West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1899-08-17
TIE .SICK RUG. :"

Mr.. Hu. Maxwell Tells OF n Pest In
Sierra Nevada Mountains. CAL
ifOrnla Which may be the kissing
Bug - Bite Causes Sickness-At.
tacks People at Night, Principally.
The following letter from Mr. HUI.
Maxwell, whose interesting stories Of
his geological explorations In the ST.
ezra Nevada mountains. delighted the
INTEL gencer readers few years ago.
will be read with interest Mr. Max.
wells articles on West Virginia, his
poems and historical sketches are rs.
millar also 10 the Intelligence con.
s,ituents. The appended letter may
possibly serve "a, an explanation OF the
origin OF the so.calloi kissing bug:
To tho Editor Of the Iutel igoncer
SIR III the kissing Jug OF which
,he papers are saying - much OF late
II fact and not fiction, IL is prob
tuic that ctn give Information con
,erning it,, or "a creature of similar
nhbIts, which came under nay observa-
tion in the far vest 90 not know
how vide is the geographical rauye OF
the Oug OF when ! spedG, but IL is
found in a strip along the mountains
in central California. IL is supposed
TO thrive Oh a kiud uf scrub pine which
Is called in thdt country Digger piue "
The insect Is there called the "sick-
bug because its bite produces sick.
ness iu the victim. Its habits are 30
similar to those ascribed TO the kiss.
ing OuS that believe the ctcatures
arc the same, although the desert ption
OF the kissing bug does not tai v ex.
actlY with that OF the sick bug;"
but the differences ate probably no
wider than those which would exist
between varieties of the same ,p.cies
The sick bug flies at night, and in
never found by day, except in hiding.
IL enters the open windows aud bites
persons who are asleep; but its custom
IS not 20 bite on the lips only, although
~ 10 as apt To bite there as any where
else. II frequently bites the eyclids
and just below the ear, on the jugular
Yrn. IS a favorite point of attack. 1t
wul bite half dozen times without dis
turbing the sleeper; and he does not
awaken until swelling and inflammation
takes place. The pain is said TO be
severe, and the itching intolcrab ole
was never bitten by them. although
! nave slept in camps and in the woods
Tor months in the region infected bv
them. ] have known persons. bitten
On the eyelIds, 10 become totally blind
for few years The victim frequently
becomes very sick, and often fears that
he Will die but / never heard OF
death resulting from the bite Of the
insect
There is belief among the people Of
the region that the bugs ALWAYS 20 in
pairs, and that where one is found. an
other VIII be near Certain IL is that.
after inhicting its bite. e. seldom goes
FAR, but iu che morning may be found
somewhere about tho bed
The description Of the sick bug" as
nearlY az ] can remember IL, never
having examined ~ closely, is this:
] Is body 10 the size and shape OF
watermelon seed and 20 this attached
is long, slender thorax and head.
On its head Is some sort OF "A hooked
Oiil but 81 its exact shape + don't re.
member clearly The under part Of
the body rs as black as ebony. and has
a polished appearance. II has two
gauzy wings and no shards, aud there.
fore rs not beetle.
II II were a matter Of sufficient inn
port1nce, I believe ! could obtain a
specimen Of the "sick-buv" within n
month or two. In the region where IL
rs common ITS bite is but little dreaded
and no precautions whatever are taken
against it. It's wound is not consid-
cred more ferrous than hornet sting
HU MAXWELL.
Philippi, w Va, July a. 300.