RHYNCHOTA HEMIPTERA 



397 



[This species reproduces more rapidly than other lice, and is communicated 

 much more freely. The eggs are often laid singly attached to the hairs near 

 their apex. F. V. T.] 



(b) Rhynchota hemiptera. 

 Fam. Acanthiada. 



Body flattened, antennae four-jointed, rostrum three-jointed, wings 

 atrophied. [In hot countries some bugs acquire wings. F. V. T.] 



4. Cimex lectularim, Merrett, 1667. 

 ^ Syn. : Acanthia lectularia, Fabricius, 1794. 



It measures 4 5 mm. in length, 3 mm. in breadth ; brownish-red ; 

 eight abdominal segments. The female deposits fifty whitish eggs 

 at a time (ri2 mm. in length) three or four times a year ; the 

 entire development up to complete maturity takes about eleven 

 months. 



The bed bugs live in the cracks and fissures of human habitations, 

 under carpets, behind pictures, in furniture, bedsteads, &c. ; hidden during 

 the day. they attack persons at night to suck their blood. The alkaline 



FIG. 256. Head of the bed bug from the ventral surface a, the rostrum ; b 

 the antenna ; and c, the eyes. 70 i. 



secretion of the salivary glands dropped into the wound around the separate 

 bites causes the so-called " wheals." 



The bed bugs were known in bygone days by the Greek's (*apr) and 

 tho Romans (cimexX They were fir^t mentioned from Strasbourg in the 

 Eleventh Century, and England about 1500. 



[The bed bug. can migrate from one house to another ; this especially 

 takes place when a house is uninhabited. They escape from windows 

 and pass along walls, water pipes and gutters, and so reach adjoining 

 houses. This noxious pest accompanies man wherever he goes ; ships and 

 trains become infested, especially the former. 



