No. 34-] HEMIPTERA OF CONNECTICUT: NAEOGEIDAE. 675 



Mesovelia Mulsant and Rey. 

 (Fieberia Jakovlev.) 



There seems to be only one species in this genus with us. 

 M. bisignata Uhler. 



Stand. Nat Hist, ii, 274, f. 324, 1883. 



This species is said to be the same as M. mulsanti F. B. White 

 (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 268, 1879), but thus far, I have not suc- 

 ceeded in convincing myself that this is a fact. Mesovelias, like 

 all coons, look alike, and in the absence of specimens from Brazil, I 

 prefer to let Uhler's name stand for the present. 



This species is very common and abundant on duckweed, where 

 the green-bodied, wingless form pursues its prey and brings up 

 interesting families. The winged form is not common, and ranges 

 from the fully- winged to the apterous by any number of grada- 

 tions, so it has practically an infinity of forms between the two 

 extremes. 



Admitting the identity of the two names, the species extends 

 throughout the United States down into Brazil, and some claim 

 into India. Be this as it may, this bug has five molts and an ^gg 

 state, and there are several broods a year. Results in breeding 

 this are not quite ready for publication,* but they indicate decidedly 

 that this is not a true Gerrid, nor even closely related to that group. 

 It is, in fact, a land bug in quasi-adaptation to an aquatic existence. 



Milford, 17 Aug., 1905 (H. L. V.). 



Family NAEOGEIDAE. 

 (Hebridae of Authors.) 



By J. R. DE LA TORRE-BUENO. 



This little family is represented in the Eastern United States by 

 two genera and three or four species. Very little is known about 

 their habits, further than that they frequent muddy places, swamps, 

 etc. While by many considered as belonging in the Gerroidea, it 

 is at best open to question. Kirkaldy believed they had affinities 

 with the Myodochidae (Lygaeidae). Be that as it may, the apical 

 claws serve to distinguish them from Microvelia, which they much 

 resemble in general appearance. The genera may be readily 

 distinguished thus : 



Key to Genera. 



Antennae four-jointed not counting jointlets Merragata 



Antennae five- jointed not counting jointlets • Naeogeus 



Naeogeus Laporte. 



(Hebrus Curtis.) 



The only certain eastern species is the following. It is to be 

 found in almost any muddy spot, walking about. Its milky white, 

 spotted wings reveal it to the accustomed eye. 



* Hungerf ord has bred this also and confirms the number of stages. 



