HEMIPTERA. 9 1 



The land bugs consist of a great number of kinds, which, for the 

 most part, are of Httle interest. We will only mention here the 

 Peiiiatomidce, commonly known as Wood Bugs ; the Lygcei, Bugs, 

 properly so called ; the Rediivii^ and the Hydronieira,. 



The PentatomidcB^ which comprise many -genera, include the wood 

 bugs of most authors. They are to be found on plants and trees. 

 They fly quickly, but only for a short time. 



The Ornamented Pentatoma {Strachia \Pmtatomd\ ornata), known 

 _as the Red Cabbage Bug, is very commonly found on the cabbage, 

 and on most of the cruciferous plants. It is variegated with red and 

 black, and its colours are subject to numerous variations. The Grey 

 Pentatoma (Rapkigaster griseus), Fig. 69, is common throughout the 

 whole of Europe. In autumn these bugs are fre- 

 quently to be found on raspberries, to which they 

 impart their disagreeable smell. They are also to 

 be found in quantities on the mullein, when that 

 plant is in flower. The upper parts of the head 

 are of a greyish brown, and are sometimes slightly 

 purple. The coriaceous part of the hemelytra is 

 of a purple tint, but the membranous part is brown. 

 All these parts are covered with black spots, which Fig. 69. 



are only to be seen with a magnifying-glass. The {RaJhJglst^rTr'S^'"^)- 

 wings are blackish. The under part of the whole 

 body and the feet are of a light and rather yellowish grey, with a 

 . considerable number of small black spots. The abdomen is black 

 above ; and it is bordered with alternate black and v/hite spots. 



We have repeated here the description given of this bug by the 

 illustrious Swedish naturalist, De Geer, because our young readers 

 have most likely met with this insect, or will do so some day when 

 gathering raspberries. 



The Grey Pentatoma, marked with black, yellow, and red, is to 

 be found throughout the whole of Europe in cultivated fields and 

 gardens, sometimes also on the trunks of large trees, especially 

 elms. This species, in common with the greater part of those 

 which compose the group we are describing, emits a smell when 

 irritated or menaced by some danger. At other times no odour will 

 be noticed. Let us hear what M. Le'on Dufour says on this subject. 



'' Seize the Pentatoma with a pair of pincers and plunge it into 

 a glass of clear water; look through a magnifying-glass, and you 

 will see innumerable small globules arising from its body, which, 

 bursting on the surface of the water, exhale that odour which is so 

 disagreeable. This vapour, which is essentially acrid, if it happens 



