THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 137 



PRACTICAL AND POPULAR ENTOMOLOGY.— No. 4. 



Notes on Collecting, Preserving and Rearing Aquatic Hemiptera. 

 bv j. r. de la torre bueno, new york. 



I suppose that in due course I shall acquire much ^.y and honour and 

 not a little fame for harping in season and out of season to the tune of 

 " Waterbugs." But I shall feel that my labours have not been in vain if 

 by so doing I can induce others to launch themselves on the study of these 

 forms, which are in many respects the most interesting and easily observed 

 and collected of the Heteroptera. In these families much remains to be 

 done. The classification is still more or less imperfect ; new species are 

 almost certain to be found and old and forgotten ones rediscovered ; and 

 the life-histories of all still remain to be worked out in detail. 



The Waterbugs may roughly be divided into two sections : The 



Cry])tocerata, in which the antenn?e are nearly or quite concealed, which 



includes the families Corixid;e, Notonectidne, Nepidfc, Belostomidte, 

 Naucorid^e and Gelastocoridse, all of which, except the last, are swimmers 

 and live in the water ; and the Gymnocerata, which includes the Water- 

 striders of the families Hydrometrid?e, GerridiB and Veliidre, to which may 

 be added the Acanthiida^ ( = Saldidjie), all of which, except the last, walk 

 or row themselves on the surface of the water. 



Of course, the necessary apparatus for collecting consists of one or 

 two suitable water-nets, cyanide bottles of several sizes, tight tin boxes for 

 living specimens, and perhaps a pair of rubber boots for wading when 

 necessary. The net I use is made of coarse Brussels net, so I am told, 

 which is very strong and stands a good deal of rough usage, in addition to 

 being very manageable when in the water. The size may vary to suit the 

 individual preferences of the user. One about eight inches in diameter is 

 very convenient, as it can be pushed into little nooks and crannies. The 

 ring should be of rather heavy soft steel wire. Of course, any other 

 approved net will do, but it must be strong enough not to come to pieces 

 when it strikes a submerged branch or point of rock. The stick should be 

 quite long — about five feet — to give a good reach. The cyanide bottles 

 should be of several sizes ; small ones for the delicate Velias, Hydromelra 

 and the Acanthias ; medium size for the Notonectas, larger Corixas,»-and 

 Nepas ; and quite large for the Belostomas, Ranatras and larger Water- 

 striders. On no account should any aquatic bugs be killed in alcohol, as 



April, lyo^. 



