HEMIPTERA. 
271 
rostrum takes its origin directly from the front of the 
head ; the hemelytra are always membranous at the 
extremity ; the prothorax is much larger than the 
other divisions of the trunk ; the body flat and de- 
pressed, the hemelytra and wings being always hori- 
zontal or very slightly inclined ; the former crossing 
each other when closed ; antennas usually rather 
long and not terminating in a bristle ; scutellum 
large ; ovipositor not developed. This section con- 
tains the following families : Cimicidae {bugs), Penta- 
tomidae {plant bugs), Coreidee, Reduviidse {wheel 
bugs), Acantliidae, Hydrometridae {water bugs), Ne- 
pidee {water scorpions), Notonectidae {boat-flies). 
The three last are aquatic, and the two last consti- 
tute the subdivision named Hydrocorisa, or water- 
bugs, by Latreille ; the others form his subdivision 
Geocorisa , or land-bugs. 
SCUTELLERA DISPAR. 
Plate XIX. Fig. 1. 
Stoll's Punaises , PI. 37, fig. 260. 
This genus is essentially characterised by the 
excessive development of the scutellum, which covers 
the entire abdomen like a shield, concealing both 
the hemelytra and wings. As in all the other 
species of the family the antennae are five-jointed, 
the joints pretty long and nearly of equal thickness ; 
sucker consisting of four distinct articulations ; tarsi 
three-jointed. 
The scutellerte were referred by Linnaeus to his 
great genus Cimex, and they were subsequently con- 
