310 INSECTS AFFECTING MAN AND HOUSEHOLD 



Injury. These minute pests bore into the skin of human 

 beings, causing, about twenty-four hours after the attack, intense 

 itching at the point of infestation, which point is marked by a red 

 patch varying from the size of a dime to that of a quarter of a 

 dollar. Sometimes the itching is almost intolerable, and it may 

 last several days. 



Control. Itching may sometimes be allayed by applying at 

 the very first appearance moderately strong ammonia. Another 

 application is a super-saturated solution of baking soda. If one 

 suspects that he has been exposed to the attacks of this pest, an 

 immediate hot bath with an abundance of soap and a change of 

 all clothing will frequently ward off a disagreeable experience. 

 These pests prefer shady localities, and in proportion as under- 

 growth and weeds are cleared off and sunshine allowed to pene- 

 trate, the pest disappears. Application of kerosene to low shrub- 

 bery along the edge of woods hi parks or private grounds will 

 lessen the evil. The dusting of Persian insect powder or powdered 

 sulfur in the stockings and under waist-band when on the point 

 of entering infested locations will do much to prevent attack. 



The Confused Flour Beetle (Tribolium confusum Duv.). 

 This small pest occasionally finds its way into the household, 

 causing much annoyance to the housekeeper. The source should 

 be sought with the grocer, who, in turn, should seek it in the mill 

 or warehouse from which infested flour was obtained. The beetle 

 is a slender, brownish insect, not more than one-eighth of an inch 

 long. It may become a general pest, although originally found in 

 flour. 



Control. Housekeepers suffering in this connection are ad- 

 vised to make complaint at once to the parties selling them infested 

 flour. At the same time it should be noted that if the flour bin 

 is not cleaned, but flour added from time to time, as the supply 

 gets low, a pantry or house may be overrun, because of the oppor- 

 tunity for the insect to increase in the lower part of the flour bin 

 from the original supply. (See page 349.) 



Buffalo Gnats or Black Flies. These insects are short, with 

 a bulging thorax and broad, short wings (Fig. 318). They are 

 active until sundown, at which time mosquitoes take their place 

 as annoyers of mankind and stock. Only the females suck blood. 

 The eggs are deposited on stones or projecting parts of submerged 

 objects in running water. The larvae live in the swift current, 

 feeding on small aquatic animals. They are equipped with pecu- 



