PROC. ENT. SOC. WASH., VOL. 21, NO. I, JAN., 1919 



Other localities. Palo Alto, California. Three females and 

 three males recorded under Bureau of Entomology Nos. Hopk. 

 U. S. 12707 e l and 12707 e s . Material collected and reared by 

 H. E. Burke who notes it is parasitic on Agrilus angelicus living 

 in twigs of Ouercus agrifolia. Chirichaua Mountains, Arizona. 

 Two females and three males reared by H. G. Hubbard under his 

 number 7451 which states it is parasitic on Chramesws n. sp., 

 mining in Robinia neomexicana. 



Type. Cat. No. 21991, U. S. Nat. Mus. 



STUDIES ON THE DRY CLEANING PROCESS AS A MEANS OF DES- 

 TROYING BODY LICE. 



BY R. H. HUTCHISON AND W. D. PIERCE, Bureau of Entomology. 



At the request of Dr. H. E. Mechling, Chief of the Dry Cleaning 

 Branch, Salvage Division, in the office of the Director of Purchase 

 and Storage, Q. M. C., U. S. Army, we have undertaken a series 

 of tests to determine the efficiency of the dry cleaning processes 

 as a means of freeing garments of the body lice, Pediadus humanus, 

 var. corporis (vestimenti) . In this work we were influenced by the 

 following consideration; namely, that there is serious objection 

 to treatment of wool uniforms, overcoats or other woolen dress 

 goods by steam under pressure on account of the resulting shrink- 

 age and actual damage to the material. Fulton and Staniford 1 

 have shown how the steam sterilization method can be modified 

 to avoid such damage, but their process requires very careful 

 observation and a skilled operator. If, then, the dry cleaning 

 process is effective in destroying lice and nits, it is unquestionably 

 a better practice for the treatment of infested woolens in that 

 there is no tendency to shrinkage nor damage to the goods, while 

 in addition cleansing and sterilizing is effected. 



We include in this article the substance of our reports to Doctor 

 Mechling concerning the practical dry cleaning experiments and 

 have added the results of certain laboratory tests made to elucidate 

 certain points which came up in the course of the work. It is 

 published with the hope that it will be of interest and of some 

 value, not only to those concerned with the care of the soldiers 

 during demobilization, but also to quarantine, immigration, 

 jail, hospital, and public health officials who may have to consider 

 delousing measures in the course of their work. Our results will 

 also serve to correct erroneous impressions which may have been 



1 Fulton, D., & Staniford, K. J. The Sterilization of Woolen Blankets 

 and Uniforms. Journ. Am. Med. Assn., vol. 71, no. 10, pp. XL'o-SLM , Si'pt. 

 7, 1918. 



