THE INSECTS OF NEW JERSEY. 157 



SINEA A & S. 



S. diadema Fab. Common throughout the State all summer, especially 

 in clover patches. On city shade trees it feeds on larvae of elm-leaf 

 beetles, young caterpillars of all kinds and in general whatever inserts 

 it can get hold of. 



Family PHYMATID^. 



PHYMATA Latr. 



P. erosa Linn, (wolfii Stal.) This 

 occurs in two sub-species, "fas- 

 ciata" Gray and "pennsyl- 

 vanica" Handl., throughout the 

 State VII-IX. The color scheme 

 of the peculiar chunky and angu- 

 lated species is such that the 

 specimens are able to conceal 

 themselves in a flower so as to 



Seem part Of it, and this gives 



an opportunity to capture 



species which they could not 



otherwise reach. Large butterflies, and even bees are captured and 



killed. The fore-legs are short and very powerful, and when once the 



insect gets a hold and has forced its short, chunky beak into its 



prey it is only a matter of a short time to quiet it forever. No eco- 



nomically injurious insects are controlled by these species. 



CL 



erosa.-a, b, adult, from above and 

 side; c, front leg; d. beak. 



Fi 6 



Famil 



These are narrow, long-legged water bugs, the fore-legs fitted for 

 grasping, the others for walking. A pair of grooved anal bristles keeps 

 the insects in contact with the outer air, and enafbles them to breathe 

 when walking on the bottom of shallow pools, etc. The term "water 

 scorpions" has been applied to these species without any warrant so far 

 as danger from the anal processes is concerned. 



NEPA Linn. 



N. apiculata Uhl. Paterson VI, 15, Orange Mts. (Coll); Madison (Pr) ; 

 Caldwell (Cr) ; Westfield VIII, 15 (Bno); Staten Island III (Ds) ; 

 Riverton V, 1 (Jn). 



RANATRA Fab. 



R. quadridentata Stal. Madison (Pr); Caldwell (Cr) ; Ft. Lee Dist. V, 

 VIII, IX, Cranford VIII, 27 (Bno) ; Staten Island V, VI, VIII, X (Ds) ; 



