204 AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY. 



wing-covers have a distinct clavus, with a well-marked claval suture ; 

 the clavus is furnished with one, and the corium with three longi- 

 tudinal veins which are much stronger than the network of veins 

 between them. In long-winged specimens the tip of the membrane 

 lacks the network of veins and appears like the membrane in other 

 families. As yet but a single American species has been described. 

 The Ash-gray Leaf-bug, Picsina cincrea. — This measures about 

 3 mm. (0.12 in.) in length, and is of an ash-gray color. The prothorax 

 is deeply pitted, so that it presents the same appearance as the base 

 of the wing-covers. The head is deeply bifid at tip, and there is a 

 short robust spine between the eye and antenna of each side. This 

 species sometimes infests vineyards to an injurious extent, destroy- 

 ing the flower-buds in early spring. 



Family XXVII.— ACANTHIID^.* 



The Acanthiidae comprises two closely allied groups, which have 

 been considered as distinct families, but are now ranked as sub- 

 families. These are the AcantJiilnce and the Anthocorince. As these 

 have been separated in the table of families, I will at once proceed to 

 the discussion of them. 



Sub-Family. I.— Acanthiin^E. 



(Bed-bugs?) 



The AcanthilncB is represented in this country by a single species, 

 the Bed-bug, Acdnthia lectuldria. This species is a well-known pest 

 over the greater part of the world. It is reddish-brown in color, and 

 measures in length when full grown from 4 to 5 mm. (0.16 to .018 in.). 

 It presents the following characters, which are those of the sub-family 

 Acanthiinae: The body is ovate in outline and is very flat (Fig. 

 173). It is wingless or with very short and rudimen- 

 tary wing-covers. The labrum is triangular. There 

 are no ocelli. The rostrum consists of three seg- 

 ments ; the antennae, of four ; and the tarsi, of 

 three. 

 FlG /- 173-— f ^."- The bed-bug is a nocturnal insect, hiding by day 



thia lectularia. fc> . 



in the cracks of furniture and beneath various 

 objects. Ordinarily it is found only in the dwellings of man. 

 But it has been known to infest chicken-coops and pigeon- 



* Acanthiidae, Acanthia : ac&ntha (aKav&a), a thorn. 



