Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-13

I derivative of '1ectus" meaning bed
j or couch.
The cimex lectularius is not likely
I 10 be very active in winter IN a cold
room. and ordinarily hibernates in its
( place of concealment. but il warm
rooms il may continue its activities
. the year round.
II is an animal that displays GER
/ tain degree OF wariness and lntelil-
/ gence from its long association with
man. Like nearly all insects parasite
/ on animals. having had slight necess-
ity for extensive lOcomotion, 1t has,
after many ages, lost its wings. Inc
absence of wings is a most fortunate
circumstance. since otherwise there
would be no safety from this pest
even for the most careful and thor
ough housekeeper.
Another characteristic feature OF
this insect IS the very distinct door
which il eXhales. an odor character
istic of many plant insects as Wei.
The possession of this odor. disagree
able as il is. is also fortunate cir
cumstance. as il is of considerable as
sistance in detecting the presence of
its owner This characteristic odor Is
supposed to have been originally the
means of protection against birds
that feed on insects. but il has long
lost this especial value for the cimeX
lectuiarius. The natural enemies that
might be kept away by the odor are
already kept away by the conditions
under which the 'cimex' lives. and the
roach and house ant. which sometimes
L.
deferred by this characteristic.
The cimex, though normally feeding
on human blood. may subsist on much
simpler food. No other explanation
would seem To account for the facr
that houses long unoccupied still are
infested with this pest. The insect. !
however. is quite capable of leaving
any quarters where i is unable 10
thrive, and will often migrate TO an
adjoining house If the residents leave /
its present habitation vacant. il dis
pays such apparent intelligence in
using every means of escape, is win !
Gows. walls. water pipes and cutters, |.
that II may be the misfortune of any /
housewife TO have her premises in ,
vaded. despite the best of care. The 1
insect also displays a surprising facil- ,
ity fer concealment, and will abandon /
beds before daylight and go TO distant 1
quarters for protection far beyond the .
reach of the most diligent search. /
From its habits of concealment this ,
pest is usually beyond the reach of |
powders. and the ordinary insect pow
ders such as pyrethrum are of prac-
tically no value. The eradication of
the insect is comparatively easy from
iron and byass bedsteads, but. wooden /
bedsteads offer much more difficult
problem. Very liberal applications of
benzine or kerosene, or any petroleum
oil. is the most practical way to meet
this difficulty. This must be introduc-
ed into all crevices with small brushes
or feathers. or by injecting with small
syringes Corrosive sublimate is also
of value. and oil of turpentine may be
used in the same way. The liberal
US of boiling hot water, wherever II :
may be employed without danger to
furniture. etc, is also an effectual
method of destroying both eggs and
active adults.
Various remedies and mixtures for
this pest are for sale, most of them
one or another of the in
gradients mentioned, and these are fire.
quently of value. A daily inspection
Of beds and bedding and all crevices
and locations about the premises IS the
best method to use. A vigorous cam
paign should. in the course of a week
DIT so at the outside, result in the eX-
of this very obnoxious and
pest.
In the case of rooms containing
books, or where liquid applications are
inadvisable, a thorough fumigation
with birthstone is an effective means
Of destruction. The method is as fol
lows:
Place in the center of the room a
dish containing about four ounces of
brims. one. within a larger vessel, so
that the possible OVERLOOKING of the
burning mass may not iljure the car
pet or set fire to the floor. After re-
moving from the room all such me-
tallic surfaces as might be affected
by the fumes. close every aperture,
even the keyholes, and Sc fire to the
birthstone When four or five hours
have elapsed the room may be enter
I'd and the windows opened for
thorough airing. {