50 



powders was iiieCfectuiil in one case of extreme infestation, as was also, and 

 more remarl^ably, a free sprinliling of floor mattings with benzine. In tliis 

 instance it was finally necessary to take up the floor coverings and wash the 

 floors down with hot soapsuds in order to secure relief from the flea plague. 

 In another case, however, a single liberal application of buhach was perfectly 

 successful, while in a third a single thorough application of benzine completely 

 rid an infested house of fleas. 



" To sum up : Every house where a pet dog or cat is kept may become 

 seriously infested with fle.as if the proper conditions of moisture and freedom 

 from disturbance exist. Infestation, however, is not likely to occur if the 

 (bare) floors can be frequently and thoroughly swept. When an outbreak of 

 fleas comes, however, the easiest remedy to apply is a free sprinkling of 

 pyrethrum powder in the infested rooms. This failing, benzine may be tried, 

 a thorough spraying of carpets and floors being undertaken, with the exercise 

 of due precaution in .seeing that no lights or fires are in the house at the time 

 of the application, or for some kour.s afterwards. Finall.v, if the plague is not 

 thus abated, all floor coverings must be removed and the floors washed with 

 hot soapsuds. This is a useful precaution to take in an.y house wihch it is 

 proposed to close for the summer, since even a thorough sweeping may leave 

 behind some few flea eggs from which an all-pervading swarm may develop 

 before the house is re-opened. 



" Provide a rug for the cat or the dog to sleep on and give this rug a 

 frequent shaking and brushing, afterwards sweeping up and burning the dust 

 thus removed. As all the flea eggs on an infested animal will not, however, 

 drop off in this way, and those which remain on it will probably develoji 

 successfully, it will be found wise to occasionally rub into the hair of the dog 

 or cat a quantity of pyrethrum powder. If thoroughl.v applied, it will cause 

 the fleas to fall off in a half stupefied condition, when they, too, may be swept 

 up and burned." — Bulletin No. 5, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Division of 

 Entomology. 



Bed Bug (Acanihia Icctiilaria, Linn.). 



This species, described by Linn.-eus a century and a half ago, has been a 

 most familiar insect to man, though for how long a time it is quite ditflcult 

 to determine. 



It is by po means easy to estimate the amount of injury caused by this 

 insect, for, so far as man is concerned, it consists of loss of time and comfort, 

 while its effects upon other animals are involved in too much obscurity to 

 allow of any estimates being formed. As found in houses infesting man, it 

 can only be considered as semi-parisitic, living for the most part secreted in 

 crack.s and crevices and attacking its victims during the night. Probably its 

 attacks upon other animals are of a similar nature, although it is referred to 

 by some authors as a parasite of domestic fowls. 



The eggs are oval in shape, of a whitish colour, slightl.v narrowed at one 

 end, and will be found in great numbers in the cracks which furnish shelter 

 for the adults. The young bugs escape from the eggs by pushing off a 

 circular lid at one end. 



