ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OP ONTARIO. 83 



Along th?< south shore of Lake Erie I find two species of Hemiptera,* Salda ligata, 

 Say, and S. interstitiali<, Say, the latter and smaller, when skipping nimbly about, as Air. 

 Say stated that it did on the shores of the Missouri River, have a deceptive resemblance 

 to so many stranded Hydrophobics, which I believe prefers such places to sandy beaches ; 

 and along Lake Erie at least they are far outnumberel by this species of Salda, which so 

 closely resembles them. Salda ligata is larger and does not resemble any of the aquatic 

 beetles found along the lake, but simulates to a remarkable degree some of the species of 

 Bembidium, though at the time of my observation it was impossible to find a single repre- 

 sentative of this genus in that immediate locality, whereas, they were most surely to have 

 been found along the shores of almost any stream. Now, these two species of Hemiptera 

 not only closely resemble species of beetles not present, but inhabiting quite similar 

 places elsewhere, but also the movements of one species of Hemiptera add much more to 

 this deception than does its color, thus raising the question as to whether these peculiar- 

 ities of color and movement are mere coincidences, and of no service to the possessors, or 

 whether they do receive benefit from such simulations by taking advantage of the lessons 

 learned by the sand piper, or other birds of similar habits, along the shores of some dis- 

 tant inland stream, and which lessons caused them to shun insects having these peculiar- 

 ities of form, movement and color. Is the investigator justified in casting aside the whole 

 problem, because he does not happen to look far enough to see all of the factors entering 

 into it 1 



On the extreme tips of the new growth of pine, a tree not indigenous in the locality 

 where these observations were made, I find during June and July, a Capsid, Pilophorus 

 amcenus,f which while at re3t has much the appearance of some species of the Coleopter- 

 ous family, Gerambycldce, no species, however, being at all commo.n on this tree, in this 

 locality, though Eaderces pini, is said to occur elsewhere on the pine. While moving 

 about among the pine needles, however, the Pilophorus has almost exactly the quick, 

 active, erratic movements of ants which frequent the same situations in considerable 

 numbers, the Capsid, except when at rest, being almost indistinguishable from them. If 

 all of this deception was for the purpose of misleading the ants, it would seem as though 

 it would have been carried further, and obtained while the Capsid was at rest. The tips 

 of these pine twigs are practically inaccessible to even the smaller arboreal birds, and 

 against these protection is here unnecessary, while except an occasional spider, invert- 

 brate enemies are equally wanting. In fact, so far as the need for protection in this 

 particular situation is. concerned, the whole matter of protective mimicry would fall to 

 the ground, as no protection appears necessary, yet, it seems to me, that the careful 

 investigator would not be justified in dismissing the whole matter as a mere coincidence, 

 but rather in searching elsewhere for the causes of a phenomenon of which the effects 

 only are here perceivable. The polished surface of the abdomen of an ant reflects the 

 rays of light in such a manner as to appear like a narrow band of white, of which the trans- 

 verse white fascia on the wing covers of Pilophorus amoenus, when that insect is in 

 motion, appears almost the exact counterpart. I have never observed Euderces pini in 

 life, but it does not seem impossible that it too may move about in a similar way, and 

 both together mimic the ant where protection is necessary, my observations being made 

 where but two of the three actors are present, and no protection necessary. 



- Another diminutive Cap3id, FJalticus bractatus,\ is found in Ohio, and among other 

 plants affects Red Clover, Trifolium pratense, feeding in all stages upon the upper side of 

 th9 leaves. The effect upon the plant is to discolor the leaves, but this really affords 

 protection to the young, as the changed color more nearly harmonizes with that of their 

 bodies. The adults are black with antennae and legs, except the femora, yellow, the 

 femora being also black, both sexes being saltatorial. The male has the normal form of 

 an Hemipter, but the female differs entirely in appearance, and simulates to a remarkable 



*Kindly determined for me at the Department of Agricultui e. 

 fKindly determined by Professor Herbert Osborn. 



X Also determined by Prof. Osborn, who, with my assistant Mr. C. W. Mally, found the species quite 

 abundant in Iowa, the latter gentleman observing it also in Northern Ohio. 



