Bugs, Cicadas, Aphids, and Scale-insects 197 



true running. The water-striders are predaceous, capturing smaller living 

 insects by running or leaping, and, with the prey held securely in the grasp- 



FIG. 269. 



FIG. 270. 



FIG. 269. Water-strider, Hygrotrechus sp., adult. (Twice natural size.) 

 FIG. 270. Water-strider, Hygrotrechus sp., young. (Twice natural size.) 



ing fore legs, piercing and sucking the blood of the unfortunate victim, yet 

 alive. Care should be taken in handling water-striders, as the sharp beak 



FIG. 271. FIG. 272. FIG. 273. 



FIG. 271. Broad-bodied water-strider, Stephania picta. (After Uhler ; natural 



size.) 

 FlG. 272. An ocean water-skater, Halobates ivullersdorffi, from near Galapagos Islands. 



(Three times natural size.) 

 FIG. 273. A marsh-treader, Limnobates lineata. (One and one-half times natural size.) 



can make a painful puncture. Some of them are winged and some wing- 

 less, and both kinds of individuals may belong to the same species. The 



