322 



Enemies of Bees — Stinging Bug. 



This is a Hemipteron, or true bug, and belongs to the fam- 

 ily Phymatidce, Uhler. It is the Phymata erosa, Fabr., the spe- 

 cific name erosa referring to its jagged appearance. It is also 

 called the ' ' stinging bug," in reference to its habit of repelling 

 intrusion by a painful thrust with its sharp, strong beak. 



The "stinging bug" (Fig. 180) is somewhat jagged in ap- 

 pearance, about three-eighths of an inch long, and generally 

 of a yellow color, though this latter seems quite variable. 



Fig. 180. 



Fig. 182. 



Fig. 181. 



Side view, natural size. Magnified twice. Beak, much magnified. 



Frequently there is a distinct greenish hue. Beneath the ab- 

 domen, and on the back of the head, thorax, and abdomen, it 

 is more or less specked with brown ; while across the dorsal 



Fig. 183. 



Fig. 184. 



Fig. 185. 



Interior virit<. IlrLerinr r'wvi. 



Antenna much magnified. Anterior leg magnified. 



aspect of the broadened abdomen is a marked stripe of brown 

 (Fig. 181, d, d). Sometimes this stripe is almost wanting, 

 sometimes a mere patch, while rarely the whole abdomen is 

 very slightly marked, and as often we find it almost wholly 



