160 Zoology of Colorado 



Heteroptera 



Entomologists call these the "true bugs", but perhaps with- 

 out sufficient warrant. The original meaning of the word bug 

 was a demon or source of terror, and we still have the words bug- 

 bear and humbug in the English language. In America, the pop- 

 ular use of bug is inclusive of almost any arthropod; in England, 

 it is usually restricted to the bed-bug. It is therefore prudent for 

 Americans visiting England to refrain from the use of the word, 

 and even here it is not altogether free from a flavor of slang. 



The family Pentatomidae, with many common species, is 

 usually known by the very broad body and large triangular 

 scutellum. Some kinds are highly injurious, but others are bene- 

 ficial to man, preying upon injurious insects. One of the latter, 

 Perillus claudus of Say, attacks cutworms and larvae of various 

 beetles, and is said to be an efficient enemy of the Colorado Potato 

 Beetle. It has two forms, one yellowish, the other reddish, in 

 each case with dark markings. 



The Coreidae include the large dark Squash Bug (Anasa 

 tristis, or more correctly Oriterus tristis, Hahn's generic name 

 Oriterus having priority, and having a definite type). It is about 

 1 6 mm. long and has a strong but rather agreeable odor. A very 

 familiar form is the Box-elder Bug (Leptocoris trivittatus of Say), 

 which feeds on box-elder trees, and often comes into houses in the 

 fall. It is rather narrow, black, with red markings. The young 

 are bright red. The black membrane of the anterior wings is 

 finely striated, a feature which at once distinguishes it from the 

 rather similar species of Lygaeus (Family Lygaeidae). A very 

 common species of the latter group (Lygaeus reclioatus of Say) has 

 considerably more red than the Leptocoris, and there is a white 

 spot on the membrane. The true Chinch-bug (Blissus leucopterus), 

 so injurious to wheat, seems not to occur with us. Essig remarks 

 that although it occurs in the west, it does little damage there. 

 As a matter of fact, the native Rocky Mountain species is distinct, 

 and has been called Blissus occiduus by Barber (1918), the type 

 being from Fort Collins. The Ambush-bugs (Phymata, of the 

 Family Phymatidae) are yellow with darker markings, and are 

 found on flowers, where they prey on bees and other insects. The 

 front legs are extraordinarily modified for clasping their prey. 



