INSECT PESTS OF THE HOUSEHOLD. 275 



summer, at least two sprayings with benzine, say 

 once in June and once about August first, will be 

 advisable. Another plan which will act as a protec- 

 tion in such cases is to sponge the cloth linings and 

 covers both sides where possible, with a dilute solu- 

 tion of corrosive sublimate in alcohol, made just 

 strong enough not to leave a white mark on a black 

 feather." 



Ants. 



Ants frequently become one of the most annoying 

 kinds of household pests by getting into, and run- 

 ning over everthing. The species most generally 

 troublesome is the LittleJjted Ant (Monomorium pha- 

 raonis,) which is world-m its distribution — although 

 it is said to have been originally a native of Europe. 



The worker of this 

 ubiquitous pest is rep- 

 resented at Fig. 143, a ; 

 and the female at b, of 

 the same figure. The 

 nests are made in al- 

 most a n y concealed 



143. Little Red Ant : a, female : i , i 



b, worker. Magnified. pOSltlOll aDOUt tile 



house — under floors, behind base-boards, between 

 walls, or in the walks or grass about the house. 

 From these nests the foraging parties sally forth and 

 over-run the house, devouring or carrying off par- 

 ticles of food of all descriptions, getting into every- 

 thing in sight, and often becoming an intolerable 

 nuisance. 



