168 Journal New York Entomological Society. [Voi. xi. 



ova as early as May i6, and found the recently transformed adults on 

 August 1 6, giving a period of development of over 12 weeks. 

 However, as the ova and adults were found in different localities, this 

 may explain the discrepancy, as the period in question has not been 

 borne out by aquarium experiments, which gave about 77 days for 

 development from the ovum to the adult. There are five nymphal 

 instars which, with the embryonic stage and the adult, gives seven 

 stages of growth altogether, as shown by aquarium breeding. The 

 number of instars also holds good in nature. On the same day and at 

 the same place, I have taken Pelocoris in all stages, except the ovum 

 and the first nymphal instar. 



The following life-history has been worked out by me in my aqua- 

 ria, and is subject to revision, be- 

 cause of the small number of in- 

 dividuals observed. The young 

 Pelocoris were fed on flies, on 

 which they throve. 



On June 6 of this year (1903), 

 I took a number of overwintering 

 Pelocoris, which I put in an aqua- 

 rium on the following day. On 

 looking at them a day or two 

 later, I noticed that the water- 

 plant in the aquarium had some ova on it. I removed the.se on the 

 8th, and did the same on the 9th, setting apart the two lots, 73 ova 

 in all, for observation. 



Color. — Translucent pearly white when deposited, growing darker as develop- 

 ment progresses. Markings : Surface minutely punctulated in lines, punctures set 

 close together, giving the appearance of meandering striations. As the time for 

 emergence approaches the character of the markings changes. The chorion is still 

 punctulated, but at the same time engraved in distinct hexagons produced by the 

 punctulations. Shape : From above, imperfectly oval ; from side, somewhat flat- 

 tened above, with a gradual rise toward the middle. The cephalic end is more 

 rounded than the caudal, descending to the line of attachment with a shorter curve. 

 This curve is somewhat depressed at the extremity of the ovum, from which depres 

 sion arises the micropylar boss. (See Figs. I and 2.) The form changes during 

 incubation and just previous to emergence the ovum is larger and rounder than when 

 first deposited. Size : Longitude, 1.4 mm. ; latitude, .6 mm. ; altitude, .7 mm. 



While I have not been so fortunate as to witness oviposition by 

 this insect, M. Regimbart, in his classic paper on " Observations sur la 



