t 63 ] 
the Lantt-rn-Flies, rival the Butterflies and Moths in their deli- 
t:ate beauty. Others are repulsive, like the bed-bugs and lice. 
Most of them live on land, others are found in the water or on 
the surface of it. Many, like the plant-bugs, are feared and 
detested by farmers and horticulturists on account of the 
damage they do ; others^ like the Cochineal Insect (of Mexico) 
and the Lac Insect are highly useful and are cultivated. Most 
of them are mute, whilst others, !ike the Cicadas, are extremely 
noisy and by their shrill note may drown every other animal 
sound in the jungle. 
The metamorphosis of the Rhynchota is not complete. 
Their mouth parts are in the form of a beak and are adapted to 
piercing and sucking. Most of them have two pairs of wings. 
However, wings may be absent altogether, as in bed-bugs and 
lice, or be present in the males only, as in Scale Insects. When 
present, front wings and hind wings may be similar in structure 
(suborder Homo/ftent], or the front wings may be partly stiff 
and homy (suborder Heteroptera), 
In the ' Fauna of British India ' the order is divided into 
28 families. We can consider only a lew of the principal ones. 
The Shield Bugs {Pentatomidae] are called thus from 
their shape which is that of a scutcheon. Many of them have 
a pungent odour, and practically all are destructive to plants. 
Best known is perhaps the small green bug Nezara virtdula 
which is almost cosmopolitan. A common Singapore species 
is Ertheshta fidla, grey with whitish spots. A very showy form 
is Cantaa aceilaius. It is of reddish-ochraceous colour, with 8 
black spots. 
The next family, the Coreidae, are dull grey coloured 
insects. Their antennae are long and four-jointed, and their 
legs are, as a rule, curiously dilated and provided with spines. 
Prionolomia rnalaya may serve as example- 
The Pond-Skaters [Hydrometridae) live on the surface of 
pools and slow-moving streams. Most of them have enormous 
legs, like Ptilomera latlcaudata. The species of the genus 
Halobaies are found on the surface of the sea, sometimes at great 
distances from land. They are the only marine insects known. 
The Malayan Water-Scorpions {Nepidae) resemble those 
of Europe, They received their popular name from their shape 
and especially from their front-legs, but are quite harmless. 
Laccatrephes robusitts is exhibited. 
The Water Bugs (Behstomatidae) include some gigantic 
forms, like Behsioma indiauii (see pi. XVI, fig. 8). A specimen 
from the New Filler Beds, Buktt Timah Road, measuring 
