572 Journal of Agricultural Research voi. xiii, no. n 



Schilling's original description, in Beitrage zur Entomologie, p. 86-87, 

 Breslau, 1829, has been translated by Messrs. C. H. Popenoe and Gerson 

 Garb as follows : 



Heterogaster ericae. Grayish yellow; thoracic line transverse, hemelytra with dis- 

 coidal punctures and posterior margin black. Membrane with smoky spots. 



Lyg. thymi Fallen. Var. a. — Body smaller than in preceding; shape less narrow, 

 Igt. i^in., It. >^ in. Head with black spots, median stripe pallescent. Antennas 

 dark, lighter at joints; thorax bears at the apex a line of black spots interrupted at 

 the middle. The elytra cover the sides and apex of the abdomen; veins of hemelytra 

 sprinkled with black pimctures; membrane with indistinct smoky spots. Scutellum 

 as in thymi. Abdomen beneath sprinkled with black, posteriorly with pale spots. 

 Habitat on Erica vulgaris and allied plants. 



THE EGG 



•:.v.-'-^g|KKj;- >•■> 7 The egg (fig. i) is about 1.5 mm. long and 0.4 mm. 



''.;5':;j g I wide, and tapers toward each end, one side being 



••';;:^a 1 /^ £ '~\ '■'■■'. ctu-ved and the other nearly straight. It is of a 



.- # ^iJ/ .'■ \ \ -. • translucent pinkish white color. 



•;'■;•.'■ i- W^':,--^ ^^ ■■■■■• THE NYMPH 



• ^^'^'^"^^^^ The body of the newly hatched nymph (PI. 61, A) 



•■ ; '::i:::r:.-/!\-::^^.. :■.■'.: ■ Is about o. 7 mm. long by 0.3 mm. wide, and oval or 



" . •.'■ .■;'.;' •'". •":' ' pear-shaped, being widest behind the middle of the 



abdomen. Its color is translucent pinkish white. 

 Fig. i.—Nysius ericae: Eggs, highly , . , , . , -n ^- ■ . •. j ^ 



^^ jgg^ which on high magnification is seen to be due to 



irregular brownish opaque areas on an almost trans- 

 parent background. The eyes are black and the segments of the antennae shade 

 almost to a flesh color at the distal ends. The dorsal portions of the fourth and fifth 

 abdominal segments contain a large red mass which becomes indistinct after the 

 first molt. 



The nymphs become darker with age, but appear fresh and bright after each molt. 

 After the first one, (PI. 61, B-E) there are dark areas on the sides of the thorax and 

 anterior abdominal segments where the wing pads develop. These areas enlarge 

 during the later instars and, with other sections of the body wall, become almost black. 



The fifth instar (PI. 61, E) is the pupa period. In it the insect is pear-shaped, and 

 displays as much activity as is exhibited during earlier nymphal life. 



LIFE HISTORY 



OVIPOSITION 



Where eggs are pIvAced. — The eggs are deposited in loose soil; 

 among clods or rubbish; in composite flowers like the great-flowered 

 gaillardia {Gaillardia pulchella Foug.) ; between the glumes in grasses 

 like stink-grass or strong-scented love-grass (Eragrostis major Host.) ; and 

 among the clustered parts of plants such as thyme-leaved spurge {Cha- 

 maesyce serpyllifolia Pers.), and carpet-weed {Mollugo verticillata L.); 

 among the down from cottonwood (Populus spp.) wherever this down 

 lodges in quantities ; and in other similar places. 



Manner op oviposition. — For egg-laying the female elevates the 

 abdomen, straightens the ovipositor, and thrusts it almost vertically 

 downward into the substance or among the parts chosen to receive the 



