Evening star., 1936-07-14
Particular Quartet
May Be Encountered
Too Much for Comfort
Silverfish of Both Kinds, Book Lice and
Centipedes Like Dark and Undis-
turbed Privacy.

greatest numbers in libraries. attics,
and storage rooms in houses or apart
ments Dampness, either cool or hot,
attracts them, and due to their ability
to keep out of sight, they may multi
ply to a really serious number before
they are discovered. They eat gold
lettering and bindings from books
apparently they just can't resist the
flavor of the glue used in book-bind-
cry; heavily glazed paper is another
bait, and starched materials or those
Stiffened with sizing also prove a
temptation not to be resisted. Some
times they even go after the back Of
wallpaper!
GILVERFISH eggs are laid in the
~ Spring. usually in cracks or crev-
ices, or in the folds of laid-away cloth
ing. They are easily dislodged by
brushing, and should be burned Lar
vac are Matched in July, and the in
sects look just like Daddy and Mummy
Immediately.
Fortunately, they are not difficult
to control. The Bureau of Entomol-
ogy of the United States Department
of Agriculture recommends using a
poison powder which may be made at
home from the bureaus prescription,
if desired-and which should be placed
wherever the silverfish are found
except, of course, where a child might
get at the poison. Other powders may
be used, and busted along the tops Of
books and shelves. These should US
ually be renewed frequently, as they
are apt to lose strength upon contact
with the air. In Easements, II silver
fish are found staging mob
scene. they may be sprayed with a
poison, and thus destroyed in great
numbers.
AS in the case of moths, one of the
best projections against clothing or
material damage, is frequent airing
and handling of these articles, and
destruction of any insects or eggs
found on them.
NEXT we have that charming fell
low. Mr. Centipede Happily not
as great in size or ferocity as his trop-
ical cousin. this gentleman still
causes a squeamish feeling to most
of us who encounter him sitting
proudly in the center of our clean
bath tub of morning. He is, in
truth, an unpleasant-looking job at
best. He travels inSanely, breaking
all speed laws, and is not in the least
afraid to leap to the attack. In fact.
an approaching foot has, apparently,
an irresistible fascination for him. He
likes darkness and moisture: is found
ofteneSt in damp cellars. in bath rooms,
and conserva tories. He is a dainty
creature-and cleans his whiskers
after every trip across the floor.
He has his good points, in that he
likes to eat other insects, such as
reaches, houseflies,, and so forth. He
does not eat household goods and
woolens. He does bite, if cornered by
a human, however, and the bite may
cause some little discomfort from the
poison which he injects into it. This
may be remedied by the application of
ammonia to the wound.
The best way to keep him under
control is to kill all individuals en-
countered, dust around the water
pipes and moist places with poison
powder, and inspect his hiding places
as often as possible with the hope
of catching him mapping.
ROOK LICE which have no inter-
est whatsoever in humans are
the tiny, tiny, grayish white, almost
translucent insects that Scurry for
cover from the pages of an old book.
They appear in the greatest numbers
during the late Summer and early
Fall, and like damp, darkness and un-
disturbed privacy. Many exist out Of
doors. in trees, woodpiles and so forth,
and get into the house through
screens, cracks, etc. They do not be-
come very abundant, and the damage
that they do, except to books and pa
pers, is relatively small. Cleaning.
airing and drying of the room where
they have been found is usually enough
to finish them off. The objects which
have sheltered them should be cleaned
and summed. Prolonged dry heat will
toll the bell for a book louise every
time!