238 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



The larva? are similar to the adults in color and form, but have the 

 peculiar structure of the abdomen less marked. 



This insect is of special interest inasmuch as we have as yet 

 no winged form of female and only the winged form of the 

 adult male. The apterous female form is remarkably ant-like 

 in shape and appearance, as are in less degree the larvae. 

 They were at first supposed to be larvas, but it was noticed 

 that all the winged forms were adult males and an examination 

 of all the wingless forms with the globose abdomen proved 

 them to be mature females. 



They have been found only on elevated grassy ridges and 

 probably feed on some of the grasses, such as Bouteloa, which 

 are common to prairie and plain. 



An ant of an undetermined species and extremely like the 

 female in appearance has b-^ en taken from the same locality. 



In the figures the head is represented as raised on a level 

 with the prothorax, but in pinned specimens and probably in 

 the living individuals when not moving the head is bent down- 

 ward and the prothorax curved on mesothorax, giving still 

 more of an ant-like appearance. 



Professor Uhler established the genus Coquilletia to include 

 insignis, of which he remarks that only males have been seen. 

 There can be little doubt that its female is also apterous, and 

 on this account has escaped collection. 



While possible that winged females may occur, it is evident 

 that the apterous condition is the usual one. 



SERICOPHANES OCELLATUS REUT. 



This handsome little Capsid presents an interesting case of 

 dimorphism and also of mimicry, the brachypterous female 

 closely resembling an ant in the large pedicellate globular 

 abdomen. 



Only the winged form, and presumably only the male, has 

 hitherto been described, and that very briefly. 



Rrachypterons form. — Female: Ant-like the elytra reduced to rudiments 

 reaching only to end of second abdominal segment. Abdomen from third 

 segment globular. Head, thorax and abdomen polished. Length, 2.50 mm. 



Head large, the space between the eyes equaling the pronotum in width; 

 eyes large; antennas moderately long, not longer than length of body; first 

 joint thick, not reaching the end of tylus; secoad joint larger than third; 

 fourth rather shorter than third; prothorax sub-globular, highly polished; 

 scutellum broad, triangular; elytra reaching to or slightly upon the 



