COLLECTING AND PRESERVING INSECTS BANKS. 



13 



and triangular in shape. Many of the species can cause considerable 

 pain by puncturing the skin with their sharp-pointed beak. They 

 also have the power of emitting when disturbed a nauseous odor, 

 which comes from drops of fluid secreted from two pores on the 

 under side of the thorax. Most of the species ivvd on plants, but 



Fig. 18.— The bed-bug, Cimex 

 lectularius. 



Fig. 10.— A Coreid bug, Leptoglossus 

 oppositus. 



several families are predaceous. Quite a number of Heteroptera live 

 in moist places. The chinch bug and squash bug are well-known 

 members of this group, which includes also the notorious bed- 

 bug (fig. 18) of many aliases. The latter creature is never winged, 

 and also does not occur under the bark of trees in the woods. 



Many species deposit their eggs in clusters 

 on the food plant; others insert the eggs in 

 the plant tissue. Most have but one genera- 

 tion a year, passing the winter in the adult 

 condition under loose bark or among fallen 

 leaves. 



There are many families, the most promi- 

 nent of which are the following: 



The Pentatomidse (fig. 17), which have five- 

 jointed antenna?, and the body rather broad, 

 with short head, and legs of moderate length. 

 Most are brown or green in color, but some 

 are prettily marked in bright colors. 



The Coreidse (fig. 19), which have rather 

 longer bodies, four-jointed antennae, a four-jointed beak, and legs of 

 moderate length; often some of the legs are enlarged, or have mem- 

 branous expansions. 



The Lygseidse (fig. 20), veiy similar to the Coreidse, but all are 

 much smaller, and with fewer veins in the membrane of the wing. 

 Many of them live on the ground. 



Fig. 20. — The chinch bug, 

 Blissus i.eucopterus, a ! v- 

 6JESD. 



