Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-02
THE EVENING STAR.
Troublesome Insects.
CSRFTL AND INTERESTING INFORMATION
HoCSEKEEPERS

Troublesome Insects.
USEFUL AND INTERESTING INFORMATION FOR
HoUSEkEEPERS.
AT q meeting of the Boston Society of Ma
tural History. held last evening, Dr. H. A. Ha-
gen, OF Cambridge, read an Interesting paper
upon the carpet beetle and other house pests
he SAID That W hen the insect first appeared In
this country, six years ago, he succeeded in
tracing all the cases which came under his no.
ice 10 a large carpet store. where there was
stock OF imported carpets. The lecturers name
appeared In the papers in connection With the
subject and he has since been in receipt OF
numerous bad-smelling packages. with letters
claiming each to be the newest and most effect
ual remedy. In some foreign countries so wide
spread are the rayages of the insect that even
the habits OF dress have been altered in conse-
quence. 1t has attacked not only woollen arti-
Giles, but furS and raw hides The speaker
passed around among the audience specimens
of the larva and full-fedged beetle. The pro
cess OF development occupies about five or six
weeks. AS remedy. the speaker said, many
things have been recommended, but none OF
them resulted in sure death. Bad smells were
principally recommended; Now, / think,
drive out Of his house ali that he dis
likes by bad SMELLS he will finish by
being driven out himself; besides that
several OF the remedies recommended are
certainly not OF an lnnOXtouS character. Next,
the wholesale application of kerosene and ben
Alhe was recommended, only five gallons Or
more Ter small cottage. II it is certain that
every carpet bug drowned in kerosene or ben
Zlne Is done forever, think it is not considered
that In the use of those and kindred Iiquids the
insurance companies would have something to
say, and certainly not be obliged to pay in case
Uf accident. l know one case in which such
things were used with so much effect that no.
oody, not even the cat, could be induced to en-
ter the room for many weeks. think the best
way TO be followed would be first to prevent the
entrance OF the insect. Therefore, every new
carpet or rug should be considered as danger
Gus ana treated as the Old ones; that Is, exposed
In the open air, in sunshine, If possible as sun
tght the laryae cannot stand, and strongly
beaten before laid in the rooms. The common
custom, to order new carpets in the store and
lay them directly in the rooms, is apparently
the most dangerous course to be pursued. Fur
Their, as il is observed that the beetles by prefer
ence follow the cracks in the floor, all should be
made tight, or at least filled with tallow The tai
low is a very dangerous substance for the larvae
and eagerly avoided by them, as the fat easily at
tacheS to the SpiracleS with killing effect
Therefore, the most common candle talIOw, be-
ing softer, is better than the purified For the
same purpose, should recommend tallowed
paper TO be put along the walls only a foot or
TWO underneath the carpets, as Just the places
near the walls are their most chosen abode OF
course careful and more frequent inspection
Oh the carpets viii be necessary if the number
or larvae seems TO be in any way alarming
think it will be impossible to get rid OF them en-
tlfely, but it will be certainly possible to keep
them within limits, so that they VIII not be
more dangerous than any other house pest 1t
is an experience since Biblical times that if
somebody happens TO be something of a rogue
anything wrong committed by any one else is
put on his shoulders The poor carpet-bug Is
All instance OF this. The family of A athreaus
is an old and rather large one, and there exists
many cousins in the fifth or later degree. who
try TO prove their relationship in being as OBJ
noXious III the same line, and perhaps more
one Grifere cousin, AHdseH,ts Megato2.a is really
as common as the carpet-bug, despising nothing
In MS way. and being more swift and smart, Is
at least equally as injurious. Those beetles have
pIopagated lately enormously in houses and
COLLECTIONS OF objects OF natural history
one large beetle in collection here in Boston
harbored alone $50 of these insects. / have
therefore, the conviction that perhaps half of
All the damage credited to the carpet-bug, and
sometimes more is done by A. Megatoala, the
cousin. Regarding the habits Of insects in
general, the speaker said we often suffer from
penou1cal 1nr0adS OF one variety or another
About century ago the HeSSian fly was so nu-
lDerouS In this country as to be great NUS
anCe. The farmers enemy. the cankeT-worm,
IS beginning TO get uncomfortable Since the in
PRODUCTION OF the English sparrow. New Eng
lana mas been remarkably free from the COM
mon flea. which in parts of this and in nearly
al foreign countries Is very numerous. Tie
lecturer INDUCED in the not very encouraging
prophecy that we may ere long receive a visit
from this natural enemy of man. In Poland.
the paradise Of tieas the remedy used is simple
and effective. 1t consists OF a large basin OF
water set in room at night, and in the center
OF 1t lighted candle Is placed. The f1eas are
attracted to the light fall into the water and
are drowned. In the morning the water Will
be black with them. 1t is to be hoped that we
shall not soon be compelled to resort to this eX-
Ueniity.-I Boston IraaScript.