FLIES AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD INSECTS 



47 



refuse wool, and is said to be injurious to furs, clothing, roots, 

 grain, stuffed animals, etc. The brown spider beetle^ lives with 

 the preceding, has similar habits and differs principally in the 

 absence of the white markings. 



The pea weeviP and various bean weevils^ aire stout, grayish 

 weevils most easily recognized by their occurring respectively in 

 peas and beans. The original infestation usually takes place in the 

 field, though these insects are capable of breeding for extended 

 periods in the dried seeds of their food plants. The presence of 

 the beetles in a house is an almost infallible indication of infested 

 peas or beans. It is usually more satisfactory to burn a small lot 

 infested by these insects. 



Fig. 33 Bean weevil, seen from 

 above, enlarged. (Original) 



Fig. 34 Pea w^eevil, seen from above, en- 

 larged. (Original) 



Control measures. It is comparatively easy, with the exercise 

 of a moderate degree of care, to avoid serious injury by any of 

 these pests, since they invariably require access to a liberal amount 

 of food for an extended period. Any materials likely to produce 

 numbers of these insects should not be allowed to lie undisturbed 

 and accessible for a series of months. Most of these pests can 

 easily be destroyed by heating the infested material for a period of 

 4 or 5 hours to about 125 or 150 degrees Fahrenheit. This should 

 be done carefully and time enough given so that the heat will pene- 

 trate and destrov all of the insects. Anything infested should be 



^ P t i n u s b r u n 11 e u s Duft. 

 ^ B r u c h u s p i s o r 11 m Linn. 

 ^B. obtectus Say and others. 



