3OO ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [J u ty> ' J 6 



The "Hemipteroid" insects, or those usually designated as 

 the "Hemiptera," form a rather heterogeneous collection of 

 insects, which arose from ancestors somewhat intermediate 

 between the Neuroptera and the Psocid line of development. 

 They should be divided into at least two orders (possibly 

 more) known as the Hemiptera proper and the Homoptera. 

 The principal subdivisions of these groups are as follows : 



The four most primitive lines of descent of the Homopter- 

 cus forms are those of the Fulgorids, Cicadids, Psyllids and 

 Aphids. The Fulgoroides (Neurohomoptera) or Fulgorid 

 group is an exceedingly primitive one, and is closely related 

 to the Neuroptera, such Fulgoroid forms as Pochazia 

 (Ricaniinae) having retained certain features strongly sug- 

 gestive of a Neuropteron ancestry. The Fulgorid group is 

 also related to the Trichoptera and Lepidoptera (and some- 

 what distantly to the Panorpids), but they are much more 

 closely related to the Neuroptera. 



The Cicadoides (Enhomoptera} or Cicadid group, is close- 

 ly related to the Fulgorid group, and has also retained cer- 

 tain characters which show a relationship with the Ascala- 

 phids and Chrysopid group. Together with the Fulgorid group, 

 the Cicadoid forms are among the lowest of the Homoptera. 



The Psylloides (Mesohomoptera} or Psyllid group is quite 

 closely related to the Cicadid group, as far as I am able to 

 judge from the material available. They are also apparently 

 related to the Coccid group, but this can be determined only 

 after a more thorough study of intermediate forms. 



The Aphidoides (Clinohomoptera} or Aphid group is re- 

 lated to both the Fulgorid and Cicadid group as well as to the 

 Psyllids, etc. Their line of descent apparently arose from 

 forms intermediate between the Neuroptera and Clinoptera 

 (Psocids), and they have retained many features suggestive 

 of the Psocids (Clinoptera) in particular. 



The Aleurodoides (Coniohomoptera} or Aleurodid group 

 is closely related to the Fulgorid group. These insects have 5 

 retained ' certain characters suggestive of affinities with the 

 Coniopterygidae (Neuroptera), which is to be expected, since 



