Water Bui's 



211 



The eggs of the giant water-bugs are attached to 

 vertical stems of reeds just above the surface of the 

 water. They are among the largest of insect eggs. 

 Those of Benacus (fig. ii8) are curiously striped. The 

 eggs of a smaller, related water-bug, Zaitha qv Belostoma , 

 are attached by the female to the broad back of the 



Fig. Il8. Eggs of Benacus, enlarged; the lower- 

 most are in process of hatching. <*■. 



*■ 



male, and are carried by him during their incubation. 

 The n^anphs of this family, on escaping from the egg ■ ^ 

 suddenly unroll and expand their flat bodies, and attain 0; , 

 at once proportions that would seem impossible oti,|.^ 

 looking at the egg (fig. 119). 



Most finely adapted to life in the water are the water 

 boatmen (fig. 109 on p. 201'^ and the back-swimmers, 



.* 



