The Dolores star., 1909-05-07
r.,s Bel B.,e.

Ioo 0o0 0o8.
II would not be considered polite te
mention the name Of . certain oval,
nattened, brown, wingiess insect which
10 parasitic on man. Sunice II 70 ssy
that It 10 active entirely At night and
hides by day In cracks and crevices
where the housewife nnds great dim
Guilty In reaching It.
This insect has long been . pest Of
mankind. It was known to the Ro-
mans, who gave II the name Of cimex,
which has now become its scientific
name. Doubles 1t also associated
with other ancient peoples, for It h
distributed over the greater part u
the world and has great powers of
maintaining Its hold wherever II y
introduced. 1t will withstand great
extremes Of temperature and live
many months and perhaps yean with
out access to its natural food.
Careful housewives consider II .
disgrAce for this insect to be found In
the house, but this Ia not necessarily
so. Our modern passion for travel
furnishes the best possible means for
the distribution Of the parasite. 1t
finds Its way Sinto travelling cases,
trunks, and clothing, and 10 In this
way transferred to new fields. 1t n
thus likely to be found at some time In
almost any locality. !, Houses which
are connected by water pipes, fences,
or cutters are likely to be infested by
the insects travelling over these lines Of
communication, especially II the source
Of the pest happens to be uninhsbited.
The bite Of the insect In accomplished
by inserting four bristle-like mouth
parts into the skin and sucking the
blood which fiows through tube-like
proboscls. 80 far as 10 known, no pol
son Is inserted into the wound by the
insect, though the bite Is quite poison.
GUS to many persons. causing red
blotches which are quite irritating.
The Insect has never been convicted OF
carrying disease from one person to
another, though this Is quite possible.
In q respectable household, of course,
danger from this Ii comparatively
small, but where the insects have TAX
en- up cosmopolitan life In hotel OF
other public abiding place. the case is
different. They are not always discrim-
mating In their associates.
For mild infestations, q number Of
common remedies are quite effective.
One Of the best Is liberal use Of gaso-
line. Pour 1t over the cracks In the
mattress and about all the cracks and
crevices Of the bedstead. Do the work
thoroughly and pour In sufficient to
All every crack. Wherever this fluid
comes In contact with eggs or insects
they will he killed. The gas Is explo-
sive, however, aud must be used dur
Ing the day and when there is ne dam
ger from fire in stoves, lamps, or cigar.
Benzine will serve the same purpose as
gasoline. Kerosene will do equally
well. but leaves an oily condition which
Is quite undesirable.
Where the insects infest cracks OF
the floor and walls Of the room 1t may
be necessary to resort to methods Of
fumigation. Birthstone burned at the
rate Of 9 pound to q thousand feet Of
space has.been used with success. The
vessel containing the burning brim-
stone should be place in = tub Of water
or pail Of sand to prevent the escape OF
fire, and the room kept closed for
twenty-four hours.
Sometimes buildings are 80 badly
infested that 1t Is necessary to resort to
fumigation by hydro-cyanic acid gas,
but this should only be undertaken by
experienced persons on account of the
deadly nature Of the substances used.
IS. Arthur johnson; Colorado Agri.
cultural College, Fort Collins.