1897.] 237 



Edouardo Eversmann described and figured a species of house-bug which, although 

 admitted as a distiuct species, does not appear to have come under general notice, 

 and in Britain there is no mention of it by any author. Fieber, in his " Europaischen 

 Hemiptera," p. 15 (1861), quotes Eversmaun's description, but except saying " In 

 Russland," makes no remark, and he does not appear to have known the species. 

 Flor, in his " Rhynchoten Livlands," does not allude to it. Now that attention is 

 being directed to the different species of Acanthia (or Cimex, as some still prefer to 

 call the genus), it seems desirable that the claims to recognition of this species, in 

 Britain at any rate, should not be forgotten or overlooked. Eversmann's description 

 (in Latin) as to the chief characters is to the following effect : — " Much smaller than 

 A. lectularia. Body broadly ovate (length, 1\ times the breadth), flat, rugulose, 

 greyish-red, opaque, covered with grey or lutescent hairs, and laterally ciliated with 

 longer hairs. . . . Antennae 4-jointed ; 1st joint short, cliivate ; the other three 

 joints of neai-iy equal length to eacii other, cylindrical, but the 2nd a very trifle 

 longer and thicker than either of the others. Clypeus quadrate, rounded in front. 

 Thorax transverse, in front broadly emarginate, the lateral margins very slightly 

 elevated, subparallel, anteriorly deflected. Abdomen roundly elliptic. Rostrum as 

 long as the thoi'ax, triarticulate, joints of equal length. 



" This Acanthia, Vi\\\c\\ in some years has appeared in many houses of tlie City of 

 Kazan, differs from A. lectularia not only in form but also in its habits; it does not 

 inhabit socially in chinks and joints of the bedsteads, like A. lectularia, but walks 

 about singly and slowly on the walls and bed -coverings, always appearing as if torpid 

 with cold. Its puncture of the human body produces large and persistent tumours, 

 it is also more painful than the puncture of A. lectularia, which is easily accounted 

 for by its longer proboscis." 



It would be of intei'est to know if this species still exists in Kazan only, or if, 

 considering the difficulty of disestablishing Acanthice, it is not only prosperously 

 domiciled there, but has also extended its ravages into other towns and countries. 

 And yet, except reported on by an entomologist, how is it to be guaranteed whether 

 the settlers or migrants (as the case may be) are ciliata or lectularia, or if the honours 

 of the situation are equally divided between the species ? Possibly some competent 

 brother will note and reply. — J. W. Douglas, 153, Lewisham Eoad, S.E. : August 

 20th, 1897. 



A hint as to breeding loood-feeding insects. — Many years ago my lamented friend 

 Mr. Stainton was in the habit of receiving wood-feeding Micro-Lepidoptera from 

 Herr Miihlig, of Frankfurt a/M, who obtained them from a friend, a Coleopterist, 

 in that city, whose name I never heard. This entomologist was the possessor of a 

 glasshouse, but whether it was specially constructed or only a disused greenhouse, I 

 never knew, nor does it particularly matter. During the winter he obtained from 

 the neighbouring forests a supply of dead or decaying wood, and stored it in this 

 glasshouse in question, not allowing it to become too dry. During the season for the 

 emergence of the perfect insects the house was kept constantly closed, and the 

 insects that came out were readily captured on the glass. In addition to Coleoptera 

 there were of course many other insects, and being in need of species of the genus 

 Rhaphidia (which preys upon wood-feeding larvaj), I induced Mr. Stainton to try 

 and obtain some from his correspondent. The first attempt I well remember was not 



