HEMIPTERA 61 



than one-quarter inch in length, very much flattened, 

 wingless, and dark brown in color. It feeds, as is well 

 known, on human blood. The individual unfortunate 

 enough to encounter it will recognize it without trouble. 



Two very peculiarly shaped bugs are the representa- 

 tives of families known commonly as Thread-legged bugs 

 (Emesidce) and Stilt-bugs (Berytidce). Both have very 

 slender bodies and long, slender legs. The common stilt- 

 bug has a body about three-eighths inch in length while 

 the thread-legged bug is much larger. Its body is more 

 than an inch long and its legs are much longer. The 

 stilt-bugs may be found rather commonly in grass and 

 on shrubs but the thread-legged bugs are rare and more 

 frequently found in old barns and other open buildings. 



44. Homoptera. The second sub-order of the Hemip- 

 tera is different in many ways from the true bugs. Here 

 the wings are either membranous or thickened, but in 

 either case are the same throughout. The beak is at- 

 tached to the back margin of the under side of the head 

 and often seems to arise from just between the forelegs. 

 The backs are typically "V "-shaped or rounded and the 

 wings do not overlap as in the bugs. There are some 

 highly specialized forms in the group which will not 

 be recognized by the characters given above, but rather 

 by their own peculiarities. 



Cicadas. The Cicadidce or the Cicadas, sometimes 

 called Harvest-flies or Jar-flies, are the largest of the 

 Homoptera. To this family belongs the Periodical Cicada, 

 better known as the seventeen-year locust. So much has 

 been written regarding this insect that a description of its 

 appearance or habits would seem superfluous. The species 

 that appear every year are larger and take only two 

 years to develop. As there are two broods, we have 



