LICE OF POULTRY. THE BEDBUG 89 



most commonly fomid upon the hen, Menopum trigonocephalum, is an 

 especially active runner, readily passing to other species of birds or to 

 any object with which the infested animal is in contact. It is said that 

 horses kept in the vicinity of chicken houses harboring this louse are 

 often seriously troubled by it. 



In this connection the measures recommended for the eradication of 

 the lice of mammals and poultrj'-infesting bedbugs will in general 

 apply here. All nesting material and litter must, of course, be cleared 

 out and burned or buried. A washing down with five per cent, creolin 

 or carbolic acid solution should follow, the usual whitewashing in such 

 cases adding to the probability of a complete destruction of the lice. 

 The lime and sulphur mixture (page 125), apphed as a spray to all parts 

 of the interior, is penetrating and gives satisfactory results. 



As a simple agent for the killing of lice or mites in the hen house and 

 dovecot the cloud of lime dust is said to be of much value. In the appli- 

 cation of this method the birds should be absent and the quarters closed. 

 A few handfuls of finely powdered lime are then thrown against the roof 

 and walls, producing a cloud of dust. This will settle upon the roosts, 

 nest compartments, and floor, and into the crevices, destroying many of 

 the exposed vermin. Afterward the place should be swept out and the 

 sweepings buried, burned, or otherwise destroyed. 



Fumigation is commonly resorted to, and may have value as a con- 

 tributory measure. The sulphur fumigation, applied as recommended in 

 the eradication of bedbugs, will serve here as well. 



Observations made as to the length of time required for the hatching 

 of the eggs, while not complete, indicate that for species of bird lice in 

 general, five to six days are necessary at least. Therefore, in repeating 

 treatments intended to kill individuals hatched from remaining eggs, 

 there should be an intervening period of about ten days. 



Order V. Hemiptera 



Insecta (p. 15). — This group includes the cicadas, plant lice, and true 

 bugs. The mouth parts are suctorial, the mandibles and maxillae being 

 modified into bristle-Hke structures for puncturing and extracting the 

 juices of plants or the blood of animals. The labium is usually jointed 

 and forms a sheath for the piercing bristles. There are usually four 

 wings, some fomis having the first pair thickened and leathery at the 

 base, while only the tips are membranous and elastic. It is from this 

 " half-winged " structure that the order derives its name. In some of the 

 lower forms (bedbugs) wings are absent. A characteristic of the order is 

 the presence of stink glands, which in the adult open ventrally on the 

 metathorax. The secretion from these glands has a disgusting odor, 

 probably originally of defensive service to the insect though in parasitic 

 forms rather serving to reveal their presence and location. The meta- 



