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BED BUGS. 

 FAMILY CIMICID^. 



These insects are found in human habitations. 

 They have a flat, circular body, and are without 

 wings. They can live without food for months; 

 they love the dark, hiding in crevices^ 



The eggs are tiny oval bodies with a rim at the 

 upper end. They are in clusters of from six to fifty ; 

 they hatch in seven or eight days. At first the 

 \ oung bug is transparent, with a very narrow body. 

 It later becomes darker, and develops after a 

 series of moults to the adult wingless form. The 

 time taken in development varies with the weather. 

 Warm weather and abundance of food results in 

 rapid development. Under ordinary conditions 

 about seven weeks elapse before the adult stage is 

 reached. Tliey are very tenacious of life. Cock- 

 roaches, ants, and even some species of bugs prey 

 on them. 



ASSASSIN BUGS. 



FAMILY REDUVIID.^. 



These are carnivorous, and hunt their prey, and 

 a marked difference is noted. They are much more 

 active, with strong running legs, and with a stout, 

 shorter, slightly curved beak, suitable for piercing 

 tlie body of a victim. The tip of the beak rests in 

 a groove between the fore legs. Some of the com- 

 monest are of red or orange colour, with black mark- 

 ings. Their bodies are long and narrow. They are 

 captured on foliage of trees, on bark, etc. 



