OP THE APHIDES, OK PLANT-LICE. 499 



The young-ones, for sometime after they first escape from the egg, 

 are perfectly white, but they generally become brown in the course 

 of about three weeks. In eleven weeks they are at full growth. 

 They are then very watchful and cunning creatures; and so fierce, 

 among their own species, that they will sometimes contend with the 

 utmost fury ; and in their combats they seldom leave off till either 

 one or both of the animals are killed. Spiders are very fond of them 

 for food. 



In order to clear a house of Bugs, the leading point is cleanline^ 

 in every respect; for this is their greatest annoyance, and by this 

 alone their increase is to be checked. The first young-ones begin to 

 burst from the eggs early in spring, frequently even in February. 

 At this season it is, that the greatest attention is required. The bed 

 infested by them, ought to be stripped of all its furniture, which 

 should be washed: if linen, it should be boiled; and if stuft" it should 

 be hotpressed. The bedstead should be taken in pieces, dusted, and 

 washed with spirit of wine, or corrosive sublimate, in all the joints and 

 crevice? : for it is in these parts, principally, that the females deposit 

 their eggs. This done, all the cavities should be well filled with the 

 best soft soap, mixed up with verdigrease and Scotch snuff. On this 

 composition the yoUng will immediately feed after leaving the egg, 

 (if any escape the cleansing,) and will be destroyed, as will also such 

 of the old ones as happen to be left. 



Bugs abound in the countries of nearly all hot climates, whence 

 most of our merchant- vessels are over-run with them. This accounts 

 for their extreme numbers in all the seaport cities and towns, being 

 conveyed thither in clothes, packages, &c. Hence appears the great 

 necessity of examining carefully every thing brought from such ves- 

 sels into the houses. 



Deal and beech boards should be removed, as should also every 

 thing that is fixed to a bed by means of paste, as these afford them 

 both shelter and food. Oak and mahogany are probably the best, 

 kinds of wood to use, as the closeness of their texture allows the ani- 

 mals but an uncomfortable situation. 



It is supposed that Bugs do not altogether lie torpid during the- 

 winter, but that in the cold weather they require less nutriment; and 

 therefore that they are not tempted to come so often out of their- 

 retreats, as they do in the warmer seasons of the year. 



OF THE APHIDES, OR PLANT-LICE. 



The minate animals which compose this singular tribe, live entirely 

 on vegetables, and the loftiest tree is as liable to their attacks as the 

 most humble plant. Their numbers are often incalculably great. They 

 prefer the young shoots, on account of their tenderness, and frequently 

 insinuate themselves into the very hearts of the plants, doing irre- 

 parable mischief even before they are discovered. But, for the most 

 part, they beset the foliage, and are always found on the underside of 

 the leaf. This they prefer, not only on account of its being the most 

 32 



