INSECTS AND ENTOMOLOGISTS 



2 IQ 



silver-fishes, and sometimes by spring-tails and bristle-tails where pro- 

 duce is stored in damp places. 



The Neuroptera have quite a variety of forms, ranging from the 

 Psociche which the housewife usually regards with a disgust intended 

 for parasites of similar form, to the Termites or white ants whose work 

 is noted more frequently than the insects themselves. 



Among the Orthoptera, the voice of the cricket on the hearth calls 

 up only pleasant association; but the appearance of roaches in kitchen 

 and pantries arouses feelings of quite a different character. And 

 roaches of many varieties are found in human habitations throughout 

 the world. 



As to the Hemiptera or true bugs, they have been already referred 

 to as direct feeders or parasites upon man himself or his domestic 

 animals. They do not add to their sins attacks on his supplies. 



Fig. 10. The carpet beetle or "buffalo moth," Anthretius scrophularice ; a, larva; b, 

 pupa forming in larval skin ; c, pupa ; d, adult ; after Riley. 



The Coleoptera or beetles contain numerous messmates and some 

 that do not even confine themselves to his stores. The carpet beetles 

 feed upon his supplies of woolens, whether on the floors or on the 

 shelves, and occasionally they get into the feathers of his pillow. But 

 these are minor troubles compared with those that arise when the 

 feeding is on the feathers of the madam's hat or the fur of her winter 

 coat. Similar species get into our closets and pantries to feed upon the 

 meat supplies, and occasionally we find them already established in pro- 

 visions received from the packing houses, so that similar species occur 

 the world around. Our grain, flour and meal supplies furnish homes 

 to more kinds of species than the ordinary householder cares to con- 

 sider, and nowhere does neglect or lack of cleanliness produce quicker 

 infestation than in the pantry where our grain products are stored. 

 Our lentils, peas, beans and other legumes are attractive to a variety 

 of " weevils," especially in barns and granaries. 



Even the den of the master of the house is invaded — if he is master 

 and has a den — and in his supply of cigars and cigarettes the cigarette 



