36 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



western portions of the United States. The southern Chigoe flea^° 

 ^^ " jig&cr " is related to the " sticktight " flea, but instead of re- 

 maining attached to the surface of the host as in the case of that 

 species, the female, after fertilization, burrows into the flesh until 

 it may become completely imbedded. Cats, dogs, cattle, sheep, 

 horses and even birds are infested, though it is of special importance 

 because of its attacking man. This pest usually confines itself to 

 the feet, the female entering between the toes or under the nails, 

 often producing ulcers, and frequently producing permanent 

 crippling. 



Control. Domestic animals allowed in houses should be pro- 

 vided with a sleeping mat or blanket, and the latter taken up fre- 

 quently, shaken and the collected dust burned. Infested animals 

 should have a quantity of fresh pyrethrum powder rubbed into the 

 hair. This stupefies the fleas, causing them to drop, and then they 

 may be swept up and burned. Washing with a 3 per cent solution 

 of creolin or a similar preparation is also very effective. In the 

 case of cats at least, this should be followed by washing with warm 

 soap and water in order to remove the creolin and thus avoid a 

 possible slight burning. Dusting with pulverized naphthalene will 

 drive the fleas from the animals, though it may sicken cats slightly 

 for a day or two. " Sticktight " or chicken fleas may be destroyed 

 by applications of kerosene and lard (i part kerosene to 3 parts 

 lard) to the assembled masses of fleas. 



Flea controP^ in dwellings would be simplified by keeping all 

 domestic animals outdoors, and as fleas can live for a time at least 

 upon various hosts, the quartering of different animals in close 

 proximity is favorable to flea infestation. 



Fleas may be trapped on sticky fly paper laid upon the floor, 

 worn as a sort of emergency leggings, or on a slender roll easily 

 inserted and removed from a larger roll of wire netting. This 

 latter device, which can be of almost any dimensions, is particularly 

 useful about dwellings, and if properly constructed can be used in 

 beds, since the insects are easily trapped and there is no danger of 

 smearing clothing with the adhesive. 



One of the simplest methods of destroying fleas in infested 

 dwellings is fumigation with flake naphthalene, using 5 pounds to 

 an average sized room, and closing it for 24 hours. The naph- 

 thalene may be spread out upon newspapers and used repeatedly. 



soDermatophilus penetrans Linn. 



91 See also Bishopp, U. S. Dep't Agr. Bui. 248. 1915. 



