- ■ - - - i i BULLETIN OF THE Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol. XL 1945 EDITED BY J. R. de la TORRE-BUENO PUBLICATION COMMITTEE J. R. de la TORRE-BUENO, Editor JOHN W. NOAKS EDWIN W. TEALE THE SCIENCE PRESS PRINTING COMPANY LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA Vol. XL FEBRUARY, 1945 BULLETIN No. 1 OF THE Brooklyn Entomological Society NEW SERIES PUBLICATION COMMITTEE J. R. de la TORRE-BUENO, Editor ALBRO T. GAUL EDWIN W. TEALE Published for the Society by The Science Press Printing Company, N. Queen St. and McGovern Ave., Lancaster, Pa., Price, 75 cents Subscription, $3.00 per year Mailed May 15, 1945 Entered as second-class matter January 21, 1919, at the post office at Lancaster, Pa., under the Act of March 3, 1879 The Brooklyn Entomological Society Meetings are held on the second Thursday after the first Tuesday of each month from October to May, inclusive, at the Brooklyn Museum, Eastern Parkway and Washington Ave., Brooklyn. The annual dues are $2.00. OFFICERS, 1945 Honorary President WM. T. DAVIS Honorary Vice-President J. R. DE LA TORRE-BUENO Vice President OTTO BUCHHOLZ Secretary JOHN W. NOAKS President, R. R. McELVARE Treasurer R. R. McELVARE 280 Fourth Ave.. New York, N. Y. Editor J. R. DE LA TORRE-BUENO Delegate to Council of New York Academy of Sciences EDWIN WAY TEALE CONTENTS WILLIAM T. DAVIS, J. R. T.-B 1 SAYINGS OF WILLIAM T. DAVIS, Teale 3 A DAY AFIELD, Wm. T. Davis 6 NEW SPECIES OF PSEUDOMETHOCA, Schuster 7 AMATEURS, Bradley . 9 REVISION OF THE TRIBE PACHYPEZINI, Dillon & Dillon 11 WE MUST (ANNOUNCEMENT), Publication Committee 28 CARNIVOROUS HABITS OF ODYNERUS DORSALIS, Rau 29 LYNCHIA AMERICANA, Bequaert 30 EDITORIAL, J. R. T.-B 31 BOOK NOTES, J. R. T.-B ! 32 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Published in February, April, June, October and December of each year Subscription price, domestic, $3.00 per year ; foreign, $3.25 in advance ; single copies, 75 cents. Advertising rates on application. Short articles, notes and observations of interest to entomologists are solicited. Authors will receive 25 reprints free if ordered in advance of publication. Address subscriptions and all communications to J. R. de la TORRE-BUENO, Editor, 925 East 6th St., Tuscon, Ariz. BULLETIN OF THE BROOKLYN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY Vol. XL February, 1945 No. 1 WILLIAM T. DAVIS. FRIEND OF ALL THE WORLD. He is gone from us, from the sweet-scented lanes, from the sun- drenched fields he loved so well, from the uncounted hosts of friends who loved him ! The fullness of years had not dimmed his eager- ness, nor had age dulled his mind. American entomology has suffered a great loss. But great as this loss is to science, the death of William Davis is a far deeper loss to the friends of this kindly, friendly, unassuming simple man. William T. Davis was the field naturalist par excellence. In the heart of nature, in field and forest and stream, was his true abiding place. Here he knew everyone of their shy little denizens, and each of their abiding places. The swiftly speeding bird, the chirping insect, the cryptic lizard, the towering tree, the lowly lichen, all had a name to him ; all were his intimates. The warm and kindly earth he loved so well has called him to its bosom. He knows at last the never-ending peace that passeth un- derstanding. His treasured memory will be sweet and living to his friends, until the last of us joins him in eternal rest ! J. R. T.-B. 1 2 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL The last picture of William T. Davis, with Edwin Way Teale Feb., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 3 THE SAYINGS OF WILLIAM T. DAVIS. By Edwin Way Teale, Baldwin, L. I., N. Y. Those of us who knew and loved William T. Davis must find new significance in the old phrase : W e will know his like no more. We will, to be sure, meet other men who are kindly. We will meet other men who are sincere. We will meet other men who are gifted and conscientious scientists. But none can ever com- bine— in one inimitable whole — the gentle charm, the sturdy in- tegrity, the helpful considerateness, the wisdom and the enduring enthusiasm of this well-remembered friend. No one said things exactly the way he did. There was fresh- ness in his phrases. He had a gift for putting wisdom in a new package. His sayings were memorable, humorous, wise. They reflected the originality of his outlook, the flavor of his personality. Here, without any attempt at segregation, Twill set down some of the remembered sayings of William T. Davis. Appearing thus, following each other without any particular relation to those com- ing before or after, they may have something of the random charm, the unstudied extemporaneousness with which they spiced his conversations. “Politicians should study astronomy. Then they wouldn’t feel so big.” “I never use two straws in an ice-cream soda — it’s gone too quick.” “If that vireo had asked my advice, it never would have built its nest there 1” “Staten Island has 57 square miles — one for each of Mr. Heinz’ pickles.” “I throw rocks with my left hand, write with my right hand, chop wood left-handed, and pin insects with both hands. I am a very curious creature.” “The cloud formations seem to show a preference for the map of Cuba.” “I tell you, jewelers have nothing on bugs — some of their eggs are wonderfully beautiful.” “Automobiles all look alike to me. They are like box turtles.” “Starlings are lawyer-birds. They say ‘fee-you.’ ” “I used to know my goldenrods but now I forget. Getting old is too bad.” “Wobbly characters take what they call ‘honest graft.’ ” 4 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL “God bless Woolworth’s. They help me a great deal, especially in the matter of notebooks.” “Most newspapers should be called ‘The Daily Distress.’ ” “Let me say a good word for the cockroach. It cleans up dirty sinks.” “A tick has to get on me, suck blood, then drop off and later in life attach itself to another animal. That’s pretty precarious. If a tick thought about it, it would end up by having nervous prostration !” “It’s fine to hear the rain pouring down. The harder it rains, the sooner it will be over.” “All cats are ornithologists.” “How old is that specimen? Well, one Davis is pretty old. He always saves everything and some of these specimens were col- lected when he was twenty years old.” “I have never been very clever but I have always been rather constant.” “Oh, at one time, we had beautiful snakes on Staten Island.” “Each morning, I wash my face with Ivory soap. One of the owners of that company is interested in collecting insects.” “Dermestids dearly love a dragonfly.” “The first car I ever rode in was an air-cooled Franklin that didn’t drink water.” “I was born on the twelfth of October. Yes, Christopher Co- lumbus did me the honor of discovering America on my birthday.” “The automobile is as great an invention as the Waterbury watch.” “There goes the best-dressed man on Staten Island. If he heard me say that, he would feel greatly complimented. And I’m sure I don’t know why !” “I can always spell a word at least three or four ways.” “Girls in shorts must provide a fine Christmas dinner for the Culex.” “A naturalist must rather be right than President.” “ ‘Father’ Leng’s beetle boxes are becoming dermestid hotels. I will have to put in some kill-um-dead.” “When I was younger, a doctor told me I had TB and advised me to go and live in the pine barrens. I’m glad to say he was wrong. When you get old, everything is breaking down and it doesn’t matter ; but when you are young and all your parts are going full speed and then just one of them breaks down, it is pretty hard on you.” Feb., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 5 “The only cicada that was named after me is a terrible pest in the South.” “The main virtue of boneset tea is its terrible taste.” “This crooked trail must have been laid out by a snake. Maybe a cow went first. But a snake certainly finished it off.” “For many years, ‘Father’ Leng got shaved in a barber shop. And he learned a great deal there, too, no doubt.” “If I were only seventy-five again, I’d be all right !” “When you are 82, you are not much of a candidate for vittels.” “I must have been a sissy boy as I never gave my parents much trouble.” “That’s one of my idiosyncrasies. I couldn’t spell the word but I could write a book about it.” “Annie Trumbull Slosson was a great woman. I could pat myself on the head — right on that bald spot — because she once spoke well of me. To have Annie Trumbull Slosson say I was all right, was a kind of diploma.” “A red-eyed vireo is a preacher bird. He tells you all about yourself and what you should do.” “Man, in spite of all the bad things he has done, is more kindly disposed towards his fellows than almost any other kind of creature.” “There is no hurry. There is still tomorrow, all untouched.” “Why, in this picture I really look like a kindly old man !” “With an automobile, you are kind of handicapped in getting around.” “I ought to tell you that I am not hunchbacked. My spinal curvature is a butterfly net under the back of my coat.” “I wouldn’t trust Nature out of my sight. She will play a trick on you every chance she gets.” “It is true that big dragonflies have been known to treat each other unkindly.” “The identifying part of this cicada looks as though a land turtle had walked up to a head of cabbage and taken out a bite.” “An old fellow is likely to talk sixteen to a dozen and keep it up too long.” “It is dangerous to be too specialized. If anything happens to the particular prey you depend upon, you are lost. I would rather be a cockroach and eat anything !” On our last trip afield together, a month before he went to the hospital, we stood looking at a cow switching her tail. 6 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL “I’ll bet,” he said, ‘‘that that cow has to eat grass for an hour a day just to run that fly-swatting machine!” “When I was collecting material for a history of Staten Island with ‘Father’ Leng,” he told me another time, “we copied this in- scription from the gravestone of Sarah Post, a naturalist who lived from 1796 to 1867.” The inscription, as he gave it to me then, well expresses the outlook of William T. Davis’ own life. Its two lines read : “Lord, ’tis a pleasant thing to stand In gardens planted by Thy hand.” A DAY AFIELD ON STATEN ISLAND. By Wm. T. Davis. The glorious sun is setting In the far and distant west, And the clouds all golden laden Seem sinking down to rest. The day was one of glory and The sun did brightly shine ; No heart in all the wild wood Has been so glad as mine. I went where fancy led me, For fancy is broad and wild I stayed where beauty kept me, For beauty is soft and mild. But the glorious sun is setting, And the day is no longer mine ; Could I but turn the hour-glass And hold the sands of time ! Feb., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 7 A NEW SPECIES OF PSEUDOMETHOCA (MUTILLI- DAE) FROM THE WEST INDIES. By R. M. Schuster, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. Only a very few species of Mutillidae have been described from the Antilles, and all of these, as far as known, are indigenous to one island. Among these have been three species of Pseudomethoca. A fourth species is described below, and it has been considered ex- pedient to give a short key to the West Indian species, in order to facilitate their recognition. Key to Species of Pseudomethoca. i. Male; entirely black, except for reddish-tinged base of second tergite. (St. Vincent). .. Pseudomethoca unicincta Ashm. Females 2 2. Integument of head and thorax entirely blackish 3 Head ferruginous or testaceous 4 3. Head very densely, conspicuously silvery pubescent; second tergite with two large spots of cinereous pubescence ; tergites 4-6 silvery pubescent ; sternites silvery pubescent ; otherwise largely black pubescent ; the legs and antennae testaceous ; no red on second tergite. (St. Croix). Pseudomethoca olgae sp. n. Sparsely white pubescent, mixed with black hairs ; second tergite of abdomen with broad apical band of red ; legs nearly black, the tarsi testaceous. (St. Vincent). Pseudomethoca unicincta Ashm. 4. Head ochraceous pubescent; second tergite ferruginous, the basal lateral angles almost black, lacking spots ; thorax dark throughout ; first abdominal tergite without median spot of silvery pubescence. (Cuba) . Pseudomethoca salti Mickel Head yellow or testaceous, with fine silky silvery pubescence; thorax anteriorly and laterally partly ferruginous ; second tergite with three ferruginous spots ; petiole with a median apical silvery spot. (Haiti). Pseudomethoca flaviceps (Andre) Pseudomethoca olgae sp. n. Female: Length 5.5-6 mm. Blackish, the apical abdominal segments lighter; the legs and antennae testaceous; the head and two large spots on the second abdominal tergite silvery pubescent; tergites 4-6, the sternites and posterior propodeal face similarly, but sparsely so ; the thoracic notum and second tergite (except spots) and tergite three largely black pubescent. Head very large, swollen, transversely rectangular seen 8 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL above, dark brown to blackish, clothed with a very dense vesti- ture of appressed and decumbent silvery hairs, hiding the sculp- ture dorsally; width 1.6 mm. (wider than maximum length of alitrunk) ; genae less densely pubescent, sparsely, finely punctate, a lighter brown in color, carinate weakly behind, but not spinose or dentate produced. Mandibles acuminate dentate. Thorax obpyriform, blackish, except for the testaceous legs, clothed with sparse decumbent blackish pubescence above, ex- cept for the posterior propodeal face, which is silvery pubescent. Rather coarsely, very closely, contiguously to confluently punc- tured, the punctures quite deep; maximum width 1.14 mm. (less than 0.8 the width of the head.) Somewhat in front of the metathoracic spiracles the dorsolateral angles of the thorax are produced as a strong, but small, acute tooth on either side ; the propodeum has three teeth on its lateral edges, the upper and lower very weak, the median prominent. Posterior propodeal face polished and shining, except for small setigerous sparse punctures. Legs testaceous, silvery pubescent. Posterior tibiae with two rows of four spines each ; calcaria white. Petiole silveri-pubescent ; except for the apex medially, which is black pubescent. Second tergite black pubescent, and entirely of a black integumentary color, but the disk with two large triangular spots of dense silvery hairs, the points of the triangle facing each other medially, and separated from each other by an area of black pubescence. Apical tergites progres- sively less darkly pigmented, the third black pubescent, the apical tergites silvery pubescent, with narrow median areas with black hairs. The sternites entirely silvery pubescent ; second sternite with punctures moderate, in transverse rows. Holotype: United States Experiment Station, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, April 19, 1922 (C. E. Wilson), in collection of Cornell University, Type No. 2195. This beautifully marked species is very different in general facies from any other West Indian species. The pair of very prominent, silvery pubescent spots of the second tergite and the conspicuously and densely swollen silvery pubescent head easily separate this species from any other known species of Pseudomethoca. It is named in honor of my wife, Olga M. Schuster. References Andre, E. 1906. Zeit. f. Hymen, u. Dipt., 6: 72-74. Ashmead, W. H. 1900. Trans. Ent. Soc. London, 1900: 239. Mickel, C. E. 1928. Psyche, 35 : 17-18. Feb., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 9 AMATEURS. By J. C. Bradley, Ithaca, N. Y. A pleasing editorial in the October Bulletin supports the work of amateur entomologists, as has always been its policy. Class dis- tinctions are not praiseworthy and in scientific work have no place. Let amateur and professional bear in mind that the value of their contributions is neither measured by salary or title, nor lack of them, but by the skillful assembly of facts, the discovery of those that are new, and the grade of interpretative thought brought to bear upon them. Will it help to break down distinction between amateur and professional to look a little more deeply into who they are? The largest class of professional entomologists are the men em- ployed by insecticide companies, by Experiment Stations, and by the Federal Government to carry on investigations bearing upon the control of pests, on apiculture and on other problems of in- terest to the economy of mankind. The work for which they are paid is published in governmental bulletins and in the Journal of Economic Entomology. They may like their work or merely tol- erate it, as with any other individual earning a livelihood. But when they go beyond the duties for which they are paid, and produce revisions and other “non-economic” contributions, which numbers of them do and always have done, they do so with all the love and enthusiasm of any amateur, and often at expense of their evenings and other non-working hours. The point is, that in such work they are amateurs, just as truly as though the work for which they receive their salaries happened to be banking, or something else. Outside of economic workers, almost the only other class of professionals are teachers, most of them employed primarily to teach zoology or biology rather than entomology, so they rank as professionals in biology rather than as entomologists. Their case is about the same, they are paid to teach; if they undertake work in systematic entomology or the like, it may or may not be officially “encouraged,” but the chances are that it will be done at sacrifice of vacations and non-working hours ; and they will count themselves blessed if some part of it can be crowded into ordinary “office hours.” Are not they, too, in their research work by definition, Amateurs ? The museum-men, of whom there are not many, are not in very 10 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL different case ; they are paid to take care of collections ; some are allowed time, as a matter of museum prestige, for taxonomic work, others “encouraged” to carry it on out-of-hours. Finally there are the graduate students. They are not being paid for doing research, but are paying for the privilege. That outdoes any Amateur ; probably they should be defined as “super- amateurs” ! The point is, that our civilization has not reached the point of paying more than a very few individuals for any type of ento- mological study that is not aimed quite directly at the improvement of man’s estate, and that all other entomological work is done by men who bear a spark of the enthusiasm that has produced the great amateurs of the past, and that is an inner compulsion that will not be denied. If there is any distinction of significance it is not between pro- fessional and amateur, but the purely individual one of the amount of training that can be brought to bear upon the solution of a given problem. If by training we mean broad knowledge of the principles and discipline of biology (of which, let us never forget, entomology is merely a part) and of the cumulative experience of biologists, there is no gainsaying that its possessor is the better equipped for successful research, particularly for interpretative thinking; it may be gained in many ways, and is far from always being successfully absorbed from exposure to collegiate channels. For those who feel themselves handicapped, there are innumerable problems of painstaking and faithful observation of facts of life history, of ecology, of morphology, of distribution and of taxonomy which can only accumulate by the cooperation of many, many workers, and which form the basis of all progress. Why then not forget about distinctions? Outside of strictly “economic” entomological work, we are all amateurs at heart, and if a man can carry on studies of insect-life when earning his bread and butter in some unrelated field, all the more honor to his in- domitable energy. If we must distinguish, we might redefine the professional ento- mologist as the paid entomological worker who starts his work at 9:00 A. M., takes his hour off for lunch, and stops punctually at four or five, then devotes his off-hours and vacations to something that has no relation to insects. The rest of us, and that would surely include every one who ever publishes in the Bulletin, would rate for the honorable apellation of amateur ! Feb., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 11 REVISION OF THE TRIBE PACHYPEZINI (COLEOPTERA, CERAMBYCIDAE). By Lawrence S. Dillon and Elizabeth S. Dillon, Reading , Pa. In monographing the Onciderini,1 the authors encountered several genera which were in discord with the other elements of the tribe; in order to relocate these properly, it became necessary to study various other related groups. The present revision is an out- growth of one of these problems. Material in the collections of the Carnegie Museum [C.M.] formed the largest part of the basis for the undertaking ; other col- lections examined are as follows : Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia [A.N.S.P.] ; Lionel Lacey, New Rochelle; and the American Museum of Natural History [A.M.N.H.]. Our thanks go to all the curators of these collections, whose kindnesses have made this study possible. As here defined, Pachypezini is removed from the Hippopsini, where they had been placed by Lacordaire as a subtribe, and is elevated to tribal rank, and excludes all the genera formerly in- cluded except the typical genus. To this has been added the genus Helvina , formerly in the Onciderini. The group thus formed dif- fers from the Hippopsini s.s. in several important characters: antennae less elongate, heavily fringed beneath, scape never passing the middle of the pronotum; head not elongate, with antennal tubercles very prominent ; eye with lower lobe large, oblong, strongly vertical, never transverse, the upper lobes much wider than isthmus ; prosternal processes behind procoxae narrow ; meso- and metasternum not elongate ; and elytra with apices separately rounded, at most feebly acuminate, never spined nor acicularly acuminate, humeri more prominent. From the other genera formerly included near Pachypesa ( Hippopsicon , Auloconotus , and Pothyne , etc., for which the authors propose the name Hippopsi- conini, trib. nov.), the present tribe differs chiefly as follows: Procoxae placed well behind middle of prothorax ; pronotum transversely carinate on entire disk ; head with front feebly convex when viewed from side, without longitudinal carinae on vertex; elytral apices rounded, not truncate; antennae with a dense, long fringe on proximal segments ; eye with upper lobe broader than isthmus; mesosternum gradually inclined to me- 1 Dillon, L. S. and E. S. Dillon, The Tribe Onciderini, Part I ; Reading Publ. Mus. Sci. Pub., 5, 1945, p. I-XV, 1-186. 12 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL socoxal acetabula anteriorly, not sulcate there. (The opposite of these characters will distinguish the Hippopsiconini from the Hippopsini as well.) From all the related tribes, the members of the Pachypezini are distinguishable in several, largely sexual, peculiarities. In the male the pronotum is elongate, whereas in the female it is slightly trans- verse ; the former sex has the metafemora and metatibiae strongly compressed and, on the procoxae, there is a flange on the lateral sur- face near the insertion of the femur. This latter character is pres- ent to some degree in certain females, too. From the Onciderini, the Pachypezini differ in the above sexual characters; the pro- and mesosternal processes narrow; the legs short ; the procoxae confined to the basal half of prothorax ; and the front of the head inclined at a greater angle than the anterior margin of the prothorax, when viewed from the side. Key to Genera. Antennal tubercles approximate; body form more elongate Pachypeza Antennal tubercles widely separated; body form robust . . Helvina Helvina Thomson Helvina Thomson, Syst. Cerambyc., 1864, p. 103. Lacordaire, Gen. Col., IX, 1872, p. 688. This genus differs from Pachypeza in these respects : the body form is less elongate and more robust ; antennal tubercles widely spaced ; antennae only slightly longer than body in male, and not as long as body in female ; species of this genus are granulate- punctate or granulate on the base of the elytra; no white lateral vitta is present on pronotum. Elongate-oblong, rather robust, cylindrical. Head viewed from above less than half as long as pronotum or as its own width at base ; front elongate, narrowed gradually to epi stoma, slightly inclined posteriorly; eye with lower lobe oblong, at least twice genal height, upper lobes well separated ; antennal tubercles distant, more so in female than in male ; robust, un- armed at apex in either sex. Pronotum subquadrate in male, slightly transverse in female, widest near middle, base and apex subequal in width, sides unarmed but with a cluster of setiger- ous granules just behind middle, anterior margin straight; basal and apical transverse sulcus distinct ; disk transversely rugose. Scutellum transverse. Elytra with sides nearly Fed., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 13 parallel, apices separately broadly rounded ; disk at base granu- late or granulate-punctate ; humeri rather prominent, angle rounded, usually tuberculate. Legs short, middle ones short- est; procoxae one half (or slightly more) the length of pro- thorax, in male sometimes tuberculate on mesal surface, later- ally with a strong flange in the same sex ; femora clavate, robust, profemora in male expanded on mesal surface on distal half, less distinctly so in female; tibiae short, metatibiae and metafemora in male strongly compressed. Antennae slightly longer than body in male, nearly equal to body length in female, rather densely fimbriate on basal five segments, thence to apex sparsely so ; scape cylindrical, very gradually wider apically ; third segment cylindrical, straight, one third longer than first ; rest gradually shorter, tenth and eleventh segments subequal, not elongate. Genotype: Helvina uncinata Thomson, by original designation and monotypy. Key to Species. 1. Elytra sparsely, rather coarsely granulate at base, unicolorous, with scattered, small, glabrous maculae uncinata Elytra densely granulate-punctate at base, bicolorous, without glabrous maculae 2 2. Head and pronotum ashy-gray pubescent ; elytra finely, densely granulate-punctate basally; only abdominal sternites 1 and 2 brown maculate laterally lanuginosa Head and pronotum yellowish- or rosy-gray pubescent ; elytra more coarsely, more or less rugosely granulate-punctate; abdominal sternites 1, 2, and 3 brown maculate laterally . . lypera Helvina uncinata Thomson (Pate I, Fig. 6) Helvina uncinata Thomson, Syst. Ceramb., 1864, p. 103. Male: Elongate-oblong, cylindrical, rather robust; fuscous, uniformly covered with tawny-gray pubescence, denser around eyes ; genae dark brown pubescent ; elytra with a number of moderate sized, round, glabrous maculae irregularly scattered over surface (these are tubercles basally) ; abdomen on each side of first and second sternites with a broad, oblique, dark brown macula that extends onto metacoxae, hind legs and meso- tibiae apically dark brown pubescent, metafemora glabrous, on mesal surface. Head above finely punctate, with a few coarser ones medially. 14 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL a median line extending from occiput to epistoma ; front elon- gate, one half again as long as wide, a little wider above, finely punctate; genae transverse, more or less rugosely punctate; eye with lower lobe very large, at least twice as tall as gena, oblong; antennal tubercles widely separated, slightly promi- nent, robust, unarmed. Pronotum as long as greatest width, narrowed basally and apically, basal and apical transverse sul- cus narrow, straight, rather deep; disk entirely covered with coarse, irregular rugosities, only a few of which are interrupted ; sides just above angulation of procoxae with several small prominent tubercles, the anterior one largest. Scutellum transverse, apex broadly rounded. Elytra nearly parallel- sided, apices separately rounded ; on basal quarter with a num- ber of coarse, shining tubercles, irregularly placed and vari- able in number and size ; humeri slightly prominent, anterior margin arcuate, slightly oblique, angle with a feebly elevated, obtuse tubercle. Prosternum rather narrow, gradually wider posteriorly ; mesosternal process narrow, elongate, at apex feebly emarginate; abdomen with fifth sternite a little longer than fourth. Legs short, front pair more elongate; procoxae with flange broad and elongate, lower edge arcuate, apex acute ; femora robust, clavate, profemora subpedunculate, strongly expanded on mesal surface on apical third, metafemora strongly compressed ; metatibiae compressed, broad ; protarsi slightly dilated. Antennae slightly longer than body, eighth segment attaining elytral apex, densely fringed beneath on third to fifth segments, more sparsely so on first two and from sixth to eleventh ; scape moderately robust, subcylindrical, a little wider apically; third nearly straight, one third longer than first; fourth slightly longer than first, rest subequal. Female: As in male but pronotum slightly wider than long, less tapering to base and apex, on sides tubercles less distinct ; legs a little longer, procoxae with flange very short, profemora unmodified, metafemora less compressed, metatibiae not com- pressed, protarsi not dilated ; antennae with ninth segment attaining elytral apex ; abdomen with fifth sternite much larger than fourth, broadly grooved medially. Length 19-26 mm. ; width 5.6-8 mm. Type locality: Cayenne. Distribution: The Guianas and lower Amazon region. French Guiana: § ; Cayenne; [M.C.Z.]. Brazil: J', 2 5 ; Santarem; [C. M.]. Feb., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 15 Helvina lanuginosa Bates (Pate I, Fig. 7) Pachypeza lanuginosa Bates, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (3), XVI, 1865, p. 314 (sep. p. 200). Male: Elongate-oblong, cylindrical, rather robust; medium to dark reddish-brown. Head and pronotum ashy-gray pubes- cent, genae dark brown pubescent. Scutellum and elytra on basal fourth and narrowly on sides ashy-gray pubescent, re- mainder of surface grayish-brown pubescent, with minute, scattered spots of ashy-gray. Beneath ashy-gray pubescent, first and second sternites of abdomen broadly maculate laterally with dark brown. Antennae dark reddish-brown, grayish- brown pubescent, the apex of scape and third with ashy-gray. Legs dark reddish-brown, first two pairs grayish-brown pubes- cent, hind ones dark brown pubescent, except the tarsi which are grayish-brown ; metafemora glabrous on mesal surface. Head above with a few, coarse, shallow punctures between antennal tubercles ; a median impressed line from occiput to epistoma ; front elongate, distinctly narrowed to epistoma, surface with scattered, coarse, shallow punctures ; genae transverse; eyes with lower lobe oblong, three times genal height ; antennal tubercles slightly prominent, well-separated. Pronotum subquadrate, distinctly narrowed basally and api- cally, widest at middle; an apical and a basal sulcus present, apical one wide, shallow; disk with many distinct, irregular, transverse carinae which are continued laterally to prosternum, at middle basally with a few coarse granules ; laterally at base with a cluster of small granules bearing setae. Scutellum transverse, sides and apex broadly arcuate. Elytra with sides nearly straight, apices each broadly rounded; basal fourth finely and densely granulate-punctate, granules on humeri forming rugosities, remainder of surface finely, densely punc- tate, the punctures becoming smaller and less dense apically; humeri slightly prominent, anterior margin arcuate, feebly oblique, angle with a large, feebly elevated tubercle. Proster- num simply rounded, much narrowed between procoxae ; mesosternal process narrow, slightly widened and feebly emarginate apically ; fifth sternite subtruncate apically, dis- tinctly longer than fourth. Legs moderately long ; procoxae globose, with the procoxal flange short but distinct; pro- femora greatly expanded on mesal surface of apical half, base narrow and coarsely rugose, metafemora and tibiae much com- pressed; protarsi dilated. Antennae with eighth segment 16 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL attaining elytral apex ; scape moderately robust, subcylindrical, slightly wider apically ; third segment nearly straight, one third longer than scape, fourth slightly longer than scape, remaining segments gradually shorter, eleventh slightly shorter than tenth ; moderately fimbriate on first five segments, more densely on apex of third, fourth, and fifth. Female: More robust; pronotum feebly transverse, very feebly narrowed apically and basally ; fifth sternite feebly triangularly impressed medially ; procoxae only minutely flanged ; femora clavate, profemora more robust, metafemora compressed slightly ; metatibiae dilated feebly ; antennae with ninth segment attaining elytral apex. Length 17-22.2 mm.; width 5.2-7 mm. Type locality: Ega and Sao Paulo [deOlivenga] , Upper Amazon, Brazil. Distribution: The Amazon Region. Brazil : 2 J' ; 2 J ; Santarem ; [C.M.]. Helvina lypera Dillon and Dillon, spec. nov. (Plate I, Fig. 8) Resembles H. lanuginosa but the bases of elytra are rugosely granulate-punctate ; the head and pronotum and elytral maculation either yellowish- or rosy-gray instead of ashy-gray; first, second, and third sternites dark brown maculate. Male: Elongate-oblong, robust, cylindrical; piceous. Head, pronotum, and scutellum dull yellowish- or rosy-gray pubes- cent, eyes margined with same pubescence but denser. Elytra grayish-brown pubescent, with very small, irregular maculae of yellowish- or rosy-gray pubescence scattered over the sur- face, these denser on basal third, lateral margin with a narrow, indistinct vitta of same pubescence. . Beneath piceous, clothed with yellowish- or rosy-gray pubescence, first, second, and third sternites laterally dark brown maculate, macula much narrower on third. Antennae piceous, grayish-brown pubes- cent. Legs piceous, first and second pairs yellowish or fulvous-gray pubescent, hind ones dark brown pubescent ; metafemora glabrous on mesal surface. Head above with a few coarse, shallow punctures on occiput and vertex, a median impressed line from occiput to near epistoma; front elongate, sides gradually but distinctly nar- rowed below, surface with a few coarse punctures ; genae trans- verse ; eye with lower lobe broadly oblong, nearly twice genal height ; antennal tubercles slightly prominent, widely separated. Pronotum subquadrate, distinctly narrowed apically and ba- Feb., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 17 sally ; apical and a basal sulcus moderately deep ; disk more or less regularly, transversely carinate, the carinae continuing laterally nearly to prosternum, laterally and medially at base with a few punctate granules. Scutellum transverse; sides straight or nearly so ; apex subtruncate. Elytra with sides nearly straight, apices each broadly rounded ; disk with basal fourth rather coarsely, rugosely granulate-punctate, thence coarsely punctate to middle, remainder of surface more finely and sparsely punctate ; humeri slightly prominent, anterior mar- gin arcuate, feebly oblique, angle simply rounded. Prosternum narrow, simply rounded, widened basally ; mesosternal proc- ess narrow, feebly widened apically, apical margin barely emarginate ; fifth sternite longer than fourth, very feebly emarginate at apex. Legs moderate; procoxae globose, pro- coxal flange moderate ; profemora strongly swollen on mesal surface of apical half, basal third narrow and roughly rugose ; metafemora and tibiae strongly compressed ; protarsi dilated. Antennae very slightly longer than body ; scape subcylindrical, moderately robust, slightly widened apically; third segment straight, one third longer than scape, fourth slightly longer than scape, remaining segments gradually shorter ; eleventh very slightly longer than tenth ; fimbriate on all eleven seg- ments, but more heavily so on third, fourth, and fifth. Female: More robust; pronotum feebly transverse, very feebly narrowed apically and basally ; fifth sternite shallowly, triangularly impressed at apex ; procoxae feebly but distinctly flanged ; femora clavate, profemora basally with a few rugos- ities and with mesal surface feebly swollen, metatibiae only very feebly dilated, protarsi slightly dilated; antennae dis- tinctly shorter than body, eleventh segment shorter than tenth. Length 16.5-20.5 mm. ; width 4.5-7.75 mm. Holotype: Male; Satipo Valley, Junin Prov., Peru, Aug-Sept., 1940; [L. Lacey]. Allotype: Lemale ; Same data as type; [L. Lacey]. Paratypes: Lemale; topotypic; [L. Lacey]. Lemale; Chaco, Bolivia; [A.N.S.P.]. Pachypeza Serville. Pachypeza Serville, Ann. Soc. Ent. Lrance, IV, 1835, p. 42. Castelnau, Hist. Nat. Col., II, 1840, p. 493. Blanchard, Hist. Nat. Ins., II, 1845, p. 162. Thomson, Class. Ceramb., i860, p. 120; Syst. Ceramb. 1864, p. 390. Bates, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (3), XVI, 1865, p. 314 (sep. p. 200). Lacordaire, Gen. Col., IX, 1872, p. 691, 692. 18 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL Elongate-ovate, slender, cylindrical. Head viewed from above more than one half as long as wide at base and more than one half as long as pronotum ; front elongate, narrowed above, strongly inclined posteriorly; eye with lower lobe broadly ob- long, distinctly taller than gena, upper lobes subapproximate ; antennal tubercles approximate, robust, prominent, armed at apex, at least in male. Pronotum slightly elongate in male, feebly transverse in female, widest behind middle, apex a little narrower than base, usually with a feeble tubercle each side well behind middle, anterior margin emarginate at middle ; transverse sulci obsolete ; disk transversely rugose. Scutellum transverse. Elytra feebly tapering posteriorly, apices sepa- rately rounded, often subacuminate; disk at base simply punctate (in phegea granulate-punctate) ; humeri slightly prominent, angle broadly rounded, not tuberculate. Legs short, posterior ones shorter than forelegs, middle pair shortest ; procoxae robust, no more than one half the length of prothorax, in male sometimes with tubercle on mesal surface, laterally in same sex with a distinct flange ; femora clavate ; tibiae often shorter than femora ; metafemora and metatibiae in male strongly compressed. Antennae one and one half to two times as long as body in male, from one and one third to one and one half times body length in female, heavily fringed beneath on proximal five segments, tufted on apices of rest ; scape cylindri- cal, feebly expanded apically ; third segment distinctly longer than first, straight, rest gradually shorter, in male eleventh much elongate. Genotype : Saperda pennicornis Germar, by original monotypy. Key to Species i . Elytra with lateral margins in great part white tomentose ... 3 Elytra not white tomentose on sides 2 2. Elytra together with five complete bright ochraceous vittae and two white ones ; pronotum with median vitta ochraceous ; body form small and very slender teres Elytra with no complete vittae, discal ones tawny, greatly broken, sutural one white, only attaining middle ; pronotum with median vitta white ; body form larger and broader . . joda 3. Elytra at base simply punctate, maculation not entirely white 4 Elytra granulate-punctate at base, maculae entirely white phegea 4. Elytra with numerous distinct white and yellowish vittae on Feb., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 19 disk, basal punctation not coarse, punctures well spaced pennicornis Elytra without any discal vittae, with numerous yellowish maculae there, basal punctation coarse, more or less rugose, punctures rather densely placed marginata Pachypeza pennicornis Germar (Plate I, Fig. i) Saperda pennicornis Germar, Ins. Spec. Nov., 1824, p. 490. Pachypeza pennicornis Germar. Castelnau, Hist. Nat. Col., II, 1840, p. 493. Lacordaire, Gen. Col. IX, 1872, p. 692. Male: Elongate-oblong, slender, cylindrical ; dark reddish- brown to fuscous, densely covered with dark brown pubes- cence, with orange-fulvous vittae as follows : a double one on middle of head above, one each side of front, pronotum with one at middle and three on each side of disk, elytra each with four or five oblique, interrupted ones and abdomen with two each side. A broad white tomentose vitta on each side of body from behind eye along sides of thorax and continuing along margin of each elytron to near apex, attenuate at each end. Short streaks or maculae of white on middle of pronotum, sides of scutellum, and scattered over elytra. Head above minutely, densely punctate, with a median line from occiput to near epistoma; front about twice as long as greatest width, strongly and regularly narrowed above, slightly emarginate below lower margin of eye, minutely punctate ; genae slightly transverse; eyes with lower lobe large, nearly twice the height of gena and about as broad as front, oblong ; antennal tubercles prominent, robust, approximate, shortly toothed at apex. Pronotum nearly cylindrical, slightly longer than wide, a little narrowed toward base, side at basal fourth with a minute tubercle; disk with a large number of transverse carinae, mostly uninterrupted but a few cen- tral ones often broken each side of middle ; basal trans- verse sulcus narrow, distinct, apical one broad, obsolete. Scutellum a little broader than long, sides feebly oblique, apex broad, notched at middle. Elytra elongate, feebly tapering posteriorly, apices subacuminate and separately narrowly rounded ; disk basally finely, deeply, not densely punctate, punctures finer and shallower from basal quarter to middle, thence obsolete to apex; humeri prominent, anterior mar- gin strongly rounded. Legs rather short; procoxae promi- nent, anteriorly at sides with an elongate, recurved flange, 20 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL ending in an acute angle, toward mesal surface with an obtuse tubercle ; femora robust, slightly clavate, metafemora strongly compressed, on mesal surface shining; metatibiae strongly compressed, distinctly expanded apically. Antennae elon- gate, seventh segment attaining elytral apex, very densely fringed beneath from first to fifth segments, thence more sparsely so to distal end, apex of each of these distal segments more heavily fringed than basally ; scape rather robust, cylindrical ; third segment half again as long as first, fourth one third longer than first, rest gradually shorter, except tenth, which is slightly longer than ninth, and eleventh, which is longest of all (in small specimens antennae may be as in female) . Female: As male, but pronotum a little wider than long; procoxae with flange very short, the tubercle wanting; meta- femora and metatibiae unmodified; antennae only slightly longer than body, tenth and eleventh segments subequal. Length 13-23 mm. ; width 3-5.5 mm. Type locality : Brazil. Distribution: Southeastern Brazil and Paraguay. Brazil: ?; no locality data; [U.S.N.M.]. 4 c?,?; Rio de Janeiro; [C.M.— 4 iC? ; U.S.N.M.-?] . ? ; Chapada ; [C.M.] . 2 ? ; Hansa Humboldt, Santa Catharina, Nov.-Dee.; [Lionel Lacey]. Paraguay: (?; San Bernardino; (K. Fiebrig) ; [U.S.N.M.]. Pachypeza marginata Pascoe (Plate I, Fig. 2) Pachypeza marginata Pascoe, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1888, P- 507- Resembles P. pennicornis very closely, differing from it mainly in having the antennae a little shorter, the elytra more coarsely and densely punctate and lacking all trace of pubescent vittae on disk ; eye with lower lobe only slightly taller than gena. Male: Elongate-oblong, slender, cylindrical; dark reddish- brown to fuscous, sparsely covered with dark brown or ashy- brown pubescence. Head above with an indistinct fulvous median vitta, a broader distinct one behind each lower lobe of eye, which may be fulvous, white, or both colors; front sparsely fulvous pubescent, densely so each side. Pronotum with five, indistinct, narrow, fulvous vittae on disk, one apically at middle, one each side of middle, converging and coalescent at base, and one toward each side ; a broad, white vitta each side just above procoxae, narrower apically. Elytra Feb., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 21 rather variegated with fulvous on scutellar region; disk, es- pecially apically, with several rows of sparse, small fulvous maculae ; on side margins from about basal quarter a broad white vitta, terminating before apex. Body beneath dark brown to fuscous, brown or ashy pubescent, sides of meso- sternum and the mesosternal side-pieces, and metepisternum "densely white tomentose; abdomen with two more or less macular, narrow, fulvous vittae each side. Legs fuscous, fuscous pubescent. Antennae dark reddish-brown, only very slightly paler distally, covered with dark brown pubescence. Head with a median line from occiput to near epistoma ; front elongate, rather narrow, tapering above; gena slightly elongate; eye with lower lobe broadly oblong, a little taller than gena ; antennal tubercles robust, prominent, approximate, at apex with a short tooth. Pronotum elongate, slightly wider at base than at apex, widest behind middle, minutely tuber- culate at basal fourth ; transverse sulci obsolete ; disk covered with many irregular transverse rugosities. Scutellum trans- verse, nearly oblong, apex broad, feebly arcuate. Elytra elongate, parallel-sided, apices separately broadly rounded, slightly acuminate or not at all so ; disk at base densely, coarsely, more or less rugosely punctate, punctures from basal quarter gradually finer and sparser, much finer behind middle ; humeri feebly prominent, its anterior margin distinctly rounded, the angle without a tubercle. Procoxae with a short distinct flange, toward mesal surface a rather prominent tubercle ; femora robust, clavate, metafemora strongly compressed ; metatibiae robust, slightly compressed. Posternum narrow between the coxae ; mesosternal process elongate, narrow, feebly notched at apex; fifth sternite slightly longer than fourth, apex broadly emarginate. Antennae nearly half again as long as body, seventh segment nearly attaining elytral apex, with a long, rather dense fringe beneath, on distal segments fringe gradually sparser; scape robust, cylindrical, nearly at- taining apical fourth of pronotum ; third segment almost one and one half times as long as first, rest gradually shorter, tenth slightly longer than ninth, eleventh much longer. Female: Pronotum slightly transverse; procoxae without flange and tubercle, metafemora clavate and metatibiae un- modified ; fifth sternite much longer than fourth, with a broad feeble excavation toward apex, which is truncate; antennae only slightly longer than body, eighth segment nearly attaining elytral apex, tenth and eleventh segments not elongate. 22 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL Length 16-17 mm.; width 4 mm. Type locality: Brazil. Distribution: Southeastern Brazil. Brazil : 5 ; Rio Grande do Sul; [A.N.S.P.]. J' ; Nova Teutonia, Nov. 11, 1938; (Fritz Plaumann) ; [L. Lacey]. $; Santa Catharina; [A.N.S.P.]. Pachypeza phegea Dillon and Dillon, spec. nov. (Plate I, Fig. 3) Distinct from the two preceding species in that the lateral, white, tomentose vitta of elytra begins at the humerus, the discal macula- tion is entirely whitish ; and the front lacks the usual lateral vittae. Male: Elongate-oblong, rather slender, cylindrical; fuscous, all over densely, dark brown pubescent. Head with a small patch at angle of isthmus and a narrow vitta behind isthmus of dense white tomentum. Pronotum with a continuation of the lateral vitta of head, which is widest basally. Elytra medially with a broad area along suture of small, scattered, irregular, white maculae, these denser from basal third, later- ally with a dense white vitta which only attains the apical fourth. Beneath fuscous, dark brown pubescent, sterna medially and abdomen, except laterally on first sternite, gray- ish pubescent; meso- and metasterna laterally with a dense white vitta. Legs piceous, densely clothed with dark brown pubescence and with scattered single white hairs. Antennae piceous with thin dark brown pubescence. Head above with a few, coarse, shallow punctures, a median impressed line from occiput to near epistoma; front elongate, gradually narrowed below, surface coarsely densely punctate, punctures deep, and with finer punctures interspersed; genae distinctly elongate, surface scabrous ; eye with lower lobe wide, trapezoidal, narrowed below, about one eighth longer than gena ; antennal tubercles prominent, appproximate, dentate on posterior end of mesal side. Pronotum feebly elongate, widest basally; transversely carinate all over disk; sides feebly ob- tusely armed behind middle. Scutellum transverse, sides straight, oblique, apex feebly emarginate. Elytra with sides straight, apices separately, broadly rounded, basal fourth finely, densely granulate-punctate, remaining surface with moderate punctures, becoming slightly finer apically; humeri slightly prominent, angle simply rounded. Prosternum narrow, simply rounded, widened basally ; mesosternal process narrow, subtruncate apically ; fifth sternite slightly longer than fourth, at apex strongly emarginate. Legs moderate; procoxae Feb., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 23 globose, with an obtuse tubercle anteriorly, flange feeble ; femora robust, profemora rugose basally, metafemora feebly compressed ; metatibiae moderately compressed ; protarsi feebly dilated. Antennae about one half longer than body; scape robust, cylindrical, slightly wider apically ; third segment straight, cylindrical, nearly half again as long as scape ; fourth slightly longer than scape ; remaining segments gradually shorter, except eleventh which is distinctly longer than tenth and curved. Length 17 mm. ; width 4.2 mm. Holotype: Male; Coxim, Matto Grasso, Brazil, October, 1939; (A. Mailer) ; [L. Lacey]. Pachypeza joda Dillon and Dillon, spec. nov. (Plate I, Fig. 4) The following two species differ from all the preceding in lack- ing the lateral white vittae on the elytra. The present species dif- fers from P. teres in the elytra having no entire discal vittae, all vittae broken and yellowish, the sutural one is white and only at- tains middle; moreover, its size is much larger and its form more robust. Male: Elongate-oblong, slender, cylindrical; head and pronotum dark reddish-brown, elytra paler. Head and pronotum thinly clothed with grayish-fulvous pubescence ; head with front narrowly margined either side with condensed pubescence, and an irregular vitta, a small spot at base of an- tennal tubercles at isthmus of eye, and a narrow, oblique vitta below isthmus of fulvous-tinged white pubescence ; pronotum with three dense white vittae, one at middle narrow, gradually widening to apex, one either side (a continuation of the lateral on head), oblique, broad and widest at base; entire surface with scattered, short, coarse, white hairs. Scutellum entirely white pubescent. Elytra thinly grayish-brown pubescent, with a narrow, white, common vitta at suture on basal third, and each elytron with four narrow, fulvous vittae broken into very small maculae, one nearer suture attaining only basal fifth and joined at elytral apex to the second which is oblique and attains the inner side of the humerus, third from middle to apex where it joins the extreme lateral vitta which nearly attains the humerus, entire surface with single white hairs in each puncture. Beneath reddish-brown, clothed with gray- brown pubescence, medially yellowish-gray pubescent, meso- sternum, mesosternal side-pieces and metasternum with a 24 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.ZL lateral vitta of dense white tomentum, which becomes slightly narrowed on metasternum ; sternites each side with two small, elongate, fulvous maculae. Legs reddish-brown, clothed with gray-brown pubescence and with single, scattered, white hairs ; antennae reddish-brown thinly clothed with gray-brown pubescence. Head above with a few coarse, shallow punctures ; a median impressed line from occiput to near epistoma ; front very elongate, distinctly narrowed above and feebly narrowed be- low the lower margin of eye, surface with shallow, coarse punctures ; genae distinctly elongate, surface rugose, with coarse, scattered punctures ; eye with lower lobe broad, trape- zoidal, narrowed below, nearly one eighth longer than gena; antennal tubercles prominent, approximate, with a tooth on upper margin of mesal surface. Pronotum elongate, narrowed apically and basally, entire surface transversely rugose; sides unarmed, without trace of tubercle behind middle. Scutellum transverse, sides straight, oblique, apex very broadly rounded. Elytra with sides nearly straight to apices, which are each broadly rounded; basal fourth coarsely, rugosely-punctate, punctures coarse and dense to middle, thence to apex finer and less dense ; humeri slightly prominent, angle simply rounded. Prosternum narrow, simply rounded, widened basally; meta- sternal process narrow, subtruncate at apex; fifth sternite slightly longer than fourth, at apex deeply emarginate. Legs short, robust; procoxae globose, flange moderate, an obtuse tubercle anteriorly; femora robust, clavate, profemora more strongly robust and rugose basally ; metatibiae dilated apically ; protarsi dilated. Antennae twice body length ; scape rather robust, cylindrical, slightly wider apically ; third segment straight, cylindrical, two-thirds as long as scape ; fourth one sixth longer than scape ; remaining segments gradually shorter, except eleventh which is three fourths longer than tenth. Length 17 mm. ; width 4.3 mm. Holotype: A; prov. del. Sara, central Bolivia, 4 so m., Nov. iqoq; (J. Steinbach) ; [C.M.]. Pachypeza teres Pascoe (Plate I, Fig. 5) Pachypeza teres Pascoe, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1888, p. 508. The elytra each have 2 complete bright ochraceous discal vittae and one white one, in addition to a common sutural ochraceous one ; the body form is very elongate and slender. Feb., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 25 Male: Elongate-oblong, very slender, cylindrical; head and pronotum piceous, elytra dark reddish-brown. Head and pronotum with very sparse, short, fine, yellowish pubescence ; head with eye posteriorly margined, sides and a narrow vitta each side of front, bright fulvous ; pronotum with five narrow vittae of same color, one medially bifurcate from middle to base, two either side of middle, one below and one above lateral tubercle. Scutellum thinly yellow pubescent. Elytra with thin, fine pale yellowish-gray pubescence, and each with three bright fulvous vittae and one whitish vitta, placed as follows: the fulvous one narrow at suture, the second from humerus to apex, and one on lateral edge, these latter two wider, the single white vitta lies between the sutural and second fulvous vittae and it does not attain either the base or apex. Beneath me- dium reddish-brown, thinly clothed with fine yellowish-gray pubescence, meso- and metasternal side-pieces densely white tomentose. Legs reddish-brown, moderately clothed with yellowish-gray pubescence. Antennae reddish-brown, brown pubescent. Head above finely alutaceous with a few coarse punctures on vertex; a medium impressed line from occiput to epistoma; front narrow, elongate, feebly narrowed above and below the lower margin of eye, surface finely densely punctate with coarse punctures interspersed ; genae vertical, surface rugose ; eye with lower lobe ovate, one half longer than gena ; antennal tubercles basally subcontiguous, at apex slightly divergent, with a distinct, short, blunt tooth posteriorly on apical margin. Pronotum feebly elongate, widest behind middle, apex and base sub-equal ; sides arcuate, with a feeble, obtuse tubercle near base; disk with a distinct deep basal sulcus which is curved medially, surface transversely rugose, the rugosities from middle to base are interrupted by an elongate, feebly elevated median tubercle. Scutellum strongly transverse, sides nearly straight, apex broadly rounded, feebly emarginate medially. Elytra with sides nearly straight, apices separately broadly rounded (nearly together rounded) ; disk at base coarsely, densely punctate, the punctures becoming a little finer but no less dense to apex; humeri slightly prominent, angle simply rounded. Prosternum simple; mesosternal process narrow, bilobedly emarginate at apex ; fifth sternite deeply emarginate at apex. Legs short ; procoxae globose, with an obtuse tubercle anteriorly, flange well developed ; femora robust, 26 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL clavate, profemora finely rugose basally and slightly more robust; metafemora and tibiae not strongly compressed as in others of this genus. Antennae from one and one half to one and two thirds times body length ; scape cylindrical, very feebly widened apically ; third segment straight, one half longer than scape, succeeding segments gradually shorter, except eleventh which is distinctly longer than tenth ; fimbriate heavily on seg- ments one to five, slightly on the other segments. Length 12.2 mm. ; width 2.7 mm. Type locality : Brazil. Distribution: Southeastern Brazil and Paraguay. Paraguay: 2 £ ; no locality data, 1885; (Dr. Drake) ; [A.N.S.P.]. Pachypeza septenaria Heller, Deutsch. Ent. Zeit. 1923, p. 421. This is described from Philippine Islands and is placed near to Pachypeza trivitta New. but probably should be in Pothyne , as is indicated by the elytral apex being obliquely truncate, and basal pronotal sulcus distinct. No other real generic characters are men- tioned in the description but it is certainly not a member of the present tribe. Pascoe in Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1888, p. 508, sug- gests likewise that Pachypeza trivitta should be in Pothyne. Plate I Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig- 3 Fig. 4 Fig- 5 Fig. 6 Fig- 7 Fig. 8 Pachypeza pennicornis Germar x 3. marginata Pascoe x 4. phegea Dillon and Dillon, spec. nov. £ x 4. joda Dillon and Dillon, spec. nov. J' x 4. teres Pascoe, £ x 6. Helvina uncinata Thomson £ x 3.2. “ lanuginosa Bates J1 x 3.5. “ lypera Dillon and Dillon, spec. nov. x 4. Feb., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 27 28 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL WE MUST. The constant purpose of the Brooklyn Entomological Society in its publications has been and is, to maintain high standards and to give subscribers to its journals as much as it can, compatible with its income from subscriptions. At all times our Bulletin has been self-supporting; but in Entomologica Americana our cost has been about twice our receipts. This excess has been overcome to some degree through the separate sale of its outstanding articles ; even so, it is still a strain on the Society’s resources. This publi- cation is by design a restricted monographic journal, hence we cannot and do not expect a very large subscription list. This is our problem: our printers have been compelled to in- crease their prices because of increased costs due to wartime conditions. Immediately, this forces on us a compulsory choice: either we increase our subscription prices to meet the added cost ; or we de- crease the size of the journals to offset the raise. The Society has elected the second alternative, to its great regret. The present sub- scription prices will be continued for this year at least; but the number of pages of each Journal will be fewer. With our dwindling subscription lists because of the war, it be- comes imperative to be conservative. However, we would empha- size that an added 30 more subscriptions to either journal would make it possible to continue to give as many pages as we have up to this point. We will greatly appreciate all the help we can get from our subscribers and members to produce this growth. Authors will be, and are here called upon to help us. To this end, we set these two strict limitations : first, papers with tabular matter of any kind will NOT be accepted, unless and only if the author is willing to meet the added cost of composition; second, NO plates or figures will be published, unless paid for by the author. Our practice of giving authors 25 reprints of their articles gratis will be continued ; but reprints will not be given except on specific request. We add one condition — no reprints will be given unless requested on the submission of the paper. On additional reprints above the 25 gratis, all our prices as of February, 1942, are hereby advanced 40%, as of the date of appearance of this February 1945 number of this Bulletin. This increase is subject to revision with- out notice. In other respects, with all the changes above, the con- ditions are as of February, 1942. We are deeply sorry to do all this, but needs must when the devil drives. Publication Committee of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Fel.,1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 29 THE CARNIVOROUS HABITS OF THE ADULT WASP, ODYNERUS DORSALIS FAB. By Phil Rau, Kirkwood, Missouri. It is a well-known fact that solitary wasps hunt insect prey for their offspring while they themselves feed upon the nectar of flowers. The temptation is often great, however, for the mother wasp while stinging and malaxating the prey to imbibe its juices sometimes, and we have records of certain Pompilid wasps that not only refresh themselves on the blood of the spiders which they hunt for their young but even catch and sting spiders for the sole purpose of grati- fying this blood-thirsty habit, abandoning the carcass after it has been drained. I have often seen Odynerus dorsalis feeding on the nectar of flowers, and I have often seen them transporting caterpillars of the species Pholisora cattullus to nests in the ground,1 but the first record of seeing a mother catch and completely consume a caterpillar for her own food was at Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee, on July 12, 1937, when I saw a female O. dorsalis alight on a plant of lambsquarter, catch a P. cattullus caterpillar and malaxate it for twenty, minutes. The brisk way in which she kept her palpi and jaws moving led me to believe that she was swallowing its blood. This seemed to be the case, for after treating it in this way for another ten minutes, she threw it to the ground and flew away. I picked it up and found it to be an empty carcass sucked dry of its entire contents. It is interesting to note that she did not chew up the caterpillar but malaxated it sufficiently so that the contents could be sucked out easily. I have sometimes seen the workers of the social Polistes wasps feed on caterpillars that rightfully belonged to the larvae, but the flesh was made into pulp and rolled in the jaws for a long time before being swallowed. There is a distinction between the terms “malaxate” and “masti- cate” and since writers are prone to confuse the two, it might be well to make clear the distinction here. To reduce the caterpillar to a semi-liquid without breaking the skin is to malaxate it, and to chew it into pulp, skin and all, is to masticate it. In the former case the food is drunk, and in the latter it is actually eaten.2 1 For a detailed account of the life history of 0. dorsalis , see “Wasps Studies Afield,” pp. 3 12-331, 1918. 2 It is interesting, in this connection, to note that the Standard Dictionary defines the word “malaxate” “to knead to softness,” and 30 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL A change of habit in feeding in the animal world is of much importance in the evolution of the species, and naturalists are begin- ning to 'give some thought to this subject. As a result we have some excellent papers, such as that by Brues, “Aberrant feeding behavior among insects” (Quarterly Review of Biology, n : 305-319, 1936) and Myers on “Facultative blood-sucking in phytophagous Hemip- tera” (Parasitology, 21: 472-479, 1929), which I should like to> recommend to investigators seeking new problems. An Unusual Occurrence of Lynchia americana (Leach) Diptera, Hippoboscidae). — Mr. Henry Dietrich, of the Depart- ment of Entomology, Cornell University, recently sent me a series of 61 specimens (39 females and 22 males) of the common Lynchia americana. These flies, as well as 7 specimens of Ornithoica vicina (Walker), were all taken from one great horned owl ( Bubo ■ virginianus Gmelin), trapped by Mr. C. E. Palm at Ellis Hollow, Ithaca, New York, August 28, 1944. It appears to be the largest number of specimens of this hippoboscid ever taken from one individual host. Moreover, the lot sent in was only part of the fly population of this owl, as many flies escaped from the dead bird ; Mr. Palmer estimating that probably only one-half to two-thirds of them were captured. Many of the flies were moving about in the car that brought the bird to the laboratory and for several days afterward some were taken in the room, always sitting on the dark woodwork. Most of the parasites were collected by fumigating the bird for about an hour with carbon bisulphide and then shaking it very vigorously. The heavy infestation with these flies appears to have weakened the bird to such an extent that it was no longer able to hunt for its normal, wild prey. Instead it had taken to attacking domestic turkeys on a farm, which led to its being trapped. It may be noted on this occasion, that an earlier statement I pub- lished of 32 specimens of L. americana being taken on one great horned owl (1933, Psyche, XL, p. 75), was due to an oversight,, as this record originally referred to the much smaller Ornithoica vicina. — J. Bequaert, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cam- bridge, Mass. in the entomological sense as “the act of certain wasps in kneading insects to produce complete paralysis before putting them away for future use.” Feb. ,1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 31 EDITORIAL. Destruction ! The A. A. A. S. Bulletin for December carries a terrible story of the ravages of war. It tells of the vast destructions of books in Leipzig, The Book City of Europe, by aerial bombardment. The University Library alone contained more than one million books ; the Deutsch Biicherei nearly two million. The great publishing houses, known the world over, are destroyed. All this was done in the vast effort to preserve civilization and culture. To this day, men contemplate with astonishment and condem- nation the destruction of the great Alexandrian Library by the Caliph Omar. Entomology, as a minor and unconsidered subdivision of biology has not as yet had its losses counted. They must be incalculable. We know nothing about the fate of the great insect collections in France or in Belgium; at best, because of want of adequate staffs they must have deteriorated ; they may even have been taken away. The British Museum has its specimens in a safe place, not men- tioned for obvious reasons. But consider the other parts of Europe. What has become of the great collections in Leningrad, a fought over mass of ruins? Where are the accumulations of the Polish National Museum in Warsaw, a city of the dead in heaps of rubble? What has been the fate of the Entomological Museum of Berlin, a metropolis levelled to the earth by a constant rain of aerial bombs? And if material was taken there from conquered cities, where is it now? As this is written, a bitter battle is being fought in Buda Pest, and streets and buildings are razed by artillery fire. What will be the fate of the Hungarian National Museum and of its great stores of specimens? In these dreadful ruins, uncounted thousands of insect types are buried and gone forever. Thousands upon thousands of insects will never be known with certainty— the types are dust ! We are in this struggle to preserve the great edifice of civiliza- tion, but the very stones of which it has been built are ground into impalpable powder ! Cinis, pulvis, nihil! That is war, even a just war of defense! J. R. T.-B. 32 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL BOOK NOTES. Common Insects of Kansas, by Roger C. Smith, E. G. Kelly, Geo. A. Dean, H. R. Bryson, and R. L. Parker. 1943. Pp. 1/440, colored plates 1/6, and figures 1 7464. Report of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture, Topeka, Kansas. (No price stated.) The names of the writers of this excellent popular manual are enough in themselves to establish its reliability. Naturally, the book leans in the direction of economic entomology, because, as the Preface says, it is “the fourteenth number in a series of special reports, devoted to the agricultural interests of Kansas, each of which is a monograph of its subject matter.” This is the basis on which it should be judged ; and on this basis it is a fine production. The report begins with a portrait and a brief sketch of the five authors, all entomologists of standing. The manual begins at the beginning, and tells briefly what are insects, how many species of them there are estimated to be in the world and how many of these species are in Kansas, these numbering some 16,000 in round figures. It discusses fossil insects and the habits of those living now. In fact, it covers adequately if briefly the general facts about insects. There are tabulated formulae for insecticides, which tell on what, how and when to use them, quite in detail. There are also sections on beekeeping and on how and where to collect and how to preserve specimens. In the remaining three-quarters of the book, Dr. Smith treats some 900 insects phylogenetically according to orders. The nu- merous figures, mostly original, are good, some very fine indeed ; and the six colored plates are excellent, plate 3 of Lepidoptera and 4 and 5 of Coleoptera are very beautiful. At the end is a brief glossary and the usual index. In fact, as a whole, this work is an excellent brief introduction to entomology and it may be unhesitatingly recommended to begin- ing entomologists. This Report is a great credit to the State of Kansas which has published it, and to the competent men who planned it and wrote it. J. R. T.-B. Vol. XL APRIL, 1945 No. 2 BULLETIN OF THE Brooklyn Entomological Society PUBLICATION COMMITTEE J. R. de la TORRE-BUENO, Editor JOHN W. NOAKS EDWIN W. TEALE Published for the Society by The Science Press Printing Company, N. Queen St. and McGovern Ave., Lancaster, Pa., Price, 75 cents Subscription, $3.00 per year Mailed June 13, 1945 Entered as second-class matter January 21, 1919, at the post office at Lancaster, Pa., under the Act of March 3, 1879 The Brooklyn Entomological Society Meetings are held on the second Thursday after the first Tuesday of each month from October to May, inclusive, at the Brooklyn Museum, Eastern Parkway and Washington Ave., Brooklyn. The annual dues are $2.00. OFFICERS, 1945 Honorary President J. R. DE LA TORRE-BUENO President, R. R. McELYARE Vice President Treasurer OTTO BUCHHOLZ R. R. McELYARE Secretary 280 Fourth Ave., JOHN W. NOAKS New York, N. Y. Editor J. R. DE LA TORRE-BUENO Delegate to Council of New York Academy of Sciences EDWIN WAY TEALE CONTENTS UNDESCRIBED TIPULA, Alexander :. NOTE ON AMMOPLANOPTERUS, Pate L HOLARCTIC PEMPHILIDINE WASPS, Pate. .1 RABBITBRUSH APHID NOTES, Knowlton ROBBER FLY AND JAPANESE BEETLE, Bromley ATAENIUS DARLINGTONI A SYNONYM, Cartwright BEHAVIOR OF THAUMATOMYIA, Steyskal PROBLEMS WITH PIERIS PROTODICE, Rawson MIXED UP BUTTERFLY, Fender STATUS OF LIANCALUS LIMBATUS, Harmston & Knowlton “COCKROACH” YS. “ROACH,” Meiners|^MM| I SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS, Steyskal REDUCING NUMBER OF BLOWFLIES, Strickland 33 37 38 43 48 49 54 55 56 57 59 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Published in February, April, June, October and December of each year Subscription price, domestic, $3.00 per year ; foreign, $3.25 in advance ; single copies, 75 cents. Advertising rates on application. Short articles, notes and observations of interest to entomologists are solicited. Authors will receive 25 reprints free if ordered in advance of publication. Address subscriptions and all communications to J. R. de la TORRE-BUENO, Editor , 925 East 6th St., Tuscon, Ariz . BULLETIN OF THE BROOKLYN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY Vol. XL April, 1945 No. 2 UNDESCRIBED SPECIES OF TIPULA FROM WEST- ERN NORTH AMERICA (DIPTERA, TIPULIDAE). By Charles P. Alexander, Massachusetts State College, Amherst, Massachusetts. Part I In the present report I am describing two species of the genus Tipula Linnaeus from the Sierra Nevada, California. Both of these flies belong to the subgenus Lunatipula Edwards, now known to be represented by a host of species in the western Nearctic region. The materials here considered were taken by Dr. Otto Degener in the Sequoia National Park, and by Messrs. Thomas H. G. Aitken and Anthony Downes in and near the Yosemite National Park. I am very greatly indebted to the collectors for the privilege of retaining the type material in my very extensive series of Tipulidae. Tipula (Lunatipula) sequoiarum n. sp. Allied to downesi ; general coloration of thorax gray, pat- terned with brown; antennae (male) relatively long, scape and pedicel yellow, flagellum black ; knobs of halteres brownish black ; femora obscure yellow, the tips narrowly and weakly infuscated; wings brownish gray, restrictedly patterned with dark brown and with very conspicuous whitish obliterative areas, including a nearly complete band before cord; male hypopygium with the caudal border of ninth tergite with a broad notch, the lateral angles of the lobes produced into acute spines ; inner dististyle profoundly divided, the beak unusually slender ; dorsal crest very high ; outer basal lobe very large and powerful, appearing as a flattened arm, the apex of which is produced into an inner spine and outer curved spinous blade ; eighth sternite produced at apex, the border shallowly 33 ON i 6 '45 34 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL emarginate to produce two strongly divergent lobes, the entire apex fringed with abundant long yellow setae. Male: Length about 17 mm.; wing 17 mm.; antenna about 5.3 mm. Frontal prolongation of head above obscure brownish yellow, sparsely pruinose, clearer yellow beneath ; nasus short and stout; a concentration of black setae surrounding nasus; palpi with basal segment yellow, second segment infuscated above, more brightened beneath, outer segments black. An- tennae with scape and pedicel light yellow; first flagellar segment brown, succeeding ones black ; segments rather strongly incised; longest verticils subequal in length to the segments. Head brownish gray, more yellowed in front; a more or less distinct darker median vitta on vertex. Pronotum obscure yellowish brown, more or less pruinose. Mesothorax of type badly crushed and not fully describable ; praescutum gray, more yellowed laterally, the disk patterned with brown ; scutum light gray, lobes variegated with darker ; scutellum brownish yellow ; postnotum dark brownish gray. Pleura variegated obscure yellow and gray. Halteres with stem obscure yellow, narrowly clear yellow basally, knob brownish black. Legs with coxae and trochanters yellow; femora obscure yellow, the tips narrowly and weakly infus- cated; tibiae and basitarsi yellowish brown, the outer tarsal segments blackened; claws toothed. Wings with a strong brownish gray tinge, restrictedly variegated by dark brown and with conspicuous whitish obliterative areas ; the dark mark- ings include the stigma and restricted seams at origin of Rs and along cord ; obliterative area before cord very conspicuous, almost reaching the posterior border at end of vein M4 ; post- stigmal brightening small, involving the bases of cells Sc2 and R2 ; prearcular and costal fields more yellowed ; veins brown, brighter in the yellowed fields. Squamal setae abun- dant. Venation: Rs about two and one-half times w^cu; R1+ 2 entire; petiole of cell Mx and m subequal; m-cu at fork of M3+4. Abdominal tergites obscure yellow, with a broad brown median stripe and much less evident sublateral ones, the latter most distinct on the proximal half of segment; all stripes more or less interrupted by pale caudal borders; sternites chiefly concealed by the overlapping tergites, yellow, the bases of the outer segments infuscated ; hypopygium chiefly dark April, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 35 brown. Male hypopygium with the ninth tergite large, the caudal border with a deep median notch ; lateral lobes broad and more sclerotized, their outer angles produced caudad into acute spines ; dorso-median area of tergite entirely divided by pale membrane. Ninth sternite with the appendage short- oval, the blunt tip with a dense brush of long crinkly yellow setae. Basistyle entire, not produced. Outer dististyle elon- gate but very pale and inconspicuous, the longest setae about one-third the length of the style. Inner dististyle profoundly divided; anterior portion slender-stemmed, the outer end much expanded, including a slender reddish beak, a very small, triangular lower beak and an unusually high dorsal crest ; on posterior margin of stem with a high narrow crest or flange, its outer edge microscopically crenulate; posterior por- tion of style, or the outer basal lobe, a very powerful flattened arm that is slightly widened outwardly, the inner apical angle produced into a slender straight spine, the outer apical angle extended into a much longer, curved, yellow spinoid blade; outer margin and apex of the arm with abundant long setae. Eighth sternite much as in downesi, sheathing, its apex pro- duced and expanded into two lobes ; caudal edge with a very broad V-shaped emargination that is densely fringed with long yellow setae that involve the entire outer margin of the lobes. Habitat: California (Tulare County). Holotype: J', Sequoia National Park, June 6-8, 1942 (Degener) . The most similar described species in Tipula ( Lunatipula ) downesi Alexander, which, while having the eighth sternite of the male hypopygium somewhat the same as in the present fly, differs very conspicuously in the structure of the tergite and the inner dististyle. Tipula (Lunatipula) miwok n. sp. Allied to splendens; size small (wing, male, under 13 mm.) ; general coloration yellow, the mesothorax dull ; antennae with basal three segments yellow, remainder black; legs obscure yellow, the outer tarsal segments blackened; wings weakly tinged with brown, the prearcular and costal fields yellow; stigma brownish yellow ; abdomen yellow, tergites two to six, inclusive, each with a large brown lateral spot; male hypo- pygium with the caudal margin of the ninth tergite irregularly toothed and spined ; basistyle not produced into a spine ; outer 36 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL dististyle very small ; inner dististyle with the beak pale, its tip broadly truncated. Male: Length about 12-13 mm. ; wing 11-12.5 mm. ; antenna about 3.8-4 mm. Frontal prolongation of head light yellow; nasus distinct, tufted with yellow setae; palpi with basal three segments yellow, terminal segment blackened. Antennae with scape, pedicel and most of the first flagellar segment yellow, the apex of the latter black ; remainder of antennae black ; flagellar segments moderately incised, the longest verticils unilaterally distributed, nearly as long as the segments. Head light gray, the anterior portion and the occiput more yellowed ; posterior vertex with indications of a slightly darker median vitta. Prothorax and mesothorax almost uniformly dull yellow, the ground with a very faint grayish bloom, the broad median praescutal stripe glabrous. Pleura with a sparse whitish bloom; dorsopleural membrane yellow. Halteres with stem yellow, knob dark brown. Legs with the coxae and tro- chanters yellow; remainder of legs obscure yellow, the outer tarsal segments blackened. Wings with a weak brownish tinge, the prearcular and costal fields light yellow; stigma a trifle more brownish yellow; obliterative band at cord poorly defined, indicated chiefly by the bullate nature of the veins, extending from before the stigma into the base of cell M3 ; the immediate vicinity of the veins slightly more hyaline than the remainder of ground; veins brownish black, yellowed in the brightened fields, tip of vein Sc blackened. Venation: Rs nearly three times m^cu; R1+2 entire; m and petiole of cell Mi subequal ; cell M4 not widened at m-cu. Abdomen yellow, the tergites with five brown spots on the sublateral portions of segments two to six, inclusive, on tergite two near midlength of the sclerite, on the others close to the base, the last area small ; median region of tergites at base with a less distinct darkened area ; posterior borders of tergites pale; sternites and hypopygium yellow. Male hypopygium with the posterior border of ninth tergite irregularly lobed and toothed, including larger conical lateral lobes, each bear- ing a blackened tooth on face near apex; on either side of midline with a smaller lobe that is covered with microscopic setigerous tubercles and points, the most lateral one being a long slender spine near the base of the lobe ; dorsomedian line of tergite with a furrow. Ninth sternite with the appendage April, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 37 strongly narrowed on its lower portion, the central area pale but setiferous ; lower part of appendage with setae of unusual length, nearly as long as the entire lobe, those of the more dilated upper portion shorter. Basistyle not produced into a spine, as in splendens, merely with a low fleshy tubercle that is provided with a few long setae. Outer dististyle a tiny pale spatula. Inner dististyle with the beak broadly truncated at apex, not blackened ; lower beak terminating some distance from the tip of the former, blackened, narrowly obtuse ; dorsal crest low but provided with abundant reddish setae that are directed backward ; no developed outer basal lobe. Eighth sternite sheathing, narrowed outwardly, the caudal margin very gently emarginate, without clearly defined lateral lobes, the entire margin fringed with conspicuous reddish yellow setae, those at the outer angles a trifle stouter but not spinoid ; on the broad median section the setae form a dense subrec- tangular patch, the entire setiferous area being set off from the body of the sclerite by whitish membrane. Habitat: California (Mariposa County) . Holotype: Yosemite, Mirror Lake, altitude 4000 feet, June 6, 1939 {Downes). Paratopotypes: 2 ; paratypes, 3 Mormon Bar, June 6, 1939 {Downes), June 6, 1940 {Aitken). The name, miwok, is that of an Indian Nation of Penutian lin- guistic stock occupying the general region of the Yosemite. The fly is most similar to species such as Tipula {Lunatipula) lamellata Doane and T. (L.) splendens Doane, differing very conspicuously in the structure of the male hypopygium, especially of the tergite, basistyle and inner dististyle. Synonymical Note on Ammoplanopterus (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae, Pemphredonini) . — In 1940 Mochi proposed the genus Ammoplanopterus (Bull. Soc. Fouad Ier d’Ent., XXIV, p. 27) for a peculiar new species, A. sinaiticus , from Palestine. The excellent description and figures of Mochi show without measure of doubt that his Ammoplanopterus is synonymous with Protostigmus, erected in 1918 by Turner (Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (9), I, p. 356) for the reception of the Algerian form P. championi. Mochi’s species sinaiticus may, however, eventually prove to be discrete from P. championi. — V. S. L. Pate, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. 38 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL ON TWO HOLARCTIC PEMPHILIDINE WASPS (HYMENOPTERA, SPHECIDAE). By V. S. L. Pate, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. Several years ago I called attention to the fact that several of our common Nearctic wasps were identical with equally common European species.1 Since then two interesting cases of a similar nature have come to my attention and are reported here. During the course of the past century and a half, each of these wasps has acquired a startling array of synonyms which are listed below along with the more recent bibliographic records of the species. For a complete bibliographic history of these species in Europe, Kohl’s monograph of the Palaearctic Crabrones may be consulted.2 Ectemnius ( Ectemnius ) dives (Lepeletier et Brulle) Solenius dives Lepeletier et Brulle, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, III, p. 716 (1835). [$, ?; Paris, France.] Crabro alatulus Dahlbom, Exam, de Crabron. Scand., p. 85 (1840). [J1, 5; Ostergothland, Sweden.] ? Crabro pictipes Herrich- Schaeffer, Faun. Insec. German. Fasc. 181, tab. 5 (1841). Solenius 8-notatus Dahlbom, Hymen, Europ., I, p. 388 (1845). [5; Habitat in Gallia.] Crabro auratus F. Smith, Catal. Hymen. Brit. Mus., IV, p. 398 (1856). [New name for Solenius dives Lep. & Br.] Crabro ( Ectemnius ) pictus Schenck, Jahrb. Ver. Naturk. Nassau, XII, p. 70 (1857). [$.] Crabro montanus Cresson, Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila., IV, p. 484 (1865). [Nec Gistl.] [§; Mountain region, Colorado Territory; summer, 1864.] Crabro cristatus Packard, Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila., VI, p. 101 (1866). [J*; Colorado Territory and Illinois.] Crabro cubic eps Packard, Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila., VI, p. 105 (1866). [J; Illinois; Brunswick, Maine, on Spiraea alba.] Crabro montanus Fox, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., XXII, p. 139 ( 1895) . [?, c? ; Canada to N. Y. ; 111. ; Mich. ; S. Dak. ; Colo.; Nev. ; Ore.; Wash.] 1 Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc., XXXVIII, pp. 14-16 (1943). 2 Ann. k. k. Naturhist. Hofmus. Wien, XXIX, pp. 1-453 (1915)- April, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 39 Crabro montanus Kincaid, Ent. News, XI, p. 355 (1900). [?> ?; Tulse Hill, s. e. London; nesting in telegraph pole.] The North American species which has hitherto been known as Crabro montanus Cresson ( nec Gistl) or C. cristatus Packard is identical with the European Ectemnius dives (Lep. & Br.). Nearctic specimens of the species compared with European material determined by Kohl as dives agree in all essential respects. The species exhibits a certain amount of variation in livery and sculp- turing, and in the spination of the male fore tarsi in both Europe 40 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL and North America, but none of these variations appear to be local- ized or of sufficient importance to warrant the division of the species at the present state of our knowledge into geographical races. In North America dives is common and widespread from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts in the Canadian provinces and the northern United States. I have seen specimens from Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, South Dakota, Colorado, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. It has also been reported from Vermont, Connecticut and Wisconsin. In the Palaearctic Region dives is equally common and wide- spread, ranging from Spain and the British Isles to the Amur region of eastern Siberia and the Ussuri in eastern Manchuria and from Algeria northward to Scandinavia. The common and wide- spread occurrence of this species throughout the United States and Canada, and particularly its presence in the mountain region of Colorado as early as 1864, coupled with the fact that it inhabits eastern Siberia, indicates that in all probability dives immigrated into North America via the Siberian- Alaskan land bridge in pre- glacial times, during some interglacial period, or at a postglacial optimum. Despite its commonness in America, very little is known of the ethology of dives. Rau states3 that Barth found dives (recorded as montanus Cress.) nesting in an old log (probably in the vicinity of Milwaukee, Wise.) in company with Ectemnius obscurus, E. chrysar gyrus, and E. sayi. A similar paucity of information exists in Europe about the species. Kohl, in his monograph of the Pal- aearctic Crabrones, states4 that dives nests in decayed or rotten logs and also in the stems of hornbeam, roses and elders and the canes of Ribes; and that the adults frequent the flowers of common umbellifers. Sickmann5 has found that dives nests in old stems and provisions its cells with flies; while Nixon has recently recorded6 it as emerging from holes in a telegraph pole at Tulse Hill in southeastern London. 3 Rau: Wasp studies Afield, p. 96 (1918). 4 Kohl : Ann. k. k. Naturhist. Hofmus. Wien, XXIX, p. 379 (1915)- 5 Sickmann: Jahrsber. Naturwiss. Ver. Osnabruck, IX, p. 58 (i893)- 6 Nixon: Ent. Monthly Mag., LXXI, p. 57 (1935)- April, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 41 Ectemnius {Metacrab o) q-cinctus (Fabricius) Crabro 4-cinctus Fabricius, Mantissa Insect., I, p. 295 (1787). [Habitat Hafniae.] Crabro cephalotes Olivier, Encycl. Method. Insect., VI, p. 513 (1791). [Environs de Paris.] Crabro striatus Lepeletier & Brulle, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, III, p. 707 (1835). [5, c?; Environs de Paris.] Crabro ornatus Lepeletier & Brulle, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, III, p. 709 (1835). [Si Environs de Paris.] Blepharipus striatulus Lepeletier & Brulle, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, III, p. 737 (1835). [ij1; Environs de Paris.] Ceratocolus striatus Lepeletier & Brulle, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, III, p. 744 (1835). [J1; Environs de Paris.] Ceratocolus fasciatus var. 1, Lepeletier & Brulle, Ann. Soc. Ent. France, III, p. 746 (1835). [JS Environs de Bordeaux.] Crabro Lindenius Shuckard, Essay Indig. Foss. Hymen., p. 143 (1837). [J, England: London. Ripley in Surrey.] Crabro Shuckardi Dahlbom, Exam, de Crabron. Scand., p. 98 (1840). [,J\ Ostergothland, Sweden.] Crabro interruptus Dahlbom, Hymen. Europ., I, p. 418 (1845). [lCf, $ ; widespread throughout Europe.] [New name for Crabro Shuckardi Dahlbom, 1840.] Crabro Fargei F. Smith, Catal. Hymen. Brit. Mus., IV, p. 410 (1856). [New name for Ceratocolus striatus Lepeletier & Brulle, 1835.] ? Crabro frigidus F. Smith, Catal. Hymen. Brit. Mus., IV, p. 419 (1856). [5; North America.] Crabro aciculatus Provancher, Natural. Canad., XIII, p. 108 (1882). [$, J'; Canada, Quebec: Cap Rouge and Chicoutimi.] Crabro ( Solenius ) ruthenicus F. Morawitz, Hor. Soc. Ent. Ross., XXVI, p. 174 (1892). [J; Ostachov in Tver, Russia.] Crabro aciculatus Fox, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., XXII, p. 160 (1895). [5; Canada; Illinois.] Crabro ( Crabro ) quadricinctus Kohl, Ann. k. k. Naturhist. Hofmus. Wien, XXIX, pp. 42, 358 (1915). [§, <$; complete synonymy, range, and resumee of biology in Palaearctic region.] Crabro aciculatus Gahan & Rohwer, Canad. Entom., XLIX, p. 391 (1917). [“Type. — Female, yellow label 813. 2 Colh 42 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL Publ. Mus., Quebec. Male, allotype, without label.”] M etacrabro quadricinctus Spooner, Journ. Soc. Brit. Ent., I, pp. 48-53 (1934). [Biology of a colony: Dartmoor, near Plympton, S. Devon.] Metacrabo quadricincta Richards, Proc. R. Ent. Soc. London, (B) Tax., V, p. 1 71 (1936). [Type of 4-cinctus Fa- bricius = zonatus Panzer sensu Kohl, 1915.] Solenius aciculatus Krombein, Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc., XXXIV, p. 143 (1939). [New York: various localities.] The large and handsome Nearctic form Crabro aciculatus is rela- tively rare in collections and has been generally unrecognized ever since Provancher described it in 1882 from Lower Canada. Of late years the species has become rather common in the region about Ithaca, N. Y., and I have seen additional specimens of it from Illinois, Pennsylvania (Swarthmore), Connecticut (Corn- wall), and various localities in Quebec (Joliette, Montreal, etc.). These specimens, however, agree perfectly with Kohl’s description and figures of Crabro quadricinctus [Fabricius], as well as Euro- pean material determined as such by him. Consequently, Crabro aciculatus Provancher, 1882 must be recorded as a synonym of C. 4-cinctus Fabricius, 1787 sensu Kohl, 1915. Richards has re- cently stated, upon the authority of Dr. K. L. Henriksen, that the presumed type of C. 4-cinctus F., in the Lund Collection at Copen- hagen, is C. zonatus Panzer sensu Kohl (despite Kohl’s denying it) and that another specimen labelled (by Fabricius or Lund) “Varietas” agrees with Kohl’s interpretation of C. 4-cinctus F. In view of all the facts of the case, I am inclined to agree with Drs. Richards and Henriksen that some error, a switch of labels perhaps, has occurred in the past century and a half and advocate that the name Crabro 4-cinctus Fabricius sensu Kohl should continue to be applied to this species. In Europe 4-cinctus is a common and widespread form, ranging from England to southern and eastern Russia and from Sicily to as far north as the 61 0 of latitude in Scandinavia. In this hemi- sphere 4-cinctus is apparently confined as yet to northeastern America, and I believe that, like Ancistrocerus parietum and other Aculeate Hymenoptera which nest in wood, 4-cinctus is a relatively recent accidental introduction. Although nothing has been recorded of the habits of 4-cinctus in America, there are many accounts of its life-history in European literature. These data have been summarized by Kohl in his mono- graph of the Palaearctic Crabrones, and Hamm and Richards, and April, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 43 Spooner have presented admirable accounts of its biology in Britain. These wasps generally nest in colonies : they construct their bur- rows in either firm or decayed oak trunks or posts and their ex- cavations usually produce large piles of wood dust. The burrow consists of a main tunnel from which branch off small lateral galleries containing one or more cells in a linear series. The main tunnel of the nest is apparently communal, for both Spooner, and Hamm and Richards have observed numerous females entering the same nesting hole. Each female, however, probably excavates her own lateral galleries and provisions her own cells. Quite an assort- ment of Diptera of various families (Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Anthomyiidae, Cordyluridae, Helomyzidae, Sapromyzidae, Syr- phidae, Tabanidae and Leptidae) form the prey of 4-cinctus, but in all likelihood each female provisions any one cell with only one or perhaps a few species of flies. Rabbitbrush Aphid Notes. — An accidental alate Ampho- rophora sonchi Oest. was taken on Chrysothamnus nauseosus at Wells, Nevada, Aug. 20, 1943. Aphis chrysothamni Wilson was collected from Chrysothamnus nauseosus at Helena, Montana, Aug. 3; Bend, Sisters and Tumalo, Oregon, Aug. 24, 1944; Twin Falls, Idaho, August 13, 1943 ; Wells, Nevada, August 20, 1943 ; Richmond and Lewiston, Utah, Sept. 8, 1938. Aphis gregalis Knit., on C. vaseyi at Widtsoe, Utah, Sept. 19, 1935 ; on C. viscidi- florus var. typicus, Granite, Utah, June 6, 1931 ; C. viscidiflorus at Hubbard Ranch and Snowwater Lake, Nevada, Aug. 20, 1943 ; also taken at Rexburg and Riverdale, Idaho (C. F. Smith). A Capitophorus gregarius Knit, on C. nauseosus in Logan Canyon, Utah, Oct. 8, was being fed on by a 2-spotted lady-bird beetle; this aphid was also collected at Mt. Nebo, Utah, July 12, 1942. Capitophorus oestlundi Knit, collected on Chrysothamnus nause- osus at Ft. George Wright, Washington, August 9, Berns, Oregon, August 24, and Helena, Montana, August 3, 1944. Macrosiphum escalantii (Knit.) on Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Sisters, Oregon, Aug. 24, 1944; on C. nauseosus at Wells, Nevada, Aug. 20, 1943; Alpine, Wyoming, Sept. 11, 1941. Durocapillata utahensis Knit, on C. viscidiflorus at Snowwater Lake, Nevada, August 20, 1943. — G. F. Knowlton, Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, Logan, Utah. 44 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL ROBBER FLY AND JAPANESE BEETLE. By S. W. Bromley, Stamford, Conn. The first Japanese beetle ( Popillia japcmica Newn.) in Connecticut was found at Stamford in 1926. Due to the extensive buffer areas of woods and brushland lying between the Sound and the grounds of the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories eight miles north, it took ten years for the beetle to reach the latter point. The Japanese beetle was first found on the Bartlett grounds in 1936 and it seems probable that the invasion route was along the newly opened Merritt Parkway from the southwest rather than from the infestation in the city of Stamford. Japanese beetle traps were immediately placed in operation on the laboratory grounds with the following numbers of beetles trapped annually: 1936, 34 Popilia japonica; 193 7, approximately 300 P. japonica; 1938, approximately 30,000 P. japonica; 1939, trapping discontinued as it was evident that trapping failed to exert any appreciable degree of control. The traps were simply attracting flying beetles to the area and increasing the infestation because of the great number of egg-laying females escaping capture. The beetle population increased in a rapidly rising crescendo until 1943, the peak year. In 1944, due to a variety of causes (chief among them, the unprecedented drought) the beetle population showed a marked decline, falling back to the approximate level of 1940. The heavy concentration of Japanese beetles in this area was turned to good advantage. Their numbers made extensive spray tests possible which resulted in the discovery of new and better insecticides. To maintain a beetle population suitable for these spray tests, no grub-proofing with arsenate of lead — which is the only control measure resulting in a wholesale kill of this pest — was practiced, although on June 3, 1941, a small portion of the lawn was treated with milky-disease as an experiment. Large numbers of the beetle grubs in the lawns had, however, been dug out and eaten by birds, principally starlings and crows, while an even greater number were accounted for by skunks. The adult beetles enjoyed an immunity not accorded the grubs by birds and mammals, the only bird noted killing the adult beetles being the crow. A very interesting insect enemy of the adult beetle, however, appeared in the form of a large Robber Fly — one of the bumble-bee mimics, Bombomima grossa Fabr., our largest New England Asilid. April, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 45 This fly was first observed feeding on the Japanese beetle on July 31, 1940, and the following records were obtained of subse- quent captures. Inasmuch as female Asilids are likely to be more predacious than the males, the sex of the fly captor was recorded. However, more males than females were taken feeding on the Japanese beetle. 1. Sex of fly, male. Stamford, Conn. July 31, 1940. 2. Sex of fly, male. Stamford, Conn. August 5, 1940. 3. Sex of fly, undet. Stamford, Conn. August 21, 1940. 4. Sex of fly, undet. Stamford, Conn. August 21, 1940. 5. Sex of fly, male. Stamford, Conn. July 13, 1941. 6. Sex of fly, male. Stamford, Conn. July 23, 1941. 7. Sex of fly, female. Weston, Conn. July 26, 1941. 8. Sex of fly, male. Weston, Conn. July 27, 1941. 9. Sex of fly, female. Stamford, Conn. August 2, 1942. It might be of interest to record other prey data of this bumble- bee-like Robber Fly, which I have collected over a period of years. These are as follows : Coleoptera : The beetle, Anomala lucicola Fabr. Sex of fly, female. Astoria, Long Island, N. Y., July 3, 1927 (S. W. B.). The carrion beetle, Silpha americana L. Sex of fly, female. Poundridge, N. Y., July 25, 1936 (S. W. B.). The Cetoniid beetle, Euphoria fulgida Fabr. Sex of fly, male. Weston, Conn., July 6, 1941. The Carrion beetle, Silpha americana L. Sex of fly, female. Milton, Mass., August 14, 1922 (G. W. Barber). The Carrion beetle, Silpha americana L. Sex of fly, female. Sturbridge, Mass., July 17, 1911 (S. W. B.). The rove beetle, Staphylinus vulpinus Nordm. Sex of fly, female. Southbridge, Mass., August 12, 1915 (S. W. B.). The rove beetle, Staphylinus maculosus Grav. Sex of fly, female. Ramsey, N. J., August 4, 1917. (Collected by Dr. F. E. Lutz; on exhibit in American Museum of Natural History in lot of insects collected by Dr. Lutz in his back yard.) An Oedomerid beetle, further unidentified. Sex of fly, male. Burlington, Mass., June 26, 1923 (G. W. Barber). The Cerambycid beetle, Judolia cordifera Oliv. Sex of fly, male, Concord, Mass., July 27, 1924 (G. W. Barber). The Scaraboeid beetle, Serica trociformis Burm. Sex of fly, male. Chicopee, Mass, (collected by F. Knab, in collection of Massa- chusetts State College). The Rose chafer, Macrodactylus sub- spinosus Fabr. Sex of fly, male (J. Bequaert). The clover-leaf weevil, Hypera punctata Fabr. District of Columbia. (Recorded by McAtee and Banks : Proceedings of the Entomological Society 46 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL of Washington, Feb. 1920, vol. 22. No. 2, p. 25.) The flower beetle, Trichius sp. Poundridge, N. Y., July 20, 1935. Sex of fly, male (S. W. B.). The flower beetle, Trichius sp., Poundridge, N. Y., July 27, 1935. Sex of fly, female (S. W. B.). The Carrion beetle, Silpha americana L. Sex of fly, male. Pound- ridge, N. Y., July 27, 1935 (S. W. B.). The Carrion beetle, Silpha americana L. Sex of fly, female. Poundridge, N. Y., July 25, 1936 (S. W. B.). Hymenoptera: The honey-bee worker, Apis mellifica L. Wo- burn, Mass., August 14, 1922. Sex of fly, female (G. W. Barber). The worker bumble-bee, Bombus vagans Smith. Woodstock, Conn., August 15, 1918. Sex of fly, male (S. W. B.). Bumble- bee worker, Inglenook, Pa., July, 1927 (A. B. Champlain). The bumble-bees, Bombus fermdus and B. per plexus. Boston, Mass., July 23, 1924, and August 3, 1927. Sex of flies, both female. (Recorded by O. E. Plath.) Lepidoptera: In “The Gypsy Moth” by Forbush and Fernald, 1896, p. 392, it was recorded that “Of the predaceous Diptera, the following species have been taken feeding upon the imagoes of the gypsy moth: Dasyllis sacrator Walk., attacking the females while laying;” What was evidently one of the specimens on which this observation was based is in the collection of the Massachusetts State College, bearing Williston’s erroneous identification as Dasyllis sacrator Walker and the label, evidently Mosher’s, “feeding on female moth,” Woburn, Mass., July 7, 1895. Hemiptera: The Cicada, Tibicen sayii S. & G., recorded by Champlain and Knull, Entomological News, 34, July 1923, p. 212. It seems quite evident from this compilation that beetles are the preferred prey of Bombomima grossa. Interestingly enough, there appear the following insects of economic importance among the prey in addition to the Japanese beetle, the clover-leaf weevil, the rose chafer, and the gypsy moth. Noteworthy in this connection appears to be the increase of this fly in Southwestern Connecticut with the rise of the Japanese beetle population. I had always considered this Bombomima a rarity, having seen only one specimen in Stamford during the three years 1929, 1930 and 1931. By 1940, four years after the Japanese beetle reached the laboratory grounds, it was not unusual to see as many as 4 or 5 of these big flies in the space of a few minutes’ time near the various woodpiles along the margin of the woods or in the orchard and gardens, from late June through August, and to observe their aggressive actions against the Japanese beetle. April, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 47 I have records of other large robber flies feeding on the Japanese beetle in other localities, but the only Asilid I have seen capturing Popilliam Stamford is B. grossa. On July 26, 1931, 1 took Procta- canthus nigriventris Macquart, which occurs only in the white sand country along the coast from Alabama and Florida north to Long Island, with a Japanese beetle as prey in the blueberry barrens of Bullock, New Jersey. On August 14, 1943, I took Proctacanthus philadelphicus Macquart, an erstwhile denizen of dry fields and pastures from New York and New England south in the mountains to Georgia, feeding on a Japanese beetle at Salem, New York. P. philadelphicus formerly occurred on the grassy areas of the higher portions of our laboratory grounds, but strangely enough it began to disappear about the time that the Japanese beetle grub population became abundant. I have no explanation for this phe- nomenon, but the figures on the numbers of these flies noted at North Stamford over a period of successive years speak for themselves. x935> 45 P- PM- noted: 1936, 36: 1937, 29: 1938, 27: 1939, 4: 1940, 2: 1941, o: 1942, 11 : 1943, o: 1944, o. Ataenius darlingtoni Hinton a Synonym of A. salutator Fall. — Specimens of an Ataenius compared with the type of Ataenius salutator Fall (Journal of New York Ent. Soc., 1930, pp. 99, Vol. XXXVIII) and with a paratype of Ataenius darling- toni Hinton (Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 1937, p. 1J79, Vol. XX) are identical with both. A. darlingtoni was de- scribed from Porto Rico, Santa Domingo and Jamaica. Dr. Chapin (Proc. U. S. N. M., 1940, p. 30) records other West Indian specimens from Hispaniola, Cuba, St. Croix, Antigua, Guadeloupe, and Grenada. A. salutator was described from Pen- sacola, Florida. I have examined specimens from Alexandria, La. ; Biloxi, McComb, Jackson, Ocean Springs, and Lucedale, Miss. ; Mobile and Auburn, Ala. ; Columbus, Ga. ; Pritchardville, Yemassee, and Blackville, South Carolina. A. salutator Fall may be separated from other U. S. Ataenius by a combination of three characters : crenate fimbriate lateral thoracic margin, finely densely punctate ninth elytral interval, and the posterior tibial fringe in- variably of a group of four fimbriae. — O. L. Cartwright, South Carolina Exp. Sta., Clemson, S. C. 48 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL BEHAVIOR OF THAUMATOMYIA (= CHLORO- PISCA) SPECIES (DIPTERA, CHLOROPIDAE). By George Steyskal, Detroit, Michigan. Thaumatomyia (= Chloropisca) glabra var. bistriata Wlk. — This fly was seen on sugar maple leaves in small colonies of six to twelve individuals on August 13 and 20, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan. The males would walk about fluttering their wings and swelling their terminal vesicles, dull-textured, semi-football-shaped organs at each side of the tip of the abdomen. On approaching another individual ( ? male) they would grapple with each other with their fore legs, rise up to an angle of 45 °, and sometimes one of them would be overturned, pushed over the edge of the leaf, and finally fly away, not, however, without often coming back to renew the fray. The flies were very tame and one could get them to within a few inches of one’s eyes without frightening them and even hold the leaf to keep it still. No pairs were seen beginning copulation, but a few pairs were noticed retired to the branches. One pair remained in copulo for at least fifteen minutes. One colony was seen on the same few leaves for at least two weeks. Small groups were also observed on leaves of box elder ( Acer negundo ) in Lapeer County, Michigan, on September 2, 1944, but they were inactive. No honeydew was seen in either instance. Thaumatomyia parviceps Malloch. — On August 13, 1944, a group of T. parviceps was seen on one of the same trees on which T. bistriata was seen. These flies acted quite similarly to T. bistriata except that they would rise almost vertically on their hind legs, spar at each other with their fore legs, and sometimes fall into a “clinch” for a short time with their mouthparts apparently in contact. No typical T. glabra Mg. were seen. T. bistriata specimens were fairly uniform and distinctly larger than the writer’s series of T. glabra , which is taken frequently by sweeping low vegetation. In view of the above observations as well as the morphological uni- formity of T. bistriata , the writer believes it desirable to consider it a distinct species. April, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 49 INTERESTING PROBLEMS CONNECTED WITH THE CHECKERED WHITE BUTTERFLY PIERIS PROTODICE, BOISDUVAL AND LECONTE. By George W. Rawson, Detroit, Michigan. Although the life history, habits and peculiarities of many of our common North American butterflies are fairly well known, there are certain phases of the life of the so-called Checkered White Butterfly — Pieris protodice — that still remain a mystery. This insect is sexually dimorphic, i.e., the sexes show marked differences of coloration and wing pattern, although the ground color of both sexes is white. In the male the upper surface of the hind wings is devoid of spots or other markings, but there are numerous black spots and streaks on the upper surface of the pri- maries or fore wings. The females are more heavily marked with larger spots, producing a checkered effect. It is this distinctive marking which gives the name, Checkered White, to the species. In addition to being sexually dimorphic, protodice varies in colora- tion with each succeeding generation. The first brood, which appears early in the spring, is quite heavily marked with greenish or greenish-gray bands along each side of the veins on the under surface of the hind wings in both sexes and is known as vernalis. The next generation loses a great deal of this coloration and in the summer brood the markings on the under surface of the hind wings of the males may be entirely lacking. In the late fall brood the coloration has a tendency to revert to the early spring form, but the coloration is never quite as dark. Protodice is a native species with a range extending over most of North America. It is found from the Atlantic Ocean to the Rocky Mountains and from Southern Canada to Texas. Although it is considered to be more or less common over most of its range, several authorities are of the opinion that it is less common than formerly and the theory has been advanced that the Garden or Cabbage Butterfly, Pieris rapae , has in some way affected its normal abundance. If the Cabbage Butterfly has had this effect it may possibly be due to the simultaneous introduction of harmful parasites, for it is well known that many parasites, that have had time to adapt themselves to different hosts, have developed a bal- anced host-parasite relationship, a condition where both the parasite and its host have attained a biological balance or tolerance towards each other, so that, in most instances, there is no resultant damage. As a matter of fact good or well adapted parasites rarely cause any 50 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol. XL- appreciable harm to their hosts, for by so doing they would destroy,, or at least limit, the source of their existence. It must, however, be borne in mind that considerable time, possibly hundreds of years,, is necessary to develop such a balance or tolerance. As a usual thing when a parasite transfers itself to a new host considerable damage may result, and it is, therefore, quite possible that the para- sites introduced with the Cabbage Butterfly may have attacked protodice , which not having had time to develop this balance or tolerance may have been harmed sufficiently to account for the reputed reduction of its former numbers. Definite proof is, of course, necessary to support this theory. Furthermore, protodice, like a number of other species of butter- flies is subject to seasonal fluctuation in numbers. The reason for these fluctuations or irregularities is not well understood. During 1943, the specimen taken by one of our local collectors, namely Mr. Ralph Beebe of Ecorse, Michigan, is the only one of which I have any definite record. The writer’s field notes (started in 1931) afford evidence of this seasonal fluctuation. In 1937 it was very common and during the latter part of 1940 and 1942 it was- comparatively numerous. The unfavorable, wet spring that pre- vailed in this section of Michigan in 1943, may have been respon- sible for the local scarcity of the species and this circumstance is intimately connected with one of the problems given consideration in this article, namely: the survival of a species that has become reduced to a low status of abundance due to various causes. Let us, at this time, consider the life history of protodice. This species normally hibernates in the pupal stage, attached to weed stalks or other objects, in the characteristic position of the Pieris family — with the end of the tail firmly embedded in a button of silk and supported in a more or less horizontal position by a girdle of silk around the upper part of the body. In southern Michigan, the first generation hatches around the middle or latter part of April. The eggs develop into larvae which are alternately striped with golden yellow and greenish purple on the upper surface. The under surface is light green in color and there are a number of black dots on the body. The larvae feed on cabbage, turnip, mustard, and other Cruciferous plants and when full-grown change into light bluish- gray pupae. The vernalis form of proto dice emerges around the middle or latter part of April dependent on the weather and as pre- viously described, this generation is distinctly marked and is not easily confused with any other brood of protodice. The spring form, vernalis, is, usually, not very abundant, at least April, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 51 not nearly so common as forms which occur later in the summer. The question now arises : In cases where vernalis becomes so rare, that its survival becomes extremely precarious, how does the species survive in localities where these influences prevail? It must be remembered that the early spring form, vernalis, is the foundation stock from which succeeding broods are produced. In other words, if the foundation or parent stock fails, how does the species continue to carry on? There are two theoretical explanations which seem logical — either the normal abundance of protodice is built up from survivors of the spring brood or the balance of numbers may be restored by the influx of migratory stock from outside the depleted territory. This question cannot be answered satisfactorily until we know more about the normal range of the flight of protodice but it would be interesting to take careful notes of the relative abundance of the various broods as they occur from year to year. Such observations may furnish clues to the method by which the normal balance in number is restored. The problems concerning migratory movements might be solved much sooner if only there were more trained observers available, since methods have now been devised to mark insects in a manner similar to the way in which birds are marked. There are many other questions concerning protodice which are of interest to the lepidopterist. For instance, on October 8, 1939, the author, in company with Mr. Sherman Moore of Detroit, took about one dozen specimens on the Edwin S. George Reserve, near Pinckney, Livingston County, Michigan, that were so unusu- ally marked as to cause considerable confusion as to their status. These specimens resembled the Western Pieris occidentalis very closely. By way of explanation, occidentalis is listed by Dr. J. McDunnough in his 1938 check list of “The Lepidoptera of Canada and the U. S. of America” as a distinct species. A careful examina- tion of a series of typical occidentalis, from California and other Western states, shows that this race is very similar to the late fall specimens of protodice taken by Mr. Moore and the author on the George Reserve. For this reason they could be and probably are easily confused. There are, however, slight yet constant differences that enable a critical observer to separate the late fall brood of protodice from the western occidentalis . For instance, in typical male occidentalis, the triangular markings at the end of the veins at the edge of the outer margin on the upper surface of the fore wings are broader and more elongated and the apex in many speci- mens extends a little further toward the base of the wings than in 52 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL proto dice. Furthermore, the marginal row of spots running more or less parallel with the outer border of the primaries has a tendency to run together forming a bar in occidentalis, but rarely, if ever, in protodice. The under surface of the secondaries or hind wings, in either males or females does not differ to any appreciable extent in either typical occidentalis, or well marked specimens of the late fall brood of protodice. Nevertheless the coloration on the under sur- face of occidentalis is generally greener, and somewhat darker in shade than the average coloration seen in fall protodice. The re- verse may be true in an occasional specimen. It is also advisable to note that the late form of proto dice has been taken in other states than Michigan. The author’s collection contains several well marked specimens from the District of Columbia and also one or two lighter marked specimens from Kansas. There seems to be no definite information available as to the range of this form of proto- dice, in fact, very few lepidopterists seem to have mentioned it. Typical protodice occurs in the same territory as occidentalis, but the reverse is not true, that is, occidentalis is not found all over the territory where protodice ranges. In this connection, it should be noted that the status of occidentalis is controversial, a number of authorities are of the opinion that it is not a good species but is a western race of protodice. Dr. John A. Comstock in his book entitled “The Butterflies of California’’ regards occidentalis as a Western high altitude form of protodice. Most of the more recent writers hold the same opinion as Dr. Comstock. It might be well to> mention here that the form calyce is considered to be a spring form of occidentalis. It, apparently, bears the same relationship to occidentalis as vernalis does to protodice. The markings on the upper surface of both wings are much heavier in calyce than in vernalis, in fact they can be very easily separated by any one who is familiar with the various forms and races of protodice. There are other interesting facts concerning the late fall form of protodice. It occurs about the first week in October, providing weather conditions are favorable. This is of importance since rather severe frosts sometimes occur during the first week of October, and it is apparent that, at this time, it is too late in the season for the late broods of protodice to reproduce, other than by laying eggs, and this procedure is, to say the least, very question- able. As far as is known, there has been no report of protodice laying eggs in the late fall. It is generally believed that the species normally passes the winter in the pupal stage. Therefore, the question is: What happens to the last or late brood? Are they April, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 53 killed by the frosts which occur so frequently in this state during the month of October ? In other words, do they die, as the lawyers say “without issue” ? As we have no knowledge that protodice hibernates in the imago stage, it may be assumed that this late generation actually dies without leaving descendants. Possibly this is an example of a species over-reaching its capacity for normal or successful reproduction because of the lateness of the season. Information is lacking as to whether the late fall occidentaloid form occurs every year or whether it does so only when weather condi- tions are suitable. Perhaps the last generation, already in the pupal stage, which would ordinarily hibernate, may be induced to hatch because of ideal weather conditions, only to meet its fate because of insufficient time to produce another generation. If the pupae of the last generation prematurely hatch because of favorable weather, what becomes of the early spring generation that normally occurs in April ? Possibly a sufficient number of the pupae do not hatch prematurely but are carried through the winter and hatch in the spring as they normally should. The unseasonable hatching of pupae in the fall may be an explanation as to why the early spring form, vernalis, is relatively uncommon, although this is probably only one of a number of reasons. The last problem but not necessarily the least is how many broods or generations does protodice have in this State? Dr. J. H. Com- stock in “How to Know the Butterflies” states that it is triple brooded. Macy and Shepard in “Butterflies North of the Potomac and Ohio Rivers and East of the Dakotas” state, “In the latitude of Minnesota the spring form appears in April and early May. The second generation in July and the third in September.” William Field in “The Manual of Butterflies of Kansas” states that protodice has two forms, one in spring, another in summer, and that in October a form occurs intermediate between the spring and summer forms. This latter undoubtedly refers to the late fall form which the writer has previously mentioned. Mr. Austin H. Clark in “Butterflies of the District of Columbia” mentions three broods, the first in late April up to the first half of June and the second in July. This flies until the advent of the third brood towards the end of August. It would therefore appear to these authors that protodice normally has three broods during the season. This paper may seem rather involved, but it is hoped that it will help to stimulate greater interest in problems that need to be solved and it also emphasizes the fact that there is a great deal more to the study of insects than the mere acquisitive act of making a collection. 54 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL In conclusion, a summary of the main principles of this article may bring them out in somewhat clearer detail. 1. The Checkered White Butterfly, Pieris protodice, is both sexually and seasonably dimorphic. 2. It is reputed to be less common than formerly, and one of the reasons for this is that the Common Cabbage Butterfly, Pieris rapae, is supposed to have interfered with its normal prevalence. Probably parasitism is one of the most likely explanations. 3. Like many other species of butterflies protodice fluctuates in abundance from season to season. 4. A theory is presented to explain the survival of the species when at a low ebb, possibly by the influx of migrants into depleted territory. 5. A late fall form of protodice is described that resembles the western form or race, occidentalis. This late fall form is consid- ered by the author to be different from typical occidentalis and that the latter is not recognized, at least by some authorities as a separate species but as a western race of protodice. 6. Problems about the survival of the occidentaloid form of protodice are discussed in the belief that this particular form is one which hatches from pupae prematurely because of favorable weather only to be killed “without issue” by the early frosts. 7. The question is asked, “How many broods does protodice have in the State of Michigan?” We know too little about this and more definite information is greatly desired. 8. Hope is expressed that this article will create sufficient in- terest so that others will be stimulated in making further observa- tions that will answer these questions. A Mixed up Butterfly. — I have in my collection of Oregon butterflies a specimen of Euphydryas colon Edws. that might al- most be called an aberrant aberration. The white spotting of the forewings on both the upper and under sides are elongated through their interspaces. These represent albifusism and the so-called transition form fenderi Gund. The white spotting on the upper sides of the hind wings is almost obliterated by the black areas. These represent melanifusism and the so-called transition form mcdunnoughi Gund. This specimen was collected at Elk Lake, Santiam Nat. Forest, Oregon, July 8, 1939, by Mrs. D. M. Fender. If such a freak is deserving of a name, I herewith propose the name of Euphydryas colon ab. bakeri after Mr. Jim Baker of Baker, Oregon. — Kenneth Fender, McMinnville, Oregon. April, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 55 ON THE STATUS OF LIANCALUS LIMBATUS VAN DUZEE (DIPTERA-DOLICHOPODIDAE). By F. C. Harmston and G. F. Knowlton, Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, Logan, Utah. Liancalus limbatus was described by Van Duzee in Entomo- logical News, Vol. 28, page 127, 1917, from one male and a female which he collected at Berkeley, California. Apparently there was some question concerning the status of limbatus because Van Duzee stated, “This species is much like the European species virens Scopoli, but I think it is distinct.” He indicated that no European material was at hand for comparison. Having collected a series of limbatus at Yosemite National Park, Calif., in September, 1941, and having available for study a series of this species taken by Dr. M. T. James, at Capitola, Calif., in June, 1940, the writers have been prompted to compare these flies with a series of virens, from Germany, now deposited in the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station insect collection. Males of the California specimens differ markedly from the European virens in the form and structure of the hypopygial lamellae and the wings. No satisfactory means have been found to distinguish females of the two species, one from the other, or from the females of the other four North American species of Liancalus. The hypopygial lamellae of limbatus are ribbon-like and slightly longer than the fore tarsi ; whereas the lamellae of virens are fili- form and are hardly as long as the first joint of fore tarsi. The wing of limbatus has a broad, deep incision just behind the tip of fourth vein and another deep, but narrow, incision at the tip of fifth vein ; the wing of virens is rather evenly rounded on posterior margin, without incisions of any kind. There can exist no doubt that limbatus is distinct from virens, and from all known members of the genus. Flies of the genus Liancalus are among the largest and most in- teresting of the Dolichopodidae. In North America they are ex- ceeded in size only by certain species of Scellus. Possessing long, graceful bodies, delicately tinted with brilliant hues of bronze and purple against a green background, few Diptera are more beautiful than the species of Liancalus. The beauty of some species is aug- mented by the presence of a gleaming, opalescent spot near the wing tip. 56 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL Of the five species known to occur in North America, only one, genualis Lw., has been taken east of the Mississippi River. They all occur in cool, shaded situations, generally near waterfalls or on moist or moss-covered rocks. The writers have taken hydrophilus Aldr., in the cool, dark boxcanyons which form a portion of Maple Canyon, Sanpete County, Utah. In that locality the flies were resting on the damp walls in the most heavily shaded parts of the canyon, sufficiently numerous that a dozen specimens could be taken in a single sweep of the insect net. L. querulus O. S. have been taken in large numbers during late summer about masonry dams in the canyons near Logan and Ogden, Utah. Similis Aldr. were frequently collected near the waterfalls at Yosemite Park, Calif., along with the specimens of limbatus mentioned earlier. “COCKROACH” VERSUS “ROACH.” In the June, 1944, Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society, Rau discusses the use of the terms roach or cockroach. R. W. C. Shelford, in “A Naturalist in Borneo,” p. 114, refers to the American use of the term roach as follows : “Americans have abbreviated this word as ‘Roach,’ perhaps by a reversed analogy with ‘robin,’ ‘cockrobin.’ As ‘roach’ is good Anglo-Saxon for a species of fish the use of the word for an insect is objectionable. ‘Cockroach’ is derived from the Spanish ‘cuca- racha,’ a word of obscure etymology but possibly derived from some South American Indian word signifying this insect. ‘Cuco’ in Spanish means a sort of caterpillar or bug, and ‘cucaracha’ is possibly connected with this ; if so the elision of the first syllable of ‘cockroach,’ the syllable which originally gave the word its significance, is doubly objectionable.” The word-taboo, to which Rau refers, is not characteristic alone of the Victorian age, but rather of the Anglo-Saxon and other Northern races, from whom America has inherited many of its manners and customs. Many such word-taboos are referred to by Vance Randolph in “The Ozarks, an American Survival of Primi- tive Society.” Randolph tells us that the Hill Folk of the Ozarks have retained to a great extent, the language and customs of the Elizabethan period. I rather believe that dropping the prefix from the word cockroach is purely an Americanism, a custom of short- ening words that has reached its climax in the present day alpha- betical hodge-podge of governmental bureaus and one that is rapidly invading the realms of scientific literature. Edwin P. Meiners. April, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 57 REMARKS UPON SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS IN ENTOMOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION. By George Steyskal, Detroit, Michigan. Anterior and Posterior vs. Cephalic and Caudal. Of late years (since the publication of MacGillivray’s External Insect Anatomy, 1923) there has been considerable use of the terms cephalic and caudal in a purely directional sense, that more often expressed by the terms anterior and posterior. It seems to the writer that something should be said against it. In the first place, as long as we know which end of an insect is forward, the old terms serve quite adequately. If there be any doubt as to which end is forward the matter can be settled better by definition than by the use of another term. From another viewpoint, the deriva- tion from the Greek work for head ( kephalon ) and the Latin word for tail ( cauda ) produces a confusing association with these parts. Some authors refer to “cephalic femur,” “caudal tibia,” etc., as if there were legs attached to the head or tail, whatever the latter may be. When aphidologists refer to caudal structures they mean structures connected with a part of the abdomen that has for a long time borne the designation “cauda,” and which is important taxonomically. Extrapolation of the meaning of the adverbial expressions formed with the suffix -ad (from Latin ad, meaning “to, toward, in the direction of”) results for example in such expressions as “maxilla developed as a lobe extending far cephalad of the head.” An author also writes of the “caudal end” of the fourth article of a posterior appendage; here “apical” or “distal” would be better, since the “caudal end” of an antennal article would be just the opposite. Illustrative of the superfluity and dissatisfaction (conscious or otherwise) which authors find in the use of these terms is the lack of consistency in their application. The following examples, se- lected at random in a couple hours, will make the point plain. a) In 1944 a description appeared wherein an appendage is said to be “inclined cephalad and mesad, the anterior margin slightly concave.” b) Another author describes an insect as having the vertex of the head “narrow at caudomessil angle of eyes, expanded anteriorly and with an unusually broad strip extending caudad of eyes, an- terior margin varyingly produced,” etc., and in the next sentence “pronotum . . . broadened posteriorly.” Would “caudally” in the latter instance mean “in the manner of a tail” ? 58 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL c) A third author states in one paragraph “female last ventral segment with posterior margin . . . excavated” and “dorsal portion (of aedeagus) with process directed ventrally and caudally.” The present writer in the latter case would prefer “posteroventrally.” d) A fourth author mentions “ anterior side of femora,” “pos- terior dorsocentral bristles,” “ anterior tarsus,” and “ hind basi- tarsus” but in the same paper has “male genitalia . . . strongly developed cephalad and caudad ” and “ caudal margins of (abdom- inal) segments.” The Plane of Bilateral Symmetry. The choice of medial , median , mid-, middle and mesal in refer- ence to the plane of bilateral symmetry seems to be a personal matter, although usage is predominantly in favor of “median” as an adjective and just as predominantly in favor of “medially” as the corresponding adverb. A few writers follow the dictionaries in using “medianly” as the adverbial form of “median.” It would seem that the crux of the matter lies in recognizing “median” as referring only to the “median plane of symmetry,” and using “medial” in other situations, as for example when referring to a band of color in the middle of a tibia as a “medial band” or when referring to the media vein of the wings, although in each case the term is derived from the same Latin word, medius. Meson (Greek, neuter of mesos “middle”) is a term which has the advantage of distinctness of form as well as providing a simple substantive (noun) for the concept of “plane of bilateral sym- metry.” From it are derived the adjective mesal and the combin- ing form meso-. “Mid-line” or plain “middle” is also frequently used in the same sense, which would be all right were it not that a transverse band, carina, etc., could also lie in the middle of a part which is also bisected by the plane of symmetry, as a tergite. The middle one of the series of three thoracic somites and appendages, however, is also designated by the prefix meso- (mesothorax, mesonotum, mesotibia, mesepisternum, mesoleg ( !), etc.). Ectal, ectad, ecto- are sometimes used in referring to a direction away from the plane of symmetry, although ecto- is used in such well-known terms as ectoderm, ectoparasite, etc., in the sense of “outside.” Lateral and laterad with the combining form latero- unambiguously refer to a direction away from the plane of symmetry. A resume of the terms used for spatial relationships may be helpful : April, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 59 Front, fore, foreward, before, ante-, anterior, antero-, pre-, pro-, cephalic, cephalo-. Back, backward, hind, behind, after, rear, post-, posterior, postero-, re-, retro-, caudal, caudo-, meta-. Top, up, upward, above, over, on, dorsal, dorso-, supra, super-, superior, hyper-, epi-, ana-. Bottom, down, downward, under, below, infra-, inferior, sub-, ven- tral, ventro-, de-, hypo-, kata-, cata-. Side, sideward, sidewise, beside, lateral, latero-, pleural, pleuro-, para- (see also Out). Center, central, centro-. Middle, mid-, medial, median, medio-, meson, mesal, meso-, mes-. In, inward, inside, between, inter-, intra-, intro-, interior, in-, en-, endo-, ento-. Out, outward, outside, away, extra-, extero-, extro-, exterior, ex-, e-, exo-, ectal, ecto-, ect-, ec-, apo-. Base, basal, basi-, proximal, proximo-. Tip, point, end, apex, apical, apico-, distal, disto-, teio-, aero-. Across, through, trans-, per-. Around, circum-, peri-. A METHOD FOR PERMANENTLY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF BLOWFLIES IN SCREENED HOUSES. By E. H. Strickland, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. Invaluable as are fly-screens for keeping many undesirable insect visitors out of houses, they are somewhat ineffective for the ex- clusion of Blowflies (Calliphoridae) . Furthermore, they have the undesirable attribute of retaining in the house such of these flies as do gain access to it despite their presence on doors and windows. Towards sundown, particularly when the nights are inclined to be cool, blowflies have the habit of squeezing themselves into sur- prisingly small cracks and crevices, such as those around the outer edges of fly-screens, around doors, through badly fitted eaves, &c. Owing to this habit many of them, ultimately, find their way into the house. Sooner or later, however, their positive phototactic responses will bring all of them to the windows where, even though the latter are open, the screens prevent their escape. On their arrival on the screens it can now be seen that, in addition to their phototactic responses, they are definitely negatively geotactic when walking. 60 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL Their tendency, therefore, is always to walk up the screen even though they will fly in any direction. The combined effect of these responses is that all of them will be brought, at some time during the hours of daylight, to the upper edge of the screen, along which they walk horizontally, since this is the line of least resis- tance to their combined responses. If, at one of the top corners of the screen, (either will do though, for a reason unknown to the writer, the right corner seems to be the best), a pencil be pushed through its meshes to make a small hole, every blowfly in the room will, sooner or later, be directed to it and will walk out, provided the window is partly open, above or below. Since these flies, while in the open, are inactive at dusk, by which time the house lights may be of greater intensity than is that of the waning daylight, none are oriented to return to the house by the same route. Theoretically, it would seem that an occasional mosquito might gain access to the house by this means during the night though none has been observed to do so even when they are very numerous. In any event, a small cork could be employed during the mosquito season to “close the door” to them. This method will not succeed at windows which are protected by awnings unless the latter are raised. With lowered awnings the phototactic responses of the flies prevent many of them from reaching the escape hole at the top of the screen. Furthermore, the responses of houseflies are too complex to render this method very certain in driving them out of a house. They are definitely positively phototactic only to a marked differ- ence in intensity of light and all can be brought to the window on a bright day by lowering the blind until only a crack of some two to three inches intervenes between it and the sill. Once they reach the screen, a slightly pronounced negative geotaxis may direct a percentage to the “open door,” but many will fail to reach it. For a number of years, several houses, which had suffered from serious infestations of blowflies, have been kept largely free from them by this simple expedient and it was employed last summer, with excellent results, to reduce a severe invasion of the buildings, in a military camp. Vol. XL JUNE, 1945 No. 3 BULLETIN OF THE Brooklyn Entomological PUBLICATION COMMITTEE J. R. de la TORRE'BUENO, Editor JOHN W. NOAKS EDWIN W. TEALE Published for the Society by The Science Press Printing Company, N. Queen St. and McGovern Ave., Lancaster, Pa., Price, 75 cents Subscription, $3.00 per year Mailed September 10, 1945 Entered as second-class matter January 21, 1919, at the post office at Lancaster, Pa., under the Act of March 3, 1879 The Brooklyn Entomological Society Meetings are held on the second Thursday after the first Tuesday of each month from October to May, inclusive, at the Brooklyn Museum, Eastern Parkway and Washington Ave., Brooklyn. The annual dues are $2.00. OFFICERS, 1945 Honorary President J. R. DE LA TORRE-BUENO President, R. R. McELYARE Vice President Treasurer OTTO BUCHHOLZ R. r. McELVARE Secretary 280 Fourth Ave., New York, N. Y. Editor J. R. DE LA TORRE-BUENO JOHN W. NOAKS Delegate to Council of New YorTc Academy of Sciences EDWIN WAY TEALE CONTENTS BIONOMIC NOTES ON MENECLES INSERTUS, Balduf 61 BONIFICATION IN LEPIDOPTERA, McElvare 65 INSECT DISPERSAL BY MAILS, Fender 66 PHORID FLY FROM NESTS OF ANTHOPHORA, Linsley 67 NOTES ON HETEROPTERA, J. R. T.-B 68 ENTOMOLOGICAL TRIVIALITIES— III, Rau i. 69 PERSONALITIES 71 CHREMASTOCHILINI IN N. A. & MEXICO, Potts 72 TRIGONURUS IN CONIFEROUS FORESTS, McNab & Fender 79 MORE UNKIND WORDS, J. R. T.-B 80 CATALOGUE OF LONCHOPTERIDAE, Rapp & Snow k 81 NOTES ON THASUS, J. R. T.-B ... 83 BOOK NOTES, J. R. T.-B ..... 84 LEAFHOPPERS SWARMING, Steyskal, 86 EDITORIAL, J. R. T.-B .; 87 DANGEROUS BEETLES, Bradley 87 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, Gaul, Noaks, Teale, McElvare ......... 88 EXCHANGES I 96 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Published in February, April, June, October and December of each year Subscription price, domestic, $3.00 per year ; foreign, $3.25 in advance ; single copies, 75 cents. Advertising rates on application. Short articles, notes and observations of interest to entomologists are solicited. Authors will receive 25 reprints free if ordered in advance of publication. Address subscriptions and all communications to J. R. de la TORRE-BUENO, Editor, 925 East 6th St., Tuscon, Ariz. BULLETIN OF THE BROOKLYN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY Vol. XL June, 1945 No. 3 BIONOMIC NOTES ON MENECLES INSERTUS (SAY) (HEMIPTERA, PENTATOMIDAE).1 By W. V. Balduf, Urbana, 111. This comparatively little-known stink bug possesses two beha- vioristic features that are somewhat unusual in the Pentatomidae, namely its nocturnal activity and its migrations up and down tree trunks. Only fractional contributions toward a knowledge of its life cycle have been made. My notes add some personal observa- tions and summarize briefly the bionomic data from the literature. Menecles insertus was described as Pentatoma inserta by Thomas Say in 1831. The original description is reproduced in LeConte’s The Complete Writings of Thomas Say on the Entomology of North America. Stal erected the genus Menecles in 1867 and transferred insertus to it : it is a monotypic group. Nocturnal and Arboreal Behavior. Van Duzee (1904) obtained it in numbers from small hickory trees growing near Lewiston, New York. This seems to be the first published indication of its relation to trees. Since he mentioned neither stage nor time, I presume Van Duzee collected adults during the day, perhaps while they remained inactive under loose bark on the tree trunks. Hart men- tioned the “arboreal habits” of insertus and reported it “very abundant . . . under a row of hard maple trees, which it was presumably leaving for hibernation.” It is not entirely clear from these notes whether Hart or his collaborators had personally found the bug on trees. But Blatchley states definitely he had three in- dividuals from the bole of a beech tree in a dense woodland near Indianapolis, and single ones “on the boles of trees, dead leaves, corded wood or some objects of dull hue with which the color blended.” 1 Contribution No. 247 from the Entomological Laboratories of the University of Illinois. I am indebted to Doctor Charles O. Esselbaugh for permission to quote from his unpublished notes and for help with references to publications. 61 SEP I jf *46 62 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL The nocturnal studies made by Park and Strohecker in a forest in northern Indiana not only showed that insertus is active at night and inactive by day, but that its nightly movements are vertical and largely limited to living trees. They found it crawling from be- neath the leaf mold at the bases of stump and tree and beginning their ascent by 9:10 P.M. (probably C. S. T.). They appeared in great numbers throughout the night. By midnight they had moved from 8 to 1 5 feet or more up on the tree trunks and foliage, and by 3 : 20 A.M. were moving down again. At 4: 23 they were on the average from six to eight feet above the forest floor, and at 5 : 00 o’clock the majority had crawled once more under the mold and debris, while stragglers remained two to four feet up on the trunk. That insertus is not continuously arboreal but spends the night on trees and the day under cover on or near the ground has been shown in the above statement modified from Park and Strohecker and by other observers. Stoner found 23 individuals under cover on the ground in wooded or semi-wooded districts at Iowa City. While Esselbaugh obtained specimens “in the open during broad daylight,” he also found individuals under leaf mould. On June 19, 1932, I discovered an aggregation of 95 individuals in a woods along the Salt Fork River south of Oakwood in Ver- milion County, Illinois. It was full daylight and the bugs were concealed under the loose bark in its natural position on an old but still firm log lying on the ground near a number of living trees. The log measured about 10 feet long and 10 inches thick. All the 95 bugs captured were adults excepting one, which was a nymph in its last instar. Fifty of the adults were females, and 44 males. Near this site, I secured three females under leaves on April 12, 1936. Again, while collecting Collemhola 011 the floor of Brown- field’s Woods near Urbana on July 14, 1941, I sifted an adult and a mature nymph from dead leaves raked from the ground. These were secured near midday and several yards from trees or logs. In the same month, my attention was directed to a hackberry tree in this woods where a class in ecology had found numbers of this insect several days previously. On July 18, my daytime search among the dead leaves at the base of this tree revealed 27 adults and one mature nymph. All were inactive and hiding under the uppermost dead leaves that formed the cover of the woods floor ; none had descended to the underlying soil. The majority occurred within four feet from the bole, and, with few exceptions they appeared west of the tree. Another adult was discovered at the June, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 63 base of an elm near the hackberry. Their color blends closely with that of old leaves, and they moved but slowly when disturbed. Whether the vertical nocturnal movements alternate regularly and daily with a diurnal period of inactivity at the bases of trees, or these two phases of behavior occur at irregular intervals, has not been made known. It also has not been pointed out or observed whether the nymphs participate in this alternating vertical day- night activity. Food. The above suggestion that insert us remains inactive under debris on the ground during the day implies, correctly or erroneously, that it feeds during the night while on the boles, branches or leaves of standing living trees. However, Kirkland included this bug among a number of Hemiptera that prey, pre- sumably on the larvae, of the gypsy moth, Porthetria dispar (Linn.). Olsen and Stoner have quoted Kirkland. There are three reasons why this statement is probably incorrect: first, sub- sequent investigators on the gypsy moth have not, so far as I know, verified the alleged predatism ; second, insertus is not a member of the predatory subfamily Asopinae, and third, its occurrence in large concentrated numbers precludes the likelihood that sufficient insect life occurs in the trees to sustain the species. I anticipate that both nymphs and adults will be found to suck sap from the stems, branches, or leaves of the living trees. If so, it appears to feed on trees of diverse relationship for it has been found associated with elm and hackberry (Balduf), beech (Blatchley), hard maple (Hart) and hickory (Van Duzee, 1904). Life Cycle. The pieces of information at hand indicate that insertus hibernates as adult, as other Pentatomidae do. It was found “very abundant” in late October and early November on sidewalks under a row of maples on the University Campus at Urbana, and was presumed to be leaving the trees for hibernation (Hart). All but four of the 23 individuals recorded by Stoner from Iowa City were taken in November and mostly under the leaves of hickory or elm in wooded places. One of the four was “a hibernating form taken May 11”: a half-grown nymph was found September 24 and the other two were obtained October 24. Blatchley stated “it probably hibernates as imago as a single ex- ample was taken October 17 from beneath a half buried log.” Esselbaugh secured hibernating individuals beneath a rather thick layer of dead leaves in a woodland near Urbana, and the first active bug was taken on April 15 on a tree trunk on the University Campus. 64 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL The number of generations developed in a year is still supposi- tious. Little is reported concerning nymphs, and still less about the eggs. Esselbaugh caged one female and secured three egg- masses in three successive days in early June. Whether the eggs are laid in nature by day among the dead leaves on the ground or by night on the bark or leaves of the living trees, or in both situ- ations, remains unknown. Esselbaugh also succeeded in rearing the nymphs, but only one attained the fifth instar. Hart reported that nymphs occurred in June in Illinois. Therefore, unless the yearly developmental pattern contains a dispause, a second cycle can perhaps be completed here. Stoner found a half-grown nymph on September 24 and I discovered mature ones on June 19 and July 14 and 18. Further studies are needed before the significance of these four cases can be stated. Distribution. While known to occur in places so widely sepa- rated as Ontario and Arizona, and Massachusetts and California, M. insertus has been reported from only a small proportion of the states. Its nocturnal and arboreal behavior, and what appears to be a tendency toward gregariousness, probably render the species less susceptible to collecting and explain the consequent spotty picture of distribution. It seems certain that it occurs also in many other states. Van Duzee (1917) reported it for Ontario, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas, Arizona and California. Olsen had it from Rockaway Beach, Long Island, New York; Blatchley found it in seven counties of Indiana on or south of the east-west line through Indianapolis, while Park and Strohecker observed it in northern Indiana. Blatchley also recorded it from Hopkinton, Massachusetts (Frost) and Raleigh, North Carolina (Brimley manuscript). The collection of the Illinois State Natural History Survey contained specimens from the northern, central and south- ern parts of the state (Hart), and the collection of the University has more than 100 specimens from the area of Urbana. Stoner found it at Iowa City, Iowa. The fact that Say received one of the type specimens from Thomas Nuttall, the English botanist, is note- worthy. Nuttall had it from Arkansas, presumably in the year 1818-1819, when he ascended the Arkansas River from the Mis- sissippi (Pennell). References Cited Blatchley, W. S. Heteroptera or true bugs of Eastern North America, Indianapolis, 1926, 1116 pp. Esselbaugh, C. O. Biology of the Pentatomidae, Thesis, Univer- sity of Illinois, Urbana, 1945, 247 pp., pis. June, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 65 Hart, C. A. The Pentatomoidea of Illinois, with keys to the ne- arctic genera, Bui. 111. State Lab. Nat. Hist. XIII, Art. 7, 1919, pp. 157-223. Kirkland, A. H. Predaceous Hemiptera Heteroptera. In For- bush, E. H., and Fernald, C. H. The Gypsy Moth, Porthetria dispar (Linn.). Park, Orlando, and Strohecker, F. H. Studies in nocturnal ecology. V. An experiment in conducting field classes at night, Ohio Jour. Sci., Vol. 36, 1936, pp. 46-54. Pennell, F. W. Travels and scientific collections of Thomas Nuttall. Bartonia, Proc. Phila. Bot. Club, No. 18, 1936, pp. I_51- Say, Thomas. Descriptions of new species of Heteropterous Hemiptera of North America, New Harmony, Indiana, 1831. In LeConte, J. L., The complete writings of Thomas Say on the entomology of North America, 2 Vols., New York, 1859. Stal, Carl. Of. Vet. Akad. Forh., xxiv, 1867, p. 527 (Van Duzee, 1917). Stoner, D. C. The Scutelleroidea of Iowa, Univ. Iowa Studies Nat. Hist., 8, 1920, pp. 1-140. Van Duzee, E. P. (1940). Annotated list of the Pentatomidae recorded from America North of Mexico, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 30, 1904, p. 52. Van Duzee, E. P. (1917). Catalogue of the Hemiptera of America north of Mexico, excepting the Aphididae, Coccidae and Aleurodidae. Univ. Calif. Pubs. Ent., II, 1917, 902 pp. An Instance of Sonification in Lepidoptera. — Sonification is not usually associated with Lepidoptera. A reminder that it does occur is contained in an interesting observation made in Mexico by Major George Miksch Sutton. Writing in the Audubon Magazine (Nov. -Dec. 1944, p. 347) he comments on a butterfly which pro- duced a clicking sound with its wings. This is a peculiarity of the neotropical genus Ageronia Hiibner in the Nymphalinae, a species of which, A. fornax Hiibner, has been recorded from the warmer sections of Texas, according to Dr. W. J. Holland. A. feronia Linnaeus may also be found there. Major Sutton described the butterfly he observed as checkered gray and white, a rapid flyer with a habit of alighting on tree trunks and facing head downward, all characteristics of the genus Ageronia. — - Rowland R. McElvare, Port Washington, Long Island, N. Y. 66 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL INSECT DISPERSAL BY THE U. S. MAILS. By Kenneth Fender, McMinnville, Oregon. At different times the author, an employee of the post office at McMinnville, Oregon, has collected or had saved for him, speci- mens of insects that were found in incoming mail sacks. Most of the specimens so collected were in mail sacks from Council Bluffs, Iowa. On July 22, 1939, a sack full of second and third class mail was opened and four specimens of the tiger beetle Cicindela punctulata' Oliv. spilled out. Three of these were alive and quite active. There was a bit of a flurry as the author commandeered other employees to help corral his find. The fourth specimen was dead and somewhat smashed. On Aug. 8, 1939, another smashed speci- men of C. punctulata was found in a mail sack from Council Bluffs. Another was taken under similar conditions on Aug. 4, 1941. A specimen of Cicindela cuprascens LeC. was collected from a mail sack on July 22, 1941. It too was dead and somewhat smashed. The point of mailing for the mail sack of this specimen was not determined but is presumed to be Council Bluffs which is the mail separation point for the eastern mail. A smashed specimen of the Scarab Ligyrus gibbosus (DeG.) was found in a mail sack (mail- ing point unknown) on July 25, 1938. At other times a living specimen of the bedbug Cimex lectularius L. and a crushed specimen of the butterfly Eurymus philodice Godt. were found and occasion- ally specimens wrecked beyond possible recognition have been seen. Obviously the hard-shelled Coleoptera are best equipped for this rough means of dispersal. The arrival of the three very alive Cicindela punctulata proves that it can be done. No doubt nu- merous other insects in various stages of wear and tear have arrived at the McMinnville post office upon different occasions but have been either overlooked or dismissed by one of the employees as just another “bug.” One wonders how many insects have been and are being dispersed through the U. S. mails. June, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 67 A PHORID FLY FROM THE NESTS OF ANTHO- PHORA IN CALIFORNIA. By E. Gorton Linsley, Berkeley, Calif. In March 1941, Mr. J. W. MacSwain and the writer (1942a: 195, tab. 1), collected pupae of a phorid fly from a nest cell of Anthophora stanfordiana Cockerell. The cell was one of a small sample (100 cells) taken from a bank about twenty miles east of Bakersfield, Kern County, California. This bank was largely oc- cupied by Anthophora linsleyi Timberlake and has been described in connection with a study of this latter species (Linsley and MacSwain, 1942b). Because of the stage of development of the flies, it was not possible to determine the exact relationship of the fly to the Anthophora. However, since the adjoining cells in the series were occupied by bees, and the phorid cell was empty except for thirty-four fly pupae, it was presumed that the larvae had destroyed the original occupant, although it is possible that they had fed primarily on the store of pollen. The pupae were brought into the laboratory and adults emerged on April 12, 13, and 14, 1941, from thirteen to fifteen days after they were collected. These were sent to C. T. Brues, who found them closely related to Megaselia pygmaeoides Lundbeck a European species not previously found in this country. Dr. Brues states that it is quite possible that the two are not the same but that he cannot distinguish any differences. A few phorids have been reported from nests of bees in eastern North America. Melander and Brues (1903) record Megaselia halictorum (Melander and Brues), and possibly also M. cata (Melander and Brues), M. ro strata (Melander and Brues) and Stethopathus occidentalis (Melander and Brues), from nests of Chloralictus pruinosus Robertson in Massachusetts. Malloch (1912: 494) states that Megaselia rufipes (Meigen) is “commonly found in beehives, and is a scavenger rather than an inquiline or parasite” and Essig (1926: 564) records this same species from “bees nests.” Literature Cited Essig, E. O. 1926. Insects of Western North America, xi + i°35 PP- Macmillan Co. New York. Linsley, E. G. and J. W. MacSwain. 1942a. Bionomics of the meloid genus Hornia. Univ. Calif. Publ. Entom., 7 (9) : 189-206, pis. 6-7, t.f.l. 1942b. The parasites, predators, and inquiline associates of 68 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL Anthophora linsleyi. Amer. Midi. Nat., 27(2) : 402-417, figs. 1-11. Malloch, J. R. 1912. The insects of the dipterous family Phor- idae in the United States National Museum. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus, 43: 4h-529, pis. 35-41- Melander, A. L. and C. T. Brues. 1903. Guests and parasites of the burrowing bee Halictus. Biol. Bull., 5 : 1-27, figs. RANDOM NOTES ON HETEROPTERA. In White Plains, N. Y., October 7, 1913, was a beautiful, spring- like day, the temperature ranging between 40°-54°. On the hill- side by Todd’s Pond, under stones, the following bugs were found. Aradus robustus Uhler, 7 more or less active adults and 3 nymphs. Podisus serieventris, Euschistus variolarius and Mor- midea lugens were torpid ; but Heraeus plebejus was very active and got away. Some Corythucha marmorata were also found. On September 12, 1914, at Rockaway Beach, L. I., under a trailing vine in the sand, there were abundant nymphs of Lygaeus bicrucis, in two or three instars. In the beach washup, at Arverne, L. I., on October 3, of the same year, these Heteroptera were secured: Five Brochymena quadripustulata , 3 Podisus serieventris ; and various Mormidea lugens, Trichop epla semivittata and Nysius ericae, Euschistus vari- olarius, Crophius disconotus, Nesara hilaris, Hymenarcis nervosa, one of each. Amnestus spinifrons yielded 7 specimens, and Am- nestus pusillus 3. There were also two Chariest erus antennator, both thickly covered with a white pruinosity on the abdomen, thorax and sternum. Two Eremocoris ferus were found under a stone on the Todd hillside in White Plains, N. Y., on November 3, 1917. The tem- perature ranged from 26° in the evening to 64° in the heat of the day. Microvelia fontinalis T.-B. in an aquarium was seen feeding on Daphnia. The rostrum was extended forward and the water-flea carried impaled on the lancets. J. R. T.-B. June, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 69 ENTOMOLOGICAL TRIVIALITIES By Phil Rau, Kirkwood, Mo. III. A Portrait of an Entomologist. The entomologist seldom appears in literature, and when he does, he is usually the object of derision. “He has been ridiculed,” says Dr. L. O. Howard, “in song, story, on the stage and in everyday life. The study of entomology in all its phases has been thought a ludicrous pursuit, and this popular attitude has undoubtedly had a very bad effect on the science.” Sooner or later, a change of attitude will come, and entomologists will rejoice in the good beginning in this direction made by the novelist, W. Somerset Maugham, in his short-story, “Neil Mac- Adam.” Here he presents a portrait that gives the truest insight into the interests, ambitions and aspirations of a young entomologist that has yet appeared in literature. Neil Mac Adam, the young Scot, arrives in Borneo, so the story goes, to be the new Assistant to Angus Munro, the Curator of the Natural History Museum. With him, Munro, Neil let himself go. He felt for him as he had never felt for anyone before. He was so sane, so balanced, so tolerant. He was the sort of man he him- self would like to be when he was older. He talked little, but when he did, with good sense. He was wise. He had a dry humor that Neil understood. . . . He was honest and absolutely truthful. But Neil admired him no less as a scientist than as a man. He had imagination. He was careful and painstaking. Though his interest was in re- search, he did the routine work of the Museum consci- entiously. He was just then interested in stick-insects and intended to write a paper on their parthenogenetic reproduction. An incident occurred in connection with experiments he was making that made a great impression on Neil. One day a little captive gibbon escaped from his chain and ate up all the larvae and so destroyed the whole of Munro’s evidence. Neil nearly cried. Angus took the gibbon in his arms and smiling stroked it. “Diamond, Diamond,” he said quoting Sir Isaac Newton, “you little know the damage you have done.” 70 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL He was also studying mimicry, and instilled into Neil his absorbed interest in this controversial subject. They had interminable talks about it. Neil was astonished at the Curator’s wonderful knowledge. It was encyclopedic, and he was abashed at his own ignorance. But it was when Munro spoke of trips into the country to collect specimens that his enthusiasm was most contagious. That was the perfect life, a life of hardship, difficulty, often of privation, and sometimes of danger, but rewarded by the thrill of finding a rare, or even a new species, by beauty of the scenery and the intimate observation of nature, and above all by the sense of freedom from every tie. Later on they go on a collecting expedition : Every morning Neil and Munro started out separately, collecting. The afternoon was devoted to pinning insects in boxes, placing butterflies between sheets of paper, and skinning birds. When dusk came, they caught moths. Neil was enraptured. He explored the mountain in all directions. One day, to his pride, he found a new species of stick-insect. Munro named it Cuniculina MacAdami. This was fame. Neil (at twenty -two) realized that he had not lived in vain. This sympathetic picture of a young naturalist in the field and in the museum should, I think, go a great way toward swerving an occasional potential bond salesman into the field of biological ex- ploration. Unfortunately, however, young students do not often run into inspirational passages such as this, because biological text- books contain nothing but facts. Items of romance are omitted, and yet we wonder why it is that with thousands of young people passing through biological courses every year, so few Forels, Rileys and Wheelers are produced. June, 1945 Biilletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 71 PERSONALITIES. Joseph F. Wright, one of our subscribers and contributors, is now a Captain in the Medical Corps, stationed in England. We have received the first direct news from our friends in lib- erated Europe. We have had a post card from Dr. A. d’Orchy- mont, the Belgian authority on water beetles, from the Museum in Brussels. We report the first loss in combat among our friends and sub- scribers, Peter C. Grassman, of Phoenix, Arizona, who was killed in action in Germany on December 4 of last year. We hope these losses will be few as time goes on, but we cannot conceal from our- selves that there will be others ; and grievous losses to science in the coming years. We have had a recent visit to the United States of Rev. Thomaz Borgmeier, O.F.M., of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, who is editor of “Revista de Entomologia,” the principal entomological journal of that country. He is reported to be here, among other things, for the purpose of establishing a Pan American Entomological Society. It is to be hoped he succeeds in this effort, which will do so much toward bringing together the United States and the Latin American countries in this science. The death under sad circumstances is announced of Dr. Raymond C. Shannon, the well-known dipterist, in Trinidad, B. W. I., in March last. This is a great loss to entomology. We regret to announce the death of Oscar Fulda, one of the old- time entomologists, who conducted The Butterfly Store, and who was known to so many of us of the older generation. 72 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL A KEY TO THE SPECIES OF CREMASTOCHEXLINI OF NORTH AMERICA AND MEXICO (COLEOPTERA, SCARABAEIDAE). By Robert W. L. Potts, Berkeley, Calif. At the present time there is no key available to the species of the tribe Cremastocheilini which includes the species from Casey (1915) to date, while no recent key is primarily designed for ease of identification. Horn’s key (1879 and 1885) is generally good but it is, of course, incomplete, and subsequent collecting has shown the need for modification of certain of his characters. Casey’s key was descriptive in nature, not giving comparative characters only, and giving only textual clues to relationships. Cazier has recently ( I939 and I94°) given careful consideration to the genera, but unfortunately never published a key to the species. In view of these circumstances it is believed that the following key will be useful. Although a few changes have been made in the status of names, these changes have already been suggested in recent literature or are changes standing in the collection of the California Academy of Sciences. I have made one change in the application of a name, that of cribripennis Casey, to include the entire southern race of Cremastocheilus armatus Walker. The only modification of moment that this requires in the Casey description is to reduce the value of the medially carinate clypeus. In the few specimens of the southern California population I have available this character appears to be variable. Several of the Casey species, while not definitely placed in synon- ymy due to the present impossibility of checking his types, are included with more definitely identifiable species. Otherwise the synonymy is as adopted in Leng’s Catalogue and subsequent literature. I wish to express grateful appreciation to Dr. E. G. Linsley and Dr. E. C. Van Dyke for helpful suggestions and criticisms, and to the latter for the opportunity of checking through the very extensive California Academy of Sciences collection. Thanks are also due O. L. Cartwright for his determinations of representatives from my own large collection. i.1 Pronotum with anterior angles entire, normal, not at all de- limited 2 1 Parts of the key which define the genera and subgenera are modified from the generic revision of Cazier ; the remainder is either modified from Horn, Casey, or original. June, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 73 — Pronotum with an excavation or sinus medially delimiting each anterior angle Cremastocheilus — 5 2. ( 1 ) Scape with median dorsal surface concave ; tarsal constric- tions not visible, segments overlapping distally 3 — Scape with this surface flat or convex; tarsal constrictions visible, segments not overlapping distally Genuchinus — 4 Lissomelas 3. (2) Tarsi sculptured with longitudinal carinae; anterior mar- gin of clypeus acute, beneath with a deep median im- pression ; Ariz., Mex. Lissomelas flohri Bates Psilocnemis — Tarsi smooth, not carinate ; anterior margin of clypeus not acute, prolonged beneath as a wide smooth flat plate, not medially depressed ; Md. to N. C. Psilocnemis leucosticta Burmeister Genuchinus 4. (2) Prothorax nearly \ wider than long, without a postero- lateral tomentose border ; elytra cuneiform, with very elongate variolate foveae discally; Ariz., So. Calif. G. ineptus Horn — Prothorax not over 1/ 5 wider than long, with a dense tomen- tose lateral border ; elytra parallel or nearly so, with close- set elongate incised annuli discally ; Ariz. G. angustus Casey Cremastocheilus 5. (1) Anterior tarsi with 4th and 5th segments greatly dilated, 4th almost twice size of 3rd ; head with lateral carinae over eyes subg. Macropodina — 6 — Anterior tarsi with 4th and 5th segments not dilated, subequal to 3rd; head without lateral carinae subg. Cremastocheilus — 8 6. ( 5 ) Pronotum rather evenly rounded at sides ; pronotal punc- tuations large, coarse, shallow to deep but not particularly sparse 7 — Pronotum with side margins mostly straight, angulate at apical third ; pronotal punctuations shallow, sparse, separated by 2 to 3 times their own widths ; Ariz., So. Calif. C. ( M .) puncticollis Cazier 7. (6) Size appx. 16.5 by 7.0 mm. ; dorsal surface of 4th anterior 74 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol. XL tarsal segment subequal to ventral surface; Ariz., Calif. ( -ampla Casey, fide Cazier 1940) C. (M.) planatus LeConte — Size appx. 13.0 by 5.0 mm. ; dorsal surface of 4th anterior tarsal segment much shorter than ventral surface; Ariz. C. ( M .) beameri Cazier 8. (5) Pronotal disc more or less evenly rounded, at most with slight median or lateral depressions and minor modelling 9 — Pronotum marked into approximately equal thirds by two longitudinal depressions or grooves “Trinodia” group — 34 9. (8) Mentum with basal notch, obsolescent to deep 10 — Mentum with base entire, rounded or angulate 16 10. (9) Mentum with basal notch deep, subparallel 11 — Mentum with notch shallow acute or rounded, or obsolescent 15 11. (10) Pronotal punctures normally coarse, rather evenly dis- tributed on the disc; pronotum laterally without an im- pression at middle 12 — Pronotal punctures fine, with disc largely impunctate; pro- notum laterally with an impression near middle ; Eastern states C. harrisii Kirby 12. (11) Anterior angles of pronotum more or less continuous with disc ; hind angles laterally continuous with disc, or, if separate, then strongly retracted toward median line 13 — Anterior angles of pronotum separated by a complete trans- verse groove ; hind angles separated by an oblique groove or impression and only slightly retracted ; from Rocky Mountains east, Canada to the Gulf C. castaneae Knoch Great Plains and Mississippi Valley C. c. lecontei Westwood Northern and Rocky Mountain, Manitoba to Colo. C. c. pocularis Casey Southern States (?)2 C. c. brevis etosus Casey 2 Casey describes brevisetosus from a specimen he records from Iowa. However, the only specimens before me which agree are from Alabama, and I am led to suspect an erroneous label on the Casey specimen. In the Alabama specimens the setae of the pro- notum are exceedingly broad and short and as the specimens are quite fresh, the character is presumably a good one. This appears to me to be the most distinctive race of any I have seen, and if this name is applicable to the southern specimens it apparently repre- sents a valid subspecies. The value of the other two names as June, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 75 13. (12) Hind angles separated from disc and strongly retracted; Great Plains Area 14 — Hind angles more or less continuous with disc at outer margin, not particularly retracted; Ohio Valley and Atlantic Coast, Can. to Ga C. canaliculatus Kirby 14. (13) Legs and entire body deep black, Iowa to Texas C. retractus LeConte — Legs rufo-piceous ; head and body more or less rufo-piceous to brown-black ; Kan., Colo. . . C. retractus incisus Casey 15. (10) Hind angles considerably retracted; anterior angles prominent and distinct ; mentum with basal notch shallow, triangular or rounded and sometimes obsolescent ; Moun- tain States to Atlantic, Mass, to S. C. C. variolosus Kirby — Hind angles feebly retracted ; anterior angles more or less continuous ; mentum with basal notch small, narrow, sub- parallel ; N. C. to Fla C. squamulosus LeConte 16. (9) Posterior angles of prothorax defined by a more or less complete oblique impression or deep groove; hind tarsi long or short 17 — Posterior angles considerably retracted and poorly or not at all defined; hind tarsi usually notably short and strongly compressed 30 1 7. (16) Hind tarsi with 2nd segment usually distinctly longer than wide, but if short, lateral basal depressions marked and carinate at dorsal margin 18 — Hind tarsi with 2nd segment at least nearly as wide as long ; lateral depressions slight or absent, never carinate at edges; Calif, (including C. compressipes Casey) C. angularis LeConte 18. (17) Hind angles considerably retracted and depressed below plane of pronotal disc; surface shining, often somewhat rufo-piceous 19 — Hind angles continuous with side margin of pronotum, only slightly retracted and depressed ; surface opaque or subopaque 20 19. (18) Posterior margin of mentum produced and pointed; ely- tral punctures rather small and well spaced; anterior pronotal angles pointed; Nebr., Mo., Kan. C. nitens LeConte weak races of castaneae seems questionable to me. A long series from the Rocky Mountains is not easily separable, although in the main, they most closely agree with Casey’s pocularis. 76 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL — Posterior margin of mentum evenly rounded ; elytral punctures large, shallow and separated by about own width ; anterior pronotal angles notably wide and blunt ; Ariz. C. chapini Cazier 20. (18) Front of head rather evenly rounded down into clypeus; anterior pronotal angles usually distinct and oblique in direction . 21 — Front of head angulate, often almost carinate, dropping very abruptly to clypeus and giving top of head a definite rather flat and distinct area ; anterior angles not or rarely dis- tinct, more longitudinal in direction 24 21. 3 (20) Upper surface with hairs short, hardly longer than areo- lae, very sparse or almost absent, particularly on elytra, never conspicuous 22 — Upper surface with conspicuous, rather long hairs; Brit. Col. to Calif, and Nev C. armatus Walker 22. (21) Hind tarsi only 2/3 to 3/4 as long as tibiae 23 — Hind tarsi at least within 1 mm. of being as long as tibiae; Coastal from Ore. to middle Calif. C. armatus maratimus Casey 23. (22) Elytral punctures nearly round, shallow; clypeus never more than faintly carinate ; Inland ranges from Wash, to Calif., Nev. (including C. congener Casey) C. armatus montanus Casey — Elytral punctures elongate, deeper; clypeus sometimes defi- nitely carinate at middle ; So. Calif. C. armatus cribripennis Casey 24. (20) Legs rufous ; body more or less rufous 25 — Legs and body black 26 25. (24) Legs rufous, but head and body mostly blackish; size appx. 13.0 by 6.0 mm. ; Ariz C. mexicanus Schaum — Legs, head and body uniform reddish-brown; size appx. 15.0 by 6.0 mm. ; Durango, Mex C. robinsoni Cazier 26. (24) Pronotum apparently subquadrate, widest at about basal third, with space between apices of hind angles less by about .2 to .35 mm. ; elytral setae sparse but usually long and conspicuous, up to 1 mm. in length 27 — Pronotum apparently rounded, widest at or before middle, with space between apices of hind angles less by about .35 3 C. densicollis Casey and obliquus Casey will probably key out to either C. armatus maratimus or C. a. montanus . June, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 77 to .45 mm. ; elytral setae barely demonstrable, never con- spicuous 29 27. (26) Clypeus no wider than front between eyes 28 — Clypeus wider than head across eyes; N. M., Tex. C. crinitus LeConte 28. (27) Top of head with two rather well-developed foveae an- tero-laterally ; Brit. Col. to Ariz. and N. M. C. crinitus bifoveatus Van Dyke — Top of head nearly flat, not at all or only slightly depressed within the antero-lateral margin ; Wash, to western Colo. C. crinitus pugetanus Casey 29. (26) Head, body and legs without evident bloom; Great Plains and Mississippi Valley, Manitoba to 111. and N. M. (in- cluding C. knochi gracilipes Casey and C. k. areolatus Casey) C. knochii LeConte — Head, body and legs with areas of bloom; N. M. C. pulvurulentus Cazier 30. (16) Pronotal width greatest at or slightly behind middle, punctures not coarser at middle and hairs always setiform 31 — Pronotal width greatest at hind angles, punctures coarser at middle and hairs there more squamiform ; Ariz. C. quadratus Fall 31. (30) Anterior tibiae bidentate 32 — Anterior tibiae tridentate; So. Calif. C. westwoodi tridens Casey 32. (31) Posterior tarsi 1/2 or less the length of tibiae 33 — Posterior tarsi from 1/2 to 3/4 the length of tibiae; So. Calif. C. westwoodi Horn 33. (32) Anterior tibiae appreciably longer than their width taken twice ; So. Calif C. schaumi LeConte — Anterior tibiae about twice as long as wide ; So. Calif., Ariz. C. schaumi tibialis Casey “Trinodia” group 34. (8) Tarsi 5-segmented 35 — Tarsi 4-segmented C. lengi Cazier 35. (34) Pronotal impressions continuing from base to apex; cly- peus not laterally dilated and with a median carina ... 36 — Pronotal impressions extending from base to about middle; clypeus laterally dilated and not carinate ; Mont, and Nebr. to So. Calif C. wheeleri LeConte 78 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL 36. (35) Front of head without a transverse impression in front of eyes ; pronotum definitely more than half as wide as elytra ... 37 — Front of head with a tranverse impression in front of eyes; pronotum only barely more than half as wide as elytra; Ariz C. constricticollis Cazier 37- (36) Anterior tibiae slender, subpedunculate basally, the inner margin rather abruptly constricted at about middle; the upper two teeth at about middle, the two thus less ap- proximate 38 — Anterior tibiae notably broad and compressed, or moderately slender, but not subpedunculate basally, the inner outline continuous and not constricted ; if moderately slender, the upper tooth well beyond middle, the teeth not so widely separated 39 3<3-4 (37) Smooth and shining; hind angles of prothorax rather short ; Nebr. and Colo, to Tex C. saucius LeConte — Hairy and subopaque; hind angles twice as long and with a lateral excavation of prothorax just anterior to angle; Ariz C. hirsutus Van Dyke 39- (37) Anterior tibiae moderately slender 40 — Anterior tibiae as well as femora notably broad and com- pressed 43 4°. (39) Hind pronotal angles acute, projecting posteriorly ; length appx. 11.0 mm 41 — Hind pronotal angles rather long, slender and everted; length appx. 7.5 mm. ; Tex C. spinifer Horn 41. (40) Dor sally shining 42 — Dorsally opaque ; So. Calif., Ariz. C. opaculus Horn 42. (41) Clear testaceous; pygidium in part scabriculate ; Kan. C. setosifrons Casey — Black ; pygidium concentrically sculptured by short, fine, ir- regularly incised lines; Tex C. quadric ollis Casey 43- (39) Piceous ; hind angles of pronotum upturned at outer edge above ; head less punctate, front less pilose ; Ariz. C. planipes Horn — - Reddish; hind angles flat at outer edge; head much more densely punctate and front more pilose ; Ariz. C. mentalis Cazier 4 C. excavatus Cazier, from Durango and Tlalnepantla, Mexico, would probably key to this couplet. No specimen is at present available and the description does not seem to adequately distin- guish the species from C. hirsutus Van Dyke. June, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 79 OCCURRENCE OF TRIGONURUS (COLEOPTERA, STAPHYLINIDAE) IN THE CONIFEROUS FORESTS OF WESTERN OREGON. By James A. Macnab and Dorothy McKey Fender, Linfield College, McMinnville, Oregon. Repeated collection of two species of Trigonurus, T. crotchi Sharp and T. sharpi Blackwelder, under consistently uniform con- ditions has led the authors to believe that publication of collection records, in the light of information gained as to habitat, distribution, and relative abundance of these two species which occur together, might be of interest. 1. Depoe Bay, Lincoln County, April 24, 1936. Evergreen log. 6 T. sharpi, of which ^ (1 a paratype) are in the Fender collection. K. M. Fender coll. 2. Depoe Bay, Lincoln County, April 25, 1936. 2 T. crotchi. K. M. Fender coll. Specific determination of the logs in which the Depoe Bay specimens were collected was not made. Since Sitka spruce ( Picea sitchensis) is a dominant tree in this restricted local- ity, the logs were probably this species. 3. Saddle Mountain (Boyer), Lincoln County, April 25, 1936. Douglas fir log. 25 Trigonurus, of which 10 T. crotchi and 2 T. sharpi were retained. Jas. A. Macnab coll. 4. Saddle Mountain (Boyer), Lincoln County, May 24, 1936. Hemlock log. 3 T. crotchi. Jas. A. Macnab coll. 5. Saddle Mountain (Boyer), Lincoln County, June 8, 1936. Hemlock log. 1 T. sharpi. Jas. A. Macnab coll. 6. Saddle Mountain (Boyer), Lincoln County, July 20, 1936. Hemlock log. 12 Trigonurus, of which 5 T. crotchi and 1 T. sharpi were retained. Jas. A. Macnab coll. These specimens were all concentrated in an area of 25 sq. cm. on the wet surface of the sap-wood. 7. Ocean Park, Lincoln County, August 14, 1938. 1 T. sharpi. K. M. Fender coll. Although data is lacking, this specimen was almost certainly collected under bark. 8. McMinnville, Yamhill County, March 9, 1939. Douglas fir log. 2 T. sharpi. D. M. Fender coll. These collections and observations indicate that Trigonurus crotchi and T. sharpi are usually collected between the bark and sapwood of logs which are very moist and in that preliminary stage of decay in which the bark remains in a fair state of preservation 80 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL and the sapwood still presents an unbroken surface, though it may be pulpy for one-half to three inches in depth. Blackwelder1 notes that T. crotchi has been reported beneath bark of Abies sp. and doubtfully from Pinus spp., while T. sharpi was taken “under bark.” No other habit records are given. It also appears to be established by the records reported in this paper that T. crotchi and T. sharpi are both found under the bark of spruce (Picea sitchensis) , Douglas fir ( Pseudotsuga mucronata) , and western hemlock ( Tsuga hetero- phylla ). Furthermore, the occurrence of these species in such habitats is apparently governed largely by the moisture content of the environment beneath the bark, since, although no measurements were made, in all three types of logs this factor was comparable. The consistent ratio of five to one in the numbers of identified specimens of T. crotchi compared to T. sharpi in the two collections made under definite areas of bark on Saddle Mt. April 25 and July 20, 1936, indicate that in this locality at least, T. crotchi may be nearly five times as numerous as T. sharpi. It would be interest- ing to know whether this ratio would hold in further collecting and over the rest of the range which these two closely related species occupy. MORE UNKIND WORDS. Perhaps the outstanding qualities scientific writing should have are directness, simplicity, and clarity. Descriptive entomology is of necessity highly complex, but with- in its own framework, it should at all times show these three qualities. But what do we see ? The abandonment of old established terms for new words to express the same thing, frequently wrongly constructed, or barbaric neologisms made out of whole cloth ; or a substitution of many- syllabled transliterations of doubtful latinity, for plain English when the latter is available and just as exact and better understood than the special coinage. Huxley once said “There are people who believe that when they invent a new term, they have added measurably to the content of science.” J. R. T.-B. 1 Blackwelder, R. E. 1941. A Monograph of the Genus Trigo- nurus (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) . American Museum Novi- tates, No. 1124. pp. 5 and 7. June, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 81 CATALOGUE OF THE LONCHOPTERIDAE1 OF THE WORLD. By William F. Rapp, Jr., and Willis E. Snow, Urbana, 111. The family Lonchopteridae is composed of small flies which are found in damp places. Very little work has been done on the group until recently when Curran2 revised the North American species and Czerny3 4 revised the palearctic species. Since the pub- lication of the Kertesz catalogue in 1909, so many new species have been described that it has been thought advisable to bring it up to date. Kertesz 1909 Rapp & Snow 1945 Lonchoptera 8 23 Cadrema 1 — 9 23 Lonchoptera 4 Meigen. Lonchoptera acinaris (Seguy), Mem. Mus. H. N. Paris (N. S.), vol. 8 (1938), p. 335- Kenya. Lonchoptera africana Adams, Kans. Univ. Sci. Bui., vol. 3 (1905), P- r59* Rhodesia. Lonchoptera apicalis Okada, Ins. Mats., vol. 10 (1935), p. 36. Japan. Lonchoptera borealis Curran, Amer. Mus. Novitates, 696 (1934), p. 4. Alaska, Ontario, New York, Quebec. Lonchoptera dubia Curran, Amer. Mus. Novitates, 696 (1934), P- 5- New York, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey, Penn- sylvania, District of Columbia, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Cali- fornia, Chile, Argentina. 1 Musidoridae of authors. 2 Curran, C. H. The North American Lonchopteridae (Dip- tera) Amer. Mus. Novitates, 696 (1934), pp. 1-7. 3 Czerny, Leander Die Fliegen der Palaearktischen Region — Musidoridae, Lieferung 83, pt. 30 (1934), pp. 1-16. 4 Musidora of authors. 82 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL Lonchoptera fallax de Meijere, Tind. V. Ent., vol. 49 (1906), p. 84; lutea Meigen, System, Beschreib, vol. 4 (1824), p. 107; flavicauda Strobl., Mitteil. Verein. Steiermark, (1892), p. 158. Central Europe. Lonchoptera furcata Fallen, Dipt. Suec. Phytom., (1923), p. 1 (Dipsa) ; de Meijere, Tijd. V. Ent., vol 49 (1906), p. 72. Central Europe, England, Madeira, Asia. Lonchoptera hakonensis Matsumura, 6000 111. Ins. Jap. (1931), p. 362. Japan. Lonchoptera kamtschatkana Czerny, Flieg. Pal. Reg., vol. 30 (1934), p- 10. Kamtschatka. Lonchoptera lutea Panzer, Fanna german., vol. 108 (1809), p. 20; de Meijere, Tijd. V. Ent., vol. 49 (1906), p. 64. Europe, England, Asia. Lonchoptera meijerei Collin, Ent. Mon. Mag., vol. 74 (1938), P. 63. England. Lonchoptera nigrociliata Duda, Konowia, vol. 6 (1927), p. 96. Silesia, England. Lonchoptera nitidifrons Strobl, Tijd. V. Ent., vol. 49 (1906), p. 86. England. Lonchoptera occidentals Curran, Amer. Mus. Novitates, 696 (1934), P- 4- Alaska, California, Idaho. Lonchoptera orientals Kerterz, An. Mus. Hungar., vol. 12 (1914), p- 675- Formosa. Lonchoptera pictipennis Bezzi, Bull. d. Soc. Entom. Ital., vol. 30 (1899), p. 161 ; de Meijere, Tijd. V. Ent., vol. 49 (1906), p. 82. Germany, Italy. Lonchoptera platytarsis Okada, Ins. Mats., vol. 10 (1935), p. 38. Japan. Lonchoptera rakonensis Aldrich, Psyche, vol. 25 (1918), p. 376. Japan. Lonchoptera scutellata Stein, Wien. Ent. Zeit., vol. 9 (1890), p. 109; de Meijere, Tijd. V. Ent., vol. 49 (1906), p. 81. England, Germany, Austria. June, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 83 Lonchoptera stackelbergi Czerny, Flieg. Pal. Reg., vol. 30 (1934), P- I3- Ussuri. Lonchoptera strobli de Meijere, Tijd. V. Ent., vol. 49 (1906), p. 86. Europe. Lonchoptera tristis Meigen, Syst. Besch., vol. 4 (1824), p. no; de Meijere, Tijd. V. Ent., vol. 49 (1906), p. 78. Europe, England. Lonchoptera uniseta Curran, Amer. Mus. Novitates, 696 (1934), p. 2. Colorado, Quebec, British Columbia. Random Notes on Thasus Acutangulus. — From my field notes I give the following observations on Thasus acutangulus Stal, which is probably the biggest of our American land bugs. On August 27, 1941, it was abundant on its common food-plant, mes- quite ( Prosopis velutina — this has other Latin names), in a little grove in Tombstone, Arizona. The following year, on May 9, there was not even one to be found on the identical trees. But on June 28, I was called to the home of Mr. Emil Van Hulse, in Tucson, to see a veritable plague of big bugs on the trees in his patio, the mesquites. As I had suspected, it was T. acutangulus. They were reported as swarming on the trees, but when I arrived at 4 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, there were only two masses clinging to the twigs and hanging down in clumps holding on to each other. There were also some last instar nymphs on the tree trunk and among the clumps, known because two of them taken home molted to the adult Thasus. One of the clumps, including the nymphs, was brought back alive; the other flew off. The insect seems a very powerful flier. Apparently, it is very selective as to its habitation, since another mesquite close by had none on it. Those noted were in the great majority males ; there was only one female in the lot kept. The individuals taken home were placed on a small mesquite in the neighboring yard. They made no at- tempt to fly away or scatter, but at once began to feed on the tender green twigs. Later, they were observed feeding on the green mesquite pods, grouped together — the insect seems to be gregarious and migratory, as there was a change in the number and in the sexes. They left off and on; and by August 26 there were none. — J. R. de la Torre-Bueno, Tucson, Arizona. 84 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL BOOK NOTES. South America Called Them: Explorations of the Great Naturalists — La Condamine, Humbolt, Darwin, Spruce, by Victor Wolfgang von Hagen. Pp. i-xii + i-^ii + i-ix. (Alfred Knopf. 1945. $3.75.) As entomology develops, it becomes less and less a mere cata- loguing of species, a field for describers of new species, and less and less a poor handmaiden humbly working hand and foot for the cold dogma of evolution. It is at length questioning life itself in all its guises. No longer is the entomologist judged solely by the number of dubious new species he has described ; the criterion is justly becoming the quality and quantity of how much he knows about the life, habits and abiding places of insects. No longer is “N. Am.” an adequate designation their local habitat ; nor even “France” nor “U. S.” We have now gone beyond this to the place where the exact spot, the food-plant (or host-plant), the altitude and even the ecological surroundings, all have become necessary for the proper evaluation of a species and of its proper place in life. “S. Am.” or “Amazons” are scarcely sufficient indication of dis- tribution. South America is so vast and varied ; the Amazon River system so huge ; the Andean range reaches far into the clouds ; the continent itself stretches from the tropics in the north to the sub-Antarctic in the south. Bates wrote about the Brazilian Amazon ; Murphy has written about the bird islands of Peru. But long before their time there were four great explorers and observers of nature: La Condamine, Humboldt, Darwin, and the less-known Spruce. The works of Darwin, particularly “The Voyage of the Beagle” and the “Origin of Species,” are readily available in many editions and in many languages. The Voyage of the Beagle gave the setting for faunistic studies of the Southern Continent ; the Origin of Species set him on an eminence. Darwin’s works are still conned in the seats of biology. But before him were two of these great men, whose works are equally valuable in their fields. La Condamine and Humboldt wrote profusely on their observations and discoveries, publishing many great tomes. These works are so costly and inaccessible that few biologists have even seen them, full as they are of first- hand and accurate observations on tropical nature. Spruce, coming later, a great botanical discoverer, is still less known even though he enriched botany with the thousands of specimens of new and rare plants he sent to the great centers of European science. June, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 85 Von Hagen, in his book, presents short but interesting accounts of these great discoverers in their South American travels. In doing this, he shows a revealing picture of the marvels and diversity of this part of the world, still so little known to us now. Entomologically, South America called Them fills in the back- ground in which to set the insects from the southern continent. It accentuates the great diversities of climatic and geography. It pre- sents a vivid picture of the wilderness calling to entomologists as a practically untouched field for discovery. Only the edges of this richest of the continents have been touched ; its heart is still to be entered. Through these four short biographies, von Hagen has set before us the living whole of a living land, its marvels and its scope. Even as Africa is termed “The Dark Continent,” so South America may be called “The Bright Continent,” so sun-drenched and flower- spangled is the land. ***** Articles. Our Entomologica Americana for 1944 (vol. XXIV) has carried three monographs on specific insect groups and one extensive article on heliotropisms, as follows : A Review of the Sub genera Stenocantharis Gistel and Neocy- chrus Roeschke of the Genus Scaphinotus Dejean , by Dr. Edwin C. VanDyke is no. 1, pp. 1-19. This is a critical and synonymic commentary on these two subgenera. Selection of Colored Lights by Night-flying Insects , by Lorus J. Milne and Margery J. Milne, fills no. 2, pp. 21-86, with figures 1-4. The authors present an extensive study on the attraction to insects of light of different wave-lengths, together with extensive classified lists of insects (660 species in 12,869 specimens) with description of techniques and controls. A Review of the North American Species of the Genus Cardbus Linnaeus, by Dr. Edwin C. VanDyke, fills no. 3, pp. 87-137, with plates III— VI. This is another synonymic study, with redescrip- tions of numerous species, distribution, etc. The Genus Phyciodes, by Dr. Wm. T. M. Forbes, fills no. 4, pp. 139-207, with plates VII-XIV. This paper is a running com- mentary on Arthur Hall's revision of the genus, with changes, notes and localities, and numerous keys to groups and species. Another publication for notice is that great journal, which has completed its 40th volume in 1944, the “Memorias do Instituto 86 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL Oswaldo Cruz/’ of Rio Janeiro, Brazil. This publication refers largely to Tropical diseases, but it is of entomological interest be- cause of its articles on insect vectors of so many protozoan in- fections. No. 2 of this volume, pp. 191-194 carries an interesting study on the use of organism-free triatomine reduviids to test the presence of Schizotrypanum in the blood of artificially infected pigeons, in experiments reported by Emanuel Dias. In no. 3, pp. 209-340, Dr. Cesar Pinto reports on a year’s work against para- sitic disease. The entomological interest lies in malaria prevention work, near Rio-Bahia from 1942-1943. The Texas State Health Department has published a Bulletin on the “Mosquitoes of Texas,” in 100 pages with 32 figures, keys for determination and studies in ecology. It is dated 1944. J. R. T.-B. Leaf hoppers Swarming (Homoptera, Cicadellidae). — While walking home early in the evenings of November 1 and 2, 1944, many small insects were seen hovering at the tips of branches of various trees (especially Norway maple) which still held many of their leaves. It was thought the insects were small crane-flies, some of which were seen, but peculiarities of flight raised a doubt as to their identity, so a few specimens were snatched by hand from the air. They were found to be one of our most common leafhoppers, Phlepsius irroratus. The temperature was unusually high, over 70° F., and a light south wind was blowing. The hovering swarms were perceptible on the leeward side of the tree as high as twenty feet. Occasionally an individual would fly several yards from the tree and return. A friend who operates a light-trap for moths at a second-story window later reported that his trap was “full of leafhoppers” on the nights of November 1 and 2. — George Steyskal, Detroit, Michigan. June, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 87 EDITORIAL. Oh, Yeah? The New York Sun, which Shines for All, had this item in a recent issue : “Not too Cold for Them.” “Entomologists have found that the moth worms (Italics ours) can live as long as sixty-seven days at a temperature of about 20 degrees Fahrenheit.” Science is wonderful ! Especially newspaper science ! If any one of us were to take time off to correct every erroneous state- ment in newspapers and magazines, we would have to spend a large part of our days writing letters to the paper — but we have so many other things to do ! Every newspaper should have a staff of domesticated scientists to kill this misinformation, which makes science ridiculous, and the newspaper also. The worst of it is that this nonsense finds lodgment in minds, when a longer correct article would not even be read. If this particular editor took time to correct all the feeble-minded trash about South America, about which he is somewhat informed, in one Tucson newspaper he would have to pen one long letter a day to try to overcome the harm such errors cause. In all seriousness, these stray fillers from the clip sheet, are read, are remembered. They ought to be correct, because they are in effect a good means to promote truth and to spread actual factual knowledge. “Hope springs eternal in the human breast.” And men live by hope. But it is not always realized. Perhaps this is one of the futile hopes. J. R. T.-B. Dangerous Beetles. — The misuse of English, the failure to say what we mean, even though not attaining the point beyond which the reader is able to interpret what was in the author’s mind, rather than what he put in type, is an irritating habit of inexperienced writers. That entomologists are not always guiltless is illustrated by the following delicious quotation from a recent article: “Loco- motion, i.e., climbing, jumps and kicks, were (sic!) found to be the most effective forms of protection against carabids in cap- tivity”.—;. C. B. 88 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. Meeting of March ii, 1943. A regular meeting of the Brooklyn Entomological Society was held at the Brooklyn Museum, on March 11, 1943. The meeting was called to order at 8: 15 P.M. by President Wm. T. Davis. Members present were F. T. Naumann, R. R. McElvare, Otto Buchholz, Wm. T. Davis, A. T. Gaul. Visitors included, L. F. Byars, A. G. Webb and H. Boyd. Minutes of the preceding meeting were read and approved. The Treasurer delivered a satisfactory report. Mr. A. G. Webb, the speaker of the evening, discussed “Plant Quarantines on the Canadian Border.” Although the Canadian authorities maintain certain Plant Quarantine regulations regarding the importation of foreign plant commodities into Canada, the Canadian flora and the United States flora are so different that we must maintain strict quarantines. For instance, Canada has no Citrus or Cotton belts. It is therefore unnecessary for them to maintain quarantines against cotton or citrus fruits. However, such material when allowed into Canada from a foreign country cannot very well be permitted entry into the United States without undergoing proper fumigation and treatment. Of course the agriculture of the northern states and the southern provinces is the same, and it would be impossible to segregate the native faunas of these two political divisions. We have little to fear from the natural exchange of native species from the southern belt of Canada. The great northern areas of Canada in the arctic and subarctic zones present little hazard as the indigenous fauna has little chance to be imported by human means, because of the small population. The meeting adjourned at 10:00 P.M. after an interesting dis- cussion. Respectfully submitted, A. T. Gaul, Secretary. Meeting of May 13, 1943. A regular meeting of the Brooklyn Entomological Society was held at the Brooklyn Museum on Thursday, May 13, 1943. The meeting was called to order at 8 P.M. by President Wm. T. Davis. Members in attendance were Edwin Way Teale, Otto Buchholz, R. R. McElvare, Fred T. Naumann, John W. Noaks, June, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 89 Wm. T. Davis and A. T. Gaul. Visitors included Mr. A. G. Webb and J. Fabricant. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and approved. The treasurer submitted a satisfactory report. Mr. A. G. Webb presented the kodachrome motion picture show- ing the enforcement of the Foreign Plant Quarantines. After an interesting discussion, the meeting was adjourned at io: oo P.M. A. T. Gaul, Secretary . Meeting of October 14, 1943. A regular meeting of the Brooklyn Entomological Society was held at the Brooklyn Museum, October 14, 1943. The meeting was called to order by President Wm. T. Davis at 8 P.M. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and approved. The treasurer submitted a favorable report. Members in attendance were: W. T. Davis, John W. Noaks, Edwin Way Teale, F. T. Naumann, Henry J. Dietz, John M. Sheridan, Otto Buchholz, Alan S. Nicolay, R. R. McElvare and A. T. Gaul. Visitors included : Mr. Richard Underwood and Miss B. Dietz. Mr. McElvare nominated Dr. Hanson for membership in the society. The motion was made that the by-laws be suspended and Dr. Hanson was elected to membership by unanimous vote of the society. Mr. Teale moved that in consideration for his services to the society, Mr. Bueno’s membership dues and subscriptions to the Bulletin and Entomologica Americana be permanently waived. This motion was passed by unanimous vote of the society. The program of the evening was the summer experiences of members. Mr. Noaks reported on field trips in Flushing and Staten Island, and mentioned having captured several Ichneumons mating. Mr. Teale showed photographs of various insect eggs. He also showed a peculiarly formed mantis egg case found along the shore of Long Island. He reported having worked on the revision of qualifications for receiving merit badges for Insect Study in the Boy Scouts of America. He impressed upon the members the need for qualified examiners for this merit badge in most of the communities in the country. Mr. Naumann reported that he expected to have better collect- ing next season, but that he had taken several field trips and had been rearing several species of forest Lepidoptera. 90 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol. XL Mr. Dietz reported a very heavy outbreak of canker worms in Scarsdale. He said that he found butterflies very plentiful while Catocalas were scarce. Mr. Davis showed a hummingbird which had been found dead in New Jersey. He had mounted it like a moth. He demon- strated a native species of fiddler crab with red joints. He re- marked upon the song apparatus of cicadas ; Platypedia has no true song but it rubs its wings to create “ticking” sounds. Certain New Zealand cicadas make both kinds of sounds. Mr. McElvare spoke of the abundance of carpenter bees and bean beetles, this season. Mr. Sheridan remarked that the Ailanthus webworm was a ter- rible pest in Brooklyn this summer. Mr. Nicolay discussed his work with fungus beetles and myr- mecophiles. He described the return of vegetation to the area formerly occupied by the famous Morgan, N. J., munitions factories. This land is now completely covered with new growth and nowhere is there evidence of the buildings which were blown up in World War I. The meeting adjourned at io P.M. A. T. Gaul, Secretary . Meeting of November ii, 1943. A regular meeting of the Brooklyn Entomological Society was held at the Plant Inspection House, 209 River St., Hoboken, N. J., on November 11, 1943. The meeting was called to order at 8:15 P.M. by President Wm. T. Davis. Members present were, Mr. F. T. Naumann, Edwin Way Teale, Wm. T. Davis, J. W. Noaks and A. T. Gaul. Visitors were Dr. George Becker and Messrs. Snyder and Moore. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and approved. Dr. Becker escorted the meeting through the Inspection House, explaining the operation of fumigation chambers and other treat- ment facilities, parasite rearing rooms, etc. After an interesting discussion, the meeting adjourned at 9: 30 P.M. A. T. Gaul, Secretary. Meeting of December 16, 1943. The regular meeting of the Brooklyn Entomological Society was held at the Brooklyn Museum on Dec. 16, 1943 at 8:00 P.M. The members attending were Mr. Wm. T. Davis, Mr. Rowland June, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 91 R. McElvare, Mr. Otto Buchholz and Mr. John W. Noaks. Due to the fact that few were present Mr. Davis declared the meeting not regular. In the absence of the secretary the minutes were not read. Mr. Wm. T. Davis remarked on the passing of a num- ber of members and friends of our Society since the lamented death of our Treasurer, Mr. George P. Engelhardt on May 24, 1942. Mr. Wm. Eisenhardt, a long-time active member of the Society, died on Oct. 16, 1943. Dr. Frank E. Lutz, aged 64, on Nov. 27; Mr. Christian F. Groth, aged 79, on Dec. 12, and Dr. E. P. Felt, aged 75, on Dec. 14, 1943. Mr. Davis also called attention to the death of Dr. Elmer D. Ball, aged 73, on October 5. At one time Dr. Ball served the National Government as Assistant Secretary of Agriculture. He had long been a student of the Homoptera, and the Cicadas, Okan- agan balli (1919), and Platypedia balli (1936), are named in his honor. He collected the Okanagana in Iowa, and the Platypedia in Arizona. Dr. Ball visited Staten Island to examine the collec- tion of Cicadas now in the museum of the Staten Island Institute of Arts & Sciences. An appreciation account of Dr. Ball’s useful life is to be found in Science for Dec. 10, 1943. The Treasurer’s report was given and was accepted by the Society. Mr. Buchholz showed an unusual male specimen of Melepotes jucunda whose uppermost part of the middle tibiae was spread into an oval spherically shaped mass of soft hairs. Mr. Buchholz mentioned this specimen as the first one he had ever seen formed in this manner. The speaker of the evening was Mr. John W. Noaks who talked on the Effect of Sodium Chloride Upon the Larvae of Culex pipiens. Mr. Noaks illustrated his talk with a graph and several specimens. A paper, giving a complete description of this experi- ment, will appear in the Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society. The meeting adjourned at 10: 00 P.M. John Willard Noaks, Acting Secretary. Meeting of January 13, 1944. The annual meeting of the Brooklyn Entomological Society was held in the Brooklyn Museum on January 13, 1944. The meeting was called to order at 8: 15 P.M. by president Wm. T. Davis. Those present were as follows : Messrs. Otto Buchholz, 92 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL J. Sheridan, R. R. McElvare, Edwin Way Teale, Wm. T. Davis and J. Noaks. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and approved. The treasurer submitted a satisfactory report on the financial proceedings for the year 1943. The treasurer mentioned that he wrote to Departments of Agriculture of the states raising cattle in order to further advertise Dr. Becquaert’s book on Ked Flies. Other steps have also been taken. The report of the publication committee was submitted by Mr. Teale as follows: Boving and Craighead’s Larvae of Coleoptera has been selling at an encouraging rate, while the price has been raised from seven and one half to nine dollars. Due to war conditions, the number of pages in our Bulletin have been limited to 220 pages per year, in five issues. The report was accepted by the society. The nominating committee’s report was submitted by Mr. Sheri- dan. For president, Wm. T. Davis; Vice-President and Trea- surer, Mr. R. R. McElvare, Secretary, Mr. Gaul ; Publication com- mittee, Mr, Torre-Bueno, editor, Mr. Teale and Mr. Gaul ; Exe- cutive Committee, Mr. Davis, Mr. McElvare, Mr. Teale, Mr. Naumann, Mr. Buchholz and Mr. Gaul. A motion was made that a program committee was needed due to the fact that no mention of the meetings was entered in the Bulle- tin of the N. Y. Academy of Sciences, the motion was approved by the society. The program committee was nominated as follows : Mr. Sheridan, Chairman, Mr. McElvare and Mr. Teale. Mr. Davis presented a case of egg masses of Tenodera sinensis and T. angustipennis and Stagmomantis Carolina. Adults of these species were also shown. It is interesting to note that T. angusti- pennis has narrower wings than T. sinensis. Since both species are found together it was the opinion that the two species were only one. This has since been rectified. It is the first time that T. angustipennis has been found on Long Island. Mr. Teale mentioned a very interesting visit with Phil Rau in Kirkwood, Mo. The meeting was adjourned at 9 : 45 P.M. John Willard Noaks, Secretary pro tem. Meeting of February 10, 1944. A regular meeting of the Brooklyn Entomological Society was held at the Brooklyn Museum on Feb. 10, 1944. The meeting was opened at 8: 00 P.M. by President Wm. T. Davis. Members June, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 93 present were Messrs. Davis, McElvare, Naumann, Buchholz, Teale, Gaul, Noaks and nine visitors. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as read. The Treasurer’s report was accepted. The speaker of the evening was Mr. Teale who told the Society about many interesting insect superstitions. Among those super- stitions mentioned were the following: A woodpecker’s bill is supposed to prevent bee stings. A doodle bug is supposed to point the way to lost cows. A louse attached to the main mast of a ship is supposed to bring good luck. Mr. Teale mentioned many other entertaining notions about insects in all parts of the world. The meeting adjourned at io: oo P.M. after a general discussion period. John W. Noaks, Secretary , pro tem. Meeting of April 13, 1944. The meeting opened at 8: 10 P.M. with President Wm. T. Davis in the chair. Members present were : Davis, McElvare, Sheridan, Dietz, Buchholz, Naumann, and Teale. The Treasurer reported on the period from January 1, 1944, to March 31, 1944. The paper of the evening was presented by Rowland R. McElvare. It dealt with “The Society as a Publisher of Ento- mological Literature for Sixty-Five Years.” The early publica- tions of the Society — which first started to publish in 1878 — were passed around for the inspection of members. The first copy of the Bulletin, which appeared in May, 1878, had eight pages in- cluding one of advertisment. It was made possible through the fact that some of the members of the Society set the type. Dis- continued as an independent publication in 1885, it was revived in 1912. Entomologica Americana, started in 1885, resulted from a combination of the Bulletin and the publication, Papilio. Examples of significant and interesting papers which appeared in early issues of the Society’s publication were read by the speaker. The meet- ing adjourned at 9: 55 P.M. Edwin Way Teale, Secretary pro tem. Meeting of May ii, 1944. The meeting opened at 8:15 P.M. with President William T. Davis in the chair. Members present were: Davis, Naumann, Buchholz, Sheridan, Teale, Noaks, Nicolay and McElvare. Visi- tors included: Mrs. Teale, John L. Bull, Jr., and James Murphy. 94 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL The Treasurer made an informal report, covering the period from April i, which was approved. Mr. Teale reported observations on a spider with six eyes, living in a hole in decaying wood to which Hymenoptera came. He also read a letter from A. H. P. Wynne of Sinaloa, Mexico, about a mantis believed to be poisonous. Mr. Davis called attention to the new volume of American Men of Science, including 34,000 names. ^ He recalled that years ago the volume with 4,000 names was considered comprehensive. Report of the Publication Committee was presented and approved. Mr. Alan S. Nicolay then gave an interesting informal talk on collecting localities in this general area. Pointing out that he spoke from the point of view of a coleopterist, he contrasted conditions when he first collected in 1909 with the current situation so greatly different since the advent of the automobile. Meeting adjourned 9: 50 P.M. Rowland R. McElvare, Secretary pro tem. Meeting of October ii, 1944. A regular meeting of the Brooklyn Entomological Society was held at the Brooklyn Museum on October 11, 1944. The meet- ing was opened at 8:15 P.M. by Vice-President, Rowland R. McElvare. Members present were: McElvare, Naumann, Buch- holz, Sheridan, and Noaks. The visitors included: Dr. and Mrs. Goodnight. The minutes of April 13 and May 11 were approved as read. The Treasurer made a satisfactory report on the periods from April i-June 30 and July i-Sept. 30, 1944. Those present sincerely sympathized with Mr. William T. Davis who is ill in the Staten Island General Hospital. Dr. Goodnight was proposed for membership to the Society. Mr. McElvare made a suggestion to the affect that the Society might make an award to the boy or girl who shows the most outstanding work in natural history. This topic was held for further discussion in coming meetings. The summer experiences of members emphasized the poor col- lecting season. Mr. Naumann mentioned that he took most of seventy cater- pillars of Anisota senatoria and also six caterpillars of Anisota virginiensis both on oak. Mr. Buchholz reported that he had found Debis creola (double June, 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 95 brooded) for the first time in the state of Virginia. He also stated that Problema bulenta was fairly plentiful in Wilmington, North Carolina. Mr. McElvare mentioned that he made an attempt to take Schinia tuberculum at Coram, Long Island, about one week before they had appeared in large numbers, consequently his trip was none too successful. Mr. Noaks showed several specimens of Anopheles punctipennis, Aedes vexans, and Psorophora columbine collected in Flushing, Queens, this spring. The meeting adjourned at 9: 45 P.M. John W. Noaks, Secretary, pro tern. Meeting of November 16, 1944. A regular meeting of the Brooklyn Entomological Society was held at the Brooklyn Museum on November 16, 1944. The meeting was called to order at 8:15 P.M. by Vice-President R. R. McElvare. Members in attendance were: John Sheridan, Edwin W. Teale, Herman C. Moennich, John W. Noaks, A. T. Gaul, Otto Buchholz, and F. T. Naumann. Visitors included: Dr. George Becker, Mr. C. S. Tuthill and Mr. B. V. Wilson. Minutes of the previous meeting were approved as read. A brief report of the Publication Committee was accepted. The Treasurer submitted a brief resume of the finances of the Society. Mr. Teale reported a recent visit to Mr. Wm. T. Davis. He described his condition as not very much improved. Dr. Clarence J. Goodnight came up for election to membership and was unanimously elected. Mr. Noaks proposed Mr. Wilson for membership. The motion was made and passed that the by-laws be suspended and Mr. Wilson was unanimously elected. Mr. McElvare showed a copy of “Life” illustrating various in- sect-borne diseases. Mr. Moennich spoke briefly about conditions on the West Coast. The Program Committee made some changes so Mr. Moennich could address the Society at our next meeting. The speaker of the evening was Mr. John W. Noaks who pre- sented a discussion on “Some Current Research in Insect Physi- ology.” Following a general discussion period the meeting was adjourned at 10: 00 P.M. A. T. Gaul, Secretary. 96 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol.XL EXCHANGES AND FOR SALE. This page is limited to exchange notices and to small For Sale advertisements from members of the Society and from actual paid subscribers to the Bulletin exclusively. Ex- change notices from members of the Society and from sub- scribers are limited to three (3) lines each, including address; beyond 3 lines, there will be a charge of $1.00 for each 3 lines or less additional. For Sale ads will be charged at $1.25 for each 3 lines or part of 3 lines. Commercial or business advertisements will not be carried in this page, but will go in our regular advertising pages at our regular ad- vertising rates to everybody. PENTATOMIDAE : Want to buy or exchange Pentatomidae from the United States and Mexico. Herbert Ruckes, College of the City of New York, 17 Lexington Ave. N.Y.C. ACALYPTRATE DIPTERA OF THE WORLD wanted for determination or in exchange for other insects. Geo. Steyskal, 23341 Puritan Ave., Detroit, Mich. LEPIDOPTERA COLLECTION. — Excellent condition, fine representation of named N. A. Diurnals and Nocturnals. Also choice selections of tropical Papilios, Sphingiids and Saturniids. Hy. J. Dietz, 3053 Hull Ave., New York, N. Y. WANTED.— MANTID EGG CASES from West of the Mis- sissippi River. If interested in collecting, write : Osmond P. Breland, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas. WILL PURCHASE complete sets of the Bulletin, Old Series, Vols. 1-7, 1878-1885. Brooklyn Entomological Society, Ivy Way, Port Washington, L. I., N. Y. LEPIDOPTERA AND ORTHOPTERA from Florida in pa- pers and local specimens mounted to exchange for other Lepidoptera. — Alex K. Wyatt, 5842 N. Kirby Avenue, Chicago (30), 111. PERU! Excellent opportunity for collectors and specialists! I deliver at moderate prices from the unexplored primitive forest : Butterflies, Beetles, Dragonflies, Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, and other Orders, in first class quality. Butterflies in quantity for the manufacture of Art Novelties at the lowest prices. Write to PEDRO PAPRZYCKI, SATIPO (via Concepcion), PERU, So. Am. Vol. XL OCTOBER, 1945 No. 4 BULLETIN OF THE Brooklyn Entomological PUBLICATION COMMITTEE J. R. de la T ORRE-BUEN O, Editor JOHN W. NOAKS EDWIN W. TEALE Published for the Society by The Science Press Printing Company, N. Queen St. and McGovern Ave., Lancaster, Pa., Price, 75 cents Subscription, $3.00 per year Mailed February 5, 1946 Entered as second-class matter January 21, 1919, at the post office at Lancaster, Pa., under the Act of March 3, 1879 The Brooklyn Entomological Society Meetings are held on the second Thursday after the first Tuesday of each month from October to May, inclusive, at the Brooklyn Museum, Eastern Parkway and Washington Ave., Brooklyn. The annual dues are $2.00. OFFICERS, 1945 Honorary President J. R. DE LA TORRE-BUENO President, R. R. McELVARE Vice President OTTO BUCHHOLZ Secretary JOHN W. NOAKS Treasurer R. R. McELVARE 280 Fourth Ave., New York, N. Y. Editor J. R. DE LA TORRE-BUENO Delegate to Council of New York Academy of Sciences EDWIN WAY TEALE CONTENTS GENUS TINOBREGMUS IN MEXICO, DeLong 97 TRICHOPTERA NOTES, Knowlton . , 102 CALIFORNIA TORTOISE-SHELL, Boram 102 FLORIDA DRAGONFLIES, Needham 104 INSECTS OF LUPINUS, Knowlton 110 VARGAS ON AMERICAN BLACK FLIES, Bequaert Ill REVIEW OF SALDOIDA, Usinger 116 ENTOMOLOGICA AMERICANA, NOTICE, Publication Committee 118 ENTOMOLOGICAL TRIVIALITIES, Rau 119 CERATOMA AND ANDRECTOR, Barber 121 TAXONOMIC TYPE NAMES, Hayes 123 EDITORIAL— ON CRITICISM, J. R. T.-B 128 RECORDS OF SNAKE TICK, Bequaert 129 BOOK NOTES, J. R. T.-B 130 ANNOUNCEMENT 132 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY 133 EXCHANGES 136 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Published in February, April, June, October and December of each year Subscription price, domestic, $3.00 per year ; foreign, $3.25 in advance ; single copies, 75 cents. Advertising rates on application. Short articles, notes and observations of interest to entomologists are solicited. Authors will receive 25 reprints free if ordered in advance of publication. Address subscriptions and all communications to J. R. de la TORRE-BUENO, Editor, 925 East 6th St., Tucson, Ariz. BULLETIN OF THE BROOKLYN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY Vol. XL October, 1945 No. 4 THE GENUS TINOBREGMUS (HOMOPTERA- CICADELLIDAE) IN MEXICO. By Dwight M. DeLong, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio The genus Tinobregmus was erected in 1894 by Van Duzee to include vittatus which he described from Florida. Three other species, pallidus Osborn, invenustus Lawson and viridescens De- Long, have been described since that time. Lawson reviewed and illustrated the North American species in 1932. 1 All of these species are southern in distribution, viridescens, which is associated with the deciduous forest, extends as far north as Missouri and Southern Illinois. The other species occurring in the United States are either coastal, desert or semidesert inhabitants. Apparently no previous study has been made of the Mexican species of this genus. Collections from Mexico and Northern Guatemala have brought to light six species and one variety, all of which are new except one, vittatus. Most of the Mexican species occur on either the low or high desert. Two species, macullelus and piperatus, are found on the more luxuriant vegetation in the tropical areas. Tinobregmus vittatus Van Duzee. Tinobregmus vittatus V .D. Bui. Buf. Soc. Nat. Sci., 5: 214. 1894. A large robust species with variable markings. Length,, female 5-6.5 mm., male 4-4.5 mm. The vertex is blunt, often angled, about one-fourth of which is produced beyond the anterior margins of the eyes. Color: Females yellow marked with black and brown. Ver- 1 Lawson, P. B. The Genus Tinobregmus (Homoptera-Cicadel- lidae) Anns. Ent. Soc. Amer., 25: 359. 1932. 97 98 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vo1- XL tex usually with a pair of black spots at apex and a pair sur- rounding ocelli. Pronotum usually with six longitudinal dark stripes. Elytra variable in color. In well-colored specimens the veins are wide and pale and the cells between are some shade of brown. Face usually with two broad brown longi- tudinal stripes. Males usually black vertex marked with small light spots between the eyes. Pronotum yellow, lateral mar- gins black. Elytra yellow with a black band across apex which is less than one-fourth the length of elytra. Face black. A few males resemble the females in color. Genitalia: Female last ventral segment with posterior margin roundedly produced forming a lobe on median half. Male plates elongate and narrow. This species has been collected in abundance along the border at both Laredo and Brownsville, Texas. It occurs on desert plants at low altitudes on both sides of the Rio Grande. Tinobregmus vittatus var. clavatus, n. var. Resembling vittatus in general form but with blunter vertex, shorter elytra, and heavier color markings. Length of female 6 mm. Vertex similar to vittatus but more blunt, elytra short cover- ing only a portion of the sixth segment. Color similar to vittatus, except that the four longitudinal stripes on the pronotum are much broader and darker extend- ing on to clavus and forming a solid dark brown clavus except for one light vein. The other cells of the elytra are also dark brown, the veins are pale. Female last ventral segment almost truncate, posterior mar- gin broadly, slightly produced. Hblotype female and paratype female collected at Fortin, Vera Cruz, October 9, 1941, by Caldwell, Good, Plummer and DeLong. These occur at an elevation of 2,500 feet and are on a rather luxu- riant vegetation. Tinobregmus brevis, n. sp. Resembling vittatus in general form and appearance but shorter. Length, female 5 mm. ; male 4 mm. Vertex blunt, but slightly angled, more than four times as long as width at base and three times as broad at apex as at base. Elytra in female exposing seventh and eighth abdominal segments and last dorsal segment in male. Oct., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 99 Color: Female pale with dark markings. Vertex with ocelli, a spot between them and a marginal spot in front of each, dark brown or black. Scutellum pale with four longitudinal stripes. Elytra mottled with brown, veins conspicuous. Male with vertex and face black, pronotum orange yellow with a black spot on each lateral margin. Elytra orange yellow, the basal fourth black, exposing tip of abdomen. Genitalia: Female last ventral segment with posterior mar- gin faintly concave either side of a median slightly produced lobe which appears to be slightly notched at center. Male plates very slender and elongate. Holotype female, allotype male and male and female paratypes collected east of Saltillo, Coah. ; elevation 5,000 feet, September 23, 1941, by Good, Caldwell and DeLong, from plants on the high desert. Tinobregmus invicus, n. sp. Resembling vittatus in general form but with distinct colora- tion. Length, female 6 mm. ; male 5 mm. Vertex blunt at apex, about three times as long as basal width between eyes, about twice as wide at apex as at base and produced a little before anterior margins of the eyes. Color: Female yellow to pale brown. Vertex with a pair of black markings on anterior portion on the ocelli, a pair on middle and another at base. Pronotum pale with dark mottled spots. Elytra brown, veins pale, interrupted at short intervals by brown marks. A few black markings along commissure and apical portion darker. Male vertex pale with black spots similar to female. Pronotum and scutellum black with few pale markings. Elytra reddish brown with dark markings along commissure on apical half and apical fourth of elytra darker. Veins inconspicuous. Genitalia: Female last ventral segment broadly roundedly produced with a slightly emarginate portion about half-way on either side of middle. Male plates long, slender, strap-like, appearing twisted at apex. Holotype female, allotype male, and male and female paratypes collected at Ixmiguilpan, Hgo., elevation 5,730 feet, September 27, 1941, by Caldwell, Good and DeLong. Male and female paratypes collected at Tasquillo, Hgo., elevation 5,600 feet, October 29, 1941, by Good and DeLong. All were taken on high desert. 100 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vo XL Tinobregmus maculellus, n. sp. Resembling viridescens more closely in form but with dis- tinct coloration. Length, female 6.5. mm. ; male 5 mm. Vertex produced and bluntly angled at apex, produced about one-third its length beyond the anterior margins of the eyes, about four times as long as basal width between eyes and twice as broad at apex as at base. Elytra long exposing only a portion of pygofer and the ovipositor in the female and longer than the abdomen in the male. Color: Female pale gray mottled with brown and black. Vertex with a pair of elongate dark spots near apex and a simi- lar pair on basal half. Pronotum pale with dark spots and elongated markings. Elytra pale, veins pale often crossed by dark markings. The corium, apical part and a portion of clavus mottled with dark brown or black. Male black and orange. The vertex, pronotum and scutellum are black. Elytra orange on anterior and costal portion. The commissure is broadly black and the apical third is black. Genitalia: Female last ventral segment with posterior margin broadly roundedly produced and shallowly emarginate either side of median produced lobe. Male plates elongate, broadened at base then narrowed to a slightly broadened and curved apex. Holotype female, allotype male, and male and female paratypes collected at Orizaba (K. 280), Vera Cruz, elevation 7,700 feet, October 17, 1941 ; paratypes of both sexes were also collected at Puebla, Pue., elevation 8,500 feet, October 18, 1941, by Good, Caldwell, Plummer and DeLong, and at Tehuacan, Pue., elevation 7,000 feet, October 17, 1941. This species has been taken only on high semi-desert. Tinobregmus piperatus, n. sp. Resembling maculellus in general form with vertex even more produced and black in color with minute pale spots. Length, female 6.5-7 mm.; male 5-5.5 mm. Vertex blunt, produced about one-third its length before the anterior margins of the eyes. About four times as long as basal width and more than twice as broad at apex as basal width. Elytra long exceeding abdomen in both sexes, the ovi- positor slightly exceeding elytra in the female. Color: Female vertex black with a pale spot surrounding either ocellus, a broken white transverse band at anterior mar- Oct., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 101 gin of the eyes and a pale stripe along either eye on basal por- tion. Pronotum black with seven or eight longitudinal pale stripes. Scutellum black with a pale longitudinal stripe just about half-way between median line and each lateral angle and a pale spot at apex. Elytra black rather uniformly marked with minute pale spots. Face black with a conspicuous white stripe along either eye. Genae white. Male black with few pale markings. The white band between anterior margins of eyes is faintly indicated and the white spots on elytra are abundant but less conspicuous than in the female. The pale line along eyes on face less conspicuous and the genae black. Genitalia: Female last ventral segment with posterior mar- gin rather strongly, roundedly produced on median half to form a lobe which is slightly notched at middle. Male plates long and slender, narrowed on apical half, then slightly en- larged at apex. Holotype female, allotype male, and male paratypes collected at Fortin, Vera Cruz, elevation 2,500 feet, October 9, 1941. Paratype male collected at Orizaba, Vera Cruz, elevation 4,100 feet, October 8, 1941, by Plummer, Good, Caldwell and DeLong. All specimens were found on luxuriant vegetation. Tinobregmus angustatus, n. sp. Resembling piperatus in general form but with a more sharply angled vertex, an elongated slender body and a differ- ent coloration. Length, female 6 mm. ; male 5.5 mm. Vertex produced almost one-fourth its length before the anterior margins of the eyes and more than four times as long as basal width between the eyes. Elytra as long as ovipositor in female and longer than abdomen in male. Color: Female dark brown with black markings. Vertex yellow with a median apical black spot and an angled black spot either side at anterior margins of the eyes. A pair of elongate brown spots also occur at about the middle between the eyes. Pronotum dark brown with eight pale longitudinal narrow stripes. Scutellum dark brown with basal angles darker, a pale line each side equidistant from each margin and from each other. Elytra brownish subhyaline, veins black, mottled with darker brown spots especially on clavus. Face dark brown with pale arcs, genae pale. Male almost entirely black in color. Vertex with a pair of transverse white spots at apex, an interrupted white transverse band just posterior 102 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society v ol . XL to anterior margins of the eyes and a white line along either eye posterior to this band. Elytra with brownish streaks especially on the clavus. Genitalia: Female last ventral segment with posterior mar- gin produced on median half to form a median lobe. Male plates elongate, narrow, apical half more narrowed with a curved, enlarged apex. Holotype female, allotype male, and male paratype collected at Patulul, Guatemala, March 9, 1942, at an elevation of 1,200 feet by Dr. C. C. Plummer. Male paratype collected at Lake Peten, Guatemala, November 17, 1925, by Dr. Dampf (M.F. 809). No Mexican records are at hand but this species undoubtedly occurs in those states adjoining Guatemala. Trichoptera Notes. — The following interesting and unusual records were called to the writer’s attention by Dr. H. H. Ross, who identified the material: Ochrotrichia stylata (Ross), collected along the Sevier River near Circleville, Utah, July 10, 1943. Mate- rial collected in trap light and sweepings at Circleville at this time also included Tascobia brustia (Ross) and Hydroptila argosa Ross; the latter species also was collected at Provo, June 19, 1941. Hydroptila arctica Ross was taken at Provo, Utah, August 6, 1942, and Vernal, Utah, on June 27, 1943. Leucotrichia limpia Ross was taken at Hurricane, Utah, April 25, 1941. Rhyacophylax signatus (Banks) was collected by sweeping in large numbers of Trichoptera specimens which flew to the car headlights near Moab, Utah, and from sweeping Salix with an insect net, along the Colorado River after dark on the night of June 26, 1943. — G. F. Knowlton, Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, Logan, Utah. Eastern Record for California Tortoise-shell. — On September 4, 1945, I found on the shore of Lake Michigan, two miles north of Ludington, Michigan, four specimens of the California Tortoise- shell ( Nymphalis calif ornica Boisd.). They were wet, obviously having been recently washed ashore. One specimen was badly battered, two had several small nicks, and the last was in good condition. They were found several rods apart. So far as we can discover, this type of butterfly has never been found east of the Rocky Mountains. — Clifford Boram, Jr. (Age n). (A promising lad! — J. R. T.-B.) Oct., 1943 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 103 Bull. B. E. S., Vol. XL Plate II Explanation of Plate. Dorsal view of head, pronotum and scutellum of species as labeled showing color marking. 104 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society LoZ. XL NOTES ON SOME DRAGONFLIES OF SOUTH- WEST PENINSULAR FLORIDA. By James G. Needham, Ithaca, N. Y. After two winters spent on the lower gulf coast of Florida col- lecting dragonflies, I want to put on record some observations that I have made on a few of them. On that flat coastal plain, where open forests of slash pine once covered the drier soil and live oaks and palms still dominate the moister and richer soil in the low spots known as hammocks, there is permanent water only in the rivers, the lower reaches of the brooks and in a few of the larger ponds. In none of these is the water of any considerable depth. All the streams, as they near the sea, end in wide and sluggish estuaries of more or less brackish water. There are three types of environment that support the Odonate life of the region : ponds, streams, and the drainage ditches that have been made in the inter- ests of agriculture. The natural ponds in the pine flatwoods are very numerous, but most of them hold water only in the wet season, and so, are unsuited for dragonfly development. They are all more or less saucer- shaped, and few of them are of more than wading depth. On the higher ground about their borders there is generally a zone of saw palmettos. A zone of grass and other grass-like plants comes next, where the soil is always at least damp. Next comes a zone of arrowhead ( Sagittaria ) where the soil is nearly always saturated with water. Grass and arrowhead zones are often very wide. Their width varies with the gradient of the bottom. If deep enough at the center for open water, there may be patches of pickerel weed ( Pontederia ) or clumps of willow on the edges of it; and in the shoal water, massed polygonums or bonnets (Nelumbo) , or scat- tered water lilies, partly floating; also such submerged aquatics as Myriophyllum, Ceratophyllum, Chara and Utricularia. In arti- ficial ponds that have steeper banks, and in the edges of natural ponds where the water is deepened artificially, cat tails ( Typha ) come in and spread. Ponds that are merely wet season pools yield no crop of dragon- flies ; and in this region of cattle pastures a good many that retain some water the year round are ruined for dragonfly production by the trampling of the bottom by the cattle. Brackish water extends far up the mouths of streams. The salt content of the water varies with the distance from the gulf, with the drive of the tides, with the rainfall on the land, and with the Oct., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 105 gradient of the stream bed. All are wide and shallow, largely lack- ing in water weeds, and very poor in Odonate life, harboring in their edges only a few of the hardier all-season species such as Erythrodiplax berenice , E. minuscula , Anax junius , Ischnura ramburii and Anomalagrion hastatum. The drainage ditches farther inland, that carry excess rainwater into the streams, are often extensive breeding grounds for dragon- flies. These ditches vary in size and depth according to the area drained. Many of them are reduced to isolated residual pools in the dry winter season. In these pools small fish are concentrated. Many roadside ditches are trampled by cattle and hogs that run at large; and the reduction in numbers of dragonflies by the jaws of carnivorous fishes and by the trampling of hooves makes such pools very poor collecting grounds for nymphs. In all the foregoing places, both fresh water and brackish, there are to be found a few hardy species, wherever there is proper cover : the five above-mentioned by name, and three additional that are by far the commonest and most characteristic of this region; Pachy- diplax longipe nnis, Erythemis simplicicollis and Argia fumipennis. The big Anax seems to prefer beds of erect emergent aquatics ; Erythemis, the submerged weed tangles. Anomalagrion nymphs live in seepage water amid the close-growing stems of small spike- rushes and thin erect grasses. It is not my purpose in this paper to chart the distribution in relation to habitat of the 40 species that I found during these two winters there, but only to record a few observations and experi- ences with three of them. However, I will first make mention of unexpected finds of four other species. I took a single half-grown nymph of Aphylla williamsoni from the soft black mud of a deep drainage ditch a few miles northeast of Englewood; also a single nymph of Nasiaeschna pentacantha from the mud of a smaller ditch near by. I took a cast skin (an exuvia) of Epicordulia regina from the post of a highway bridge on Route U. S. 17 in Joshua Creek near Nocatee; and with the efficient help of Mr. William Hagener, I took a number of adults of this fine species as they skimmed over the slow-moving water of the creek near by. They were coursing low over the wider pools of the stream on more or less regular beats, and were not too difficult to catch. That was on May 4th. Heretofore I had seen this species only high in the air over open rivers. I took Perithemis seminole from Trout Creek at bridge No. 6 on 106 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society vol. XL Florida highway route No. 2 a few miles north of Olga. April 7th I got nymphs of this species from the water, exuviae from the stems of spider lilies that stood at the water’s brink, and adults from the air. The only Odonate associate there, beside the ubiquitous Pachydiplax longipennis , was the pretty blue-lined Argia sedula. Trout Creek is a clear flowing sandy-bottomed stream of easy wading depth. It winds through deep oak woods. I may mention incidentally that while plying my water net for Perithemis, I caught a number of small flat-fish ( achirus ) on the bed of this fresh- water stream. Gynacantha nervosa . This elusive species greeted me on my first evening at Englewood by flying about my head in an aisle in an orange grove. Its capture intrigued me. I had never caught one, nor even seen one alive before. Here it was, flying in what were to be my own haunts for an entire winter. I felt sure I would soon have a specimen ; perhaps a good series. There were two places where I could count on seeing a single Gynacantha flying at dusk on any clear calm evening in December : one was the above-mentioned lane through the orange grove; the other, a nearby apiary where it captured bees. I first tried the lane, and neatly missed an easy stroke at one that drifted near me. It kept on flying near me in the lane, soaring high, sweeping low, floating over my head, deliberately circling around my knees. Always my net, in close pursuit, would be a little bit too late. When 1 failed to get it in the lane, I went over to the apiary and there was another one slowly floating along on the air in front of the hives. I slipped up on it and with a mighty stroke got it in my net. I took it out tenderly and was holding it by the legs when it bit me: gave me so sharp a nip with its jaws that my fingers relaxed for an instant ; and I must have batted an eye, for it was gone so quickly and completely that I saw not a trace of it again ; not even a vanishing shadow of it ! Then there came on a spell of very cold (near freezing) weather, and no more Gynacanthas were seen near at hand; but I kept on finding them through the winter, singly, in two warm hammocks several miles out of Englewood northward : two small islands of semitropic verdure, each set in a slight depression of the pine flat- woods. In each of these there was a heavy forest cover composed mainly of the crowns of very tall cabbage palms and wide-spreading live oaks. It was a cover that retained well the heat that the deep- Oct., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 107 black humus soil absorbs during hours of sunshine and it kept the nights warm. Both these hammocks were open stands of tall trees. Forest fires in former seasons had cleared them of under- brush. Even low hammocks will burn when enough dead palm leaves and other combustible materials have been accumulated, and a very dry season comes along. There was room enough under the cover for the sinuous flight of the Gynacanthas among the tree trunks. I was able to visit these hammocks only about half a dozen times in all. Each time on entering I flushed a Gynacantha before I saw it. Each time I saw it in one flight only. It would fly waver- ingly around the periphery of the hammock at knee-to-head height. It would occasionally hover haltingly before openings in the sur- rounding wall of green vegetation. Then it would suddenly dash through one of the openings, not to be seen again. My last chance of the season to get Gynacantha was in one of these hammocks: the one in which stands the big tree known as Hegener’s Oak. It is a venerable live oak, about five feet in di- ameter, breast high. It is of very unusual form. I conjecture that it was overtopped and nearly crowded out in its youth : that it was able to push only two branches through the palm crowns above it, one eastward, the other westward; and that when these reached the light each developed enormously, its own way, gaining a spread of ioo feet or more. At any rate, it developed instead of the usual hemispheric live oak tree a high go -shaped crown at the top of a massive Y-shaped trunk. The palms and a hackberry or two have crowded in around it, and under their combined canopy there is developed one of the most tropical spots that I have seen in Florida. It is a delightfully cool nook to enter, when coming in out of the hot May midday sun. In it I caught Heliconia butterflies, and a dagger-wing, and a very unusual hair-streak; also a large white-footed cranefly (Oropesa?) . I was standing with Mr. and Mrs. Hegener beside the big oak when Mr. Hegener discovered a pair of Acanthagyna hanging up by their feet on a twig of a nearby evergreen shrub in copulo. The shrub was small ; the pair was well within its circumference and there appeared to be but one open passageway where they probably entered and where we expected they would go out again. Quickly we formed our strategy. I was to place the net over that opening ; Mr. Hegener was to drive the pair into the net. Slowly, very slowly I moved the open net over the opening. Slowly Mr. Hegener approached the bush from the opposite side with his coat flaps 108 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society v°k spread out laterally like wings. Then the big rush ! The net was empty ; the bush was vacated, and none of us had had even a glimpse of the departing pair! So ended my efforts to catch Gynacantha that season. The next season Mrs. Hegener took over. On January ioth, 1945, she appeared at the door of my study with a living Gyna- cantha in her hand, saying, “Would you care to have this specimen for your collection ?” She had found it hung up by its feet under a projecting angle at the base of the building in which I was living, and only about a foot above the level of the ground; and she had caught it with her fingers! I was supposed to know how to catch dragonflies ! My hat was off to Mrs. Gydde Jensen Hegener, my hostess and good friend. This tawny-faced, thin-legged, gauzy-winged Aeschnine has in life a beauty of coloration that museum specimens have almost wholly lost. The green undertone of the front of the thorax, and the brighter green of the knobs at the wing bases and on all the prominences on the dorsum fade, and even the brown general ground color loses something of its softness. The eyes especially become lusterless. In life the ocelli are yellow. The very broad surface of the compound eyes (the area of the large facets) is dark brown; the lower part paler, with small blackish spots in three horizontal rows showing dimly through the transparent corneal layer. This is indeed an interesting species : especially interesting for the fitness of its coloration for hanging up under cover by day and for flying only among the shadows of twilight. Libellula needhami. Nymphs of this species were often taken in the bottom mud of drainage ditches and at soft spots in the margins of ponds. They sprawl in the soft black mud. They are to be found by raking and sifting. Even after sifting they would be well-nigh undiscover- able amid the trash but for their habit of running to hide. They are generally so well plastered with mud that a preliminary wash- ing is required before their specific structural characteres can be seen. I reared a number of them and have turned my reared mate- rial over to Mr. Minter J. Westfall, Jr., for description of the nymph. It has not hitherto been critically distinguished from closely related species. Adults of this species were first seen by me on the wing on April 6th. On the shore of Lake Okechobee at Clewiston tenerals were Oct., 1946 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 109 then flying along with our two species of Cannacria: C. gravida and C. herbida. The first Libellula to transform in my rearing cages came out on April 19th. In the field they were becoming common from the end of May up to the time of my departure for the North in early June. I had seen no other species of Libellula in flight. Macrodiplax balteata. This tropical species has been reported from both the east and the west coasts of Florida, the nearest west coast station being Sanibel Island, off Ft. Myers, where Mr. M. J. Westfall, Jr., reported it as being common. I found nymphs of it about a hundred miles farther north at a pond in a dog race-track in the northeast corner of the city of Sarasota. This is an artificial pond made by widening and deepening a drainage ditch. It is something more than an acre in area, and of easy wading depth over most of that area. The bottom is sand. The water is very hard, somewhat sulphurous, but does not taste of salt. Except for a narrow open belt around the shoreline it is filled with a dense matted growth of Stonewort ( Chara ), with only a few tufts of ditchgrass ( Ruppia maritima) interspersed. There was a scanty new growth of cat- tail ( Typha latifolia) along one margin of the pond. The nymphs were common in the matted chara. I could shake one out of almost every mass of it that I lifted from the water. Associated with them would occasionally be found a nymph of Tramea or a Celithemis , but these were few and far between. Nymphs of Anax junius were resident in the pond, but I found them only among the cattails near the shore; Libellula needhami nymphs also, but they were in the little mud-bottomed pockets at the margin. It may well be that this surprising abundance of a tropical species so far north resulted from the chance coming of a wind- blown gravid female from the south. She could distribute her large burden of eggs well about on the surface of a pond that was not yet well stocked with enemies. In all my aquatic collecting roundabout Sarasota in the spring of 1945 I found only a single nymph of Macrodiplax anywhere else than in this pond. That one came from a roadside ditch a few miles south of the city. It was taken from matted and partly sub- merged Polygonum, where there were many predacious waterbugs and beetles and a few nymphs of Anax, and of large Libellulines. I described the nymph of this species in Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., 62: m-112, 1936, jointly with Dr. Elizabeth Fisher. We had a 110 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society v°i. XL single nymph taken near Wilson, Florida, from the stomach of a duck. Our figure (fig. 3 of PI. VI) shows the lateral spines on abdominal segments 8 and 9 strongly incurved. That incurvature of them in our specimen was probably due to compression within the duck’s stomach ; for fresh specimens, while agreeing with our account of the nymph in other respects, show these spines directed straight to rearward. It has not yet been reared, but the venation of the nymphal wings is clear and the identification is certain. Insects of Lupinus. — The longhorned beetle, Ano plod era in- stabilis (Hald.) (det. J. N. Knull) was conspicuously abundant upon blossoming parts of the common bluish Lupinus laxiflorus Dongl. which occurs among sage and forest on top of Beaver Moun- tain, Utah, near Big Flat. Thirty specimens were collected in 15 minutes, one to three beetles occurring on blossoms of some plants in the sunny spots along the edge of the highway; these beetles were scarce on shaded Lupinus plants. Whenever beetles were dropped while being collected, or purposely dropped to watch their reactions, none attempted to fly ; each immediately began to burrow among the leaves or rubble on the ground, usually getting out of sight within 20 to 30 seconds. Leaves above the beetles were agitated for 50 to 68 seconds. Sometimes a buzzing noise was made by the beetles when they were dropped. Beetles attempted to bite the collector when picked up with the hand ; they hung tenaciously to the fingers when being placed in 1x8 inch pocket cyanide tubes. (Observations were made between 5:30 and 6:15 P.M. Moun- tain War Time.) Other insects observed at this stop, on Lupinus, included a num- ber of Macrosiphum albifrons Essig. One immature female of this aphid species was observed while being fed upon by a damsel bug, Nabis roseipennis Reuter. This predator dragged its prey into the cyanide bottle when captured. — G. F. Knowlton, Utah Agricul- tural Experiment Station, Logan, Utah. Oct., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 111 DR. LUIS VARGAS ON AMERICAN BLACK-FLIES —A REVIEW, WITH CRITICAL NOTES (DIPTERA). By J. Bequaert, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass. Simulidos del Nuevo Mundo. By Luis Vargas. (Monografia No. i of the Instituto de Salubridad y Enfermedades Tropicales, Mexico, D.F. 1945.) vi + 241 pp. The black-flies, or members of the family Simuliidae, are among the smallest of the blood-sucking Diptera, only a few species reach- ing one-fifth of an inch in length. Yet, owing to their large numbers and voracity, they rank among the most vicious pests of animals and man. In recent years interest in these insects has become more general, particularly because of their role in the transmission of human onchocerciasis. This disease, caused by a roundworm, Onchocerca volvulus, frequently induces partial or total blindness and is prevalent in parts of Tropical Africa, as well as in the pros- perous coffee-growing districts of southern Mexico and Guatemala. As the proposed Pan-American Highway traverses the infected area, there is real danger of the disease spreading to new territory, where black-flies are common but as yet free of infection. The Governments of Mexico and Guatemala are fully aware of the risk and are actively engaged in studying and combating the disease and its vectors. Dr. Luis Vargas, as the Mexican member of the Inter- American Committee for the Control of Onchocerciasis, has had considerable experience and is well qualified to present a compre- hensive account of these insects. His Monograph is a well con- ceived and fully reliable guide for American students of the Simu- liidae. About one-fourth of it is devoted to general topics, namely, the economic importance, particularly in relation to the health of man and animals, the external and internal morphology of the adult, the habits of the adults, oviposition, larval morphology, the bionomics of the early stages, the life span, rearing methods, and the various parasitic and predacious enemies. In addition to a digest of published data, these chapters include some new observa- tions by the author and his Mexican associates. The excellent illus- trations, many of them original, add greatly to the value of this account. The remainder of the book is devoted to the taxonomy of the family. It starts with a critical study of various systems of classi- fication proposed in recent years. To the taxonomist the Simu- 112 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol. XL liidae present a rather unusual problem. To begin with, the family is sharply delimited, there being none of the annectant forms which only too often blur the dividing lines between the major groups of Diptera. The general morphology is unusually uniform at all stages, no doubt because the adult and larval habits are much the same throughout the family. The females of all species are obligate blood-suckers, so far as known, and the early stages are always rheophilous, that is, adapted to living immersed in swiftly flowing water. In addition, the species and races are relatively few, not more than about 600 having been recognized thus far. Finally, the specific characters of the adults are inconspicuous and are scarcely ever adaptive modifications of some more generalized struc- tures. This latter peculiarity makes it difficult to define truly natural groups of species, corresponding to definite evolutionary trends. In recent years Enderlein attempted to build up an ambitious “System” which divides the family into 7 subfamilies (some of these with a number of tribes) and 47 genera. Many of his genera are clearly based on artificial combinations of relatively unimportant features. Hence the reluctance of his contemporaries to accept his classification, most recent students being content to include all black-flies in the one genus Simulium. Nevertheless, it would seem that some of Enderlein’s divisions are natural groups, as much entitled to generic rank as similar groups generally treated as genera in other families of Diptera. Some future student will have the difficult task of clarifying the taxonomy of the family. He will be greatly helped by Dr. Vargas’ compilation of the supraspecific names proposed thus far. There appears to be no important omis- sion in this part of the work. Perhaps the generic name Simulia Meigen (1818, Syst. Beschreib. Europ. Zweifl. Ins., 1, p. 289) should have been included. It was presumably an emendation of Simulium Latreille (1802), but it was also used by some later writers, notably by Zetterstedt. It might be useful to note two generic names proposed for fossil flies, at one time believed to be Simuliidae. Pseudo simulium Hand- lirsch (1906, Die Fossilen Insekten, pt. 4, p. 631) was proposed for the fossil Simulium (?) humidum Brodie (1845) which is not a true black-fly. The name antedates Pseudosimidium Baranov, 1926, proposed for Recent species. Simulidium Westwood (1854, Quart. Jl. Geol. Soc., 10, p. 394) was based on Simulidium priscum Westwood, one of the Bibiotiidae, according to Handlirsch. In this connection, it may be mentioned that a few fossil true Oct., 1946 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 113 Simuliidae are known, all from the Oligocene and mostly from Baltic amber. These extinct forms seem to be essentially like the Recent members of the family. About half of Dr. Vargas' Monograph consists of a Catalogue of the 227 New World species and subspecies, in alphabetical se- quence, with their synonyms and complete references to the litera- ture. As the author includes all species in one genus, Simulium, he was obliged to propose new specific names when the same name had been used more than once by previous writers. Unfortunately, Dr. John Smart, of the British Museum, made similar changes in the nomenclature while Dr. Vargas’ Monograph was being pub- lished. I have thought it useful to point out how this will affect the nomenclature of the American species. I have added some other comments and a few additions. Simulium aequatoriense should be credited to Vargas, 1945, as Enderlein did not use that form of the name. Moreover, it is in my opinion an unnecessary emendation of ecuadoriensis Enderlein, 1934. Both forms of the specific name are acceptable according to the rules. Simulium angustifrons (Enderlein, 1934). The species was named Simulium lurybayae by Smart, 1944, Proc. Ent. Soc. Lon- don, Ser. B, 13, p. 132, because of the earlier N evermannia angusti- frons Enderlein, 1921, if the latter is transferred to Simulium. Simulium chalcocomense should be credited to Vargas, 1945, not to Knab. It is, moreover, a superfluous emendation of Simulium chalcocoma Knab, 1914, a specific name which is correctly formed. Under Simulium chilianum Rondani, the reference to Simulium chilense Philippi, 1865, should be deleted, as both are listed as dis- tinct species in the Catalogue. Simulium coffeae Vargas dates from 1945, Rev. Med. Trop. Paras. Habana, 11, p. 4. It was proposed unnecessarily as a new name for Friesia falculata Enderlein, 1929, which is not a homonym of Wilhelmia falcula Enderlein, 1921, even when both species are transferred to Simulium. Simulium costarricense Vargas, 1945, Rev. Med. Trop. Paras. Habana, 1 1, p. 5, is antedated by Simulium costaricense Smart, 1944, Proc. Ent. Soc. London, Ser. B, 13, p. 132. Both names were pro- posed for Acropogon rufidorsum Enderlein, 1936. Simulium glaucophthalmicum should be credited to Vargas, 1945, not to Knab. Whether or not this emendation of Simulium glau- cophthalmum Knab, 1914, was necessary is a matter of opinion. Simulium incaicum Vargas, 1945, Rev. Med. Trop. Paras. 114 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society V°t- XL Habana, n, p. 4, is antedated by Simulium sicuani Smart, 1944, Proc. Ent. Soc. London, Ser. B, 13, p. 132, Both names were pro- posed for Ectemnaspis limbata Enderlein, 1934. Simulium paynei Vargas, 1942, has as synonym Simulium bilimekae Smart, 1944, Proc. Ent. Soc. London, Ser. B, 13, p. 132. Both names were proposed for Hemicnetha mexicana Enderlein, 1945- Simulium simile Silva Figueroa, 1917, has as synonym Simulium figueroa Smart, 1944, Proc. Ent. Soc. London, Ser. B, 13, p. 133. Smart proposed this new name unnecessarily, as there is no Simulium simile Malloch, 1914 (Malloch’s name dates from 1919). Simulium venustum var. infuscata Ad. Lutz, 1909, and Simulium infuscatum Ad. Lutz, 1910, are two distinct species according to Ad. Lutz, 1917, Mem. Inst. Osw. Cruz, 9, p. 62. If this is true, the second in date will have to be renamed. The following species should be deleted from the American Cata- logue: Simulium neireti Roubaud, 1905, Bull. Mus. Paris, 11, p. 425. Originally described from Madagascar, it was recorded by Enderlein (1936) from Natal and Pretoria in South Africa. The following American species were omitted from the Catalogue : Simulium grocnlandicum Enderlein, 1935, Sitzungsber. Ges. Naturf. Fr. Berlin, for 1934, p. 363. Greenland. Psilozia groenlandica Enderlein, 1936, Sitzungsber. Ges. Naturf. Fr. Berlin, for 1936, p. 114. This was renamed Simulium asakakae Smart, 1944, Proc. Ent. Soc. London, Ser. B, 13, p. 131. Greenland. Simulia hematophila Laboulbene, 1882, Archives Medecine Na- vale, 38, p. 223, from Newfoundland, has been overlooked by all subsequent writers. Although described and clearly recognizable as one of the Simuliidae, it is perhaps only a hypothetical species, as Laboulbene saw no specimen. He wrote his description from notes made in the field by E. Treille (1882, op. cit., p. 221), as well as from some unpublished sketches. This is said to be a very trouble- some blood-sucker in Newfoundland and should be easily recog- nized from the description. In a taxonomic Catalogue special attention should be paid to tracing the actual first date of publication of all names, so as to ensure the correct application of the rules of nomenclature. Dr. Vargas’ dates are generally correct ; but in a very few cases he was evidently unable to reach a decision. It may be helpful to complete his indications. Simulium julvum Coquillett, glaucum Coquillett and .S'. vir- Oct., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 115 gatum Coquillett date, not from 1903, but from September 12, 1902, the date given for Coquillett’s paper in the Table of Contents of vol. 25 of Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. Simulium molestum Harris was first published, with a descrip- tion, in 1841, Report Insects Massachusetts Injurious to Vegeta- tion, p. 405 (not in 1862). No locality was mentioned, but the types, in the Harris Collection now at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, are labelled “White Mountains, New Hampshire.” The Simulium nocivum, also briefly described by Harris in 1841 ( op . cit., p. 405), is from the description a Culicoides. Both specific names are omitted from Sherborn’s Index Animalium, although they are validly proposed. Compare C. W. Johnson’s notes on the Harris Collection (1925, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., 38, No. 2, pp. 62 and 65) . Simulium venustum Say dates from 1823 (not 1827). Simulia vittata Zetterstedt was published in 1838 (not 1835, 1839, 1840, or 1844). The “Insecta Lapponica Descripta” ap- peared from 1837 to 1840, the title page, issued after completion of the work, bearing only the date 1840 ; but the part containing p. 803 was published in 1838. Moreover, the type locality was Greenland, the only locality definitely given. Lapland was added only with doubt. Simulium nigrimana Macquart dates from 1838 (not 1837), both the original in Mem. Soc. R. Sci. Agric. Arts Lille (for 1838), pt. 2, p. 88, and the reprint, Dipteres Exot. Nouv. Peu Connus, vol. 1, pt. 1, p. 84, being published that year. Simulium tarsatum Macquart was first published in 1845, Mem. Soc. R. Sci. Agric. Arts Lille (for 1844), p. 148. The reprint, “Dipteres Exotiques Nouveaux ou peu Connus, Supplement I,” which Dr. Vargas quotes (as p. 20), is dated 1846 on the title page. All references to Enderlein’s paper in the Deutsche Entom. Zeitschr. for 1933, pp. 273-292, should be dated as of 1934. Parts 2-3 of this volume appeared in February, 1934, as printed on the cover. The extremely useful Index and the very full bibliography, which conclude Dr. Vargas’ Monograph, are particularly to be commended. 116 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society V°l- XL REVIEW OF THE GENUS SALDOIDA WITH NEW RECORDS FOR GEORGIA AND VIRGINIA (HEMIPTERA, SALDIDAE). By Robert L. Usinger, Atlanta, Georgia. Shore bugs of the genus Saldoida Osborn were first discovered in Florida by Mrs. A. T. Slosson and were described by Herbert Osborn (1901). Mrs. Slosson found two species associated with ants and reported her interesting observations in 1908. Reuter (1912) made a separate subfamily for this small group. Whether or not subfamily status is justifiable, these are certainly the most remarkable of all Saldidae thus far described. Horvath (1911) and Poppius (1914) extended the range of the group to Formosa and the Philippines, describing species which are even more bizarre than the Florida forms. Subsequent collections by Wiley (Hungerford, 1922) in Texas, Blatchley (1926) in Florida and by H. S. Barber in Virginia and myself in Georgia (see below) show that these bugs are extremely variable as regards color and degree of development of the wings and pronotal spines. There are two macropterous specimens in the United States National Museum, one of cornuta from Biscayne Bay, Florida, and one of slossoni from Coronado Beach, Florida. My specimen from a stream at Stone Mountain, near Atlanta, Georgia, is brachypterous and is considerably darker than most slossoni with the last two antennal segments entirely black. There are two brachypterous specimens of cornuta from Bellaire, Florida, with distinctly produced humeral spines whereas the humeri are scarcely produced in the macropterous specimen from Biscayne Bay. Hun- gerford (1922) proposed a varietal name, wileyi, for a Texas form but the characters mentioned seem to fall within the limits of varia- tion seen in specimens of slossoni along the East Coast. There is a single specimen of the Philippine Saldoida bakeri Bergroth in the National Museum. This specimen is from Mt. Makiling, Luzon, P. I., and is a part of the Baker collection. Since Mt. Makiling is at Los Banos it is assumed that this specimen is topotypic. Bergroth does not mention the raised, almost keeled commissure of the clavus which is very conspicuous in the National Museum specimen. Key to the Species of Saldoida. 1. Pronotal spines nearly twice as long, measured in side view from lateral margins of pronotum, as depth of prothoracic collar,. Oct., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 117 the distal halves slender, bent backward, with apices acute. Oriental 2 Pronotal spines shorter than depth of prothoracic collar, evenly tapering to subacute apices, not slender and backwardly directed apically. American 3 2. Antennae in female with second segment three-fourths longer than first, the third slightly longer than second, the fourth equal in length to the second. Formosa Saldoida armata Horvath Antennae in female with second segment almost twice as long as first, third one-third longer than second, fourth one-sixth longer than second. Philippine Islands Saldoida bakeri Poppius 3. Anterior lobe of pronotum and spines black, clothed with ap- pressed white pubescence. Humeri more or less strongly produced into elevated, subacute spines. Scutellum black with appressed pubescence, the disk only slightly elevated apically. Biscayne Bay, Bellaire, Punta Gorda, and Dunedin, Florida Saldoida cornuta Osborn -. Anterior lobe of pronotum and spines ochraceous to fulvous or even darker but with the spines glabrous except for a few stiff black hairs. Humeri scarcely produced, rounded. Disk of scutellum strongly inflated apically. Punta Gorda ; Bellaire; Coronado Beach, Febr. 26, 1939 (C. A. Frost) ; Stone Mtn., near Atlanta, Georgia, July 1944 (R. L. Usinger) ; Lake Drummond, Dismal Swamp, Virginia, Sept. 1, 1930 (H. S. Barber) ; and Big Sandy Creek, East- land Co., Texas, June 18, 1921 (Grace Wiley) Saldoida slossoni Osborn Bibliography. Blatchley, W. S. 1926. Heteroptera of Eastern North America. Nature Publ. Co., Indianapolis, Ind. pp. 1017-1018. Horvath, G. 1911. Miscellanea Hemipterologica. III. Acan- thiidae Duae Insignes. Ann. Mus. Nat. Hungarici, 9 : 334. Hungerford, H. B. 1922. Saldoida slossoni Osb. var. wileyi, new var., taken in Texas. Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc., 17: 64. Osborn, Herbert. 1901. New genus including two new species of Saldidae. Canadian Ent., 33: 181-182. Poppius, B. 1914. Eine neue philippinische Saldoida — Art. Wiener ent. Zeit., 33 : 52. Reuter, O. M. 1912. Zur Generischen Teilung der Palaearktischen 118 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vo XL und Nearktischen Acanthiaden. Ofv. Finska Vet.-Soc. Forh., 54(A), No. 12: 1-24. Slosson, A. T. 1908. A hunt for Saldoida Osborn. Ent. News, 19 : 424-428. ENTOMOLOGICA AMERICANA Notice to Subscribers We are receiving inquiries about the missing numbers of Entomologica Americana for 1945. This is the answer to all such questions, expressed or implied. This, our monographic journal, is suffering from the belated conse- quences of the war now happily over. No manuscripts have come in which are in keeping with our general policy of publication for it. This is because the younger entomologists either have been sucked into the army or the war activities in some form; or, as the older entomologists, are badly overburdened with extraordinary and added labors. This excess of work has left no time for anything beyond it. The condition is prevalent everywhere, as we repeatedly hear from our correspondents and contributors. Meantime, the outlook for 1946 seems promising; and we believe that we shall be running on a regular schedule and caught up with arrears during that year. We ask our subscribers to be patient, for our present belatedness is from conditions we cannot remedy or control ourselves ; time only will regularize them. The Publication Committee, Brooklyn Entomological Society. Oct., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 119 ENTOMOLOGICAL TRIVIALITIES. By Phil Rau, Kirkwood, Mo. IV. Insects and Will-Making. It is not often that insects figure in the making of wills. This rarity obviously is due to the fact that only a very few individuals of the world’s various populations have been sufficiently interested in them to have collections worthy of bequest. An unusual will, in which insects played an important part, was made in the early days of the Nineteenth Century by one Nicholas Gimcrack. This appeared originally in “Tatler” (Vol. 4, No. 216), and is appended to an essay on “Will-Making” by William Hazlitt ( 1778-1830) . It is used by him as one of several examples to show “the stupidity of human character.” Thinking that present-day entomologists would be interested in knowing what men collected 150 years ago, I have selected a few passages from the will of this ardent collector : To my dear wife, One box of Butterflies, One Drawer of Shells. To my Daughter Elizabeth, My Receipt for preserving dead caterpillars. To my Nephew Isaac, A horned Scaraboeus. To my Eldest Brother, My last years collection of Grasshoppers. To my Second Son Charles, I give and bequeath all my Flowers, Plants, Minerals, Pebbles, Fossils, Beetles, Butterflies, Caterpillars, Grasshoppers and Vermin not above specified. He collected not only insects but also other objects of natural history besides those enumerated above. He was an ardent col- lector of the kind one rarely sees in private life today, and evidently a very lonely man. Hazlitt, of course, is not interested in what, or how or why or where, the man collected, or whether or not he had friends to share his interests. It is his business to show in this essay that in the light of the revealing of human nature, will-making “is the latest opportunity we have of exercising the natural perversity of our dispositions,” and he uses this as an example because the man 120 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society v°l • XL bequeathed to some people whom he disliked the very objects of their hatred. In this subtle posthumous revenge Hazlitt can see only a “per- verse disposition,” for he says: “Crimes, loathsome vices, may go unchecked, but it is the laughing at our weaknesses, or the thwarting of our humors, that is never to be forgotten.” Insects and Poetry. Probably nearly all the verses about insects that had been written up to the time of C. V. Riley’s entomological activities have been used by him in one place or another in his “Nine Missouri Reports.” He used verse profusely in all his writings, and I am sure they were the better for it. Since that time a new crop of verse on or about insects has sprung up. Little of this, however, is really outstanding, and most of it is bad entomology. There is one exception, however, and they are the verses about insects to be found in “The Collected Poems of Robert Frost.” Here a wide variety of insects are represented in good poetry and generally in good entomology. Here are the titles : “My Butterfly,” “Blue Butterfly Day,” “Fireflies in the Garden,” “The Cocoon,” “The White-tailed Hornet,” “Departmental, or the End of My Ant Jerry,” “Design,” “Waspish,” and a short one with the title, “One Guess,” which runs : “He has dust in his eyes, and a fan for a wing, A leg akimbo with which he can sing, And a mouthful of dye-stuff instead of a sting.” Oct., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 121 NOTE ON CEROTOMA AND ANDRECTOR (COLEOPTERA, CHRYSOMELIDAE). By H. S. Barber, Washington, D. C. Numerous lots of Andrector found injuring beans in Florida, Texas, and Arizona, and others submitted to me for identification from Central America and the West Indies show the need of a short note to correct misconceptions on identities and on nomenclature. The generic name Cerotoma was proposed by Chevrolat, 1837, in the Dejean Catalogue (see Barber and Bridwell, 1940, Brooklyn Ent. Soc. Bui., vol. 35, pp. 1-12) to include 18 species, of which several were then without valid names while others had been de- scribed by Fabricius, Olivier, Latreille, etc., and are now referable to 5 genera, Aulacophora, Diabrotica, N eobrotica, Cerotoma , and Andrector. Selection and designation of 1 of these species, Crio- ceris caminea F., 1801, as genotype of Cerotoma by Chapuis, 1875 (in Lacordaire, Genera des Coleopteres, vol. 11, p. 230) is not invalidated by reason of the description given by Chevrolat, 1842 (in D’Orbigny, Diet. Univ. Hist. Nat., vol. 2, p. 420) which in- cludes the characters of the male antennae of certain species now assignable in Andrector but not shown by the genotype. Leng, 1920 (Cat. Coleoptera Amer. N. of Mexico, p. 298), adopted this result, but in the quarter-century since then confused usage, to- gether with misapplication of the specific name ruficornis to the bean pest in Arizona, requires notice. Weise, 1924 (Junk, Coleopt. Cat., pars 78, pp. 137-139), reunited Andrector and Cerotoma, listing 32 species and 10 synonyms or subspecies (1 species, laeta (F.), seems assignable in Diabrotica) . A correct analysis of the numerous neotropical forms must await evidence not now available, but a few facts which now seem to be clear should be noted. The color pattern is probably ancestral, since its intermediate expression is very similar in several different species, but in several of the species and in certain regions this pattern varies to oblitera- tion either by reduction of the infuscation to almost entirely pallid elytra or by increase of markings into almost entirely bl&ck wing covers. The shores of the Caribbean seem to be the home of several similar species distinguishable in the males by characters hitherto not recorded, i.e., slight differences in the clypeal prominences and depressions of the male head. In these details the Texan sexpunc- tatus, the genotype of Andrector, seems to agree with, and to be only a local expression of, the Antillean species ruficornis Oliv., 1791 of which denticornis F., 1792, appears correctly listed as a 122 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vo l- XL synonym, which has been found attacking leaves and pods of lima beans at Princeton, Fla., March 31, 1944, while the Arizonan species, which has been misidentified as ruficornis, displays a different clypeal form and a shorter, broader aedeagus indistinguishable in these characters from Guatemalan samples of a serious bean pest which I have identified as atrofasciatus Jac. Thus, the synonymy of the three species which attack bean plants in the United States seems to be as follows: Cerotoma Chevrolat, 1837 (in Dejean Cat., revised, p. 403). Geno- type, Crioceris caminea F., 1801, designated by Chapuis, 1875. trifurcata (Forster, 1771 — 29), Eastern States. caminia (F., 1801 — 459). Andrector Horn, 1872 — 152. Genotype, A. sexpunctatus Horn, 1872 — 152, monobasic. Cerotoma auct. (part). ruficornis (Olivier, 1791 — 200), West Indies, Florida, Texas. denticornis (Fabricius, 1792 — 24), West Indies. sexpunctatus Horn, 1872 — 152, Texas. atrofasciatus (Jacoby, 1879 — 792), Central America, Ari- zona. ruficornis auct. not Oliv. In Cerotoma the antennae and front show no sexual differences. In males of Andrector the clypeus is deeply excavated and acutely ridged, and antennal joints 3 and 4 are conspicuously enlarged and modified into what appears to be a grasping organ. Oct., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 123 TAXONOMIC TYPE NAMES AND IDENTIFICATION TERMS USED FOR IMMATURE INSECTS.1 By Wm. P. Hayes, Urbana, 111. Article 47 of the Entomological Code of Banks and Caudell states that “A specific name given to any part ... or stage (except egg) of an insect is valid if otherwise available.” It is further indicated in Article 48 that “A specific name based wholly on a cocoon, case, gall, leaf-mine, or other work of an insect is valid, if otherwise avail- able, only until the insect itself is described, when that name and authority replaces the one based on the work.” Although insects are now only rarely described from their immature stages it has been done to some extent in the past. Because of this there are many collections with specimens of such described insects. These, accordingly, represent type material. Few are aware that methods of designating such types are available. The term nepionic (Gr. nepios — an infant) is defined in Torre- Bueno’s Glossary of Entomology as “that stage of development immediately succeeding the embryonic ; proposed as a substitute for larval.” By this definition, it is obvious that the term must apply to both larvae and nymphs and precludes the pupal stage. From this term, we have had proposed by Alexander (1920, Cornell Memoir, 38: 743) the word nepionotype to designate a type larva. Although this type designation is not included in Torre-Bueno’s glossary, it does occur in Fernald’s (1939, Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer., 32 : 697) list of type names which was compiled for him by Alex- ander. Also in Torre-Bueno’s glossary the term neanic (Gr. near os — youthful) is defined as “referring to the pupal stage.” From this word there has also been derived the term neanotype , proposed by Alexander ( l.c .), to refer to the type of a species described from a pupa. Fernald’s list (l.c.) includes the name ootype of which it is pointed out that it is preoccupied as a morphological term in tape- worm nomenclature but which theoretically should be the type of an animal described from an egg. For the designation of an egg type this list indicates that such terms as ovotype, ovoholotype and ovoparatype can be used to designate type eggs. Hopkins (1936, Mosquitoes of the Ethiopian Region, Vol. 1, p. 26) proposed the use of the term paedotype from the Latin paedo meaning child. He defines it as follows : “Paedotype is the type 1 Contribution No. 245 from the Entomological Laboratories of the University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois. 124 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society v°k XL of any of the immature stages of an insect. It consists of the larva or pupa, of the larval or pupal skin, together with the adult insect bred from the same individual larva or pupa, in the case of the egg it may be either the whole egg together with the female which laid it, or the egg shell and the adult bred from it.” Hopkins con- tinues, “It will, of course, commonly happen that egg, larva and pupa are described at different times, in such cases there should be one paedotype for each stage. It is suggested that paedotypes should be indicated by a small circular green label attached to the specimen of each of the stages which make up the paedotype, and that this label should be inscribed to indicate whether the paedo- type is of egg, larva or pupa. When possible, it is, of course, desirable to make the same adult serve as part of the paedotype for more than one of the early stages and it is clearly desirable that this adult should belong to the sex which is most readily identifiable. Neo-paedotypes may be designated when the original of an early stage was not made from material procured by the isolation method, or when it is no longer possible to associate the larval or pupal skin with the adult bred from it.” From these two sets of terms we see that they both have their uses. A paedotype is not as specific in meaning since it may be used for either larva, pupa or even an egg and should have an adult associated with it. However, it is only rarely or never that an insect species is described from an egg. When using paedotype, it seems necessary, from Hopkins definition, to use a qualifying ad- jective to indicate whether the type is an egg paedotype, a larval paedotype or a pupal paedotype. The terms nepionotype and neanotype are more specific and if species must be described from immature forms the neanotype will definitely indicate a pupal type. Since there is no way of distinguishing a larval type from a type that is described from a nymph the term nymphotype is here suggested for species that have paurometabolic development. Fernald’s type list ( l.c .) cites 108 terms used in the designation of types. Many are synonyms. Commenting on the matter he writes that “entomologists may find themselves buried in a chaos of this phase of terminology.” Pertinent to the naming of types for immature insects he further comments, “with two exceptions (meaning nepionotype and neanotype) all these terms relate in some way to the adult except possibly in palaeontology. But Pandora’s box has many more which may escape. At any time some worker may describe the hitherto unknown egg and mark it some kind of type: equally, newly described specimens of naiads Oct., 1945 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 125 in each of their many instars (45 or more in some species), nymphs, larvae and subimagos may become the bearers of different kinds of type names. There is no rule to prevent this. This enormous number of naiad, nymph and larval instars available insofar as none of them have previously been described, needs only a few workers with the “mihi itch” to deluge the nomenclatural field with a flood of new type names.” He further mentions the possibilities of new type names with the discovery of such things as new leaf-mines and new insect galls. He overlooked cocoons, cases, callows, pro- nymphs, castes and a host of other possibilities. These obviously must be described but whether type designations are necessary is questionable to the present writer even though he has become in- fected with the ‘‘mihi itch” in his proposal above of the term nymphotype. Obviously, he needs a good dusting with DDT before the itch becomes severe. In the matter of labeling immature specimens to indicate their status as to the manner in which they were determined, Van Emden (1922, Ent. Jahrb. for 1923, p. 102) suggested certain designations to be used on labels and later (1942, Tr. Roy. Ent. Soc., Lond., 92: 6) further discussed the subject. Since eggs, larvae, pupae and nymphs may be determined in a number of ways, an indica- tion of the manner of determination should be noted on the identi- fication label. This will give some notion as to the reliability of determination. Obviously, the most reliable method is to rear the immature form to the adult stage and then identify it. This pro- cedure is time-consuming and often results disastrously when speci- mens die before they reach maturity. The starting point in such rearings can begin at one of the several life stages. If a known adult is allowed to lay eggs the resulting larvae and pupae (or nymphs) are thus associated with the known adult. For specimens thus bred, Van Emden suggested the term udeterminato ex ovipostione” which can be abbreviated det. ex ovip. Specimens that are reared from unknown nymphs or larvae to adult and then determined may be designated “determinatio ex evolu- tione imaginis” {det. ex evol. imag.) This method requires indi- vidual rearing because of the danger of having immature cultures that might be mixed; that is, composed of more than one species. Often characters of an adult may be recognizable in the pupa. Hayes and McColloch (1920, Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer., 13: 77) showed that in late pupal life the genitalia of adult beetles of the scarabaeid genus Phyllophaga {Lachno sterna) can be recognized through the pupal integument. Larval exuviae associated with 126 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vo l- XL such pupae can thus be identified by their genitalia and often by other structural pupal characters that are common to the adult. For the designation of such larvae, Van Emden would use the phrase “determinate ex futura imagine ” ( det . ex jut. imag.). Ross (1944, Bull. 111. Nat. Hist. Survey, Vol. 23, p. 17) has re- cently made extensive use of this method of determination for both larvae and adults of Trichoptera. He speaks of it as “association by pupal dissection” and comments as follows: “In all caddis fly groups the larval sclerites are packed into the posterior end of the pupal chamber after the pupa is formed. Later in pupal life the adult structures take definite form within the pupal skin, and just before actual escape of the pupa, the complete adult may be teased out of the pupal skin. Such pre-adult specimens show all adult characters except those of wing venation ... of greatest im- portance is the fact that the genitalia of both sexes become com- pletely formed, hardened and colored before emergence of the adult.” “If, then, a cocoon or case is collected which has a mature pupa in it, the larval sclerites and fully formed genitalia are associated, and it is possible thus to link the adult and larval forms of the species.” He points out that Vorhies (1909) and Milne (1938) have also used this method of association. Ross also states that while it may be necessary sometimes to make repeated collections in an area before certain species can be associated, he has found it “more satisfactory than cage rearing because of extreme canni- balism developed by caged larvae.” As we gradually increase our knowledge of the taxonomy of immature insects, more keys and descriptions become available and in many groups it is now possible to make rather certain determi- nations from characters of the immature forms themselves. Speci- mens so identified may be labeled “determinate ex systemate” {det. ex syst. ) . Often such keys are only available for generic determi- nation. It is possible, in those genera that have but a few included species, to use available descriptions for specific identifications and of course in a monotypic genus the generic key is all that is needed. Identifications made in any of the above ways will, in great part, be based on structural characters. However, it often happens that identifications can be made by the use of less tangible characters. Such factors as distribution, habit, manner of life or even size can be helpful. These are circumstantial or ecological characters and not morphological. Association of a larva with its favorite food can lead to recognition but this is a somewhat unsafe method of Oct., 1946 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 127 identification. There are instances where known distribution is helpful. As an example only two species of the beetle genus Nosodendron are known in the United States. One species, N. unicolor Say is found in the eastern states and N . californicum Horn is from the west. The identification of either species of larvae, when the genus is known, can be made from its distribu- tional data. Other conditions, such as occurrence on an island, an alpine habitat or in caves, can also lead to recognition. Such identified forms may be labeled (