158 
The subfamily Tessaratominae, although usually placed last, seems 
to me to be a quite generalized group, with the first visible ventral (really 
the second) widely exposed, so that its spiracle is not beneath the meta- 
sternum nor just at its edge, but is an appreciable distance away from it. 
The elytral venation, which in most Pentatomidae is very obscure, is here 
easily traceable. Some of its genera are extremely close to our Penta- 
tominae; others, in rostral structure, approach the Asopinae; others, in 
the venation of the hind wings, suggest the Cyrtocorinae. This subfamily 
forms an important group in the Old World, and is also represented by a 
few species in Mexico and Central America, some of which may at any 
time be found within the southwestern boundary of the United States; 
for this reason, and since this interesting group is often represented in 
general collections, I have included it in the key. 
My thanks are especially due to Dr. S. A. Forbes, and to my col- 
league, Mr. J. R. Malloch, for their friendly encouragement and coop- 
eration. : 
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 
The Pentatomoidea with slender beaks are normally plant feeders, 
although some of these, such as Euschistus, are sometimes seen sucking 
the juices of small insects. Some species, as Murgantia, are well-known 
pests; but the majority do little damage to plants. The strong-beaked 
forms are predaceous, and some are appreciably helpful in reducing the 
numbers of injurious insects, feeding upon larvae of the tussock-moth 
and similar species. h 
The species are probably mostly single-brooded, the nymphs occur- 
ring in spring and early summer and becoming adult as the season advan- 
ces, very much as in the Acrididae. Many species hibernate as adults, 
and may be found among fallen leaves in winter or on vegetation in early 
spring. Horse-chestnut underbrush is a favorite shelter for Euschistus 
at this time. Some species are limited to particular food-plants, but many 
of them, especially the predaceous kinds, are widely scattered. 
When heteropterous nymphs are pinned directly from the killing- 
bottle, the soft integument generally shrivels and curls in drying, and 
becomes more or less blackened because of interior decomposition, in _ 
which condition they are truly unsatisfactory objects for study. This 
trouble is avoided in most cases by leaving them in strong alcohol for a 
few weeks before pinning. This sterilizes and coagulates the tissues, 
specimens drying with all the fine color-patterns clear and distinct, and 
seldom showing any noticeable change of form, making attractive and 
interesting additions for a collection. 
Adults may be pinned from the cyanide bottle, or they may be killed 
in alcohol without injury, perhaps with benefit, if not left in it more 
than a day or so. Specimens should be pinned through the scutellum near 
its anterior margin, preferably a little to the right of the median line. 
The waxy or greasy material that sometimes appears on them is easily 
removed by means of benzine or alcohol. 
