71 



It lays its eggs during the wet season (June, July, Augùst) in a 

 very neat double row, ten twenty or more in each row, on stems or 

 leaves ot* the food-plant or of any plant in its neighbourhood. 



Thèse eggs are pale ochreous, beautifnlly processed ail over. 

 They areoften attacked by Hymenopterous parasites. The eggs hatch 

 in about five days, and the first moult occurs in about seven days, 

 the nymphs feeding before the first moult. The next three moults 

 occur at intervais of about seven days, the last or fifth moult in 

 about twelve days. 



When just hatched the nymph is pale yellow-brown; the head, 

 thorax and stink-gland areadarker brown ; the whole nymph shiny ; 

 the eyes dark crimson, with very coarse components(l). There are 

 three large abdominal stink-glands on the fourth and fifth uroter- 

 gites respectively. Internally, the sacs are largeand of the usual 

 purse-shape, with an outlet each side at the top. 1 could detect no 

 trace of glands on the other segments. 



Aiter the tirst moult the head and thorax are shiny black, the 

 Iatter divided longitudinally by a. stripe of very pale yellow. Abdo- 

 men pale yellow, markings shiny black, the articulations of the 

 segments marked in dark crimson, and each segment with a trans- 

 verse médian crimson line, more or less distinct. Eyes dark crimson. 

 àntennae and legs pale yellow brown. The succeeding instars are 

 very similar in colouring. The great development of the scutellum 

 is attained in a few minutes at the fifth or last moult. 



The adult bug is rich dark brown, almost black, with a brassy 

 gleam; and is too well known to demand detailed description hère. 

 The nymphs for a short time after each moult are pale pinkish 

 yellow. 



2. Coptosoma cribraria (Fabricils^. 



This species is associated in South China with Drachyplatys 

 subœtieus, and feeds on the same plant, but is not quite so 

 common (2). 



The eggs aie similar in shape to those of the former, but hâve a 

 ring of processes around the cap. They are pale ochreous, the 

 processes almost white, and are laid in a double row, eight or more 

 in a row (thirty altogether being an average number) on stems and 

 leaves. 



The duration of the instars is similar to those of Brachyplatys. 

 The nymphs are bristly in each instar, including the first, when 

 just hatched. The colour when just hatched is pale yellow-brown, 



(1) The eyes are morula-like in the newly hatched nymph. 



(2) It lias also been recorded from Dolichos lablab. C. W. K. 



