59° ^ _ _ Journal of Agriculture. [lo Sept., 1910. 



highly recommended by Mr. Froggatt, Government Entomologist of New 

 South Wales. He states that floor joists after they are laid should be 

 thoroughly dressed with the oil, to which has been added one pound of 

 arsenic to one gallon of oil. Various patent preparations for the destruc- 

 tion of the white ant are on the market, and several have been found 

 useful. 



Fleas. 



Fleas are usually found in houses where cats and dogs are kept, and 

 it is often by these means that they are distributed. The eggs are deposited 

 among the hair of these animals, and they drop on the floors when the 

 animals move about. From the eggs are hatched the larvge, which pene- 

 trate any crevices in the floor and live there until fully grown, feeding 

 u.pon organic matter usually to be found in cracks. The larvae develop 

 very rapidly. On becoming fully grown, the larva spins a delicate, white, 

 silken cocoon, and turns into the pupa, and thence into the perfect insect 

 a few days later. Professor Howard states that a whole generation may 

 dev'elop in the course of a fortnight, in warm, damp, weather ; but a great 

 increa.se in the moisture of the weather results in the destruction of vast 

 numbers of the larvae. Before a vacant house is locked up the floors should 

 be well swept, as the eggs are destroyed thereby. 



Remedies. — Persons who keep cats and dogs .should provide rugs 01 

 sacks for them to lie on. The.se should be brushed or well shaken daily 

 and the dust containing the eggs thrown into a fire. The animals should 

 be continually washed with phenyle, or .some other leRable preparation 

 should be rubbed into their hair. Pyrethrum powder rubbed or 



sprinkled amongst the hair will cause the fleas to drop off. 



Avoid cocoanut matting or other such material for floors, as the young 

 larvae penetrate into the crevices and if not disturbed will soon become 

 adult insects. Washing bare floors with hot soap-suds, spraying with 

 benzine, and dusting insecticide on carpets, are effectual remedies. There 

 are several .species of house fleas in Australia, the Cat and Dog Flea 

 (Ctenocephalus canis) and the common House F'lea {Pulex irritans) being 

 the most common kinds. These in.sects are introduced species. 



T^'EP Bugs. 



The Bed Bug is nocturnal in its habits. During the day it conceals 

 itself in crevices and other places. The eggs of the bug are white oval 

 objects, having a projecting rim round the edge, and they hatch in a week 

 or ten days. A period of about eleven weeks is generally supposed by 

 writers on entomology to elapse for the complete maturity of this insect. 



Remedies. — Owing to the Bed Bug concealing it.self in crevices, it is 

 usually beyond the reach of powder. Therefore it is best to thoroughly 

 syringe such places with benzine, kerosene, carbolic acid, or boiling water. 

 Corrosi\e sublimate and oil of turpentine are also suggested as remedies. 

 Dr. J. A. Lintner, State Entomologist of New York, mentions another 

 effecti\e means of eradication : — 



Place in the centre of the room a dish containing about 4 ounces of brimstone 

 within a larger vessel, so that the possible overflow of the burning mass may not 

 injure the carpet or set fire to the floor. After removing from the room all such 

 metallic surfaces, as might be affected by the fumes, close every aperture, even 

 the keyholes, and set fire to the brimstone. When four or five hours have elapsed, 

 the room may be entered and the windows opened for a thorough airing. 



Another remedy which has proved successful is the hydrocyanic acid fumi- 

 gation trpitment. 



