1018 SUBORDER II. — CRYPTOCERATA. 



1162 (1347). Saldoida cornuta Osborn, 1901, 182. 



Head, third joint of antennae, pronotum, scutellum, claval sutures, 

 apex of corium and under surface, dark chestnut-brown or black; hind 

 angles of pronotum, corium, except apex and costal area, and clavus 

 reddish-brown; costal area and margin of corium white; membrane 

 dusky, paler at middle; coxa?, basal half of femora and apex of last 

 ventral, whitish-yellow; beak and remainder of legs reddish-brown. Beak 

 reaching hind coxa?. Joints 1, 2 and 4 of antenna? dull yellow, subequal 

 in length; 3 two-fifths longer, and strongly swollen. Scutellum with 

 basal two-thirds finely rugose, remainder smooth. Other characters as 

 under generic heading. Length, 2.5 — 3 mm. 



Dunedin, Fla., March 13; one specimen taken from beneath 

 a chunk on the margin of a pond. Recorded only from Punta 

 Gorda and Bellaire, Fla. At the latter place, only four miles 

 south of Dunedin, Mrs. A. T. Slosson, who collected the types 

 of both species of Saldoida, found both associated with ants, 

 and (1908, 424) has given a most interesting account of her 

 search for them, from which I quote : 



"The little creatures have quaint ways of their own not at all ant- 

 like. Their long, conspicuous antennae are waved from side to side as 

 they run swiftly about. They never, as far as I know, leap except when 

 startled. Finding that the most likely spots were damp, grassy places, 

 especially where the little sun-dew (Drosera) was growing, I frequented 

 such localities. The Saldoidas were apparently often in hiding among 

 the low grass and herbage. To start them out I pulled up the plants 

 by the roots. This would often send out a swiftly running little imp, 

 waving his long antenna? as he went. 



"But to recognize this insect is one thing, to capture it is quite 

 another. I lost many, more, I think, than I secured. I tried varying 

 methods, the most succesful one being the holding my net near the prey 

 and 'shooing' the spry little fellow into it. But this often failed. How- 

 ever, I succeeded in securing some half dozen specimens, full grown and 

 perfect, with a few others which were either injured or immature. 

 Whether the association of Saldoida with ants is accidental I cannot say. 

 I only know that I never found one except in their company. But again 

 I never saw either ant or Saldiid take the slightest notice of one another 

 or seem conscious of each others' presence." 



Suborder II. CRYPTOCERATA Fieber, 1851. 



The Aquatic Heteroptera. 



"A pond's a mirrored world, where strong on weak, 

 Cunning on simple prey." 



It has been well said that : "Insects are essentially creatures 

 of the earth and air," but many species have become adapted to 

 an aquatic life, some spending only their immature stages in 



