384 ASSASSIN-BUGS. 
female often measures more than an inch and a quarter in length, 
while the male is much smaller. But notwithstanding their 
formidable size and appearance they are good friends of the 
lovers of trees, both fruit and shade trees, as they and a few 
other so-called soldier-bugs are the only insects that eat such 
hairy caterpillars as the tussock-moth, fall-webworm, and 
others. 
Fic. 25.—Prionidus cristatus Linn. Eggs, larve and full grown specimens. After 
Glover, Div. of Entomology, Dep. of Agriculture. 
Milyas cinctus Fab. (Banded Soldier-bug). 
This bug, illustrated in Fig. 26, is well known as a friend 
to farmers, as it eats all kinds of insects, including the potato- 
beetle. It is of a wax-yellow color, or orange-yellow, in all 
stages of growth, and is very conspicuous on account of the 
numerous black bands which cross its legs and feelers. It is 
frequently quite common, and can be found, singly or in pairs, 
upon many kinds of plants, from early in summer until late in 
