136 THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



the surface until lured there by the warm weather of spring, 

 They then lay their eggs, gluing them fast to water-plants. 



There are members of this family that live on the sur- 

 face of the ocean, hundreds of miles from land. 



Family LIMNOBATID.E (Lim-no-bat'i-dae). 

 The MarsJi-treaders. 



Only a single species of this family, the Marsh-treader, 

 Limnobates lincata (Lim-nob'a-tes lin-e-a'ta), is found in the 

 United States. This is represented greatly 

 enlarged by Figure 158. Although not an 

 uncommon species, it is rarely seen on ac- 

 count of its small size and quiet habits. It 

 can be recognized by its linear form and 

 the great length of its head, which is longer 

 T than the thorax. It crawls about on the 

 surface of the water or mud, or climbs upon 

 1 water-plants and sticks projecting from the 

 water ; it seems to prefer stagnant ponds 

 or marshes. We do not know upon what 

 it feeds. 



FIG. 158. Limnobates 



Family EMESID^E (E-mes'i-dae). 



The Thread-legged Bugs. 



This family includes a small number of insects in which 

 the body is very slender and the middle and hind legs are 

 thread-like ; but the fore 

 legs are fitted for grasping, 

 resembling much those of 

 the Mantes. Our most 

 common species is the 

 Long-legged Emesa, Emc- 

 sa longipcs (Em'e-sa lon'- 

 gi-pes), which is repre- 

 sented by Figure 1 59. This FIG. 159.^ 

 is found upon trees, or sometimes swinging by its long legs 

 from the roofs of sheds or barns. It is predaceous. 



