THE BED-BUG. 201 
as well as a number of similar ones, livenormally under bark 
of dead and living trees; they are true vegetable feeders, sub- 
sisting upon the sap of plants. Whenever logs are cut the 
sap contained in them and especially that near the surface, 
ferments, and this attracts a large number of insects fond of 
such fluid. This explains why so many insects can be found 
near saw-mills, and chiefly upon freshly cut boards. 
Notwithstanding the bad odor of the bed-bugs they have 
a number of enemies that are said to destroythem. Prof. C. 
Vogt writes that the inhabitants of Switzerland claim that 
fleas and bugs were living in a state of war, and that the 
fleas had to leave dwellings occupied by bed-bugs, which 

Fig. 166.—Water-boatman. Greatly enlarged. Original. 
would indicate that fleas are very sensible insects. Prof. 
Riley says that little red ants, if invading a house infested 
with bed-bugs, make short work of the latter, and tear them 
to pieces wherever found. This may be a consolation, but 
these ants are far from being good tenants in our dwelling 
places. 
A number of blood-thirsty bugs are known that make it 
their aim in life to destroy bed-bugs. This would be an ex- 
cellent trait in the character of any bug, but these are other- 
wise so stupid as to treat man and bed-bugs in the same 
way by biting both, and as the bite of the Pirate-bug (this 
is the name of the bed-bug destroying kind) is very poisonous 
and painful, their presence in our houses 1s not desirable. In 
the southern states several bugs, such as the Two-spotted 
Corsair and the Blood-sucking Cone-nose or Big Bed-bug, 
enter houses for the same laudable purpose but both kinds 
make the same lamentable mistake and inflict the most pain- 
ful bites which may disable a weak person for many days. 
