94 Annals Entomological Society of America [Vol. XI, 



EGG. 



Early in the summer young nymphs were observed crawling 

 about on some strips of bark which had been cut from small 

 apple branches and kept in the laboratory for a few days. It 

 seems probable that they hatched from eggs contained in the 

 bark, but none could be found, even after a diligent search 

 on branches of various sizes. 



Eggs were dissected from mature females for description and 

 drawing. They are 1.2 mm. long by .20 mm. wide and slightly 

 curved. At the micropyle end there are two small projections 

 with a roughened surface. The color is white. 



FEEDING HABITS. 



A curious habit of the insects in concealing themselves 

 among leaves curled by aphids led to observations on their 

 feeding habits. It was found that aphids constitute one of 

 their chief sources of food. Adults and nymphs of all stages 

 jab their beaks into the aphids and suck out part of the body 

 fluids, often withdrawing the beak several times and inserting 

 it again in other parts of the body. When attacked the aphids 

 secrete droplets of fluid from the cornicles and if these touch 

 the beak of Pilophorus the latter will withdraw and remove 

 the substance with the fore tarsi before proceeding further 

 with the meal. The mutilated aphids generally die as the 

 result of their injuries. • 



The bugs were also seen probing with the proboscis among 

 the cast skins of an aphid colony as if lapping up the refuse 

 honey dew dropped by the aphids. They occasionally vary 

 the diet by sucking from a leaf or stem. 



Several nymphs and adults were confined in a gauze bag 

 on a fruit spur free from aphids, and although they lived over 

 a week no injury could be detected on the. leaves or the apples, 

 either at that time or later. 



In the neglected orchard, which is infested with San Jose 

 scale, the bugs were seen running about over the large branches 

 and this suggested the possibility that they might feed on 

 scale insects also. They can see a moving object so far it is 

 rather difficult to get close enough to observe their feeding 



