as is this beetle, it is preyed upon by a still smaller parasite,
a chaleis fly known as Meraporus calandre Hew., which pursues its

7

126 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

victim relentlessly, even entering insect boxes infested by its host, as_

the writer had once occasion to observe. A diminutive mite, Pedicu-
loides ventricosus Newp., also preys upon this as well as upon many other
species of like habits, attacking it in its larval and pupal condition.

THE CIGARETTE BEETLE.

( Lasiodermua serricorne Fab.)

SSS
SSS
SN SS

Fig. 63.—Lasioderma serricorne: a, larva; b, pupa; c, beetle; d, same, lateral view—all
enlarged; e, antenna—much enlarged (author’s illustration, reengraved).

Another little beetle, superficially resembling the preceding species
and having very similar habits, oftei occurs in houses. As its English
name indicates, it is chiefly known as a destroyer of tobacco, and as such,
in the opinion of many thinking people, should be classified with bene-
ficial insects. It is by no means so common as the drug-store beetle,
but it is on the increase and doubtless will in time be found to have
nearly the same range of food materials. As a tobacco feeder it out-
ranks that species, and also appears to favor
certain medicinal plants not so often affected
by the Sitodrepa.

Of household supplies it has been found,
in the experience of the writer as well as of
others, infesting cayenne pepper, ginger, rhu-
barb, rice, figs, yeast cakes, and prepared fish
food. It has been reported as destructive to
silk and plush upholstery, and has done con-
siderable damage to dried and _ preserved
herbarium specimens in Washington. Of
drugs it is partial to ergot and turmeric, and
tobacco it devours in every form, in the leaf
Wid! Glo Tes to de kee om when made wp ante chewing plug, ciga-

Head of larva, shown above: leg rettes, and cigars.
Ces Gane cnlareed This species is of about the same size and
color as the drug-store beetle, but, as may
be seen in the figure (63, ¢), is more robust and the elytra are not
striated. The head is more prominent and the antenne are nearly
uniformly serrate, not ending in a three-jointed club (fig. 63, e). The
larva, represented at d in curved position at rest, is more wrinkled

INSECTS AFFECTING CEREALS, ETC. 127 .

and hairy than that of Sitodrepa, and differs as well in the structure of
the head and legs (see fig. 64). The pupa, shown at fig. 63, b, is white
and is incased, like other ptinids, in a fragile cocoon.

THE WHITE-MARKED SPIDER BEETLE.
(Ptinus fur Linn. )

Two more species of this same family and of somewhat similar habits
to the two beetles just mentioned are sufficiently common in storerooms
and cellars, particularly of old houses, and especially in the North, to
attract occasional notice. The more important of these is Ptinus fur,
which may be called the white-marked spider beetle, to distinguish it
from the allied Pt. brunneus, which is uniform brown in color. This
beetle is reddish brown, with four white bands onits elytra. It has
long antenn and legs and a more or less globular body, and strongly
suggests a spider in general appearance. The Sexes differ considerably,
the female being much more robust than her consort. :

As long ago as 1766 Linnezus gave an account of this species, which

he stated was very injurious in libraries. It occurs also in old barns,
warehouses, and. museums, and is credited with feeding upon a variety
of substances, vegetable and animal, including insect collections and
dried plants in herbaria. It has also been recorded as living in boxes ot
red pepper, and during March of the year 1896 was so reported by Mr.
R. C. Lyle, who furnished us with specimens in the infested substance
brought from his home at Cedar Springs, Mich. Many years ago it
was severely injurious to flour at Versailles, France, and recently Dr.
James Fletcher received complaints of its occurring abundantly in

flour at Orillia and Toronto, Canada.
During 1894 we received specimens of this insect, with information

t
. that they had been discovered near Concord, N. H., in a barn in

Ne Sk a oe

which were stored a hundred or more bags of cotton seed. They had
devoured the bags and increased so enormously as to cover the build-
ings; had invaded neighboring houses, and were attacking clothing of
all kinds. The owner of this barn, who also conducted a store, was

) greatly alarmed for fear they would spread throughout the town, and
; serious apprehension was felt in the infested locality that the insect
might become a public nuisance.

j ~ When to the items just mentioned we add that Dr. George Dimmock
f found this species swarming in a barrel of refuse wool covered with
, sheep’s dung, and in which it was doubtless breeding, and that, to the

writer’s personal knowledge, the adults are attracted to fresh fruit, we
sum up the principal facts known regarding this insect in America;
but if we are to believe all the bad things that are said of it in Europe,
it is capable of becoming a serious pest if once permitted to gain
sufficient headway, for it is accused of depredating upon furs and cloth-
ing, roots, grain, and stuffed animals, and of invading seed stores,
apothecaries’ wares, and cracker stores.

128 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

The larva is white and of the usual ptinid form, quite similar to that
of the drug-store beetle, and feeds, like that species, in a little globu-

lar case of delicate construction and composed of the material that it

infests, and which it cements loosely together. The development of

' this species is said to be annual in Europe. It has been carried

through all its transformations here at Washington in about three and
a half months, the pupal period lasting thirteen days.

The adult beetles are nocturnal and may be found in the dead of
winter crawling upon the walls of cellars and unheated buildings.

THE BROWN SPIDER BEETLE.

(Ptinus brunneus Duft.) |

The last of the domestic Ptinide that will require special notice is.
the one above mentioned, and which, as previously stated, differs from
its congener chiefly in lacking the white marking on its elytra. Noris
there probably any degree of difference in habits and life history
beyond the recorded list of food materials observed for each species.
Both oceur in the same locations, not unusually living together in
apparent harmony. Like Pt. fur, it is disposed to be omnivorous and
is Somewhat of ascavenger, frequenting cellars and attics, storehouses,
henhouses, and pigeon lofts, being competent to eke out a living almost
anywhere where anything animal or vegetable is stored. Among the
different substances that afford it sustenance are books, feathers, skins,
dried mushrooms, and the excrement of rats and other domestic
animals. It sometimes gets into drugs, and is recorded to have attacked
musk root and the powdered leaves of senna and jaborandi.

SPECIES OF OCCASIONAL OCCURRENCE IN VEGETABLE STORES. .

The following insects are so often found in dry vegetable foods as to
deserve brief mention. Like preceding species, they are cosmopolitan
in distribution and occur in the greatest numbers in tropical climates.

The granary weevil (Calandra granaria Linn.), a small dark-brown
species about an eighth of an inch long, is very partial to the pearled
barley used in the preparation of soups, and the chick-pea, a legumi-
nous seed cultivated for the same purpose in tropical countries.

A similar species, the rice weevil (C. oryza Linn.), which, with the
preceding, is most destructive in stored grain, as an adult insect some-
times invades boxes of cakes, crackers, yeast cakes, macaroni, and
similar breadstuffs, and is said to attack chestnuts, bird seed, and even
to injure tobacco. It also breeds in rice and in cracked corn and other
cereals that are sufficiently coarse for the purpose.

-Two weevils belonging to the family Bruchide, of wide distribution,
and known respectively as the pea weevil (Bruchus pisorwm Linn.) and
the bean weevil (B. obtectus Say), lay their eggs upon ripening peas and
beans in our gardens and thence find their way to our tables, being

_ INSECTS AFFECTING CEREALS, ETC. «= E29

often eaten when in the larval condition, safely screened from view in
these esculent legumes. The former species is restricted to the pea for
food, and though it passes the winter in peas that are kept in store, does
not breed, as does the latter, for successive generations in the same
seed. 2 .
Still another weevil (Arecerus fasciculatus DeG.), a member of the
family Anthribide, and for which is proposed the name “ coffee-bean
weevil,” occurred in abundance during the year 1895 in a local grocery
store, having been reported to us by a purchaser who found numbers of
the beetles in dried apples. This species infests, besides coffee beans
and dried apples, mace, nutmegs, chocolate beans, and the roots of a
species of ginger.

Certain species of Dermestide, it has recently been learned, in addi-
tion to a diet of dried animal matter, attack cereals and other vegetable
products. The commonest of these is the black carpet beetle (A ttagenus
piceus Oliv.), an account of which, by Dr. Howard, has appeared in pre-
ceding pages. Its larva breeds in cereals, ground and whole, and has
been reared from millet, pumpkin, and timothy seed. Trogoderma tar-
sale Melsh. has similar habits, and has been found living in grain, flax-
seed, castor beans, cayenne pepper, millet and pumpkin seeds, pea-
nuts, and meal and cake manufactured from them. Anthrenus verbasct
Linn., a near relative of the so-called ‘buffalo moth” treated in pre-
vious pages, has nearly the same food habits as the two preceding
species.

A grain beetle known as Cathartus advena Waltl, of the same family
as Silvanus surinamensis, has similar habits to the latter, but is much
rarer in stored products. It has been taken by the writer in cereals,
dry dates, figs, and cacao beans.

Lemophleus pusillus Sch., another cucujid beetle, smaller, flatter,
and with longer antenne than the preceding, occurs in flour, meal,
grain, etc., but, as it is at least partially predaceous, does little harm.

Several small species of the family Nitidulidze are at times very
injurious to dried fruits, but seldom occur abundantly in this country,
except in the South. One of the commonest of these is Carpophilus
hemipterus Linn. |

A gray moth of the genus Ephestia, related to the Indian-meal moth,
sometimes occurs with this latter in nuts and fruits. Itis about equally
common in English walnuts, and its pinkish-striped larve do consider-
able injury to dried figs.

The Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga. cerealella Ol.), a destructive
‘granary insect, is very injurious to popcorn, and infests also rice and
and other cereals.

REMEDIES.

A considerable percentage of injury to the dried vegetable products
of the household may be prevented by a moderate degree of care when
purchasing, and in storing in tight receptacles in cool, dry rooms.

21470—No. 4 9

130 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS.

The vegetable foods most subject to injury are prepared cereals. If
any of these be badly infested at the time of purchase it will be plainly
evident; if only a moderate number of insects be present and it be
desirable to store the material for some length of time, by sifting over
a large sheet of paper of light color, using a fine sieve for flour and
corn meal and a coarser one for cracked wheat and like foods, the pres-
ence of infesting insects may be detected.

Most people object to the use of flour, meal, and other material for
the preparation of food if it be at all infested with insects, and to save

trouble will promptly return such material to the merchant of whom it

was purchased. If, however, infestation be not at once detected, the
dealer may in some cases refuse to receive the injured stuff unless the
cause of the trouble can be directly traced to his store or to the milling
company or wholesale dealer of whom it was originally obtained. If
food stuffs are not too badly infested they are not dangerous, and are
useful for consumption by human beings, disagreeable as the traces of the
insects’ presence may be. It is sometimes advisable, if not absolutely
- necessary, to save such material, as for example when on a protracted
journey, where better is not to be had.

After what has been said regarding the development of the flour
beetles and other insects it should be superfluous to add that it is
impossible to entirely free infested material by sifting, as the eggs and
younger larve slip through the finest meshes. Most insects may be

destroyed by placing the material infested in the oven at a moderate

degree of heat, from 125° to 150° F., but care must be exercised not to
expose it to a higher temperature. Corn meal, particularly, is easily
overheated, and afterwards, unless it is soon to be used in cooking, is
apt to become rancid.

If a barrel of flour or large quantity of bitter provisions becomes
infested, as is apt to happen during the absence of a family from home,
bisulphide of carbon, a liquid chemical in general use against insects
in mills, elevators, granaries, and warehouses, should be used to dis-
infect it. The same reagent is the best insecticide for use when whole
rooms are to be fumigated.

A small quantity of the chemical is sufficient for the disinfection of a
barrel of flour, as the insects for the most part live only in the flour at
the top, being unable to withstand the pressure of a large weight of
material. From a half to a whole teacupful (about 2 to 5 ounces) of the
bisulphide will prove sufficient for the purpose in an ordinary case,
provided the cover be replaced as tightly as possible. In more severe
eases of infestation it may be necessary to repeat the application. The
bisulphide is poured into shallow pans or plates placed upon the top of
the infested mass and the receptacle covered as closely as possible and
left for a day or more. This chemical is extremely volatile, and being
heavier than air, descends as a gas, killing such insects as the material
may contain. When an entire room or building is overrun with insects,

INSECTS AFFECTING CEREALS, ETC. 131

the bisulphide is evaporated at the rate of a pound to every 1,000 feet
of cubic space.

The vapor of this chemical is deadly to all animal life, but there is
no danger in inhaling a small quantity, and although it has a powerful
and disagreeable odor, this soon passes away without any after effects
and without harming for food such material as it may be used upon.
The vapor is also inflammable, but if no fire, as, for example, a lighted
cigar, be brought into the immediate vicinity until the fumes have
entirely disappeared, no trouble will be experienced.

Bisulphide of carbon costs, at retail, from 20 to 30 cents a pounds at
wholesale, in 50-pound cans, 10 cents a pound.

=

“wa,