HEMIPTERA 



385 



In Figure 444 the eggs and a nymph are shown. The eggs are covered 

 uy a brown substance, which hardens soon after oviposition. 



Subfamily PIESMIN.E 



In this subfamily the scutellum is not covered; the hemelytra 

 have a distinct clavus, with a well-marked claval suture; the clavus 

 is furnished with one, and the coriimi with three, 

 longitudinal veins which are much stronger than 

 the network of veins between them. In long- 

 winged individuals the tip of the membrane lacks 

 the network of veins and appears like the mem- 

 brane in other families. As yet but a single 

 American species has been described. 



The ash-gray Piesma, Piesma cinerea. — This 

 species measures about 3 mm. in length, and is of 

 an ash-gray color. The prothorax is deeply pitted, 

 so that it presents the same appearance as the 

 base of the wing-covers. The head is deeply 

 bifid at tip, and there is a short robust spine be- 

 tween the eye and the antenna on each side. This 

 species sometimes infests vineyards to an injurious 

 extent, destroying the fiower-buds in early spring. 



Family PYRRHOCORID^ 



Fig. 444.— Eggs and 

 nymph of Cory- 

 thucha arcuata. 



The Cotton-Stainer Family 



In this family the antennae are four-jointed; the beak is also 

 four-jointed; ocelli are absent ; and the hemelytra are not furnished 



with a cuneus. The members of 

 the family are stout and heavily 

 built insects, and are generally 

 rather large and marked with 

 strongly contrasting colors, in 

 which red and black play a con- 

 spicuous part, in this respect re- 

 sembling some of the larger 

 species of the following family. 

 The Pyrrhocoridee can be dis- 

 tinguished from the Lygaeidas by the absence of ocelli, and by the 

 venation of the membrane of the hemelytra (Fig. 445). At the base 

 of the membrane there are two or three large cells, and from these 

 arise branching veins. 



Only twenty-two species, representing five genera, have been found 

 in our fauna, and these are restricted to the Southern and Western 

 States. 



Our most important species, from an economic standpoint, is the 

 red-bug or cotton-stainer, Dysdercus suturellus (Fig. 446). It is 



Fig. 445. — Hemelytron of Euryopthal 

 mus succinctiis. 



