694 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY. [Bull 



the eyes, the pronotum composed of three lobes separated by trans 

 verse constrictions, and the hemielytra entirely membranous. 

 But one species occurs within our limits. 



Systelloderes Blanchard. 



Small species, with shining surface and unclosed discal cell of 

 the hemielytra. 

 S. biceps (Say). 



Het. New Harm., 32, 1832. 



Pale grayish brown; head, fourth antennal segment, and veins 

 of hemielytra more or less infuscated ; anterior portion of head 

 and pronotum, and scutellum sometimes yellow. 



Hind lobe of head somewhat longer than front lobe, subglobose^ 

 smooth, shining, narrower than head across eyes ; antennae some- 

 what longer than head, first segment shortest, second longest, third 

 most slender. Length 3.6-4 mm. 



This rare species is sometimes taken in flight and sometimes in 

 sifting fallen leaves. It has been found in Rhode Island, but not 

 as yet in Connecticut. 



Family PIESMIDAE. 

 By Howard Madison Parshley, Sc.D. 



This family comprises a few species, in which the surface of the 

 body in great part is of closely reticulate structure, a feature sepa- 

 rating this and the next family from the other Heteropterous 

 families. Juga long, projecting freely forward; ocelli present; 

 pronotum not extended backward over scutellum; lateral carinae 

 containing cavities which open beneath; hemielytra with clavus 

 and membrane distinct, the latter shagreened but not reticulate and 

 provided with four simple veins. 



The group should undoubtedly be accorded family rank. 



Piesma Lepeletier and Serville. 



The only genus of the family. Head transverse, with a small 

 tooth before each eye; tylus somewhat elevated; bucculae short 

 and parallel. One species occurs within our limits. 

 P. cinerea Say. (PI. xvii, 2.) 



Het. New Harm., 2^, 1832. 



Coloration variable, gray to brown, spotted with dark brown or 

 black. 



Length 2.5-3 "^n^- 



This small species is rather rare in the northeast. An immacu- 

 late form occurs which McAtee has named var. inornata (Bull. 

 Brooklyn Ent. Soc, xiv, 87, 1919). 



