Order HEMIPTERA. 



These are the true "bugs," or half-winged insects, so called because the fore- 

 wings, which are unfitted for flight, have the base thickened and the tips mem- 

 braneous. This same characteristic also gives them the name Hetcroptera or 

 different-winged. As explained in the chapter on the development of insects, 

 I prefer the term Rhyngota for the series containing the Thy sa nop (era, Pa>a- 

 siiica, Homoptera and Hcmiptera. The Homoptera have certainly developed 

 along lines quite different from the Honiptera, and their life histories as well 

 as the structures show reasons sufficient for their ordinal separation. In the 

 Hemiptera the beak is always more free and the head more mobile than in the 

 Homoptera, and in many instances the species can direct the beak straight for- 

 ward so that it projects like a snout. The number of joints in the beak may 

 be three or four, the former being often predatory, the latter usually plant- 

 feeders ; but there are many exceptions. The transformations are always 

 incomplete and feeding is always done by piercing and sucking, whether of 

 plant or animal tissues. In the species in which the beak is long and f ur 

 jointed, it often bends in the middle when the insect is feeding, the lancets 

 only being inserted and the tip of the beak serving as a guide. 



Many injurious and some destructive species are found in this order in which, 

 by the bye, many have peculiar and excessively disagreeable odors. 



Our collections in this order are only fair and there are numerous undescribed 

 species. We have a good list by Prof. P. R. Uhler, upon which tins record is 

 based, while several individual collectors, notably Messrs. C. F. Seiss, W. T. 

 Davis and F. C. Paulmier, have contributed data. 



The MSS. of tbe list in the Capsidcz was submitted to Mr. O. Heidemann, of 

 Washigton, D. C, who very kindly added much information. To Mr Heide- 

 mann I am also indebted for determinations in this order, as I am to Mr. Wm. 

 H. Ashmead who has straightened out several difficult groups. 



Family CORIMBLiENID^E3. 



The '' negro bugs " ; black, shining, convex species almost as broad as the\ 

 are long, the scutel covering almost the entire abdomen so that the wings are 

 scarcely visible. They look like beetles and are found among flowers gener- 

 ally. While not directly injurious, they have the unpleasant habit of laying 

 their eggs on blackberries, raspberries, &c, and this egg has a peculiar "bed- 

 buggy " flavor that is intensely repugnant to most people. 



CORIMELiENA White. 



C. atra Am. et Serv. Madison (Pr), Staten Island, VI Ds , Westville, V, 19 

 Jn i, Lahaway in May on Cranberry bogs, Jamesburg, VII, 5 Sni . 



(115) 



