THE MARSH TREADERS 



(Family Hydrometridce.) 



Fig. 173. — Hydrometra lineata. 

 (After Comstock.J 



These are very slender aquatic bugs with a greatly prolonged 

 head. We have only one species, Limnobates lineata Say, 

 which crawls around on soft mud or on water, preferring stag- 

 nant pools. 



Life History of a Marsh Treader 



(Hydrometra lineata.) 



This rather common form is frequently to be found among 

 the aquatic vegetation at the borders of ponds and slow streams. 

 Its life history has been studied and admirably portrayed in the 

 Canadian Entomologist for March, 1900, by Mr. J. O. Martin, of 

 Cornell University. The elongated body of the insect is borne 

 on hair-like legs and resembles a bit of twig or grass. There 

 are several generations during the summer, and the insect 

 hibernates as an adult under the rubbish along the banks and 

 lays its eggs early in May. The eggs are laid singly and are 



282 



