igo8.] Records of the Indian Museum. 155 



linnseus (figs. 3 and 4), in the following respects : its head is not as 

 long or as broad as that of lectularius ; its prothorax, which is also nar- 

 rower and shorter, is rounded to the margin, and quite unlike that of the 

 type species, whose prothorax is raised in the centre but flattened 

 abruptly at a line a little beyond the level of the eyes. The abdomen of 

 Cimex rotundatus is less orbicular and broadest at the second 

 segment, whereas that of lectularius is broadest at the third segment. 



These are the chief points by which the two bugs can be distin- 

 guished, and a reference to the drawings acconipan3-ing this paper 

 will at once help anyone to identify them. Mr. Maxwell-Lefroy/ 

 in a recent paper, doubts the validit}^ of the two species lectularius 

 and rotujtdatus , and states their distribution is imperfectly known. 

 I can only refer him to the typical specimens I have sent him and 

 to my paper on the distribution of the two species. I have not yet 

 seen Cimex ciliatus, Hversmann, which is said to occur in Russia 

 (Kasan) ; Bversmann's ■ description suggests Cimex columbarius , 

 Jenyns. 



Cimex rotundatus , Signoret, is chiefly associated with man ; but 

 I have had a number of specimens taken in Madras from the j^ellow 

 hat Scotophilus kuhli, which also harboured Cimex pipistrelli, Jenyns; 

 the latter species, as far as I am aware, has not been recorded from 

 India before. The Indian bed-bug, I find, will feed on an}' animal in 

 the absence of man, and I once placed some on the small Pipis- 

 trelle, P. abramus, which always roosted in one particular part of a 

 punkah in m}^ study. The bugs, after gorging, left the bat and 

 secreted themselves in the jounkah, returning to the bat when it 

 came back early in the morning. The host relations of this bug 

 are therefore of some importance. Cimex rotundatus breeds through- 

 out the year in India and abounds in all native houses and other 

 places frequented by natives, such as Government offices, tram- 

 cars, railway stations and carriages. The bugs are carried about 

 in clothes, bedding, books and furniture. The habits and life- 

 history are at present being investigated, as well as the best 

 method of destroying the bugs ; and the results, I hope, will be 

 communicated later. 



I shall always be glad to get specimens of bed-bugs from. India 

 and other parts of the world ; the distribution of lectularius in 

 North India requires to be worked out more carefully as well as 

 that of rotimdat'us in Africa where Kala Azar .exists. Bugs are 

 best sent alive in a little tin box, the lid of which has been per- 

 forated ; dead bugs must be put into spirit. 



I Maxwell-Lefroy, A preliminary account of the biting flies of India, 1907. 

 Eversmann, E., " Oiiaedam insectoriim species novee," Bulletin Soc. Imper. 

 Nat., Moscow. 1841, xiv. 



