660 FAMILY XXIX. — MIRID^E. 



The above is a free translation of the original characteriza- 

 tion of genus and species. The latter was described from a 

 single female taken on Mt. Washington, New Hamp., and has 

 since been recorded by Barber from Arizona. The type is in 

 the Heidemann collection at Cornell University. 



Family XXIX. MIRID^E Hahn, 1831, 234 (Capsida Burm.). 



The Leaf Bugs. 



This, the largest family of Heteroptera, comprises species of 

 small or medium size and fragile structure, having the head 

 porrect, usually more or less declivent in front ; eyes large, 

 rather coarsely granulated ; ocelli absent ; antennae 4-jointed, 

 usually with joints 3 and 4 more slender than 1 and 2, the latter 

 sometimes much thickened; beak 4-jointed, not received in a 

 groove, the first joint as long as or longer than head ; prono- 

 tum variable in form, usually with two oval, smooth convex 

 areas (calli) on front half; scutellum distinct; mesoscutum 

 usually in part exposed ; elytra and wings large in proportion 

 to the body, usually surpassing the abdomen and normally 

 separated into clavus, corium, cuneus and membrane, the em- 

 bolium often not very distinct from the corium ; membrane 

 with two basal cells, one larger than the other, the small one 

 sometimes vague or obsolete, otherwise without veins ; tarsi 3- 

 jointed, rarely {Peritropis) 2-jointed; tarsal claws two, divari- 

 cate, often with a pair of slender appendages (arolia) between 

 them, these sometimes accompanied by a pair of pseudarolia 

 at the inner base of the claws. Female with genital segments 

 cleft at middle, enclosing the sheath of an ovipositor which is 

 capable of exsertion. 



The parts of a Mirid used in classification are excellently set 

 forth on the accompanying plate by Knight. Our species vary 

 greatly in form, but are usually elongate or oblong with sides 

 of elytra subparallel, or subovate with sides feebly curved. The 

 male is generally more slender than the female and both sexes 

 ara usually macropterous, the male almost always so. The 

 body is generally clothed with fine hairs or pubescence, some- 

 times also with hair-like scales which are easily abraded. The 

 name Capsidae was used until recently for these leaf bugs. 

 Probably 1,500 or more species are known and new ones are 

 turning up every day. Van Duzee included more than 400 



