ENEMIES OF APHIDES. 251 



The total length of the antennae averages about one-fifth of an 

 inch. 



The Rostrum. 



This organ serves its most important uses in the earlier stages 

 of the life of the Hemipteron, and in the imago is, in proportion 

 to the remainder of the insect, distinctly smaller than it was in 

 the fully-grown larva or nymph. It consists of the various organs 

 already described in the last part, and is in frequent requisition 

 for the piejcing of aphides. 



The Thorax. 

 The thorax is,- to a great degree, hidden in all Bugs by the 

 hemelytra. The pronotum (the dorsal aspect of the anterior seg- 

 ment) in Capsus lanarius is exceedingly narrow in front, not much 

 exceeding the width of the head between the eyes, and wide 

 behind, the sides sloping very sharply. It varies in colour from 

 black in dark specimens to yellow in some pale ones, and is closely 

 punctured over its entire surface. 



• The scutellum, which is the only other portion of the thorax 

 visible when the hemelytra are closed, is of medium size, almost 

 equilateral and domed. The colour varies from black to yellow, 

 and the surface is rather sparsely punctured with finer punctures 

 than the pronotum and elytra. Beneath, the coxae, the large size 

 of which is characteristic of the genus, are the most obvious features. 



The Hemelytra and Wings. 

 The coriaceous portion of the hemelytra is well developed in 

 C. lanarius. From the point of attachment to the mesonotum to 

 about three-fourths of the entire length of these organs they are of 

 a thick horny structure, in which the ridges separating the various 

 parts are very prominent. This portion is thickly and deeply 

 punctured, but otherwise somewhat shell-like in texture and 

 without hairs except at the apex. Each hemelytron consists of 

 corium, clavus, cuneus, and membrane. The cuneus is separated 

 from the corium by a deep indentation, a trace of which is pro- 

 longed across its width, giving the apical portion an appearance of 

 almost separation. The cuneus is sharply pointed at the exterior 

 edge, and is here almost black ; above which is a patch of bright 



