PLAGUE OF CRICKETS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4811, 20 February 1936, Page 6

PLAGUE OF CRICKETS

TOWN KEPT AWAKE. A plague of crickets has infested Chislehurst. Myriads of the insects have invaded the area, particularly in the White Horse-hill and Green-lane districts, says a recent article in “Reynolds,” London News. So great is the din at nights, that sleep is almost impossible. Whole households are kept awake for hours. Many women are on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and children are hysterical. Family pyjama squads are lighting the invaders with quick lime and with formalin sprays. So far, the crickets are winning. Local residents blame the council refuse dumps, where the crickets have been breeding in large numbers during the hot weather. A petition signed by many residents has been presented, and council officers are doing their best to cope with the nuisance. It is suggested that the dumps should be replaced by modern incinerators. Most of the houses worst affected are new, some of them owned by the Chisle-

hurst council. “We have crickets in the district every summer, but this year the numbers are quite unusual.” Dr. P. N. Cave, Chislehurst Medical Officer of Health, said “Once they get access to the houses and lodge in the nooks and crannies, they are most difficult to dislodge. We are doing our best with the usual measures, and the break in the weather ought to help by drowning them out. We have had complaints about the refuse dumps, but the crickets have also been found in large numbers in the surrounding fields. The Bromley region is having trouble. Fortunately, crickets are not disease carriers, but the nuisance, due to the breaking of people’s rest, is quite serious.” A house m lteyiion, near bouthwold, was invaded by flying ants. The ants apparently entered through a window, and the insects, which numbered millions, lay in great mounds on the floors. The room was fumigated, and the ants were then swept up and burnt. A plague of mysterious black insects caused alarm in Stanley, County Durham. Bedding, clothing and furniture were covered with the insects two and three inches thick.