NOTES. 1 15 



Of the fifty-one genera of Pentatomidae occurring in Ceylon, 

 thirty-seven are represented by single species, or in other words are 

 monotypic in the Island according to existing records. The genus 

 of Pentatomidae with the greatest number of local species is Copto- 

 soma, with seven species, of which five are peculiar to Ceylon. 

 These are small plant bugs somewhat resembling ladybirds (Cocci- 

 nellidge) in size, lustre, and general superficial appearance. In the 

 whole of British India fifty-one species of this genus are described 

 by Mr. Distant. 



The Coreidae '• closely resemble both in form and position the 

 Longicornia amongst the Coleoptera " (Distant, op. cit., page 331). 

 The family was formerly designated Supericornia on account of 

 the insertion of the 4-jointed antennae on the iipper side of the 

 head. In this sense it may be said that the Supericorn bugs are 

 to the Rhynchota what the Longicorn beetles are to the Coleoptera, 



Of the twenty-two genera of Coreidae in Ceylon thirteen are 

 represented here by single species. The most extensive or 

 polytypic genus in the Island is Homceocerus, with eleven species, 

 of which two are peculiar. This genus has thirty-four species 

 altogether in British India. 



The only representative of the Berytidae at present recorded 

 from Ceylon is Huhertiella cardamomi, Kirkaldy, a small, slender 

 bug with very long legs, found by Mr. E. E. Green on the vinder 

 surface of leaves of cardamom (Distant, o/j. cit., page 424). 



The Rhynchota-Homoptera (Cicadas, lantern flies, &c.) of 

 Ceylon form the subject of a recent monograph by Dr. L. Melichar* 

 of Vienna, who obtained his material from various sources, 

 including a large collection made by Dr. Heinrich Uzel, who was 

 recently in the Island. At Dr. TJzel's request the collection of 

 Homoptera in the Colombo Museum was forwarded to Dr. Meli- 

 char for the purpose of this work, and was returned by him with 

 names attached to the specimens. The monograph contains 

 accounts of 349 species distributed among 147 genera, including 

 161 new species and 38 new genera. 



The families of the plant lice (Aphidae) and the scale insects 

 (Coccidae) also belong to the Homoptera, but are not included in 

 Dr. Melichar's book. 



An elaborate and richly illustrated treatise on the Coccidas of 

 Ceylon has been in course of publication since 1896 under the 

 authorship of Mr. E. E. Green. Two parts, each containing thirty 

 coloured lithographic plates, have been already published (Lon- 

 don : Dulau & Co.). 



* Melichar, L., Homopteren-Fauna von Ceylon, 233 pages, 6 plates. Berlin 

 (Felix Dames), 1903. 



s 25-03 



