20 FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OP 



facts of a similar natui-e might be cited, some of which have been already 

 mentioned in these rej:)orts ; and it has long been known to entomologists 

 that Bugs of this particular Scutellera family which normally are plant- 

 feeders, will yet attack other soft-bodied insects when opportunity offers. 



According to Dr. LeBaron, there is some evidence, not yet sufficiently 

 conclusive however, that the Tarnished Plant-bug (Eep. 11, Fig. 83) also 

 feeds on the Doryphora larvte. 



While touching upon the Spined Soldier-bug, it will be well, perhaps^ 

 to state that though, with all true Bugs, its larva and pupa are active, and 

 have the same habits and general form of the mature insect, yet they differ 

 [Fig. 9.] gQ iiinch in coloration and pattern, that they are scarcely 



ever properlj- identified and have often been sent to me 

 "as a new Potato bug enemy by those who have found 

 them boldly carrying out their naturally voracious in- 

 ,^ stincts. 



The eggs of this Soldier Bug, as I have good reason to believe, are 

 pretty little bronze-colored, caldron-shaped objects, with a convex lid, 

 around which ciliate fifteen or sixteen white spines (Fig. 9, c). They are 

 neatly placed side by side in clusters of a dozen or more, to leaves and other 

 objects, and are so much subject to the attacks of a minute Hymenopterous 

 parasite, that those who undertake to hatch such as are found out of doors 

 will more often get flies than bugs. The newly-hatched bug is ovoid, and 

 shiny black, with some bright crimson about the abdomen. In the full 

 grown larva (Fig. 9, b) Jhe black still predominates on the thorax but some 

 four yellowish spots appear, and the abdomen becomes more j^ellow- 

 ish, though still tinted with red. In the pu])a (Fig. 9 a) which is readily 

 distinguished by the little wing pads, the ochreous-yellow extends still more 

 and finally, Avith the last moult, the black disappears entireh^, in the perfect 

 insect. Throughout the immature stages the shoulders are rounded, and not 

 pointed, and the antenna or feelers have but four joints instead of five as in 

 the mature bug, while there are but two visible joints to the feet or tarsi in- 

 stead of three. * 



We have been taught to admire the muscular power of the lion, which 

 is enabled to grip and toss an animal larger than itself with its powerful neck 

 and jaws; but feats perfoi-med by these young Soldier Bugs, throw the lion's 

 strength completely in the shade, for they may often be seen running nim- 

 bly with a Dorypliora larva, four or five times their own size, held high in air 

 upon their outstretched beak. 



* These facts do not seem to lie generally known, bnt I V)elieve it will be found a very general rule 

 that iu the larval and impal states, all the "Sc»/p//f)-iVfrt; have (jne joint less to the antennas and tarsi. 

 Westwood mentions (he fact with reference to Pentntoma rafipes of Europe, but, so far as I am aware, 

 it is not mentioned by Douglas & Scott, Amyot & Serville, or any other authors. With regard to the 

 tarsi, the small third joint 'may perhaps be detected upon dissection, especially in the pupa, but the 

 antennai are nevermore than "four-jointed in sucli species as I have had opportunity to study in the 

 preparatory stages, namely, Arma spinosa, Dallas; Brochijincna annulata, Fahv.-. Stiretriis Jimbriatus , 

 Say, Euschistiis^punctipex, 'Siix. It is the second joint of both the antennie and the tarsi, in the larva 

 and pupa, whicli elongates and divides in the perfect insect. [Since the above was written, I have had 

 the pleasure of examining Mr. Uhler's collection of Hemiptera at Baltimore, and I noticed that the 

 same trait occurs in the larva and pupa ot Rhaphigaster and Nazara. Mr. R. had also noticed this 

 physiological peculiarity of the Scvtellerida. 



