Fig. 



179 



146 THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 



half as long as the abdomen ; and with the front legs more 

 or less flattened, fitted for digging (Fig. 179). 



The species are generally black or very dark 



brown. They are found burrowing in sandy places, 



'_ or on the surface of the ground beneath sticks and 



cyriome- stones, or at the roots of grass and other herbage. 



nus mi- 7 o fc> 



rabiiis. f he family is not a large one. The members of it 

 probably feed upon plants ; but it is desirable that further 

 observation be made upon the habits of this family. 



Family Corimel^enid^e (Cor-i-me-laen'i-dae). 



The Negro-bugs. 



These bugs are mostly black, and are beetle-like in 

 appearance ; some have a bluish or greenish tinge, and all 

 are very convex. The scutellum is very convex, and, as in 

 the following family, covers nearly the whole of the abdo- 

 men. But in this family there is at the base of 

 jtey the scutellum on each side a short furrow into 

 [y0B"jtv which the edge of the wing-cover fits when at 

 j^| rest. All of our species belong to the genus 

 Corimelcsna (Cor-i-me-lae'na). 



Fig. 180.— Cori- v } 



meiana atra. These insects infest various plants, and often 



injure raspberries and other fruit by imparting a disagreeable 

 odor to them. Fig. 180 represents one of these bugs, some 

 what enlarged. 



Family SCUTELLERID.E (Scu-tel-ler'i-dae). 



The Shield-backed Bugs. 



The members of this family resemble the 

 negro-bugs in the shape and size of the 

 scutellum, which covers nearly the whole of 

 the abdomen ; but the sides of the scutellum 

 are not furnished with a groove for receiving 

 the edge of the wing-covers. Fig. 181 repre- FlG lSl -Eury £ as- 

 sents one of these insects enlarged. They **«*"»*«■ 

 feed upon plants. 



M 



