﻿562 HEMIPTERA-HETEROPTERA chap. 



it : they attack the tea-plant and do considerable damage. They 

 are known as Mosquito-blight. The egg is of comparatively large 

 size, and is placed by the bug in the stems of the tea-plant, 

 but attached to one end of the egg are two long slender threads 

 that project externally. A similar egg (Fig. 275) and method 

 of oviposition have been described by Mr. Dudgeon as occurring 

 in another species of Capsidae, called Moesa-blight, in India. 1 



Fam. 19. Saldidae. — Head short and, broad, with large, pro- 

 minent eyes. Ocelli present. Proboscis not applied to under surface 

 of head or breast in repose. Scutellum large, not covered. Elytra 

 covering the upper surface of the abdomen, formed, of three distinct 

 parts. Tarsi three- jointed, — These little bugs run with velocity 

 over mud in damp places, or live in wet moss ; some of them can 

 jump ; they are all of dark or obscure colour. There are only 

 three genera : Salda, of which we have numerous British species, 

 being the principal one. 



Series 2. Cryptocerata. 



The remaining families of Heteroptera are of aquatic habits, 

 and form in nearly all works a separate division called Hemiptera 

 Cryptocerata (or Hydrocorisae, or Hydrocores), distinguished by 

 the antennae being apparently absent ; they are, however, really 

 present, being situate on the under side of the head, to which 

 they are closely pressed, or in some cases placed in a pocket in 

 front of each eye. There are six of these families. Schiodte 

 is doubtless correct in treating this division as an unnatural one ; 

 it is, however, generally adopted, and is convenient for the pur- 

 poses of nomenclature and arrangement. 



Fam. 20. Galgulidae or Pelogonidae. — Form short and 

 broad ; head very broad, with prominent eyes, ocelli present. Hind 

 legs thin, formed for running. — The Insects of this family are 

 but little known ; they are only sub-aquatic in habits, frequent- 

 ing damp places at the margins of streams and waters. The 

 presence of ocelli distinguishes them from other water-bugs, with 

 which indeed the Galgulidae appear to be but little related. 

 There are only about twenty species of the family known. We 

 possess none in Britain ; but one, Pelogonus marginatus, occurs 



1 Ind. Mus. Xotcs, iii. No. 5, 1S94, p. 53. 



