THE

BEDBUG

C. L. MARLATT

Entomologist and Assistant Chief

FARMERS' BULLETIN 754

UNITED STATES

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

A STRENUOUS STRUGGLE, a vigorous campaign, isbefore any housewife who is called upon to disputethe occupancy of her home with that persistentpest unfavorably known as the bedbug, who, gorgedwith the blood of his victim, lieth up in his lair fromdaylight to candlelight, only to swoop down upon hishelpless sleeping prey during the midnight watches.

Even a flood of gas or electric light will not protect thehuman host, for the stress of hunger will cause the bedbugto emerge from its place of concealment in a well-lightedroom at night, and even attack, voraciously, inbroad daylight, if long without food.

Certain natural enemies of this pest are to be foundin our homes, but they are almost as unwelcome to thehousewife as the bedbug itself, and, besides, furnishlittle, if any, effective control.

There are remedies—many of the most effective ofwhich are the old-fashioned household remedies, someare preparations recently put on the market by theirmanufacturers, while others are fumigants, requiringmore than common care and more than ordinary intelligencein their use, as the gases are deadly poisons.

This bulletin tells all about them—but the main factorof success is eternal vigilance.