Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-10-17
rush. The borders of the floors. inc,ud-

brush. The borders of the floors, inciud
ing the crevlces between the boards and
beneath the base boards, were well satu-
rated with the benzine. and the carpets
were laid down without mailing. Several
times in the course of the summer the
edges were turned up, all larvae found
were killed, and new applications of
benzine were made-between four and
five gallons being used IN house OF
moderate size. As result Of this treat
ment scarcely any beetles were seen in
the spring of the present year. and COM
paratively few Larvae have been found at
work upon the carpets. The benzine
would doubtless been still more effectual
if it had been applied on the first appear
ance of the beetles in March, for then it
is that pairing and egg Laying probably
begin. The beetles are sluggish in their
motions, ano are easily caught and killed,
while tn larvae are so nlmble that skill
and practice are required to crush them
before they dart away into the shelter of
some neighboring crevice.
The devourer does not confine its
ravages to carpets alone, but attacks furs,
soft brushes, feather busters and wooden
clothing as we'll, whether hanging in
clnsets or folded N drawers. In any
house where it occurs, its cast-of skins
will be found in closets, trunks and boxes,
and in packages of all sorts, whatever
the contents or however securely tied. 1t
seeks refuge in there that it may safely
accomplish its final change from the
Larvae to the perfect stage.
If now, when the rayages of the car
pet bug are just beginning, such destruc-
ton is wrought as is already reported
from the States of New York, New Jersey
and Massachusetts, what may be expect
ed few years hence, unless some insect
antagonist shall appear? 1t is evident
that only "eternal vigilance" and con-
slant fighting will hold the pest in check.
1t adds still another serious item tn the
tolls of housekeeping. Some well in
| formed persons express the opinion that
the use of carpets will have to be aban-
| doned. A house shut up for the sum-
mer, during the absence of the family, is
in great danger from the carpet bug.
Several instances are known where, ON
the return of the occupants in the fall,
carpets have been found entirely ruined,
and the house swarming with the insects
from the ce,ler to the attic. Another
| source of danger arises from the use OF
ottomans, or other like pieces of furne-
ture, that rest closely and continuously
upon the carpet Beneath these, or even
under pile of newspapers that may be
left upon the corner of study floor
abundant marks of the devourer will al
ways be found. Its mischief was detect
ed in some Cambridge houses in 1878
and in some cases, perhaps year earlier,
but it was not till 1874 that any con-
siderable attention was aroused. Dur
ing the latter year news Of ravages came
almost simultaneous from Massachusetts,,
New York and New jersey
The insect has long been known in Eu-
rope, where, however, it does not injure
carpets or other wooden fabrics Its food
there is said to be dried meats and SINH
lar animal substances; and, as the harm
which it does in its old home is trifling
so little has been written about it that
any one who has tried to look up Its his.
tory has been puzzled on finding its very
name and existence not even mentioned
in chronological works of high repute
Since its importation it has acquired
fresh vigor, and new appetite to cores
pond. Its scientific name is Anthrenu.
scrophaIlarSus. Just when it 'scame over;
is unknown. A rilative of the carpet bug
Arattrenus DARIUS, was imported many
years ago from Europe, where as here, i
has been hitherto been regarded as the
worst museum pest, preying upon al
kinds of dried or stuffed animal speci
mems. The genus Anthrenus, belongs tt
the family Dermestid9, ofwhich the com
mon bacon bug Observation-Disclosures, alsc
an importation, is troublesome member
And 1t is remarkable fact that, with the
single exception of the Colorado potato
beetle, all our worst insect enemies. have
come to US from Europe, and that witt
their introduction, their numbers anc
destructiveness have almost invaribly in,
creased to an extent unknown to the old
world. On the other hand, our few i'm
ported insects have, so far, not spread
widely in Europe, and have seemed tt
lose, iu great measure, both in number
and destructive energy. All our worst
weeds, too, are of foreign origin and are
displacing our native plants, just as the
white European has crowded out the ab.
original red man. Surely Bishop Berke
ley enunciated more than he knew when
he sang: westward the course of en-
pire takes its way