Hemiptera, or True Bugs 



20. Reduvius (Opsicoetus) 

 personatus. (x2). 



cause severe, 

 shooting pains that 

 may extend through- 

 out the arm and that 

 they may be felt for several days. 



Relief from the pain may be obtained by 

 the use of dilute ammonia, or a menthol 

 ointment. In the not uncommon case of 

 secondary infection the usual treatment for 

 that should be adopted. 



The Reduviidse, or assassin-bugs are cap- 

 able of inflicting very painful wounds, as 



most collect- 

 ors of Hemip- 

 tera know to 

 their sorrow. 



or flicker, was heard to utter cries of distress, 

 and fluttered and fell from a tree. On exam- 

 ination it was found that a bug of this species 

 had inserted its beak into the back part of 

 the skull and was apparently busily engaged 

 in sucking the blood or brains of the bird. 

 Various species of Belostoma have been cited 

 as causing painful bites in man. We can 

 testify from personal experience that the bite 

 of Belostoma americana may almost immedi- 

 atelv 



\SS 



21. (a) Reduvius personatus, 



nymph. 

 Photograph by M. V. S. 



21. (b) Reduvius personatus, adult (x2) 

 Photograph by M. V. S. 



Some species are frequently to be 

 found in houses and outhouses and 

 Dr. Howard suggests that many of 

 the stories of painful spider bites 

 relate to the attack of these forms. 



An interesting psychological study 

 was afforded in the summer of 1899, 

 by the "kissing-bug" scare which 

 swept over the country. It was 

 reported in the daily papers that a 

 new and deadly bug had made its 

 appearance, which had the unpleasant 

 habit of choosing the lips or cheeks 



