618 



FAMILY XXIII. — CIMICID^E. 



sort, or where the owners are indifferent or careless, or to hostelries not 

 always of the cheaper kind. The careful housekeeper would feel it a signal 

 disgrace to have her chambers invaded by this insect and, in point of 



fact, where ordinary care and 

 vigilance are maintained the 

 danger in this direction is very 

 slight. The presence of this 

 insect, however, is not neces- 

 sarily an indication of neglect 

 or carelessness, for, little as 

 the idea may be relished, it 

 may often gain access in spite 

 of the best of care and the 

 adoption of all reasonable pre- 

 cautions. It is very apt to get 

 into the trunks and satchels of 

 travelers, and may thus be in- 

 troduced into homes. Unfortu- 

 nately, also, it is quite capable 

 of migrating from one house to 

 another, and will often con- 

 tinue to come from an adjoin- 

 ing house, sometimes for a 

 period of several months, gain- 

 ing entrance daily. Such mi- 

 gration is especially apt to take place if the human inhabitants of an 

 infested house leave it. With the failure of their usual source of food, 

 the migratory instinct is developed, and escaping through windows, they 

 pass along walls, water pipes or gutters, and thus gain entrance into 

 adjoining houses. 



"The bedbug is thoroughly nocturnal in habit and displays a certain 

 degree of wariness and caution, or intelligence, in its efforts at conceal- 

 ment during the day. It thrives particularly in filthy apartments and 

 in old houses which are full of cracks and crevices in which it can con- 

 ceal itself beyond easy reach. It usually leaves the bed at the approach 

 of daylight to go into concealment either in cracks in the bedstead, if it 

 be one of the old wooden variety, or behind wainscoting, or under loose 

 wall-paper, where it manifests its gregarious habit by collecting in masses 

 together. The old-fashioned heavy wooden bedsteads are especially 

 favorable for the concealment and multiplication of this insect, and the 

 general use in later years of iron and brass bedsteads has very greatly 

 facilitated its eradication. They are not apt to be very active in winter, 

 especially in cold rooms, and ordinarily hibernate in their places of 

 concealment. 



"The bedbug, on account of its habits of concealment, is usually be- 

 yond the reach of powders, and ordinary insect powders, such as pyreth- 

 rum, are of practically no avail against it. If iron or brass bedsteads 

 are used the eradication of the insect is comparatively easy. The most 



X 10. (After Lugger). 



