158 INSECTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



I. BUGS. {Hemiptera heteroptera.) 



The hemipterous insects belonging to this division are various 

 kinds of bugs, properly so called, such as squash-bugs, bed-bugs, 

 fruit-bugs, water-bugs, water-boatmen, and many others, for which 

 there are no common names in our language. In my Catalogue 

 of the Insects of Massachusetts, the scientific names of ninety-five 

 native species are given ; but, as the mere description of these 

 insects, unaccompanied by any details respecting their economy 

 and habits, would not interest the majority of readers, and as I 

 am not sufficiently prepared to furnish these details at present, I 

 shall confine my remarks to two or three species only. 



The common squash-bug, Coreus tristis, so well known for the 

 injurious effects of its punctures on the leaves of squashes, is one 

 of the most remarkable of these insects. It was first described by 

 De Geer, who gave it the specific name of tristis, from its sober 

 color, which Gmelin unwarrantably changed to mcestus, having, 

 however, the same meaning. Fabricius called it Coreus ragator, 

 the latter word signifying one who wrinkles, which was probably 

 applied to this insect, because its punctures cause the leaves of 

 the squash to become wrinkled. Mr. Say, not being aware that 

 this insect had already been three times named and described, re- 

 described it under the name of Coreus ordinatus. Of these four 

 names, however, that of tristis, being the first, is the only one 

 which it can retain. Coreus, its generical name, was altered by 

 Fabricius from Coris, a word used by the Greeks for some kind 

 of bug. About the last of October squash-bugs desert the plants 

 upon which they have lived during the summer, and conceal them- 

 selves in crevices of walls and fences, and other places of security, 

 where they pass the winter in a torpid state. On the return of 

 warm weather, they issue from their winter quarters, and when 

 the vines of the squash have put forth a few rough leaves, the 

 bugs meet beneath their shelter, pair, and immediately afterwards 

 begin to lay their eggs. This usually happens about the last of 

 June or beginning of July, at which time, by carefully examining 

 the vines, we shall (iml the insects on the ground or on the stems 

 of the vines, close to the ground, from which they are hardly to 

 be distinguished on account of their dusky color. This is the 



