42 
PSYCHE 
[April-June 
I'Ht: BEDliUC;, CIMEX EECTUEARU'S^ LINNAEUS. 
I’t. IP. Critical remarks on its literature, with a history and bibliography 
of pathogenic relations. 
BY ALECANDRE ARSENE GIRAULT, WASHINGTON, 1). C. 
A full bibliography of this insect, as promised in Part I of this paper, had 
to be abandoned because of its length. In contemplating its publication, the 
writer had in mind, mostly, its hoped for usefulness to both entomologists and 
medical men. 
bPart I, Psyche XII, 1905 pp, 61-74. 
■Such a common, and persistently obnoxious insect must necessarily have a 
very extensive literature, and one that is mtich scattered, especially since it 
is a factor directly affecting the social communities of man himself. 
In reviewing this body of literature, the writer has been continually 
impressed by one fact in particular, namely, that in the economic discussion of 
the bedbug by entomologists, the latter show almost an entire lack of knowledge 
of its medical literature; and so, conversely, the medical profession in discussing 
its hygienic, pathological or sanitary relation to man, quite often show great 
deficiency in their knowledge of its entomological literature. This has, there- 
fore, led to many misleading, erroneous, and loose statements concerning the 
habits of the pest, made especially, however, in the medical literature and in the 
writings of zoologists and naturalists. These classes of writings have been 
found, in nearly all cases, to have been compiled from various unknown sources, 
both good and bad ; the statement of course excepts the literature of experi- 
mental medicine. In the latter class of writings, the only fault to be found is 
the continual use of local or common names instead of the scientific one, such 
as, for instance, hug by the English, wanze by the Germans, punaise by the 
Erench, and so on. This use of vernacular names has thrown doubt on the 
value of the experiments performed, for the reason that they are entirely too 
general In their application. 
Another point which has very forcibly struck the writer, is the great dis 
proportion between the literature of this insect cn masse, and the >ea/ facts now 
aBy request, Dr. Ch. Warclell Stiles has carefully studied the synonomy of this insect, 
and has decided that Uctnlarms is the type of C/mrx Linnaeus. The insect will therefore 
retain its original name. Acauthia, Khnophilos, and Clmoris are rejected. Dr. Stiles’ note 
will appear in Froc. Ent. Soc. Washington, VIll, 1906, probably in June of the present year. 
