CONORHINUS RUBROFASCIATUS 399 



results in more pronounced swelling and inflammation than that 

 of the Cimex. Normally this genus feeds upon the blood of 

 mammals and insects. Its fondness for human blood appears to 

 be quite a new habit, and appears limited to the mature insect 

 only. It is nearly an inch long, flat, head very narrow and long, 

 the rostrum short and thick. In colour it is dark brown with pink 

 markings. They are fully winged when adult, and they fly with 

 ease, entering houses on the wing, especially being attracted by 

 lights in windows ; they also run swiftly. Like the bed bug they 

 conceal themselves during the day and come out at night and bite 

 the sleeper. The effect of the bite is very varied, but as a rule 

 a sore, itching wound, accompanied by burning pain and swellings, 

 which may extend over a good deal of the body, occur. A 

 specific poison is undoubtedly injected into the puncture ; but no 

 doubt serious results are also due to the beak being contaminated 

 through the insects feeding upon foul carrion. Mr. Lembert, when 

 bitten by a Conor hinus sp. (?) on the Pacific Slope, exhibited the 

 following symptoms : An itching sensation extending up the leg, 

 large blotches manifesting themselves on the upper part of the 

 limb and extending up to the hands and arms ; his lips swelled 

 and the itching and swelling extended over the head ; there was 

 also much nausea. Similar results are recorded from other regions. 1 

 The eggs of the C. sanguisuga are at first white, then become 

 yellow, then pink ; the young hatch in twenty days. There are 

 two larval and two pupal stages, the latter showing wing-pads. 

 The eggs are laid and the young feed out of doors, chiefly upon 

 insects. It is particularly abundant in April and May indoors. 



8. Conorhinus, sp. novum (the Monster Bug). 



Another species ; acts in a very similar way in California, the 

 bite being very poisonous. 



q. Conorhinus rubrofasciatus, De Geer 2 (the Malay Bug). 



This large "bug attacks man in Malay. It is recorded as 

 inflicting " a very nasty sting, which is done by the huge proboscis." 

 Acute pain and inflammation follow in a few minutes. In one 

 case the whole leg became swollen. This species occurs in Mada- 

 gascar, Sierra Leone, Ceylon, India, China, Philippines, &c. 



1 " Household Insects," p. 42. 



2 First Report Economic Zoology, p. 130, 1903. F. V. T. 



