58 SCHOOL ENTOMOLOGY 



These are the Water-striders (Hydrobatidce). They may be 

 either winged or wingless. Among the local names for 

 these bugs may be mentioned " Water-spiders," " Water- 

 skippers" and "Skaters." 



Two families of medium to small insects, generally 

 found swimming below the surface of the water, are the 

 Water-boatmen (Corisidce), and the Back-swimmers (No- 

 tonectidce). Both have oar-like legs and powerful beaks 

 capable of inflicting painful stings. The boatmen are 

 flattened while the back-swimmers have "V "-shaped 

 backs and swim upside down, the angle of the back mak- 

 ing a sort of keel. Both these families are generally dis- 

 tributed in ponds and are easily recognized. Still another 

 water-bug is the Water-scorpion (Nepidce). The more com- 

 mon species of this family has a very slender body, long legs 

 and a long breathing tube projecting from the tip of the 

 abdomen. When at rest, a water-scorpion hangs head 

 downward in the water with the breathing tube just reach- 

 ing the surface. The common form is more than three 

 inches long, including the tail. Several other families of 

 water bugs are less numerous and less conspicuous. 



Land Bugs. The land bugs are of the most varied 

 shapes and habits. The most numerous and widely dis- 

 tributed are the so-called Leaf -bugs (Capsidce). Sweep 

 through the grass with an insect net in midsummer and 

 you will find in the net a large number of small insects. 

 Many of these will easily be seen to be true bugs of which 

 the great majority are leaf -bugs. They are generally small 

 and usually green or brownish in color. Some are of eco- 

 nomic importance, but no one form is especially injurious. 

 The Tarnished Plant-bug is widely distributed and injures 

 fruits of various sorts, especially pears. 



Probably the best known of the bugs are the Stink- 



