THE SHORE BUGS 



(Family Saldidce.) 



The active little bugs of this family which have been dubbed 

 "shore bugs " by Comstock for the reason that they are always 

 found upon the sea beach or the shores of fresh-water ponds or 

 lakes are not numerous in species, although individuals are plenti- 

 ful. Ninety-seven species have been described and about thirty 

 occur in this country. Their color is usually black, brown or 

 drab with whitish markings, the head is free and the eyes prom- 

 inent. They are carnivorous and feed upon other beach inhabit- 

 ing creatures, being frequently seen with the beak thrust into the 

 body of some drowned insect. Every sea beach from Cape Cod 

 to the Florida Keys has some kind of these shy little bugs which 

 resemble tiger beetles in their habits. Some of them burrow 

 under ground. The life history of none of them is well known, 

 yet they offer an apparently easy field for investigation. 



One swift and strong form from Java has been given the 

 generic name Vrtocipeda by Bergroth. 



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