196 



THE UNIVERSITY SCIENCE BULLETIN. 



with a broad median notch reaching half or two-thirds the distance to 

 the base; pygofers broad, exceeded by ovipositor, very sparsely spined on 

 distal half. Male, last ventral segment longer than preceding; valve 

 small, triangular, obtusely angled apically; plates broad and short, inner 

 margins contiguous, submarginally spined, lateral margins convexly 

 rounding to obtuse apices which are distinctly exceeded by the preapically 

 spiny pygofers. 



Distribution: Fairly common in eastern Kansas as shown by 

 its distribution on the following map : 



Hosts: Found on pasture grasses. 



Phlepsius ovatus Van D. 



Phlepsins ovatus Van I)., Trans. Am. Ent. Soc, xix, p. 79, 1892. 

 Phlepsius ovatus G. & B., Hemip. Colo., p. 94, 1895. 

 Phlepsius ovatns DeL., Tenn. St. Bd. Ent., Bui. 17, p. 75, 1916. 

 Phlepsius ovatus Van D., Cat. Hemip. N. A., p. 668, 1917. 

 Phlepsius ovatus Ball, Ann. Ent. Soc. Am., xi, p. 387, 1918. 



Form: A small robust species, smaller than two preceding. Length, 

 5 to 6 mm. Head slightly narrower than pronotum; vertex one-half 

 longer on middle than next the eye, nearly or quite as wide as long, ob- 

 tusely rounding with front, obtusely angled apically. Pronotum a little 

 over half longer than the vertex, twice as broad as long, lateral margins 

 nearly or quite as long as the humeral, posterior margins slightly emar- 

 ginate, posterior two-thirds transversely wrinkled. Elytra short and 

 broad, moderately exceeding the abdomen. 



Color: Usually lighter than decorus, yellowish-white inscribed with 

 dark brown. Vertex yellow, irrorate with light brown, the latter forming 

 two spots on either side of the apex and two broad transverse bands on 

 the disc, connected by a short curved line with the posterior margin, Pro- 

 notum with brown marks which are less prominent on the posterior por- 

 tion of the disc. Scutellum with large brown triangles in basal angles. 



