46 ILLino1is NATURAL History SuRVEY BULLETIN 
spots on its second antennal segment, and the 
conspicuous black marks on the margin of 
the membrane, fig. 89. 
Mace.—Length 3.10, width 1.30. Head 
width 0.69, vertex 0.34. Rostrum reaching 
Fig. 89.— Psallus seriatus, 9°. 
behind posterior coxae to third ventral seg- 
ment. Antennae, first segment, 0.17, pale, a 
group of three setigerous black spots before 
apex, some of which form narrow annula- 
tions; second, 0.82, pale, with four or five 
conspicuous black spots on dorsal aspect. 
Pronotum, length 0.56, width at base 1.09; 
pale, finely dotted with fuscous. Hemelytra 
pale, dotted -with small and a few larger 
fuscous spots. Dorsum clothed with simple 
fuscous hairs intermixed with deciduous, 
silvery scalelike pubescence which in part is 
arranged in tufts at posterior edge of larger 
fuscous spots; roughly handled specimens or 
old living adults may lose pubescence. Mem- 
brane clear and shaded with fuscous; a clear 
spot surrounding black mark on margin be- 
hind cuneus; veins white. Legs pale; femora 
dotted with fuscous; tibiae with two rows 
of black spines, each with a prominent black 
spot around base. 
FEMALE.—Length 2.80, width 1.40; slight- 
ly more robust than male, but very similar 
in color and pubescence. 
Host PLants.—The nymphs and adults 
feed on the tiny flower buds of cotton just 
Vol. 22, Art.1 
as they appear, causing the buds to drop. 
The wild hosts of this insect may be several 
herbaceous weeds, but the preferred food 
plants appear to be several species of Croton, 
especially C. texensis. In Illinois, specimens 
have been taken on snowberry (Symphori- 
carpos orbiculatus), horse mint (Monarda 
punctata) and daisy (Chrysanthemum sp.), 
as well as on cotton and Croton capitatus. 
KNown DIstriBUTION.—Psallus seriatus 
is known from all the southern states and 
ranges northward into Nebraska and Colo- 
rado and westward into Arizona and south- 
ern California. Its range coincides rather 
closely with the distribution of the various 
species of Croton. 
Illinois Records.— One hundred one 
males and 57 females, taken June 15 to 
Sept. 6, are from Centralia, Fulton, Gol- 
conda, Harrisburg, Havana, Keithsburg, 
Meredosia, Metropolis, Patoka, St. Anne. 
Psallus ancorifer (Fieber) 
A pucremnus ancorifer Fieber (1859, p. 336). 
Not taken in Illinois; known only from 
New York and Pennsylvania. 
Psallus drakei Knight 
Psallus drakei Knight (1923d, p. 464). 
Not taken in Illinois; known only from 
Colorado and New York. 
Lepidopsallus Knight 
KEY TO SPECIES 
1. Rostrum extending beyond posterior 
COXA. se. oe ee 
Rostrum not extending beyond pos- 
terior coxae:..(,...2.5————— o 
i) 
First and second antennal segments 
pale yellowish; sides of venter with- 
out scalelike pubescence muayaaeanam 
Day ya ad claricornis, p. 47 
Fi-st antennal segment black, base of 
second dusky; sides of venter and 
pleura bearing scalelike pubescence 
Fok ene Se een rostratus, p. 47 
3. First antennal segment pale yellow.. 4 
First antennal segment very dark 
brown or black: .... 2 eee 5 
4. First antennal segment short, second 
segment six times as long as first 
segment; reddish color dominant, 
