HEMIPTEROUS INSECTS PREYING UPON BARK-LICE. 79 



It has been observed to capture and suck the juices of ants and of the 

 larvae of the Lace- wing flies, and also to empty of their contents the 

 eggs of other insects. 



Eggs. The eggs are long, vial-shaped objects, brick-red in color ; 

 they are deposited upright, in small masses, aglu tin a ted with a viscid, 

 frothy substance, which dries very slowly and remains sticky long after 

 the eggs have hatched. The eggs hatch in about one week after they 

 are deposited. 



Life-history. The number of broods is indefinite ; solitary individuals 

 are found at all seasons, but become more numerous in spring and fall, 

 upon plants infested with Lecanium Scale, which also breeds most rap- 

 idly at these seasons. The young suck the juices of plants for a short 

 time after hatching, but afterward feed exclusively upon insects. They 

 change their skins frequently, gradually acquiring fully-develbped 

 wings and other characters of the adult ; the process occupying, accord- 

 ing to the season and temperature, from three weeks to two months. 

 This species is much more gregarious in its habits than most predatory 

 Soldier-bugs. Not only the young, but also the adult insects are fre- 

 quently found in large colonies. 



Parasite. The only enemy known to attack this bug is a minute 

 Proctotrupid fly, belonging to the genus Telenomus? which is bred 

 within, and destroys Us eggs. The parasite is black, with yellow legs. 

 A single fly issues from each egg of the bug, leaving a round hole eaten 

 in the side of the shell. 



Two small bugs (Hemiptera) prey upon the Mealy-bug (Dactylopius 

 destructor}. Specimens of the young bugs were sent to the Department 

 of Agriculture, from Florida, on leaves of Orange infested with Mealy- 

 bugs, and were observed to suck the eggs and young lice of the Mealy- 

 bug. 



In the young of one species the color is deep red, with brown eyes; an- 

 tennae and legs pale reddish or yellowish white, with the thighs slightly 

 dusky ; the antennae four-jointed, the fourth joint longest; the proboscis 

 short, rather stout; from each side of the abdomen, near the tip, projects 

 a pair of long bristles. Length, when adult, about 3 mm (y 1 ^ inch). 



The other species is a smaller insect than the preceding. The young 

 bugs are coral-red, the shanks and tips of the legs white, the antennae 

 also parti-colored, having the third joint and tip of the terminal (fourth) 

 joint white ; the proboscis is white, and reaches beyond the middle of 

 the body ; the body and members are covered with short, pale hairs. The 

 adult is purple-brown, with lighter eyes, and has parti-colored legs and 

 antennae; the wings are ornamented with a large chocolate brown spot 

 edged with white or pale red, and situate at the base of the membranous 

 portion, near the tip of each wing- cover; thebodyand surface of the wings 

 are thinly covered with silvery hairs, giving a hoary appearance to the 

 insect. Length 2.2 mm ( T f $ inch). The egg is long and slender, vase- 

 shaped, pearly white, with a tinge of pink, and has a white rim ; it is 



