. - 



fftsus sf>ino- 



HEMIPTERA. 2I - 



than any other as destroying the Potato-beetle, currant-worms and 

 other well-known pests. The form of the body of members of this 

 genus resembles quite closely that of the insect represented by Fig 

 1 86. In P. spinosus, the best-known member of the 

 genus, the caudo-lateral angles of the prothorax are pro- 

 longed into spines. 



Among the smaller members of this family there are 

 two common species which are so well marked that 

 they may be mentioned here. 



Cosmopepla cdrnifex is the more common of the Fl S-. 



fftsus sf>i 



two species. It measures about 7 mm. (0.28 in.) in ciove/) 

 length ; and is of a shining black color, with the body 

 densely punctured. The lateral margin of the body, including 

 the prothorax, basal half of wing-covers, metathorax, and abdo- 

 men, is red or orange; the disk of the pronotum is crossed 

 by a transverse and a longitudinal line of the same color; the 

 longitudinal line is widened at its cephalic end so as to cover half of 

 the cephalic margin of this segment. There are also two red or 

 orange spots near the tip of the scutellum. 



Mormldea lugens is the other species. This also measures about 7 

 mm. (0.28 in.) in length. The body is densely punctured ; it is olive 

 brown above, and darker beneath. The lateral margin, including the 

 same parts as in the preceding species, is light yellow ; the cephalic 

 margin of the prothorax is of the same color ; and there is a trans- 

 verse yellow line on the pronotum a short distance behind its front 

 margin ; the scutellum except its cephalic margin is also bordered 

 with yellow. 



Family XXXIV. CYDNID.E.* 



The characters of this family have been discussed somewhat in 

 the characterization of the preceding one. In the 

 Cydnidaewe find the outline of the body more generally 

 oval, rounded, or elliptical, and the form more convex, 

 than in the Pentatomidae. The tibiae are closely armed 

 with strong spines, in rows (Fig. 187), and, with but a 

 single known exception in our fauna, the anterior pair 

 are fitted for digging, being more or less flattened. The 

 scutellum is either broad and bluntly rounded or tri- 

 angular, with the apex pressed down ; the lateral margins are fur- 



* Cydnidae, Cydnus : Cydnus, a proper name. 



