50 THE UNIVERSITY SCIENCE BULLETIN. 



long ago as Brulle's time at least, (1836). Figures of this difference are 

 shown on plate IX. 



Oviposition. It has been stated that the eggs are deposited in the 

 ground, but the writer has not been able, so far, to verify this point. The 

 ovipositor parts bear strong, dull tipped spines or pegs, that might well 

 serve the purpose of pushing aside the sand grains. A drawing of these 

 parts is shown on plate IX. 



Number of Instars. From the collection of nymphs there are certainly 

 five instars. Uhler says there are two broods in the east. The second 

 one coming in August. 



Food Habits. Again we get some observations from Uhler who writes 

 most vividly of bug behavior : "They may often be seen in the month of 

 May walking about between the stones on the low banks of brooks and 

 streams, where Tettix and Batrachidea abound, watching an opportunity 

 to seize one of these insects, and when the favorable moment arrives, 

 leaping suddenly upon one of them, clasping it with tight embrace be- 

 tween the front femora and tibiae, and there sucking out all its vital 

 juices." Professor Thomas reported its capture of Xya termiiialis in the 

 same way. Uhler says it uses little discrimination, seizing the larvse of 

 ground beetles, and almost any other kind of insect which comes its way. 



The writer submits a photograph herewith (plate V) to indicate 

 the greediness of these bugs, and the fact that their food source was 

 close at hand. The lace bugs in this case were reared on the vegetation 

 near by. Some bugs were taken with a half dozen lace bugs held in one 

 embrace. Another one had some small Capsids. 



Behavior The writer found these in greatest abundance near Russell 

 Springs, in Logan county, and from the river a few miles north of Gn^el©*^, "' 

 in Wallace county, Kansas. Mr. Alexander brought in splendid series 

 from Pawnee county, Kansas. These insects jump quickly when dis- 

 turbed, and squat flat upon the sand where the mottling of their backs 

 merges into their surroundings, rendering them well nigh indiscernible. 

 The position of their hind limbs and the location of the spines of the 

 tibia, where they will best serve their purpose, is an interesting adapta- 

 tion to use. See photo., plate IV. 



DESCRIPTION OF STAGES. 



The Egg. 



Up to date the writer has not been able to follow the life history of 

 the toad bug. Mr. C. P. Alexander brought in from Larned, Kansas, a 

 considerable series of adults and last instar nymphs. From this material 

 the writer has figured the ovipositor of the female, and the ovum. One 

 female contained 10 ova. The mature eg^ meets the following descrip- 

 tion. 



Size. Length, 1.25 mm; diameter, 91 mm. 



Shape Broadly oval, as shown on plate IX. 



The surface is roughly granular, and marked into irregular hexagonal 

 areas by thickened ridges of the chorion. 



