THE ENTOMOLOGIST 



Vol. XXXIV." APRIL, 1901. [No. 455. 



BIOLOGIC NOTES ON SOME CEYLONESE RHYNCHOTA. 



No. 1. 



By E. E. Green, F.E.S. 



Amorgius indicus (Lep. & Serv.) [=^Belostoma, olim.] 



This huge waterbug is frequently captured in Kandy beneath 

 the electric lamps which have been recently erected in the 

 streets. They probably fly from the lake in the centre of tbe 

 town. I have had several living specimens brought to me, and 

 have kept some of them in a large glass aquarium for several 

 months. They are sluggish creatures, and remain during the 

 daytime with the tip of the tail projecting above the surface of 

 the water, seldom moving, unless disturbed. I placed some 

 small fish and tadpoles in the aquarium with them. I could 

 never see any attempt on the part of the bugs to capture either 

 of these animals. The fish have remained unhurt, but the tad- 

 poles have disappeared one by one, seized probably during the 

 night, when the bugs are more active. I do not think that 

 Amorgius is quick enough in its movements to prey regularly 

 upon fish, though doubtless weakly individuals would fall easy 

 victims. I am of opinion that the natural food of Amorgius is 

 rather such large insects or small terrestrial animals as fall 

 accidentally into the water. It will also greedily feed upon 

 frogs, when it can catch them. I have on several occasions 

 placed large horny beetles, such as Orijctes, in the water. These 

 have been quickly seized while struggling on the surface. They 

 are held by the powerful front legs of the bug, assisted by the 

 second pair, and are turned over and over until a crevice is 

 found into which the point of the rostrum can be inserted. 

 After they are quite dead the insects are usually torn into pieces 

 and every part of the body thoroughly probed. Large grass- 

 hoppers are also freely taken, but smaller insects are generally 



ENTOM. — APRIL. 1901. I 



