258 



PREDACIOUS AND PARASITIC 



Among the Cimicidce, one sub-family, the Anthocorid(B, is pro- 

 bably the best-known of the Aphis-eating Hemiptera. 



The Cimicidcz comprise four sub-families, and probably a car 

 nivorous habit prevails throughout the group to a greater or less 

 degree. The following characters, given by Saunders, will enable 

 the student to determine to which division any detected aphis- 

 eater may belong : — 



I. — Rostrum 3-jointed, tarsi 3-jointed. 



2. — Ocelli absent ... 



3. — Ocelli present. 



4.— Antennae very long and thin, clothed vvith long 



hairs, third and fourth joints together twice as 



long as first and second 

 5. — Antennae not very thin, not clothed with long 



hairs, and third and fourth joints not nearly 



twice as long as the first and second 

 6.— Rostrum 4-jointed, tarsi 2-jointed 



Cimicina. 



Ceratocombhia. 



AntJiocorina. 

 Microphysi?ia. 



The sub-family, Anthocorina, includes eleven genera found in 

 Britain : — 



I. — Third and fourth joints of antennae very fine 



and thin, clothed with long, erect hairs. 

 2. — Anterior femora, hardly thicker than the 



intermediate pair .. ... ... Lydocoris. 



3.— Anterior femora incrassated, much thicker 



than the intermediate pair ... ... Piezostethus. 



4. — Third and fourth joints of the antennae, 



scarcely or not thinner than the preceding, 



hairs, not long and erect. 

 5. — Cell of the vving, with a hook-like nerve. 

 6. — Pronotum, with a distinct apical collar. 

 7. — Apex of the metasternum between the coxae, 



widely truncate. 

 8.— Rostrum, reaching to the intermediate coxae.. Temnostethus. 

 9. — Rostrum, not reaching beyond the centre of 



the mesothorax •• ... ... Elatophilus. 



10. — Apex of metasternum, rounded and narrower. 



