384 HOUSEHOLD INSECTS 



been the concluding touch, although she continued to have 

 the creatures on her mind and to watch for them. Her 

 hopes were vain. The insects are still in the house, two 

 years after the removal of the mattress and in spite of all 

 the harsh treatment they have received." 



Lintner in his second report describes a very similar 

 invasion by this same psocid. In this instance, two beds 

 with bed ticks newly filled with straw were found swarm- 

 ing with the psocids one morning after the departure of 

 two agents that had occupied only one of the beds for 

 the night. The housekeeper, of course, attributed the 

 infestation to the occupants of the bed, but that could 

 hardly be possible. From all that is known of these pests 

 it seems most likely that the straw used in the ticks 

 must have been infested while in the barn. 



Methods of control. — The use of straw husk-filled 

 ticks or mattresses is to be avoided as far as possible, 

 especially if they are to lie on a bed that is occupied only 

 at rare intervals. Straw should be carefully examined 

 before being used to fill bed ticks and if these pale, lice- 

 like psocids are seen on it, it would be wiser to leave the 

 straw to be fed to stock or to use it as stable bedding rather 

 than to be taken into the house. Even though straw and 

 husks are free of psocids when first appropriated, yet 

 if left on unoccupied beds in dark, damp rooms until they 

 become musty, the chances are strongly in favor of in- 

 festation. 



Whenever straw or husk ticks or mattresses become 

 infested, they should be removed at once and the contents 

 burned. 



In case of severe infestation as detailed in the foregoing 

 nothing but heroic measures will avail. The carpets 



