. A manual for the study of insects. Insects. 132 THE STUDY OF Figure 151 represents a common form, natural size. Like other water-bugs, these insects fly readily from pond to pond, and they are frequently attracted to lights. This is especially the case where electric lights are used, into which they sometimes fly and are killed by hundreds. On this account they are known in many parts of the country as " Electric-lteht Bugs ; " and in some sections the absurd idea prevails that they have appeared only recently, as if they were in some way a product of the Fig. 151.—Belost
. A manual for the study of insects. Insects. 132 THE STUDY OF Figure 151 represents a common form, natural size. Like other water-bugs, these insects fly readily from pond to pond, and they are frequently attracted to lights. This is especially the case where electric lights are used, into which they sometimes fly and are killed by hundreds. On this account they are known in many parts of the country as " Electric-lteht Bugs ; " and in some sections the absurd idea prevails that they have appeared only recently, as if they were in some way a product of the Fig. 151.—BelostofJta americanum. elcCtric lis^ht. Figure 151 represents Belostoma americanum (Be-los'to- ma a-mer-i-ca'num). In Belostoma the front femora are grooved for the reception of the tibiae, as in the preceding family. Another common representative of the family is Benactis griseus (Be-na^cus gris'e-us). This resembles Belos- toma americanum very closely, but can be distinguished from it by the absence of the femoral groove. There are other species of the family which are smaller and belong to the genus Zaitha (Za'i-tha). Figure 152 rep- resents one of these, natural size. In the far West there is a common spe- cies which IS an inch and a half long and about half as broad ; this is Serphus dilatatus (Ser'phus dil-a-ta'tus). These insects are known to California children as " Toe-biters," owing to the great interest they are sup- posed to take in the feet of waders and swimmers. The Giant Water-bugs are rapacious creatures, feeding on other insects and small fish. With. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Comstock, John Henry, 1849-1931; Comstock, Anna Botsford, 1854-1930. joint author. Ithaca, N. Y. , Comstock Pub. Co.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectinsects, bookyear1895
