241 



ON TIIK MF;rAMORPIIOSI-:S AND ANATOMY 



OF THE REDUVIID BUG 



SYCANUS CROCEOVITTATUS Dohrn. 



by J.-€'.-\W. Kersliaw 



(comruuuicaled by G.-W. Kikkaldy) 



[Tlie genus Sijcanus forms one of a small group of Zeliiie geiiera, 

 cliaraclerized, ainong ollier things, by the long, sleiider head, 

 which is miarmed above ov lalei'ally, by the non-tuberculate 

 iii('SO|)leura,atid by tlie laterally dilaled abdomen. Of thèse, Sycanus 

 is disLingiiished by the unarmed pronotiim, and by the présence ot 

 a process (or at least a tubercle) on llie scntelhim. iS. croreovittatus 

 is characterized by the iinmaculate biack pronotuni, by the orange- 

 yellow apical half of the corium, and by the long, siiberect, apically 

 bifld sciitellar spine. 



So Uttle is known of the métamorphoses of the IleduviithD, that 

 Mr. Kershaw's memoir is a vakiable contribution to the Biology of 

 the Ilemiptera. On account of the above mentioned lack of 

 knowledge, comparative remarks would be of Httle use.J 



G. W. K. 



Sycanus croceovittatiis Doiirx. (1) is common In South 

 China and is also found in Burma. In China it fréquents valleys and 

 iiill-sides covered with scrub and jungle. The adult colouring of 

 both sexes is shining black, with an orange-yellow patch across 

 the middle of the tegmina. It requires cai'eful liandHng, as it is 

 very quick in inilicting ils very poisonous stab wilh tlie seke, the 

 wound (piile numbing the hand and even llie arm for several 

 hours, whilst it is more painful Ihan the sting of tlie large Chinese 

 Wasps. ïhe pairs couple more Ihan once before the female com- 

 mences laying; once ferlili/.tMJ, however, slu^ consti'ucts at least 

 four ootheca', at intej'vals of aboula week, willioiit C()u|)niig again, 

 thoiigh Ihe maie is otlen anxious to do so. 



The egg is complète — witli lliick, chiliiKuis, iuiuM- ca[) or 

 slop|)er (tigs. 4a and 5) and ouler, thin and tlcxihle reliculated 

 tubulai" cap — whilst in the ovary. The upp<M' edge of Ihe outer 

 cap, however, is smoolh and even, Ihe i'agg*Ml fringe being the 



(Ij I am obligea to ^h•. KujRAi.r'V foi' llie identification of tbis species. 



