Cimicide. 205 
BRACHYSTELES, Muls. 8+ Rey. 
We possess only one out of the two European species of 
this genus. In my recent Catalogue I gave both, as from 
the literature that I was able to consult at the time I made 
out that the species which we have always known as 
Cardiastethus testaceus was the true testaceus of Mulsant, 
which Reuter now puts under Brachysteles as a synonym 
of rufescens, Costa. Since then, however, I have been able 
to consult Dr. Reuter’s work on the Anthocoridx (Act. 
Soc. Se. Fenn. xiv. pp. 555 et seq.) and find that our species 
is the Cardiastethus fasctiventris, Garb. 'The two species 
are very closely allied in colour and size, but differ in the 
shape of the head. 
Head short, transverse, about as long as the interval 
between the eyes, ocelli placed close to the inner margins 
of the eyes posteriorly, antenna with the second joint 
slightly thickened at the apex, third and fourth subequal, 
clothed with long fine hairs ; pronotum transverse, anterior 
margin two-thirds as long as the base, with scarcely any 
collar, sides rounded, base deeply sinuate; elytra short, 
margins rounded, widely reflexed at the base; legs rather 
short, simple ; wing cell without a hook-like nerve, 
B. parvicornis, Costa (pilicornis, D, § S.).—Short 
oval, dark brown, rather thickly clothed with pale hairs. 
Head and pronotum nearly black, rather shining, antennz 
pitchy-brown, clothed with long fine hairs, first and second 
joints rather thick, third and fourth subequal, thinner than 
the second; pronotum with the sides produced and much 
rounded in front, base deeply sinuate, about once and a third 
as long as the anterior margin, disc punctured, with a deep 
transverse impression ; scutellum black, punctured, with a 
deep central impression ; elytra testaceous brown, clavus, 
cuneus, and apex of corium darker, membrane pale smoky. 
L. 14 mm. 
The short form and pilose surface will distinguish this 
