The Bed-Bug Family 



Life History of the Bed-Bug 



(Cimex lectularitis Linn J 



Slovenly man has carried this abominable bug to all parts of 

 the civilized world, ''Tot. orbis" is the laconic expression of 

 its geographic range given by Lethierry and Severin. It has be- 

 come a true domestic animal and has accommodated itself well to 

 the environment of human habitations. It has lost its wings, but 

 has acquired a flat body which enables it to hide in the narrowest 

 cracks of beds and walls. It has gained the power of subsisting 

 almost indefinitely without food, waiting for its meals with a 

 patience far surpassing that of Job. 



The eggs of the bed-bug are minute white oval objects each 

 having a projecting rim around one end. They are laid in 

 clusters in such crevices as are used 

 by the mature bugs for conceal- 

 ment, and each cluster contains 

 from six to fifty eggs. The eggs 

 hatch in about eight days and the 

 young bug pushes off the lid en- 

 closed within the projecting rim at 

 the end of the egg. At first the 

 new-born insect is yellowish-white 

 and nearly transparent, but becomes 

 darker after it feeds and grows until 

 the color of the mature and well-fed 

 insect is brown. The skin is shed 

 five times and with the last molt the wing pads characteristic of 

 the adult become apparent. The period of growth from egg to 

 adult varies greatly with the temperature and the food supply. 

 Marlatt has reared them under favorable conditions (feeding them 

 ujxDn the healthy and abundant blood of a complaisant assistant) 

 in seven weeks, but without food they may remain unchanged 

 for many weeks. Ordinarily but one meal is taken between 

 molts, so that at least five full meals must be taken before maturity 

 and at least one more by the female before she is ready for egg 

 laying. Each female is supposed to lay several batches of eggs. 



The pronounced odor of this insect is also possessed by cer- 

 tain plant bugs and is produced by certain glands opening on the 

 back of the abdomen with young bugs and on the underside in 



289 



Fig. 178. — Cimex lectularius: 



young. 



finedrawn from Marlatt. J 



