26 HETEROPTERA OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 



it is rather cumbersome and unwieldy. Bueno describes one 

 used by him as follows : 



"The net ring should be of heavy wire and between 8 and 9 inches 

 in diameter; the necessary length of wire is about 33 to 36 inches. Bend 

 the two ends of the wire 4 inches from the tip at about right angles, 

 then bend the wire to form the ring, so that the straightened ends will 

 be parallel to each other. These ends should then be put into a brass or 

 copper tube about one-half to three-fom-ths inches inside diameter, the 

 latter being the better size, and about twice as long as the straight 

 ends. The latter are fastened into the tube by pouring in melted lead. 

 To prevent this from running out, a short cork is driven in from the lower 

 end until it touches the tips of the ring ends. Any stick about six feet 

 long will do for a handle. To prevent the net from being pulled off 

 the handle, a small (one-eighth inch diameter) hole is drilled through the 

 tube and an ordinary brass screw-eye is screwed into the handle through 

 the hole. The net proper is made of stout brussels netting. The upper 

 part binding around the ring is of heavy unbleached muslin and about 

 4 to 6 inches deep, the netting being about 4 inches deep only. Such a 

 net as this is very strong and little likely to get tangled and torn on 

 rocks or stumps in the water." 



The ordinary butterfly or insect net with bag of gauze, 

 brussels or mosquito netting is little used in the capture of 

 Heteroptera, except for wary or quick flying species such as 

 the Saldidae and some Miridae. The one advantage in its use 

 is that the insect is visible when captured, whereas one must 

 open the sweep net and peer into its depths, thus giving many 

 a fine specimen a chance to dart out and away. 



For the tree-inhabiting Heteroptera beating into an umbrella 

 or into the sweep net above described is an excellent method of 

 capture. Care should be taken in sorting over the debris which 

 falls into the umbrella, as many species cling closely to the 

 small twigs and are apt to be thrown out. If this debris be 

 thrown onto a rubber blanket and then gone over a second time 

 numerous specimens will often be found. In winter or early 

 spring the beating of dead limbs, bunches of dead vines or 

 leaves, clumps of Spanish moss and other accumulated rubbish 

 in the forks of the branches will often bring down many hidden 

 or hibernating species. 



The larger Pentatomids, Coreids, etc., are often visible, cling- 

 ing to leaf or twig and are easily taken by holding the mouth 

 of a large bottle beneath them and letting them tumble into it. 

 Many subaquatic or hibernating species are to be found cling- 

 ing to the under side of boards or stones, or resting in the 

 rubbish beneath them. These can be easily taken with the 

 fingers, or preferably a pair of forceps, if one does not care to 



