HOMOPTERA. 



169 



The Water-scorpion (Nepa\ an inhabitant of every 

 pool, procures its food upon the stems of submerged plants, 

 or creeps in search of it about the bottom of the pond. 

 This insect is able to inflict a very painful wound if seized 

 incautiously, by means of its strong well-armed beak. 



FlG. 129. WATER-SCORPION. DIFFERENT STATES OF NEPA. 



OKDER HOMOPTERA.* 



As tjie Heiniptera were obviously designed to 

 obtain their food by imbibing the juices of dead or of 

 living animals, it can be no matter of surprise to 

 find races of insects much more numerous and im- 

 portant, appointed to feed upon the sap of plants, 

 and that by means of a mouth of very similar con- 

 struction. 



The Homopterous Insects, or Plant-suckers, as they 

 have been named, are furnished with four large 

 wings, all of which are transparent, and but loosely 

 veined. By means of these they fly from plant to 



* 6/j.os, homos, similar ; irrtpov, pteron, a wing. 



