SOME COMMON HOUSEHOLD INSECTS. 69 



iron chest was constructed, about two feet square at the ends, 

 and three and a half feet long. The cover fits in with a 

 flange, and a strip of felting is glued on the cover, round the 

 edge which rests on the edge of the chest when the cover is in . 

 place; six hooks on the cover fasten into eyes soldered on 

 chest, and serve to keep the former in tight. Into this recep- 

 tacle in the spring goes all of our clothing, not to be used 

 during the summer, and which is attractive to moths. At the 

 same time into a saucer-like dish placed on top of the clothing 

 is poured four tablespoonfuls of bisulphide of carbon, and 

 the chest closed. It should not be opened for any purpose 

 for three or four days. We repeat this performance about 

 ten days later, since the vapor fatal to the larva does not kill 

 the egg, and perhaps once or twice more at intervals during 

 the summer. These latter fumigations are probably not neces- 

 sary, but would kill any insect life should a moth have, by 

 chance, crawled in. This vapor, heavier than air, sinks 

 through the clothes stored in the chest. It is explosive when 

 mixed with the atmosphere, and no light of any kind should 

 be brought near it. Bisulphide of Carbon should be . pur- 

 chased in pint or half-pint cans. It in no way injures the 

 clothes. 



CARPET BEETLE, "BUFFALO BUG/' "BUFFALO MOTH/' 



A beetle, not a bug, and not a moth. 



Midsummer house-cleaning of infested houses, or two 

 house-cleanings each year is desirable, and should be most 

 thoroly attended to. If carpets are used they should be 

 thoroly beaten, and, if possible, sprayed out of doors with 

 some such liquid as benzine or gasoline, and well aired after- 

 wards. Rooms should have their bare floors thoroly 

 swept, washed with hot soap-suds, and all cracks drenched 

 with kerosene or benzine. If possible, it is desirable in bad 

 cases to lay tarred paper on the floor before laying down the 

 carpet. Should the carpet show any spots at any time during 

 the year after such a treatment, affording evidence of the pest, 

 we are advised by the United States Department of Agricul- 

 ture to lay a damp cloth smoothly over the places affected, 

 and iron with a hot iron, thus creating steam which will pass 

 through the carpet and kill all insects below. This calls for 

 much "elbow grease." The use of rugs on bare floors, or 



