129 



the back, showing the pupa, which later splits open and the beetle 

 emerges. 



The beetles fly to the windows during the day-time and may often be 

 caught upon the panes. They are also to be captured outdoors upon 

 the flowers of composite and scrophulariaceous plants, but probably do 

 not voluntarily leave the house until their eggs have been deposited. 



As already indicated in the mention of the fact that this insect is not 

 noted as a pest in Europe, the use of rugs instead of carpets is highly 

 to be recommended in localities where it abounds. Rugs are more often 

 shaken out and the pest is thus discouraged. 



Where carpets are used, however, and only taken up once a year at 

 " house-cleaning," the conditions are very favorable for the insect's in- 

 crease, particularly where the house-cleaning is hurriedly and carelessly 

 done. When a house has once become infested nothing but the most 

 energetic measures will completely rid it of the pest, and in complete 

 riddance is the only hope, as in a year a very few individuals will so 

 increase as to do great damage. At house-cleaning time, then, as many 

 rooms should be bared at once as possible, and the housekeeper should 

 go carefully over the rooms, removing all dust, and with a hand-atomi- 

 zer charged with benzine should pufl" the liquid into all the floor-cracks 

 and under the base-boards until every crevice has been reached. The 

 carpets themselves, after thorough beating, should be lightly sprayed 

 with the same substance, which will quickly evaporate, leaving no odor 

 after a short time. The inflammability of benzine should be remem- 

 bered, however, and no light should be brought near it. This done, 

 before relaying the carpets, it will be well to pour into 'the cracks 

 a moderately thick mixture of plaster of Paris and water, which soon 

 sets and fills them with a solid substance into which the insects will 

 not enter. Then lay around the borders of the room a width of tarred 

 roofing- paper and afterward relay the carpets. This thorough treat- 

 ment should answer in the very worst cases, and in a house so cleaned 

 the insect will probably not regain a foot-hold during the ensuing year. 

 Cloth-covered furniture which may have also become infested should be 

 steamed or also treated with benzine, and chests or drawers in which 

 infested clothing has been stored should be thoroughly sprayed. 



Another method of treatment, and one which I have frequently rec- 

 ommended, was indicated by me in a former communication to Good 

 RouseJceeping in rendering my decision in the competition for best rem- 

 edies for household pests. It can be used to advantage whenever the 

 work of the larva is noticed or suspected. It consists in laying a damp 

 cloth (an old towel or a folded sheet will do) smoothly over the sus- 

 pected part of the carpet, and ironing it with a hot iron. The steam 

 thus generated will pass through the carpet and kill all the insects im- 

 mediately beneath. If not too laborious, an entire room could be treated 

 to advantage in this way. 

 Camphor, pepper, tobacco, turpentine, carbolic acid, tallow, pyreth- 



