The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-03-20
Some Household Insect Pests.
A Valuable Paper on a Subject of Special In
terest to the Ladies, Written for The
Progressive Farmer by the
State EntOmOlOgiSt.

correspondence of the Progressive Farmer.
In considering the subject above
named, let us take
1. THE COCKRoACH.
This is one of the most common and
disgusting insect pests in houses all
over the South. o. this we have two
species which differ chi fly as to siza.
Both are found in pantries, cupboards
and wherever fur, bread, and crack
ers are kept. This insect belongs to q
carnivorous family, but has inself
taken to eating starChy food. The
eockroach is a semi aquatic irssct and
therefore one Of the best means Of ges-
ting rid OF it is to keep -four, bread and
ssarohy foods, generally. in a a dry
place. Among the most successful
remedies for the roach nuisance are the
following:
1 Sprinkle finely powdered borex
on the shelves OF the pantry in the
cracks and cFevices where the insects
hide during the day-they forage only
at night.
3. Place On the shelves small shallow
saucera. In some OF the, g place a mix
ture of dry -four and dry plaster paris
half and half. In other aucer place
pure water. The reaches will eat the
-four and plaster and then feeling
thirsty will drink some water which
will cause the plaster to set hard in
their crops. Clean up the dead reaches
every morning.
). With a small oil can, having q
spring bottom, ipjsct pure kerosene
into the cracks where the reaches hide.
Instead of kerosene one may use a hos
solution Of borax in WateT-1 pound to
a gallon Of water.
ANTS.
The most annoying pest Of many
houses is the little yellow or red ant.
This insect has a special penchans for
cake and sweet liquids. A good remedy
is TO soak some pieces Of bread or cake
in q q liquid sweetaned with sugar and
seasoned with a quarter Of a teaspoon
full Of white arsenic or Paris green to
the quart. Note that this poison should
be placed out Of the reach # children
Any pieces left ever By the ants should
be burned-nos fed to the chickens
Kerosene IN the cracks and along the
foot or mop board Of pentries and
rooms infested By ants will do much
good.
III CLOTHES MOTHS.
There are in the South two or three
distinct species Of clothes moths, all
belonging to the genus TIneG.
They all do great damage to stored
woolen clothes and furs. The damage
is done nos by the winged moth, but
ies IRrva-a small worm which makes
an oval whitish case within which il !
lives. II clothes or fuFs are thoroughly !
Rire1 and brushed to free them from
living insects before being stored an6
then puE away in air tight boxss, there
will be no danger OF moths. But few
trunks and fewer clothes closets are
close enough TO keep out the very smali
mSeAI AC1NC VIC XIX 44SAS OAL1H60'
A good plen to keep moths away is
to pack the clothes or furs in a leaeon.
ably tight box. In the lid of this bore
a small hole say one fourth inch in di-
aueter. Inside the box and just over
this hola sack a small but fine grained
sponge or q ball Of closely packed COT
ton lint. Cloee box as tightly as pos
sible-paste strips Of paper over Rny |
cracks and over key-hola. Now, With
aid OF a teaspoon, pour through the
hole just mentioned az much carbon
bisulphi1e SO the sponge will held
without dropping. The Quantity
should have osen determined before
putting IN the sponge. Water may
be used fer ths trial as the sponge viii
hold SIS much water as carbon bisul
phide. Now paste paper ever the an
ger hcla md ses the o x away.
II the S2x he's been made tight it
Will be impossible for insects to gel
in and the carbon b~isulphide will kill
any that may have gotten in before
box was closed. As a matter Of pru
dence, however, the box should be ex
amined every four TO six weeks and the