Enemies of Bees — Stinging Bug. 323 



brown above and below. The legs (Fig. 181, 6), beak and 

 antennse (Fig. 181, a), are greenish yellow. The beak (Fig. 

 182) has three joints (Fig. 182, a, b, e), and a sharp point (Fig. 

 182, d). This beak is not only the great weapon of offense, 

 but also the organ through which the food is sucked. By the 

 use of this, the insect has gained the soubriquet of ' ' stinging 

 bug." This compact jointed beak is peculiar to all true bugs, 

 and by observing it alone we are able to distinguish aU the 

 very varied forms of this group. The antenna (Fig. 183) isi 

 four-jointed. The first joint (Fig. 183, a) is short, the second 

 and third (Fig. 183, h and c) are long and slim, while the ter- 

 minal one (Fig. 183, d) is much enlarged. This enlarged 

 joint is one of the characteristics of the genus Phymata, as 

 described by Latreille. But the most curious structural pecu- 

 liarity of this insect and the chief character of the genus Phy- 

 mata, is the enlarged anterior legs (Figs. 184 and 185). 

 These, were they only to aid in locomotion, would seem like 

 awkward, clumsy organs, but when we learn that they are 

 used to grasp and hold their prey, then we can but appreciate 

 and admire their modified form. The femur (Fig. 184, 6) and 

 the tarsus (Fig. 184, a) are toothed, while the latter is greatly 



Fig. 187. 



Fig. 186. 



Claw' enlarged. Middle leg, much magnified. 



enlarged. From the interior lower aspect of the femur (Fig. 

 186) is the small tibia, while on the ' lower end of the tarsus 

 (Fig. 185, d) is a cavity in which rests the single claw. The 

 other four legs (Fig. 187) are much as usual. 



This insect, as already intimated, is very predacious, lying 

 in wait, often almost concealed, among flowers, ready to cap- 

 ture and destroy unwary plant-lice, caterpillars, beetles, but- 



