SOME COMMON HOUSEHOLD INSECTS. 



71 



observed. A common frying pan made a good dish to burn 

 the sulphur in, and this was placed in a pan of earth, which 

 in turn rested upon two bricks on the floor. It must be remem- 

 bered that these fumes tarnish silver, gilt picture frames, and 



all bright metals. 



Fig. 57. 



SILVER FISH, FISH MOTH. 



This is the small, silvery insect which 

 slips around so rapidly on book shelves 

 amongst old books, and in bureau draw- 

 ers, where clothes are kept, and elsewhere. 

 It is not a moth, and certainly not a fish, 

 but belongs to the lowest and simplest 

 order of insects. It is nearly half an inch 

 long, and is shown in Fig. 57. 



It is somewhat of a disputed point as 

 to whether this insect's principal food is 

 of a vegetable nature, starch, for instance, 

 or whether, when it annoys us in the 

 "Silver Fish," houschold, it is really after the glue on 

 backs of books, in sizing, under the wall paper, etc. We 

 have known of its ruining several silk dresses, and of its 

 attacking rugs made of silk scraps. 



Fresh pyrethrum powder dusted freely on book shelves 

 amongst the books is of some help. In houses badly infested 

 silk dresses and starched clothing should be frequently han- 

 dled, and not left untouched for long periods in bureau 

 drawers. 



Starch paste poisoned with arsenic, and white glue melted 

 and similarly poisoned, both being spread upon pieces of card- 

 board and placed in drawers and elsewhere, wherever this 

 pest occurs, is being at present tried by this department, 

 starch thus used having been previously recommended ; the 

 white glue idea being suggested by the claim above referred 

 to, that this insect seeks glue rather than starch. As we go 

 to press the results of this comparative test are not available 

 for publication, the experiment having been tried in a distant 

 town. 



