Family 9, Emesidæ.—Most of these insects are carnivorous in their habits. The best known species of this family is probably Plæaria vagabunda, a brown, delicately-formed insect, which inhabits trees.
Fig. 90.—Acanthaspis Sexguttata.
Tribe II.—Hydrocores or Water Bugs.
All the insects belonging to this tribe are either water insects, or found only in the immediate neighbourhood of water. It contains the remaining families of the Heteroptera, six in number.
Family 10, Saldidæ.—The majority of species belonging to this family are small, dull-coloured insects, always found in the neighbourhood, though they are not strictly aquatic.
Family 11, Hydrometridæ.—The habits of most of these insects are herbivorous, and they are all found near water.
Hydrometra stagnorum is a black or brown insect, more or less tinged with reddish, and about half an inch long. It is found running on the surface of water, or else on the banks or among water plants, but is not so active as some of the other species.
Fig. 91.—Halobates Pictus (Mag.)