334 INSECTS AFFECTING VEGETATION 



under or between the layers. It will not attack clothing hanging in a 

 closet under ordinary conditions. In carpets it eats irregular holes 

 along the edges and, according to Howard and Marlatt, has a ten- 

 dency to feed along the lines of a floor crack, cutting long slits. 

 Complaints sometimes come from country stores of damage to blan- 

 kets and rolls of flannel goods on the shelves. There may be two 

 or three broods of the species during the summer, and beetles may 

 be found on the windows until November. In heated rooms larvae 

 are occasionally found in mid- winter; but that is rare. 



Another species which is much more rare is known as the "black 

 carpet beetle," because of its color. It is longer and more slender 

 than the previous species and is not so much found on flowers. The 

 larva is altogether different in appearance light brown in color, 

 smooth in appearance and tough and horny to the touch ; it is almost 

 cylindrical in form and tapers toward the hinder end, where it is 

 furnished with a brush of long hair. 



Carpets infested by these insects should be taken up, cleaned 

 and, if possible, steamed, to destroy both eggs and larvae. The floors 

 should be thoroughly cleaned and the cracks should be treated with 

 gasoline. When relaying, use tar paper around the edges or under 

 the whole carpet. If for any reason carpets cannot be taken up, 

 use gasoline liberally at all points where infestation is apparent, 

 applying enough to soak the fabric and the floor below it. Repeat 

 in a week and watch closely for new points of infestation. 



Rugs are rarely attacked, and even a carpet not nailed down is 

 not so likely to be troubled, particularly if it lacks even an inch 

 or two of reaching the baseboards. The use of naphthaline crystals 

 as a repellant under the edges is sometimes advised, and this may 

 be employed if the odor is not offensive. 



In store stocks it simply means continuous vigilance, the liberal 

 use of gasoline to destroy larvae and beetles, and the use of naphtha- 

 line as a repellant. Casing rolls of goods in cotton bags serves to 

 protect them and even a tight paper wrapper will answer the purpose. 



Moths. Clothes moths are among the most particular enemies 

 of the good housewife, and nothing is more calculated to stir her 

 into sudden activity than the vision of a little fluttering tan-colored 

 creature in the twilight or in a lighted room. And when the creature 

 flies out from among the clothing hung thickly in a closet, there is 

 disturbance of mind as well as an energetic attempt at destruction. 

 And yet these little fluttering moths, or millers, with glistening nar- 

 row yellowish wings, measuring not over one-quarter of an inch, are 

 harmless in themselves. They not only do not feed upon clothing, 

 but are absolutely unable to feed at all. It is not the moth, there- 

 fore, that does the damage, but the little caterpillar that produced 

 the moth, and the presence of the flying insect is a danger signal or 

 warning that damage is to be expected unless precautions are taken. 



These little moths, or millers, lay their eggs in woolen or other 

 animal textures, like fur and feathers of all kinds, and rarely 

 attack either silk or cotton. The latter is a vegetable product and, 

 like linen, is practically exempt from moth attack. At a pinch, the 



