CONENOSE, or KISSING Bun. A bug of the predatory family Beduviithe; specifically Cono rhians sunguisuga, called 'giant bedbug' in the southern United States, where it is a pest in houses. It is three-quarters of an inch long, black with red patches, or spots, on the sides of the thorax, at the base and apex of the wing-covers, and bands on the sides of the abdomen. The young much resemble large bedbugs (to which they are allied), and all ages are fierce biters and blood-suckers, preying upon insects and flying into houses at night and attacking sleeping per sons and animals. The kissing bug seems to breed in the nests of mice, and is prevalent from the central Mississippi Valley to the tropics. The name 'assassin bugs' has been given to the whole family by Comstock, because of their cannibalism and rapacity; and to certain species, especially Mclanolestes picipes and Redurius personates, which were especially abundant in the Eastern States during the summer of 1895, was due the 'kissing-bug' excitement, busily fostered by the newspapers. Of the two 'kissing bugs' abovb men
tioned, the latter, according to Howard. is a cos mopolitan form which, in the Northern States, is found in basements and cellars of dirty houses, and preys upon bedbugs and cockroaches. When immature it covers itself with dust and presents a very odd appearance. The 'thread-legged' bugs of the family Emesithe, which rob spiders of their prey, are near relatives.
CONEPATE, .1;6'116-p5t, (Nahuatl ncpatla, subterranean dwelling). The name in Mexico of the large white-backed skunk (Oonevatus mapn rito), called in South America `mapurito: See SKUNK.