400 LIFE STORIES OF AUSTRALIAN INSECTS. 



ment of the thorax called the scutellum, and in 

 some cases this so enlarges as to completely cover 

 the wings (Plate 52, Fig. 7.) Such types are called 

 popularly ''shield bugs," and belong to the 

 Pentatomid^e ; some pentatomids have a scutellum 

 which is simply enlarged and not covering the 

 Avings. 



FAMILY PENTATOMIDiE. 



Many are noted for the beautiful metallic colours 

 of the scutellum. The colours are frequently very 

 gay; ex,', bright red, green and blue, with 

 black patches, etc. They are plant-eaters, and may 

 be pests. The common ''green bug" (Cuspicona) 

 (Plate 52, Fig. 9) of the vegetable and flower 

 garden is a pest. It has a large scutellum, but it 

 does not cover the wings; it is about half-way 

 down the abdomen. The sucking mouth of stylets 

 and sheath described before is present. The stylets 

 are very slender and grooved. (Plate 52, Fig. 8.) 



The eggs are laid in clusters on leaves of vege- 

 tables. We found a group of these pearly eggs 

 (Plate 52, Fig. 1) on the under side of a bean leaf, 

 and, on observing them with a lens, saw they were 

 slightly depressed at the top. The eggs are opened 

 by the baby bugs by means of a little triangular 

 framework. (Plate 52, Figs. 3 and 4.) This can 

 be seen in the egg shell by means of a lens. AVhen 

 the baby bug first emerges it is very like a tiny 

 black spider. (Plate 52, Fig. 6.) Fresh leaves 

 v^ere put in each day, and the life history was 



