OF WASHINGTON. 41 



General form rather oval in outline from above, flattened ; antennae 

 4-jointed, first joint short, second longest, third and fourth shorter and 

 about equal. Differs from Duges' figures of the adult as follows : head 

 and thoracic segments gradually broadening posteriorly, each broader 

 than the one anterior to it. No signs of wings. Clypeus elongate, 

 broadened and truncate anteriorly, rapidly narrowed posteriorly where it 

 is set into a median notch of the posterior sclerite of the head, entire, not 

 bearing two lateral sclerites. Beak reaching nearly to base of posterior 

 legs. Lateral edges of prothorax without any pubescence. Rings of ab 

 domen straight or nearly so transversely, the sutures being nearly straight 

 or but slightly and gently curved, none angulate anteriorly on the median 

 line. Prothorax about as long as head, other two thoracic segments very 

 distinctly shorter; first two abdominal segments much shortened, the 

 others about as long as last two thoracic segments and nearly equal in 

 length. Abdominal segments 3 and 4 the widest part of whole body. 

 Abdomen showing no rounded stigma-like spot on dorsutn near posterior 

 extremity in any of the specimens. Feet terminated by a pair of sharp 

 claws, cushions not so much or but little developed. 



Described from four specimens, evidently about two-thirds 

 grown. It is possible that this may not be the same as Duges' 

 species, but it seems probable that it is. The adult insect is 

 larger, and of a light rufous brown color. It does not grow 

 quite as large as does the bedbug. 



Dr. Duges mentions applications of vinegar as a remedy, 

 doubtless to be applied to the poultry to alleviate the bites as well 

 as to deter the corucos from biting. Here burning of sulphur in 

 the hen-houses and spraying of kerosene have been tried, with 

 doubtful results. About the only way to keep poultry uninfested 

 is to keep them entirely out of doors, and not to house them at 

 all. The corucos infest and stick to the houses and roosts, 

 awaiting the return of the hens at night. They began to appear 

 in Las Cruces the present year (1893) before the middle of April. 



I am informed that the corucos often swarm in immense num 

 bers in houses, coming up through the floors and cracks. In 

 such cases it is almost impossible to get rid of them, the easiest 

 and most economical way being to desert the house. They have 

 been known, according to one informant, to swarm in military 

 posts in former times in southern New Mexico to such an extent 

 that the soldiers were ordered out and formed in two lines, one 

 line with brooms to sweep the corucos en masse up against an 

 adobe wall, where the other line stood ready with trowels and 

 mud and plastered them into the wall alive a novel but effective 

 means of riddance ! 



Discussing this paper, Mr. Ashmead stated that Dr. Duges had 

 sent him a specimen of the insect some 8 or 10 years ago, and that 



