CARNIVOROUS INSECTS 



123 



a tubular sheath, enclosing four piercing, and it may be barbed, 

 lancets, representing the mandibles and first maxillae. Each of the 

 former is doubly grooved on its inner side, so that, when opposed 

 to its fellow, two channels are formed, along one of which the juices 

 of the food are conducted to the mouth, while the other serves for 

 the transmission of saliva. A gap left in the front of the tubular 

 sheath is filled up by the pointed labrum. 



LAND-BUGS. Most of the terrestrial Hemiptera are vegetarian 

 in habit, but to this there are some notable exceptions. For ex- 



Fig. 395. Larva of Reduvius personatus. Actual size shown by line. 



ample, a large British species, for which there is no common name, 

 but which is known scientifically as Reduvius personatus (fig. 395), 

 preys upon other insects, including, it is said, the objectionable 

 bed-bug. The front legs are adapted 

 for seizing prey a peculiarity of which 

 examples have been given among other 

 insects and the predaceous larva of 

 this insect is remarkable for its disre- 

 putable appearance, being covered with 

 dust and rubbish in a remarkable way, 

 an arrangement which probably shields 

 it from observation. The evil-smelling 

 Bed- Bug (Acanthia lectularia), of which 

 the less said the better, is a wingless 

 species. 



WATER-BUGS. The habits of some 

 of the aquatic bugs (fig. 396) are very 

 interesting. Among them, the Pond - Skaters, slender insects 

 which, so to speak, skate on the surface of the water, at once 

 attract attention. The Needle -Bug (Limnobates stagnorum) 



Fig. 396. A Pond-Skater (Gerri 

 paludum), enlarged 



