692 CLASS IV. INSECTA. 



Series A. Gymnocerata. The antennae are conspicuous and 

 easily moved. This seires includes all the terrestrial Heteroptera and the 

 families Hebrid&e and Hydrometridae which seem to be becoming aquatic, 

 as they frequent damp places or live on the surface of water. 



Fam. 1. Pentatomidae. Shield-bugs. Scutellum very large, extend- 

 ing over the anterior half of abdomen and sometimes further. Antennae 

 usually 5-segmented. Proboscis sheath 4-segmented. This is the largest 

 family of the sub-order and includes some 4,000 species, characterized by 

 great variety of form, brilliancy of colour and frequently by a distinctive 

 odour. Acanihosoma, a British form, shows great maternal care for its 

 eggs, which in this family are usually laid in clusters. The Pentatomids 

 live largely on plant-juices and may, e.g. Murgantia, prove pests. Some 

 however prey upon other insects, especially softer kinds. 



Fam. 2. Coreidae. Scutellum does not reach the middle of abdomen. 

 Proboscis-sheath 4-segmented. Antennae usually long and 4-segmented. 

 Femora not knobbed. A large and widely distributed family ; usually 

 sad-coloured and at times with curious outgrowths from the sides of the 

 body and from the hind-legs (Leptoglossus, Diactor). The members of 

 this family live on plant-juices and may be destructive, e.g. the squash-bug 

 Anasa tristis. Phyllomorpha carries its eggs on its back. 



Fam. 3. Berytidae. Slender insects with the first segment of the 

 antennae and the femora knobbed. A small family frequenting plants. 

 Jalysus. 



Fam. 4. Lygaeidae. Separated from the Coreidae by the upper surface 

 of the head being arched and the insertion of the 4-segmented antennae 

 being thrown ventralwards. Ocelli present. A large family of small, and 

 as a rule inconspicuous, bugs. They suck the juices of plants and are 

 often destructive, e.g. the chinch-bug Blissus leucopterus and the false 

 chinch-bug Nysius augustatus. The former is said to cause an average 

 annual loss in the United States of over 4,000,000. 



Fam. 5. Pyrrhoeoridae. The insects of this family closely resemble 

 the Lygaeidae but have no ocelli. Pyrrhocoris apterus, a British form, is 

 a good example of the dimorphism of the wings common in this and the 

 preceding family. Dysdercus suturellus is the Cotton-stainer of the 

 Southern States. 



Fam. 6. Tingidae. Two tarsal segments, the preceding families having 

 three. There is a curious net-like reticulation of the elytra and upper 

 surface of body. Antennae knobbed. Front coxae extending to posterior 

 end of thorax. A restricted family known as Lace-bugs ; they are small 

 and plant feeders, and survive the winter in the imago instar. Copium, 

 Gargaphia, Corythuca. 



Fam. 7. Aradidae. Flat and broad, scutellum pronounced. Abdo- 

 men projects beyond folded wings. Front coxae arise midway along 

 prosternum. Small bizarre bugs living under bark and sucking the juices 

 of fungi. Aradus, Neuroctenus. 



Fam. 8. Hebridae. Minute ; the under surface of the abdomen bears 

 a velvety pile of short hairs. Antennae 5-segmented. Semi-aquatic, 

 frequenting bog-moss, pond weeds and other damp plants. Hebrus, the 

 only genus. 



Fam. 9. Hydrometridae. Antennae 4-segmented, coxae widely 

 separated, legs often very long. Wingless, or with elytra of one consistency. 

 Pubescence velvet-like ventrally. The members of this family, often 

 called Pondskaters or Water-striders, live on the surface of water and feed 



