2:}8 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



I hope this account may be interesting to some of 

 the readers of Science-Gossip who may be led to 

 keep these little creatures, for they are really nice 

 pets, and have the additional merit of being un- 

 common. H. P. M. 



AUROCORISA, OR AIR-BUGS. 



{Heteroptera.) 



TTPON reference to several works on Entomo- 

 ^ logy, although a short description of this 

 order is given,* 1 find no mention of the beautiful 

 and complicated mechanism of the ovipositor saws 

 of one of the species, Stenocephalus agilis. A rough 

 sketch, therefore, of proboscis, lancets, and saws 

 may not be without interest to the readers of 

 Science-Gossip. 



Fig;. 140. Head, lancets, rostrum, and antennae of 

 Stenocephalus agilit, x 120. 



The Heteroptera, or " different wings," include a 

 large number of familiar insects (one not particu- 

 larly interesting), the Bed-bug, Water-fleas, Water- 

 scorpions, and Boatmen. In some species the wings 

 are not developed, but those that are furnished 

 with these appendages have the upper pairs 

 larger than the under, lapping over when the insect 

 is at rest. The basal part of them is hard and 

 leathery, while the remainder is membranous and 

 transparent. As a rule, the body is always flat, 

 and the mouth is furnished with a rostrum 

 and two delicate arrow-headed lancets, which start 



* "Insects at Home," Rev. J. G. Wood. 



from the under surface of the head, but from the 

 front, and not the back. 



The pupa is active, resembling the adult insect in 

 appearance, minus wings. The Heteroptera are 

 divided into two great sections, — the Hydrocorisa, 

 Water-bugs, and Geocorisa, or Laud-bugs. The one 

 under consideration belongs to the latter group, and 

 is named Stenocephalus agilis, the generic name 

 being derived from two Greek words, signifying 

 " short-headed." The colour of this insect is pale 

 brown, with minute red spots on each shoulder ; legs 

 and antennae are yellow, each joint having a black 

 tip : the specific name agilis is given to it on account 

 of its remarkable activity both on foot and wing» 

 and its love of running about in the hottest sun' 

 shine. The chief point consists in the beak, or 

 proboscis: this instrument is either three or four 

 jointed, the latter being the number in the insect]uow- 



Fig, HI. Terminal segment of ahdomen of Stenoce 

 phalus ngilis, showing ovipositor-saws in natural- 

 position, X 120. 



under consideration. In addition to the 

 rostrum, are two arrow-headed and denticu- 

 lated lancets resembling those of the larva 

 of the Cuckoo-spit {Aphrophora sptimaria). 

 The ovipositor- saws are four in number, 

 parallel to each other; their edges are finely 

 serrated, and notched, not unlike those of the 

 Tenthredo, but not so elongated. 

 I am rather surprised the existence of this 

 implement has not been mentioned by authors 

 on Entomology. My description is brief, and, I 

 have no doubt, faulty ; my aim is to stimulate 

 others to further researcii of these interesting 

 organs (ovipositors). 



The multiplicity of things in nature is worthy of 

 our greatest admiration and research. To every 

 man Nature presents a thousand charms ; at every 

 step she delights him with new wonders , she invites 

 him by microscopic and other inquiries to acquaint- 

 ance ; and well is he rewarded who obeys her call. 

 The votary of Nature deems no object, however 

 minute, unworthy of examination, none destitute of 

 interest ; nor does the spirit of philosophic inquiry 



