SCUTELLEROIDEA OF IOWA 65 
before the eye. Antennae rufous to reddish brown, the basal segment 
pale yellowish, very short; second and third longer, slender, subequal, 
fourth black except base and tip, fifth longest, blackish except base. 
Rostrum, except tip and median line pale yellowish, extending to mid- 
coxae; second segment longest, fourth segment shortest. Pronotum short, 
broad, irregularly, coarsely punctured on posterior half, more finely and 
regularly punctured anteriorly, the black punctures along the lateral 
submargin aggregated to form a line there; lateral margins yellowish or 
yellowish white, straight, thickened, elevated, smooth, impunctate; humeri 
rounded not prominent. Scutellum more finely punctate than pronotum, 
the punctures at base fine and close, the apical half, except tip, more or 
less rugulose; smooth calluses at base varying from one at each angle to 
almost a complete transverse line; apex smooth, white. Hemelytra rather 
more finely and irregularly but less densely punctate than scutellum, the 
surface often showing the punctures arranged in a reticulate pattern; em- 
bolium yellowish white, the costal margin impunctate; membrane pale 
brownish with six or seven darker veins. Venter pale yellow, the disk 
almost smooth, the sides finely, transversely rugulose and sparsely punc- 
tate; general punctuation usually reddish, the larger punctures black and 
arranged in three sinuous series on each side; a group of small black 
punctures before and behind the outer angle of each incisure. Tergum 
and connexivum black, the latter with a yellowish margin the inner edge 
of which is more or less distinctly scalloped. Ventral plates of thorax 
pale yellow, irregularly, coarsely punctured; a black dot on each of the 
three principal sternal plates. Legs pale yellow, the femora with irreg- 
ularly disposed black punctures, those near the tip larger; tibiae with 
small brown punctures; tarsi reddish brown, the claws black at tip. 
Length, 7.5-9.6 mm. Width across pronotum, 5.0-6.0 mm. 
The characters mentioned in the key along with the above 
diagnosis of this well known pentatomid should serve sufficiently 
for its ready delimitation from our other two lowa representa- 
tives of the genus both of which are very rare in the state. 
Considerable variation in color and size is found in the 
present species. Specimens from western United States are 
likely to be smaller and paler than those from the eastern states, 
while in Iowa both the pale and rather dark specimens are found 
in about equal numbers. The reticulate pattern may be very 
distinct or may not be at all apparent. The amount of black 
on the fourth and fifth antennal segments may vary. The mem- 
brane may vary from deep bronze to hyaline and the connexi- 
vum may be more or less indented within thus approaching P. 
abbreviatus in which the connexivum is alternated. The genital 
segment of the male is emarginate at the middle and distinctly 
