4-H CLUB INSECT MANUAL 



39 



Figure 98. — Earwii 



mouth parts and feed primarily on plant material, but also may eat 



organic substances including meats or dead or weakened insects. 

 The true wings are folded in a complicated man- 

 ner beneath the wing covers or nonfunctional front 

 wings. These insects dig in the soil, hide under 

 old boards and other suitable shelter, and may re- 

 main over the winter either in the egg stage or as 

 adult earwigs. The life changes are incomplete. 

 Earwigs are sometimes pests and should be con- 

 trolled by poisoned baits and sanitation. The ac- 

 companying picture is that of the male European 

 earwig (Forficula aimcularia) . Adult insects of 

 this species are from one-half to three-fourths of an 

 inch long. 



Fleas. — Whenever cats and clogs are kept around 

 the house, there is likelihood of introducing small 



insects that cause much annoyance to members of the household by 



attacking their legs and sucking the blood. Certain species carry 



bubonic plague. These insects are fleas, of 



which there are many kinds, but all types 



belong to the order Siphonaptera. They 



usually are dark reddish brown, very much 



flattened, and give the appearance of 



standing on edge. Fleas do not have wings. 



They have sucking mouth parts; the legs 



are fitted for jumping and are their only 



means of locomotion. The changes in the 



life cycle are complete. The larvae usually 



are found wherever cats, dogs, hogs, and figure 99.— Flea. 



some other animals bed down. The human flea (Pidex irritans) is 



shown here. It is about one-eighth of an inch long. Removal of hogs 



from the vicinity of dwellings, treating cats and dogs with derris 



powder to destroy the fleas infesting them, and cleaning up the 



bedding of these animals will help in the control of this pest. 



Silverfish, silver moth, or bristletail. — There is another small 



silvery-colored insect usually found on the floor, around books, or 

 in other dark places. Occasionally it ventures out 

 / into the light. It has several common names such 

 as silverfish, silver moth, or bristletail. It is wing- 

 less, and the body tapers rather gradually to the 

 hind end, which branches out into three very 

 definite spikes. These spikes give it the name 

 bristletail. The silverfish belongs to the order 

 Thysanura. Since the adult has the same form as 

 the larva, it cannot be considered as having a 

 metamorphosis; that is, there are no changes in 

 form during the life cycle. It has chewing mouth 

 parts and feeds especially on starchy materials 

 such as bookbindings, wallpaper, and starched 

 clothing. In the house this insect is active through- 

 out the year and has no definite hibernation period. 



The species shown here is from one-half to five-eighths of an inch long 



and is Lepisma saccharina. Use of poisoned bait made of a mixture 



Figure 100. — Silver 

 fish. 



