Page 28 - Adventures through the World of Entomology

HEMIPTERA — or for our purpose, Hemi ptera. “hemi” comes from the Greek word meaning
“half,” as in hemisphere (northern and southern hemispheres divided by the equator). The insects that
belong to this order have four wings. The first pair have a leathery base and a membranous tip — thus
the name hemiptera. When the wings are folded, the membranous tips of the front wings overlap so
as to form a more or less distinct “X” on the back. The second pair of wings are membranous. One
important member of this order, the bedbug, does not have any wings at all. The pest control technician
encounters three representatives of this order.
BOXELDER BuG
1. The Boxelder bug lays its eggs on boxelder trees. The adults
hibernate around buildings and in hollow trees or other sheltered
places. They often appear in immense swarms on sunny winter
days and may invade homes causing terror and disgust. That is
when the service technician gets the call and has the opportunity
to relieve mental stress on the part of their customer. These are
plant feeders and do not bite people.
Photo Courtesy of UNVAR
2. The Bed bug infests homes and causes anxiety among those unfortunate persons who are subject to
their attack. These are blood suckers with piercing-sucking mouthparts. Public health departments are
quick to insist on eradication procedures of these pests in public buildings.
Photo Courtesy of UNVAR Photo Courtesy of UNVAR
insects that belong to the order hemiptera have four wings . . .
except the bedbug does not have any wings at all.
3. The Assassin bugs are also known as Kissing bugs and
Conenose bugs and their primary hosts are Pack rats. These WESTERN BLOODSuCKING CONENOSE
TRIATOMA PROTRACTA
bugs are attracted to light and will attack human beings. In
certain parts of the world they will transmit Chagas’ disease
(sleeping sickness) from wild animals to man. It is one of the
very feared insects in Mexico, Central and South America.
The genus, Triatoma occurs in the United States, but does not
transmit Chagas’ disease. My first introduction to this bug was
in the 1950s when I was working as Entomologist for the Los Photo Courtesy of UNVAR
Angeles City Health Department. New homes were being built
in the San Fernando Valley along the Mulholland hills. It was a rural area and there were plenty of Pack
rat nests in the scrub growth surrounding these homes. The Triatoma were attracted, at night, to the
bright lights around the swimming pools of these houses and, of course, invaded homes and attacked the
occupants. Assassin bugs can be classified as a public health problem wherever they are found. They
are bloodsuckers equipped with piercing-sucking mouthparts and may be suspected of being disease
vectors wherever they are found.
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HEMIPTERA — or for our purpose, Hemi ptera. “hemi” comes from the Greek word meaning
“half,” as in hemisphere (northern and southern hemispheres divided by the equator). The insects that
belong to this order have four wings. The first pair have a leathery base and a membranous tip — thus
the name hemiptera. When the wings are folded, the membranous tips of the front wings overlap so
as to form a more or less distinct “X” on the back. The second pair of wings are membranous. One
important member of this order, the bedbug, does not have any wings at all. The pest control technician
encounters three representatives of this order.
BOXELDER BuG
1. The Boxelder bug lays its eggs on boxelder trees. The adults
hibernate around buildings and in hollow trees or other sheltered
places. They often appear in immense swarms on sunny winter
days and may invade homes causing terror and disgust. That is
when the service technician gets the call and has the opportunity
to relieve mental stress on the part of their customer. These are
plant feeders and do not bite people.
Photo Courtesy of UNVAR
2. The Bed bug infests homes and causes anxiety among those unfortunate persons who are subject to
their attack. These are blood suckers with piercing-sucking mouthparts. Public health departments are
quick to insist on eradication procedures of these pests in public buildings.
Photo Courtesy of UNVAR Photo Courtesy of UNVAR
insects that belong to the order hemiptera have four wings . . .
except the bedbug does not have any wings at all.
3. The Assassin bugs are also known as Kissing bugs and
Conenose bugs and their primary hosts are Pack rats. These WESTERN BLOODSuCKING CONENOSE
TRIATOMA PROTRACTA
bugs are attracted to light and will attack human beings. In
certain parts of the world they will transmit Chagas’ disease
(sleeping sickness) from wild animals to man. It is one of the
very feared insects in Mexico, Central and South America.
The genus, Triatoma occurs in the United States, but does not
transmit Chagas’ disease. My first introduction to this bug was
in the 1950s when I was working as Entomologist for the Los Photo Courtesy of UNVAR
Angeles City Health Department. New homes were being built
in the San Fernando Valley along the Mulholland hills. It was a rural area and there were plenty of Pack
rat nests in the scrub growth surrounding these homes. The Triatoma were attracted, at night, to the
bright lights around the swimming pools of these houses and, of course, invaded homes and attacked the
occupants. Assassin bugs can be classified as a public health problem wherever they are found. They
are bloodsuckers equipped with piercing-sucking mouthparts and may be suspected of being disease
vectors wherever they are found.
18