Sept., 1915-] Leonard: Plagiognathus politus Uhler. 193 



THE IMMATURE STAGES OF PLAGIOGNATHUS 



POLITUS UHLER AND CAMPYLOMMA VER- 



BASCI HERRICK-SCHAEFFER (CAPSID^, 



HEMIPTERA). 



By M. D. Leonard, 



Ithaca, N Y. 



Plagiognathus politus Uhler. 



This little black capsid spends the winter in the egg-stage in one- 

 year-old apple twigs. The eggs are inserted nearly their full length 

 into the tissue of the stem at the base of the leaf-buds and lie nearly 

 parallel to the axis of the twig. Sometimes they are inserted directly 

 into the bud scales. Ordinarily the eggs are laid singly but often 

 two or three may be found projecting from the base of a single bud. 



Plagiognathus poUtiis has been reared in large numbers during 

 the past few seasons from apple twigs collected at Ithaca, N. Y. 

 These were brought into the insectary in February or March and the 

 pale yellow nymphs first appeared about the time the blossoms were 

 beginning to show pink. 



The following descriptions of the stages are from rearings made 

 during the past two seasons at Ithaca, N. Y. ' They are taken from 

 the living specimens. 



The Egg (PI. XIV, fig. /).• — Length, .9-95 mm.; w-idth, .2 mm.; 

 cylindrical, slightly compressed and curved ; somewhat constricted near 

 anterior end which is squarely truncate; cap narrowly elliptical in 

 outline; color shining pale yellowish or whitish. 



Stage I (PI. XIV, fig. 8). — Length, .8 mm. General color, pale 

 yellowish ; eyes reddish ; antennae in some specimens slightly tinged 

 with dusky; tip of beak dusky; tip of tarsi slightly tinged with dusky; 

 position of abdominal gland faintly indicated by greenish. 



Stage II (PI. XIV, fig. 9). — Length, about 1.12 mm., greatest width 

 of abdomen about .5 mm. General color pale yellowish, abdomen often 

 tinged with greenish. Antennae, except tip of segments, tinged with 

 dusky ; second segment sometimes has indication of brownish ring at 

 middle; indication of a dusky stripe on dorsal edge of liind femora; 

 tibiae more slender than in preceding stage, faint dusky band near 

 base of tibiae, especially of posterior pair; tip of tarsi distinctly 



