74 Hans Möller, 



dorsum of tlie 5^li abdominal segment, which are evidently the highly 

 specialized 7tli abdominal ring. [Nach unseren morphologischen Er- 

 gebnissen bildet das 8. Segment die Atemröhre.] These are each 

 covered at the base by a pilose flap which extends fi'om the seg- 

 ment, and between them lie the genitalia. Near the base and below 

 the outer edge of each of the appendages is a deep-sunk orifice, 

 in which lies the great spiracle from which springs the large tracheal 

 trunk of the main system. Each of the large stem-tracheae goes 

 straight up into the thoracic region, each connecting with the other 

 and with the seven abdominal and three (sec. Schiödte) thoracic 

 stigmata by branches at intervals. The dorsum is covered with 

 short pile, and as it is somewhat hollowed beneath the hemelytra. 

 is apparentlj'' employed as a reservoir for storing air. When the bug 

 is at the surface, the end of the abdomen and the hemelytra 

 separate, the hairy ends of the strap-like appendages being visible 

 just under the edge of the membrane, and the air enters here." 



Es sei auch die Beobachtung de la Torre Bueno's über die larvale 

 Atmung wiedergegeben (p. 192): „The nymphal respiratory apparatus 

 is quite ditferent. In place of the sericeous band, the entire abdomen 

 is thickly covered with long pile; and it appears bright and silvery 

 in the water, and rounded out from the great quantity of air it 

 carries. The connexival spiracles, of which there is one at each 

 segment, are not large, and connect by tracheae with the main 

 respiratory system. There is a pair of very spiracles in the cleft 

 sixth abdominal segment, [„cleft" bezieht sich nur auf Belostoma 

 fluminea] one on each side from which the main tracheae rise". Und 

 zur Vervollständigung der Schilderung der larvalen Atmung seien 

 nochmals die Angaben über den Zweck der großen Subcoxalplatten 

 wiedergegeben: „The metasternal episterna are produced into long, 

 narrow plates, fringed with long hairs, extending over the first, 

 second and half the third abdominal segments. According to 

 Dr. Sharp, Joanny Martin is of the opinion, that these plates are 

 for respiratory purposes. It is possible, that they may be used for 

 the storage of air, or perhaps as a means of reducing the quantity 

 held by the pile, by exercising pressure to force it out. It is certain, 

 however, that they have some connection with the respiratory 

 system. The functions of the pile were long since recognized by 



BURMEISTER." 



Zunächst geht aus den auf direkter Beobachtung beruhenden 

 Angaben von Leprieue und de la Torre Büeno mit Sicherheit 



