HEMIPTERA. 565 



Heterotoma, Latr., has the two basal joints of the antenna: very thick and setose. The type of this curious genus 

 is Caputs spissicornis, Fab. [a common British species]. 



The other Hemiptera of this family have only two or three joints in the sheath of the proboscis ; the labrum is 

 short, and not striated ; the basal and often the second joint of the tarsi are very short; the legs inserted in the 

 middle of the breast ; the ungues apical. Some of these have the proboscis straight, and generally resting in a 

 canal ; the eyes of ordinary size, and the head not narrowed into a neck. The body is generally entirely or partly 

 membranous, and often flattened. They compose the majority of the Fabrician genus Acanthia, from which the 

 following have been separated. 



Syrtis, I'ab. (Maerocephalus, Swed., P/n/mata, Latr.), has the fore-legs very large and claw-like, serving to seize 

 their prey. In Macrocephalus the scutellum is distinct, and covers nearly the whole abdomen. In Phymata 

 (S. crassipes, F.), the [scutellum is minute], and only covers part of the upper side of the abdomen. 



Tingis, Fab., has the body very flat, and the antenna; terminated by a short knob, the third joint being elong- 

 ated ; the majority live upon plants, puncturing the leaves of flowers, ami sometimes producing galls. The leaves 

 of the pear are often gnawed by T. pyri. [These are minute insects, many of which are English, having the body 

 membranous, and covered with small cells ; the thorax is extended behind, over the scutellum.] 



Aradus, Fab., resembles Tingis in the form of the body, but has the antenna; cylindrical, with the second joint 

 as long as the third, or longer. They are found under the bark of trees, in crevices of old wood, &c. [.Small 

 insects, of which several are found in this country. A. depressus, Deltihe, &c] 



Cimex proper, Acanthia, Fab., has the body very flat, but the antenna; terminate in a setaceous joint. Tin' 

 typical species, C.lectulariug, Linn., the Bed-bug, is too well known to need description. It is said not to have existed 

 in England before the great fire in 1G66, and that it was imported in wood from America ; Dioscorides, however, 

 mentioned it. It has also been asserted that this species sometimes gains wings. It also infests young Pigeons, 

 Swallows, &C. ; but that which attacks the latter birds appears to me to form a distinct species. 

 [The Rev. L.Jenyns has recently described it as distinct, C. Hirundinu ; as well as one from Pigeons, 



IJ^^V, C. eolumbarius ; and one found on a Bat, C. Pipistrelli. (Annals of Nat. Hist., June, 1839.)] 

 3*\ Various plans have been proposed for their extirpation, but the best is extreme cleanliness. 



The other Geocoris;e of this subdivision have the proboscis exposed, arched, or sometimes 

 Fie- 96.— Cimeic straight, with the labium prominent and the head suddenly narrowed behind into a neck. The 

 lactnlariu. | a tter form the primitive genus 



Reduvius, Fabricius, — 

 In which the proboscis is short, very acute, and capable of pricking strongly, the pain of which lasts for a long 

 time. The antenna' are very slender at the tips ; many species produce a noise similar to that made by Crioceris 

 and the Capricorn ileetles, which is more quickly repeated. This genus has been thus subdivided. 



Woloptilus, Lep. and Serv., which have only three joints to the antenna?, the last two furnished with very long 

 hairs, arranged in two rows, and verticillated in the last joint. 



Reduvius proper, has the antenna; 4-jointed, and smooth, or but slightly pubescent, and the body is oblong- 

 oval, with the feet of moderate size. R. personatus, Linn., inhabits the interior of houses, where it lives upon 

 flies and other insects, which it approaches stealthily, and then darts itself, immediately killing them by piercing 

 them with its proboscis. In the preparatory states it looks like a Spider, covering itself with particles of dust 

 and dirt. 



Nobis, Latr., in which the thorax is but slightly divided transversely, and Peialocheirus, Pal. Beauv., in which 

 the fore tibia: form a round plate, may be united therewith. 



Zelus, Fab., has the body linear, with the legs very long, slender, and alike, [consisting of a great number of 

 exotic species]. 



Ploiaria, Scop., differs from the last in having the two fore-legs [short] with elongated coxae, formed as in 

 Mantis for seizing the prey. Gerris vagabundus, Fabr. [an insect of small Bize, not uncommon in England]. 



We are now arrived at < nncori-.'e remarkable for the large Size Of the eyes, and the head not formed into a 

 neck, with the head transverse. They live at the sides of water, where they run with great agility, and often take 

 short leaps. 



Leptopus, Latr ,has the proboscis short and arched, and the antenna: setaceous; [small species, several of which 

 are found on the Continent]. 



Acanthia, Latr. [Halda proper, lain-.), has the proboscis long and straight, and the antennae filiform. Sahla 



JitoraliS, Fabr., \e. \e\eral ltnli>li species of small size]. 



Pelogonus, Latr., differs from Acanthia in having the antenna' rery short, and folded beneath the eyes. The 



species arc small, and approach Naucoris, to which they conduct with the following. 



Sometimes the four in ip i legs, tctj long ami slender, are inserted upon the sides of the breast, and wide apart ; 

 the tarsal unguea are rerj small, indistinct, and fixed in a lis sure at the Bide of the tarsi. Th< rve either 



for rowing or ci a the water. The] are peculiar to the genua 



HTDROMKTB v, Fabr.,— 



Which l.atreille divides into three others. 



Hydrometra proper, with setaceous antenna', and the head product d into i muzzle, with the rostrum received 



in a canal on the under side. [//. ttagnorvm, a small, \cr\ slender, and common species, found crawling on the 



surface of water.] 



Qerris, Latr., has filiform antennae, with the sheath of the proboscis 3-jointed, and the second pair Oflegl wide 



