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PSYCHE 
[June- August 
is apparently known in this respect. It will be a rather difficult point to decide 
from the nature of the case, and is not of great importance, economically. 
Adult length of life, and especially in regard to the two sexes, is a much 
mooted question, and is always confused with longevity or mere existence 
without known food. It is used here to include actively breeding adults under 
normal conditions. The male is supposed to take no food (Curtis, 1835), or at 
least no blood. Nothing is known of this. 
In regard to longevity, many theories have been promulgated to explain or 
account for it. Food other than human blood is supposed to account for it, and 
also cannibalism. Yet, how did the specimens which DeOeer ( 1773) confined 
for over a year in a “sealed bottle, obtain juices upon which to subsist? Or 
those confined in closely-fitting paper boxes, such as ordinary pill-boxes? All 
authors'’ agree in stating that they can exist for many months without known 
food, but when citing instances, as for example, their supposed occurrence in 
large colonies in houses which have been long unoccupied, always theorize in 
regard to some food in order to account for it. 
The lack of definite statements in regard to such occurrences, precludes 
further discussion. It is obvious that such infested houses would have to be 
isolated, or else the insects would move to others. It is also obvious that such 
occurrences can be accounted for by confusion with other closely allied species 
of Cimcx, or in the case of new-comers, by unconscious transportation of the bed- 
bugs themselves. DeGeer (1773) has proven that the insects can exist for many 
months without food, and this is an easy way in which to explain the matter. If 
the insects were cannibalistic, obviously, large colonies would not thus be found. 
The confusion exists because of the lack of details. Their food-habits are thus 
left in obscurity, under the conditions spoken of, together with the question of 
longevity. 
It may be of interest to quote Lintner ( 1885) as a case in point. A cor- 
respondent wrote as follows: “‘Will you tell us something about the bed-bug, 
what its habits are, when it “spawns,” what it eats, how long it lives, and if it 
ever dies? I ask because I have moved into a house that I find was already 
occupied by several colonies of the pest. The room in which I have my library 
a. Quoted from authors. In reality, the insects were kept in a sand-box (mh pouJrier) presumably those used 
DeGeer's time to sprinkle writing with sand in order to dry it. It should also be n ticed that the insects lived most 
of the time during the winter or cold months. Southall (1730) states that they feed on oak, walnut, cedar, etc., 
and in his recommendations, tells us that such woods should be avoided about dwellings, 
b. Excepting Dufour (1833). 
