I9O AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY. 



ocelli ; the antennae consist of four simple segments, are very short, 

 and well concealed beneath the eyes. The rostrum is three-jointed, 

 and covered at the base by the large, transverse, triangular or rounded 

 labrum, and the wing-covers are furnished with a distinct embo- 

 lium. 



The members of this family are predaceous ; and, according to 

 Uhler, they are fond of reedy and grassy, quiet waters, where they 

 creep about like the Dyticid beetle's, creeping and half-swimming 

 around and between the leaves and sprays of the submerged plants, 

 and suddenly seizing any unlucky Corisa or other insect that happens 

 to be within reach. 



The family is a small one ; as yet, less than fifty species have been 

 described. These are distributed among twelve genera. Of those 

 that occur in the United States, only five species, representing two 

 genera, have been described. But one of these is found in the States 

 on the Atlantic coast. This is Pelocoris femordta. It measures 

 about 9 mm. (0.35 in.) in length, and after death is pale yellow or 

 brownish in color, with black or dark-brown markings. The remaining 

 species are found in the Western States, and belong to the genus 

 Ambry sus. This genus differs from Pelocoris in having the front 

 margin of the prothorax very deeply sinuate. 



Family XVI. — GalguliD/E.* 



The Galgalidce is the concluding member of the series of fami- 

 lies of Heteroptera characterized by short antennas, nearly or quite 

 concealed beneath the head. This family differs from the other 

 families of the series in that the species present a pair of ocelli. In 

 the more typical forms, the body is very broad and short, and the 

 eyes are prominent and projecting. Fig. 161 represents 

 the characteristic form of these insects. 



The Galgulidae differ from the other short-horned bugs 

 in habits. Whilst the members of the preceding families 

 are truly aquatic, these insects pass their lives on the 

 muddy margins of streams, or about the other parts of 

 marshes, where the soil is moist but not continuously 

 submerged. Some of them make holes for themselves, 

 and live for a part of the time beneath the ground. 



This is a small family, containing only about a score of known 



* Galgulidas: galgnlns, the witwall or yeilow thrush. 



