The mouth parts of insects vary in number and show
wonderful modifications in structure according to the char-
acter of the food upon which the insect lives in each stage
of larva or adult. In the former, they are iised chiefly like
shears for cutting or biting and are hard and horny ; in the
latter they may be adapted for the cutting or biting of solids,
or for the sucking or lapping of liquids. Then there are
HOUSEHOLD PESTS 325
parts which help to catch, to kill, and to hold the food.
Some carnivorous insects secrete fluids which stun, kill, or
partially dissolve the victim before they feed upon it.
Most of the insects which infest the household may be
reared in captivity and their metamorphoses watched and
studied. Such study is intensely interesting even in those
cases where the j)resence of the free insect arouses only dis-
gust and murderous desire.
Probably all insects were originally out-door forms and
the few have become in-door pests because of the favorable
conditions for protection and food there offered. Their
food was primarily raw vegetable juices, but some have
already found an entire animal diet more to their taste,
while others are pleased with variety in their bill of fare,
taking a taste of blood or of cooked foods if occasion serves.
A few, like the bedbug and flea, are such lovers of blood
that they have well-nigh become parasites on man or the
warm-blooded animals.
"In the case of the clothes moths, the larvae of all of
which can, in case of necessity, still subsist on almost any
dry animal matter, their early association with man was
probably in the role of scavengers, and in prehistoric times
they probably fed on waste animal material about human
habitations and on fur garments. The fondness they exhibit
nowadays for tailor-made suits and expensive products of the
loom is simply an illustration of their ability to keep pace
with man in his development in the matter of clothing from
the skin garments of savagery to the artistic products of the
modern tailor and dressmaker," writes C. L. Marlatt in
"The Principal Household Insects of the United States."
Insect Powder. — Insect powder, which is so commonly
used both for the prevention and extermination of insect
pests, is made from several species of Pyrethrum or Chrysan-
themum the C. rosenm furnishing the powder known as
326 HANDBOOK OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE
Persian insect powder. Other names for the same powder
or for the same use are Dahnation and buhach. The Cali-
fornian buhach is especially effective. The powder is made
of the pulverized flower heads✪ Insect Powder. It is not poisonous to
animal life except in the case of insects. Adulteration is
easy and common, as there are many related species which
may be used without detection by the casual observer and
whicl^ are less expensive. The pure powder should be used,
for much less is required.
The Pyrethrum may be grown in most climates favorable
to the ordinary camomile plants, and the country housewife
may well experiment with her mayweed and feverweed to
see if they will not assist her in ridding the house of
troublesome insects.
Lesson II
Flies and Mosquitoes
Page 158 · 1 recipe record on this page
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
The mouth parts of insects vary in number and show wonderful modifications in structure according to the character of the food upon which the insect lives in each stage of larva or adult. In the former, they are used chiefly like shears for cutting or biting and are hard and horny ; in the latter they may be adapted for the cutting or biting of solids, or for the sucking or lapping of liquids. Then there are
parts which help to catch, to kill, and to hold the food. Some carnivorous insects secrete fluids which stun, kill, or partially dissolve the victim before they feed upon it.
Most of the insects which infest the household may be reared in captivity and their metamorphoses watched and studied. Such study is intensely interesting even in those cases where the presence of the free insect arouses only disgust and murderous desire.
Probably all insects were originally out-door forms and the few have become in-door pests because of the favorable conditions for protection and food there offered. Their food was primarily raw vegetable juices, but some have already found an entire animal diet more to their taste, while others are pleased with variety in their bill of fare, taking a taste of blood or of cooked foods if occasion serves. A few, like the bedbug and flea, are such lovers of blood that they have well-nigh become parasites on man or the warm-blooded animals.
"In the case of the clothes moths, the larvae of all of which can, in case of necessity, still subsist on almost any dry animal matter, their early association with man was probably in the role of scavengers, and in prehistoric times they probably fed on waste animal material about human habitations and on fur garments. The fondness they exhibit nowadays for tailor-made suits and expensive products of the loom is simply an illustration of their ability to keep pace with man in his development in the matter of clothing from the skin garments of savagery to the artistic products of the modern tailor and dressmaker," writes C. L. Marlatt in "The Principal Household Insects of the United States."
Insect Powder. — Insect powder, which is so commonly used both for the prevention and extermination of insect pests, is made from several species of Pyrethrum or Chrysanthemum the C. rosenm furnishing the powder known as
Persian insect powder. Other names for the same powder or for the same use are Dahnation and buhach. The Californian buhach is especially effective. The powder is made of the pulverized flower heads. It is not poisonous to animal life except in the case of insects. Adulteration is easy and common, as there are many related species which may be used without detection by the casual observer and which are less expensive. The pure powder should be used, for much less is required.
The Pyrethrum may be grown in most climates favorable to the ordinary camomile plants, and the country housewife may well experiment with her mayweed and feverweed to see if they will not assist her in ridding the house of troublesome insects.
Lesson II
Flies and Mosquitoes
Records on this page
Insect Powder