92 Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



family is so unfortunate as to move unwittingly into a house in- 

 fested with this pest. The insect, represented much enlarged at 

 figure 1, plate G, has probably a slight acquaintance with most of 

 us. The white, oval eggs are laid in batches of from six to fifty 

 in cracks and crevices, as stated by Dr. Howard. They require 

 from seven to ten days to hatch and the life cycle is completed in 

 about eleven weeks. 



The use of iron or brass bedsteads is to be recommended be- 

 cause they afford so little shelter to the pests. Where large 

 wooden bedsteads are used, the crevices should be liberally 

 treated with benzine, kerosene or corrosive sublimate solution. 

 Hot water, where it can be employed without injury, will kill 

 eggs and bugs. This treatment must be supplemented by daily 

 inspections and the destruction of all specimens found. Fumiga- 

 tion with sulphur is reported by some as effective, but others state 

 that it has no value. Treatment with hydrocyanic acid gas would 

 probably be very effective, but it must be used with great care, 

 and there is danger of killing mice and rats in the walls or under 

 the floors and the resulting annoyance. Though red ants are 

 household pests, they are said to wage warfare on bedbugs. The 

 cockroach is also credited with the same useful habit, but un- 

 fortunately neither of these species can be considered desirable 

 acquisitions from the housekeeper's standpoint. 



Larder Beetle. — The larva and the adult are represented on plate 

 6, figures 2, 3. This insect occurs in museums and attacks 

 many animal products like hams, bacon, other meats, horn, hoofs, 

 skins, beeswax, etc About six weeks are required to complete 

 the life cycle under favorable conditions The contents of infested 

 rooms should be cleared out and the room fumigated with carbon 

 bisulfied or hydrocyanic acid gas. Infested portions of meats 

 should be cut away and the surface of the remainder washed with 

 a diluted solution of carbolic acid. The parent insect can be ex- 

 cluded from a store-room by the use of screens. 



Cheese Skipper-; Ham Skipper. — The insect is well-known to 

 many in the lai*val or skipper form though few may be acquainted 

 with tie parent fly. This insect is usually found in the best 



