Insecta. 19 



for a short distance the two outer wings meet in the middle 

 line ; beyond this the wings are wider and overlap each 

 other. The hinder part of the wings is much thinner than 

 the front part. The inner wings are much thinner and are 

 folded. The mouth parts are united to form a strong pierc- 

 ing and sucking tube, which is bent back under the head, 

 between the bases of the front legs. The features thus far 

 described are common to nearly all bugs. But while the 

 majority of bugs live in the air, the water bug lives under 

 the water most of tht time, though it can, and sometimes 

 does, come out and fly about. To fit it for swimming under 

 the water the body is flat and boat-shaped; the second and 

 third pairs of legs are flattened, especially the tibia and 

 tarsus, making admirable paddles. The front legs are of 

 no use in swimming, but are used in grasping. The water 

 bug hides under leaves and sticks in the water, and when 

 an unwary insect, small fish, frog, or tadpole comes near, 

 darts out, seizes it with its powerful fore legs, and kills it by 

 piercing it with its sharp beak. It then sucks its blood, 

 having no jaws for chewing solid food. 



The entomologists do not describe any poison glands 

 in these insects, but it would appear that they have a poison- 

 ous effect, since they seem to kill their victims so quickly ; 

 and since this and numerous other bugs, some aquatic and 

 some not aquatic, inflict painful wounds on man. In fact, 

 the collector who is gathering minnows in a net is often 

 bitten by aquatic bugs, and sometimes the hand and arm 

 become painfully swollen as a result. 



Water bugs may be seen coming to the surface, where 

 they project the tip of the abdomen into the air. They 

 breathe through the anal pair of spiracles. 



In attempting to spread the outer wing, one usually meets 

 difficulty, the wing seems to be caught. There is an in- 



