Order RHYNCHOTA. 



Suborder HETEROPTERA. 

 Family LYG^ID^. 



This family is of considerable extent, and is of importance to 

 agriculturists on account of the depredations committed by many 

 of its members. It includes many well-known insect-pests, but 

 the injuries caused by the species of Lygteidae to cultivated and 

 indigenous plants are not yet sufficiently understood, and we are 

 likely to hear much more on this subject when the national 

 importance of economic entomology is more generally recognized. 

 The insects are mostly of small size, and (excluding the subfamily 

 Lygjeiuje) are of dull and inconspicuous coloration, while the 

 character of micropterism, or abbreviation of the hemelytra, is 

 found in not a few genera. With some exceptions the species 

 are mainly terrestrial, and found under stones, dead leaves, and 

 other rubbish, in moss and in herbage, where they may be 

 captured by sweeping. 



The family has also been known under the name of " Inferi- 

 cornia " {Infericornes, Amyot), but is now almost universally 

 termed Lygseidse. 



Anteunje inserted below a line drawn from the centre of the 

 eye to the apex of the face ; ocelli present ; corium without an 

 appendix ; membrane generally with four, but not with more 

 than five veins. 



In the Catalogue of Lethierry and Severin thirteen subfamilies 

 are enumerated, but nine only can be recoguized amongst Indian 

 Ehyuchota. 



Syno2}sis of Subfamilies. 



A. Abdominal segments nearly equally long. 



a. All the abdomifial stigmata situate on the con- 

 nexivum. 

 a. Hemelytra not, or very slightly, punctux'ed. . Lygceince. 

 h. Hemelytra distinctly punctured Cymince. 



VOL. IT. B 



