118 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol. XVI 



tant. With the inclusion of the Aphididae, Coccidae and Aleuro- 

 didae, this figure would be considerably higher. While most of 

 these forms confine their activities to relatively unimportant 

 plants, many are potential pests and some have attained promi- 

 nence as serious enemies of agriculture. 



Of saprophagous forms, the order is practically barren. The 

 predatory species are fairly numerous, the percentage of these 

 being about ii. These species appear to be important only in a 

 limited way, and while their activities help to preserve a natural 

 balance between certain groups, as a whole they lack elasticity, 

 and do not, on account of their limited powers of reproduction, 

 respond to any sudden increases in phytophagous forms. Be- 

 yond a certain point it is useless to expect more from them; on 

 the other hand, the aquatic forms are a potential danger to fish 

 hatcheries. . 



The four species listed as animal parasites consist of the well- 

 known bed-bug and its relatives which frequent birds and bats. 

 As a whole the food habits of the Hemiptera do not show as 

 much variation as those of the Coleoptera. In this latter order 

 about 26 per cent, of the species is phytophagous, 44 per cent, 

 saprophagous and 27 per cent, harpactophagous. In other words, 

 over 70 per cent, of the species of Coleoptera appear to be en- 

 gaged in useful activities, while most of the Hemiptera are 

 feedets upon the higher plants. 



I am indebted to Mr. J. R. de la Torre-Bueno for information 

 concerning the habits of the members of certain of the obscure- 

 families. 



Our readers are invited to send in brief biological notes to 

 fill small spaces like this. 



