CHAPTER XVI 

 INSECTS AFFECTING MAN AND THE HOUSEHOLD 



THIS chapter presents remedies intended to help the house- 

 keeper in her warfare against insect pests, and also deals with those 

 insects or insect-like animals which are directly injurious to man- 

 kind, either by causing discomfort and annoyance to man himself, 

 or hi being disease carriers. 



The Case-making Clothes-Moth. This widely distributed 

 moth (Tinea pellionella Linn.) is grayish yellow in color. The 

 larva or caterpillar, which feeds upon woollens, furs, and feathers, 

 is a dull white with a brown head. The larva is always observed 

 in a "case" made by its weaving together particles from the cloth 

 or other material in which it is working. The head and first seg- 

 ment may be extended from the case. This case, which the larva 

 drags about as it feeds, increases hi size as the larva grows. When 

 the caterpillar is full grown the case is fastened to the infested 

 garments by a silken web and the larva changes to a pupa within, 

 the pupal stage lasting about three weeks. 



The adult has an irregular flight; it is frequently seen flying 

 in the evening lamp light, but is usually found hiding'ln dark 

 places among garments, either stored in drawers or hanging in 

 closets. The very minute eggs are placed on the material intended 

 as food for the larvae. 



Control. A thorough housecleaning once or twice a year 

 does much to keep down pests of this nature. Rugs or carpets 

 should be aired and beaten. Furs kept below forty degrees F. 

 are not injured, and many commercial houses offer opportunities 

 of such storage to their customers. The writer stores what furs 

 and woollens need protecting in summer in a large iron box with 

 a tight cover, and three or four times during the late spring and 

 summer places a few teaspoonfuls of carbon bisulfid in a flat dish 

 on top of the clothing, keeping the box tightly closed during this 

 fumigation. Closets with perfectly tight doors might be utilized 

 in the same way as a chest. Frequently furs, feathers, or valuable 

 woollens are put up in sealed bags made of heavy paper, and 

 repellents such as tobacco, camphor or naphthaline are placed 

 inside. It should be noted that these repellents do not kill, but 

 simply assist, frequently to only a limited degree, in keeping 



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