48 



domestic fowls sufiering from spirochaetosis, Ctenocephalus canis. 

 Curt., on a dog, C. felis, Bcli., on a rabbit, Xenopsylla aequisetosUy 

 Enderl., on Cricetomys gambianus and brown rats, and X. cheopis. 

 Roths., on brown rats ; and the tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Ju&ti., 

 on a dog. 



Marlatt (C. L.). The Bed Bug.— ?7. S. Dept. Agric, Washington, D.C., 

 Farmers' Bull, no. 754, 14th October 1916, 12 pp., 4 figs. 

 [Eeceived 24th January 1917.] 



The bed-bug, Cimex lectularius, L., may gain access to any house 

 in spite of the adoption of all reasonable precautions. When its 

 source of food supply ceases in any one place, it develops migratory 

 habits, and escaping by windows, may pass along walls, water-pipes 

 and gutters and thus gain entrance into adjoining houses. Its origin, 

 varieties, general characteristics, habits and hfe-history are described. 

 It usually obtains its food from human beings only, and no other 

 natural feeding habit has been recorded, though it may be artificially 

 induced to feed upon mice, rats, birds, etc., and possibly does so 

 when the normal host is absent. When houses long uninhabited 

 are found to be infested by this insect, their presence may be accounted 

 for by such other sources of food, but may also be explained by its 

 natural longevity, as it is able to survive for a year or possibly more 

 without food. It is sensitive to temperature and is more prevalent 

 in northern climates than in southern ones. A temperature of 96° to 

 100° F., with a fairly high degree of humidity, will cause the death 

 of large numbers. The adult bugs will survive temperatures below 

 freezing for a considerable period, but the eggs and larvae succumb 

 if it be prolonged for 15 days or a month. It becomes quiescent and 

 partly hibernates at temperatures below 60° F., while it is most 

 active at temperatures between 60° and 98° F. In heated houses 

 the insect may remain active throughout the winter. As a trans- 

 mitter of disease it probably shares this responsibility with such 

 insects as body-lice and fleas, the transmission apparently resulting 

 from the accidental carriage of the virus in the mouth-parts. The 

 fact that C. lectularius only feeds at intervals of a week to several 

 weeks or months acts as a bar to its being a transmitter of certain 

 insect-borne diseases. It is preyed upon by the house centipede 

 {Scuiigera forceps) and the little red house-ant {Monomorium pharaonis, 

 L.). The most satisfactory remedy to apply against it is the 

 fumigation of infested rooms with hydrocyanic-acid gas or sulphur. 

 In cases of slight infestation simple measures of control are : the 

 application of benzine, kerosene, the lighter petroleum oils, corrosive 

 subhmate or oil of turpentine with small brushes, feathers or 

 syringes, so as to reach all cracks and crevices, and the liberal use 

 of hot water where it may be applied without damage to furniture. 



CuRLEWis (A.). A Sheep Dip. — Jl. Dept. Agric. Victoria, Melbourne, 

 xiv, no. 11, November 1916, pp. 694-698, 4 figs. [Received 

 26th January 1917.] 



In continuation of the author's previous paper on sheep dips 

 [see this Review, Ser. B, iv., p. 179], plans and details of a new 

 dipping tank are given. 



