| bedbugs | Bugs of the family cimicidae, genus cimex. They are flattened, oval, reddish insects which inhabit houses, wallpaper, furniture, and beds. C. Lectularius, of temperate regions, is the common bedbug that attacks man and is frequently a serious pest in houses, hotels, barracks, and other living quarters. It also attacks animals other than man. C. Rotundatus (hemipterus) of the tropics, also bites man. Other species of this family attack bats and various birds. Although bedbugs attack man when he is sleeping only to obtain a meal of blood, man himself does not transport the infestation from place to place: furnishings removed for cleaning are likely to result in infestation. Experiments have shown that bedbugs can transmit a variety of diseases, but they are not normal vectors under natural conditions. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|