The San Francisco call., 1899-07-15
KELLOGG TALKS
ON KISSING BUGS
Their Pedigree Given by
the Professor.
ONE APPEARS AT PAL0 ALTO
CHILD BITTEN ON THE LIP
WHILE ASLEEP.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

STANFORD UNIVERSITY, July IA.
The advent of the kissing bug" has
aroused considerable interest among
the scientifically inclined at the univer-
sity, and now that a well-authenti-
Gated case has been discovered in Palo
Alto the bugologlsts will keep a sharp
lookout for some specimens.
A few days ago the little daughter of
e. j. Couch, the proprietor of the Uni
versity Laundry in Palo Alto, was
stung while asleep by some insect.
When her parents returned 1t was
found that her upper lip was consider
ably swollen, with a slight cleft where
the sting had entered. The doctor who
attended to the case pronounced 1t as
undoubtedly the work of the kissing
bug" with which he was familiar. The
swelling was reduced, and now the
child is well. No other cases have been
reported, so 1t is believed that Palo
Alto will not prove a profitable sum-
mer resort for the insect.
Professor Vernon l.. Kellogg. head
Of the department of entomology at
Stanford, who stands high in the coun-
sells of the bugologists. has the follow
ing to say in regard to the insect:
The particular species which has been
Christened by the newspapers the kiss
ing bug" is the Meanolestes pcipes, a
member of the family OF Reduviidae. or
assassin bug family as II is known to
entomologists. This name assassin bug
seems now quite as appropriate as the
deeds ascribed TO the animal. All the
members Of this family have strong,
piercing beaks IL does not have sting
like a bee, but instead this beak, which
Ii thrusts into persons or other insects
and sucks their blood. Most Of them live
on other insects. but there are some par
pie. One especially interesting member
of the family is known as the giant bed
bug killer because it makes speciality
All these insects belong to the larger
order Of Hemiptera, or sucking bugs,
some of which suck plants, others animal
mense damage to the grain crops In the
Mississippi Valley, belongs TO this order.
1t sticks it's beak into the tender portions
of the plant, sucking its sap and appar-
emily poisoning 1t. The Reduviidae are
simply one family of this order;
/ would say particularly in this connec-
tion that a lot Of the injury, damage and
danger from these insects come from the
fear Of the person bitten. Some persons
are, of course, more susceptible than 9TH
ers, but fear. plays a large part. Col
lectors are frequently stung, for IL the
insects get a chance they stick their beak
into the hand, but being without particu-
orally no moro severe than those OF a
bee.
One specimen Of the kissing bug has
been sent to the department of ento-
mology by a southern physician. The
letter accompanying 1t explained that
the insect had attacked a bald headed
man on the top Of the Uranium, and
the case at the time of writing was
very serious.
The mention of chinch bugs in the
interview suggested another item of In
terest and Professor Kellogg said
further:
Some specimens of insects were sent me
from near the San Joaquin Valley, under
the supposition that they were the dread
| ed pest of the Mississippi the chinch bug
The chinch bug is rarely found here, and
is not as destructive as further east. The
bugs received. however, look much like
the chinch bug and have much the same
habits. but are not nearly so destructive
nor are they found in such large num-
bers. They known as the false
chinch bug to the entomologists. They
had appeared In such numbers that the
| farmers had become frightened and had
sent some specimens to me for informa
| ton l was glad to tell them that the
| bugs were not the genuine article, an6
| that they had but little TO fear.