THE HEMIPTERA. 



365 



and its allies), small winged insects which live chiefly in flow- 

 ers, present a modification which is transitional to the Hemip- 

 teran mouth (Gerstfeldt, I. c). There is a proboscis directed 

 backward and formed by the union of the labrum with the 

 labium, which last is provided with palps, though they are 

 sometimes very small. The maxillae are palpigerous, and are 

 united at their bases with the labium. The mandibles are 

 styliform setae inclosed in the proboscis. 



In the Hemiptera, 1 all of which suck the blood of animals 

 or the juices of plants (Bugs, Plant-lice, Cicadce)^ wings 

 may be present or absent, and the eyes are usually compound. 

 The visible abdominal somites may be reduced to six. The 

 gnathites are modified to form a piercing and suctorial appa- 

 ratus, which is similar, in many respects, to that of the Pedi- 

 culina. There is a usually sharp and pointed labrum, while 

 the mandibles and maxillae are mere tubercles, surmounted 

 by long chitinous pointed styles, of which, therefore, there are 

 four. The labium is usually represented by a median, jointed, 

 fleshy, elongated body, the anterior face of which presents a 

 longitudinal groove in which the mandibles and maxillae are 

 inclosed. Neither the maxillae nor the labium are provided 

 with palps. 



Thus, in the series of ametabolous insects there are some 

 with masticatory, others with suctorial, mouths. It is by no 



Fig. 105.— Hydrophilus piceus.— A. Larva. B. Pupa. C. Imago. (" Eegne Animal.") 



means clear that the gnathites of the suctorial mouth of the 

 Hemiptera are to be regarded as modifications of masticatory 



1 The Mallophaga and the Pediculina are united with the Hemiptera by 

 some authors. 



