Hemiptera , or True Bugs 
3 1 
Reduvius (Opsiccetus) 
personatus. (x2). 
cause 
shooting pains that 
may extend through¬ 
out the arm and that 
they may be felt for several days. 
Relief from the pain may be obtained by 
the use of dilute ammonia, or a menthol 
ointment. In the not uncommon case of 
secondary infection the usual treatment for 
that should be adopted. 
The Reduviidas, or assassin-bugs are cap¬ 
able of inflicting very painful wounds, as 
most collect¬ 
or flicker, was heard to utter cries of distress, 
and fluttered and fell from a tree. On exam¬ 
ination it was found that a bug of this species 
had inserted its beak into the back part of 
the skull and was apparently busily engaged 
in sucking the blood or brains of the bird. 
Various species of Belostoma have been cited 
as causing painful bites in man. We can 
testify from personal experience that the bite 
of Belostoma americana may almost immedi¬ 
ately cause severe, 
21. 
(a) Reduvius personatus, 
nymph. 
Photograph by M. V. S. 
(b) Reduvius personatus, adult (x2) 
Photograph by M. V. S. 
ors of Hemip¬ 
tera know to 
their sorrow. 
Some species are frequently to be 
found in houses and outhouses and 
Dr. Howard suggests that many of 
the stories of painful spider bites 
relate to the attack of these forms. 
An interesting psychological study 
was afforded in the summer of 1899, 
by the “kissing-bug” scare which 
swept over the country. It was 
reported in the daily papers that a 
new and deadly bug had made its 
appearance, which had the unpleasant 
habit of choosing the lips or cheeks 
