The Bed-bugs 



87 



The Bed-bugs — The bed-bugs are characterized by a much flat- 

 tened oval body, with the short, broad head unconstricted behind, 

 and fitting into the strongly excavated anterior margin of the thorax. 

 The compound eyes are prominent, simple eyes lacking. Antennas 

 four-jointed, the first segihent short, the second long and thick, and 

 the third and fourth slender. The tarsi are short and three seg- 

 mented. 



It is often assimied in the literature of the subject that there is 

 but a single species of Cimex attacking man, but several such species 

 are to be recognized. These are distinguishable by the characters 



given in Chapter XII. We shall con- 

 sider especially Cimex lectularius, the 

 most common and widespread species. 

 Cimex lectularius (= Acanthia 

 lectularia, Clinocoris lectularius), is 

 one of the most cosmopolitan of human 

 parasites but, like the lice, it has been 

 comparatively little studied until 

 recent years, when the possibility 

 that it may be concerned with the 

 transmission of various diseases has 

 awakened interest in the details of 

 its life-history and habits. 



The adult insect (fig. 70) is 4-5 

 mm. long by 3 mm. broad, reddish 

 brown in color, with the beak and body appendages lighter in color. 

 The short, broad and somewhat rectangular head has no neck-like 

 constriction but fits into the broadly semilunar prothorax. The 

 four segmented labium or proboscis encloses the lancet-like maxillse 

 and mandibles. The distal of the four antennal segments is slightly 

 club-shaped. The prothorax is characteristic of the species, being 

 deeply incised anteriorly and with its thin lateral margins somewhat 

 turned up. The mesothorax is triangular, with the apex posteriorly, 

 and bears the greatly atrophied first pair of wings. There is no trace 

 of the metathoracic pair. The greatly flattened abdomen has eight 

 visible segments, though in reality the first is greatly reduced and 

 has been disregarded by most writers. The body is densely covered 

 with short bristles and hairs, the former being peculiarly saber- 

 shaped structures sharply toothed at the apex and along the convex 

 side (fig. 159^)- 



70. 



Cimex lectularius adult and eggs. 

 Photograph by M. V. S. 



