24 HETEROPTERA OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 



organ against humans and probably other animals. This is 

 especially true of the larger predaceous species belonging to 

 the families Reduviidae and Naurocoridae. When picked up 

 and handled without care they can and often do pierce the 

 fingers, inflicting a deep wound which is more painful and last- 

 ing than that of the sting of a bald hornet. The beak of these 

 larger forms is also often used to kill and hold their prey. 



The Heteroptera apparently have few natural enemies among 

 the higher forms of life. Birds as a rule avoid them on ac- 

 count of their offensive odor, but spiders appear to pay little 

 attention to this, as I have taken several rare species from 

 their maws or webs. Like the Orthoptera they are attacked 

 by several kinds of mites, the most common of which is a red 

 species of Trombidinm. I have found it attached to a number 

 of species of bugs, even to that most slender-bodied form, 

 Hydrometra martini Kirk. They are also, during long spells of 

 warm moist weather, often attacked by vegetable fungi. 



The Collecting and Preservation of Heteroptera.-' 



As will be noted in the pages which follow, each species of 

 Heteroptera has its favorite local habitat or chosen haunt, the 

 place where it finds the struggle for existence least fierce, food 

 most abundant, protection or concealment from its enemies 

 most easy. Here the collector will find that species most 

 abundant and for the beginner a few directions for its capture 

 and preservation will perhaps be useful. 



Insect Nets. — The most efficient device for taking the 

 majority of forms of Heteroptera is a strong sweep net. The 

 frame of the folding steel landing net made for fishermen and 

 sold in most sporting-goods houses serves admirably for the 

 frame of a sweep net. When unfolded it should have a 

 diameter of about 16 inches ; and the handle should be prefer- 

 ably of one piece and not over 30 inches long. The bag should 

 be made of heavy unbleached muslin and should be 20 to 24 

 inches in depth. Such a net can be easily used with one hand 

 both in sweeping from side to side herbs and small shrubs as 

 one walks leisurely along, or it can be used more forcibly in 

 quick upward sweeps against the branches of larger shrubs and 

 trees, thus jarring the insects into the net, where they can be 

 captured with fingers or forceps, or by placing the mouth of 

 the killing bottle quickly over them. This net also serves well 



'For more detailed directions on this subject see Torre Hueno (1925). 



