LENGTH OF THE BEAK. 



727 



sions, the length of a full-grown specimen being little short of 

 five inches, and the spread wings measuring more than seven 

 inches from tip to tip. It can strike sharply with its fore-legs, 

 capture prey, and draw it to its large, sharp, and powerful beak, 

 which is then driven into the body and the juices sucked. 

 Seeing that several of our little Naucoridae, to which family this 

 insect belongs, can inflict a painful wound with their beaks, I 

 should think that the Belostoma could not be handled without 



Fig. 470.— Belostoma grandis 

 (Brown. 



extreme care, its beak alone being nearly as long as the entire 

 Naucoris. 



The colour of this insect is brown, the thorax having a 

 yellowish edge. Beneath, it is paler than above. This species 

 is a native of Para. 



The last of the Heniiptera which can be mentioned in this 

 work is the little insect which is popularly known as the 

 Chinch-bug (Microjms leucopterus.) 



