SUBFAMILY I. — PENTATOMIN.-E. 



155 



Fig. 31, X 4. 



(After Chittenden). 



104 (172). Murgantia histrionica (Hahn), 1834, 116. 



Oblong-oval, subdepressed above, more convex beneath. Head black, 

 each cheek with a large triangular yellow spot; antennae black, the basal 

 joint in part paler; pronotum orange-red, its front margin paler at 



middle; disk with a wide, irregular, often 

 interrupted, crescentic black spot behind 

 each apical angle; scutellum black, its base 

 with three small yellow spots, the tip and 

 a central cross orange-red; elytra orange- 

 red with a large transverse black spot in 

 front of middle and another at apical 

 fourth; membrane black, paler toward tip; 

 abdomen black, shining, with seven rows of 

 paler spots, those of the median row and 

 the outer two rows on each side yellow, 

 those of the other two rows larger and in 

 great part orange; thoracic pleura black, 

 each with one or two paler spots; legs 

 black, the femora with yellowish lines and 

 spots. Head and pronotum almost smooth, 

 the latter with margins thickened and disc with a single submedian 

 curved row of small punctures. Scutellum with base smooth, the apical 

 half with a few punctures and narrow transverse impressed lines. Elytra 

 finely, evenly and shallowly punctate. Under surface almost smooth. 

 Length, 9—11.5 mm.; width, 5.5—6.5 mm. (Fig. 31). 



Crawford, Spencer, Perry and Posey counties, Ind., May 8 — 

 Get. 22 ; Chokoloskee, Fla., Oct. 20 ; Orizaba, Mexico, July 28 

 (W.S.B.). Agricultural College, Miss. (Weed). The Indiana 

 specimens were taken from cabbage and other cruciferous 

 plants, to which it often does much injury. It is a species of 

 southern range, which has gradually spread northward, its 

 known present distribution extending from New England west 

 to Colorado and south and southwest to southern Florida, 

 Texas, California and Mexico. It is not common in Florida, the 

 only previous definite station recorded being based upon speci- 

 mens from Lake City in the Gainesville collection. Chittenden 

 (1908) has given the most comprehensive description of the 

 distribution, habits and remedies for this bug, and from it I 

 quote as follows : 



"A moderate-sized red and black plant-bug, variously known as 

 'calico back,' 'fire bug' and 'terrapin bug,' as well as harlequin cabbage 

 bug, is the most destructive insect enemy of cabbage and related crops 

 in the southern part of the United States. It accomplishes its work of 

 destruction by sucking the sap from leaves and veins of cabbage and 



