Vol. XXvi] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 211 



ferior part is the episternum, the smaller and postero-superior 

 the epimeron. J 3 The dividing line is not a true suture, but 

 results from an infolding of the integument for muscle-attach- 

 ment. It appears significant that the high development of 

 these structures is correlated with the characteristic activity of 

 these insects, which run about with great rapidity and take 

 wing almost as readily as flies. In the Miridae and certain 

 closely related families the sternum is composite, the parts 

 being separated by a median longitudinal suture and confluent 

 on the sides with the episterna. 



THE METATHORAX. (Plate vii, fig. i.) 

 The pleural region is divided as in the preceding segment 

 but here the epimeron is relatively smaller. The orifices of 

 the scent glands lie between the middle and hind coxae. They 

 are of very variable form in this family and may be reduced 

 or absent in certain groups. The sternum is composite. 



THE ABDOMEN. 



The abdomen in the Miridae consists of ten segments, all of 

 which can be seen only in a dorsal view. The spiracles, fig. 

 i, are located laterally, near the dorsal edge of the ventral 

 segments, except the first pair which is on the tergum. The 

 genital segments are very different in the sexes, figs, i, 2, 3, 

 the male being asymmetrical. Good specific characters will 

 doubtless be afforded by the genitalia, but these structures are 

 yet to be investigated in detail. 



THE AROLTA. 



The parts of the legs, fig. 8, afford a number of characters, 

 all of which are easily observable, except the arolia, which 

 require some discussion, being very important taxonomically 

 though somewhat obscure. Tn Adclphocoris, fig. 10, the arolia 

 are to be seen as two elongated membranous structures at- 

 tached to the end of the last tarsal joint between the claws. They 

 are approximated basally and divergent apically. In Lopidca. 



13 This use of these terms corresponds with that common in other 

 orders but hardly agrees with Renter's statement (1. c. p. 90), where 

 some error, possibly typographical, seems evident. 



