Science: Insect Front

Some little bug is going to find you some day. . . .

—Roy Atwell

The 1,000 professional exterminators who work in New York City last week generally felt that they were barely holding their own against the insect world. The verminous swarm which always threatens mankind has made great wartime gains due to shortages of insecticide and manpower and to heavy wartime travel (especially of insects aboard furloughed servicemen).

Manhattan harbors every known species of urban insect—and many of their country cousins. The battle against them costs $5,000,000 a year in labor alone,...