The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1923-04-13
SPRING HOUSEKEEPING AS
AN INSECT CONTROL MEASURE
By Don B. Shelan, Field Entomolgist

By Don B. Shelan, Field EntOmOlgiSI
Soon the sound of the beaters will
, echo as they flay the dust from the
carpet and rug, or the vacuum clean
er will hum as it sucks the dirt from
the warp. Spring time is always
housekeeping time when carpets
are cleaned, floors scrubbed and win
dows washed, while the cobwebs are
removed from corners and ceiling.
Much dirt will have been brought in
during the winter and the furnace
will have made lot of dust to be got
ten rid of. housekeeping time is
certainly necessary, not only from
the standpoint of dirt, but also with a
view of getting rid of many trouble
some and injurious insects. In a
house thoroughly cleaned, few insects
will breed. A little knowledge OF
where most of the household pests
thrive and develop will greatly aid
the good housewife in making these
places untenable when the generar
housekeeping is going on.
Kitchen
The majority Of the insects that are
found in the house are located in the
kitchen or pantry. The food supply
attracts many pests and, through this
medium, gain entrance to the house
When the cleaning has progressed as
far as the kitchen and pantry, make
the job a thorough one by examining
the food supply. Look into the flour
bin and into the package of bran that
was purchased a few months back.
Take a little out into a dish and ex-
amin it for small beetles or see if
there is any webbing present. Webs
are made by worms so that the mater
ial containing them should be destroy
ed. Sometimes distinct buggy
odor will indicate the presence OF
these tiny boarders.
Look into the receptacles that Eold
other foods that have been stored and |
see if these products are infested A |
can that has been kept alright may |
often be found to be literally alive |
with insect life. In this case one
would naturally draw the conclusion
that the insect went through some
crevice. In all probabilities the eggs
were present when the can was closed
Beans, peas, corn meal, graham dour
and cereal breakfast foods are often
he first to become infested and should
be thoroughly inspected before the
warm weather begins. Clean out and
lestroy any contaminated food Burn
ng is the best way to get rid of it as
he pests will not gain access to the
louise. The containers themselves
nay contain eggs that, upon Matching :
Will infest the new supply of food. :
f these are washed in boiling water :
t will prevent the Matching of any :
ggs present. :
Warm moist places are the iavorite :
reeding places of cockroaches. An
deal spot is where the underside of
he sink is enclosed. This gives the
caches just the conditions that they
'ant warmth, moisture and darkness,
yhile the food supply is close at hand. :
'hese places are not only insanitary :
ut are common meeting place for :
lany insects and a retreat for mice. :
Where there are cracks between the :
cards in the floor, dust will accumu- :
tie in spite of all that we can do to :
revent it. 1t is very apt to get in be- :
yeen the Dashboard and the floor. or =
| the corners. 1t is in these places, =
from the disturbance Of a =
room or carpet sweeper, that insects =
nd an admirable place in which to =
'eed or hide. The common cat and =
,g fieas make use of these places in :
hich to lay eggs and bring up their Z
'er increasing families The bedbugs :
Id these cracks an excellent spot in :
hich to spend the day, their lat :
,dies easily finding a comfortable :
ace to await the coming of night :
ID a square meal. OF course, they :
so stay in the cracks of bed, In
e mattress or behind the moulding.
Ut soapsuds with little kerosene :
ded will make a fine solution with =,
lich to mop the infested floors. An III
fashioned but effective remedy for esl
dbugs is to make a mixture of cor fo1
sive sublimate, one ounce alcohol, VIII
e pint Of spirits of turpentine, one ma
nth pint, painted in the cracks with co;
feather. Cracks should be filled an
tn some material to keep the dirt loo
d dust out. The cat or dog should pla
rid of fieas and kept out of doors. the
they have been provided with the
: or article of clothing upon which TIL
sleep, it should be cleaned every ais
elk during the warm weather. IA s
Clothing Pests as
,lothes that have not been worn for get
ne time and hang, or lie, undis- wo
bed are quite apt, in the summer low