448 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec., '17 



Harmostes minor Spin. 



Mcrocoris minor Spin., Hist, de Chile, Gay, Vol. 7, p. 165, 1851. 



Harmostes chilensis Ball., List. Hem. Ins. Brit. Mus. Part 2, 1852. 



Head short, apex acute, first antennal joint considerably passing 

 apex of head, second and third joints about equal in length, fourth 

 about two-thirds the length of the third. Bucculae short, disappearing 

 before line of the eyes. Beak extending beyond metasternum. Thorax 

 coarsely punctured, lateral margins entire, wide, and somewhat flaring, 

 posterior angles distinctly angular. Hind femora incrassated and with 

 strong spines beneath. Size about 7 mm. long. 



General color above greenish yellow to yellowish brown. Thorax 

 tinged with rufous, scutellum distinctly yellow. Posterior border of 

 thorax dark. Inner margins of corium distinctly rufous. Membrane 

 hyaline. Yellow beneath. 



Distribution includes southwestern United States, Chile and 

 Argentina. 



Harmostes obliquus Say. 



Syromastes obliquus Say, Desc. New Sp. Het. Hem. of N. A., New 



Harmony, Ind., December, 1831. 



There is considerable doubt as to this species. If it rightly 

 belongs in Harmostes it could be distinguished from all other 

 species by its remarkably small size, less than three-twentieths 

 of an inch long. I have seen no specimen labeled "obliquus" 

 and the original description is too meagre in structural details 

 for me to attempt to place the species where it rightly belongs. 

 I therefore simply append this species to the list of those be- 

 longing to this genus until the matter can be cleared up. Mr. 

 VanDuzee, in his recent check list, inserts a question mark be- 

 fore the species. The following is a copy of the original de- 

 scription by Say : 



"S. obliquus all above punctured : rostrum and head rather short 

 Inhabits the U. S. 



"Body pale yellowish-rufous; head obviously punctured, not extending 

 to the tip of the first joint of the antennae; antennae, first joint robust; 

 second hardly two-thirds as long as the third; thorax with rather 

 large punctures: no obvious transverse impressed line; hemelytra, on 

 the corium with large separate punctures; posterior edge very oblique 

 and elongated; membrane immaculate, undulated by the nervures; 

 beneath more obviously tinged with rufous; feet paler; rostrum hardly 

 reaching the intermediate coxae. Length less than three-twentieths of 

 an inch. It may be distinguished by the remarkable obliquity of the 

 terminal line of the corium." 



