HEMIPTERA I CICADARLE. 435 



SUB-SECTION V. 



THE SUB-ORDER OF HEMIPTERA, OR BUGS, CICADAS, ETC. 



THIS Sub -Order embraces insects which have the 

 mouth-parts in the form of a slender horny beak, con- 

 sisting of a horny sheath, containing three stiff and in- 

 tensely sharp bristles. When not in use, this beak is 

 bent under the body, and lies upon the breast. 



The Hemiptera .comprise two great groups, the true 

 Hemiptera, which are designated as Hemiptera hetero- 

 ptera, and include all insects properly called Bugs ; and 

 Hemiptera homoptera, which contain all insects properly 

 called Harvest-flies, Plant-lice, and Bark-lice. 



The Hemiptera heteroptera, or Bugs, have the wing- 

 covers thick in their basal portion, thin towards their 

 tips, and lying flat on the top of the back, and the thin 

 portions crossing each other. 



The Hemiptera homoptera have the wing-covers of 

 uniform thickness throughout, and not lying flat upon the 

 back, nor crossing each other at their extremities, and 

 both the wings and wing-covers are more or less sloping 

 at the sides of the body. The families of the two groups 

 are arranged according to Westwood, with the addition 

 of Thripsidae and Pediculi to the sub-order. 



CICADARLE-, Latr., CICADA, OR HARVEST-FLY FAMILY. 

 This Family comprises homopterous insects which 

 have very broad heads, large and convex eyes on each 

 side, and three eyelets on the crown. Their wing-covers 

 and wings are both transparent, and distinctly veined. 

 The males are provided with an apparatus by which they 

 are enabled to produce an exceedingly loud and shrill 

 buzzing sound, which in some species may be heard at 

 the distance of a mile ; and the females are furnished 

 with a unique kind of piercer for perforating the limbs 

 of trees, in which they lay their eggs. The organs which 



