90 THE UNIVERSITY SCIENCE BULLETIN. 



26th, and hatched two days later, which would give about a week for in- 

 incubation. More data is really to be desired on this point. 



Hatching. In watching the hatching process of this little bug it was 

 seen that upon issuing from the egg, it casts a thin transparent mem- 

 brane, which surrounds each appendage separately and is of the nature 

 of a true molt. This has been designated elsewhere in this paper as a 

 postnatal molt. 



Number of Instars. Not determined for this species, due to the fact 

 that the writer found it necessary to drop the rearing in its midst. Thus 

 data upon maturity, fecundity, etc., are to be desired. 



Longevity. Bugs were kept under observation for some two months 

 and the females were laying for the latter half of that time. Doubtless 

 the bugs would have lived much longer. 



Food Habits. In the laboratory the bugs fed upon plant lice, midges, 

 mosquitoes, etc., dropped upon the moist earth for them. They would 

 gather about a cax-cass in numbers. What their source of staple food 

 supply may be in nature was not determined on account of the difficulties 

 involved and the lack of sufficient time. 



Behavior. Like the Microvelias, they endeavor to keep their body 

 clean, and perform a toilet quite as elaborate as Bueno has described for 

 Microvelia americana. 



DESCRIPTION OF STAGES. 



The Egg. 



Size. 0.625 mm. by 0.325 mm. This represents the size shortly before 

 hatching. Somewhat more slender when deposited. The eggs are large 

 for the size of the bug. One female measuring 0.925 mm. across the pro- 

 thorax contained four well-developed ova, each measuring 0.625 mm. by 

 0.25 mm. Figures of female abdomen and of the egg are drawn to same 

 scale. (PI. X, figs. 2 and 3.) 



Shape. Elongate oval; ends rounded; length about twice the width. 



Color. Pearly white, changing to yellowish white as embryo develops 

 within. Some appear to be surrounded by transparent gelatine. Under 

 the low-power compound the surface of the egg is seen to be covered by 

 short, irregularly arranged elevations. 



In the case of those containing well-developed embryos the eyes show 

 as pink spots and a pair of black dots lie on the ventral side near the 

 apex of the head. 



Description of First Instar Nymph. 

 Size. Length, 0.608 mm.; width, 0.352 mm. 

 Color. Eyes dark red, body dark in color. 



Structural peculiaHties. Body plump, head relatively large, prolonged 

 before the eyes so that the head is about two-fifths the length of the 

 entire body. Body sparsely clothed with rather stiff hairs. Limbs 

 similarly clothed, the pubescence being shorter, especially on tarsal seg- 

 ments. Antennse four-segmented. Segments one and two short and stout, 

 first slightly longer than second. Third segment a trifle more slender 

 and a little longer than first. The fourth is about as long as the other 



