146 



THE .STUDY OF INSECTS. 



half as long as the abdomen ; and with the front legs more 

 or less flattened, fitted for digging (Fig. 179). 



The species are generally black or very dark 

 brown. They are found burrowing in sandy places, 

 or on the surface of the ground beneath sticks and 



FIG. 179. 



Cyrtome- stones, or at the roots of grass and other herbage. 



nits tin- => t> 



The family is not a large one. The members of it 

 probably feed upon plants ; but it is desirable that further 

 observation be made upon the habits of this family. 



Family CORIMEL^ENID^E (Cor-i-me-laen'i-dse). 

 The Negro-bugs. 



These bugs are mostly black, and are beetle-like in 

 appearance ; some have a bluish or greenish tinge, and all 

 are very convex. The scutellum is very convex, and, as in 

 the following family, covers nearly the whole of the abdo- 

 men. But in this family there is at the base of 

 the scutellum on each side a short furrow into 

 which the edge of the wing-cover fits when at 

 rest. All of our species belong to the genus 

 Corimelcsna (Cor-i-me-lae'na). 



These insects infest various plants, and often 

 injure raspberries and other fruit by imparting a disagreeable 

 odor to them. Fig. 180 represents one of these bugs, some- 

 what enlarged. 



Family SCUTELLERID.E (Scu-tel-ler'i-dae). 

 The Shield-backed Hugs. 



The members of this family resemble the 

 negro-bugs in the shape and size of the 

 scutellum, which covers nearly the whole of 

 the abdomen ; but the sides of the scutellum 

 are not furnished with a groove for receiving 

 the edge of the wing-covers. Fig. 181 repre- FlG . l&I .- 

 sents one of these insects enlarged. They 

 feed upon plants. 



FIG. 180. r<-/- 

 m el IF mi atra. 



tcr alternaius. 



