1911] Morse — Lucilia sericata as a Houselwld Pest 89 



who quotes the original Steleopyga in the synonymy under Blatta. 

 The only species, orientdlis, included under this emended form 

 by Fischer is not included by Shelf ord, who uses the name for a 

 group of species typlified by the Blatta rhombifolia of Stoll. This 

 group of species which Mr. Shelford lists under Stylopyga is sepa- 

 rable from the species of the genus Blatta only by the length and 

 development of wings in the male and can thus all be logically 

 referred to that genus. Therefore the twenty-five species listed 

 by Shelford in the above paper are transferred to the genus Blatta. 

 The genus Doryl^a of Stal is very closely allied to Blatta and 

 will eventually very likely prove a synonym of that genus. 



LUCILIA SERICATA AS A HOUSEHOLD PEST. 

 By a. p. Morse, 

 Wellesley College, Mass. 



In October, 1910, a ladj^ asked me, "Why do worms prefer 

 oriental rugs to Wilton carpets.^" Inquiry revealed the fact 

 that one of her friends was finding large numbers of white "worms" 

 under her oriental rugs. 



Naturally my first thought was of fleas and Dermestid larvae, 

 but the description was at variance with either, neither dogs or 

 cats were about, the rugs had been recently cleaned, and the 

 house was immaculately kept, — so I requested samples. In a 

 few days a vial containing several Muscid maggots and a puparium 

 was received. Careful questioning in regard to food material 

 for such creatures finally secured the information that a squirrel 

 family had been evicted recently from one of the chimneys and 

 that one of the young squirrels, it was believed, had died in the flue. 

 This clue accounted satisfactorily for the presence of the trouble- 

 some maggots and the sequel. With this introduction, the 

 following extracts from letters concerning the outbreak will be 

 self explanatory, due allowance being made, if thought necessary, 

 for a possible, but under the circumstances, very pardonable, 

 exaggeration in regard to the numbers of the pest. 

 [Nov. 23] "Mrs. - — — - writes me that you would like to hear 

 about our 'squirrels.' On Sept. 17 squirrel No. 1 came down the 

 chimney and took possession of the lower part of the house. 



