OUTLINES OF ENTOMOLOGY. 101 



bugs are termed nymphce, and after the third molt the rudiments of the 

 wings begin to show, there being two stages corresponding to the pupa) 

 of the higher Orders. These nymphiB are often quite differently col- 

 ored from the mature insects. 



A convenient division of the Heteroptera is into three sections : 

 Terrestrial bugs, Amphibious bugs and Aquatic bugs. 



The Terrestrial bugs may be again divided into Plant-eaters and 

 Cannibals. 



Plant-eating bugs have a more slender beak than those that prey 

 on other insects, or draw the blood of larger animals, but are otherwise 

 not very different from them. The most important Families are : CoR- 

 EiD^, Lyg^id^, Capstd^ and Corim^lid^. Inclusive popular 

 names are difficult to suggest for these groups. 



The first of these families is best represented by the well-known 

 Squash-bug {Anasa tristis, DeGeer). (See bug on plate.) This is a me- 

 dium-sized, oblong, dingy-brown insect, paler beneath, with the head 

 marked on top with two dull black stripes. The antennae are about 

 half the length of the body and rather stout; the feet are three-joinied. 

 The young are dull green or yellowish, much broader in proportion 

 than the perfect insect. This is one of the most universal and serious 

 pests of melon, cucumber and squash vines. Some very large and 

 striking species belonging in this family occur in the Southern states. • 



The Lyg^id^e is a large group of rather small bugs which are 

 gaily or contrastingly colored, among which we find the pernicious 

 Chinch-bug {Blissus leucopterus, Say). Few farmers, especially in the 

 Western States, have escaped a costly acquaintance with this insect, 

 which is one of the chief enemies of cereal crops, particularly of wheat 

 and Indian corn. The perfect bug is of obloDg form, about one-eighth 

 inch in length and of clear black and white color. The yellow eggs are 

 laid in the spring upon the roots or base of the stalk of wheat or other 

 grain, and from these hatch myriads of pale-red young, which by their 

 punctures soon dwarf and deaden the plant. Although the perfect in- 

 sects have ample wings, they seldom rise into the air, and mostly per- 

 form their emigrations from field to field on foot. The false Chinch-bug 

 {Nysius destructor^ Riley) is rather smaller than its namesake, and less 

 strikingly marked, being of a shaded grayish brown color. It is very 

 injurious in certain sections of the country to grape-vines, potatoes, 

 radishes and a number of other plants. 



As the most familiar example of the family Capsid.e, the Tarnished 

 Plant- bag (Lygus Imeolaris, Beaur.) may be instanced. This species is 

 one-fourth inch in length, of flat, oblong form, with four-jointed anten- 

 nfe, the joints being long. It varies in color from yellowish gray to 



