650 INSECT PESTS OF FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD 



Susceptible persons should avoid places where the mites or 

 chiggers are known to be numerous or, if compelled to visit such 

 places may prevent ill effects by bathing in strong soapy water 

 to which some salt has been added. If this is done within a 

 few hours, no inconvenience will be noticed. After the injury 

 has appeared, the irritation may be allayed by use of ammonia 

 or soda. Sulphur dusted into the clothes will prevent attack 

 by the mites. 



The season for the mites is mid-summer to early autumn. 



Fig. 569. Common " Chiggers ". Leptus americanus at left ; Leptus irritans 

 at right. Highly magnified, dots under anal extremity indicating natural 

 size. (After Riley), U. S. Dept. of Agr. 



Roaches * 



The roaches which infest the house are of several kinds, but 

 all are alike in their habits and similar in their mode of develop- 

 ment. They injure food not so much by feeding upon it, although 

 they will eat almost anything, as by running over it and making 

 it unfit for human consumption. 



Roaches hide during the daytime in cracks and crevices, under 

 floors, behind baseboards, around water pipes and wherever they 

 can escape observation. In these places they lay their eggs, 

 which are produced in relatively large, bean-shaped capsules 

 which are carried for some time projecting from the abdomen 

 of the females. The young develop slowly, months being some- 

 times required and often the eggs do not hatch for long periods. 

 * Family Blattidce. 



