BEDB UG — CL THES MOTHS 



355 



in human dwellings, hiding away in crevices by day, and coming out 

 to suck the blood of its unfortunate host by night. Normally its hfe 

 round requires about three months, but it 

 can exist for a long time in a house tempo- 

 rarily vacated. In cities it sometimes 

 migrates from vacant residences to others 

 near by that are occupied. The young are 

 similar in shape to the adults, and, like their 

 parents, have a strong sucking beak. 



A thorough course of treatment of all 

 hiding places is necessary for their eradica- 



FiG. 558. — The Bedbug. 

 Enlarged and natural 

 size. Original. 



Fig. 559. — Head of Bedbug. Greatly 

 enlarged. Original. 



tion, unless it is possible to vacate 

 a house for two or three days and 

 fumigate with hydrocyanic acid gas. 

 Gasoline, corrosive sublimate, or tur- 

 pentine may be used in cracks to kill 

 them. In vacant houses sulphur 

 may be burned, using it at the rate 

 of 2 pounds to the 100 cubic feet, 

 and placing the material in a metal 

 or earthen dish, which should in 

 turn be placed within a larger 

 dish, to guard against danger of 

 fire. 



The Clothes Moths 



Several species of tiny, dusky moths lay eggs in woolens or furs, 

 the resulting larvae feeding on the garments, eating holes in them, and 

 often doing irreparable damage. The larva of a common species. 

 Tinea pellionella L., makes a little case within which it feeds. 



In the Northern states this particular species occurs in the larval 

 state — the only stage in which it is directly destructive — in summer 

 only. In the South it may occur all the year. The adults are on the 

 wing at any time in the warmer months. They are active and shy, 

 and avoid the light. 



