232 



FORTT-FIRST REPORT ON THE StATE MuSEUM. 



IT" 



Fig. 46.— Conoehinus sanguisugus; imago 

 and pupa. 



arm was lost for three days (American Entomologist, i, p. 88). Dr. 

 LeConte adds to liis description of it: " This insect inflicts a most pain- 

 ful wound. It is remarkable, also, for sucking the blood of mammals, 

 particularly of children. I have known its bite to be followed by 

 very serious consequences, the patient not recovering- for nearly a 

 year " (Pi^oc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1855, p. 404). 



Mr. Uhler has described the insect as a very showy species, of a 



pitch -brown or black color, with 

 red patches on the sides of the 

 prothorax, spots of the same 

 color at the base and apex of 

 the wing-covers, and bands on 

 the sides of the abdomen. It 

 is rather bald, most of the sur- 

 face is somewhat wrinkled or 

 rough, and the end of the scutellum is long and sharp-pointed. It 

 measures more than three-fourths of an inch in length, but specimens 

 sometimes occur which are dwarfed to about half an inch. {Standard 

 Natural History, ii, p. 280.) 



Pirates biguttatus (Say), as it has long been known, but in the recent 



list of Mr. Uhler has been 

 referred to the genus Rasahus 

 Amyot-Serville (from the He- 

 brew, meaning a " villain ") — 

 is also capable of inflicting a 

 severe sting, but will seldom 

 do so except from provoca- 

 tion, as the surroundings 

 under which it is usually 

 found indicates the bed-bug 

 as its principal prey. It evidently delights in human blood, but prefers 

 taking it at second-hand. Under the generic name of Pirates it has been 

 commonly known as " the two-spotted corsair," from the two large and 

 conspicuous spots on its elytra. It is shown in Figure 47. 



Rediivius personatus (Linn.), — recently referred by Mr. Uhler to the 

 genus Opsicoetus Klug — shown also in Figure 47, is a common insect 

 often found hanging in spider-webs in dwellings. It also is credited with 

 a special fondness for bed-bugs which it hunts and catches adroitly, 

 while in its larval stage, under the disguise of a covering of dust and 

 dirt completely investing it, as shown at c in the figure, and adher- 

 ing to it by a glutinous secretion. The wounds which it has been 

 known to inflict in its perfect stage with its beak, are said to be very 



Fig. 47.— a, Pibates biguttatus ; h, Reduvius 

 personatus; c, its pupa. 



