THE BEDBUG AN'D COKE-KOBE. 37 



which attack men. it is entirely possible for these pests to be transmit- 

 ters of contagious diseases. 



Like its allies, the bedbug undergoes an incomplete metamorpho 

 the young being very similar to their parents in appearance, structure, 

 and in habit. The eggs are white oval objects, having a little project- 

 ing rim around one edge, and are laid in batches of from one-half dozen 

 to fifty in cracks and crevices where the bugs go for concealment. The 

 eggm hatch in a week or ten days, and the young escape by pushing 

 the lid within the projecting rim from the shell. At first they are yel- 

 lowish white, nearly transparent, the brown color of the more mature 

 insect increasing with the later molts. During the course of develop- 

 ment the skin is shed live times, and with the last molt the minute 

 wing pads characteristic of the adult insect make their appearance. 

 A period of about eleven weeks has been supposed to be necessary 

 for the complete maturity of this insect, but we have found this period 

 subject to great variation, depending on warmth and food supply. 

 Breeding experiments conducted at this office indicate, under most 

 favorable conditions, a period averaging eight days between moltings 

 and between the laying of the eggs and their hatching, giving about 

 seven weeks as the period from egg to adult insect. Some individuals 

 under the same conditions will, however, remain two to three weeks 

 between moltings. and without food as already shown they may 

 remain unchanged for an indefinite time. Ordinarily but one meal is 

 taken between molts, so that each bedbug must puncture its host 

 five times before becoming mature and at least once afterwards before 

 it again develops eggs. They are said to lay several batches of eggs 

 during the season, and are extremely prolific, as occasionally realized 

 by the housekeeper, to her chagrin and embarrassment. 



REMEDIES. 



The bedbug, on account of its habits of concealment, is usually 

 beyond the reach of powders, and the ordinary insect powders, such 

 as pyrethrum, are of practically no avail against it. If iron or brass 

 bedsteads are used the eradication of the insect is comparatively easy. 

 With large wooden bedsteads, furnishing many cracks and crevices 

 into which the bugs can force their tlat. thin bodies, their extermina- 

 tion becomes a matter of considerable difficulty. The most practical 

 way to effect this end is by very liberal applications of benzine or 

 kerosene or any other of the petroleum oils. These must be introduced 

 into all crevices with small brushes <>r feathers, or by injecting with 

 small syringe-. Corrosive sublimate is also of value, and oil of tur- 

 pentine maybe used in the same way. The liberal use of hot water 

 wherever it may be employed without danger to furniture, etc.. is also 

 an effectual method of destroying both eggs and active bugs. Various 

 bedbug remedies and mixtures are for sale, most of them containing 

 one or tin* other of the ingredients mentioned, and tlie\ are frequently 



