4 66 
The Ohio Naturalist. 
[Vol. IX, No. 5 , 
Genitalia: Last ventral segment of female rather short; hind border 
roughly toothed; pygofer rather long, bristled near the tip. Male valve 
rounded behind, plates short about half as long as pygofer; borders 
curved; a few bristles near margin; pygofers tapered, strongly bristled. 
23 specimens, 7 females and 1G males collected at Los Amates, 
Guatemala, Jan. 17, 1905, by Professor J. S. Hine. 
Phlepsius costomaculatus Van. D. 
Allygus costomaculatus Van Duzee, Bull. Buffalo Soc. Nat. Hist., 
V. 207. 
Three specimens. Puerto Barrios, Mazatenango, Feb. 3d. 
It has been known heretofore from Texas and Florida. 
Acinopterus acuminatus Van U. 
Three specimens taken at Los Amates in January and 
February. 
REMOVAL OF THE SHOWY PARTS OF FLOWERS AS 
AFFECTING FRUIT AND SEED PRODUCTION. 
Arthur H. McCray. 
OBJECT OF EXPERIMENT. 
In this experiment it was attempted to determine the effect 
of the cutting away and removing entirely of the showy parts of 
blossoms on the production of fruit and its consequent seed. 
As will be seen in the great majority of cases, these showy parts 
will be also enveloping parts, covering, especially in early period 
of blooming the stamens and pistils and thus affording more or 
less protection from the elements, to these essential parts of the 
flower. Those who are familiar with the works of Chas. Darwin, 
will remember that he devoted much time and study to the polli¬ 
nation of flowers and that he embodied the results of his studies 
in a book entitled: “Cross and Self-Fertilization in the Vege¬ 
table Kingdom.” One of these extended experiments was the 
exclusion of insects from flowers by covering with a netting. 
All flowers so excluded from insect visits, failed to set fruit. And 
so it was thought that by removing the large attractive parts of 
flowersj that insects would perhaps pass such by and hence no 
fruit would be produced. The experiments recorded below were 
carried out during the spring and summer of 1907. 
These parts were easily removed by use of either a knife 
blade pressing it down upon the base of petal or whatever the 
part might be, and forcing it by a quick stroke from its place, 
or by a small pair of very fine pointed scissors. In either case 
care was taken not to unduly injure by mutilation any of the 
essential parts of the flower. 
