1903.] 123 



that the sting felt almost liUe that of a gnat.* In the Zoological 

 Gardens of Berlin I had an opportunity, in June, 1876, of seeing 

 several nymphs of PsaJlus variabilis, P. variaiis, and P. dimimttits 

 sucking a butterfly larva." Concerning Cnlocoris fulvomaciifafus, I 

 have recorded, Analecta Hemipterologica (Berl. Ent. Zeitschr., xxv, 

 ISSl, p. 190), that T likewise once found several nym|)hs of this 

 species sucking a dead larva of a butterfly. 



In the same work (p. 193) there are some remarks on the habits 

 of Macrofi/lus- quadrilineaf iis : — "' Aa-ovdrng to tlie observations of 

 Prof. Mayr, this species lives on small insects, flies, and gnats, which 

 stick to Sahna qJutinosa, where the Macrof//lus awaits them, sitting 

 quite still. Probably, several Capsids, dwelling on viscid plants, live 

 principally on animal food." These Capsids (Macrofi/Ius, Dici/pJins) 

 are distinguished by their very short claws, which may enable them 

 to rest on viscous plants without sticking to them. 



It is possible there are still other recoi'ds of Capsids living on 

 animal food, t bough, for the moment, I fail to recollect any more. 

 The facts quoted, however, will be sufllcient to ]U'ove that these insects 

 are by no means exclusively phytopbagous 



Helsingfors: March 31s<, lOO.'i. 



On the hah'dx of Ploiaria culiclformis {Be G.).—On December ISth a speci- 

 men of Ibis ciu'ioiis insect walked across my study table ; it looked like a gnat, hut 

 on closer examination I saw that what looked like three pairs of legs was in reality 

 two pairs, and a pair of slender and elbowed antennre ; there was something in 

 front of the head that looked like a pair of spider's falces, and presently these were 

 straightened out and revealed a short pair of legs tliat were held in front, between 

 the antennte. When the surface was somewhat difficult these were used for walking, 

 and then the insect looked precisely as though it had four pairs of legs, it, after- 

 wai-ds folded up the front pair " Mantis fashion " in front of the head. 



From its rapacious look and gnat-like appearance I thought it would probably 

 feed on those insects. On the 31st, having obtained a ''Culex" I put it in (he box, 

 Ploiaria walked round several times, but returned to the gnat, and felt it over very 

 carefully with its antennse ; after two or three minutes it made a sudden spring 

 forwards and seized the gnat's abdomen between its anterior femora and tibiie, in- 

 serting its rostrum between the segments ; after sucking for five minutes it shifted 

 its hold, grasping the base of the gnat's wing with one clasper, inserting its rostrum 

 at the base of the wing ; the gnat offered no resistance, and seemed indeed not to 

 feel the touch of those slender hair-like limbs, its own being comparatively quite 

 clumsy. After being sucked for another five minutes the gnat collapsed, drawing 

 its legs together and falling to the bottom of the box. Altogether rioiaria sucked 



I was once stung, iu the same way, by an Anlhocons sylvestris. 



