CHAPTER XIV. 

 Order HEMIPTERA (He-mip'te-ra). 



Bugs, Lice, Aphids, and others. 



The winged members of this order have four wings ; in one 

 sub-order the first pair of wings are thickened at the base, with 

 thinner extremities which overlap on the back ; in another 

 sub-order the first pair of wings are of the same thickness 

 throughout, and usually slope at the sides of the body. The 

 mouth-parts are formed for sucking. The metamorphosis is 

 incomplete. 



The order Hemiptera includes many well-known pests: 

 here belong the true bugs, the lice, the aphids, the scale 

 insects, and many other forms injurious to plants. On the 

 other hand, some of the species are ranked among beneficial 

 insects on account of their predaceous habits ; while still 

 others, as the cochineal and lac insects, furnish us with 

 useful products. 



The name Hemiptera is from two Greek words : Jicini, 

 half; and pteron, a wing. It was suggested by the form of 

 the first pair of wings in the true bugs. Here the basal half 

 of these organs is thickened somewhat like the wing-covers 

 of beetles, only the terminal half being wing-like. The 

 second pair of wings are membranous, and when at rest are 

 folded beneath the first pair. 



The mouth-parts are formed for piercing and sucking. 

 Without dissection, they usually appear as a slender jointed 

 beak, arising at the base of a shorter, pointed upper lip. 

 This beak consists of four bristles, enclosed in a flesh}-, 



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