ENEMIES OF APHIDES. 259 



II, — Rostrum short, hardly reaching beyond the 



anterior coxae. 

 12. — Apical collar of pronotuni long, sides gra- 

 dually diverging from it ... ••• Anthocoris. 

 13. — Apical collar short, sides widely rounded 



behind it ... ... ... ••• Tetraphleps. 



14. — Rostrum, reaching to intermediate coxae ... Acompocoris. 



15. — Pronotum without a distinct collar ... Triphleps. 



16.— Cell of the wing without a hook-like nerve. 



17. — Species robust, pubescent. 



18. — Head short, scarcely longer than its width 



between the "eyes ... ... • Brachy steles. 



19. — Head much longer than its width between 



the eyes ... •■. ••• ■•• Cardiastethus. 



20. — Species elongate, glabrous, parallel-sided .. Xylocoris. 



Of these genera, the first, Lyctocoris (Hahn.), is certainly car- 

 nivorous, preying upon the small insects found in the rubbish 

 which forms its usual habitat, and I have strong reason to think 

 that the second Piezosiethus (Fieb.) is not only an insect-eater, but 

 an aphis-eater, attacking the melon aphis and other species which 

 are found in the hot beds which it usually haunts. Its habits in 

 this respect render it a very convenient species for study. 



Anthocoris (Fall.). — The genus may be readily recognised by 

 the following characters : — Head with eyes not touching the pro- 

 notum ; ocelli placed posteriorly, close to the inner margins of the 

 eyes ; antennae with second joint not nearly so long as the third 

 and fourth together; rostrum short, reaching to about the anterior 

 coxae; pronotum, with well-marked apical collar, sides behind it 

 more or less rounded, base largely sinuate ; scutellum impressed 

 at the apex ; ' elytra always developed, their sides sub-parallel or 

 slightly rounded ; legs simple, posterior coxae close together, the 

 metasternum produced between them in narrowly rounded lobe.' 

 Six species are known as British and may be distinguished as 

 follows : — 



I. — Elytra in part dull. 



2. — Corium entirely shining, except at the 



extreme base ... ... ... Sarothatnni 



( Douglass & Scott. ) 



