REDUVIUS. Fahr, Latr. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Body not linear; thorax sub-bilobate ; rostel- 

 lum arcuated, three-jointed, middle joint longest ; 

 antennae inserted above a line drawn from the 

 eyes to the base of the rostrum ; tibiae simple. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Linne placed the species in the same genus 

 w^ith the common and well known "bed-bug," 

 from which, however, they are without doubt, 

 very distinct. Under the reforming hand of 

 Fabricius, they were established as a separate 

 group, with the present designation. These 

 insects are carnivorous, and live by rapine in all 

 their states. They seize smaller insects, and suck 

 out their fluids. The collector must be very cau- 

 tious how he handles these insects, as they are 

 apt to inflict a painful puncture with their very 

 pointed beak. When disturbed, they emit an 

 acute sound, by the friction of the base of the 

 head or the neck against the thorax. 



PLATE XXXI, 



