690 
RHYNCHOTA. 
Collecting. —The smaller species are found in grass, in fallen leaves, 
among thick vegetation and are probably much more numerous in 
Fig. 456—Paromius seychellensis. x 3. 457—Dieuches unigutta- 
tus. x 3. 
species than the present records show. They have been very little 
collected in the plains and there is a large field for new work. This is 
true also of the bionomics of the family, the life-histories are almost 
wholly unknown, the food of the adults and nymphs has not been 
recorded and from every point of view the family have been neglected. 
Pyrrhocorid^e. 
Ocelli absent. Antennae, inserted on the side of the head. 
This family includes a number of species usually of larger size and 
brighter colouring than the Lygaeids. The size varies from one-quarter 
to nearly two inches in length. The colours are typically warning, and 
red is the predominant colour. All known are plant-feeding and the 
majority feed openly exposed on their food-plant. There are several 
species with the membrane of the hemelytra missing or abbreviated, 
and there is some amount of variation in this respect within the limits 
of a single species. In nearly all the sexes are similar, the males 
little smaller ; in one species the male is marked by the great length 
of the abdomen (Lohita grandis). 
Details of the life-history are known for only one species, Dysdercus 
cingulatus , Fabr., and nothing appears to be on record as to the habits 
or life-history of other species. As a whole the family is not really 
