The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-26
THE eSICK BUG"


Mr. HUI. Maxwell Tells Of a Pest in
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Callfor-
mia, Which may be the Existing
Bug" = Bite Causes Sickness = At
taclCs People. at Might, Principally.
The following letter from Mr.. HUI
Maxwell, whose interesting stories of
his geological explorations in the ST.
err Nevada mountains, delighted the
InteIligencer readers a few years ago,
will be read with interest Mr.. Max
wells articles on. West Virginia, his
poems and historical sketches are IA
mIliar also to the IntellIgencer's con-
stituents. The appended letter may
possibly serve as an explanation Of the
origin of the so-called kissing bug:"
To the Editor OF the Inteillgencer.
sIR:-If the kissing bug" Of which
the papers are saying so much OF late
Is fact and not a fiction, 1t Is proba-
bic that can give information concern
Ing It, or a creature OF similar habits,
which came under my observation in
the far west, do not know how wide
Is the geographical range OF the bug Of
which / speak, but II Is found In a strip
along the mountains In central Califor-
MIA. 1t Is supposed to thrive on kind
Of scrub pine which Is called in that
country digger pine"
The insect Is there called the Sick
bug" because its bite produces sick
ness In the victim. Its habits are 80
similar to those ascribed to the kiss
ing bug that I believe the creatures
are the same. although the description
OF the kissing bug" does not tally ex-
actly with that OF the "sick-bug;" but
the differences are probably no wider
than those which would exist between
varieties of the same species.
The 'slck-bug" flies at night, and Is
never found by day. except in hiding.
It enters the open windows and bites
persons who are asleep; but Its Gus
tom Is not to bite on the lips only, al
though 1t is as apt to bite there us any
where else. 1t frequently bites the
eyellds, and Just below the ear, on the
jugular vein, Is favOrite point Of at
tack It will bite half dozen times
without disturbing the sleeper; and he
does not awaken until swelling and In
fiammatlOn takes place. The pain Is
said to be severe, and the itching intol-
cradle.
was never bitten by them. although
have slept In camps and in the woods
for months in the region infected by
them have known persons, bitten on
the eyellds, to become totally blind for
few hours. The victim frequently
becomes very sick, and often fears that
he Will die. but l never heard OF death
resulting from the bite OF the insect.
There Is a belief among the people OF
the region that the bugs always go In
pairs, and that where one Is found, an
other will be near. Certain It Is that,
after inflictlnR its bite. 1t seldom goes
far, but in the morning may be found
somewhere about the bed.
The description Of the "slck-bug," as
nearly as can remember It, never hav-
ing examined It closely, Is this: It's
bodv Is the size and shape OF water.
melon seed, and to this attached Is q
long, slender thoraX and head. On It's
head Is some sort OF a hooked bill, but
OF its exact shape don't remember
clearly. The under part OF the body Is
as black as ebony, and has polished
appearance. It has two guuZy wings
and no shards, and therefore is not
beetle.
II It were a matter of sufficient i'm
portance, / believe I could obtain a
specimen OF the "slck-bug" within a
month or two In the region where i
Is common its bite is but little dreaded.
and no precautions whatever are taken
against It, It's wound is not considered
more serious that hornet sting.
HU MAXWELL.
PhilIppl, W. Va, July "a, 1893.