348 



AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY 



Family PEDICULID^ 



In this family the eyes are comparatively large, convex, and dis- 

 tinctly pigmented; and the proboscis is short, hardly reaching the 

 thorax. Here belong the three well-known species of lice that are 

 parasites of man. These are the following. 



The head-louse, Pediculus capitis. — This is the most common 

 species infesting man. It lives in the hair of the head, and is most 

 common on the heads of neglected children. Under ordinary circum- 

 stances, cleanliness and the use of a fine-toothed comb are all that is 

 necessary to insure freedom from this disgusting pest. But sometimes 

 adults of most cleanly habits become infested by it. It can be 

 destroyed by the use of tincture of larkspur or a larkspur lotion, 

 which can be obtained from druggists. 



The body-louse, Pediculus corporis. — This insect lives upon the 

 skin of most parts of the body, but especially on the chest and back. 

 It is often troublesome on ships, in military camps, in prisons, and 

 in the apartments of uncleanly people who neglect to change their 

 clothes. It was a terrible scourge during the World War, when troops 

 were obliged to live under most unsanitary conditions in trenches and 

 camps. The female attaches her eggs to fibers in the seams of under- 

 garments, from which the young hatch in about a week. This species 

 is exceedingly prolific. It and the preceding species transmit several 

 human diseases, including typhus fever, trench fever, and relapsing 

 fever. 



The method of destroying these vermin commonly employed in 

 hospitals and poorhouses is to rub mercurial ointment in the seams 



Fig. 394. — The short- 

 nosed ox-louse. (From 

 Law.) 



Fig. 395. — The horse- 

 louse. (From Law.) 



Fig. 396. — The hog- 

 louse. (From Law.) 



of undergarments. During the World War much attention was de- 

 voted to the problem of control of this pest and hundreds of papers 

 were published on this subject. It has been found that both the lice 

 and their eggs are destroyed by the ordinary laundering process used 

 in washing clothes. 



