Novel Insect Trap

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Patentees of fly and other insect traps had better sell out their inventions at the highest offer. Our reason for this advice will be shown by the following :An Illinois correspondent gives us an account of a new insect trap that will no doubt be very successful. He says" In the first place, you must procure a large toad, such as St. Patrick banished from Ireland (good luck to him), which are easily tamed, then make a small box with a hole near the bottom, so that the toad can _put his head out ; drop some molasses on his back and put him in the box ; his tongue is three inches long, and he can catch any insect that comes within his reach. This trap is not handsome but useful." The inventor thinks it especially applicable for catching fleas, but if we should chance to have a flea for a bedfellow, we shonld certainly prefer his company to that of a toad alongside in a box, but the suggestion is ingenious and decidedly novel. What next in the trap line ? We should like to know.

Scientific American Magazine Vol 13 Issue 47This article was published with the title “Novel Insect Trap” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 13 No. 47 (), p. 371
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican07311858-371e

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