187 



The Hugs, or lliiiiiplci mis insects (\'ol. I\', No. li, .Iuik', I'JUU) 

 w<?re likewise avoided hy Turtles to a conspicuous extent, llepre- 

 sentatives of the Stink Buj; Family (PentatomidiiO (Vol. IV, p. 71), 

 were found in the .stoniach of one Snappiii}; Turtle, one Wood Turtle 

 and one Common Box Turtle; while the Water Boatman (Vol. IV, 

 p. 51), was found eaten by a Snapper and the Si)vckled Turtle, and 

 the Back swimmer (Vol. IV, p. Hli), was also eaten by the last- 

 named. Zaitha, an ally of the Giant Water Bug (Vol. IV, p. 56) 

 was devoured by a Painted Turtle and by a Speckled Turtle, while 

 Watier Striders (Vol. IV, p. 58), or so-called "skaters" were eaten 

 by two Painted Turtles. These Water-striders are beneficial in their 

 habits, acting as scavengers, as described in our liulletin on the 

 Hemiptera. 



Leaf Hoppers (Vol. V, No. 3, July, 1907), wi're found in the stom- 

 achs of three Painted Turtles, having doubtless been obtained from 

 the surface of the water on which they had fallen. 



The Neuroptera or **Nerve-winged Insects" are represented by 

 both land and water species. They are not pests to mankind. Of 

 those of which the young or nymphs Jive in water, some were eaten 

 by the Painted Turtle and others by the Speckled Turtle. 



The butterflies and moths lly so readily that it would scarcely 

 be expected that they would be taken as the food of Turtles, and 

 we truly find that they are not important elements in this consider- 

 ation. Those that were eaten were mostly in the larval or cater- 

 pillar stage. Two Speckled Turtles had eaten winged moths, but 

 these may have been taken from the water into which they had 

 dropped. Moth larvic in a stage of digestion prohibiting determina- 

 tion w"ere eaten by two Musk Turtles, two Painted Turtles and seven 

 Common Box Turtles. The chrysalis of a species of moth was also 

 found in the stomach of the Common Box Turtle, and a Yellow- 

 necked Prominent was found eaten by the same reptile. Cutworms 

 were eaten by the Wood Turtle, the Speckled Turtle and three Com- 

 mon Box Turtles. This shows a good influence toward destroying 

 one of the worst insect pests. The Iarv;e of moths or butterflies 

 are practically all destructive in their influence on vegetation, and 

 all creatures that feed upon them are consequently beneficial in 

 their economic ettects in this regard. 



Flies in their adult or winged stage are not readily captured, and, 

 as would be expected. Turtles did not feed readily upon tliem in this 

 stage; but it is to be seen that undetermined stages of flies were 

 found in the stomachs of four Painted Turtles, one "Wood Turtle, 

 ten Speckled Turtles and one Common Box Turtle, .\dults of two 

 families of flies were contained as food in the Speckled Turtle. It 

 is possible that these may have bet?n taken from the surface of 



