THE VELVET WATER-BUGS. 611 



the median groove of head in foveata "is double, converging an- 

 teriorly and with a median ridge between them." In the Chi- 

 cago specimens, identified by Bueno for Gerhard as foveata, the 

 median groove is single with a distinct ridge each side. One 

 of them was sent Mr. China, who compared it with the type of 

 hebroides. He found the grooves on head to be the same, and 

 only a few minor differences in color of antennae and legs. He 

 wrote : "Without inspecting the genitalia I should say that 

 the two are one and the same species." In examples of M. 

 brunnea from Florida the groove of head is variable, being very 

 faint or wanting in some specimens, well defined and either 

 single or double in others. The only Florida record of hebroides 

 is that of Drake as f areata (1920, 208) from Gainesville. Only 

 macropterous forms are known. 



587 (813%). Merragata brunnea Drake, 1917, 105. 



Macropterous Form. —Oblong, rather robust, shorter than our other 

 two species. Pale chestnut-brown; corium, legs and antennae yellow, the 

 tarsi and fourth antennal darker; clavus and membrane wholly milky- 

 white. Head hairy, declivent in front, its median groove variable, as 

 above stated. Antennae one-third longer than head, the fourth joint fusi- 

 form, slightly longer and stouter than the others. Pronotum abruptly 

 and strongly constricted at apical third, the transverse impression with 

 a row of coarse punctures, median groove nearly entire, humeral angles 

 prominent, rounded. Scutellum with a faint median carina. Inner ner- 

 vures of corium broadly rounded. Brachypterous Form. — Color some- 

 what darker; elytra represented by small white pads not reaching sec- 

 ond dorsal. Pronotum smaller, its hind lobe less elevated and sides less 

 constricted, humeri much less prominent. Scutellum shorter and broad- 

 er. Length, 1.4 — 1.6 mm. 



Dunedin, Fla., Feb. 23 — April 25. Numerous examples taken 

 from amongst masses of water shield, Brasenia purpurea 

 (Michx.) in small ponds. Described from Ohio. Ranges from 

 New York west to Minnesota and Nebraska and south to Flor- 

 ida. Drake (1920, 208) records the taking of immense num- 

 bers of nymphs and adults at Gainesville, Fla. 



588 ( — ). Merragata slossoni Van Duzee, 1921, 133. 



Elongate, more slender than hebroides. Above pale to dark reddish- 

 brown, minutely pubescent with yellowish hairs; front lobe of pronotum, 

 scutellum and apex of corium tinged with fuscous ; a line on corium, the 

 entire clavus and four vague spots on membrane milky-white; antennae 

 and legs pale brownish-yellow, the fourth antennal and tips of tarsi 

 darker; ventral surface of abdomen blackish-brown, its edges paler. An- 

 tennae nearly twice as long as head; joints 1 and 2 subequal, 3 shortest, 



