36 
The Ohio Naturalist. 
[Vol. IV, No. 2, 
ARADIDAE OF OHIO.* 
Herbert O.sborn. 
The Aradidac are a very interesting gronj) of Ilcmiptcra , being 
adapted bj’ tbeir flattened bodies to live under the loose bark of 
stumps and dead timber. 
The species are main' of them quite rare and it seems probable 
that tbeir numbers have dimini.sbed rapidh' with the deforestation 
of the region and the destruction and manufacture of the dead 
timber that constitute tbeir natural habitat. It is of particular 
interest, therefore, to collect them as carefullj’ as possible since 
the chance of .securing a full knowledge of our local fauna is 
growing constantly less. 
Some of the species seem to show a preference for certain kinds 
of timber and possibh' careful stud}- would show some decided 
predilection; so far, however, little accurate record has been kept 
of the kind of bark under which they occur. In many cases, no 
doubt, the determination of the kind of a tree which has become 
a rotting log or stump is difficult, but records, whenever possible, 
w'ould have a distinct interest. Xeuroctenus simplex Uhler has 
been taken under the bark of beech at Columbus, but I have 
specimens from Iowa in a locality where I think the beech does 
not occur. 
Mr. Dury has collected a number of species in sifting dead 
leaves and forest rubbish in fall and winter. 
Our native species are dark brown or black and have wings 
much reduced in size, the elytra or fore wings covering onlj- the 
disk of the abdomen. The beak is rather short in some genera — 
not reaching beyond hind border of head. Our sjx'cies so far 
recognized in the State fall into three genera, . Iradus, Ihachy- 
rhynchus and Ncuroctenus, but we most probabh’ have re])re.senta- 
tives of Anciirus also. 
Tliese genera are separable as follows: 
\. Ileiiielytra with distinct veins. 
a. Pro.sterninn with distinct sulcus Beak (except in niger) reaching 
or passing prosternuui. ^iradiis. 
aa. Prosternuni without sulcus. Beak short, not passing hinder edge 
of head. 
b. .Vbdoniinal segments without keel l)etweeu spiracles and 
lateral margin. Hrachyrhyuchus. 
1)1). .-Vbdo.i.inal segments with a distinct keel on marginal space 
between spiracles and border. Xeuroctenus. 
\.K. Hemelytra without evident veins. . Ineurus. 
Ar.adus .\K0U.\I.IS S-W. 
A t adiis aegualis Say . Ileterop , Ueinip. p, 29 (1831). Coll. Writ., 1, 352. Stal. Emitn. 
Ueiiiip III, p. 136. fhler Bull. C. ,S. Oeog. aiul Ocol. Siir., I, 321. 
Large, dark fuscous, with gray spots, joints 2 and 3 of antennae 
of very nearly equal length, all joints cylindric. Length, 10 mm. 
*5* Contributions from the Department of Zoology and Kiitomology. No. 14. 
