492 THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



burned, and the floors wet with kerosene emulsion or some 

 other insecticide that will destroy the eggs and larvae. 



In regions where fleas abound much relief can be ob- 

 tained by the use of rugs on the floors of dwellings instead 

 of carpets. The frequent shaking of the rugs and cleaning 

 of the floors will prevent the breeding of these pests within 

 the house. As a single flea will inflict many bites, it often 

 happens that a house will seem to be overrun by them when 

 only a few are present. In such cases a careful search for 

 and capture of the offenders will soon remedy the evil. We 

 have found that in catching fleas greater success attends our 

 efforts if the thumb and forefinger be wet before seizing the 

 flea, and the insect be placed in a dish of water before we 

 attempt to destroy it. Otherwise the insect is apt to escape 

 while we are trying to destroy it. 



People that suffer from the attacks of these pests can 

 also gain much relief by dusting the upper part of their 

 stockings each morning with Persian insect powder, and by 

 sprinkling a small quantity of this powder between the 

 sheets of their beds at night. 



This order contains only a single family, the Pulicidoe 

 (Pu-lic'i-dae), of which five or six genera and about twenty- 

 five species are now known. The species that are most fre- 

 quently observed are the following : — 



The Dog-flea, Ceratopsyllus serraticeps (Cer-a-to-psyl'lus 

 ser-rat'i-ceps). — This is the most common flea that infests 

 dog, cat, and man in this country (Fig. 598). It is reddish 

 brown ; the lower margin of the head and the hinder margin 

 of the prothorax each bear on each side from seven to nine 

 black, tooth-like spines. 



The Human-flea, Pulex irritans (Pu'lex ir-ri'tans). This 

 species lacks the comb-like rows of black spines on the lower 

 side of the head and on the hinder margin of the prothorax. 

 It is also usually darker than the preceding species, being 

 sometimes pitchy brown. It is a common pest in dwellings 

 in Europe, but is comparatively rare in this country. 



