CHAPTER VI 



THE ORDER RHYNCHOTA : BUGS 



THE order Rhynchota comprises a large and very varied group of insects, 

 all the members of which are armed with a jointed, 'suctorial proboscis 

 which is flexed under the head. Many of the aquatic forms, such as the 

 water boatmen, pond skaters and water scorpions, are familiar natural 

 history objects and may be seen in almost any collection of water. 

 Another aquatic species, which is often mistaken for a beetle, is the well- 

 known Belostoma, the largest of all bugs ; at certain seasons Belostoma 

 indica, the common Indian species, is often caught in large numbers 

 round any lighthouse, and B. Deyrollei around the search lights of river 

 steamers in parts of Assam. Among the terrestrial forms the Cicadas are 

 familiar insects in all the hill stations of India, where their shed skins 

 may be found attached to the barks of trees ; the shrill notes of the male 

 Cicada are well known. Many of the smaller terrestrial bugs are abundant 

 during the rainy season in the tropics, and often come into houses 

 at night. Others may be seen in swarms feeding on the juices of 

 plants ; as many of these are brightly coloured insects, they are very 

 attractive objects. 



Although the majority of bugs are plant feeders, quite a number are 

 predaceous. The well-known pond skater (Gerris) is a good example of 

 a predaceous bug ; it is often seen resting on the surface of water in a well 

 or tank with some insect, often one of its own kind, impaled on its 

 proboscis. 



The order Rhynchota is of considerable economic importance, for 

 many of the species are among the most serious pests which the agri- 

 culturist has to contend with. The species belonging to the genera 

 Oxycarenus and Dysdercus cause much damage to cotton in many parts 

 of the world. O. hyalinipennis, the Egyptian cotton stainer, punctures 

 the cotton bolls with its proboscis and also stains the fibre with its excre- 

 ment. Tea, coffee, and garden produce of all kinds, are similarly attacked 

 by various species of bugs. 



On the other hand a few bugs are of use to man. The well-known 

 lac, a commercial product, is obtained from a species of coccid ; the 

 Cochineal bug, Coccus cacti, yields the familiar dye. 



