200 HEM.IPTERA. 



ORDER HEMIPTERA. 



Haustellate insects ; wings four, membranous, naked ; the 

 fore wings (in the Heteroptera) of a parchment-like consistency 

 (except sometimes at the tips), or (in the Hoinoptera) similar to 

 the hind wings ; metamorphoses incomplete ; and in one group 

 (Aphides) exhibiting alternation of generations. 



The two great groups into which the Hemiptera are divided 

 are not unfrequently regarded as Orders. 



Hemiptera Heteroptera. 



Fore wings horny ; hind wings, and usually the tips of the 

 fore wings, membranous ; antennae generally long, four- or five- 

 jointed ; head generally free. 



The Hemiptera Heteroptera include the true Bugs, an extensive 

 group of very varied structure and habits. The greater part of 

 the terrestrial species feed on plants ; a few, however, are carni- 

 vorous, feeding on other insects, or sucking the blood of manmials 

 and birds, and most of the aquatic species are lil<ewise carnivorous. 

 Several systems of classification have been proposed for this 

 section by various authors ; but they diff"er little, except as regards 

 the names of the principal families ; and our limits will not permit 

 us to notice the numerous sub-families into which the larger groups 

 have been divided. 



Family I. — Scutelleridce. 



Beak prominent ; antennae not longer than the body, generally 

 five-jointed ; ocelU present ; body oval ; mesothorax larger than 

 the prothorax and metathorax together ; scutellum large or very 

 large, in some cases covering the whole of the wings and abdo- 

 men ; elytra coriaceous, with more or less of the extremity mem- 

 branous ; tarsi short. 



