720 



INSECTS ABROAD. 



like an oar-blade, and are edged on the inside with 

 thick red down. 



coating of 



In many of the Hemiptera the two sexes can easily be distin- 

 guished by the hind legs, the thighs of which are large in the 

 male and small in the female. This is the case with Molchina 

 compressicornis, which is a native of Para. 



The general colour of this insect is velvet-black, with a 

 number of metallic emerald-green scales. If examined by the 



. 4ol. — Molchina cuiiipn 

 (Black, witli emeraM spots.) 



aid of a magnifying glass, these scales are seen to be gathered 

 tliickly round certain centres. This is most conspicuous on the 

 wings. Their ground colour is brown, powdered with golden 

 scales, and upon each is a velvet-black spot surrounded with 

 several rows of the most brilliant emerald scales. 



The ends of the wings are bronze, and below it is purple- 

 brown, changing to pinkish on the sides. The antennse are 

 black, except the first half of the flattened portion, which is 

 yellow. 



Flatteninc; in unexpected places is one of the principal 

 characteristics of the Remiptera, in which the legs, the antennae. 



