1926] 
Heteroptera in Ocean Drift 
113 
Finally, as to the Heteroptera represented in beach-drift, 
Bueno records 66 species, of which 22 were in Lake Michigan 
drift and 49 in ocean debris (with 5 common to both situations). 
Parshley adds over 30 more species, while the present lists include 
17 forms not previously recorded. It is therefore obvious that 
we are still far from knowing how many eastern North American 
Heteroptera may occur in this plight, but the extreme variety of 
the records so far published renders it likely that any species may 
be so found. In Bueno’s material the Pentatomids (sens, lat.) 
were far the most plentiful, with Lygseidse next in abundance. 
After considering the representation of other groups Bueno con- 
cludes that “the relative abundance of the families is what 
should be expected, in view of the fact that the Cimicidse [Pen- 
tatomoidea] are abundant in numbers and strong fliers and that 
the Myodoehidse [Lygseidse], next to the Miridse, are the largest 
of the Heteropterous families and most abundant as to in- 
dividuals.” In Mr. Darlington’s lists, however, while the Ly- 
gseidse are strongly represented by 6 species with 21 examples, a 
preponderance brought about by the frequency of the littoral 
Eremocoris ferus, the Aradidse, insects by no means frequent in 
the field, have 5 species with 16 specimens — an unexpectedly 
high representation, and one out of all proportion to their relative 
abundance as gauged by ordinary methods of collecting. Mr. 
Darlington states that on 19th May, Aradids were at least as 
numerous in the drift as all other Heteroptera put together. On 
later occasions their relative numbers decreased. Since the col- 
lections made are likely to represent more truly the number of 
species present than the proportion of individuals I list the 
families in order according to the former criterion, — Lygseidse, 
6 spp., Pentatomidse and Aradidse 5 spp. each, Miridse 4 forms, 
Cydnidse 3 spp., Gerridse and Tingidse, 1 each. Judged on both 
criteria the Aradidse come second on the list. 
From the fresh and indeed frequently living condition of 
the stranded insects, the presence of Heteroptera in beach drift 
is a sure indication that each species concerned has indulged, 
perforce or sua sponte, in flights over the water. Parshley re- 
marks that the “phenomenon is not to be explained in connection 
with the spring and fall flights when the air seems alive wi 
