THE CREEPING WATER-BUGS. 1031 



Common in northern Indiana, less so in the southern 

 counties. Occurs throughout the year, the adults hibernating 

 in the mud and debris on the bottom and along the sides of the 

 pools which they inhabit. Sanford, Arch Creek, R. P. Park, 

 Moore Haven and Dunedin, Fla., December — April. Recorded 

 also from several other stations and doubtless occurs through- 

 out that State. Its recorded range extends from New England 

 west to South Dakota and southwest to Florida, Louisiana, 

 Central America and even Uruguay, but probably several 

 species are included. A form known as biimpressus Montd., re- 

 corded by Stal from "N. Am.", differs from femoratus only in 

 having a darker scutellum and a dark streak on embolium. The 

 color of femoratus is variable, the pronotum being sometimes 

 thickly sprinkled with fuscous spots and the under surface 

 often in great part or wholly greenish-yellow. Of its habits 

 Uhler (1884, 259) says: 



"It has an exceedingly acute rostrum and uses it with great free- 

 dom upon small mollusks, larvae of dragonfiies and other aquatic animals. 

 The adults hibernate in deep muck, especially where reeds or water- 

 plants remain rooted throughout the winter. Upon the first approach of 

 mild weather it leaves the winter retreat, moves actively about and soon 

 prepares to lay the eggs which it glues to the submerged leaves and 

 sprays of plants." 



Bueno (1903, 172) states that: "The adults may, under fa- 

 vorable conditions, live for a year, and oviposition seems to be 

 continuous during the summer, giving a number of overlapping 

 broods from over-wintering adults." By personal experience I 

 have learned that P. femoratus, when picked up or held incau- 

 tiously can and often does inflict a severe wound with its beak, 

 the pain for a few seconds being more intense than that pro- 

 duced by the sting of a hornet. 



1173 (1368). Pelocoris carolinensis Bueno, 1907b, 227. 



Slightly smaller and more narrowed in front than femoratus. Gen- 

 eral color usually paler, the more flattened margins of pronotum and em- 

 bolium usually pale greenish-yellow; abdomen varying from dull yellow 

 to dark brown. Pronotum much as in femoratus, the sculpture on sides 

 of disk different as shown in key. Connexivum more widely exposed, the 

 hind angles of its segments more prolonged. Length, 8.2 — 9.6 mm. 



Dunedin and Ft. Myers, Fla., November — March (IF. S. B.). 

 Lake Ellis and Southern Pines, N. Car., June (Brimley). Taken at 

 Dunedin in company with femoratus and at Ft. Myers by sifting 



