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Bat Ticks — Part 2

This insect, commonly known as the cat and dog flea, as stated above, occurs on a number of different animals, and in the northeastern United States at least is the common flea, which proves a pest in houses. The true human flea, so-called (P. irritans), seems to be very rare in the United States, although common enough in Europe, as travelers and those who have read Mark Twain's account of the "chamois" well know. The eggs of the cat and dog flea are deposited between the hairs of the infested animals, but are not fastened to them, so that when the animal moves about or lies down, large numbers of the eggs will be dislodged and drop to the ground or floor, or wherever the animal may be at the time. An easy way to collect them, therefore, is to lay a strip of cloth for the animal to sleep upon, and afterwards brush the cloth into a receptacle, in which the eggs will be found in numbers. The eggs hatch under favorable circumstances in from two to four days, and the young larvae, very slender and elongate, white in color, and of the structure shown in the accompanying figure, crawl into the floor cracks and feed upon the accumulated dust. They may be reared under observation, in saucers, between layers of blotting paper, with dust and bread crumbs. Specimens studied by Mr. Pergande, at the writer's office in Washington, showed that the larva casts its first skin in from three to seven days, and its second skin in from three to four days. From seven to fourteen days after hatching, they began to spin a delicate silken cocoon, which, when completed, was almost transparent, except where it was covered with dust particles. In the cocoon the pupa, as shown in the accompanying figure, was formed and the insect remained in the pupal condition for four days. Thus an entire generation may be developed in about a fortnight, and since the adult female lays many eggs, it is not surprising that persons having cats or dogs about the house will frequently (and especially where the houses are closed during the summer, and the floors left unswept) find their domiciles overrun with thousands of these active, biting creatures.

The remedies consist in a free use of fresh pyrethrum powder, in spraying the floors and floor coverings with benzine or in thoroughly washing the floors with hot water and soap. On pet animals pyrethrum powder should be freely used.