THE BEDBUG. 11 



to abate this bug nuisance.' Bedbugs and other household insects, 

 however, are not of the sort which it is convenient or pr()fital)le to 

 turn over to their natural enemies in the hope that eradication by 

 this means wiU follow, and the fact that they are preyed upon by 

 other insects furnishes no excuse to the housekeeper for not institut- 

 ing prompt remedial measures. 



REMEDIES. 



Undoubtedly the most efficient remedy for the bedbug is to fumi- 

 gate the infested house or rooms with hydrocyanic-acid gas. This gas 

 will penetrate into every crevice in the house or room where the 

 bedbugs conceal themselves and has an immediate effectiveness 

 which gives it an important recommendation, especially when the 

 infestation is considerable or of long standing. This method of 

 fumigation should be intelligently employed, as the gas is deadly 

 poisonous. A bulletin giving directions for such fumigation has been 

 issued by the Department of Agriculture.^ 



The fumes of burning sulphur are also a very efficient means of 

 control where the conditions are such that this method can be used, 

 readily destroying the insect in all stages, including the egg. The 

 treatment is inexpensive compared with the use of hydrocyanic- 

 acid gas and offers much less risk of danger to human beings. There 

 is, however, a considerable risk of injury to household fabrics, furnish- 

 ings, and wall papers from the strong bleaching quality of sulphur 

 fumes. This danger will be somewhat diminished if the fumigation 

 can be done at a time when the room or house is thoroughly dried out, 

 as in winter by a furnace or other heating system. Further precau- 

 tions should be taken by removing all metallic surfaces from the 

 room or building, or by protecting them with a coating of vaseline. 

 Two pounds of sulphur are recommended for each 2,000 cubic feet of 

 space, and the building should be closed for the treatment for at least 

 5 or 6 hours, or preferably for 24 hours. Sulphur candles may be 

 used where available, or the sulphurous gas or fumes can be generated 

 by burning the sulphur in a dish placed in the center of the room, and 

 for protection set within a larger vessel. Thorough-going precautions 

 must be taken to prevent accidental overflowing or the starting of a 

 fire, and after the fumigation the house should be given a thorough 

 airing. 



Other gases have been experunented with, such as formalm and 

 the vapors of benzine, naphthaline, and camphor, but these gases are 

 of little value. Similarly, insect powders are of little value, largely 

 from the difficulty of getting them into the crevices and other places 

 of concealment of the insects. 



1 Bedbugs and red ants, /n Insect Life, v. G, no. 4, p. 340. 1S94. 



2 Howard, L. O., and Popenoc, C. H. Hydrocyanic-acid gas against hoiiseliold insects. U. S. Dept. 

 Agr. Farmers' Bui. 699. 8 p. 191G. 



