INSECT POISONING AND MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 467 



poison glands, one of which lies beneath each papilla or tubercle. The 

 poison is liberated in the blood through the sharp basal point of the 

 hairs when they come in contact with the human skin. One case of death 

 has been reported. The structure of the poison glands and hairs is 

 discussed by Miss Kephart. 



Ellingham has described poison hairs on the larva of Porthesia similis 

 Fuessly, the swan moth. 



The processionary caterpillar Cnethocampa pityocampa Borowaki, 

 according to Beille, is provided with poison-secreting, setigerous 

 tubercles which are divided into four areas by two bands which cross 

 the tubercles at right angles to each other and which are free from 

 hairs. The four sectors thus made are covered with chitinous papilla 

 which bear poison hairs and which are connected with the subjacent parts 

 by pore canals in the cuticle. The glandular part exists only under 

 the sectors covered with hairs. These glands are unicellular and in the 

 form of very elongate pears. These poisonous hairs, when they come 

 in contact Avith the flesh, cause an urtication. 



In a similar manner the larva of the nun moth, Lymantria vionacha 

 (Linnaeus); the gipsy moth, Porthetria dispar (Linnaeus), the lo moth 

 Automeris io (Fabricius), Hemileuco mala Drury, Lasiocainpa pini (Lin- 

 naeus), Macrothylacia rubi (Linnaeus), Sih'uie stimulea Clemens, are pro- 

 vided with poisonous hairs. Lagoa crispata Packard and Megalopyge 

 opercidaris (Smith and Abbott) are known as flannel moths, and are 

 covered with long, silky hairs and do not look like caterpillars. Inter- 

 spersed among the long hairs are numerous short spines connected with 

 the underlying poison glands. These hairs are capable of producing a 

 marked nettling effect when they come in contact with the skin. 



Rilc}'^ and Johannsen present a very interesting discussion of net- 

 tling insects and suggest for treatment the application of weak solutions 

 of ammonia or a paste of ordinary baking soda. In the browntail dis- 

 trict, one remedy which is commonly used was recommended by Kirk- 

 land: 



Carbolic acid ^2 gram 



Zinc oxide V2 ^'^'• 



Lime water 8 oz. 



BEE, WASP, AND AXT STINGS 



Many species of bees, wasps, and ants are capable of inflicting painful 

 stings. These insects sting by means of the ovipositor. Only the female 

 is capable of inflicting injury. All persons who have handled bees are 

 familiar with the sting of the honey bee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus, and 

 most boys are familiar witli bumble bee {Bombus spp-) stings. 



