98 INSECTS AND HUMAN WELFARE 



Most closely dependent upon man are a couple of species 

 of Cimex, known as bed-bugs. Although wingless like the flea 

 and dependent upon human blood for food, during its pre- 

 paratory stages as well as in the full-grown condition, the 

 bed-bug is free-living. Strange to say, this insect appears not 

 to be responsible for the transmission of any specific disease. 

 It has been under suspicion at various times but has not so 

 far been definitely proven to be a disease-carrier. 



No reference to household insects could be complete with- 

 out some mention of the numerous species that gain entrance 

 to dwellings through the medium of food and remain there in 

 materials kept for future use. Some of these have already 

 been referred to in a previous chapter as enemies of stored 

 food products. As the household pantry is only a miniature 

 storage place for varied food products, spices, miscellaneous 

 drugs, and sundry other materials of plant and animal origin 

 its insect fauna is restricted only by the substances on hand 

 and the rapidity with which those infested by insects are 

 removed. 



Certain ants are very annoying visitors to pantries into 

 which they wander from their nearby nests to feed upon and 

 carry home the saccharine substances of which they are very 

 fond. These ants are usually very small species and are es- 

 pecially abundant in warmer countries. They are extremely 

 persistent in their search for food and not easily discouraged. 



Dry cereals of all kinds are particularly susceptible to in- 

 jury by insects and it is difficult to keep even small supplies 

 free from such pests. Several species of small moths live as 

 caterpillars in flour, meal, rolled oats and natural breakfast 

 foods, although they do not appear able to subsist upon the 

 patent varieties. During the process of feeding they spin loose 

 strands of silk which web the material together. If once ad- 

 mitted to receptacles containing suitable food, they pass 

 through successive generations until the contents are com- 

 pletely destroyed. A great variety of beetles have similar 

 habits, some preferring coarse materials, others the finer 

 flours, or rice, etc. 



