Relief from the pain may be obtained by the use of dilute ammonia, or a menthol ointment. In the not uncommon case of secondary infection the usual treatment for that should be adopted. [Illustration: 21. (_a_) Reduvius personatus, nymph. Photograph by M. V. S.] The REDUVIIDÆ, or _assassin-bugs_ are capable of inflicting very painful wounds, as most collectors of Hemiptera know to their sorrow. Some species are frequently to be found in houses and outhouses and Dr. Howard suggests that many of the stories of painful spider bites relate to the attack of these forms. [Illustration: 21. (_b_) Reduvius personatus, adult (×2) Photograph by M. V. S.] An interesting psychological study was afforded in the summer of 1899, by the "kissing-bug" scare which swept over the country. It was reported in the daily papers that a new and deadly bug had made its appearance, which had the unpleasant habit of choosing the lips or cheeks for its point of attack on man. So widespread were the stories regarding this supposedly new insect that station entomologists all over the country began to receive suspected specimens for identification. At Cornell there were received, among others, specimens of stone-flies, may-flies and even small moths, with inquiries as to whether they were "kissing-bugs." [Illustration: 22. Rasahus biguttatus. (×2). After Howard.] Dr. L. O. Howard has shown that the scare had its origin in newspaper reports of some instances of bites by either _Melanolestes picipes_ (fig. 19a) or _Opsicoetes personatus_ (fig. 20), in the vicinity of Washington, D. C. He then discusses in considerable detail the more prominent of the Reduviidæ which, with greater or less frequency pierce the skin of human beings. These are _Opsicoetes personatus_, _Melanolestes picipes_, _Coriscus subcoleoptratus_ (fig. 19_g_), _Rasahus thoracicus_, _Rasahus biguttatus_ (fig. 22), _Conorhinus sanguisugus_ (fig. 71), and _Melanolestes abdominalis_ (fig. 23). [Illustration: 23. Melanolestes abdominalis (×2). After Marlatt.] One of the most interesting of these species is _Reduvius personatus_, (= _Opsicœtus personatus_), which is popularly known as the "masked bed-bug hunter." It owes this name to the fact that the immature nymphs (fig. 21) have their bodies and legs completely covered by dust and lint, and that they are supposed to prey upon bed-bugs. LeConte is quoted by Howard as stating that "This species is remarkable for the intense pain caused by its bite. I do not know whether it ever willingly plunges its rostrum into any person, but when caught, or unskilfully handled it always stings. In this case the pain is almost equal to the bite of a snake, and the swelling and irritation which result from it will sometimes last for a week."