578f INSECTS AT HOME. 



brown in some lights and bluish-grey in others. The abdomen 

 of the male has the last two segments marked with a narrow 

 yellow line, and that of the female has the last four segments 

 similarly marked. It is much rarer than the preceding insect. 



The last of the Aurocorisa which will be mentioned in this 

 work is the insect which is represented on Woodcut LXVIII. 

 Fig. 4. Its name is Halticocoris luteicollis, and it belongs to 

 the family of Halticocoridse, or Jumping-Bugs, because they 

 have the capability of leaping, very much like the Halticse, or 

 Tuinip-fleas, which have already been described on jjage 211. 

 The structure of the hind legs, with their greatly developed 

 thighs, is sufficient to show that the insect is gifted with the 

 power of leaping. 



The general colour of this insect is shining black, over 

 which are spread a number of fine yellow hairs, very short, 

 and bent downwards. In this species the elytra are fully 

 developed, but in the only other British species of this genus, 

 Halticocoris pallidicornis, they are undeveloped. The head 

 and antennae are ochreous yellow, and so are the legs except 

 the thighs of the second and third pairs, which are black. 

 The upper part of the thorax is very finely wrinkled in front, 

 and has a very fine and delicate furrow running along its 

 centre. 



The insect is not a scarce one, but requires to be looked 

 after, as it takes up its residence in clover fields, and upon 

 several species of Bed-straw {Galium). The sweep-net will 

 generally bring it within the reach of the entomologist. 



On Plate XVIII. Fig. 4, is shown a figure of an insect called 

 'Pentatoma dissimile. The insects of this genus have the 

 scutellum very large, the tarsi with three joints, and the eyes 

 rather prominent. In some of the family to which this insect 

 belongs, the scutellum is of enormous size, from which the 

 ■family: has derived the name of Scutellaridas. The generic 

 name -Pentatoma signifies 'five-pieces' or joints, and is given 

 to the insects because their antennae have five joints. Like 

 others of the same order, they exhale a very unpleasant odour, 

 and sometimes render uneatable any fruit over whicli tliey 

 crawl. .They are mostly vegetable feeders, but sometimes tak(' 



