1894.] Entomology. 283 
“All young cockroaches resemble the parents in form, but are wholly 
wingless, the wings not appearing until after the fifth or last molt. The 
young are often mistaken for mature individuals.” The stages of the 
common “Croton Bug,” as represented by Dr. Riley, are shown in 
Fig. 4. 
A Curious Hemipteron.—About the middle of January I re- 
ceived a curious looking specimen of Hemiptera which was taken in an 
agricultural implement warehouse. Owing to the extremely warm 
weather, the creature was quite active, and at first glance resembled an 
animated bit of rusty metal upon legs. 
It proved to be of the family Reduviidae, recognized according to 
Latrielle by the elongated head which is free from the thorax, promi- 
nent eyes and two ocelli, antennæ of moderate length, filiform toward 
the ends and stout incurved beak. ‘The tarsi are three-jointed, and the 
legs long and fitted for running. 
This insect could probably be classified with Reduvius personatus, 
although of a reddish-brown rather than black, as members of this genus 
are said to have a habit of enveloping themselves in a thick coating of 
dust. This particular specimen was entirely covered with iron-dust 
and rust, possibly the only material at hand, and even the first joints 
of the antenne and the densly hirsute limbs were thickly encased. The 
fourth hair-like antennal joints and the tarsi were clear of dust. Under 
the microscope numerous sharp, shining particles of steel and iron 
filings were to be seen, and the back, wingless and very concave, was 
heavily weighted. The insect moved rapidly, but with a peculiar 
creeping and halting gait, and proved to be very hard to kill. I first 
experimented with sulphur smoke, which had no perceptible effect. 
Then I placed the specimen in a prepared insect bottle, containing 
cyanide of potassium so strong that almost any soft bodied insect would 
become motionless instantly, and in this Reduvius lived several hours. 
Whether this was owing to the season of the year or to its unique coat 
of mail, I am unprepared to say—LAURENE HIGHFIELD, Quincy, 
Iinois. 
North American Membracide.—Dr. F. W. Goding has pre- 
pared a very useful catalogue of North American tree-hoppers.‘ 
Nearly three hundred species are included in the list, a considerable 
number of them being here described for the first time. Dr. Goding 
“Bibliographical and Synonymical Catalogue of the Described Membracide of 
America. By F. W. Goding, M. D., Ph.D. Bull. Ill. St. Lab. Nat. Hist., 
Vol, An. XIV. Champaign, Ill., 1894. 
