BEAKED INSECTS 385 



ORDER VI. : LONG-BEAKS (RHYNCHOTA). 



MOUTH parts piercing and suctorial, forming a jointed proboscis or 

 beak ; first thoracic somite (prothorax) free ; the two pairs of wings 

 similar or dissimilar in form. Metamorphosis incomplete. 



Sub-Order i : Bugs (Heteroptera). 



The Bed Bug (Cimex lectularius) . 



(Length ^ to i inch.) 



The bed bug is one of the most disagreeable of human parasites. In 

 the daytime it lies in hiding, finding, by reason of its thin flattened body, 

 which is of brown colour, easy accommodation in all sorts of chinks and 

 crevices. At night, however, it emerges from its hiding-place in order 

 to suck the blood of sleepers. Its mouth parts, which together form a 

 jointed proboscis or beak (hence name of order ; rhynchos = a beak), are 

 accordingly well adapted (like those of the gnat, which see) for piercing 

 as well as sucking. During rest the proboscis is laid back in a groove 

 along the under side of the body, to protect it against injury. A poisonous 

 saliva which enters the wound produces inflammation and swelling of 

 the affected part. The wings of the bug are mere rudiments, and the 

 insect is therefore incapable of flight. The disgusting smell emitted by 

 this insect and many other bug species serves it as a means of protection 

 against enemies. The young, like the mature insects, feed upon blood. 

 Hence the metamorphosis is accomplished gradually after several moult- 

 ings of the skin without the interposition of a pupa stage (see grass- 

 hopper, p. 394). Owing to its great fecundity, this obnoxious blood- 

 sucking pest multiplies so rapidly that only by the utmost cleanliness 

 can it be got rid of from dwellings where it has once established itself. 



Allied Species. 



A large number of bug species live in the open air. All of these 

 feed upon the juices of plants or animals, which they obtain and suck up 

 by the aid of their "beak." Only a few are entirely or partially wing- 

 less. The fore-wings, between which is interposed the frequently large 

 scutellum (see cockchafer), serve as covers for the membranous folded 

 hind- wings (hence name Heteroptera = unlike winged). Only the anterior 

 basal half of the fore- wings, however, is hard and coriaceous. Both 

 wings (as in beetles) are folded closely to the body. 



The most familiar species is undoubtedly the blackish-red Scarlet 

 Bug (Pyrrhocoris apterus), called by children "Frenchmen" or 



