1. Examination of live and dead specimens.
2. Examination of all forms of each insect, whenever these
are obtainable or widely different from adult.
3. Study of pictures, if specimens not practicable.
4. Collection and rearing — to familiarize form, number of
progeny, and rapidity of development.
5. Examination of articles damaged by insects — note char-
acter of such damage, whether stain, odor, or destruc-
tion of material. Injury or disease of person.
6. Study of materials and apparatus for prevention or ex-
termination. Suggestions for other apparatus which
might be used.
7. Study of applications which relieve or cure injury to
person.
8. Cautions for use of materials.
9. Oral and written descriptions. Sketches and diagrams
of insects and apparatus.
10. Application of principles at homes and comparison of
results.
Experiments. — Breed each form studied. Watch meta-
morphosis and rapidity of development.
The making of parti-colored larval cases by moths, from
different colored cloths.
320 HANDBOOK OF DOMESTIC SCIEISTCE
Experiment with different colored flannels and different
materials to find favorite food for moths and carpet-beetles.
Try effect of Mayweed (Anthemis cotuld) ; chamomile
(Anthemis arvensis) or (Anthemis nobilis) ; feverfew (Chrys-
anthemum parthenium) and the common white daisy (G.
leucanthemum). See if they can replace the imported insect
powder.
Note. — Breeding cages may be made out of wooden boxes with a
piece of glass fitted tightly into one side, or arranged to slide up and
down or from right to left in a groove. This should have a layer of
moist sand in the bottom. Most insects require moisture.
A flower pot, with moist soil, and a lamp chimney covered with
cheese cloth or thin muslin will answer for a cage.
For mosquitoes place in cage a small dish of water. For
fleas omit the moisture until need of it is shown. Each
insect should have a separate breeding place. Furnish each
insect with the food he chooses when inside the house.
Suggestions to Teachers. — Encourage pupils to make
collections from their homes. This may be done so deli-
cately that their sensitiveness is not aroused. They do this
in order to learn how to prevent and remedy in the future.
Alcoholic specimens are easier to manipulate for examina-
tion of certain parts, but these are usually changed in color ;
and hairy portions do not show well. Have both alcoholic
and dry specimens.
Keep dry specimens for examination in tin boxes or glass
bottles, and sprinkle a little insect powder over them.
Especial cautions must be emphasized concerning the use
of liquids with inflammable vapors. The vapor of the
naphthas is heavy and will settle toward the floor. If used
in large quantity on carpets, the vapor may pass through the
floor and collect in the room beneath, as in the cellar. Ex-
plosions have occurred in cellars thus affected, when a light
HOUSEHOLD PESTS 321
was brought in. Corrosive sublimate is a deadly poison
when taken internally. Antidotes for poisons should be
taught in emergency lessons.
Sulphurous vapors are irritating to the mucous membranes
of persons, bleach moist fabrics, and tarnish many metals.
Be careful in the use of sulphur for purposes of fumigation
— danger of fire, of irritation, tarnish, and bleaching.
Page 155
Presented as published in 1900. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
1. Examination of live and dead specimens.
2. Examination of all forms of each insect, whenever these
are obtainable or widely different from adult.
3. Study of pictures, if specimens not practicable.
4. Collection and rearing — to familiarize form, number of
progeny, and rapidity of development.
5. Examination of articles damaged by insects — note character of such damage, whether stain, odor, or destruction of material. Injury or disease of person.
6. Study of materials and apparatus for prevention or extermination. Suggestions for other apparatus which might be used.
7. Study of applications which relieve or cure injury to
person.
8. Cautions for use of materials.
9. Oral and written descriptions. Sketches and diagrams
of insects and apparatus. 10. Application of principles at homes and comparison of results.
Experiments. — Breed each form studied. Watch metamorphosis and rapidity of development.
The making of parti-colored larval cases by moths, from different colored cloths.
Experiment with different colored flannels and different materials to find favorite food for moths and carpet-beetles.
Try effect of Mayweed (Anthemis cotuld) ; chamomile (Anthemis arvensis) or (Anthemis nobilis) ; feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium) and the common white daisy (G. leucanthemum). See if they can replace the imported insect powder.
Note. — Breeding cages may be made out of wooden boxes with a piece of glass fitted tightly into one side, or arranged to slide up and down or from right to left in a groove. This should have a layer of moist sand in the bottom. Most insects require moisture.
A flower pot, with moist soil, and a lamp chimney covered with cheese cloth or thin muslin will answer for a cage.
For mosquitoes place in cage a small dish of water. For fleas omit the moisture until need of it is shown. Each insect should have a separate breeding place. Furnish each insect with the food he chooses when inside the house.
Suggestions to Teachers. — Encourage pupils to make collections from their homes. This may be done so delicately that their sensitiveness is not aroused. They do this in order to learn how to prevent and remedy in the future.
Alcoholic specimens are easier to manipulate for examination of certain parts, but these are usually changed in color ; and hairy portions do not show well. Have both alcoholic and dry specimens.
Keep dry specimens for examination in tin boxes or glass bottles, and sprinkle a little insect powder over them.
Especial cautions must be emphasized concerning the use of liquids with inflammable vapors. The vapor of the naphthas is heavy and will settle toward the floor. If used in large quantity on carpets, the vapor may pass through the floor and collect in the room beneath, as in the cellar. Explosions have occurred in cellars thus affected, when a light
was brought in. Corrosive sublimate is a deadly poison when taken internally. Antidotes for poisons should be taught in emergency lessons.
Sulphurous vapors are irritating to the mucous membranes of persons, bleach moist fabrics, and tarnish many metals. Be careful in the use of sulphur for purposes of fumigation — danger of fire, of irritation, tarnish, and bleaching.