The Bug Family* 



159 



of the least observant. This is the possession of stink-glands, which have, no doubt, 

 considerable importance in protecting the bugs from susceptible enemies. During 

 the immaturity of the Insect the glands are situated on the back, near the^middle 

 of the hind-body — the position where they would be most effective as offensive 

 weapons ; but when the wings are developed this part is covered by them, so the 

 stink-glands are removed to the lower surface. In the majority of species the 

 odour of the excretion from these is very offensive to the human sense of smell, 

 but there are cases in which it is not unpleasant to us, though it may be presumed 

 that it is objectionable to some possible enemies. A Tasmanian species, which 

 dances in thc> air like a midge, gives off the odour of musk, and one found on our 

 own heaths is redolent of jargonelle pears ! 



As a rule the head is small, though in the lantern-flies it is enormously developed. 

 The fore-body is usually broad, and in many species one of its three divisions is 

 curiously enlarged. In the membracids (described in a separate article) it is the first 

 division ^ that takes on the large and grotesque shapes that entirely mask the true 

 form of the body. The second division '^ sometimes becomes a huge shield extending 

 over the third division and the hind-bodv, and entirely hiding the wings. In some 

 cases this gives the bug the appearance of being a beetle. There are many species 

 in which close inspection is needed to satisfy one that the Insect is really a bug and 

 not a beetle, an ant, or a fly. Some, again, approach very closely to the form of 

 the stick-Insects. Among these mav be mentioned our native ranatra, whilst the 

 smaller water-bugs known 

 as water-measurers ^ look 

 like stick-Insects that have 

 newly emerged from the 

 egg. All the members of 

 one genus'* resemble the 

 seeds of umbelliferous 

 plants. There are two that 

 resemble gnats, not only in 

 the general shape and the 

 wings being longer than the 

 body, but the legs are very 

 long and slender, and held 

 in the positions common to 

 gnats' legs. Another -"^ is 

 like a small long-horned 

 grasshopper, 

 are verv ant- 



Iwo others 

 like, and a 

 tliird'' is so in its early 

 stages, but here the re- 

 semblance is larg(>l\' ilue to 

 a pale mark on each side 



where the hind- and fore- 

 bodies join. These pale 



1 Prothorax. - Mesothorax ^Hydrometra 



Photo by] [H. S. Cheavin, F.i?..1/.S. 



Young Bed-Bug. 



.\ small example of this disgusting parasite is here shown magnified twelve times. It 

 shows the structure of the body. The piercing beak is extended in front of the head. 



■" Orlhostira. ^ Berytiis clavipcs. " Nabis lativentris. 



