TRIATOMA 379 



certain, and bugs have been found to remain infective for 48 

 days if they did not early succumb to the disease. Leprosy also 

 can probably be spread by bugs in a mechanical manner, and it 

 is reasonable to believe that such diseases as tuberculosis and 

 syphilis may likewise be carried by them. 



Other Parasitic Bugs 



Most of the other true bugs which may be looked upon as 

 normally human parasites belong to the family Reduviidae. This 

 is a large family of rapacious bugs, many of them bright colored, 

 which are especially numerous in the tropics. Most of them 

 prey upon other insects, but nearly all of them produce painful 

 wounds when they bite man. Nearly all are active runners and 

 giood fliers. 



Triatoma. — By far the most important species are the mem- 

 bers of the genus Triatoma {Conorhimis), popularly known as 

 cone-noses, " big " bedbugs and by numerous local names. 

 There are about 40 species, most of them in South and Central 

 America. T. sanguisuga of southern United States is the well- 

 known " Mexican bedbug." It is a bug about one inch in length 

 with a flat, dark brown body, the edges of which, not covered by 

 the wings, are marked with pinkish bars. The long conical head 

 is furnished with a strong beak. Its bite, like that of others of 

 the family, is very painful and causes swelling, sometimes fol- 

 lowed by effects which may last a year. 



The salivary secretion is evidently very poisonous and not 

 unlike snake venom in the extensive swelling and irritation which 

 it causes. The adult bugs attack not only man but other mam- 

 mals also, while the nymphs often annoy chickens. Unlike the 

 bedbug this insect can fly, and will readily enter rooms at night 

 to attack sleepers unless screened out. The eggs are white, 

 oval objects when first laid, soon turning yellowish and then 

 brownish; they are laid in small batches under logs or stones 

 outdoors. They hatch in about 20 days into young bugs which 

 probably prey very largely on other insects. After four moults 

 the insect reaches the adult winged condition in which it is 

 most troublesome as an invader of houses. This species is re- 

 placed by T. protrada in southwestern United States. 



The most important species of the genus are those which are 



