UI15]. 



17 



contains only characters common to both species, but Saunders's 

 figure (Hem. Het. Brit. Isl., pi. xiii, f. 2) seems to represent the true 

 laevis. In a recently published paper on the genus Aneurus (Ann. 

 Mus. Nat. Hung., xii, pp. 89-108) I have given in detail the distinctive 

 chai'acters of the two European species, but as this periodical is not 

 easily accessible to British Hemipterists, and as the two insects at 

 first sight are very much alike and possibly confused in British 

 collections, I here give the salient points in which they differ : — 



A. laevis Fabr. 



Spiracles of the -ith, 5th, and 6th 

 abdominal segments placed in the 

 lateral margins. 



A. avenius Duf. 



Spiracles of the 4th and 5th 

 abdominal segments considerably- 

 removed from the lateral margins, 

 those of the 6th segment placed in 

 these margins. 



Oblong-sub-ovato, 2i times longer 

 than broad. 



4th dorsal abdominal segment 

 with a high conical tubercle in the 

 middle. 



?• 



6th ventral segment terminating 

 in the middle in two sub-triangular 

 or apically obtuse lobules, which are 

 shortly produced beyond the apical 

 margin of the genital segment. 



Ovate, very little more than f 

 longer than broad. 



4th dorsal abdominal segment 

 with no trace of such a tubercle. 



?■ 

 6th ventral segment terminating 

 in the naiddle in one transverse 

 lobule, which is slightly produced 

 beyond the apical margin of the 

 genital segment. 



The tubercle on the 4th dorsal abdominal segment of the male of 

 laevis is so high that it effects a boss on the membrane somewhat behind 

 its middle, and the presence or absence of the tubercle can therefore 

 usually be ascertained even if the hemelytra are closed. The scutellum 

 is also less parallel, and apically more narrowly rounded in laevis than 

 in avenius, the surface of the membrane is differently sculptured, and 

 the 6th connexival segment is otherwise shaped in each sex ; but 

 the characters tabulated above will suffice to distinguish the two 

 species. It is somewhat difficult, however, to ascertain the position of 

 the very small spiracles, especially in carded specimens, and a good 

 lens is required for the purpose. 



Turtola, Finland : 



November, 1914. 



