The Bed-hugs 
87 
The Bed-bugs—The bed-bugs are characterized by a much flat¬ 
tened oval body, with the short, broad head unconstricted behind, 
and fitting into the strongly excavated anterior margin of the thorax. 
The compound eyes are prominent, simple eyes lacking. Antennae 
four-jointed, the first segment short, the second long and thick, and 
the third and fourth slender. The tarsi are short and three seg¬ 
mented. 
It is often assumed in the literature of the subject that there is 
but a single species of Cimex attacking man, but several such species 
are to be recognized. These are distinguishable by the characters 
given in Chapter XII. We shall con¬ 
sider especially Cimex lectularius, the 
most common and widespread species. 
Cimex lectularius (= Acanthia 
lectularia, Clinocoris lectularius), is 
one of the most cosmopolitan of human 
parasites but, like the lice, it has been 
comparatively little studied until 
recent years, when the possibility 
that it may be concerned with the 
transmission of various diseases has 
awakened interest in the details of 
its life-history and habits. 
The adult insect (fig 70) is 4-5 
mm. long by 3 mm. broad, reddish 
brown in color, with the beak and body appendages lighter in color. 
The short, broad and somewhat rectangular head has no neck-like 
constriction but fits into the broadly semilunar prothorax. The 
four segmented labium or proboscis encloses the lancet-like maxillae 
and mandibles. The distal of the four antennal segments is slightly 
club-shaped. The prothorax is characteristic of the species, being 
deeply incised anteriorly and with its thin lateral margins somewhat 
turned up. The mesothorax is triangular, with the apex posteriorly, 
and bears the greatly atrophied first pair of wings. There is no trace 
of the metathoracic pair. The greatly flattened abdomen has eight 
visible segments, though in reality the first is greatly reduced and 
has been disregarded by most writers. The body is densely covered 
with short bristles and hairs, the former being peculiarly saber¬ 
shaped structures sharply toothed at the apex and along the convex 
side (fig. 1596). 
70. Cimex lectularius adult and eggs. 
Photograph by M. V. S. 
