Bugs, Cicadas, Aphids, and Scale-insects 197 



true running. The water-striders are predaceous, capturing smaller living 

 insects by running or leaping, and, with the prey held securely in the grasp- 



FiG. 269. Fig. 270. 



Fig. 269. — Water-strider, Hygrotrechus sp., adult. (Twice natural size.) 

 Fig. 270. — Water-strider, Hygrotrechus sp., young. (Twice natural size.) 



ing fore legs, piercing and sucking the blood of the unfortunate victim, yet 

 alive. Care should be taken in handling water-striders, as the sharp beak 



Fig. 271. Fig. 272. Fig. 273. 



Fig. 271.— Broad-bodied water-strider, SUphania pida. (After Uhler ; natural 



size.) 

 Fig. 272. — An ocean water-skater, Halobates wiiUersdotffi, from near Galapagos Islands. 



(Three times natural size.) 

 Fig. 273. — A marsh-treader, Limnobates lineata. (One and one-half times natural size.) 



can make a painful puncture. Some of them are winged and some wing- 

 less, and both kinds of individuals may belong to the same species. The 



