36 BULLETIN 707, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



SUMMARY. 



1. Naphthalene, against carpet beetles, as against clothes moths, 

 proved effective in preventing infestation of clothing and in killing 

 all stages of the insect. 



2. Camphor was effective against the various stages of the carpet 

 beetle, but killed much more slowly than did naphthalene. 



3. A red-cedar chest killed adults and newly hatched larvae, but 

 had no effect on larvae half grown or larger. 



4. Red-cedar chips proved only moderately effective against carpet 

 beetles. 



5. Pyrethrum powder proved considerably less effective against 

 carpet-beetle larvae than it did against clothes-moth larvae. 



6. Various mixtures of mineral oils killed carpet-beetle larvae, 

 when used undiluted or but slightly diluted. 



7. Laundry soap killed both larvae and eggs when used in strong 

 solutions. 



8. Nicotine solutions and tobacco powders proved of no practical 

 value against this insect. 



9. Oil of cedar leaves was effective, and lavender flowers ineffec- 

 tive, in protecting flannel from carpet-beetle infestation. 



10. Ethyl alcohol (50-95 per cent solutions), powdered cloves, 

 gasoline, mecuric chlorid, and fumigation with sulphur (8| ounces 

 to 360 cubic feet) killed the larvae effectively. 



11. Ethyl alcohol (20 to 40 per cent solutions), allspice, arseni- 

 ous acid, borax, formaldehyde fumigation, hellebore, lavender 

 flowers, lime, black pepper, sodium fluorid, and sulphur were in- 

 effective against the larvae. 



12. Ethyl alcohol (30, 50, 70, and 100 per cent solutions) killed 

 carpet-beetle eggs, while borax, gasoline, mercuric chlorid, and 

 sulphur failed to kill the eggs. 



13. Heat killed the larvae, when exposed in an incubator for 30 

 minutes at 120° F. A higher temperature was required to kill the 

 eggs. 



14. Hot water killed both larvae and eggs, when the infested flannel 

 was dipped for five seconds at a temperature of 140° F. 



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