324 



ond, the rest subeqnal in length ; under side of head coarsely granulated; 

 rostrum ochreous-yellow. Prouotum trapezoidal; the lateral margins 

 oblique, not distinctly emargiuated ; the anterior angles rounded, scarcely 

 prominent; the posterior margin very feebly sinuated ; the surface 

 remotely and irregularly granulated. Pleural pieces and presternum 

 coarsely granulated ; meso- and metasternum minutely rastrated and 

 granulated. Femora roughly granulated, incrassated in the middle; 

 tibiae minutely granulated, cox?e, trochanters, base of femora, apex of 

 tibiae, and tarsi ocher-yellow. Base of membrane with a whitish cunous- 

 mark, behind which is a brown spot. Yenter granulated on the con- 

 nexivum, minutely rastrated, and obsoletely granulated on the disk ; supe- 

 rior edge of the connexivum tinged with rufous ; genital segment of the 

 male bluntly rounded, c? 9 . 



Length 4| to 6^ millimeters. Width of prouotum If to 2|- milliuieters. 



Inhabits "Texa"s, Indian Territory, Cuba, Missouri, Florida, New Eng- 

 land, Pennsylvania, Illinois; and Maryland, beneath the bark of oak- 

 trees, in February and March. 



It differs from B. gramdatus, Say, in not having the genital segment 

 of the male long and obliquely rounded, but short and blunt, and in the 

 third autennal joint being scarcely longer than the second, &c. 



Family PHYMATID^E. 



Phymata, Lat. 

 P. erosa. 



Cimex erosns, Linn., Syst. Nat. ed. 12, ii, 718, No. 19. 

 Ciniex scorpio, De Geer, Meraoires, iii, 350, pi. 35, &g. 13. 

 Syrtis erosa, Fab., Syst. Rhyn^. 121, No. 2. 

 Acanthia erosa, Woltf, Icon. Cim. 89, pi. 9, fig. 83. 

 Phymata erosa, Amyot et Serv., Hemipt. 290, No. 2. 



Inhabits the greater part of North America, including the West In- 

 dies, Mexico, and iSTicaragua. It seems to be not less common on the 

 Pacific coast than in the Atlantic region. 



In Maryland, it is very useful in destroying caterpillars and other veg- 

 etable-feeding insects; but is not very discriminating in its tastes, and 

 would as soon seize the useful honey-bee as the pernicious saw-fly. It 

 lurks about in the thick foliage of the gardens, and, concealed in the 

 axil of a leaf or stem, it grasps suddenly with its fore claws the insect 

 which may get near it, and then, thrusting the stout beak into the body 

 of its victim, proceeds leisurely to withdraw its life-juices. 



Macrocephalus, Swed. 



1. M. prehensilis. 



Syrtis prehensilis, Fab., Syst. Rbyng. 123, No. 8. 

 Macrocephalus preliensilis, Amyot et Serv., Hemipt. 293, No. 2. 



Inhabits Texas, ludian Territory, Mexico, and the Southern States 

 generally. Its most northern limit at present known is the State of 

 Tennessee. 



2. M. cimicoides. 



Macrocephalus cimicoides, Swederus, Nova Acta Holm. 1787,3, tab. 8, fig. 1. 

 Syrtis manicatus, Fab., Syst. Ehvng. 123, No. 7 ; Burni., Haudb. ii, 252 ; Wolff, 

 Icon. Cim. 167, fig. 163 ; H.-Scbf., Wanz. Ins. viii, 107, fig. 878. 



Inhabits Texas and the Southern States ; but will no doubt be found 

 in Arizona, New Mexico, &c. 



