THE BEDBUG AND CONE-NOSE. 



33 



failure of their usual source of food, the migratory instinct i> devel- 

 oped, and escaping through windows, they pass along walls, water pipes, 

 or gutters, and rims gain entrance into adjoining houses. It is expe- 

 dient, therefore, to consider this insect, unsavory as the subject may 

 be, since, as shown, it may be anyone's misfortune to have his premises 

 temporarily invaded. 



As with nearly all the insects associated with man, the bedbug has 

 had the habits now characteristic of it as far back as the records run. 

 It was undoubtedly of common occurrence in the dwellings of the 

 ancient peoples of Asia. The Romans were well acquainted with it, giv- 

 ing it the name Cimex. It was supposed by Pliny and this was doubt- 

 less the common belief among the Romans) to have medicinal properties, 

 and it was recommended, among other things, as a specific for the bites 

 of serpents. It is said to have been first introduced into England in 

 150:>, but the references to it are of such a nature as to make it very 

 probable that it had been there long previously. Two hundred and fifty 



Fig. -. 



from 

 egg 



-Oimex hctularius. Egg and newly hatched larva of bedbug: a, larva from below; ?,, larva 

 above; <\ claw; <l. egg; <•. hair or spine of larva — greatly enlarged: natural size of larva and 

 ndieated by hair lines (original). 



years later it was reported to be very abundant in the seaport towns. 

 but was scarcely known inland. It has been inferred that the following- 

 reference from the old English Bible of 1551 is to this insect: "Thou 

 shalt not nede to be afriad for eny Bugges by night" (Psalm \< I. •"» . 



One of the old English names was "wall-louse." It was afterwards 

 very well known as the ••chinch," which continued to be the common 

 appellation for it until within a century or two. and is still used in parts 

 of this country. The origin of the name "bedbug" is not known, but 

 it is such a descriptive one that it would seem to have been very natu- 

 rally suggested. Almost everywhere there are local names tor this 

 parasite, as, for illustration, around Boston they are called ••chintzes" 

 and "chinches," and from Baltimore comes the name "mahogany flat," 

 while in New York they are styled "red coats." 



The bedbug has accompanied man wherever he has gone. Vessels 

 are almost sure to be infested with it. It is not especially limited by 

 cold, and is known to occur well north. It probably came to this 

 2805— No. 4 3 



