IV. A PRELIMINARY LIST OF THE HEMIPTERA OF 

 WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 



BV P. MODESTUS WiRTXER, O.S.B. 



The enumeration of insects, even in merely preliminary lists, is of 

 importance, because such lists assist in filling gaps in our knowledge 

 of the uneven geographical distribution of genera and species. A list 

 of the hemiptera found in the vicinity of Buffalo, N. Y. , was pub- 

 lished by Mr. E. P. VanDuzee in the year 1894. In the year 1S99 

 Professor J. B. Smith published a list of the species known to occur 

 in New Jersey. Nearer home we find another, but older, list of the 

 hemiptera of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, prepared by S. S. 

 Rathvon, and published in 1869 in Mombert's History of that county. 

 This list records a large number of hemiptera, but, unfortunately con- 

 tains many useless manuscript names. The region west of Pittsburg 

 is represented in the literature of this subject by a list of the hemip- 

 tera of Ohio published by Professor H. Osborn in 1900, and by lists 

 of the hemiptera of Iowa published by the same authority at earlier 

 dates. A list of the hemiptera of Colorado was published by Gillette 

 and Baker in 1896. 



The larger portion of the si)ecies enumerated in the present list 

 were captured at Greensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, 

 during the seasons of 1900 and 1901, which were early and fine for 

 collecting. A few more species were added in the late and wet season 

 of 1902. Still fewer were added in the season of 1903, which was 

 also late. The latter summer was made memorable to me by the flood 

 which occurred on July 5 at Perin Station. My residence was inun- 

 dated and the lower story was swept by muddy water five feet deep 

 and most of my records were destroyed. Beatty, another locality 

 mentioned in this list, is a railroad station about ten miles north of 

 the Chestnut Ridge, and seven miles east of Greensburg, the county 

 seat of Westmoreland County. Jeannette, likewise located in West- 

 moreland County (elevation 1,059 ^^-Jf is separated from Greensburg 

 (elevation 1,163 ft.), by a high ridge from which flow four streams. 



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