592 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



THE CAT AND DOG FLEA. 



(Pulex serraticeps.) 



There are several species of fleas that may infest houses and become 

 troublesome. The species, however, usually found in this State is the 

 common cat-flea or dog-flea (Pulex surraticeps). The eggs of these tor- 

 mentors are laid in the hair or fur of the cat or dog and usually fall to 

 the ground or floor. Here they hatch into slender white, worm-like 

 larvae, which grow for a time and then spin a tiny cocoon, in which they 

 pass their pupal stage. From one of these cocoons the full-fledged flea 

 emerges in a short time. Now a single small dog will sometimes scatter 

 a most surprising number of eggs. Professor Verrill tells of collecting 

 a full teaspoonful of these eggs from the dress of a lady in whose lap a 

 kitten had been held for a short time. In rearing fleas, one can usually 

 obtain a supply of eggs by shaking some rug on which an infested dog has 

 lain. These eggs get into moist cracks in the floor and find here the 

 best conditions for development, with the natural result that the house 

 is soon overrun with fleas. 



During August, last, one of the hotels in the central part of Michigan 

 was suddenly overrun, in certain parts, with fleas. Specimens of these 

 proved on examination to be the dog-flea, as was expected. We advised 

 the free use of Pyrethrum or Persian insect-powder (see chapter on insect- 

 icides), both on the dog and on the floors of the rooms infested. This was 

 applied with a bellows, and inside of a week no fleas were to be found, 

 though the treatment was continued for some time. The source of infec- 

 tion must be removed by rubbing Pyrethrum into the fur or hair of the 

 animal, while the fleas in the room can easily be destroyed by means of a 

 simple insect-powder bellows. 



THE GRAPE CANE-BORER. 



( Amphicerits bicaudatus Say.) 



During the spring months the young shoots of grape-vines, as well as 

 those of apple, pear, peach and plum-trees, are often found to be dying 

 back for several inches from the tip. Occasionally this dead wood ex- 

 tends back for a foot or more. An examination of such twigs sometimes 

 reveals a smooth, round burrow, extending several inches from the neat 

 opening, which is usually placed in the axil of a bud (Fig. 22). This is 



Fig. 22. Work of Grape-vine Cane-borer. 



Fig. 21. Grape-vine Cane-borer, (Amphicerits 

 bicaudatus). 



