Naphthalene versus chicken lice

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1919
Authors:W. S. Abbott
Journal:Journal of Economic Entomology
Volume:12
Issue:5
Pagination:397 - 402
Date Published:1919
Abstract:

Experiments with naphthaline preparations as possible destroyers of Menopon biseriatum, Pg., M. pallidum, Nit., Lipeurus heterographus[Cuclotogaster heterographa], Nit., and Goniocotes abdominalis, Pg., on chickens show that when used as a dust containing 5 per cent, or less of naphthaline it is useless. A powder containing 10 per cent, was very effective, but caused slight injury to the fowls. The exact extent of the injury and its duration. have not yet been ascertained. Recovery was apparently complete after five or ten minutes. When 60 or 100 per cent, was thoroughly rubbed into the feathers the birds were killed, but the same strength lightly dusted over them did not cause permanent injury. Sprinkling the fowls when on the roost at night with finely powdered naphthaline may provide a very rapid and convenient means of reducing the numbers of lice, but further experiments on these lines are desirable. Naphthaline balls in the nest not only proved of no use whatever in reducing the numbers of lice on sitting or laying hens or in the nest itself, but apparently have a toxic effect on the eggs and newly hatched chickens as well as being injurious to sitting hens.

URL:https://academic.oup.com/jee/article-abstract/12/5/397/788669/?redirectedFrom=PDF
DOI:10.1093/jee/12.5.397
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