HEMIPTERA. 151 



D. fidviceps, sometimes greatly injures fields of grain in the South. 

 The most common species in New York is D. novcboracciisis. 



The genus Proconia includes species in which the head is more 

 blunt than in the preceding genus, and is wider across the eyes 

 than the thorax. P. unddta (Fig. 149) is a common species. '"Its- 

 body, head, fore part of thorax, scutellum, and legs 

 are bright yellow, with circular lines of black on the 

 head, thorax, and scutellum. The underside of the 

 abdomen is banded, and the breast and legs speckled 

 with black. The wing-covers are bluish purple, when 

 fresh, coated with whitish powder." (Uhler.) It FlG . J 49-— Proc °- 



1 v ' ma undata. 



measures 12 mm. (0.47 inch) to the tip of the wing- 

 covers. It is said to lay its eggs in single rows in grape canes ; and 

 to puncture with its beak the stems of the bunches of grapes, caus- 

 ing the stems to wither and the bunches to drop off. 



Sub-Order III.— HETEROPTERA.* 



The Heteroptera includes those members of the order Hcmip- 

 tera to which the general name Bug is most frequently applied. 

 These insects are characterized, as already indicated, by having the 

 first pair of wings thickened at the base, and with thinner extremi- 

 ties, which overlap on the back ; and by the position of the rostrum, 

 which arises from the front part of the head. The head is furnished 

 with a more or less distinct neck, so that the cheeks and the first 

 pair of coxse do not touch each other. 



In this sub-order we find variations in structure which corre- 

 spond closely with variations in habits. There are certain families 

 the members of which are truly aquatic, living within the water, 

 through which they swim, and to the surface of which they come 

 occasionally for air. There are others which are truly terrestrial, 

 living upon the surface of plants, or in other positions away from 

 waterr There are still other families the members of which hold an 

 intermediate position between the aquatic and the terrestrial forms, 

 living upon the surface of water, or in marshy places. 



In a systematic arrangement of the Heteroptera the aquatic 

 forms are placed first or lowest ; the terrestrial forms, highest ; 

 and the semiaquatic forms hold an intermediate position. 



* Heteroptera : heterosis tepui), diverse ; pteron (itrepov), awing. 



