SPECIES INJURIOUS TO WALL PAPER, BOOKS, ETC. 



83 



favorable situations, in very considerable numbers. Esi)eeially are 

 they ai)t to occur where there are window plants or in small conserva- 

 tories, but are not confined to these situations. Very little is known of 

 their food habits, but they are supi)osed to subsist on refuse or chietiy 

 decaying vegetable matter. 



The striking peculiarities of these insects are in the remarkable 

 ventral tube and the strong saltatorial ax^pendage of the extremity 

 of the body. The 



first arises from ^'''^■^ '^ ^^ ^^ 



the forward body 

 segment, and 

 seems to act in 

 this species as a 

 sort of a retainer 

 for the leaping 

 organ, or spring 

 proper, as shown 

 in fig. 3G. It is 

 said to secrete a 

 viscid fluid^whicli 

 enables the insect 

 to better adhere 

 to smooth vertical 



surfaces. The so-called ••catch." or retainer proper, is shown in a small 

 projection between the hind pair of legs and the spring (fig. 37), and 

 grasps the latter near the middle. The springing organ is two-jointed, 

 the last joint being bifurcate, and its terminals inclosing the ventral 

 tube. It is shown in normal position in fig. 30, and as it appears when 

 leaping in fig. 37, a. 



These insects can not survive drj'uess. and. while they will not often 

 occur in sufticient numbers to be particularly objectionable, the removal 

 of the moist objects or surfaces on which they congregate and the 

 maintenance of dry conditions will cause them to soon disai:>pear. 



A correspondent reports that, having been troubled by these or allied 

 insects for years in cellars and pantries, relief was finally obtained by 

 giving the shelves, cupboards, and walls a thorough coating of white- 

 wash inside and out. The pests abandoned the premises and were no 

 longer troublesome. This remedj' will be worth trying, especially in 

 cellars and basement rooms, where there is likelihood of dampness and 

 consequent abundance of these insects. 



Fig. 37. — Spring-tail {Lepidocyrtus americanus). a. lateral vie^ of fe- 

 male; 6, foot of same; c, tip of spring-tail; d. body scale; e, npi>er lip 

 or labium : /. mandible or ja^s : o, louver jaws and lower lip or maxillae 



and labium — f original). 



