1914.1 283 



LYGUS BUBICUNDUS, Fall.: 



AN ADDITION TO THE LIST OF BEITISH HEMIPTEBA. 



BY EYA. BUTLER, B.A., B.Sc, F.E.S. 



I have recently received from Mr. H. Fortescue Fryer, for 

 determination, a specimen of the above Capsid, one of four which he 

 took in October last by sweeping in a ditch of mixed herbage at 

 Holwoods, Hunts, on the borders of Cambridgeshire. He has since 

 taken four others at the bottom of a bare hedge and one amongst dead 

 leaves, all in the same neighbourhood, where the insect seems to be 

 extremely local. The latter specimens were evidently preparing for 

 hibernation. 



L. rubicundus may easily be distinguished from the other British 

 species of the genus by its robust and rather broad form, and the 

 extreme shortness of the antennae. The following description will be 

 sufficient for its recognition. 



L. rubicundus, Fall. 



Oblong-oval, with pronotnm strongly convex ; rather shining reddish 

 ochreons, often more or less tinged with fuscous. Pronotum, scutellum, and hemi- 

 elytra closely and finely punctured, and thickly covered with fine pubescence. 

 Scutellum transversely finely striate. Extreme apex of cuneus dark. Membrane 

 smoky with darker markings, cell-nerves reddish yellow. Antennse with basal joint 

 rather stout, second joint much shorter than is usual in Lygus, only slightly 

 longer than width of head, including eyes, third and fourth joints subequal in 

 length, the two together about as long as second. Legs and antennse reddish 

 yellow, posterior femora with two indistinct reddish rings ; anterior tibia? with- 

 out outstanding spines, the others with pale spines ; terminal tarsal joint dark 

 at apex, claws reddish. Rostrum dark at apex, just passing intermediate coxae 

 Length 5 mm. 



The insect has several varieties, depending on the varying degree 

 of development in the fuscous markings, some being almost entirely 

 brown. As food-plants, or possibly host-plants, Reuter gives Salix, 

 Alnus, Quercus, Prunus padus, Corylus, especially the first-mentioned. 

 He also states that this is one of the species that leave their food-plants 

 when the leaves fall, in order to hibernate in coniferous trees or else- 

 where. According to Flor, it is found also in meadows and on heaths. 

 It is distributed through a large part of the Palsearctic Eegion, and 

 occurs as far north as 63° 40' N. lat. According to Horvath it occurs 

 also in N. America. 



I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Fryer for the addition of the 

 above specimen to my collection. 



56, Cecile Park, Crouch End, N. : -/^W^o'iiari Iflsf/'/yT? 

 November 9th, 1914. //^ C- 



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