NEPlDiE. 
711 
young nymph has a process at the hind end, which projects beyond the 
abdomen, and the tip of which constantly rests on the surface of the 
Fig. 483.— Laccotrephes sp. egg. x 10. nymph. 
water ; this process consists of two incomplete tubes, open below along 
their line of junction, and leading to the ventral surface of the abdomen ; 
air is contained and held in them and passes along the body below, on 
each side, so that air is in connection with the spiracles and the atmos¬ 
phere above the water. The nymphs were fed on fly maggots which they 
held in the forelegs and sucked out. All died at or before the last moult; 
the length of the syphon increased at each moult, and the wing lobes 
appeared at the second moult, there being five in all. 
Distant records three genera and eleven species 
as Indian, but this number may be expected to 
be increased. Laccotrephes is the Indian form of 
Nepa, the broader flatter insect in which the coxae 
are short, the tibia and tarsus working against 
the grooved femur. There are three species: L. 
rohustus, Stab, the largest, in which the abdomen 
above is sanguineous ; L. ruber, Linn., smaller, the 
abdomen above reddish orange ; and L. maculatus, 
Fabr., the smallest, in which the abdomen above 
is dusky. The two last are common throughout 
the plains. 
Fig. 484. —Ranatra Ranatra and Cercotmetus are both very narrow, 
the coxae much developed and long; Ranatra 
