HEMIPTERA. 165 
Their body is usually altogether, or in part, membranous, and most 
commonly much flattened *. They compose the greater part of the 
primitive genus 
Acanruia, Fab., 
Which that author afterwards divided as follows: 
Syrtis, Fab. Macrocernatus, Swed. Lat.—Puymara, Lat. 
Where the anterior legs resemble the monodactyle claw of the 
Crustacea, and are used by these Insects to seize their prey ¢. 
Trinais, Fab. 
Where the body is very flat, and the termination of the antenne 
globuliform; the third joint is much longer than the others. 
Most of the species live on plants, piercing their leaves or flowers, 
and sometimes producing false gall-nuts. The leaves of Pear-trees 
are frequently riddled by one of ‘this genus, the 7. pyrt, Fab. + 
Arapus, Fab. 
Similar to Tingis, in the form of the body, but with cylindrical 
antenne, of which the second joint is almost as large as the ‘third, or 
is even longer. 
They are found under the bark of trees, in the cracks of old 
wood, &c. §. 
Crex, Lat.—Acanruia, Fab. 
In Cimex proper the body is very flat, but the antennz terminate 
abruptly in the form of a seta. We know but too well the 
C. lectularius, L.; Wolf, Cimic., 1V, xii, 121. It is pretended 
that this Insect, vulgarly termed the bed-bug, did not exist in 
England previous to the fire of London in 1666, and that it was 
transported thither in timber from America. With respect to 
the continent of Europe, however, we find that it is mentioned 
by Dioscerides. It has also been asserted that this species some- 
times acquires wings. It likewise harasses young pigeons, swal- 
lows, &c.; but that which lives on these latter birds appears to 
me to be a different species. 
Various means of destroying these noxious Insects have been 
proposed ; extreme vigilance, and great cleanliness however are 
the best. 
* These Insects, in our Fam. Nat. du Rég. Anim., form the second tribe of the 
Geocorisie, that which I have there designated by the term membruneuse. 
+ Fab., Syst. Ryngot. In Microcephalus—S. manicata, Fab.—the antenne, ter- 
minated by a very large joint, are not lodged in inferior cavities of the margin of the 
thorax ; the scutellum is distinct, and covers a large part of the abdomen. In Phy- 
mata, the antenne are received into peculiar cavities under the lateral edges of the 
thorax, which is prolonged into a scutellum, and only covers a portion of the abdo- 
men. See Lat., Gen. Crust. et Insect, III, p, 137, 138. 
¢ Fab., Ib.; Lat., Gener, Crust. et Insect. 
§ Fab., Ib.; Lat., Ib. 
