INSECTS AND WAR 7 



more difficult as it was to hatch out the eggs, it 

 was most difficult to rear the larvae. Their small 

 size made them difficult to observe, and, like 

 most young animals, they are intolerant of con- 

 trol, apt to wander and explore, and less given 

 to clinging to the cloth than their more sedentary 

 parents. Naturally, they want to scatter, spread 

 themselves, and pair. 



Like young chickens, the larvae feed immedi- 

 ately on emerging from the egg. They apparently 

 moult three times, at intervals of about four 

 days, and on the eleventh day attain their mature 

 form, though they do not pair until four or five 

 days later. 



Mr. Warburton summarises the life-cycle of 

 the insects, as indicated by his experiments, as 

 follows : Incubation period, eight days to five 

 weeks ; from larva to imago, eleven days ; non- 

 functional mature condition, four days ; adult 

 life male, three weeks ; female, four weeks. 



But we must not forget that these figures are 

 based upon laboratory experiments, and that 

 under the normal conditions the rate may be 

 accelerated. From Mr. Warburton's experience 

 it is perfectly obvious that, unless regularly fed, 

 body-lice very quickly die. Of all the verminous 



