240 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



not till recently been present in such numbers as we now know it to be 

 in and about the District of Columbia. It has not, to my knowledge, 

 been taken in this neighbourhood prior to 1S84, when a single individual 

 was captured by Mr. Otto Heidemann, in the District of Columbia. Now 

 it is present here wherever curcurbits are grown, and it has come to stay 

 if the last two seasons are a criterion. A number of these bugs were 

 placed on a squash plant on the Department grounds the ist of October, 

 1897, ^"d the following July several were collected there that had very 

 evidently survived the winter from this lot, as there is little possibility 

 that they flew in from some outside source. 



The species has been sent in through correspondents of the Depart- 

 ment but once. August 5, 1898, specimens were received from Mr. 

 H. J. Gerling, with report that they were taken on cucumber at St. 

 Charles, Mo. 



For the identification of this species, it should be said that it is of 

 nearly the same size as tristis, but may be easily distinguished by its 

 broader prothorax and more prominent angles, the reflected sides of the 

 abdomen, showing four prominent white marks on the hemelytra, and its 

 armed femora, whence is derived its specific name. The upper surface 

 is brown, the legs and first joints of the antennae whitish, spotted and 

 irrorated with black. In front of each eye is an acute porrect spine. 



The egg is of nearly the same size and proportions as that of tristis, 

 but it is much lighter in colour, being light golden bronze instead of dark 

 bronzy brown, the normal colour of the latter. In its active stages, how- 

 ever, it is quite distinct, being lighter in colour, with the legs ornamented 

 by alternate bands of red or black and white. 



It is impossible at present to define the exact economic status of this 

 species. Certainly it is not a first-class pest in its northern range, and, 

 from its observed later appearance, hardly likely to become so. It is 

 capable, however, of injuring late crops of all the curcurbits. 



In addition to the localities mentioned, the species is known from 

 Kansas, Western Iowa, and Florida. 



It is hoped that the readers of this publication who have opportunity 

 of observing curcurbit insects will keep a lookout for this squash bug, and 

 send specimens, if they are successful in securing them, that we may be 

 able to identify the species and thus learn more of its distribution. 

 Specimens will be returned if desired. 



