SCUTELLEROIDEA OF IOWA 21 
coarsely punctate than scutellum; an elongate smooth line on pro- and 
mesopleurae. Ostiolar canal fuscous at tip but not expanded. Venter 
rufous to yellow, finely, sparsely punctate at sides, more coarsely punc- 
tate at middle; two more or less distinct black lines gradually approach 
each other posteriorly to unite in a single spot on the last segment. Geni- 
tal segment of male broadly but not deeply sinuate. Legs heavily dotted 
with fuscous; last tarsal segment and tips of claws piceous. Length, 
6.5-10.0 mm. Width across pronotum, 4.5-6.0 mm. 
This scutellerid exhibits much variation, as do some other 
members of the family, in both size and color. In length it varies 
from 6.5 to 10.0 mm. and in color from light olive-gray to dark 
brown; the maculations on the connexivum are sometimes indis- 
tinct or wanting. All my Iowa specimens are dark in color and 
the alterations on the connexivum are distinct. 
Although this form is widely distributed in North America we 
have not found it east of the center of the state and have taken it 
only at Red Oak, Sibley, Lake Okoboji and Emmetsburg. Two 
nymphs were taken at Lake Okoboji in July. Professor Osborn 
recorded this species as ‘‘not common’’ but cited no localities. 
The few specimens collected by us have all been taken on com- 
paratively low land. The Okoboji specimens were swept from 
timothy and blue grass growing on low swampy prairie and along 
roadsides. 
Family CYDNIDAE (Biullberg) 
This family, as now understood, contains two compact though 
quite readily separable and distinct subfamilies which have, until 
recently, usually been accorded family rank. Although the two 
groups differ much from each other in general appearance, a 
study of the detailed structural characters indicates close rela- 
tionship. In distribution the family is mainly Nearetic and 
Neotropical. About fifty representatives are found in North 
America. The majority of these are more particularly charac- 
‘teristic of the desert and semiarid conditions of the West and 
Southwest. Twelve forms are, with this paper, now recorded 
from Iowa. The principal differential characters of the family 
follow : 
~Seutellum moderate and flattened or covering almost entire abdomen 
and very convex; in the latter case the wings are without a hamus. Veins 
of membrane arising near interior basal angle or from this angle by a 
