414 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



A large genus, represented by many species from North, 

 Central and South America, the Antilles and by a single 

 species from Europe and Asia. 



Habits. 



Before presenting generalities concerning the habits of our 

 native species, it will be proper to say that the statements 

 are based upon a general knowledge of the life histories of 

 P. serieve7it7'is, P. placidus, P. modesius and P. cynicus. 

 A more intimate knowledge of the early stages of all the 

 species may lead to some changes in the statements here 

 given. It may be remarked that apparently but little at- 

 tention has been given by entomologists to the rearing of 

 these predaceous insects, probably on account of the diffi- 

 culty in supplying the young bugs with the fresh food they 

 daily require. 



The insects emerge from their hibernating quarters in the 

 spring, at about the time the foliage appears. After feeding 

 for a week or more upon the most abundant caterpillars, the 

 eggs are laid on leaves or branches of trees. The young 

 bugs hatch in the course of a week or two, molt four times, 

 reach the imago state by midsummer, and lay eggs for a 

 second brood, which matures early in the fall. In passing 

 from the last nymph stage to that of the imago the number 

 of joints of the tarsi and the antennae is increased by one. 

 In the case of the larger species, such as P. cynicus, there 

 seems to be but one brood yearly in this latitude. Farther 

 south the number of annual broods may be greater. Both 

 sexes hibernate under leaves on the ground, under the 

 bark of trees or in other sheltered places. The life of the 

 female imagoes in captivity ends soon after the eggs have 

 been deposited. 



It has been stated, as a general rule, that the group of in- 

 sects to which these bugs belong "will bear watching" so 

 far as feeding habits are concerned. Many feed on plants, 

 often to an injurious extent ; some are entirely predaceous ; 

 while others feed on both plants and insects. The species 

 of Podisus whose habits have been recorded feed upon in- 

 sects almost entirely, and are very beneficial. It should be 

 admitted that Dr. Fitch (Third Report Insects of New York, 



