FIELD BOOK OF INSECTS. 



See the key (p. 98) for Scutellerinse (Shield-bugs), 

 Thyreocorinae (Negro-bugs), and Cydninas (Burro wing- 

 bugs). 



The Asopinae have the first joint of the beak largely 

 free and relatively short and thick; there is a spine on the 

 basal abdominal segment. A common genus is Podisus 

 (Plate XXVI), in which the pronotum is sometimes 

 extended into a sharp spine on each side. 



The northern subfamily, Acanthosominas, have but 

 two joints in each tarsus; the following subfamilies have 

 three tarsal joints. 



The Graphosominag have a broad scutellum, which is 

 blunt at the apex and extending back to near the tip of the 

 abdomen. Podops is our only genus, and cinctipes (over 

 .25 in. long, 2nd to 4th antennal joints darker) is our 

 common species. 



The principal family, Pentatominae, has the scutellum 

 smaller and more or less narrowed apically. The following 

 belong here. 



Brocliymena (quadripustulata is a common species with 

 us) has a shallow groove on the underside of the abdomen 

 and the beak extends back of the posterior coxae. They are 

 broad, rough, brown species, .5 in. long and live on trees. 

 They look like bits of bark and are best obtained by beating. 



A medium-sized brown species with an angle on each side 

 of the pronotum, behind, is usually a Euschistus (Plate 

 XXVI). The first segment of the rostrum is not much 

 thicker than the second, and all the tibias are grooved. 

 Chlorochroa uhleri is a bright green bug, about .5 in. long, 

 with yellow side-margins and a yellow tip to the scutellum. 

 Bright green bugs larger than this are usually Acrosternum. 

 Mormidea lugens is shown on Plate XXVI. 



The popular interest in Murgantia histrionica (Plate 

 XXVI) is indicated by its long list of names, among w ? hich 

 are Harlequin Cabbage-bug, Calico-back, Terrapin- 

 bug, and Fire-bug. It is shining black or deep blue, 

 profusely marked with red. It feeds on cabbage and 

 related plants, wild and cultivated. The white eggs, 

 which are placed in a double row, look like small barrels 

 because of their two black bands and a white spot. Adults 

 hibernate. 



114 



