460 



THE (H'IDE TO NATURE 



THE UNFOLDING OF THE HICKORY BUDS. 



A Shower of Water Bugs. 



BY R. A. SELL. ALTON, IOWA. 

 (Continued from page 434, February number.) 



Belostoma americanum is the scientific 

 name, but they are popularly known as 

 Giant Water Bugs or Fishkillers : in 

 some localities as "Electric light bugs." 



They are the largest existing bugs — 

 the largest found on this occasion 

 measured three and one-fourth inch- 

 es — and have an oval outline, flat body, 

 and branch head. The front pair of 

 legs are of the raptorial type, being 

 strong, incurved with processes on the 

 inner surface of the tibiae and ter- 

 minated by hoof for seizing and hold- 

 ing their victims. The middle pair of 

 legs is adapted for clinging and swim- 

 ming while the hind pair is modified to 

 form powerful swimming organs. 



The mouth parts include a strong 

 beak composed of four hollow joints 

 through which four strong bristles, a 

 little longer than the tube can be 

 brought together in a point, thus form- 

 ing a powerful piercing organ for stab- 

 bing the prey, from which all the blood 

 is sucked before it is let go. They in- 



ject a poison through this beak which 

 paralyzes the victim. In this way they 

 destroy fish, tadpoles and other insects. 

 Great damage may follow the introduc- 

 tion of these bugs into fish culture es- 

 tablishments. 



As they breed and develop wholly 

 in the water and their metamorphosis 

 is incomplete their life-history is not 

 well known. 



When they leave the water they are 

 seldom able to get back again. The 

 causes which bring large numbers of 

 them out of the water to be attracted 

 to their death around the electric lights 

 are subjects of speculation. 



The Symphony of Life. 

 I know not how it is with you — 



I love the first and last, 

 The whole field of the present view, 



The whole flow of the past. 

 One tittle of the things that are 



Nor you should change nor I — 

 One pebble in our path — one star 



In all our heaven of sky. 

 Our lives and every day and hour, 



One symphony appear; 

 One road, one garden — every flower 



And every bramble dear. 



— Robert Louis Stevenson. 



