58 PRACTICAL ZOOLOGY 



disagreeable odor behind them. " Moist articles are preferred, 

 and a warm, wet dishrag which is not washed after using has 

 almost irresistible attractions. If there was only one roach in 

 a kitchen and I wanted that roach, I would place just such a rag 

 on the middle of the floor soon after dark, and I would expect 

 that roach there before ten o'clock. This applies more particu- 

 larly to the large Oriental roach or ' black beetle,' which is very 

 heavy, does not climb much, and prefers moist places." l 



FIG. 35. Insects of the household. 



A, silver fish or fish moth ; B, cockroach ; C, red ant. 



and Riley.) 



(After Sedgwick 



To rid a house of roaches one must use several remedies and 

 persist in their use for some time. Two of those often recom- 

 mended are (i) a mixture of sugar or chocolate with borax, and 

 (2) plaster of Paris and flour. The sugar or chocolate attracts 

 the roaches and the borax kills them. The plaster of Paris and 

 flour mixture should be placed on a saucer with a saucer of water 

 near by. Eating the mixture makes the roaches thirsty and 

 causes them to drink water; the plaster becomes hardened in 

 their intestines, and death results. 



Ants. Ants often become very troublesome in houses. The 



1 Smith, J. B., Our Insect Friends and Enemies. 



