IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE 
219 
The Reduviida© belong to the superfamily Reduvioidea of the section Tro- 
chalopoda, suborder Heteroptera, order Rhynchota. The Trochalopoda are 
bugs which have the coxa© of the hind legs acetabulate, rotating and un- 
grooved. The Reduvioidea. are characterized by terminal tarsal claws and by 
having the metathoracic epimera wholly uncovered. This includes tldree 
families, Emesidae, Reduviidae, and Nabidae, the Reduviidae being distin- 
guished from the other two by the body, which is of ordinary form (not 
greatly elongate), the three jointed beak, the four jointed antennae, and the 
two dorsal ocelli. In four of the genera, however, the ocelli are absent. 
At present no satisfactory and comprehensive systematic work on this and 
many other families of Heteroptera exists in any language. Stal’s “Enum- 
eratio Hemipterorum,” published in 1872, with its fragmentary keys and oc- 
casional descriptions furnishes practically the only means for the rapid deter- 
mination of genera. For the species one is referred to the obscure maga- 
zines in which the descriptions were originally published. Champion’s work 
on the Heteroptera of Central America, with its excellent figures, keys to 
species and lists of synonyms is invaluable for the tropical American species 
but he gives no method for the identification of genera. 
In this paper are included all forms found recorded in America north of 
the southern boundary of Mexico, and in the West Indies. Fifty-six genera 
and 168 species are treated, keys being given which it is hoped will material- 
ly aid in the identification of specimens to genus and species. For the genera 
Stal’s writings have been largely translated, the method of introduction of 
several later genera being original, based on descriptions, and specimens. Cham- 
pion’s work has been used in the discussion of species although the differ- 
ence in the territory covered has necessitated many changes in his keys both 
in omission and in the introduction of new material. In most cases state- 
ments have been verified by comparisons of specimens, figures of different 
writers, descriptions, etc. 
Thanks are due to Professor H. E. Summers for kindly placing at my 
disposal the excellent collections of Iowa State College and for the use of 
certain unpublished material of his own. I wish also to acknowledge my 
obligation to the librarian of Iowa State College for aid in securing literature 
from the Congressional Library of Washington, D. C., and to Mr. C. A. Hart 
of Urbana, 111., for many corrections and suggestions. 
KEY TO GENERA. 
A. Ocelli none; wings and hemelytra always present in adults; no discoidal 
areole at proximo-anal angle of anal areole of membrane, Saicinae. 
B. Scutellum and posterior lobe of pronotum armed with spines; ante- 
ocular part of head short; anterior femora unarmed 2. SAICA 
BB. Pronotum unarmed; scutellum sometimes with one terminal but never 
with dorsal spines. 
C. Ante-ocular part of head long, subcylindric; anterior lobe of pronotum 
narrow 3. ORTHOMETROPS 
CC. Ante-ocular part of head very short. 
D. Anterior femora unarmed; anterior lobe of pronotum wider than 
long; apex of scutellum produced into a long spine 
5. ONCEROTRACHELUS 
