2 1 6 Bugs, Cicadas, Aphids, and Scale-insects 



(family Cydnidac) have an oval rounded or cllii)lical Ijlackish body with the 

 front legs more or less flattened and fitted for digging. They are found 

 burrowing in sandy jilaces or under sticks or stones. They probably suck 

 the sap from plant-roots. 



SUBORDER PARASITA. 



The members of the suborder Parasita are the disgusting and discom- 

 forting degenerate wingless Hcmiptera known as lice. They live parasitic- 

 ally on the bodies of various mammals, the ones most familiar being the 

 three species found on man, all belonging to the genus Pediculus, and the 

 several species of the genus Htematopinus found on domestic animals, as 

 dogs, horses, cattle, sheep, etc. Both these genera together with a few 

 others found on various wild animals, belong to the Pediculida'. the single 

 family of the suborder represented in this country. The only other family, 

 Polycterridffi, contains but two species, both found on bats, one in Jamaica 

 and the other in China. 



All the Pediculids are wholly wingless, have the mouth-parts fused to 

 form a flexible sucking-tube, and the feet provided with a single strong curved 

 claw which specially adapts them for clasping and clinging to hairs. The 



Fig. 299. 



Fig. 299. — The head-louse of man, Pediculus capilus. (After Lugger; natural size 



indicated by line.) 

 Fig. ,^00. — The body-louse of man, Pediculus vestimcnii. (.'\fter Lugger; natural size 



indicated by line.) 



sucking-beak has been described by Uhler as "a fleshy unjointed rostrum 

 capable of great extension by being rolled inside out, this action serving 

 to bring forward a chaplet of barbs which imbed themselves in the skin to 



