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Plant-bug (Brochimena annulata ), and the Lined Plant-bug {Cap- 
sus linearis). The last species, also known as the Tarnished Plant- 
bug, is one of our most pernicious insects, and belongs not only 
to the same order, but also to the same genus with the species now 
under consideration. All these insects do their damage by punc¬ 
turing the leaves or stems of plants, and wilting them by the ab¬ 
straction of their sap. The suddenness with which the parts be¬ 
yond their punctures, wither, and sometimes turn black, has led to 
the general belief that they infuse a poison into the wounds; but no 
such poisonous secretion has been proved to exist. 
This species has never been fully described, and I therefore ap¬ 
pend the following description : 
Length, three-tenths of an inch. Deep honey-yellow, inclining to orange. Elytra, 
bright greenish-yellow, with four black stripes. 
Head, deep honey-yellow; nasus and antennae, black. Thorax, greenish-yellow; its 
anterior border, hone>-yellow, and with four black stripes; the two middle ones in the 
form of large sub-triangular spots, the outer ones slender and near the margin. Scu- 
tellum, greenish-yellow, with the lateral angles black. Elytra, greenish-yellow, each with 
two black stripes, the outer ones more slender, near the margin, and having a black dot 
beyond its tip. Membrane, black. Beneath, honey-yellow, the venter deepening into 
orange; vent black, in the male furnished wiih two black hooks; in the female with a 
blackish sword-shaped ovipositor, originating from the middle of the sixth segment, lying 
upon the venter, when not in use, and concealed between two valvular folds, forming a 
carina, with its point backwards. When elevated from its sheath, it appears to issue 
from the middle of the venter. Legs pale-greenish, with two black rings near the end 
of the thighs; last joint of the feet black. 
The females are easily distinguished, at this se son, by their more swollen abdomens. 
Upon opening them they are found to contain about 20 (from 15 to 24) oblong subcjdin- 
drical flask-shaped eggs, pale, with white tips. I have not been able to discover where 
these eggs are deposited. 
These insects may be called social rather than gregarious, be¬ 
ing sometimes found singly, but usually in small companies. 
The insects of the genus Capsus are very active, and instantly 
take to flight when alarmed, especially ia the heat of the day. 
The only time when they can be captured and destroyed is very 
early in the morning, when they are chilled by the coolness of the 
night, and therefore disinclined to fly. They can be shaken or 
brushed off into a pan or pail partly filled with lye or strong suds. 
Simple water answers just as well, so far as to prevent their flying 
away. 
