HEMIPTERA. 169 



SO that the beak issues from the under side of the head close 

 to the breast. All the insects included in this division, live on 

 vegetable juices. 



I. BUGS. {Hemlptera keteroptera.) 



The hemipterous insects belonging to this division are vari- 

 ous kinds of bugs, properly so called, such as squash-bugs, 

 bed-bugs, fruit-bugs, water-bugs, water-boatmen, and many 

 others, for which there are no common names in our language. 

 In my Catalogue of the Insects of Massachusetts, the scientific 

 names of ninety-five native species are given ; but, as the mere 

 description of these insects, unaccompanied by any details 

 respecting their economy and habits, would not interest the 

 majority of readers, and as I am not sufficiently prepared to 

 furnish these details at present, I shall confine my remarks to 

 two or three species only. 



The common squash-bug, Corens tristis, so well known for 

 the injurious effects of its punctures on the leaves of squashes, 

 is one of the most remarkable of these insects. It was first 

 described by De Geer, who gave it the specific name of tristis, 

 from its sober color, which Gmelin unwarrantably changed to 

 mcesttts, having, ho^vever, the same meaning. Fabricius called 

 it Coreus rifg-ator, the latter word signifying one who wrinkles, 

 which was probably applied to this insect, because its punc- 

 tures cause the leaves of the squash to become wrinkled. Mr. 

 Say, not being aware that this insect had already been three 

 times named and described, redescribed it under the name of 

 Coreus ordinatus. Of these four names, however, that of 

 tristis, being the first, is the only one which it can retain. 

 Corens, its generical name, was altered by Fabricius fi'om 

 Coris, a word used by the Greeks for some kind of bug 

 About the last of October squash-bugs desert the plants upon 

 which they have lived during the summer, and conceal them- 

 selves in crevices of walls and fences, and other places of 

 security, where they pass the winter in a torpid state. On 

 the return of warm weather, they issue from their winter quar- 

 ters, and when the vines of the squash have put forth a few 

 rough leaves, the bugs meet beneath their shelter, pair, and 

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