442 ARTICULATES : INSECTS. 



upon the surface of standing or running waters, upon 

 which they move backwards or forwards with the great- 

 est facility. The Genus Gerris is the most active. It 

 is long and narrow, and wherry-shaped. 



COREID^E, Leach, OR SQUASH-BUG FAMILY. This Fam- 

 ily comprises bugs which have the body oblong oval. The 

 Genus Coreus contains the common Squash-Bug, C. tristis, 

 Fig. 33 8. DeGeer, which is six tenths of an inch long, 



rusty black above, dingy ochre-yellow be- 

 neath. It passes the winter in crevices 

 and holes, in a torpid state ; and when 

 the vines of the squash put forth a few 

 rough leaves, it collects beneath them, and 

 soon begins to lay eggs, which it fastens in 



Squash-Bug, c. J 



tristis, DeGeer. clusters to the under side. 



The Genus Lygceus contains the Chinch-Bug, or White- 

 winged Lygaeus, L. leucopterus, Say, three twentieths of 

 an inch long, the wing-covers white, and each with a cen- 

 tral line and a marginal oval spot of black. 



THRIPSID.E, Westwood. This Family contains very 

 minute insects with the body long and depressed, and 

 eyes large. They are very agile, leaping when disturbed, 

 and they attack leaves, melons, cucumbers, and beans, 

 causing them to be covered with decayed patches. 



CIMICID,E, Westwood, OR CIMEX FAMILY. This Fam- 

 ily comprises bugs which have the body very flat, and 

 their antennae terminating abruptly in the form ot a seta. 

 The Genus Cimex contains the Bed-Bug, C. lectularius, 

 Linn., a representative of this family too well known to 

 need description. It is found in all countries and is not 

 confined to houses, though there unfortunately we oftenest 

 find it. It is also found in the pine forests of both hemi- 

 spheres ; but from what country it originally came is 

 unknown. Bed-Bugs flourish in a warm temperature, 

 but are not killed by freezing, and they have been kept 

 alive six years without food. 



