HEMIPTERA. ! 9 ~ 



antennae also are masked in this way: second, this species infests 

 houses for the sake of preying upon the bed-bug. It feeds also upon 

 flies and other insects. Dr. Le Conte, in writing of this insect, states 

 that it is remarkable for the intense pain caused by its bite ; that, 

 when caught or unskilfully handled, it always stings. In this case! 

 the pain is almost equal to that of the bite of a snake, and the swel- 

 ling and irritation which result from it will sometimes last for a week. 

 In very weak and irritable constitutions it may even prove fatal. 



The Big Bed-bug, Conor hinus sanguis$gus.C\ose\y allied to the 

 masked bed-bug-hunter is a large bug which insinuates itself into 

 beds for a less commendable purpose than that of its ally; for it 

 sucks human blood at first hand. 



This insect measures 25 mm. (i inch) in length. It is black, 

 marked with red. The prothorax is triangular, with a tubercle in 

 front on each side, slightly constricted before the middle, in front 

 with two raised lines diverging backwards, and most raised in front, 

 margined with red ; scutellum with two raised diverging lines directed 

 forwards and joined at the base ; wing-covers with two triangular red 

 spots on each, one at the base, the other near the middle on the 

 outside ; abdomen with six red spots on each side, both above and 

 below. The species was first described from Georgia; but it occurs 

 also in the more Northern and Western States. It, too, is re- 

 markable for sucking the blood of mammals, particularly chil- 

 dren. Dr. Le Conte, who first described this insect, says that 

 it, like the preceding species, inflicts a most painful wound. And 

 that he has known its bite to be followed by very serious conse- 

 quences, the patient not recovering from its effects for nearly a year. 

 He states his belief also that the accounts which we have of persons 

 being bitten by spiders are based on stings of these or allied insects. 



Although the species referred to above will serve to illustrate the 

 form of the members of this family, they are exceptional in habits. 

 I know of no others that habitually enter the dwellings of man. 

 Usually the members of this family pass their lives upon trees, 

 shrubs, or herbage, adroitly catching their prey. They feed upon 

 various insects both in the larva and adult states. Numerous 

 instances are on record of their destroying the Colorado potato- 

 beetle, the Rocky Mountain locust, and other important pests. 



The wheel-bug, Prionidus cristdtus (Fig. 167) furnishes a good 

 illustration of the habits of the predaceous members -of this family. 

 This is a common insect in the South. The adult, a cluster of eggs, 

 and several nymphs are represented in the figure. The hexagonal 



