76 IOWA STUDIES IN NATURAL HISTORY 
tellum margined with white will at once serve to distinguish 
this widely distributed and locally abundant pentatomid. Lo- 
eality records for Iowa are, Dubuque, Hills, Iowa City, Lake 
Okoboji, McGregor, Monticello, Robinson and Solon. 
This species does not appear to be abundant in Iowa although 
it seems to be very hardy for specimens are at hand which have 
been taken in every month of the year except January and 
February. But two nymphs have been taken; one from Lake 
Okoboji less than half grown was collected July 17; the other 
which is more than half grown is from Iowa City and bears the 
date September 16. 
Usually we have found this insect on Kentucky blue grass 
(Poa pratensis Linn.) growing along the edges of woods or in 
cleared places in the woods. Specimens have also been taken 
on common mullein (Verbascum thapsus Linn.) growing in pas- 
tures and open fields. The insects have a tendency to visit this 
plant especially towards autumn as the cold days come on, the 
dense wool which covers the leaves offering considerable warmth. 
Under these mullein stalks after a heavy freeze or in the spring 
one can usually find the remains of bugs which have sought 
shelter but have been unable to survive the rigors of an Iowa 
winter. Individuals which have successfully hibernated have 
been found under dead leaves along roadsides. 
Genus SOLUBEA Bergroth 
1862. ||OnBaLus Stal, Stett. Ent. Zeit., X XIII, 102. 
1891. SoiuBpea Bergroth, Rev. Ent., X, 235. 
This is a small genus confined exclusively to the New World 
and although represented in the Nearctic region it reaches its 
greatest development in the tropics. A single representative is 
found in Iowa. Essential diagnostic generic characters include 
the following: 
Head elongate, more or less flattened above, the lateral margins some- 
what reflexed; sides of head sinuate in front of eyes, the antennal tubercles 
visible from above. Rostrum with second segment longest, the first seg 
ment a little shorter than and entirely enclosed by the bueculae which are 
parallel. Eyes prominent. Lateral margins of pronotum more or less 
roughened. Membrane surpassing the abdomen, the veins simple, not prom- 
inent; outer posterior angles of abdominal segments sharp, prominent. 
Tibiae terete, not sulcate. 
