Giant Water-Bugs. 



25 



The largest known of 

 these aquatic Insects we 

 may call the giant water- 

 bug, ^ a native of Brazil, 

 Guiana, and Trinidad, 

 where it spends the day 

 in muddy pools and 

 sluggish waters, and in 

 the evening exercises its 

 wings in the air. Its 

 rather flat, yellow-brown 

 back has led some people 

 to suppose it is an extra- 

 large cockroach, and the 

 writer received a large 

 specimen from Trinidad 

 which his correspondent 

 spoke of as the electric 

 cockroach, the prefix 

 having reference to its 

 being attracted by electric 



Photo ftvl 



The Saiba Ant. 



[H. Baslin. 



.\ worker of this leaf-cutting ant, enlarged to five times its natural size. The powerful 

 jaws, though here closed, may be seen plainly ; and by comparison with the photograph 

 of the male below, the head will be seen to be more highly developed to provide the 

 muscular power for the leaf-cutting, which is accomplished by the workers alone. 



lamps. In the water it 



lurks among the weeds and on the muddy bottom, which is well matched by 

 its colouring, and seizes fishes, frogs, and other aquatic animals, mantis fashion. 

 The two principal joints of 

 the fore-legs fold down on 

 one another, and the 

 stouter of these two 

 (thigh) has a groove along 

 its front to receive the 

 sharp inner edge of the 

 next joint, much as the 

 blade of a pocket-knife 

 folds down in the handle 

 when not in use. All the 

 legs are barred with zebra- 

 like markings. There are no 

 antennae visible, but they 

 are present, though tucked 

 singly away in special slits 

 for the purpose. It is 

 probable that these may 

 be used only when the 

 creature is in the air. 



Phoio b\^ 



The Saiba Ant. 



[H. Baslin. 



The ant tliat gathers leaves and minces them to make leaf-moukl, wherewith to fill its 

 fungus chambers and grow mushrooms for food. This winged form is a male, and is 

 shown on a scale of about one and a-half times the actual size of the Insect. 



1 Bclostoma erandis. 



