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10. 

 NOTONECTA MACULATA. 



Spotted Boatfly. 



Order Hemiptera. Fam. Notonectidae. 



Type of the Genus, Notonecta glauca Linn. 

 NoTONECTA Linn., Geoff"., Fab., Lat., Curt. 8^c. 



Antennae concealed in a cavity behind the eyes, minute, 4-jointed ; 



basal joint very small globose 5 2nd large somewhat cylindric 3 3rd as 



long as the 2nd, but much more slender j 4th very small, conical (4). 



Lahrum exserted, large, triangular, convex j narrowed towards the 



apex (3). 



Mandibles and Maxillce passing through the rostrum like setae, acute, 



the latter the shortest. 



Labium as long as the head, inflected, arcuated, conical, 4-jointed, 



basal joint conical truncated, 2nd subovate-truncate, with a tuft of 



hair on each side beneath, 3rd twice as long, 4th small and bifid at 



the apex (2). 

 Head vertical, transverse and rounded. Eyes large oblong, converging above, 

 posterior margin sinuated (1). Thorax somewhat hexagonal, cylindric, 

 narrowed before, the anterior margin sinuated. Scutellum large trian- 

 gular, metathorax snbquadrate. Abdomen oval, thick, flat beneath, ter- 

 minated on each side by a small ciliated appendage. Elytra notched at 

 the apex. Wings ample and transparent, with several nervures. Feet, 

 4 anterior with strong claws. Tarsi biarticulate, 1st joint the longest, 

 hind pair elongate, strongly ciliated, with very minute claws (6). 

 Larvae and Pupae somewhat resembling the Imago, but less perfect, Roesel, 

 v. 3. tab. 27. 



Maculata Fab. Ent. Syst. v. 4. p. 58. n. 3. — Curt. Guide, Gen. 10/6. 3. 

 In the Cabinets of Mr. Dale, the Author, Sj-c. 



These insects are to be found in ponds and ditches all the year, 

 together with the larvae and pupae (which are smaller than the 

 imago) ; the former are without, and the latter have only rudiments 

 of elytra : they are said to feed upon animalcula. The perfect in- 

 sect being capable of inflicting a considerable wound with its ros- 

 trum when taken, must be a formidable enemy amongst the weaker 

 inhabitants of the water. 



The wings, which are exquisitely delicate, and the elytra that 

 protect them, are of little use to the insect in its natural element ; 

 but they are necessary to its preservation, by enabling it to seek a 

 more congenial situation, when the place of its habitation is dried 

 up by the heat of the sun, or other casualties. Upon approaching 

 a pond these insects may be seen lying upon their backs, with their 

 tails touching the surface of the water, and their heads inclined 



