210 



would seem to furnish an ideal habitat for the genus Bittacns, but 

 only two specimens, a male and a female, were taken (Sta. IV, c) 

 Aug. 22 (No. 141). 



The young and adults of this genus are predaceous. Brauer and 

 Felt have described the habits of some of the adults. They capture 

 small flies and other insects with their legs as they hang suspended. 

 The use of the legs for suspension and for the manipulation of their 

 food recalls somewhat similar methods used by other predaceous 

 insects, such as robber-flies (Asilidcc) and hornets (Vespa). Bittacns 

 may copulate while thus suspended and eating, as described and fig- 

 ured by Brauer. Either the first or second, or both pairs of legs may 

 be used for suspension. 



The larvae are caterpillar-like, but in the case of our American 

 species none of them are known. The European species are preda- 

 ceous, and live upon the ground. According to Brauer a certain 

 amount of drying seems necessary to the hatching of the eggs. Some 

 species have been taken at light, where they preyed upon the congre- 

 gated insects. (See Hine, '01, p. 260, and Bull. No. 7, n. s., Div. 

 Ent., U. S. Dept. Agr., p. 86. 1897.) Papers by Brauer ('53, '55, 

 '62, '63, '71). F'elt ('95), and others by Hine ('98, '01), will be of the 

 greatest assistance to a student of this neglected group of insects. 



Bittacns strigosus Hag. Spotted Crane-like Scorpion-fly. 



This species was taken but once — J^^ne 28, 191 1, by T. L. Han- 

 kinson in the Bates woods (No. 7678). It was abundant south of 

 Bloomington Aug. 22, 1895, where B. stigmaterus Say was also taken 

 July 16, 1896. These species are characteristic of dense woods. 



Bittacns' apicalis Uhler. Brown-tipped Scorpion-fly. 



This insect was taken June 28, 191 1, in the Bates w^oods by T. L. 

 Hankinson (No. 7678). I have found this species very abundant in 

 dense shady woods south of Bloomington, 111. The brown tips of 

 the wings make it easily identifiable. 



Orthoptera 



Blattid^ 



Ischnoptcra sp. 



This cockroach was found under leaves on the lower slopes of a 

 ravine (Sta. IV, b) leading to the lowland Aug. 22 (No. 140). Han- 

 cock ('11, pp. 416-418) discusses the habits and habitat of /. pennsyl- 

 vanica (PI. LVI, figs. 4 and 5.) 



