HEMIPTERA. 335 



Concealing itself by day in crevices from which it 

 is difficult to dislodge it, it issues forth on the ap- 

 proach of darkness, and makes its insidious and 

 foul attack on the unconscious sleeper, leaving tokens 

 of its presence but too apparent in swollen, painful, 

 and itching tumours, produced doubtless by the in- 

 fusion of a poisonous fluid into the wounds made 

 by the sucker. The Bed-bug differs from almost 

 every other species in being destitute of both wings 

 and elytra. 



A South American insect of this Order has at- 

 tained some celebrity as the Lantern-fly, (Fulgora* 

 Lanternaria,) remarkable for the front of the head 

 being enlarged into a long, inflated, transparent 

 snout. Mad. Merian gives an entertaining account 

 of her surprise at opening in the dark a box, in 

 which she had inclosed some of these insects ; a glow 

 of light at once streaming out that filled the room. 

 Later observations have, however, thrown some dis- 

 credit on this story, and modern naturalists are in- 

 clined to deny to the Fulgora any luminous property 

 whatever. -j- 



To this Order belong those minute but mischiev- 

 ous pests of the garden, the Plant-lice (Aphis). By 

 wounding the leaves and tender shoots of plants, 

 singular contortions are produced, the parts often 

 closing up, so as to form a hollow space, the resi- 

 dence of a colony. An abundant fluid, of a sugary 

 nature, exudes from them, which is exceedingly 

 grateful to Ants. This fluid exudes in the form 



* Fulgeo, to shine. t See Proceed, of Zool. Soc. 1834, p. 19- 



