INSECTS 



PROBOSCIDEA {continued) PROBOSCIDEA {continued) 



Sepsidak Agromyzidae 



Sepsis punctum, Fabr. Avon rtf%, i8 June, 1896 Leucopis griseola, Fin. Ivybridge, 18 July, 1887 



Nemopoda cylmdnca Fabr CroM. ,8 May, (CM.) ; bred from Aphis on thistle; Tor- 



7 Sept. 1889 ; Avon Valley, i8 June, 1896 ; cross, 2C Aug. 1903 



/r^*n</^., i7Sept. i887(C.M.) Ochthiphila flavipalpis, Hal. 5<7«/te, 26 June, 



Henicita annuhpes, Mg. Torcross 1896 » j j 



Themira putris, Linn. %. Devon Schoenomyza litorella. Fin. Torcross 



Geomyzidae 



Diastata unipunctata, Ztt. Torcross EPROBOSCIDEA 



Nycteribidae 

 Urosophilidae ., ., . , 



ivr » v-i 1 u UT rr. « o Nycteribia hermanni, Leach. Barnstaple, zi Oct. 



NoterophUa glabra, Fin. Torcross, 12 Aug. 9 Sept. .g^g (Oxley Grabham) ; from Lesser Horse- 



^ ^ _, shoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposiderus, Bechst.), 



t^HLOROPiDAE foyjjjj ;„ 3 disused iron-working ; no fewer 



Meromyza laeta, Mg. Solcombe, 15 June, 1896 than eighteen specimens were taken from a 



Diplotoxa messoria. Fin. Torcross single bat 



HEMIPTERA HETEROPTERA 



Bugs 



In this section of the Hemiptera 230 out of 454 British species have been recorded as occurring 

 in Devonshire. 



The small number tabulated for the county is not surprising, when it is taken into con- 

 sideration that no individual has concentrated his thoughts solely on this section of the fauna. 

 The writer is confident that one hundred could be added to the list within two years, and another 

 fifty with little extra exertion. 



The great majority of these are to be found on trees, shrubs, low-growing plants and grasses ; 

 the greater number are vegetarians, others are not particular when they find some soft bodied insect 

 suitable to their requirements. A few, however, are found in running streams, stagnant pools, 

 brackish water, and in the sea. Many of these are carnivorous, sucking the juices of the body 

 of their victims ; some are to be found skimming over the surface of the water, waiting for an 

 unlucky insect that might drop in ; others traverse the mud bottoms ; whilst some pass most of their 

 lives swimming about on their backs. One species has been found in the sea ; this appears to feed 

 upon decaying matter, living under stones from about half-tide to low water ; many of the stones 

 under which it has been found were only uncovered when the tides were extremely low. 



Very few persons are aware of the affection shown by one species for its young {Acanthosoma 

 interstinctum). It was first mentioned by De Geer and verified by the late Edward Parfitt and the late 

 Rev. J. Hellins, both of Exeter. The latter records the fact in the Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, 

 vol. vii, p. 53 (August, 1870) ; a further record in vol. xi, p. 42 (July, 1874), gives the following 

 account of his interesting observations. He says, ' On the 4th of June she began by depositing one 

 egg, then a row of two or three, then about five, till at the widest row there must have been seven 

 or eight ; then she diminished the rows again till she came to a point, the whole mass, in number 

 between thirty and forty, forming a rough diamond figure just about the size of her own body. 

 The outer eggs were laid on their sides, the inner ones stood up on end. The mother now took 

 her stand over these eggs, but I do not think her body touched them ; towards the end of June 

 (29th) I found the young bugs all hatched, and clustered under their mother. On July 3rd I 

 found them showing a red streak down the middle of the abdomen, and, on the 6th they had moved 

 from among the egg-shells, and were got together by themselves. On the 9th I found them 

 moulting ; their colours were bright at first, yellow with vermilion stripe, and they soon began to 

 move about freely. I do not think the female feeds whilst brooding over her eggs or young.' 



There is one species in this group of insects (the bed-bug) that is a great terror to the careful 

 mistress of the house : but when we hear of a house being pestered with these disgusting things, 

 it is not wise to condemn the housekeeper for their presence, especially if it is a newly-built house, 

 for on the sap of the pine-boards these insects feed. 



Mr. Parfitt records that a newly-built cottage which had never been inhabited was swarming 

 with them {Cimex lectularius). They were traced to the pine wood that had been imported from 

 America with which the cottage had been built. It may not be out of place here to say that half 

 a pint of carbolic acid to one gallon of water is one of the best remedies known, the floor, and 

 especially behind the skirting boards, being well wetted, a mop being used for that purpose ; it is also 

 a grand remedy for destroying other obnoxious insects. 



239 



