430 BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



sixth segments inclusive, this latter row being equidistant between 

 the ventral row and the connexivum ; there is a large black dot 

 at the tip of the osteolar canal and a smaller one on the pleurae 

 above each of the coxae. Legs rufous ; femora with two or three 

 black dots near apex. Ventral spine ivory white, reaching upon 

 the hind coxae. 



Distribution. — Maine, Massachusetts, New York,* New 

 Jersey, f Minnesota, Colorado. 



Habits. 

 Perhaps on account of its obscure coloring and active 

 flight this species may be better protected from bird enemies 

 than its congeners. Be that as it may, serieventris in this 

 region is by far the most common representative of the 

 genus. Hibernating as imagoes, the insects appear early in 

 the spring, sometimes in April, and by the latter part of 

 May an inspection of the webs of the tent caterpillar will 

 show numbers of these bugs breaking their winter's fast 

 upon the inmates of these webs. After a week or more 

 spent in feeding, mating occurs, J and in a few days the 

 female deposits her eggs in two or three clusters on the un- 

 der-sides of leaves or on small branches. From fifty to 

 sixty caldron-shaped eggs are laid by each female, and in 

 about eight or ten days' time the gaily colored nymphs emerge 

 from the egg-shells and commence feeding on the sap of 

 leaves. If weather conditions are favorable, the first molt 

 takes place in four or five days, and the nymphs wander 

 forth in search of insects. These tiny creatures, not over 

 4 mm. in length, will destroy caterpillars many times larger 

 than themselves. The second molting occurs about ten days 

 after the first, and the third about six days later than the 

 second. The red and black nymphs feed almost continually 

 during this stage, and boldly attack the largest larvae. From 

 twelve to seventeen days elapse before the last molt. By 

 midsummer the eggs for a second brood are laid, the imagoes 

 of which appear in August and September. In 1895 the 

 data concerning the times at which the imagoes and nymphs 



* In Dr. Lintner's collection. 



t Specimens from Prof. J. B. Smith. 



X These insects frequently mate in the fall (" The Gypsy Moth," p. 403). 



