HEMIPTERA. 195 



I find no observations regarding the food of these insects; but they 

 are probably herbivorous. 



Only a single species has been found in the United States. This 

 is Limnobates linedta. It is a small insect less than 12.5 mm. (0.5 in.) 

 in length. The legs and antennae are extremely slender, being hair- 

 like in form. Fig. 165 represents this species greatly enlarged. 



Family XXL EMESID.E.* 



The Emesida includes a small number of insects in which the 

 body is very slender, and the middle and hind legs are thread-like. 

 The front legs are less thread-like, and fitted for grasping. They 

 suggest by their form the front legs of the Mantidae; the coxa is 

 very greatly elongated, more than four times as long as thick; the 

 femur spined ; and the tibia shut back upon the femur. 



This family is very closely allied to the one following. In 

 fact, by some authors the two are united. They agree in having 

 the rostrum short, attached to the tip of the head, and with the 

 distal end when not in use resting upon the prosternum, which is 

 grooved to receive it. The great length of the fore coxa easily dis- 

 tinguishes this family from any of our species of the Reduviidae, 

 and in the Emesidae there are no ocelli. Only seven species of this 

 family are catalogued from the United States. 



Our most familiar representative is Emesa longipes. This insect, 

 by its elongated form and slender legs, at first sight reminds one of 

 the walking-sticks. But the raptorial fore legs, the wings, and the 

 rostrum, really give this species a very different appearance from 

 those insects. Its body measures about 33 mm. (1.3 in.) in length; 

 the middle and hind legs are each about 40 mm. (1.6 in.) long; 

 while the narrow wings are only one-fourth as long as the legs. As 

 indicated by the structure of the fore legs, these insects are 

 predaceous. 



Four genera are represented in our fauna ; these can be separated 

 as follows :f 



A. The pre-tibise and pre-tarsi together not shorter than the pre femora. 

 B. Eyes large, very prominent ; when seen from the side, occupying the whole 



side of the head. ' LUTEVA. 



BB. Eyes small, slightly prominent; when seen from the side, not occupying 



more than half of the side of the head. 2. CERASCOPUS. 



* EmSsidae: Emesa, a proper name. 



f Table prepared by Professor H. E. Summers. 



