The importance of lice is equalled by their unpopularity. A lady, driven to extremes by—well let us call it—the want of gallantry of Dr. Johnson, called him ‘a louse.’ The great lexicographer retorted, ‘People always talk of things that run in their heads!’
CHAPTER II
THE BED-BUG (Cimex lectularius)
In ‘x’ finita tria sunt animalia dira;
Sunt pulices fortes, cimices, culicumque cohortes;
Sed pulices saltu fugiunt, culicesque volatu,
Et cimices pravi nequeunt foetore necari.
(Anon.)
Among the numerous disagreeable features of the bed-bug is the fact that it has at least two scientific names—Cimex (under which name it was known to the classical writers) and Acanthia. The latter name is favoured by French and some German authorities, but Cimex was the name adopted by Linnaeus, and is mostly used by British writers, and will be used throughout this article. One cannot do better than take the advice of that wise old entomologist, Dr. David Sharp, and allow the name ‘Acanthia to fall into disuse.’
The species which is the best known in England is C. lectularius; but there is a second species which is much commoner in warm climates, C. rotundatus. As regards carrying disease, this latter species is even more dangerous than its more temperate relative. Other species, which rarely if ever attack man, are found in pigeon-houses and dove-cotes, martins’ nests, poultry-houses, and the homes of bats.