206 AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY. 



arc usually of medium or sni variation in the 



form of the body, which makes it difficult to characterize the family. 

 The most available character fo; aishing these insects i> the 



structure of the wing-covers. T: almost always complete, and 



composed of clavus, corium, cuneus, and membrane. At the \> 

 of the membrane there are one or two cells ; otherwise the in 

 brane is without vei- taracters of the fam- 



ily are as follows : The ocelli are wanting ; the rostrum 

 and antennae are each four-jointed; the c< -ub- 



elongate ; and the tarsi are three-jointed. 



It is impracticable to discuss here the di\ . 

 >ff -cover this family; I can only refer to a few of the more 

 10^ common species. 



The Four-lined Leaf-hug, Pcfdlocdpsus /i/ti'tifits. 

 This is a bright yellow bug, marked with black. It measures about 

 8 mm. (0.31 in.) in length. There are four longitudinal black lines 

 which extend over the prothorax and the greater part of the 

 wing-covers (Fig. 176). There is in many specimens 

 a black dot on the cuneus of each wing-cover; and ~vy 



the membrane is also black. This insect inf. , VmJ 



various plants, but abounds most on the leaves of rlBr 



currant-bushes and of sage. It punctures the J H \^ 



young and tender leaves, causing small brown 

 spots; but these are sometimes so numerous and 2?"" / """" 

 closely placed that the leaves become completely 

 withered. This insect is sometimes very abundant during the spring 

 and early summer; and occasionally does great injury. No efficient 

 means of destroying it has been devised except to collect it by 

 jarring the bushes early in the morning while it is torpid. 



The Tarnished Plant-bug, Lygus pratcnsis. The Tarnished Plant- 

 bug :y common member of the Capsida-. It is smaller than 

 the preo-ding species, measuring 5 mm. (O.2 in.) in length, and i\ mm. 

 (o.i in.) in i 1 t width. It is exceedingly variable incolorand 

 markings. It ranges from a dull bark brown to a greenish or dirty 

 yellowish brown. In the more typical forms the prothorax h 

 yellowish margin an< a longitudinal yellowish lines; then 

 a V-shaped yellowish mark on the scutellum ; the distal end of the 

 corium is dark ; and the cuneus is pale, with a black point at the a; 

 This species has been reported aa injuriously infesting the young 

 leaves of the expanding buds of pear, and also the unopened buds. 

 Sometimes a whole branch will be thus affected, and will die as the 



