CONTROL OF HOUSEHOLD INSECTS 21 



It is especially likely to be abundant in old; houses \vhere cracks 

 and crevices abound, and its continuance there n -s favored by 

 the old style wooden bedstead with its numerous shelters The 

 occurrence of this pest in a home is not necessarily a reflection 

 upon the ability of the housewife. Its continuance there may be 

 the occasion of grave reproach. Bedbugs are very liable to occur 

 on boats, are occasionally found in sleeping cars and are said to 

 be much more common in the Southern than in the Northern 

 States. 



Habits. This insect, as many can vouch for by personal experi- 

 ence, is nocturnal in habit. Recent experiments show that it may 

 feed under certain conditions on mice as well as upon man. This 

 habit, should it prove to be general, accounts for cases where 

 bedbugs are found very abundant in houses which have been unin- 

 habited for some time. Another species^ occurs in swallows' nests 

 and occasionally invades adjacent living rooms. It appears to 

 live almost exclusively upon birds, though a third form,- found on 

 chickens, has been known to suck human blood, but not under 

 natural conditions. 



The oval, white eggs of the bedbug are deposited in cracks and 

 crevices in batches of 6 to 50 or thereabouts. The yellowish 

 white, nearly transparent young hatch therefrom in a week or 10 

 days. Experiments have shown that about 11 weeks are neces- 

 sary for the young insects to attain maturity, though the period 

 is probably greatly modified by the degree of warmth and the 

 abundance of food. It is said that ordinarily only one meal is 

 taken between each of the five molts preceding the attainment of 

 maturity. Full-grown bugs at least are able to endure long fasts 

 with apparently no inconvenience. It has been stated that the 

 bedbug may serve as a carrier of certain diseases. 



Control measures. Cracks and crevices, loose wall paper and 

 the old wooden bedsteads aflord ideal hiding places for this 

 disgusting pest. The modern tight construction of both floors 

 and walls, and iron or brass bedsteads reduce the retreats of 

 this species to a minimum and greatly facilitate its control. 



The insect can be controlled in the older type of dwelling only 

 by extreme vigilance. Cracks and crevices should be stopped so 

 far as possible, and the joints of the old-fashioned bedstead treated 

 liberally with benzine, kerosene or similar oils. Hot water can be 



>Cimex hirundinis Jenyns. 

 •Cimex columbarius Jenyns. 



