Vol. XXviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 37 



than has been known, since the useful work of the notoriously 

 predaceous larva is supplemented by the predaceous work of 

 the adults. In the struggle for existence, however, the posi- 

 tion of this family is decidedly less advantageous than formerly 

 supposed, inasmuch as, not only the larval food, but also the 

 amount of food available for the adult insect, is an important 

 factor in determining the number of individuals. 



A Species of Macrotracheliella found in New England 

 (Hemip., Anthocoridae). 



By H. M. PARSIILEY, Bussey Institution, Harvard University. 



While examining not long ago some unmounted insects be- 

 longing to the Boston Society of Natural History, I found an 

 Anthocorid bug unlike anything I had previously seen. I sent 

 it with some other doubtful specimens to Mr. O. Heidemann, 

 who returned it without comment as "Macrotracheliella sp.," 

 another instance of my friend's well-known acumen and will- 

 ingness to give others the benefit of his great knowledge of 

 the Hemiptera. This genus was founded by Champion in the 

 Biologia 1 to contain a new species, M. laevis, of which he had 

 examples from Mexico and Panama. The occurrence of a 

 very closely related species in New England is one of those 

 troublesome facts of distribution which every now and then 

 arise to. confront us with our profound ignorance of what is 

 or has been really going on, notwithstanding our theories of 

 zones, soils, land-bridges, and so forth. 



The specimen at hand agrees in every particular with Cham- 

 pion's generic diagnosis but differs from M. laevis in certain 

 characters of specific value. For those who do not have ac- 

 cess to the Biologia it may be of service to present the chief 

 characters .of the genus, especially as it has not been 

 reported hitherto as occurring in the Nearctic region. 



MACROTRACHELIELLA Champion. 



Anterior lobe of pronotum narrow and conical forming a 

 continuous outline with the elongated cylindrical basal part of 



1 Biol. Cent. -Am., Ins., Rhynch. II., p. 322, Tab. 19. figs. 21, 22, 22a. 



