314 



In Central Maryland and Eastern Pennsylvania, it maybe swept from 

 the bnshes as early as tbe middle of May and as late as November. Occa- 

 sionally, it swarms in clover-fields, and no doubt does considerable 

 injury to that crop by witlidrawing the sap from tbe tender heads before 

 they have become full-blown. On the other hand, it and the common 

 Lygiis lineolaris and PlagiognaiJiKS ol/sctirvs, no doubt help to fertilize the 

 flowers by their active movements in the heads and frequent flying from 

 one to the other, carrying- masses of ])ollen on their bodies and bristly 

 legs. Sometimes these insects are literally powdered with the pollen 

 which adheres to their bodies. 



Subfamily PYREHOCOEINA. • 



Dysdeecus, Amyot et Serv. 



1. I), mimus. 



Capsus mimus, Say. Heteropt. New Hai'mouy, 20, No. 3; Complete Writiugs, 338. 

 Dysdercus mimiis, Stal, Emitueratio Hemipt. i, 121, No. 14. 



Inhabits Texas, Mexico, California, Cuba, Hayti, and Central America. 



This species vnries in color, but most strikingly so in the width and 

 proportions of the head, pronotum, and abdomen, including the heme- 

 lytra. 



The two varieties cited by Mr. Say belong really to this, and do not 

 constitute a second species as indicated by Dr. Stal in the place re- 

 ferred to above. 



In some varieties from Mexico, the head, pronotum, and corium are 

 entirely black, and from this to the variety with only a point of black 

 on the middle of the corium every variety occurs. In Hayti, they 

 abound in gardens, and affect small growths in damp or low grounds. 

 The males are in general narrower than the females. 



2. D. aJbidiventris. 



Dysdercus anidivcntris, Sttil, Ofv. Vetensk. Akad. Forh. 1854, 236 ; Stettiner Ent. 



Zeit. 23,315 [exclusive of his reference to Say's C.viimus^. 

 Dysdercus lunulatus, Uhler, Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila. i, 24. 



Inhabits Mexico, Texas, California, Central America, and Panama. 



This also varies in the same manner as the preceding species, and, 

 although inhabiting some of the same localities in large numbers, it is 

 of a larger size, and has the sides of the pronotum more deeply sinuated. 

 One beautiful variety from California has the whole base of the pro- 

 notum back of the callosities, and the entire corium, blood-red. 



3. J), perudicmus. 



Lygceus peruvianus, Guer., Voyage de la Coquille, 178, pi. 12 ; fig. 16. 

 Dysdercus peruvianus, Stal, Eiiumeratio Hemipt. i, 121, No. 19. 



Inhabits California, Peru, and the Sandwich Islands. 



4. D. ohliquus. 



Pyrrhocoris oMiquus, H.-Schf., Wanz. Ins. vii, 19, fig. 701. 

 Dysdercus iimaciilatus, Stal, Ofv. Veteusk. Akad. Fork. 1854, 236. 

 Dysdercus ohliquus, Stal, Enumeratio Hemipt. 1, 121, No. 20. 



Inhabits California, Mexico, Central America, Panama, &c. 



A variety of this species lacks the two black dots of the corium. 



