14 



BULLETIN 61, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Fig. 21.— One of the Capsidje, Lygus pratensis. 



The Reduviida? (fig. 144), which have four-jointed antenna?, a 

 three-jointed beak, and simple eyes, or ocelli. The body is rather 

 slender. All members of this family are predaceous. 



The Capsidse (fig. 21), with four-jointed antennas and beak, with- 

 out ocelli, and with only two cells in the membrane of the wing, are 



small, delicate, rather slender 

 insects most of which feed on 

 plants. 



The Tingitida?, or lace bugs 

 (fig. 22), feed on the under 

 surface of leaves of various 

 trees. 



The Cryptocerata, with the 

 antennae almost invisible, in- 

 cludes a number of aquatic 

 bugs (figs. 145, 146) of very 

 diverse structure and habits. Some are the largest species of the 

 order, such as the Belostoma or "electric light bug." 



The arrangement of these families is still a subject of much dis- 

 cussion, but is usually in two groups : Hydrocorisa (water bugs) and 

 Aurocorisa (land bugs) ; Gymnocerata (visible antenna?) and Crypto- 

 cerata (hidden antenna?) ; or Trochalopoda and Pagiopoda, according 

 to the nature of the coxal joint. 



The Homoptera differ from the Heteroptera in having the fore- 

 wings of 'even texture throughout, and the tips do not lap over one 

 another when at rest. Moreover, the beak in the Homoptera appears 

 to arise from the posterior end of the head beneath, and the antenna? 

 are very short, with a fine terminal bristle. The 

 Homoptera are mostly small insects, and all feed 

 on vegetation. Nearly all of them are expert 

 jumpers, although they do not have any enlarged 

 legs. They are commonly known as leafhoppers 

 (Jassida?) , treehoppers (Membracida?) , f roghoppers 

 (Cercopida?) , etc. 



The Jassida? (fig. 23) are small and slender in- 

 sects, abundant in meadows, and sucking the 

 juices from plants. Many of them are green or 

 brown in color, but some are striped or spotted 

 with red or pale. The Membracida? (fig. 24) have 

 the prothorax enlarged to cover most of the body, 

 elongate triangular from above, and with folded wings and legs 

 drawn up they have little resemblance to an ordinary insect. The 

 Cercopida? are usually diamond-shaped insects; the young often live 

 in a mass of froth or spittle, which they produce as they suck the 

 juices from the plants. 



Fig. 22.— A TlNGITED BUG, 



Gargaphia angulata. 



Usually they are 



