THE INSECTS OF NEW JERSEY. 167 



Family NERTHRID^E. 



The Galgulidae of the previous edition. They are broad, squat, with 

 prominent eyes, often called "toad-bugs," because of a fancied resemblance 

 to that animal. They are predatory, live in marshes and along the muddy 

 banks of streams and, while not rare, are of no economic importance. 



GELASTOCORIS Kirk. (CALCULUS Auct.) 



G. oculatus Fab. Recorded from all parts of New Jersey, but all ex- 

 amined specimens are of an undescribed form (Bno). . 



G. n. sp. Bno. Staten Island VII (Ds) ; Lakehurst IX, 15 (Eng) ; Tren- 

 ton VIII, 12, Anglesea V, 30 (Coll), and probably also the Caldwell, 

 Riverton and Westville records of last edition. 



Family NAUCORID.E. 



Resemble the Nerthridae in outline, but without the projecting eyes. 

 They are predatory, the fore-legs are developed for grasping, and they 

 live in water, crawling about among the plants. We have only a single 

 species. 



PELOCORIS Stal. 



P. femoratus Pal. Beauv. Cranford VIII, 27 (Bno) ; Staten Island III, V, 

 VIII, X, Jamesburg IX (Ds) ; Trenton VI, X, Delair IX, 1 (Coll); 

 Riverton V, VIII (Jn) ; Camden IV, 17 (Ss). 



Family BELOSTOMATID^. 



This family contains the "giant water bugs," oval, flattened creatures, 

 with keel-like bodies beneath, short powerful beak, large fore-legs fitted 

 for grasping, and long broad hind-legs fitted for swimming. At the anal 

 extremity is a pair of short protrusible, strap-like appendages used for 

 respiration. 



They are predatory, feeding on all sorts of aquatic insects, tadpoles, 

 and even fish, some of the species becoming two inches or more in 

 length. At the mating season they fly from pond to pond at night, and 

 at this time they are often attracted to electric lights in great numbers. 

 This has given them the common name "electric light bugs," and their 

 uncouth shape and sprawly motions make them objects of terror. As a 

 matter of fact, they are quite harmless when carefully handled; but they 

 are very strong, and in their struggles to get away will make use of their 

 powerful legs. When they get a good chance they use their beak as 

 well, and their puncture is extremely painful for a short time. It does 

 not, however, produce any swelling or other ill effect. 



