CHAPTER XVI. 



ORDER VI. HETEROPTERA. 



This order embraces those insects whose forewings or wing-covers are coriaceous at the 

 base and membranous at the apex : the body is depressed ; antennae elongated and filiform ; 

 and the mouth, which is placed on the inferior part of the head, is promuscidate. Meta- 

 morphosis semicomplete, with an active pupa state. 



It is the Hemiptera of most American and English authors ; but Heteroptera is the. 

 designation preferred by Westwood, for reasons which make it appear to be the more 

 appropriate name of the two. 



The order is divided into two sections : 1 . Hydrocorisa, the residents of water ; 2. 

 Avrocorisa, those which breathe air. 



We have three families at least under the first section, the Notonectid.e, Nepid.je, and 

 Galgulidje. 



The Genus Notohxctds is not uncommon in the springs that furnish the city of Albany 

 with water, and which rise in a high sandy plain some four miles west of the city. 



Notonectus . 



Body much depressed ; mouth promuscidate, short, and composed of two joints ; antennae 

 lost in the specimen ; eyes ovate : the forelegs advanced, and the tarsi armed with a 

 single two-jointed claw ; the middle and posterior three-jointed ; the third minute, 

 and the last armed with two claws. Color brown or olive brown ; beneath lighter 

 than above, uniform, and without ornaments or spots. Thorax in the form of a segment 

 of a triangle ; middle impressed with a longitudinal line, crossed by a transverse 

 groove ; margin of the thorax ciliate. Scutellum large ; base rather greater than the 

 height : the posterior pair of legs obscurely barred with brown ; forelegs raptorial, 

 and without bars. Length an inch and a quarter. Swims rapidly upon its back, and 

 is carnivorous. 

 The damage which the JVotonectus occasions, consists in the destruction of young fish, 



or fry : in this respect it is as voracious as the Dyticus. 



