CHAPTER II. 

 THE BEDBUG AND CONE-NOSE. 



By C. L. Marlatt. 

 THE BEDBUG. 



(Cimex leciularins Limi.) 



This disguvstiug liunian parasite, the very discussion of wliicli is 

 tabooed in polite society, is practically limited to bouses of the meaner 

 sort, or AYbere the owners are iudift'erent or careless, or to bostelries 

 not always of tbe cbeaper kind. The careful housekeeper would feel it 

 a signal disgrace to have her chambers invaded by this iusect, and, in 

 point of fact, where ordinary care and vigilance are maintained the 

 danger in this direction is very slight. The presence of this insect, 

 however, is not necessarily an indication of neglect or carelessness, for, 





Fig. 7. — Cimex lectularius : a, adnlt female, gorged witli blood; b, same, from below; c, rudimentary 

 wing-pad; d, mouth-parts — all enlarged (original). 



little as the idea may be relished, it may often gain access in spite of 

 the best of care and the adoption of all reasonable i^recautions. It is 

 very apt to get into the trunks and satchels of travelers, and may thus 

 be introduced into homes. Unfortunately, also, it is quite capable of 

 migrating from one house to another, and will often continue to come 

 from an adjoining house, sometimes for a i)eriod of several months, 

 gaining entrance daily. Such migration is especially apt to take place 

 if the human inhabitants of an infested house leave it. With the 

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