5G(j 



IXSECTA. 



apart from Uw anterior, ami twice as lon.i; as the body. [Common in^iocts, oftpn seen skimming- alontr the surface 

 of the water.] 



Vtlia, hatr., -^vith the antennfe also filifonii, bat with tiie sheath of the sucker only 2-jointed ; the leg's mode- 

 rately loni^, and placed at equal distances apart. V. current, [a common British insect, seen running; on the 

 surface of brooks.] 



[The works of Laporte Comtc de Custelnau, the J-Jnci/cfopr/Ue Mf'///odique, ]]urrneister's Manual of 

 Entomology, vol. ii., Spinola's Es^ay on Ike HeteropU'i-ous lleiHiplara, and Halm's work, Dh; JJ'aucen- 

 ariigen Insecten, must be consulted for many new genera estaldished in this diviL^ion of the order.] 



TIIE SECOND FAMILY OF THE IIEMIFTERA,— 

 The IIydrocorisi:, or ^YLtter-hugs, — 

 Has the antennae inserted I>encath the eyes, by which tlicy are concealed, being shorter than tlie head, 

 or scarcely longer than it. 



All these Ileraiptera ai^e aquatic and carnivorous, seizing other insects with their fore-legs, wliich 

 fold upon themselves, and serve them as claws. They prick very sharply [with the prolioscii]. The 

 tarsi have only one or two joints ; the eyes are generally of a remarkable size. 



Some of the Ilydrocorisce, forming the subfamily Nfpides, have the two fore-legs formed into claws 

 composed of a very thick or very long thigli, channelled on the underside to receive the under surface 

 of the tibia and of tlie tarsus, which is very short, or is united with the tibia, forming with it a strong 

 hook ; the body is oval and very depressed in some, and of a linear form in others. These insects form 



the genus 



Nepa, Linn., — 

 Which may be thus divided : — 



Galffu/iis, Latr., in wliicli all the tarsi are alike cylindrical, with two distinct joints, the last of which is furnished 

 \\ ith two books at the tip ; tlie antenna; appear to have only three joints, the last of which is large and ovoid. 

 i^.Xniicons ociilafa, Fab. ; North America.) 



The antennffi in the following genera are composed of four joints, and the anterior tar^i are terminated simply 

 in a point, or by a hook. 



Aaiicoris, Geoft'., has the labrum exposed, large, and triangular ; the body is nearly oval and subdepressed ; the 

 eyes flattened ; the extremity of the body is not furnished with elongated processes ; the four hind feet are ciliated 

 with 2-jointed tarsi, and two ungues at the lip. N. cimicoUies, Linn., [a common British insect, half an inch long]. 

 In the three following subgenera, the labrum is hidden in the canahand theextremity of the abdomen furnished 

 with two filaments. 

 Belostoma, Latr., has all the tarsi 2-jointed, and the antenn:e semi-peetinatcd. [Exotic species.] 

 Xt'pa, Latr., has the fore tarsi formed of a single joint, and the four bind tarsi 2-juinted ; the antennae appear 

 forked; the fore coxa.- are long, and the thighs thicker than the other parts. The abdomen 

 is terminated by two long filaments, which are employed in respiration ; the eggs resemble 

 the seed of some plant, being oval, surmounted by a coronet of hairs. jM. L. Dufuur has 

 published an elaborate memoir on their internal anatomy. Y'. riiwren, Linn., of a dirty 

 ash-colour, with the upper surface of the abdomen bright red, [is a very coinnion insect.] 



Ranatra, Fabr., ditVers from Nepa in its linear fm ni, and tlie more elongated form of the 

 legs. N. linearis, Linn, [a common British species in certain localities]. The coronet at 

 '^' the top of its eggs is formed of only two threads. 



The others, Notoneciides, have the two fore-legs simply incurved, with the thighs 

 of the ordinarv size ; the tarsi diminishing to a point, and very much ciliated or 

 similar to the others ; tlie body is nearly eUitidric nr o\oid, and rather thick, or not 

 so much depressed as in the preceding ; the bind legs are very much ciliated, in 

 the form of oars, and terminated by two very minute claws : they samui or row 

 with great quickness, and often un their backs, [whence their generic name]. They 

 l-ib'-97-— Nkp» ciiKTCfi. compose the genus 



\(jTuNr:CTA, Linn., — 

 ■\Vliieh may be thus divided :— 



Cori.va, Geoir.. which has no scutellum, tlie elytra horizontal ; the foro-!egs very short, wiHi 

 the tarsi composed of a single compressed and ciliated johit ; the other leg:s are elongate, and 

 the two middle ones terminated by two very long ungues. N. siriata, Linn, [and several other 

 LSinall British s|ir. ic>]. 



.S/i/ara, Lcaeli, tnimdrd upon .Y. luinulis.^-iiita, Fabr., has the fore-tarsi l-juinted, but possesses 

 a distinct scutellum, and the body ovoid. 



A''y/ontfc/a, Linn., has a distinct scutellum ; a rostrum elongate-conic; the wing-covers de- ii::--'^-^ i;kuK:i- 

 flexed at the sides, and all the tarsi 2-juinted ; the fore tarsi are cytindric, simple, and terminated by two ungues. 



