104 The Under-Water World 



North America. All are very preda- 

 ceous ; Belostoma indica seizes an Indian 

 toad by the underside and sucks steadily 

 until it has exhausted the juices of its 

 unfortunate victim ; fish also are 

 attacked. A puncture from the pro- 

 boscis of Belostoma is extremely painful 

 and is said to be poisonous. In some 

 species of this family the eggs, until 

 hatched, are carried on the back of the 

 male. The eggs of Belostoma indica are 

 laid in clusters on the stems of plants 

 growing at the water's edge, the young 

 insects falling into the water on hatching. 

 The young are small editions of their 

 parents ; but lack wings and wing- 

 covers, which gradually appear as 

 maturity is reached. 



The Water Scorpions (Nepidce) are 

 remarkable insects. They are sluggish 

 creatures, lying half buried in the mud 

 or crawling slowly about the weeds. 

 There are two main types, one of which 



