184 



ELEMENTARY STUDIES IN INSECT LIFE 



FIG. 149. Box-elder-bug (Lepto- 

 coris trivittatus). Enlarged. 



The Heteroptera Among the Heteroptera are the 



chinch-bug, the squash-bug, the box-elder-bug, and the 

 assassin-bug, living on land; and the giant water-bug, 

 the water-strider, and the back-swimmer, living in the 



water. Those land forms 

 which have been mentioned, 

 with the exception of the 

 assassin-bugs, live upon the 

 juices of plants. The assas- 

 sin-bugs lie in wait and seize 

 upon other insects, pierce 

 their prey, and draw there- 

 from the lifeblood. Those 

 living in water are all pre- 

 daceous. 



Giant Water-Bug. 1 When 

 electric lights came into general use for street illumi- 

 nation, there frequently appeared around them an unus- 

 ually large insect. Great numbers of such insects were 

 wont to congregate around the lights, and they soon 

 became known as " electric-light bugs." This insect in 



reality is one of the 

 aquatic forms of this 

 order. It is predaceous. 

 It darts out from some 

 cranny nook in brook or 

 pond to catch small fish, 

 tadpole, or other aquatic 

 insect. Having secured its prey, this giant water-bug 

 drives in its beak and leisurely regales itself with the 



'Family, Belostomidce. 



FIG. 150. An assassin-bug (Melanolestes 

 pioipes), showing strong beak and large 

 fore legs fitted for grasping. 



