Sept., 1903] BuKNO : LiFE-HisroRY OF Pelocoris Femorata. 171 



remaining instars are rather scanty. 'J'hese two individuals molted for 

 the third time eight days after the second ecdysis. 



Fourth Nv.mphal Instar. 



Coloration and other peculiarities slightly more accentuated than in 

 the preceding instars. Size: Longitude 6.5 mm.; latitude 4.2 mm. 



I may here state that just previous to a molt, the insect is very thick 

 through, especially so in this and the succeeding instars, and looks fit 

 to l)urst out of its skin, as it does. 



These two individuals were brought without accident to the fourth 

 molt, one in ten and the other in twelve days. I am inclined to the 

 belief that the former is more likely to be the average period. 



P'iFTH Nvmphal Instar. 



In this instar Pelocoris is much more opacjue, though still whitish, 

 immediately after the ecdysis. The wing pads appear in this instar. 

 Size: Longitude, 8.3 mm.; latitude, 5.5 mm. The difference in size 

 between this and the preceding instar is so great that, unless bred, one 

 might be led to the belief that there was still another stage between the 

 two. 



The two insects arrived at the fifth and last moult in sixteen days, 

 which taken in conjunction with the fact that an individual caught in 

 this stage did not reach the adult condition till eleven days after cap- 

 ture, would seem to denote that it is practically the normal period. 



I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity of observing the last 

 moult in Pelocoris, which I will now describe from my notes taken 

 during the process of the ecdysis. 



The bug hangs from the surface, back up. The outer skin then 

 splits along the thorax, and the scutellum of the emerging insect is 

 seen. The opening enlarges as the insect gives rhythmical convulsive 

 heaves. First the entire thorax comes out ; then, with a jerk, the 

 head. It now rests a moment and in a short space again takes up its 

 motion, withdrawing the body little by little from the cast-off skin. 

 The dorsum, as yet uncovered by the still imexpanded alae and heme- 

 lytra, has a coat of air. The wings and hemelytra expand as the insect 

 emerges, so that by the time it is entirely out they are fully developed, 

 completely concealing the dorsum abdominis. It takes the insect 

 about ten minutes to go through this final transformation. When it is 

 entirely free, it turns quickly and hangs back down from the air- 



