86 



GRASSHOPPERS AND OTHER INJURIOUS INSECTS OF 1911 AND 1912. 



Pig. 59' 



A "Silver Fisli. 



THE SILVER FISH. 



The illustration accompanying this ar- 

 ticle gives a good idea of the appearance of 

 this insect, which, at times, is a pest in house- 

 holds. About half an inch long, silvery- 

 white in color, almost fish-like in shape, 

 quick in its movements. It is sometimes seen 

 rapidly scurrying about among unused books 

 on shelves not often disturbed, and in bureau 

 drawers where clothing is stored. It belongs 

 to the lowest order or group of insects, which 

 ordinarily furnishes us with but few, if any, 

 insect pests. Sometimes, however, the silver 

 fish not only injures books, but also has been 

 known to injure rugs made of silk, and evn destroy silk dresses by 

 eating holes in the same. It also eats holes in wall paper in seeking 

 the starch or glue beneath it. These injuries are brought about ap- 

 parently by its appetite for the glue and starch used either as 

 sizing in cloth or paper, or in the binding of books. 



Remedies. — Careful housecleaning in severe cases should help 

 in eradicating or lessening the number of this pest. Dusting 

 shelves and drawers generously with Pyrethum (Persian Insect 

 Powder, Buhach, Dalmation Insect Powder) would be beneficial. 

 The insect should be killed whenever individuals are met with, and 

 it should be borne in mind that frequent handling of starched and 

 silk clothes will tend to render the goods so handled less likely to 

 be attacked. Since they are fond of starch, the poisoning of starch 

 with an abundance of arsenic, smearing the same on pieces of card- 

 board, and placing these poisoned baits on shelves and drawers 

 where the insects are known to occur, presents an eff'ective means 

 of reducing their numbers. A similar poisoned bait prepared with 

 glue in place of starch might be equally effective, though we cannot 

 speak as frankly of this m.edium as we can of the starch. Inas- 

 much as this insect sometimes eats the sizing off of heavily glazed 

 paper, leaving, however, the inked parts (text) untouched, indi- 

 cating a marked dislike for printer's ink, we recommend when silk 

 material, or anything in fact containing starch or glue, has to be 

 stored away for any length of time, that the same be wrapped in 

 several layers of newspaper. 



