IIEMIPTERA. 565 
Heterotoma, Latr., has the two basal joints of the antennae very thick and setose. The type of this cui’ious genus 
is Capsus sjnssicornis, Fab. [a common British species]. 
The other Hemiptera of this family have only two or three joints in the sheath of the proboscis ; the labrum is 
short, and not striated ; the basal and often the second joint of the tarsi are very short; the legs inserted in the 
I middle of the breast; the ungues apical. Some of these have the proboscis straight, and generally resting in a 
canal ; the eyes of ordinary size, and the head not narrowed into a neck. The body is generally entirely or partly 
membranous, and often flattened. They compose the majority of the Fabrician genus Aeanthia, from which the 
following have been separated. 
Syrtis, Fab. (Macrocephalus, Swed., PJiymata, Latr.), has the fore-legs very large and claw-like, serving to seize 
their prey. In Macrocephalus the scutellum is distinct, and covers nearly the whole abdomen. In Phymata 
{S. crassipes, F.), the [scutellum is minute], and only covers part of the upper side of the abdomen. 
Tingis, Fab., has the body very flat, and the antennae terminated by a short knob, the third joint being elong- 
ated ; the majority live upon plants, puncturing the leaves of flowers, and sometimes producing galls. The leaves 
of the pear are often gnawed by T. pyri. [These are minute insects, many of which are English, having the body 
membranous, and covered with small cells ; the thorax is extended behind, over the scutellum.] 
Aradus, Fab., resembles Tingis in the form of the body, but has the antennae cylindrical, with the second joint 
as long as the third, or longer. They are found under the bark of trees, in crevices of old wood, &c. [Small 
insects, of which several are found in this country. A. depresstis, Betula;, &c.] 
Chnex proper, Aeanthia, Fab., has the body very flat, but the antennae terminate in a setaceous joint. The 
typical species, C.lectularius, Linn., the Bed-bug, is too well known to need description. It is said not to have existed 
in England before the great fire in 1666, and that it was imported in wood from America ; Dioscorides, however. 
It has also been asserted that this species sometimes gains wings. It also infests young Pigeons, 
Swallows, &c. ; but that which attacks the latter birds appears to me to form a distinct species. 
[The Rev. L. Jenynshas recently described it as distinct, C. Hirundinis ; as well as one from Pigeons, 
C. cohmbarius ; and one found ona Bat, G. Pipistrelli. {Annals of Nat. Hist., June, 1839.)] 
Various plans have been proposed for their extirpation, but the best is extreme cleanliness. 
The other Geocoris^ of this subdivision have the proboscis exposed, arched, or sometimes 
straight, with the labrum prominent and the head suddenly narrowed behind into a neck. The 
latter form the primitive genus 
Reduvius, Fabricius, — 
In which the proboscis is short, very acute, and capable of pricking strongly, the pain of which lasts for a long- 
time. The antennae are very slender at the tips ; many species produce a noise similar to that made by Crioceris 
and the Capricorn Beetles, which is more quickly repeated. This genus has been thus subdivided, 
Holoptilus, Lep. and Serv,, which have only three joints to the antennae, the last two furnished with very long 
hairs, arranged in two rows, and verticillated in the last joint. 
Reduvius proper, has the antenncB 4-jointed, and smooth, or but slightly pubescent, and the body is oblong- 
oval, with the feet of moderate size. R. personatus, Linn., inhabits the interior of houses, where it lives upon 
flies and other insects, which it approaches stealthily, and then darts itself, immediately killing them by piercing 
them with its proboscis. In the preparatory states it looks like a Spider, covering itself with particles of dust 
and dirt. 
Nabis, Latr,, in which the thorax is but slightly divided transversely, and Petalocheirus, Pal. Beauv., in which 
the fore tibias form a round plate, may be united therewith. 
Zelus, Fab., has the body linear, v/ith the legs very long, slender, and alike, [consisting of a great number of 
exotic species]. 
Ploiaria, Scop., differs from the last in having the two fore-legs [short] with elongated coxae, formed as in 
Mantis for seizing the prey, Gerris vagabundus, Fabr. [an insect of small size, not uncommon in England]. 
We are now arrived at Geocorisae remarkable for the large size of the eyes, and the head not formed into a 
neck, with the head transverse. They live at the sides of water, w'here they run with great agility, and often take 
short leaps. 
Leptopus, Latr., has the proboscis short and arched, and the antennae setaceous ; [small species, several of which 
are found on the Continent]. 
Aeanthia, Latr. {Baida proper, Fabr.), has the proboscis long and straight, and the antennae filiform. Saida 
litoralis, Fabr., &c. [several British species of small size], 
Pelogonus, Latr., differs from Aeanthia in having the antennae very short, and folded beneath the eyes. The 
species are small, and approach Naucoris, to which they conduct with the following. 
Sometimes the four hind legs, very long and slender, are inserted upon the sides of the breast, and wide apart ; 
the tarsal ungues are very small, indistinct, and fixed in a fissure at the side of the tarsi. These feet serve either 
for rowing or creeping on the water. They are peculiar to the genus 
Hydrometra., Fabr,, — 
Which Latreille divides into three others. 
Hydrometra proper, with setaceous antennae, and the head produced into a muzzle, with the rostrum received 
in a canal on the under side. [H. stagnorum, a small, very slender, and common species, found crawling on the 
surface of water.] 
Gerris, Latr., has filiform antennae, with the sheath of the proboscis 3-jointed, and the second pair of legs wide 
mentioned it. 
Fig. 9<3. — Cimex 
lectularius. 
