22 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



abundance of food. It is said that ordinarily only one meal is 

 taken between each of the five molts preceding the attainment of 

 maturity. Full-grown bugs at least are able to endure long fasts with 

 apparently no inconvenience. 



Control measures. Cracks and crevices, loose wall paper and 

 the old wooden bedsteads afford ideal hiding places for this d^'s- 

 gusting pest. The modern tight construction of both floors and 

 walls, and iron or brass bedsteads reduce the retreats of this species 

 to a minimum and greatly facilitate its control. 



The insect can be controlled in the older type of dwelling only 

 by extreme vigilance. Cracks and crevices should be stopped so 

 far as possible, and the joints of the old-fashioned bedstead treated 

 liberally with benzine, kerosene or similar oils. Hot water can be 

 employed for cleansing bedsteads where this treatment seems 

 preferable. Corrosive sublimate is frequently used, though a deadly 

 poison and should be employed with great caution. The daily 

 inspection and the destruction of bugs found on the bed and 

 bedding soon results in eliminating the pest unless the building 

 affords comparatively inaccessible retreats, as, for example, a very 

 defective floor. 



A room badly infested by this pest might well be thoroughly 

 fumigated with brimstone ; 2 pounds of sulfur are advised for each 

 thousand cubic feet of space, the treatment being continued at 

 least 24 hours if possible. The sulfur candles now manufactured 

 are excellent for this purpose. A more effective though mucn 

 more dangerous method is the employment of hydrocyanic acid gas, 

 directions for the use of which are given on page 48. This latter is 

 especially serviceable where entire buildings are badly infested. 



It may be comforting to know that the bedbug has active 

 enemies in the little red ant and also cockroaches. Unfortunately 

 these insects are serious nuisances in the household and hardly more 

 welcome than the pest under consideration. 



ANNOYING FORMS 



Cluster fly 



This interesting species^ has received its popular name because 

 of the large clusters occasionally found in autumn in houses. It 

 is easily distinguished from the rather closely related house fly by 

 the black thorax covered rather thickly with tawny hairs frequently 

 inclining to a grayish shade. The young of this species live about 



^Pollenia rudis Fabr. 



