12 FAEMEES BULLETIN 754. 



The old-fashioned household remedies referred to below are effec- 

 tive enough, though at a greater cost of time and personal effort. 

 They will, however, be often of much service in the case of slight or 

 recent infestations, or where the employment of more poisonous and 

 troublesome gases is objected to or is impracticable. Of these simple 

 methods of control perhaps the most efficient is in very liberal appli- 

 cations of benzine or kerosene, or any other of the lighter petroleum 

 oils, introduced with small brushes or feathers, or by injecting with 

 syringes into all crevices of beds, furniture, or walls where the insects 

 may have concealed themselves. Corrosive subhmate is also of value, 

 and oil of turpentine may be used in the same way. The liberal use 

 of hot water, wherever it may be employed without danger to furni- 

 ture, etc., is also an effectual method of destroying both eggs and 

 active bugs.^ 



Various bedbug remedies and mixtures are for sale, most of them 

 containing one or another of the ingredients mentioned, and these 

 are frequently of value. The great desideratum, however, in a case 

 of this kind^ is a daily inspection of beds and bedding, particularly 

 the seams and tufting of mattresses, and of all crevices and locations 

 about the premises where these vermin may have gone for conceal- 

 ment. A vigorous campaign should, in the course of a week or so 

 at the outside, result in the extermination of this very obnoxious 

 and embarrassing pest. 



The possibility of temperature control is indicated in the discussion 

 elsewhere of the effect of temperature on this insect, and it may be 

 that if infested houses in cold climates could be opened up and 

 allowed to remain at a temperature well below freezing for a week or 

 more, the bedbug would be thoroughly exterminated. This method 

 of control would be rarely practicable except perhaps in the case of 

 summer houses which are left untenanted in winter. 



1 A remedy for the bedbug has been devised by Mr. R. H. Pel tit ("Notes on two inse(cticidal ; 

 in 10th Rpt. Mich. Acad. Sci., p. 159-160, 1908) as a substitute for hydrocyanic-acid gas and sulphur, and 

 is reported to have proved very successful. The preparation of this insecticide and its application is 

 described as follows: 



Alcohol is drawn through pvretliriun in a futuicl until the powder is well washed and a large part of 

 the resinous principle extracted. To do this, the powder is placed in a large funnel with filter-plate and 

 a layer of cotton wool at the bottom. An aspirator is attached and the alcohol is at first slowly and later 

 rapidly sucked through six or eight times, during which operation it becomes highly colored. To this 

 liquid as a basis, are added several oils to give permanence to tnc application. Both alcohol and pyrethrum 

 evaporate so quickly that it was thought best to carry in some neavier volatile oils whose effects would 

 last several days or even weeks. The formula when completed stands as follows: 

 To the extract made by washing 400 grams of pyrethrum with 2,000 c. c. of strong alcohol, are added— 

 50 grams gum camphor. 

 1.50 c. c. cedar wood oil. 

 25 grams oilcitronella. 

 25 grams oil lavender. 

 The application is best made with a large sized atomizer, one holding a pint or more and working with 

 a piston instead of a rubber bull). * * * To obtain the best results, repeat the treatment after about 

 two weeks. We have tried this mixture repeatedly, and with imiformly gratifying results. Usually 

 one application, if thoroughly made, put a period to the complaints, about eight or ten oimces being 

 required in an average sleeping-room. The odor remauis some little time in a room, but is not disagreeable 

 to the average person. 



This remedy can be readily prepared by a pharmacist in any drug store. 



o 



