154 



AN ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY. 



A very curious, chunky little species, with the sides of the 

 abdomen much elevated, and the forelegs much broadened and 

 fitted for clasping, belongs to the genus Phyviata and the family 

 Phymatidtz. It is yellow and brown in color, and has the habit 



of placing itself in the centre of 

 FiG- 115- certain flowers, in such a manner 



as to seem a part of the flower 

 Itself It is thus in position to seize 

 any unlucky insect that comes 

 within reach, and, although it is 

 scarcely a quarter of an inch in 



Fig. ii6. 



Nabis fusca. 



Phymata erosa.—a, b, adult, from above and 

 side; c, front les: d. beak. 



length, it is sufficiently powerful to hold and conquer even 

 honey-bees. Butterflies are frequently its victims, and it is one 

 of the oddest forms in this order. 



We sometimes find on the under side of leaves of tree and 

 shrub, little whitish, flat creatures, with gauze-like, broad wing- 

 covers, and a broad, gauze-like expansion covering the thorax. 

 These belong to the family TiugitidiF and are among the prettiest 

 species in the order. There is no difficulty in recognizing them 

 in the adult stage, by their lace-like or reticulated covering, 

 which is sometimes banded with brown or spotted. Beneath 

 this covering the insects are black or brown, and occasionally 

 they increase sufficiently to do some injury to the plants upon 

 which they feed. The adults usually live through the winter and 

 lay their eggs in spring ; but sometimes eggs are laid in fall, and 

 the insects winter in that stage. For shelter, fallen leaves are 

 usually employed, or the adults creep under loose bark scales or 

 into crevices, and we must agam recommend winter work in clear- 



