BUGS. 177
and 1 Epping Forest form (Myrmus miriformis). The 8 Berytidae
(Stilt-bugs) are all ground-dwellers and are represented in our
county by 3 species, of which 1 is found in Epping Forest
(Berytus minor). Of the 66 Lygaeidae, frequenters of sandy ground,
it is rather surprising to find, since Essex cannot be considered a
sandy county, that we have 35, of which 11 are listed for Epping
Forest. The solitary British species of Pyrrhocoridae, viz.,
Pyrrhocoris apterus, has not yet been found in our county.
Of the 24 Tingidae (the small and sluggish but beautiful
Lace-bugs), which frequent low plants, we have 13 in Essex
and 4 in Epping Forest. The small family of 6 Aradidae, usually
found under bark and believed to be devourers of, or otherwise
associated with, fungi, are represented in Essex by 2, one of
which, Aradus depressus, is listed for Epping Forest. Of the
still smaller family of 2 Hebrides, living in sphagnum, Essex
can claim both and Epping Forest 1 (Hebrus ruficeps). Of the 15
Gerridae (Pond-skaters), which mostly live on the surface of
ponds and slow-running streams, Essex has the respectable total
of 11, and Epping Forest 7. Of these Hydrometra stagnorum
literally walks on the surface, sometimes very quickly, but
Microvelia and Velia run, and Gerris jerks itself, over the surface.
In no case is the "surface-film" of the water broken by these
insects, and only their tarsi are in contact with it, the body being
held quite clear. Mesovelia also runs, but lives more on the
floating leaves of water-plants. All these species subsist on such
insects, dead or living, as they can pick up or catch. The 18
Reduviidae, ground and low-plant dwellers, are also well
represented in our county by 13 species, of which Epping Forest
has 5. I should like to draw special attention to the little
Ploiariola culiciformis belonging to this family. Although so
fairy-like and innocent in appearance, this little bug is
very blood-thirsty and preys greedily on gnats and small flies,
for some of which it might easily be mistaken. Of the 19
wet and muddy-ground-dwelling Saldidae we can boast only
7 species in Essex at present, and only 2 of these
have been found in Epping Forest. Of the Cimicidae,
so far only the Bed-bug of the Cimex group has been recorded
from Essex. The remaining 33 British species of the family are
dwellers amongst trees and shrubs and herbaceous plants, and
our county supports 15 of them, 8 occurring in Epping Forest.
M