162 



PREDACIOUS AND PARASITIC 



Gymnocerata. 



Pentatomidce. 



The three families containing aphis-eating genera I have 

 italicised, and on the authority of Mr. McLachlan have included 

 the Lygeidse. 



Mr. Saunders, in his exhaustive Monograph of the Heieroptera, 

 gives the following tabular statement of characters and families, 

 which will assist in tracing the position of any species which may 

 be found preying on Aphides : — 



Table of Families. 

 I. — Antennae free, not hidden 

 2. — Abdomen, not clothed beneath with a 



silvery pubescence, species not aquatic. 

 3. — Scutellum, reaching at least to the base 



of the membrane 

 4. — Scutellum not reaching to the base of the 



membrane (except in Aradidae) 

 5. — Mesoplurae and metapleurae, composed of 



one piece only, elytra without a cuneus. 

 6. — Tarsi, 3-jointed. 

 7. — Rostrum, not bent at base, lying in repose 



against the under surface of the head... 

 8. — Antennae inserted above a line drawn from 



the centre of the eye to the apex of the 



face 

 9. — Legs not very long, and slender femora 



not clavate at the apex ... ... Coreida. 



10. — Legs very long and slender, femora 



clavate at the apex ... ... Berytidce. 



Antennae inserted below a line drawn from 



centre of eye to apex of face ... Lygeid(B. 



1 1 



