INSECTS OF THE HOUSEHOLD 



71 



and nothing is more fascinating than to watch the dragon 

 flies, appropriately called "mosquito hawks," catching 

 mosquitoes on the wing. 



We shall not be able to devote so much time to many 

 other insects, equally important, but this study of the 

 mosquito should be used as the type, showing the point of 

 view and the methods to be employed with other species. 



Clothes Moths. — Comstock calls them " the dread of every 

 housekeeper." A coat is no better than its smallest hole. 

 Since earliest historic times 

 these little insects have 

 been the devourers of 

 man's woolens and furs, 

 and they are still as active 

 as ever. No estimate can 

 be made of the amount of 

 trouble, annoyance, work, 

 and damage they cause 

 year by year. It must go 

 a long way into the millions in spite of the best efforts 

 of careful housekeepers. How many intelligent house- 

 keepers know the life story of this troublesome insect ? 

 How much easier might it make the battle if they did ! 



Lessons may begin by asking the children to collect 

 statistics of amount of damage caused by clothes moths 

 in their own homes during the previous year. Include 

 with the actual loss, if any, the value of time, labor, and 

 materials used in prevention. There are sixteen million 

 homes in this country and, if desirable, simple calcula- 

 tion will yield an interesting estimate of the tax that one 

 small family of insects imposes and collects each year. 



Fig. 27. Common Clothes Moth 



a, adult ; /', larva ; c, larva in case. 



(Enlarged. After Riley) 



