Feb., 1905.] 
Nerthra stygica. 
287 
NERTHRA STYGICA SAY AND SOME NOTES ON THE 
FAMILY GELASTOCORIDiE. 
J. R. DE L.\ Torre Buexo. 
In 1832* in his “Descriptions of New Species of Hemiptera, 
Heteroptera of North America,” Thomas Say described his 
“Nancoris stygica” from one mutilated specimen from Georgia. 
Its structure led him to propose a new genus for it, to be called 
Nerthra. From that time to the present the real “Nerthra 
stygica” has been lost to science. It is true that Mononyx 
stygicus Say is mentioned by Uhler as well as by Comstock in 
some of their works, but from the description of it given by the 
first-named author in Kingsley’s “Standard Natural History” it 
is evident that the references are not to Say’s bug, but either to 
Mononyx fuscipes Guerin or to M. nepseformis Fabricius. It is 
one of these two that Dr. Howard figures in his “Insect Book.” 
In support of this view is the fact that all the American works 
and papers which have been consulted fail to mention the most 
striking peculiarity of Nerthra; namely, the hemelytra soldered 
together and extremely roughened. The genus and species are 
cited in Stabs “Enumeratio Hemipterorum,” while on the other 
hand, Montandon, in his revision of the subfamily “Monychinae” 
doubts its very existence, for he says that to his knowledge it has 
not again been found in America and, quoting Say’s description 
in extenso, remarks it “would lead one to believe that he (Say) 
had before him a form near to or identical with Matinus or 
Peltopterus and in any case differing from Mononyx.” 
In the absence of Guerin’s original generic characterization of 
Peltopterus, it has been referred to the description of the latter 
genus in Stabs ‘ ‘Hemiptera Africana” (Vol. Ill, p. 173), to which 
genus Nerthra is nearest, on account of the entirely coriaceous 
character of the hemelytra. It differs, however, in the shape of 
the body, the apical tubercles of the head and the shape of the 
thorax and hemelytra. (This last may be a merely specific 
character.) It becomes, therefore, evident that Say’s genus 
Nerthra stands, and since the verv existence of the bug is ques- 
tioned by no less an authoritv than the Rumanian Hemipterist 
and so much misapprehension regarding it seems current I ven- 
ture to attempt a description from the only specimen I have seen, 
giving the bibliography and synonymy as far as known to me. 
Nerthra Say. 
1S31 (1832 sec. Uhler) — Description of N. Sp. of Het. Hem. of N. A., p. 808. 
1859 — Compl. Writ, of T. Say. ed. by Le Conte. Vol. I, p. 364. 
1876 — Stal, Enum. Hem., V., p. 139. 
* Prof._ Uhler in a letter to Mr. G. W. Kirkaldy expresses the opinion that although 
J:his paper is dated 1831, it did not appear until March, 1832. 
