768 



HEMIPTERA 



very severe, and causes much swelling, and irritation. It is a night-flier, and 

 has an odour like that produced by bugs. 



Morphology. — It is a large dark brown insect, with pink markings and a 

 flattened body and very narrow pointed head, with a strong, thick, long 

 proboscis. The thorax is provided with wings. 



Life-History. — The eggs when 

 first laid are white, but latei' 

 change to yellow, and finally to 

 pink. The larva hatches in 

 about twenty days, and is very 

 active. It moults twice and 

 becomes the pupa, which also 

 moults twice, the last stage show- 

 ing wing pads. The pupa is also 

 active. 



Habits. — In addition to feed- 

 ing upon blood, these insects 

 may suck the juices of decom- 

 posing flesh. 



Pathogenicity. — Its bite at 

 times is followed by severe 

 general symptoms, such as swell- 

 ing in different parts of the body, 

 nausea, etc., as well as local pain. 



Remedy. — Sweet oil is advised 

 as a remedy for the local pain. 



Conor hinus rubrofasciatus de 

 Geer. This is the Malay bug, 

 found in Africa (Sierra Leone 

 and Madagascar), in Asia (Cey- 

 lon, India, Malaya, China, and the 

 Philippine Islands). It is said to 

 produce a very severe bite. Con- 

 crhinus renggeri Herrich-Schaeffer is the black bug of the Pampas. Conovhinus 

 nigrovarius is the ' bichugue ' of South America, and bites severely. Cono- 

 vhinus protractus is the big bed-bug of Utah. 



Fig. 377. — Conovhinus sanguisugus 

 Leconte, 1855: Female. (X2-) 



Lamus Stal, 1859. 



ReduviidcB with the head much shorter than the thorax, with a 

 conical preocular portion, with the basal segment of the rostrum 

 longer than the apical. Antennae, which are inserted a little in 

 front of the eyes, are more than twice as long as the head, ocelli 

 present. Scutellum unarmed; legs rather slender; anterior femora 

 sUghtly thinner than the posterior, and armed with spines. 



Lamus megistus Burmeister. 



Synonym.' — Conorhinus megistm Burmeister; Triatoma megista. 



Chagas has demonstrated that Lamus megistus is the carrier of 

 Trypanosoma cruzi. This Reduvid attacks men and animals, and, 

 owing to its habit of biting the face, is called ' Barbeiro ' by the 

 indigenous population. 



Morphology. — L. megistus Burm. is a large black insect with 

 numerous regularly arranged red markings, and differs from C. rubro- 

 fasciatus de Geer, whi'^h is closely allied to it, by the fact that 



