THE COMMON BEDBUG 



100 



descriptive one. In the South, at least in Mississippi 

 and parts of Texas, it is invariably called the "chinch." 

 In New York they are often called "redcoats,' 1 while in 

 Baltimore they are given the aristocratic and, at the same 

 time, rather descriptive name "mahogany flat." An old 

 English name for it was "wall louse." 



DESCRIPTION OF THE BEDBUG 



The bedbug is a member of a very large order of in- 

 sects known as Hemiptera. The stink bugs, and the 

 squash bugs are familiar 

 members of this group 

 and near relatives of 

 the bedbug. The stink 

 bugs, squash bugs, and 

 bedbugs have certain 

 glands in the body 

 that secrete an oily, 

 volatile, and ill-smelling 

 fluid. Xo doubt, in the 

 stink bugs, squash bugs, 

 and others this fluid 

 serves as a means of 



protection and oftentimes prevents their being devoured 

 by their enemies, the birds, toads, and lizards. With 

 the bedbug there is probably no use for this fluid now 

 as a protective weapon. Yet it persists as an heirloom 

 from some remote ancestor who did have use for it. The 

 presence of the bedbug is recognized by this so-called 

 "buggy" odor. 



The bedbug has piercing and sucking mouth parts 



Fig. 35. — Under side of head of bed- 

 bug showing the beak, enlarged. 



