Clare Island Survey. 



30 

 HEMIPTERA. 



By J. N. HALBERT. 



Read June 24. Published September 7, 1912. 



Previous to the organization of the present Survey, nothing was known of 

 the hemipterous fauna of the Clare Island district, which includes a 

 considerable part of Mr. Praeger's botanical division of West Mayo (division 

 number 27). 



The following records are the result of a few short visits to the district 

 during the last three years, so that they cannot be regarded as supplying a 

 complete list of this section of the fauna. Owing also to the pressure of 

 other field-work, it was not possible to devote to these delicately organized 

 insects the special attention which is necessary in order to secure a 

 representative collection. This result could be attained only by very 

 persistent work, as anyone who has attempted to collect such wary insects as 

 C'icadina (the " frog-hoppers " of gardens) will understand. Still, I believe 

 the following list conveys a fair idea of the prevalent forms of Hemiptera 

 occurring in the Clare Island neighbourhood. 



The actual area in which collecting was carried out ranges from Achill 

 Island inland to Castlebar, and southwards to the Mayo shore of Killary 

 Harbour. At least one interesting species (Aepojrfdlus Bonnairei) is recorded 

 from Blacksod Bay, immediately north of Achill. 



With regard to the natural features of the district, little need be said, as 

 full accounts have already appeared in other reports of this series. For present 

 purposes it is only necessary to point out that old-established woodlands 

 are rare except in the neighbourhood of Westport, where, in the fine demesne 

 of the Marquis of Sligo, most of the woodland species were collected. A great 

 deal of the district is occupied by bare mountain (reaching in Croaghpatrick 

 2510 feet) and moorland, rather poor ground for hemipterous insects, though 

 a few interesting species may be expected to occur in such places. There are 

 sandhills at Curraun, Muhanny, and elsewhere ; these do not seem quite as 

 productive of insect life as are those of the east coast. 



Three excursions were made to the Clare Island district in June and the 

 first half of July, as opportunity occurred, and most of the species were 

 collected on these occasions. The late summer and autumn species were not 



R.I.A. PROC, VOL. XXXI. A [30] 



