THE IIETEROPTERA WHICH PREY UPON ALEXIA. 



97 



;X/: 



Fig. n.—Podisus spi- 

 nosus : a, e n 1 a r s e cl 



Fig. 18. — Podisus spino- 

 sus: a, pupa ; b. larva ; c, 

 (After Eiley.) 



also ato sparingly of crnslied Aleiia larvie, but prefer the Phoras to everytliing else. 

 August 17 tliey retired to bottom of the bottle, and were torpid two days. August 19 

 all bad completed their secoud moult, and are darker in color. They are now quite 

 strong, and can pierce the skin of Phora maggots given them for food. The markings 

 on dorsum are now quite distinct. (H.G.Hubbard, Centerville, Fla., August 21, 

 1880. — American Entomologist, 111, pp. 249,250.) 



A number of otlier beetles, as, for instance, Collops qiiadrimaculatus 

 (Fabr.), Laving carnivorous habits, are found upon the plant, and may by 

 further observation be added to the enemies of Aletia; while a minute, 

 yellowish- brown species (Sericoderus flavidus Lee), belonging to the 

 CorylopMdce^ has been found feeding on the forming chrysalis while yet 

 soft and helpless. 

 Heteropteea, or Half-winged Bugs.— Kext to the ants in use- 

 fulness as natural checks are sun- 

 dry s]3ecies of rapacious or Soldier- 

 bugs, as they are popularly called. 

 These belong exclusively, so far as 

 observed, to the families Cydnidce, 

 Antliocoridm^ Scuielleridcej and Be- 

 duviidcv. The3' suck out the juices e 

 beak; &,i)ug.witiirr^ht of their prey by means of a short but sharp beak, and 



"Wings expanciea. (Ai- x ./ ^ t 7 



teiKiiey.) the youug havc precisely the same habits as the 



mature insects, though often differing greatly in appearance. They 

 are almost all active during the day, but a few work also at night. 

 The species actually observed destroying 

 Cotton Worms are : Podisus cynicus (Say), 

 P. spinosus (DalL), F. xmnctijyes^ EuscMstus 

 Jissilis Uhler, Proxy s piinctulaUis (Beauv.) 

 (see Fig. 20), PHonoUis cristatiis (Linn.), 

 Apiomerus crassipes (Fabr.), Phymata erosa iPiG.2o.-Proxys 



T • Tr 7 7 • • TT c^ 1 \ n, punctulatus. 



(Lmu.), Melanolestes picipes (H. Sch.), Steno- (Original.) 

 deina. (After Eiiey.) pqda ciuerea Lap., (Ehalus pugnax (Fabr.), (see Fig. 21), 

 Repipta taurus (Fabr.), Aceraiodes cornutus Burm., Zelus hilohus (Say), 

 K /< TriphJeps insidiosus (Say), Bapkigaster 

 /\j 1 '^^^^^'^^^^ (Say), Slnea diadema (Fabr.) (see 

 -jjfc^ Fig. 19), aad Metapodius femoratus (Fabr). 

 rMA(seeFi8-.22). 

 il^Rl ^^^^ spined Soldier-bug {Podisus spi- 

 I ^W ^ nosus, Figs. 17 and 18) seems to be i)er. 

 haps the most abundant and effective of 

 the above list. It is found all through 

 the cotton belt, and seems to prefer to attack the 

 full grown worms, though it is frequently seen suck- 

 ing the juices of the less protected chrysalides. Its no. 22.— Metapodiics 

 piincture is not always fatal to the worms. Mr. ^''^"'^'^'- (Origmai.) 

 Schwarz on one occasion had under his observation two worms which 

 he thinks had been stung by the Soldier-bugs, and succeeded iu both 



03 OONG 7 



Fig. 19. — Sinea dia- 



FlR. 2\.—(Eha. 

 lus pugnax. 

 (Original.) 



