372 



BEDBUGS AND THEIR ALLIES 



Fig. 164. Head and part of thorax 

 of bedbug, ventral view. X 20. Note 

 jointed beak, eyes and stout spines. 



tend with these pests. Many other bugs are characterized by 

 similar odors, as, for example, the common " stink-bugs." The 

 odor is produced by a clear volatile fluid secreted by a pair of 



glands of very variable size which 

 open between the bases of the hind 

 pair of legs. Although in most 

 " wild " bugs the stink glands are 

 supposed to be distinctly bene- 

 ficial in that they make the owners 

 obnoxious to enemies which would 

 otherwise prey upon them, they 

 are a decided handicap to the do- 

 mestic bedbugs in the struggle for 

 existence, since the odor draws 

 attention to the presence of bugs 

 which might otherwise escape 

 notice. Nor does the scent ap- 

 pear to be any protection to them against such enemies as cock- 

 roaches and red ants. Murray suggests that it may be of some 

 use to them in their social intercourse 

 in the dark recesses in which they 

 spend their lives. 



The nasty odor of bedbugs has 

 evidently inspired some faith in their 

 medicinal value. Seven bugs ground 

 up in water was said by Plin}^ to 

 arouse one from a fainting spell, and 

 one a day would render hens immune 

 to snake bites. Even at the present 

 time there are places in civilized coun- 

 tries where ])edbugs are given as an 

 antidote for fever and ague. 



There are a number of species of _ ,„. ^ j- i ji ^^ 



^ Fig. 165. Indian bcdbus, Cjmex 



bugs in the genus CimeX, but some hemii4erus{rolun<lntus),iQma\o. X 



of the species confine their attentions »• ^■'^^^"^ Casteiiani and Chai- 



' mers.) 



to poultry and other birds, bats, etc. 



There are two widely distributed species which attack man: one 

 is the common bedbug, Cimex lectularius, found in all temperate 

 climates; the other is the tropical or Indian bedbug, Cimex hemip- 

 terus {rotundatus) , prevalent in many tropical countries, includ- 



