74 IOWA STUDIES IN NATURAL HISTORY 
has been recorded from Maine to Mexico and Colorado. How- 
ever, it is apparently not a common species in Iowa although it 
may be met with locally in some numbers. My specimens are 
from Chariton, F't. Madison, Granite, Iowa City and Sergeant 
Bluff with by far the largest number from Iowa City. The Ft. 
Madison specimens are all nymphs, the largest of which is but 
half grown; they were taken June 30. Other nymphs not more 
than half grown have been taken in late October and early No- 
vember. Of the seventy Iowa specimens at hand, including 
both nymphs and adults, less than ten have been taken earlier 
in the season than September 9; most have been collected dur- 
ing the month of October. Live hibernating specimens have not 
yet been taken but individuals which have not been able to sur- 
vive our cold winter months have been found in March. 
This bug has a great number of food plants and feeds upon 
many kinds of cultivated crops such as potatoes, radishes, tur- 
nips, peas, beans, cabbage, maize, wheat and oats. Some dam- 
age has been reported outside the state but in Iowa the insect is 
not present in sufficient numbers to be considered as a pest. The 
species also feeds on various kinds of thistle and I have taken it 
on gum-plant (Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Dunal.) 
Genus MORMIDEA Amyot and Serville 
1843. Mormmea Amyot and Serville, Hém., 134. 
This small genus containing about forty species is confined to 
North and Tropical America and in the latter region reaches its 
greatest development. Six forms are recorded from North 
America all but one of which are confined largely to the South 
and Southwest. <A single representative of the genus is found 
in Iowa. The principal generic characters may be thus briefly 
summarized : 
Head triangular, somewhat elongate, the lateral margins not reflexed; 
sides of head sinuate in front of eyes, the antennal tubercles visible from 
above. Rostrum with second segment longest, the first segment surpassing 
slightly the bucculae which are parallel. Eyes globose, prominent. Lateral 
margins of pronotum smooth. Odoriferous orifices without a suleus. Mem- 
brane surpassing the abdomen, the veins simple. Tibiae terete, not suleate. 
Two subgenera are recognized in the genus. The following 
subgenus in which our representative is placed, also contains a 
South American form. A free translation of Stal’s diagnosis is 
given herewith. 
