IIEMIPTERA. 565 



Heierotoma, Latr., has the two basal joints of the anteuiiK very thick and setose. The type of this curious j2;enus 

 is Capsns sphsicurnls, Fab. [a common British species]. 



The other Hemiptera of this family have only two or three joints in the sheatli of the proboscis ; the labrnni is 

 short, and not striated ; the basal and often the second joint of the tarsi arc very short ; the Ieg:s inserted in the 

 middle of the breast ; the uiip:nes apical. Some of tliese have the proboscis straig:ht, and g;enerally resting in a 

 canal ; the eyes of ordinary size, and the head not nai'rowed into a neck. The body is fi;enerally entirely or partly 

 membranous, and often flattened. They compose the majority of the Fabrician genus Acanthiay from which the 

 followiii.tf have been separated. 



Si/rtis, Fab. {Macrocephalus, Swed., Phiiinafa, Latr.)^ has the fore-le^fs very larpe and claw-like, serving to seize 

 Their prey. In Macrocephalus the scutellum is distinct, and covers nearly the whole abdomen. In Phymata 

 {S. craasipes, F.), the [scutellum is minute], and only covers part of the upper side of the abdomen. 



Thi!/is, Fab., has the body very fiat, and the antenna:; tei-minated by a short knob, the third joint being elong- 

 ated ; the majority live upon plants, puncturing the leaves of flowers, and sometimes producing galls. The leaves 

 of the pear are often gnawed by T. pyri. [These are minute insects, many of which are English, having the body 

 membranous, and covered with small cells ; the thorax is extended behind, over the scutellum.] 



Aradus, Fab., resembles Tingis in the form of the body, but has the antennae cylindrical, with the second joint 

 as long as the third, or longer. They are found under the bark of trees, in crevices of old wood, &c. [Small 

 insects, of which several are found in this country. A. dcprcssus, Be/nl^e, &c.] 



Cimcx proper, Acant/tia, Fab., has the body very flat, but the antenna; terminate in a setaceous joint. The 

 typical species, C.lectulariun, Linn., the Bed-bug, is too well known to need description. It is said not to have existed 

 in England before the great fire in 1CG6, and that it was imported in wood from America; Dioscorides, however, 

 mentioned it. It has also been asserted that this species sometimes gains wings. It also infests young Pigeons, 

 Swallows, Sec. ; but that which attacks the latter birds appears to me to form a distinct species. 

 [The Rev. L. Jenynshas recently described it as distinct, C. lUrundinu- ; as well as one from Pigeons, 



^ilr^irQ^W C. columOariiis ; and one found on a Bat, C. P'tpistrelU. {Annals of Nat. Hist., June, 1839.)] 



i fr'-r^^^S^ Various plans have been proposed for their extirpation, but the best is extreme cleanliness. 



/ "^^ J^ The other Geocorisfe of tliis subdivision have the proboscis exposed, arched, or sometimes 



Vig. on.— Cimex Straight, with the labrum prominent and the head suddenly narrowed behind into a neck. The 



lenuLmua. lyfj-yi- form the primitive genus 



Reduvius, Fabricius, — 

 In \\hich the proboscis is short, very acute, and capable of pricking strongly, the pain of which lasts for a long 

 time. The antennw are very slender at tlie tips ; many species produce a noise similar to that made byCrioceris 

 and the Capricorn Beetles, which is more quickly repeated. This genus has been thus subdivided. 



Holoptllns, Lep. and Serv., which have only three joints to the antennae, the last two furnished with very long 

 hairs, arranged in two rows, and verticillated in the last joint. 



ii<?t/uc(//5 proper, has the antenna; -i-jointed, and smooth, or but slightly pubescent, and the body is oblong- 

 oval, with the feet of moderate size. R. personatiis, Linn., inhabits the interior of houses, wdiere it lives upon 

 flies and other insects, which it approaches stealthily, and then darts itself, immediately kiUing them by piercing 

 them with its proboscis. In the preparatory states it looks like a Spider, covering itself with particles of dust 

 and dirt. 



NabiSy Latr., in which the thorax is but slightly divided transversely, and Petalocheirus, Pal. Beauv., in which 

 the fore tibiae form a round plate, may be united therewith. 



Zelus, Fab., has the body linear, with the legs very long, slender, and abke, [consisting of a great number of 

 exotic species]. 



Ploiaria, Scop., differs from the last in having the two fore-legs [short] with elongated coxa?, formed as in 

 IMantis for seizing the prey. Gerris vagahundus, Fabr. [an insect of small size, not uncommon in England]. 



We are now arrived at Geocorisee remarkable for the large size of the eyes, and the head not formed into a 

 neck, with the bead transverse. They live at the sides of water, where they run with great agility, and often take 

 short leaps. 



Leptopiix, Latr, has the proboscis short and arched, and the antenna? setaceous; [small species, several of which 



are found on the Continent]. 



Acaiithin, Latr. {Salda proper, Fabr.), has the proboscis long and straight, and the antennae iibform. Salda 

 l/tornlis, Fabr., &c. [several British species of small size]. 



Pelogonns, Latr., difters from Acanthia in having the antennae very short, and folded beneath the eyes. The 

 species are small, and approach Naucoris, to which they conduct with the following. 



Sometimes the four hind legs, very long and slender, are inserted upon the sides of the breast, and wide apart ; 

 the tarsal ungues are very small, indistinct, and fixed in a fissure at the side of tlie tarsi. These feet serve either 

 for rowing or creeping on the water. They are peculiar to the genus 



Hydrometka, Fabr.,— 

 Which Latreille divides into three others. 



Hi/drometra proper, with setaceous antennae, and the head produced into a muzzle, with the rostrum received 

 in a canal on the under side. [H. stagnorum, a small, very slender, and common species, found crawling on the 

 surface of water.] 



Gerris, Latr., has filiform antennje, with the sheath of the proboscis 3-jointed, and the second pair of legs wide '• 



