SCUTELLEROIDEA OF IOWA 37 
irregularly set with very long and strong black spines; tarsi very slender, 
pale clay yellow. Length, 6.5-8.0 mm. Width across pronotum, 3.25- 
4.50 mm. 
This form, as indicated by both Uhler and Signoret, varies con- 
siderably in some of the structural characters. Some specimens 
show a slight emargination of the head in the antero-median line; 
sometimes the second antennal segment is longer than the third 
but usually the third segment is the longer; the number of 
bristle-bearing punctures on the costal margin of the corium 
varies from three to five, three being the usual number; the num- 
ber of spines on the outer edge of the anterior tibiae varies from 
eight to nine in my specimens; Uhler says there are ‘‘about 
ten’’; the ostiolar canal and plate vary somewhat in length and 
width; the posterior border of the canal is more deeply and 
irregularly incised in some specimens than in others, while the 
extent of the finely rugose area of the ostiolar plate also varies 
in extent. In fully mature specimens the general color is a 
rather deep shining black but other more or less immature speci- 
mens are a deep mahogany brown. The males average somewhat 
smaller than the females. 
This is the only Iowa representative of the genus and in the 
light of our present knowledge concerning the distribution of our 
Cydninae, may be known by the fact that it is the largest Iowa 
species. While it enjoys a wide distribution from Connecticut 
west to Texas and Mexico it seems to be rare in the state since 
but a single specimen has been found at Burlington. Professor 
Osborn listed one specimen from Adams county in southwestern 
Iowa. These are the only Iowa records known to me at the pres- 
ent time. 
Genus GEOTOMUS Mulsant and Rey 
1866. Grotromus Mulsant and Rey, Punaises de Franee, 34. 
Although this genus is represented in our fauna by but a sin- 
gle species it is, nevertheless, a very extensive one, widely dis- 
‘tributed in the Neotropical, Palaearctic, Oriental and Austral- 
asian regions. It may readily be distinguished from our other 
jowa genera by the following combination of characters: no 
spines on head; no impressed submarginal line on anterior part 
