The Meadow Plant Bug. 9 



Evidently the adults feed for some time before mating as 

 the first matings observed were July 8th and ioth. The eggs 

 however develop rapidly when the insects reach the adult stage 

 as fully developed eggs in large numbers, 50 to 60 to the 

 individual, were dissected from the females, the first one dis- 

 sected, June 30, containing 30 fully formed and others im- 

 mature. Another, dissected on July 8, contained 69 developed 

 and a few immature eggs. 



These dissected eggs were of special interest as they might 

 furnish the clue to later determination of place and method of 

 oviposition and the peculiar strongly curved neck and large 

 membranous expansion over the head naturally suggested some 

 rather unusual mode of placement. 



Fig. 2. Miris dolabratus : Nymphs showing relative size of body 

 and development of wing pads. A, first instar ; B, second instar ; C, 

 third instar ; D, fourth instar ; E, fifth instar. Note also position of 

 dorsal gland orifice between segments 3 and 4. From drawings by the 

 author. (Jour. Agr. Research). 



The nymphs cling closely to the plants and while they pass 

 readily up and down the stems and doubtless shift from one 

 plant to another there is no extended migration, probably no 

 movement providing for any dispersal. When molting they 



