REDUVIID^ 145 



there are several little shore-living species, of no economic 

 importance, however. 



Predaceous Bugs. — The Assassin Bugs (ReduviidcB).— 

 The assassin bugs are rather large-sized insects with slender 

 bodies and legs. The beak is rather strong and short and 



Fig. 97. — Water stridor {Limnogonus hcsione). (Drawn by Jos. D. Smith.) 



is fitted for puncturing insects. The species generally are 

 predaceous, feeding very largely on destructive insects. 

 Several species, however, puncture warm-blooded animals 

 and suck their blood. The most familiar one of this kind 

 is the " kissing-bug" or blood-sucking cone-nose. This 

 is a strictly Southern species and is rarely found north of 

 10 



