44 



CAIJPORNIA STATE COMMISSION OF HORTICULTITRE. 



bug family. The members of this family are all predaceous and vora- 

 cious. They usually attack other insects and suck their juices, but the 

 higher animals are not free from their attacks, and the kissing-bug 

 belongs here. They have a very powerful beak, and can inflict a pain- 

 ful wound, if not carefully handled. One of the members of this family 

 has a local reputation, and in the mountains it is known as the lumber- 



FIG. 12. Wheel-bug (Pr>.onidu,s t'.riMatu.'i). A, adult insect; B, mhilt insect devouring a cater- 

 pillar; C, larva; D, larva; E, larva devouring a caterpillar ; F. egg cluster. All enlarged. 



man's bedbug. It is sometimes known as the Big Bedbug, and is the 

 Conorhinus sanguisugvs. 



A peculiar member of this family is Opsiccetus perHonatus, which, in 

 its younger form, covers itself with particles of dust, and is coated even 

 to the tips of its feet and antennaj. It enters houses and is an inveter- 

 ate enemy of the bedbug, which it captures and sucks the blood from. 

 From tliis habit it is known as the " Masked bedbug hunter." This 

 mask is worn only during its immature stage; when fully developed it is 

 about half an inch in length, and is one of about fifty members of this 

 family known as kissing-bugs. It preys also upon flies and other 

 insects. It has a very sharp beak, which it uses in its defense. 



Another of the kissing-bugs, which appeared in large numbers in 



