House Moths
This will destroy any organic material used for clothing, for example wool. The holes made in woollen clothes are made by the larvae of the moths.Prevention of House Moths
1. Wash all clothes before putting them away; if they are not washable then they must be inspected and cleaned of all stains, brushed, aired, and hung up.
2. Clean all cupboards and wardrobes regularly and hang all clothes out in the air; brush well before returning to the cupboard.
3. Spray cupboards with pyrethrum. This kills the moths but does not replace the need for the cleaning.
Furniture Beetles
Furniture bettles usually breed in wood and bore their way out. They damage the structure of houses, churches, and public buildings, and also furniture making it unsafe for use. Buildings sometimes collapse because of the damage supporting woodwork.
Prevention Of Furniture Beetles
Are should be taken in choosing timber for building or repairing a house to see that it is not infected with these beetles. Infested wood has many little round holes which look as if they have been made with a tool as they are so perfectly round.
If old furniture, for example anything bought second-hand from an auction or shop, is brought into the house, it should be first be examined carefully and treated before being carried in, or the other woodwork in the house will be infested too.
Treatment
Injection of special insecticides into the holes and the use of special polishes impregnated with DDT will control these pets.Rodents (Rats and Mice)
Mice
These breed frequently, producing several litters per year. They destroy woodwork and material, and can infect food with germs which they carry; these germs may cause food poisoning.Prevention of Mice
1. Strict cleanliness.2. Keeping a cat.
3. Using a trap.
4. Leaving no food about, either day or night.
5. Good building.
Rats
Rats also breed frequently and each rat can produce 40 rats per year.
They do much damage:
1. They eat grain, root crops, fruits and vegetables.
2. They kill and eat small chickens. They have even been known to bite babies.
3. They destroy woodwork, electric wiring (dangerous), and tear up clothing for nesting material.
They carry diseases:
1. Rats fleas spread plague, killing many rats and infecting people.
2. Rat fleas also spread maurine typhus.
3. They may cause food poisoning, if they contaminate food supplies with their excreta.
4. They are especially dangerous in ships, where they may spread plague.
5. They spread the germ of leptospirosis in their urine.
