560 INSECTS AT H0:ME. 



ever, possess no wings, and the pupse only have them in an 

 undeveloped state. Mr. "Westwood mentions that he possesses 

 some larvge and pupae, which also differ from the perfect insect 

 in b^iug without ocelli, and having only two joints in the 

 tarsus. 



On Plate XVIII. Fig. 5, is shown another example of this 

 family. This insect is called Stenocephalus agilis. 



The colour of the insect is pale brown, with a tiny red spot 

 on each shoulder. The legs and antennae are yellow, except 

 that each joint has a black tip. The generic name is formed 

 from two G-reek words, signifying ' short-headed,' and itd 

 specific name of agilis is given to it because it is remarkably 

 active, both on foot and on the wing, and is fond of running 

 about in the hottest sunshine. 



The curious insect which is represented on Woodcut LXIV. 

 Fig. 4, is one of a group which contains many brilliantly- 

 coloured insects. 



The present species is called Pyrrhocoris apterus, and it? 

 colours are black and scarlet. The ground colour of tlie 

 insect is scarlet and shining. On the top of the convex thorax 

 is a broad black spot, square, with slightly rounded angles, and 

 the abdomen is black also. On account of the preponderance 

 of scarlet, the generic name of Pyrrhocoris, or Scarlet Bug, has 

 been given to it. 



The life history of this insect is a remarkable one. Some- 

 times, as in the illustration, it has fully-developed wing-covers,' 

 but generally the elytra are small and undeveloped, without, 

 possessing the usual membranous portion at the tip, whence 

 the name of apterus, or wingless. Such creatures as these 

 are termed ' imperfect perfect insects.' They were at one time 

 thought to be pupae, but it is now ascertained that they are 

 really perfect with the exception of the full development ol 

 the flying apparatus. In some of the Heteroptera, such as in^ 

 well-known Water Gnats, the imperfect perfect insects are a.^ 

 destitute of wings as they were when in the larval condition. 



This is not a common species, though it has appeared in va,-* 

 quantities in certain localities. Some years ago, the insect 

 appeared in great profusion at Torquay, on some little islands; 



