236 



the negative ones of Schwarz. The eggs described by Comstock are 

 still iu tlie collection of the Department of Agriculture, and a careful 

 examination of the young larvte which hatched from them at once 

 shows that they belong to a di&erent species (c/. Figs. 50, e and 51, a). 

 We have attempted to learn to what species they really belong, but 

 have been unable to do so on account of the immaturity of the larvae. 

 The eggs resemble iu shai)e and sculpture those of Meta2)odiusfemoratus 

 and Eutlioctha galeator, two predaceous bugs found upon orange, and 

 are intermediate between them in size, but the young bugs diifer from 

 either of these species. We have shown these eggs and the young 

 larvfe which hatched from them at Fig. 50. One of the egg-shells 



contained within it an interesting egg- 

 parasite which will be described by 

 Mr. Howard in another part of this 

 number. 



Comstock's statement having thus 

 been disproved. Glover's becomes all 

 the more doubtful, and Hubbard's ac- 

 count is the only one upon which we 

 can confidently rely. His few words 

 of description of the egg are as follows : 



The eggs are oval iu shape, amber-colored, 

 with a jiearly luster, aud preseut, inder the 

 leus, a patteru of closely reticulated lines. 



The other preiyaratory Stages. — 

 Among the alcoholic and other mate- 

 rial of the Eed Bug sent to the De- 

 l^artmeut at different times, we have 

 been able to distinguish four prepara- 

 tory stages which undoubtedly repre- 

 sent separate molts, aud, from the 

 gradation in size, probably represent 

 the complete life of the insect. They 

 are shown at Fig. 51, a, h, and c, and 

 Fig. 52, a. All were drawn from alco- 

 holic specimens except b, which was a 

 dry aud somewhat shriveled pinned 

 specimen. This probably accounts for the laterally contracted abdomen 

 of this drawing as compared with c. The color in all is bright red, the 

 wing pads iu c and Fig. 52, a, being black, and the lines separating the 

 segments very light yellow. These yellow bands are even more marked 

 on the under side of the abdomen, while the most conspicuous markiug, 

 and one which persists through all stages, is the narrow yellow band 

 around the front border of the prothorax just behind the head. All of 

 the legs and the antenna? are reddish-yellow in the first stage, becom- 

 ing yellowish-brown in the second stage, the tibiie and tarsi darker than 



/ 



Fig. 50.— a, egs talven for that of Dysdercns 

 suiurelliis by Comstock, side view — enlarged : 

 6, portion of .surface — still more enlarged ; c, 

 dorsal view of same egg; d, same with con- 

 lained parasite ; e, larva from same — all en- 

 larged (original). 



