ATROPOS DTVINATORIA: INFESTING A BED-ROOM, 199 



them from a room and bed where they abounded. It was thought that 

 they had been left in the room by some traveling agents who had occu- 

 pied it a year previous. Effort was made to exterminate the insect by 

 hot water and corrosive sublimate. The means used seemed for a while 

 to be successful, but the following year (in April) they again appeared 

 in large numbers. 



Answer was returned that they were a low form of the order of Neurop- 

 tera, known as FscociJw, and bearing the scientific name above given. 



It was further stated that the insect could not have been introduced 

 in the manner supposed, viz., from the bodies or the clothing of the 

 travelers, for the reason that, although in general appearance it is quite 

 louse-like, yet it does not belong to the Pediculidce, and is not parasitic 

 upon the persons of men or animals. It frequently occurs in books 

 and among old papers, and is known also to feed upon the remains of 

 minute insects, and to attack the insects in entomological collections. 

 Its mouth parts are not fitted for sucking blood but consist of strong 

 cutting jaws. 



Recommendations for its Destruction. 



To remove the insects from the bed, it was recommended to wash the 

 entire bedstead with hot water and soap-suds, or to brush over the 

 entire surface with benzine, if it could be done without injury to it. 

 Such portions of the bedding as could not be washed, as the pillows 

 and mattress, should be exposed to the hot sunlight for two or three 

 days, turning them from side to side occasionally. A feather-bed might 

 require some benzine to be poured into it, and the contents of a straw 

 tick should be burned. 



If the room was infestea to any considerable extent, if papered, the 

 old paper should be removed, and the walls thoroughly washed before 

 re-papering. Carpeting should be treated as recommended for the 

 bedding, and the floors and the entire wood-work washed with strong 

 soap-suds. 



Particulars of the Invasion. 



The absolute certainty expressed by the lady from whom the speci- 

 mens were received, that they had been introduced into her house by 

 the travelers above stated, and the certainty, from an entomological 

 standpoint, that they could not have been thus introduced, led to con- 

 siderable correspondence upon the subject, which elicited minute and 

 extended particulars respecting the suddenness of the invasion, its 

 abundance, its persistence, and fruitless efforts to conquer it. These 

 proved to be of considerable interest in their economic aspect, as will 



