1906 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 75 



part membranous. Its eyes protrude and resemble shining black beads. 

 It bas a stout proboscis for piercing its prey, which consists of fishes, tad- 

 poles, etc. Its long stout front legs terminated with sharp claws enable H 



to grasp its victims hrnily. 



Another remarkable water-bug is Notonecta undulata, vSay, belonging 

 to the Notonectidcc. This insect is boat-shaped, but the keel is along its 

 back; so it swims with its back downwards — its long legs bending over its 

 sides, and serving as oars. In its movements it reminds one of a boy swim- 

 ming on his back. 



A still more noteworthy insect is Ranatra quadridentata (Fig. 20), be- 

 longing to the Nepidcv. Length is the characteristic of this insect. It has 

 a long slim body, long thin legs, long antennae, and long terminal respiratory 

 tubes; its front legs are constructed for grasping its prey. It frequents 

 shallow streams, walhing on the bottom, and lifting the tips of its breath- 

 ing tubes to the surface for air. 



But, if it is wonderful to see a winged insect walking at the bottom of 

 the water, it seems all but miraculous to behold one walking with ease and 

 swiftness on the top. Yet this is the habit of Hygrotrcchvs remigis. Say, 

 and also of Limnoportis rwfoscutellatus, Fab., both of which are common 

 with us. The former is black; the latter, pale reddish brown. Both belong 

 to the Hydrohatid(T. 



Of bugs that frequent plants, the Negro Bup- (Fiq^. 22), Corimehrna atra. 

 Am. et Serv., in the CorimeJoenidoe, is particularly obnoxious. It lays its 

 eggs on small fruits, raspberries, etc. Should a person, by mischance, put 

 a berry that has been visited by the bug into his mouth, a most nauseatinc: 

 taste and smell will quickly cause him to eject it. The bug is a pretty, com- 

 pact little insect, of a shining black, and almost as broad as it is long. It 

 is often seen on wild strawberry plants; and, when disturbed, it sciittles 

 away to the underside of a leaf. 



An insect of economic importance is found in the Peiitatomidn\ I 

 refer to Stiretrus fimhriata, Say. It preys upon the Potato Beetle, Dory- 

 phora decem-lineata. Say. Unfortunately, it shares the fate of the beetle 

 and is poisoned by Paris Green. S. jimhriata is really a handsome insect. 

 Its dark brown wings and deep red thorax outlined with crome-yellow ; and 

 it has a peculiar mark, in the middle of the back, of the same colour, and, 

 in shape, resembling an elongated horse-shoe. 



Another useful bug is Podisus placidxis, TThler (Fig. 23), belonging to 

 the same family as the foregoing. It preys upon the Imported Currant- 

 worm, Nematiis ventricosus, Klug., and other larvse. A description of this 

 bug will be found on page 342 of Saunders' "Insects Injurious to Fruits." 



In the same genus comes Podisus cynicus, 'Say, a fine bui? seven-twelfths 

 of an inch long, and four-twelfths wide. It is of a reddish-brown coloiir, 

 slightly mottled with black. 



A very pretty little bug in this family is CosmopepJa carvifex. Fab. It 

 is black, bordered with red, and crossed on the thorax with red. It has also 

 two red spots on the back. 



Another fine insect in the same family is Euschistus fissilis, Uhl. It 

 is half an inch long and one-third of an inch wide. In colour it is ochreous 

 or pale brown, and it is thicklv covered with minute black dots. 



A somewhat smaller insect is Euschistus tristigma, Say. Its body colour 

 is darker than the preceding; and the flattened edges of the abdomen are 

 marked with alternate black and orange patches. The wings of this si'C ies 

 are splendidly iridescent. 



