704 
rhynchota. 
as to the part played in disseminating disease by biting insects, it is 
not unreasonable to suppose that this ubiquitous tormentor may be 
found to have a greater importance as a 
disease-carrier than it now has as a com¬ 
mon household nuisance, and it has 
already appeared that the bite consti¬ 
tutes at least one way in which ‘ £ kala- 
azar’ ’ is transmitted from man to man 
(Patton). It is nocturnal in habits 
as a rule but is active at all times, and 
the bite is irritant to most persons, though 
repeated inflictions appear to confer a 
certain degree of immunity. Travellers 
are aware of the ingenuity of the insect 
in reaching its prey and it has been obser¬ 
ved that when all other means of access 
failed, it went to the ceiling and fell on its 
victim from that position. In America 
cockroaches and small red ants are men¬ 
tioned by Marlatt (U. S. Ent., Circular 
No. 47), as being fond of eating bugs, 
the ants in particular being effective 
checks. 
In some countries, fumigation with Hydrocyanic acid is utilised to 
free railway carriages and buildings from this pest. The use of super¬ 
heated steam for this purpose might be given a trial in this country 
as being cheaper and less troublesome. Cleanliness, washing the floor 
and wooden bedsteads with Crude oil emulsion, the use of pure 
pyrethrum powder, and fumigation with sulphur or Hydrocyanic 
acid are the only means generally available against it. The leaves 
of Pterospermum acerifolium are used in India as a preventive of 
night attacks. 
Two species attack man in India, Cimex lectularius, L., and Cimex 
rotundatus, Sign. (C. microcephalus, Dist.) (Patton, Indian Mus. 
Records). 
