PROC. ENT. SOC. WASH., VOL.. 59, NO. 2, APRIL, 19.17 67 A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE METATHORACIC WING IN THE FAMILY LYGAEIDAE ( Hemiptejja : Hetebopteba) Jambs A. Slater and Henr.y W. Huklbutt, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Connectieiit, Storm The present study was undertaken in an attempt to ascertain whether or not the venation of the hind wing of members of the family Lygaeidae might possess characters important to a better understand-ing of the systematic relationships existing within this large and heterogeneous family. Although the taxonomic importance of wing venation is well estab-lished in many orders of insects, the wings have been used only spar-ingly in the Heteroptera. Recent studies by Leston (1953a and b) in the Pentatomoidea and Usinger (1943) in the Reduvoidea have indicated that the wing has considerable taxonomic value in these groups. There has, to our knowledge, been no systematic attempt to utilize these structures within the family Lygaeidae. We have not attempted to investigate the tracheation nor the hom-ologies of the wing veins, and have adopted the terminology intro-duced by Leston (1953a), as modified from Tanaka (1926), as pre-senting an intelligible system that has the advantage of accounting for all the structural parts present in the lygaeid wing without doing violence to the origin of the various veins. Students more familiar with the system of Hoke (1926) may readily compare the two systems by utilizing the illustrations of the various species discussed in the following pages. Technique: For purposes of the present study the majority of the wings were studied from dried specimens. A small number of species were studied from living specimens taken in the field. Wing mounts from dried or fresh material were obtained by the following technique. With a dissecting microscope and forceps the wings were removed and placed on a drop of water. Care was taken at this point to unfold the jugal lobe. The wing was then drawn onto the top of a drop of glycerine and a coverslip added for protection. To keep the coverslip from touching the glycerine a drop of fingernail polish was placed under each corner of the coverslip. Venation is most apparent if no glycerine is allowed to cover the upper surface of the wing. Addi-tional glycerine may readily be placed under the wing if the original glycerine supply dries out. In some cases it was necessary to relax the insect in ethyl acetate for several hours before removal of the wing. Where one is not greatly concerned with the nature of the jugal area, or where comparison only is desired, it is useful to work with dried specimens. With care one may readily remove the front wing and carefully pull the hind wing laterally until the venation is clearly exposed. This method has the advantage of allowing the investigator to check over many species in a relatively short period of time.
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