52 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Feb., 'l8 



the world are concerned, and advocated uniting this tribe 

 with the Rhyparochromini. However, the consideration of 

 the position of these glandular spots as a tribal character for 

 our United States Lethaeini certainly succeeds in grouping 

 together, without other characters, a fairly well unified group 

 of genera. 



In his synoptic key (pp. 66-67) for separating the three 

 species of Scolopostethus, Mr. Bueno, in following Horvath 

 1893, perpetuated his error in reference to the ocular setae. 

 Dr. Horvath, in Rev. d. Entomol., XII. pp. 238-241, 1893, 

 published a description of the three American species of Scolo- 

 postcthns, remarking that 5. atlanticus and 5. diffidcns differ 

 from the introduced European 6". ihonisom by the absence of 

 the two setae placed near the eyes. As a matter of fact all 

 three species possess these setae. It is also inadvisable to use 

 claval punctures for specific diagnosis. The spines of the 

 fore femora are more dependable as a specific character, but 

 these are subject to considerable variation. 



The following key will serve to differentiate the three spe- 

 cies of Scolopostethus: 



1 (4). Hemelytra strongly fasciate with fuscous posteriorly. 



2 (3). Membrane commonly fuscous, variegated with pale, with a 



large pale spot on each side in macropt. form. Lateral margins 

 of pronotum straight. Anterior femora armed with smaller spines 

 only towards apex from the larger spine.... S. atlanticus Horv. 



3 (2). Membrane in macropt. forms commonly pale with the veins 



fuscous and without the pale spot on each side. Lateral margins 

 of the pronotum obviously concave. Anterior femora armed with 

 smaller spines both before and behind the larger preapical spine, 



S. thomsoni Reut 



4 (i). Hemelytra not strongly fasciate with fuscous posteriorly, 



merely slightly embrowned. Lateral margins of the pronotum 

 nearly straight. Membrane dark brown with a pale spot on each 

 side in both macropt. and brachypt. forms.... S. diffidcns Horv. 



Mr. de la Torre-Bueno has one of the specimens from Colo- 

 rado recorded by Uhler in Gillette and Baker's Hemlptcra of 

 Colorado, 1895. as Eremocoris troplcits Dist. This particular 

 specimen is S. thomsoni Reut. 



