iiimia IHSC4 



CHAPTER XVI. 



ORDER VI. HETEROPTERA. 



This order embraces those insects whose forewings or wing-covers are coriaceous at the 

 base and membranous at the apex : the body is depressed ; antennse elongated and filiform ; 

 and the mouth, which is placed on the inferior part of the head, is promuscidate. Meta- 

 morphosis semicomplete, with an active pupa state. 



It is the Hemiptera of most American and English authors ; but Heteroptera is the 

 designation preferred by Westwood, for reasons which make it appear to be the more 

 appropriate name of the two. 



The order is divided into two sections : 1 . Hydeocorisa, the residents of water ; 2. 

 AuRocoRisA, those which breathe air. 



We have three families at least under the first section, the Notonectid.e, Nepid.*:, and 

 Galgulid^ 



The Genus Notonectus is not uncommon in the springs that furnish the city of Albany 

 with water, and which rise in a high sandy plain some four miles west of the city. 



Notonectus . 



Body much depressed ; mouth promuscidate, short, and composed of two joints ; antennse 

 lost in the specimen ; eyes ovate : the forelegs advanced, and the tarsi armed with a 

 single two-jointed claw ; the middle and posterior three-jointed ; the third minute, 

 and the last armed with two claws. Color brown or olive brown ; beneath lighter 

 than above, uniform, and without ornaments or spots. Thorax in the form of a segment 

 of a triangle ; middle impressed with a longitudinal line, crossed by a transverse 

 groove J margin of the thorax ciliate. Scutellum large ; base rather greater than the 

 height : the posterior pair of legs obscurely barred with brown ; forelegs raptorial, 

 and without bars. Length an inch and a quarter. Swims rapidly upon its back, and 

 is carnivorous. 

 The damage which the Kotmectus occasions, consists in the destruction of young fish, 



or fry : in this respect it is as voracious as the Dyticus. 



