THE LACE BUGS 



(Faintly Tingitidce.) 



The curious little bugs of this family have rather aptly been 

 termed 'Mace bugs" by Comstock from the fact that the wing 

 veins are thickened and form a lace-like pattern in most of 

 the species. These insects are all small, have two-jointed feet 

 and usually knobbed antennae. They are all plant-feeders, and 



Fig. 189. — Gargaphia 



angulata. 

 (After Chittenden.) 



Fig. 190. — Corythuca 



arcuata. 

 (After Comstock.) 



the brown, rusty appearance which the leaves of certain trees, 

 notably sycamores, acquire in summer is due to their attacks. 

 Rather more than three hundred and fifty species are known 

 of which twenty-five inhabit the United States, but there are, 

 undoubtedly, many unnamed and undeveloped forms. As a rule 

 the eggs are laid in leaves and young twigs and the whole life of 

 the insect is spent in sucking sap. They usually overwinter 

 as adults hidden away in bark crevices. There are two sub- 

 families and the members of one, Piesmince, are not so lace-like 

 as are the others, the Tingitince. 



299 



