ane ia ES
Lad i at AN ir st tin PI Pee ae
Baw cto me We a
res a ai, rere prt
1 lh i i ih
ee
Ob ta ia cok Ob
bb Abadia!
Pe
w
OTe aks eae aE) ee es A ahh ed Bi Mil ee ei A
grt man eure Aeaehacte ate A Y ee ad
ee ee Gr ee i Mea vhne re inthe ay |S
auras esate ee ek Ree me ah cs eam a Mog oh Sate
% ; - 4 erent.
(Pures
WAAR rate censor tation ap ea Tinanttasieeth Sine hate Aree
Lah a A Ah eS th ethk Anaeee eae
WA Hah. mi? “ “Na hs bab Aas th ‘* yor A. mn P Me nets pete ncee re poet
Morbo V2, “Wer ee + a ped ’ . ¥ b
PACA yok rhe RTL Vl AA Pea trl Wat Seen Kran grinn Anarene ens wee Ra fo area fy Bein PONE rm th into sin teste 7 - ray
Wat ah Aah a dh Wert NE ; eae rT Ne ne ara we neon ;
macytrerte Kee Mil, Wt : eae HTT rawr rites Kn honk ae Pam mie aren ialmane ele iin ie
He edhe ite Sidhe me ethene PN te INIA ods
EI - Hale totter
* aay st
i We eta es Sc eC Sk Saat
Sok Stade etter. EO ev ea te erences is Werte 0 a ad parunner eerste we ara ‘ :
Magee pha mesh ~ eed rar Hh — ayant Wee Fmd tay. at Se te Lelinenapemcrs ts ATA a ME,
Hell” wa Sy ay eS eyatitet teAremA MU TIA hein nh cairn ety Ay Ft Todas ech DSA RBH MATAR A Sle etinw 96S ate pare ?
lho be hat aite natch Mabe oA TAS Paar boi antl State shane ei Fe ae oot a Banh 5 PONDS QOD AS mt scely eh elt et Seale ahem 9m Fs
< oa came a Re Pa hee HARI ee ee ee On
Sine Ne ae an ee K ein Pash Bettie DAE I I ee cy P= ate HA gD Ngee Bow 14
RN a RET TEN Me
WE Ni 4 hie eg RAAT AES Alga atg yet Ree Nesta ops
Ce Ni Na Re ia A ead ty (Ue te
a AW Neder air’ Sanpete} erect
wipers ET wet ube Pt oY
aati eh! * aa rhea:
Fenwrmaicome Mich Ware tg oh Avaya! Quite Ah Test ete dy 2h MC
We A a A Aa EE Me Bite PBehort ee a a
oe ann eo
Odea ene
RE
Pi ee
Lea Vv eG FD Nae
Pe we eee
46 OR TE ey
tye Re kee
+
' 4 m
Tre Merputes os Deik
ve NEN ee ye
%
in ‘
vs
rts
ernie kt rea
i woune
ww we
See a
Pe Cn ee he ke
ei VEN ON
. . PuvVa es we ‘
re ee a oa a %
4 Fe ere
wat en Ci 7 a :
. once vente COS eR et
coe a a Lona
s ee eee er was - pt De my 7
eee Boa Way ae 8 sagt Wee) Aw Te
ee eee Vo Pee ee ee
eee Cr ~
wey em
tele 1 , ’ ,
é eee rar
' ' ’ as ’
‘ “ Me GH E
a ety : :
N.8 ;
. ret 4 ok .
“ F re ‘ 2 ’ ,
eee Mae 2 Pete oe ee ‘ = pees ’ ‘
Vem te ye A Ne tes liane ; - f, : ; :
arg Se 8 ‘ . ; sae r ‘ ca ‘ ' ‘
Woe eT - : -
ris i.e m we ’ foe . ‘
= poser : ” ' ‘ 2 ~ oF pen .
« foe a 1 q ‘
* tous oe rar . are , ‘
« ’ ' ‘
2s droge ’ on ’ ‘ oe
eer . pe
’ 2 4 ‘ 2 ‘ ’ .
~ foe t - :
x - - ' ’ ’ * of . ‘
t - ’ ‘ : s ‘ ' .
hore ’ ‘ 7
fs ‘ é : ve - F -
. sae ‘
: Ay 4
g s.%gr) or e* *
= C + ’ . ¢ ‘
s ae ene? - , ‘
# . + '
t ~~ 4 ’ Foe
ey
® «6 ‘
: ‘ ’ 7
eat : ‘ ’ P ves
in, ot Kaa ke dle 8
Sua
AS wish
U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM
ut
a LIBRARY OF —
Henry Guernsey Hubbard
Eugene Amandus Schwarz
DONATED IN 1902
ACCESSION no.| | 1441
py
neit
eae he
Sgr
-ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
| WASHINGTON.
Volume III, No. 1.
(JANUARY 5, 1893, to JUNE 1, 1893.)
[IssuED Marcu 8, 1894. |
- WASHINGTON, D. C.:
PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY.
1894.
PR@gEEDINGS
_ OF THE
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
lieing 28°
WASHINGTON.
Volume III.
1893-1896.
WASHINGTON, D. C.:
PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY.
1896.
C. L. MARLaTT,
DaTES OF ISSUE OF THE PARTS OF VOLUME III.
No. 1 (pp. 1-72), March 8, 1894.
No. 2 (pp. 73-128), January 8, 1895.
No. 3 (pp. 129-194). March 28, 1895.
No. 4 (pp. 195-292), June 22, 1895.
No. 5 (pp. 293-341), October, 1896.
Publication Committee for Volume /17.
C. W. STILEs,
Ae N. GILky
L. O. Howarp, E. A. SCHWARZ.
W. H. ASHMEAD,
F. H. CuH1irTrENDEN.
&
PROCEEDINGS
. OF THE
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
OF
WASHINGTON.
W Ohare TR, No...
(JANUARY 5, 1893, to JUNE I, 1893.)
WASHINGTON, D. C.::
PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY.
1894,
A ce.
a * Ww
List or Mempers Revisep to DrecemBeEr 1], 1893.
ACTIVE.
Ashmead, W. H.,
Benton, F., . :
Chittenden, F. H., .
Coquillett, D. W.,
Dodge, C. R.,
Fernow, B. E.,
Gill, T. N.,
Heidemann, O.,
Holm, T., ;
Howard, L. O.,
Jones, J. D.,
Kuehling, J. H., .
Linell, M. L., .
bull, Ri 3...
MacCuaig, D.,
Marlatt, C. L:,
Mann, B. P.,
Marx, G.,
Masius, A. G.,
McGee, W J,
Pergande, T., .
Pratt, F<...
Riley, C. V.,
Schwarz, E. A.,
Smith, E. F.,
Stiles, C. W.,
Sudworth, G. B.,
Swingle, W. T.,
Set. eC,
Waite, M. B.,
‘iii
. Department of Agriculture,
Department of Agriculture.
. Department of Agriculture.
Department of Agriculture.
. Department of Agriculture.
Department of Agriculture.
. Smithsonian Institution.
Department of Agriculture.
. Department of Agriculture.
Department of Agriculture.
. Department of Agriculture.
1206 Pennsylvania ave. n.w.
. U. S. National Museum.
College Park, Maryland.
. Department of Agriculture.
Department of Agriculture.
. 1918 Sunderland Place. ©
Department of Agriculture.
. Department of Agriculture.
U. S. Geological Survey.
. Department of Agriculture.
Department of Agriculture.
. Department of Agriculture.
Department of Agriculture
. Department of Agriculture.
Department of Agriculture.
. Department of Agriculture.
Department of Agriculture.
. U. S. National Museum.
Department of Agriculture
CORRESPONDING.
Alwood, W.B., . . . Blacksburg, Va.
Atkinson, G. F., . . Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.
Angell, G. W.J., . . 44 Hudson St., New York, N. Y.
Austin, Amory, . . 23 Catharine street, Newport, R. I.
Baker, ©. Fic. Fort Collins, Colorado.
Banks, N.,. . mea Cie. a3 NS ¥:
Bethune, Rev. C. : Ss s. . Port Hope, Ontario, Canada.
Bolter, Az, s . . 172 Van Buren street, Chicago, IIl.
Bradford, Geo. D., . . 21 Washington Place, New York, N. Y.
Bruner, L., . University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebr.
Casey, T. L. (U. S, . ), Army Building, New York, N. Y.
Cockerell, T. D. A., . Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Comstock, J. H., . . . Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.
eA Thy wo a 2 Remon Cal.
Cank Oo 8); oso antinedons Lh; NY.
Cordley;A°B,, i)... Pinckney, Mich.
Davis,G.C., . . . . Agricultural College, Mich.
Picts, 0.53.05. 6. 2 2p Park Row, New York, N-Y.
Doan, W. D5... 2. Coatesville, Pa:
Doran, E. W.,.. .... . Buffalo Gap, Texas.
Fairchild, D.G., . . . Zodlogical Station, Naples, Italy.
Waa Peto yd. . ) Peomeonn,; Cal.
Fernald, C. H., . . . Amherst, Mass.
Fletcher, J... . . . Central Exp’t Farms, Ottawa, Canada.
Forbes, S. A.,. . . . Champaign, IIl.
Fox, W.jJ., . . . . Academy Natural Science, Philadelphia, Pa.
Gillette,C.P.,. . . . Fort Collins, Colorado.
Goding, F. W.,. . . Rutland, III.
Goodell, H. H., . . . Amherst, Mass.
Gossard, H. A., . . Ames, Iowa.
Graf, Bik... & go Court Street, Brooklyn, N. Y:
Hamilton, J., . . . 18 Ohio street, Alleghany, Pa.
‘ Hargitt,C.W., . . . Syracuse University, Syracuse, N. Y.
Harrington, W. H., . Post-Office Department, Ottawa, Canada.
Harris, W. Ross, : . . 4319 McRee avenue, St. Louis, Mo.
Hart,'C: Ai, 4")... Champaign, Ill.
Harvey, F.L., 0 .0) «Orono, Maine.
Healey, J. T., . - - - Rogers Park, Chicago, Ill.
Henshaw, S., . . Mercer Circle, Cambridge, Mass.
Holland, Rev. W. I. ., . Pittsburg, Pa.
Hopkins, A. J.,. . - Morgantown, W. Va.
Hubbard, H.G., . . . 114 Griswold street, Detroit, Mich.
Jenks, J.W.,. . - . Middleboro, Mass.
Johnson, L.C., . . . Meridian, Miss.
iv
Johnson, W.G.,, . . Palo Alto, Cal.
Kellogg, V. L., . . . Lawrence, Kansas.
Knaus, W., . . . . McPherson, Kansas.
Koebele, A., . . . Alameda, Cal.
Kulszynski, Vladimir. . Cracow, Austria.
Lintner, J. A., ike. eR a ON es
Luetgens, A., . . . 207 East 15th street, New York, N. Y.
Lugger,O.,. . . . . St. Anthony’s Park, Minn.
Malle, Bo W.,3 Dickinson, Tex.
Marlatt, F. A., . .*. Manhattan, Kansas.
Martin; }.0°. . . Champaign, Ill.
Mengel, L. W., . . . Reading, PA.
Montandon, A. L., . Strada Viilor, Filarete, Bucarest, Roumania.
Morgan, H.A., . . . Baton Rouge, La.
Murtfeldt, Miss M. E., Kirkwood, Mo.
Neumoegen, B., . . . 40 Exchange Place, New York, N. Y.
Ormerod, Miss E. A.,. Torrington House, St. Albans, England.
Mlaborn, i... 8s, oo Ame)s, Iowa.
Patton, W.H., . . . 30 Washington street, Hartford, Conn.
Popenoe, E.A., . . . Manhattan, Kansas.
Richardson, W.D., . Fredericksburg, Va.
Roberts, C. H., . . . 175 Greene street, New York, WY.
Ber. Pe os) Lake City; Bla)
Rowe, C. H., . . . . Stanwood Hall, Malden, Mass.
Scudder, S.H.,. . . Cambridge, Mass.
Sherman, J. D., Jr., . . 71 East 87th street, New York, N. Y.
Skinner, H.,. . . Academy Natural Science, Philadelphia, Pa.
Slingerland, M. ve . Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.
Smith, J.B... . . . Rutgers College, New Brunswick, N. J.
Snow, Fo H.j40..°... . ILawrence,: Kansas.
Stedman, J.M.,. . . Auburn, Ala.
Summers, H. E.,. . . Champaign, Ill. ©
Thor hay os SY = Montpelier, france:
TOMMEY, 14 Wass a >. Se acson,: Atizona.
Townsend, C. H. T.,. Institute of Jamaica, Kingston, Jamaica, B. W. I.
Uhler, P. R., . . . . Peabody Library, Baltimore, Md.
Vaughan, T. W., . . Botanic Gardens, Cambridge, Mass.
Washburn, F. L., . . Corvallis, Oregon.
Webster, F.M.,. . . Wooster, Ohio.
pea ee. Mee. hes Dirham, Na Hy
Weed, H. E., . . . Agricultural College, Miss.
Wenzel, H.W., . . . 1115 Moore street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Wheeler, W. M., . . Clark University, Worcester, Mass.
Wickham, H.F.,. . . lowa City, Iowa.
Williston, S.W., . . Lawrence, Kansas.
Wolcott,R. H., . . . Grand Rapids, Mich.
Zabriskie, Rev. J.L., . Waverly avenue, Flatbush, L. I, N. Y.
Vv
eS 3
SY
ie
FPROCEEDINGS.
JANUARY 5, 1893.
President C. V. Riley in the chair and 13 members present.
The following new members were elected : é
Active members—W J McGee, Dr. J. B. Jones, Frederick
C. Pratt. Corresponding members—W. G. Johnson, Palo Alto,
Calif. ; J. W. Toumey, Tucson, Arizona; C. H. Rowe, Malden,
Mass., and Wm. H. Patton, Hartford, Conn.
The Publication Committee reported the publication of No. 3,
Volume II, of the Proceedings, copies of which were issued De-
cember 31,1892. The new Publication Committee was appointed
by the chair as follows: Messrs. Marlatt, Schwarz, Howard,
Stiles, and Ashmead.
' The discussion of the annual address of the President had been
postponed, from lack of time, to the present meeting and was
opened by Dr. Stiles, who made the following remarks :
PARASITISM.
By C. W. STILEs.
[Author’s abstract. ]
Although Dr. Riley, in his interesting address, considered the
subject of ** parasitism” entirely from the standpoint of an en-
tomologist, it may be well for us, in discussing the subject, to
draw other groups of organisms besides insects into comparison.
I would therefore take the liberty of presenting a few remarks
upon parasitism from the standpoint of an helminthologist.
Starting with Leuckart’s definition of a parasite as ‘‘ an organ-
ism which lives in or upon another organism from which it draws
its nourishment,” I would admit two fundamental ideas in para-
sitism: first, the association of two or more individuals, and,
secondly, the sponging of nourishment. As might be expected,
however, if we accept this view (or in fact any other view upon
the subject) we find numerous gradations between the parasites
and the free-living animals, so that we are unable to draw any
sharp line between them.
ee ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Association or symbtosts. Organisms may associate together
for different purposes and in different degrees of intimacy ; and
the association may be between different individuals of the same
(or very closely allied) species, or between individuals of different
species very widely separated from each other systematically.
If two individuals, a male and a female of one species, associate
for the purpose of reproduction, we speak of ‘*‘ pairing.” If
more than two individuals are concerned in this association (as,
for instance, in the case of bees, etc.) we speak of ‘‘ colonizing.”
But as soon as the two contracting parties belong to natural
groups more or less widely separated (systematically) from each
other, we have before us some stage of parasitism. Although
this holds good as a general rule, the fact that the two individuals
belong to the same species does not necessarily exclude the asso-
ciation from the field of parasitism, for we find some remarkable
examples of ‘‘ pairing” which have at the same time a certain
tinge of parasitism about them. For instance, we find in the
bladder of rats a species of Zrichosoma (7. crassicauda), in
which (&s Leuckart has shown) the males live in the uterus of
the female. Although the female may have a number of males
in her uterus, this symbiosis is unquestionably a case of pairing
(polyandrism) ; at the same time the symbiosis is‘a case of para-
sitism—more strictly speaking, a case of mutualism.
At first thought we might suppose that the association between
individuals of the same species is a more common occurrence
than the symbiosis of organisms of widely different species ; in’
- other words, that Jazrizg is a more common occurrence than
parasitism, but we can convince ourselves that this idea is
erroneous if we recall that there is probably not one of us present
who has not, at some time during his life, harbored parasitic
worms, lice, and fleas; furthermore, that every one of us at the
present moment has a large number of species—-twenty or more—
of bacteria in his mouth and upon his skin, and that of each
species we may harbor hundreds of thousands of individuals. * If
we need further examples to convince us, we have only to ex-
amine the first stomach of any ruminant, and we shall find there
countless hosts of bacteria and infusoria, belonging to numerous
different species. I would hence make the general statement
that parasitism in its different grades isa much more general
occurrence (among the higher animals, at least) than pairing; or,
in other words, that organisms are associated with individuals of
other species more than with other individuals of their own
species. ;
Parasttism. In parasitism, I would recognize several different
grades: first, mutualitsm, in which the symbiosis results in
mutual benefit to the two contracting parties ; secondly, commen-
salism, in which the symbiosis results in a benefit to one party,
°OF WASHINGTON. 3
but does not nail any disadvantage to the other party (the host) ;
thirdly, true parasitism, in which there is a benefit to one of
the parties concerned (2. e., the parasite), to the disadvantage of
the other party (the host). Naturally, I do not contend that
these three grades of parasitism can be separated by sharp lines,
any more than we can draw a sharp line between animals and
plants.
Mutualism. We not infrequently find sponges grown fast to
the back of a crab. In this symbiosis we can see the first step
towards parasitism, but this symbiosis, as Looss and others have
already pointed out, is mutually advantageous to both the crab
and the sponge, for the former is thereby more or less concealed
from view and will thus escape his enemies, while the sponge is
carried around from place to place and thus furnished with more
nourishment. //vdra viridis presents another case of mutual-
ism: here the hydra can utilize the oxygen produced by the
zoochlorelle, while the latter can utilize the carbon dioxide pro-
duced by the hydra.
Commensalism. The organisms referred to by Germans under
the term ‘‘ Raum. Parisitenr” furnish examples under this head.
For instance, in the intestinal tract of many aquatic insect larve,
we find numerous rotatoria. These organisms obtain room-rent
free; they do not, however, injure their hosts (so far .as we can
observe) but they feed upon other microérganisms found in the
same place. The numerous infusoria in the first stomach of
ruminants would also come under this second grade of parasitism.
True parasitism. As examples of true parasitism, we can cite
the tape-worms, the lumbricoid worms, trichine, etc., etc. That
this symbiosis is of advantage to the parasites will be doubted by
no one, for we know that they cannot live and reproduce outside
of the body of their hosts. The disadvantage to the host may be
of three different kinds: first, the parasites ‘live upon food which
should go to the dourishment of the host (cf. the adult tape-
worms, ascarides, Echinorhynchus, etc.) ; secondly, they may
exert pressure upon the various organs and thus cause a me-
chanical injury. as in the case of echinococcus-hydatids of’ the
liver, brain, etc., or Eustrongylus gigas in the kidneys; thirdly,
the parasites may form certain chemical products which act in
various ways upon the tissues, as in the case of the genus Ascarzs
and the pathogenic bacteria.
Rather than define a true parastte, as some persons are inclined
to do, as an organism which must necessarily live a parasitic life,
I think it better to follow the majority in accepting the term ‘‘ 04-
ligatory parasites” for such organisms, and to include those or-
ganisms which may or may not live a parasitic life under the
term ‘‘ facultative parasites.”
We can make another division of parasites into ‘‘ Zemporary
4 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
parasites” and ‘‘ stationary parasites,” including in the former
those organisms which visit their hosts only from time to time in
order to procure food, as Culex, Cimex, Dermanyssus, etc.
The ‘‘ stationary parasites” would include those organisms
which are with their hosts continuously for the whole or a por-
tion of their life. In this class we can recognize two subdivisions :
the ‘‘ Dertodical parasites’’—that is, those organisms which spend
only a period of their life as parasites, and the permanent para-
sites—t. e., those organisms which complete their entire life-cycle
as parasites.
As examples of the former, we may cite the genera Merms and
Gordius, which spend their larval stages in the body cavity of
insects, etc., or Vectonema, which, as H. B. Ward has recently
shown, is parasitic in fish for a portion of its life. Zypoderma,
Cuterebra, and Gastrophilus would furnish examples familiar to
entomologists. As examples of permanent parasites, we might
cite the Cestodes.
Among the Nematodes, we find a most striking example of para-
sitism which must be looked upon as intermediate between the
periodical and the permanent parasites. I refer to the genus
Rhabdonema. R.nigrovenosum,to take a specific example, is an
hermaphroditic (? or parthenogenetic) worm which, in alternate
generations (1, 3, 5, 7, etc.), is an obligatory parasite in the lungs
of amphibians (taza, Lufo). In the 2d, 4th, 6th, etc., genera-
tions the sexes are separate and the organisms are free-living
animals.
Another division of parasites would be (A) the phyto-parasttes
and (B) the zoo-farasites, and each of these may be subdivided,
according to whether they are parasitic upon plants or animals.
Still another division of parasites is implied in Leuckart’s defini-
tion, 2. e., ectoparasites and endoparasites.
In helminthology we frequently use the terms Aseudo-parasites
and spurious parasites. Most authors do not make a distinction
between these two, but include the spurcous parasztes under the
head of psewdo-parasites. It seems to me, however, that there
is a difference between the two which it will be well to observe.
Under pseudo-parasites I-would include all those organisms
which as a rule do not live a parasitic life, but which happen by
chance to get into the body of an animal and live there for a short
period; all pseudo-parasites would be facultative parasites,
although all facultative parasites are not pseudo-parasites. Mos-
quito larve, muscid larve, or species of the genera Gordzus and
Mermis are occasionally swallowed by chance; upon coming
into the intestinal tract, they are capable of living a parasitic life
for a short time, but after a few days they are either killed and
digested or they are expelled from the body. Under the term
spurious parasites, on the other hand, I would include: (1)
OF WASHINGTON. 5
those animals which have been swallowed by chance or purposely
(for the sake of committing suicide, etc.) but which are not |
capable of taking food while in the body; these animals are
generally expelled very soon, or they are killed and partially
digested. As an example of this sort, I would mention a case
recorded by Bremser. A woman vomited a Bombinator igneus
and two years afterwards she confessed she had attempted to
commit suicide by swallowing this animal wrapped up in a
membrane she obtained from a butcher. Weiss records a similar
case. (2) In the spurzous parasites I would also include all
those objects introduced into the body by patients—generally suf-
fering from hysteria—for the sake of perplexing their physicians.
One very noted case of this kind is that of a French woman who
went to her physician time after time to have some ‘*‘ worms”
extracted from her vagina. A zodlogist who examined these
‘¢ worms ” was able to show that they were nothing more or less
than the entrails of fish which the hysterical patient had herself
introduced into her vagina. Quite a number of similar cases
have been recorded. and I can here add a case which I believe
has never been published. It is recorded in the hospital records
of the 65th U. S. C. T. that F. B was ‘* admitted to hospital
Dec. 23, 1865 ; complaint, piles; Feb. 24, 1866, returned to duty ;
Remark—This man feigned sick with the piles for two months,
when his deception was detected, he having procured the heart
of a turkey and introduced it into his rectum to resemble piles.”
(3) Another class of spuréous parasites would be those objects,
such as the pulp-cells of lemons and oranges, which have been
mistaken for flukes (I had a case of this kind sent to me but a
short time ago), various portions of plants which have been de-
scribed as parasites (Déacanthus polycephalus Stiebel, 1817,
proved to be fragments of a bunch of grapes), various animal
structures described as parasites (Phys¢s txtestinalis Scopoli is
a portion of the trachea of a bird; Sagzttula hominis is the hyo-
laryngeal apparatus of a bird). (4) A fourth kind of spurzous
parasite would be those ‘ parasites” which exist only in the
imagination of various persons. As examples, we may cite
Furia infernalis L., an imaginary worm which is supposed to
live in the air; it is said to descend upon the body, bore through
it, and cause death in a short time. Vermds umbzlecalts is
enotler ; imaginary worm, said to live in the umbilicus of children ;
to diagnose the presence of this fabulous creature it is only neces-
sary to bind a small fish upon the navel, and in a short time the
fish will be entirely skeletonized in case the ‘‘ worm” is present.
I can hardly leave the subject of spurious parasitism without
referring to the case of Pastor Déderlein (1697), which is cited
by all writers as being the most wonderful case of its kind on
record. His 12-year-old boy is said to have passed a small Por-
6 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
cellio. After treatment he passed at different times the following
objects: 162 specimens of Porcellio, 2 worms, 4 scolopendras,
2 ‘* springing butterflies,” 2 ant-like worms, a white Porcellio,
32 brown caterpillars, 4 frogs (whenever the boy went near a
pond, the frogs in his body croaked !), several toads (the largest
one had poisonous breath which immediately killed the smaller
ones), a snake (which started to come out through the boy’s
mouth, but immediately returned), shoe-nails, half the link of a’
chain, white and red egg-shells, 2 knife-blades, portion of a
salve-box, and 2 spikes ! (Quoted from Looss,)
Another division of parasites, based upon the number of hosts
required in their life-history, would be: AZonoxenous parasites,
those parasites which require but one host, and heteroxenous
parasites, those which require two different hosts at different
stages of the life-history.
From the foregoing remarks we see that the study of parasites
is in reality a study of a fauna: exactly as one zoologist studies
the fauna of the seas, another the fauna of lakes, another the
fauna of mountains or plains, the parasitologist studies the fauna
or flora of the body.
To sum up these informal remarks in a table, we can divide
the parasites as follows:
A. Based upon symbiosis and food:
1. Mutualists.
2. Commensalists.
3. True parasites.
4. Pseudo-parasites.
5- Spurious parasites.
B_ Based upon position:
1. Ectoparasites.
2. Endoparasites.
C. Based upon the animal and plants:
1. Phyto-parasites :
ad) In or upon animals.
Biictt nett Rios pe ES.
2. Zoo-parasites :
c) In or upon animals.
PW) Dobe arpa eeeeahae wes 12:8 6 Ut Pe
D. Based upon time:
1. Temporary parasites.
2. Stationary parasites :
a) Periodical parasites.
5) Permanent parasites.
E. Based upon adaptation or necessity :
1. Facultative parasites.
2. Obligatory parasites.
OF WASHINGTON. 7
F. Based upon the number of hosts:
1. Monoxenous parasites.
2. Heteroxenous parasites.
In conclusion I will state that the foregoing remarks are, in
large part, based upon the writings of Leuckart, Looss, R.
Blanchard, Railliet, Neumann, and others; the division of
parasites proposed is a combination, with slight modifications,
of the divisions followed by these authors.
Mr. Fernow objected to the definition of the word parasitism
as given by Dr. Stiles, and believed that the definition should
make-it necessary for the parasite to not only obtain its food, but
also its domicile from its host, which would exclude such animals
as the mosquito; and, further, that the parasite should, in some
stage of its existence, be entirely dependent on or unable to exist
apart from its host. He would further limit it also by making it
necessary that the food should be taken from the living host in a
form ready for immediate assimilation, and which would exclude
' vegetable-feeding animals, whose food would necessarily have to’
go through a more or less elaborate process of digestion. Thus,
in general, plants only can be parasitic on plants, and animals on
animals.
Mr. Hubbard believed, with Mr. Fernow, that the definition in
question was open to criticism, and was of the opinion that the
principle of absolute dependence at some stage, mentioned by
Mr. Fernow, should be present. He gave various examples of
mess-mates, etc., illustrating this idea.
Mr. Doran mentioned other cases of parasitism in animals other
than insects and not referred to by Mr. Stiles. Some of. these
cases, as pointed out by Mr. Stiles, were association for copulation
only. In reference to the limitation mentioned by Mr. Fernow,
viz., that the parasitic relation could only be sustained by mem-
bers of the same kingdom, as animals on animals, etc., Mr. Stiles
took issue on the ground that no sharp lines should be drawn
separating plants from animals, and gave certain cases where such’
association of plants and animals is certainly parasitic, such as
ringworm.
Mr. Fernow replied that for all practical purposes, and in the
general estimation, there is a distinct separation of plants from
animals, and maintained the validity of his former restriction.
8 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Mr. Waite pointed out the advantage enjoyed by the student of
vegetable parasitic relations from the fact that in this field para-
sites are always fixed and no difficulty is experienced in determin-
ing the host, the only subject for question being whether the host
is living or dead. ;
Professor Gill, after referring to the breadth of the subject and
the impossibility, on this account, of discussing it with any
degree of minuteness, gave, as his opinion, that plants and
animals may manifest a parasitic relation with regard to each
other, and discussed at some length the differences separating
animals from plants. Speaking of the presidential address, in
which the true parasites in insects were limited to certain families
of the Hymenoptera, in the strict sense, he suggested that these
latter (Chalcidids, etc.) sustain rather an intermediate relation
between the typical parasite, as the intestinal worm, and such
insects as the various wasps which stored their nests with spiders.
The typical parasite, he said, shows a great deviation from the
normal structure as the result of its parasitic relationship, and he
pointed out the nature of such modification, especially in the
Mollusks and Crustaceans, giving a number of interesting illustra-
tions. He said that parasites occur in all polytypic classes in
animal life, except, perhaps, the Vertebrata, and in these, in the case
of fishes, certain forms are pseudo-parasitic, but are not examples
of very excessive modifications in consequence. A striking exam-
_ ple, however, of modification in fishes was illustrated by the suck-
ing disk of certain forms. Mr. Schwarz was of the opinion that
Leuckart’s system of classification is too widely drawn to apply
to insects, and should be considered rather as applying to the
general subject of parasitism wherever manifested.
Prof. Riley, in summing up and closing the discussion, stated
that he had been very much pleased with the various facts and
ideas which the discussion of his address had brought out, but
had not been led, by anything that had been said, to change in
any way the conclusions reached by him; as, for instance, the
term parasitism, as applied to insects, on account of the pecu-
liarity and diversity of the facts, requires special definition.
With reference to Prof. Fernow’s remarks, he stated that it was
impossible to make a strict and circumscribed definition, because
in the broad sense all living things are parasitic. He believed
a
OF WASHINGTON. 9
that nothing would be gained by broadening the definition,
and was glad to find that so many of the members agreed.
with the treatment of the subject in the address.
—Under general notes and exhibition of specimens, Mr.
Schwarz stated, in connection with his remarks, at the November
meeting, on the food-habits of the genus Silpha, that our common
S. lapponica would have to be considered as an injurious species,
since according to the observations of Mr. H. F. Wickham this
insect is so injurious to dry salmon in northern British Columbia
that it is known among the Indians and white settlers as the
‘¢ salmon bug.” S. Zapponica is universally distributed through-
out North America but is strictly boreal in the Old World. Its
distribution is, therefore, just the opposite in ‘hie respect from
that of S. ofaca.
‘—Mr. Hubbard called attention to the mode of hibernation i in
Chrysomela flavomarginata, which differs greatly frcm that
hitherto observed in North American species of Chrysomela and
Doryphora, in which hibernation takes place in the imago state.
Of C. favomarginata examples of the larve, both young and
mature, as well as imagos, were found, on May 15, in their
winter quarters, among the roots of a species of Aster growing in
the mountains near Glenwood Springs, Colo., at an altitude of
_ six thousand feet.
—Mr. Ashmead presented the following :
NOTES ON THE GENUS CENTRODORA.
By Wititiam H. AsHMEAD.
The genus Ceztrodora was erected by Dr. Arnold Forster in
Verh. pr. Rheinl. 1878, p. 66, to contain an interesting Chalcid
presenting some characteristics entirely different from any known
genus in the subfamily Aphelinine.
In the female, the ovipositor is very long, at least two-thirds
the length of the sessile, broadly oval abdomen ; the head is trans-
verse, wider than the thorax, while the antenne are biannulate
with white. In the male the antenne are 6-jointed, with the scape
broadened and the front tibiz distinctly thickened.
Up to the present time only a single species is described, the
type Centrodora amena Forster, taken June 3, in a room, ona
window.
It is therefore with considerable pleasure that I announce the
discovery of a new species: belonging to this genus in our fauna ;
10 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
also to be able to contribute something towards the habits of the
.genus.
This new species is exhibited to-night and was reared by
myself at Jacksonville, Florida, in October, 1887, from the eggs
of Clistocampa americana Harris.
I submit the following description :
Centrodora clisiocampe2, sp. n.
@.—Length, 0.6 mm. Polished black; ovipositor about two-thirds the
length of abdomen, with the tip white; antennz biannulate with white;
_ basal two-thirds of front wings fuliginous, the apical third hyaline.
Head transverse, wider than thorax, antero-posteriorly thin, the vertex
somewhat acute; cheeks, clypeus and trophi yellowish-white; the tips of
mandibles black; flagellum subclavate, biannulate with white.
- Thorax subrobust, very little longer than wide, the pronotum visible
from above as a transverse line, the mesonotum wider than long, with
distinct parapsidal furrows, the scutellum semicircular, the metanotum
exceedingly short, scarcely visible from above; anterior wings fuliginous,
with the apical third hyaline, fringed, the marginal vein long, as long as
the submarginal, the postmarginal not developed, the stigmal very
oblique, clavate, about one-fourth the length of the marginal; hind wings
likewise with a long marginal vein and with the apex and hind margin
with long cilia; legs brown, trochanters, bases of tibie and tarsi yellow-
ish-white.
Abdomen broadly sessile, oval, about as long as the thorax, depressed
above, convex beneath and terminating in a long ovipositor.
Hab.—Jacksonville, Florida.
Types in Coll. Ashmead.
FEBRUARY 2, 1893.
Vice-President Ashmead in the chair. Twelve members and
two visitors present.
The following persons were elected to corresponding member-
ship: Rev. J. L. Zabriskie, Flatbush, L. I., and O. F. Cook,
Huntington, L. I.
A paper by Mr. H. G. Hubbard, accompanied by the exhibi-
tion of specimens, was presented by Mr. Schwarz as follows:
NOTE ON BRATHINUS.
By Henry G. Hussarp.
Two species of the genus Brathinus have been hitherto known
from the eastern United States. Both species range from central
OF WASHINGTON, 11
New York to Nova Scotia, and westward into the Lake Superior
1egion. That one or both of theseshould extend their range across
the continent to the Pacific coast would be entirely in accord with
the well-known tendency of boreal insects. The discovery of a
representative of the genus in California would lead one to sus-
pect a form or climatic variation of one of the Eastern species.
A careful comparison of the abundant material now at hand
seems, however, to establish the fact that the Californian Brathi-
nus which is herein described is specifically distinct.
TABLE OF SPECIES.
Maxillary palpi long:
Last joint of palpus longer than the second joint;
body glabrous: antennz slender, unicolored...... as nitidus, Lec.
Last joint of palpus as long as the second joint;
body pubescent; antennz stout, suddenly en-
larged and pale at tip.............-.000 Fer ce aba Se Aaya varicornis, Lec.
Maxillary palpi short :
Last joint of palpus shorter than the second joint;
body pubescent; antenne stout, unicolored........ californicus, n. sp.
In the foregoing table I have called the maxillary palpus long
if when directed forwards the second joint, passes the mandibles,
and short if the second joint does not project beyond the mandi-
bles.
Brathinus nitidus, Lec. This is our largest and most slender species.
The body is glabrous, light or dark brown, paler beneath. Antenne very
long, filiform, joints from the fourth opaque, finely pubescent; the last
three joints not larger and scarcely paler than the preceding joints. The
palpi are very long and slender; the first joint very minute, the second
joint greatly prolonged beyond the mandibles, the third joint half as long
as the second joint, the fourth joint longer than the second joint. Length,
5mm.
Brathinus varicornis, Lec. The smallest species. Elytra with sparse
fine setz placed in four lines. Legs pubescent. Antenne stout, shining
toward the base; from joint four gradually more opaque and more densely
pubescent, the last three joints suddenly enlarged and pale in color. The
maxillary palpi are elongate, the second joint passing the mandibles, the
last joint as long as the second joint. Length, 3.6 mm.
Brathinus californicus, n. sp. Dark brown, shining; elytra with sparse
sete; antenne moderately long, robust, reddish brown; underside dark
brown; legs pale testaceous, pubescent; maxillary palpi short, last joint
stout, fusiform. Length, 4 mm.
The elytra bear four rows each of short sete, there are no strie, but the
suture is somewhat elevated throughout its entire length. The thorax in
12 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
many specimens shows a more or less deeply impressed median line. The
underside of the body is always as dark as the upper surface, the legs are ©
paler than the antenne. The antenne are unicolorous, the first three
joints shining, the remaining joints opaque, equally setose, growing uni-
formly stouter towards the tip. |
Lake Tahoe, Cala., numerous specimens; Sisson, Cala., two
specimens.
This species is distinguished from B. zztzédus and B. varicornis
by its short maxillary palpi, the last joint of which tapers regu-
larly toward base and tip, and is but little longer than the preced-
ing joint. In size it is intermediate between the two Eastern spe-
cies, and is darker in color than either of them. The underside
is never lighter than the upper surface, as in dark specimens of
B. nitidus. The rows of sete upon the elytra and the pubescence
upon the legs are nearly as in B. varécorz/s, but upon the anten-
nz the pubescence is finer and denser, the joints from the fourth
outwardly are equally opaque, and the last three joints are not
suddenly enlarged as in the latter species.
The sexual characters are not strongly expressed in this genus.
The penultimate (sixth) segment in the males is prolonged over
the anal plate, and presents slight differences in the three species.
The distal edge of this prolongation is frequently sinuate or emar-
ginate, forming three more or less distinct lobes. .
In &. xztidus this segment is produced in an acute raised point
with shallow sinuations on the sides. B. varécornzs has also the
tip of the sixth segment prolonged in an acute point, but the side
lobes are wanting. In B. caléfornicus the prolongation is obtuse
and frequently terminates in three small, nearly equal, elevated
points separated by emarginations.
A numerous colony ‘of B. caléfornicus was found at Lake
Tahoe, in July, 1891, living in wet moss, darkly overshadowed by
bushes, at the margin of a mountain stream.
Mr. G. C. Davis, of Agricultural College, Michigan, gave a
description of the insect collections of that institution. These
- collections are especially rich in the orders Lepidoptera and
Coleoptera, and are rapidly growing in other orders. The two
orders named have been largely increased by the purchase of
large collections of North American insects, notably the Tepper
collection of Lepidoptera and the Austin collection of Coleoptera.
A general description of the extent and character of the collec-
tions was given. Mr. Schwarz said he was glad that a good
OF WASHINGTON. . 13
collection had been started by the Michigan Agricultural College,
and urged the importance of the founding of such collections by
other similar institutions, few of which have any determined —
insect collections of importance. He said that a portion of the
Coleoptera collected by himself and Mr. Hubbard in Michigan
during the years 1875 to 1877 were represented in this collec-
tion, and that the Neuroptera collected at the same time had
been sent to Hagen and were now in the Cambridge Museum.
Mr. Davis, referring to the local nature of the collections, in
that they included a very good representation of the Michigan
fauna, spoke more particularly of the richness in insect life of
the State of Michigan, which he ascribed to the diversified
topography of that State. Mr. Schwarz said, however, that
the real reason for this prodigality of insect life is the fact that
Michigan possesses two faunal regions, viz., the boreal zone
and the northern limits of the transitional zone.
—Mr. Howard presented the following paper, illustrating the
text by the aid of blackboard drawings :
A PECULIAR STRUCTURAL FEATURE OF THE ELASMINA.
By L. O. Howarp.
The subfamily Elasmine, ordinarily placed at the head of the
tetramerous series of the Chalcididz, has in Europe, according to
Kirchner’s catalogue, five species, all belonging to the genus
Elasmus. It seems probable from comparison of descriptions
that these five will be reduced to three and perhaps two. From
the United States I have described five species and have since
found two more which still remain undescribed. These also be-
long to the typical genus Elasmus. The subfamily, in fact, con-
tained but this single genus until, in 1888, Prof. Riley figured, with-
out description, a species of a new genus to which he gave the
name Euryischia, and which is parasitic in Australia upon Les-
tophonus. Thesubfamily, therefore, is notextensive. Thespecies
of Elasmus, however, are difficult of separation. Antennal,
sculptural, venational, and other characters hitherto used, are of
little avail in this group. A close study of considerable material
belonging to this subfamily received from Cambridge, England,
and which was collected on the island of St. Vincent by Mr. Her-
bert Smith, has shown a new character which is in itself very
remarkable, and which enables the ready separation of groups of
species and of species themselves. The material was found to
comprise nine new species.
14 -ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
The character referred to consists of a peculiar arrangement of
specialized spines on the hind tibie. They are short, sharp,
broad spines occurring in regular rows, their bases connected,
forming straight lines or more or less intricate figures. ‘They are
present in lesser degree upon the middle tibiz, and here in-
variably form only straight lines. They also occur on the first
joint of the hind tarsi, and here also form straight lines. Upon
the hind tibiw, however, they are strikingly evident through an
almost universal differentiation of color, the tibia itself being
light and the spines very dark. They occur upon the upper or
outer side of the tibie and in the species which I have examined
ee the following forms:
Two very long ellipses side by side od touching. 2. Three
ighgitsdinal subparallel wavy lines. 3. A single long ellipse
occupying the central two-thirds of the length of the tibia, and
the beginnings of two other ellipses, above and below, each in-
terrupted by the extremity of the joint. The upper and lower
loops are joined at tip to the central ellipse, and two outer convex
lines surround each of these joints. 4. The disk of the tibia
bears two such ellipses placed end to end, and two half ellipses, at
top and bottom, being surrounded at junctions by such a row as
occurs in 3. 5. The disk occupied by three instead of two
ellipses, and the ends by two loops. 6. The disk is covered by
a double row of elongate ovals closely applied and arranged so
that the side bulge of one fills the cavity caused by the meeting
of the ends of two others. 7. A series of superimposed antique
figures 5, the dash at the top of one forming the base of the next
one above.
Sufficient variations of these arrangements occur and within
. apparently specific limits. This is not a secondary sexual char-
acter, since it occurs equally in both males and females. No
similar character has been noticed in any other subfamily of the
Chalcidide, and it is particularly fortunate that it should occur
among the Elasmine, on account of the difficulty in otherwise
separating the forms.
Mr. Stiles asked if there was any explanation of the occurrence
of these spines on evolutional grounds. Mr. Howard replied that :
he had looked into the matter very carefully, and had discovered
nothing which would lead :him to offer any such explanation of
their occurrence. Mr. Ashmead stated that Mr. Howard’s dis-
covery is of exceeding interest, on account of the fact that in this
group the species are very frequently most difficult to separate by
other available characters. He referred also to the importance
OF WASHINGTON, 15
of similar or homologous structures in other families, which are
of considerable importance in separating the species, as, for in-
stance, the genus Macrocentrus, in which he finds a peculiar plate
on the femora, having one or more peculiar spines at the base,
which varies in different species. He believed, also, that the ar-
rangement of the spines on the tibia in other Hymenoptera, as
Ichneumonide, etc., will be found of importance in the separation
of species. Mr. Schwarz said that these peculiar spiny structures
reminded him very forcibly of similar features in the hind tibiz
and tarsi of Mordellistena, which are referred to in the writings
of LeConte and Smith as ridges, and by European authors as
incisions. ‘These furnish the only characters which can be used
in the satisfactory identification of species. They occur in both
sexes, and are usually found covered with pollen, the beetles being
of a flower-frequenting habit, and these spines are, therefore,
doubtless of importance as a means of cross-fertilization of plants.
Mr. Howard stated as a curious coincidence that the Elasmine
bear a close general resemblance to Mordellistena.
—Mr. Schwarz presented the following paper, illustrating it
with specimens and figures: 1
A “PARASITIC” SCOLYTID.
By E. A. ScHWARz.
Parasitism, as defined by Prof. Riley in a presidential address
recently read before our Society, cannot possibly occur in truly
phytophagous insects; but if we take the term in its widest
meaning, as lately discussed by Dr. Stiles and others (see p. 1),
we find in the life-histories of phytophagous insects various
phenomena which more or less closely approach parasitism.
Confining myself to the three great phytophagous families of
Coleoptera, I do not recall any instances of this sort among the
Cerambycide and Chrysomelide, but quite a number are known
among the Rhynchophora. Thus the larve of Copturus
longulus inhabit the galls of Podapion gallicola, but they are
mere messmates, and their presence is not detrimental to the
welfare of the author of the gall. Some of our species of
Otidocephalus which have frequently been bred from various
Cynipid galls appear to have a similar mode of life. The larva
of Conotrachelus posticatus is known to live within certain
Phylloxera galls on Hickory leaves, and in this case the
Phylloxeras always perish, probably from starvation, since it can
hardly be assumed that the Conotrachelus larva is insectivorous.
16 ENTOMOLOGICAY SOUIETY
Apion sordidum develops in large numbers in the galls of a
Cecidomyiid on Bigelovia and causes the death of the gall-maker.
Some of our Anthonomus, viz., A. exeolus (formerly incorrectly
referred by me to A. favicornzs) and A. sycophanta furnish other
examples of a parasitic mode of life. ;
Among the Scolytids no such larval parasitism occurs. but it
has long since been observed that in some species the female
beetle uses the galleries made by another female, either of the
same or another species, to enter the wood for a shorter or longer
distance and then to excavate a separate gallerv. Eichhoff men-
tions several European species in which this habit of taking
advantage of the work of other individuals of the same or
different species is known to occur, and among our own species
I have also observed it. Some years ago I exhibited before our
Society (see Proc. 1, p. 48) the work of Zomicus celatus,
where two females had used the entrance hole previously made
by a third female. At another time I cut from the solid wood of
a Walnut the network of a gallery in which two different species
of Xyleborus (Y. fauscatus and pubescens) had developed so
that it was impossible to decide which species was the original
author of the burrows and which the intruder.
In some species of Scolytids this habit is only exceptional,
while in others it occurs more frequently, and there is a possibility
that in one or the other species:it becomes the rule; in other
words, that such species are more or less dependent upon the work
done by other species and unable to pierce the bark of a tree by
their own effort.
I do not know whether or not such ** parasitic’ Scolytids exist,
but there is in our fauna a minute species of Crypturgus, the
galleries of which, as often as I found them, always started from
the main gallery of a Tomicus, usually 7. cacographus. More
extended observations are, however, necessary to decide whether
or not this is the normal habit of this species. I found it first in
1876, near Tampa, Fla., under bark of Pzmus palustris, and in
subsequent years near Washington, D. C., under bark of P. zzops.
It does not appear to be a very common ’species, but in the fall of
1892 quite a number of the galleries were found, though the
beetles had in most instances already deserted them. The main
gallery starts either rectangularly or obliquely from that of the
Tomicus, at such place where no eggs of the host were laid or
where the eggs had been destroyed by some predaceous insect.
The gallery is either tolerably straight or more or less irregularly
cutved and of varying length, the longest measuring about 25
millimeters. At irregular intervals secondary galleries branch oft
which are extremely short, not more than 2 millimeters in length,
so that the larve appear to be more or less stationary. All
colonies observed by me were very small, and I never counted
more than eight larval galleries in one colony.
OF WASHINGTON. 17
The species itself appears to be undescribed and is evidently
the southern representative of Crypturgus pusillus Gyll. (atomus
Lec.) which belongs to the circumpolar fauna. It may be briefly
characterized as follows: .
Crypturgus alutaceus, n. sp. Elongate, nearly cylindrical, moderately
shining, sparsely and inconspicuously pubescent, pubescence longer on
head, sides of thorax and on the elytral declivity ; color brown, or yellowish-
brown, antenne and legs pale. Head distinctly alutaceous, extremely
finely and obsoletely punctulate. Thorax slightly longer than wide,
slightly rounded on the sides, greatest width at the middle, surface dis-
‘tinctly alutaceous and with sparse, fine, more or less obsolete punctures;
a smoother median line is feebly indicated. Elytra as wide and nearly
twice as long as the thorax, more shining than the latter, punctate-striate,
the striz distinctly impressed with the punctures closely placed and mod-
erately strong, interstices narrower than the striz#, convex and without
distinct punctures, declivity simple. Length, 0.9 mm. |
Described from eight specimens from Tampa, Fla., and
Bladensburg, Md.
Of nearly the same size and form as C. puszl/us, but the latter °
is at once distinguished by the more shining head and thorax,.
the very conspicuous large punctures on the thorax, and the wide
elytral interstices.
Mr. Schwarz also exhibited a few Coleoptera which have been
described as from North America, but have hitherto remained
unknown or unidentified by American coleopterists. The species
were as follows: 7r¢méum clavicorne Mekl., found at Portland,
Or., and Astoria, Or.; Othius californicus Mannh., found at
Astoria, Or., and Victoria, Vancouver Island; and Stexus ¢m-
marginatus Mekl., found at Banff Hot Springs, Alberta, Canada.
—Mr. Stiles reported a case of spurious parasitism in the human
subject. He had received specimens of two larve, identified by
Mr. Howard as Ephestia zee, which were said to have been
passed by a maiden lady with urine. He said that this was un-
doubtedly another case of hysteria, a number of similar cases being
on record. —
—Mr. Schwarz invited the members of the Society to inspect
three large collections of Coleoptera of considerable local interest.
The first was a collection made by Mr. H. G. Hubbard at Lake
Tahoe, Cala., in July, 1891; the second, a large collection also.
bee? | ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
made by Mr. Hubbard in the Yellowstone National Park, at Fort
Assiniboine, Mont., and at Bear Paw Mountains in northern
Montana, in July and August, 1891 ; and the third, a large collec-
tion made in May and June, 1892, by Mr. Hubbard and himself,
in parts of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. _,
Tuurscay, Marcu 9, 1893.
In. the absence of the President and the Vice-Presidents, Mr. E.
W. Doran was elected to the chair. There were ten members
present.
The first paper of the evening was the following, by Mr. Frank
Benton, and was accompanied with an exhibit of the objects
described :
THE CURIOUS DEFENSES CONSTRUCTED BY MELIPONA
AND TRIGONA.
By Frank BENTON.
Some twenty years ago Mr. Ed. Drory, then editor of Le Ru-
cher, of Bordeaux, France, himself a skilful apiarist and a
student of entomology, imported from Brazil a large number of
nests and hives of the Meliponas and Trigonas native to that
country and bred some of the species for several years, even
succeeding, by extra precautions, in carrying some of them through
the winters of his portion of France. Seven species of the
genus Melipona and four of Trigona were studied by him and
some of his observations were published in Ze Rucher for 1873
and 1874, while his particular study of J7/elipona scutellaris
was published by himself in pamphlet form at Bordeaux.* Mr.
Maurice Girard having visited the apiary of Mr. Drory in the
autumn of 1873, and also made some additional observations on
the bees of two hives of different species of Melipona presented
by Mr. Drory to the Jardin d’Acclimatation, read before the En-
tomological Society of France, at three of its meetings held in
1874, some notes on these bees. Referring to Wel¢pona postica
Latr. (AZ. dorsalis of F. Smith), he said, June toth, of the hive
in the Jardin: ‘* They have constructed outside, around each
hole, a very pretty spreading cornet of reddish-brown wax,
having the appearance of some kind of crepe or stiff PCT ay
. Quelques Observations sur la Mélipone scutellaire, “Melipona
scutellaris Latr., par Ed. Drory, Bordeaux, 1872.
+ Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France, 1874, p. CVI (Séance
du 10 Juin).
OF WASHINGTON, 19
Again, July 22d, he remarks: ‘* The small species, AZ dorsalis
Smith, now has at the entrance of its hive a long, somewhat
distorted, cylindrical tube of brown wax, 5-or (6 cm. long and 1
cm. in diameter, ending outside with a _ reddish spreading
cornet. *. &..*.* . The --workers~ of.. the “other. species,
Melipona scutellaris Latr., have built of brown wax, granular
and soft, a sort of a wall which completely closes the large
entrance -hole which was made in the bottom of the wooden box
that serves as their hive. This work must be intended to. protect
them from the light and to prevent the entrance of insect
enemies.” * . At the meeting of the 9th of December, 1874, Mr.
Girard said: ‘‘ It is seen in the nest of AZelipona scutellaris that
a tube of wax starts from the entrance-hole and leads to the
brood-nest, so that the insect traverses it in the same manner as
the Termites of Landes and Charantes their galleries of sawdust.
It is the exterior collar of this tube which I have observed around
the flight-hole of the small species in the Jardin“d’Acclimata-
tion, AZ. postica Latr., or dorsalzs Smith. It is probable that this
tube, which is found in the nests of all species of Melipona and
Trigona, serves to shut outall light from the interior and prevents
the introduction of insect enemies.” +
It is particularly to the opinion expressed in this last sentence,
as well as on one other occasion by Mr. Girard, namely, ¢haz
these defenses were constructed for the purpose of preventing
the entrance of light, that I wish to direct your attention, and
also to the statement made in all four quotations, ‘hat the mate-
rial of these entrance-tubes ts wax. So far as I am aware, no
one has ever called in question the correctness of these observa-
tions made, as they were, by one of the former presidents of the
Entomological Society of France, who has himself written a work
on apiculture which professes, as its preface states, ‘* to be a guide
both scientific and practical,” and ‘‘for apiculturists a clear and
exact résumé of the natural history and of the technical operations
connected with the harvesting of the products ; for sevants, a com-
plete monograph from the entomological standpoint.” }
It is true he does not directly state that the tubes or defenses
constructed by Trigona are of the same material as those made
by Melipona, but he distinctly states on three different occasions
that the entrance barriers of the latter are of wax, and when refer-
ring to Trigona he fails to note any exception. This, it seems to
me, implies that he considers the nature of the material employed
in these constructions by each genus the same, as also the purpose
they serve. Mr. Drory clearly regarded them as built for protec-
*Td., p. CXL (Séance du 22 Juillet).
+ M. Girard in Annales de la Société ent. de France, 1874, p. 568
(Séance du g Déc., 1874).
t Les Abeilles, Organes et Fonctions, éducation et produits, miel et cire,
par Maurice Girard, Paris, 1878. (See pp. 7-8.)
/
20 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
tion against insect enemies, and made no mention of their exclu-
sion of light from the interior of the nests. Certain observations
I have made lead me to form conclusions differing somewhat from
those recorded by Mr. Girard, and I will, therefore, mention
briefly some of them, as well as show you~ entrance-tubes and
combs constructed by bees of these genera that you may judge for
yourselves as to the materials used in each.
Melipona.—In 1883 I was kindly shown by Mr. Drory himself
his collection of 30 or 40 nests and hives of Melipona and Tri-
gona—mostly theformer. The entrance-tubes and barriers,where
constructed, were, as far as I could determine, of the same mate-
rial as the entrance-tube leading from the flight-hole to the brood-
nest of the hive now before you, contained in the original case in
which it was imported from Brazil, and which was kindly pre-
sented to me by Mr. Drory in acknowledgment of specimens of
East Indian bees I had givento him. ‘This nest or hive is one of
Melipona scutellaris Fabr. It can be readily seen that consider-
able difference exists between the material of the entrance-tube
and that of the honey-cells and labyrinthine envelope of the brood-
nest. I have examined the material of entrance-tubes and cells
with considerable care, and find that of the tubes to be quite hard
and brittle at ordinary temperatures, under which wax is some-
what yielding and pliable; in burning it gives no odor of wax,
but rather that of some resinous gum. The tube where it passes
through the labyrinthine envelope to reach the brood-nest, and
also where, outside this envelope, honey-cells are attached to it,
undoubtedly has incorporated in its mass more or less wax of the
peculiar brown color and soft, almost greasy, consistency charac-
teristic of the wax of Melipona. But all parts of the tube which
are separated from the nest proper seem to be composed wholly
of resinous substances corresponding to the propolis or so-called
“ bee-glue”’ of our Apis. The nest itself, made up of the store-
cells, labyrinthine envelope, and within this the brood-combs, is
built wholly of the ‘* brown wax, granular and soft,” of which
Mr. Girard speaks. The two substances seem to me to be similar
only in color. Being quite familiar with all of the substances
produced by bees, I feel sure I am not mistaken in identifying the
material of the entrance-tube proper as corresponding to the
propolis gathered by our Afés melléfica, and | am much surprised
that they should have been confounded.
Trigona.—During the early part of 1881 I passed several
weeks on the Island of Ceylon and while there examined about
a dozen nests of Trigona located where built. These were all
found in the more open portions of the country. None were
noticed in the denser forest regions, although hollow trees suitable
for nesting-places were not lacking there. The nests, with one
exception, were in the hollows of small stubs or branches of low
OF WASHINGTON. 21
trees. The single exception was that of a swarm which had
located in one of the iron posts supporting the porch of a house
at Kaltura, on the southwestern coast. The only entrance to this
nest was through a small hole scarcely 5 mm. in diameter in the
side of the iron post—a hole probably caused by an air-bubble
when the pillar was cast. The occupants of the pillar evidently
considered themselves secure within their iron walls, with so
small an opening for ingress, for they had constructed no outer
defences. The same thing was noticed in all instances where the
trees in which the nests were located were tolerably sound and
the entrance-holes were small. But in several where the
entrances were IO mm. to 25 mm. in diameter the bees had built
a ridge or rim 10 to 15 mm. high around the flight-hole. The
sticky material used seemed to be a resinous gum, as in the case
of the entrance-tubes of Melipona, and, like them also, the ma-
terial appeared similar to the propolis collected by our honey-
bees. Upon a casual examination I thought gnawings of bark
had been incorporated into the mass. Under a lens it appears
to be composed of particles of resin; it tastes like resin and burns
like resin or pitch; it is much harder than wax and is quite
brittle at temperatures at which wax is soft and more or less
ductile; in fact, it shows zoze of the characteristics of real wax,
but does show most of those of propolis as we know it here. I
am therefore decidedly of the opinion that these entrance-tubes
contain zo wax, but are almost, if not wholly, constructed of
propolis. The edges of these curious defences were as thin as
ordinary cardboard, while at the bases where attached to the
trees they were two or three millimeters thick. In one instance,
in the jungle near Kaltura, I found a nest located in a small stub
in which, a little farther down, a colony of ants had also established
itself. The Trigone had extended their tubular defence out
“some 20 mm. and then downward, or perhaps in the heat the
tube had naturally assumed that position, as it had reached a
length of about 20 cm., the diameter varying from 10 to 25 mm.,
the tube being somewhat flattened. Through this tube the bees
reached their nest, entering at the lower end, the only opening,
and I noticed that the ants, usually so ravenous and destructive
in this as well as other tropical regions, avoided this somewhat
sticky tube. I carefully removed this tube, portions of which I
now place before you, and the nest of Trigonz from its lodge-
ment in the tree and placed it in a small box, and being about to
proceed eastward took it with me. The insects bore the confine-
ment of the five days’ sea-voyage to Singapore very well. They
were permitted to fly there a couple of days’ and then confined
for three days more on the journey to the Island of Java. Upon
being released, with a number of colonies of Apzs mellifica I
had brought with me, at the Dutch East Indian Agricultural
2? ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
College, near Buitenzorg, these diminutive bees immediately
went vigorously to work ‘‘ cleaning house,” and were soon bring-
ing in pollen and honey. When the flight-hole was much larger
than was necessary in order to permit a single Trigona to pass
in or out, the ants, large and small, were even more troublesome
than in Ceylon. Individuals from the hives of Afzs mellifica
(Cyprian and Palestine varieties) which I had brought with me
also made efforts to get into the nest or hive of Trigone. The
latter immediately began the construction of an entrance-tube,
but did not add to it after I contracted the entrance, and until
some one disturbed the cover during my absence the small size
of the entrance with perhaps some aid from the surrounding wall
of sticky propolis enabled ‘the tiny occupants to hold their fort.
I found the cover awry one day and ants in full possession. The
Trigonas had been destroyed and their honey and immature bees
taken. No honey-bees were seen about the box, but perhaps
they had helped at the banquet and “had taken leave as soon as
the first course (the honey) had been disposed of.
As the tubular entrances were only constructed, as far as I ob-
served, when the flight-holes themselves were rather large, and
when thess were small the bees seemed to be secure without
such passage-ways, I naturally concluded that the tubes served
as defences only. Their whole arrangement, combined with the
labyrinthine envelope of the brood-nest, is well calculated to afford
considerable secur ity to the stores of these stingless bees, for any
other insect wishing to reach the honey of ‘the Meliponas or
Trigonas must needs pass, first of all, the length of the outer
tube or barrier-wall where such has been constructed, then
through the narrow entrance past the sentinels, down the inner
tube into the brood-nest, and thence through the labyrinthine
passages of the envelope to the outside of the brood-nest where
the cells for holding honey and pollen are found attached to the
inner walls of the cavity which has been selected as a home by
the colony. Once there and gorged with honey the robber
would have to run the same gauntlet to get out, if indeed he
could remember his way through the labyrinthine passages, which
the Meliponas and Trigonas traverse with ease and rapidity. It
is easily understood that this arrangement also prevents the ready
escape of the odor of honey which might attract pilferers.
The bees which I saw in nests having no outside entrance-
tubes did not seem to be incommoded by the small amount of
light which entered through the flight-hole. Nor are our bees
of the sister genus Apis. Even Bombus, of which I have often
had a dozen or more nests at a time in small wooden hives, is
not apparently disturbed by the light which enters through a
half-inch hole. Some varieties of our Afzs mellifica construct
corresponding entrance-defences to protect themselves in regions
where the death’s-head moth and wasps are abundant.
OF WASHINGTON. 23
These facts lead me to conclude that Mr. Girard is quite in
error in his opinion that these entrance-tubes are constructed of
wax, and also equally so in the view that they are for the express
purpose of shutting out the light. Propolis is doubtless the
material of the tubes, and they are probably built for defence
only.
Some discussion followed on the nature of the substance used
in the construction of the entrance-tubes and honey-cells, and the
author was also questioned as to the natural enemies of these
bees. In reply he stated that one of their enemies seems to be
the common honey-bee, Apzs mellifica, which robs the nests and
eventually drives out and destroys the stingless Melipona. Mr.
Schwarz referred to a paper by Dr. Von Ihering, in which the
statement was made that the native bees had been almost driven
out and destroyed in the province of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil,
by Apis mellifica, which had rapidly spread over the entire
district. The bee-moth was also stated by Mr. Benton to infest
the nests of Melipona, but he was unable to give any facts as to
the native or original enemies of Melipona except in a general
way—that they were subject to the attacks of various birds and
Vespas. That there must be, however, various insect parasites
which are peculiar to these bees was urged by Mr. Schwarz and
others. The death’s-head moth having been mentioned as an
enemy of bees, Mr. Schwarz inquired in what way the damage
from this moth occurred. Mr. Benton stated that it consisted in
its entering the hives and robbing them of their honey, which
injury was probably not very extensive, as the moth rarely escaped
from the hive, but was killed and dismembered by the bees and
sealed up in the hive in a covering of propolis. Mr. Howard
queried whether the wax which was known to be abundant anda
common article of commerce in the times of the Motezumas,
among the ancient Mexicans, was a product of the native
Melipona. In answer to a question as to the geographical dis-
tribution of these bees (Melipona) Mr. Benton stated that, so far
as he knew, they are limited to the New World and occur in the.
greatest abundance in Southeast Brazil and other parts of
South and Central America, and in the West Indies. The
Trigona occurs in Brazil and other tropical countries of South
24 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
America, also in Mexico, and in the eastern hemisphere, in
Ceylon, the Malay peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and also in parts
of Australia.
—Mr. Schwarz presented the following, illustrating his re-
marks by sketches and exhibition of specimens:
NOTE ON THE OVIPOSITOR OF SOME SPECIES OF
DONACIA.
By E. A. ScHWARzZ.
While arranging a collection of North American Donacias I
noticed that in many females of the subgenus Plateumaris
(Group D of Mr. Leng’s Synopsis of the Donacie of Boreal
America, in Trans. Am. Ent. Soc., xviii, pp. 159 ff.) the
ovipositor is protruded and represents a very conspicuous object.
In the typical Donacia the ovipositor is never visible, and upon
dissection it was found that in these species the outer, horny
sheaths of the ovipositor are but little developed and not capable
of protrusion.
In the species of Plateumaris the outer sheaths of the ovipositor
form two plates, a smaller and narrower dorsal plate and a wider
and much longer ventral plate. The upper plate is always
extremely thin and transparent, usually as long as wide, with the
apical side either subtruncate, or rounded, or feebly triangularly
produced.
The ventral plate is usually much longer than wide, with the
sides parallel at the basal part, thence convergent either obliquely
or arcuatedly and terminating in an acute point. The rim of
this plate is slightly thickened, hard and horny, highly polished
_ and of a rich umber brown; the edge itself is extremely sharp
jike that of a knife and finely (in one species coarsely) serrate.
The middle of the plate from the base to some distance beyond
the parallel portion is very thin, quite transparent and concave
at the dorsal surface. The dorsal plate closly fits into this con-
cavity and thus protects the inner parts of the ovipositor, which
can be plainly seen through the transparent outer plates.
The whole apparatus just characterized evidently forms an in-
strument admirably adapted to sawing into the tissues of plants,
and I have not the slightest doubt that in all species of this sub-
genus the eggs are laid within the stems or roots of plants. The
Ovipositor is exserted at an angle with the tip of the abdomen so
that the beetle can operate it exactly like a saw moving up- and
downward. When the ventral plate has sufficiently deeply pene-
trated into the plant, the apex of the dorsal plate is lifted up,
which can be readily done on account of the higher rim of the.
ventral plate. The ovipositor proper, guided by the inner
OF WASHINGTON. 25
(lateral) pair of plates, then is pushed through this opening and
the egg (or the eggs) is thus inserted into the slit.
-It is well known that the imagos of Plateumaris differ in habit
from those of Donacia: the former occur on palustral plants and
the latter on truly aquatic plants. The supposed oviposition in
Plateumaris greatly differs from that of the true Donacia, so far
as the life-histories of these are known, and would seem to indi-
cate a corresponding difference in the habits of the larva.
I am not aware that any similar structure of the ovipositor has
been observed in other Coleoptera,* and while in several families
(especially Cerambycidz) the eggs are inserted into the tissues
of plants, the ovipositor is at most a piercing instrument, but
never a saw.
From an examination of a number of females of Plateumaris
it can be readily seen that the form of the ovipositor, and more
especially that of the ventral plate, offers excellent characters
for the distinction of the species. ‘The material at present at my
disposal is, however, by no means complete enough to enable me
to give a synoptic table of the species based upon this character,
and I confine myself to indicate briefly the various types of this
structure in the North American species:
a De es ¢
a
Fig. «. Outer ventral plate of the ovipositor in Donacia (subgenus Plateumaris):
a, Donacia, vn. sp.?; 6, D. rufa; c, D. enarginata.
ist Type. Ventral plate with a prominent, acute tooth on each
side of the junction of the parallel basal part with the apical part ;
the latter triangular with the sides straight and finely serrulate :
terminal point long and slender, spine-like.
This type occurs only in D. rufa.
2d Type. Ventral plate without such tooth; apical part more
or less triangular, with the sides either straight or arcuate, edge
finely serrulate ; terminal point acute but not spine-like.
Most of our species belong here; specific differences are indi-
cated by the greater or smaller width of the plate, the longer or
* The pupe of the Chrysomelid genus Sagra have been found within
the stems of plants, but 1 had no opportunity of examining female speci-
mens of this genus.
26 ENTOMOLOGIGAL SOCIETY
shorter apical portion of the same, the greater or smaller extent
of the thickened rim, etc. .
3@ Type. Ventral plate without such tooth; apical portion not
triangularly produced but broadly rounded; edge coarsely ser-
rate ; terminal point represented by a broad tooth.
Here belongs a single species which is possibly undescribed.
—Mr. Schwarz exhibited samples of white and black insect
pins made by Schliiter of Baden, Germany, and now offered for
sale by Queen & Co. He said that from a: short experience
these pins appeared to him to be superior in ‘many respects to
the Klager pins as now obtained in the market.
APRIL 6, 1893.
In the absence of the President, Vice-President Ashmead pre-
sided. Ten members and one visitor were present.
Dr. Marx presented the following paper :
DEGENERATION BY DISUSE OF CERTAIN ORGANS IN
SPIDERS.
By Gro. Marx.
A strange example of retrogradation in organs by disuse I have
noticed among some spiders of the Fam. Drassidz collected in
the subarctic region of our continent: The genus Gnaphosa is
known to make no web, their faculty of spinning being con-
fined to making loose threads in crevices under bark and stones,
- to cocoon covering, and occasionally they issue a drag-line while
running.
In the northern region their active life is so short that they
seem to have no need to use their spinning organs at all, and these
organs—the external spinnerets as well as the internal spinning
glands—are apt to retrograde gradually and become rudimentary
or they are lost altogether. This is the case in our’ Guaphosa
conspersa Thorell, of which I possess specimens in my
collection from Alaska, Lake Superior, and Lake Klammath,
Oregon. Here the two superior and the two median spinnerets
are entirely wanting, while the two inferior spinnerets are fully
developed. The anatomical change is contined to the absence of
eleven large glands (either tubuliform or ampulacee and nine
median glands), while in the inferior spinnerets there are retained
three large and about twenty smaller pyriform: glands. The
product of the pyriform glands is the guy-rope or drag-line, while
OF WASHINGTON. 27
the tubuliform glands furnish the spinning material for the
cocoons. . Thus we see the males are able to render their walk-
ing secure by the usual guy-rope, and the females can cover their
cocoons safely. In consequence, the absence of these organs does
not interfere with the life of the animals.
The paper was discussed by Messrs. Gill, Ashmead, and
Schwarz.
Dr. Marx stated in answer to a question by Mr. Schwarz that
the Attide have the six normal spinnerets, for, although they
spin no webs, they have occasion to elaborate a good deal of silk
for their winter quarters. Dr. Marx further stated that he had
learned from a correspondent near Baltimore that the common
Phydippus morsitans had died in large numbers from cold dur-
ing the past winter, thus showing that the idea he had presented
at a previous meeting relative to the hibernation of Arctic spiders
was probably correct.
Mr. Schwarz stated that he had observed a great mortality
among the Scolytids affecting pine trees near Bladensburg, Md.,
the principal species being Zomicus cacographus and 7. celatus.
Last fall these insects and their larvae were extremely abundant
in the trees, but at the present time hardly a living individual
was to be found. Specimens of a coleopterous enemy of the
species, viz., ypophleus parallellus, are alive at the present
time; and it may be that the work of this insect accounts in some
degree for the disappearance of the injurious forms, but he is
inclined to think that the unusual cold of the past winter was the
principal cause of the great mortality. Dr. Smith stated that as
these species occur also much further north, the mortality could
hardly have been caused by the cold; to which Mr. Schwarz
replied that in his opinion a more or less extensive mortality from
unusual cold must occur occasionally to keep the numbers of the
beetles within bounds. Mr. Ashmead spoke incidentally of the
hibernation of a large spider of the genus Attus under the bark
of trees in Florida.
—Mr. Ashmead presented the following:
A SYNOPSIS OF THE SPALANGIINZ OF NORTH AMERICA.
By Witiiam H. ASHMEAD. |
Head large oblong or ovate, often tricornuted in front, the
occipital line usually complete. Ocelli 3, always present, tri-
28 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY —
angularly arranged. Mandibles bidentate at tips. Maxillary and
labial palpi 2-jointed. Antennz clavate or subclavate, variable
in the number of joints from 8 to 12. Prothorax usually large,
well developed, narrowed before or subquadrate. Mesonotum
usually with short, triangular, convex scapule. Scutellum flat
and sometimes with an impressed cross-line before apex. Wings
often absent, when present with a marginal fringe, the marginal
vein most frequently long, linear, rarely short and thickened, the
postmarginal and stigmal veins usually very short; hind wings
narrowed toward base, not lobed, with a distinct marginal vein.
Abdomen distinctly petiolated, the tip compressed into a horn-
like point with the ovipositor exserted or subexserted. - Legs
rather slender, the tarsi 5-jointed, the claws simple.
The Spalangiine represent a small group in the family
Chalctdide, section Macrocentri, that is closely allied to the
Pirenine and 7ridymine, and in which the occipital line is
usually complete, the mandibles bidentate, while the antenne
are never more than 12-jointed.
The group is further distinguished by the very short, well-
defined parapsides, a distinctly petiolated abdomen, by the
venation, and by the apex of the abdomen being compressed into
a small projecting horn-like process.
Of the five genera here brought together, the parasitism of
fouris known: /socratus Forst. is parasitic on different Aphids ;
Cerocephala Westw. attacks the larve of wood-boring beetles,
belonging to the family Scolytede; Chetospila Westw. was
reared from a beetle in seed of Zea mays; while Spalangia
Latr. is parasitic on Dipterous larve.
The different.genera may be distinguished .by the aid of the
following table:
TABLE OF GENERA.
Prothorax subquadrate, not or scarcely narrowed anteriorly.
Head transverse, normal, the antenne 12-jointed, inserted far above
the clypeus; marginal vein very short, . . . Jsocratus Forster.
Prothorax long, narrowed anteriorly.
Head tridentate with deep antennal furrows, a sharp high-pointed
carina between base of antennz; marginal vein long.
Head with a long spear-like process ;_ mandibles very large— three-
fourths the length of the head; antenne to-jointed in both
SEKCR 8 . . . . Paralesthia Cameron.
Head without a ines sauay ates process; mandibles not large.
Antenne in 9,9-,in ¢ 10 or 11-jointed, Cerocephala Westw.
Antenne in Q 8-jointed; ¢' unknown, . Chetospila Westw.
*In Cresson’s synopsis the mandibles are said to be three ¢zmes as long
-as the head, instead of three fourths as long—plainly a copyist’s or
printer’s error, but a serious one.
OF WASHINGTON. 29
Head smooth, not tridentate, without distinct antennal furrows;
antennz inserted close to the mouth, in 9 1o-, in ¢f 12-jointed,
Spalangia Latr.
ISOCRATUS Forster, Hym. Stud., ii, p. 53 (1856).
Syn. Asaphes Walk., Ent. Mag., ii, p. 151 (1834).
(Type A. vulgaris Walk.)
Head transverse, wider than the thorax, with the frons impressed;
viewed from in front it is subtriangular. Eyes moderate, broadly oval,
bare. Ocelli on the vertex, triangularly arranged. Mandibles curved,
bidentate, the teeth rather long, acute. Maxillary and labial palpi 2-
jointed.
Antenne clavate, 12-jointed in both sexes, inserted slightly below the
middle of the face, all the funiclar joints transverse. Thorax sub-
ovoid, the pronotum large, nearly quadrate; the mesonotum with two dis-
tinct furrows, the parapsides subconvex, the metanotum small, rugulose.
Wings hyaline, the margins delicately fringed, the marginal vein shorter
than the stigmal vein, the former slightly thickened towards apex. Legs
slender, the tibial spurs 1, 1, 1, the last pair weak; tarsi 5-jointed.
Abdomen ovate, depressed above, distinctly petiolated, terminating ina
small compressed process, the second segment about 13 times as long as
the third, the following segments short, subequal.
Only a single species, having several synonyms, is known, as
follows:
I. vulgaris Walker.
Asaphes vulgaris Walk., Ent Mag., ii, p. 152.
Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., x, p.-114.
List. Brit. Mus. Chale. 1846, p. 23. _
Eurytoma aenea Nees, Hym. Ich. Aff. Monog, ii, p. 42.
Colax aphidit Curt., Jour. Roy. Agric. Soc., iii.
Pteromalus petiolatus (?) Zett., Ins. Lapp., xiv, p. 332.
Chrysolampus suspensus Nees, Monog., ii, p. 127.
altiventris Nees, |. c.
Isocratus vulgaris Thoms., Skand. Hym., iv, 208.
Riley, U. S. Agric. Rep. 1889, p. 35, pl. vi, f. 2.
3 9 .—Length, 1.6to 2.3 mm. Aeneous black and most frequently with
a decided metallic tinge on the thorax, pleura and coxe; antennz usually
black, but the flagellum varies from brownish-yellow to brown and black,
legs, except coxz, brownish-yellow with sometimes the femora and tibie
obfuscated; coxz aeneous black or submetallic; wings hyaline, the
venation pale brownish-yellow, the marginal vein shorterthan the stigmal
vein, a little thickened at apex.
The whole surface, except the middle mesothoracic lobe anteriorly
and the metathorax, is smooth, shining; middle mesothoracic lobe
30 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
anteriorly feebly punctate, metathorax finely rugose, its pleura with long
greyish hairs. Antenne 12-jointed, clavate, the funiclar joints transverse.
Abdomen ovate, petiolate, depressed above, its tip compressed into a little
point, the petiole about 23 times as long as thick, rugulose, the ruguosities
longitudinally directed, or striated; rest of abdomen smooth polished, the
second segment the longest—-13 times as long as the third, the segments
after the third short, subequal; <j’ abdomen smaller, more depressed and
with the tip truncate.
Hab.—Europe, North and South America, and Australia.
This species is a common parasite on different species of Aphids ;
the only exception is a specimen reared by myself from Dacty/-
opius adonidum Linn.
PARALZSTHIA Cameron, Biol. Cent. Am., Hymn., p. 110.
E (Type P. mandibularis Cam.)
‘* Head elongate, broad, produced in front into a spear-head process,
the apex of which is blunt, and its base produced into a blunt tooth-like
process. Eyes small, oval, situated on the sides. Vertex with a wide
and: deep furrow extending from behind the ocelli to the antenne and
carinated in the middle, the keel running down to the centre. Mandibles
very large, three-fourths of the length of the head, curved, bidentate.
Antenne 10-jointed, clavate, situated a little below the middle of the head;
scape shorter than the first two joints of the flagellum, the first joint
shorter than the second, fourth and fitth shorter and thicker; the rest
become thicker towards apex. Prothorax large, a little broader than long,
distinctly separated from the mesothorax, the sides scarcely straight,
transverse behind, rounded and narrowed in front. Mesonotum rather
flat above, the scutellum not clearly defined. Metanotum comparatively
large, closely amalgamate with the mesonotum. Petiole long, curved,
broader at the base than at the apex, round. Abdomen ovoid, flat, con-
tracted before and behind; second segment longer than the next, fourth
much longer than any of the others; apical a little shorter than the third.
Ulna shorter than the marginal branch (which is prolonged a little beyond
the cubitus); at its junction with ulna is a thickened spot of hairs; the
marginal branch is provided with projecting hairs; the margins of the
wings with long cilia. Coxe large, thickened, widely separated; femora
stout; tarsi longer than the tibiz.
The female has a stout laterally compressed ovipositor, which is about
half the length of the abdomen. The head over the mouth is broadly
incised, the edges of the incision being tooth-like; the front below the
antenne is produced into a broad keel, which overhangs the mouth-region,
terminating in a blunt thick tooth.” (Cameron. )
This genus is unknown to me in nature; the type P. man-
dibularts Cam. is described from Panama. Mr. Cameron in
OF WASHINGTON. 31
speaking of it says: ‘* The affinities of this genus are clearly
with Zheocolax Westw., with which it agrees in the structure of
the thorax and abdomen and of its wings; but the enormous de-
velopment of the mandibles, the very deep and long suture on
the head, and the greater development of the basal abdominal
segments sufficiently differentiate the two.”
CEROCEPHALA Westwood, Mag. d. Zool. i., p. (1831).
(Type C. cornigera Westw.)
Syn. Theocolax Westw., Lond. Edin. Phil. Mag., 3d ser., ¢, p. 127
(7832).
Epimacrus Walk., Ent. Mag., ¢, p. 369 (1833).
Lesthia Hal., Ent. Mag., ¢, p. 335 (7833).
Sciatheras Ratzb., Ich. d. Forstins., tt, p. 209 (1848).
Tricoryphus Forst., Hymn. Stud., tt, p. 209 (1856).
Head oblong oval, tridentate before from deep antenral furrows and
a sharp carina between. Ocelli 3, ina triangle. Eyes oval.
Antenne clavate, inserted away from the clypeus, in the <j‘ 1o- or 11-
jointed, the last two joints sometimes connate and apparently reducing
the number of joints; in the Q g-jointed, the club in the 2 sometimes
jointed and giving a corresponding increase in the number of joints.
Maxillary and \abial palpi short, 2-jointed.
Thorax long, the prothorax large, triangular, or quadrate, the meso-
notum with short, triangular scapule, the scutellum without a transverse
impressed line before the tip, the metathorax more or less rounded off
posteriorly.
Front wings fringed, the marginal vein rather long, the stigmal and
poststigmal veins short. Females often wingless.
Abdomen suboval or conic-ovate, longly petiolated, the ovipositor ex-
serted. ,
Legs rather stout, hairy.
Forster, as early as 1856,* united Zeocolax with Cerocephala
and says: Walker hat in dem Ent. Mag., vol. ii, p. 149, Zwei
Arten angefiihrt, cormigera Westw. und formiczformis Westw.
Beide halte ich fiir dieselbe Art, die in Bezug auf Farbung und
selbst auf die Kopfbildung, sowie nicht minder in der Grésse
bedeutend variirt. Oft sind nicht zwei Exemplare vollig gleich
gebildet. .Der Name cornigera, als der Altere, witirde beibe-
halten werden miissen und die Synonymie ware folgende :
Cerocephala cornigera Westw., Guerin Mag. d. Zool., prem.
Livr., pl. 4 (1831) ov. ;
Theocolax formiciformis Westw., Lond. and Edin. Phil. Mag.,
3d ser. i, no. ii, p. 127 (1832) &. |
*Hymen. Stud. ii, p. 41.
32 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Lesthia vespertina fal., Ent. Mag., i, p. 335 (1833) ae.
Epimacrus rufus Walk., Ent. Mag., i, p. 369 (1833) °.
Sctatheras trichotus Ratzb., Ichn. der. Forstins., ii, Bd. p. 209;
(1848) & alata.
Notwithstanding this, Thomson, in his Skandinaviens Hymen-
optera, vol. iv, p. 207 (1875), gives a table of the Spalangiina,
based entirely on the color, the absence or presence of wings,
and the smoothness of the mesonotum, in which he again sepa-
rates Zheocolax from Cerocephala and also recognizes the genus
Tricoryphus Forster, as belonging to the group which was
originally placed by Forster in his family C7eonymotde. In my
studies in the group, I ain convinced that color, punctuation, and
the absence of wings are of no generic value, and I have united
all of these genera under the older name Cerocephala.
The three species in our fauna may be separated as follows:
TABLE OF SPECIES.
wiepiess or with rudimentary wings, 0.6065 eke fe ine ae 0?
Winged.
Pale brown disk of mesonotum and scutellum metallic brown.
Abdomen bronzy black; head and prothorax with iridescent reflec-
tions; wings hyaline with a broad brown band beyond the
middle. Q Length,imm., . . . . C. pityophthor?, sp. n.
Reddish-yellow or honey-yellow. © with a brownish metallic blotch
across mesonotum and scutellum.
Abdomen in Q with the apical half metallic brown, in ¢\ with a
brownish transverse band.
Wings hyaline in GW with a slight brownish blotch below
the stigmal vein; in 9 with a larger discal blotch and a
slight brownish streak below the juncture of the sub-
marginal with the marginal. Length, 1.5 to mm.,
C. scolytivora, sp. n.
2.—Metallic brownish red; mesothorax broad, longitudinally aciculated.
RAMUTAEOUNS 2 TIN og a Ce eek IS ws ho aie cw re CR MARENSES, PEOV:
_ C, pityophthori, sp. n.
Q.—Length, 1 mm. Pale brown, polished, impunctured; the disk of
mesothorax and the scutellum metallic brown; the abdomen bronzy
black; the head and prothorax with iridescent reflections; the tip of the
antennz black; ovipositor not quite half the length of the abdomen; the
legs pale brownish-yellow, the posterior femora sometimes metallic.
Antenne g-jointed, clavate, moniliform, the pedicel longer than the first
funicle joint; club large, usually inarticulate, but sometimes with one or
two indistinct sutures. Wings hyaline with a broad brown band beyond
the middle; the marginal vein is longer than the submarginal, the stigmal
and postmarginal veins very short.
Hab.—Haw Creek, Florida.
Types in National Museum.
OF WASHINGTON. 33
Described from four specimens, reared by Mr. E. A. Schwarz,
in April, 1887, from Pétyophthorus consimilis Lec.
C. scolytivora, sp. n.
3 &.—Length, 1.5 to2mm. Reddish-yellow or honey-yellow, highly
polished, impunctured; in the ¢ with a brownish submetallic blotch
across the mesonotum and the scutellum, and a brownish transverse band
on the abdomen; the coxe, trochanters, tarsi, and petiole, white; antenne
Io- or I1-jointed gradually incrassated toward tips, submoniliform; wings
hyaline, except a slight brownish blotch below the stigmal vein; in the
Q the apical half or more than the apical half of the abdomen is metallic-
brown, sometimes with purplish reflections, the ovipositor projects with
stout valves, its basal half yellow, its apical half black; the antenne are
stout, moniliform, g-jointed, the club usually not jointed; wings hyaline
with a brown blotch on its disk below the stigmal vein and a much nar-
rower brown streak below the juncture of the submarginal with the mar-
ginal; the marginal vein is longer than the submarginal, the stigmal and
postmarginal short, the former oblique and thickened at tip. The eyes,
in both sexes, are brown, bare, ocelli in a triangle. The head anteriorly
is tricornuted, the keel between the antenne sharp, triangularly pointed.
Hab.—South Florida.
Types in National Museum.
Described from 16 specimens, reared April 14, 1884, by Mr.
E. A. Schwarz, from Loganius ficus Schwarz, MS., found
on Ficus aurea.
C. canadensis Prov.
Theocolax canadensis Prov., Faun. Hym. Can. ii, p. 809.
Q.—Length,2 mm. Metallic brownish-red with coppery reflections.
Antenne kneed after the scape, which is long and lodged in a groove of
the face, brown, the scape testaceous, the last joints thickened, clavate.
Prothorax in the form of an elongate collar; mesothorax broad, longi-
tudinally aciculated before. Rudiments of wings short. Legs testaceous ;
the extremity of the femora and the anterior tibie brownish. Abdomen
thickened at the extremity; the ovipositor one-quarter the length of the
abdomen, testaceous, the extremity black.
. Hab.—Cap Rouge, Canada.
Type in Coll. Provancher.
Unknown to me. The Abbé says: ‘‘Nous ne somme pas
certain que cet insect soit réellement un 7héocolax, ce sont bien
les antennes de ce genre tel que décrit par Westwood, mais le
prothorax n’est pas triangular.”
34 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
CHATOSPILA Westwood, Thes. Ent. Oxon., p. 137.
(Type C. elegans Westw.)
‘‘Caput quadratum antice trilobatum; mandibule subtrigonez apice
obliquo 4-dentato (pl. xxv, fig. 10a); maxillz lobo apicali membranaceo
rotundato setoso, palpis maxillaribus 4-articulatis articulis primo et tertio
brevibus (fig. ob); mentum oblongo-ovale; labium oblongum in medio
paullo constrictum apice rotundato, palpis labialibus biarticulatis articulis
aequalibus (fig. 1oc); antenne 8-articulate (absque articulis annuliforme-
bus) articulis 2-7 longitudine fere aequalibus at sensim crassioribus, ultimo
majori longo-ovali (fig. 10d); collare semiovale capite angustius; meso-
noti scutum breve, scutellum magnum; pedunculus abdominalis brevis ;
abdomen magnum ovale; ale ample, setis longis marginate, vena sub-
costali trientem coste vix attingente, apice ejus in fasciculum setarum
erectarum terminato, ramo stigmaticali minuto; pedes graciles.”
Unknown to me. Prof: Westwood further says: ‘* The re-
markable fascicles of short erect bristles at the junction of the
subcostal vein with the costa is quite peculiar, and, so far as I
have observed, does not occur in any otherinsect. The insect is
closely allied to Cerocephala, from which it differs in the short
peduncle to the abdomen and the 8-jointed antenne, these organs
in Cerocephala being distinctly 1o-jointed, the eighth and ninth
being equal in size to the two preceding joints.”
The type C. elegans is figured 1. c. supra, on pl. xxv, fig. 10,
and was reared from Zea mays. It is undoubtedly parasitic
on some Coleopteron living in the corn.
The peculiar fascicles of short erect bristles to which Prof.
Westwood calls especial attention is likewise at times present in
Cerocephala. It is a peculiar feature of Scéatheras trichotus
Ratz., and is very distinctly shown in his figure of this insect,
Ichn. der Forstins, Bd. ui, Taf. iii, fig. 1. Moreover, on page
209 he has called especial attention to it in the following words:
‘¢Weit eigenthiimlicher und ganz einzig ist die Verzierung der
Fligel-Junktur. Hier steht ein Flausch von feinen Bérstchen
(Fig. a, schwach vergréssert und Fig. 6, jener Flausch in einer
etwas verdnderten Richtung stark vergrossert).”
The genus appears to me scarcely distinct from Cerocephala.
SPALANGIA Latreille, Gen. Crust. et Ins., iv, p. 29.
(Type S. niger Latr.)
Head oblong or ovate, anteriorly truncate. Eyes ovate, hairy. Ocelli
3, in a triangle.
Mandibles oblong, bidentate at tips.
Maxillary and labial palpi 2-jointed.
Antenne elbowed, inserted at the mouth, to- or 12-jointed, in Q clavate
or subclavate, in ,j\ filiform, the third joint elongated.
OF WASHINGTON. 35
Thorax long, the prothorax long, narrowed anteriorly, mesonotum
prominent anteriorly, the scapule prominent, the scutellum flat with a
transverse impressed or punctate line before the tip, metathorax sub-
quadrate, the posterior angles obtusely dentate, the dorsum with a medial
sulcus.
Wings narrowed basally, the margins fringed; the marginal vein is
very long, and the postmarginal and stigmal veins are very short.
Abdomen ovate, convex, the apex obtuse, ovipositor sub-exserted, short,
stout, and slightly compressed. .
Legs rather long and slender, the coxe large, compressed, the femora
most frequently attenuated, tibial spurs 1, 1, 1, the tarsi shorter than the
tibiz, the intermediate joints very minute, metatarsus anteriorly dilated,
the posterior tarsi elongate.
This genus is distinguished at once by the long head, the
antenne inserted at the mouth, and by the cross-furrow before the
tip of the scutellum.
Five species have been recognized in our fauna, only three of
which are known to me, which may be separated as follows :
TABLE OF SPECIES.
Females.
Blue-black species, . . é ; OE Tay |
Bluish-green, the seiapine: ath a cupreous ee et ees, densely
punctured.
Wings hyaline, slightly dusky, . . .. . . S. polita Say.
Black, more or less bronzed, the thorax rugoso-punctate. f
Wings dusky with brownish nervures, . . . . S. @nea Prov.
. Mesonotum and scutellum zneous.
Head and prothorax with large, close, umbilicate punctures;
wings hyaline, the marginal vein a little more than half the
length of the submarginal, . . . . . S. rugosicollis, sp. n.
_ Head with coarse, distant punctures, the prothorax smooth; wings
hyaline, the marginal vein long, . . SS. drosophile, Ashm.
Head and prothorax smooth, impunctured; wings hyaline, the
marginal vein two-thirds the length of the submarginal,
S. hematobie, sp. n,
S. polita Say. Leconte Ed. Say’s Works, vol. i, p. 382.
‘* Bluish- “green ; tergum with a cupreous band at base. . Inhabits Vir-
ginia.
‘* Body bluish-green, varied with violaceous, densely punctured; front
grooved to receive the basal joint of the antenne; flagellum fuscous;
wings hyaline, slightly dusky; scutel somewhat prominent; abdomen a
little depressed; first segment brilliant cupreous; incisures glabrous;
terminal segment longer than the others together, forming at tip a nar-
36 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
rowed, carinated black process for the reception of the tip of the oviduct;
feet dull honey-yellow. Length 9 seven-twentieths of an inch.” (Say.)
Hab.—Virginia. .
Mr. Say further says:
‘*] found this species on the sea beach of Sempuxent Island.”
S. enea, Prov. Add. ala Faun. Hym., p. 200.
o'.—Length, 2 mm. _ Black, more or less bronzed, with the mouth and
antenne reddish. Antenne very long, filiform, pubescent, the joints
distinct. Thorax rugoso-punctate, the prothorax very short.. Wings gen-
erally obscured with brownish nervures.. Legs brown, more or less red-
dish. Abdomen with a short and stout petiole, the rest oval, depressed;
the third segment the largest, polished, shining, rounded at the extremity.
(Provancher. )
Hab.—Ottawa (Harrington).
Unknown to me and probably not a Spalangia.
S. rugosicollis sp. n.
Q@.—Length, 2.5 mm. Blue-black, the mesonotum and scutellum,
geneous; the head and prothorax with large, close, umbilicate punctures;
the mesonotum with a large, polished, impunctate space anteriorly, but
rugoso-punctate posteriorly; the parapsides and scutellum with some
sparse round punctures; mesopleura smooth with a fovea at the middle.
Legs blue-black, the tarsi, except the last joint and the claws, reddish-
yellow; the second joint of posterior trochanters is dilated above.
Scutellum with a transverse row of punctures before the tip. Metathorax
- carinated, the space on each side of the central carina, rugoso-punctate.
Abdomen oval, the petiole very long, longitudinally striated, the second
and fourth segments the longest, the latter longer than the second, the
third about half the length of the second. Wings hyaline, the venation
brown; the marginal vein is a little more than half the length of the
submarginal, the postmarginal and the stigmal veins very short, about
equal, thrice as long as thick.
Hab.—Missouri.
Type in National Museum.
Described from a single specimen. The species seems to come
nearest to the European S. £zrta Hal., but it is decidedly smaller
and not so distinctly metallic.
S. drosophilz, Ashm. Trans. Am. Ent. Soc:, xiv, p. 199.
Q.—Length, 2mm. Blue-black, shining. The oblong, flattened head
has a longitudinal medial groove, with coarse, déstan¢ punctures and a’
sparse pubescence. Antennz 1o-jointed. Prothorax elongate, narrowed
before; the scutellum is divided by a transverse row of punctures before
the tip; the metathorax has two lateral longitudinal grooves and its disk
with a double row of coarse punctures confluent behind. The abdominal
OF WASHINGTON. ety 4
petiole is moderately long, longitudinally striated; the third abdominal
segment very slightly shorter than the fourth, the second the longest.
Legs clavate, black, pubescent, the tarsi reddish. Wings hyaline, the
marginal vein long. ;
Hab.—Jacksonville, Fla.; Savannah, Ga.
Type in Coll. Ashmead.
The type was reared by me from a dipterous larva, Drosophila
sp., feeding in decaying oranges; there is also another specimen
in the National Museum, reared by Dr. Riley, August 29, 1881.
from a dipterous puparium found by Mr. Howard on rice at
Savannah, Ga.
S. hematobiz, sp. n.
Q.—-Length,2mm. Blue-black, highly polished, impunctured, except a
small oval space on the mesonotum just in front of the scutellum; the
parapsides or shoulders are metallic. The oblong head is smooth, im-
punctured, with a central longitudinal grooved line.
Mandibles and palpi black. Antenne t1o0-jointed (scape, peditel, 7
funicle joints and club), subclavate, black; the scape is almost as long as
the head, slender and cylindrical; the pedicel long, twice the length of the
first funicle joint; the second funicle joint is a little shorter than the first,
the joints beyond to theclub quadrate; club inarticulate and about as long
as the three preceding joints together.
The prothorax is about twice the length of the mesonotum, polished,
- except the narrow neck-like process at the juncture of the head, which is
finely, opaquely rugose. Scutellum large, smooth, with a transverse sub-
apical impressed line; the post-scutellum is followed by a row of round
punctures. Metathorax as long as the scutellum, tricarinated, smooth
and shining. Legs blue-black, the posterior femora eneous; tarsi above
fuscous, beneath with a short, dense, pale pubescence. Wings hyaline,
strongly iridescent, the venation black; the submarginal vein reaches the
costa at about one-third of the length of the wing, its tip a little incrassated ;
marginal vein long, more than two-thirds the length of the submarginal ;
the postmarginal and stigmal very short, equal, about thrice as long as
thick.
Hab.—Warrenton, Virginia.
Type in National Museum.
Described from a single specimen, reared by Dr. Riley Sep-
tember 13, 1889, from the Horn-fly larva, Hematobia serrata.
The paper was briefly discussed by Messrs. Howard and
Smith, the latter inquiring whether the Spalangia which has
been reared in this country from cow’s dung infested by the
larve of the Horn Fly is an imported species. Mr. Ashmead
replied that it is new to science, and in all probability a native
form.
38 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
' Dr. J. B. Smith spoke informally concerning the Rabbit Flea,
giving the results of some studies recently made, stating, how-
ever, that his remarks were of a purely preliminary character, and
that he was not prepared to present any formal conclusions. He
illustrated his remarks by a series of photographs of slide mounts
of the insect, and called attention to the presence of two long,
curved, chitinous rods in the abdomen of the male, which, while
apparently of use in extruding the genitalia, are so inserted that
it appears they cannot have this function. He further stated that
a study of the mouth-parts of this flea shows that the oral
sclerites resemble much more closely those of the Hemiptera
than those of the Diptera. The piercing organs, instead of being
articulated to the mentum, pass into the head and are inserted
into the sucking stomach. Dr. Smith considers that this fact
must have great weight in the discussion of the systematic posi-
tion of the fleas, and is convinced that instead of forming a
family of the Diptera these insects constitute a separate order.
He is therefore in favor of reviving the order Siphonaptera. In
further support of this view, he stated that while the metamor-
phoses of the fleas resemble those of the Diptera in being com-
plete, the flea larva, as he has been informed by Mr. Pergande,
differs in important particulars from the normal dipterous type.
The communication was discussed by Messrs. Stiles, Marx, Gill,
and Howard.
Dr. Stiles stated that it is a fact that all fleas leave the body of
an animal shortly after death. Dr. Marx stated that the piercing
organs of the fleas are similar in their origin to those of the ticks,
and that in his opinion the fact that these organs enter the head
gives them an additional purchase and fits them better for pierc-
ing the tough skin of an animal. Dr. Gill endorsed Dr. Smith’s
conclusions as to the ordinal rank of the fleas. He spoke of
Klatsch’s classification, and considered that in general too much
classificatory value has been given to the metamorphoses of in-
sects. He does not believe in dividing insects into two great
groups upon metamorphosis alone. He considers the morphol-
ogy of the adult a much safer guide to a rational classification
than the method of transformation. As he had shown in a pre-
vious paper before the Society, complete metamorphosis is an
acquired rather than a primitive character, and this fact supports
——-_
OF WASHINGTON. 39
the view that it is of relatively slight importance in classification.
Mr. Howard expressed himself as of the opinion that the curved
chitinous rods in the abdomen of the flea must be functional, and
that if Professor Smith would examine fresh specimens in which
the muscular tissue had not been destroyed by maceration in
potash, he would find muscular bands accompanying and partly
enveloping the rods. Such muscles being found, the extrusive
function of the rods might be considered proven, however rigid
the attachment of the anal end to the body walls might seem.
He asked Professor Smith if he had homologized the piercing
organs which arise from the sucking stomach, and the latter re-
plied that he had not. He stated, however, that in the Hemip-
tera he had been unable to find a satisfactory trace of the labium,
whereupon Mr. Howard remarked that, supposing these piercing
organs to be, after all, homologous with those of the mosquito,
for instance, which arise from the mentum, the flea might with
some justice be said to have practically swallowed its own labium.
—Dr. Smith stated further that in his opinion the mouth-parts
of the insects of the old-order Neuroptera deserve investigation.
He spoke of the Panorpate or Mecaptera, and stated that he had
recently examined the mouth-parts of Panorpa and Bittacus,
showing that the extraordinary elongation is unique; he had
noticed an approach to a chela in one of the maxillary sclerites.
—Mr. Schwarz exhibited a specimen of a Pterostichus from
Montana, showing a curious malformation in the middle tibia on
the right side. The tibia was double and bore three tarsi. A
Similar fact has been recorded concerning species from other
countries, but the malformation usually does not extend to the
tibial spurs, of which there are two, while in the specimen ex-
hibited by Mr. Schwarz there were four tibial spurs and the tibia
_ bore two tarsi. As a general rule, among the Coleoptera, when-
ever there is extensive malformation of the tarsus the tibial spurs
are often affected.
—Mr. Schwarz also spoke of the occurrence of SpheEerzus
&tbbiotdes as an herbarium pest in San Francisco. He had men-
tioned this matter before the Society on a previous occasion, and
recurred to the subject for the reason that he had recently learned
that the species has spread from the Museum of the Academy
of Sciences into the commercial establishments of the city, feeding
upon drugs and other stored products.
40 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
—He also exhibited specimens of Agadléssus chameropis Horn,
from Biscayne Bay, Florida; of MZetopomata repens Casey,
found at Portland, Ore., and of Lapethus discretus Casey, found
at Astoria, Ore.
—Dr. Stiles mentioned in some detail a comedy of errors in a
recent pseudo-scientific paper by a New Jersey author.
May 4, 1893.
Owing to a break in the street-car cable, only six members
- of the Society succeeded in reaching the place of meeting.
Vice-President Ashmead presided.
The following paper by Prof. C. H. Tyler Townsend .was
read by Mr. Schwarz:
NOTE ON THE CORUCO, A HEMIPTEROUS INSECT WHICH
INFESTS POULTRY IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO.
By C. H. TyLer TownsEnp.
There exists in southern New Mexico a Cimicid, known by
the Mexican name of Coruco, which is an unmitigated pest of
poultry in this region. When the insect once gains access to a
hen-house, it soon swarms in great numbers, infesting the in-
mates and roosts, and covering the eggs with its excrementa,
which show as black specks. It is a very difficult pest to ex-
terminate, and has frequently been known to spread from roosts
to dwelling-houses, where it proves more formidable than the
-bedbug. ‘This insect also exists in western Texas.
In a paper published in La WVaturaleza (2d series, vol. ii,
1892, pl. viii, 8 figs.), Dr. Alfredo Dugés has described and care-
fully figured a similar species, under the name of Acanthza
znmodora, which infests poultry in the region about Guanajuato,
Mexico.
Our species seems to be the same as A. zrodora A. Duges.
The following is a brief description of the nymph, made from
specimens taken from roosts in a hen-house in Las Cruses on
May 22, 1891. It is designed to show the peculiarities of the
nymph as compared with the description and figures of the
adult given by Duges, which correspond quite well with our
specimens.
Nymph.—Length, 12 to 2} mm.; greatest width, 1 to 1 mm. Pale
whitish in color during life; changed by immersion in alcohol to a brown-
ish color, legs pale yellowish with a brownish tinge, and eyes brown.
OF WASHINGTON. 4]
General form rather oval in outline from above, flattened; antennz
4-jointed, first joint short, second longest, third and fourth shorter and
about equal. Differs from Dugeés’ figures of the adult as follows: head
and thoracic segments gradually broadening posteriorly, each broader
than the one anterior to it. No signs of wings. . Clypeus elongate,
broadened and truncate anteriorly, rapidly narrowed posteriorly where it
is set into a median notch of the posterior sclerite of the head, entire, not
bearing two lateral sclerites. Beak reaching nearly to base of posterior
legs. Lateral edges of prothorax without any pubescence. -Rings of ab-
domen straight or nearly so transversely, the sutures being nearly straight
or but slightly and gently curved, none angulate anteriorly on the median |
line. Prothorax about as long as head, other two thoracic segments very
distinctly shorter; first two abdominal segments much shortened, the
others about as long as last two thoracic segments and nearly equal in
length. Abdominal segments 3 and 4 the widest part of whole body.
Abdomen showing no rounded stigma-like spot on dorsum near posterior
extremity in any of the specimens. Feet terminated by a pair of sharp
claws, cushions not so much or but little developed.
Described from four specimens, evidently about two-thirds
grown. It is possible that this may not be the same as Dugés’
species, but it seems probable that it is. The adult insect is
larger, and of a light rufous brown color. I[t does not grow
quite as large as does the bedbug.
Dr. Duges mentions applications of vinegar as a remedy,
doubtless to be applied to the poultry to alleviate the bites as well
as to deter the corucos from biting. Here burning of sulphur in
the hen-houses and spraying of kerosene have been tried, with
doubtful results. About the only way to keep poultry uninfested
is to keep them entirely out of doors, and not to house them at
all. The corucos infest and stick to the houses and roosts,
awaiting the return of the hens at night. They began to appear
in Las Cruces the present year (1893) before the middle of April.
I am informed that the corucos often swarm in immense num-
bers in houses, coming up through the floors and cracks. In
such cases it is almost impossible to get rid of them, the easiest
and most economical way being to desert the house. They have
been known, according to one informant, to swarm in military
posts in former times in southern New Mexico to such an extent
that the soldiers were ordered out and formed in two lines, one
line with brooms to sweep the corucos en masse up against an
adobe wall, where the other line stood ready with trowels and
mud and plastered them into the wall alive—a novel but effective
means of riddance!
Discussing this paper, Mr. Ashmead stated that Dr. Dugés had
sent him a specimen of the insect some § or 10 years ago, and that
49 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
he had informed him that it was a new species. Mr. Ashmead
stated that it was smaller than a true bedbug, paler in color,
nearly round, and broader in form, He also spoke of the habits
of the described species of Cimex. Mr. Schwarz expressed the
opinion that C. zzodora is migrating northward since Dugeés
described it from Mexico, and had it been abundant in New Mexico |
previously we should have heard of it. He considered the north-
ward spread of Conorhinus as similar. Mr.C.W. Johnson spoke
of the habits of the species of Conorhinus which occurs commonly
in the pine woods of Florida.
Mr. Schwarz read the following descriptions of Coleoptera :
DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO RHYNCHOPHOROUS COLEOPTERA
FROM SEMITROPICAL FLORIDA.
By E. A. ScHwarRz.
Quite a number of the insects, and more especially Coleoptera,
forming the colony of the Antillean fauna in Florida have of late
years been described or noticed. Others still remain undescribed,
~and of these the following two are herewith described because
they represent well-marked genera hitherto not known to occur
in North America, and because both were found in large number
of specimens.
Anchonus floridanus, n. sp.—Oblong-oval, convex, opaque, black;
antenne, tarsi, and often also the last ventral segment reddish; the whole
body more or less coated with a dirt-colored incrustation.
Beak nearly as long as head and thorax combined, moderately curved,
very little widening at base, basal constriction obsolete, sculpture varying
according to sex, upper side with a few inconspicuous bristles; scrobe
lateral, well-defined, straight, not widening behind and reaching the lower
part of the eye; antennal scape not quite reaching the anterior margin
of the eye, funicle very little longer than the scape, eight-jointed, shining,
with a few grayish hairs; first joint short, about twice as long as wide;
second joint elongate, as long as the three following joints combined and
slightly clavate at tip; joints 3 to 6 subequal, each as long as wide; joint 7
slightly wider and distinctly transverse; joint 8 still wider, well separated
from the club; club oval, pointed at tip, entirely sensitive and pubescent,
solid, with no visible sutures. Head usually deeply retracted within the
thorax, somewhat shining, alutaceous, with a few obsolete punctures;
eyes flat transverse, coarsely granulated.
Thorax wider than long, anterior margin feebly tri-sinuate, base trun-
cate, sides slightly arcuate or almost straight from the base toapical third;
apical constriction deep and suddenly formed at the sides but obsolete
dorsally; surface coarsely and densely cribrate, some of the narrow inter-
OF WASHINGTON. 43
stices frequently absent, so that the punctures are confluent, usually ina
transverse direction; a few, scattered, short clavate bristles arise from the
interstices.
Elytra at base as wide as thatof the thorax, more than twice longerthan
the thorax, slightly widening from base to apical third, rather narrowly
conjointly rounded at apex, declivity steep but not vertical, basal margin
straight, distinctly elevated, not crenulated; humeri nearly rectangular,
not prominent; sculpture very variable, consisting of nine or ten rows of
moderately coarse and widely distant punctures, of which six rows are
visible from above and three or four rows on the inflexed portion of the
elytra, the punctures of these outer rows being larger and more numerous;
the tenth row, if present, is short and basal; interstices 3, 5, and 7 more
or less strongly elevated or subcarinate, the carine furnished with an
irregularly interrupted series of round or elongate tubercles; the outer
carina is continued around the declivity to the suture and forms a well-
marked subapical ridge; suture cariniform at the declivity and sometimes
slightly so on the disk; interstices 2, 4, and 6 usually slightly elevated,
each being a series (abbreviated before and behind) of tubercles which
greatly varyin number, prominence, and shape; a short series of tubercles
is also visible at the base of the eighth interstice; all tubercles and punc-
tures bear short, clavate, yellowish bristles.
Prosternum deeply emarginate in front, anterior coxz closely approxi-
mate but not contiguous, metasternum coarsely cribrate, metepisterna not
visible; first abdominal suture arcuated, moderately impressed, the other
sutures deep and straight; segments 1 and 2 coarsely cribrate, the latter
at middle as long asthe following three united; segments 3 and 4 impunc-
tate, together shorter than the anal segment, which is strongly punctate;
legs rather slender, sparsely beset with short stiff bristles; femora hardly
clavate, not dentate, coarsely cribrate; tibiz longitudinally carinate, seri-
ately punctate, with the bristles also seriate, anterior tibie straight,
terminal hook longer than the width of the tibia; tarsi short, third joint
moderately bilobed, claw joint as long as the other joints combined;
claws slender, fine, strongly divergent.—Length, 4.1 to 5.3 mm.
Male.—Beak shorter, less curved, coarsely, subseriately punctate
throughout; antennz inserted at apical fourth, first two ventral segments
broadly concave, last ventral slightly sinuate at middle of apex.
Female.— Beak longer, more curved, coarsely punctate only at base,
punctures much sparser and finer apically; antenne inserted at apical
third, abdomen not concave, last ventral segment rounded at tip.
A strictly maritime Curculionid which occurred in great
abundance at Cocoanut Grove, Fla., on the inner shore of Bis-
cayne Bay, under deep layersof seaweed. It belongs unquestion-
ably to Anchonus as defined by Schénherr and Lacordaire, and
seems also to be included in the same genus as restricted by J.
Faust (Deutsche Ent. Zts., 1892, pp. 17 ff.). I failed to identify
44 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
the Floridian species with any of the numerous Anchonus de-
scribed from the Antillean region, but it seems closely related to
A. aspericoll7s Suffrian from Cuba.
Loganius ficus, n. sp.—Cylindrical, shining, nearly glabrous above,
piceous; antenne pale, legs reddish-brown or paler. Head widely but not
deeply concave, the concavity limited each side by a straight, more or less
obtuse, supraorbital ridge, feebly shining, finely, not densely, punctulate,
each puncture bearing a yellowish appressed hair; clypeus broadly emargi-
nate with the anterior edge shining, impunctate; eyes greatly transverse,
more than three times wider than long, flat, not emarginate, rather coarsely
granulate. Antennal scape much longer than the funicle, curved, strongly
but gradually clavate; funicle seven-jointed: first joint distinctly trans-
verse, narrowly attached to the second joint and with the apical angles
rounded ; joints 2-7 closely united, very small, greatly transverse, very little
increasing in width, each bearing, in either sex, on each side a very long
pale seta; club large, strongly compressed, much longer than the funicle,
oblong, broadly rounded at tip, on both sides pubescent and with three
greatly curved sutures, first suture more narrowly rounded than the two
outer ones.
Thorax slightly longer than wide, gradually widening from the apex to
basal fifth, thence slightly narrowing to base; anterior margin broadly
arcuated; base truncate, finely margined; hind angles obtuse, nearly
rounded, lateral marginal line acute and entire; a very slight apical con-
striction; surface not pubescent (except, in some specimens, a few hairs
along the lateral marginal line), shining, moderately sparsely punctate,
punctures larger and denser anteriorly and on the sides, smaller and sparser
on basal portion of the disk. Scutellum small, rounded, not depressed.
Elytra at base as wide as that of the thorax, slightly longer than the
thorax, basal margin not elevated; glabrous at base and on the disk, with
a few short seriate bristles on the sides and on the declivity; anteriorly
with regular rows of moderately coarse punctures; at the sides the strie
are feebly impressed ; interstices wider than the striz, with regular rows of
punctures, which are either slightly or not at all smaller than those of the
strie; declivity simple, moderately convex, the strie deeply impressed,
the interstices convex, each with a row of tubercles.
Underside sparsely pubescent; anterior cox widely separated, the pos-
ternum between them triangular, with the tip rounded off; flanks of
prothorax concave and smooth at middle; metasternum finely densely,
abdomen more coarsely punctate; sutures of ventral segments deep and
straight.
Legs short and stout; femora and tibiz compressed, the former widen-
ing apically, the latter not denticulate at outer margin; front tibiz of equal
width throughout, outer apical angle prolonged into a moderately long
OF WASHINGTON. 45
uncus, which is bent inwardly and acute at tip,* middle and hind tibiz
distinctly widening from base to apex, hind tibie slightly narrower than—
the middle tibia; tarsi slender, as long as the tibia, third joint very little
wider than the second joint and hardly bilobed, fourth joint very small,
claw joint as long as the rest of the tarsus.—Length, 2.1-2.3 mm.
Locality: Key West, Fla.
Described from many specimens which I found, in April, 1887,
under the bark of /icus aurea, the colonies being so crowded
that nothing can be said of the nature of the galleries. The
sexual differences are rather feeble: in the male the supraorbital
ridge is stronger and more acute, the antennal club larger, and
the hairs of the funicular joints are longer.
The species represents a group of Hylurgini (Le Conte) new
to our. fauna, viz., the Camptoceri (groupe Camptocérides,
Lacordaire; subtribus Camptoceride, Chapuis), which is well
characterized by the form of the antenne and anterior tibia.
The genus Loganius was very briefly diagnosed by Chapuis in
his Synopsis des Scolytides, but a full description has never been
published, so that it is not possible to decide whether or not the
above-described species is congoneric with the type of the genus
L. flavicornis from Cumana, Venezuela.
The insect resembles some of our smaller species of Scolytus
not only in superficial characters, but also in the structure of the
front tibia, and should be placed at the head of the Hylurgini,
immediately following the tribe Scolytini. In the nature and
arrangement of the funicular hairs there is an unmistakable re-
semblance between Loganius ficus and Thysanoes fimbricornis.
Mr. Ashmead spoke briefly of the remarkable subtropical
fauna of Florida, and Mr. Schwarz defined accurately the Antil-
lean faunal belt.
—The following notes on Hymenoptera by Mr. William H.
Patton were read by the Secretary :
NOTES UPON WASPS. I.
By Wm. Hampton Patton,
Hartford, Conn.
STENIOLIA EDWARDSII Cress. (Syn. S. duplicata Prov.)
The markings vary in position and extent without any varietal
differences worthy of a separate name.
*In freshly hatched individuals the inner and outer edges of the front
tibie are fringed with a row of fine setz, which are usually lost in the
older specimens, while the sete on the middle and hind tibie are stronger —
and more persistent.
46 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
IsODONTIA AZTECA Sauss. (Syn. S. (/.) macrocephala Fox,
‘¢ Ent. News’’).
This species occurs in California and Florida, as well as in
Mexico and Pennsylvania.
CHLORION C42RULEUM, Var. 4 RARIUM.
Chlorion erarium Pttn. (1879).
A male specimen from Indian River, Florida (Dr. Wittfeld)
shows this to be a color variety of ceruleum. This specimen
has minute dots of blue scattered irregularly over the body. The
spiracles on first segment are not elevated. The median pieces
of the claspers are lighter colored than in the typical form. But
in all structural characters the two agree; the eighth ventral seg-
ment forming an isosceles triangle, the other segments with their
margins straight.
A variety occurs showing the blue to change into green.
GASTROSPH2&RIA is but a section of Harpactopus; its type
[G. anthracina Costa= Sphex subfuscatus Dahlb.; now
Flarpactopus subfuscatus (Dahlb.)] differs from the type of
Hlarpactopus [Sphex egyptia Lepel. = H. crudelis Sm. =?
Sphex pensylvanica Linn.; now Hf. egyptia (Lepel.)] in
nothing except the smooth thorax and the form of clypeus. The
mistaken reference of pexsylvanica led to the suggestion of its
relationship with SAhex of the S. zchneumonea section.
The characters of the genus appear to be: Sharp tubercle on
postscutellum; second cubital cell higher than its width on the
cubital ; abdomen globose, short, first segment perpendicular on
the petiole.
Pepsis hesperiz, n. sp.
Violet-blue, thorax violaceous black; antennz orange, three basal joints
in female blackish, the third and base of fourth verging to brown, two
basal and base of third (at least above) in male black. Wings yellowish-
ferruginous; the base and margin blackish, more broadly in the male.
Groove on second ventral segment deep in female, moderate or indis-
tinct in male.
‘Male.—Fourth ventral segment with two dense tufts of bristles each
side of apical middle, their apices curled inward; Fifth, hairy on apical
middle, the margin scarcely sinuate; Sixth, deeply sinuate in the mid-
dle; each side of sinus near apex a stout, blunt, posteriorly and inwardly
directed spine; Seventh, filling sinus; Eighth, elongate, flat, without
tooth, apex truncate, sides parallel. Claspers: sagittz curved, S-shaped,
apex inwardly beaked, almost hooked, shorter than the two slender sim-
ple median pieces; outer pieces little longer, simple, a little flattened,
the base narrower, the apex subangular.
- Size of P. cerulea.
Habitat.—Poway, San Diego Co., Calif. (Dr. F. E. Blaisdell).
Resembles P, marginata in the color of wings and in its
OF WASHINGTON. | 47
slender body; but distinguished by its pale antennz and the
male ventral characters. In. P. marginata male the fourth ven-
tral segment has a simple line of bristles.
Pepsis sommeri Dahlb.
Violet-blue, antenne black; abdomen verging to green in the male.
Wings red with dusky margin, the apex subhyaline; base of wings, more
broadly in the male, black. First abdominal segment, especially in the
female, short and broad; groove on second ventral segment deep in the
female, moderate in the male.
Male.—Fourth ventral segment simple, without bristles; fifth, not
hairy, margin scarcely sinuate; sixth, like preceding species; seventh, fill-
ing sinus, polished, a minute sinus in middle; eighth, with a transverse
median ridge beyond centre, the sides of the ridge connecting with oblique
carine extending forward to the sides of the segement at the base; apex
thinner, polished, bent downwards at a rightangle and its tip forming two
rounded lobes separated by an equal sinus.
Claspers: sagittz flat, much curved, apices pointed below and contigu-
ous, a minute tooth near base within, sagitte equal in length with the two
flattened, parallel median pieces, the median pieces curved dorsad and
pointing downward at apex; outer pieces little longer, flat; hairy apex
little thickened and subobtusely pointed.
Size of P. cerulea. Habttat.—Poway, Calif. (F. E. Blaisdell).
Differs from P. cerulea in fuscous wing margin and in eighth
segment. Body is less slender than in P. marginata.
In discussing this communication Mr. Ashmead said that he
had identified Pepszs marginatus, one of the species referred to
by Mr. Patton, in a collection made by Mr. Cordley in New
Mexico. He had previously received it also from the same
locality.
— Mr. Ashmead read the following paper :
SYNOPSIS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF TOX-
ONEURA SAY.
By WM. H. AsHMEAD.
The Braconid genus Zoxoneura was described fifty-eight
years ago by Thomas Say, in the first volume of the Boston
Journal of Natural History, 1835, page 258.
Although quite a characteristic genus, it yet remained for years
unknown to our entomologists.
In 1865 Mr. E. T. Cresson, in his paper entitled ‘‘ On the
Hymenoptera of Colorado Territory,” redescribed it under the
name of Zexthredoides with one species 7. seminiger.
48 ‘ ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
A few years afterwards, however, he recognizes his mistake,
and in 1873, in the Canadian Entomologist, vol. v, p. 54,
acknowledges the synonym and gives an excellent synoptic table
of the species known to him at that time in the North American
fauna. aye
In this paper he enumerates 12 species, 8 being described for
the first time, and, of these, four were from Mexico. He also
gave valid reasons for believing Say was wrong in placing his
Bracon populator in this genus.
Cresson here recognizes the original spelling of the genus
Zoxoneuron, but in his ** synopsis,” 1886, changes it to Zox-
omeura, but without giving his reason for doing so. As this
change seems to have been universally followed, I have not
thought it worth while to restore the original name.
_ Loxoneura has now been made the type of a subfamily, Zox-
oneurine, and a position assigned it between the /chneutine and
the Hlelconine. It appears to me, however, that this is an un-
natural position, as it has no affinities whatever with these
groups. All its affinities are entirely, with the Agathidine and
the Adécrogasterine; the structure of the abdomen closely re-
sembles many forms in the latter, while all its other characters,
except venation (although here, too, there. is still a resemblance to
some exotic forms), are those of the former.
If the genus is not referred to the subfamily Agathidzne, in
my opinion the Zoxoneurine should, at least, be placed next to
them.
Comparatively little is known of our species. Messrs. Riley
and Howard have recorded in Insect Life, vol. iii, page 60, the
rearing of Zoxoneura minuta Cr., at Kirkwood, Mo., from a
Tineid Gelechia prunifoliella Chambers, found on Peach,
while I have in my own collection a specimen of Zoxoneura
tibtator Say reared from a Lepidopterous Leaf-roller on Black
Locust.
Although this is all we know of the habits of our species, it is
quite evident the genus is parasitic only on Lepidopterous larve.
Below I give a synoptic table of the species found in our
fauna north of Mexico, and describe three new forms: one from
Florida, 7. floridana, in my collection, and two, 7: pluto and
T. californica, from California, in the U.S. National Museum:
TABLE OF SPECIES.
Body not entirely black...... ...... 2... Cae agLese tak STGaEH sawiees buses ue cn oren x
Body entirely black.
Wings black or fuliginous.
Vestiture black.
Legs entirely black............ ceeHtee aMapeanentiivas ists T. pluto, sp. n.
Vestiture pale or grayish.
OF WASHINGTON. 49
Legs black; anterior knees and tarsi honey-yellow
Orepale tibial BBUTS WHILE iii ie icve cos cK vos di 'sese T. minuta Cr.
Legs black; anterior legs, except coxe and tro-
chanters, yellowish-red; tibial spurs on middle
Bina TG MOR TARR ii Aiins via dee skates cos dks 4sa ike T. floridana, sp. n.
Legs, except the coxe, trochanters, and base of
femora, reddish-yellow; hind tarsi fuscous; large .
BOOCIOS ciiaypeavin avheeotis cna cnbs Soe iuanesyaaen bsacs crank T. californica, sp. n.
Legs, except the coxz and trochanters and the }
hind tarsi, which are black, reddish-yellow;
smaller species...... PEER CE REDE S estes CE ay Pag re T. explorator Say.
Wings hyaline, the apex fuliginous.
Legs black; anterior pair, except base, honey-
WTA WS side acucmd ss babes Ga tsa nis hnd as bathed Smal saKra dos Wcksh T. apicalis Cr.
Legs black; anterior tibiz and tarsi, bake of middle
tibize, their tarsi, and an annulus at baseof hind
tiie, white or pale yellowish: cide. iiiis 5 sassy ogse ees, T. tibiator Say.
2. Black; head, pro- and meso-thorax and anterior legs
PWR RUNG ie) ssc ung hi ccak cx meds cusaos Sub eda ke 4oegboled nda é T. thoracica Cr.
Head and thorax black; abdomen fulvo-ferruginous ;
anterior margin of clypeus and legs, except coxe and
trochantérs, ferrugimous:: occ s6sscscsaen nosh peau ineass T. abdominalis Cr.
Reddish or orange-yellow.
Head, antenne, metathorax, and pleura black;
BAUD: BIBER seine cians gaxsuas raat mands baewea pagan oieen T. seminigra Cr.
Head mostly sanguineous; pleura beneath and meta-
ChOrek. BiseK F- Stig Wim. FOU (00h vaca peas tua) be jieoseseredes T. viator Say.
(1) Toxoneura pluto, sp. n.
@.—Length, 7.5mm. _ Black, highly polished, covered with a sparse
pubescence; mandibles and palpi black; antennez 42-jointed; a little
longer than the body; scutellum with a punctate frenum; metathorax
areolated and coarsely rugose; mesopleura with a large crevate furrow ;
wing black, a white spot at origin of first transverse cubital vein, and
another at apex of the second abscissa of radius and including the base
of the third abscissa and the apex of the second transverse cubital. Abdo-
men depressed, the basal segment the largest, bisulcate; ovipositor
scarcely exserted.
Hab.—Los Angeles, California.
Type in National Museum.
(2) Toxoneura minuta Cress.
Toxoneuron minutum Cr. Can. Ent. v, p. 67.
Toxoneura minuta Cr. Syn. Hym., p. 230.
Q.—Length, 2.5 mm. Black, shining, faintly punctate, sparsely se-
riceous; wings subfuliginous, iridescent, the stigma and nervures dark
brown or blackish, with the second submarginal cell a little shorter than
the first; legs black, tibial spurs white; anterior knees, their tibiz, four
50 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOUIETY
anterior tarsi, except tips and middle knees, pale yellowish; abdomen
oval, the ovipositor prominent.
Hab.—Illinois, Missouri.
Type in Coll. American Entomological Society.
This species has been reared by Miss Mary Murtfeldt, at Kirk-
wood, Mo., from Gelechia prunifoliella.
(3). Toxoneura floridana, sp. n.
d'.—Length, 7 mm. Black, polished; tips of mandibles and anterior
legs, except coxe and trechanters, alone yellowish-red; trophi and middle
and hind legs, except a piceous tinge on the knees of middle legs, entirely
black; tibial spurs on middle and hind legs black.
Head impunctate; eyes pubescent; clypeus with a median furrow;
thorax trilobed, the middle lobe triangular; metathorax coarsely rugose,
with a large central area; wings blackish fuliginous, the stigma and nerv-
_ ures black, the second abscissa of radius scarcely more than twice as long as
the first. Abdomen oblong-ovate, depressed, the first segment about as
large as the second and third united, the second shorter than the third,
with the sutures between deeply impressed, the following segments shorter
but about equal in length.
Hab.—Jacksonville, Fla.
Type in Coll. Ashmead.
(4) Toxoneura californica, sp. n.
Q.—Length,6 mm. _ Polished black, sparsely punctate; metathorax
and mesosternum rugose, the former not areolated; mandibles and palpi
black; abdomen subcompressed, the ventral valves large, prominent,
plow-share shaped. Antenne 27-jointed, shorter than the body. Wings
subfuliginous, the first abscissa of radius less than one-third the length of
the second, the second transverse cubital and the second abcissa of radius
at their junction hyaline. Legs, except cox, trochanters and base of the
femora, reddish-yellow; hind tarsi fuscous.
Hab.—Los Angeles, California.
Types in National Museum.
Allied to T. explorator Say, but much larger; the ovipositor
shorter, scarcely projecting beyond the apex of abdomen, the face
and clypeus more strongly punctate, while the wings are paler
at base. :
(5) Toxoneura explorator Say.
Bracon explorator Say. Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., i, p. 259.
Toxoneuron explorator Lec. Ed. Say, ii, p.710; Cress. Can. Ent.,
Ys, Dp; 67.
Toxoneura explorator Cr. Syn. Hym., p. 230.
. §.—Length, 3.75 mm. Black, polished; mandibles, at the middle, rufo-
piceous; palpi piceous; face shining, sparsely microscopically punctate ;
antenne 29-jointed; thorax with smooth impressed parapsidal furrows ;
metathorax rugose. Wings subfuliginous, the stigma large, the second
abscissa of radius a little more than twice as long as the first. Legs, ex-
OF WASHINGTON. 51
cept the coxe, trochanters, and posterior tarsi, which are black, reddish-
yellow; the middle femora is sometimes black at base. Abdomen com-
pressed, black, shining; the ovipositor very prominent, nearly half the
length of abdomen.
Hab.—Indiana, Missouri, and Colorado.
A single 2 is in the National Museum, bred August 12, 1881,
from an unknown .7oréréx.
(6) Toxoneura apicalis Cr.
Toxoneuron apicale Cr. Can. Ent., v, p. 68.
Toxoneura apicalis Cr. Syn. Hym., p. 230.
3'.—Length, 5mm. . Black, shining, clothed with a very short dull
pubescence; sutures of mesothorax not crenulated; metathorax with
strongly developed elevated lines ; wings hyaline, the apex fuliginous, leav-
ing base of marginal and ofsecond cubital cells hyaline; nervuresand stigma
black; legs black; anterior femora, except base and their tibiz entirely,
bright orange-yellow; intermediate knees slightly tinged with testaceous.
(Cresson. )
Hab.—Illinois.
Unknown to me.
(7) Toxoneura tibiator Say.
Bracon tibiator Say. Long’s Second Exped., ii, p. 322.
Toxoneuron tibiator Lec. Ed. Say., ii, p. 710; Bost. Jour., i, p-
259; Cr. Can. Ent., v, p. 68.
Q.—Length, 5mm. Black; wings hyaline, fuscous at apex; the nervures
stout, dark brown; legs black; the anterior tibiz and tarsi, base of middle
tibiz, their tarsi and an annulus at base of hind tibiz, white or pale
yellowish. Abdomen oval, depressed. ‘
Hab. —Atlantic coast from Florida to Canada, and west to Kansas.
Not rare in the Eastern States. In my collection is a single
specimen reared some years ago by Mr. C. L. Marlatt, at Man-
hattan, Kansas, from a Lepidopterous Leaf-roller on Black Locust.
(8) Toxoneura thoracica Cr.
Toxoneuron thoracicum Cr. Can. Ent., v, p. 68. ;
3 &.—Length,5 mm. Black, shining; head, prothorax, mesothorax,
spot beneath tegulz, and anterior legs, except coxz, trochanters, and base
of femora, pale ferruginous; spot on cheeks beneath, mouth, more or less
of clypeus, and a spot between ocelli and eyes in ¢‘ black; wings uni-
formly blackish-fuliginous, nervures and stigma black; metathorax with
strongly developed elevated lines, forming an ovate central area.
Hab.— Codova, Mexico, and Arizona.
Type in Coll. American Entomological Society.
The specimen from Arizona is in my collection, obtained
through a collector.
(9) Toxoneura abdominalis Cr.
Toxoneuron abdominale Cr. Can. Ent., v, p. 68.
Toxoneuron abdominalis Cr. Syn. Hym., p. 230.
59 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Q.—Length, 7 mm. Polished black, but sparsely minutely punctate;
face and clypeus more closely punctate; clypeus anterior, posterior orbits,
legs, except coxz, trochanters, and hind tarsi, which are black, and the
abdomen entirely pale sanguineous or yellowish-red; sheaths of oviposi-
tor black; wings fuliginous, the stigma and nervures black; second sub-
marginal cell longer than the first; metathorax rugose, areolated.
Hab.—Illinois, Missouri.
(10) Toxoneura seminigra Cr.
Tenthredoitdes seminiger Cr. Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil., iv, p. 291.
Toxoneuron semintgrum Cr. Can. Ent., v, p. 69.
Toxoneura seminigra Cr. Syn. Hym., p. 230.
3 Y.—Length, 7 to 7.5 mm. Yellowish-red, shining; head, antenne
breast, metathorax, coxze, and trochanters black; wings blackish-fuscous ;
metathorax coarsely rugose.
Q.—Head black, smooth, and polished, slightly pubescent; narrow
inner and broad outer orbits, and basal margin of the clypeus, rufous;
antenne entirely black; thorax yellowish-red, smooth, and polished;
mesothorax with two approximate black dots, sometimes confluent on the
extreme inargin, sometimes concealed by the head; pectus and the pleura,
except the broad anterior margin, black; space on each side of the scu-
tellum obliquely striated, its lower margin flat, polished and black, as well
as the space on each side of the postscutellum; metathorax black, opaque, ~
coarsely rugose,the disk having a longitudinal ovate excavation sur-
rounded by a well-defined carina; tegule yellowish-red, bordered behind
with black. Wings uniformly blackish-fuscous; nervures black; lower
margin of the first submarginal cell, two dots at tip of pradiscoidal
cell, and a furcate line at tip of second submarginal cell where it joins the
marginal, hyaline. Legs yellowish-red, the coxe and trochanters black,
the four posterior tarsi and tips of the femora within more or less dusky.
Abdomen about as long as the thorax, broadly ovate depressed, polished,
yellowish-red, basal segment, orange-yellow, with a more or less distinct
black mark on the prominent dorsal middle; valves of the ovipositor ro-
bust, black. :
3'.—Resembles the female, but the antenne are as long as the body and
the abdomen more depressed, less broad, and obtusely rounded at tip.
Hab.—Colorado. (Cresson.)
Types in Coll. American Entomological Society.
All the specimens of this species I have seen were taken in
Colorado.
(11) Toxoneura viator Say.
Toxoneuron viator Say. Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., i, p. 258; Cr.
Can. Ent., v, p. 67; Lec. Ed. Say, ii, p. 710.
Toxoneura viator Cr. Syn. Hym., p. 230.
Q.—Length, 6.2 mm.. Sanguineous; antennz, vertex, face below
antennz extending almost to cl ypeus and including base of cheeks, meso-
pleura, pectus, and metathorax, black. Thorax polished, feebly micro-
OF WASHINGTON. 53
scopically punctate, the furrows crenulate; antennz 29-jointed; meta-
thorax rugose, areolated. Wings fuliginous, with the costa and stigma
yellowish, the other nervures robust, black, the second abscissa of radius
fully three times as long as the first. Legs sanguineous, with the coxe
and trochanters black, the posterior tarsi dusky. Abdomen depressed,
broadly oval, smooth; the ovipositor prominent, with black sheaths.
Hab.— Western States.
Not rare.
—Under the head of “Short Notes and Exhibition of Speci-
mens,” Mr. Heidemann exhibited a new Capsid from the vicinity
of Washington. He had tentatively placed it among his Acantho-
corine, but upon closer examination he found it to be a true Cap-
sid, and considered it to be a new genus near /alvzus of Stal.
—Mr. Schwarz exhibited specimens of the Floridian Goxonotus
futosus, and remarked that the species is apparently identical with
the previously described Axchonus angulicollits Suffr., upon
which Mr. J. Faust has lately erected the genus Nemosinus. The
name of the insect should, therefore, be Goxonotus angulicollis
Suffr. It was placed by Dr. Le Conte in the Calandridz, while
according to Faust it forms, with Cotaster and some other genera,
a group of Curculionide allied to Plinthus and Pissodes.
—Mr. Johnson spoke of having collected a specimen of Aztho-
charis genutia in the vicinity of Washington on the 30th April.
He had been much pleased at this capture, as the species is ex-
tremely rare near Philadelphia, where he resides. Mr. Schwarz
remarked that this butterfly is peculiar in that it occurs only upon
the range of hills immediately outside of Washington, never being
found in the country beyond or in the city within this range.
JUNE 1, 1893.
Fifteen members present. The President, Prof. Riley, in the
chair. Mr. Donald MacCuaig, chief clerk Department of Agri-
culture, was elected. an active member, and President H. H.
Goodell, af the Massachusetts Agricultural College, was elected
a corresponding member.
Dr. Geo. Marx read the following paper :
54 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
CONTINUATION OF THE: LIFE-HISTORY OF THE WHIP-
TAIL SCORPION.
By Gro. Marx.
At the December, 1891, meeting of this Society I read a short
report on some observations on the life-habits of Zhelyphonus
gtiganteus which I had made during twenty-one months in which
I had a specimen of this species under daily study in a glass jar
(containing moist sand) on my office desk.
I stated that it was born at or about October 1, 1890 ; when
about one year old it shed its skin for the first time. In January,
1Sg1, it shut up the entrances to its subterraneous abode for
hibernation, which period lasted about three months. The
specimen did not fall into a dormant state during this time, but
stood quietly in its cavern, sensitive to the slightest disturbance,
like a horse in a stable. [ promised then that I would ata
future meeting report further observations on this interesting
Arachnid, and to-night I beg leave to narrate the final chapter in
its life-history.
After December, when I made the first report, it continued to
do well and occupied its time catching roaches, in which occupa-
tion it acquired a remarkable talent, and also by rebuilding its
subterraneous galleries, which I purposely destroyed every two
weeks for the purpose of giving the little prisoner some exercise.
In the pursuance of this work the animal went about with the
greatest indolence. It was funny to see it stand before the little
excavation, stare in it, feel around it with its long palpal or
antenne-like forelegs and hesitate until it shoved a pellet of
moistened sand between its palpi, then retreated backward out
of the excavation and carried the sand to the farthest corner.
Thus it lived on, in peaceful mind and healthful body, until Oc-
tober 2, 1892, or precisely two years after its birth, when it shed
its skin for the second time. It had now grown to 30 mm., a
gain of 12 mm. in this year, and its color had changed to that of
an adult—that is, uniformly very dark brown, the sclerites cover-
“i body altogether.
oreseeing the severity of last winter, it went into winter
quarters a month earlier than in 1891, but opened _the entrance
again on the 2d of January and several times in February and
finally abandoned its burrow altogether on March 4. It stayed on
the surface from this date, notwithstanding the severe cold which
prevailed. I set its jar near the radiator during the night.
About this time it commenced to behave strangely, for it stood
in one place and stuck its head into the cool sand, apparently
suffering from headaches. It finally died March 14, 1893.
OF WASHINGTON. 55
In the discussion Mr. Schwarz stated that he was much
interested in the account of preparation of winter quarters, since
some time ago he was at Tampa, Florida, during a very cold
spell, and failed to observe anything resembling hibernation on
the part of Thelyphonus. He found them under logs as usual,
and they were as active as during the summer. Dr. Marx stated
that the specimen which he observed was also active when
disturbed, and in that respect could not be said to be hibernating.
In answer toa question by Mr. Howard, he stated that the young
possess none of the acid secretion which is so characteristic of
the adult. Prof. Riley asked whether a reasonable explanation
of the function of the whiptail had been offered. There was no
answer to this question, and Dr. Marx remarked that the tail is
thicker in proportion to its length in the young than in the adult.
—Mr. Ashmead read the following paper :
NOTES ON THE FAMILY PACHYLOMMATOID£E.
By Wn. H. AsHMEAD.
The subject of my remarks to-night relates to a small but ex-
ceedingly rare and interesting group of the Hymenoptera, com-
prising up to the present time but two genera and two species,
that have occasioned considerable conflict of opinion among
systematists, both as regards their relationship and their position
in our present system of classification.
The two peculiar insects that have occasioned such a combat
of opinion among Hymenopterists present the following charac-
teristics :
Ophioniform; head transverse, wider than the thorax, with
large eyes and large prominent ocelli; clypeus subacutely pro-
duced with a median carina; mandibles short, narrow, curved,
and bifid at tips; maxillary 4-jointed, filiform pilose; labial
palpi 3-jointed, filiform. Antenne 13-jointed, filiform, shorter
than the body. ‘Thorax short, ovoid, convexly elevated anteriorly,
the collar not being visible from above; no parapsidal furrows ;
metathorax short, oblique, delicately areolated. Legs long,
slender, the posterior pair the longest, their coxe long and cyl-
indrical, their tarsi thickened, especially the basal joint, which is
always as long or longer than all the following joints united;
tibial spurs 1, 2, 2. Abdomen much as in the Ophionid genus
Limnerta, attached to metathorax above insertion of hind coxa,
_ subcompressed, with the first and second joints very long, forming
_ along petiole; third and fourth segments shorter, subequal; all
following segments very short. Wings with two submarginal
56 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
cells, one recurrent nervure and the stigma long, narrow, lanceo-
late; otherwise as in many Braconids. :
It was in 1825 that Mr. L. A. De Brébisson discovered these
insects, captured in Germany, and upon which, in the Encyclo-
pédie Methodique, vol. x, p. 23, he founded the genus Paxy-
lomma, now changed to Pachylomma, naming the two species
Paxylomma buccata and P. Cremieré respectively, and placing
the genus among the /chnveumonide.
The next two authors to treat of. the genus were Latreille and
Haliday, and they removed it to the family Hvanzzde.
In 1834 Nees von Esenbeck, in his well-known Monograph,
vol. i, p. 28, redescribed Pachylomma buccata under the name
flybrizon latibricola, placing it in the family Braconzde, be-
tween the genera Aphidtus and Perzlitus.
A year later, 1835, Wesmael, in his work on the Belgian
Braconide (Nouv. Meth., &c., Brux., p. 90), also treats of it as a
Braconid genus.
Westwood, five years later, or 1840, in his *‘ Introduction,” vol.
ii, p. 53, treats of it under the family Avanzzde, and in fig. 74,
no. 17, gives an enlarged figure of P. duccata.
While treating of it under the Hvaxzzd@ he remarks, however,
asfollows: ‘‘The genus Paxylomma Brébisson, placed by Latreille
and Haliday in this family, as well as Stephanus, appear rather
to belong to the /chneumones adscttt, or at least to constitute
the links between them and the present family,” and in his
Generic Synopsis, at the end of the volume, has placed it with
the Braconidae, among the Polymorphi, with Huphorus, Macro-
centrus, &C.
Three years later, Brullé in Histoire Naturelle des Insectes
Hymenopteres, tome iv (1843), p. 482, treats of the genus under
the Braconidae, but says, ‘‘ On ne connait qu’une seule espece de
ce group, qui semblenait se rapporter beaucoup mieux aux Ich-
neumonides de la division des Ophzon, qu’a aucun groupe de
Braconides,” but finishes by remarking: ‘** Nous laissons nean-
moins ce groupe dans la familie des Braconides a cause de
Vabsence de la seconde nervure recurrente.”
In 1848 Ratzeburg in his ‘t‘ Die Ichneumoniden der Forstin-
secten Band. ii, p. 53,” treats of both species, placing the genus
with the Braconzdeé and giving us, for the first time, some infor
mation respecting their habits. Fourteen years later Dr. Arnold
Forster, who was probably the greatest systematic worker among
the parasitic Hymenoptera, in his ‘‘ Synopsis der Familien und
Gattungen der Braconen,” published in 1862, made Pachylomma
the type of his subfamily 13, or the Pachylommatoide, and sub-
divides the old genus into two, as follows:
OF WASHINGTON. 57
Basal joint of hind tarsi twice as long as the four follow-
. ing joints united; the first branch of radius shorter
SENG SAO RONG yea ssakaccsdassunshe tes deydeaveiin as sak nde ap40d bees Eurypterna Forst.
(Type Pachyl. cremiter? Bréb.)
Basal joint of hind tarsi scarcely one-third longer than.
the four following joints united; the first branch of
radius much shorter than the second...... ....,..........Pachylomma Bréb.
(Type P. duccata Bréb.)
Notwithstaning the concensus of opinion in favor of the group
belonging to the Braconide by such authorities as Nees, West-
wood, Wesmael, and Forster, the latest writer on this family, the
Rev. T. A. Marshall, in his ‘*‘ Monograph of the British Bra-
conide,” 1885, evidently holds’ different views and makes no
reference to the group, except in the following curt sentence:
‘¢ Excluding Forster’s Pachylommatoide, as belonging to the
Evanitde, we will treat the Bracontde@ under six divisions, each
including a number of subfamilies.”” He then follows with his
tables, and has accepted, as subfamilies, all of Férster’s families,
except the Pachylommatoide.
During my visit to Berlin, in the winter ot 1889-’90, I saw for
the first time, in the Royal Berlin Museum, a specimen of Pachy-
lomma buccata, and at once recognized its relationship to a Bra-
conid in the U. S. National Museum, which I had only a short
time previously described as Wesmaelia riley, in the subfamily
Euphorine.
At the time of my drawing up the description I did not feel
entirely satisfied that it was properly placed, and remarked as fol-
lows: ‘** This remarkable insect agrees with the definition of this
genus, but seems out of place in the group, and appears more
closely allied with the group Aphzdzine, where it may ultimately
be placed.”
That it was anything else than a Bracon, however, never once
entered my mind, and now, after four years’ study in the family, I
am convinced the Pachylommatoida’ are Braconids, and should
be considered as a subfamily allied to the Huphorzne and the
Aphiditne and of equal rank.
The mere fact that the abdomen is attached to the metanotum
some distance above the insertion of the hind coxe is in itself
not sufficient, in my opinion, to separate the group from other
Braconids, especially as a few other Braconids show this charac-
ter to a still greater degree. For example, the genus Cenoceelius
Haliday (which equals Auwlacodes Cress. = Laccophrys Forster
= Capitontus Brullé = Promachus Marshall) has the abdomen
attached far up on the metathorax as in the genuine Evaniids.
I propose, therefore, to accept Forster’s family Pachylomma-
tocde as a subfamily in the family Braconzde, and as our species,
so far discovered, do not fit exactly into the two European genera,
58 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
I have here erected a new genus for their reception under the
name Lupachylomma.
The three genera may be separated as follows:
First joint of hind tarsi twice as long as the four follow-
RUN TAS Tos Rese ty aan choy st oa coda Seeiedee. casais <4 doben ce tose 2
First joint of hind tarsi scarcely one-third BG ee than ‘
the four following joints united, or of an equal length.
Second submarginal cell longly petiolated, the radius
PEVICEG ICO: thrEO GIVisIONG 5.5: (rsécchecasccses novncdacess Pachylomma Bréb.
Second submarginal cell sessile, at the most subsessile,
the radius divided into two divisions...... Eupachylomma Ashm., g. n.
2. Second submarginal cell sessile, the radius divided
into two divisions............+ sbaa heed han ay dee ne Wasa tans Eurypterna Forst.
PACHYLOMMA De Brébisson.
1825. Paxylomma De Bréb. Enc. Meth., x, p. 23.
1834. Hybrizon Nees. Monog., 1, p. 27.
1862. Pachylomma Forst. Syn. d. Fam. und Gatt. d. Brac-
oniden, p. 247.
(Type P. duccata De Bréb.)
(1) PacHyLomMaA BuccATA De Brébisson.
Paxylomma buccata De Bréb. Enc. Méth., x, p. 23.
Cal. Ent. Mag., i, p. 343; id., ili, p. 22; Westw. Intro.,
ii, p. 136, fig. 74, 17.
fybrizon latebricola Nees. Mong., i, p. 28.
Pachylomma buccata Ratzb. Die Ichn. d. Forstins., Bd.
ity Di53.50 Onsts: Verh. G, Nn. -Ver., xix,.p. 247.
Hab.—Europe.
EupACHYLOMMA Ashm., gen. nov.
(Type Wesmaelza rtleyt Ashm.) -
Differs from Pachylomma De Bréb. principally in the vena-
tion of anterior wings, the radius having but two branches, the
cubitus being interstitial with the apex of the first branch of
radius and strongly curved outwardly from the base, while the
second abdominal segment is much longer than the first (thé
petiole) and the spurs of hind tibiz are also longer.
Two species are known to me, separated as follows:
Head and thorax black, abdomen piceous, nearly black;
clypeus, trophi, two basal joints of antenna, and four
anterior legs whitish; hind legs yellowish................04. E. rileyi Ashm.
Head black; thorax, sutures of abdomen, and base of
fourth segment luteous; rest of abdomen, three stripes
on mesonotum, small spot on scutellum, and the meta-
RMON LOWE saci 000s avienansed oye dea:case such uve hemmpergetcaiapiel E. flavocincta, sp. n.
(1) Eupachylomma rileyi Ashm.
Wesmaelia riley’ Ashm. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 1888, p. 641.
OF WASHINGTON, ~ 59
Q.—Length, 2 to 2.2 mm. Black, smooth, shining; face and meso-
sternum piceous; clypeus, trophi, first two joints of antenne, tegulz, and
four anterior legs whitish; abdomen shaped as in Lemneria, piceous,
nearly black, with sutures 1, 2, and 3 pale.
Head transverse, much wider than thorax, three times as wide as thick
antero-posteriorly; eyes large, occupying the whole side of the head;
ocelli in a triangle, large, prominent, whitish or pale, the lateral nearer
to each other than to the eye; clypeus subtriangularly produced. Thorax
short ovoid, convexly elevated anteriorly, the collar, or pronotum, not vis-
ible from above; mesonotuim smooth, without furrows; metathorax short,
obliquely declining and delicately areolated. Wings hyaline, iridescent,
with the stigma and nervures light brown; stigma narrow, acuminate;
marginal cell narrow, acutely lanceolate, terminating much before the
apex of wing; first abscissa of radius straight, forming with the second
abscissa a right angle; cubital nervure interstitial with the first branch
of radius, submedian cell a little shorter than the median. Legs long
and slender, the hind pair being much longer than the others, their coxe
long and cylindrical, and their tarsi thickened. the basal joint being as
long as the four following joints united; middle legs with their femora
longer than the tibiae, the latter only a little longer than the tarsi.
Hab.—Lafayette, Ind.
Types in National Museum.
Originally described from specimens in Coll. National Museum,
labelled No. 124, July 28, ** Coll. C. V. Riley,” but no record of
its habitat or rearing could be found. Since this paper was read,
however, among some Hymenoptera sent me by Prof. F. M.
Webster for determination, was a single specimen bearing the
same number and date, and on writing to Prof. Webster about it
he informs me that all the specimens were bred by him at Leteb@eije On
«tte, Indiana, from an Aphid.
This rearing is interesting and virtually substantiates and con-
firms my views in regard to the position the gioup should occupy
in the family Braconzde.
(2) Eupachylomma flavocincta, sp. n.
3'.—Length, 4.1 mm. Head black, polished; face below rufopiceous ;
clypeus, mandibles, palpi, first two joints of antenne, tegule, four an-
terior legs, and hind coxe yellowish-white; flagellum dark brown; thorax
luteous, three stripes on mesonotum, a small spot on scutellum and
metathorax brown, the latter obsoletely areolated, rest of thorax smooth
polished. Wings hyaline, the stigma and venation brown; cubitus in-
terstitial with first branch of the radius or nearly so. Abdomen twice as
long as head and thorax united, brown, the sutures broadly and a large
spot at base of fourth segment luteous or pale yellowish; venter luteous
with some brown markings; second segment much longer than the first,
both finely, longitudinally aciculated; fourth segment shorter than the
60 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
third, the third very little longer than half the length of second; follow-
ing segments very short.
Hab.—Arlington, Virginia.
Collected by myself in 1889 on Arlington Heights, along the
banks of the Potomac.
EuURYPTERNA Forster.
1862. Syn. d. Fam. und Gatt. d. Braconen, p. 247.
(Type Pachylomma cremteri De Breb.)
(1) EURYPTERNA CREMIERI Forster.
Paxylomma cremieri De Breb. Enc. Méth., x, p. 23.
Pachylomma cremieri Ratzb. Die Ichn. d. Forstins., 11,
P+ 53°
Eurypterna cremieri Forst. L. c. supra, p. 247.
Hab.—Europe (Germany).
This species has been taken among ants ( /ormdca) and is sup-
posed to be parasitic upon them.
RoproniA Provancher.
1886. Add. et Corr. ala Fn. Hym. du Can., p. 154.
(Type R. pediculata Prov.) »
(1) RoprONIA PEDICULATA Prov. L.c., pp. 154, 406.
Hab.—Ottawa, Canada (Harrington).
This genus is unknown to me, but, judging from the description
and the figure of the wing, I believe it will be found to belong in
this group. Abbe Provancher originally described it as a Bracon
in the subfamily Aphzdizre@, but subsequently removed it to the
flelorine in the family Proctotrypide.
The paper was briefly discussed by Messrs. Riley and
Howard.
—Mr. Benton presented the following communication :
THE DEATH’S-HEAD MOTH IN -RELATION TO HONEY-
BEES.
By FRANK BENTON.
Westwood states in vol. ii, p. 367, of his work on insects that
the Sphingid moth Acherontia atropos is the largest European
lepidopterous insect. It is not, however, confined to Europe
alone, but is found even more abundantly in North Africa and
Western Asia, my own experience with it having been mainly
acquired in Tunis, Syria, and Cyprus.
OF WASHINGTON. 6]
The general characteristics of the moth are sufficiently striking
to make it readily recognizable. The length of body is 65 mm.,
or about 24 in. ; wing-expanse, 115 mm.,or 44 in. The general
color isa dark velvety brown. The markings of the back of
the thorax, dark brown and orange colored, present such a re-
semblance toa skull as to have led to the popular name, Death’s-
Head Moth. The abdomen is dark brown, each segment bear-
ing a quadrangular blotch of yellow on either side of the dorsal
line. The anterior wings are dark brown, marked with irregu-
lar black stripes and a lighter blotch of buff color toward the
outer edge; the posterior wings orange yellow with two trans-
verse bars of black—the outer one broader and less well-defined
than the inner one.
The larve of this moth are most frequently found feeding on va-
rious species of Solanum, as the potato, bitter-sweet, etc., but they
will also feed upon jasmine (/asmznum officinale), thorn-apple
(Daiura stramonium), etc. It is only the imago, which ap-
pears the latter part of summer, that does any damage to honey-
bees—this damage being not to the bodies of the bees themselves
except incidentally when the moth attempts to escape their at-
tacks when it is caught pilfering their honey or attempting to
do so.
But before taking up this part of my subject some reference to
the note uttered by the moth will be of interest, especially as by
this means the moth is said to terrify the bees. It is a shrill
stridulation often loud enough to be heard at least ten or twelve
rods away.
‘¢Tt is somewhat strange,” says Henry Edwards in /zsect
Lifé vol. ii, p. 13, that in this age of entomological research
the means by which the sound is produced by this species is yet
unknown, comparative anatomists being considerably at variance
in their opinions on the subject.” Réaumur and Roesel have
attributed it to friction produced by the labial palpi. Passerini
(Osservazioni, Pisa, 1828) located the sound in the head of the
insect, where there is a cavity connected with its spiral tongue.
De Johet and Vallot (L’Institut, 1834, p. 4) think the sound is
due to the sudden impelling of air by means of the wings,
against the scales at the base of the latter. Lorey and Goreau
think it is due to the expelling of air through orifices in the sides
of the abdomen, which openings are covered with fine hairs.
Westwood points out that this cannot be so, as other Lepidoptera
having these holes are mw¢e. Kirby and some others state that
the larva produces a squeaking sound when captured. These are
but a few of the many references which have been made by ento-
mological authorities to the strange sound produced by this
Acherontia—a sound whose production is still something of a
mystery. This noise, so exceptional with Lepidoptera, together
62 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
with the great size of the insect and the grotesque representation
of a skull on its back, have led to much superstition and terror
concerning it among the peasants of some countries of Europe,
most of them regarding it as a harbinger of evil.
But it is more particularly as an enemy to the honey-bee that I
wished to refer to this insect; hence, with these few general
references to its striking peculiarities, I will proceed with that
portion of the subject. ,
I think it was the blind naturalist F. Huber who, in 1804, first
called attention to the depredations of this moth in connection
with the honey-bee. The moth is very fond of honey and ap-
proaches the entrances of the hives just at nightfall and attempts
to gain entrance. It is at this hour that the workers are most on
the alert for enemies. ‘The field-bees have all returned home,
and in front of the populous hives numbers of them may be seen
clustered about the entrances. The Death’s-Head Moth poising
a moment before the entrance of such a hive soon sees that it
would be a hopeless task to gain admittance there. The workers
exhibit signs of great excitement, numbers of them running to-
ward the edge of the alighting-board and some even darting
toward the moth. Should the moth alight it will be instantly
seized by the nearest bees, the contented, continuous hum of
the hive ceases at once, and a sharp, quickly and frequently
uttered note of alarm calls forth additional defenders of the hive
as fast as they can pour through the exit. The moth redoubles
its efforts, uttering constantly its peculiar cry of terror. Should
the moth escape, as it is very likely to do on account of its great
strength and the violent fluttering of its powerful wings as well as
the confusion which its note seems to occasion among its enemies,
the offender is certain to leave the apiary at once. If a less
populous hive having a large entrance should be attacked, and
the moth succeed in gliding in without encountering guards. it
will regale itself with the contents of a number of honey-cells,
though the report which Huber gave, to the effect that it would
suck up a tablespoonful of honey at one time, seems rather over-
drawn. The moth runs great risks for the sake of this sip of
nectar, as the chances are greatly against its ever getting out
alive. Even though the colony be weak, stili some workers are
likely, in the summer season, to be on all combs which contain
honey, and once -the alarm has been given the intruder is soon
compassed about and is quite sure to become so confused as to be
unable to regain the hive entrance. Having finally despatched
the moth with their stings, the bees commence to denude the
wings and body of all scales and pubescence, frequently biting off
legs and antennex, nor do they leave it until they have completely
skeletonized the wings and removed all internal organs, leaving
merely the chitinous frame of the insect intact, as shown in the
OF WASHINGTON. | 63
specimen herewith exhibited, which I took from a hive in Syria.
This they usually glue fast to the bottom of the hive. :
The bees of Oriental and North African countries when lo-
cated in hives having large -flight-holes, especially if the latter
are somewhat circular in outline, build from the upper inner
edges of the orifice a descending apron, composed of propolis
and beeswax, which nearly closes the entrance; sometimes these
are multiplied and overlap somewhat loosely, making passages
rather labyrinthine in character; or, again, when the entrance is
wide but only half to three-fourths of an inch high numerous
pillars or portions of a solid wall reach from the top of the
entrance to the bottom-board, rendering it more difficult or im-
possible for enemies, especially large-bodied ones, to force their
way in. ‘
Though I have found the remnants of as many as four Death’s-
Head Moths in one old hive, still I do not consider it a serious
pest even where it is most plentiful. I cannot see why it would
not thrive and multiply should it be accidentally introduced
here, since climatic conditions are not unfavorable for it and its
food-plants are abundant.
The remedy which the apiarist should adopt against this moth
in localities where it is abundant is very simple and _ naturally
suggests itself to one who considers its mode of attack. It is
merely to make the entrance to the hive as low as possible with-
out interfering with the ingress and egress of the bees—that is, 7
to § mm. or about js of an inch. This will at the same time
keep out many of the marauding Vespidz, mice, snails, etc., and
lessen the chances for the wax-moth to get in. The Death’s-
HeadsMoth will then do no more harm than to create a dis-
turbance now and then at the hive entrance, and kill a few
workers by the fluttering of its wings when it ventures near
enough to be assailed by the bees.
The paper was discussed by Messrs. Stiles, Schwarz, Riley,
Gill, Chittenden, Marx, and Howard. Dr. Stiles criticised the
popular name of ‘* Death’s-Head Moth” since, in his opinion,
the thoracic makings have no resemblance to a skull. Prof.
Riley stated that in some specimens the resemblance to a skull is
quite marked, but that the form of the markings varies con-
siderably in different individuals. Mr. Schwarz expressed some
surprise at,the activity. of the bees during the evening, when this
moth flies, but was informed by Messrs. Benton and Riley that
during warm weather the bees are very active at night. Prof.
64 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Riley, in reference to the noise made by the moth, stated that
although he had not given it much personal attention he im-
agined that the patagia have something to do with it. Dr. Gill
expressed himself as of the opinion that it will be very easy to
solve the question as to how the sound is produced by comparing
the insect with closely allied forms which are silent. Prof. Riley
stated that this had already been done by many older authors and
contended that it is by no means an easy problem to solve, since
the noise only occurs during extreme activity on the part of the
insect. He stated that the sound produced by Culex is equally
difficult to locate even by comparison with noiseless allied
species. Mr. Howard was under the impression that he had
noticed a slight squeak with certain North American Sphingide,
and in this Messrs. Riley and Chittenden were inclined to agree
with him, although neither was positive. Prof. Riley further
spoke of his pleasure in rearing this moth when a boy in France.
He had not found it during his early boyhood in England, where
it was very rare at that time. Mr. Benton stated that the species
is growing more abundant in England, and Dr. Marx referred to
the fact that it was formerly a serious pest to the potato crop
along the Rhine in Germany.
—Prof. Riley read the following:
FURTHER NOTES ON LACHNOSTERNA.
By CV Rirey, Pu. D.
There has been a general impression, from the previous studies
of Lachnosterna, that there is a certain chronological sequence
in the occurrence of the different species. The great partiality
of these insects for the tender foliage of young oaks, especially
recently transplanted trees, is well known and has been fully at-
tested in our previous discussions. I have had some difficulty in
preventing the utter defoliation of three young oaks (Quercus
palustris) which were transplanted from the nursery a year ago
last fall, and on the evening of the very first day of May, which
happened to be warm and quiet, the beetles appeared for the first
time. A number which I took on that occasion showed that the
specimens represented four well-known species, namely, Z.
hirticula, L. arcuata, L. micans, and L. fraterna. They
were abundant in the order of their naming, 2zr¢2cula being the
earliest and the most active in flight. a@7cwata next most
abundant, while but a single specimen of fraterva was taken.
OF WASHINGTON. 65
These insects continued throughout the month, whenever the
weather was warm and calm enough to permit of their flight,
and at the close of the month another lot preserved showed the
same preponderance of Articula and arcuata and about the
same relative proportion of mzcans, but instead of fraterna a
single specimen of 2zrsuta was taken. Thus during the month
of May these species occurred simultaneously and continuously.
By carefully picking off and shaking down two or three times
between 8 and 11 o’clock, I had no great difficulty in substan-
tially preserving the foliage of the trees named. -During the
present month there will undoubtedly be a sequence of the
species, but in far less abundance and with no essential injury to
the foliage. . I have a suspicion that the habit which our oaks, in
the District at least, manifest, of putting out a secondary vigorous
growth in the month of June or later, has been acquired as a con-
sequence of the very general eating-off of the terminal young
growth in the beginning of the season by Lachnosterna. How
very difficult these insects are to deal with when the question is
one of a large number of trees has been indicated the present
spring by the experience of Mr. D. H. Rhodes, who has charge
of the tree-planting in the grounds at Arlington. He had a very
large number of young maples set out fromthe nursery and very
many of them have been ruined by these beetles, and the meas-
ures he could adopt failed to prevent their onslaught.
I had a curious experience with the first lot l preserved. They
were thrown into an old cyanide bottle, the cork of which was
not very tight, and the cyanide in which was more or less inop-
erative. The bottle was lined with blotting-paper and the
beetles—just exactly two dozen specimens—chewed the paper up
into a triturated mass, some of them retaining life up to the third
week. This was a rather singular experience, considering that
in empty bottles the beetles would perish in as many days, and I
have little doubt that the blotting-paper saturated with cyanide
and thus kept moist helped to preserve life in these insects in this
instance, a result which one would hardly have anticipated from
its well-known deadly effects upon insects generally.
NOTES ON COCCID£.
By:C. V. Rirey, Ph.D.
MODE OF HIBERNATION—EFFECTS OF SEVERE COLD—VIVIPAR-
ITY—REMEDIES.
General experience indicates that most of our Coccide hiber-
nate in the egg state, yet there is no uniform rule in this respect
and I have been somewhat interested the past year in noting the
hibernating habits of a few species that have come under my own
66 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
notice. Chionaspis euonymt, which has been extremely in-
jurious to the Huonymus japonicus in this city, and which
attacked certain fine plants in my own garden, is a difficult
‘species to deal with by virtue of the fact that it is so irregular in
breeding. Last year I became aware of its occurrence on my
own plants too late to deal with it effectually. Experiments
‘made during the autumn and winter of 1892-3 with the ordinary
kerosene emulsion 4 or 5 times diluted only destroyed but a
small portion of the mature females, but a much larger propor-
tion of the immature scales. A curious thing about this partic-
ular species is that there is continuous hatching throughout the
summer at no regular intervals, and that even as late as frost
larve will be still hatching. Moreover, the females hibernate in
various stages of development. No eggs will be found under the
females during winter, and one might almost be led to suppose
that it is viviparous. From about the middle of May, however,
the eggs begin to be produced, a few only from each female, and
these continue to hatch over quite a period.
An experience which I had last summer is interesting as indi-
cating the migratory power of the young larve. I had planted
in the spring a vigorous specimen of Huonymus scandens against
the stone wall of my front porch. This is about ten feet from
the nearest standard Euonymus which was infested, and there is
a flower bed nearly three feet wide, besides three strips of grass
sod, and a gravel walk four feet wide between the two. I know
that the young Auonymus scandens was perfectly free from
insects, and yet by midsummer I noticed that the insects swarmed
upon it—so much so that it was practically killed down this past
winter. The young larve must have persistently crawled this
distance, a large number of them reaching the climbing Euony-
mus—whether instinctively wending their way in that direction
or whether others were scattered in all directions and lost I did
not ascertain. It is very doubtful if they could have been carried
over in such numbers by other insects, especially as ants are
seldom seen on the Euonymus, and that the wind played no part
in the distribution may be justly inferred from the fact that the
climbing plant was in a northwesterly direction from the other,
a direction in which the winds are rare in summer, as they are
far more often from the west or southwest or else from the north.
The Maple Scale, Aspidiotus tenebricosus, was exceedingly
abundant two years ago and, as many of the members are aware,
the Park Commissioners severely pruned and cut down many of
the trees along some of our principal streets and whitewashed the
trunks, with a view of checking or destroying it. This treat-
ment, as I know from examinations made both by others as well
as myself, did not kill the insects, as they.continued to breed last
year on all the new growth. Observations on this species also
OF WASHINGTON. 67
indicate that it is viviparous and hibernates in the mature female
form. The most interesting fact connected with it, however, is~
that the very severe and exceptional cold of last winter seems to
have killed it out, as, so far, Messrs. Pergande, Schwarz, and
Chittenden, who have examined the subject for me, report that
they have found no living specimens.
In this connection I may also give a little experience with
Chionaspis furfurus, the well-known Scurfy Scale of Pyrus
trees. This proved in my own garden extremely fatal to a hedge
of Pyrus japonica, when allowed to multiply, and experiments
with kerosene emulsion only 4 diluted showed that comparatively
few of the perfect scales in autumn or winter, while the leaves
are off the plant, are destroyed by it. It becomes necessary,
therefore, to attack it in the young or newly hatched larva state.
Fortunately the larve hatch quite uniformly about the middle of
May, and the kerosene emulsion diluted in § times its bulk of
water proved, when carefully applied, thoroughly effectual,
without any injury to the plants. Where, however, it was re-
peated two or three times upon the same plant it caused a drop-
ping of the foliage and a blackening of the more tender growth,
yet the plants are not materially injured and will undoubtedly
put forth fresh shoots and foliage. But a single treatment has
been effectual in killing every individual scale.
In connection with the hibernation of the species mentioned I
have been led to go over my own earlier records on the hibernat-
ing habits of the family, as also over the records of the Division
of Entomology. I have compiled the facts contained in Prof.
Comstock’s article in his own report as U. S. Entomologist for
1880. From these data it will appear that no general rule can
be formulated, and that we not only have species in the same sub-
family hibernating either as larve or in stages intermediate be-
tween the larva and adult, but in the adult female form and in
the egg, and that some species will be found in all these different
stages of development during the winter. The fact remains,
however, that in the armored scales the great majority, in more
northern latitudes, hibernate in the egg state.
SUMMARY OF RECORDS.
Diaspinze.—Aspidiotus obscurus Comst.—On Quercus phellos. The notes
indicate that in the District of Columbia this species hibernates in both
the larva and adult states. No eggs have been observed.
Aspidiotus tenebricosus Comst.—Maples; D.C. Viviparous; hiber-
nates as adult female.
Aspidiotus perutciosus Comst.—On Apple and a number of other
deciduous fruit trees; California. Specimens examined in December,
1879, showed that the mature females were hibernating, and that with
some of them were found a few eggs and recently hatched larve. There
68 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
were also younger females in different stages of development. Others
examined October, 1880, showed that all the females were living and that
the younger larve-were present, but no eggs were found. The species
thus seem to hibernate in the mature female condition and to be both
oviparous and viviparous.
Aspidiotus aurantit Mask. —Cal. Both oviparous and viviparous;
Hibernates as adult female.
Aspidiotus rapax Comst.—On Euonymus, Orange, etc.; Florida and
California. Observations made from March to the end of June indicate
that this species hibernates in the adult female, in the egg state, or as re-
cently hatched larve.
Aspidiotus sabalis Comst.—-On Palmetto; Florida. The records indi-
cate that this species hibernates both in the adult female and larva states.
Mature males were also observed March 23, 1883, but no eggs are recorded.
Aspidiotus ancylus Putn.—QOn various species of trees; District of
Columbia. Hibernates as half-grown female and as male larva, the male
appearing in March and April; eggs unknown.
Aspidiotus, n. sp.—On Camellia; California. Hibernates in the adult
state, but numerous eggs are found the latter part of the winter.
Aspidiotus, n. sp.—-On Japanese tea-plant; California. Hibernates in
the adult female state, the eggs being produced the latter part of the
winter. \
Diaspis boisduvallé Sign.—On Livingstonia; D. C. Adult females
with eggs and younger females in different stages, male pup and adult
males, were all observed as late as November 12.
Diaspis lanatus Morg. and Cckl.—On Peach; Florida. Mature females
hibernate without eggs; eggs are, however, found during the latter part
of June, probably of the second generation.
Diaspis rose Sandb.—On Rose, etc.; D. C., Florida, California.
Specimens received from Florida February 20, 1880, embraced adult and
partly grown females, adults with numerous eggs, some of which were
hatching. Males were at the same time swarming. By April 20 adult
females and eggs were still present, though the males were absent.
Specimens of the same species received from California February 7, 1881,
showed that the females were about half-grown and the males fully devel-
oped. The same species from Washington, examined March 6 of this
year (1893), showed adult and half-grown females, the majority, however,
being in the egg state. ©
Diaspts carueli Targ.—On Juniperus, etc.; D. C. Hibernates in the
adult female state, no eggs having so far been found.
Chionaspis pinifolii Fitch.—On Pine. Oviparous; hibernates in the
egg state.
Chionaspis biclavis Comst.—On Camellia; D. C. Oviparous; appears
to be a continuous breeder.
Chionaspis quercus Comst.—On Oak; California. Oviparous; hiber-
nates as partly grown female, or as adult female, though the male larve
and pupe have been observed as late as August.
OF WASHINGTON. 69
Chionaspis fraxint Sign.—On Ash ; England. Oviparous; hibernates
in the egg state. :
Chionaspis, n. sp.—On Black Cherry; New York. Oviparous; hiber-
nates in the egg state.
Chionaspis, n. sp.—On Cornus; D. C. Probably hibernates in the adult
female form. Specimens examined June g, 1881, contained numerous
esss. :
Chionaspis, n. sp.—On Dwarf Apricot; Japan. Oviparous; hibernates
in the egg state.
Mytilaspis, n. sp.—On Myrtus barometrica; D.C. Oviparous; hiber-
nates in both egg and larva state.
Myttlaspis, sp.—On Ulmus purpurea; D. C. Oviparous; hiber-
nates in the egg state.
Mytilaspis, n. sp.—On Yucca; D. C. Oviparous; hibernates. in the
egg state.
Mytilaspis, n. sp.—On Camellia japonica; Georgia. Oviparous; prob-
ably hibernates in the egg state, as eggs were found as late as August 25.
Mytilaspis, n. sp.—On Celastrus scandens; Virginia. Oviparous;
probably hibernates in the egg state, these being found late in summer.
Lecano-diaspini.—Asterodiaspis quercicola Bouché.—D. C.;_ hiber-
nates in the adult female state; eggs not observed.
Asterodiaspis pustulans Cockl.—On Hibiscus, etc. ; Florida. Oviparous;
hibernates in the egg state.
Lecaniini.—Ceroplastes floridensts Comst.—On Orange, etc.; Florida.
Oviparous; hibernates as adult; eggs hatching from middle of February
until end of April.
Ceroplastes cirripediformis Comst.—On Orange, etc.; Florida. Ovip-
arous; winter habit not observed.
Lecantum hespertdum Linn.—On various plants; D. C. Vey ipe tous;
breeds continuously.
Lecanium platycert Pack.—On Platycerum alctcorne; D. C. Vivip-
arous; hibernates as adult female, though a few recently produced larve
were noticed in December. Probably breeds continuously.
Lecanium tulipifere Cook.—On Magnolia, etc.; Florida; D.C. Vi-
viparous. At Washington the species hibernates in the larva state; in
Florida all stages have been observed during the winter.
Lecantum hemisphericum Targ.—On various plants; D. C. Oviparous;
hibernation not noticed.
Lecantum olee Bern.—On various plants; D. C. Breeds continuously.
Lecanium, sp.—On Acacia decurrens; D.C. Viviparous; larve of all
stages were observed as late as December 8, 1880.
Lecantum, sp.—On Red Bay, Persea carolinensis; Florida. Vivip-
arous; hibernates as adult.
Lecanium, sp.—On Elm. Oviparous; hibernates as partly grown larva.
Lecanium, sp.—On Fraxinus; D. C. Oviparous; hibernates as larva.
Lecanium, sp.—On Grape; California. Oviparous; hibernates as adult
female.
70 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Lecanium, sp.—On Celtis; D. C. Oviparous; hibernates as larva.
Lecantum, sp.—On Mesquite; Arizona. Appears to be viviparous ;
numerous larve were issuing from scales received June 20, 1882.
Lecanium, sp.—On Osage Orange; Utah. Oviparous; winter habit not
observed.
Lecanium, sp.—On Oak; D. C. Probably hibernates as partly grown
larva.
Lecanitum, sp.—On Quercus laurifolia; Alabama. Oviparous; dead
females filled with eggs received April 18, 1881.
Lecanium, sp.—On Pear; California. Oviparous; hibernates in the
egg state.
Lecantum, sp.—On Peach; D.C. Oviparous; hibernates in the imago
state.
Lecanium, sp.—On Sagaretia michauxiéi; So. America. Oviparous;
hibernates probably in the imago state; scales filled with eggs examined
May 1, 1885.
Pulvinariini.—Pulvinaria tunumerabilis Rathv.—This and all other
species of the subfamily studied are oviparous and hibernate in the
partly grown female state. In Florida the females commence ovipositing
in March, while further north oviposition does not take place until May.
Kermesini.— Kermes galliform?s Riley.—On Oak; widely d'stributed.
Oviparous; mode of hibernation not positively ascertained, though prob-
ably as adult females.
Kermes, sp.—On Quercus obtustloba ; Texas. Oviparous; hibernates
probably in adult female, eggs hatching being received May 17, 1882.
. Kermes, sp.—On Quercus niger ; Missouri. Oviparous; hibernates in
the larva state.
Kermes, sp.—On Quercus tinctoria; New York. Oviparous; hiber-
nates probably as larva.
Kermes, sp.—On Live Oak; California. Oviparous; hibernates in larva
state.
Kermes, sp.—On Quercus obtusiloba; Texas. Oviparous; hibernates
probably as adult female, as larve were just hatching May 18, 1882.
Dactylopiini.--Dactylopius destructor Comst.--On Orange, etc. ; Florida
Oviparous; breeds continuously.
Dactylopius, sp.—On Roots of Clover. Oviparous; hibernates in adult
and egg states. Taken June 10, 1880; eggs hatched from January 31 to
February 3.
Dactylopius longifilis Comst.—On hot-house plants; D. C. Viviparous ;
breeds continuously.
Dactylopius, sp.—On Maple. Oviparous; hibernates in the egg state.
Dead females and eggs found March 16, 1881; larve hatched March 28.
Dactylopius, sp.—On Sycamore; D. C. Oviparous; hibernates in
partly grown larva state. Dead females and eggs were found September
18, 1873; eggs hatched September 23.
Dactylopius, sp.—On grass; D. C. Oviparous; hibernates apparently
OF WASHINGTON. 71
in all stages. Adult females, eggs, and immature specimens in all stages
were found October 22, 1881.
Acanthococcini.— Cerococcus guercus Comst.—On Oak; Arizona. Ovip-
arous; hibernates in the egg state. Scales received January, 1874, con-
tained numerous eggs, which commenced hatching March 18, 1874.
Gossyparia ulmi Groff.—On Elm; D.C. ‘This species appears to be
oviparous and hibernates in the larva state.
Eritococcus azalee Comst.—On Azalea; D. C. Oviparous; hibernates
in all stages.
Rhizococcus quercus Comst —On Live Oak; Florida. Oviparous;
hibernates in all stages. Among specimens received March 29, 1882, were
mature females, partly grown females, young larve, eggs, and fully
developed males, which seems to indicate that there are two or more
generations each year.
Rhizococcus araucarte Comst.—On Araucaria; California. Oviparous ;
the eggs were probably deposited in August or September. It hibernates
probably as partly grown larva.
In discussing these several communications Mr. Doran stated
that at one time he had kept a Scarabeid beetle for five days in
a bottle containing fresh cyanide, and that at the expiration of this
time it was apparently as healthy as ever. Mr. Schwarz stated
that in his opinion the species of Lachnosterna are much longer
lived than supposed by Prof. Riley. Instead of dying in three or
four days, he thinks that they normally live for several weeks.
Dr. Marx stated that on May 10 he received a male and female
Centrurus vittatus from Baltimore and placed them separately
in dry bottles. The male died in five days, but the female is still
alive, having given birth to numerous young. In this case the
longevity is plainly influenced by maternity. Mr. Howard
thought that the influence of Prof. Riley’s cyanide was far from
being proven, and suggested that if the check bottles had con-
tained an equal amount of moistened blotting-paper the compar-
ative results might have been different. In regard to the instance
of the travelling of the young of the Chionaspis, he thought that
this was rather to be explained by the accidental portage of many
individuals by flying insects and by English sparrows, every-
where so abundant. Mr. Ashmead stated that from observations
in Florida he was convinced that ants have a great influence in
the carriage of bark-lice toa distance. Prof. Riley stated that no
72 ; ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
English sparrows nest on his grounds and that he had not seen
one upon his Euonymus bush. He had carefully considered all
possible means of transit and had concluded that the young
must have crawled the entire distance to have appeared so sud-
denly and in such numbers upon a previously uninfested plant.
He further stated that there are no ants whatever upon the bush
and that he had never seen ants attending Chzonaspis euonymt,
on account of the lack of honey dew. Mr. Ashmead stated that
ants undoubtedly do attend and transport young Diaspine, and
that although the honey dew is comparatively slight it is still
present with these forms.
—Mr. Schwarz exhibited a remarkable species of Rhodobenus
which he had found alive at Fortress Monroe, Va., in May of the
present year. It differs strikingly from any species yet found in
North or South America, to which countries the genus is re-
stricted. It is a question whether the insect was brought to that
locality by some of the vessels participating in the naval review :
which occurred a short time previously, or whether it may be
called a North American insect. The coast region from the
capes nearly to Florida, he stated, is practically still terra ¢cacog-
nita to entomologists, so that the form may possibly belong to
our fauna.
Lew
Vig.
BAD wo. H.: : “Woe: on : the genus Centrodera, 93 oA Srbepad of
the Spalangiine of North ‘America, 24; : ‘Synopsis of the North
American Species of Toxoneura Say, 45 Notes on the Family
Pachylooamatoide iv sn seers = Cnet eekeseeeeetenpeer geese teens |
‘Trigona, 18; ‘The Death’s -head Moth i in relation to Honey Bees" oe:
jas. A peculiar structural Feature of the Upning oes 13 se
Ds FE doy 7 Ole Oo Brahe seed asec snesecadeshsesdeedebopey seiner “10%
Geo Degeneration by Disuse of certain’ Organs in Spiders; _ ‘
30} Continuation oft the Lue tistony. bs the Whip- tail eains ef ms
=
ad Wn. oH Notes upon. Se ROT Ss Sochacheias Sd
C. “) : Purther Notes on a yah 645 Notes on Coccidee 65.
Volume 1, No. ; a
2 2
* as
is
Ey as AS yeh ie
feng, shy eee Ae
sete e abe ade sseveres .
ats ke x
ae % un
oy BAe S eras ‘Ye isin! ve
Pee eee este teeeweseenne -
: Win fs ta Pareles A
< e Wey 4 ASS: lee ¥
Ten CAEL 7B Nae SR Diag
ae
et aA a he ee Rite 3 °
se eee eeeeees feeeee seeerrere
Pi Ree eee ME We N
ee
ier
‘vs
Baie Salina 7
Cases, ene Pate i
| ding Secre
_ Department of Agri
cad
,
f
a
N, Corre espon
PROCEEDINGS.
OcTOBER 5, 1893.
President C. V. Riley was in the chair and 12 members and
2 visitors present.
The following new members were elected:
Active—R. S. Lull, of Maryland Agricultural College. Cor-
responding—W. D. Doan, Coatesville, Pa.; J. L. Healey,
Rogers Park, Ill.; H. C. Fall, Pomona, Cal.; H. F. Wickham,
Iowa City, lowa; L. W. Mengel, Lancaster, Pa.
Mr. Schwarz read the following paper:
ADDITIONS TO THE LISTS OF NORTH AMERICAN TERMI-
TOPHILOUS AND MYRMECOPHILOUS COLEOPTERA.
By E. A. SCHWARz.
¥
1—TERMITOPHILOUS SPECIES.
Platycholeus leptinotdes Crotch.—A number of specimens
were obtained by Mr. H. G. Hubbard, in July, 1891, at Lake
Tahoe, Cala., in a colony of Zermopsis angusticoll7s within
the stump of a large pine tree; other specimens, found by Mr.
A. Koebele in California with the same host, are in the U.S.
National Museum. ‘The general appearance of this remarkable
Silphid indicates a parasitic or inquilinous mode of life, and I
have no doubt that it is a true termitophilous species.
Microcyptus testaceus Lec.—A specimen was found by Mr.
H. Ulke near Washington, D. C., under bark of a dead pine
tree. No white ants were seen near by, but the tree bore evi-
dence of having been inhabited by them. Another specimen was
found by myself many years ago under similar circumstances at
New Smyrna, Fla., in the month of June. This would seem to
prove that, as it is the case with myrmecophilous inquilines, at
least some termitophilous species do not accompany immediately
the termites when these are changing the location of their nests.
What, in my list of termitophilous Coleoptera (Proc. Ent.
Soc. Wash., 1, p. 161), I have called ‘‘true nests” of Zermes
flavipes is a rather misleading term, and requires some explana-
74 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
tion. I intended to designate thereby colonies in which, at the
proper season, eggs or very young larve are found, or from
which the swarms of winged individuals issue. That such colo-
nies, which are quite abundant, are only temporary habitations
is proven by the fact that they do not contain any egg-laying
females. The eggs are, therefore, carried into them by the
workers from other colonies of a more permanent nature, and
which should be considered more properly as the ‘* true nests.”
Such colonies are extremely rare, or, perhaps, only difficult to
find, but hitherto only supplementary queens, 7. e., egg-laying
individuals with long wing-pads (sexually advanced female
pupz), or egg-laying individuals with short wing-pads (sexually
advanced female larve), have been found in them. A true
queen, 7z. e., an egg-laying female imago with wing-stumps, has
never been found, and is probably never developed in Zermes
flavipes, a fact which would be well in accord with the wander-
ing habit of this species.
2—MyRMECOPHILOUS SPECIES.
Species belonging, in my opinion, to the class of accidental
visitors in ants’ nests and which have been found or recorded
since the publication of my paper on Myrmecophilous Coleoptera
(Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash., 1, 1890, pp. 237-247) are not enumer-
ated in the following list. The occurrence of Zachys tncurvus
in large number of specimens in the hills of Hormica schaufusst
and exsectozdes as observed at several localities is of interest, but
may be explained by the fact that the earth of which these hills
are constructed retains always a considerable amount of moisture
which, during periods of severe drought, is naturally greatly at-
tractive to these beetles.
fustiger fuchst Brend.—Found by Mr. H. F. Wickham with
Cremastogaster lineolata, at Williams, Ariz. (Psyche, 6,
1892, p. 321).
fustiger californicus Brend.—Specimens of the ant with
which this species was found by Mr. A. Koebele near Los An-
geles, Cala., prove to be Cremastogaster lineolata.*
Adranes n. sp.—Many specimens were found by Mr. H. G.
Hubbard in a colony of Laszus rubripes at Lake Tahoe, Cala.,
July 12, 1891. The species agrees in size and color with A.
lecontez, but the males are at once distinguished by the absence
of the triangular metasternal ridges and by the much shorter
spine at the base of the middle femora. I have seen other speci-
* For the determination of the ants mentioned in this list I am indebted
to Mr. Theo. Pergande.
OF WASHINGTON. 75
mens in the cabinet of Mr. H. Ulke, collected by Mr. Titus
Ulke in the Black Hills of South Dakota, with a Laszus claviger._
Tyrus cortictnus Cas.—Numerous specimens were found by
Mr. Hubbard and myself with Formica sanguinea* in a de-
cayed pine log above Alta, in the Wahsatch Mountains of Utah,
at an elevation of about 10,000 feet.
Ctentstes pulvereus Lec.—Found with Formica schaufusst?
at Tucson, Ariz., by Mr. Wickham (Psyche, 6, 1892, p. 321).
_Arianops amblyoponica Brend.—This blind species, the
largest Pselaphid in our fauna, was originally described from
specimens found by Rev. Jerome Schmitt, near Beatty Station,
Pa., in colonies of Amdblyofone serrata. In June, 1893, Mr.
Hubbard and myself found a considerable number of specimens
in the mountains of North Carolina, at Retreat and Round Knob.
They occurred in deep layers of vegetable mould, in compe
with other blind species of Coleoptera (Anillus, Pinodytes).
few specimens of Ambdblyopone serrata were found under Hs
same conditions, but the beetles were more numerous than the
ants.
Batrisus ferox Lec.—A single female specimen with ex-
tremely small eyes was found by Mr. Theo. Pergande with Am-
blyopone serrata near Washington, D.C. B. juvencus of my
former list has to be referred to B. ferox. 3
? Myrmecochara n. sp.—The species mentioned in my list
from Lake Tahoe, Cala., has been found by Mr. Wickham at
Cafion City, Colo., with Solenopsis debilis (Psyche, 6, p. 32%).
It is incorrectly referred by him to the genus Gyrophena.
Lispinus.—Some of the more convex species are so constantly
found with ants in old stumps or under bark that they are possibly
to be included in this list. Thus Z. proléxus was found abun-
dantly by Mr. Titus Ulke with Formica obscurtpes in the Black
Hills, S. Dak. ; Z. Zevécauda is equally common with Campono-
tus pennsylvanicus at Grand Ledge, Mich., and a third species
which is distributed in cabinets under the MS. name L. cara-
botdes Fauv. was found in large numbers with Formica san-
Luinea var. at Alta, Ut.
E-mphylus americanus Lec.—A number of specimens occurred
with Formica sanguinea var. in a rotten log near Alta, Utah.
flister subopacus Lec.—A single specimen was found under
a stone in a colony of Formica fusca, race subenescens, at
Tenino, Wash., early in July.
*T am informed by Mr. Pergande that this is not the typical F. san-
guinea, which has not yet been found in North America, but one of the
sub-species or races which will shortly be described by Mr. C. Emery.
76 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Heterius morsus Lec.—Found by Mr. T. D. A. Cockerell
at West Cliff, Colo., April 23, in a ‘* nest of a brown ant, appar-
ently, without doubt Formica fusca L.” (Ent. Mo, Mag., 26,
1890, p. 158).
Heterius hornit Wickh.—This species, which is unknown to
me, was described by Mr. Wickham (Pysche, 6, p. 322) froma
specimen found with Formica schaufussz, at Cheyenne, Wyo.,
in May, 1889.
Heterius tristriatus Lec.—This is a common species from
the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific States, and seems to live with
all species of Formica occurring in that region. The following
hosts were ascertained by Mr. “Hubbard and myself: Formica
subenesceus (Glenwood Springs, Colo., May 15), /. obscur?-
pes (Tenino, Wash., May 30), /. schaufusst (Ft. Assiniboine
and Helena, Mont., in April and May).
Heterius n. sp. aN very small species allied to HZ. drunntz-
pennis was found by Mr. Hubbard and myself just as widely
distributed and having the same hosts as /7/. tr¢strzatus. Upon
uncovering colonies of Formica subenesceus at Glenwood
Springs we repeatedly observed that an ant seized with its man-
dibles the beetle and carried it into the safe retreat of the subter-
ranean galleries.
Cremastochilus crinitus Lec.—This is extremely abundant
throughout northern Utah, in the plains as well as in the moun-
tains to an altitude of about 7,000 feet, and it is a common sight to
see specimens being dragged about by ants. Formica obscurt-
pes and F’, fusca have been ascertained as hosts. Normally, the
upperside of the beetle is furnished with long hairs, but in most
specimens found the hairs have been eaten off by the ants, usu-
ally completely so, ‘The excretion which is so eagerly sought
for by the ants issues from a pair of glands at the inner side of
the anterior thoracic angles and another pair of glands situated
beneath and within the posterior angles. That exuded from the
latter source is very copious, and, if a specimen of the beetle is
for some time not attended to by ants, it accumulates as a honey-
colored, sticky mass at the base of each elytron.
Saxtnts saucta Lec.—Several larval cases were found under
stones in colonies of Lormica subenescens at Glenwood Springs,
Colo., May 15, 1891. The larve were full grown at that time,
and two imagos were bred from them about three weeks later.
The dirty brown cases are slightly bulging behind and have no
longitudinal ridges.
Cosctnoptera vittigera.—Larval cases were quite abundant
among colonies of Formica subaenescens at Glenwood Springs,
Colo., May 15, 1891. Two specimens of the beetle were bred
OF WASHINGTON. ta
therefrom and belong to the variety with abbreviated elytral vitta.
The cases are darker in color than those of the preceding species, -
nearly cylindrical in shape and furnished dorsally with a few
straight, irregularly interrupted or abbreviate, ridges.
Coscinoptera dominicana.—A single larval case entirely dif-
ferent from that figured by Dr. Riley* was found under a stone
in a weak colony of Camponotus melleus at Mt. Vernon, Va.,
April 13, 1893. It is of a bright clay color correspondirig
with that of the surrounding soil, quite cylindrical in shape and,
externally smooth and without any trace of longitudinal ridges.
Upon opening the case a few weeks later the perfect beetle was
found dead within it. The great difference in form and sculp-
ture of the larval cases made by the same species is certainly very |
remarkable and induces me to abstain from a comparison of the
larval cases of the two preceding species with those. found and
described from Colorado by Mr. T. D. A. Cockerell.f In the
larval case found at Mt. Vernon the larva had evidently prepared
to enter the chrysalid state; for the margin of the anterior open-
ing had been enlarged into a broad rim which was firmly glued
to the under surface of the stone, and a short distance above this
rim the larva had tightly closed its case by a circular lid.
In answer to a question by Prof. Riley, Mr. Schwarz stated
that the Chrysomelid cases received by Prof. Riley from Montana
probably belonged to C. dominicana and were all more or less
provided with longitudinal ridges. He stated, further, that these
cases are very fragile and require very careful handling to pre-
vent breakage, and that some of the specimens collected by him
were entirely destroyed on account of this extreme fragility. He
stated, also, that one of Prof. Riley’s specimens, received from
Morrison, from Arizona, was a distinct form. He was convinced
that the larve of all the species of this genus are myrmecophilous
in habit.
Prof. Riley was greatly interested in the wide difference be-
tween the cases of Cosctnoptera dominicana figured by him
and those exhibited by Mr. Schwarz—differences apparently due
to the varying nature of the soil of which they were constructed,
one form being in a clay soil and the other in a soil containing
* Sixth Rep. Ins. Mo., p. 127.
t+ Entom. Mo. Mag., 27, 1891, p. 190; see also Riley & Howard, Jusect
Life, 4, 1891, p. 148, and Dr. John Hamilton, 7. c., 1892, p. 268.
78 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
considerable’ humus; and he drew attention to the futility of
attempting to base specific differences on structures of this kind,
which are so apt to be divergent, depending on the surrounding
conditions, the same species adapting itself to changed environ-
ment and constructing widely different structures.
Dr. Marx said that if ant-feeding insects were included in
mrymecophilous species, the large Arachnid, Solpugo, should
be classed among them. He described its method of feeding on
ants at some length, based on the observations of Mr. Gustav
Eisen in Lower California, and those of Mr. Caspar Butcher in
Texas. Mr. Schwarz stated that these Arachnids are abundant
in the West but are always nocturnal in habit, and observations |
such as those described by Dr. Marx could be made only with
great difficulty. :
—Mr. Marlatt presented the following paper :
‘ NEURATION OF THE WINGS OF TENTHREDINID.
By C. L. Marratr.
In the first study of any group of insects in which the neuration
plays an important part in classification, one is apt to be dis-
couraged by the varied and conflicting terminology of the veins
and cells, in the description of which scarcely any two authors
agree. To increase the difficulty, it frequently happens that an
author’s system has to be picked up from random descriptions
without the aid of any full and adequate explanation in connection
with figures. These last, also, are absolutely necessary to the
correct understanding of the names, because of the frequent use
of the same terms for distinct things by different writers.
Two of the later European writers on the Tenthredinide,
Cameron and André, have, however, given very careful and full
explanations, leaving little to be desired in this respect, and have
practically coincided in a very satisfactory terminology which
harmonizes, also, as well as could be with older systems. Konow
has given a rather imperfect explanation of the system which he
has followed, and which is based on that of the older German
authors. The importance of Konow’s recent work in the Ten-
thredinidae gives value to certain features of this terminology,
which will be explained later on.
The American writers have generally followed Norton and
Cresson, whose terminology, though good, lacks completeness,
and is at a disadvantage on account of its divergence from the
accepted system of Europeans. Still, if we had only to deal with
OF WASHINGTON. 79
American insects, it might be well to continue to follow these
writers, but the time is passed when new species can be described —
without reference to foreign literature, not only because many
species will be found to be common to the old and new worlds,
but others, especially those affecting cultivated plants once re-
stricted to one or the other hemisphere, are being or will be by
the agency of commerce more and more widely distributed.
Comparisons with foreign descriptions will therefore, in the future,
have to be the rule, and it will be easier now than later to har-
monize our characterizations with those of European writers.
This will not necessitate the introduction of a new and strange
terminology, for the accepted European systems are not, after all,
so widely divergent from Norton’s, and will be found, with a few
important exceptions, to differ on account of additions rather than
changes.
Of the later important European writers on the Tenthredinide,
Cameron, André, and Konow, I have most closely followed the
first, introducing, in fact, few and unimportant changes and some
few additions of parts not designated by him.
I have given preference to Cameron’s system of nomenclature,
because I believe it to include the terminology most often used
and because his extensive monograph in English will be more fre-
quently referred to by American students than André’s, in which,
however, the system followed differs only in minor and, in gen-—
eral, unimportant particulars. Fora full synonymy of the termi-
nology employed by all the older European writers, the excellent
lists furnished by Cameron and André may be referred to. The
system here adopted is illustrated, with explanations accompany-
ing, in Fig. 2.
The names of veins and cells in anterior and posterior wings
correspond, except that in the posterior wings the 1st cubital (8)
is usually called the upper discal, the lower discal being num-
bered (10) in the figure, and the cells numbered (11) and (12)
are the rst and 2d posteriors.
The only important divergence from Cameron is the addition
of the terms axillary for nerve (f) of the posterior wings which
also sometimes occurs as a rudiment in the anterior wing; and
the designation of cell (2) as sub-costal rather than humeral.
André’s system differs only in the following particulars. Of
the veins: 7 is called posterior; &, transverse brachial; A, mar-
gino-discoidal, and s and ¢, medio and transverso discoidals. Of
the cells, (1) is the brachial and (2) costal.
In the system of Cresson and Norton, so far as the veins have
been designated, there are but two changes, viz., (2) is the mar-
ginal and (/) transverse marginal ; with the cells (2) is the median,
(3) sub-median, (6) marginal, (8-11) sub-marginal, and (15 and
16) apical.
80 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOUIETY
Fig. 2.—Neuration of Tenthredinid wings. See text for description (original).
THE VEINS.
Longitudinal Veins.
a, costal. J, axillary.
6, sub-costal. £, inferior.
c, median. A, radial.
d, anal. z, cubital.
é, accessory. J, sub-discal.
Cross Veins.
k, transverse costal. g, Ist recurrent.
Z, transverse radial. vr, 2d ae
m, 1st transverse cubital. s, 1st transverse median.
2, 2d 66 66 f; 2d 66 73
0, 3d s Je wz, transverse lanceolate.
Pp, basal.
THE CELLS.
I, costal. 6, radial. i
2, sub-costal. 7, appendiculate.
3, median. S to 11, 1st to 4th cubitals.
4, lanceolate. 12 to 14, 1st to 3d discals.
5, anal. 15 and 16, 1st and 2d posteriors.
Konow, in an incomplete characterization in his earliest paper,*
indicates the following differences: In the case of the veins c,
is either median or discoidal ; d, brachial ; e, humeral ; A, discoidal
* Deutsche Ent. Zeit., XXVIII, 1884, Heft II, p. 306.
OF WASHINGTON. 3 81
cross-nerve ; s and ¢, areal and anal cross-nerves, and w, humeral
cross-nerve. With the cells, the few that are referred to in the_
anterior wings agree with my system; in the posterior wing the
lanceolate cell (4) is strangely enough called the anal cell.
The most important of the cells on classificatory grounds is
the lanceolate cell of the anterior wings, which is peculiar also
to the Tenthredinide. It assumes in different genera three dis-
tinct types, each presenting variations of value. 1. It is Petzo-
late, as in Nematus, Fig. 3, (1), when the accessory vein joins
the anal vein and terniinates re-
838 ee motely from the base of the latter.
2. It is contracted when the
accessory vein coalesces with the
ER aay co slg PN ag NS anal for a distance at the centre,
- called contracted when widely so
as in Hylotoma, Fig. 3 (2), or
raeaeene 2 Pocaanerrtey Ty. subcontracted when narrowly so
in Pachyprotasis, Fi
as in Pachypro Be 1 | ap, ae G'S
3. It is open when the accessory
TS oo vein extends independently to the
base of the wing without meeting
i? the basal—simple or without cross-
= vein—as in Selandria, Fig. 3 (6) ;
with oblique cross vein as in
Dolerus, Fig. 3. (4); and with
Fic. 3.—Different types of lanceolate cell straight cross vein as in Tenthredo,
in Tenthredinide. See text for de- 1
scription (original). Fig. 3 (5) .
Next in* importance are the
radial and cubital cells of the anterior wings—the former never
more than two, but sometimes with an appendiculate cell, and
the latter never exceeding four nor less than three. In the hind
wings the discal cells are of the most importance—their number,
when present, and relative size giving good characters. The
lanceolate cell (Konow’s anal cell) also occurs in two distinct
forms, viz: either with the accessory vein received a greater or
less distance in front of the transverse median (s) or interstitial
with this cross vein.
With the veins the more important features are in the cross
veins, their number and position relative to each other and the
cells which they join. Of the longitudinal veins it may be noted
that the costal extends entirely to the apex of the wing and in-
cludes the peculiar enlargement called the stigma, the size and
shape of which latter affords good generic and specific characters.
On the hind wing, near the middle of this vein, occur a number
of minute hooks which clasp the thickened hind border of the
82 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
anterior wings and serve to connect the two in flight. The clear
spots or ‘* bulla ” of Walsh, which sometimes occur particularly
on the veins of the anterior wings, have not proven of very great —
value in the separation of species.
Considerable variation will be found in the venation within
generic limits, and even in some cases in the same species, but a
little experience will soon enable one to properly refer such
specimens, ‘That the absence or presence of any particular vein
is abnormal will usually be indicated by the position of the
other veins and the character of the venation as a whole.
The paper was discussed by Messrs. Ashmead, Riley, and
Howard, Messrs. Riley and Ashmead suggesting one or two
changes in nomenclature, and Mr. Howard calling attention to
the comprehensive system of numeral designation of veins pro-
posed by Redtenbacher and based upon evolutional studies. He
urged the adoption of this system by specialists.
—Prof. A. D. Hopkins, of West Virginia, presented short notes
upon, and finely executed drawings of, certain ‘‘ timber worms”
which produce the so-called pin-holes in the solid wood of various
trees, and are thus very injurious. ‘The species discussed and
exhibited were the following: 1, larve of H/ylecetus lugubris
from chestnut; 2, larve of Serropalpus striatus from black
spruce; 3, larve of Hupsalis minuta from oak, and which is
much more injurious than has hitherto been supposed; 4, an un-
known Coleopterous larva with a curiously formed anal segment,
greatly injurious to oak and chestnut timber, which is identical
with an unbred larva figured and described by Prof. Riley in his
6th report on the insects of Missouri (Fig. 32), where it is sug-
gested that it may be the larva of the genus Strongylium. Prof.
Hopkins also exhibited very fine specimens of the work of an
Agrilus (probably éz/¢zeatus) which appears to be the primary
cause of the wide-spread dying of the chestnut trees. In one of
these samples the galleries had been completely filled up by a new
growth of hard wood.
In the discussion of this paper, Mr. Schwarz stated that he was
greatly interested in the undetermined larva which had been figured
by Prof. Riley in his sixth report, and suspected to belong to the
OF WASHINGTON. 83
genus Strongylium, but stated that some doubt as to this reference
arises from the fact that all the species of Strongylium are much too
large for any of the larve so farfound. Mr. Schwarz also called
attention to the frequent confusion by collectors of Serropalpus
and Lymexylon, describing the distribution of the two genera,
the first being confined to the northern and the second to the more
distinctively southern States in range. Specimens of the two
genera were also exhibited.
Dr. Riley was greatly interested in the burrow of the Agrilus
exhibited by Mr. Hopkins, which had become filled up with a
growth of: liber so as to make the burrow a raised ridge, and, from
its serpentine course, gave it somewhat the appearance of a ligni-
fied snake. In connection with this he referred to the very curious
so-called lignified snake from Brazil, which was exhibited in
Europe some years ago, and which was so natural in appearance
as to deceive several European writers, but which was really but
another example of the burrow of an insect afterwards filled up
by a woody growth like the one exhibited. Mr. Hopkins stated,
in connection with the work of this insect, that the tree in which
the specimen was obtained was in a dying condition, but was
evidently being killed by the attacks of the Agrilus, which affects
living and growing trees rather than those already injured or ina
dying condition, as is sometimes thought.
NOVEMBER 2, 1893.
President Riley in the chair, and twelve members present.
Mr. Heidemann presented designs for a seal for the Society. One
of the designs was adopted, and Mr. Heidemann was urged to
engrave it upon wood. Upon motion, a vote of thanks was ex-
tended to Mr. Heidemann for his voluntary services in this mat-
ter. .
—Prof. Riley read the following :
NOTES UPON BELOSTOMA AND BENACUS.
By C.' Vo Ritey.
It is well known that for many years the commoner species of
our so-called ‘‘electric light bug” was generally referred to
84 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Belostoma grande, and, further, that of late years it has come
to be known that this was not the true grande, and that the com-
monest species we have belongs to Stal’s genus Benacus and is
Say’s griseus. This is undoubtedly the common species in this
section and throughout the larger portion of the United States,
and has received a number of different names, as haldemanus
Leidy, harpax Stal, ruficeps Dufour, déstinctum Dufour,
angustatum Guer. The Belostoma is a relatively rare form,
judging from the material in the National Museum, and has also
received various names, as ¢mpPressum Haldeman, /¢tigzosum
Dufour, and obscurum Dufour, all of these being synonyms
given in Uhler’s list. Stal established the genus Benacus in 1861
in ‘* Oversigt Vetenskaps-akademiens Forhandlingar,’ XVIII,
Stockholm, upon Lelostoma haldemanum Leidy, which was
described in 1847 (Journal Acad. Phil., New Series I, page 59).
Stal’s diagnosis is as follows:
Belostoma Latr. ‘‘Femoribus anticis subtus sulcatis. Arti-
culo basali tarsorum anticorum secundo multo breviore.”’
Benacus Stal. ‘‘ Femoribus anticis pro receptione tibiarum
haud sulcatis ; tarsis anticis articulis aequilongis.”
Both characters are obvious upon careful examination, but I
may add that the front femora of Belostoma are bisulcate their
whole length, and that the front tibiz are deeply unisulcate. The
two sharp edges of the tibiz fit into the two furrows of the femur
when folded together. Benacus has, on the contrary, both
femora and tibiz rounded. The two genera, as exemplified by
these two common species, are otherwise very similar and easily
mistaken for each other. Benacus on the average is somewhat
larger in size and with the body more distinctly widened at the
basal third. The paler coloring of the side margins of the thorax
and the median vitta are, as a rule, more distinctly relieved and
more or less ferruginous. Ventrally there are usually two sub-
lateral black stripes. The legs are usually unicolorous and the
hind tibiz and tarsi are more expanded than in Belostoma. I
notice also that in Belostoma, in all the species represented in
the National Museum collection, the middle and hind tibiz are
usually spotted or banded. All the mere colorational characters,
however, vary considerably, and realizing the great variation and
especially the great sexual differences that occur in many of the
aquatic Heteroptera, which is particularly exemplified in Ahew-
matobates rileyz, it occurred to me that the supposed generic
differences might possibly be sexual. This suspicion appeared
to me all the more plausible from the fact that, in looking over
the literature at hand, I could not find that the sexual differences
had been pointed out. I was, therefore, quite interested in ascer-
OF WASHINGTON. 85
taining what the sexual differences in these large Belostomatide
were, and have recently had specimens of Benacus softened and
dissected with a view of ascertaining. These examinations show
conclusively that both sexes occur in Benacus proper, and that
the differences between the two genera are, therefore, not sexual.
The only external indication of the sexes is that the tip of the
abdomen in the male is whole, while in the female it is slightly
notched, and with a small thorn on either end of the notch.
There is no difference in the length of the long appendages
nor in their shape, but the genital hooks and the cerci of the
male are well pronounced and are replaced in the female by mere
plates. Specimens illustrat-
ing these structures are here-
with exhibited. Seven
species of Belostoma are
recognized by Uhler from
the United States and the
West Indies, while in the
genus Benacus we have but
the one species. Say de-
scribes his Belostoma grisea
as **beneath with three black-
ish: vitte.”” This points to
Benacus, and Uhler has so
included it in his check list.
Otherwise Say’s description
would not indicate which of
the two insects he had refer-
ence to. Stal took Say’s
species to be the northern |
species of Belostoma (sensu Fic, 4.—BELOSTOMA AMERICANUM: 4, front leg;
3 6, front tibia and tarsus; c, tip of abdomen of
stricto) and therefore kept female, dorsal view, with wings and dorsal mem-
Leidy’s name haldemanus Hn dp nn! pal ear ean en
for Benacus. I once sent
specimens of Bexacus griseus to Prof. Montandon, who corrected
the name to Benacus haldemanus, evidently accepting Stal’s de-
termination. Packard in his ‘*‘ Guide to the Study of Insects,”
page 537, mentions the two species as follows: ‘+ Belostoma
haldemanum Leidy is not uncommon in our waters. It is 34
inches in length and has black patches on the under side of
the body, while in B. grzsea Say the under side is unspotted.”’
The first reference is undoubtedly to Benacus griseus, and the
second to Belostoma americanum. I refer to Packard because
his statement indicates how very generally the two insects were
confounded by entomologists, so that even in our leading Guzde
NY
\ ,
RN
\
i
\
86
ENTOMOLOGICAL
SOCIETY
the structural differences were overlooked. It is evident that the
insect figured by me in the American Entomologist (Vol. I,
Fig. 106) and in the Ninth Report on the Insects of Missouri
Zr
=
Yl
\Z-
is
SS
SSAENS
Q
(Fig. 33) as Belostoma
grandis was really Bena-
cus griseus, and the eggs
figured (Fig. 32) in con-
nection with the former
species, as probably belong-
ing to it, evidently belong-
to the latter, judging from
dissections recently made.
In figures 4 and 5 the
differences in the femora
and tibiz between the two
genera are illustrated, as also
the genitalia of both sexes.
The femoral grooves of Be-
lostoma seem to vary some-
what in intensity with dif-
ferent individuals, and more-
over the two grooves in the
Fic. 5.—BENACUS GRISEUS: @, front leg; 4, tip of Same individual vary some-
abdomen of female, dorsal view, the wings and whatin width. An impor-
dorsal membrane removed ; c, do. of male. ; é 3s
tant feature in this species
not previously mentioned is the smooth cavity or pit on the
inner border of the coxa where it articulates with the femur,
as shown in figure 4, @. It is against this surface that the
tarsal claw impinges when the tibia is closed upon the femur.
With Benacus there is no sign of this articulating facet, the
inferior surface of the coxa remaining convex and roughened
as shown in figure 5. The outer and upper end of the
clypeus in Benacus is velvety and dark-colored. In the ma-
jority of specimens of Belostoma this spot is lighter in color,
and. only occasionally velvety in appearance. The genitalia
of the two forms, when a large series is examined, are very
close in structure, as shown in the figures. After examination,
however, of a large number of specimens, the distinctions indi-
cated in the drawings 4, c and 5, e seem to be reasonably constant
in the male sex, while the differences shown between 4, c and 5, 6
are largely caused by the protrusion of the central organ. The
figures represent a dorsal view, after the wings and the dorsal
plates of the abdomen have been removed, while the lines be-
tween the appendages indicate the tip of the abdomen, and of
the lateral expansions, beneath.
RSaG&@WKQ Ws
7
@
YlilfiijdsbseeE PAV ee
SSSISESIEIIQ
a4
at
SSSA SSAA
Siddha FA,
tj:
fox
(
Tf” SOUT
: inca Kade OE ALL LPL A
—
SESS X«*.“~.
OF WASHINGTON. 87
In the discussion Mr. Gill said that the Chicago contention
arose in a discussion on the transmissibility of acquired charac-_
ters. He had mentioned the fact that he had, on a summet’s
evening, picked up one of a large number of these water-bugs on
the Washington streets, and had found it to be Belostoma. A |
few nights later he picked up another and found it to be Benacus.
He then examined some fifty or more and found them all Bena-
cus. He wished to know whether the two species occur simul-
taneously or whether they follow each other in point of time of
flight. He further said, in regard to Prof. Riley’s reference to
Belostoma as americanum and to the family as Belostomatide,
that, in his opinion, such names should be considered as feminine
nouns and not neuters; that in the Latinization of the Greek
noun it should take on the customary gender of its Latin termi-
nation. Prof. Riley said that on the whole he agreed with Prof.
Gill on this point, but that he had simply followed the custom
of the purists. Mr. Schwarz, however, dissented, and thought
that the Greek gender should be preserved. Mr. Schwarz also
called attention to the peculiar noise which these insects make in
flight, which resembles that of an electric battery. He also said
that in their marvellous power of flight they are unique in the.
whole order Hemiptera. The hind wings are very weak, and
the fore wings are therefore strongly functional in flight and pos-
sibly cause the noise by rubbing against some other part.
Mr. Ashmead stated that he had taken Benacus griseus and
Belostoma annulipes together in numbers in Florida. He
thinks that Belostoma americanum, as a rule, however, flies
earlier in the season than Benacus. Mr. Heidemann stated that
he had found both species on the same night in Washington, but
that Benacus was the more abundant of the two. Mr. Howard
said that he had seen both species taken on the same night, and
that one or both fly abundantly in New Orleans in the month of
December. Mr. Schwarz stated that Dr. Hessel of the Fish
Commission had told him that since the introduction of the elec-
tric light in the streets of Washington these bugs have become
much more numerous in the fish ponds near the monument,
showing that the lights of the city have probably attracted them
from a wide area and concentrated them in the nearest water
88 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
ponds. Mr. Schwarz further asked whether any one had ever
seen one of these bugs rise again after falling to the pavement,
and whether any one had noticed them in the morning in the same
numbers in which they occurred at night. In other words, what
becomes of those individuals which fall to the pavement? Dr.
Gill said he had noticed the insects most abundant at the lights
nearest the fish ponds and gradually diminishing about lights
further away. Mr. Schwarz said that in his experience electric
lights are much less attractive to insects now than when they.
were first introduced. He believes that the insects are gradually
becoming accustomed to the lights. Prof. Riley said that this
statement, if true, is of extreme interest, as it involves the ques-
tion of the heredity of the knowledge that it is injurious to the
species to fly to the light. In reference to the flight, it was ex-
traordinary only because of the size of the species, since all the
Heteroptera use their hemelytra in flight.
—Prof. Riley also read the following paper :
THE EGGS OF CERESA BUBALUS Fab. AND THOSE OF C.
TAURINA Fitch.
By CVG Rivey:
_ In the fifth report on the insects of Missouri, page 121, I have
described and figured the eggs and egg-punctures of what was
then considered to be the Buffalo Tree-hopper, Ceresa bubalus
Fab. The egg-punctures there described consisted of a row of
more or less straight, slightly raised slits in the bark, in each of
which is an oval, dark-colored egg. I described and figured
various stages of the insect which was reared from these eggs,
and which was determined from the only bred and somewhat
undeveloped individual as belonging to this species. Of late years
the eggs of this species have been described and referred to by
several Western writers, especially by our fellow-member, Mr.
Marlatt, who published a full and illustrated account of them as
observed by him in Kansas, and calls attention to the error in
my own account above referred to (Trans. Kans. Ac. Sc., Vol.
x, pp. 84-5, 1885-6). The eggs and egg-punctures as there
figured are quite different from those which I illustrated and
described, and agree with others which I have been familiar with
for many years but never reared. An explanation of this dis-
crepancy is, therefore, very desirable.
Careful comparison of my bred material with the material in
OF WASHINGTON. 89
the Museum, in connection with Fitch’s own types, and some ex-
aminations of the last ventral segment that have been made for
me by Mr. Ashmead, explain the apparent discrepancies, and
NEY
i]
Fic. 6.—Ceresa taurina Fitch: a, adult female, dorsal view; 4, one-half lateral view of same;
c, ventral view of tip of female abdomen with last ventral arc still more enlarged at side; d,
lateral view of same; ¢, antenna ; /, portion of hind tibia—all enlarged—from Jnsect Life.
the insect which I reared is in reality Fitch’s tawrzza and not the
typical dubalus. ‘The latter is a larger insect, with broader
body and especially with broader prothoracic parts and more
Fic. 7.—Ceresa taurina Fitch: a, single egg-puncture enlarged;
b, row of punctures in twig, natural size (after Riley).
prominent prothoracic horns. The last ventral segment has
a distinct, simple, median, rather acute notch, and is very
little longer than the two preceding segments united, the
90 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
emargination rather acutely triangular and extending about
half way or a little more than half way, to the base of the
segment; the posterior margin obliquely truncate to the rounded
hind angle, not sinuate; the valves shorter than the middle tibiz.
é @
Fic. 9—Ceresa tau-
rina Fitch: dorsal
‘ and iateral views
Fic. 8.—Ceresa taurina of adult, natural size
Fitch : a, larva ; 3, (after Riley).
nymph, (after Riley).
In ¢aurznva the prothoracic horns are less prominent, the last ven-
tral segment is a little longer than the three preceding segments .
united, the emargination extending to the basal one-fifth and very
Fic. 10.—Ceresa bubalus Fab.: a, female; 4, enlargement of anterior foot of same; c, do. of
antenna; d, do. of wing; e, last ventral segment of female; 4, ventral view of tip of abdomen
of female, showing terminal segments and ovipositor; g, do. lateral view; %, penultimate
ventral segment ot male; 7, ventral view of tip of abdomen of male—all enlarged—from /usect
Life.
narrow at its origin. The hind margin from here is rather deeply
and broadly sinuate, with the hind angles well rounded. The
differences between some of the smaller specimens of dada/us and
OF WASHINGTON. | 91
the larger specimens of ¢awrzuza are not very noticeable at first.
The slits of this Ceresa taurtina Fitch were mistaken by him for -
the crescent cuts of the Plum Curculio, while he very strangely
describes the eggs of what we know now belong to @canthus
niveus, or the Snowy Tree-cricket, as of the Ceresa bubalus. I
am familiar with various other kinds of small egg-punctures in the
twigs of various plants, undoubtedly of species belonging to the
Membracide or Fulgoride, but have reared and identified the
parent only in the case of Paczloptera [ Orminis| prutnosa
Say and Auchenopa binotata )
Say, the punctures of this last
being hidden witha white, waxy,
ribbed covering, which, as al-
ready pointed out (Am. Nat.,
XV, p- 574, July, 1881), was
referred by Fitch, in his col-
lections, to Dorthesia.
On referring to my scrap-books
and notes, it seems that the first
record of the oviposition of C.
bubalus was in a short reply to
a correspondent published by
Prof. Cyrus Thomas in the
Prairie Farmer of February
5, 1876, in which a brief descrip-
tion is given of the nature of the
egg-punctures of an insect which
was identified as belonging to the
same family as C. dudbalus, if
not to the same genus, but sup-
posed to be distinct on account of
their difference from the PUNC- Fig. 11.—Ceresa bubalus Fab. : Twig of
tures of dubalus as wrongly apple showing: a, female at work ; 4, recent
determined by me.: “At-the time SeCpuseuee f, bark sevareed ith ogee
I had several notes of earlier date of eggs, still more enlarged; ¢, wounds of
Reeeagt P two or three years’ standing on older limbs
on similar punctures, and having (after Marlatt).
submitted the drawings of them
to Prof. Thomas, he recognized his punctures as identical with those
now known to be of duébalus. My first specimens of these were
received Nov. 12, 1875, from Uriah McCall, Manchester, O.,
who found them on Apple, Pear, and Quince. My notes
describe the punctures as follows: ‘‘ Ordinarily there is a pair
of simple slits, the adjacent parts slightly swollen, each slit
leading to a row of, on an average, 10 eggs just under the
bark, the anterior or outer ends converging toward the middle.
The individual eggs are 1.3 mm. long by one-fourth as wide, pale
92 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
amber colored, with the anterior end somewhat more opaque.
~The wood around the eggs, as usual, is discolored. Sometimes
there is but a single slit, sometimes but a single egg, in cases
where the parent had evidently been disturbed. Sometimes a
double pair are found close together.” I received similar punc-
tures also from Dr. Lintner, from Pennsylvania, March 29, 1877,
and have also described in my notes punctures similar to the
above, which, however, are confined to a single crescent, differ
in the number and size of the eggs; and undoubtedly are deposited
by some closely allied but distinct species. I introduce for com-
parison Mr. Marlatt’s figure of the eggs and punctures which ac-
companied his first careful description of these, and his original
identification of the author of the slits. I also reproduce figures
of.C. taurina and C. dudbalus to bring out the imaginal differences
between the two species which are so easily: overlooked.* C.
taurina is now to be associated with the egg-punctures which
have previously been assigned to 6uéal/us by most writers on this
insect, following my reference to it in the Missouri report. I
also here reproduce my original figures of the egg-punctures,
preliminary stages, and adults, which illustrated my original
article.
—Professor Riley, under the head of ‘* Notes from ‘ Sunbury,’ ”
showed a young sycamore tree transplanted on his grounds in a
perfectly healthy condition last spring. In the course of the
summer this tree was girdled by Chrysobothris femorata, the
eggs of which must have been laid in the summer. The pupe
were all formed and the beetles will issue next spring. He also
showed a yearling shoot of ash which had sprung up from an old
stump that had been cut down the present season. It was ovipos-
ited upon by Zrochilium syringe the present summer and the
adults began to issue the first of October. Both of these species,
then, are sometimes shorter-lived in the larva state than is usually
supposed. |
Mr. Schwarz stated that he had noticed the adults of Trochilium
* Subsequently to the reading of this paper these two figures, the first of
which was in preparation while I was yet in charge of the Division of
Entomology, have appeared in Zusect Life, Volume vi, No. 1, pp. 8-14,
and are here reproduced by the courtesy of the Honorable Assistant Sec-
retary of Agriculture.
OF WASHINGTON. _ 93
issuing from ash trees on the streets of Washington in September.
He thought that there are two broods in this species. Mr. Ash-~
mead stated that he had reared two annual broods of a Sesiid
from oak galls in Florida. Mr. Ashmead further discussed the
note on Ceresa, and gave in full the synonymy of C. uzzformzs
of Fairmaire. He called attention to the excellent character for
the separation of species in the last ventral segment of the female,
which varies in the intensity and form of a central indentation of
the hind margin. | |
Dr. Gill, apropos of the difference in the sexual organs and
their use in separating species, asked as to the difference in the
genitalia of Belostoma and Benacus. Dr. Riley stated that, curi-
ously enough, the differences in this respect between these two
forms are slight.
Mr. Ashmead and Mr. Schwarz further discussed this point,
agreeing that in many groups whole families occur in which the
sexual characters are uniform, while in others they are very vari-
able and afford criteria for the separation of species.
Dr. Stiles stated that in the worms the genital characters are
the main ones in use. He said that in the Strongylide, for in-
stance, all classification was, until recently, based on the bursa
of the male. He now finds that the spicule affords a good char-
acter, and in fact all through the Nematodes where workers are
lost on all other characters this spicule can be relied upon.
Mr. Schwarz asked about the females, and Dr. Stiles replied
that it is dangerous to determine the females specifically. The
labia of the vulva afford some characters, but the determination
of species takes place mainly through association with the male.
Dr. Gill stated that in the Helicide we have an illustration of
the value of sexual characters. Helix hortensis and H. nemo-
ralts vary greatly in color, but in the color of the shell lip they
are constant, that of hortenszs being invariably white, and that
of zxemoralis brown, and this character is coincident with certain
genital modification. In fact, in the genitalia of this group we
have the best criteria for classification. Dr. Stiles asked as to
the reason for these sexual variations. Dr. Gill said that they
might be the coefficients of evolution, z. ¢., that these variations
might perpetuate varieties owing to structural difficulty in copu-
94 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
lation between the unlike forms. Dr. Riley followed up this
idea but thought that these differences are not to be used so im-
plicitly in classification. He was of opinion that they might be
considered to be varietal in most cases, and the beginnings of
species rather than absolutely distinguishing species.
Dr. Gill thought that the question as to what constitutes a
species is far from being answered. As a postulate, however,
he believes that we may found a species upon any character that
is absolutely constant. Where, however, we have absolute con-
necting links the forms cannot be considered as more than sub-
species. :
—Under the head ‘‘ Short notes and exhibition of specimens”
Mr. Schwarz, in connection with a note in the last number of
Entomological News referring to Dr. R. Thaxter’s work on the
Laboulbeniacee, exhibited specimens of a Pterostichus from
North Carolina which shows on the right elytron a veritable forest
of these parasitic plants.
—Mr. Ashmead showed a species collected in Florida of the
African genus Amplicotes, a Fulgorid. He also referred to
another case where in the Hymenoptera an African genus ail
sesses a representative in Florida.
Mr. Schwarz stated that in the Coleoptera such cases are known
and referred to Argopistes, a Halticid resembling a Coccinellid,
which occurs in Africa and which has a representative in sub-
tropical Florida.
—Mr. Heidemann exhibited certain new Capsids, comprising
one new genus and two new species, and stated that he had been
making a special collection of the Capsids affecting Locust,
Linden, and Walnut the present season.
DECEMBER 7, 1893.
President Riley in the chair, and eighteen members and one
visitor present.
The following new members were elected: Active—G. B.
Sudworth. _Corresponding—Robert H. Walcott, Grand Rapids,
Mich.
The election of officers for 1894 resulted as follows: Presi-
OF WASHINGTON, 95
dent, Wm. H. Ashmead; Vice-Presidents, Theodore Gill and
C. L. Marlatt; Recording Secretary, L. O. Howard; Corre-
sponding Secretary, F. H. Chittenden ; Treasurer, E. A. Schwarz ;
additional members of the Executive Committee, George Marx,
B. E. Fernow, and C. V. Riley.
The delivery of the annual address of the outgoing President,
Prof. C. V. Riley, was postponed for one month.
—The first paper of the evening was by Mr. C. L. Marlatt, en-
titled ‘‘ Revision of the genus Poxtanza, Costa, with Descriptions
of New Species.” The relationship of this genus, which is a
subdivision of the old genus Nematus, was explained, and its
characters pointed out. A list of seventeen species which will
belong to it in the North American fauna was given, and the
prominent characters which may be used in the classification of
these species and in their differentiation were explained. The
genus includes sma// species of the old genus Nematus of gall-
making habits, so far as known, and include the well-known
species salicis- pomum and pisum making the common leaf-galls
of the willow. Seven of the species are new. In answer toa
question by Prof. Riley, Mr. Marlatt pointed out the salient
characters separating the genus Pontania from Euura, the species
of the latter genus, in gall-making habit, being closely allied to
the former.
—Mr. Chittenden presented, by title, the following paper :
ON THE HABITS OF SOME LONGICORNS.
By F. H. CuIrTENpDEN.
The notes which follow are based on the writer’s personal ex-
perience, and the dates of rearings given are, for the most part,
as in nature. In very many instances the material from which
the species herein mentioned were reared was gathered but a few
days before the transformation of the insects and kept in an un-
heated room. Sask
In referring to published records the observer’s name is men-
tioned for authority, as most of these records are to be found in
Dr. A. S. Packard’s report on forest insects (Fifth Report U. S.
Ent. Comm.) and that of Mr. A. D. Hopkins (Bull. 33, W.
Va. Agl. Expt. St.). Other records are given in articles by
Dr. C. V. Riley and Dr. J. L. LeConte in the third volume of
the American Entomologist.
96 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Parandra brunnea Fab.—This is one of the most omnivo-
rous of longicorns. Living, as it evidently does, chiefly in
decomposing wood, it infests both deciduous and coniferous trees.
In my notes its occurrence is recorded under the bark of oak and
apple; in cherry wood (Prunus cerasus), just beneath the
tightly- clinging bark, and on willow (Sa/zx alba), deeply buried
in the rotten wood. Mr. W. H. Ashmead has recently shown me
specimens taken under the bark of maple. I have also seen
specimens found under bark of elm and basswood, and Mr. M.
L. Linell informs me that he found it in abundance in the
hollow trunks of Azlanxthus glandulosus growing in the streets
of Brooklyn, N. Y. At Spring Lake Beach, L. I., it occurred
under bark of pitch pine (Pius rigida). Dr. LeConte also
states that the species of this genus live under pine bark (Class.
Col. N. A., pt. II, p. 280). Others have recorded as food-
plants: beech (Horn), ash (Riley), and 7Zz/za americana
(Townsend). At Washington, D. C., I have taken it at lights
during the second week of June. At Ithaca, N. Y., it appeared
in July.
Callidium ereum Newm. was reared from the wood of
chestnut ( Castanea dentata) on two occasions: atIthaca,N. Y.,
May 14, and at Clifton, N. J., May 30, occurring also in June.
LElaphidion villosum Fab., under which name I include also
parallelum Newm., has most often. been noticed as infesting
oak and hickory ; Haldeman has recorded chestnut and Abies (! ) ;
apple, plum, and grape have been added by Dr. Riley, and
peach and walnut by Professors Cook and Hopkins respectively.
To this I may add that I have reared the species from pruned
twigs of quince, locust, red-bud ( Cerczs canadensis), and from
trimmed ends of twigs ‘of Osage orange (Maclura aurantiaca)..
In past years I have seen pear trees very extensively pruned by
this insect ; also the climbing bitter-sweet ( Celastrus scandens).
More recently I have ascertained that this or allied species attack
almost every woody plant that grows. In the vicinity of Wash-
ington the genus Elaphidion is not so abundant as in most
northern localities that I have visited, but pruned twigs of various
trees and shrubs are of frequent occurrence, among which I have
noted spice-bush (Linudera benzoin), Sassafras officinale,
sumach (Rhus glabra and typhina).
It has been noticed that this, as well as related species, does
not always prune the twig in which it lives, but I do not remem-
ber to have seen mention of the fact that the insect sometimes
remains in the proximal end of the limb attached to the tree,
while the severed end is as often found Soups thus reversing the
usual order of affairs.
OF WASHINGTON. 97
The species is evidently parasitized by Bracon eurygaster
Brullé.
Phyton pallidum Say is one of the species mentioned by Dr.
LeConte as having bred from hickory. It lives also in Cerczs
canadensis, passing its earlier stages under the bark and appear- -
ing as a beetle in the latitude of Washington during the latter
part of June and continuing till toward the close of July.
Curtus dentatus Newm. also breeds in Cerczs canadensis,
appearing abroad in this neighborhood early in July.
Molorchus bimaculatus Say was reared from dead twigs and
branches of ash (fraxitnus americana), dogwood (Cornus
florida), Cercts canadensis, and from the larva found in a wild
maple sprout. The adult insects abound on flowers of different
species of Prunus, Cornus, Viburnum, ez. a/., in New York
State, occurring in May and June; about Washington, also, in
April. This is included in the list of hickory species by Dr.
LeConte, and, according to Glover, infests also walnut.
Rhopalophora longipes Say is not uncommon in Maryland
and Virginia near Washington. May 21 a few sections of
branches of red-bud were gathered from which the beetle was
reared May 24, others issuing early in June. It also occurs in
July, frequenting the flowers of Ceanothus americanus and Hy-
drangea arborescens.
Xylotrechus colonus Fab.,.a general feeder, partial to oak,
maple, and hickory, was reared on two occasions from chestnut,
June 8-14. It is parasitized by the rare Ichneumonid, Xylonomus
rileye Ashm., a single example of which was reared June 15,
Rosslyn, Va.
Neoclytus erythrocephalus Fab. is one of our most polypha-
gous species, having seemingly no favorite food-plant. I have
reared numerous specimens, always in about equal abundance in
trunk and branch, from Cornus florida, tulip (Liréodendron
tulipifera), locust (Robinia pseudacacta), Cercts canadensis,
hickory, and grape-vine, and have observed the adults on oak
and apple, usually copulating and in such abundance that there
could be no doubt as to the meaning of their presence. At
Washington the beetle occurs from the last of April till toward
the end of July.
Individuals reared from locust were from twigs kept two years
indoors. In dogwood the larval galleries are very extensive, the
younger larva evidently passing a considerable portion of its
time under the bark, afterward penetrating the solid wood, which
is still more extensively bored. The pupal cell is often placed
in the centre of a large twig, the larva having previously excavated
an exit-hole to the bark.
98 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
It is also said to infest elm (Hubbard), persimmon, maple,
willow, and peach (Hopkins).
In the dogwood great numbers of Braconid cocoons were
noticed in the larval galleries of this Cerambycid. Such of these
‘as were gathered and carried to maturity produced Bracon eury-
gaster Br., previously recorded by me as a probable parasite of
Elaphidion villosum Fab. The large Clerid beetle Charzessa
pilosa Forst. was reared from pupe taken under similar con-
ditions, and probably preys on the /Veoclytus larve.
Cyrtophorus verrucosus O\l,—I have reared this species from
a chestnut limb, the imago issuing in confinement, March 18,
Ithaca, N. Y., and have found the beetle in its pupal cell in a
decaying and badly bored beech (Fagus atropunicea) at the
same place, March 29. At South Woodstock, Conn., the imago
was again taken from its pupal cell in recently dead, hard wood
of European linden ( 77z/¢a europea). Specimens also occurred
at Ithaca in April on dying locust, and it probably infests this
tree. It has also been obtained by Dr. J. Hamilton and others
from the rough bark of oak, by Dr. F. Hadge from quince and
by J. G. Jack from Prunus pennsylvanica.
This is one of the exceptional longicorns which sometimes
mature in the fall and remain in the pupal chamber till spring.
It is an early spring arrival, frequenting the flowers of the dog-
woods from the date of their blooming, and continuing till late
in June.
Euderces pictpes Fab.—A specimen was bred from a dead
chestnut twig at Ithaca, N. Y., July 20. Larvae, without doubt
of this species, were observed under bark of this twig March 22,
over two years previous to this rearing, and this individual had
therefore consumed at least three years in completing its trans-
formations—a retardation in development undoubtedly due to the
unnatural dryness caused by indoor breeding. The imago fre-
quents the flowers of dogwood, elder, wild parsnip and carrot,
and others, occurring in June and throughout July.
In spite of the abundance of the Lepturini, both in individuals
and species, particularly in our northern states, very little is
known of their larval food-habits further than a few records of
some of the more common species. Several are known to pass
their larval existence in old and decaying wood, and it is not
probable that they are very discriminating in taste. Hence it
would not be surprising to find some species in the group that
breed indifferently in both deciduous and coniferous trees.
Leptura vagans O\l.—Larve, together with the dead imago
in its pupal chamber, were cut from old and decomposing, wood
of bitter-nut hickory, AWicoria minima (Carya amara), at
Ithaca, N. Y., in December. About this time Dr. A. E. Brunn
OF WASHINGTON. 99
discovered in dead birch wood a larva which agreed perfectly
with the above. This larva, at the time of its coming into my ~
possession, was much shrivelled and fast drying up. My own
specimens having died, I placed this larva, by way of experi-
ment, in the hollow cavity of a hickory twig pruned by Ela-
phidion. The Leptura thrived in this improvised home and
transformed to imago June 11. The imago also occurs in July,
frequenting the flowers of chestnut.
Cyrtinus pygmeus Hald. occurs rather commonly between
New York city and Washington on locust, hickory, and box-
elder (Negundo negundo). On the last-mentioned tree nu-
merous small holes were noticed in the terminal twigs on which
the imagos were resting or crawling, and which were without
doubt made by them in exit, Dr. J. B. Smith found this species
under similar circumstances on oak (xt. Am., v1, 137), and
Mr. Schwarz has reared it from locust (Pr. Ent. Soc. Wash.,
11, 73); hence I feel no hesitation in placing hickory and box-
elder on the list. About Washington the beetles have been
noticed during June and July.
Acanthoderes quadrigtbbus Say breeds in box-elder, all of
the galleries seen, in a large trunk, being in the main longitudinal
and situated immediately under or very near the bark. This
species was bred by LeConte from hickory, and, according to Mr.
Schwarz, attacks also oak, beech, and hackberry. It is parasitized
by a large Braconid, evidently Bracon, the empty cocoons only
having been found.
Leptostylus parvus Lec. occurs near Washington, on bam: elder
and tulip, having been beaten from dead branches, in about equal
numbers, in the latter part of June and first of July.
Leptostylus btustus Lec.—June 17 my attention was attracted
by a series of sharp, ticking sounds emanating from some jars of
twigs in my apartments. The sound continuing, it was traced
directly to its exact source on a twig, which, on removing the
bark, disclosed, much to my surprise, a longicorn pupa with
which I was unfamiliar. Subsequently other portions of the
twig were decorticated, resulting in the discovery, June 20, of
Leptostylus biustus in all its stages; the imago, however, had
not fully matured and could not have issued until two or three
days later.
This ticking sound resembled in every particular that made by
Liopus cinereus Lec., which I had always, and correctly,
attributed to the larva. That such a sound can be also produced
by a pupa I do not remember to have ever seen recorded. To
me this is a subject of sufficient interest to invite further inquiry.
The larva of Léopus cinereus certainly produces this sound, as
100 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
does the pupa of Leftostylus btustus ; now the question is, how
is it produced, and for what reason, and by what stages in dif-
ferent species?
Of other records, Dr. Riley mentions the rearing of this long-
icorn ‘*‘ from a dried-up pomegranate,” and Mr. Hubbard, in his
bulletin on ‘‘ Insects affecting the Orange” (p. 174), has given
an account of its breeding under the bark of orange.
Leptostylus macula Say breeds in almost all kinds of decid-
uous trees and shrubs. I have reared it from larve found under
the bark of beech, chestnut, maple, butternut, and sumach, and
have beaten specimens from the following trees in such abund-
ance as to lead to the belief that they are all food-plants: box-
elder, tulip, oak, and Carpinus. Mr. W. H. Harrington also
records hickory, and Mr. Geo. E. Brackett, apple (Prac. Ent.,
I, 19), as food-plants. At Ithaca the beetles occurred in
greatest abundance from the latter part of June till the middle of
July. Around Washington I have noticed imagos as early as
May 5, and as late as July 26. ‘The duration of the pupal state
_ of two individuals observed was from fourteen to sixteen days.
Leptostylus collarts Lec.—I have noted the occurrence of
what I take to be this species on chestnut on several occasions,
the larve living under the bark, and the imago occurring, in the
vicinity of New York city, throughout July and until August 8,
the latter a rather late date for a Cerambycid.
Liopus variegatus Hald. was reared from hackberry ( Ce/¢zs
occidentalis), and from box-elder, being especially abundant on
the latter tree. Five or six examples were beaten from a single
dead branch of chestnut at Navesink, N. J., and a similar num-
ber from dead locust, and it probably breeds in both trees. A
larva found under box-elder bark in April transformed to pupa
May 1, and to imago May 17, which would give sixteen days as
the duration of the pupal state. . In the hackberry, which grew
within a few yards of the box-elder, the beetle developed more
than two weeks later than in the latter, the first specimen not
appearing until May 30. Another did not pupate until June 4,
and allowing sixteen days for the pupal period, the imago issued
June 30. The cause of this difference was not due to food-
plants nor to the age of the wood, but obviously to the fact that
the box-elder was prostrate, moist, and exposed to the sun, while
the hackberry was standing, dry, and constantly shaded. At
Washington all stages are to be found during the last two weeks
of May, the imago appearing as early as May 11, and continuing
throughout the month of June.
Two enemies of this Cerambycid have been observed: an
Ichneumonid parasite, Hphialtes trritator Fab., which lives
OF WASHINGTON. 101
externally on the larva; and Zenxebrotdes corticalis Melsh., the
larva of which was detected in the act of devouring the Ceram- —
bycid pupa in its cell.
Liopus punctatus Lec. was reared from Cornus florida, the
imago being first noticed May 14 in its pupal chamber, and con-
tinuing in this neighborhood to July 3. According to Mr. Hop-
kins, this species also infests plum.
Lepturges symmetricus Hald. was reared from the larva
found under the bark of a trunk of dead hackberry (Cel¢zs
occidentalis). One larva transformed June 2 and became an
imago June 12, thus passing ten days as pupa. Latest capture
of imago, July 11.
A Braconid parasite, Cexocalius rubriceps Prov., was reared
from this species June 17.
Lepturges signatus Lec. breeds in the limbs of Cercés cana-
densts, beginning its transformations to pupa toward the close of
April, the imago appear ing about Washington in May and con-
tinuing throughout June. It also infests beech (Hopkins).
Lepturges guerct Fitch, as its specific name would indicate,
was originally taken by its ‘describer on oak. I have reared it
with the preceding species from red-bud, May 28, and beaten it
from the twigs June r1. At Ithaca, where I reared it from
hickory, specimens were found as late as July 21. [have reared
with this species a Braconid which Mr. W. H. Ashmead iden-
tifies as Calyptus magdalis Cr.
E-cyrus dasycerus Say. was also reared from twigs of red-bud
May 31. This specimen was kept until June 17, remaining, as
far as could be seen, inactive during the entire time. The insect
itself is heavy in conformation, and sluggish, as its appearance
would indicate. It stridulates, after the manner of its kind,
loudly and slowly. I have beaten this species from the twigs
of tulip and locust at Rosslyn, Va., from May 23 to June 27.
It is one of the species bred by LeConte from hickory.
Eupogonius vestitus Say.—A pupa was found in a twig of
Cornus florida near Washington May 6, from which the beetle
issued May 25. ‘The pupal stage is evidently long in this in-
stance, probably not far from three weeks. I have also beaten
specimens from chestnut at Ithaca, June 30 to July 11, and Dr.
Riley records as food-plant, hickory, and Mr. Hopkins, walnut.
Dysphaga tenuipes Hald.—A single specimen of this anoma-
lous species was reared from Cerczs canadensis May 23. The
imago, with its long wings and undeveloped elytra, flies freely
with a humming or buzzing sound like a bee. It has short legs
and runs slowly. When held it stridulates feebly for its size.
Haldeman, who described this species in 1845 (Pr. Ac. Nat.
102 _ ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Sci. Phil., m1, 126), says: ‘* The larva inhabits detached branches
of the genus Carya (hickory), the perfect insect appearing in
May in S.E. Pennsylvania.” Glover states that it also infests
walnut. Although half a century has elapsed since the insect
was described, it is still extremely rare. It has been recorded
also from southern New Jersey; my specimen was obtained on
the Virginia shore of the Potomac, and we may safely infer that
the species also inhabits the intervening territory of Maryland,
Delaware, and the District of Columbia.
—Mr. Howard presented the following paper, illustrating it
by black-board drawings :
NOTE ON THE MOUTH-PARTS OF STENOPELMATUS.
By L. O. Howarp.
Dr. Packard, in his ‘* Review of the Systematic Position of
the Orthoptera in Relation to other Orders of Insects,” gives,
with some detail, the relative characters of the typical insects
throughout the order Orthoptera, but does not seem to have ex-
amined Stenopelmatus, a striking and somewhat aberrant form.
A recent examination made of the mouth-parts of a single speci-
men indicates that the sclerites approach most nearly to those
- of Anabrus, as might have been expected. The submentum is
represented by a transversely oval chitinous sclerite in the mem-
branous wall of the gula. The mentum is a large rhomboidal
sclerite whose transverse diameter exceeds its length. The ligula
is slightly divided at tip and the paraglosse are hairy and moy-
able. The palpiger is indistinctly differentiated. The maxille
in particular resemble those of Anabrus. The cardo is large and
proceeds at right angles from the ligula. The stipes is inserted
at right angles upon the tip of the cardo. The palpifer is small
and indistinctly separated by a suture. The subgalea is narrow
and weak. The lacinia is very large and strong and furnished
with two teeth, the apical one being still further dentated into
one large and one small tooth. The inner edge of the body of
the lacinia is densely bristly. In the galea was exhibited a
strange asymmetry which is my main object for referring to this
insect. The right galea is stout, well rounded, and its tip is
evidently functional as a masticating or piercing organ since its
point is composed of dense dark-brown chitin. The left galea,
on the contrary, becomes flattened and subfoliaceous at its tip,
which appears almost membranous, is yellowish in color and
evidently not at all fit for the same purpose as its mate. The
labrum is very large-and very movable, almost half as long as
OF WASHINGTON. 103
the mandibles, and reaches quite to the tip of the mandibles
when closed, capping them, in fact.
An examination of the collection of the National Museum shows
that this galear asymmetry is abnormal. The normal galea is
apparently midway between the two which I have described. It
lacks the piercing black tip of the right one, and is rounder and
solider than the left one.
—Prof. Fernow called the attention of the Society to a new
insecticide which has appeared within the last year and is being
extensively advertised under the name Antinonnin. He gavea
brief description of the composition of the substance and men-
tioned the range of its use as an insecticide agent, as claimed by
its manufacturers. He stated that as diluted for application it
would cost about one cent per gallon, and that it was held to be
a specific for practically all forms of insect life, subterranean in-
sects included, as well as vermin, field mice, etc.
Mr. Marlatt said that the Division of Entomology of the
Department had been familiar with this substance for upwards of
a year, and that samples of it had been placed on exhibition with
the other patented insecticides at the recent exposition at Chicago.
In answer to a question by Prof. Riley, Prof. Fernow stated that
the only insects against which experiment had actually proved it
to be effective were Lophyrus pint and Liparis monacha, and
that for extensive forest use it was in the case of these and other
species impracticable on account of the impossibility of obtain-
ing sufficient water to dilute it with; but that for more limited
operations, as for garden or orchard work, this objection would
not apply.
Prof. Riley thought that some of our insecticides, of which
practical use had demonstrated the usefulness and general avail-
ability, such as kerosene emulsion, would be found preferable to,
and much less expensive than, the substance mentioned by Prof.
Fernow, and he stated as a further argument for the use of kero-
sene emulsion the fact of its very stimulating effect on the root-
growth of plants, in the case of subterranean applications. He
said that similar stimulating action seemed also to follow the °
application of the Bordeaux mixture, which fact he had particu-
larly noticed in the treatment of the grape and the potato. Mr.
104 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Waite suggested that there was still, however, a chance for
doubt as to the actual stimulating effect of the Bordeaux mixture
for the reason that there might be fungi on the plants which had
been overlooked, and which this treatment counteracted, resulting
in a more vigorous growth of the plant. Mr. Swingle, referring
to the use of the same (Bordeaux) mixture, stated that the matter
had been studied by a German investigator who had come to the
conclusion that the substance had a stimulating effect on the
chlorophyll of the plant, not by actually penetrating the leaves,
but simply by what was known as chemio-tactic action. The
subject was being further studied, and the action of the Bordeaux
mixture would undoubtedly soon be satisfactorily explained.
—The following paper by Mr. A. D. Hopkins was read by
the Secretary :
NOTES ON THE DISCOVERY OF A NEW SCOLYTID, WITH
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES.
By A. D. Hopkins.
On my way home from the October meeting of the Society I
stopped in Raleigh county, West Va., on Oct. 6, for the purpose
of making some observations in the white pine and chestnut for-
ests of that region. On the following day I discovered the gal-
leries of a Scolytid in the otherwise uninjured sap-wood of living
white oak trees, The frequent occurrence of these injuries, and
the finding of a Scolytid new to me in the galleries, led to an
investigation of the trouble, which has resulted in the develop-
ment of some very interesting facts regarding the species, its
habits, and the injuries resulting from its attack.
My first impression was that the Scolytid was Corthylus
punctatissimus, but upon my return to the station, and com-
paring it with examples of this species, I found that it possessed
differences which I believed to be sufficient to distinguish it as
another species. It cannot be C. sfzntfer, described by
Schwarz, on account of the absence of the spine on the antenna
of the male, and, as it appears to differ from the South American
species mentioned by Eichhoff in his ‘* Descriptio Tomicinorum,
1879,” I have decided that it is a new species, which I have
named and will here briefly describe as follows:
Corthylus columbianus n. sp.—-Structure and general appearance of
male and female, same as Junctatissimus. Differs from this species, how-
OF WASHINGTON. 105
ever, in the following characters: Head of female faintly and sparsely
punctured in front. Elytra declivity of male and female provided each —
side with small tubercules; suture elevated. Middle and hind tibia with
four teeth near tip. Length, 4 mm. Described from two perfect males
and parts of four females. From white oak, chestnut oak, and beech.
Types in Collection West Va. Experiment Station.
In punctatisstmus the head of the female is found to be deeply and
coarsely punctured in front. Declivity of elytra, plain. Middle and hind
tibia with only three teeth near tip. .
One of the interesting facts regarding this species I have de-
scribed is its apparent preference for perfectly healthy sap-wood
of living trees, in which to excavate its galleries and brood-
chambers. The entrance to the galleries thus excavated in a
young, growing tree is, the subsequent year, covered over by a
growth of wood, and as the tree continues to grow, layer after
layer of wood is formed over the first until the tree reaches ma- |
turity, when the injury will be deeply buried in the heart-wood.
The common occurrence of injuries thus caused throughout the
wood of old oak trees is evidence that this species, or one having
the same habit, has been for centuries more or less common in
our forests. In fact, some very early dates of insect injuries in
America may be obtained by counting the annual growths which
have formed over the entrance to galleries occurring near the
heart of large trees.
I have not yet met with injuries dating back to the time of
Columbus, but it appears possible that brood-chambers may yet
be found in some of our ancient oaks that were excavated by a
Corthylus in the fifteenth century.
—The following, from Mr. Hopkins, was also read by the
Secretary :
NOTES ON FOOD HABITS OF CORTHYLUS PUNCTATIS-
SIMUS. ie
By A. D. Hopxins.
During an excursion to the Dells of the Wisconsin with mem-
bers of A. A. A. S. on August 19, 1893, I found Corthylus
punctatissimus, adults and pupe, frequent in their brood-cham-
bers at base of small bushes of dogwood (Cornus sp.), hazel
( Corylus americana), and sassafras, and on September 6, near
Evansville, Indiana, I collected the same species in water-beech
( Carpinus caroliniana), sugar tree (Acer saccharinum), and
ironwood (Ostrya virginica).
106 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
In every case the broods were found in the base of the plant,
just beneath the ground. The plants were, asa rule, either dead
or dying from the injury. It would, therefore, appear that the
species chooses a great variety of host-plants. :
I have also found that this species does not necessarily kill the
plants attacked, for I find their galleries near the heart of living |
sassafras bushes of considerable size, where the entrance is cov-
ered over by a number of annual growths of wood.
—Mr. Heideman laid before the Society a fine series of Ly-
geus turcicus lately collected by himself in the vicinity of
Washington, D. C., and which conclusively proved that the ex-
tent of the bifid red spot on the vertex as well as the color of the
claws, which may be either entirely black or red anteriorly, are
quite unstable characters. In a recent paper (Ann. Soc. Ent.
Belgique, 37, 1893, p. 399) Mr. A. L. Montandon had maintained
that Z. ¢urcicus Fabr. and ZL. kalmzi Stal were two good
species, but distinguished the same solely by these color differ-
ences. The series exhibited rendered it quite evident that the
two forms could not be separated specifically. Prof. Uhler and
Mr. Distant had also arrived at the same conclusion.
Mr. Ashmead stated that his study of the coloration of these
forms had led him to the same conclusion, which Prof. Riley
further sustained from his own observations.
—Mr. Ashmead exhibited a large and handsome Chalcidid,
which he stated was a species described more than 100 years ago
by Fabricius as Chalczs cyaneus, but which had been lost to
science until he had very recently recognized it among some Bra-
zilian material. He stated that the species belongs to the- genus
Chrysetda Spinola, and that Westwood had also described two
species belonging to this genus, but had failed to recognize their
true affinities, and had erroneously placed them in the subfamily
Perilampinz, instead of in the subfamily Eurytomine, in which
they properly belong. He stated that the species bears some
resemblance to the genus Axima.
Mr. Howard quite agreed with Mr. Ashmead in the refer-
ence of this genus to the subfamily Eurytomine, and stated that
its intermediate position between the subfamilies Aximine and
Eurytomine furnishes a connecting link between these subfami-
Pr
OF WASHINGTON. 107
lies, and indicates very conclusively that Axima should not be
accorded subfamily rank, as has been done by Cameron, but is
properly placed in the subfamily Eurytomine.
JANUARY II, 1894.
Ten members were present. On taking the chair, President
Ashmead made a few remarks appreciative of the honor which
the Society had conferred upon him in electing him its chief
officer for the year.
The following letter from Mr. A. D. Hopkins was read:
With reference to the scolytid, Corthylus columbianus Hopk.,
mentioned in my communication to the December meeting of the
Society, you may say at this meeting, which I understand is to be
held on the 11th, that I have recently found evidence of injuries
apparently caused by this species which, according to the num-
ber of annual rings formed over the entrance, was produced
thirteen years before Columbus discovered America (1479).
This evidence was found ina tulip log in which the galleries
were quite common, dating from the time mentioned up to the
year (1592?) the log was cut.
I have also found the galleries, evidently of this same scolytid,
in maple and basswood.—A. D. Hopkins, Alorgantown, W.
Va., January 10, 1894.
This letter was discussed by several members. Mr. Fernow
was particularly struck by Mr. Hopkins’ find, because the past
summer he had been hunting high and low for a 400-year-old
tree. :
Messrs. D. W. Coquillett and E. A. De Schweinitz were
elected active members, and Prof. Jerome McNeil, of Fayette-
ville, Ark., a corresponding member.
The fede of Mr. F. H. Chittenden as Corresponding
Secretary was read, and, on motion, accepted. Mr. Frank Ben-
ton was elected to fill the vacancy.
The retiring President, Prof. C. V. Riley, then delivered his
annual address :
108 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT.
LONGEVITY IN INSECTS,
With some unpublished Facts concerning Cicada septendecim.
By C.:V. Rivey, Ph.D.
Friends and Fellow-members:
The question as to the necessity of death, which has been more
or less ingeniously discussed in past centuries by philosophers
and physicians, has acquired in recent years an added interest
from the scientific point of view by virtue of some of the curious
theories and experiments of Dr. Brown-Sequard, and of Weis-
mann’s theory of the immortality of the germ-cell, and the re-
sultant immortality of the zodspores or unicellular organisms.
To be a little more specific as to Weismann’s theory, it involves
the continuation from the very beginning of life upon our planet
of the germ-cell, and in controverting Vines’ argument, that it is
absurd to say that the immortal substance can be converted
into mortal, he takes particular pains to distinguish between what
he considers to be the confusion between two distinct ideas, viz.,
immortality and eternity. The immortality which he refers to
of unicellular beings, and the reproductive cells of multicellular
beings, is not absolute, but potential. He uses the word ‘* im-
mortal” to indicate not a substance, but a certain form of motion
—a force. It is the property of fission, then growth by assimi-
lation, then fission again, in the physical nature of protoplasm,
which he calls immortality. It is, in other words, a purely
biologic conception which he distinguishes from the immortality
or eternity of non-living or inorganic matter, which is without
beginning and without end. The distinction borders upon the
metaphysical, but it is well to bear it in mind in discussing
Weismann’s views.
In line with this theory of the immortality of the germ-cell,
Weismann has devoted a very interesting chapter, in his general
work on heredity, to the question, of the duration of life in differ-
ent species, and quite ingeniously endeavors to show that death
is by no means necessary. His premises are substantially these :
The duration of life varies, and is by no means fixed in different
kinds of organisms, but there is a correlation between longevity,
or the duration of life in the individual of any particular species,
and the risks which it suns in its struggle for existence, and its
fecundity. In other words, the slowest-breeding animals, ceterés
partbus, will, on the whole, prove the longest-lived, while the
most prolific will be most ephemeral in individual existence.
Further, he argues, with the ingenuity that characterizes his
OF WASHINGTON. 109
writings, that death has resulted in the evolution of life, not as an
abstract necessity, but as an adaptation—an incident beneficial to
the species through the agency of natural selection. It has been
found more useful to the species that the individual shall perish
and perpetuate the type in its offspring than for the individual
continuously to exist, death being in one respect the instrumen-
tality which nature has employed to produce an infinite variety of
forms and an increased complexity of structure which the past
and present history of life upon our planet exemplify. In short,
while death has almost universally been looked upon as inherent
in organic nature, Weismann, to use his own words, believes that
this explanation is invalid, and considers death not as a primary
necessity, but as an adaptation secondarily acquired. The un-
limited existence of individuals would be a luxury without cor-
responding advantage, and the power of multiplying indefinitely
was lost when it ceased to be of use.
It is not my purpose in this connection to discuss the deeper
question of the necessity or non-necessity of death in the abstract ;
for, however ingenious Weismann’s presentation of this part of
his subject may be, most persons will accept his own conclusion
that the problem is, for the present, insoluble, and that it is the
quest after perfected truth, not its possession, that falls to our lot.
Upon the second phase of the problem, as to whether the dura-
tion of individual life has been regulated by the conditions sur-
rounding, and the necessities of, the species, there are numerous
facts in nature which seem to justify the theory ;_ also many
which seem to disprove it and to indicate that other factors have
been concerned in regulating such individual life. In the data
given in his notes Weismann draws very largely from entomology,
and a brief consideration of the subject of the duration of life in
insects, and of its bearing on the views indicated, may prove
profitable and suggestive, and permit me to introduce some un-
published facts in the life-history of what is generally conceded
to be our longest-lived North American species, viz., Czcada
septendecim Linn.
Weismann brings together a series of the best established facts
which he has been able to gather, making no claim, however, to
have included even most of those which are scattered through
the enormous mass of entomological literature. He purposely
confines his consideration to the life of the imago or adult insect,
Z. e., the reproductive state, though I think that by so doing he
very materially lessens the value of his data as bearing on his
theories, especially as in other classes of animals he includes the
whole life of the individual. The life of the larva should not
be excluded. Neither does he reckon the time spent in the torpid
condition, believing that it should not be reckoned with the active
110 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
life of the species, there being no more in this condition than a
vita minima, with the reduction of assimilation to its lowest
point.
LONGEVITY IN INSECTS GENERALLY.
Let us, therefore, glance at the salient facts connected with the
longevity of insects, as presented in the temperate zone, consid-
ering the subject by orders:
HyMENOoOPTERA.—In the Aculeate section of this order there
is seen to be very great irregularity. In almost all the solitary
species the term of individual life is limited by the year. This
is essentially true of those species which are known to produce
but one generation annually, in which case, as in the various
species of Anthophora, Melissodes, etc., the hibernating period
is usually in the larva state. In species which produce more
than one generation annually, the term of life is shortened, espe-
cially in the imago. Except, however, where the species hiber-
nates in the larva or pupa state and this adolescent condition is
thus prolonged in dormancy or partial dormancy, these solitary
members of the Aculeate section undoubtedly live longest in the
adult state.
Among the social species, the subject becomes much more
complex, but in most of the social wasps the impregnated females
survive the winter, start the colony unaided in the spring, and
themselves perish during the latter part of the summer. With
_ the bees, this is also very largely true of most of the genera, but
in Apzs mellifica, the only species which has been at all care-
fully studied, the queen is known to live at least three years,
though the drones perish either naturally or by violence with the
waning summer, and the workers in the height of the season do
not average an individual life of more than three months. The
maximum life of the worker, including the hibernating season,
is about eight months. With the ants there is great variation in
the different genera and species, though the great majority resem-
ble somewhat the social bees in hibernating for the most part as
adults. It is well known that the females are longer lived than
the workers, though the exact experiments of Lubbock show that
these last in some species may live for at least six years, while a
queen of Formica fusca which he kept in an artificial formicary
attained the age of thirteen years. This is certainly a term of
life for an adult insect beyond what we might expect, and even,
perhaps, beyond what occurs in nature, since the artificial char-
acter of Lubbock’s nests may have had something to do with the
prolongation of the individual life, and on the whole the life of
the adult in the Aculeate Hymenoptera, even when we include
OF WASHINGTON. 111
the parasitic families, is the longest, and that of the larva the
shortest.
In the Cynipide or Gall-flies we have again every variation,
though the larval life is usually long compared with the life
of the adult, which, on the average, is brief. This may be said
to be the rule with species producing summer and autumn
galls on the firmer textures, whereas the opposite is true of
spring forms on the more succulent parts of plants, the same
species, in alternate generations, often representimg both condi-
tions. I have known of many remarkable instances of the pro-
longation of the life of the individual in hard woody galls under
unnatural conditions of dryness, in a number of cases the larva
being carried over two or three years and then ultimately trans-
forming, while in other cases the adult retained life for two
years, unable to issue from its bonds. In one case, that of an
undescribed species of Callirhytis (C. frautécola Riley MS.),
where the gall, occurring in the acorn, is as hard as a stone, the
larva retained life for a period of six years; yet in all these cases,
under normal circumstances with the softening and rotting of the
woody tissue on the moist ground, the individual life would
hardly have been extended beyond the year.
In the parasitic families it is difficult to say whether more
species hibernate as adults or as larve or as pupe; but in what-
ever state the winter is passed, the other states are all of relatively
short duration, and we have here again, frequently in the same
genus, species which produce one and others which produce more
than one annual generation, though it is very generally true that
the longevity of the parasite is dependent on the character of its
host. |
In the Terebrantine Hymenoptera we have again a great
majority of the forms limited in life duration by the recurring
year. In the Uroceridea—for the most part wood-borers—one
annual generation is produced, and the winter is passed in the
larva state, the life duration of the adult not exceeding three
months. In all cases of this kind the larva lives longer than the
adult. Inthe Tenthredinide we find great variation, the individual
life varying according as there are one or more generations annually.
Yet in no case, so far as known, does any species normally ex-
ceed a year in individual life duration, while the great majority
have an adult existence of but a few weeks, with a larval exist-
ence of a much longer period. Most of the species hibernate in
the cocoon, either above or below ground, and in the ultimate
larva state, transforming to the true pupa in early summer, only
a few weeks prior to the issuing of the adult.
CoLrEorTrERA.—In this Order, viewed as a whole, the larval
112 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
life is generally prolonged, while that of the adult is limited to a
few weeks or, at farthest, a few months. This is essentially
true of all those species which, in the larva state, bore within the
trunks or branches of trees, as in the Cerambycide and allied
families, and of those which feed upon the roots of plants under-
ground, as in the Scarabeide and various genera of the Chrys-
omelide, and of the Rhynchophora. It is more or less true of
those species which feed upon dung and decaying vegetation, and
‘of the great bulk of the Carabidous section of the predaceous
forms. Yet, even in these cases, the term of larval life, under
normal conditions, rarely exceeds three years, and more often not
quite one. With the great bulk of the leaf-feeding species,
however, we have, on the contrary, hibernation for the most part
in the adult state and the larval period correspondingly short-
ened; whereas in the parasitic forms, irrespective of the families
to which they belong, we have a mode of life dependent upon
that of the host, and the adult is generally very short-lived as
compared with the larva. This last manifests, indeed, a varying
power to live in some instances in a quite remarkable manner,
even without food. The habits of the triungulin in the Meloide,
and the very ephemeral existence of the male of the Stylopide
as compared with that of the female, are illustrations in point.
But no rule can be formulated as to the Order, because there
sometimes occur in the same genus species which are two- or
many-brooded, and species which are single-brooded annually,
as also species which hibernate either in the larva or in the imago
state.
In this Order, again, great adaptability to circumstances is
indicated by the few observations and experiments that have
been made. Thus, as I have shown in the Tenebrionide and
Dermestide (Am. Nat., May, 1883, Vol. xvii, pp. 547-48),
the larve will, where food is withheld, linger for a term of
years and develop the power of moulting more frequently than
they would normally have done if they had had an abundant
food supply. There are many recorded cases of such prolonga-
tion of life in the Ptinide and the Cerambycide, when confined
in dry wood made up into furniture, and almost every ento-
mologist has had experience of such cases. O. Nickerl has
recorded in his Beitrage zur Kenntniss vom Lebensalter der
Insekten (Stett. Ent. Zeit. 50, 1889, pp. 155-163) that a female
specimen of Carabus auratus found July 28, 1884, was fed
and kept in confinement, and lived until June 21, 1859, or
nearly five years, having hibernated five times. He believed
that the specimen was not impregnated, and that the nor-
mal larval life is two years. A female specimen of Calosoma
OF WASHINGTON. 413
sycophanta found in May, 1877, survived three winters, the
winter rest lasting seven months. A specimen of Cetonza flor¢-—
cola (sex not stated) found hibernating October 5, 1846, was
kept alive until May 22, 1849. It was fed throughout the whole
year and did not become torpid during the three winters of its
existence. A Buprestid beetle ( Capxodes tenebrionis) was kept
alive from May 13, 1888, to April 28, 1889, being active during
the winter. Seven specimens of laps mortisuga were kept
alive five years in a tin box, dying during the extreme cold of
the sixth winter. On the contrary, all his attempts to keep the
common Stag Beetle of Europe (Zucanus cervus L.) alive longer
than a few weeks failed, as the specimens never lived beyond
August. L. von Albrecht Weiss records some observations on
the life of the impregnated //ydrophilus piceus L. which he
kept alive in confinement from February to October of the same
year (Stett. Ent. Zeit. 1889, p. 343). J. H. Rouzet ina ‘‘ Note
sur la longevité de la vie dans Blaps” (Azzales Soc. Ent. de
France, 1856, Bull. p. 4) records having kept a number of
Blaps fatidica in a tightly corked closed vessel from the winter
of 1849-50 to November, 1855, when the last one died without
having fed on the bodies of his associates. Boisduval (Azxzales
Soc. Hunt. de France 1853, Bull. p. 64) mentions that a Bupres-
tid beetle, undetermined, had lived as larva ‘‘ at least twenty
years within a piece of furniture,” and Al, Laboulbéne, in the
same number, remarked on a_Hesperophanes, the larva of which
' must have lived ten years in the wood of a chair. Henry Baker,
in the Philosophical Transactions, 1740, Vol. 41, pp. 441-8, re-
cords some experiments showing that laps mortisuga lived
three years without food. In all cases like these the conditions
of life were abnormal, and the same species, under normal cir-
cumstances, would doubtless have performed all their life functions
and perished in much less time. It is even questionable whether
any beetles in the imago state live longer than one year under
natural conditions which permit the normal exercise of their life
activities.
LEPIDOPTERA.—In this Order there is less variation in the term
of life, as I do not know of a single species where the individual
can be said to exist, under normal conditions, beyond a single
year. While a certain number of the species hibernate in the
adult or in the larva state, the great bulk’ of them hibernate
either in the egg or in the pupa state. In the butterflies proper the
more common method with those which are monogoneutic is that
the longest or winter period is passed in the pupa or chrysalis
state; but some of the more cosmopolitan species live longest as
adults, the last generation produced developing exceptional vitality,
114 : ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
and either braving the inclemencies of the top of Mount Wash-
ington, as in the case of Céneis, or literally burrowing under any
shelter that may offer on the ground, even where the thermome-
ter sinks to 40° and 50° degrees below zero, as in the case of
Vanessa antiopa; or deliberately congregating and migrating
in vast bevies, as in the case of our Milkweed Butterfly, Azosza
plexippus. Where the winter is passed in the early larval
stages, it may be without special winter protection (Apatura,
etc.) or in a special hibernaculum (Limenitis, etc.).
In the Heterocera the longest period of individual existence is
usually in the pupa condition, in which most of the species pass
the winter. Yet a number in different families are known to
hibernate in the adult state, probably a larger number in the egg
state, and a goodly pr oportion in the larva state. In some species
in warmer latitudes, as, for instance, in the notorious Leucania
untpuncta, the winter may be passed i in any one of these states.
Again, also, species in the same family may be one-, or two-, or
many-brooded. In some of the Sphingide and Noctuide the
adult, especially in the monogoneutic forms, is endowed with
great vitality, and feeds and propagates during most of the grow-
ing season, while in others the life of the adult is short and
ephemeral, this being more particularly true in the Bombycide.
Departures from these normal conditions in the Order we might
expect to find in those species which, in the larva state, bore into
the trunks and roots of trees, or which feed on woollen goods,
dry vegetation or stored products, or which are sub- -aquatic. For
here there is some reason to believe that under conditions of uni-
form temperature and dryness the species may be prolonged in
(he larva state, even though active, beyond a single year. Pro-
doxus decipiens in the stems of Yucca is a case in point, as the
larva has been known to live for five years and yet transform.
HrmirTERA.—In the Heteropterous division of this Order we
have, as a rule, the longest period of individual life in the adult,
which is ordinarily the hibernating form. The Heteroptera ex-
hibit great tenacity of life, especially in the adult condition; yet
there are few records of experiments to indicate whether they
could be made to survive the single year which limits the exist-
ence of the vast majority of the species. While so many hiber-
nate as adults, yet a certain number pass the winter in the egg
state, and the two forms of hibernation are not infrequently met
with in the same family, or even genus. Aquatic forms, and
those which live under the bark of trees, or in other more or less
protected situations, may be found in all stages at almost all
seasons of the year, and, in default of experiment, it is difficult
to judge of the individual life period. That these insects are
OF WASHINGTON. . 115
capable of extended individual life prolongation there is good
evidence, and this is particularly the case with those which are-
partially parasitic or infest other animals. ‘Thus the common
Acanthia lectularia will survive in almost any state for more
than a year under conditions which retard development.
In the Homopterous division we find great variation in the life
of individuals. In the Membracidz and the other families which
are, when once out of the egg, active throughout life, the winter
is passed in the egg state—rarely in the adolescent states. The
same is essentially true of the Aleurodide, though there are a
number of exceptions. In the Psyllidz the winter is more often
passed in the adult state, the exceptions being few. In the
Aphididz, where alternation of generation and parthenogenesis
complicate the question, the adults, nevertheless, are, as a rule,
ephemeral. The great majority of the species hibernate in the
egg state. The gall-making species are, in the active states,
longest lived in the stem-mother, which hatches from the winter
egg and founds the gall in spring, while the true-sexed individuals
are born for no other purpose than the production of the impreg-
nated egg, are short-lived and are often incapable of feeding. The
great variation in this respect which may obtain, however, is well
exemplified in the Phylloxerinez, in which, of the many species
which occur in America, especially upon our hickories, we have
every variation from those which produce practically but one
generation annually, and which thus live individually for nearly
a year, to those species which are reproduced agamically through-
out the growing season and produce the sexed individuals and
the winter-egg only as winter approaches. ‘The number of these
agamic generations varies according to the species. In the Coc-
cide, also, the majority of the species hibernate in the egg state,
but, as I have shown in recent notes before the Society, there is
the greatest irregularity, and the dormant period may be passed
in all stages of growth and in a variable manner in the same
species. (Proc. Ent. Soc., Washn., 11, p. 65.)
On the whole, therefore, it may be stated that the Hemiptera
generally close the active individual life within a single year, and
that the chief exceptions are to be found in the Heteropterous
division among the species which have become household tenants
with man, or among those which have a hypogean larval life.
They show every variation, also, from a term of a few days or
even hours, to a term of 9 or 10 months, and from single- to
many-broodedness.
Larval Life of Cicada septendecim.
The Cicadide offer the most notable exceptions, and, as
116 - ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
intimated at the outset, I take this occasion to put on record
a few facts in reference to the larval life of Czcada septendecim
and the ¢redecim race thereof, the exceptional nature of its
longevity justifying somewhat fuller consideration in this con-
nection. It is the only species of its family the larval habits of
which have. been studied with sufficient care, and it is, therefore,
impossible to say just how exceptional it is as compared with
other members thereof. As the majority of these recur annually
over the whole extent of their range, their length of life has been
assumed to be bounded by the year. But the same is true of
many other insects, notably certain Coleoptera, e. 2., Lachnos-
terna, which are known to require nearly three years for the full
life-cycle, and more careful study in future will doubtless reveal
the fact that other species of Cicada live several years as larve
underground. Having written so fully of Czcada septendecim
in past years,* it is unnecessary to repeat here the many interest-
ing facts connected with it, my design being to bring out a few
points which bear on the subject of this address, or which serve
either to correct or to render more complete what has already
been published, as, also, to give more extended circulation among
entomologists to certain experiments which may be watched by
others in the future.
Few insects are more characteristically North American than
this, and few have been more fully written about or have more
fully interested the public. There is, therefore, a certain appro-
priateness in dealing with it at the close of the quadricentennial
celebration of the landing of Columbus upon our shores, for
while we become accustomed to annually-recurring phenomena,
and are interested in the periodical recurrences of any particular
species of insect, our interest increases proportionately to the
length of the period intervening between such periodical appear-
ances. A little sentiment is justified in connection with the dif-
ferent recurring broods of this insect, because they enable us to
go back in thought centuries in the past and picture the woods
in any particular locality resounding with its peculiar song.
Thus, Brood XII, which will appear this year, has its largest
distribution in New York and New Jersey, but reaches down to
the National Capital, and the ancestors of this very brood, six
generations back, commemorated, in their noisy way, the found-
ing of Washington in 1792; while the preceding generation,
seventeen years before, made the woods vociferous during the
battle of Bunker Hill. Coetaneously, in 1894, will also appear
* See more particularly rst Rep. Ins. Mo., 1868, pp. 18-42; Rep. of the
Entomologist, Ann. Rep. U. S. Dept. Agr. for 1885, pp. 207-343; and
Bull. No. 8, Div’n Ent. U. S. Dept. Agr., 1885.
OF WASHINGTON. 117
an extensive 13-year brood, the brood which, in 1868, first gave
me the opportunity of establishing and defining the ¢redecim as”
contradistinguished from the septemdecim race.
The fact that thirteen years and seventeen years, respectively,
are required for the full development of this insect, according to
the race, is thoroughly established on chronological data, one of
the septenxdectm broods having been observed every seventeen years
since1715. Nevertheless, there is chronic skepticism as to the facts,
especially on the part of Europeans not familiar with the Ameri-
can literature upon the subject. Anomalous and exceptional
facts in natural history very generally provoke such skepticism.
While, therefore, there has never been any doubt in the minds of
intelligent entomologists, it has always struck me as desirable to
give experimental proof of the fact that this insect remains under-
ground during the seventeen-year and thirteen-year periods allotted
to it, according to race, minus the two brief months of its imaginal
or winged existence. ‘This was all the more necessary because
of the difficulty of rearing the larve in confinement, and of fol-
lowing any one particular individual throughout its development.
Nevertheless, a number of individuals are easily traced by repeated
diggings under certain trees where the larve are known to have
entered the ground abundantly in any particular year. This ex-
perimental proof I have endeavored to obtain ever since the year
1868, when I followed in St. Louis county, Missouri, the exten-
sive tredectm brood which appeared there that year. The ob-
servations which I made there, and others made by an agent
specially instructed, Mr. J. G. Barlow, of Cadet, Mo., for the
tredecim race, and similar observations made here at Washington
for the septendecitm race, with the assistance of Mr. Th. Per-
-gande and Mr. C. L. Marlatt, have permitted me to follow the
larval life from year to year with great care, so far as the first
twelve years are concerned, and with less care and continuity for
the subsequent years. The development during these later years,
however, has been followed with sufficient accuracy by the study
of individuals from different broods, the age of which was chro-
nologically known.
The cases of retarded or accelerated development in this species
are remarkably few, considering the immense numbers in which
the insects appear during their stated years. A few stragglers
are sometimes heard the year ‘before or the year after the regular
appearance, but so rarely as to make the regularity all the more
striking. It is, indeed, difficult to explain these exceptionally
long periods of larval life in this species, or the great regularity
in development through some eight degrees of latitude, on any
theory of advantage to the species not possessed by other species
118 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
of the family. Yet the relatively greater numbers in which the
species occurs indicate that it has some advantage over them, and
this may possibly rest in the total absence of parasites which so
long a subterranean life insures to the larva. The imago is softer
and more feeble than is that of most species of the genus, and is
more easily captured by a host of enemies, and this fact may also
have significance, and would comport with Weismann’s theory.
The probabilities are that the species is a very old one, and
that the underground life-periods of the two races have become
firmly fixed through heredity. In this connection, and as bear-
ing on their possible susceptibility to changed climatic condi-
tions, I would call particular attention to the experiments which
I made and recorded in 1885, where the eggs from a septendecim
race and a ¢redectm race were interchanged as to localities (Rep.
Entomologist, U. S. Dept. Agr., for 1885, pp. 254-257), as it
is to be hoped that those living in the neighborhood of the marked
trees under which the eggs were placed will observe and record
the results between the years 1898 and 1902. :
THYSANOPTERA.—In this sub-order there are few recorded:
observations as to length of life. Most of the species that have
come under my observation produce several generations annually,
continuing to breed through the summer, and, under greenhouse
conditions, even through the winter. Normally the winter is
passed in the adult state, and there is no record of any individuals
living beyond a single year, while the average limit of life is
probably but two or three months.
DipreRA.—In this order, with its remarkable variety of forms
and great diversity of life-habit, we have a corresponding diver-
sity in individual longevity. It would require too much space
even to indicate the habits of the different families, and it will
suffice to state that, with very few exceptions, the insects of this
Order are also limited to a single year in individual life, and that
the larger number, or those which produce more than one gene-
ration annually, have a still more limited life duration. There
are, nevertheless, some remarkable exceptions among the para-
sitic forms. In the great majority of species the longest period
is passed in the larva state, and it is in this state chiefly that
hibernation is had. Yet between the extremes of long larval and
brief imaginal life, as illustrated in the Céstride, and extended
imaginal life with the larval career so abbreviated that it is passed
before birth, as in the Hippoboscide, we have examples of every
variation, though the law of compensation is as manifest here as
in the other Orders. and where the imago persists beyond the
average length the larval period will be generally shortened, and
vice versa. No exact records of the duration of life among the
OF WASHINGTON. 119
Bat-flies have come under my notice, but we are justified in in-
ferring that, just as in the case of the fleas, they are, under con- ©
ditions adverse to development, capable of surviving for a much
longer period than are the non-parasitic families.
OrTHOPTERA.—What Weismann records under this order (in
which he includes Termes, Ephemeride, Libellula, and Lepisma)
of Gryllotalpa, Gryllus, Locusta, and Acridium, is essentially
true of the Order as a whole, namely, that the species are annual,
existing on the average about half the year in the active condi-
tion, maturing the latter part of the growing season, and perishing
soon after the eggs are laid or upon the approach of winter. As
I have expressed it in treating of Caloptenus spretus, they are
born with the coming of the leaves in spring and perish with
their fall in autumn. The Acridide, for the most part, hibernate -
in the egg state. Yet there are numerous exceptions, and we
may have, in the very same region and under like conditions,
eggs laid early in the growing season and hatching in midsum-
mer, and the mature insect developing in autumn and passing the
winter in a more or less active condition, as in Acridium amert-
canum ; or we may have them hibernating in different stages of
development as larve or pupa, as in the numerous species of
Tettix and in the Stenobothri.
Among the crickets the species are for the most part single-
brooded, and those which live in the ground hibernate in various
stages of development, while tree crickets invariably pass the
winter in the egg state, and, together with the Mantes and Walk-
ing-sticks, with the Locusts, Grasshoppers, and Katydids, hatch
in spring and perish in autumn. The Cockroaches, on the con-
trary, which so frequently breed in and around human habitations,
show less regularity in development, and are more or less active
throughout the year, with a longer individual life-period than in
any of the other sections. In the sub-order Dermaptera, or Ear-
wigs, we have, again, creatures which are fond of breeding near
human habitations, and the adult is known to live for the best part
of the year, but normally not to extend beyond the year.
NeEvurRopTERA.—Considering this old Order by its more modern
sub-divisions, it may be said that in the Odonata the larval life
is the essential part of the life of the individual. Among the
Dragon-flies none of the species hibernate in the adult state, and
most of them have an adult existence of but a few weeks, or at -
most two or three months, living for the rest of the year, more or
less actively, as larve in the water. The same is true of the
Trichoptera, or Caddis-flies, also of the Neuroptera proper, as
exhibited inthe Ant-lions and Mantispas. Inthe Hemerobiide, on
the contrary, we have species which produce more than one gener-
120 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
ation annually, and in which the larval life, being for the most part
predaceous and dependent upon Aphides, is greatly shortened,
while the life of the imago is prolonged, many of the species
living through the winter in this state. Thus, we have, again, in
the same family the two extremes. Inthe Platyptera we have in
the Termites or White Ants an illustration of the influence of the
social habit and organization on longevity very similar to that
which we find among the social Hymenoptera; for here, also,
while the workers are for the most part limited within the year
in their life duration, it is well known that some of the soldiers
live for a longer period, while the queens or fertile females live
for several years. So in the Bird-lice, or Mallophaga, the para-
sitic habit has produced a distinct change, and we find species
breeding continuously upon our domestic animals and upon birds,
the limitation of individual life hard to define, but showing great
elasticity according to conditions. ‘T’o some extent this is true of
the Psocide, or at least of those species which are most frequently
met with around houses. It is well known that some of these
live for a long time in wainscoting, and, while no exact records
are at hand, there is every reason to conclude that development
is irregular, and that individual life may be abnormally prolonged
under conditions of low temperature and dryness.
In the Plecoptera, or Stone-flies, we have an annual life quite sim-
ilar to that of the other aquatic Neuroptera. Among the Epheme-
roptera, or May-flies, we have a most striking illustration of the
shortened existence of the adult, which, in some species, lasts for
but a few hours, and, in most, for but a few days. Finally, in
the Thysanura, we have no strict dividing line between the
adults and the earlier stages, and the species have no regular
breeding periods. Many of them have a life not extending be-
yond a few months, while others, as in Lepisma, doubtless,
occasionally survive more than one year.
SpPipERS, Ticks, Mires.—As to the spiders, Dr. Marx informs
me that he knows of no experimental facts of any consequence
bearing on their longevity. The same rules apply to them as to
the bulk of the Hexapods. The great majority of them are
limited in individual life to the single year and hibernate in the
ege state. The deviations, as in Hexapods, will be found in
those species which live in tunnels underground or have become
_ joint tenants with man in his abodes. The trap-door spiders
and some of the species which winter in our cellars often
extend individual life beyond the year. Like all predaceous
articulates, they have developed great sustaining power under
adverse food eonditions.
The same general conclusions may be applied to the Ticks,
OF WASHINGTON. F21
though here we have experimental evidence of remarkable life
persistency under abnornal conditions, as I have known a speci- ~
men of Argas reflexus to remain alive in a corked vial without
food for some five years, moulting repeatedly during the period.
So with the Mites they have developed a most remarkable
adaptability to environmental requirements, the parasitic and
gall-making forms exhibiting long resting periods alternating
with periods of rapid multiplication; while some of the soft-
bodied, non-parasitic forms are able to assume a Hypopus pro-
tecting mail which permits a long period of quiescence until cir-
cumstances again favor activity and reproduction.
RETARDATION IN DEVELOPMENT.
The subject of retardation in individual development is inti-
mately bound up with the question of longevity. The annals of
entomological literatare are replete with instances of such retarda-
tion, and, in this connection, I will content myself with a refer-
ence to some of the more common instances, especially to those
that have come under my own personal observation. In the egg
state the instances of retardation of development, under normal
conditions, are few, as the period passed in the egg and the time
of hatching are very uniformly and regularly controlled by me-
teorological and physical conditions, especially that of tempera-
ture. Where eggs are laid in summer or autumn by monogo-
neutic species, there is sometimes shown a tendency to hatch the
same year, and thus produce a second annual generation, and
the converse of this is true, and such facts are more particularly
noticeable in species like the semi-domestic Ser¢carza morz, in
which the number of generations has been influenced by man
and has not become fixed through long periods of natural propa-
gation. Yet, when the natural conditions are in any way inter-
fered with, the almost unlooked-for power of adaptation is well
illustrated by the somewhat exceptional case of the eggs of
Caloptenus spretus to which I have drawn attention in several
publications, especially in 1881 (Amer. Nat., 1881, pp. 1007—
1008), where it is shown that eggs of this insect which were
laid in the autumn of 1876 and covered by a layer of clay anda
plank sidewalk, thus precluding the issuance of the young, re-
mained latent four years longer than they normally would have
done, freely hatching during the spring of 1881, when the side-
walk was taken up and removed.
Retardation in the larva state is rarely witnessed among leaf-
feeding forms, though even here there will be great variation in
the relative time of development of the individuals of a given
122 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
brood, and where the species is polygoneutic I have not infre-
quently noticed that certain individuals of the spring brood would
beget one further generation during the year, while others would
beget two. In some instances, also, especially where there is
summer or autumn dormancy (Phyciodes, Apatura, etc.), a cer-
tain portion of a brood will be retarded and go over till the en-
suing year, while the balance will develop and transform the
same year. It is, however, among the larve which live beyond
the growing season of the year, as in most of the species of wood-
and stem-boring and root-feeding Lepidoptera and Coleoptera,
as also those which feed on dead and dry animal or vegetal mat-
ter, as shown in considering the Coleoptera, that cases of accel-
eration and more particularly of retardation have been observed.
The Heteroptera and Homoptera, the Mallophaga, the Spiders
and the Ticks, also show, as we have already seen, a remarkable
tendency to retardation, especially in the adolescent stages.
In the pupa state there is less opportunity or occasion for devi-
ation from the normal habit of the species, and yet the literature
of Lepidopterology furnishes more particularly very many in-
stances of belated pupal development, or of instances where an
individual in a given brood has passed on to a second or third
year in the cocoon, while other individuals have developed and
given out the imago at the normal period. This has happened
frequently in my own rearings of insects, and particularly in the
Bombycide, and there are innumerable recorded cases by others.
In the imago state the cases of retardation are numerous, but
almost always in connection with abnormal conditions. Thus,
as we have seen, they chiefly refer to hard-shelled insects like
beetles, which have been kept in confinement without food and
measurably protected from the influence of the weather. The
most marked cases of this kind are of wood-boring beetles, es-
pecially Longicorns and Ptinide, which are known to have
existed alive in wood very many years after the wood had been
made up into household furniture.
INFLUENCE OF PROLONGED COLD ON RETARDATION.
Just how long the dormant state in insects, especially in the
pupa state, could be extended by continuous cold, it would be
difficult to tell; but experiments have been made, especially by
Mr. William H. Edwards, in this country, which indicate not
only that this state may be very materially prolonged beyond
the normal period, but that the results of such prolongation
almost justify the belief that, in those species which withstand
extremely low temperatures—which, to use a common expres-
e
OF WASHINGTON, 123
sion, may be frozen solid—there would seem to be hardly any
limit to the continuation of this condition. Another interesting
fact, worth mentioning in this connection, is that when artificial
cold is brought to bear upon summer broods of chrysalides, the
effect is noticeable in the character of the resultant imago, sea-
sonal dimorphism being in many ways directly attributable to
the influence of temperature.
SUMMARY.
From the above statement of the more salient facts on this
subject—a superficial selection from the immense number that
might be cited—certain conclusions are justified. In general, it
may be said that the great majority of insects, like annual plants,
have their individual lives limited by the year, and that the con-
ditions that determine which of the four states—egg, larva, pupa,
or imago—shall occupy the longest period, are extremely difficult
to formulate. Temperature and food-supply undoubtedly influ-
ence and control the length of the life-cycle; for insects strikingly
exemplify the principle that the individual life is shortened in
proportion as its activities are accelerated, and lengthened ac-
cording as these are inactive or dormant. But whether the
shortened or lengthened period of the normal or annual life-
cycle of the insect shall be in the egg, the larva, the pupa, or the
imago state, depends on conditions which we certainly cannot
formulate. All that we can say is that there is a correlation be-
_ tween the protracted life in any one state and the more ephemeral
existence in the other states. Thus the great majority of annual
insects in the temperate zone hibernate in the larva state, which
covers, on the average, from one-half to three-fourths of the
year.. But, as we have seen, the number of cases where the
dormant period is passed either in the egg, the pupa, or the
imago state, is very great, and hibernation in all these states takes
place not infrequently among species of the same family, of the
same genus, or even among individuals of the same species.
These remarks remain essentially true for those species which
produce more than one annual generation. These not only hi-
bernate in different states, according to the species, but there is
more or less irregularity in the same species, which may some-
times hibernate in the imago, the pupa, the larva, or even in the
egg state. Even a portion of the same brood of larve, hatching
from the eggs of a single parent, as we have just seen in Phyci-
odes, etc., may go into lethargy in midsummer and not transform
to the pupa state and give out the imago until the ensuing sum-
mer, while the other portion will pass through their transforma-
tions and continue their life functions the same year.
124 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
In respect of those insects which require more than one year
to undergo their full life-cycle, we have seen that it is very gen-
erally the rule that the long-lived period is the larval, and that
the duration of the imago, pupa, and egg states is relatively brief.
This general rule has no exceptions of consequence that I can
recall, Nevertheless, within the same genus, and particularly
within the same family, different species vary greatly in the period
of individual life, and this, too, where the habits are essentially
similar.
The one fact that stands forth more prominently than another
in this consideration of the subject of longevity among insects is
the great variability, not only in the individuals of the species,
but particularly in the different species of a given family. We
are also impressed with the power of prolonging life in the indi-
vidual under abnormal conditions which many insects exhibit.
The facts of entomology are thus quite significant in their ap-
plication to Weismann’s views as to the influence of natural
selection on the duration of individual life, and few will question
the general conclusion that the length of life has, in the main,
been fixed in each case by the necessities of the species—in other
words, it is, as Weismann has argued with the higher animals,
very largely dependent on the necessities of life.
This adaptation is more particularly noticeable in the compen-
satory adjustments between the lengths of life in different states
of the individual development, and in this particular Weismann,
as I have already hinted, is weak in confining his attention to
the life of the adult, because it is in contemplating the whole
life-cycle that he might have found his strongest support for the
theory that natural selection has, in the main, influenced lon-
gevity. For nothing is more certain than that, with insects,
where, as is more often the case, the vicissitudes of the imaginal
life are such as to make it precarious, we find it to be brief, with
a correspondingly lengthened period of larval existence ; whereas,
in the rarer cases where the vicissitudes of the active larval life
are such as to give great risk to the species, this state is the ab-
breviated, and either the pupal or imaginal the extended one, in
time.
Thus I am of the opinion that the length of life in insects has
been, in the main, regulated by natural selection, acting upon
individual variation for the benefit of the species. I say in the
main, because I believe that Weismann’s chief fault is that he
does not sufficiently recognize the limitations of natural selection ;
and I believe that the same limitations must be recognized in its
application to longevity which have been recognized by myself
OF WASHINGTON, 125
and others in its general application to the formation of species.*
Natural selection has undoubtedly operated in the past, and is
still operating, to fix more or less absolutely the limit of individual
insect life in any particular state, according to the necessities of
life in a particular species in relation to its environment and to
other organisms. But the recognition of this fact does not ex-
plain why, in two species of the same genus, under like condi-
tions, the one should hold its own, by producing a single annual
generation, equally as well as the other, which produces two or
more; nor does it explain why different species in the same genus
or the same family should differ in length of life under like con-
ditions. For we may justly argue that what was essential in the
one case would be essential in the other. It is preferable, it
seems to me, to recognize the limitations of natural selection, and
to view life, especially insect life, as possessing inherent powers
of adaptability and variability. Adaptivity, exhibited by the
individual and confirmed or fixed by descent, is powerfully influ-
enced by natural selection. Variability coéperates with adap-
tivity, and gives full scope to natural selection in fixing useful
qualities, but it also manifests itself in lines which are not neces-
sarily essential and in which natural selection plays little or no
part; nay, further, in lines that are purely fortuitous.
These I believe to be general truths in evolution, and they are
just as applicable to the subject of longevity as to the subject of
structure and habit; and it is only by recognizing these limita-
tions of natural selection that we can get at the true meaning of
longevity in animals or of the phenomena of life generally. In
short, nature is kaleidescopic, and no single law that we may
formulate, however important or however wide its application,
will explain all her varied manifestations. No gown can be
made ‘* all-sufficient ” to fit an unlimited subject.
The address was discussed by Messrs. Fernow, Schwarz, Ash-
mead, and Riley. Mr. Fernow said that a comparison between
plants and animals in the matter of longevity can hardly be made,
since in plants the functional parts are renewed, while in animals
they remain the same. Theoretically, a plant may never die.
Weismann’s idea of immortality is misleading, as generally
stated, since the reproductive cell alone is immortal—the individ-
* Address before the section of Biology, A. A. A. S., Vol. xxxvir,
1888, ‘‘ On the Causes of Variation in Organic Forms;” ‘‘ Some Inter-
relations of Plants and Insects,” Proc. Biol. Soc., Wash., 1892, vul, pp.
81-104.
126 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
ualis not. In his opinion, we have not enough facts as yet to
generalize to the best advantage.
Mr. Schwarz, in speaking of the longevity of insects, men-
tioned the fact that entomologists, in general, live in the tem-
perate zones, where circumstances are unfavorable to a regular
development. In tropical regions no marked irregularities in
climate and moisture interrupt the steady and regular life devel-
opment. Our ideas would undoubtedly be changed if lengthy
observations were made in the tropics.
Prof. Riley asked whether any one knew of any cases of more
extended longevity in insects than in the 17-year Cicada and the
13-year Ant mentioned by Lubbock—that is, aside from the re-
tarded beetles mentioned in the address. No such instances were
cited by members.
Mr. Ashmead mentioned the fact that last summer he found
in a nest of Pelopzeus which was two or three years old a number
of puparia of a small Dipterous insect. The puparia were dry
and hard. He put them first in water and then into a box, and
in two or three weeks found that nearly all had hatched. All of
the adults, however, had aborted wings. He thought that the
same puparia might have remained in this condition for several
years, until finally the wasp cells would fall to pieces, when the
puparia might reach some moist spot favorable to the issuing of
the adult.
Mr. Schwarz stated that it is probable that other species of
Cicada will be found to have long lives in the larval state. He
stated that careful collecting of the rarer species, labelling with
annual date, and continued for a term of 20 years or more, will
probably show that this is the case.
Prof. Riley stated that he thought this quite possible, but, in
his opinion, it would not be remarkable if no other species were
found to approach this long life. His main interest in the ques-
tion arises from the study of Weismann’s views. In plant life
we may have an indefinite continuation of what is ordinarily
called the individual, but, properly speaking, the plant is not
an individual. Without complexity and death we should not
have had progress, but an infinite multitude of unicellular organ-
isms would have existed for all time, according to Weismann.
SoA a RS oe tg el 8 Oe NT STS
TT os
OF WASHINGTON, 127
With this aspect of the question he was inclined to agree, although
he expressed himself as dissenting from the idea of the immor-
tality of the germ cell. In fact, Weismann himself has been
obliged to recede from this position and has confined the immortal
element to the idioplasm of the germ cell. That the duration
of life is determined by natural selection, and, in fact, that death
is, or was, brought about by natural selection, is, however, very
reasonable. He reviewed Weismann’s objections to the old
theory of the relation between bulk and longevity, and spoke of
the shortening of life by domesticity in animals as the evidence
of the influence of natural selection. He also brought up the
point of fecundity and its influence on longevity.
Mr. Fernow insisted upon the omission of all teleological
features in discussing these questions. Survival, in his opinion,
exists not on account of teleological aggressiveness on the part
of a chooser, but on- account of what may be called the accident
of parental characters. There is no necessity for any species—
existence is an accident.
FEBRUARY I, 1894.
President Ashmead occupied the chair, and Messrs. Riley,
Benton, Marx, Gill, Stiles, Marlatt, Schwarz, Coquillett, Hub-
bard, Wait, Heidemann, and Howard were present.
Dr. Stiles presented a petition to Congress, originated by the
Society of American Naturalists, for the purpose of securing
the removal of duty from scientific apparatus. On motion, the
Corresponding Secretary was directed to sign one of the forms
on behalf of the Society, and forward it to the Hon. H. Cabot
Lodge, U.S. S.
—The Corresponding Secretary read a letter from Mr. T. D.
A. Cockerell upon the Hymenoptera of Jamaica, in which Mr
Cockerell listed all of the species of this order found by him to
occur upon the Island of Jamaica, and generalized as to the
character of the Hymenopterous fauna, calling attention to such
of the genera and species as are common to Jamaica and North
America or the other West Indian Islands.
128 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
In discussing the paper Mr. Hubbard said that the Evania
mentioned by Mr. Cockerell might have been introduced into
Jamaica with domestic cockroaches from shipboard, but that,
curiously enough, he found this same species in a mountain cave
in the interior of the Island of Jamaica, and in an unsettled dis-
trict. It was there parasitic upon a peculiar cave cockroach.
Comparing specimens with others which he obtained in Florida,
he could find no differences, and he thinks, therefore, that the
species may be indigenous to Jamaica, and that, perhaps, it has
been carried from that Island to other portions of the world.
Mr. Schwarz criticised Mr. Cockerell’s paper on the ground
that the material collected by the author was far too scanty to
warrant generalizations. He found the same fault with the paper
by Mr. Cockerell, recently published in the Transactions of the
American Entomological Society, on the Coleoptera of the mid-
Alpine region of Custer county, Colorado, in which several hun-
dreds of species recorded from the same region and elevation had
been overlooked. The number of species common to Jamaica
and the United States must be much larger. In the Coleoptera,
for instance, which Sallé and Fleutiaux have described from the
Island of Guadeloupe, more than 50 out of about 500 are com-
mon to the United States. So with the Coleoptera of Cuba, and
-even of Venezuela.
Prof. Riley agreed with Mr. Schwarz, and spoke at some little
length concerning the undesirability of generalizing on insuffi-
cient grounds. Mr. Ashmead agreed with the preceding speakers
as to the superficiality of the paper. Of the genera mentioned
by Mr. Cockerell as found in Jamaica and not in the United
States, all but 3 or 4 are well known in the United States. With
the parasitic Hymenoptera it is altogether too early for even the
best informed entomologist to attempt to generalize on questions
of distribution. Mr. Howard spoke briefly of the character of the
parasitic Hymenoptera collected by Mr. Herbert Smith upon the
Islands of St. Vincent and Grenada, showing a fair proportion
of characteristic genera and a very large proportion of probably
characteristic species.
Dr. Gill said that Mr. Cockerell might have been influenced
in his conclusions, or in his desire to reach conclusions, by
et
Dy.
S
oS
nee of Ceresa bubalus Fab, and those of ¢ taurina Fitch
eas |
"WASHINGTON, D. coe
| Pustnorey BY ‘THE Soorery.
wei
¥ 5 ee a
-4) tees nee
Antgst Py ceal
¥ eS eA)
yy ;
4 ’
Lee eo 8
Me
|
4
,, Corrés
artment of
“
ponding Secretary, _
Agriculture,
Tit 9
OF WASHINGTON. 129
the interesting distribution of the terrestrial Mollusks of
Jamaica. There are many more land shells in Jamaica than
in North America, and many peculiar genera are common to the
West Indies and Central America. On the Island itself almost
every mountain and valley has its limited fauna. This is the case
with Hayti and others of the West Indies which are mountainous
in their character, and, in fact, it is characteristic of all old
established archipelagoes, like the Philippines for instance. Mr.
Hubbard stated that the land shells of Jamaica have been studied
with particular care. When he visited the Island 20 years ago
the study of land shells was almost the only department of natural
history, aside from botany, which was receiving attention.
Therefore the shells have become much better known than other
elements of the fauna. The fauna of Hayti, however, is much
less known. Dr. Gill said that Mr. Hubbard was quite right,
and that the impetus to the study of land shells in Jamaica was
originally given by Mr. C. B. Adams, an American naturalist
who visited the Island about 1854-55, and whose enthusiasm
was caught by a number of resident observers. Hayti, more-
over, has been much better explored by naturalists than is gener-
ally supposed, while the Molluskan fauna of Cuba is even better
known than that of Jamaica.
—Mr. Hubbard presented the following paper :
THE OVIPOSITION OF MELITARA PRODENIALIS WALKER.
By H. G. Hussarp.
The depredations of this Phyticid moth upon cacti of the genus
Opuntia have had for several years an exceptional interest to me,
as I have under observation in my garden at Crescent City, Fla.,
a considerable number of species of these interesting plants, and
owing to the attacks of the larve of Melitara many of the more
delicate species, including most of our native Floridian Opuntias,
cannot be grown successfully in that locality. I have observed
that our most widely distributed species, Opuntia vulgaris, is
so much subject to their attacks that large clumps of the plant
are rare in the interior of Florida, and are to be found only near
the coast or upon small islets in the inland lakes. And thus a
plant which would otherwise probably form one of the most strik-
ing objects in the flora of the State is held in check and reduced
to insignificant clusters and scattered isolated pads which are sel-
130 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
dom permitted to attain their normal size and never to produce
a numerous colony. Only the wonderful vitality of the Opuntia
saves it from complete extinction at Crescent City and elsewhere,
yet thanks to its recuperative powers it remains there, as elsewhere,
one of our commonest plants. The larva of Melitara mines and
burrows in the succulent pulp of the pads, working in companies,
large or small, according to the abundance of food, and excavat-
ing chambers without cutting through the silicious rind. Usually
each pad is entirely eaten out before the caterpillars enter the next
joint, but as their operations promote various destructive processes
in the pulp, such as rot and fungi, the destruction of the part at-
tacked is rapid and the caterpillars are often obliged to cut an
-
Fic. 6.—Egg-staff of Melitara prodenialis attached to leaf of Opuntia, enlarged. a,
two eggs from the middle of the staff, greatly enlarged.
exit and seek food elsewhere. The abandoned pads when perfo-
rated soon dry up and become lurking places for a weevil, Acadles
hubbardz, whose larve feed upon the fermenting parenchyma
and complete the work of destruction begun by the moth. When
full grown the caterpillars leave the plant and transform in the
sand beneath the prostrate pads. The moths appear about the
end of April or first of May at Crescent City and are nocturnal
in habit.
The method of placing the eggs one on top of the other to form
a stick has already been mentioned in a note by Dr. J. B. Smith
(Entomological News, vol. 3, p. 208), but the details of the
construction are so curious that I have thought them worthy of a
more extended notice. It will be seen from the drawing here
presented (fig. 6) that the mass of superimposed eggs form a
long cylinder, not straight, but sinuously curved and bearing a
wonderfully realistic resemblance to a slender geometrid caterpil-
lar in the attitude it assumes when alarmed, with its body ex-
tended free from the plant, to‘which it clings only by its anal
prolegs, The eggs, closely united and flattened, form cylindrical
OF WASHINGTON. 131
joints, and, as if designedly to make the resemblance more decep-
tive, the top egg is rounded and slipped a little to one side, form-
ing a most perfect head with projecting jaws. When the forming
embryos begin to darken in color, and are seen through the trans-
parent shells, then the mimic worm becomes truly life-like, with
mottled segments and a black head. The egg-stick is always
attached to the true leaves or to the spines of Opuntia. They are
straw-colored when fresh laid. Forty-five or fifty eggs may be
counted in a single stick, but the moth frequently deposits short
sticks consisting of a few eggs only. I have seen occasionally
four or five eggs laid in a short stick, and in that case the cater-
pillar-like head is not apparent and the moth probably left the
work unfinished because of some disturbance during the opera-
tion. As the various species of Opuntia vary much in the length
of their spines and true leaves, these unfinished sticks often escape
notice among the spines of the long-leaved species, and this re-
semblance to the spines and spiny leaves of the plant may have
been the original razson d’étre of the mimicry, which has, how-
ever, been elaborated by the moth in her finished work, on our
short-spined Opuntias at least, and has at last produced a mim-
icry of a mimicry by copying a mimicking caterpillar.
The eggs are laid at night, and the operation of depositing them
has not been observed. It must, however, be a wonderfully in-
teresting performance. The egg-stick shown in the drawing is
So mm. long. The separate eggs are cylindrical and measure 2
mm. in length by 7 mm._in width. The surface is beautifully
reticulated with wavy raised lines anastomosing obliquely. The
eggs are cemented together with a brownish glue which, under
the pressure exerted upon the mass, is squeezed out at the sutures
between each two eggs in the stick and hardens there, forming a
ring or collar which always adheres to the egg beneath when two
eggs in the stick are separated. It sometimes has the appearance
of a circle of spinules, owing to the corrugations of the surface
upon which it is moulded.
The young larve of Melitara prodenialis, on hatching from
the eggs, feed for a time externally upon the bud-like leaves of
Opuntia. When they become larger and stronger they cut
through the silicious skin of the pads. The wounds made by
them in the plant exude a gummy liquid, and a scab-like crust is
formed. Under this the larve live in companies, large or small,
according to the size of the plant, until they are about one-third
grown. After this they burrow deeply into the substance of the
succulent stems. The larve, as long as they live upon or near
the exterior of the plant, are light brown in color, but after they
burrow into the pulp and approach their full size, they attain a
132 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
most beautiful dark-blue color. In pupating they form a long
loose cocoon of yellow silk, which is concealed somewhere
about the Opuntia clump, usually under a prostrate pad.
There are two broods during the year. Moths issue in June
or July, and again in October. The eggs from this last generation
hatch in the fall, and the young winter as larve, less than one-
third grown, in the wounds which they have made in the succu-
lent pulp. They continue to feed during warm weather, and
are not killed by severe frost, surviving even when the juices
with which they are surrounded are congealed to solid ice for
more than twenty-four hours. The moth is nocturnal. During
the day it hides among the detritus of the Opuntia clump. In
this situation its neutral coloration is highly protective, and the
difficulty of detecting it among the dry and twisted fragments of
the plant is rendered still greater by the peculiar position it
assumes when resting. With its wings closed and bent sharply
downwards, while the abdomen is curved upwards between the
slanting wings, if discovered at all, it is more likely to be taken
for a dead than a living insect.
Fic. 7.—Melitara prodenialis; a, \arva, in profile; 4, head and prothorax, dorsal view ;
c, one of the segments, dorsal view; d@, anal segment from above: e, cocoon; /, pupa; g,
moth—all natural size.
The accompanying cut representing the moth with its larva,
pupa, and cocoon was drawn by Miss L. Sullivan, under the
supervision of Prof. C. V. Riley, from material collected by
myself at Crescent City, Fla., in 1882.
Mr. Howard asked if the top egg, z. e., the one laid last, is
the first to hatch, as is the case with the eggs of Grapta comma
OF WASHINGTON. 133
and G. ¢xterrogationts. Mr. Hubbard replied that he had not
observed the hatching of the eggs, but that he suspected that this
method is followed, since in egg-sticks preserved in alcohol he
observed that the embryo is further advanced in the top eggs.
Dr. Gill asked if there is any especial modification of the ovi-
positor. He thought there must be such a modification to en-
able the moth to lay such a peculiar egg mass. Mr. Hubbard
said that no such modification had been found. Mr. Schwarz
stated that the moth is much shorter than the egg mass, and that
in his opinion the stick must have been bent and afterwards
straightened by either the moth or its own erectile power. Prof.
Riley thought that a membranous extensile ovipositor might
exist by which the act of oviposition could readily be accom-
plished. Mr. Ashmead thought that the abdomen itself might
be sufficiently telescopic to produce the result. Dr. Stiles
thought that the necessary pressure to produce the compact stick
might be brought to bear in the ovarian tubules. Prof. Riley,
on the contrary, considered that the string was produced by
purely external mechanical effect. Dr. Stiles, in reply, said that
the eggs of insects as well as other animals are undoubtedly given
their shape to a considerable extent while still in the ovary, in
which Dr. Gill agreed with him. Mr. Howard said that the
masses must represent the ripe products of several ovarian
tubules, and that these could hardly be joined together until
after they had passed down the oviduct proper beyond the en-
trance of the accessory glands, the secretion from which joined
them together, and, in fact, produced a stick.
Mr. Schwarz asked if the cactus plants could not be saved
easily by the examination of the plant and picking off the egg-
sticks. Mr. Hubbard replied that he had saved a number of
choice plants in this way, but that it was a very considerable
task, and that during the month of May the plants had to be
gone over every morning. Some varieties of Opuntia, he said,
are so thick skinned that the young larve cannot penetrate them.
Occasionally, however, larve are found in these varieties, having
entered by means of artificial punctures or wounds.
Prof. Riley stated that he had reared the moths many years
ago in St. Louis. It is the largest Phycitid which we have, and
134 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
in his opinion there is little to be wondered at in the length of
the egg-chain. The moth might readily balance itself upon the
spines and drop the string of eggs until the lowest one touched
and adhered to the epidermis of the pad.
Mr. Hubbard stated that the spines of those varieties of the
plant which are most frequently attacked are from 8mm. to 12mm.
in length.
—Mr. Schwarz presented a paper entitled :
SOME NOTES ON MELSHEIMER’S CATALOGUE OF THE
COLEOPTERA OF PENNSYLVANIA.
By E. A. ScHwarz.
The quaint little book published in 1806 by the Rev. Fred. Val.
Melsheimer as the first part of an intended general catalogue of the
insects of North America is now very rare, and not more than
three or four copies are known to exist in the United States. It
is briefly referred to at various times both in European and Ameri-
can literature, and a longer notice of it has been published by Dr.
Hagen in his fascinating article on the Melsheimer family and the
Melsheimer collection (Can. Ent. 16, 1884, p. 192). Asa cat-
alogue the book never had any scientific value, since most of the
species enumerated are only manuscript names,* still it contains,
in my opinion, some points of interest which deserve to be rescued
from oblivion.
Melsheimer was not a mere collector of specimens, but paid
considerable attention to the food habits and mode of occurrence.
The many hundreds of species which he sent to his friend, Prof.
A. W. Knoch, of Brunswick, Germany, were evidently accom-
panied by numerous notes, and only a few of these (and certainly
not the most interesting ones) were published by Knoch in his
‘‘Neue Beytrige,” etc. (1801), or referred to by Illiger. In
Melsheimer’s Catalogue we still find many names of Coleoptera,
derived from those of the food-plants, and it is certainly to be
* Dr. Hagen says that of the 1,363 species only 205 are now surely known,
but from the copy of the catalogue before me I find that more than twice
that number can be identified. This copy, kindly presented to me by Mr.
B. P. Mann, is that used by F. V. Melsheimer, and contains numerous
manuscript corrections and additions, partly made by the author and partly
made by his eldest son, the Rev. J. F. Melsheimer, the correspondent of
Thomas Say. The latest of these additions dates from the year 1825. A
few notes and an index, written previously to 1834, are from the hand of
Dr. F. E. Melsheimer.
OF WASHINGTON. 135
regretted that only a few of them could have been retained.
The following are some examples: No. 143, Bostrichus pint
(= Zomicus pint Say); No. 305, Hispa arundinis (= Ste-
nispa metallica Fabr.); No. 307, Hispa castanee pumile
(= Odontota nervosa Panz.); No. 421, Chrysomela alnt
(= Lina scripta Fabr.) ; No. 459, Altica rhots (= Orthaltica
copalina Fabr.); No. 549, Galeruca salicts (= Galerucella
decora Say); No. 572, Curculio castanee pumile (= Balant-
nus rectus Say); No. 616, Curculio guercus (= Copturus
guercus Say); No. 695, Anthribus agarict quercint (= Cra-
toparis lunatus Fabr.); No. 709, Clerus rosarum (== Clerus
rosmarus Say); No. 745, Stexocorus sambuct (= Desmocerus
palliatus Forst.) ; No. 775, Saperda juglandis alb@ (= Onci-
deres cingulata Say); No. 809, Callidium juglandis (= Ba-
thyle suturalis Say); No. 1157, Carabus herbivagus (= Har-
palus herbivagus Say). Many other names of a similar
character cannot be interpreted with any reasonable degree of
certainty. :
Foot-notes to two coprophagous Lamellicorn beetles refer to
the time of appearance: Scarabeus volvens (= Canthon levis
Dr.) is called: ‘‘letus mitioris ceeli nuntius,”’ the harbinger
of a milder sky; while Scarabeus tesselatus (= Aphodius
serval Say) is said to be ‘‘verts prenuntius sed fallax,’’*
Another foot-note to No. 159, Axzthrenus museorum (= A.
varius Fabr.), gives, so far as I know, the oldest description,
published in America, of a Coleopterous larva. The description
consists of only five words: ‘‘ Larva flavida, setacea, fascits
nigris,” but it must be conceded that the general appearance of
the larva is well characterized thereby.
It is well known that Melsheimer had in his cabinet many
European and other exotic species of Coleoptera which he re-
ceived from Prof. Knoch. Many of these specimens were, no
doubt, without names and locality labels, and a few of these were
many years afterwards described as North American beetles by
Dr. F. E. Melsheimer. But after a careful perusal of the Cata-
logue I fail to find evidence that F. V. Melsheimer erroneously
credited to our fauna any foreign speeies. Some erroneous de-
* This is a good observation and refers to the swarming of this Aphodius
during the first warm days in February or March, which are usually fol-
lowed by severely cold weather. In the latitude of Washington, D. C., it
is my experience that A. zzgu7natus has the habit of thus swarming during
the first spring-like days of the year, while A. serval is abundant during
’ the last warm days of autumn. I am informed, however, that in other
localities farther north the latter species is flying about in the first warm
days of spring.
136 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
terminations were caused by confusion with closely allied. Euro-
pean species, e. 2., Azobtum pertinax (= Hadrobregmus cart-
natus Say), Altica urtice (=F fpitrix cucumerts Harr.), Al-
tica oleracea (=Ffaltica chalybea Ill.), etc., but I have not the
slightest doubt that all other species identified (no doubt,by Knoch)
with European species were collected by Melsheimer in Penn-
sylvania. A few of these deserve special mention: No. 533 is
Criocerts asparagt, whose striking coloration precludes an
erroneous determination. This record of the occurrence of the
Asparagus beetle in North America at the beginning of this cen-
tury has been entirely overlooked, but it seems probable that the
disastrous invasion of this species which took place about 60
years later on Long Island, N. Y., and which has been treated
of by Dr. Fitch in his 8th Report, was due to a second importa-
tion from Europe.
No. 50, Oxthophagus nuchicornis, is, no doubt, the type of
the species subsequently described by Dr. F. E. Melsheimer as
O. rhinocerus, the occurrence of which was denied by Halde-
man and LeConte, until, many years afterwards, it was found
again at various places in the northeastern States (see Mr. S.
Henshaw’s note in Can. Ent., 19, 1887, p. 160), and also in
Pennsylvania,
No. 178 is Léctus (Lyctus) strtiatus, to which, as a synonym,
is added ZL. canaliculatus. Whether or not the Z. strzatus
described by the younger Melsheimer is identical with the Z.
striatus of the Catalogue I cannot decide, but so much appears
to be certain that our commonest species of Lyctus, so often
referred to in our economic literature as the ‘‘ powder-post
beetle ” and usually named in collections Z. s¢rzatus, is an intro-
duced species, and I fail to distinguish it from European speci-
mens of Z. canaliculatus in the collection of the U. S. National
Museum.
Not the least interesting feature of the Catalogue are Melsheimer's
references to economic entomology. Asa matter of course the
list of injurious Coleoptera was not as formidable at the beginning
of this century as itisnow. Some of the most destructive species
had not yet been brought over from Europe at that time, and
many of our native species were not so injurious then as they are
now. They are simply enumerated in the Catalogue, and some
of them (e. g., Chrysobothris femorata) are not mentioned at
all; or at least they cannot be recognized among the manuscript
names. The scientific names of those species which Melsheimer
considered as especially injurious are accompanied by the popular
names, while foot-notes refer to the nature of the damage or
even—in two instances—recommend remedial measures. It may
OF WASHINGTON. 137
be justly doubted, however, whether these recommendations did
much good, since they were given in Latin and printed in a book
which never had any circulation.
No. 77 is Melolontha subspinosa Fabr., Rose-Bug (= JZa-
crodactylus subspinosus). Before Melsheimer became aware
that this species had been described by Fabricius he had given it
the significant name Melolontha polyphaga. A foot-note in-
forms us: ** Hlabztat precipue in rosarum floribus quos mt-
sere destrutt. No remedy is suggested here, and the feeling of
utter helplessness against the ravages of this beetle is very well
rendered by the word ‘‘ mzsere.”
No. 440 is Altica segetum, Earth-Flea (= Chetocnema den-
ticulata Ill.). The foot-note: ‘‘ Destruzt segetes tempore au-
tumnalz”’ is of considerable interest, because, until quite recently,
no species of Chatocnema have ever been referred to as injurious
to cultivated plants. In fact, this particular species is never
mentioned in our economic literature, but since it is extremely
abundant and undoubtedly feeds on graminaceous plants I have
no doubt of the correctness of Melsheimer’s statement.
No. 545 is Galeruca cucumerts, Cucumber-Fly (= Dabro-
tica vittata). Foot-note: ‘*‘ Pestis hortorum: pellitur oleo
resinoso (Tar) et sulphure.” The larva and larval habits re-
mained unquestionably unknown to Melsheimer, and the remedies
suggested were intended to be used against the beetles. That
dusting with flowers of sulphur had some effect may be conceded,
but how the ‘‘ o/eum restnosum”’ had to be applied to the vines
or to the beetles, I cannot explain.
No. 589 is the Plum Curculio, Curculio ( Conotrachelus)
nenuphar, to which Melsheimer had given the name C. fer-
stce. Ina foot-note he informs us: ‘' H/aéztat zx Malo persica,
larva sub cortice.”’ It would seem strange that Melsheimer was
unacquainted with the true larval habit of the Curculio, but so
much is evident that his note is nét the result of observation; it
simply reflects the notion prevailing at that time among the farmers
of York county, Pa. But this note hasa history: Harris, in the
first edition of his Treatise (p. 67), simply translates it: ‘‘ The
Rev. F. V. Melsheimer remarks in his Catalogue that this insect
lives under the bark of the peach tree.” In the second edition
of his work Harris entirely drops the theory of the subcortical
larval life of the Curculio, but it was taken up again by Fitch and
Walsh. The former, who had never seen a copy of Melsheimer’s
book, considerably magnifies and overrates the importance of this
note (3d Rep., 52, p. 351): ‘* Fifty years ago, one of the best
authorities in our country upon a topic of this kind, Rev. F. V.
Melsheimer, of Pennsylvania, stated,” etc. Walsh, who never
138 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
saw Melsheimer’s book nor the first edition of Harris, even out-
does Fitch by alluding (Am. Ent., I, p. 11) to Melsheimer’s
note as a ‘‘ statement of this most accurate naturalist.”
No. 670 is Rhynchophorus (Calandra) granaria, Weevil.
Foot-note: ‘* Pellitur calce viva;”’ C. oryz@ is also mentioned
under No. 672, and with this the Curculio exoticus (No. 628)
is probably identical, which is said to be ‘‘ allatus in oryza.”
The value of the remedy given may be justly questioned, but
since this note is attached to C. granarcus | infer that this was
at that time the commoner species, whereas now C. oryz@ is the
prevailing species.
Prof. Rilev expressed himself as greatly interested in the paper.
Concerning Melsheimer’s note upon the Plum Curculio, he said
that Melsheimer’s statement was by no means totally incorrect,
since Conotrachelus breeds in Black Knot. Mr. Schwarz, how-
ever, stated that neither Harris, Fitch, nor Walsh, in their state-
ments, could possibly have meant anything else than that the in-
sect breeds in the healthy twig, and Dr. Riley said that even that
statement might be, to a certain extent, correct, and that he had
seen the present year many oviposition marks not only in pear
fruit but upon pear twigs. Mr. Waite stated that he had noticed
the present season a very extensive oviposition in pear fruit.
—Dr. Marx, under the head of exhibition of specimens and
short notes, showed an enlarged figure of a remarkable spider
from Lower California. It belongs to the Oonopide, a well-
known tropical family, and is the only spider known to him to
possess a sclerite between the coxa and the sternum. This char-
acter is co-ordinated with undivided dorsal and ventral plates, and
the species has, moreover, only two spinnerets. Mr. Schwarz
suggested that this coxal character might have been overlooked
in other described species of the same family, and the note was
further discussed by Messrs. Gill, Riley, and Ashmead.
—The Corresponding Secretary exhibited two photographs sent
in by Mr. A. D. Hopkins, and which indicated the holes and
stains made by Corthylus columbianus in the 400-year-old tulip
tree mentioned in his communication at the January meeting.
—Mr. Ashmead exhibited specimens of Hudoxinna trans-
versa Walker, a peculiar Chalcidid from Brazil, which had been
OF WASHINGTON. 139
placed in the subfamily Chalcidine by Westwood, and which he
himself considers to be a Eurytomine. He also showed a Dia-
priine from Brazil, which has a remarkable pronotal projection,
and for which he proposes to erect a new genus, Notoxoides, on
account of the superficial resemblance of the form to the cole-
opterous genus Notoxus.
—RMr. Hubbard exhibited specimens of the Colorado Potato-
Beetle, collected at Fort Assiniboine, Montana, hundreds of miles
from fields of cultivated potatoes. The only potatoes grown at
that point occur in a small patch at the fort, and these are not
touched by the insects, which breed exclusively upon a wild
Solanum growing on the mounds of the prairie dogs. The dogs
remove all other vegetation from the mounds, but this Solanum
remains, These beetles have, therefore, not come in contact
with the cultivated potato, and yet show no variation from the
form now common in the East.
FEBRUARY 28, 1894.
President Ashmead occupied the chair, and there were also
present Messrs. Uhler, Schwarz, Gill, Stiles, Marlatt, Benton,
Marx, Sudworth, Heidemann, Fernow, Kuehling, Dodge, Test, —
and Howard. ‘There were also present, as guests of the Society,
Prof. E. B. Poulton, of Oxford University, England; Prof. Les-
ter F. Ward, Hon. Chas. W. Dabney, Jr., Dr. Frank Baker, Prof.
W. H. Dall, Prof. F. H. Knowlton, Mr. F. A. Lucas, Mr. B.
T. Galloway, Dr. Tarleton H. Bean, Mr. Richard Rathbun,
Mr. Francis E. Leupp, and Mr. Filibert Roth.
President Ashmead introduced Prof. E. B. Poulton, who ad-
dressed the Society. The object of his paper was to bring for-
ward a series of illustrations of recent work upon the uses of
colors to insects in the struggle for existence.
First, as regards Colors for Concealment, two examples were
shown of a method of illustration for popular audiences. An
insect is first represented upon some plain background, and then,
in a second slide, in its appropriate environment, the slides being
so painted and arranged that the insect appears upon the screen
140 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
in the same place in both, the environment alone undergoing a
change. In this way the meaning of the color and shape be-
comes particularly clear.
Then illustrations proving the derivation of the colors of cer-
tain caterpillars from the chlorophyll of their food-plant were
brought forward. The green or brown ground color of the
larva of Zryphena pronuba was proved to depend upon the
chlorophyll of the leaves or upon the yellow etiolin, closely re-
lated to chlorophyll. When, however, larve were fed upon
the mid-ribs of the leaves, containing neither chlorophyll nor
etiolin in an available form, the power of producing such ground
color was wanting.
Other illustrations showed some of the methods by which the
transparent spots and patches are formed on the wings of Lepi-
doptera in resemblance to holes in dead leaves, either by the loss
of scales, as in Kallima, or by reduction of the scales to hairs, as
in Attacus.
Recent experiments upon the modification of the colors of
lepidopterous larve by their colored surroundings were then
shown. These experiments have been conducted during the
past summer (1893). The larve of Odontoptera bidentata
fed upon the same food-plant and, surrounded by twigs of vari-
- ous natural colors, possessed the power of resembling these lat-
ter. When the twigs were covered with lichen, the larve
possessed the power of developing green spots, resembling the
lichen. This part of the experiment was new, such suscepti-
bility having never been previously proved to exist. The same
proved to be the case with Gastropacha querctfolia, in which
the lichen produced gray patches upon the larve. In all these
larval color changes the result is due to the effect of light, not
food.
As regards Warning Colors, two examples from Portchinski’s
recent work were shown, the first proving that the attitude
assumed by the distasteful moths of the genus Spilosoma are
such as to display warning colors to enemies. The second ex-
ample was the wonderful case of the pupa of Lzmenztis populz,
which is so marked and colored as to appear to have been
wounded.
OF WASHINGTON. 141
As regards Mimicry, Col. Swinhoe’s recent work upon a
group of butterflies related to Hypol’mnas bolina was shown by
illustrations. These butterflies, when traced over the whole of
their range as far as it is at present known, were found to mimic
the local and unpalatable Eupleea, or in the case of Celebes and
Africa, the local Danais. In Africa both males and females are
invariably mimetic. On the other hand, in Asia and the Malay
Archipelago, as a rule, the females only are mimetic. The
closely-related Hypolimnas mistppus always accompanies Da-
nats chrystppus, and its female invariably mimics this butterfly.
Another series of illustrations proved that the loss of scales by
transparent-winged Lepidoptera during their first flight is due to
the rudimentary form of the stalk by which the scale is attached
and of the socket into which it fits. In the case of one moth
which was a more perfect mimic of a hymenopterous insect
than another, the scales which fall off are more rudimentary, and
support the view that the more perfect mimic has passed through
a longer history of change than the less perfect one, thus allow-
ing the useless scales to become more degenerate.
Illustrations of the larval form of a Membracid insect which
mimics the leaf-carrying ants of tropical America were then
brought forward, and it was seen that the leaf is represented by
the flattened dorsal part of the body of the Homopteron.
Finally a series of illustrations was given, showing the loss of
decorative coloring in the males of certain day-flying moths as
the females become progressively degenerate—the degeneracy of
one sex and loss of color in the other reaching their climax in
the genus Psyche.
Upon the conclusion of the address, which was warmly ap-
plauded, Mr. Fernow congratulated the Society upon the oppor-
tunity which it had had of listening to what was probably the
broadest and most interesting paper which had been presented
before it since its organization. He moved a hearty vote of
thanks to the lecturer. ‘The motion was seconded by Mr. How-
ard, and carried unanimously. The hour for adjournment had
nearly arrived upon the completion of the lecture, and there was
no time for specific discussion, but brief remarks of a general
character were made by Prof, Ward, Dr. Dall, Mr. Fernow,
and Prof, Poulton,
142 - ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
APRIL 5, 1894.
President Ashmead in the chair, and Messrs. Benton, Chitten-
den, Gill, Linell, Coquillett, Schwarz, De Schweinitz, and
Heidemann were also present.
The following paper was read by the Corresponding Secretary
in the absence of the author:
FURTHER NOTE ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE OVIPOSITOR
IN HYMENOPTERA.
By C. L. Marvartr.
Having recently, through the kindness of Mr. Howard, ob-
tained a living specimen of Pémpla congutsitor Say, I under-
took to settle a point in the structure of the ovipositor, as out-
lined in previous communications before the Society *; which I
had not established to my own satisfaction, owing to the impos-
sibility of determining the relation of the parts from dried museum
specimens. In examining the living insect the motions of the
parts could be witnessed under a hand-glass, and the structure
and joints, which before could only be surmised, definitely differ-
entiated. The point in doubt in the previous
studies was the manner of union of the inner
branches of the spicula (see a, a, and 4, Fig-
ure 8). As previously described by me, each
spiculum sends off an inner branch near the
base, and these branches I had previously sup-
posed united in forming a loop of uniform
size throughout. In the, case of Pimpla, at
least, in the living specimen, it was seen that
these branches, instead of being united in one
Fic. 8.—Bases of spicula Pl€ce, are connected by a sort of subsidiary
of ovipositor of Pimpla cross-piece, or oscillating lever, 4, in the ends
conguisitor (original). Gf which they are joined in a sort of ball-
and-socket joint, so that with the alternate motion up and
down of the spicula during the action of the ovipositor, either in
attempting to sting or in oviposition, the ends of what may be
called the spzcule-cross-bar move alternately up and down ina
manner similar to the motion of a steamboat’s walking-beam,
except that the central support of the walking-beam is lacking.
The hyaline integument, which forms the outer covering of the
*1. Notes on the Genus Metopius, etc., Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash., vol. ii,
p- IOI.
2. A study of the Ovipositor of Hymenoptera, |. c., p. 201.
OF WASHINGTON. 143
oviduct, joins this cross-bar, and also fills the space between each
branch and its corresponding spiculum. ‘The alternate motion
of the spicula would seem to require just such a subsidiary sclerite,
and I have no doubt that something homologous with it will be
found to occur in the case of most hymenopterous insects.
The see-saw motion of the spicula could be easily seen to result
from the partial rotation of the spicule plates (shown in part at
upper corners of figure), in alternation, on the supports of the
ovipositor.
Mr. Heidemann exhibited specimens of the following species of
interesting and rare Hemiptera, found near Washington, D. C.:
Abedus ovatus Stal., Zattha anura 1. Schf., Ambrysus pudi-
cus Stal., Mygrotrechus robustus Uhl., Hygrotrechus pro-
ductus, Brachymetra albinervis Am. & Serv.
—Mr. Schwarz presented the following:
DESCRIPTION OF THE PINE-CONE- Li al EA ceded SCOLYTID,
By E. A. Scuwarz. ee
The discovery of a Scolytid infesting pine cones is due to Mr.
W. H. Harrington, whose observations were first published in
Dr. Packard’s Report on Forest Insects, p. 810, and subsequently
in Can. Ent., 23, 1891, p. 26. The insect is doubtfully referred
by him to Dryocetes affaber or D. autographus, and seems to
have been collected near Ottawa, Can. What, no doubt, is the
same species was observed some years afterwards by Dr. John
Hamilton at Sparrow Lake, Ont., and a short note is published
by him in Can. Ent., 25,1893, p. 279. Dr. Hamilton, as well
as Prof. A. D. Hopkins, to whom specimens were submitted,
came to the conclusion that the species was both specifically and
generically different from D. affaber. Having lately seen speci-
mens bred from pine cones by Dr. Hamilton, I recognize in them
a species which, in 1877, was sent by Mr. Hubbard and myself,
with many other Lake Superior Scolytids, to Dr. LeConte, and
named by him Dryocwtes afaber. It is evident that a confusion
of numbers or specimens must have taken place, but, strangely
enough, this confusion seems to have spread to various other col-
lections. The reasons why this species has not been described
by LeConte in the Michigan List or any subsequent publication
I cannot explain.
I offer herewith a description of the species, being solely tempted
thereto by the interest attached to its life-history; for, as far as I
am aware, there is no other Scolytid known which normally de-
velops within the cones of pine trees,
144 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Pityophthorus coniperda xz. sf#.—Body cylindrical, less elongate, shin-
ing, sparsely beset with rather long, erect and serrate hairs; color black,
mouth-parts, antenne, and tarsi reddish testaceous, tibiz often reddish.
Head more or less retracted into the thorax, very shining, furnished,
in both sexes, with but a few hairs, sculpture varying according to sex,
but always with a broad, smoother median space; eyes large, acutely, but
not deeply emarginate in front; antennal scape straight, gradually thick-
ened apically; funicle 5-jointed: first joint obconical, slightly longer than
wide at tip, second joint as long as wide, arising from a very thin base,
joints 3-5 transverse. extremely short and closely connate; club large,
ovate, longer than the funicle, on both sides shining and sparsely pubes-
cent, fringed with moderately long hairs, and divided by two nearly
straight sutures into three nearly equal parts.
Thorax almost as wide as long at base, greatly narrowing apically (when
viewed from above), front margin obliquely truncate each side, but not
angulate at middle, base straight, margined, side margin acute from the
base to apical third; surface much more densely hairy than the head, the
hairs mostly suberect, anterior half rather densely but not very strongly
tuberculate, concentric arrangement of the tubercles not much evident;
median tubercle obsolete; posterior half strongly and densely muricately
punctured, a smooth median line of larger or smaller width extends from
the middle to near the base.
Elytra at base as wide as the thorax, conjointly rounded at tip, pubes-
cence sparse, long and erect, sculpture consisting of regular rows of mod-
erately coarse, not closely-set, punctures, the first row, and often one or
two of the outer rows, slightly impressed posteriorly; first and second in-
tervals very sparsely uniseriately punctured, sometimes nearly smooth, the
other intervals with regular series of punctures so that the interstitial
series can hardly be distinguished from the striz; narrow basal margin
of elytra irregularly punctured; declivity moderately steep, at middle
slightly flattened, hardly retuse and not suldate, smooth, very shining, trav-
ersed bya fine, elevated subsutural stria, which is either crenulate or
slightly tuberculate, and limited externally by a tuberculated ridge which
is the continuation of the second elytral interval and which is accom-
panied, internally, by a row of punctures. _
Anterior tibiz with a narrow base and more strongly dilated apically
thanin the typical Pityophthorus, without tarsal groove, outer edge fringed
with rather long, moderately dense hairs and furnished, at apical third,
with two strong teeth, the outer one being terminal; middleand hind tibie
with the teeth less strong and fringed with hairs on inner and outer edges.
Male: Head smooth, except scattered punctures near the eyes, and with
a flattened tubercle on the clypeal margin which is continued posteriorly
for some distance as a feebly elevated ridge.
Female: Head with small scattered punctures which become stronger
and denser at the sides; without clypeal tubercle and elevated ridge.
Length: 2.7--3.3 mm.
OF WASHINGTON. ' 145
Described from several specimens collected by Mr. H. G. Hub-
bard and myself at the following localities: Marquette, Mich.,
July 3, 4, and 30; Eagle Harbor, Mich., June 9; Cambridge,
Mass., November 11; Fortress Monroe, Va., June 17. Ihave
also seen specimens from the States of New York and Pennsyl-
vania.
This species differs from the generic description of Pityoph-
thorus as given by Eichhoff (Ratio, etc., p. 173) in the structure
of the antenne and the anterior tibiz, but since’ several other
North American species described as Pityophthorus—even after
removal of those which belong to Bedel’s genus Pityogenes—pre-
sent notable structural differences, it would be premature to erect
a new genus for an isolated species. Superficially the species is
at once recognizable from its large size, its less elongate form and
the structure of the elytral declivity.
Since I have never found this Scolytid zz szt« I am unable to
add anything to the knowledge of its life-history.
Mr. Schwarz pointed out an interesting feature in the history
of the Otiorhynchid Aramigus fullert. A single specimen,
found at Cambridge, Mass., by the late Mr. Edw. Burgess, is in
Mr. Henshaw’s collection, but in 1875 and subsequent years it
suddenly made its appearance at many widely distant localities
in North America. On the Atlantic slope it occurred usually
in greenhouses, rarely outdoors, from Massachusetts to Georgia,
being evidently transported from place to place by nursery stock,
but since a number of years it has entirely disappeared, except
at some isolated localities in the South. In Canada it appeared
likewise in greenhouses, and was still present in 1890. In Cali+
fornia it occurred outdoors, and was still present in 1892. The
species does not belong to the fauna of the Atlantic slope, nor
to the Pacific fauna, but since it is evidently an American insect
its original home is, in all probability, the central region where
allied species and genera occur. We would thus have a case
analogous to the invasion of Doryphora decemlineata. Some
of the original specimens of Aramigus fulleri were received
by Mr. A. S. Fuller from Montana, in 1875, unfortunately with-
out further particulars regarding mode of occurrence, but neither
in that State nor in Kansas and Colorado or further South the
species has ever been found outdoors since that time.
146 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
—Mr. Schwarz exhibited a larval skin of the Dermestid beetle
Cryptorhopalum triste which, with the enclosed living pupa of
the beetle, had been found early last spring, among insect remains,
within a hollowed twig of a tree near Alexandria, Va. He stated
that the larve of Cryptorhopalum have, no doubt, the same habits
as those of Anthrenus, except that they do not enter our houses,
and that they had not been found before simply because they were
mistaken for Anthrenus larve. The larve of these two genera
are very closely allied, and, judging from the only larval skin
available for comparison, he had found that the larva of Cryféo-
rhopalum superficially differs only in that the hairs of the body,
and more especially those forming the anal brush, are much
shorter and less numerous than in Anthrenus.
—Mr. Schwarz exhibited pieces of the bark from a sapling
of a Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera), which showed
at various places an abnormal growth, consisting of ridges, blis-
ters, and tubercles which produced the resemblance to an incip-
ient Black-knot. The excrescences occurred always above or
around such places where a female of the Scolytid Phla@otrdbus
frontalis was constructing her gallery beneath the bark, and
resulted, evidently, from the irritation caused by the working of
the beetle. The galleries of Phleotribus were by no means com-
pleted, and had evidently been commenced only a few days ago,
so that the excrescences of the bark had been formed within a
remarkably short time. Mr. Schwarz said that no other tree was
known to him that reacted in a similar way against the attacks of
Scolytids. He also alluded to a paper recently read by Mr.
Waite before the Biological Society, in which the author had
pointed out that the paper mulberry was more frequently infested
by knots, Aexendesen, and other kinds of abnormal growth than
any other tree.
—He also remarked upon an improvement in the mounting of
some small beetles, as invented by Mr. Hubbard, illustrating his
remarks by the exhibition of various specimens; as usually
mounted on cardboard triangles, a portion of the sternum is hid-
den from view, but in the present examples the tip of the triangle
had been bent obliquely downward, and the beetle is attached to
it only by its episternum, thus leaving the sternum free for ex-
amination and study,
OF WASHINGTON. _ 147
—Mr. Schwarz also exhibited specimens of the Staphylinid
Oxyporus 5-punctatus, and called attention to the remarkable
secondary sexual characters presented by the male. In this sex
the right mandible is greatly enlarged and deformed at apex, and
the upper margin of the posterior thoracic angles is sharply turned
upward and forms a kind of flap which overhangs a deep excava-
tion at the angle itself. Nothing similar to these characters is
seen in any other species of Oxyporus in our fauna. The abdo-
men has no pubescent spot, and the left mandible in both sexes is
armed with a small tooth a little before the middle. Inthe female
the right mandible is simple, and the peculiar excavation of
the thoracic angles is merely indicated.
—Dr. Gill asked concerning the relative size in the different
sexes among insects. Mr. Ashmead replied that, as a rule among
the Hymenoptera, the female is larger than the male, but in the
Australian genus Zhynxnus the male is much larger than the
female. Mr. Schwarz stated that among Coleoptera, with com-
paratively few exceptions, mentioning the Lucanide and certain
Rhynchophora, the female was the larger, and Mr. Linell re-
marked that in those species of Scarabeide the males of which
are furnished with horn-like processes on the head or thorax
this sex is larger than the female, whereas among those species
the males of which do not possess such processes the female is
the larger of the two. Dr. Gill stated that probably the greatest
disparity between the sexes occurred in the fur seal, the males of
which weighed from seven to eight hundred pounds, whereas the
weight of the female did not exceed one hundred and fifty pounds.
>} |
May 3, 1894.
President Ashmead in the chair, and resident members Ben-
ton, Chittenden, Coquillett, Fernow, Gill, Heidemann, Howard,
Linell, Marlatt, Riley, Schwarz, Stiles, and Test also present.
The following corresponding members were also present: Prof.
P. R. Uhler, Dr. John Hamilton, Prof. A. D. Hopkins, and
Mr. H. G. Hubbard.
The following were elected Corresponding members: Rev.
148 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Jerome Schmidt, Beatty, Pa.; Mr. David M. Little, 4o Chestnut
St., Salem, Mass.
Professor Riley presented some notes on Margarodes and ex-
hibited two necklaces made of so-called ‘‘ ground pearls,” one
from Montserrat, the other from Jamaica, the former being com-
posed of larger specimens. The ground-pearls are Coccide of
the genus Margarodes Guilding. Hedescribed the finding of these
insects in the ground at Montserrat by himself and Mr. Hubbard
in February, and detailed further observations by himself upon
the same insect in Barbadoes and Jamaica. He read a review of
the literature and explained at some length his views as to the
formation of the shell. The communication was discussed by
Messrs. Hubbard, Uhler, Howard, Stiles, and Riley. Mr. Hub-
bard stated that he had started to make a list of the plants on
the roots of which Margarodes was found, but they proved to be
so numerous that he concluded it would be more feasible to make
a list of the plants on the roots of which the insects do not occur.
They are found in all soils, from hard volcanic soil to the sand
of the sea-beach. The activity of the adult insect was vouched
for by Mr. C. A. Barber, superintendent of agriculture in the
Leeward Islands, in conversation with Mr. Hubbard. Mr. Hub-
bard himself had found damaged adults. The broods he found
to be well defined. He thinks that the shell of the insect may
be compared with the shell of the turtle, and that it is composed
of infiltrated cast skins. The larval skin splits, and is shoved up
at the apical end, forming a cap, and the previous exuvia are
pushed further out and to each side, making a succession of caps
and four side tubercles. The filaments, he thinks, are of wax,
and he has seen them pushed out more than the length of the
insect. The shell is apparently chitinous. When placed in
strong sulphuric acid it turns black in two days, but if the acid
is diluted ever so slightly it does not produce the blackening
effect.
Professor Riley considered the shell to be largely a secretion
from definite pores, and that this secretion is, by the pressure of
the earth, formed into plates something as in Vinsonia and Cero-
plastes. Mr: Howard stated that the difficulty with this theory
is that the secretion of Vinsonia and Ceroplastes is wax, whereas
OF WASHINGTON, 149
these plates in Margarodes are chitine. He stated that, in his_
opinion, the larval exuvie form a small proportion of the shell,
as he had not been able to find, upon close microscopic examina-
tion, in any one shell more than two of the scales which showed
the larval rostrum.
In reply Professor Riley said that the last speaker must remem-
member that all Coccid secretions are not wax; that even in
Vinsonia the glass-like lateral secretion is of very different char-
acter from the dorsal waxy tuft. Mr. Uhler emphasized this
point, and spoke of the varying character of Coccid secretions.
Mr. Hubbard said further that in the empty shells small frag-
ments of chitine, trapezoidal in form, and 30 to 40 in number,
are found. This fact he considers very significant in connection
with the formation of the shell. Dr. Stiles considered it essen-
to cross-section the shells, but said that this would be very diffi-
cult to do. He advised a combination of the Whitman wax
method with the Heider gum-mastic method, and offered to per-
form the sectioning if specimens were given him for that pur-
pose.
—Mr. Hopkins read a paper entitled :
NOTES ON THE HABITS OF CERTAIN MYCETOPHILIDS,
WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF EPIDAPUS SCABIEI, SP. NOV.
By A. D. Hopxins,
(Entomologist, West Virginia Experiment Station).
The rearing of Epidapus and of species of Sciara from scabby
and diseased potato tubers, in 1891, led me to undertake some
investigations for the purpose of determining the relation of this
class of insects to the so-called potato-scab. Some of the facts
so far obtained will, I trust, be of sufficient scientific interest to
present to this Society as a contribution to the knowledge of the
somewhat neglected family Mycetophilide.
The authorities Osten Sacken, Schiner, Winnertz, and others,
refer to Mycetophilids, or fungus-gnats, as a class or family of
insects the larve of which inhabit and feed upon fungi, decom-
posing vegetable matter, animal manures, and like substances.
In a recent work, entitled ‘‘An Account of British Flies,” by
Theobald (Vol. 1, 1892, p. 105), the author says: ‘‘ If, as men-
tioned in a former page, they do a certain amount of damage to
mushrooms, the amount done is small compared with the benefits
150 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
derived from their existence. The larve of these gnats act as
scavengers; not only do they do away with rotting fungi, but
they cause these often injurious productions to putrefy and become
scarce by their destruction.”
There are a few records of species of Sciara inhabiting living
vegetable matter, but it appears that these observations have not
been so substantiated as to leave no doubt in the minds of Osten
Sacken and others regarding their correctness. Therefore, even
if Sciara species have frequently been met with in injuries to
vegetation during the investigation of such troubles, the observer,
after referring to the best authorities on the habits of this class of
insects, would more than likely fail to detect their true relation
to the injury, and blame it to fungi, or to some other insect inhab-
iting the same wound. It would be natural to conclude that they
were present merely for the purpose of feeding in the diseased
and decaying matter. ‘This, in connection with the fact that the
theory, with reference to insects being the cause of the potato-
scab, having been universally discarded, it would appear, has
served to remove all suspicion from the so-called fungus-gnats
as having anything to do with causing the blemish.
Had I the opportunity of examining the literature with refer-
ence to Mycetophilidze and the diseases and blemishes of potato
tubers when the investigations were begun, I have no doubt they
would have been discontinued before any important results were
obtained. I would have concluded, like others, that the insects
were merely feeding on decaying substance. As it was, I had
determined all of the principal facts with reference to the habits
of the insects and their relation to the injury before I was enabled
to examine any really important literature upon the subject. The
observations, including my own, with reference to Sciara inhab-
iting potato tubers may be briefly stated as follows:
At least seven species of Sciara have been bred by European
entomologists from what were supposed to be decaying potato
tubers. Mr. Walsh, when State Entomologist of Illinois, found
the larva of a Sciara inhabiting potato-scab, which he suspected
of causing the trouble. I have observed the larve of a Sciara
and an Epidapus feeding on the living, healthy tissue of potato
tubers, and have obtained conclusive evidence that they are
capable of causing, and actually do cause, conditions which in
one stage would be recognized as potato-scab, and in a more
advanced stage would be recognized as a form of potato-rot.
When we consider, in connection with these facts, that the so-called
potato-scab occurs in all countries where the potato plant grows ;
that fungus-gnats are also common in the same countries; that
all of the conditions recognized as being favorable to the devel-
opment and promotion of the scab are equally favorable for the
OF WASHINGTON, 151
presence and attack of the insects, it is convincing evidence, to
me at least, that a large percentage of the trouble heretofore
attributed to diseases, and other causes, may be brought about by
the attack of one or more species of so-called fungus-gnats.
Fic. 9.—Work of Epidapus scabiet.*
The species which I have found to be especially instrumental
in causing injuries and conditions which would be recognized as
the potato-scab blemish is a new and interesting Epidapus, for
the generic determination of which I am under obligations to Dr.
S. W. Williston. I take this occasion to present a full descrip-
tion and figures of the species in its different stages of transfor-
mation, under the specific name of Epidapus scabiei, and the
common name Potato-scab Gnat.
In order to have better authority than my own limited knowl-
edge of Diptera, I submitted the descriptions and drawings to
Dr. Williston, who has kindly revised the more important
descriptions, especially that referring to the wing.t
* Observation 6526a.—Tuber taken from barrel in cellar Nov. 18, 1893.
It had recently been attacked by larve, which had apparently entered
through the stem. (Engraving from photograph, showing character of
tuber Jan. 25, 1894, at which time it would have been recognized by the
casual observer as ordinary potato-rot. )
+I wish also to acknowledge, in this connection, the kindness of Mr.
L. O. Howard, Dr. J. A. Lintner, and Prof. S. A. Forbes, for extracts
from works not in our library, and for other special favors.
152 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Epipapus scasizI Hopkins, sp. nov.
(The Potato-scab Gnat.)
Order DipTerRaA; Family MycretropHitip#; Subfamily ScriarInz&.
e% ee
Ao, <E7 SA, SEED, AP al
Fic. 10.—Epidapus scabiet. Male; enlarged 35 diameters. a, dorsal aspect of head and
thorax; 4, genitalia; c, middle joints of antenne ; /, ventral view of head, showing mouth-
parts.
Male: Length, 1 to 1.5 mm. General color, dusky. Head round, dark,
pubescent above and on sides, hairs pointing forward. Eyes, black (purple
in balsam), situated near front part of the head, widely separated above,
margins converging near mouth-parts, with about 75 round, prominent
cornee in each eye, and with a few short hairs projecting from between
the cornee. Ocelli, three, of equal size, arranged in a triangle on vertex,
anterior one nearly in line with posterior margin of eyes. Palpi, thick,
cone-shaped, curved upward, joints obscure, with truncated pubescent tip;
Fic. 11.—Epidapus scapiei. Long wings of male enlarged 57 diameters,
showing venation. a, first longitudinal. 4, third. c, fourth. d, fift
e, sixth. _/, anterior cross-vein on thickened portion of the fourth vein.
also a few long hairs. Proboscis, small, obscure. Antenne three-fourths
the length of the body, 16-jointed, all of the joints covered with short,
stiff hairs pointing towards the tip; first and second joints, large; first
OF WASHINGTON. 153
joint, cup-shaped; second, round and somewhat larger than the first;
third, oval, with petiole at both ends; fourth to eleventh inclusive, ~
oblong, each joined to the one succeeding it by a short, smooth petiole;
last joint without petiole. Thorax, dark; meso-thorax as wide as the head,
with a few short hairs above and larger ones on the side; scutellum
prominent, projecting over base of metanotum, and with hairs on tip.
Legs long, pale, covered with short hairs; coxa and trochanter together
nearly as long as femur; femur, tibia, and tarsus of about equal length;
front tibia with one small spur on tip; middle and hind tibia with two
small spurs, second one often obscure.
Wings: length .5 to 1.5 mm.; width,.2 to.5 mm. They vary greatly
in breadth and length in different specimens, the
larger portion (about 80 per cent.) have very short
wings, scarcely extending beyond the second and
third segments of the abdomen, while others have
the wings projecting almost half their length be-
yond the tip of the abdomen; anterior and pos- _—‘ FIG. 12.—Epidapus scabiet.
7 : fs : Short wing*of male en-
terior margins with long hairs, the surface mi- larged 57 diameters.
nutely hairy; hyaline with rainbow reflections;
the usual veins of the anterior part much thickened; auxiliary obscure,
if not obsolete; the first vein terminates in the costa at some dis-
tance before the middle of the wing, the third vein at a considerable
distance before the tip; the thickened costa continuous beyond the
tip of the third for a distance equal to about half its penultimate sec-
Fic. 13.—Zpidapus scasiet. Female enlarged 35 diameters. a, dorsal aspect of head and
anterior portion of thorax. 4, genitalia. c, last joint of tarsus, showing petiole and claws,
d, tip of tibia, showing spurs. /, middle joints of antenna, _
tion; the third vein arises near the end of the first at an angle with the
second section, which is continuous with the anterior cross-vein, or rather
with the thickened portion of the fourth vein, for the anterior cross-vein
is wholly obsolete, the prefurca of the fourth vein arising exactly from
the beginning of the second section of the third vein; first and third veins
154 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
with hairs; fourth, fifth, and sixth veins very delicate; furcation of the
fourth vein very long; the fifth and sixth veins arise independently from
the stout vein at the basal third of the wing.
Halteres long, pale at base; knob dark, bearing a few long hairs.
Abdomen slender, with seven segments, each one with a rectangular,
pubescent dark space on the dorsal and ventral aspect; sutures, smooth
and pale; a narrow, smooth space along the sides. Second to sixth seg-
_ ments show a pair of pale stigmata. Genitalia: claspers or forceps,
pubescent, without claws.
Female: Length 1 to 2 mm. Color lighter than male. Wings and
Fic. 14. i lipida pus scabiet. Eggs and Fic. 15.—Zpidapus scabiet. Head of larva
larva. a, eggs in group, as usually greatly enlarged; ventral view. a, anten-
deposited. 4, eggs in string, as they ne. 66, maxillz. c, labrum. @, man-
occasionally occur, enlarged 17 diame- dibles. ¢, cardinal piece. 7% labium (?).
ters. c, same enlarged 35 diameters.
Larva enlarged 35 diameters.
halteres obsolete. Head dark, round from above, slightly flattened from
side; eyes, small, appear round from above, differ from those of male in
being truncated next to the mouth-parts; widely separated above and
beneath, with about 40 cornex. Ocelli same as male. Palpi and pro-
boscis somewhat larger than in the male. Antenne short, 16-jointed;
tips extend to anterior suture of first abdominal segment; joints shorter
and thicker than in male, with shorter petioles.
Thorax short, width of head; meso-thorax with parallel sides, not
conical as seen from above; the scutellum compressed, forming a margin
across the base of the meso-thorax.
Legs shorter than those of male; otherwise the same.
Abdomen, with seven segments, much extended or incrassate before
eggs are deposited, the sutures forming wide, pale bands between the dark
pubescent rectangular spaces on the segments, and with a wide, pale, and
smooth space along the sides. After the eggs are deposited the abdomen
OF WASHINGTON. 155
is much contracted, being slender, dark, and without pale bands. ‘Tip,
attenuated; not necessarily decurved. Genitalia, pubescent. Lamellz
free, anterior oblong, flattened; posterior round, flattened.
Egg: Length .25 mm.; white, oblong.
Larva: Length 4 mm.; width .5 mm.; body, white, with jet-black
head.
Head (dorsal aspect) as wide as it is long. Occipital lines approach
each other beyond the middle, and join in a lanceolate point at the pos-
terior margin, with three minute shining spots like ocelli arranged along
the outside of each line, and one on the inside about the middle.
Fic. 16.—Epidapus scabiez. Left figure, head of larva, dorsal view, greatly enlarged. a,
ocelli. 6, antenna. c, horny frame of labrum. d, labrum. Right figure, ventral view.
a, mandibles, showing position when closed.
Antenne short, fleshy, cone-shaped, and transparent; situated at base
of mandibles, and at anterior end of occipital lines. Ocelli just above
base of antenne. Labrum large, projecting beyond tip of maxille; |
fleshy, transparent, with black horny frame at base.
Ventral aspect shorter than dorsal. The horny plates (genx) are
joined by narrow strips at the posterior margin, and at the middle, leav-
ing an open cordate space one-third the length of the head. There are
also two small open or light spaces in the trophi; one rectangular between
the cardinal pieces of the maxille; the other triangular, situated between
the base of the maxilla. A small V-shaped, horny piece, probably a
rudimentary labium, separates these two small open spaces, and joins
together the cardinal pieces of the maxille at their base. Maxille large,
flattened, horny pieces, with rudimentary palpi in a pale spot at their tips ;
inner edge serrated, with four large and two small teeth; outer edges
thickened, with two dark, longitudinal elevations and a pale spot posterior
to the palpi. When closed, they conceal the mandibles and a greater
part of the labrum.
156 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
- Mandibles black, with four teeth, the first and second large and fitting
together when they are closed; the third smaller, and situated above the
other three; the fourth at right angles with the first, on the same level,
and pointing back. The teeth of the mandibles come together just above
the four larger teeth in each of the maxille, thus forming, as it were, a
double set of mandibles. Body cylindrical, elongated, smooth, shining,
and transparent, showing distinctly the internal canal. Slightly thicker
in the middle than at each end. With twelve segments, sutures and stig-
mata obscure.
Pupa: Length 1 to 2 mm.; white, changing to dark
before the imago emerges. Appears to have nine
abdominal segments, the eighth and ninth encasing
the genitalia. Abdominal segments pubescent above
and below. The legs are applied to the breast. An-
tennz joined in front, bent around the eyes, and lying
between the legs and the wing-pads. As viewed from
the side, the base of the antenna projects in an obtuse
point. Two acute conical horns in front, each bear-
ing a long bristle; also two similar horns without
bristles just in front of the prothoracic stigma; the
latter being small protuberances situated a little above
the base of the wing-pad. Seven abdominal stigmata
are distinctly seen on the side; as viewed from above,
those on the second to sixth seg-
ka Pick eee ments appear as brown, nipple-
eral view, enlarged shaped projections. The last
35 diameters. a .
abdominal (or the genital segment)
bears two triangular, flattened horns on each side
above, and two fleshy, short protuberances, like pro-
legs, beneath.
The female pupa is distinguished from the male by
its large size and by the eyes only, since, remarkable
as it may seem, the wing-pads are quite as distinct on
the female pupa as on that of the male. The pupe
before me are sufficiently advanced to show the female
organs through the transparent pupa-skin. After the
pupa is a day or two old, the eyes are distinctly seen;
those of the female being much smaller, rounded above
and truncated next to the mouth-parts, while the eyes
Fig. 18.—Zpidapus
of the male pupa are larger and more ovate, the mar- scabiei. Pupa, dor-
é 4 sal view, enlarged
gins converging next to the mouth-parts. 35 diameters.
Described from a large series of live, alcoholic, and balsam
specimens, bred from tubers reared from specimens collected
OF WASHINGTON. 157 -
in the greenhouse. Types in collection of West Virginia Ag-
ricultural Experiment Station. :
HaBITs.
The adults are very rapid in their movements, abruptly stopping
and starting at short intervals. The short-winged males seldom
attempt to fly, but like the wingless females, when alarmed, con-
ceal themselves in the soil, or in the substance infested by them.
The long-winged males
under the same condi-
tions escape by flight.
The females are some-
times seen to leap like
fleas. They readily move
about through loose
earth, and have been
observed to go into the
soil for considerable ae
depth. They depo sit Fic. 19.—Work of Epidapus scabiei.
from twenty to thirty
eggs, which hatch in five to six days. The larve move about
freely through damp soil and in the substance on which they
are feeding, and, at times, they are quite active. They may
occur singly or in great numbers, massed together in the sub-
stance infested by them. They appear to spin a web wherever
they go, and if the substance upon which they are feeding
is exposed to the light they will quickly spin a web over
the surface in order
to conceal them-
selves beneath it.
Under favorable
conditions, they will
cease feeding in
seven or eight days
atter: they ‘are
hatched, and, after
wandering about for
a short time, they
proceed to make a cocoon, apparently of silk, in the soil,
or in the outer portion of the substance inhabited by them,
and in about three days they change to pupa, the adults
emerging in three or four days after. The female commences
to deposit eggs in five to six days after she emerges, and usually
dies soon after performing this duty. Thus it will be seen that,
under favorable conditions, a brood or generation may develop
every twenty to twenty-five days.
is. eS
No a
Fic. 20.—Work of Zpidapus scadbiet.
- 158 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
This species has been reared from potatoes obtained from
different sections of our State (West Virginia) and from seed
tubers received from Philadelphia. It has also occurred in the
new greenhouse at the station in great numbers during the past
winter, and was reared from ordinary potting soil, from stable
manure, and was found common in all stages in the mushroom
bed in the greenhouse.
That the larvze will feed upon and develop from eggs to pupz
in the healthy substance of the potato tuber there can be no
doubt, since I have repeatedly demonstrated the fact by transferring
the eggs and young larve to slight wounds in the skin of the
tubers; also by placing healthy young tubers with infested ones
in the breeding jar. ‘hat the wounds inhabited by them are not
necessarily extended by the action of fungi or bacteria is evident
from the fact that a wound which is being rapidly extended by
the larve will cease to enlarge and commence to heal, or form
cork cells, as soon as all of the larve are removed.
Figs. 19 and 20 (Experiment 6520a) show result of
scarified tuber placed in breeding-jar with tuber infested with
larve. Experiment commenced March 3, 1894. The initials
A.D. H. were made with the point of a needle, by just breaking.
through the skin of a healthy tuber. On March roth large
number of larve were feeding in the wounds. On March 15th
the larve had entered deeply into the substance (Fig. 20) ;
photographs and drawings made and experiment ended. Speci-
mens as illustrated preserved in alcohol.
Dr. Williston, to whom I sent specimens of this species, refers
to it, in a letter dated March 20, 1894, as follows:
‘¢’ The form is of especial interest, as the male has been
heretofore unknown. But a single species of the genus is known
(Epidapus venaticus Haliday), and that has been rarely seen.
I have gone over the subject very carefully, and have no doubt
whatever but that it is a true Epidapus. Schiner and Winnertz
both thought that the female was a wingless Sciara, but the male
offers sufficient characters to distinguish the genus in itself.”
The long wing of one form of the male would place the
species with the Sciara, but the difference in the mouth-parts
and genital organs, antenne, tibial spurs, and tarsus are
sufficiently distinct to separate it from Sciara.
The only difference I find from Schiner’s description of
Epidapus is in the palpi, which are referred to by him as having
four joints. Inthe large series of examples examined, I have in
every case utterly failed to find a jointed palpus, but, instead, the
inverted cone-shaped organ described and figured. However, I
am not ready to say that the joints are obsolete.
The fact that a large percentage of the males have short wings,
OF WASHINGTON. | 159
while others have very long ones, is of interest. I have reared.
and taken these short-winged forms under the most favorable
conditions for the full development of the wings, yet we often
find all of them with short wings. I also find the long-winged
forms developing under unfavorable conditions. What seems
most remarkable, however, is that in a large number of specimens
reared from eggs taken from a jar, in which all of the males
apparently had short wings, all of the males hatching from the
eggs had long wings.
Three species of Sciara have been bred from potato tubers
during the investigation referred to. One of them was deter-
mined by Dr. Williston as Sczara aliata. Another he deter-
mined as probably a new species, which I will refer to, in this
connection, as Sciara species No. 1. I have recently reared the
other species, which I will mention as Sciara species No. 2. The
larve of species No. 1 were found to have similar habits to
those of HAzdapus scabiez, and can scarcely be distinguished
from them, except that the Sciara larve are larger. The
abundance of this species in flower-pots in the greenhouse and in
windows and flying in the open air indicates that it must be quite
common.
Sciara species } No. 2 was reared from tubers showing the
characteristic injuries caused by Epidapus and Sciara species No.
1. The larve and pupe were found in the dead tissue, but the
larve were not observed, like the others, to feed on the living
tissue.
With the mass of evidence resulting from the extensive modern
investigation of the so-called potato-scab and the potato-rot,
which goes to prove that all forms of both these troubles are due
to parasitic fungi and bacteria, together with the fact that the
insect theory, with reference to their cause, has, it would appear,
been universally discarded by European and American investi-
gators, it would seem the height of presumption upon my part .
to claim that these insects are the cause of certain forms of both
scab and rot, or at least what are recognized as such.
While I admit that one or more forms of the so-called potato-
scab may be due to the action of fungi, and that the true potato-
rot is a fungous disease, I am confident that there are forms
heretofore recognized as scab and rot which are not due to
fungous disease, but are the direct result of the attack of insects
belonging to the family eo ae ca and to the genera Sciara
and Epidapus.
MorGANTOWN, West Va., May 7, 2894.
160 / ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
The paper was briefly discussed by Messrs. Riley and Gill.
Professor Riley asked whether it was necessary to make a wound
in the potato before the larva would feed upon it. Mr. Hopkins
replied that this was necessary with old potatoes, but that the
larve do not need an artificial orifice in feeding upon sound young
potatoes. Prof. Riley remarked that the statement that the ento-
mologists had abandoned the idea that scab is caused by insects
was incorrect. He thought that no one insect is concerned in
the work. Several larve are in the habit of wounding potatoes,
and just as the so-called scab upon apple is variously caused, so
does scab upon potatoes arise from several different causes. Mr.
Hopkins said that he had been misapprehended, and that mycol-
ogists—Thaxter and Bolle, for instance—had contended that
the insect theory must be abandoned... Mr. Gill asked how long
the scab is in developing. Mr. Hopkins replied that the feeding
period of the larva is about seven days. It may work a short
time and produce a scab of one appearance, or it may work a
longer time and produce a larger and more serious scab. It may
also work until the potato is practically destroyed, and resembles
one affected by an advanced stage of rot. The true potato-rot,
however, has a very offensive odor, whereas potatoes destroyed
by these larve have no such odor. No mould or rot sets in
while the insects are at work, but when they cease feeding both
mould and decay set in. |
—Professor Riley exhibited a series of West Indian Termites,
comprising Luatermes morto and £. rippertiz, the latter having
been found in Jamaica. He briefly distinguished the species
and said that he had opened more than forty nests. He showed
that there is no regularity in the sexed occupants, some of the
nests being queenless while others had several queens. Some-
times the queen would be without escort, and sometimes she
would have two or more males.
_ —WMr. Benton exhibited a nest and living specimens of a
Melipona, possibly JZ. favosa, ordinarily known as the Bottle
Bee of the West Indies, which had been brought home by Mr.
Hubbard from the Island of Montserrat. ‘These were actively at
work and Mr. Benton explained the structure of the hive. Some
little excitement was caused by the exhibition of a colony of free
live bees until it was remembered that the Meliponz are stingless.
Petar ee ee es Pe ey
OF WASHINGTON, ~ 161
9 JUNE 7, 1894.
The President, Mr. Ashmead, in the chair, and Messrs. Riley,
Schwarz, Coquillett, Marx, Sudworth, McGee, Stiles, Johnson,
Pergande, Heidemann, Fernow, Benton, De Schweinitz, Chit-
tenden, hey Linell, Pratt, Gill, Howard, Marlatt, Kuehling
present. r. Chas. Palm, of New York ON, was elected a
ae member.
President Ashmead made some brief remarks, congratulating
the Society upon having attained its one hundredth meeting and
upon its prosperous career and prospects.
—The Recording Secretary, Mr. Howard, read the following :
A REVIEW OF THE WORK OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL
SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON
During the First Ten Years of its Existence.
By L. O. Howarp.
It is so true and self-evident as to be almost trite that those
exalted personages who have charge of the destinies of nations
should be thoroughly informed in the history of the nations which
they govern, in order to be best fitted to control their future intelli-
gently and successfully. It is equally true that it behooves the
individual to pause at certain periods of his career and indulge in
retrospect—to weigh his past actions and their results; to indulge,
it may be, in regrets, vain in semblance, but instructive and use-
ful in their possible influence upon his future. So, since this
Society, which we have all helped to build up, has worked steadily
away for ten years without a stop, this one hundredth meeting
affords us a chance to look back over what we have done
and to acquaint ourselves with the results and with the means
by which they have been brought about, and such a review of our
uneventful but steadily prosperous career it has fallen to me to
prepare.
For several years before the foundation of this Society there had
been a strong feeling among the few of us associated in the Depart-
ment of Agriculture that an entomological society was almost a
necessity, and in February, 1884, Dr. Riley, Mr. Schwarz, and
the writer drew up the call which resulted in the founding of the
‘¢ Entomological Society of Washington.” The prime mover and
person with whom the idea really originated was Professor Riley.
The meeting for organization was held at Professor Riley’s
house, February 29, 1884, and was attended by Dr. W. S. Bar-
162 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
nard, Mr. Albert Koebele, Judge Lawrence Johnson. Mr. B. P.
Mann, Rev. Dr. J. G. Morris, Prof. C. V. Riley, Dr. A. J.
Shaffirt, Mr. E. A. Schwarz, Mr. A. H. Stewart, and Mr. L.
O. Howard. Letters were read from Capt. T. L. Casey, Mr.
C. R. Dodge, and Prof. John Murdock. That Nestor of North
American entomology, Dr. J. G. Morris, occupied the chair,
Salient events in the history of the Society have been almost
entirely lacking. We have worked steadily along, making no
particular noise in the world. We have been satisfied with a
small beginning and in a slow but steady improvement, believing
that the safest method is to feel our way slowly and establish
ourselves upon solid ground as we proceed. There is little, then,
in our history except a recital of those slow steps and a grouping of
dry figures. We met for a while in the lecture-room of the
National Museum, through the courtesy of Prof. Baird and Prof.
Goode, but the desirability of introducing the social element soon
forced itself upon us, and the ease with which this could be
accomplished with so small a society was so apparent that at the
close of the second year the meetings began to be held at the
houses of members. The three preliminary meetings for organi-
zation were held at Professor Riley’s former residence, 1700 13th
street, and the seventeen meetings immediately succeeding were
held in the Council Room of the National Museum. The change
just indicated was signalized by the eighteenth regular meeting,
which was, upon invitation, held atthe residence of Dr. Marx. Dr.
Marx was followed in regular order by Messrs. Howard, Schwarz,
Smith, Heidemann, and Mann, and these six members, together
with Professor Riley, took turns in entertaining the Society
up to the thirty-eighth meeting, when Dr. Fox entered the
list of hosts. The 62d meeting was held at Mr. C. R. Dodge’s
and the 7oth and three later meetings at Mr. Fernow’s. When
the 76th meeting was reached the so-called ‘* bachelor members ”’
of the Society, having accepted for so many months the
hospitalities of the married members, entertained the Society at
Faber’s Hall, and this they have done three times since. Mr.
Ashmead acted as host at the 84th meeting and Professor Gill at
the ggth. The list, then, stands as follows: National Museum,
17; Professor Riley, 14; Mr. Schwarz, 12; Dr. Marx, 12; Mr.
Howard, 9; Mr. Heidemann, 8; Dr. Fox, 8; Mr. Smith, 4; Mr.
Mann, 4; Mr. Fernow, 4; the ‘‘ bachelor members,’ 4; Mr.
Ashmead, 2; Mr. Dodge,1; Dr. Gill, 1. Out of this whole list
Dr. Fox’s hospitality stands out, since he was a member of the
Society for a comparatively short time and yet entertained it on
no less than eight occasions. In corresponding proportion
Professor Riley, Dr. Marx, and Mr. Schwarz follow close behind.
All of the annual meetings have been held at the residence of
OF WASHINGTON. 163
Professor Riley, with the exception of that for 1892, which was
held at Mr. Howard’s. ‘Too much cannot be said in support of —
the semi-social feature which the Society has introduced in its
meetings. It would be difficult to estimate the influence which
this move has had upon the success of the Society, but it must
have been great. Scientific men of other societies who have
attended our meetings, and who have, in fact, joined our ranks,
have said that the Entomological Society of Washington is the
livest society in the city and that its meetings are the most
interesting.
Our present plan, however, is possible only with a small
society and cannot be followed by an organization having an
average attendance of much more than 20.
This brings me naturally to a consideration of the attendance
at our meetings. I find that at the 99 meetings which we have
held there has been a total attendance of 1,090 and that the
average attendance at each meeting has, therefore, been 11. The
highest number attending any one meeting was at the 97th, when
we were addressed by Professor Poulton, of Oxford, England,
when 27 persons were. in attendance. The smallest number at
any one meeting has been four. If we take it right through the
whole ten years, this attendance has been very satisfactory, since
we began with a resident membership of 17, several of whom
took a very slight interest in the subject and never attended a
single meeting, and since we have now a resident membership of
about 30.
Our list of non-resident or corresponding members was begun
by the removal of resident members from Washington, and it
was not until 1893 that a special effort was made to increase this
list. At that time. letters were written to a number of entomol-
ogists, suggesting that they might consider it advantageous to join
the Society, and as a result our corresponding list now numbers
86, including nearly all of the most prominent entomologists in
this country and a number from other parts of the world. The
total number of members of all classes who have been connected
with the Society, either as residents or correspondents, reaches
$33.
>The standing of a society, however, must be judged not by the
number of its members, but by the character of the papers pre-
sented before it and by the comparative number of its members
who have taken an active part in its discussions. In these re-
spects our Society need not fear comparison with other work-
ing societies. A careful analysis of the facts as displayed in our
minutes shows that 47 persons have read papers before the
Society, having presented 341 more or less formal communi-
cations. Ninety-four persons have exhibited specimens and many
164 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
have presented short notes. Of the 341 formal papers, all of
which have been published, either in full or by abstract, in our
proceedings, 257, or more than 4, have been read by 9 members,
viz., Messrs. Schwarz, Riley, Howard, Marx, Smith, Ashmead,
Townsend, Marlatt, and Lugger. We need not look far for the
most prolific member of the Society. Every one present could
pick him out without a suggestion from me. Mr. Schwarz has
read 65 papers before the Society, or more than 1 of the whole
number of papers presented. He has averaged about of a paper
at every meeting. Not very far behind him comes Professor
Riley with 49 papers. Frequent absence from Washington, no
doubt, accounts for the fact that Professor Riley does not head
the list. He has, however, nearly made up for these absences
by activity when present, and on one occasion he read no less
than four papers at the same meeting. Following Professor Riley
come Mr. Howard with 37 papers, Dr. Marx with 33, Dr. Smith
with 23, Mr. Ashmead with 15, Mr. Townsend with 13, Mr.
Marlatt with 12, and Professor Lugger with 10. Dr. Fox in the
comparatively short term of his membership read six papers, and
Mr. Hubbard has read the same number. Mr. Heidemann has
presented five, and Mr. Hopkins, with an active interest in the
Society which other neighboring corresponding members should
imitate, has also presented five. Mr. Mann, Judge Johnson,
Mr. Banks, and Mr. Fernow have each presented four papers.
‘Dr. Horn, Mr. Dodge, Mr. Ulke, Professor Uhler, Mr. Chittenden,
and Dr. Stiles have each presented three papers. Captain Casey,
Mr. Pergande, Mr. Sherman, Dr. Bergroth, and Mr. Benton
have read two each, while Dr. Barnard, Professor Murdoch,
Professor Osborn, Mr. Liebeck, Mr. Coville, Baron Osten
Sacken, Mr. Linell, Mr. Richardson, Mr. Mally, Professor
Summers, Dr. Gill, Professor Doran, Professor Poulton, Mr.
Cockerell, Mr. Davis, Mr. Masius, and: Mr. Webster have read
oneeach; making a grand total of 341, or an average of from three
to four papers at every meeting which the Society has held.
It is in the character of the papers presented that our Society
differs rather widely from any other entomological society in
existence, so far as I am able to judge, and the most distinguish-
ing feature, when we glance over the list of papers as a whole, lies
in the fact that the habits of insects, their life-histories and trans-
formations, and topics of wider range have engaged our attention
to a much greater extent than bare, systematic papers. It has
resulted from this fact that our proceedings are widely read and
are found to be of more general interest than the publications of
other societies. A well-known entomologist, writing to the
Corresponding Secretary in acknowledgment of the receipt of
one of the numbers of our proceedings, stated that he picked it up
OF WASHINGTON. : 165
after dinner and only laid it down at midnight having read care-
fully every word within its covers. (Can you imagine that any-
entomologist, no matter how strong his interest in the subject,
could keep himself from falling asleep over the pages of the
publications of any of our contemporary societies after a hard
day’s work and a good dinner?
Of the papers read 107 have treated of the habits or transfor-
mations of insects; 24 have treated of the geographical distri-
bution of insects or of the characteristics of the insect fauna of
more or less restricted regions; 13 may be classified under the
head of economic entomology; 9 have delt with bibliographical
topics; 9 can be classified only as general papers, including a
variety of topics; 9 have been devoted to the consideration of
some one or many phases of parasitism; 6 have been biographical
in their character; 5 have been devoted to questions of technique ;
4 have considered insect physiology; 4 have treated of the insect
faunas of certain plants; 4 have been devoted to evolutionary
topics as evidenced in entomology; 3 have discussed collecting
methods; 3 have touched upon insect products; questions of
synonymy have received treatment in 2 papers; the relations of
flowers and insects have been discussed in 2; poisonous insects
in 2; cave insects, the edibility of insects, the relations of birds
and insects, and mimicry have been treated in 1 paper upon each
topic. One paper has been historical in its character. The
seasons of insects have been treated in 1 paper, and 1 paper has
been given before us on the subject of Nematodes.
Among the orders of insects, we have paid the most attention
to the Coleoptera. Messrs. Schwarz, Riley, Smith, Lugger,
Horn, Ulke, and Linell are responsible for this preponderance
of coleopterological papers. In all, 91 papers relating to this
order have been read. Second in rank comes the order
Hymenoptera. Messrs. Ashmead, Marlatt, Riley, Pergande,
and Howard, with one or two others, have presented 58 papers
referring to this order. The order Lepidoptera has been pre-
- sented by 36 papers, which were mainly presented by Messrs.
Smith and Riley, although Messrs. Lugger, Marlatt, and Schwarz
are also represented in this list. Upon the insects of the order
Hemiptera we have listened to 22 papers. On Diptera 19 papers
have been read, Upon Orthoptera 7 papers have been read, and
upon Neuroptera and Pseudo-Neuroptera 4. There has been
a very large number of papers presented upon different phases
of the study of the Arachnida. The Society has been fortunate
in possessing among its members so eminent a student of this
group as Dr. George Marx. He and his co-laborers, Messrs.
Fox and Banks, have read 49 papers upon this class, and to this
fact is due the presence upon our list of corresponding members
166 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
of the names of Thorell, of Montpellier, and Kulszynski, of
Cracow. :
The lack of systematic papers is evidenced by the fact that in
running over our Proceedings I notice descriptions of but 95 new
species and 13 new genera. The absence of papers of this
character undoubtedly adds to the readability of our Proceedings,
but it is a question whether a more frequent publication of careful
work of this character would not establish for the Proceedings a
more ready sale. Most entomologists are systematists, and the
possession of copies of the descriptions of all species in the group
which one is studying is almust a s¢ze gua non to one who. is
working upon classification.
Upon this point it may be stated that the majority of the active
members of the Society are entomologists by profession. Our
Proceedings offer a channel of publication for notes of the
character indicated above, but these notes by no means comprise
even a large proportion of the working output of the contributors.
Their economic results find space in the publications of the De-
partment of Agriculture, while the results of their systematic
labors are published in the Proceedings of the U. S. National
Museum or in the transactions of learned societies. Our own
Proceedings would be overwhelmed with matter of a systematic
character had we the means to publish more extensively, and this
brings us to the question of funds. |
We have published in all, in the ten years of our existence,
785 pages, and this has cost us $1,457.43, as I am informed by
the Treasurer, Mr. Schwarz, who has drawn up for me the
figures which I shall now use. The cost of printing has been
divided as follows:
April 6, 1886, Vol. 1, No. 1, - - $52.58
March 19, 1888, ‘* 2, = - - 146.88
April 6, 1889, - 7 : - 128.25
June 6, 1890, | J Ay oe - - 207.25
Volume I complete, - - - - - - $534.96
April 8, 1891, Vol. 2, No. 1, - eee VEEL SY
July 2, 1892, fe 2, . a7 210.35
January, 27, 1893, °° 2, - - 157.00
July 19, 1893, . 4, = ty 144.00
Volume IT complete, - : - - - $790.62
April 6, 1894, Vol. 3, No. 1, - - $131.85 131.85
Total Proceedings, - Sa ie - . $1,457-43
OF WASHINGTON. 167
Printing has naturally been the main expense of the Society.
The other expenditures have amounted in all to $65.06, or an_
average of about $6 per year. Of this amount the Society’ s
share in the publication of the Joint Directory of the Scientific
Societies of Washington has, in the three years in which we have
been represented, consumed nearly $32. The total amount
which has been collected since the Society started has been
$1,643.76, of which, as above stated, $1,457.43 has been ex-
pended for publications and $65.06 for other expenses, leaving
a balance of $121.27 still in the treasury. Of this amount
$770.69 was contributed for the specific purpose of publication,
voluntarily and by a comparatively few members of the Society,
and the balance was derived from dues and the sale of. Pro-
ceeding,— $630.14 from dues and $235.49 from sale of Proceed-
ings.
The great need of the Society at the present time is a permanent
publication fund of from $10,000 upwards, and members are
earnestly requested not to lose a single opportunity to press the
importance of such a donation to science in particular, and to the
world at large, upon chance millionaires of their acquaintance.
This reminder may seem somewhat farcical, but’ I happen to
know that one enthusiastic member has already approached two
men of large means, without, I am sorry to say, accomplishing
the result. He has retired from each encounter filled with the idea
that the average millionaire is poorer than the average govern-
ment clerk.
_ So long, however, as this country possesses men of the stamp
of Smithson, Rockafellar, Stanford, Clark, Cornell, Jesup, and
many others who might be mentioned, the Society need not
despair.
Who knows but a clause may be found in the will of some one
of the men who are already active members of our Society, which
will put us upon a firm financial basis? We are not looking for
ward to the demise of any of our wealthy members, and hope
that they may be with us for many years to come. When, how-
ever, full of years and full of honor, they prepare themselves for
the inevitable end, let us hope that, while the claims of family
must be paramount, a little slice of their accumulated riches may
be left to the struggling organization upon which they have shed
the lustre of their names.
This one hampering question of means settled, the Society
possesses within itself the qualities of strength , vitality, and ability
which will, without doubt, place it among the foremost ento-
mological organizations of the world.
168° ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
—Mr. Pergande read the following :
ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE HABITS OF
AMMOPHILA GRYPHUS SM.
By THEO. PERGANDE.
Since my observations on the habits of this species, published
in the Proc. Ent. Soc. of Washington, Vol. II, No. 2, June 27,
1892, I was fortunate to meet this species again in the same
locality and to note a few more of its characteristics while in the
act to provide for its future offspring.
On the twenty-ninth day of September, while leisurely walking
up hill on the same slope where the first observation was made,
and while near the top of this slope, I noticed suddenly, in a
rather sandy section, which was almost bare of vegetation, save
a few isolated tufts of grass or a few other plants, one female
of this species, running briskly about, with her head quite close to
the ground, as if in search for something of more than usual inter-
est. After travelling about twenty feet, in a more or less straight
line, stopping here and there to investigate the surface of the soil
and its surroundings, she came to a perfectly bare spot, where she
stopped for a few moments and scratched the surface slightly, so
as to form a very shallow depression, after which she commenced
to retrace her steps in a somewhat roundabout way, describing
in her wanderings an elongated ellipse, stopping again here and
there to investigate the surroundings, till she reached a bare spot in
the vicinity of an oak, where a larva of Heterocampa sub-
albicans was stretched out on the sand, dead to all appearances,
though perfectly fresh, as if but recently killed, and which, no
doubt, had been stung and temporarily deposited on the sand
until it could be disposed of. After finding it again, she straddled
it, took hold of it not far from the head and travelled with her
load in an almost direct line to the spot which she had marked
previously. Arriving at her destination, she laid down the larva
and commenced in earnest to dig a hole for its reception; the
whole operation lasting but a few seconds. After finishing the
chamber, she came out, took hold of the larva, dragged it to its
destination at the bottom of the chamber, and remained with it
for about two minutes; after emerging again, she remained in
front of the opening for a moment and uttered a sound like
‘¢ched ched,” then took a small pebble, rolled it into the opening
and scraped a little sand after it; another pebble was added and
more sand scraped in, the insect uttering meanwhile the same
sound. After this, the hole was gradually filled up and the sand
tightly pushed in, till full, when the remaining material was
OF WASHINGTON. 169
carefully scraped over the entrance so that scarcely a trace of her
work was left, the whole operation lasting about twelve minutes.
After this was done, she left, but I caught her.
—In a paper entitled ‘‘ Observations on the mating of queens of
Apis mellifica,’ Mr. Frank Benton alluded to the great interest
which ancient naturalists manifested in regard to reproduction
among bees and the mystery surrounding the subject, and cited
the views of Swammerdam, De Braw, Réaumur, Huber, and
other noted investigators of bee-life during the past century.
He described experiments made by Réaumur and Huber to secure
artificial fertilization of queens. This was followed by a brief
statement of the facts as now known regarding the flights and
mating of queens of various races of Apzs mellifica, especial
mention being made of the view universally accepted at this time
that the queen mates but once during her life. In proof of the
error of this view, Mr. Benton quoted from his note-book for
1886 the records, unpublished as yet, of two queens bred by him
in Cyprus which he had watched closely and which mated the
second time; and he also cited a record published in the Deutsche
ellustrierte Bienenzettung for August, 1893, by K. Befort,
wherein it was stated that a certain queen had mated twice,
the second time two days after the first. Mr. Benton believed these
three observations were made with sufficient accuracy to prove
beyond doubt that queens do in some instances mate twice, not-
withstanding the fact that for a half century or more the opposite
view has been held.
The paper was discussed by Messrs. Riley, Benton, Gill,
Schwarz, and Pergande. Professor Riley stated that with the
bottle-bee of the West Indies two or three or even five eggs
are enclosed in each cell and that all but one of these must
perish. Mr. Benton said that with Melipona all of the eggs are laid
in cells, which are sealed before the larve hatch, but in the hive-
bee the cells remain open even to the end of the feeding period and
the workers remove the superfluous eggs. Dr. Gill remarked upon
Mr. Benton’s ability to recognize individual queens and asked
whether he could explain how he did it. Mr. Benton replied that
170 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
it was very hard to say. It is a question of general appearance,
size, color, shape, actions, and other points combined to produce
an individual. Mr. Schwarz asked whether there is a double
mating among the ants. Mr. Pergande replied that the queens live
several years, but nothing is known as to whether they mate
more than once. In his belief a single mating suffices. Mr.
Schwarz stated that with the white ants all observers agree that
no one has ever seen a copulation. This must take place within
the nests, and the queens are so long-lived that there must be sev-
eral matings.
—Mr. Schwarz spoke on the composition and extent of the
Coleopterous fauna of Alaska in connection with Dr. Ham-
ilton’s recently published catalogue. He gave an outline of
the history of the entomological exploration of that country,
commenting more especially upon the thoroughness of the
Russian explorations in the earlier half of the present century.
The greatest number of the species, as described or enumerated
in ount Mannerheim’s well-known ‘‘ Contributions,” form
an extremely well-defined division of the boreal faunal zone,
the extent of which is much larger than it has hitherto been
accepted by entomologists. Asa result of a short trip undertaken
by Mr. H. G. Hubbard and Mr. Schwarz in 1892, through parts
of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, Mr. Schwarz
stated that along the coast range of Oregon and Washington this
Alaskan fauna still predominates, so that the number of species
said to be peculiar to Alaska must be greatly reduced. This
fauna extends from the base of the peninsula of Aliaska into
northern California, its southernmost representatives occurring in
the more elevated portions of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It
occupies the narrow strip of the coast range region, which,
north of Puget Sound, is broken up into numerous islands, and
the western slope of the Cascade Mountains south to a point not
yet definitely ascertained, but probably not attaining the Columbia
river. It is very rich in characteristic species which do not occur
elsewhere. Another faunal region includes the peninsula of
Aliaska, the Aleutian Islands, and the southern part of the west
coast of Alaska. It extends to the Asiatic side of Behring Sea,
but contains but few characteristic species. The fauna of con-
OF WASHINGTON. 171
tinental Alaska, although but little explored, does not appear to
possess any species peculiar to itself and is plainly only a westward
extension of the boreal fauna of North America and in no way
different from the fauna of the Rocky Mountain Pheer or
that of the Lake Superior region.
This paper was discussed by Dr. Gill, who stated that the distri-
bution mentioned by Mr. Schwarz is somewhat reinforced by
the distribution of other animals, and that it was also somewhat
variant. Mollusks and fishes of Alaska are European and
Siberian, and same may be said of certain of the mammals. Mr.
Schwarz added that the Alaskan fauna constitutes a well-marked
faunal region of the country, comprising one peculiar family, the
¥gialitide, and a host of genera and species which do not occur
elsewhere.
—Mr. Schwarz also read some remarks on the West Indian
sugar-cane borer (Xyleborus perforans Woll.) and dwelt upon.
the difficulties in ascertaining whether or not this species really
occurs in the United States. The females of quite a number of
species of Xyleborus are utterly indistinguishable, for the present
at least, and reliable determination can only be made from the
males, which are very rare and difficult to obtain. He had never
seen in North American collections a male which exactly
corresponded with that of X. Zerforans, and the description of
X. retusicollis Zimm. leaves some doubt regarding its identity.
Eichoff’s X’. afinzs is said to be identical with X. per forans, but it
is doubtful whether the type of the male of A. affinds came
from the West Indies or the United States. Asa peculiarity
in the history of X. perforans, Mr. Schwarz pointed out the
sudden and simultaneous appearance of the species in the sugar
plantations throughout the West Indies. The cultivation of
sugar-cane in the West Indies is very old, but until quite recently
nothing was heard of the attack of the beetle on sugar-cane in
any of the islands. |
This communication was briefly discussed by Messrs. Riley
and Howard. Dr. Riley said that the sudden appearance of the
sugar-cane borer was probably due to the general introduction of
the ribbon-cane from Ceylon or some other East Indian point.
—Under the head of short notes and exhibition of specimens,
172 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Prof. Riley announced the breeding of perfect females of
Margarodes and stated that this rearing showed the synonymy
of Margarodes with Porphyrophora. The female is active and
crawls out of the ground. The male, however, has not yet been
reared. Further confirmation of the ideas which he expressed
concerning the formation of the scale at the last meeting has been
found as pores of a specialized character have been observed
through which the scale material is probably secreted. Two
forms of the female have been observed,—the one not forming a
nidus of wax-like secretion; the other encloses itself like a
mealy-bug and lays eggs. He has also received specimens of.
another species from South America since the last meeting.
Some further discussion ensued on the male of Porphyrophora
and the probable male of Margarodes.
(Of OcToBER 11, 1894.
President Ashmead occupied the chair, and there were also
present Messrs. Riley, Schwarz, Waite, Chittenden, Linell,
Stiles, Hubbard, Patten, Marlatt, Heidemann, Marx, Dodge,
Coquillett, Mann, Gill, Fernow, and Howard.
The following new pbembers were elected: Active, J. D.
Patten, 3033 P St., West Washington; corresponding, C. E.
Chambliss, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, and
Dr. A. B. Griffiths, 12 Knolles Road, Brixton, London, Eng-
land.
—Mr. Marlatt presented the following note :
ON THE FOOD-HABITS OF ODYNERUS.
By C. L. Maruatr.
Early in October, 1894, while making some observations on
certain insects affecting theeblack locust, Robinia pseudacacia,
my attention was attracted to the peculiar actions of a small spe-
cies of Odynerus. The insect was observed to examine, appar-
ently with some care, the sewed-together leaves of the locust,
which contained, or had contained, the larve of Pempclia
gleditschiella. ‘The little wasp eventually rested for a moment
on the upper surface of one of these tied-together leaves, seemed
to make a careful examination, and then immediately ran to the |
OF WASHINGTON. 178
under side, where examination showed that it was vigorously
biting through the lower leaf. In a very few seconds it had cut
a small opening, something less than 4 inch in diameter, seized
the Pempelia larva and gave it a few turns between its man-
dibles, immediately taking flight. Examination of the tree showed
that nearly every one of these tied-together leaves, of which there
were many, had from one to two of these irregular holes in the
under surface, undoubtedly indicating the very thorough manner
in which the tree had been worked by these or other Odyneri.
All of the Odyneri provision their cells with the larvae of small
Lepidoptera, or in some cases the larve of leaf-eating Coleoptera
and of sawflies. A very curious case is mentioned by Westwood,
in which an Odynerus was seen to adopt a peculiar method to
secure a Tortricid larva. He says that the wasp was seen
to thrust its sting into one end of the roll made by a little leaf-
roller, and then to run immediately to the opposite end to see if
the larva had been thus frightened from ‘its quarters. It is a very
reasonable supposition, in view of these observations and the
known habits of the group, that the smaller species, at least, of
Odynerus prey very largely on the larve of Microlepidoptera,
particularly those in the leaf-tying or leaf-rolling groups.
The note was discussed by Messrs. Riley, Ashmead, and
Schwarz. Professor Riley said that the habit must be nearly
universal, since examination of the cells of Odynerus shows that
as a rule they store up Tortricid larve. Mr. Ashmead discussed
the habits of the genus in general, and said that he had found in
the cells of this wasp the cocoons of Meteorus and Microgaster.
The larve which spun these cocoons, however, must have been
parasitic upon lepidopterous larve stored up by the wasp. This
is an indication of the difficulty of ascertaining the true host of
certain parasites. Mr. Schwarz said that the Odynerus the cells
of which are found in the old burrows of Anthophora around
Washington always stores Tortricid larve.
—A paper_by Mr. T. D. A. Cockerell, entitled ‘*‘ Some Obser-
vations on the Distribution of the Coccide,” was read by the
acting Corresponding Secretary. It was discussed by Mr.
Schwarz, who said that, on account of the ease of commercial
distribution of the insects of this family, it is now almost too late
to generalize on the natural geographical distribution of the
174 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
group. Where we collect species in uninhabited regions, or at
least in countries as yet undisturbed by civilization and cultivation,
we may reasonably assume them to be indigenous; but in most
localities any species discovered may have been introduced.
—Mr. Ashmead read the following paper :
NOTES ON THE GENUS LIOPTERON PERTY.
By Wo. H. AsHMEap.
The genus Lzopteron was described by Dr. M. Perty, in his
sumptuous work ‘* Delectus animalium articulatorum, etc.,” pub-
lished during the years 1830-34, with one species, ZL. com-
pressum ; and for forty years this was the only representative of
the genus known. In 1837, in Guerin’s Magazine de Zoologie,
Prof. John O. Westwood redescribed the genus and its type, and
erected the genus Peras-for a new and closely allied form with
a single species, P. nigra.
Again, in 1874, Westwood, in his ‘¢ Thesaurus Entomologicus
Oxoniensis,” treats of the genus Liopteron and now adds eight
new species to the genus, viz., Lzopfteron abdominale, L.
apicale, L. bifasciatum, L. clavicorne, L. fuscicorne, L.
nigripenne, L. subpetiolatum, and L. unifasciatum.
Since this appeared, Mr. Peter Cameron, in Biologia Centrali-
Americana, in the part published in 1883, added one more species
to the genus, Z. westwoodzz, and the first species to be described
from North America, all the others having come from the
Amazon region in South America.
Up to the present time, therefore, only ten species are known.
In Mr. H. Herbert Smith’s collection of South American
Chalcididz, now in my hands for determination, several species
of this rare genus were discovered, three of which are apparently
undescribed, and the present paper is the outcome of a study of
this material.
Prof. Westwood considered Zzopteron and his genus Peras
to be closely allied to the genus Azacharzs Dalman, and late
authorities have followed him in these views, Dalla Torre, in his
recent catalogue, having placed the genus in the subfamily
Anacharine. |
A careful study of the Herbert Smith material, mentioned
above, convinces me Zéofteron represents quite a distinct group,
and possibly an ancient phyla of the Cynipide from wheuce
originated some of the Chalcidide (Hurytoma, etc.), and I
believe it should be kept separate from the other parasitic
Cynipide.
In the shape of the head and abdomen (in some species), and
OF WASHINGTON. 175
in the coarse sculpture of the thorax, it recalls many forms to be
found in the family Chalctdzde, in the subfamilies Hurytomine-
and the Chalcidine, and it may possibly be the stem from
whence some of these forms originated.
I shall enter more particularly into the subject in my mono-
graph of the North America Cynipide, a work upon which I
have now been engaged for several years, and at present shall
give merely a table of the subfamilies of one section of the
family, as follows:
SecTion I—CrypToGAstrI ASHMEAD.
Table of Subfamilies.
Abdomen short, globose or semiglobose, the second segment the long-
Abdomen ovate, compressed or subcompressed, often longly petiolated,
the apex usually pointed. }
Scutellum cupuliform, z. e., with a cup-like elevation on its disk......... 2
Scutellum not cupuliform, of ordinary shape, or grooved, spined or
cone-shaped, and usually foveated at base. —
Abdomen subsessile or with a short petiole, the second segment shorter
than the third.
Second abdominal segment not prolonged dorsally, not tongue-
PL ets ke Siipgres hyrs Pep Pe opener Op ramen Mp POR EE UP Sar ETS Subfam. I.—Figitine.
Second abdominal seaenibnt: prolonged dorsally, or tongue-
BOD PGC a ek shwcrp aks \cciatninaadabanncesncaucss gave Subfam. II.—Onychiine.
Abdomen with a long petiole, the second segment somewhat longer
than the third.
Petiole attached to the metathorax between the hind coxz; fourth
segment not longer than either the second or third.
Subfam. IJJ—Anacharine.
Petiole attached to the metathorax far above the hind coxe; fourth
segment much longer than either the second or third. |
Subfam. [IV—Liopterine.
2. Second abdominal segment always the longest and usually occupying
most of the surface; hind tibiz with two spurs. Subfam. V—Eucoeline.
3. Scutellum rounded, smooth, convex; hind tibiz with one spur.
Subfam. VI—Allotriine.
SuBFAMILY I[V—LIoPTERIN&.
This subfamily contains but two genera, which may be separated
as follows:
Table of Genera.
Discoidal nervure interstitial with the median nervure ; 3 antenne
LA Qi FS JOUMG sas saeae -iscces Reveaey peed ens cadesn i vessvceessave’ Liopteron Perty.
176 ENTOMOLOGIOCAL SOCIETY
Discoidal nervure not interstitial with the median nervure, issuing from
the transverse median nervure; ¢ antenne 13- jointed (2 unknown).
Peras Westw.
LIOPTERON PERTY.
1833. Delect. anim. artic. Brasil, p. 140.
1837. Westwood, in Guer. Mag. and Zool., No. 179.
1874. Thes. Ent. Oxon., p. 132.
(Type L. compressum Perty. )
The following table will assist in determining the species
known at present :
Table of Species.
Body mostly rufous, the abdomen sometimes black..........ccccceee eevee sevens 4.
Head and thorax black, abdomen rufous. ........ decane tad eRaesnns csatangeous aan =:
Body black.
Wings black, tinged with purple ................. sees L. nigripenne Westw.
Wings dusky, the submarginal cell nigro-fuscous...L. compressum Perty.
Wings hyaline or subhyaline, sometimes maculate or fasciate.
RAEN PRETESIAG oc bind cend cae'shusbe sa bx UnN NG vanen AL 4 iba sau tth weeks kad CMSARS cae beds te pebe 2.
Legs black.
Scutellum truncate posteriorly and sinuate medially, the angles
subtuberculate.
Anterior wings with a transverse fascia just beyond apex of
marginal cell and extending to middle of wing; petiole of
abdomen about 4 times as long as thick...L. clavicorne Westw.
Anterior wings with the extreme base, apex, and the submarginal
cell dusky, no fascia; petiole of abdomen about 43 times as
DM BE LICK apd ocngceced thease cones boner e's ender L. fuscicorne Westw.
Scutellum posteriorly subtruncate, not sinuate medially.
Anterior wings nearly hyaline, their apex faintly but somewhat
broadly dusky; petiole about 25 times as long as thick.
L. subpetiolatum Westw.
Wings hyaline, with the base and apex dusky, venation in middle of
wings yellowish; scutellum bituberculate at apex.
L..apicale Westw.
Wings subfuscous, maculate with hyaline.
Scutellum truncate posteriorly and slightly sinuate medially; legs
entirely black; petiole about 5 times as long as thick; antennz
14-jointed, as long as the body, much incrassated toward apex. 6
L. fenestratum sp. n.
_ Wings fuscous, with apical one-third and a band extending through
the basal half of marginal cell to nearly the hind margin, hyaline;
legs black, but with the anterior and middle tarsi piceous-brown ;
scutellum subbidentate posteriorly; body of abdomen not long,
obtuse or truncate at apex, the agar about 4 times as long as
TORCH css steves Risa wee bensdesanbucees ay vbeadcabbaatae Piecieuisenewsseus’ L. tarsale sp. n.
OF WASHINGTON. 177
2. Scutellum posteriorly bidentate or obtusely bituberculate; body of
abdomen short, subcompressed, the petiole tong.
Wings hyaline, with two transverse fuscous bands.
: L. bifasciatum Weéstw.
Wings hyaline, with a single broad transverse band beyond the
WANES sos ccd digg 55 baby de edie Unga ee bc pubeb Wake’ L. unifasciatum Westw.
3. Abdomen much compressed, produced into an acute point at apex as
in Hurytoma ; petiole very long; legs black.
Wings smoky, with the basal one-third and a broad band across the
Aisle’ FUIV OTST UIT ONG 0 cic. ciicse sans Sets nnipueasdosy L. abdominale Westw.
4. Abdomen black; anterior coxe, deselusibess: the hind legs, except
tarsi, the pectus and metathorax behind black; wings hyaline, with a
large smoky macula toward apex..... ...........-....-L. westwoodii Cam.
Abdomen and legs entirely rufous; wings hyaline, with a broad fascia
across the disk of wings; the basal half of marginal cell and the disk
of wing directly beneath it, hyalime ............0csceceeceeees L. rufum sp. n.
Liopteron fenestratum sp. n.
3'.—Length 6mm. Entire body, except head in front and the cheeks,
black, shining, clothed with long, sparse, whitish hair, denser on cheeks
and legs; head and thorax coarsely rugose, with deep, large punctures;
head with a sharp carina between antenne, the face and cheeks honey-
yellow; antenne 14-jointed, strongly incrassated toward tips, a little
longer than the body, the first four joints of flagellum long, cylindrical,
very nearly equal, the second very slightly the longest joint, the fourth
thicker, the joints from fourth are shorter and somewhat rapidly increase
in thickness, so that the last eight joints forma long fusiform club;
thorax with three complete grooved lines, but somewhat obscured by
the coarseness of the sculpture, the collar anteriorly abruptly truncate,
the superior margin sharp, the anterior face polished; scutellum
obtusely truncate posteriorly, not tuberculous; wings fuscous with
hyaline spots; abdomen clavate, the petiole long bisulcate above, about
two-thirds as long as the body of abdomen, the latter oblong, subcom-_
pressed, smooth and polished, except the three short apical segments,
which are pitted with coarse punctures.
Hab.—Santarem.
Described from 1 6, collected by Mr. Herbert H. Smith.
Liopteron tarsale sp. n.
Q.—Length 5 mm. Agrees with ZL. fenestratum in stature and sculp-
ture, but the entire insect, except the anterior and middle tarsi, is black;
anterior and middle tarsi piceous-brown; antenne 13-jointed, subclavate,
two-thirds the length of body, the first flagellar joint only two-thirds the
length of the second; the mesopleuraare polished, with a large depression
just beneath the tegulz covered with an appressed pubescence, below
this isa deep longitudinal furrow terminating in a little curve behind;
178 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOOIETY
the mesosternum is finely punctate near the insertion of middle coxe;
scutellum bituberculous posteriorly; wings fuscous, with the apical one-
fourth, basal two-thirds of marginal cell and a spot in the discoidal region,
hyaline; abdomen with a long petiole bisulcate above; body of abdomen
oblong, subcompressed, obtusely rounded behind, not pointed, the three
short apical segments smooth, not punctate, but fimbriate with whitish
hair.
Hab.—Santarem.
Described from 1 9, collected by Mr. Herbert H. Smith, in
month of February.
Liopteron rufum sp. n.
Q.—Length6mm. Rufous, clothed with sparse, glittering white hair;
head with a sharp carina between antenne, the face finely punctate;
antenne 13-jointed, subclavate, about as long as the head and thorax united,
blackish toward tips, the first flagellar joint two-thirds the length of the
second, the latter the longest joint except the large oblong termina]
joint; third flagellar joint a little longer than the first, the joints beyond
imperceptibly shortening and broadening to the last joint, the last joint
is oblong and twice as long as the penultimate; thorax coarsely sculptured,
the scutellum truncate posteriorly, the hind angles subtuberculous;
wings hyaline, with a broad fuscous band across their disk, extending
from basal vein to beyond apex of the marginal cell, but the basal half of
the marginal cell (or a little more) and a large spot on the hind margin
of wing directly opposite the marginal cell are hyaline; abdomen shaped
as in L. farsale.
d'.—Length 4.5 mm. Agrees with 9, except in the usual sexual differ
ences and in having the disk of the mesonotum dusky: antennz 14-jointed,
longer than the body, black, with only the two basal joints rufous, the
flagellum only slightly thickened at apex, the first joint less than two-
thirds the length of the second, the following joints very gradually,
decreasing in length to the last; the last three abdominal joints are fimbriate
as in Q, but all are punctate toward apex; otherwise the abdomen is
smooth and highly polished.
Hab.—Chapada.
Described from 1 3’, 12, collected by Mr. Herbert H. Smith
in November.
—Mr. Schwarz presented certain notes on an insect pest,
Hippelates pusio, in the Southern States. This is a small fly
of the family Oscinide, which, during the summer months,
swarms in great numbers in many of our Southern States, almost
OF WASHINGTON. 179
* ‘
solely in regions which have a sandy soil. It is particularly
abundant in Florida, and is annoying to man and animals from
the fact that it is attracted to eyes and to the natural open-
ings of the body, as well as tosores. During his two recent trips
through the South, Mr. Schwarz endeavored to ascertain the life-
history of the species, but without success. Judging from the
habits of all other Oscinide, it must be a leaf or stent miner.
The possibility of this insect carrying disease germs was
brought out by the speaker.
These notes were discussed by Messrs. Stiles, Riley, Howard,
Hubbard, and Marlatt. Dr. Stiles said that the Bureau of Animal
Industry had received complaints from the South of the annoyance
caused to animals by this fly, but that he had made no investi-
gation of the species. He was impressed by the possible im-
portance of this insect as a conveyer of contagion. Professor
Riley spoke of the curious fact that this extremely common insect,
which he himself had often seen in his journeys through the
South, was not mentioned in entomological literature. It was,
however, another exemplification of a very common state of affairs.
Referring to the habit which the insect has of gathering in the
corners of the eye of human beings, he suggested that eye-
diseases in particular would be conveyed by the insect. He
spoke of the extraordinary prevalence of ophthalmia among the
Egyptians and other eastern people, and suggested that this
disease was spread by the agency of dipterous insects. Mr.
Howard referred to a recent article by an eminent English army
surgeon in an English review, in which this very subject is treated,
and the medical man expresses himself as of the opinion that flies
are largely responsible for the spread of this particular eye disease
in Egypt. Mr. Hubbard said that in Florida a serious disease
of the eyelid is often prevalent. It is known as ‘‘ sore-eye”’ and it
becomes absolutely epidemic from time to time. He feels certain
that this Hippelates carries the disease, since it is well known that
even the use of the same handkerchief will convey the disease
from a sore-eyed person toa healthy one. He has known it to start
with a single individual and run through an entire school or
community, and he thinks Hippelates alone accounts for the rapid
spread. Moreover, the irritation caused by the fly greatly aggra-
180 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
vates the disease, which becomes very serious, the patient seldom
recovering entirely from it, but being affected by weak eyes ever
afterwards. Healso had made efforts to ascertain the life-history
of the fly, but without success. He is of the opinion that if the in-
sect is really au above-ground leaf-miner its work would have been
noticed by him, as, on account of the great numbers of the flies, the
work of the larve must be very extensive and readily seen. Mr.
Marlatt said that he had been similarly annoyed by a fly of the
same general appearance around Washington. He thought that
the attractiveness of the moisture of the eyes and of sores would
indicate that the larva is perhaps saprophagous in its habits and
may be found in decaying vegetation. ‘The question of the
northern range of the fly having been called up, Mr. Ashmead
stated that he had found it in the vicinity of Jacksonville. Mr.
Howard said that a very minute fly swarms in extraordinary
numbers about the eyes of domestic animals in the vicinity of
Washington during the summer months. This insect is also
probably an Oscinid. He had collected specimens and en-
deavored to determine them, but without success. It is another
instance of an extremely common insect which does not seem to
have attracted the attention of entomologists.
—Under the head of exhibition of specimens, Mr. Howard
showed two scale-insects which he had collected on the summit
of Onteora Mountain, in Greene county, N. Y. One was the
common scurfy bark-louse of the apple, Chzonxaspis furfurus,
which he found in great abundance upon mountain ash; and
the other was an undetermined Lecanium which affects the striped
maple (Acer pennsylvanicum) to such an extent that hardly a
twig of this little maple can be found which is not partially
covered with this scale-insect. The most interesting thing about
it was that he failed, among the thousands of specimens seen, to
find one which was living; all had evidently been killed by a
fungus disease. The female scales carried the fruiting form of
the fungus, while the male scales were simply destroyed by
the mycelium.*
* This fungus was subsequently determined by Mr. A. F. Woods and
M. B. Waite as Cordyceps clavatula (Schw.) Figures and description will
be found in Journ. New York Micr. Soc. I, 4, April, 1885.
OF .WASHINGTON. 181
This note was discussed by Messrs. Marlatt, Riley, and
Waite. Mr. Marlatt stated that the division of Entomology had
recently received a Lecanium scale from California on prune
which had apparently been destroyed by a fungus. The cor-
respondent suggested the practical use of the fungus to destroy
other scales. Examination by Mr. Galloway, however, showed |
that the scales were filled by the mycelium of a smut fungus,
genus Fumago, which itself is an enemy to plants, and it was by
no means certain that the fungus had killed the scales. Mr.
Waite had examined the specimens referred to by Mr. Marlatt,
and substantiated his statement. Dr. Riley said that in the East
Indies, and the West Indies as well, a fungus is known which is
destructive to Lecaniids, and in Ceylonese and Indian reports a
suggestion as to the practical use of it has been made. He had
noticed it abundantly inthe West Indies during a recent journey.
The fungus presented a very similar appearance to that exhibited
by Mr. Howard.
—Professor Riley exhibited specimens of the supposed larva of
Lymexylon sericeum anda Hyleceetus which had been men-
tioned by Mr. Hopkins in a communication before the Society
last spring. He referred to his figure of an undetermined larva
in the Sixth Missouri Report, which was identical with the
chestnut timber worm discussed by Mr. Hopkins, from which
Mr. Hopkins later reared Lymexylon sericeum. Owing to the
fact that this larva differs radically from the well-known European
larva of Lymexylon navale, he suspected that there had been
- some mistake. Possibly Mr. Hopkins has made an error in his |
rearing, but if this is not the case he is of opinion that Z.
sericeum Will prove, upon careful examination, to be distinguish-
able generically from the European Z. zavale. While visiting
Dr. Meinert in Copenhagen, the latter showed him a larva of.
very similar appearance which had been received from Venezuela,
from which the beetle was reared, which had been erroneously
named as /Hylecetus braztliensis, but it proved not to be a true
Hyleceetus. |
In discussing this note, Mr. Schwarz agreed with the speaker
that ZL. sericeum will prove not to be congeneric with Z. zavale.
The larve, he stated, of the Lymexylonide have never been
182 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
carefully examined except for the mere external characters. If
we look for resemblances in the more obscure parts, what seem
to be distinguishing characters will be more nearly harmonized.
Dr. Riley agreed with Mr. Schwarz in his last remark, and
stated that if, for instance, we examine the larve of Brenthis and
of Eupsalis, we shall find differences which emphasize the separ-
ation of these two genera.
—Mr. Hubbard presented some unelaborated notes on the
fertilization of the tropical Aroids, showing that a Nitudulid
beetle, JZacrostola lutea, accomplishes partial cross-fertilization
and complete self-fertilization with these plants. He illustrated
his remarks by the exhibition of specimens and drawings of the
plant, and showed that the plant adapts itself to the easy entrance of
the first pair of beetles, which bring with them pollen from a
different plant, thus bringing about partial cross-fertilization.
' The offspring of these beetles, to the number of several hundreds,
live within the spathe and accomplish self-fertilization of the
plant. After the entrance of the first pair of beetles, a fungus
disease attacks the spot of entrance upon the spathe and, by in-
creasing, facilitates the exit of the next generation of beetles.*
—Professor Riley also exhibited what he considered to be a
diurnal termite with faceted eyes, which he considered might
confirm old Smeathman’s observation upon a species of African
Termites which he represented as travelling by day and
resembling ants upon the march, an observation the accuracy of
which had been seriously doubted. The specimen which he ex-
hibited had been given him in Europe, and had been captured in
Natal by daylight by Haviland. Mr. Schwarz suggested that
the specimens exhibited might not be termites but Embiids.
Mr. Heidemann exhibited certain new and interesting Capside,
Coreide, Lygeide, and Pentatomide, which he had found during
the summer in the vicinity of Washington.
—Mr. Ashmead exhibited a large box of fig-insects, many of
which were typical. He had been accumulating the material for
some years and had specimens received from Dr. Mayr of
*An article upon this subject by Mr. Hubbard is published in Zzsect
Life, Vol VII, No. 4.
OF WASHINGTON. 183
2
Vienna, Mr. E. T. Atkinson of Calcutta, and Messrs. Hubbard
and Schwarz from Florida. He said that the group is still in a con=
fused condition, and that many of the forms were undoubtedly
Torymine and Pteromaline, and either parasitic or inquilinous
in figs. The true fig-insects are comparatively few in number.
(0% NOVEMBER I, 1894.
President Ashmead occupied the chair, and Messrs. Schwarz,
Chittenden, Heidemann, Hubbard, Linell, Patten, Waite, Ben-
ton, Marlatt, Stiles, Gill, Riley, Fernow, and Howard were
also present.
Mr. H. G. Barber, of the University of Nebraska, was elected
a corresponding iiner.
—Dr. Gill presented a paper on a remarkable new family of
crabs. He stated that he thought himself justified in presenting
this paper before an entomological society, since, in his opinion,
the Crustacea are more closely related to the Insecta than are the
Arachnida. He exhibited plates and descriptions of Archeoplax
notopus,new genus and species, described by Alcock and Ander-
son in the Natural-history Notes of the Investigator. This remark-
able new crab was taken taken off the coast of Coromandel at a
depth of 150 to zoo fathoms. Dr. Gill pointed out several extra-
ordinary features which, in his opinion, justified the erection of a
new family for the form. He proposed the new generic name
Retropluma, on account of the preoccupation of Archeoplax,
and the new family Retroplumide.
The paper was discussed by Messrs. Howard, Riley, and Hels
bard. Mr. Howard stated that he had voted against the recep-
tion of the paper by the program committee on the ground that,
however loose the definition of the word ‘‘ entomology” may be, it
was generally understood to refer to the class Insecta, and that
the scope of this class is so enormous that the tendency of the -
Society should be to contract rather than to expand in the range
of topics considered at its meetings. The admission of papers
on Arachnida had been, from the beginning, largely a matter of
courtesy and precedent. Dr. Gill argued that entomology should
184 : ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
apply to the whole group Arthropoda. Mr. Schwarz agreed
with the ideas advanced by Mr. Howard, and_ stated that
arachnologists had affiliated with entomological societies largely
because they were so few in number, and because there were no more
nearly related associations of specialists. Dr. Riley said he had
been much interested in Dr. Gill’s paper, and particularly in the
point brought out that the hind legs have apparently developed
into breathing organs, referring to the somewhat similar state of
affairs with Chauliodes and Eristalis, where anal pedal organs
had been modified into branchial organs. Mr. Hubbard ex-
pressed himself as not surprised at the modification just men-
tioned, since the modification of stylets into branchie with larval
insects is common. He called especial attention to the larve of
the Adephagous series of the Coleoptera and their possession
of branchiz which in related land forms are stylets. He referred
also to a similar state of affairs in the larve of Amphizoa and
Pelobius. He prophesied that when the newly hatched larve of
Coleoptera are well known it will be found that this change
takes place quite frequently.
—Mr. Hubbard exhibited specimens of the larve, pupz, and
adults of a dipterous insect, determined by Mr. Coquillett as a
species of Drosophila, which he had found living in the larval
state in the mouth of the common land-crab on the Island of
Montserrat, B. W. 1. He found the pupe of the same insect
on the inner side of one of the maxillary lobes of the crab. The
larva was rather remarkable in its side projections.
Dr. Gill discussed the probable species of crab referred to by
Mr. Hubbard, concluding that it was Cardisoma guamhamt.
Mr. Howard asked as to the normal food of these crabs, with a
view to determining the probable origin of this messmate habit
on the part of the Drosophila larve. Mr. Schwarz asked for an
explanation of the rapid movements of the larve in the crab’s
mouth. Mr. Hubbard replied that it was a swimming movement,
assisted by the lateral projections of the larva. Dr. Gill pointed
out that these larvee were probably not stationed in the mouth of
the crab, but in the branchial cavity.
—Under the head of exhibition of specimens, Dr. Riley showed
a Curculionid which he found recently injuring certain aquatic
OF WASHINGTON. 185
plants in the Missouri Botanic Gardens. The plants were a Sal-
vinia and Azolla caroliniana. He found cocoons of the beetle,~
but only one injured larva. This larva looked like that of Phy-
tonomus. The cocoons are spherical, composed of a dense, gluey
substance, somewhat disguised by cut leaves. ‘They are perfectly
impervious to water, although submerged in many instances.
The beetle he believed to be Stexopelmus rufinasus, which,
according to Dr. Le Conte, is widely distributed in North Amer-
ica. Dr. Riley's St. Louis specimens are larger and darker than
a series in the National Museum, from southern California, and
probably form a distinct variety, possibly a new species.
103 DECEMBER 6, 1894.
President Ashmead occupied the chair, and the other members
present were: Messrs. Gill, Marlatt, Benton, Schwarz, Hubbard,
Linell, Vaughan, Test, Heidemann, and Coquillett. Prof. A. D.
Hopkins, of Morgantown, W. Va., a corresponding member,
was also present.
Richard Heymons, Ph. D., of the University of Berlin, Berlin,
Germany, was elected a corresponding member.
The election of officers to serve during the ensuing year then
took place. On motion of Mr. Hubbard, seconded by Mr.
Schwarz, the Secretary was instructed to cast a ballot for the
re-election of all the present officers.
—The following paper, by Prof. Herbert Osborn, was read by
Mr. Benton:
THE PHYLOGENY OF HEMIPTERA.
By HersBert Ossorn, Ames, Iowa.
For some time it has seemed to me that the current classifica-
tions of Hemiptera are very far from representing the true phy-
logeny of the families of this group, and the present paper, giving
substantially the views I have stated to my advanced classes in
entomology for the last two or three years, is an attempt to
express what seems a more rational relationship between these
families. The scheme adopted by Uhler and Comstock may be
considered as representative of the current ideas, and comparisons
may be conveniently made with their systems in this discussion.
186 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
The subdivision of the order into the three suborders Parasita,
Homoptera, and Heteroptera, with the Parasita placed as the
lowest, while possibly representing the comparative rank in organ-
ization, is entirely unfounded in phylogeny, and it seems to me
that the proper relationship of these suborders is to place the
Homoptera as the first division, as it includes the more general-
ized types, and the Heteroptera as the secondary division, and to
consider the Parasita as simply a degraded branch of the Hete-
roptera, having its origin near the group of families represented
by the Acanthiide. Such a view as to the Parasita is, indeed,
expressed by Uhler, though not adopted in his classification.*
With reference to the generalized features of the Homoptera as
compared with the Heteroptera, it may be objected that such
specialized forms as contained in some of the families should out-
rank the Heteroptera. The wing structure being certainly of a
more primitive type, and the position of the head, while in some
cases apparently very much specialized, seems to me, on the whole,
to correspond more nearly with the generalized Orthoptera and
Pseudoneuroptera, or, it might be said, also with the Physopoda,
which possibly is the modern representative of the ancestral form
of Hemiptera. The development of the scutellum in Heterop-
tera may be looked upon as of importance, and the horizontal
position of the head, with the beak arising anteriorly, while it
may appear at first sight to be more generalized, will, I think,
from careful comparison with other groups, be recognized as the
derivative form. The relationship of these special divisions I
would represent by the following diagram :
In the division of Homoptera the current system of placing the
Coccide as the lowest, and, presumably, the simplest group, is
certainly a wide departure from the facts as apparent in the com-
parative study of the groups. If we separate the division Homop-
tera into two subdivisions, Sternorhynchi and Auchenorhynchi,
*Stand. Nat. Hist., vol. ii, p. 209.
OF WASHINGTON, 187
which is evidently the most fundamental basis of separation pre-
sented in this suborder, there seems to be every reason to con-
sider the Sternorhynchi as the derivative form and the Auchen-
orhynchi as the basal form. The position of the rostrum upon
the sternum, or, more properly, the coalescence of the rostrum
with the sternum, must certainly be considered as a more special-
ized condition than the free form and, in fact, the derivative form,
the consolidation of the rostrum with sternum being the result
of the close approximation of beak and sternum resulting from
their food habits. This division includes the families Psyllide,
Aphididae, Aleyrodide, and Coccide, and if we arrange them
with reference to their successive steps of departure from the
generalized form, or the form most nearly approaching the
Auchenorhynchous type, it seems to me they would be placed in
the order named, the Coccide being evidently the more special-
ized or the most extreme form, and their apparent simplicity being
only the degradation or reduction resulting from the habit of per-
manent attachment to the food-plant so general in this group.
It is true that in each of these families we find extremely special-
ized forms, but in looking at the more generalized ones of each
group there is no inconsistency in the idea of their developing
from the single primary stem.
The other division, beginning with those forms which have the
most generalized condition of wing venation and body structure,
would commence with the Cicadide and follow the ascending
order which is given in the current systems. It is true that the
Cicadide are themselves a specialized group, particularly in the
forms possessing musical organs, but in their approach to the
Psyllide in wing venation and structure of the head and thorax
they seem on the whole to present more generalized characters
than can be found in any of the other families of the Homoptera.
The Membracide, except in extremely specialized pronotum,
are easily seen to be related to the Cicadide and naturally take
their position next to them. The Fulgoridz, while possessing
specializations of the head, are in thoracic structure and venation
more generalized than the remaining families, and while possess-
ing many highly differentiated sub-groups, may very probably be
interposed between the preceding families and the Jassoid division.
The Cercopide in development of ‘scutellum and in texture of
elytra, as well as in the specialization of the tibiz, show charac-
ters of rather high rank, and, if placed as subordinate to the Jas-
soidea, they must at least be considered as a branch of nearly equal
or parallel rank. The Jassoidea, separable into the Bythoscopide
and Jasside proper, may, on the whole, be considered as the
most highly organized of the series, and as somewhat equivalent
188 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
branches, the Bythoscopide being in some respects extremely
specialized, while the Jasside are subdivided into nearly equal
branches, Jassine and Tettigonine. The relations of all these
groups can be expressed in the following diagram :
reference to convenience than upon a phylogenetic basis, the
strictly aquatic forms being made to occupy the lowest position,
and the series passing from these to the semi-aquatic, littoral,
terrestrial, and arboreal—a plan which does not seem to me to
correspond in any sense with the probable line of descent. It ap-
pears evident, even upona very hasty examination of the group,
that the aquatic forms are descendants of non-aquatic forms and
that the derivation of the non-aquatic and _terrestrial forms from
the aquatic groups is out of the question. Not only does the
structure of the groups oppose such an idea, but, on any theory
of the origin of the Hemiptera from the simpler groups of insects,
we must assume that they connect with the non-aquatic groups.
It is only necessary to mention the specialized condition of the
antennz in the whole series of Cryptocerata and the extremely
specialized mouth-parts of Coriside to show the nature of the
morphological evidence, and to attempt to find a generalized
aquatic ancestral form, to see the force of the latter argument.
It may be in place to call attention further to the general fact that
all aquatic insects are such by secondary adaptation and trace
their ancestry to terrestrial forms, just as certainly, I believe, as
that all aquatic mammalia, such as whales, seals, &c., trace their
ancestry to terrestrial forms.
The more probable line of descent is that the strictly aquatic
forms are descended from semi-aquatic forms, and these from
non-aquatic or littoral species, and in some such generalized form
as may be represented now by the Saldide we may find the stock
OF WASHINGTON. 189
from which the group is branched, one line becoming more
aquatic and reaching the extreme of specialization in this direc- ~
tion, in such groups as Nepidez, Notonectide, and Coriside, the
other branch furnishing the terrestrial and arboreal families, while
they seem a generalized offshoot. We have further the carniv-
orous division Reduviide, which presents extreme branches in
Nabide and Emeside.
As already mentioned, the Pediculida may be considered a
retrograde branch connected with this portion of the Heteropter-
ous stem.. These relations may be exhibited as follows :
PENTATOMIDAE
COREIDAE
LYGAE/DAE
E
104
eres
7” REDUVIDAE
While not expressing details in relation of sub-groups, this
sketch will call attention to the characters and plan which seem to
me must be recognized in arriving at a correct expression of rela-
tionship. So far as catalogues or linear arrangements are neces-
sary, the present system may be retained without great change, as
no linear arrangement can express correctly the relations stated.
In the discussion Dr. Gill said that he considered the Homop-
tera to be the forms from which the Heteroptera were derived.
The aquatic forms were evidently derived from the terrestrial,
and should not be placed in a group by themselves, but should be
distributed among the families of terrestrial Hemiptera, with
which they are severally the most closely related. Mr. Schwarz
fully agreed with the speaker to the latter proposition, and
instanced the absurdity of placing all of the aquatic Coleoptera
190 ENTOMOLOGIOCAL SOCIETY
ina single group. Mr. Marlatt asked if the Psyllide are not
more nearly related to the Coccide than they are to the Cica-
didz, adding that the Psyllid larva by its broader form and less
distinctly segmented abdomen more nearly resembles that of the
Coccidez than it does the larval Cicadid. Mr. Schwarz did not
’ agree with this view of the case, stating that, with the exception
of the fossorial legs, the Cicada larva does not differ in any
marked degree from the larva of the Psyllide.
Mr. Ashmead considered that the wingless Parasita, or the Pe-
diculide, are the oldest forms, representing the stem from which
sprang the Homoptera in one direction and the Heteroptera in
another. In the Homopterous series he would place the Coccide,
which are winged in the male sex only, next to the wingless
Parasita, to be followed by the Aleyrodide, and these by the
Aphidide. He mentioned a dimorphic species of Aphis which
in its early stages very closely resembles an Aleyrodid. In the
Heteroptera Mr. Ashmead would place the Cimicide next to the
Parasita, following them with the Anthocoride, Tingitide, Xc.
Omitting some of the families, the two suborders of the Hemip-
tera would be arranged in an ascending series as follows:
( Cicadide,
( Coccide, Aleyrodide, Aphidide, Psyl-{ Jassidae, Membraci-
Pp it |} lide. | de, Fulgoride.
rapist 1 Polyctenide, Cimicide, Tingitide, Reduviide, Nepide, Sal-
{| did, Galgulide, Neocoride, Coriside, Notonectide.
Mr. Ashmead also spoke of the impossibility of arranging all
of the families of Hemiptera in a linear series, since it not infre-
quently happened that two of the families were so closely and
equally related to a third group as to make it quite evident that
both of them sprang directly from the latter.
Dr. Gill did not think that parasitism of itself indicates rela-
tionship, but was of the opinion that the wingless parasites had
been derived from winged ancestors. He would not locate the
Parasita in either the Homoptera or the Heteroptera, but would
be inclined to erect a separate suborder for their reception.
—The following paper by Mr. Howard was read by Mr.
Benton: :
OF WASHINGTON. eh SPE
ON GOSSAMER SPIDERS’ WEB.
By L. O. Howarp.
It will be remembered that at the meeting of this Society held
November 3, 1892, Dr. George Marx presented a paper with the
title ‘* On Spiders’ Web,” the text of which was the receipt of a
curious substance, from one locality in California and one in
Florida, which had rained down over a considerable section of
the country during rain-storms. Dr. Marx concluded, after a
careful chemical and microscopical examination, that this sub-
stance was composed of the massed-together strands of gossamer
spiders’ web.
Since that date I have received fuithice samples of this same
substance, which was collected during the same 1892 storm at
Gainesville, Fla., and within the past few weeks have been in
correspondence with Mr. J. B. Lembert, of Yosemite, Calif.,
about a phenomenon which he has described to me at great
length, and which throws some light on the subject of Dr. Marx’s
communication.
It seems that in the Yosemite Valley, over the crest of the
southern wall, there is a series of arches of silken substance
which Mr. Lembert shows is spiders’ web.* These arches are
of yearly occurrence. The most noticeable are two, one over
the Bridal Veil Fall, is fully one-third of a mile in width and
about twelve hundred feet in height and reaches from the Leaning
Tower on the west side across in a graceful arch to the east side,
and is fastened there to the brush, shrubs, and trees that surmount
the top of the Three Graces. The second extends over the gorge
between Sentinel Rock on the west side and the ridge on the east
side over which the Glacier Point trail is built. At this point all
the shrubs, bushes, and trees are webbed about in such a manner
that the trunks of the largest trees are but faint shadows, while
limbs and foliage resemble a glistening mass of crystal. In the
midst of this mass are bunches of rolled-up web that are as white
as cotton and quite thick. When the mass is disturbed by a
gentle breeze it moves throughout its entire length with a graceful,
undulating motion. It is four thousand feet above the floor of
the valley and fully a mile wide at its base. Mr. Lembert shows
that the wind which sweeps up the gorge is an important factor
in this arch-work. When the spider launches out on his gossa-
mer thread he is carried upwards until the current has lost its
* * The only specimen which Mr. Lembert has sent on as probably being
concerned in the construction of this web is a species of Pardosa, but pos-
sibly many species are concerned in the work.
192 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
strength. The pressure is upwards in every direction to the sum-
mit of the gorge. There a western current of air is met which
causes, in all probability, the impingement of these hundreds of
thousands of gossamer strands upon a given space of greater or
less dimensions. I wrote to Mr. Lembert asking for specimens,
but, on account of its inaccessible location, he was able to get
only a small sample, which I exhibit herewith.
The note is of interest as showing the fact that there are local-
ities where the webs of gossamer spiders are massed together to
an extraordinary amount. Mr. Lembert says that the arches
recur year after year. What becomes of them? They are
plainly blown away by the winter storms. ‘They are excessively
light; the distance to which they could be carried is indefinite,
but it is perfectly conceivable that they might be carried for enor-
mous distances, either directly by the wind or in dense clouds ;
and that they should be precipitated with rainfall from heavy
clouds at almost any distance from the point of origin is per-
fectly within the bounds of possibility, and even probability. I
have little doubt that the California and Florida falls were brought
about in this way. Perhaps the California falls may have come
from one of these very arches, although Vallecita, the locality
from which Dr. Marx received his specimens, is three hundred
miles south of Yosemite.
In discussing this paper Mr. Schwarz read an abstract of Mr.
J. Muir’s work on the Sierras of California, in which this well-
known mountaineer vividly describes as follows what he pro-
nounces the most magnificent of all storm phenomena: ‘‘ Silvery
banners of snow dust attached to the peaks of the Merced group
like streamers at a masthead, each from half a mile to a mile in
length, slender at the point of attachment, then widening gradu-
ally as it extended from the peak until it was about 1,000 or 1,500
feetin breadth. Some of thesesnow banners extended from peak
to peak, while others overlapped.” Mr. Schwarz remarked that
there was, to say the least, the most remarkable resemblance be-
tween the phenomena described by Mr. Lembert and Mr. Muir.
—Mr. Hopkins referred to his forthcoming list of North Ameri-
can pine-insects, which contained forty-one species of Scolytida—
about twice the number of those previously recorded as depre-
dating on pines. His list already contained the names of three
hundred and thirty-six different kinds of insects which infest
OF WASHINGTON. 193
pine trees in this country, and he was of the opinion that when
the ‘subject had been thoroughly investigated this number would
be nearly doubled.
Mr. Schwarz stated that the pine-feeding Scolytide would in-
clude about two-thirds of the entire number of species, and that
in North America this included fully one hundred and fifty spe-
cies. Whole genera of Scol ytid sometimes feed exclusively
upon pines.
—Asked by Mr. Schwarz if he had recently seen in West Vir-
ginia specimens of the introduced Clerus formicartus, Mr.
Hopkins replied that he had not, but specimens had been seen by
lumbermen, to whom figures and description of the Clerid had
been communicated.
—Mr. Hopkins also referred to a Dipteron which he had bred
from larve found in the body of an adult bee that nests in clay
banks. From a pencil sketch the parasite was identified by
Messrs. Coquillett and Ashmead as belonging to the Conopide.
From some of the Conopid larva Mr. Hopkins had bred a large
number of specimens of a species of Chalcid fly.
—Under the heading of short notes and exhibition of speci-
mens, Mr. Hubbard exhibited pupe and larval skins of Amfhz-
coma vulpina found by Mr. Schwarz and himself near Asheville,
N.C. The larva differs from the related forms quite as much
as is known to be the case with the adults. The species had
heretofore been recorded only from Massachusetts and other
northern localities.
—Mr. Hubbard also exhibited an apparatus for use in the ex-
amination of alcoholic specimens. This was formerly used by
Dr. Hagen, and consists of two watch-cases placed together in
such a manner that their concave surfaces are next each other,
the two glasses thus forming a single cell, being held in place
by a spring clamp. The glasses act as a parabolic reflector,
thus aiding in the examination of the objects placed between
them. These, in the present case, consisted of several larve of
Hlemipeplus marginipennis, found by Mr. Hubbard between
the ribs of unfolded palmetto leaves in Florida. Mr. Hubbard
stated that there were various points of interest connected with
194 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
the structure and life-history of these larvae which he intended
to lay before the Society at a future time.
—Mr. Schwarz exhibited a series of specimens of C7czxdela
striga and C. severa which were collected on July 11, near
Punta Gorda, in southwestern Florida. These species occurred
promiscuously on a salt marsh, which, on account of the pre-
vailing rainy season, was completely submerged for several hours
each day. They were equally active in the hot sunshine of mid-
day and toward night, and made use of their wings only when
hard pressed. Mr. Schwarz pointed out the structural differ-
ences between these two Cicindelas and said that they could not
possibly be regarded as races or varieties of the same species.
H. oe espn ne Melitara prodenialis Water. )
ecene Veeees vated heey Seeeee ter
Me a
ops
eile ania, 1345 Description pi the neon
NTOMOLOGICAL SO
OF Sie Rais ake
Oo WASHINGTON «0007,
442) Mohahie BM, Men) BNO 7
(January 3, 1895, to June 6, 1895.)
_ EIssuep June 22, 1895.] : coe . ‘
WASHINGTON, D.C.: | cet caneat
_ Pusnisnep By THE Boomitys SSS ihg eee
RS ee ty a) BON REE Sa ae oc Soe eee
a
Ns
OF WASHINGTON. 195
JANUARY 3, 1895.
President Ashmead occupied the chair, and the other members
present were Messrs, Riley, Schwarz, Marlatt, McGee, Stiles,
Gill, Benton, Patten, Heidemann, Howard, and Dodge.
President Ashmead announced the death of Dr. George Marx,
on January 3, and made a few remarks indicative of the great
loss which the Society had sustained.
On motion by Mr. Schwarz, a committee was appointed to
draw up resolutions expressing the sense of the Society. The
chairman appointed Messrs. Riley, Howard, Schwarz, and Gill.
The committee submitted the following resolutions, which were
unanimously adopted : |
WueEREAS, The Entomological Society of Washington has just learned,
with deep sorrow, of the sad death of Dr. George Marx, one of the most
learned members of the Society, one of its founders, for two years its
President, and the warm personal friend of all of its members, therefore
be it .
Resolved, That this Society, through its Secretary, transmit to the family
of its late member its deepest sympathy and an expression of profound
sorrow.
Resolved, That the published proceedings of this meeting of the Society
consist only of a biographical sketch of our late President and fellaw-
member, with a list of his published writings; that all further business at,
this meeting be postponed, and that in respect to his memory we do now
adjourn.
C. V. RILEY.
L. O. HOWARD.
E. A. SCHWARZ.
THEO. GILL.
be aan
Dr. GEORGE MARX.
Dr. George Marx was born in Laubach, Grand Duchy of Hesse,
June 22, 1838. He was the son of George Marx, who was court
chaplain at Laubach, and his boyhood was spent at that place.
In 1845 his father received an appointment at Leeheim, where he
went with his family.
At the age of fourteen George Marx entered the gymnasium
at Darmstadt. It was his father’s wish that he should fit himself
for the ministry, and he began at this time to study Hebrew.
He had always shown a great love of nature, which had been
fostered by a private tutor employed by his father at Laubach to,
196 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
train his sons. While studying at the gymnasium, Dr. Marx
proved himself so proficient in botany, and at the same time so
able an artist, that to him was assigned the task of making the
illustrations for the Flora of Gross-Gerau. He became intensely
interested in this work, and began seriously to question his fitness
for the ministry. Soon after, he decided to change his career,
against his father’s advice. He therefore took up the study of
pharmacy, as offering an opportunity for work in the line of bot-
any. After completing his pharmaceutical studies at Giessen, he
came to America, in 1860. The civil war breaking out soon
afterward, he enlisted as a private in Company K, Sth New York
Volunteers, and remained with his company until after the battle
of Bull Run, July 21, 1861. His pharmaceutical and medical
knowledge becoming observed, he was transferred to the medical
corps as assistant surgeon shortly after Bull Run. It is said that
his letters to his parents during his early service contain such able
and graphic accounts of army movements and army life, that they
were printed in many German newspapers and excited a great
deal of attention. In July, 1862, he became disabled through
illness and through a severe wound, and was honorably discharged.
He returned to New York and began life as a pharmacist. In
1865 he took up his residence in Philadelphia, where he was
engaged in business until 1878. It was during his residence in
Philadelphia that he began to take an interest in the Arachnida
and commenced to form a collection. Here, also, in May, 1869,
he was married to Miss Minnie Maurer. In 1878 he came to
Washington to accept the position of natural-history draftsman in
the Department of Agriculture, and was attached to the force of
the Division of Entomology. Many of the plates and smaller fig-
ures published by this division during the years 1878 to 1883 were
from his hand, and as a fair example of his skill as a natural-
history artist we would point out the plate on the Catalpa Sphinx
(Agric. Rept. for 1881-82, plate xiii). In subsequent years he
worked more for other divisions. He remained in this position
until 1889, when he was made chief of the newly established
Division of Illustrations. This position he resigned shortly
before his death, which occurred January 3, 1895.
Inspired by his intercourse with the members of the force of the
Division of Entomology, during his entire residence in Washing-
OF WASHINGTON. 197
ton Dr. Marx devoted a great deal of time to the study of the Arach-
nida, as his magnificent collection and valuable library, as well as
the list of his published papers, will testify. He became known
as one of the foremost living authorities upon this class of ani-
mals, yet he also found time to study medicine at the medical
school of the Columbian University, from which institution he
was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1885. He wasa
charter-member of the Entomological Society of Washington,
and its fourth President. He presented many valuable papers
before the Society, and was from the start one of its foremost
members. He maintained intimate relations by correspondence
with the foremost arachnologists of Europe, and was selected by
the publishers of Count Keyserling’s SAzzuzen Amerikas to
complete the work on the death of the distinguished author.
Keyserling, Thorell, Simon, and Kulszynski have received much
valuable material and information from Dr. Marx, and American
students—notably McCook, Emerton, and Peckham—have been
under obligations to him in similar relations. His artistic talent,
of course, greatly helped him in his studies, and the various
plates and figures which adorn his contributions to science are by
far the best illustrations of Arachnids that have ever been pro-
duced in America.
Nearly three years before his death he began to devote his—
spare moments to the study of the ticks, of which he contem-
plated publishing ultimately a monograph. A few preliminary
papers on the subject were read by him before the Entomological
Society of Washington, but the attacks of the dreadful disease
to which finally he was to succumb, after many months’ suffering,
frustrated all his plans. Still, the hope of restoring his health
never abandoned him, and at the last meeting of the Entomo-
logical Society which he attended (October, 1594) he exhibited
and explained in an informal way a plate which was to accom-
pany a paper on ticks. This plate we reproduce as an example
of his later style of work, as well as on account of its scientific
value. The accompanying explanation is from his pen.
Personally, Dr. Marx was the most companionable of men, —
Genial and witty, he was at the same time earnest, and a man of
wide reading and general information. American science can ill |
afford his loss,
-voc. Eentom. Soc., Washington, Vol. Ill.
Plate II
SE eS oa ee
i,
“OF WASHINGTON: ~~ 199
EXPLANATION OF Prare II.
Fic. 1.—RHYNCHOPRIUM SPINOSUM, dorsal 2d. Capitulum, dorsal view.
view. 2¢. Maxille.
1a. Ventral view. F ‘An ae Steere, ™
14, Young, Capitulum not hewn: 2g¢. Female sexual orifice.
1c. Full-sucked individual, Capitulum pro- 2h. Front foot.
jected. 2z. Haller’s organ of hearing.
1d. Capitulum, dorsal view. Fic. 3.—ARGAS AMERICANUS, dorsal view.
te. Maxille. 3a. Ventral view.
tf. Mandibles. 36. Side view of anterior portion.
_ ig. Stigma, ‘ Nee 3¢. Larva, dorsal view. vk
th, Front foot. ay ; 3d. Larva, ventral view.
17. Haller’s organ of hearing. 3e. Capitulum, ventral view.
Fic. 2.—ORNITHODORUS AMERICANUS, dor- 3/. Mandibles.
sal view. 3g. Maxille.
2a. Ventral view. 34. Stigma.
26, Side view of anterior portion. 32. Front foot.
2c. Position of Capitulum in , Aull sucked 3k. Haller’s organ.
_ state. i
List oF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL WRITINGS OF GEORGE MarRX.
On some new tube-constructing spiders.
Amer. Naturalist, vol. 15, May, 1881, Pp- 396-400; 8 figs.
2. [List of spiders observed to feed on the cotton worm (A/etza
argillacea), with a ee note on Zheridula sphe-
rula. : BBs 9 ey
Fourth Report U. S. Entomol. Comm., Wi dahin gion: D.C., 1BES.
Appendix, pp. [106}-[107]; plates XIII and XIV.
3. Description of Gasteracantha rufospinosa. —
Entomol. Americana, vol. 2, no. 2, May, 1886, pp. 25-26; fig.
4. Notes on Thelyphonus Latr.
Entomol, Americana, vol. 2, no. 2, May, 1886, pp. af-403 plate 3
5. Notes on Phrynus Oliv.
Proc. Entomol. Soc. Washington, vol. 1, no. 2, ‘Marck: 1888, pp.
46-47.
6. [Remarks on the types of Scorpionide described by Wood.
; Proc. Entomol. Soc. Washington, vol. i, no. 2, March, 1888, pp.
90-91.
7. On the morphology of Scorpionide.
Proc. Entomol. Soc. Washington, vol. 1, no. 2, March, 1888, pp.
108-112; figs. 1-3.
8. Eurypelma jrileyi Marx, n: sp. . Me aarti
Proc. Entomol. Soc. Washington, vol. 1, no. 2, March, 1888, pp.
116-117.
g. On a new and interesting spider | Hypochilus thorelliz).
' Entomol. Americana, vol. 4, no. 8, November, 1888, pp. 160-162;
plate.
200 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY .
10.
Il.
12.
ae
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
1g.
20.
On a new and interesting spider from the United States
[ Hypochilus thorellit |.’ ,
Proc. Entomol. Soc. Washington, vol. 1, no. 3, March, 1889, pp.
166-167.
On the importance of the structural characters of Hypochilus
in the classification of spiders.
Proc. Entom. Soc. Washington, vol. 1, no. 3, March, 1889, pp.
178-180. ;
Arachnida [List of species collected by the ‘* Albatross ” ex-
pedition, 1887-1888].
Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 12, 1889 (Feb. 1890), pp. 207-211.
A contribution to the knowledge of the spider fauna of the
Bermuda Islands.
Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, 1889 (1890), pp. 98-101; pl.
IV.
Count Eugene Keyserling [Obituary and bibliography ].
_ Entom. Americana, vol. 5, no. 8, August, 1889, pp. 159-160.
On a new species of spider of the genus Dinopis from the
southern United States.
Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, 1889 (1890), pp. 341-343; pl.
XI.
Catalogue of the described Araneze of temperate North
America.
Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 12, 1889 (May, 1890), pp. 497-594.
A contribution to the knowledge of North American spiders.
Proc. Entom. Soc. Washington, vol. 2, no. 1, April, 1891, pp.
28-37; pl. I.
On the effect of the poison of Lathrodectus mactans Walck.
upon warm-blooded animals.
Proc. Entomol. Soc. Washington, vol. 2, no. 1, April, 1891, pp.
85-86. 5;
Die Spinnen Amerikas—Brasilianische Spinnen—von Graf
Keyserling nach dessen Tode herausgegeben von Dr, George
Marx, Dritter Band. _
Niirnberg, 1891. Verlag von Bauer & Raspe (Emil Kiister).
Annual Address of the President: A List of the Aranez of
the District of Columbia.
Proc. Entom Soc. Washington, vol. 2,-no. 2, June, 1892, pp.
148-161.
21.
22.
23.
m-
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
OF WASHINGTON. 201
A contribution to the study of the spider fauna of the Arctic
regions. es
Proc. Entomol. Soc. Washington, vol. 2, no. 2, June, 1892, pp.
186-200.
Note on the classification of the Ixodidez.
Proc. Entomol. Soc. Washington, vol. 2, no. 2, June, 1892, pp.
232-236.
Contributions to the knowledge of the life history of Arach-
nida.
Proc. Entomol. Soc. Washington, vol. 2, no. 2, June, 1892, pp.
252-255.
Die Spinnen Amerikas—Epeiride—von Graf E. Keyserling
nach dessen Tode herausgegeben von Dr. George Marx,
Vierter Band.
Niirnberg, 1892. Verlag von Bauer & Raspe (Emil Kiister).
Annual address of the President: On the morphology of the
Ticks. |
Proc. Entom. Soc. Washington, vol. 2, no. 3, December, 1892, pp.
271-287.
On spiders’ web.
Proc. Entom. Soc. Washington, vol.2, no. 4, June, 1893, pp. 385-
388.
On a new genus and some new species of Aranez from the
west coast of Africa, collected by the U. S. steamer Enter-
prise.
Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., vol. 16, October, 1893, pp. 587-590; pl.
LS ater .
Degeneration by disuse of certain organs in spiders.
Proc. Entom. Soc. Washington, vol. 3, no. 1, March, 1894, pp.
26-27.
Continuation of the life history of the Whip-tail scorpion.
Proc. Entom. Soc. Washington, vol. 3, no. 1, March, 1894, p. 54.
{Amblyomma tuberculatum Marx, n. sp. ]
Insect Life, vol. 6, no. 4, May, 1894, pp. 314-315.
To this list should probably be added a paper on the Arachnida
collected by Dr. G. Bauer on the Galapagos Islands, written in
the German language and sent for publication to the Zoologische
Jahrbiicher. The exact title, however, is not known.
202 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
JANUARY 4, 1895.
(Special Meeting.)
President Ashmead occupied the chair, and Messrs. McGee,
Schwarz, Riley, Stiles, Benton, Marlatt, Gill, Heidemann,
Dodge, Patten, and Howard were present. |
The Treasurer read his annual report, showing a balance of cash
on hand to the amount of $144.92.
Mr. F. W. Urich, Honorary Secretary of the Trinidad Field
Naturalists’ Club, Port of Spain, Trinidad, B. W. I., and Mr.
H. Soltau, 251 E. 53d St., New York, were elected correspond-
ing members.
The retiring President, Mr. Ashmead, then delivered his
annual address : .
ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT.
SOME IMPORTANT STRUCTURAL CHARACTERS IN THE
CLASSIFICATION OF THE PARASITIC HYMENOPTERA.
By Witir1am H. AsHMEAD.
Until within a few years, we have had, in America, compara-
tively few systematic workers in the order Hymenoptera, but
since the publication, in 1887, of ‘*A Synopsis of the Families and
Genera of the Hymenoptera of America, north of Mexico,” by
our leading Hymenopterist, Mr. E. T. Cresson, considerable
activity and interest in the order has been manifested, and to-day
new workers are taking up the work where Cresson left off.
It is this aroused interest in the order which induces me to
select the subject for my address, ‘‘ Some important structural
characters in the classification of the parasitic Hymenoptera,”
although other reasons and considerations if eae Pay with me
in my choice.
Many of our students appear to be unfamiliar with the exten-
sive and rapidly increasing European Hymenopterological litera-
ture, and, judging from some recent work, in which the old lines
of classification are still adhered to, seem to imagine that Cresson’s
work contains all the essentials for systematic work. The ex-
OF WASHINGTON. 203
cellent classificatory work done by Forster, Thomson, Schletterer,
Schmiedeknecht, Mayr, Kriechbaumer, Mocsary, Gribodo, Ko--
now, Kohl and others are entirely overlooked, and important
structural characters pointed out by these masters of our science
are ignored.
It is to draw attention to some of these inbaceint characters,
therefore, that I address you to-night, and also to point out a few
others which I have discovered'in over 15 years’ study in the order,
and which I am only just beginning to use and appreciate in my
own systematic work.
In other departments of zoology, and indeed also by the public
at large, the immense work being done by entomologists through-
out the world—the greatness and grandeur of their task—is not
at all appreciated, when in reality there are probably no more
difficult or trying animals in the world to study than the Insecta.
They are numbered by millions, although a rough estimate of the
number of insects described in the world to-day foots up only a
little under 300,000 species, or, more accurately, about 284,000
species, as follows:
Coleoptera, : ‘ ; ‘ 120,000
Orthoptera, : : ‘ ; 9,000
Neuroptera, ‘ , : d 5,000
Lepidoptera, . ; : : 60,000
Hymenoptera, . ‘ : x 38,000
Hemiptera, ; : : ‘ 20,000
Diptera, . Es | ‘ . 30,000
284,000
From this estimate it will be seen that the Hymenoptera known
at present are far less numerous than the Coleoptera or the
Lepidoptera ; but this great discrepancy is due entirely to the few
students at present working in the order, as I firmly believe that
their number, when all the parasitic forms are worked up, will
be greater than these two great orders combined.
This rough estimate will also enable you to form some oie of
the great task before us—the value and necessity of a minute
analysis of all their structural characters, and the many difficulties
204 - ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
to contend with—before our system of classification can be at
least approximately correct.
I should like, also, to draw your attention briefly to the great
economic importance attached to their study, for this also, by
many entomologists and the public, is only slightly appreciated,
although to the farmer, fruit-grower, and agriculturist it is of the
most urgent importance.
It is estimated that between three and four hundred millions
of dollars are annually lost in the United States from the dep-
redations of insect pests. Think of it; more than double the
amount now in the United States Treasury! Now, all of these
insect pests have their natural Hymenopterous parasites—true,
many of them still unknown to us—that prey upon and destroy
the eggs, larve, pupe, and sometimes the imagoes themselves.
Were it not so, not a crop of any kind could be raised in the
United States. Few of us can estimate or appreciate the value
of the services that thousands of these little parasites are daily
performing for us in our midst—in our fields, our orchards,
and our forests—in destroying and ridding us of the numerous
Lepidopterous, Coleopterous, Hemipterous, and Dipterous insect
pests so destructive to our forests, fruits, cereals, and our garden
and field crops. ee
I am sorry to say, some of our entomologists, who having paid —
little or no attention to these insects, or who have given them
but little thought, are disposed to belittle the services of our
Hymenopterous parasites and, because they do not totally exter-
minate their hosts, claim they are of little economic importance.
Now, I believe if we were to take away our Hymenopterous:
parasites, scarcely a single crop of any kind could be raised in
the United States—certainly no cereal could be raised, as Aphides
alone would destroy all—so rapid and prolific are they in their
development. —
To illustrate the wonderful prolificness of an Aphis I will
quote from Buckton. He says: ,
‘© A single insect hatched from one of these shining black ova may be
‘the mother of many billions of young, even during her lifetime. Latreille
says one female during the summer will produce young at the rate of 25
in a day; and Réaumur calculates that one Aphis may be the mother of
OF WASHINGTON. | 205
the enormous number of 5,904,900,000 individuals during the month or
six-weeks of her existence. Probably the daily birth, as given by Latreille,
is above the truth, yet I have witnessed the birth of eight young from the
same mother in six hours, viz., from ten o’clock in the morning to four
o’clock in the afternoon. However this may be, neither Tougard nor
Morren is satisfied with Latreille’s billions; both state that quintillions
are within the capabilities of a single mother’s efforts. Prof. Huxley
makes a curious calculation, though for a different purpose, which at any
rate affords some approximate idea of what a quintillion of Aphides might
mean. Assuming that an Aphis weighs as little as ;955 of a grain, and
that it requires a man to be very stout to weigh more than two million
grains, he shows that the tenth brood of Aphides alone, without adding
the products of all the generations which precede the tenth, if all the
members survive the perils to which they are exposed, contains more pon-
derable substance than five hundred millions of stout men; that is, more
than the whole population of China! ”
In a foot note he then goes on to show—
‘*that Prof. Huxley's graphic illustration, nevertheless, much underesti-
’ mates the real quantity of animal matter capable of elaboration from one
single rose Aphis in a year.
‘¢ Basing the calculation, for simplicity, upon the supposition that every
Aphis lives twenty days, and that at the expiration of that period each
Aphis shall have produced twenty young and no more, then, at the expira-
tion of three hundred days owly, the living individuals would be 32,76S,-
000,000,000,000 ,000, or equal to the weight of 1,638,400,000 men.”
* # * “A mathematical friend remarks that this calculation does
not express the real rate of increase, since it supposes the progeny of
the first Aphis to be produced ad omce, and not to commence producing
until the expiration of the first twenty days. To this same friend I am
indebted for the annexed calculation.
‘* If we suppose the progeny of the first Aphis to equal 20 in twenty days,
and this progeny to begin producing, when five days old, 20 young, each
of which on attaining the age of five days begins the propagation of 20
young, and completes, also, that number in twenty days;
‘« Then, at the end of twenty days from the commencement of first
Aphis production there would be direct issue............-.c000 eee: =. 20.4;
‘* At the end of fifth day, progeny A begin to produce, whieh at
the end of first twenty days will altogether equal 15 + 14-4 13,
Ray Ce Bh Rai cecige sgt aaess | stasnetccube -chescaecauvesseue = 120 B
‘* At the end of tenth day,'progeny B begin to idliine: which at
the end of the first twenty days will altogether equal 10+ 9
EB GEG. Eee He Foc snag wes se canaans: ap enenia vealtn vais sas nguseb actdcnnonn bashes = $5.6
“* At the end of fifteenth day, progeny C begin to produce, which
at the end of the first twenty days will ee aNien equal 5 +4
os ek ta Mite ORL ree dad vansthenedss sdkevtsacncoddeceave = : ee bor
“« Total at the end of 20 days equals A+ B+C-+D...... == 310
206 ss: ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
“This amount, therefore, at the end of 300 days (or 20 15) would not
be less than the fifteenth power of 210, which is almost impossible. to
express in figures. ‘There would be room in the world for nothing else
but Aphides!’ Truly, ‘ Nature is most wonderful in small things.’”
These estimates, given above, are founded upon mathematical
exactness and cannot be refuted. But you willsay: ‘‘Ifthis is so,
why do not our Aphides increase and become more 6f a pest than
they are to-day?”’ I reply: Because of their parasites. Most
of our fruit trees and vines—the apple, the peach, the orange,
the grape, watermelon, etc.—and our more important field crops,
such as cotton, wheat, corn, etc., have distinct species of Aphides,
which destroy annually siucusande of dollars’ worth of these prod-
ucts, but which, fortunately, are more or less kept under con-
trol by their natural enemies—these parasitic Hymenoptera and
other predaceous insects.
From the orange Aphis in Florida, I have reared five distinct
species of parasites; from the cotton Aphis, three or four;
from the wheat Aphis seven or eight; from the corn Aphis four
or five; and from other Aphides parasites in like proportions.
Fourteen years ago, from three or four large orange leaves taken
from an orange tree in my yard and badly infested with the
orange Aphis, I reared between three and four hundred specimens
of a parasite, and a careful examination..of. the leaves after-
wards showed that every Aphis had been parasitized. ‘Thou-
sands of these little parasites were found running about on my
trees, and within a very brief period after their appearance my
trees were comparatively free from the pest. ate:
These are only a few instances out of hundreds that cotild rs
cited in illustration of the benefits derived from our decane
terous parasites. Sea ti
It would be well here, also, to draw attention to another: side
of this important question of parasitism, that is, to the introduc-
tion of the exotic, natural enemies of such of our insect pests as
have been imported from foreign countries. Scarcely any
attention at all has been given to this side of the question, although
lately the subject has been agitated aid some efforts are now
6 made towards its accomplishment. Let me, urge, there-
<1 OS
OF WASHINGTON. 207
upon this good work, to do so without further delay, as much
good will result therefrom.
Some years ago, in: Insect Life (vol. Il, p. 210), Mr. L. O.
Howard called attention to the European parasites bred from the
Gypsy Moth ( Oczerta dispar Linn.), an introduced European
pest now depredating places in Massachusetts, and for the exter-
mination of which the Massachusetts legislature is spending an-
nually thousands of dollars. Mr. Howard gave a list of no less
than 24 distinct species of Hymenoptera bred from it in Europe,
of which number 16 were primary parasites. It has always ap-
peared to me singular why, with this knowledge before them, no
effort has ever been made, on the part of those in charge of the
work of destruction, to introduce some of these parasites. ‘This
might have been done, some years ago, at a comparatively small
outlay—between three or four thousand dollars at the most—and
certainly, had this been done, the parasites would have aided
materially in the destruction of the pest and in keeping it within
reasonable bounds.
In these introductory remarks I believe I have now said suf-
ficient to demonstrate to you all the economic importance of these
parasites, and to impress upon you the benefits to be derived from
a thorough study of their habits and structure, although con-
nected with them are many other problems of great biologic in-
terest, upon which I would like to say a few words, but which
must be left unsaid for want of time; and I will therefore leave
these untouched and proceed with the substance of my address—
some important structural characters of these parasites.
Tue HEAp.
The head has always been considered of great importance in
classification—its size, shape, and various appendages entering
quite largely into all our systematic work, but it is not yet ex-
hausted, and there are still important characters which may be
used by us in our work.
On the accompanying Plate III, I have made some rough outline
figures of a few of the different shaped heads, in order to draw
special attention to some characters which should not be over-
looked in classification, as they are frequently correlated with
other characters of primary importance,
208 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOUIETY
Figs. 1, 2, and 3 represent the head of three different Bracon-
ids. The first is quadrate, with head behind eyes very long;
the second is transverse-quadrate, the head behind eyes not nar-
rowed; the third is also transverse, but with head convergent
behind eyes.
Now, strange to say, all three forms, with some others, are
still retained to-day in the genus Bracon, according to the present
classification in vogue, and they will illustrate what I mean when
I say the head and appendages, for use in classification, are still
unexhausted. In my recent studies in the Braconide, these dif-
ferent shapes at once attracted my attention, and I soon found
they were correlated with other characters, which will enable a
subdivision of this extensive genus into half a dozen or more new
genera—the other characters being found in the antennz, shape
of scape, in the palpi, and in the thorax and abdomen.
Figs. 4 and 5 represent two forms of head in the family Eva-
niide, while figs. 6 and 7 represent two characteristic forms to
be found in the Chalcidide, belonging to the subfamily Pteroma-
line, as seen from in front, all the others having been shown
from above.
In this last family not enough attention has been given, in de-
scriptive work, to the shape of the head as seen from in front,
and to the shape of the clypeus, shape of eyes, mandibles, the
character of the maxillary and labial palpi, and to the insertion
of the antenne. : .
In fig. 6 the head, as seen from in front, is nearly round,
slightly wider than long, the clypeus being bidentate, the anten-
ne being inserted on the middle of the face; in fig. 7 it is
oblong, nearly twice as long as wide, the clypeus being truncate,
while the antenne are inserted just above the clypeus or the
mouth.
I would call special attention here to the great difference ob-
setvable in the clypeus and to its importance in classification.
Sometimes it is entirely separated from the face by grooved lines,
or separated only at the sides or not at all, as shown in fig. 6.
Its anterior margin may be unidentate, bidentate, tridentate,
truncate, rounded or emarginated, and these differences should
always be mentioned in descriptive work.
OF WASHINGTON. 209
The position of the antennz should always be mentioned, as [I
have only illustrated two forms of insertion of these important
organs. Sometimes they are placed far above the middle of the
face, on the frons, or much below the middle of the face, on a :
line with the base of the eyes.
In figs. 8 and g I represent two remarkable shaped heads
representing a male and female fig-insect belonging to the
Agaonide or Blastophagide.
All females in this group have a more or less oblong head,
which is grooved above, with a small curved tubercle at base, and
with peculiar saw-like appendages to the mandibles as shown in
fig. 8.
Fig. 9 represents a male. The males are always apterous,
with slender, weak, or aborted middle legs and stout, strong,
much swollen front and hind legs; the abdomen is long and
tubular, being curved under the thorax.
These remarkable insects live entirely on various fig-trees and
are essential to their pollenization.
Other important characters connected with the head are the
mouth-parts, the mandibles, palpi, etc.
The Swedish entomologist, C. G. Thomson, seems to have
been the first to make extensive use of the mandibles in classify-
ing the Chalcidide.
After a careful study of them, I agree with him in regard
to their value as aids in classification, although neither in this
country nor abroad has their value been fully appreciated.
Figs. 1o and 11 represent the typical forms found in the
Eucharine, a group of the Chalcididz parasitic on ants..
These are long, sickle-shaped, with one or two teeth on the
inner margin, near the middle.
Figs. 12 and 13 represent the two types found in the Perzlam-
pine, and figs. 14 and 15 represent two inquilinous or parasitic fig-
insects, Sycorectes. |
Figs. 16 to 22 also represent different types in the Chalcidide.
You will observe that they have four, three, and two teeth respec-
tively ; also that the shape and character of the teeth differ ma
terially in the several forms shown.
In fig. 16 the outer tooth is the largest, the three following
210 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
being nearly equal; in fig. 17 the outer and the inner are equal,
or nearly so, and larger than\the two middle teeth; in fig. 18 the
teeth are much smaller and all about equal; in figs. 19 and 20,
the one with four, the other with three, the inner tooth is blunt
or truncate; while in figs. 21 and 22 both are bidentate, but
the outer tooth in one is much longer than in the other.
In some genera both mandibles may be 4-dentate or 3-dentate ;
in others they are 3-dentate in one mandible and 4 in the other.
All these characters are important in descriptive work.
Our systematic workers have not given enough attention to the
structure of the mouth-parts of our parasites, although they
undoubtedly afford excellent characters for generic diagnoses.
To show how variable and valuable they are in systematic
work, I have given some rough drawings, Plate IV, representing
types found in three different families—the Ichneumonidae,
Braconide, and Chalcidide.
Fig. 1 represents the mouth-parts of Ichneumon (after Ratze-
burg). Here the labial palpi are 4-jointed, the maxillary palpi
5-jointed, the galea being developed into strong, broadly rounded
lobes, while the mentum, maxilla, and other parts have shapes
peculiarly their own,
Fig. 2 represents the same parts of a Braconid belonging to
the genus Microgaster. The labial palpi are only 3-jointed, the
galea less strongly developed, while the other parts are ue dif-
ferently shaped from those in Ichneumon.
Figs. 3 and 4 represent the mouth-parts of two Chalcids—one
a Pteromalus, the other a Eurytoma. . Here the maxillary palpi
are only 4-jointed; the labial palpi, although 3-jointed, have the
second joint very small; while the mentum and galea are quite
distinct from both Bracon and Ichneumon.
Fig. 4 represents Eurytoma. You will notice a marked dif-
ference in the shape of the galez between it and Pteromalus.
These are long and acuminate or lanceolate, while the other parts ©
are correspondingly different.
All through this immense family, comprising thousands of
species, many different types of mouth-parts occur, which I be-
lieve, in connection with other characters, justify us in dividing it
into several distinct and well-marked families, The labial palpi
OF WASHINGTON. — 211
vary in the number of joints from 3 to 1, the maxillary from 4
to 1, while the shape of the mentum, paraglossa, galea, and
maxilla exhibit several distinctly marked types.
THE THORAX.
In the second division of an insect, or the thorax, two distinctly
marked types of the pronotum occur, which I believe to be of
primary importance in classifying all insects in this order.
In one type the pronotum does not extend back to the tegule,
or the scale at the insertion of the front wings—there is always a
small sclerite thrust in between them; while in the other type
the pronotum always extends back and touches the tegulz.
This simple character enables us to at once bring together all
the closely allied families in the two great sections—into which
the Hymenoptera are divided—in a way no other single character
will do, and it must not be overlooked by the student.
In this connection I should like to say something of the side
pieces of the thorax—the pleura, episterna, epimera, etc.,—char-
acters found to be of primary importance in the classification of the
Coleoptera, and which will be found to be of the same impor-
tance in the classification of this order; but these characters are
still unanalyzed, in my mind, and while I might point out their
value in some particular cases, until I have satisfied myself of
their value in all the groups, I prefer, for the present, to say
nothing about them.
With the metathorax, however, I can do better. In the meta-
thorax of a Hymenopterous insect are to be found some of the
most important characters, suitable for classification, found no-
where else, and, strange to say, in America these important char-
acters are entirely overlooked, or only used to a limited extent.
Their value and importance are not fully appreciated by us.
We are in reality indebted to the learned Dr. Arnold Forster
for first calling attention to them, or, rather, making use of them,
in his Essay Synopsis der Familien und Gattungen der Ichneu-
moniden, published in 1868; but to the Swedish entomologist,
C. G. Thomson, for first ‘really analyzing their value and mak-
ing use of them largely in his systematic work.
Every natural group in the Parasitica seems to have an indi-
212 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
vidualized type of metathorax, and this has been most admirably
brought out recently by Thomson.
Take the Ichneumonide for instance. In the group /chveu-
monine all have a more or less distinctly areolated metathorax,
caused by raised lines, or carinz, variously arranged and modified
to form different shaped cells or areas.
On Plate V, in the figures, I have attempted to illustrate these
areas and their value to us in classification.
You will notice there are five series of cells—three median and
two lateral. To these the following names may be applied :
No. 1. Basal area or first median area.
2. Areola, upper median area or second median area.
3. Petiolar area, apical area, or third median cell.
4. External area or first lateral basal area.
5. External median area or the second lateral area.
6. Internal area, the middle apical area, or the third
lateral area.
. The spiracular area or the first pleural area.
. The middle pleural area or the second pleural] area.
. The angular area or the third pleural area.
\O- cOomT
The carine or raised lines may also be named :
M. M. are the two median longitudinal carine.
L. L. are the two lateral longitudinal carinz.
P. P. are the two pleural carine.
The transverse carina are—
B. The basal transverse carina.
A. A. The apical transverse carina.
These names will enable us to properly define the areas and
carine in descriptive work. For instance, these carine are
sometimes wanting between the areas. If the basal transverse
carina between the basal area and the areola or the median cell
(2) is wanting, we say basal area and median cell confluent ; if
the median transverse carina be wanting, we then say median
and apical or the petiolar areas confluent—and thus through the
whole series.
In fig. 2, I show the metathoracic character of a Cryptid.
OF WASHINGTON. 213
Here there are only two transverse carinz, the areas being want-
ing. |
In figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 I show some of the characteristic
forms of the metathorax observed in the family Chalcidide. In
fig. 3 the metadthorax is produced into a subglobose neck at
apex, while there are three longitudinal caring, the two lateral
usually being designated as the lateral folds. i
In fig. 4 the median carina is wanting, while in fig. 5 is ex-
hibited a form entirely without carina. In both of these figures
the metathorax is not produced into a subglobose neck.
In fig. 6 I show a character not apparent in any of the others.
This is a grooved line or channel extending from the spiracle to
the apical margin, which is termed the spiracular sulcus. It isa
valuable character in the classification of the Chalcidide.
In figs. 7, 8,9, and 10 I show some typical forms of the meta-
thorax observed in the subfamily A/¢crogasterine in the family
Braconide, which I find to be of great importance in dividing
this group. into sections. In fig. 7 we have a median area or
areola, in fig. 8 a median longitudinal carina, in fig. 9 it is per-
fectly plane without either areola or carina, while in fig. 10 the
apical margin is deeply bisinuated.
While on the subject of the metathorax, I desire to call special
attention to another character of primary importance, entirely,
or almost entirely, neglected by systematic workers; that is, the
shape and position of the metathoracic spiracles. These should
always be defined, at least in our generic descriptions.
On the plate I have figured some of the more important
forms: Fig. 11 is round or circular; fig. 12 oval; fig. 13 ovate;
fig. 14 elliptical; fig. 15 reniform or kidney-shaped; fig. 16
linear; fig. 17 curved linear.
The wings and their venation have always been considered of
the first importance in classification, and their value is not over-
estimated. In fact, our system of classification in all orders
to-day, except in the Coleoptera, is based mainly upon venation.
To enter fully into the subject of venation, as found in the
Parasitica; would occupy much time, and I shall only be able
to-night to draw attention to a few special types and point out
to you the value of some characteristic features of these in
systematic work.
214 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
In figs. 1 to 12, on Plate VI, I illustrate a few of these types.
Figs. 1 and 2 represent two typical forms of the front wings
found among the Braconide. Here, you will notice, the stigma
in one is greatly thickened; in the other it is long and slender,
although otherwise there is a close resemblance between the two.
On a closer inspection, however, we will see there are marked
differences. In fig. 1 the submedian cell (2) is not longer than
the median (1), while in fig. 2 this same cell is longer than the
median.
Another difference is in the recurrent-nervure (1). In one it
enters the first submarginal cell; inthe other it is received by the
second submarginal cell. There are also other differences. In
fig. 1 the discoidal nervure (j) is straight; in fig. 2 it is angu-
larly broken; still another great difference is in the radial cell,
the one being much smaller or shorter than the other, the radius
in one not extending to the apex of the wing. These slight dif-
ferences-are of the greatest importance in a study of these insects.
Fig. 3 represents the typical hind wing of a Braconid, while
figs. 4 and 5 represent hind wings of Ichneumonids. Fig. 6 rep-
resents the hind wing of the peculiar and rare genus Phofa-
losoma, still classed with the Braconidae. Observe what a marked
difference there is between these forms, and what admirable char-
acters they present for classificatory purposes! Why is it that
American students have made no use of these excellent charac-
ters found in the venation of the hind wings of these insects?
Is it not time for us to begin to make use of them in our tables?
THE ABDOMEN.
In the third division of an insect, or in the abdomen, may be
found a host of most excellent and valuable characters for use in
systematic work. These lie in its shape, the felative length of
the segments—the tergites and sternites, and in the position of
the spiracles.
The value of these I will attempt to show by the use of the
few rough figures on Plate VII.
In the family Braconide we have an extensive subfamily,
termed the Jicrogasterine, comprising an excessively large
number of minute species of great economic importance, as all,
OF WASHINGTON. 915
with but few exceptions, are primary parasites on destructive
Lepidopterous larve.
This group has always been considered the most difficult one
to study in this family, and up to the present time remains in the
greatest confusion, as no one has been able to seize hold of
salient characters that will readily separate the species.
This, I think, can now be done, without much difficulty, from
the use of characters pointed out to-night.
In my remarks under the thorax I have already called atten-
tion to the great differences observable in the metathoracic
characters of this group, and these differences taken in connection
with structural peculiarities of the abdomen, now to be pointed
out, will enable any one to readily separate these insects into
sections, subsections or divisions, and then into species.
In figs. 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22 I show the structure of only
five different types of abdomen observable in this group, although
many others exist.
On the first or basal segment of all the species in this group,
as well as sometimes in some species of other groups, is a raised
chitinous shield or plate of various shapes or forms.
This plate I find to be exceedingly valuable in classification,
and I have made extensive use of it in my forthcoming mono-
graph of the North American Braconide.
This plate, you will notice in fig. 18, is about three times as
long as wide, the sides being parallel; in fig. 19 it is trapezoidal,
scarcely as long as wide, or a little wider at apex than at base;
in fig. 20 quite a different shape is seen; here it is much longer
than wide, or long trapezoidal, with the hind angles rounded ;
in fig. 21 we have a quadrate-shaped plate, covering almost
entirely the upper surface; while in fig. 22 still another quite
different shaped plate is seen; here we have a narrow, sharply
pointed, wedge-shaped or lanceolate-shaped plate.
These are only a few of the many forms occurring in this
group. (
In this connection I would also call attention to another char-
acter of primary importance, which should be more extensively
used in classification; that is, the relative length of the tergites
or dorsal segments.
216 | ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Take fig. 18, for example. Here, you will notice, the second
segment is very short—about half the length of the third, with
two oblique grooved lines. Compare this now with the others
figured and see what a great difference there is.
In fig. 19 the second segment is almost twice as long as the
third, while the oblique grooved lines are wanting. In fig. 20
the second and third are nearly equal; in fig. 21 it is about 2%
times longer than the third; while in fig. 22 it is only a little
shorter than the third, with two oblique grooved lines that are
approximate at base.
To still further illustrate the value of these charaters, which I
find to be of the greatest importance in classifying most of the
groups in the Microhymenoptera, I have illustrated the abdomi-
nal characteristics of five different genera in the group Eurytom-
ine.
Figs. 23 and 24 illustrate the female and male of /sosoma;
figs. 25 and 26, female and male of Decatoma; figs. 27 and
28, female and male of Bruchophagus; figs. 29 and 30, female
and male of Hurytoma; while figs. 31 and 32 represent the
female and male of the rare genus Axzma, represented at pres-
ent by only two species—one described by Walker, from Brazil ;
the other by Howard, from New York.
A few words more, and I am done. The subject to which I
have called your attention is both an extensive and an important
one, and in my remarks to-night I have only barely touched upon
some of the more important characters. I have said nothing of
the antennz, the shape and structure of the legs, the tibial spurs
and the claws, and their importance in classification, while I have
but briefly touched upon venation.
To say all I should like to say would fill a volume, but I trust
I have said sufficient to show the importance of the subject and
to bring our students in line with the work being done abroad.
I have described many species in the groups spoken of this
evening, and have myself been described as a sfectes maker.
In conclusion, however, allow me to say that there is no ento-
mologist who knows better or appreciates more thoroughly than
I the work that is before us. I know and feel there is something
higher, something grander, something more ennobling than mere
OF WASHINGTON. ‘ 917
species making, and that is the utilization of nature’s laws for
the benefit of mankind. By this I mean systematic work—the
bringing of order out of chaos, the discovery of reliable struc-
tural characters which may be dependéd upon for the founding of
families, genera, and species, and their arrangement in such
manner that the student the world over can readily recognize
them ; also the search after and the discovery of the laws or prin-
ciples underlying and influencing this mighty host of insect life—
the discovery of their habits and life-histories, the morphological
changes undergone in their struggle for existence, by change of
food, environment, or climate—their migrations, their geograph-
ical distribution, whence and how it came about, and the laws
governing their increase and decrease.
All of these things are of the greatest importance, looked at
from any standpoint—philosophically, biologically, or economi-
cally—and any life is well spent that is devoted to the discovery
of these laws, and the unravelling of the lives and habits of the
millions of these minute organic beings that teem in field and
forest.
The address was discussed by Messrs. Marlatt, Schwarz, Riley,
Howard, and Gill. |
Mr. Schwarz congratulated Mr. Ashmead upon the results of
what had evidently been a very great labor. He discussed briefly
and comparatively a few of the characters mentioned by Mr.
Ashmead, and spoke of their significance with the Coleoptera.
He stated that with the latter order the hind wings have not been
used to any great extent, and that only family characters have
been derived from them.
Dr. Riley complimented the address highly, but called atten-
tion to the fact that the great majority of the characters pointed
out by Mr. Ashmead had been used before by European system-
atists. He agreed as to the value of a great majority of the char-
acters described, although he was not inclined to give much
weight to the variations in the shape of the spiracles and the
dentation of the mandibles. The abdominal characters, as illus-
trated by the figures of Eurytoma, Decatoma, and Isosoma had
always been used, and he had carefully drawn them for the
218 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
American Entomologist, years ago, in connection with some of
Walsh’s studies. He also spoke of the extraordinary fecundity
of the Aphidide, giving examples of recent experience in his
own greenhouse, and also referred to what he had recorded from
actual observation in reference to Phorodon humult.
Mr. Howard said that it might seem strange, to the majority of
systematists in other groups who were present, that the students
of parasitic Hymenoptera had so long confined themselves in
their descriptive work to the differentiation in a few obvious
characters, and went on to state that this was due to the fact that,
with the comparatively small number of forms which had hitherto
been under observation, classification could be accomplished by
the study of these few alone. Moreover, many of the important
characters just pointed out by Mr. Ashmead are difficult of
observation, and certain of them involve a partial dissection of the
specimens. With the extraordinary increase of the number of
forms collected which has been brought about of late years,
however, the necessity arises for the discovery of new characters
for their separation. The necessity is becoming greater every
day, and in Mr. Ashmead we evidently have the man for the
emergency. The address, as a whole, is of the greatest value,
and will undoubtedly be of great assistance to students in the
parasitic Hymenoptera.
Dr. Gill expressed some dissatisfaction with the President for
having apologized for going into such minute details. The
speaker considered that this study of minute detail is exactly what
we need. Our modern school of zoologists have drifted away
from this necessary class of work and have in fact frowned down
systematic study. It is becoming the custom, in fact, to study a
few types and to write a text-book about them, whereas what we
need is a multiplicity of details about a multiplicity of forms.
Mr. Ashmead’s address is typical of the best kind of systematic
zoology.
-
Jos FEBRUARY 7, 1895.
President Ashmead occupied the chair, and Messrs. Schwarz,
Benton, Coquillett, Marlatt, Gill, Howard, C. Hart Merriam,
Proc. Entom. Soc., Washington, Vol. 117. | Plate 111.
STRUCTURAL CHARACTERS IN HYMENOPTERA,
Bee oO
; ¥
Sere Tay
Sore
som
Proc. Entom. Soc., Washington, Vol. 11. Plate IV.
‘
oles ed
ete ate te
eye
STRUCTURAL CHARACTERS IN HYMENOPTERA.
Proc. Entom. Soc., Washington, Vol. IIT. Plate V
Me Le
ee |
2000). \)
STRUCTURAL CHARACTERS IN HYMENOPTERA.
Proc. Entom. Soc , Washington, Vol. IT.
STRUCTURAL CHARACTERS IN HYMENOPTERA.
Plate V/I.
%,
Proc. Entom. Soc., Washington, Vol. III.
x
%
ae
OF WASHINGTON. 219
R. S. Clifton were present, the small attendance being due to a
blizzard.
The Corresponding Secretary announced the deaths of Berthold
Neumédgen and George D. Bradford, both of New York city and
both corresponding members of the Society.
On motion, the President appointed Messrs. Schwarz, Howard,
and Gill a committee to take charge of the sale of the collection
of Arachnids left by the late member of the Society—Dr. George
Marx, as well as to prepare a biographical sketch and a list of
his writings for the proceedings.
Mr. Coquillett was elected a member of the Executive Cow:
mittee to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Dr. Marx.
Mr. Howard read a paper entitled—
NOTES ON THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION WITHIN
THE UNITED STATES OF CERTAIN INSECTS INJURING
CULTIVATED CROPS.
By L. O. Howarp.
The broad subject of the natural geographical distribution of
animals and plants is a sufliciently complicated one, but it be-
comes still further complicated when we come to consider the
actual and possible distribution of cultivated species. One small
phase of this subject enters naturally into the work of the eco-
nomic entomologist, although it has as yet received no attention.
This phase 1 is expressed i in the query, How far will a given inju-
rious insect follow its natural food-plant when the geographical
range of the latter is extended by artificial means? This isa
question which can be answered satisfactorily only by a study of
each individual injurious species and the facts concerning its ori-
gin and present spread, as well as by a consideration of the laws
governing the distribution of the food-plant.
It is reasonable to suppose that in many cases insects will be
unable to follow their food-plants to the limits of their possible
range, notwithstanding the fact that the geographical distribution
of animals and plants is governed by the same general laws of
temperature, humidity, exposure, and geological characteristics.
_The obvious reason for this is, that purely artificial features are
introduced in cultivating plants, varieties are propagated which
develop resistant powers lacking in the parent stock; seeds, in
the case of annuals, are carefully collected and selected, the soil
is prepared for their reception, and is artificially fertilized ;
while with perennials the same general care is taken. It fol-
220 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
lows, therefore, that the natural range of cultivated species is
widely extended in every direction, and in the teeth of the very
barriers which naturally would have held them rigidly in check.
Plant-feeding insects in general follow the natural distribution of
their specific food. Experience has shown that as this natural
food becomes a cultivated crop they increase. As the cultivation
of the crop is spread along natural lines of distribution, they fol-
low it. When, however, by artificial selection, hardy varieties |
of the crop plant have developed, and the range becomes thus
extended along what may be termed unnatural lines, with certain
species, at least, and within certain limits with them, their insect
enemies will naturally be unable to follow them. The result will
be, theoretically, natural selection with the insects trying to catch
up with the results of artificial selection with the plants.
It will be interesting to follow the geographical distribution in
the United States of a few important insect enemies of cultivated
crops, to see what geographical limits apparently exist with the
insects, which do not exist with the crops on which they feed.
My attention was first called to this matter by the somewhat
peculiar spread in the east of Aspzdiotus pernictosus. This in-
sect, the original home of which is unknown but which may be
South America or Australia, made its first appearance in the
vicinity of San José, California. It spread rather slowly north
and south through that peculiar life-zone on the Pacific coast of
our country which combines throughout its entire extent forms
belonging to the boreal and upper Sonoran regions. Brought
across the entire country to New Jersey upon nursery stock, it
spread rapidly through two large nurseries, and then for a num-
ber of years was sent out, ignorantly, upon nursery stock to the
North, South, East and West, probably to nearly all of the thou-
sands of customers of two of the most prominent nursery firms
in the country. Not until the summer of 1893 was its presence
in the East recognized by entomologists. Traffic in infested stock,
however, had been going on for five or six years, and it was soon
ascertained that the insect had taken a foothold at a number of
points. Many of these points have been definitely located, and
the occurrences of the insect studied. The species occurs upon
all deciduous fruit trees. Apples and pears, and to a certain ex-
tent peaches, are, as every one knows, extensively grown in por-
tions of the transition life-zone; in certain of these localities, in
fact, fruit-growing is a great industry, and we may accept it as
practically certain that nursery stock was sent to many points in
this zone. The facts so far collected, however, fail to reveal a
single locality within the limits of this zone in which the insect
has established itself. Many points have been found in the up-
per austral, others occur in the austro-riparian and lower Sono-
OF WASHINGTON. 291
ran, but not one has been found in the transition. The accuracy.
with which the difficult northern border line of the upper austral
has been mapped by Dr. Merriam is indicated by several inter-
esting occurrences of the San José scale which have been investi-
gated. The southeastern one-fifth of Pennsylvania is upper
austral, the zone taking a loop up at this point. Near the bot-
tom of this loop the San José scale has been found, and at its ex-
treme northwestern limit another occurrence has been ascertained.
Across the northwestern corner of New Jersey the Alleghanian
region extends in a diagonal line from southwest to northeast.
In this corner the scale has not established itself, although below
New Brunswick, as I learn from Dr. J. B. Smith, the orchards
of the State are generally affected. Dr. Smith, in his paper
read before the Association of Economic Entomologists last
August, correlated this dividing line with the so-called ‘‘ red
shale” line of New Jersey, and seemed of the opinion that the
scale would not permanently establish itself north of this line.
That it might so establish itself for a time, he said, was indicated
by the occurrence of the insect in Columbia county, New York.
The real significance of this occurrence in Columbia county,
however, is shown by the fact that up the Hudson river nearly to
Albany there extends a narrow finger of the upper austral zone.
On Long Island the scale has also been found, but this, too, is
upper austral. Across through the mid-region of the upper
austral or Carolinian there are occasional points where the scale
has established itself, and other significant occurrences have been
found in Idaho. A narrow band of the upper austral or upper
Sonoran extends along the Snake River valley, and at two points
in the western part of the State within this band the scale has
become established. The other Idaho point of establishment is
also very interesting. This isthe immediate vicinity of Lewiston,
at the only point in the pan-handle of Idaho where the upper
austral dips in from Washington.*
* Since the reading of this paper this peculiarity in the distribution of
Aspidiotus perniciosus has been mentioned by the writer in Insect Life,
volume VII, p. 292. Immediately after the publication of this record,
specimens of this species were received from Professor C. H. Fernald, col-
lected at Amherst, Mass. This was apparently a refutation of the prob-
able limitation of spread suspected. Investigation, however, showed
that the infested trees had been brought from New Jersey and planted at
Amherst in the spring of 1894, and examination in the spring of 1895
showed that all of the scale insects were dead. The instance, therefore,
becomes aconfirmation rather than a refutation. Moreover, the south
Connecticut band of the upper austral extends for some distance up the
Connecticut river, as is quite to be expected from the general law con-
cerning river-banks. Quite up to the Massachusetts line, and beyond,
plenty of upper austral forms are found mingling with transition forms.
999 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
From our present information it seems that the spread of this
destructive insect is likely to be limited, for a time at least, by the
boundaries of the upper and lower austral zones; and if future
observations prove that this supposition—based upon so few ob-
servations, it is true—be correct, it will afford immeasurable relief
to the thousands of fruit-growers in New England, large portions of
New York and Pennsylvania, and the northern portions of the
lower peninsula of Michigan.
The older history of the eastern spread of the Colorado potato-
beetle affords another exemplification. Potatoes are grown from
the northern limits of the transition zone in British America south
to the Gulf of Mexico. The Colorado potato-beetle, originally
an inhabitant of the transition zone in the West, and feeding
upon native solanaceous plants, spread straight east through the
upper austral zone to the Atlantic ocean. It spread to the north,
into the transition region, more slowly than towards the southern
boundary of the upper austral. The centre of the army travelled
the fastest, the north wing more slowly, and the south wing
still more slowly. The insect established itself for a series of
years, at least, at every point along the journey, and at many
points permanently. Reaching the northernmost limit of the
‘lower austral, however, it found its limit for a time, and in the
southern range of this species we find a very interesting study.
Bordering the southward extension of the Alleghanian fauna is
a downward loop of the upper austral zone which includes the
northeast corner of Alabama and the northwest corner of
Georgia. So accurately were the limits of the spread of this
species gauged to the limits of the upper austral that the only
points in the Gulf line of States where the species had established
itself asa crop pest were, until within the last year or two, in the
northeast corner of Alabama and the northwest corner of
Georgia.*
The asparagus-beetle, Crzocerts asparagi, was brought over
from Europe and became noticeable on Long Island in 1856 to
1859. This insect spreads readily by flight and is carried, in the
egg state and as young larva, on bunches of the cuttings sent to
market. Its original spread was westward upon Long Island,
out into southern Connecticut, down through New Jersey and
eastern Pennsylvania, through Delaware and Maryland to Wash-
*In April, 1895, word was received of the occurrence of this species at
Charleston, S. C., where it is said by Mr. H. M. Simons to have been
destructive in 1894. Whether this is a permanent establishment will re-
quire two or three years’ test; but at all events the restriction has lasted
many years. The same may be said of Arkansas and northern Louisiana.
The insect occurs rarely at Auburn, Ala., and still more rarely, and only
upon native food-plants, in the Mesilla valley, in New Mexico.
OF WASHINGTON. | 235
ington, and inland it has reached Fredericksburg, Va. Down
the coast it has proceeded as far as Fortress Monroe. Mr.
Schwarz has recently called attention to the earlier introduction
of the species, about 1800, at Hanover, York county, Pennsyl-
vania. All these occurrences are upper austral; the insect has
not spread to any very great extent into transition regions. In
order to reach the continuation of the upper austral in western
Pennsylvania, northwestern New York, and midwestern States,
it has had to traverse the broad barrier of the Alleghanian region.
This, it is reasonable to suppose, it could do only or mainly by
the aid of commerce. Not until'within the last ten years is it
known to have taken this jump. In 1884 a few specimens were
found at Geneva, N. Y., and in 1892 it was found about Roch-
ester, where later Dr. Lintner ascertained that it had been trouble-
some to asparagus growers for some little time. Its westward
spread may now reasonably be supposed to be comparatively
rapid. In 1893 Mr. Webster reported it at Cleveland and Akron,
Ohio, and announced its prior occurrence in Columbiana county,
in the same State. To say, however, as Mr. Webster does, that
it doubtless reached this latter place via the Ohio river is hazard-
ous, since no locality along the Ohio east was previously known
to be infested. It was evidently,a commercial jump across the
Alleghanian barrier and a settlement in the first available upper
austral spot. From now on its spread to the west may be steady,
and we shall expect that year after year it will extend its west-
ward range.
The Geneva and Rochester localities, it will be remembered,
are included in the eastward bend of the upper austral, which
introduces a more southern character into the fauna and flora of
western New York. So far, there is nothing to conflict with the
idea that the species will not establish itself in the true transition
region. ‘There remains, however, the fact that specimens have
been received from several Massachusetts localities and-Nashua,
N. H. At Nashua it transpires that the insect was introduced
in 1892, was rather numerous in 1893, and appeared to be dying
out in 1894. Massachusetts reports are worthy of similar inves-
tigation. If the insect has permanently established itself at
Ambherst and other points as an injurious species, it possesses to
some extent the power of ranging beyond the line where many
upper austral forms cease. It is well to state, however, that the
northern boundary line of this zone in Connecticut is an uneven
one, and is not established with absolute definiteness.
The spread of the imported elm-leaf beetle ( Galeruca xan-
thomelena) is also significant in view of the peculiar dividing
line between the upper austral and the transition in the general
region between Washington and Albany. Its well-known oc
224 - ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
currences throughout New Jersey, southeastern Pennsylvania,
southern Connecticut, and in the upper austral finger which ex-
tends up the Hudson river, lead to the opinion that it is more or
less strictly confined by the limits of the upper austral zone. A
problematical occurrence has been reported to me from Middle-
bury, Vermont, some ninety miles to the northeast of the Hudson
River loop, and this locality needs investigation.
Judging from what we know of the distribution of the sugar-'
cane and corn-stalk borer (Dzatrea saccharalis), it is.a tropical
or sub-tropical species which extends with ease through the austro-
riparian zone. Following up the Atlantic coast extension of the
austro-riparian, it occurs abundantly through Georgia, South
Carolina, North Carolina, and southern Virginia, and no com-
plaints of its damage have been received from the corn-growing
upper austral belt which bounds on the east the downward ex-
tension of the Alleghanian. However, that it also possesses the
power of reproducing itself to some extent in the upper austral
is shown by the fact that it has extended north of the northern
limit of the lower austral in Virginia by some 75 or 100 miles,
and has also established itself on the north bank of the Poto-
mac river in southern Maryland. It is not likely, however, that
the species will establish itself injuriously to any serious degree
in upper austral regions, although one of its prominent food-
plants is most extensively grown all through this zone.
The chinch-bug (l¢ssus leucopterus), while a very wide-
spread species, occurring from North Dakota on the northwest
to southern Florida on the southeast, and from northern Maine
on the northeast to southern Texas on the southwest, occurring
also, sparingly, on the Pacific coast from north California down
into lower California, reaches its climax as a destructive species
only in the upper austral zone. The band of upper austral on
the east side of the Alleghanian, from northern Virginia to the
borders of South Carolina, is a portion of this territory ; -but
from eastern Ohio westward through Kansas, limited on the
north by the transition and on the south by the austro-riparian, is
its proper home as an injurious species. Curiously enough, Mr.
Schwarz has recently concluded that this species is originally a
sea-coast form.
The permanent breeding grounds of the Rocky Mountain lo-
cust are in the transition downshoot from British Columbia into
the northwestern States.
So far as our information goes, the wheat straw-worm, /sosoma
triticz, is confined to the upper austral and makes the proper
bend around the lower end of the Alleghanian to the south, in
northeast Alabama and northwest Georgia. It occurs in the
OF WASHINGTON. | 225
Carolinian and upper Sonoran belt to Colorado, and is again
found upon the Pacific slope north to Washington.
The American locust (Schzstocerca americana) is a tropical
and austro-riparian form, which apparently extends with ease.
through many upper austral regions. It is common throughout
the southern States, from the District of Columbia to Texas, and
injurious broods have occurred in Illinois, Indiana and southwest
Ohio. It has been doubtfully reported from the vicinity of New
York city, and specimens have been taken in New Jersey as far
north as Newark and New Brunswick. The last number of the
Canadian Entomologist records the capture of a single speci-
men in Canada. The note is by Mr. J. Alston Moffat, who
lives at London, in lower Ontario, at the borders of the upper
austral, and presumably the specimen was captured in the Cana-
dian strip of this zone, although the actual locality is not given.*
This species is one of the forms which would seem to indicate
that in a few cases, at least, the winter temperature must have
some effect in determining distribution. It is exceptional from
the fact that it hibernates in the adult condition, and we can
hardly avoid the conclusion that it is limited in its northern range
by circumstances which influence successful hibernation. Noth-
ing is better known than that exceptional freezes may kill off
thousands of insects; there must therefore be species whose suc-
cessful hibernation is limited by certain degrees of cold.
There are, then, among these species which we have just con-
sidered, several enemies to cultivated crops which are apparently
unable to follow their food-plants into certain regions into which
their cultivation has been successfully carried. They are spe-
cies which occur to me at first glance over the field, and closer
study will doubtless show others. There are, however, scores of
species in which no such limitation exists. Such are Leucania
untpuncta, Heliothis armiger, Pierts rape and many others
which will readily occur to you. There are many potentially
cosmopolitan species. Even in the case of Leucanta unipuncta
and Heliothis armigera, however, there seems at least a partial
end to injurious occurrences at the borders of the transition zone.
The few facts just mentioned indicate that results of interest as
well as of practical importance can be gained from the plotting
of the spread and range of crop enemies. The fact that there
are limitations not dependent upon food with even a few species,
is of great importance, and it is a line of investigation which must
be followed up.
Mr. F. M. Webster in his suggestive ia ‘¢ Some insect
* Mr. Moffat has since written me that the specimen was taken in the
immediate vicinity of London.
226 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
immigrants in Ohio,” published in Sczexce for February 3, 1893,
and subsequently in Bull. 51 of the Ohio Experiment Station,
has brought out some interesting facts regarding the probable
methods of introduction and lines of spread of certain species
through Ohio; but he has failed to appreciate the fundamental
truths which govern the distribution of species in his region,
Among other things, he has failed to point out the important fact
that certain species to which the transition forms a barrier com-
ing from the east can seldom reach Ohio by natural spread. The
carriage of infested plants or the steam transportation of individ-
duals across the Alleghanian barrier is necessary for their intro-
duction, and upper austral forms are quite as liable to reach Ohio
from the east by means of the great commercial paths to mid-
western New York and thence by natural spread through lower
Ontario and southern Michigan, or by the lake from Buffalo to
Cleveland, Sandusky, or Toledo, as by commercial jumps across
the mountainous regions of Pennsylvania.
~The whole subject is one which is fraught with the greatest
difficulty as well as interest. What I have just said is of the
most preliminary character and is advanced in this hurried way
only on account of its suggestiveness, and to induce consideration
and discussion of a comparatively new field. I have planned an
extensive investigation of the question, and am engaged in _plot-
ting on a large scale the actual distribution and injurious occur-
rences of about 150 of our most destructive species, and in this
work hope to have the assistance of many of our entomologists.
\
The paper was discussed by Messrs. Schwarz, Ashmead,
Merriam, and Gill. Mr. Schwarz spoke of the fact that there is
a large class of cosmopolitan species which defy all laws of geo-
graphical distribution. Local influences may cause their absence
at certain points. He defined a cosmopolitan species as one that
occurs in both temperate and tropical zones of both hemispheres.
The scale-insects also seem to be not amenable to laws which
affect other species. In the case of introduced insects he had
noticed that, in general, forms introduced into the boreal regions
of this country are unable to spread into other zones. In the
same way species introduced into the southern States do not
spread in the more northern regions. This restriction seems
irrespective of spread in Europe. If species are introduced into
the middle States, however, they are more liable to spread both
a re
bas rea bet ge ir |
OF WASHINGTON. 227
to the north and the south. Mr. Ashmead spoke principally about
the possible spread of the parasites of injurious species. In his
opinion parasites will always follow their hosts, no matter what
the spread of the latter may be. He mentioned particularly /so-
cratus vulgaris and Huphorus sculptus, as well as some of the
parasites of wood-boring Coleoptera, which occur apparently in
all parts of the world. He mentioned also the Spalangia parasite
of the house-fly, and the fact that the European Opheltes glaucop-
terus, originally an European species which occurs all through
the United States, had recently been found by him in a collection
of insects from Japan. These facts, he thought, emphasized the
importance of efforts to introduce parasites of introduced injuri-
ous species.
Dr. Merriam expressed his pleasure at the opportunity of list-
ening to the paper just read, not only on account of his long
study of the problem of distribution, but also because he had
always believed that there is a direct practical bearing of the ques-
tion in just this direction. In 1868 he had made an appeal before
the New York State Legislature for the establishment of a bio-
logical survey, arguing that when we became familiar with the life-
zones we could predict the spread of injurious species. He had
also referred to the same point in one of his official reports. The
paper just read, however, was the first direct proof of the cor-
rectness of his idea which had been advanced.
Apropos to the occurrence of Opheltes in Japan, Mr. Schwarz
added that it is remarkable that so few Japanese insects have
been introduced into California. Referring further to the sup-
position that AsAzdiotus pernictosus was introduced from Aus-
tralia, he thought that the original home of many of our injurious
Coccidz must be China. The Coccid fauna of China has not
been studied, but, on account of the extremely old civilization and
cultivation of plants, many injurious forms which have since
spread widely must have originated there. Mr. Ashmead agreed
with the last speaker and stated that the most injurious among
orange-scales—Mytzlaspis citricola—was brought direct to
Florida from China many years ago upon orange plants. Dr.
Gill stated that the most ancient civilization was not Chinese,
but Indian, Assyrian, and north African. Our domestic animals
228 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
in the main came from Egypt and the adjoining parts of Asia.
He mentioned particularly the domestic cat and the domestic dog.
Referring to Mr. Ashmead’s statement as to the spread of para-
sites, he incidentally mentioned the house-fly and the bed-bug,
whereupon Dr. Merriam stated that he had never known the
bed-bug to occur in the boreal zone.’ Dr. Gill was inclined to
think that he had heard of its occurrence in St. Johns, New-
foundland, and he remarked that we cannot trust to negative evi-
dence, such as that just advanced by Dr. Merriam, for upon
negative evidence alone he would be inclined to say that the bed-
bug does not occur in the city of Washington! Mr. Schwarz
stated that the chicken-flea—Sarcopsylla gallinacea—had re-
cently been traced by Julius Wagner (Hore Soc. Ent. Ross. 28,
1894, pp. 440) to central Asia, which is probably its original
home.
—Mr. Marlatt read a paper entitled :
FURTHER NOTE ON THE CODLING MOTH.
By C. L. Marvatrt.
A very interesting and satisfactory explanation of the variation
in the number of broods of the Codling Moth in different parts
of the United States is given by the maps illustrating Dr. C.
Hart Merriam’s Laws of Temperature Control of the Geograph-
ical Distribution of Terrestrial Animals and Plants.* Dr. Mer-
riam’s first map, showing the distribution of the total quantity
of heat during the season of growth and reproductive activity,
presents an interesting agreement in its zones with the available
records in regard to the number of broods of this insect, and gives
a basis of fact for my statement, in /zsect Life, (vol. VII, No.
33 pp. 248—51,) that *‘ it must be inferred that the climate of New
runswick differs in the summer season suticiently from that of the
middle and western States—even of Iowa and northern [llinois—
to lead to the development of but one yearly brood.” The data
so far obtained indicates one annual brood for the region over
which the total summer heat exceeds 5,500° C., corresponding
pretty closely with Dr. Merriam’s transitional zone, and includ-
ing, in general, the northern tier of States, with a southward ex-
tension along the main mountain systems, most of New England,
and northern New Jersey. Two annual broods may be expected
* National Geographical Magazine, vol. VII, pp. 229-238; pl. XII-XIV.
OF WASHINGTON, — 229
throughout the region with summer heat exceeding 6,400° C.,
approximating the upper austral life-zone, and including in gen-
eral the middle section of the United States, together with south-
ern Michigan and Wisconsin, and the western half of Oregon and
Washington. The records of southern California lead us to ex-
pect three broods for the region with total summer heat exceed-
ing 10,000° C., corresponding pretty closely with the lower aus-
tral life-zone, and covering the cotton belt and most of California.
The unexpected occurrence of but one annual brood in northern
New Jersey, as opposed to two in northern Illinois and Oregon,
and three in California, receives here a valid explanation. Doubt-
less there are many exceptions within the zonal regions indicated
by Dr. Merriam, in the number of broods of this insect; but,
normally, they will probably be found to conform to the zones
as indicated; and, at least, a good basis is furnished for future
observations.
The important economic bearing of the variation in the number
of broods of the Codling Moth for the zones as thus approxi-
mately limited comes in connection with remedial treatment.
Experience has abundantly shown that where there is more
than one annual brood it is the second or later broods that are
especially to be feared—the damage of the first, except on very
early apples, rarely amounting tomuch. Therefore, in the north-
ern of these zones, or where there is but one brood annually, the
infestation will be slight, because accomplished by the compara-
tively few female moths which successfully hibernate, and will
be comparable to the work of the first brood only of the warmer
zones. For the northern zone, spraying, except for the early
summer varieties, which will attract the majority of the moths, |
may prove unnecessary ; while for the middle and southern zones
remedial effort is at once more necessary and more difficult of
successful accomplishment.
In discussing this paper, Dr. Merriam stated that the case de-
scribed by Mr. Marlatt was paralleled by the distribution of the sev-
enteen and thirteen-year broods of the periodical cicada. Mr.
Howard referred to the discussion between Professor Riley and
Professor J. B. Smith on the number of broods of the elm leaf-
beetle and to the suggestion made by Professor Riley that it would
be important to study intermediate points between Washington and
New Brunswick, N. J., to ascertain where the single-broodedness
begins. He thought that the double-broodedness would be found
230 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
to cease near the borders of the transition. Mr. Schwarz stated
that many similar instances might be mentioned, and in the fact
of our greater summer heat in this country, as compared to
Europe, we have one of the reasons for the greater damage ac-
complished by introduced insects, since here they have more
generations annually. Scolytus rugulosus, for example, is
double-brooded in Europe, while here it may have six generations
annually. Dr. Gill, referring specifically to Mr. Marlatt’s paper,
asked whether it did not indicate that early apple culture should
be abandoned in the transition zone. Mr. Marlatt stated that
it indicated, rather, a necessity for spraying summer apples
only. Mr. Howard spoke of the possible spread of the gypsy-
moth, and Mr. Schwarz called attention to the fact that insects
introduced in the vicinity of Boston rarely spread. — |
—Mr. Ashmead read the following paper :
ON THE GENUS PELECINELLA WESTWOOD, AND ITS POSI-
TION AMONG THE CHALCIDIDE.
By Wititiam H. AsHMEAD.
Nearly twenty-seven years ago the genus /Pelecimella was
erected by the late Prof. John O. Westwood for the reception of
a peculiar Chalcidid collected by Bates along the banks of the
Amazon in Brazil, the description being published in the Pro-
ceedings of the Entomological Society of London for the year
1868.
In his classical work ‘‘ Thesaurus entomologicus oxoniensis,”
published in 1874, Westwood redescribes the genus, and on plate
xxvi, fig. 8, gives an admirable illustration of the type Pe/ecz-
nella phantasma.
Up to the present time this single species is the only one known
and it is probably extremely rare, as, during this long interval of
twenty-seven years, no other authority, that I am aware of, makes
mention of itscapture. The types in the Hope Museum at Cam-
bridge must therefore be the only ones in existence.
It affords me, therefore, the greatest pleasure to exhibit to you
tonight two new species belonging to this rare genus, discovered
in the Herbert Smith collection now in my hands for naming,
and to dedicate one of these to the grand old English entomolo-
gist, John O. Westwood, the other to our fellow-member, Mr.
L. O. Howard.
OF WASHINGTON, 931
Before describing these two species—which may be known as
Pelecitnella westwoodt and FPelecinella howardi—a few re-
marks in regard to the peculiar characteristics of the genus and
its proper position among the family Chalcidide will be apropos.
Westwood, in his characterization of the genus, stated its
affinities were with Cal/zmome, an old name for the modern
genus Syztomaspis, belonging to the subfamily Zorymzne ; but
in his Thesaurus he has placed it with his subfamily Perzlam-
pides. Prof. Westwood was probably influenced into assigning it
an affinity with the Torymine from a fancied resemblance due to
the very short subsessile stigmal vein, and by the long ovipositor,
characteristics more particularly found associated with members
_ belonging to this group; but why he finally placed it with the
Perilampides I cannot imagine, unless it is on account of the shape
of the head, the head having a deep antennal emargination, and
the coarse sculpture of the head and thorax.
A careful study of the two species exhibited tonight convinces
me, however, that the genus has not the slightest affinity with
either the Zorymzne or the Perzlampine, but, on the contrary,
all its affinities are with the subfamilies Cleonymine and the
Eupelmine, and I believe it forms a connecting link between
these two subfamilies, but with characteristics sufficiently well
marked to warrant us in elevating the genus into a distinct sub-
family, intermediate between the two aforementioned groups.
It differs from all genera in the Cleonyminze by the very slen-
der legs, which increase successively rapidly in length and size;
so that the hind pair are more than twice longer than the anterior
pair; by the anterior and posterior coxe being very long; by
the very short subsessile stigmal vein; and by the long petiolated,
strongly compressed sword-shaped abdomen.
It differs from all genera in the Aupelmine by venation; by
the shape and structure of the abdomen and thorax, the meso-
pleura having a long femoral furrow; by the proportionate
length of the legs, and in having the middle tibial spur small and
their tarsi not dilated; and by the two broad claspers at the base
of the ovipositor.
In the Eupelmine two genera, Polymor7a Forster and MJeta-
pelma Westw., have the tarsi of the middle legs slender, not dilated,
but the tibial spurs are large, and, besides, both have the large,
non-impressed mesopleura and the characteristic mesonotum of
the Eupelmine, and their position cannot be mistaken.
The groups showing the closest affinities with the Cleonymine
may therefore be arranged in the following order :
Subfamily Chalcedectine = Polychromine.
Subfamily Cleonymine.
232 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Subfamily Pelecinelline.
Subfamily Colotrechnine.
Subfamily Eupelmine.
Subfamily Encyrtine.
*
PELECINELLA WESTWOOD.
1868. Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., Proc., p. 36.
1874. .Thes. Ent. Oxon., p. 142.
(Type P. phantasma Westw. 9.)
Q.—Body very long, linear; head subglobose, with deep antennal
furrow; eyes very large, convex; antenne 11-jointed, longer than the
thorax, joints 2 and 3 minute, fourth joint very long, the following joints
gradually shortening; mandibles broad; maxillary palpi 4 or 5-jointed
(the last two joints connate); labial palpi 3-jointed, the last joint long,
clavate.
Thorax elongate, the anterior half transversely striated; pronotum
very long, longer than the mesonotum but narrower, and narrowed
anteriorly; mesonotum with complete parapsidal furrows; scutellum
large, obconical, the axille approximate; metanotum long, longer than
wide, without carine or spiracular sulci, the spiracles oval; wings with
the stigmal vein not developed, sessile or punctiform, the postmarginal
very long, extending to the apex of wing and fully twice as long as the
marginal; legs increasing in length and size posteriorly, the hind pair
more than twice larger than the anterior pair; anterior and posterior
coxe long, conical, the latter much the larger; anterior tibize above and
hind coxz above serrated; tibial spurs 1. 2, 2; tarsi on front and middle
legs much longer than their tibiz, those of the hind legs much shorter
than their tibie.
Abdomen petiolated, very long, slender, compressed, sword-shaped,
terminating ina long prominent ovipositor, which is more or less pro-
tected at base by two large foliaceous plates or lobes.
oo .-—Unknown.
The following table will aid in separating the species :
TABLE OF SPECIES.
Females. ;
Mostly rufOus .. ..sscessccerseceee enecncecceescosc conser seneee reser senses seesseseeseeseeees 3;
Mostly black.
Abdomen purplish or chalybeous; legs black, the 4 apical joints of
hind tarsi white; OViIp. 10 MM ...........cseeceeees P. phantasma Westw.
Abdomen toward base and above the venter rufous or rufo-piceous,
otherwise, including the petiole, black; legs black, but with the tibie
and tarsi of anterior and middle legs and hind legs, except tibia and
OF WASHINGTON. 933
tarsi, rufous; hind tibie black, with an annulus at base and their
tarsi white; ovip. 15-16 mm.. send np Sus ala .P. howard? sp. n.
2. Head above, the antennz, the ous aoe ‘tite entirely) and
ovipositor, except tips, black.
Abdomen except tip of claspers, and legs except hind tarsi, rufous ;
OPI YAS OUI See iig ccksae Lanes ss tne Oeed band obi Pa ecds cht ays P. westwood? sp. n.
(1) Pelecinella phantasma Westw.
Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1868, Proc., p. 36, 9.
Thes. Ent. Oxon., 1874, p. 142, pl. xxvi, fig. 8.
Hab.—Amazon river, Brazil, (Bates).
Types in Hope Museum at Oxford.
(2) Pelecinella howardi sp. n.
©.—Length to tip of claspers 24 mm.; to tip of ovipositor 38 mm.
Black; anterior tibiz and tarsi, hind coxz and femora, rufous; hind tibiz,
except a white annulus at base, black or fuscous; hind tarsi, except basal
one-third of basal joint, white. Wings subhyaline; tegule rufous; sub-
marginal, marginal, the sessile stigmal, and the postmarginal veins black;
spurious veins fuscous. Abdomen much longer than the head and thorax
united, mostly black, the second and third segments rufous, the latter more
or less stained with black and becoming black towards apex; ovipositor
as long as abdomen, its tip white.
Hab.—Chapada.
Described from 2 Q specimens in Herbert Smith collection.
It is at once distinguished from P. phantasma Westw. by the
color of legs and abdomen and by the much longer ovipositor.
I have dedicated this grand Chalcidid to my friend Mr. L. O.
Howard.
(3) Pelecinella westwoodi sp. n.
Q.—Length to tip of claspers 16-17 mm.; to tip of ovipositor 1g to 22
mm. Mostly rufous, the thorax more or less marked with black or.some-
times entirely black except a rufous spot at sides; antenne, the bottom
of antennal furrow, vertex, occiput, veins in wings, tips of the broad clasp-
ers at tip of adbomen, and the ovipositor, except extreme tip (which is white),
black; hind tarsi white, the basal one-fourth of the first joint, including
the extreme tip of the tibiz and the tibial spurs, black.
Hab.—Chapada and Port Branca.
Described from 2 9 specimens in Herbert Smith collection.
This species is quite distinct in the color of the legs and abdo-
men and in size from the other forms mentioned. here. The
anterior and middle legs, especially their tibiz and tarsi, are paler
than the posterior pair, and rather more of a brownish-yellow
than rufous. :
It is dedicated to the late Prof. John O. Westwood.
234 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
The paper was briefly discussed by Dr. Gill, who stated that
he was glad to see that the author was not afraid to erect a sub-
family for a single genus. So many systematists seem to be in-
fluenced in their erection of higher groups quite as much by the
number of forms as by morphological significance.
—Mr. Marlatt read the following paper :
THE AMERICAN SPECIES OF SCOLIONEURA KNW.
By C. L. Maruatr.
The genus Scolioneura belongs to the subfamily Blenno-
campine and was separated by Konow from the genus Blenno-
campa on what appear to be valid grounds. The important
characters separating the genus Scolioneura from Blennocampa
are, the curved basal vein which converges with the first re-
current, and the broad inner tooth which projects from near the
base of the claw. In Blennocampa the basal vein is straight
and parallel with the first recurrent, and the claws are bifid or
nearly so, the inner tooth being large and almost as long as the
_outer. In the Tenthredinid material now in my possession I find
two species which may be properly assigned to Scolioneura, and
of the described American species of Blennocampa &. capitalzs
Norton may also be so referred. The following characterization
of the genus is given by Konow: *
Body small, ovate, compound eyes reaching base of mandibles, antenne
rather slender, filiform, basal nerve of upper wings curved, not parallel
with first recurrent vein, transverse radial often not interstitial, posterior
jower angle of third cubital cell acute, discal cells of lower wings wanting,
inner tooth of claw near base and broad.
Scolioneura capitalis Norton.
Female.—Length4mm. Soft, delicate species ; clypeus broadly, squarely
truncate; vertex smooth, shining, sutures indistinct. Antenne filiform
or very slightly thickening towards tip, 3d and 4th joints subequal; basal
vein strongly converging with 1st recurrent, distinctly bent near origin;
1st cubital cross-vein wanting, or indicated by a minute stump on cubital
vein; stigma broad, rounded; hind wings without discal cells or border-
ing veins; claws with broad but short basal inner tooth; sheaths pro-
jecting, narrow, obliquely truncate at tip; color light honey-yellow;
antenne, except two basal joints, head, epimere and more or less of tip
of abdomen, brown; wings hyaline; veins yellowish-brown.
Redescribed from one specimen collected in New York (Nor-
ton’s type).. Type in collection Amer. Ent. Soc., Philadelphia.
* Deutsche Ent. Zeits., 1890, p. 239.
vie Tt (is Xin ta
OF WASHINGTON. 235
This insect has the venation of Fenusa if the rudimentary
stump of the 1st cubital cross-vein be ignored.
Scolioneura canadensis n. sp.
Female.—Length 3.5-4 mm. Rather robust, smooth, shining. Cly-
peus truncate, head smooth, sutures not distinctly defined; antennz
shorter than thorax alone, scarcely tapering: inner tooth of claw short,
inconspicuous ; radial cross-nerve not interstitial.
Color.—Head, thorax except anterior and lateral lobes, and abdomen,
brownish-black; legs pallid; femora, especially middle and hind pair,
brownish; clypeus and mouth-parts pallid; anterior and lateral lobes of
thorax reddish-yellow; eyes green iridescent; wings hyaline; veins —
brown.
Described from two specimens collected in Canada. Types
belonging to the American Entomological Society of Philadelphia.
Scolioneura populi n. sp.
Female.—Length 4 mm.; very robust, glistening; clypeus broad, trun-
cate, projecting over labrum; prominent sutures running from base of
antennz to occiput; basin of anterior ocellus small, circular and connect-
ing with elongate posteriorly-tapering antennal fovea; antennz very
short, not twice length of head, third joint twice as long as fourth, others
subequal, shortening but little towards terminal ones; transverse radial
and third transverse cubital veins interstitial or nearly so; sheaths mod-
erately robust, truncately rounded, somewhat pointed at upper apical
angle; claws with large sub-apical tooth, below tooth greatly broadened.
Color.—Yellowish ferruginous inclined to whitish on head, thorax and
abdomen; lateral and basal sutures of vertex, antennal fovea, ocellar
basin, occiput, thorax dorsally except distinctly defined border of anterior
and the sides and apex of lateral lobes of mesothorax, two spots on scutel-
lum, abdomen dorsally except two or three terminal segments, meta-
episterna, lower third meso-epimera, black; legs, meso-epimera and light
area of lateral lobes of mesothorax inclined to ferruginous ; antennz black,
obscured by white pubescence, fulvus beneath; wings hyaline, veins and
stigma brownish, costa pale.
Male.—4 mm. long; less robust than female; structurally as in female;
lateral lobes of mesothorax marked with white laterally, scutel black, ter-
minal abdominal segments light apically; abdomen infuscated beneath,
especially basally, hypopygium pale; ferruginous limited to legs—other-
wise color as in female.
Described from three females and one male, from C. H. T.
Townsend, Las Cruces, N. M. Types in the Coll. U.S. Nat.
Mus.
This species is supposed by Mr. Townsend to be the parent of
the larva which mines the leaves of Populus fremontt¢ inju-
236 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
riously throughout the Mesilla valley in New Mexico.* Mr.
Townsend has failed to rear the adults, but has collected these
saw-flies on the cottonwoods just as the leaves were beginning to
expand, early in April. He also reports that they were very
abundant, flying everywhere during the latter part of March. A
saw-fly belonging to a different genus, however, mines the poplar
leaves in the larval state in exactly the manner described by Mr.
Townsend; and the reference of the New Mexican species to
the poplar-leaf miner is therefore still open to question.
So far as known, the larve of the European species feed ex-
posed on the surface of leaves of Betula and Tilia.
—Mr. Coquillett read the following :
ON THE NESTING HABITS OF THE DIGGER-WASP, BEMBEX |
CINEREA HANDLIRSCH.
By D. W. CoquiLLETrT.
On September 11, 1891, in company with an enthusiastic nat-
uralist, Dr. A. Davidson, of Los Angeles, California, the writer
spent several hours in digging out the nests of this wasp in a sand-
bank near the ocean beach adjoining the little village of Redondo,
a summer resort distant about ten miles from Los Angeles. The
sand-bank in question is in the form of high ridges with intervening
depressions, and the nests were located in or near the bottom of
these depressions. The mouth of the burrow leading to the nest
was closed, and the only indication of its presence was a more or
less circular pile of loose sand surrounding it. The burrow ex-
tended obliquely downward a distance of from sixteen to twenty
inches, passing entirely through the loose surface sand and en-
tering the moist, hard-packed sand beneath. At a point about
four inches before its terminus a branch was formed which
passed beneath the main burrow, going still deeper into the earth.
The entire burrow had somewhat the form of an obliquely in-
verted Y, one arm of which lay directly beneath the other.
Nothing was found in the main burrow, the nest being invari-
ably located at the farthest end of the branch.
A large number of the burrows were examined, and all of them
were constructed on this same plan, the philosophy of which is
not very apparent. It cannot be for the purpose of excluding
* Canadian Entomologist, vol. xxv, p. 304, December, 1893. Zoe, vol.
ili, pp. 234-236, October 1892.
OF WASHINGTON. 237
the rain from the nest proper, since the latter was always placed
in that branch which would be certain to catch any water that
might find its way into the burrow. Nor could it be for the pur-
pose of misleading intruders, since these, by following the bur-
row, would be led directly into the nest, with the possible exception,
if any such exist, of those that make their way along the upper
side, or roof of the burrow ; these would be led into the empty end
of the main burrow. No parasites of any kind were found in
any of the numerous nests examined by us.
Only one Bembex inhabited each burrow, and at the time of
our visit, larve, pupe, and recently excluded imagos occurred.
The terminal portion of the burrow which contained the nest
did not differ in character from the remaining portion. The
nest proper was stored with Diptera only, among which were
Musca domestica, a second, undetermined species of JZusca, Lu-
cilia cesar, Sarcophaga sp. (?), and Pszlocephala costalis.
One of the nests contained one specimen of each of these flies,
with the exception of the Psilocephala, of which there were two,
and of the Musca sp. (?) eight specimens, or thirteen flies in all,
and these were to serve as food for the single Bembex larva.
After attaining full gowth this larva spins a dense black, very
elongate oval silken cocoon. Many of the empty cocoons were
lying about on the surface of the sand, either having been brought
from the burrow by the wasp in its efforts to escape therefrom,
or else they had been unearthed through the combined action of
the wind and rains.
The species is rather rare in southern California, where I have
observed it only in the vicinity of the sea-coast. The adults are
seen resting upon the bare sand during the warmer portion of
the day; they are very active and shy, seldom permitting a near
enough approach to allow of being captured by means of an or-
dinary butterfly net.
Mr. Howard asked how the habits of this species differ from
those of other species of the same genus. Mr. Ashmead stated
that Bartram, over 100 years ago, observed that Bembex will
supply its larve with fresh food from time to time and that this
observation had been substantiated more recently by European
observers. Mr. Coquillett, however, had not noticed this with
the present species, and stated that at the time of his visit the
mouth of the nest was closed with sand by the adult wasp. ° Mr.
Ashmead remarked that all species of Bembex store up Diptera.
238 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
JO | Marcu 7, 1895.
President Ashmead was in the chair, and Messrs. Marlatt,
Vaughan, Benton, Gill, Patten, Schwarz, Linell, Chittenden,
Coquillett, Howard, Riley, Heidemann, Stiles, DeSchweinitz,
and Fernow were also present.
—Mr. Ashmead read the following paper :
ON THE GENUS BARYCNEMIS FORSTER.
By Wituiam H. ASHMEAD.
The genus Barycnemis was erected by Dr. Arnold Forster, in
his ‘‘ Synopsis der Familien und Gattungen der Ichneumonen,’
published in the Verhandlungen des natur-historischen Vereins
der preussische Rheinlande und Westphalens, vol. xxv, 1868, p.
tA
The type is not mentioned and, so far as I am aware, the genus
has not since been recognized.
In Mr. W: Hague Harrington’s collection of Braconidae, kindly
loaned me for study and comparison, during the progress of my
work in monographing the North American Braconide, I founda
‘ most singular looking Ichneumonid, bearing a superficial resem-
blance to some of the Euphorine, which, for a time, was ex-
ceedingly difficult to place. ‘Finally, however, after many trials
and tribulations and the expenditure of much time in going over
the literature, with the aid of Foérster’s Synopsis, I have been
able to place it. It belongs, without doubt, in his genus
Barycnemts.
The genus was briefly characterized by Férster among, the
genera belonging to his family Porzzonotde, which, however, is
not a distinct family, according to my views, but should be con-
sidered as a tribe in the subfamily Ophzonine.
The genus appears most closely allied to Porzzon Grav., but
is readily separated from it and all other genera in the group by
the much longer, more linear body, the short swollen femora
and tibie, and by the very long, slender tarsi, which are as long
or even longer than the femora and tibiz combined.
Our species may be briefly characterized as follows:
Barycnemis linearis sp. n.
Q.—Length 4 mm.; ovipositor a little longer than the petiole, recurved.
Body elongate, slender, polished black; abdomen more or less along the
sides and beneath dark honey-yellow or reddish; antenne filiform, brown ;
legs honey-yellow, or reddish-yellow, the hind femora more or less
brownish above. Wings hyaline, the stigma large, triangular, brown;
OF WASHINGTON. 239
basal nervure rather strongly curved inwardly; median and submedian
cells equal; radial cell triangular, a little longer than the stigma; areolet
wanting. The head, when viewed from in front, is oblong, smooth,
polished; eyes large, extending to base of mandibles; antenne_ broken
at tips, but the basal joints of the flagellum are more than twice as long
as thick; thorax narrowed anteriorly, without parapsidal furrows, the sur-
face, except just in front of scutellum, smooth and polished; metathorax
very long, smooth and polished, except an oblong space at base above
which bears a median sulcus. .
Hab.—Ottawa, Canada (W. H. Harrington).
—Mr. Howard read the following paper :
ARRHENOPHAGUS IN AMERICA.
By L. O. Howarp.
It is with peculiar pleasure that the American systematist rec-
ognizes for the first time an American representative of a
European genus; but when, as in the present case, the European
genus is monotypical, and its single representative is one of those
extraordinary insects which upset preconceived systematic views,
the pleasure becomes doubly great. In 1888 Dr. Christopher
Aurivillius, in the Hxtomologisk. Tidskrift, described the
genus Arrhenophagus, devoting a full-page plate to its structural
characters. The insect was bred in large series from the males of
Chionaspis salicts. So peculiar was the form that Aurivillius
was at a loss when he attempted to place it in its proper sub-
family. In its general facies the insect resembles the Encyr-
tine; its habits are those of this group. To the Encyrtine it
is further related by its wing venation, the tarsal claw of the
middle legs, the undivided mesopleura, and the undivided meso-
scutum. ‘The Encyrtine, however, is one of the subfamilies of
the pentamerous group of the Chalcididz, and it is further charac-
terized by the possession of more than eight antennal joints.
Arrhenophagus proved to be tetramerous, and its antenne were
but three-jointed, On the whole, Aurivillius was inclined to
retain the insect, temporarily at least, among the Encyrtine.
Having in mind the somewhat similar state of affairs with
regard to the number of tarsal joints in Coleoptera, and its
peculiar history in classification, it occurred to me that we might
have inthis insect a cryptopentamerous group of the Chalcidide ;
and that further proper mounting and clearing of specimens
would reveal additional antennal joints. I therefore wrote to
240 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Dr. Aurivillius and asked him whether he could spare me
specimens of this remarkable insect. Promptly, by return mail,
he forwarded a large series in alcohol and others dry. These
were carefully studied, and his conclusions verified in every case.
After two years in Canada balsam, however, the specimens have
cleared very considerably, and one can trace at the base of the
antennal club the evanescent remnants of former funicle joints.
The tarsi, however, are undoubtedly four-jointed ; no hidden fifth
joint can be found.
A few days ago, in looking over some slide mounts of Chal-
cidide, I was delighted to find three specimens of an insect which
not only belongs to this remarkable genus Arrhenophagus, but
which corresponds exactly with Aurivillius’ species, A. chzonas-
pidis. The label on the slide indicates that these specimens were
reared by Miss Mary E. Murtfeldt at Kirkwood, Mo., in May,
1888 (the same year in which the species was described by
Aurivillius), from a barklouse on rose. It is altogether probable
that the Missouri and the Swedish specimens had a common,
more or less immediate, ancestry; in other words, the species
was probably carried from America to Europe or from Europe
to America. At present it seems probable that the form is
European, and it may readily have been carried to this country
upon rose bushes or other imported plants, while living beneath
scale-insects attached to the plants. There is no doubt that the
insect is a degraded Encyrtine. Its four-jointed tarsi upset the
old main division of the Chalcidide into pentamera, tetramera,
and trimera; and in this iconoclastic work it is not alone, since
recent investigations have convinced me that the genera Pterop-
trix Westwood, and Eretmocerus Haldeman, both tetramerous,
belong properly to the subfamily Aphelinine, all the other
representatives of which are pentamerous.
Dr. Riley said he was much interested in the paper, and fully
agreed with the conclusions of the writer, especially as to the
introduction of. the form from Europe to America or vice versa.
So curious a monotypical genus could hardly have originated
independently in the two countries. He was glad to see that the
author was not inclined to give undue weight to the number of
tarsal joints. He had been impressed with the futility of po-
domeral variation unassociated with other important characters in
recent studies of the Termites and Embiids. Dr. Gill said that
in such cases we should be influenced by the assemblage of
OF WASHINGTON. 241
characters in each particular case, and should not be led to-
generalize from isolated ‘structural characters. He brought up
certain allied instances among the fishes. Dr. Stiles spoke of
the number of hooks on the head of the Teeniidz.
—Mr. Marlatt read the following paper :
THE HEMIPTEROUS MOUTH.
By C. L. Martartt.
The hitherto accepted idea of the structure of the mouth of
hemipterous insects has been called in question by Prof. J. B.
Smith, and an explanation offered which entirely overturns the
old conceptions of the homologies of the mandibular, maxillary,
and labial structures of these insects.* Some observations which
Fic. 21.—Head and prothorax of Cicada, lateral view, showing parts
in normal position (original).
I had made on the feeding habits of aphides, without particular
reference to mouth structure, led me to make a general study of
the hemipterous mouth. It very soon became apparent that
Prof. Smith had been led into an error, doubtless through an
* Science, April 1, 1892, pp. 189-I9g0.
242 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
accident in his dissections, by means of which parts normally con-
nected were torn apart and applied to others with which they
had no intimate relation. By this means it was made to appear
that the hemipterous mouth agreed with his previously conceived
idea of the mouth of the dipterous insect. Previous to Prof.
Smith’s studies, the mouth structure of the Hemiptera,* while
not elaborated in detail, was well understood, and the major
features had been described by all the older writers on insect
morphology, all agreeing, practically, in the following characteri-
_ zation, which I quote from Westwood :
‘¢The mouth is of the Promuscid construction, the labium or
canal being occasionally greatly elongated and extending beneath
the body, and is either 3 or 4-jointed. The four internal delicate
sete represent the mandibles and maxille; the maxillary and
labial palpi are obsolete. The labrum is distinct, triangular,
more or less elongated, closing upon the upper side of the labium
at the base, when the sete enter the labial canal.”
Prof. Smith’s explanation of the mouth-parts is, in brief, as
follows: Accepting the clypeus and labrum as hitherto conceived,
the first following sclerite on either side represents the mandibles,
and the two pairs of sete with the lateral sclerites, posterior to
the mandibles, together with the sheath (the labium or main
part of the beak), represent altogether the maxilla. Of these the
sete, both of which are incorrectly made to attach to the sclerite
following the mandible, represent the lacinia and stipes, the
sclerite itself the palpus, and the sheath the subgalea and galea.
Prof. Smith’s mentum, which is rather indistinctly described,
seems to be the hypopharynx.
The studies which I have made be the mouth structure of the
Cicada have convinced me that the older authors. were in the
main correct in the understanding and description of the homolo-
‘gies of the mouth of this order; andthe most interesting result is
the striking similarity, in spite of seeming divergences, in the mouth
structure of the true bugs with the biting orders, and, indeed,
with the typical insect mouth, which in all orders presents a
fixed and uniform plan of structure. {
* This term applies throughout to both the Hemiptera and to Homoptera.
+t Westwood, Classification of Insects, II, p. 452.
t The terms ‘‘mandibulate” and ‘‘haustellate,” used to«separate into
two groups the class Insecta, are misleading, since insects falling under the
latter appellation also possess lateral jaws representing mandibles and
maxille. The misconception in these two terms was pointed out by
Westwood (I, p. 8), who emphasized the fact that the variation in mouth
structure was rather in the action of the various organs than in any impor-
tant difference in type of structure. He says, ‘‘ When the lateral pieces
wee. ae ee
OF WASHINGTON. 243
The results hereinafter detailed are based upon dissections of
the periodical cicada, which, on account oftits large size and
the abundance of material available, immediately suggested it-
self as a convenient subject for study.
All of the main parts of the mouth of the biting insect occur
in the mouth of the cicada. Beginning anteriorly and naming
them in the order of their occurrence, they are: (1) the clypeus,
(2) the labrum, (3) the mandibles (the inner part of which are
the upper and stronger sete), (4) the m@xillz, with which belong
the two following and more slender setz,-and (5) the labium or
sheath beneath. Within the mouth are the epipharnyx, project-
are short and inserted at a distance apart, and havea horizontal motion,
the action is that of biting; when, on the other hand, the lateral pieces
are elongated, originating near together and having a longitudinal motion.
(by means of strong, elongated muscles at their base), the action
is that of sucking.” He suggests the terms dacnuostomata (biting mouth)
and antliostomata (sucking mouth) to express the characteristics of the
two groups, without involving the contradiction suggested by the terms
in use.
Adopting for convenience the old comprehensive ordinal names, the
Dacnostomata comprise the Coleoptera, the Orthoptera, the Neuroptera
and the Hymenoptera; andthe Antliostomata the Diptera, Hemiptera, and
Lepidoptera.
To appreciate the modification of mouth-parts in the orders of sucking
insects, the main features of the biting mouth may be noted. They com-
prise two pairs of laterally-working, shear-like jaws (mandibles and max-
illz), inclosed above and beneath respectively by the upper lip (labrum),
the lower lip (labium), the latter bearing on its inner surface the tongue
(ligula) with sometimes, also, a false tongue-like appendage originating
from the roof of the mouth, or labrum. The principal modifications of
this mouth structure in sucking insects are as follows: In the Hemiptera
the four jaws are elongate, setiform, and are inclosed within the under
lip, forming what has been termed the promuscis or beak. In the Diptera
(in the more fully developed mouth) the upper lip, the four jaws, and the
tongue are elongate, setiform, and inclosed within the elongated enlarged
lower lip, forming what has been known as the proboscis or rostrum, ap-
proaching very closely the type of mouth found in the Hemiptera. In
the Lepidoptera the outer lobes (galez) of the maxille only are elon-
gated, and closely applied and interlocked to form the spiral tongue or
sucking tube, the madibles, labium, and other parts remaining rudimen-
tary or not specially developed. Numerous and important variations in
structure occur in each order, as, for illustration, most, Hymenoptera are
somewhat intermediate between the biting and sucking groups, and in
the Lepedioptera the larve are biting and in the Hemerobide (Neurop-
tera) the larve are sucking. ;
244 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
ing from the inner surface of the clypeus and labrum, and the
hypopharynx, projecting from the inner face of the base of the
labium. A more detailed description of these parts follows.
For the careful drawing illustrating the studies and for very ma-
terial aid in working out details of structure, I am indebted to
Miss Lillie Sullivan.
Clypeus.—In the cicada the clypeus (I a) is enormously en-
larged, and forms the bulk of the anterior portion of the head,
extending from the base of the antenne to the labrum. Exteri-
Rag
R
a
A AS
y
4S
Fic. 22.—Head of Cicada, front view, showing the normal position of mouth-
parts on the left, and with the mandible and maxilla drawn out on the
’ right (original).
AN
ain
ANS
WE
5
“bask
BY
ea
ALO
AR
5
a
at a
460P
Sa
~
Ss
4a.
a
an
y
;
orly it is ornamented with a number of parallel grooves, arranged
in two longitudinal rows.
Labrum.—This sclerite (I 4, c) is attached to the anterior
edge of the clypeus and is triangular in shape, truncated at the
apex with the anterior angles bent under, and developed into a
projecting, sheath-like appendage (Ic, and I’ c—Fig. 23) which
covers the base of the labrum and closes over the bases of the setz.
Mandible.— Viewing the head laterally, a small elongate —
sclerite (II a) is seen extending from near the base of the com-
OF WASHINGTON. 245
pound eye to a little beyond the base of the labrum. This is the
exterior face of the mandible, and when dissected free from the
adjoining parts is found to consist of this exterior portion, with a
flange-like projection apically (II 4), which passes under the la-
brum. This anterior expansion extends apically ina narrow tongue
analogous to the similar projection from the apex of the labrum,
and the inner edge of this expansion or tongue is grooved to
receive the mandibular seta (II c) which originates in a large,
bulbous, fleshy expansion (II c’), attaching near the base of the
mandible interiorly. The mandibular sete are very much the
stouter of the two pairs, and the tips are serrated for a short
distance. The exterior face of the mandible, especially apically,
is clothed with long hairs.
Maxtlla.—Viewed again laterally, and following the man-
dible, a more elongate sclerite is seen (III 2), which expands
somewhat apically. On dissecting this out, it is found to be al-
most identical in general structure with the mandible, having
a similar apical expansion (III 4), with pseudo-sheath (III’ 6’—
Fig. 22}, through which the seta (III c) passes, and the bulbous
expansion of the seta (III c’) which merges into the base of the
maxilla. The maxillary seta is much more delicate than the
mandibular one, and is simple at tip, though somewhat hooked.
I have made no effort to homologize the parts of the maxilla
just described with the maxilla of biting insects, as the modifica
tion in the present case has been so great, in the process of the
evolution of the sucking mouth, that any homologies suggested
would be largely fanciful. The striking similarity between the
upper and lower jaws in the cicada discourages the applying of
names to the parts in the maxilla which, in the biting insects, are
known only in the maxilla, and in this case would have to apply
to both jaws.
It suggests, however, that in the original or early type of
insect mouth, the two pairs of lateral jaws were of similar
construction, probably both serving the purpose of biting or
gnawing, and that the present wide divergence between the
comparatively simple mandible and the very complex maxilla of
biting insects is the result of a long line of variation in which
the original function of the mandible has been largely retained,
while the maxilla has been so modified as to make it an organ
adapted to and used for holding and adjusting the food material,
rather than for breaking it up or masticating it, and also as an or-
gan of taste and touch.
Labium.—The labium (IV a, 4, c) applies directly against
the maxilla and forms the floor of the mouth. It is three-jointed,
the joints being homologous, probably with the submentum (@),
mentum (4), and ligula (c) of the biting insect mouth. From the
246 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOUITETY
base of the last ‘oint extend three strong bundles of aves
which attach the labium to the base of the head on either side
and to the prosternum. The upper surface of the labium is
deeply grooved, forming a channel which encloses the two pairs
of sete.
The base of the labium is supported by a tongue-like expan-
sion of the prosternum (V @), which is concave on the anterior
face, so as to receive and strengthen the basal joint of the labium.
Epipharynx.—What I deem the epipharynx is a keel-like
structure (fig. 23, I d and I’ @) projecting from the centre of the
Fic. 23.—Head and prothorax of Cicada, lateral view, with parts separated to
show structure. See text for full description (original),
roof of the mouth, attaching to the clypeus and labium, It is
rather chitinous and glistening, and the edge is slightly roughened
or serrate from the presence of a row of minute depressions or
fovee.* The inner lobes of the mandibles close up against the
epipharynx on either side.
flypopharynx.—This is a Walle tongue-like expansion (IV
@d), forming the upper face of the ‘labium or the floor of the
mouth, and projects apically as a short, free cylindrical tongue
* This seems to be the so-called gland : attaching to the labrum men-
tioned by Professor Smith.
OF WASHINGTON. QAT
which bears centrally a minute seta or spine. This latter seems
to be the rudiment of what in certain Diptera is developed into a
5th piercing seta. Viewed from beneath (IV” @”) the hypopharynx
appears as a triangular piece (e) which closes against the pseudo-
sheaths of the maxilla, and large devaricating muscles. Viewed
from above it is seen to expand basally as two glistening surfaces
(ff) which apply to the lower face of the maxille, just as the
similar face of the mandibles applies to the hypopharynx.
The epipharynx and hypopharynx are intimately connected
with the clypeus and labrum and the labium respectively. The
mandibles and maxille are, however, freely separable, with a little
care in dissection, and do not coalesce or come together in any way,
but have smooth, glistening faces along the line of contact.
They are, however, so intimately associated that, while really
free, they have no lateral play upon each other, or but very little,
and do not perform at all the functions of the true biting mouth.
The shining inner surfaces of the hypo- and epipharynx indicate
that there may be a slight lateral motion, at least of the apical
expansion both of the mandibles and the maxille; but this
motion is probably confined to the more fleshy, inner portion of
these jaws, the chitinous exterior being probably fixed.
With the mouth-parts all brought together in a state of rest,
as shown at figure 1, the two expansions of the apex of the
mandibles with pseudo-sheaths apply together beneath and within
the labrum, and the mandibular sete, pass through the double
canal thus formed. The similar expansions of the maxillz also
apply very closely and project a little beyond the labrum, form-
ing with the sheath-like projection from the apex of the latter
a short tube, which includes the bases of all the sete. The rela-
tion of the parts described and the details of structure are accu-
rately shown in the accompanying illustrations.
Throughout all the higher families of the Hemiptera and
Homoptera the type of mouth structure detailed above is con-
stant. In some of the families the labium varies in the number
of joints, having apparently four in the Aphididae, two in the
Aleyrodidz, and is obsolete or nearly so in the Coccide. The
sete are, however, always present, and in the Coccide are free.
The number of sete is constant, but in some of the lower fami-
lies, particularly in the Aphidide and the Coccide, the mandi-
bular sete are very apt to be rather intimately united, so that
they do not separate readily, giving the appearance of but three
sete; and in fact Buckton failed to recognize this union, and
said of aphides that they have but three sete instead of four.
From the details of structure given above, with the accom-
panying figures, which were based on dissections of a great
many insects, it is difficult to understand how Prof. Smith was
248 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
led to such an erroneous conception as would make the two pairs
of sete and the maxillary sclerites, together with the labium,
which is not a paired organ but a simple one, all represent the
maxilla. The true homology is so simple and obvious that it is
not necessary to take up Prof. Smith’s argument in detail. It is
gratifying to find, however, that the homology of mouth struc-
ture worked out by such careful students as Burmeister, West-
wood, and many others of the old school of entomologists, whose
work in the main in this direction has not been improved upon,
should in this instance prove to be correct in essential features.
To Prof. Smith, however, belongs the credit of having called
attention to certain features of the hemipterous mouth which had
not been previously noted, namely, the mandibular sclerite and
the following maxillary sclerite, both of which he correctly de-
scribed, so far as their exterior face is concerned. Previous to
Prof. Smith’s studies the mandibles and maxilla were supposed
to be represented by the sete alone, and in fact in the lower
families the exterior sclerite of the jaws so prominent in the Cica-
das are either obsolete or minute and very difficult of detection.
There is a very general misapprehension, popularly at least,
of the manner in which the hemipterous insect draws up nourish-
ment from animals or plants. It is ordinarily conceived that
the beak, meaning the labium with inclosed setz, is thrust more
or less deeply into the food substance and the juices sucked or
pumped up into the mouth. My own observations of the habits
in this particular of a number of species of predaceous hemiptera,
together with the structure of the labium itself, convinces me
that the beak proper, namely, the labium, is never thrust into the
food substance in the least, unless accidentally where the material
is so soft that the beak enters without effort on the part of the
insect; but that, on the contrary, the beak is merely applied
closely to the exterior of the food and the sete are thrust in and
the resulting flow of juices drawn by suction, probably accom-
plished by expansions and contractions of the fleshy interior of
the mouth-parts, into the canal formed by the labium and the
sete. That the labium is never inserted is borne out by obser-
vation in the case of Hemiptera sucking juices from larve, the
larve invariably being suspended or seemingly attached at the
very extremity of the beak.* In the case of plant-feeding
Hemiptera the same is true even of the Aphides. In the
cicada, for instance, which passes its long subterranean existence
on the roots of plants, although the beak is very large and robust,
the roots themselves show no signs of puncture other than a slight
*Mr. Pergande informs me that his own observations on predaceous
Hemiptera are in full accord with this statement.
OF WASHINGTON. | 249
discoloration of the bark which results from the entrance of the
very fine, almost microscopic, sete. If punctured by the beak
itself comparatively large holes would be at once apparent.
If observations on this point were wanting, the structure of the
beak itself would at once indicate that it could not be employed
as a piercing organ. The beak or labium of all hemipterous
insects, so far as I have examined them, is clothed to and on the
very tip with numerous hairs projecting anteriorly, which would
make the piercing of any hard substance quite impossible with-
out tearing of and rupturing the hairs; and what is more, the
beak is never very sharply pointed, or smooth or chitinous at the
tip. Nearly every collector, also, has experienced the sting of
some large hemipterous insect, and has doubtless mistaken the
quick thrust of the maxillary sete for an actual puncture by the
beak.
Dr. Gill asked as to the true function of the beak. Mr.
Marlatt stated that it was simply a support for the sete. Dr.
Gill asked whether, with the Heteroptera, as with Reduvius and
Nepa, it is not the beak which pierces. Mr. Marlatt thought
not, and was of the opinion that in these cases, while it is
generally supposed that the beak actually penetrates, in reality
the puncture is made by the sete contained in the beak. Dr.
Riley said he would much like to know how the Homoptera
draw up their nourishment, particularly in the case of the
Coccidz. He agreed with Mr. Marlatt that, in the Homoptera,
the beak does not penetrate, but he thought that with the
Heteroptera it does puncture. How the sete work in the
Homoptera is a puzzle. Mr. Marlatt replied that the four
bristles are probably closely applied to form a sucking tube.
The suction is probably the reverse of the operation of oviposi-
tion with Thalessa and other long-tailed Ichneumonids.
Mr. Howard stated that Mr. Marlatt’s demonstration convinced,
him fully of the incorrectness of Dr. Smith’s views in considering
the beak to be the homologue of the galea of the maxilla. Dr.
Smith had evidently been misled by his own conclusions from
the study of the dipterous mouth, and had begun the sfudy of
the homopterous mouth with the preconceived idea that the
beak must be a galea. He said that while Mr. Marlatt’s proof
was perfect as regards the Hemiptera, it by no means neces-
250 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
sarily follows that the dipterous beak is also a labrum, but the
question of the dipterous mouth is obviously re-opened, and Dr.
Smith’s homologies must be most carefully tested. The man-
dibular seta is a puzzle, but if we homologize the two pairs of
jaws there is no reason why it should not be called a mandibular
lacinia.
—Dr. Riley presented a paper of which the following is an
abstract :
NOTES FROM CALIFORNIA: RESULTS OF MR. ROPGELYS
SECOND MISSION TO AUSTRALIA.
By. C.:V. Ritey.
[Author's abstract. |
Dr. Riley, under this head, gave an account of his observations
upon his recent trip to California as to the results of Mr.
Koebele’s second mission to Australia. He briefly narrated the
history of this mission as recorded in official publications of the
Department of Agriculture, and to the unpleasant controversy
between the California State Board of Horticulture and the
Department which had grown out of this mission. Said State
Board had obtained an appropriation from the State legislature
for the importation of beneficial insects and had appealed to the
Secretary of Agriculture to have Mr. Koebele sent over to
Australia for this purpose, the appropriation being placed at the
service of the Department. The then Secretary, Hon. J. M.
Rusk, being absent, Acting Secretary Edwin Willets courteously
declined, for reasons, the proposed arrangement. Upon his
return, however, Secretary Rusk, having in the meantime, while
in California, promised that Mr. Koebele should be sent,
reversed Mr. Willets’ decision. Mr. Koebele was consequently
sent under Dr. Riley’s direction. As’ time went on, the results
of the introduction through Mr, Koebele’s efforts, as a consequence
of this second mission, caused much discussion in California, the
State Board and its adherents claiming great success, while the
practical fruit-growers as a rule began to lose faith. Dr. Riley
alluded to several incidents which showed the. baneful effects
which’ political influence and methods sometimes. have’ on
canaaies investigation. In the fall of 1893 he had Messrs.’
Coquillett: and Koebele directed to carefully examine and report
- on the condition of the importations and the work they ~were
doing. Their reports were published in Insect Life, Vol. VI,
pp- 24-29, and showed on the whole that the imported insects
had, up’ to that’ eats failed to produce any marked beneficial
OF WASHINGTON. 251
results. There were exceptional instances, and one particularly,
at Santa Barbara, where RAzzobius ventralis was reported to be
doing much good in clearing olive trees of the Black Scale,
Lecanium olee.
The controversy as to what these insects were doing continued,
however, and he made it a point in his recent trip to study as far
as possible the actual state of things. For this purpose he had
made observations around Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Ange-
les, and in various parts of Orange and of Santa Clara counties,
.as well as in and around Santa Barbara. At Los Angeles he
examined with special interest the Kercheval orchard, where
Orcus chalybeus bad been extensively colonized and vaved for
with-much assiduity. He found there that the original trees upon
which the ladybirds had been colonized still contained many
specimens of the Red Scale, Aspidiotus aurantiz, which it was ©
expected to exterminate, while the orchard, as a whole, was ina
sorry plight both from the scale and from neglect. A few speci-
mens of the ladybird were found after considerable search. In
several orchards around Santa Barbara which were very care-
fully examined he found but very little evidence of the work of
Rhizobius, and none of any of the other introduced species. The
same was true at Redlands, Riverside, Pasadena, Altadena, and
other places where he had been able to make careful examina-
tions.
All over California the Black Scale is present this winter in
smaller numbers than usual. This is the case in localities where
Rhizobius has not been introduced, as well as in localities where
it has been introduced, and this is ‘probably the result of the ex-
tremely hot, dry summer of last year. Many of the young scales,
however, are’ still alive, even in localities where Rhizobius had
been colonized. He found a few. specimens of Leds conformis,
but none of the introduced species were present in any locality in
anything like the same numbers as the native cut d opine notably
Chilocorus bivulnerus.
Dr. Riley called attention to the fact that in Europe and
America our predaceous insects have, as a rule, some property
that protects them from the attacks of other animals. In the case
of the Coccinellids this protection is believed to. be due to some
acrid secretion unpalatable to predaceous animals and other pre-
daceous and parkene insects. . The Australian Coccinellids,
however, seem to be of a lower type and not to share in such
immunity. They are known in the larva state to be quite com-
monly parasitized, and, what is more singular, are extensively
eaten both in the larva and imago states by birds, the: English
sparrow being conspicuous in this respect, as recgreed by French
and other Australian writers. : a
252 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOOIETY
Considering that over 50 species of ladybirds were sent over
by Mr. Koebele, it is remarkable that so few of them have held
their own in California or multiplied so as to accomplish any
good. Orcus chalybeus and O. australaste, of which so much
was expected by Mr. Koebele and by the State Board of Horti-
culture, are practically unknown to-day among fruit-growers, and
only found in comparatively few numbers where they were in-
troduced. The two species of Rhizobius which have maintained
themselves show great variation in different localities. As a
consequence, the gas treatment is still being vigorously employed
by most of the people concerned, and by the county commission-
ers, and where some insecticides or other preventive means is not
adopted, the orange groves are yet suffering from both the Red
and the Black Scales. The policy, however, of introducing para-
sites and predaceous insects from abroad has a very strong hold
on the people of the State, but the present condition of things
fully justified the position which he had taken, and confirmed the
general conclusions in his paper on ‘‘ Parasitic and Predaceous
Insects in Applied Entomology,” read at the meeting of the As-
sociation of Economic Entomologists at Madison in August, 1893
(vide Insect Life, Vol. VI, No. 2, pp. 130-141).
As the speaker had often insisted, he was strongly of the opin-
ion that careful study should always precede any attempt at in-
troducing species for practical purposes. We should satisfy
ourselves first as to the country of origin on the introduced inju-
rious form; we should then satisfy ourselves that in that country
it is held in check by natural enemies which do not occur in this
country. These facts having been ascertained, we may then en-
deavor to introduce such natural enemies, with some hope of
beneficial results, especially if, care be taken to introduce them
without ¢kezr natural enemies. This favorable situation exists
in the case of the Gypsy Moth, and he expressed himself as sur-
prised that the Gypsy Moth Commission had not sent over to
Europe for the natural enemies of this insect, as he had himself
urged them to, several years ago.
As experience with the last introductions from Australia varied
somewhat with locality, he believed it would be advisable, even
though the chances might be against important practical results,
to introduce the Australian Rhizobiids that had maintained them-
selves in California to the Atlantic coast, since one of them had
been found also to feed upon Aspidiotus perniciosus, which was
just now spreading in the Eastern States. He also believed that
good would result by introducing some of the insects of this
genus, as well as the two species of Orcus just mentioned, to
Montserrat, as they might do better there than they do in this
country in competition with our indigenous species.
OF WASHINGTON. 253
In discussing this paper Mr. Schwarz said that the Coccinel-.
lide are separated by extremely feeble characters. The Austra-
lian genera are therefore closely related structurally to American
genera. He believes that the Australian species are therefore
not more susceptible to bird and insect attack, but that, in the
case of the English sparrow particularly, the habit of feeding
upon ladybirds is an acquired character. In introducing a spe-
cies from one part of the world into another, we should bear sey-
eral factsin mind. Ifthe relationships of the proposed introduced
species to forms already existing are obvious, the success of the
importation becomes probable; if not, the result cannot be pre-
dicted. Experiment must be the test. The point of Gray’s law
regarding east and west coasts should always be borne in mind.
European species can be taken to California with better hope of
success, while Asiatic forms can be taken to the eastern United
States. Asa rule, Australian species are weak and cannot stand
competition, judging from the fact that they do not well resist
the inroads of plants and animals. Mr. Fernow rather contra-
dicted the last speaker, and-stated that many entirely foreign
genera had been introduced into England with success, and,
further, that many European trees have been introduced into the
eastern United States and flourished there better than in their
original home.
Dr. Gill said that the Gray coast law must be modified in
many respects, since the west-American forms are really more
closely related to those of east Europe and northern Asia than to
west-European forms. Mr. Schwarz said that with the Coleop-
tera the old rule will hold, and Dr. Gill stated that he knew of
many supporting instances, but also of many contradictory in-
stances. It is simply a case of a fascinating idea which has
taken hold of scientific men generally, and all the supporting in-
stances had been brought forward, but almost no one has taken
the trouble to bring up the contradictory instances, which, in his
opinion, are quite as numerous. Mr. Schwarz said that for
many years Mr. Hubbard had been attempting to introduce into
Florida all sorts of plants from all parts of the world. He has
found, however, that the European plants do not flourish; they
die out. So do the insécts which are accidentally introduced :
254 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
with them, but Japanese plants, on the contrary, flourish ex-
tremely. Dr. Riley supported Mr. Schwarz, and said it was a
well-known fact that Japanese plants flourish better in the east
than in the west. His first impression of the Californian flora
was that it was European in its character. Referring to the sus-
ceptibility of Australian ladybirds to the attacks of enemies, he
stated that in Australia birds in general prey upon ladybirds, and
in his opinion this was due to the lack of certain protective in-
fluences on the part of the ladybirds themselves. The Austra-
lian fauna is composed of weak forms. He once more insisted
upon the fact that we must not expect good results from miscel-
laneous introductions of beneficial insects; all the facts concern-
ing them must be known. Mr. Fernow spoke of the introduction
of the Douglass spruce into Europe from California and from
Colorado. It was found that those from the Pacific coast do not
flourish in Europe, while those from Colorado do. He was of
the opinion that it was a question of resemblance of climate be-
tween the original country and that to which the species was in-
troduced. Dr. Gill said that Prof. Riley’s recognition of the
European character of the Californian flora is due to the exten-
sion of the European flora through northern Asia, making it thus
really the flora of an adjoining country. We are accustomed to
associate the Indian fauna and flora with the Asiatic idea, but
they are in reality quite distinct, and the true European forms
extend to the Pacific Ocean at a point above the limit of the In-
dian life-zone.
(ec 7 APRIL 4, 1895.
President Ashmead was inthe chair and Messrs. Schwarz,
Stiles, Stetson, Marlatt, Benton, Howard, Pratt, Linell, Chit-
tenden, Heidemann, Vaughan, Riley, Dodge, and Gill were
also present. ;
—Prof. Riley read the following paper :
ON OVIPOSITION IN THE CYNIPIDZE.
By CGC. Vi Riuey, Phi D.
Having made a special study of galls and gall insects, and
having accumulated a large number of notes on the habits of the
OF WASHINGTON. 255
species in different Orders, especially. in the Cynipide, I have
been deeply interested in many of the questions that were
treated rather fully by Hermann Adler in his epoch-making
. work on ‘‘Alternating Generations: a biological study of Oak
Galls and Gall Flies,” published some fifteen years ago. At the
time (1881) Lichtenstein published his excellent translation I
was in correspondence with him, and also had on several previous
occasions the pleasure of joining in some of his observations at
Montpellier and in discussing with him some of the questions
involved.
One of the most interesting points in the economy of the
Cynipidz is the mechanism of oviposition. It is interesting not
only because of the almost universal but erroneous assumption
by older authors that Cynipid galls owed their growth to the
action of some poison inserted in the plant tissue by the female
in the act of oviposition,* but also because of the extremely
long, curved and specialized nature of the ovipositor itself and of
the difficulty in following all the steps in the act.
A number of years ago, desiring to make some original
observations and, if possible, confirm Adler’s on the subject of
oviposition, as also to endeavor to connect some alternate agamic
and sexual forms, I had a series of experiments instituted, plac-
ing them in the care of Mr. Pergande. A number of young oak
trees of different species, in pots, were obtained for this purpose
and to assist observations in the field. Frequent absences from
the office, and other pre-occupations, prevented as much personal
attention as I had desired to give to the matter, and the experiments
were finally allowed to lapse. Some interesting observations,
however, have been obtained on the subject of oviposition; and
as the results seem to conflict with those obtained by Adler, I
have concluded to put them on record, more particularly as an
English translation of Adler’s celebrated work has recently
appeared from the Clarendon Press of Oxford, edited by
Charles R. Straton.
Adler goes into details and seems to have made his observa-
tions so carefully that one may scarcely doubt the accuracy of his
records. For instance, speaking of Weuroterus lenticularis,
which is the agamous spring form of Sfathegaster baccarum,
he says: ‘‘It” (the female fly) ‘‘ first examines the buds care-
fully with its antenne until it finds one that suits it, when it
takes up a different position. It advances toward the apex of
the bud and pushes its ovipositor down under one of the
*The ingenious dissertations of Walsh on the poison gland and the
secretion therefrom (Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil., II, pp. 473-4) very well illus-
strate how firmly this view was fixed in the minds of naturalists up to
that time.
256 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOOIETY
bud-scales. After several attempts, the ovipositor is forced
in and glides down under the bud-scales to the base of the
bud-axis, which it penetrates from without inwards. This
can only be accomplished by imparting to the ovipositor a
direction at an obtuse or right angle to the course it followed when
entering. The natural curvature of the ovipositor here stands
the fly in good stead, but it requires a vast expenditure of time
and strength before it can penetrate the heart of the bud.”
Referring to Bzorhiza aptera (which is the agamic form of
Teras terminalis), he says that the female seeks by preference
the greater terminal buds and seeks to bore into them. ‘* The
pricking is done in a very different way from that of other gall-
flies. After a suitable bud has been found, the fly stops, turns
its head downwards, and directs its abdomen to the point of the
bud. In this position it inserts its ovipositor somewhat below
the middle of the bud, in or upon the tissue from which terminal
growth proceeds. After the fly has pushed in its ovipositor it
withdraws it, and goes on boring one canal after another in the
stratum which the egg is to occupy, until the whole layer is rid-
dled like a sieve. When the operation is finished, the eggs are
successively pushed into the pricked canals, where they lie so
thickly together that they look like a continuous mass. The
amount of work which the fly goes through in laying its eggs in
this way is astonishing. After having been occupied for hours
in boring these numerous canals, it appeared to me inexplicable
that it had as yet laid no eggs; I found, however, that it bores
all the canals for their reception before actually laying a single
egg. This part of the work requires much time, as to which I
have made the following observations.
‘¢On January 27, 1878, a fly was put upon a little oak, and
soon began to prick a bud; when it had finished the first bud, it
went on without interruption to another, and was altogether
eighty-seven hours busily employed laying its eggs. In these
two buds I counted 582 eggs.”
The process of oviposition in the Cynipide is a very elaborate
one and has been much written about. Adler gives a most full
and elaborate description of the mechanism of the ovipositor, and
particularly of the ventral plates and bundles of muscles by which
the terebra is worked. The structure of the ovipositor is well
known, and its parts homologize with those of the same organ in
all Hymenoptera. It consists of a large bristle or seta and of
two spicule which mortise into it and form the channel down
which the egg passes. The seta occupies half the area of a trans-
verse section of the terebra, and the two spicule occupy the other
half. The seta has two tenons, and a central canal which con-
tains an air vessel, a nerve branch, and some sanguineous fluid.
OF WASHINGTON. 257
While appearing like a single piece, it is in reality double or com-
posed of two parts which, indeed, are separated at the extreme
base, but otherwise firmly soldered together. The spicule are ©
serrate or notched at the tip, and the seta often ends in a slight
hook. The two spiculze play, by means of strong basal muscles,
longitudinally up and down, by means of the grooves which em-
brace the tenons of the seta. ;
The eggs of Cynipide are characterized by having a stalk
or pedicel of varying length according to the species, the egg-
body préper, according to Adler, being at the apical or anterior
end which first issues from the body, and the basal or posterior
end being also somewhat enlarged or spatulate. In repose, the
ovipositor is concealed within two sheaths, but in oviposition, ac-
cording to Hartig’s views, the spicule grasp the egg-stalk and
push it to the tip, the fluids being pressed back in the operation,
so that they come to be distributed along the stalk or to lie at the
opposite or posterior pole of the stalk. The spicule then slightly
separate at the tip from the seta and extend beyond it so that the
apical end of the stalk becomes free. Now, by pressure, the
fluid at the posterior end passes through the stalk into the oppo-
site or apical end which is plunged in the plant, the basal por-
tion becoming emptied, the swollen apical end thus remaining in
the plant when the ovipositor is withdrawn, filling the distal
end of the puncture, which is somewhat enlarged. The empty
basal sack of the egg and a portion of the stalk are often left ex-
posed, looking not unlike the empty egg of some lace-wing fly
(Hemerobiid). Inshort, Hartig’s view, very generally adopted,
was that the extensile and ductile egg was driven through the ovi-
positor itself while this was in the plant, and that the contents of
the egg-body were pressed back into the egg-stalk or pedicel dur-
ing the operation and collected in the posterior end, and only
after the apical end had reached the bottom of the puncture did
these contents stream back into it.
Adler would refute this view, and draws attention to his own
figures on Plate 3, where the eggs and ovipositor are illustrated
side by side, all taken from photographs and drawn from the
same amplification. These show that the ovipositor is, in every
case, longer than the egg itself, the enlarged head of the egg cor-
responding in direction to the tip of the ovipositor. He argues
from this fact that one end of the egg cannot be in the plant tis-
sue while the other is in the canal. He further argues that it is
not possible that the whole egg can be received into the ovipositor
and glide through it in the way in which Hartig supposed. Let
me give in his own words the description of the process which
he has followed, particularly on Weuroterus leviusculus (the
agamic vernal form of SAathegaster albipes), while ovipositing
in an oak bud. 7
258 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
‘¢ We shall begin with the moment when the fly places its ovi-
positor on the bud. She always chooses the edge of one of the
outer scales as a point of attack, and pushes her ovipositor under
it. Then the ovipositor glides under the scales to the base of the
bud-axis. Even this first act requires great strength on the part
of the fly. We sometimes see it attack the bud repeatedly with
its ovipositor beforesit succeeds in getting it under the scales. It
does not succeed with buds in which the scales are closely im-
bricated, hence it always prefers buds with loose-lying scales.
When the ovipositor has arrived at the base it is driven towards
the bud-axis, so as to reach the rudimentary leaves; but the path
made by the ovipositor is always more or less curved. By mak-
ing a careful preparation of any pricked bud, the canal can be
plainly seen, and the path taken by the ovipositor followed.
After the fly has finished the first part of its work, and driven the
ovipositor into the centre of the bud, there comes a moment of
complete rest, and the fly sits motionless upon the bud. If it is
fixed in this position by dipping it into chloroform, nothing is
seen of the egg—it still remains in the vagina. Then follows the
second part of the work, the pushing of the egg into the bud.
‘¢ The egg slips, with its enclosed egg-body, to the base of the
ovipositor between the origin of the two spicule. The egg-body
glides over the point where the two spicule embrace the tenon of
the seta, since the space remaining open between the two spiculz
is too small to admit it. But the egg-stalk, which follows, slips
between the two spiculz, is seized by them and driven forward ;
in this way the egg is pushed downwards into the ovipositor,
with the egg-body hanging out.
‘¢ When at last the egg is about to enter the canal which has
been bored into the centre of the bud, it becomes evident that it
is impossible for the canal to admit the ovipositor and the egg-
body to pass in at the same time. The egg-body is always of
much greater diameter than the ovipositor; on this account the
ovipositor is next partially withdrawn by the fly, until the pierced
canal becomes empty. The egg-body then enters the pierced
canal, and the ovipositor follows, pushing it before it. In short,
the whole forward motion is dependent on the egg-stalk being
propelled by the to-and-fro movements of the two spicule, and
the egg reaches the end of the bored canal, while the egg-stalk
remains lying within it.”
To sum the matter up, the operation according to Adler con-
sists of three distinct stages: (1) the canal is first bored, after
which the fly rests; (2) the egg is then passed from the ovarium
to the base of the ovipositor, the swollen end or body of the egg
hanging out, but being pushed along by means of the stalk be-
hind being grasped between the two spicule; (3) finally, when
OF WASHINGTON. 259
the egg-body reaches the perforation, the ovipositor is partially
withdrawn and the whole egg then pushed in till the egg-body
reaches the bottom. Adler rightly expresses wonder that this
complex procedure should be repeated so often with such great
accuracy, and proceeds to describe the tactile hairs connected
with the ovipositor which permit her to carry out the operation.
He further states that while oviposition on the surface of leaves
is, in its nature, easier, the mechanism of sate haa is exactly
the same as that in buds.
As already stated, the observations are difficult and can only
be made with satisfaction by observing a great number of indi-
viduals and by suddenly chloroforming them at different stages of
the operation. Adler has done this to some extent, but there are
several passages which leave some doubt in my mind as to the
complete accuracy of his views. For instance, in controverting
Hartig and referring to his (Adler’s) figures of the eggs and of
the ovipositor, there is no indication as to whether the eggs were
taken from the buds after,being deposited, or from the ovaries or
from the ovipositor. My own experience with these and other
ductile and extensile eggs with long egg-stalks would indicate
that we have a very varying length of stalk according to these
varying circumstances. ‘Therefore, it is rather inaccurate to re-
fer to these eggs as if they had a definite and uniform length as
compared with the ovipositor. Moreover, the passages quoted
show that the operation varies considerably in different species,
his conclusions evidently being based on Weuroterus levius-
culus.
Again, any one who will carefully read Hartig will see that
Adler has totally misjudged him in assuming that he described
_ the egg as passing down the minute channel of the seta; for
Hartig’s language, as well as his figures, makes it very plain that
he had in mind the actual facts, viz., the passing of the egg down
the channel formed by the connection of the two spiculze with
the seta. It is true that he calls the seta the egg-guide( £z/ez¢er),
and this in truth it is, but he distinctly shows by his figure and
his description that it acts as a guide only by the passage which
it makes when mortised into the spicule, referring particularly
to this space (Tab. 1, Fig. 9, c) as ‘*die innere Héhlung des
Legestachels, in welche das Ei aufgenommen und _ hindurch
geht.” ”
* Incidentally I may state, as corroborative of Adler’s liability to error,
that he makes the sweeping assertion that the gall-gnats (Cecidomyidz)
cannot inject an irritating poison into the plant tissue as do the saw-flies
(Tenthredinide), on the ground that the gall-gnats have no piercing ap-
paratus. He is in good company in making this statement, but I have good
260 ENTOMOLOGIOAL SOCIETY
Such are some of the reasons which would make one question
the accuracy of Adler’s views, and I will now give the record of
the observations which would seem to controvert those views and
to comport most with those of Hartig, though showing yet a
third method,
On April 20, 1894, my attention was called by Mr. Pergande
to several specimens of Cadllirhytis clavula Osten Sacken
ovipositing in the buds of Quercus prinus. This is a rather
large, winged agamic form, which Mr. Ashmead informs me he
has actually bred from the clavu/a gall. The same species also
oviposits in the buds of Quercus alba. The flies were sitting on
the buds with the head towards the tip of the bud, and were so
absorbed in their work that they scarcely moved or altered their
position, even when the twigs were allowed to sweep back with
some force. The ovipositor was deeply inserted within the
scale-like covering of the buds. On carefully removing the scaly
covering of a bud that had been pricked, quite a number of eggs
‘were found in clusters of three or four together, and a few singly,
inserted in the tender, new, embryo leaves. It was further found
that the eggs were inserted on both the upper and lower surfaces
of the leaf and almost entirely hidden by the silvery pubescence
of the newly formed leaf. They were attached by a short stout
pedicel or stem which, however, upon very careful examination,
was found to extend for a great length (six or seven times the
length of the exposed egg-body) like a fine thread into the sub-
stance of the leaf. The distal or anterior end of the egg-stalk
was also somewhat enlarged, looking like a bit of shrivelled skin.
The exposed portion of the egg or egg-body was white, glistening,
elongate-ovoid or bean-shaped in form and about .2 mm. in
length. Two days later, or on the 22d, additional flies were
observed ovipositing and the buds were marked. On the 27th
reason to believe, nevertheless, that it is absolutely incorrect. Winnertz,
- Osten Sacken, and other writers have generalized in this matter from what
may be considered the typical Cecidomyidous ovipositor, which is a cylin-
drical tube, being but a prolongation of the tip of the abdomen. The
truth of the matter is, however, that many of the gall-making species have
this tip of the abdomen almost as much specialized as in Pronuba among
Lepidoptera, ending in a delicate, sharp lance, admirably fitted for pierc-
ing the soft tissues of tender vegetation, as I stated in the article on galls
in Johnson’s Universal Cyclopedia (1876), which Lichtenstein, by a cu-
rious error, referred to, in the Introduction to his translation of Adler, as
Le Dictionnatre Scientifique de St. Louis—a purely imaginary publication.
That they insert some special secretion which induces gall growth is also
presumable from the fact that in some cases which I have studied the gall
forms (as in the Tenthredinidz) before the larva hatches.
OF WASHINGTON. 261
these were examined and it was found that the pedicel had.
become shorter and stouter, while the anterior or buried end had
greatly increased, the exposed portion being now half empty of
its contents. Five days later, April 27th, the young leaves had
formed from these same marked buds and the eggs were still in
position, but mostly empty, and when removed and closely
examined it was found that under the epidermis and below the
base of the exposed egg-shell there had formed a soft, colorless,
globular body, having a yellowish streak internally. This body,
probably the first larval stage, is easily detached from the leaf,
but no movement could be discerned and the thread-like pedicel
had separated from it and disappeared.
So far, there is no trace of a gall or swelling to be seen,
although the affected leaves appear more or less crumpled or
distorted. May 4th the same leaves were again examined and
the young galls had already formed, appearing as slight thicken-
ings of the leaf, but scarcely elevated or prominent. The spot
where the egg had been inserted forms a minute depression or
hollow in the leaf, with the colorless and shrivelled egg-shell still
in position, the cavity thus formed being in an oblique direction
to the surface of the leaf. The cell or cells in each gall are re-
moved from the egg-shells about twice the length of these last,
but for which there would be little trace as to where the egg en-
tered; they are ovoid or rounded, and each contains a perfect
larva, semitransparent or colorless, with a brownish ventral spot.
Most of the galls contain three to five cells.
From now on, the formation of the gall is rapid, the substance
of the young gall being very juicy and succulent and of a yellow-
ish color, its outer margin or edge being pale pinkish. On May
rith the galls were nearly full grown and proved to be Cadéz-
rhytis futilis O. S., but no flies were reared until the middle of
June, and from this time until the last of the month flies in both
sexes were continually bred. A number of interesting subsequent
observations were made upon this interesting species, but have
no especial bearing on this communication. I ought, however,
to state that Mr. H. F. Bassett (Psyche, Vol. 5, pp. 235-8, Dec.,
1889) has described what is, apparently, the same insect as Cad-
lirhytts radicts, which he reared from a series of blister-like
cavities in the bark of the root of Quercus alba, and identified
with the fly which he had himself observed ovipositing in
the buds of the same oak and producing the gall which gives
forth Callirhytis futelis Osten Sacken. There is consequently
some confusion as to the actual relations of this sexual generation,
and either an error as to determination on the part of Mr. Bassett
or else an erroneous record of rearing on the part of Mr. Ash-
mead. I have adopted the former as the more probable. There
262 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
is, however, a third explanation, which, if verified by future in-
vestigation, would prove to be another interesting discovery in
connection with these oak gall-flies, viz., that the same species
may indifferently produce a gall on the root or on the twig.
When we remember how closely these two parts of the plant
are related physiologically and how readily the one in most trees
may be converted into the other, such a discovery should not sur-
prise us.
From the facts given in this case, although the act of oviposi-
tion was not carefully followed, it is yet obvious that the eggs
could not have been inserted in the manner described by Adler.
The facts as already suggested comport more with the conclu-
sions of Hartig, though they indicate quite a different method of
oviposition than that described by either, in that the fluid egg-con-
tents are not passed from one pole to another rapidly during the
act of oviposition as described by Hartig, but very gradually, the
process not being completed till just before the hatching.
Again, a small, black, wingless species (Lzorhiza nigra
Fitch, subsequently described as 2. politus by Bassett) is not
infrequently found, during late winter, under the shelter of bark
scales, and oviposits, during late winter, in the terminal buds of
Quercus alba and Q. obtustiloba. The ovipositor in this case,
as in most cases where eggs are laid in dormant buds, is thrust
down between the bud-scales until it reaches the soft latent cell
tissue toward the centre of the bud. And here it is easy to ob-
serve, by removing the scaly coverings, that the pedicel or stalk
only, which is about ten times as long as the egg-body, is in-
serted in the leaf tissue, and the enlarged portion or egg-body is
at first external, being pressed and somewhat flattened by the sur-
rounding leaf-scales.*
In still a third case, of a small black inquiline ( Ceroptus po-
litus Ashm.), oviposition was observed by Mr. Pergande in the
midrib of Quercus rubra, May 20, 1884, and in this case, as
my notes show, the egg is thrust down into the puncture made
by the terebra in the midrib until not a vestige of the egg is visi-
ble, the pedicel being very short.
There is, therefore, good reason for believing that oviposition
in these insects follows no uniform system, and there is a serious
question whether Adler’s rejection of Hartig’s views is justified.
* This fly produces, according to experiments made for me by Mr. J. G.
Barlow of Cadet, Mo., an undescribed vesicular bud-gall, from which issues
a small black-winged bisexual species (Dryophanta vestculotdes MS. mihi).
The gall produced by this and from which the apterous agamic genera-
tion comes is not yet known, though it will probably be a leaf-gall similar
to that of Acrasfis erinacee Walsh.
OF WASHINGTON. 263
In connection with Adler’s views as to oviposition, he concludes
from his own studies that the main purpose of the stalk is, by its
posterior end remaining at the surface of the puncture, to supply
oxygen to the egg-body in the plant tissues; but that this is also
an erroneous conclusion is, I think, made manifest by some of
the facts just stated. That the function of the egg-stalk is, rather,
to facilitate the otherwise difficult mechanical operation of the
passage of the egg down a narrow and elongate ovipositor in the
manner indicated by Hartig is supported by the fact that the
puncture is often closed at its mouth, as also from what we know
of the similar oviposition in other orders of insects. The facts,
for instance, connected with the oviposition of Pronuba yucca-
sella, where the egg is thrust deep into the ovarian cavity of the
Yucca pistil, bear out this view. The egg, in this case, as it
passes down the ovarium has not a definite pedicel or stalk, but
becomes a mere thread in passing through the ovipositor (the
nature of which precludes any external outlet during the passage),
and the fluids gradually concentrate in the apical or anterior end
as the embryo develops. Moreover, it is passed into the ovarian
cavity of the pistil and has no connection through the pedicel
with the exterior wound, which is closed before the larva hatches.
The paper was briefly discussed by Messrs. Marlatt, Ashmead,
and Benton. Mr. Marlatt said that the mere fact that observa-
tions on this point are so difficult is sufficient in itself to explain
any discrepancies, Mr. Ashmead expressed himself as inclined
to accept the observations of Dr. Riley. In referring to dimor-
phism, he said that he was satisfied that the wingless species of the
genera Acraspis and Biorhiza are agamic forms of some winged
bisexual forms. He thinks, for instance, that there is a connec-
tion between Dryophanta and Acraspis. In Florida the winged
bisexual form of Belonocnemus occurs on the roots of live oak,
the agamic form appearing on the leaves in the fall.
—Mr. Marlatt read the following paper :
THE HIBERNATION OF NEMATIDS, AND ITS BEARING ON
INQUILINOUS SPECIES.
During the summer and fall of 1894 large quantities of saw- fly
galls on willow were collected for me by Mr. E. L. Horton, of
East Steamburg, N. Y. These belong to both of the genera
of Nematine (Euura and Pontania), the larve of which develop
in galls on twigs or on leaves of willow. The experience
264 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
gained inthe study of these galls and of the habits of the larve, and
in the rearings, has resulted in some interesting facts, the signifi-
cance and accuracy of which have been substantiated by examina-
tion of the earlier breeding records contained in the Department
notes, and in the records attached to specimens in the collections
of the National Museum, the Entomological Society of Philadel-
phia, and Cornell University, together with the published records,
particularly those of Walsh.
Proper reference of galls. —Examination of notes and rec-
ords indicated at once that there had been considerable confusion
in the references of galls received at vaious times, the result being
that a great many Nematid (Pontania)* galls have been referred
to the. genus Euura, and, where parasites have been reared, these
have in some instances been named exur@, from an entire mis-
conception of the host.f
Such errors of determination from the gall may be avoided if
it be remembered that the species of the genus Euura, so far as
we have any record, always produce galls on or in the twigs, one
form (£. salictcola Sm.) developing in the pith without result-
ing gall formation. The bud Euura (£&. orédztalzs Norton) is
only an apparent exception, as this gall is really formed in the
young twig represented by the undeveloped bud. On the other
hand, all the species of Pontania of which the habits are known
cause galls in or on some portion of the leaf, The habit of these
two genera in this respect is so constant that any of their galls
may be properly referred with scarcely the possibility of error.
ftiibernation of the larva.—The idea has hitherto obtained
that the larve of most gall-making Nematids normally winter in
the galls themselves, or that, abandoning the galls in the fall,
they enter the earth to hibernate, or more rarely hibernate in rub-
bish on the surface of the ground. Hibernation within the galls
was supposed by Walsh to be generally true of Jomum and des-
modiotdes, while pzsum, he states, hibernates normally in the
earth. Of the Euuras a common habit, at least of ovum and
nodus, according to Walsh, is to hibernate in the galls. The ex-
perience gained from the specimens referred to above has indi-
cated that this idea of hibernation is not the correct one for most
species. The galls received from Mr. Horton, chiefly those of
Euura ovum and Nematus pisum, were, in every instance,
abandoned by the larve in September, while the leaves were still
green and before cold weather had set in. In cages supplied
* All the gall-making species of the old genus Nematus are now as-
signed to Costa’s genus Pontania.
+ Bassus euure Ashm., reared from Poxtania resinicola n. sp.
Pimpla euure Ashm., reared from Pontanta pyriformis n. sp
OF WASHINGTON. 265
with soil and more or less matted leaves, the larve of both these
species wandered restlessly about for several days, without show-
ing any inclination either to enter the soil or spin up in the sub-
stances provided. Supplying them, however, with bits of soft
or rotting wood, bark, and dry bits of weeds or twigs having
large pith, the larve began immediately to burrow into these sub-
stances with great industry and rapidity, the Euuras apparently
preferring the pith of weeds and twigs, and very soon all of them
had concealed themselves. ‘This experience explains the failure,
which has been a common one, in the attempts to breed these
and other gall species, and, in connection with other available
records, indicates conclusively that these insects normally hiber-
nate in bark, pith, or wood. Very rarely the dry galls of
their own species already deserted by other larve are entered, or
they spin up between matted leaves. Other saw-flies are known
to enter wood to hibernate, and this habit is doubtless very much
more common than hitherto supposed. The larve of Tenthredi-
nidz are most difficult to carry through the winter successfully,
and Iam convinced that it is largely because the proper condi-
tions have not been supplied.
Relations of these facts to inguilinous spectes.—This method
of hibernation has an important bearing on the validity of the in-
quilinous species, and an examination of the records, as well as of
the species themselves wherever obtainable, has convinced me
that all the species designated as inquilinous cannot be so con-
sidered, but are really instances where the larve of various saw-
flies, including those of the true gall-making species, and others
which live exposed on the leaves, have entered deserted galls, fre-
quently of the previous year’s growth and of both dipterous and
hymenopterous origin, to hibernate, and, these being collected
and the saw-flies subsequently reared, the latter were very natur-
ally described as inquilinous. All these inquilinous species are
due to records obtained by Mr. Walsh, a most careful and con-
scientious observer, and in nearly every case he himself pointed
out the close resemblance of these supposed inquilinous forms to
the species with which they really belong, and the facts of rear-
ing as recorded by him show pretty conclusively of themselves
that my inference in regard to them is correct.
There are six inquilinous species of saw-flies described by Mr.
Walsh. Two of these belong to the genus Pontania, and are
synonymous with true gall-makers. (A third may be added here
which Walsh referred to but never described.) Two belong
to other subdivisions of the old genus Nematus, the larve of
which live exposed on the leaves and had undoubtedly entered the
galls simply to secure a convenient retreat—in some instances for
266 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
midsummer transformation, and, in cases of the fall brood, for
hibernation. A Euura and a Pristiphora complete the list.
The record of these species and synonymy is as follows:
TRUE GALL-MAKERS.
Pontania hospes Walsh.—This species is synonymous with P.
pomum, from which Walsh himself says it is absolutely indistin-
guishable, except in certain very slight and unimportant colora-
tional features. It was reared from the gall of Cectdomyza
strobtloides O. S. (see Proc. Entom. Soc. Phila., VI, p. 261).
I have also received two specimens of fomum from Cornell
University, labelled as having been reared from this same Ceci-
domyiid gall.
Pontania tngutlina Walsh.—This species is synonymous
with P. desmodiotdes Walsh, who says of it that it is very like
a pale variety of the gall-making species desmodiotdes. It was
reared from the gall of Cectdomyza rhodoides (\. c., p. 261).
Nematus guercicola Walsh MS.—This species Walsh appar-
ently never described, although he refers to it on two occasions
(1. c., p. 260; Amer. Entomologist, IT, p. 73). Itis undoubtedly,
from Walsh’s own statement, synonymous with fzsum. He
reared it from an undescribed cabbage-like gall of Cecidomyia
on white oak. He says that it cannot be distinguished from
Nematus s. pisum, and differs only in the fact that all of his
species of Azsum entered the ground to pupate and the oak species
pupafed within the gall. My own records of pzsum, however,
show that it hibernatesin pith or other dry, soft woody material as
described, and will not enter the soil except as a last resort.
Walsh’s specimens, after abandoning their willow galls, un-
doubtedly entered and transformed within this oak gall because of
the lack of any more suitable material.
Fiuura perturbans Walsh.—This species is synonymous with
Euura ovum, Walsh himself saying that it is ‘‘ absolutely
indistinguishable”’. by any reliable characters. A number of
males and females were reared from the galls of Ceczdomyza
strobtlotdes O. S., and from C. datatas Walsh and C. rhodotdes
Walsh, all galls of the preceding year, and ‘‘two females bred»
many years ago, in the same season that the gall was produced,
so far as I recollect, from an undescribed Cecidomyid bud- gall—
Vitis fusus Walsh MS. —composed of bunches of 6 to 50
fusiform galls, occurring on the stem of wild grape vine
(Vitis cordifolia), each gall attached by a single point and
about one-half an inch long” (Il. c., p. 2523; pp. 254, 255).
From the experience with the larve of Huura ovum, already
detailed, the significance of the above records is at once appa-
OF WASHINGTON. 267
rent. The larve of this species refuse absolutely to enter the soil
or to spin up in leaves, but burrow into bark or pith or soft
wood, or even into the galls of their own species, or of other in-
sects, to hibernate, and in this way had entered, in the fall, the
galls subsequently collected by Mr. Walsh.
Non GALL-MAKERS.
Nematus mendicus Walsh.—This is a good species, and will
fall in the genus Pteronus. Mr. Walsh says of it (1. c., p. 262):
‘¢One female bred May 2, from a Tenthredinidous gall of S.
pomum vn. sp. of the preceding year’s’ growth, and another fe-
male August 5, from the Cecidomyiidous gall of S. drasstcozdes
Walsh of the same year’s growth.”” The latter record is interest-
ing, as showing that the larva of one of the early broods had en-
tered the green gall of this Cecidomyiid to spin up, the inquili-
nous habit of the species being thus apparently strongly indicated.
In the first instance one of the later broods had entered a gall in
the fall for hibernation.
Nematus fur Walsh.—Walsh (1. c., p. 263) reared this species
from the gall of Cectdomyia batatas Walsh on Salix humilis.
He says: ‘*As the mother saw-fly must have deposited her egg in
this gall after the gall-maker had quitted it, or not long before, it
is a question whether, if such be its general habits, this species
can be properly considered as an inquiline.” The type of this
species has been lost, but, from the affinities pointed out by Mr.
Norton, it probably belongs in the genus Amauronematus.
Pristiphora sycophante Walsh.—Mr. Walsh bred this spe-
cies, August 9, from a cocoon found within the gall of Cecz-
domyta brasstcotdes of the same year’s growth (l. c., p. 264).
The type specimen seems to be lost, but Norton has already
pointed out the close resemblance and probable identity of this
species with his P. ¢zbza/zs. In this Norton is probably correct,
and it undoubtedly is another case where a larva of one of the
early broods had entered the gall in question to spin up.
It will be noted that, in the case of every one of the inquilinous
species cited above, the hibernating habit, so strongly marked,
especially in the gall-making groups of saw-flies, of entering dry
vegetable material for the winter, fully explains the occurrence
. of the cocoons or larve in foreign galls, and would render the
claim that they were inquilinous very doubtful, even if the con-
firmatory evidence of their practical identity with other species
were lacking.
The paper was discussed by Messrs. Schwarz, Riley, and Ash-
mead. Dr. Riley stated that, while he thought Mr. Marlatt’s
268 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
conclusions in the main were probably correct, he hesitated to
condemn Walsh without the most careful consideration of all
the circumstances. Where a full-fed saw-fly larva enters the gall
of another insect, the entrance-hole must be perfectly visible, and
it seems incredible that Walsh could have overlooked this en-
trance-hole. It is possible that the galls were collected in large
numbers and that the saw-flies issued from the mass of galls, so
that there was hardly an opportunity for investigating this point.
He further said that the saw-fly might oviposit in the epidermis
of a young Cecidomyiid gall quite as well as in the epidermis of
a twig or leaf, and that the saw-fly larva might develop with the
Cecidomyiid gall. He further said that the leaf-galls of Nemati-
dz fall to the ground with the leaves in autumn and that the full-
grown larve issuing from them would not be apt to reascend the
plant and bore into the galls.
Mr. Marlatt, in reply, said that in the species which he had had
an opportunity to study, and in the available records of the rear-
ings, the parent saw-flies issued too early in the spring to oviposit in
the epidermis of Cecidomyiid or other galls. The Euuras emerge
long before the time of leafing in spring, in late February or
early in March, and the Nematids, producing galls on the leaves,
issue in the latter part of March or early in April, with the first
appearance of the leaves. He also said that the larve coming
from both the stem-galls of Euura and the leaf-galls of Nematus
abandon their galls early in the autumn, before the leaves fall
and in fact while they are still green. He said, also, that many of
these inquilines were reared from leafy galls, in which no
entrance-hole would be necessary.
Dr. Riley, replying, said that while it is true that saw-flies gener-
ally issue early in the season, they come out very irregularly, and
some are much later than others, and he saw nothing impracti-
cable in the idea that oviposition might take place exceptionally
on Cecidomyiid galls. Mr. Schwarz said that many saw-fly larve
construct hibernating burrows in the dry bark of trees, and suggested
that these burrows should be collected and studied, since they are
characteristic with each species, in this way being somewhat
analogous to Scolytid burrows. Other saw-fly larvee bore in the
hard wood, and he remembers having found the larve, probably
OF WASHINGTON, 269
of Harpiphorus testaceus Nort., burrowing to a depth of two
or three inches in the solid wood of an oak near Rock Creek in
the District of Columbia.
—Mr. Schwarz presented for publication the following paper :
NOTES ON NOMARETUS, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO
NEW SPECIES.
By E. A. ScHWARZ.
The discovery of two undescribed species of Nomaretus, one of
which differs remarkably from the nearest allied species in the
tarsal characters of the male, led to a desire of examining and
comparing the males of all our species. In this I was unsuc-
cessful, owing to the scarcity of specimens in our collections, and
the idea of contrasting the species according to the tarsal structure
of the males had to be abandoned for the present. However, in
the course of examination of the available material a number of
other distinctive characters, irrespective of sex, were found, and
the following synoptic table, which has been drawn up conjointly
by Mr. H. G. Hubbard and myself, may be of some use in con-
nection with that given by Dr. Horn (Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc.,
1, 1879, p. 80).
TABLE OF SPECIES.
Body cychriform; humeri distinct; elytra with marginal row of punctures ;
epipleure either coarsely DEnSISte or at least with marginal r row of punc-
tures.
Sides of thorax with many uectase: under side of body more or
less punctate; elytral epipleurz coarsely, irregularly punctate;
side margin of thorax not sinuate, hind angles obtuse; elytral
striation complete.
Elytral striz distinctly impressed, punctures approximate,
bilobus Say.
Elytral striz feebly impressed, punctures distant.
Thorax with many setigerous punctures on the disc,
cavicollis Lec.
Thorax smooth on the disc........,.-+...+++...-fesstcollis Lec.
Sides of thorax with a single setigerous puncture; under side en-
tirely smooth; elytral epipleurz with a single marginal row of
punctures; thorax sinuate at sides, hind angles subrectangular.
Hind angles of thorax long; elytra convex, with complete
striation; punctures of strie not coarse and rather closely
RSAMOOT 6 iis cacdos fovea Mh ecaNeN Tess Lodge esd saeaueanseesea natin debilis Lec.
Hind angles of thorax short; elytra subdeplanate with seven
abbreviated striz; inner striz coarsely punctate,
tncompletus n. sp.
270 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Body slender; humeri obliterated; elytra without marginal row of punc-
tures; under side and epipleure smooth; sides of thorax with a single
setigerous puncture; elytral striation incomplete.
Front tarsi of ¢ widely dilated; elytra oblong-oval, with from five
to six abbreviated striz; fourth interstice with a series of setige-
POU PROCITE RF ccor atts nl aces severe Lagvaaenebe ter is seri hubbard: n. sp.
Front tarsi of 9 not dilated; elytra elongate-oval, with from three
to four striz, interstices without setigerous punctures.
tmperfectus Horn.
1. N. bilobus Say.
o'.—Front tarsi moderately dilated, densely papillose beneath, except-
ing base of first joint; joint 1 fully twice longer than wide at tip, joints
2-4 much decreasing in size, each slightly longer than wide; last joint of
palpi much dilated; last joint of labial palpi with the apical edge much
longer than the inner lateral edge and slightly longer than the outer lateral
edge.
2 not seen by me.
The post-ocular constriction is deeply impressed, and the ver-
tex greatly convex; side of the prosternum and the pro-epimera,
sides and side pieces of meso- and metasternum are coarsely
punctate; sides of first abdominal joints with some indefinite
punctures; second joint of labial palpi with four sete.
The specimens before me are from the Lake Superior region
(Marquette and Michipicoten Island), and I have seen others from
Canada and New Hampshire, but none from Say’s type localities,
‘¢ Missouri”’ (probably northern Nehkraska) and ** Northwestern
Territory” (probably Minnesota).
2. N. cavicollis Lec.
I have examined only a single female specimen from Texas:
second joint of labial palpi with 5 sete, last joint strongly secu-
riform, with the apical edge slightly longer than the inner edge
and distinctly shorter than the outer edge; last joint of maxillary
palpi much more slender than that of the labial palpi; post-ocular
constriction less impressed than in 6z/oéus, and the vertex less
convex. The punctures on the anterior part of the prothoracic
disc are setigerous; those near the base simple; under side more
punctate than in any other species.
3. N. fissicollis Lec.
Only a few specimens from Texas and Kansas have been seen
by me. From a superficial examination of a male in Mr Ulke’s
collection I made the following notes: Front tarsi slightly less
dilated than in édz/odus, spongy, pubescent beneath, first joint
more slender than in 6¢/oéus and pubescent only at apical half;
last joint of palpi strongly dilated; last joint of labial palpi with
OF WASHINGTON. 271
the apical edge slightly longer than the inner edge. The female.
has the last joint of palpi distinctly dilated and securiform.
4. N. debilis Lec. .
3'.—Front tarsi with joints 1-2 distinctly dilated but less so than in dzJo-
bus, joints 1-3 papillose beneath, joint 1, 2} times longer than wide at tip,
joint 2 almost twice as long as wide, joint 3 feebly dilated, more than twice
longer than wide, joint 4 not dilated; second joint of labial palpi trise-
tose, last joint strongly dilated with the apical edge as long as, or shorter
than, the inner edge.
In this and the following species the eyes are feebly prominent
and the post-ocular constriction obsolete.
The type locality is Habersham Co., Ga.; the specimens be-
fore me were collected by Mr. H. G. Hubbard and myself at
Round Knob, N. C. (altitude, about 1,800’), between June 23
and June 28.
5. N. incompletus n. sp.
Moderately slender, cychriform, shining, black; antenne, mouth-parts,
tibiz and tarsi rufous, elytra rufo-piceous, with slight bluish tinge. Head
with the post-ocular constriction obsolete; eyes feebly prominent, second
joint of labial palpi trisetose. Thorax cordate, as wide as long, surface
slightly depressed, smooth, except a setigerous puncture at the middle of
the side margin and the usual puncture in front of the hind angles, sides
much rounded, slightly sinuate behind, hind angles subrectangular, apical
and ante-basal transverse impressions deep, basal longitudinal impression
well marked and extending beyond the transverse impression. Elytra ob-
long-oval, decidedly deplanate on the disc, humeri well indicated though
rounded, with seven striz, all being greatly abbreviated, the outer ones
gradually much more so than the inner ones; a wide smooth submarginal
space extending from the humeri to the apex; marginal row of punctures
distinct from the base to beyond the middle; striz 1-5 deeply impressed
and coarsely punctate, the punctures not closely placed, sixth stria less
distinctly impressed and with the punctures small and indefinite, seventh
stria feeble and not punctured; interstices wider than the striw, convex
and smooth; epipleurz with a marginal row of punctures and with a few
irregular punctures near the humeri; under side of body smooth; legs
long and slender. ‘
3 unknown.
°.—Front tarsi slender, first joint as long as the following three to-
gether, joints 2 and 3 each more than twice longer than wide, joint 4 dis-
tinctly longer than wide; last joint of palpi slender, feebly securiform,
last joint of labial palpi with the apical edge at least twice shorter than the
inner lateral edge.
Length, 10 mm.
Described from a single specimen found by Mr. H. G. Hub-
272 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
bard at Stone Creek, Lee Co., Va. (Cumberland Mts.), July 30,
1879.
In general appearance this species resembles a diminutive Cy-
chrus cordatus. It is closely allied to WV. deézlis, the distin-
guishing characters being given in the table. The reddish color
of the elytra is most probably only an individual character.
6. N. hubbardi n. sp.
Slender, black, shining, mouth-parts, antenne and tarsi rufous, tibie
piceo-rufous. Head with the post-ocular impression deep, vertex globose,
eyes prominent. Thorax cordate, as long as wide, sides greatly rounded
at apical third, posteriorly oblique and slightly subsinuate, hind angles
nearly rectangular; surface smooth with a single setigerous puncture at
the middle of the side margin and another near the hind angles; anterior
transverse impression feeble, posterior transverse and basal longitudinal
impressions deep. Elytra oblong-oval, moderately convex, declivity
_ oblique; humeri entirely obliterated; sides moderately rounded; surface
with five or six abbreviated strie, the outer gradually much more so than
the inner ones, and with a broad, smooth lateral space extending from the
base to the apex; the four inner strie anteriorly moderately impressed
and punctate, the punctures not coarse and rather closely placed, fifth stria
feebly impressed, either feebly punctate or smooth, sixth stria feebly im-
pressed, not punctate and sometimes obsolete; interstices moderately con-
vex, the fourth with a series of 5 or 6 setigerous punctures; a series of
from two to four setigerous punctures in the smooth space between the
outermost stria and the margin; marginal impressed line without punc-
tures but with a few sete near the humeri; epipleurz and entire under
side smooth; legs moderately slender.
‘ §'.—Front tarsi spongy, pubescent beneath, and much more strongly
dilated than in the other species, joint 1 slightly longer than wide at tip,
joints 2-4 each as long as wide; last joint of labial palpi moderately di-
lated with the apical edge about as long as inner lateral edge and distinctly
shorter than the outer lateral edge.
Q.—Front tarsi simple, moderately slender, joint 1 nearly as long as
the three following joints. united, joint 2 about twice longer than wide,
joint 3 slightly longer than wide, joint 4 as long as wide; palpi very slen-
der, last joint very feebly dilated with the apical edge fully twice shorter
than the inner lateral edge.
Length, 8-9 mm.
Several specimens were found by Mr. H. G. Hubbard, to whom
the species is dedicated, near Retreat, Haywood Co., N. C. (al-
titude about 3,000’), in May and June, 1893.
This isthe only species with strongly dilated tarsi in the male,
and the row of setigerous punctures on the disc of the elytra is
also a character not found in any other species. It is evidently
closely allied to JV. zmperfectus, which, however, is the only
OF WASHINGTON. 273
species with simple front tarsi in the male. In WV. hudbbardi the
punctures of the elytral strie are smaller, more numerous, and
more closely placed than in zmferfectus ; the other more striking
differences between the two are set forth in the table.
7. N. imperfectus Horn.
3 -—Front tarsi not dilated, tip of joint 1 and joints 2 and 3 beneath
with spongy pubescence, joint 1 not increasing in width apically and
_ abaut 25 times longer than wide, joint 2 slightly longer than wide, joints
3 and 4 each as wide as long; last joint of palpi moderately dilated, last
joint of labial palpi with the apical edge slightly shorter than the inner
lateral edge and about one-third shorter than the outer lateral edge.
°.—Front tarsi as in the male, beneath sparsely hairy; terminal joint
of palpi extremely slender, that of the maxillary palpi not dilated and not
securiform, that of the labial palpi with the apical edge at least three times
shorter than the inner apical edge.
Widely distributed in the Allegheny Mts., but apparently not
occurring below 1,800' elevation. Type locality, Hampshire
Co., W.Va. I have seen specimens from Cresson Springs, Pa. ;
Deer Park, Md. (Ulke) ; Ft. Pendleton, Md. (Schwarz) ; Moun-
tain Lake, Giles Co., Va. (Ulke), and Round Knob, N.\C.
(Hubbard and Schwarz).
(0% May 3, 1895.
President Ashmead in the chair, and the following gentlemen
were also present: Messrs. Stiles, Benton, Gill, Patten, Chit-
tenden, Linell, Marlatt, Howard, Fernow, Waite, pula aed, and
Dr. Deckert, a Leipzig.
The following new members were elected: Active—S. D.
Judd and Henry Schoenborn; Corresponding—H. Schwarz,
1520 Lafayette avenue, St. Louis, Mo., A. H. Kirkland, Mal-
den, Mass., Dr. Geo. W. Bock, 1319 Hickory street, St. Louis,
Mo., and C. W. Johnson, Wagner Institute, Diuue cn
—Mr. Howard read a paper on ‘‘An injurious parasite.”
—The following communication was presented for mPa :
A LEAF-BEETLE OF THE GOLDEN-ROD.
By F. H. CuirrenpveEn.
a low-growing species of golden-rod that occurs about Wash-
ington and which has been identified as probably Solzdago ar-
* Withdrawn for publication in Zazsect Life, Vol VII, No. 5.
274 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOUIETY
guta Ait. is yearly ravaged by a little chrysomelid beetle, which
attacks it soon after the appearance of its foliage above ground,
both larve and beetles cutting out large holes in the leaves, which
become still larger with the plant’s growth.
The beetle in question is Galerucella americana Fab., a ro-
bust little light brown species with its elytra lined with black and
resembling the congeneric imported elm leaf-beetle, G. Zateola
Mull. (= xaxthomelena Schr.). Last summer this insect oc-
curred in such abundance just above the Virginia shores of the
Potomac opposite Georgetown that it was next to impossible to
find a plant of this species of Solidago that had not been attacked
by the beetle. It was almost equally difficult at the time of this
observation to find the larve and, when found, to carry them
safely over the larval stage. During the first days of June full-
sized larve were observed and all that could be found taken home
for rearing. After searching many plants that showed the char-
acteristic large holes eaten out by this species and finding four
specimens, I discovered the cause of their scarcity in a fungoid
disease, which manifested itself in patches of mould of the size
of the larve and dispersed about on the under-side of the leaves.
All but a few of the larve taken at this time were light straw-
yellow in color, and all thus colored died, some within a few
hours after capture. They usually succumb to this disease upon
arriving at maturity, but a few died at a younger age. In a very
few hours after death ensues the larvez2 become flattened and lose
all semblance to their former selves.
Specimens of the diseased larvae were shown to Mr. B. T.
Galloway, Chief of the Division of Vegetable Pathology in the
Department of Agriculture, who doubtfully referred the fungus
to Empusa spherosperma, a common species which often pro-
duces epidemics among various insects. The infected larva were
found along the border of a shaded pathway, and it is not im-
probable that the shade may have afforded the most suitable con-
ditions for the propagation of the fungus. At ‘any rate, in an
adjoining meadow more exposed to sunlight, larve were found
free from infection. One of these, confined in a rearing jar, was
found to have formed its cocoon on the morning of June rr. It
pupated June 15, and the imago developed on the 22d, this in-
dividual having passed seven days as pupa. A second developed
in six days, in extremely warm weather, June 20-26. The adult
remains a few days in the pupal case and after issuing requires a
few days longer for its outer chitinous parts to harden.
The new brood of 1894 began to appear June 14 and by the 17th
the most of those found had fully matured. A good series was
collected and fed, but no attempt at copulation was noticed, nor
were any more larve found after June, from which facts it is
OF WASHINGTON. z 275
quite plain that the species is normally single-brooded in this lat-
itude. On the other hand, a pair of adults, without doubt of the
new brood, was taken zz cofu/a as late as July 26, from which
was obtained a mass of ten eggs on the following day. Thus it
is probable that in the southernmost limit of the species we may
sometimes have produced an exceptional second generation in one
year. This is of interest asthe number of yearly generations of the
elm-leaf species has been the subject of considerable controversy,
the outcome being that careful observations by Professors Smith
and Riley in the latitudes of northern New Jersey and the Dis-
trict of Columbia, respectively, have developed the fact that for
that species in the former locality about the same condition of
affairs in regard to generations obtains as in the golden-rod species
here, whereas in the latter locality two, three, and exceptionally
four broods of larve have been noted (see Proc., vol. II, pp.
364-305).
The life-history of G. americana, according to my observa-
tions, may be summed up about as follows: The hibernated
adults may be seen towards the end of April, or soon after the
foliage of the Solidago appears, and egg-laying. continues at
least throughout the month of May. The larve attain full growth
by the end of May. The pupal stage occupies a week and the
inactive stage of the mature larva and newly-bred adult consumes
another week. About the middle of June the adults leave the
pupal case and, after feeding for several days, perhaps weeks,
leave the plants and begin hibernation. In this locality, at least,
this beetle feeds only on Solidago and has thus far been found to
feed only on a single species qf this genus.
—Mr. Ashmead read the following :
LYSIOGNATHA, A NEW AND REMARKABLE GENUS IN THE
ICHNEUMONID&.
By WititiAm H. ASHMEAD.
Among a lot of miscellaneous parasitic Hymenoptera, princi-
pally Braconide, sent me for determination by Prof. J. Henry
Comstock, of Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y., through his
assistant, Mr. Alexander MacGillivray, I found a most anoma-
lous ichneumonid, represented in both sexes, having the head and
jaws similar to an Alysiine in the Braconide, but otherwise, in
venation and abdominal characteristics, agreeing with many forms
found in the family Ichneumonide.
This singular insect at first was very perplexing to classify,
but, after a thorough study of all its characters, | am convinced
276 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
it represents an ancient type of the family Ichneumonidae, and
probably the phylum from whence originated part of the Braconidz
—the Alsyiine. On account of its venation, however, -it having
a distinct areolet, two recurrent nervures, and its abdominal char-
acters, I believe it should be placed as a distinct subfamily in the
Ichneumonide.
This new genus may be thus characterized :
Lysiognatha genus nov.
Head, viewed from adove, subquadrate, deeply emarginate posteriorly, full
and broad behind the eyes, the vertex with a median sulcus extending to
front ocellus; viewed from in fronz nearly twice as wide as long, the face
therefore short, the clypeus extending from eye to eye and visible asa
narrow transverse ridge; ocelli 3, rather close together in a triangle far
away from the eye margin; eyes oblong oval extending to base of man-
dibles, the malar space entirely wanting; mandibles widely separated,
attached to the side of the head as in Alysza, oblong, only slightly con-
tracted at the middle, the apex being deeply emarginate and forming
two nearly equal-sized teeth; maxillary palpi 5-jointed; labial palpi
3-jointed; antenne iriserted a little below the middle of the face, in 9
very slightly thickened toward apex, 22-jointed, the last joint, however,
apparently composed of 3 connate joints; in °j' tapering towards tips, 25-
jointed. Thorax ovate, the prothorax narrowed, triangular; mesonotum not
longer than wide, without parapsidal furrows, the mesopleura convex, not
impressed or foveated; scutellum subtriangular, with a deep furrow
across the base; metanotum with two delicate median carinz, divergent
posteriorly, the lateral longitudinal carinz subobsolete, the spiracles
small rounded, placed toward the lateyal middle; anterior wings as in
Pimpla, with an oblique, subrhomboidal areolet, the second recurrent
nervure entering the areolet near its apex, the median and submedian
cells equal, the discoidal nervure angulate a little before the middle, legs
normal, the tibial spurs 1, 2, 2, short, not strong. Abdomenin Q oblong-
oval, sessile, subcompressed at apex and ending in a long ovipositor;
first segment the longest, feebly bicarinate toward base, the spiracles very
small, rounded, placed a little before the middle; the other segments
smooth; the second segment is halfas long as the first, the following
gradually shortening. In the ({‘ the abdomen is a more slender, with the
first, second, third, and fourth segments with a ventral fold.
Lysiognatha comstockii sp. n.
©.—Length 2.8 to 3 mm.; ovipositor longer than the abdomen. Red-
dish-brown, smooth and polished; anterior orbits broadly, face below an-
tennez, clypeus, mandibles, except teeth, mouth-parts, antenne toward
base, collar, tegule, legs and abdomen toward base, yellowish-white ;
ocelli, eyes, and tips of mandibular teeth, black. Antenne 22-jointed, ex-
tending to base of abdomen, brownish toward apex and pubescent. Wings
OF WASHINGTON. ree
hyaline, the venation pallid. Abdomen sessile, oblong-oval, a little
longer than the head and thorax united, subcompressed at apex and end-
ing in a long ovipositor.
In the male the head and thorax are black, the abdomen reddish-brown ;
anterior orbits, face below antennz, mouth-parts, two basal joints of an-
tennz, prothorax, tegule, legs and sutures of the abdomen, yellowish-
_ white, while the antennz are a little longer, more slender toward apex,
and composed of 25 joints. .
Hab.—Cayuga Lake, Ithaca, N. Y.
Types in Collection Cornell University and Coll. Ashmead.
Described from 1 and 2 & specimens received from Prof. J.
Henry Comstock, collected by Mr. Herbert H. Smith.
Mr. Smith’s record of the capture of a pair of these insects
reads: ‘* Swept from foliage in woods, zz copula, at Norton’s
Landing, Cayuga Lake, June 26, 1872.”
For some years past I have given considerable study to the
Ichneumonidae, basing my studies upon those of Férster’s Synop-
sis, and in order to show the position that this new subfamily
should hold in the family I would propose the following arrange-
ment of the subfamilies and tribes :
Family ICHNEUMONIDE.
Subfamily I. LysIoGNATHIN 2.
Subfamily II. OPHIONIN2.
Tribe I.
Anomalontnt.
548
. Porizonint.
. Pristomerint.
. Cremastini.
. Hellwigtint.
. Ophionint.
. Campoplegint.
. Banchinti.
Trachynotint.
. Mesochorint.
. Plecticint.
. Agriotypint.
Subfamily III. TRyPHONINZ.
Tribe i
II.
Mesoleptine.
Exenterint.
. Ctenopelmini.
. Tryphonint.
. Exochint.
. Trachydermatint.
. Orthocentrint.
. Bassint.
. Sphinctint.
. Metopiini,
278 . ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Subfamily IV. IcHNEUMONIN2.
Tribe I. Trogint.
II. Jchneumonint.
II. Alomyzuz.
IV. Listrodromint.
’ V. Pheogenint.
Subfamily V. Cryprinz.
Tribe I. Stalpint
Il. Hemitelinz.
Ill. Phygadeuonini.
IV. Cryptint.
Subfamily VI. PimpLinz.
Tribe Il. Acanttini.
Il. Lissonittint.
Ill. Pimplinz.
IV. Xoridinz.
My own collection is now arranged after the above scheme,
and it appears to me a very natural one, so gradually do the sub-
families and tribes run into one another. The student must not
forget, however, that at least sixty per cent. of our Ichneumon-
ide are incorrectly placed in our lists and catalogues, and that an
enormous amount of work must yet be done before our described
species can be brought into their proper genera and tribes.
In discussion, Dr. Gill asked Mr. Ashmead to figure the typi-
cal mouth-parts of an ichneumonid so as to enable the Society to
judge as to the limits of the variation. He further, questioned
Mr. Ashmead closely as to the significance of the extraordinary
mouth of the new form, and concluded by suggesting that the
insect deserves family rather than subfamily rank. Some dis-
cussion arose as to the use of the jaws in the Ichneumonide and
Braconide. Mr. Marlatt stated that their sole use seemed to be
to enable the insects to issue from their cocoons or from imprison-
ing substances; that, after issuing, the jaws are of little or no
use, although he had known the larger Ichneumonids to bite
when handled. Mr. Howard referred to the wing venation of
the new form and stated that the presence or absence of the sec-
‘ond recurrent nervure was, in his opinion, not a competent family
character, and that from venation alone he would not consider
the new form as necessarily an ichneumonid. Mr. Ashmead
agreed with the last speaker, but stated that the abdominal char-
OF WASHINGTON. : 279
acters, and in fact all of the characters except those of the head,
were such that the form appears more closely related to the Ich-
neumonidz than to the Braconide. Mr. Marlatt, apropos of the
presence or absence of the outer recurrent nervure, stated that
both were present in the Tenthredinide ; that he considered the
Ichneumonide to be lower in type and nearer to the Tenthre-
dinidz than are the Braconidae. The presence of the second re-
current nervure in Lysiognatha, he thought, might simply be a
reversionary character. Mr. Ashmead agreed with the view
that the Tenthredinide are the lowest of the Hymenoptera.
Many wing veins, in his opinion, indicate a low type. Thus
the Chalcidid, which have almost no veins, are recent develop-
ments. lLysiognatha, in his opinion, may be an old type of
Alysiine. Dr. Gill expressed himself as of the opinion that we
should discard the use of the terms ‘‘ low” and ‘‘ high ” in this
connection on account of the possible ambiguity, substituting the
terms ‘‘ generalized” and ‘‘ specialized.” This point was further
discussed by Messrs. Fernow and Howard, and the latter speaker
referred to the theories of wing development of Redtenbacher
and Spuler as commented upon in recent papers by Comstock
and ‘Packard. ,
—A note by Mr. H. G. Barber, a corresponding member of
the Society, entitled ‘‘ Food-habits of Hypatus bachmani,” was
read by the Corresponding Secretary.*
—Mr. Swingle gave a short talk on the effects of the freezes
of the past winter upon orange trees and upon orange insects in
Florida, showing that the second freeze had resulted in the de-
struction of all insects upon the leaves. Mr. Marlatt suggested
that in the course of a year or two there would probably be a
marked increase rather than decrease in the number of injurious
insects in the orange groves as a consequence of the weakened
condition of the trees. Mr. Swingle said that with plant dis-
eases this state of affairs will be brought about in many cases, but
that the contrary effect.will be produced in many other cases.
Certainly with the Mytilaspis scales an enfeebled condition of the
trees does not favor the multiplication of the insects. Vigorous
dark green trees are most apt to be affected. He mentioned the
See Extomological News, V1, No. 6, pp. 1g0-’g1 (June, 1895).
280 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
curious point that in certain localities in Florida growers refuse
to spray for the Mytilaspis scales on account of the fact that spray-
ing increases their number. Experiments which he himself had
made indicated the truth of this general idea, particularly when
the spraying was done with fungicides. He was convinced that
the fungus known as Ophzonectrza coccicola is a true scale para-
site and that this fungus is destroyed by the spraying, allowing
the scales to multiply unchecked. From the practical standpoint
he considered that the zwportant insect enemies of the orange
tree, viz., the red scale and the white fly, have been greatly les-
sened in number and that only the unimportant ones were un-.
harmed by the freezes. Mr. Marlatt said, however, that insects
previously considered unimportant might now, and_ probably
would, become important, owing to the enfeebled condition of
the trees. This was particularly apt to be the case with bark-
boring beetles. Mr. Ashmead agreed with .Mr. Marlatt and
stated that in his own experience of many years in Florida he
had found very serious damage to result from bark-boring beetles
following severe freezes. He also stated that after a check to the
growth of a tree it might become attacked by new parasites
which gradually might change their food-habit and become ene-
mies of healthy trees.
a) JUNE 6, 1895. .
President Ashmead in the chair, and the following members
also present: Messrs. Gill, Hubbard, Marlatt, Benton, Patten,
Judd, Howard, Waite, Heidemann, Swingle, E. F. Smith, and
Fernow.
—Mr. Ashmead read the following paper :
DISCOVERY OF THE GENUS ELASMOSOMA, RUTHE, IN
AMERICA.
By Wititiam H. ASHMEAD.
The genus “lasmosoma was described by J. F. Ruthe, in a
paper entitled ‘‘ Beitrage zur Kenntniss der Braconide,” pub-
lished in Vol. II of the Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift, 1858,
with one species, /. derolinense, and up to the present time the
genus has remained monotypical.
OF WASHINGTON. 281
The genus belongs in the subfamily Microgasterine, in the
family Braconide, and Ruthe has recorded that his species was
captured by Prof. Schenck with Formica rufa. He was of the
opinion it was parasitic on this ant.
Ruthe briefly characterized the genus as follows:
Maxillary palpi 2-jointed, labial palpi unjointed. Antenne 14-jointed,
the scape abbreviated. Eyes smooth (bare). Occiput flat, the vertex
narrowed. Front wings with 3 inconstant cubital cells, the radius eva-
nescent towards apex. Abdomen depressed; ovipositor hidden.
Soon after my return from Germany, in 1890, among some
chalcidids taken by Mr. E. A. Schwarz at Washington in 1889,
I discovered a curious little 2 microgasterine with a long abdo-
men, short, 13-jointed antenne and a peculiar wing venation
which I was unable to place in any known genus and to which I
gave the MS. name Paramirax schwarzt, placing it away in my
cabinet for future study.
Some months ago a & of this peculiar braconid, with 14-jointed
antennz, was received from Mr. Carl F. Baker, taken at Fort
Collins, Colorado, and only a few nights ago I finished studying
it and the one taken by Mr. Schwarz and arrived at the conclu-
sion that my MS. genus Paramzrax would not hold, since it
was identical with “lasmosoma Ruthe, the difference in the num-
ber of joints in the first species not being sufficient to justify the
erection of a new genus.
It is very remarkable that, the very next morning after reach-
ing this conclusion, Mr. Pergande sent word from his office, if I
had time to spare, he would like to see me.
Judge of my surprise, therefore, when he brought out two
specimens of a third species of this rare genus, mounted on a
single pin with an ant, two myrmecophilous beetles, and a myr-
mecophilous cricket and asked me what it was.
Having just finished studying my own specimens, I replied at
once, ‘* Why, that is a species of the rare genus //asmosoma
Ruthe. Where did you take it? ”
Mr. Pergande then told me that the day before, which was a
holiday, he went out collecting myrmecophilous insects and that
while inspecting the nest of Camponotus melleus Say, which
was under a large stone, he was pestered with some little flies
which were quite numerous and kept flying into his eyes and ever
and anon alighting among the ants, during his examination of the
nest. At first he paid no attention to them, mistaking them for
small oscinids; but they were so persistent in alighting among
the ants that finally his curiosity was aroused and he determined
to find out what they were. Wetting the tip of his finger
with his mouth, he captured two, placing them in a vial with the
282 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
intention of examining and making out the species on his return
home. When he got home and found out what a rare and curious
insect he had found, he was quite surprised, and regretted he had
not taken more.
Is the genus parasitic on the ants or on the myrmecophilous
beetles? ;
It is truly significant that both in Europe and in America the
genus is found only associated with ants, but as yet we have no
authentic information as to the parasitic habits of the species.
We trust Mr. Pergande will continue his observations on the
species discovered by him and definitely settle the question as to
its parasitism.
All other genera in the Microgasterine are parasitic only on
lepidopterous larve, although two or three species of Apante-
les and Microgaster are recorded as having been bred from
rhynchophorous beetles.
The specimens spoken of above represent three distinct species
and may be tabulated as follows:
TABLE OF SPECIES.
PITRE AS FOL OB oo da os inn seas are is penneusbioebiecunndnen va Dish Baduwh sesuscsasshenentis 2
Antenne 14-jointed.
Antenne entirely and middle and hind coxe, black, rest of legs pale
ferruginous; abdomen as long as head and thorax united.
E. bakert.
2. All coxz yellowish-white.
Abdomen twice as long as the head and thorax united, subpetio-
lated, the segments I, 3, 4, 5, and 6 longer than wide; two basal
joints of antennez and legs pale yellowish............... E. schwarzt.
Abdomen only one-third longer than the head and thorax united,
the dorsal segments 2 and 3 tinged with rufous, all the segments
wider than long; two basal joints of antenne brown; legs pale
NOUGWIED 2) susan svease wars Reda 40d 444A upee oka cas ovens divanbans E. pergandet.
(1) Elasmosoma bakeri sp. n.
3'.—Length 2.5 mm. Black, subopaque, shagreened, the vertex with
transverse striz, the metathorax finely rugulose, the abdomen granulated.
Antenne 14-jointed, black, pubescent, extending to base of abdomen and
tapering toward tips, the scape and pedicel small, not as thick as, and both
united not as long as the basal joint of flagellum, joints of flagellum all
longer than thick and gradually become more slender towards apex.
Trophi whitish. Thorax without parapsidal furrows, flattened on disk in
front of scutellum; axillz not well separated, the scutellum laterally and
the post-scutellum striated. Metanotum finely rugulose, not carinate.
Wings whitish hyaline, the costa and stigma brown, the outer edge
blackish, the internal nervures hyaline, subobsolete. Legs pale ferru-
OF WASHINGTON, 283
ginous, with the middle and hind cox black, the hind tibial spurs nearly
as long as the basal joint of tarsi. Abdomen as long as the head and
thorax united, elongate oval, depressed with pale colored ventral fold on
first three segments, the surface above granulated, the segments 2 and 3
subequal, wider than long, the following much shorter.
Hab.—Fort Collins, Colorado.
Type in Collection Ashmead.
Described from 1 ¥% specimen, received from Mr. Carl F.
Baker, and in honor of whom the species is named.
(2) Elasmosoma schwarzi sp. n.
Q.—Length 3 mm. Black, subopaque, shagreened, with the head less
distinctly sculptured than the preceding species, the vertex shining and
very delicately transversely aciculated. Ocelli white. Eyes large, strongly
convergent anteriorly. Two basal joints of antenne, trophi and legs,
white or yellowish-white, flagellum brown, the first joint being a little
shorter than the scape and pedicel united. Wings hyaline, the costa and
stigma dark brown. Abdomen subpetiolate, much elongated and twice as
long as the head and thorax united, with parallel sides, all the segments,
except. the second and the last two, are longer than wide, the second is a
little wider than long, the last two very short; the upper surface is flat,
finely shagreened black; beneath there is a ventral fold which is more or
less tinged with piceous.
Hab.—Washington, D.
Type in Collection Ashmead.
Described from 1 9 specimen and dedicated to Mr. E. A.
Schwarz, who, captured it on the outskirts of Washington, July
15, 1889.
(3) Elasmosoma pergandei sp. n.
Q.—Length 2mm. Black, subopaque, shagreened; clypeus and man-
dibles, except teeth, brownish-yellow; palpi, middle and anterior legs and
hind coxe, yellowish-white; hind legs, except tarsi, brownish-yellow,
their tarsi brown or fuscous. Wings grayish-hyaline, the costa and stigma
dark brown, the internal veins lighter brown or brownish-yellow, the
radial cell closed and indistinctly separated by a faint cross-vein into two
cells, the veins, however, only distinctly seen by transmitted light. The
head is transverse, a little wider than the thorax, the frons and vertex
finely transversely shagreened, the eyes strongly facetted, bare, convergent
_ below and reaching almost to the base of the mandibles. Antenne 13-
jointed, filiform, tapering toward apex, black, with the scape and pedicel
brown; the scape is not longer than the first joint of flagellum, the joints
of the flagellum being a little longer than thick. Thorax ovate, finely
shagreened, the collar not visible from above, the metanotum with some
284 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
irregular raised lines. Abdomen one-third longer than the head and
thorax united, shagreened, segments 1, 2 and 3 subequal in length, the
first very slightly the longest, segment 4 two-thirds as long as the third,
segment 5 a little shorter, the following still shorter, subequal. The ab-
domen is black but the second and third dorsal segments are tinged with
rufous.
Hab.—Washington, D. C.
Described from 2 9 specimens, taken by Mr. Theo. Pergande,
in the nests of Camponotus melleus Say, May 29, 1895.
The paper was briefly discussed by Messrs. Marlatt and How-
ard, the former bringing up the point of the difficulty of associ-
ating males and females in collected specimens, apropos to a
question by the latter as to the possible association of the Colo-
rado male with the District of Columbia female.
—The Corresponding Secretary read the following paper by
Mr. F. M. Webster :
NOTES ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF SOME INJURIOUS
INSECTS.
By F. M. WeEssTER.
In his very interesting paper, ‘‘ Notes on the Geographical
Distribution within the United States of certain Insects Injuring
Cultivated Crops” (Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash., Vol. III, No. 4),
Mr. L. O. Howard has attempted to bring together some data
to show that some of our injurious species are more or less re-
stricted in their habitat to certain life-zones, as mapped out by
Dr. Merriam. In doing this he has been obliged to criticise some
statements made by myself, first in Sczexce for February 3, 1893,
and later in Bulletin 51, Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station,
where I gave the distribution of some of these species in Ohio,
with such information as I was able to obtain relative to their
probable introduction and subsequent diffusion. Knowing, as I
do, that Mr. Howard is as sincere in his position and as desirous
of getting at the truth as I am myself, it appeared to me that it
would be but just to myself and all interested to give the facts
upon which my statements were based.
In August, 1892, at the meeting of the Association of Eco-
nomic Entomologists at Rochester, N. Y., specimens of Crzo-
certs asparagé were found near the city, and this was, at that
time, supposed to be their extreme western point of occurrence.
A year later I received specimens, in all stages of development,
OF WASHINGTON. 285
from near Cleveland, Ohio, and on mentioning the fact to Prof.
E. W. Claypole, of Akron, was informed by him that he had
observed the species at Salem, Ohio,* some six years before,
fully 60 miles southeast of Cleveland, in a direct line, and not
over 25 miles from the Ohio river. I had been on the watch for
the insect in the extreme northeast corner of the State, but had
not been able to find it, though I had examined every patch of
asparagus that came in my way in that part of the State.
I visited Cleveland on a market day and took specimens with
me, but could not find a gardener or truck farmer that had ever
seen them before, and returned home more perplexed than ever
regarding the probable introduction of the pest. I next wrote
Mr. Ottomar Reinecke, of Buffalo, N. Y., who informed me
that it did not occur there, and the nearest point where it did
was at Rochester, 68 miles east. He stated, however, that Mr.
A. Bolter had found it about Chicago some years before. I then
wrote Mr. Bolter for information, from whom I received the reply
that he had found five examples near the city 25 years before,
and had seen specimens that had been collected by the late B. D.
Walsh in the vicinity of Rock Island, Illinois. Mr. Walsh died
in 1869, so that the collection must have been made at least 24
years previous. Mr. Bolter also stated that he had the year be-
fore, 1892, found the species literally swarming on the Island of
Nantucket. My puzzle, instead of nearing a solution, was getting
more puzzling. I then addressed letters to commission men in
Cleveland, Sandusky, Detroit, and Chicago to learn if their sup-
ply of asparagus came from the east. The replies to my inquires
gave the information that they received nothing from the east,
but that it all came from the south, where the asparagus-beetle is
not known to exist. The introductions at Rock Island and Chi-
cago had undoubtedly died out, as it has not, to my knowledge,
been again reported from the former locality, and Mr. Bolter
stated that he had not observed it about Chicago since. Would
the Cleveland occurrence, which was only in a private garden,
and the Salem introduction also die out ? And how in the world
did the thing ever get into Ohio ? The country about Salem is
not devoted to truck farming, while there are hundreds of acres
near Cleveland, Toledo, and Chicago that are and have been for
years. Last year, 1894, I found the species breeding quite
abundantly on runaway or volunteer stalks of asparagus growing
in uncultivated fields about 15 miles east of Cleveland, and it was
reported to me, with specimens, as very destructive at Lordstown,
almost directly between Salem and Cleveland, but much nearer
*In my paper, above referred to, Akron was given as a point of infection,
but this has since proven to be an error.
286 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
the former, however, than the latter. Now, so far as I could
then or can yet discern, there are but two ways that this insect
could have been introduced into Ohio: first, by the hibernating
adults being shipped in with plants, and, second, by being washed
into some of the tributaries of the Ohio river, which we know
intermingle with those of the Genesee, Susquehanna, and Poto-
mac rivers. As I have before stated, the edible part of the plant
comes from the south exclusively, and where the roots are
shipped for transplanting they are removed either late in the fall
or early in the spring, before the young shoots are put out, which
would preclude transporting anything but the hibernating adults.
If the introduction was by this means, there would be, it seems
to me, a far greater likelihood of its becoming established in a
section of country where the most asparagus was grown, instead
of where the reverse was the case. Even if it were introduced
about Cleveland first, by a ‘‘ commercial jump,” as Mr. Howard
terms it, it would be difficult to find a good reason for its becom-
ing destructively abundant 40 miles away, where little of its food-
plant is grown, leaving acres untouched about its area of first
colonization. Despite Mr. Howard’s suggestion that my state-
ment that-the species doubtless entered the State via the Ohio
river is ‘* hazardous,” I am still willing to hazard the statement.
Mr. Howard cites many instances where the asparagus-beetle
inhabits the Upper Austral life-zone, and a few instances where
it occurs on the Transition, yet the tenor of his argument is that
the former life-zone, only, is congenial and that its introduction
into the Transition is artificial, and cites one instance where it
seems to be dying out. West of the Alleghenies the situation
is somewhat different. According to Mr. Bolter, the species
was established both about Chicago and Rock Island, Illinois,
and has not been heard from for over 25 years in either locality,
both of which are in Upper Austral. The locality of infection
near Cleveland is in Upper Austral, and probably Salem also,
but Lordstown, the only locality in Ohio where the species has
been reported destructively abundant, is fairly and squarely on the
Transition. The Ohio and Nantucket exceptions, ‘with those
given by Mr. Howard himself, would indicate that the statement
‘¢ So far, there is nothing to conflict with the idea that the species
will not establish itself in the true transition region ”’ would have
been a good confession with which to have opened his argument,
and that the fact of their not having previously been known to
occur in the transition-zone, along the upper Ohio river, is hardly
proof of their non-occurrence, or that the species necessarily
used a **commercial jump ” in order to reach Ohio.
My critic further says that I fail to appreciate the fundamental
truths which govern the distribution of species in my region ; that,
OF WASHINGTON. 287
among other things, I failed, in my paper, to point out the im-
portant fact that the Transition forms a barrier to certain species
coming from the East, and that such cannot reach Ohio by natu-
ral spread; that Upper Austral forms are quite as likely to. reach
Ohio from the East by means of the great commercial paths to
middle western New York and thence by natural spread through
lower Ontario and southern Michigan, or by lake from Buffalo
to Cleveland, Sandusky, or Toledo, as by commercial jumps
across the mountain regions of Pennsylvania.
In reply to these three separate indictments I will say that I
have a profound regard for truths, fundamental or otherwise,
when they have been proven to be such, but not when based on
negative evidence. I did, in my paper, point out the fact that
the Allegheny mountains formed an impassable barrier to some
species, and that such had probably been introduced by the way
of our trunk lines of railways in the transportation of articles of
commerce. I did not term the barrier ‘‘ transition life-zone,”’ but
gave some instances where the introductions were on the line of
the railways. Now, commercial jumps, it seems to me, are all
right provided we do not lean too heavily on them and use them
as a solution of problems in geographical diffusion where they do
not belong. In other words, we must exercise the utmost caution
against being misled by them, and assume that their influence
has been greater than it really has. It will be observed that I
do have a little faith in ‘‘ commercial jumps,” which I could not
possibly have if I were to concur with friend Howard in his third
proposition. In this case I am, most assuredly, on the side of
‘¢commercial jumps,” for it will not be at all difficult to prove
that insects have reached Ohio, in some instances, by this avenue,
while of the two others mentioned by Mr. Howard, in one case
they have not, and in the other they cannot. I confess that, as I
look over Dr. Merriam’s map of life-zones, | cannot see why
eastern species of insects should not pass westward through
Ontario and southern Michigan, into Ohio, as indicated by Mr.
Howard, but the fact that they do zo¢ remains stubbornly in the
way. There is not a case on record where an eastern species has
appeared in northwestern Ohio before it did in the eastern section.
Then, too, Lake Erie looks as though it might convey some
species from Buffalo to Cleveland, or even beyond. But there is
a slow but steady movement of the water toward Buffalo instead
of from it, and evidence of which may be found in the fact that
the sewage of Cleveland contaminates the water of the lake for
some distance to the eastward, but not to the westward. Then,
again, the high winds that might aid in this method of transpor-
tation during the season when insects are most likely to be car-
288 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
ried about are, almost without exception, either from the west,
northwest, or southwest, or toward Buffalo instead of from it.
No one knows better than I do that Mr. Howard does not write
such papers as his for the sake of theorizing, or for the purpose
of getting into print, but with the sincere hope of furthering the
interests of a science to which he is giving the best years of his
life; and for this reason these facts are given as additional infor-
mation on the subject, and probably not in his possession when
he wrote his paper; and far more in the spirit of a colleague
than that of an opponent. His paper is an excellent one, and
would have been of value even had he not shown the growing
necessity of keeping records of exact locations, and giving more
exact information on that point than to say that a species occurs
in such and such States, or from such a State to such a State,
as we have been in the habit of doing heretofore.
There are so many factors that influence insects that the prob-
lem of geographical distribution, as well as the phenomena of
their differentiation, becomes not ‘only interesting but sometimes
exasperatingly perplexing, especially in the case of introduced
species. It would, indeed, be an achievement in economic ento-
mology if we could say of a species, it will reach only a certain
locality, or it will not prove destructive beyond a certain well-
defined boundary. For my own part, some of our native species
that are moving from the south northward are puzzling me quite
as much as those that are reaching Ohio from the east, not that
it is at all strange that southern species should, some of them,
work northward, even from Central America, but I would like to
know where the things are likely to stop in their migration, and
if, when they appear to have reached their limit of range, they
have stopped for good, or if, after I have stated beyond revision that
they will not continue northward, they do not suddenly break out
in destructive numbers far beyond the area that I have assigned to
them. In short, I would be glad to learn, beyond a doubt,
whether or not there is some natural barrier to their progress be-
yond certain lines that can be so clearly indicated that the public
may see and understand.
Murgantia histriontca, as is well known, has been steadily
working its way northward from Texas since 1865. Inthe Sixth
Report of the State Entomologist of Illinois Dr. Cyrus Thomas
records the appearance of the species in Jackson county of that
State, but in a recent letter from Prof. G. H. French, of Carbon-
dale, I have the information that the announcement was probably
a mistake. Prof. French says that he has a single specimen from
somewhere in southern Illinois, he does not know just where, but
that the insect is not destructive or even common, so far as he is
aware. I think it was in 1890 that it was reported from Tobins-
OF WASHINGTON. 289
port, Perry county, Indiana, in December, where it was reported
to have worked serious injury the previous summer. When I
came to Ohio, in 1891, I founda single specimen in the collection
of the Experiment Station marked from Lebanon, Warren county,
about 30 miles north of Cincinnati. Upto the present year, 1895,
I had been unable to learn of its being again observed in that lo-
cality, and had begun to hope that the single individual was either
a stray or that the record had been a mistake, either of which
may still be the case, and that Ohio was as yet free from the pest.
A few weeks ago I received it twice within one week from two
localities, Portsmouth and Racine, both along the Ohio river,
with the statement that it had, last season, done widespread and
serious injury. Now, any one who is at all familiar with the in-
sect fauna and flora of southern Illinois knows that south of the
watershed between the Big Muddy and Ohio rivers both are ex-
tremely southern in their nature, both plants and insects being
found there whose natural habitat would seem to be much. farther
to the southward. Large areas of this section are devoted to
truck farming, so much so that it is known as Chicago’s vege-
table and fruit garden. Here it would seem that we might ex-
pect to find Murgantia perfectly at home and in abundance.
But, as shown, we do not. I have heard nothing more from the
Indiana colony, as I most certainly should had it continued de-
structive to any extent. It would appear that, of all places in
Ohio, the country about Cincinnati would be the place of all
others where colonization would take place, such colonies origi-
nating in bugs introduced with southern-grown cabbage; yet
here again we are disappointed, while farther up the river, and
in a locality even farther north and where we would least expect
it, the insect has appeared the most numerous. Now, what can
an entomologist make out of such a muddle as this? We all of
us know that this is not a haphazard world, and that there are,
somewhere, good reasons for this condition of affairs. But what
are they? This species comes to us, as it were, from out of the
Tropical life-zone, through the lower Sonoran and Austroriparian,
stopping in mid Upper Austral, but right along the line of divis-
ion between the glaciated and unglaciated sections of the country.
Only in the case of the single specimen from Lebanon, Ohio, has
it, so far, been found within the limit of the southern range of the
drift. I: would, indeed, be grand if we could say to those who
were fortunate enough to reside on the glaciated territory, ‘* This
pest will not reach your locality. Have no fear of its ravages.”
I believe that I here catch something of the spirit that prompted .
Mr. Howard’s paper; but it is quite possible that were I to say
these things to our people and publish the statements, ere the
printer’s ink had dried on the page the beastly thing would appear
290 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
just where I had said it would not. It seems to me that the best
we can do, for the present, is to record exact localities of occur-
rence, no matter how common or rare the species may be, and,
some time, the laws that govern the movements of species among
insects will begin to show. I would not fora moment discour-
age such papers as Mr. Howard’s, though, possibly, a more con-
servative view would have been more judicious.
In my paper to which previous references have been made I
stated that this insect occurred in northern New Jersey. This
was corrected in my bulletin, but not in Sczezce. I should have
said southern New Jersey.
In discussing this paper, Mr. Howard stated that in his closing
sentences Mr. Webster had caught very happily the spirit which
prompted the original paper. The views expressed in this orig-
inal paper he had made every effort to restrain within conserva-
tive bounds. No positive claims were made. It was a plea for
exact records of injurious appearances of our principal insect
foes, and the instances which were adduced and which, from the
nature of things, must at the present time have been based upon
negative evidence were brought forward as seeming to indicate
restrictions in the spread of pests not holding with their food-
plants, and thus indicating, in the most forcible way possible, the
desirability of accumulating evidence which should not be nega-
tive. That the paper has already done much good is at once
shown by the fact that it has stimulated so careful a rejoinder as
this of Mr. Webster’s. That it has excited widespread interest
among economic entomologists is evidenced by extensive cor-
respondence received. That the stimulus which it has given to
investigation in this direction will ultimately bring about some
good result cannot be doubted, whether the results confirm or
overthrow the suggestions made in the original paper. As to the
ultimate truth of the general idea that natural selection cannot
contend with artificial selection but can only follow it after the
lapse of years, the speaker had no doubt. One of the very cases
brought up by Mr. Webster, viz., that of IZurgantia histrionica,
one which seems to puzzle Mr. Webster greatly, is confirmatory
even at the presenttime. This insect reached Delaware 20 years
ago, and yet since that time it has only been found at one more
OF WASHINGTON. 291
northern point. That it should appear in an isolated locality in
Ohio, north of extensive truck regions in which it is unknown, is
not surprising. In its spread during 10 years from Texas to Dela-
ware it did not spread from farm to farni and from garden patch
to garden patch. It went by commercial jumps, and at the pres-
ent time hardly a week passes without the receipt of specimens
of this insect from some locality within this already passed-over
region, with the statement that it is a new enemy to cabbage at
that point. In Ohio the insect has been commercially or acci-
dentally introduced at a more northern -point, but, as surely as
time goes on, it will be found in the truck-farming region men-
tioned by Mr. Webster. He further expressed himself as wel-
coming close criticism of this kind when based on exact obser-
vation.
The paper was further discussed briefly by Messrs. Waite,
Smith, Benton, and Gill. Messrs. Waite and Smith spoke of
the commercial transportation of asparagus roots in the early
spring, and even in the fall, as offering a possible means of trans-
portation of the asparagus-beetle, and Mr. Benton said that the
carriage of this insect from Buffalo to northern Ohio ports did
not necessarily depend upon direction of wind or current, since
it could readily be carried by lake vessels.
—Mr. H. G. Hubbard exhibited specimens of the borings of
Xyleborus and Platypus, Scolytid beetles, in orange wood. He
described the habits of these beetles, and showed that Platypus is
capable of making extensive galleries of its own in hard-wood
trees. The nature of the food of these timber beetles was dis-
cussed. In addition to reviewing and confirming the observations
of European writers, Mr. Hubbard described the so-called am-
brosia which nourishes the young, as welling up through the
pores of the wood which are cut by the galleries in the shape of
minute white buttons, giving a tesselated appearance to the walls
of the passages. The substance sometimes accumulates in the
galleries, and when puddled by the larve resembles half-melted
snow, or slush. A growth of fungus forms upon the ambrosia
and, closing the mouth of the galleries, causes them to fill up and
suffocate the inmates. . This method of treatment was found use-
ful in Florida, to save from further injury the budded portion of
292 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
trees killed back by the severe frost of February last. <A piece
of wire was pushed into the burrrows as far as it would go, and
then cut off and left there. :
As to the nature of ambrosia, Mr. Hubbard made the conjec-
ture that it was a ferment set up in the sap of the tree and aug-
mented by the presence of the animals.
This communication was discussed by Messrs. Gill, Smith,
Waite, Swingle, and Fernow, the discussion taking the form of
questions and more or less unsatisfactory suggestions as to the
nature of the ambrosia.
—Under the head of exhibition of specimens, Mr. Heidemann
exhibited specimens of Corzscus flavomarginatus Reuter, a
brachypterous species new to North America, which had been
collected at St. John’s, New Brunswick, some years ago, by the
late Dr. Marx.
—Mr. Howard showed a female Scolia which had been sent
from Texas by Mr. Schwarz, and which had become, in some
manner, impaled upon a sharp thorn, the thorn entering the mid-
dle of the face. It was a question whether the insect became so
impaled by flying violently against the thorn, or whether it had
been stuck there by a shrike. .
—Mr. Benton showed a comb of Afzs florea, the smallest
Apis known. The comb was collected in Ceylon some years ago
by Mr. Benton himself. He called attention to the fact that
there are 100 cells to the square inch with this species, and that
Apis florea and A. dorsata are the only species which build in
the open air. These are, curiously enough, the smallest bee and
the largest bee known.
PAGE..
ys AsHMEAD; Wo. H.: Some important structural characters in the classi-
fication of the parasitic Hymenoptera (annual address of the
- president), 202; On the genus Pelecinella Westwood, and its po-
sition among the Chalcidide, 230; On the genus Barychemis = 4
_Feerster, 238; Lysiognatha, a new and remarkable genus in the — :
ea Ichneumonidae, 273; Discovery of the genus Elasmosoma Ruthe
Me CRNCA Sic vu pe tial, can ca eic sup suas sin bon mspoot hoe Gwxcensk) agsuce) eae sueenas GAO
seein F. H.: A leaf-beetle of the golden-rod....-s...dceseceeesesees 273)
CoquitteTtT, D. W.: On the ee habits of the Serer. :
Es PRIDE ME CIOKGR supa eiashiy sre heave sebie’ peal onto pothpedivdedelina spevrenersti, AROUm
‘Howarp, 0%; (Obituary notice of) ‘De: George Marx, 195; Notes | oe
on the geographical distribution within the United States of cer-. ; i
“tain insects injuring cultivated crops, 219; Sir HAG gay An vies yi
MPL aoe Na 5 cen 00s Awe hoch oes. og peaks Swans aacws Leds obi tle AOE
is so ey pee PGather: notes on the codling moth, 508: ‘The:
American species of. Scolioneura K’n’w., 234; The hemipterous
mouth, 2413 The hibernation of Nematids, and its bearing-on in-.
: | quilinous BO OCTOR ois on cus cisoge Sky debe cde 4ek biWbsea'veee's Sky nd'gy acho cohsea tua Uae
ae C. .V.: Notes oe California; Results of Mr. ivbele! s sec- |
ond mission to Australia, 250; On oviposition in the Cynipide.
Scuwarz, E. A.: List of the entomological writings of George Marx, |
3093.) Notes on sedi bles Wise with mIPSOR HONS of two new species. ;
SMT sag AER eck
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
WASHINGTON.
-Molume III, No. 5.
(September 16, 1895, to December 26, 1895.)
[Issued October 6, 1896. |
WASHINGTON, D.C.: -
‘PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY.
1896.
OF WASHINGTON. 293
SpeciaAL MEETING, SEPT. 16, 1895.
President Ashmead, in calling the meeting to order, stated”
that it had been called to take appropriate action on the death of
Dr. C.. V. Riley.
Mr. Howard moved that the chair appoint a committee of
three to draft the necessary resolutions. Seconded by Mr.
Schwarz, and adopted.
The chair appointed Messrs. Howard, Schwarz, and Hubbard.
This committee reported the following resolutions :
WHEREAS, The Entomological Society of Washington has lost by the
hand of death its founder, its former President, and its most prominent
member, Dr. Charles Valentine Riley, therefore be it
Resolved, That the Society, through its Secretary, transmit to the family
of its late member its deepest sympathy and an expression of its realiza-
tion of its own irreparable loss, in the future absence from its councils, of
one of the most eminent entomologists of modern times, and of a man to
whom most of the members owed much in the way of advice and encour-
agement. |
Resolved, That the Society in the next number of its Proceedings
shall publish an account of the life and work of its late founder.
Upon motion of Mr. Marlatt, the report of the committee
was adopted.
Mr. Schwarz moved that the Publication Committee be
charged with the preparation of a biography of Dr. Riley. |
Adopted.
‘The Society then adjourned.
CHARLES V. RILEY, Pu. D.
The sudden death of Dr. Riley, on September 14, 1895, was
the severest loss which could possibly have befallen the Entomo-
logical Society of Washington, for he was the founder of the
Society, the person in whom the idea of the establishment of the
Society first orignated; he was by all means the most prominent
and best known member of the Society; and he was, at the
same time, one of its most active members. He was its first
President and almost continuously during the eleven years of its
294 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
existence, prior to his death, he held one office or another.
During the first years of the existence of the Society he did not
take a very prominent or active part in the proceedings. There
were few members and the meetings were held in a large and
gloomy hall, and the conditions were by no means favorable for
producing an animated discussion. His health failed in 1886,
and his frequent absences from Washington prevented regular
attendance at the meetings. Later the Society passed beyond
this critical period of its existence. The meetings began to be
held at more congenial places, more papers were read, and the
discussions became of a more general character. In the broad-
ening of the scope of the discussions, Dr. Riley contributed
perhaps more than any other member and he eminently enjoyed
a vigorous participation in all discussions, particulary those of a
general nature. His. great knowledge in general and applied
entomology, his wonderful memory, his easy and graceful man-
ner of expounding his views, will not be forgotten by the sur-
viving members. These qualities in discussion made him a
formidable and usually victorous opponent to any member who
happened to express a differing opinion. That his participation
in these discussions is not more fully brought out in the pub-
lished proceedings of the Society is explained by the difficulty
experienced by all scientific societies in accurately recording
discussions without the aid of a stenographer, and Dr. Riley
himself was always averse to writing out afterwards what he
had said in debate.
During his lifetime several biographic sketches were published,
and a complete bibliography down to the close of the year
1889 was also put into print. Since his death obituaries have
been published in nearly all scientific periodicals, no matter
where published, or in what language. The best of these
are those written by Dr. G. Brown Goode and by Dr. A. S.
Packard, and published in Sczexce, December, 1895, and Janu-
ary, 1896. The history of Riley’s life, the importance of his
contributions to scientific literature, his triumphs in the field of
practical entomology, his remarkable power of organization, have
all been fully brought out. In view of this fact, and since the
publication of the Proceedings of this Society will be delayed,
OF WASHINGTON, 295
much which might otherwise have been written here would be
but a repetition of what has already been published in many
places. At this time and in this place, therefore, we need give
but the barest summary of the facts of his life, dwelling, as we
have already done, upon his services to our own Society, and
calling attention to a few points in his career which have not
elsewhere been brought out.
He was born at Chelsea, London, England, September 18,
1843, and received his education in England and later in France
and Germany. At the age of 17 he emigrated to America,
where he settled on a farm in Illinois. His first contributions to
entomological literature appeared in 1863, in the columns of the
Prairie Farmer, of Chicago. As editor of the entomological
department of this journal he resided in Chicago until 1868.
During this residence he made the acquaintance of Benjamin D.
Walsh, a friendship which resulted unquestionably in a power-
ful influence upon his future Career. In 1868 he was appointed
State Entomologist of Missouri and continued to serve in this
capacity until 1876, when he came to Washington to assume the
office of Chief of the U. S. Entomological Commission, an or-
ganization created by Act of Congress, approved March 3, 1877.
Early in 1878 he was appointed Entomologist to the U. S. De-
partment of Agriculture, and, with the intermission of the years
1879-80, he continued to fill this office until 1894. By deposit-
ing his private collection of insects in the U. S. National Museum
in 1880, be became founder of the Department of Insects of that
institution. In 1886 he gave the collection to the Museum and
was appointed Honorary Curator of the Department. In 1889
he was appointed by the President of the United States an Ex-
pert Commissioner to the Paris Exposition and Representative
of the Department of Agriculture, In 1892 he was appointed
Biologist of the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station.
It is scarcely a matter of wonder that under the constant strain
of these multifarious duties his health began to be seriously
impaired, and in May, 1894, he resigned his most onerous office,
that of Entomologist to the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
His energy and love for work, however, were not broken, and
in the secluded rooms of the U. S. National Museum, undisturbed
296 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
by the former constant stream of interviewers and assistants,
he intended to pass the rest of his life, working upon the many
scientific problems which had suggested themselves to him and
which he had set aside for investigation when such a time should
come. His accidental death in a little more than a year and
before he had time to fairly concentrate himself upon the con-
genial work to which he had looked forward all of his life is a
shocking example of the irony of fate.
An important point which has not been mentioned by any of
his biographers may be briefly considered, viz: which of his
numerous works was considered by Riley himself as the principal
achievement of his life? The writers of these lines, associated |
with him for many years, have at various times conversed with
him upon this subject; the last time was only a few days before
his death, and he always pointed to his Missouri Reports as his
principal work. That he earnestly believed this cannot be
doubted by any one who has heard him speak, either at the
meetings of this Society or at the meetings of the Biological |
Society of Washington. How often has he used the expression,
*¢ As I have shown in my .Missouri Report,’’ and how often
in his subsequent writings did he quote passages from these
Missouri Reports! Every worker on the biology of North
American. insects and every worker in economic entomology
must candidly confess that these Missouri Reports are the most
indispensable works of reference and that they are overflowing
and never failing sources of information. More than twenty
years have lapsed since the publication of the final volume of the
series and they still remain as standards, and practically not only
as the most necessary handbooks of workers, but as models for
the younger generation.
It is true that he had predecessors in the field covered. Harris’
classical treatise on the Injurious Insects of Massachusetts is a
most charming account of a number of North American insects
and possibly unsurpassed as an introduction to the study of ento-
mology for the beginner, but nowhere does it enter deeply into
the subject of the biology of individual species with the practical
end in view. Fitch’s reports, the most important of which had
been published at the time Riley began to write, are also ventures
OF WASHINGTON. 297
into the same field, but there is lacking in Fitch’s reports the
eminent practicality which characterizes Riley’s, and it is every-
where apparent ‘to one who contrasts the work of the two men
that the vigorous originality and independent nature of the author
‘of the Missouri Reports could not fail to produce volumes of
much more lasting value.
As has often been said, the illustrations of these reports added
very greatly to their value. They were drawn by Dr. Riley
himself with a fidelity to nature and at the same time with an
artistic skill practically unknown in America at that period.
They were engraved on wood by the best engravers who could
be found. William Macwitz of St. Louis was always especially
mentioned by Riley in speaking of these illustrations. In spite
of his remarkable ability as a delineator of insects, however, Dr.
Riley, after leaving Missouri, was forced, through lack of time, to
entirely abandon this work, although with his great talent it was
a pleasure rather than a task. In later years he took up portrait-
ure as a pastime and produced a number of heads in chalk and
in water colors of great merit.
One of Riley’s cherished plans, and one which he constantly
kept in mind, was to publish a second and revised edition of the
Missouri Reports. For this purpose he had collected a large
amount of additional notes upon the insects treated in the reports.
These notes were written in the interleaved bound copies which
he always kept on his revolving book-case, close at hand. These
volumes, much worn by constant use, constitute perhaps the most
valuable literary legacy which he has left, and it is to be hoped
that at some future time his plan of republication will be
realized. As early as 1880 he commenced negotiations with the
Missouri authorities regarding the reissuing of the reports. The
correspondence continued through several years, but, for reasons
unknown to us, led to no result. During the last years of his life
Riley altered his plan, intending to use the vast material thus ac-
cumulated as the basis for a text-book on entomology, and this
work he hoped to accomplish when freed from the arduous
cares and vexations of official duties. ,
The likeness which we use as a frontispiece has never before
been used as a basis for an illustration. We mention it partic-
298 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
ularly in this connection since it represents him in the full
maturity of his youthful vigor, at a time when his energy was
unimpaired and his enthusiasm unabated, and at atime, too, when
the publication of seven of his Missouri Reports had already
marked him as a leader in entomological research and as fore-
most in economic work. The photograph from which it was
reproduced was taken August 10, 1875, at Detroit, Michigan, at
the time of the meeting of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science.
Enough has not been said of Dr. Riley’s social qualities.
Away from his work he was the most approachable and genial
of men, and this side of his character reached its highest plane
perhaps at the meetings of this Society. At the close of our
stated program it is our custom to spend an hour in general con-
versation, and here one saw one of the most delightful phases of
his character. Official cares were thrown aside and all the geni-
ality of his nature came to the front. It is probable that the
picture of Riley which will last longest in the minds of most of
us will show him seated at the head of his own hospitable table
at some one of the many meetings of the Society held at his
house, discussing in his versatile way almost any subject from
politics to ethics, his face beaming with animation and good
humor.
Thus it is as a genial companion, as well as the founder of
the Society, its first President, and its most prominent member,
that the Entomological Society of Washington will ever mourn
the loss of Charles Valentine Riley.
liv OcToBER 10, 1895.
President Ashmead was in the chair and the following mem-
bers and visitors were present: Messrs. Gill, Uhler, Patton,
Schwarz, Hubbard, Marlatt, Heidemann, Chittenden, Benton,
Judd, E. F. Smith, Linell, Schoenborn, Stiles, Howard, Waite,
O. F. Cook, Henry Ulke, G. H. Hicks, and W. H. Fox.
—Mr. Hubbard read the following paper :
OF WASHINGTON. 299
ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THE INSECT GUESTS OF THE
FLORIDA LAND TORTOISE.
By H. G. Husparp.
Since the publication of my paper on Gopher Insects, in vol. vi
of Insect Life, May, 1894, I have made additional explorations
in gopher burrows both at Crescent City and in other parts of
Florida. Thus I examined burrows at De Funiak Springs,
which is west of Tallahassee, on the mainland and in the extreme
western part of the State, and at Clearwater Harbor, on the gulf
coast, a short distance north of Tampa. Dr. John Hamilton
also examined gopher holes at Lake Worth, Fla., which is
probably the extreme southern limit reached by the tortoise on
the Atlantic coast. Dr. Hamilton found three of the gopher
beetles present in small numbers, viz: the Coprzs, Aphodius,
and Chelyoxenus ; the holes which he examined were, however,
shallow, and probably not favorable for the full development of
this peculiar fauna. In my explorations I found in abundance
all the insects previously noted and added several new forms to
the list. The larve of nearly all the beetles have now been
discovered within the gopher burrows, and the moth has been
bred in both sexes from the remarkable caterpillar which feeds
upon the dung of the tortoise. Dr. John B. Smith has had the
imago in his hands and will describe it as a new species of Del-
toid belonging to the Pseudaglossa section of the genus //fz-
zeuxis (old genus //edéa). It therefore belongs almost exactly
where it was tentatively placed from the resemblance of the
larva to the myrmecophilous //elza americalis. The new dis=
coveries are a very interesting Staphylinid beetle with exactly
the facies of a Stzlicopszs, but with a single tooth on the clypeus.
It constitutes, therefore, a new genus, which I hope to describe
under the name Acrostilicus hospes (n. gen. et n. sp.) Its larva
has also been found, and with its imago it has the pallid color
and all the characteristies of a true gopher insect. -A new fly, a
species of Hylemyza, family Anthomyiide, will be described by
Mr. Coquillett. Its larva lives upon the dung of the gopher,
and the imagos, which I had previously overlooked, prove to
be quite abundant in each of the localities which I have in-
vestigated. There is also another much smaller fly, which Mr.:
Coquillett pronounces a Lzmoszna, family ‘Borboride, the thread-
like larva of which is always common in the dung at the
end of the gopher holes, but the imagos have not hitherto been -
bred.
I find also that I have overlooked one or two spiders of pale
color and with a subterranean appearance which turn up so
300 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
persistently in the burrows that I am forced to include them in
the fauna. ‘They have not yet been studied by an arachnologist.
Another arachnid discovered in a gopher hole interests me greatly,
since it belongs to a group of small harvestmen (Phalangiide)
which are characteristically cavernicole in this and other countries.
It is probably a new species, but congeneric with the cave har-
vestmen (Phalangodes) found in Mammoth Cave, Ky., Wyan-
dotte Cave, Ind., and other great caverns in this country, although
some of the species are also found under deep stones, etc. I
have also found in a small cave near Istachatta, in eastern Florida,
.a Phalangodes very closely allied to the gopher harvestman but
apparently distinct specifically.
In my former paper Dr. Marx described a tick found on the
gopher under the name Amdblyomma tuberculatum. The other
tick which is found constantly associated with the tortoise was
given a manuscript name, Orazzthodorus americanus Marx.
This species has since been published in our Proceedings, with-
out description, in the posthumous plate appended to the obituary
of our late lamented member. Dr. Marx considered this tick
identical with a species found in the nostrils of mammals in Peru
and in Texas. At my request Dr. Marx made most careful
comparisons of my specimens with those. from the horse and
the llama in his collection, but was unable to distinguish them
specifically. JI regard this result as most surprising, since repeated
observation shows me that this tick does not attach itself to the
tortoise at any stage, but lives in the burrow like a bedbug, and
I find repeatedly the gravid females, plethoric with ova, burrowed
deep in the sand, beneath the floor of the burrows, as if incubating
their progeny. I have not yet, however, secured the larve from
these females. I have in years past, on several occasions, taken
ticks from the bodies of the tortoise captured outside of their
burrows, and I supposed when my paper was written that some
of these would prove to be adults of Orzzthodorus, but in hunt-
ing up the material, some of it collected 15 years ago, I find an
abundance of specimens of the Amblyomma, but not one of the
Ornithodorus. 1 find it difficult to believe that any tick could
have a rostrum so constructed that it was capable of attaching
itself permanently to the nostrils of a mammal, while it could be
thrust into and withdrawn at will from the tough and leathery
hide of the Florida gopher.
Asa whole, the permanent connection of this insect fauna
with the economy of the tortoise, has been firmly established by
a more extended knowledge of the life histories of the several
species. Thus Phzlonthus gopherit has been found fairly
abundant in certain burrows, and a good series of its larva has
been secured, The larva of the Chelyoxenus has been found
OF WASHINGTON. 301
in such numbers that I am now inclined to believe that it is car-
nivorous and preys especially upon the dipterous maggots in the
gopher dung. The larva of Oxthophagus polyphemi has not
been definitely distinguished from some of the smaller specimens
of the scarabeid larve collected, which may be confused with
those of Coprzs gopheri. Several casual visitants have been
observed in the burrows, and it is noteworthy that the number is
so small. The lst, appended, herewith includes a single speci-
men of a black species of Phzlonthus, a common Saprinus found
on several occasions, and two species of Ptomophagus, both
common species of these small Silphidz, which are liable to oc-
cur in deep pits and cellars or within the mouths of caves. The
whip-tailed scorpion, 7helyphonus giganteus,appears to be rather
more than a casual visitor to the gopher holes, and is probably
attracted thither by the abundance of the crickets (Ceuthophilus).
A list of the gopher guests which is given here below includes
as regular inhabitants of the burrows 1g articulates and one ver-
tebrate, with four coleoptera and one arachnid in additional con-
sidered as visitors of the domicile only. The full fauna, there-
fore, comprises 24 parasites and messmates of the tortoise.
LIST OF GOPHER«INSECTS. OCTOBER, 1895.
COLEOPTERA.
(1) Homalota sp. indet.
(2) Philonthus gopheri and larva.
(3) Acrostilicus hospes n. gen., n. sp. and larva.
(4) Trichopteryx sp. indet. i
(5) Chelyoxenus xerobatis and larva.
(6) Copris gopheré and larva.
(7) Onthophagus polyphemt larva (?)
(8) Aphodius troglodytes and larva.
DIPTERA.
(9) Hylemyza n. sp. (Anthomytide) and larva (larger fly).
(10) Limostna sp. (Borbortde) and larva (smaller fly).
LEPIDOPTERA.
(11) Hpizeuxts n. sp. and larva.
ORTHOPTERA.
(12) Ceuthophilus latibulié Scud.
ARACHNIDA.
(13) Spiders uninvestigated, probably 2 species.
(14) Phalangodes n. sp.
(15) Chelanops affinis Banks.
(16) Ornithodorus americanus Marx.
(17) Amblyomma tuberculatum Marx.
(18) Mites (Orobatid) on Cofris.
302 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
VERTEBRATA.
(19) Rana wesopus Cope.
VISITANTS
INSECTA.
(20) Philonthus cautus.
(21) Ptomophagus ulket. {De Funiak.]
(22) Ptomophagus consobrinus. (Crescent City. ]
(23) Saprinus ferrugineus Mars.
(24) Thelyphonus giganteus Lucas.
The paper was discussed by Messrs. Schwarz and Gill. Mr.
Schwarz said that the only contribution published since Mr.
Hubbard's original paper was by Mr. G. Lewis in the Entomol-
ogist’s Monthly Magazine for January last. This consisted
mainly of a letter from Dr. Hamilton and the advice to Euro-
pean entomologists to dig up European turtle holes in the hope
of similar discoveries. Mr. Schwarz, however, was of the
opinion that they have in Europe no turtle of similar habits.
He further said that while Lake Worth is the most southern
point at which gopher burrows have been examined, at least 60
miles south of this point gopher burrows will be found, viz: at
Cape Florida. He further said that we have in this country
three species of Gopherus—the one studied by Mr. Hubbard,
G. agassizii in the Death Valley and adjoining regions, and G.
berlandiert of Texas. The members of the Death Valley Expe-
dition were unable to discover any holes of the first named, and
almost nothing is known about the Texas form. On a recent
trip he tried, with little success, to find out something about it.
The only success he had was the statement from the inhabitants
of Pena, near Laredo, on the Mexican National Railway, that a
burrowing turtle exists in the large sand plains near that point,
but he was unable to investigate.
Dr. Gill stated that the analogy in morphology is not neces-
sarily connected with similarity in habits. The European land
tortoises are not so closely allied to the American species as they
seemed to be. The Testudos in Europe do not make regular
burrows. They hibernate in holes not made by themselves,
although probably enlarged by them, and under rocks. The
OF WASHINGTON. 303
species are smaller than Gopherus. Referring to the American
forms, he said that we must not assume that agass¢zé/ and ber-
landiert burrow. They may differ in habit from the Florida
species. He asked whether any other specimens of the frog had
been found by Mr. Hubbard. Mr. Hubbard replied that he
had taken several additional specimens, among them one gravid
female, which he had given to Dr. Stejneger of the Smithsonian
Institution.
—Mr. O. F. Cook made some general remarks under the
head of ‘‘Insect Collecting in Africa.” He spoke of some
rarities which he had collected in Liberia in his work upon his
own special group—the Myriapoda, exhibiting drawings of one
remarkable form. He further spoke in general upon some of
the more striking features of the insect fauna of Liberia and
gave in considerable detail his experience with driver-ants.
These insects, he thinks, have taken the place of a Liberian St.
Patrick, 7. e., they are responsible for the almost total absence
of snakes in Liberia. He concluded by asking if the driver-ants
have any permanent domicile or whether they are invariably
peripatetic. Mr. Schwarz said that no trace of a more or less
permanent nest of Eciton has ever been found, and that, further,
no queen has been found. They make temporary nests, but
are more or less constantly travelling. The true nest, he thinks,
will some time be found, owing to this very fact that no queen
is yet known. He called attention to the fact that the Rev.
P. Jerome Schmidt has found a species of Eciton in North
Carolina and that the same gentleman had discovered several
inquilinous species. Dr. Gill and Mr. Cook discussed the
question of disparity in size in sexes of Myriapoda. Mr. Ulke
spoke of some recent experiences with ants in Maryland.
—Mr. Ashmead read the following paper :
RHOPALOSOMIDZ,* A NEW FAMILY OF FOSSORIAL WASPS.
By Wiiiiam H. ASHMEAD.
Recently, in monographing our North American Braconidae,
it became necessary for me to make a study of a most extraordi-
nary insect, the Ahopalosoma Poey?, originally described by
*] prefer this form to Rhopalosomatide.
304 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Mr. E. T. Cresson, from specimens received from Cuba, and
placed by him in the family Braconide.
The insect is extremely rare and has not yet been recorded in
our faunal lists, although several specimens have passed through
my hands, taken in various parts of the United States.
Mr. Theodore Pergande took a single specimen, many years
ago, at St. Louis, Missouri. The American Entomological
Society of Philadelphia possesses, besides the types from Cuba,
one or two specimens collected by Mr. H. K. Morrison in North
Carolina, Mr. Chas. W. Johnson took three specimens some
years ago at St. Augustine, Florida (one of which he has kindly
given to me), while recently I have identified a single male
taken by Prof. H. Garman at Louisville, Kentucky.
These captures not only prove the extreme rarity of the insect
but show that it is widely distributed throughout our fauna, and
we may expect to hear of its being taken in many other localities
in the United States.
It has also been recorded from Hayti and San Domingo.
The genus was erected thirty years ago by Mr. Cresson in his
paper entitled ‘‘ Hymenoptera of Cuba,” published in the Proc.
Ent Soc. of Phila., vol. iv, p. 58, where he placed it in the
family Braconide.
_ Three years later, in the Proc. Ent. Soc. of London, Prof.
Westwood, having: overlooked Mr. Cresson’s description, on
account of the position assigned it, rechristened it Szdyd/ena,
placing it among the Vespide.
In the discussion following the presentation of Prof. West-
wood’s description, Mr. Frederick Smith, at that time the highest
British authority on the Hymenoptera, gave reasons for believing
the genus should be placed in the family Ichneumonidz, although
he had previously considered it an ant and placed it in the family
Poneride.
He says: ‘‘I had myself, after a somewhat cursory examina-
tion, referred it to the ants and had placed it in the family
Poneride. A few years ago I had an opportunity of submitting
it to Dr. Nylander, who thought I was right in so doing, but I
must admit he had only time to give it a very slight examination.”
Six years later, dr in 1874, Westwood again treats of this
remarkable insect in his sumptuous work ‘‘ Thesaurus Entomo-
logicus Oxoniensis,” p. 130, and on plate xxiv gives us for the
first time a most excellent figure of it with details.
In this work Prof. Westwood gave a complete summary of
what had been written upon this insect up to that time, and from
which I shall quote. He says:
‘¢ This curious genus was considered (doubtingly) by the late
Mr. Haliday (one of the most profound hymenopterists) as one
Z OF WASHINGTON. 305
of the Sphegid@, with smooth legs, near Pelopwus, as appears
by a note attached to a specimen of the type in the collection of
the British Museum. [Note.—Antenne fem. not geniculate;
hind wings incised at end of the pobrachial vein; fore wings
with a third discal areole. See also form of thorax. I think a
sphegid with smooth legs, near Pelopeus. Haliday MS. in
Brit. Mus. ]”
Prof. Westwood on exhibiting a specimen of this insect at a
meeting of the London Entomological Society recognized it as a
new genus of Aculeates, with most perplexing structural affinities,
but thought that it came closest to the family Vespide, although
the male, in its elongated antennez, was not unlike an ant.
Mr. F. Smith, on the same occasion, also considered that ‘¢ it
had more characters in accordance with those of the ants than
with any other family.” (Proc. Ent. Soc., Nov. 16, 1868.)
Prof. Westwood says, further, that Mr. Cresson, who first
described this genus, placed it undoubtingly amongst the multi-
tudinous genera of the /chneumonide (which caused me to
overlook it), remarking, ‘‘I am at present unable to define the
true position of this remarkable genus. It seems to form a con-
necting link between /chneumones genuitnt and the Adscztz;
from the former it differs by the paucity of the antennal joints,
and from the latter by the anterior wings having a faint indica-
tion of a second recurrent nervure. Its structure places it, beyond
doubt, in the family /chneumonide, whilst its general appear-
ance, together with the arrangement of the wing-veins, seems to
place it among the Adscztz, where I will allow it to remain for
the present.”
Subsequently, Mr. Smith (without being aware that the insect
had been thus commented upon by Mr. Cresson), in a paper
communicated to the Entomological Society on the 4th Jan.,
1869 (Trans. 1868, Proc. p. li), discussed the affinities of this
genus at length with great acumen, contending, ‘‘ 1st, That all
wasps have the wings folded, whilst they are flat in Rhopalosoma.
2nd, Rhopalosoma has only two submarginal cells, whilst every
known wasp has either three or four. 3rd, Every true wasp has
three discoidal cells in the fore-wings, whilst Rhopalosoma has
only one. 4th, The prothorax (collar) in all Vespide extends
backwards to the tegule, which is not the case in Rhopalosoma.
5th, Lunate eyes (which Rhopalosoma possesses) are found in
Mutilla, Scolia, Sapyga, Pemphredon, and Philanthus
amongst the Aculeata, and in the Ichneumonideous genera
Pimpla, Campoplex, Anomalon, Ophion, and some others.
6th, The tarsal ungues (toothed in Rhopalosoma) are simple in
the social Vespide, although dentate in the solitary wasps.”” On
the other hand, Mr. Smith regarded the insect as belonging to the
306 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Ichneumonide. ‘‘ 7th, Because, amongst the minute (Adscitous)
groups, species exist having only 12-jointed antenne (Ephedrus)
and others having 13-jointed antenne (Trioxys).” Sth, Mr.
Smith states ‘¢ that in Rhopalosoma a distinct second joint in the
trochanters is quite as visible as in the Ichneumonideous genus
Metopius. 9th, The antennz of every known species of wasp
are geniculate, which is not the case in Rhopalosoma. roth,
The prothorax of Rhopalosoma is of the same structure as Ophion
and Anomalon. t1th, The ocelli are large and prominent in
Rhopalosoma, as in the two last-named genera; in the Vespide
they are much smaller and usually more sunken than prominent.
12th, The broadly dilated tarsi in Rhopalosoma do not occur in
Vespide, but are peculiarly characteristic of Anomalon. 13th,
The basal segment of the abdomen of Rhopalosoma agrees with
that of Ophion and Anomalon, as well as Belonogaster and
Vespa.”
_ Although thus pointing out the relationship of the genus with
Ophion and Anomalon, Mr. Smith admitted its want of strong
affinity with any other known insect.
Prof. Westwood, to these objections, replied as follows:
1. Some of the most aberrant wasp genera, and the remainder
of the Aculeata, have flat wings.
2. Rhopalosoma has three submarginal cells. In all the gen-
uine Ichneumons, the first submarginal and the anterior discoidal
cells are thrown together. Even in those Adsciti which have
three distinct submarginal cells, the first (and only) recurrent
vein enters the first submarginal cell, and not the second, as in
Rhopalsoma.
3. Rhopalosoma has three discoidal cells, the lower outer one
having its extremity partially closed by a transverse, nearly ob-
solete vein. |
4. The collar of Rhopalosoma extends back laterally to the
tegula, although not seen dorsally at the sides of the thorax.
5. The eyes of Rhopalosoma are not lunate but oval, with a
small emargination in the middle of the inner margin.
6. The ungues in Rhopalosoma are furnished beneath with two
obtuse spines.
7. No species of Adscitous Ichneumon, nor indeed any other
terebrant Hymenopterous insect, is known possessing 13-jointed
antennz in the males and 12 in the females. This is one of the
leading characters of Aculeata.
S. I cannot discover a second joint in the trochanters of Rho-
palosoma. Its existence is one of the leading characters of the
terebrant Hymenoptera. In certain positions, a faint appearance
of an articulation near the base of the femora may be observed.
OF WASHINGTON. 307
In the Ichneumons the two joints of the trochanters are distinct,
and nearly equal in size in many species.
9. The long, straight filiform structure of the antennze of Rho-
palosoma is unquestionably a strong character against its belong-
ing to the Vespide.
10. The front of the thorax of Rhopalosoma is similarly
formed to that of Ophion.
11. The ocelli of Rhopalosoma agree with those of Ophion.
12. | know of no Ichneumonideous, nor indeed any other
Hymenopterous insect, with feet like those of the female Rhopa
losoma, whereas they are simple in the male.
13. The pedunculated basal segment of the abdomen of Rho-
palosoma occurs in many groups of Aculeata, as well as in many
of the Terebrantia.
14. The sting of Rhopalosoma is a genuine aculeus, with a
broad sheath.
15. The lobed base of the hind wing, and the 6-jointed max-
illary palpi, which latter character occurs in no genuine Ichneu-
mon, must not be overlooked in determining the relations of the
genus.
After this very complete summary, for and against this insect
being an Ichneumonid, Prof. Westwood ends up with the fol-
lowing remarks :
‘¢From the preceding discussion it will doubtless be considered
that whilst in several important. respects the insect before us
agrees with some of the Ichneumonide, it is in others, equally
important, allied to the Aculeata, forming by itself a most ex-
ceptional and isolated section.”
The above summary will afford you an admirable idea of how
Doctors sometimes disagree, since the four mentioned—Haliday,
Smith, Westwood, and Cresson—are among the highest authorities
in the Hymenoptera.
What has been given above seems to be all that has been writ-
ten upon this remarkable genus up to the present time, except
that in my paper ‘‘ On the Hymenoptera of Colorado,” published
in Bull. No. 1 of Col. Biol. Assoc., 1880, without specimens of
my own for study. I made it the type of a new subfamily, the
Rhopalosomine, in the family Braconide.
Since that time, however, I have made a careful and thorough
study of the insect and now believe it to be no Braconid, but
agree with Haliday and Westwood and believe it to be a true
‘Aculeate. I go even farther and believe it to be the type of a
distinct family of fossorial wasps, with affinities allying it to the
Vespide, Sapygide, and Scoliidz, and propose for it the family
name /’hopalosomide.
It is, according to my views, a connecting link between the
308 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Vespida and the Sapygide and tends to confirm the correctness
of my views, in having removed the Vespide from near the
Apidz, or bees, to a position among the fossorial wasps, be-
tween the Pompilide, Sapygidez, and Scoliide.
It is hardly necessary for me here to enter into a description of
the peculiarities of structure of this insect, since these may be as-
certained from the excellent description and figures given by
Westwood in his Thesaurus and in the discussions recorded
above.
In closing, however, I will give my reasons for believing this
insect to be neither a Braconid nor an Ichneumonid; my rea-
sons for considering it to be an Aculeate; and why I consider it
entitled to family rank.
My reasons for believing it to be aeithiar a Braconid nor an
Ichneumonid are as follows :
(1) Because the venter in the Ichneumonide and the Bracon-
ide is soft and membranous; in Rhopalosoma it is hard and
chitinous like all true Aculeates; (2) because it has a true sting
which issues from the tip of the abdomen ; although the ovipositor
in a Terebrant may sometimes be capable of inflicting a sting, it
never issues from the tip of the abdomen; (3) because the vena-
tion is quite distinct from all Terebrants; (4) because the tro-
chanters are 1-jointed, while, as already pointed out by Westwood,
in the Ichneumonidz and Braconide the trochanters are always
- distinctly 2-jointed ; and (5) because the legs are strictly fossorial,
although entirely different from any known Hymenopter.
I consider it to be an Aculeate Hymenopter :
(1) Because the ovipositor is short, stout and sharp, issues
from the tip of ‘the abdomen, and is in every sense ‘‘a sting; ”
(2) because of its convex, hard chitinous venter; (3) because
the venation of the wings more nearly resembles that of the
Scoliidz, the curvature in the lower outer angle of the first dis-
coidal cell being a peculiarity of Scolia, while the venation of
the hind wings, except in some minute details, is exactly like that
of Déelzs and totally dissimilar to any known Terebrant; (4)
because the emarginated eyes appear to me to resemble more
closely those found in Sapyga, Humenes, and Myzine, than
those found in certain Ichneumonids; and (5). because the num-
ber of joints in the antennz, 12 in 9 and 13 in 4, is a feature
peculiar to the Aculeata and extremely rare with the 7Zere-
brantia.
Rhopalosoma is believed to be entitled to family rank: (1)
because the venation of the front wings, although similar to
some Aculeates, is really quite distinct from all other known
forms; (2) because of the large prominent ocelli; (3) because
of the structure of the antenne, the flagellar joints all being very
OF WASHINGTON. 309
long and slender and all armed above with a slender spine at
tip; (4) because of the abnormally developed legs in the female,
the tarsal joints 2, 3, and 4 being dilated and deeply lobed at
apex, the incision being filled with a membrane, which evidently
materially aids the insect in making its burrows into light
sandy soil; (5) because of the remarkable length of the tibial
spurs in both sexes, the inner being almost as long as the long
basal tarsal joint; and (6) because of the peculiarities of the
spiny armature and the bifid claws.
RHOPALOSOMA CRESSON.
1865. Rhopalosoma Cr., Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil., vol. iv, p. 58.
1868. Szbylizna Westw., Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., pt. iv (Dec.), p. 329.
(S. enigmatica.)
1868. Smith, |. c. Proc., Nov. 16, p. xli.
1869. 1. c. Proc., p. li.
1874. Rhopalosoma Westw., Thes. Ent. Oxon., p- 130, pl. xxiv, f. 9.
1894. Dalla Torre, Cat. Hym. ix, p. 113.
(Type 2. poey7z Cr.)
The paper was discussed by Messrs. Marlatt, Schwarz, Gill,
and Uhler. Mr. Marlatt expressed his conviction as to the ac-
curacy of Mr. Ashmead’s conclusions, but took exception as to
Mr. Ashmead’s general statement that the sting of the aculeate
Hymenoptera issues from the tip of the abdomen, whereas the
ovipositor of the terebrant Hymenoptera does not issue from the
tip. Mr. Marlatt said that while this distinction is apparent it
is not real. Homologically, the two organs are the same and
their point of issuing or attachment is also the same. In the
aculeate Hymenoptera, the ventral segments fold in such a way
as to obscure the point of origin of the sting.
Mr. Ashmead in reply said that Mr. Marlatt was undoubtedly
correct and that the homology of the two organs has been
strengthened by the recent finding of a poison gland among cer-
tain terebrant Hymenoptera. The character of which he had
made use, however, was equally valuable as a means of distin-
guishing between the two groups. Mr. Marlatt had practically
criticised simply the form of words, and not the validity of the
character used. Mr. Schwarz said that, from the general ap-
pearance of the insect exhibited by Mr. Ashmead, he would by
no means call it a fossorial species, The legs were not at all
310 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
comparable to the legs of fossorial Coleoptera. Mr. Ashmead
replied that many fossorial insects do not have fossorial legs.
The legs of Rhopalosoma, however, he considers to be strictly
fossorial. The spines on the tarsi are obviously for fossorial
purposes. Mr. Schwarz, referring to the long spurs on the
posterior tibia, said that when such spurs occur in Coleoptera
they never occur in fossorial species. Dr. Gill remarked that
nature is not limited in fossorial adaptations any more than it is
in any other adaptations. It is not necessary, therefore, that
hymenopterous fossores should resemble coleopterous fossores.
He showed that the method of fossorial adaptation differs decid-
edly with different fossorial mammals. Professor Uhler stated
that, as a general rule, fossorial insects may be distinguished by
the fact that the joints of the tarsi of the front leg are crowned
by a chaplet of spines, which seem to be absent in this species
shown by Mr. Ashmead.
—Mr. Howard presented the following paper for publication :
A COLEOPTEROUS ENEMY OF CORYDALIS CORNUTUS.
By L. O. Howarp.
Corydalis cornutus is the largest Sialid in the North Ameri-
can fauna and is one of the most conspicuous and curious of our
commoner insects. Its anatomy was studied by Leidy as early
as 1848 and its larva and pupa were known prior to that time.
Riley completed the life history of the species by his discovery
of the egg-masses in 1876. Almost every detail of the anatomy,
physiology, and economy of the species has been carefully
studied by Comstock and his students and assistants at Ithaca,
and, in fact, were the graduation theses of his students for the
last 20 years published, we should have a complete anatomy of
the larva of this insect which would be almost comparable to
Lyonnet’s famous anatomy of the larva of Cossus. It may be
briefly stated that the eggs are laid in midsummer in flat circular
batches, covered with a tough calcareous substance, upon the
leaves of trees, upon rocks, and wooden piles overhanging or in
close proximity to the water; in such situations, in fact, that the
larve on hatching may drop into the water. Each egg-mass con-
tains about 2,000 to 3,000 eggs and the diameter of the mass is a
little more than 34 of an inch. The larve of the insect are
familiar to fishermen under the names ‘‘ Dobson,” ‘* Crawler,”
and ‘* Hellgrammite,” and are commonly used for bait for black
OF WASHINGTON. Sit
bass and other fish. The insect is thus of some slight economic
importance and derives some additional importance from the
fact that while it is eaten by large fish, it retaliates by. destroying
smaller fish. No natural enemies of this species have ever been
recorded. The species breeds rather abundantly in the Potomac
river and in Rock Creek, and the egg-masses, looking like acci-
dental splashes of whitewash, are often seen on the rocks along
the shores of these streams.
In the latter part of July of the present year, Mr. R. S. Clif-
ton, of the Division of Entomology, an enthusiastic boatman,
noticed that certain egg-masses upon rocks on the Virginia side
of the Potomac river above Georgetown contained small round
holes, and suspected from this fact the existence of some parasitic
or predaceous enemy. Upon close examination he saw a small
beetle engaged in eating into an egg-mass. He did not capture
the specimen, but, thinking that the observation might be of im-
portance, he mentioned it to the writer, who, on August 4,
joined him in an investigating expedition. This was about two
weeks after the original observation. At the date of our visit
we found hardly one egg-mass out of a very large number which
had not been eaten into. The beetle was captured and later de-
termined by Mr. Schwarz to be a variety of Axthicus halde-
mant.* Upon opening the egg-masses we were greatly interested
to find the larva of the beetle. In some cases only one or two
large larvee were found in a single egg-mass; in other cases a
large number—certainly more than a dozen—smaller larve were
found, and in others larve of several distinct sizes were noticed.
Living specimens were brought home and fed in confinement.
It was at first supposed that the larve would transform without
issuing from the eggs. This, however, proved to be incorrect.
When fullgrown they wandered restlessly around and this fact
was sufficient to indicate to Mr. Pergande, in whose care they
had been placed, that they needed certain conditions for pupat-
ing which were not present in the open-mouthed vials in which
they had been kept. He therefore transferred them to vials con-
taining sand, into which they immediately crawled and in which
they soon pupated. Two larve were placed with the sand on
August 15. On August 19 they were still unchanged, but one
of them had formed a kind of cocoon from the grains of sand.
On August 22 this individual had transformed to pupa. On
August 24 Mr. Schwarz went with Mr. Clifton to the same
locality and secured further material. August 31 three larve
obtained on this trip transformed to pupa, and September 3
* Later Capt. Casey informed the writer that the species is his A. her-
oicus, described in Annals N. Y. Ac. Sc., 8, 1895, p. 712.
$12 , ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
two more transformed. On account of the interest attaching to
the early stages of the Anthicus, no effort was made to rear the
adult from material gathered, but all pup and larve in differ-
ent stages were preserved in alcohol. Without doubt the beetles
would have emerged before fall and the insect would have hiber-
nated in the adult condition, as do its relatives. From these obser-
vations we judge that there is more than one generation, depend-
ing upon the amount of food and the length of time that these
egg-masses are available for food. The larva grows rapidly and
there must be other food than the Corydalis egg-masses for
early individuals. It seems likely that the beetle ordinarily
gnaws a hole in the egg-masses before laying its eggs, and it
seems, further, that few eggs are laid by each beetle in a single
egg-mass. Other beetles, however, visit the egg-mass_ subse-
quently in many cases, as the fact that larve of different sizes
were found would show. In lifting apparently unattacked egg-
masses for food for the larve taken, we were surprised to find in
several cases that these masses contained young larve of the
Anthicus, so that the beetle does not necessarily gnaw the char-
acteristic large round hole in the egg-mass before ovipositing.
Careful observations were not made on this point, but it is likely
that the eggs in these cases were thrust under the edge of the
egg-masses where no orifice existed, or perhaps a small hole which
was unnoticed was made at such a point. The extent of the de-
struction of the Corydalis eggs in this way was extraordinary.
An uninfested egg-mass could hardly be found among the hun-
dreds which occurred upon the rocks along the stream and upon
the piers of the Aqueduct Bridge.
There are three very interesting features connected with this
observation: First, that the eggs of Corydalis cormutus have
never before been known to be attacked by any insect; second, that
this species of Anthicus is rare in collections; and, third, that
very little is known about the early stages of any Anthicid.
Messrs. Hubbard and Schwarz say that they have seen the
leaves of trees overhanging the waters of the Grand river at
Grand Ledge, Mich., white with Corydalis egg-masses, but with
no signs of any insect attack upon them. The writer has seen
the leaves of trees overhanging several streams in the vicinity of
Ithaca, N. Y., similarly plastered with egg-masses, and, as
above stated, the Corydalis has for many years been studied by
Professor Comstock and his assistants, but Professor Comstock
has written me, in reply to an inquiry upon the subject, that he
has not noticed that the eggs are attacked by any insect at Ithaca.
The immunity in these two cases may be due to the fact that the
eggs are laid more commonly upon leaves and trees where the
larve of Anthicus on emerging could not find a proper place to
OF WASHINGTON. —— 313
pupate, or it may have something to do with the geographical
distribution of the species. Mr. Schwarz informs me that up to
this summer, neither Mr. Ulke nor himself had ever taken this
species at Washington, yet on August 4 the writer could easily
have captured a hundred had he so desired. Mr. Schwarz further
informs me that with Mr. Hubbard he noticed a closely allied
species—Anthicus guadrilunatus—in extreme abundance along
the rocky shores of the canyon streams in Colorado and Utah,
and that Chauliodes and large Perlids were extremely common
at the same time. He is inclined to think, since Mr. Clifton’s
discovery, that the related species may feed upon the eggs of
these Pseudoneuroptera. The discovery will, in fact, probably
lead to the discovery of the early stages of other Anthicidz
which frequent the margins of streams.
On the occasion of Mr. Schwarz’s trip, on August 24, most of
the egg-masses had been destroyed and there were abundant in-
dications of subsequent feeding upon the remains of the egg-
shells by several insects. He found the larva and the imago of
a large Psocid engaged in this work and he also found two larve
of an Anthrenus similarly engaged. One specimen of another
species of Psocid was also found and a mite was seen feeding
upon the egg remains. As the larve of the Anthicus grow and
demolish the interior of the egg-masses, the cover becomes grad-
ually lifted from its closely fastened border on the rocks, allow-
ing easy entrance to these other insects, which feed upon the leay-
ings. The cocoons of a small Drassid spider were also found
in a few demolished egg-masses.
i) NOVEMBER 4, 1895.
, President Ashmead in the chair and the following members
also present: Messrs. Mann, Linell, Hubbard, Gill, thet
Marlatt, Benton, and Howard.
By unanimous vote Prof. Dr. Rudolph Leuckart, of Leipzig,
was elected an honorary member. Dr. William Barnes, of
Decatur, Illinois, was elected a corresponding member.
The President announced the death of the Rev. Dr. ag G.
Morris, one of the founders of the Society, and made a few
remarks about Dr. Morris’s long and prominent career.
—Mr. Hubbard read the following paper :
314 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
SOME INSECTS WHICH BRAVE THE DANGERS OF THE
PITCHER-PLANT.
By H. G. Husparp.
Since Prof. Riley published in Trans. Acad. Sci., St. Louis,
1874, iil, pp. 235-240, his account of the insects which he observed
in connection with the common pitcher-plant, Sarracenia vario-
larts, 1 believe few new observations upon this subject have
been made. In July, 1894, I had the opportunity of making a
brief study of the insects associated with the large trumpet-
shaped leaves of Sarracenia flava, a species of pitcher plant as
common in the low sandy savannas and on springy hillsides in
Georgia and Florida as S. varzolarzs is in our northern bogs
and marshes. At De Funiak Springs, in western Florida, I found
an unusually fine collection of these plants in the boggy meadows
and springy hillsides forming the valley of a small streamlet. I
first noticed that many of the pitchers, thousands of which rose
above the sod, standing erect to a height of over two feet, were
attacked and eroded, chiefly in the upper part, by caterpillars of
a most brilliant carmine red color. I afterwards bred from
these both species of Xazthopftera mentioned by Prof. Riley
from Sarracenia varitolaris, viz: X. semicrocea Gn. and X,
ridingsit Riley. The moth of X. r¢dizgsz¢z has upon the upper
wings transverse bars of fuscous, while X. semicrocea has the
fore wing half black and half orange-yellow. The latter is the
smaller and the more distinctly marked species. Its larva is
much the brighter in coloration and all the markings are more
sharply defined than in rzdzzgszz. It is a most beautiful creature,
gayly decorated with carmine, white, and velvety black. The
moths of both species were entirely at their ease within the
pitchers and made themselves at home there, resting in copula-
tion upon the spine-clad walls or flitting over the dangerous
surface as easily as upon ordinary leaves. Evidently the death-
trap has no terrors for them. I noticed that the larva of both
species takes thé precaution to empty the pitchers of their liquid
contents by cutting a small hole from the outside near the base.
This insures a dry interior which becomes partly filled with the
excrementary pellets, and among these the pupa is usually formed.
The drowned insects ensnared by the plant include species of all
orders—in fact, representatives of almost the entire fauna of these
swampy meadows, ants predominating, as Prof. Riley remarks ;
but, contrary to his experience in the case of Sarracenia vario-
laris, I find that S. fava captures not only the honey-bee but
even Bombus and Megachile, together with sand-wasps (Bem-
becide), and other aculeate Hymenoptera of the largest size. I
OF WASHINGTON. 315
was therefore the more surprised to discover that a large Sphecid
wasp, which Mr. Ashmead has kindly determined as /sodontéa
(Sphex) philadelphica St. Farg., utilizes the pitchers, in their
most active and formidable condition, as a resting-place for the
rearing of its young. Hundreds of the pitchers had been thus
appropriated, but at the time, July 4th, I found only the capsules
from which the wasps had emerged, and secured a single pupa
only, far advanced towards maturity.
The mother wasp stuffs the pitcher more or less compactly
with blades of grass and the fibrous threads of plants, which
float above the stygean lake in the bottom of the cup and safely
bridge its dangers. I suspect that the food which is supplied to
the larva of this wasp consists principally of the caterpillars of
the Sarracenia moths (Xazthopitera), but I did not satisfactorily
ascertain the fact, as I only found the spun pupa cases resting
upright in the midst of a loose packing of grass.
Notwithstanding that many species of spiders are found drowned
within the pitchers, there is nevertheless at least one species of
Lycosa that has thoroughly mastered the difficulties of the
situation, and habitually spreads its web within the tubes, not
only taking toll of the plant in the insects which it allures, but
also utilizing it as a safe retreat in which to rear its young. The
spider spreads a diaphragm of web half way down the tube, and
its egg-mass may be found suspended there a short distance
above the water.
The maggots of the pitcher-plant fly, Sarcophaga sarracenie
Riley, are so uniformly present and so abundant in every species
of pitcher-plant which I have examined from the swamps of
Lake Superior to the bay-heads of Florida that I am constrained
to think they have a more intimate connection with the economy
of the plant than has been assigned to them. They certainly aid
materially in disintegrating the mass of accumulated insects in
the pitchers, and I see no reason for considering that thev rob the
plant of its proper food, since they must add their own excreta
to the macerated digestive material, and this may serve the needs
of the plant as well, or even better, than the disintegration of the
animal matter produced by its own fluids.
A species of the interesting and little known parrot-beak
pitcher-plant, S. Aszttac¢na, was common at De Funiak, growing
low in the wet grass about the roots of the giant tubes of S. flava.
The curious bladder-like pitchers of this species are constricted
at the lip in a narrow opening, and I found the contained liquids
received only insects of the smallest size, chiefly minute gnats,
Cecidomyiide ; the smaller Staphylinide, such as Atheta and
Trogophleus, were also represented there, together with minute
semi-aquatic Hemiptera and Thrips. The accumulation of dead
316 3 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
insects was relatively rather less than in its gigantic relative.
No maggots of Sarcophaga and no intruders of any kind were
found in these tiny pitchers.
In discussing this paper Mr. Ashmead stated that in Jacksonville,
Florida, he had studied the insects found in the pitchers of several
species of the pitcher-plant and could corroborate Mr. Hubbard’s
statement of the enormous number of insects which were found in
such locations. He himself had found some rare Coleoptera in
this way. He had never heard, however, of species of Sphex in
such situations, and doubted Mr. Hubbard’s theory that this insect
feeds upon the lepidopterous larve in the pitchers, since Sphex
is almost invariably a storer of orthopterous insects. The genus
Isodontia has recently been suppressed ; but if Mr, Hubbard’s ob-
servation that this insect feeds upon lepidopterous larve is cor-
rect, this difference in habit from the ordinary Sphex may war-
rant the revival of the genus. Mr. Hubbard, however, stated
that he did not observe the food of Sphex and it was a mere
supposition that it fed upon Lepidoptera. Grasshoppers were
very plenty in the pitchers. Mr. Mann said that, following the
general rule, caterpillars of such bright colors as those found in
the pitcher-plant were apt to be distasteful to other insects.
—Mr. Howard read a paper entitled ‘‘ Notes on the Life-history
of Culex pungens, with remarks about other Mosquitoes.” *
In discussion Dr. Gill said that he wished that some one
would make an effort to determine the species of other common
dipterous genera, and referred to the fact that he had caught upon
sticky fly-paper in his office room about a dozen different species
of Diptera and that Mr. Schwarz had told him that very few of
them could be determined offhand. Referring to mosquitoes as
fish food, he stated that a very large proportion of the food of
newly hatched fresh-water fish consisted of mosquito larve. The
Trinidad fish referred to by the speaker probably belongs to
Rivulus or to Pecilia. Mr. Hubbard stated that he had noticed
that adult mosquitoes take some time in issuing from the pupa
* Published in Bulletin 4, New Series, Division of Entomology, U. S.
Dept. Agriculture.
OF WASHINGTON. 317
and that they rest upon the pupa skin for quite a while extend-
ing their wings. At this time if the surface of the water is
ruffled by wind many are upset and drowned. With other
aquatic Diptera living in more rapid streams the maturation must
be brought about much more quickly. Recently, at Niagara
Falls, he had picked up a rock from the rapids and a dipterous
insect had actually burst out of the pupa and flown away like an
arrow from a bow. He thought this must be common among
Diptera living in such localities. Mr. Howard said that this was
undoubtedly the case with Simulium, a statement which Mr.
Marlatt substantiated by quoting Mr. G. L. Frierson, who said
that he had seen adult Simuliums popping out of water in such
numbers as to give the water the appearance of boiling. Mr.
Howard said that the adult Simulium was almost virtually aquatic,
referring to its egg-laying habits where the adult certainly enters
the water to oviposit. Mr. Benton, referring to the food habits
of adult mosquitoes, said that they are very fond of honey. He
has frequently seen them feeding upon exposed honey in great ,
numbers. Apropos to the slow expanding of the wings of adult
insects, he stated that where the issuing of the adult from a pupa
with the honey-bee is retarded to any considerable extent the bee
finally comes out ready for immediate flight. Where there is no
retardation, however, it takes some time to expand and harden
its wings. The question of the food of the male mosquito was
brought up and Mr. Mann stated that according to Dr. Dimmock
experiments failed to prove that it can pierce the skin. A study
of the mouth-parts substantiated this idea. While the male
mosquito has a mouth which will allow it to suck up liquids, it
apparently is not capable of piercing either skin of warm-blooded
animals or tissues of plants. Mr. Ashmead referred to the so-
called blind mosquito of Florida which some people down there
thought to be a male mosquito. It is, however, a species of
Chironomus.
—Mr. Heidemann exhibited specimens of Aheumatobates
rileyé in the fully winged form and said that only four specimens
are known, two of which he has collected near Washington and
two collected by Mr. C. E. Chambliss, in Tennessee. Dr.
Meinert doubts the existence of winged specimens. Mr. Heide-_
318 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
mann’s series, however, shows both the normal and abnormal
forms (so called by Riley), or A. texuzpes Meinert and A. rzleyz
Bergroth. Of the former he had both sexes in the winged form,
but of the latter only the males.
—Mr. Ashmead submitted some Mutillide and called particular
attention to the difference between Spherophthalma and Pho-
topsis, the latter having been considered by Fox a synonym of
the former. Mr. Ashmead is of the opinion that one section of
the genus Photopsis is composed entirely of males of Cyphotes.
—Mr. Hubbard stated that he had found the brood cells of
Xyleborus xylographus, a species which burrows directly and
for a long distance into hickory wood. In the brood cell he
found a large colony of females and several males. In one corner
of the brood cell he found what is obviously a cemetery, con-
taining dead larve and adults, comparable to the cemeteries
which he had found in ants’ nests. Mixed with the dead bodies
were thousands of eggs of a Tyroglyph mite. He further found
the body of the mother of the colony walled into a side burrow.
From this observation he inferred that the presence of dead
animal matter would interfere with the growth of the ambrosia
upon which the young Scolytids feed, and that we have here the
obvious beginning of a cultivation of ambrosia, a step towards
the condition of affairs which has recently excited so much
attention with certain ants: He considers that this indicates that
the Scolytide have a very high order of intelligence.
19 DECEMBER 5, 1895.
The following members were present: Messrs. Gill, Fernow,
Test, Marlatt, Hubbard, Coquillett, Stiles, Linell, Heidemann,
Benton, and Vaughn; also three visitors.
Mr. Hubbard then read a paper of which he has presented the
following abstract :
OF WASHINGTON, 319
ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF CERTAIN SPECIES OF
MYTILASPIS.
By H. G. Hupparp.
[| Authors abstract. |
Mr. Hubbard spoke of the unreliability of tradition and early
records as a source of exact knowledge concerning the introduc-
tion and spread from one country to another of pests like Scale
Insects, which are so easily transported upon living plants and
so difficult of specific identification even by expert observers.
He said that the published accounts of the introduction into
Florida of the two common orange scale insects, JAZytzlaspis
glovert and Mytilaspis citricola, were apparently exact and
circumstantial, the Long Scale having, it is said, been brought to
Mandarin in 1838, by Mr. Robinson, on two small mandarin trees
which were obtained in New York from a ship which came from
China; and the Purple Scale, according to Glover’s account,
brought into the State some years later upon lemons imported
from Bermuda.
Notwithstanding these very positive statements, which have
passed unchallenged into our literature, it is almost certain that
both are erroneous. ‘The insects mentioned by Glover as coming
from Bermuda are clearly not Mytilaspis Scales; and the Purple
Scale, to which his record has been supposed to refer had at the
time of which he wrote not yet reached Europe from the East.
It was not until the middle of the present century had been
reached and passed that it continued its westerly course and
spread over the islands of the Atlantic and the Carribean Sea,
attaining the continent of North America not much before the
year 1880.
As to the Long Scale (MZ. gloverz), the fact that it is to-day
the principal pest of the orange in the interior of Mexico renders
the tradition of its introduction upon the North American con-
tinent in 1838 altogether improbable. It is probable that this
scale was intoduced with the orange into Florida and Mexico by
the Spaniards at the end of the 16th or beginning of the 17th
century. Its irruption in 1838 was in fact but a continuation
of an epidemic of coccid pests of the orange which is known to
have overwhelmed the citrus plantations of Europe and the
Mediterranean in the early part of the century and to have spread
westward somewhat later, to the Azores, the Canaries, and finally
to Bermuda.
In these days of rapid transit, which facilitates the interchange
of living plants between the most distant countries, insects of
320 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
economic importance easily and quickly girdle the earth. It has,
therefore, no especial significance when these orange scales are
discovered in the botanic gardens of Australia, Tahiti, Fiji, Cey-
lon, India, and other distant colonies of the British Empire
where the importation of living plants is actively carried on.
The researches of Mr. Maskell and the official entomologists of
the various stations give a very clear idea of the character of the
indigenous coccid fauna of Australia and the islands of the
Indian Ocean, and it appears that while our typical orange scales
have been introduced into many of these countries they have no
place in their original fauna, but are represented there by inter-
mediate species, or perhaps only varieties of one species, which
unite three principal types of Mytilaspis scales that in the
Northern Hemisphere have become more fully differentiated and
form as many distinct species, viz.: the apple scale, M/ytzlaspis
pomorum, having the thickest scale and darkest color; JZ. czt-
ricola, with an equally broad scale, but thinner and lighter in
color; and JZ. gloverz, with linear form and still thinner and
paler scale. Mr. Hubbard showed that these variations in the
scale covering were necessarily accompanied by differences in
the structure of the insect, and pointed out that the thin and elon-
gate forms were adapted to life in tropical thickets; that the
broader form and thicker scale was better suited to existence in
uplands where there is greater exposure to sun and air and less
moisture; and finally that the heaviest and darkest coverings
were necessary to resist the sudden changes of winter. He sug-
gested the hypothesis that a tendency to vary in these three
directions on the part of an originally tropical species of JZytz-
laspis had in the North produced as three distinct species the
apple scale, the purple scale, and the long scale, while in the
Southern Hemisphere, and in islands like Japan, the preponder-
ance of water and the abrupt termination of the land areas, giv-
ing a more restricted range into colder regions, these variations
had not become fully differentiated and still existed as varieties
of the original species.
—Dr. Stiles exhibited a Dermestes larva from a corpse from
three to six months after death. He also called attention to the
French work entitled ‘* La Faune des Cadavres,” by P. Mégnin.
This author divides the period from the burial of the corpse to
its final dissolution into eight portions, and states that during
these different periods a different series of insects infests it, and
that in some instances the insects present in one period may be
OF WASHINGTON. S21
absent during the succeeding one, but will sometimes be found
again at a later period. In this way he says that the length of
time the corpse has been buried can be definitely ascertained
from the insects found infesting it. Mr. Marlatt doubted that
any kind of insect which once infested a corpse would leave it
for a certain length of time and then return. He also doubted
that data obtained in this way could be implicitly relied upon,
since the conditions are so seldom the same.
In regard to the manner in which the insects gain access to
the corpse, Mr. Hubbard stated that in the case of the Diptera
the eggs were evidently deposited on the outside of the coffin or
casket before burial and the young larve made their way through
any small opening. He did not believe it possible for the young
larva to make its way through the soil-after burial. Dr, Stiles
stated that he does not agree with the conclusions arrived at by
the author of the work in question, but thought that the field
was a very interesting one and desired to bring it to the attention
of entomologists.
—Mr. Coquillett presented for publication in the Proceedings
the following paper :
A NEW DIPTEROUS GENUS RELATED TO GNORISTE.
By D. W. CoquiLLeTtT.
In a small collection of Diptera recently received from Prof.
T. D. A. Cockerell is a Mycetophilid having an extremely long
proboscis. The only described genus having this character so
far reported as occurring in our fauna is Gzorzste Meigen. But
the present form differs from the latter genus in having the palpi
attached to the proboscis near its base instead of near its apex,
and the fourth vein forks far beyond the forking of the fifth in-
stead of almost opposite it. The new form will be easily recog-
nized by the accompanying figure and description :
Eugnoriste new genus.—Head small, much narrower than the thorax;
antenne slightly longer than the thorax, filiform, pubescent, sixteen-
jointed ; proboscis rigid, filiform, directed downward and backward, longer
than the head and thorax taken together; palpi four-jointed, the first
joint very short, the second as long as the two following taken together;
three ocelli; eyes deeply emarginate next the antenne. Coxe nearly as
long as height of thorax, legs destitute of strong bristles, spurs at tips of
323 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
tibiz well developed. Wings bare, costal vein reaching half way from
tip of third vein to apex of upper branch of the fourth, auxiliary vein ob-
solete toward its apex, third vein not forked, fourth issuing from the fifth
close to the base and forking far beyond the base of the third; fifth vein
forking near its base. Type, the following species :
femnent
Fic. 24.—Zugunoriste occidentalis Coq.—greatly enlarged (original),
Eugnoriste occidentalis new species.— 9 —Head and thorax black, sub-
shining, antennz, proboscis, palpi and halteres blackish brown; abdo-
men dark brown, sutures of the segments yellow; legs, including
the cox, yellowish, tarsi brown toward the tips. Wings hyaline, veins
_brown, second section of fourth vein sub-obsolete. Length 2.5 to 3 mm.
Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Three specimens collected June 8, by Prof. T. D. A. Cock-
erell.
SpEcIAL MEETING, Dec. 26, 1895.
A meeting of the Society was held in the assembly hall of the
Cosmos Club under the auspices of the Joint Commission of the
Scientific Societies of Washington. Major J. W. Powell of the
Joint Commission presided, and 25 other persons were present.
The retiring President, Mr. Ashmead, then delivered his annual
address :
OF WASHINGTON. AZ
ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT.
THE PHYLOGENY OF THE HYMENOPTERA.
By Witiiam H. AsHMEAD.
You are all probably aware that the order Hymenoptera
includes those insects known to us under the popular names of
bees, wasps, hornets, ants, saw-flies, gall-flies, Ichneumons, and
Chalcid-flies, and to-night I shall attempt to give you some idea
of their origin, history, and development, their affinities with
other orders, and their classification into groups, families, and
tribes. I shall also attempt to show how the phytophagous
species, under the great law of evolution, gave place to parasitic
and predaceous species ; and while I should like to mention some
of the interesting and unsolved problems in their life-history, I
shall be compelled, for want of time, to confine myself to the
subject of my address and merely call your attention to the
economic importance of the order. :
A study of insects demonstrates that the same general laws of
development that govern the higher animal life govern insect life
and that there is ever an upward tendency to a higher or more
specialized type; since man is the highest type of animal life, so
a bee or an ant is the highest type of insect life.
Both in their way are remarkable productions of nature.
The surprising instincts and wonderful intelligence displayed
by many Hymenoptera, particularly among the social species, in
the construction of their habitations, in the care of their young
and in gathering their food have been noticed and commented
upon by many observers.
The late Prof. John O. Westwood as early as 1840 says: ‘* If
interesting habits and economy, great development of instinctive
powers and social qualities be considered as indicating superiority
in their possessors, the insects composing the order Hymenoptera
have certainly far greater claims to be placed in the foremost
ranks of insect tribes than any of their brethren.”
Sir John Lubbock, known to us all for his researches in many
departments of science, also says: ‘‘ If we judge animals by their
intelligence as evinced in their actions, it is not the gorilla and
324 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
chimpanzee, but the bee and above all the ant, which approach
nearest to man.”’
The Hymenoptera are also among the most useful and bene-
ficial insects to man, since it is mostly only among the phytopha-
gous species, or the saw-flies, horntails, etc., that we find those
that are injurious; the vast majority of the species known to us
being beneficial in various ways.
The hive-bee and other wild bees furnish us with wax and
honey; while other bees are useful in the pollenization of plants
and fruit trees, the legs of these insects, with their hairy covering,
being specially adapted for carrying pollen from one flower to
another. In fact, modern research has shown that many plants
cannot be pollenized without the bees, and if it were not for
these useful insects our orchards would be unproductive, since
they are essential to the pollenization of the apple, the pear, the
peach, and other fruit trees. It has also been shown that the
bumble-bee is essential to the fertilization of red clover and other
plants.
The oak-gall of commerce, the product of a cynipid, or gall-
making wasp, has been for years utilized in the manufacture of
ink, and, although to-day somewhat superseded by chemical
products, is still much used in the manufacture of this important
article of modern civilization.
The fig insects, the Agaonide or Blastophage, a most re-
markable group of hymenopterous insects, belonging to the
family Chalcidide, are also important to man, since from time
immemorial they have been made use of in the fertilization of
the fig.
They are still made use of in the Orient, although it has been
demonstrated that some varieties of figs—the artificial product of
man through centuries of cultivation—will produce fruit without
their intervention. All wild fig trees, however, are diceceous
and it has been fully demonstrated that each species of fig tree
has one or-more species of these insects attached to it, which are
essential to its fertilization. |
All wasps—the wood-wasps, the digger-wasps, the social
wasps, etc.—are also beneficial, and very few persons, outside
of entomologists, can conceive of the immense services performed
OF WASHINGTON. 325
by these gayly-colored insects. All are predaceous or parasitic,
and destroy annually thousands and thousands of destructive
insect pests.
The economic value to us of the wasp and bee, however, is
probably much less in comparison with the benefits we derive
from innumerable parasitic ichneumon and chalcid flies. These
are numbered by millions and are found everywhere. Most of
them, too, are so minute or microscopic in size as to escape our
notice, and it is only by the most careful observation in the field
and by breeding in the laboratory that we are able to obtain a
knowledge of their obscure mode of life.
These belong principally to five families, the Proctotrypide,
Cynipide, Evaniide, Chalcidide, Braconide, and Ichneumonidae,
and all of them except the gall-making cynipids and a few phy-
tophagous chalcidids, are genuine parasites, living in and de-
stroying the eggs, larve, pupe, and imagoes of the destructive
insect pests of the forest, field, and garden.
The obscure habits of these parasitic Hymenoptera are now
being slowly worked out in various countries of the globe, and
more particularly in Europe and America.
In recent years great interest in a study of these microscopic
species has been manifested, and it is gratifying to us to know
that in no country in the world is so much being done to make
known the habits and economic value of these insects as in our
own country. I allude particularly to the great work béing
done in the U. S. Department of Agriculture, by its field agents,
and by our numerous Agricultural Experiment Stations.
Our knowledge of the habits of certain groups and genera of
these insects is now sufficient to give us a good idea of those
species which are most important to the agriculturist and fruit-
grower. 7
For example, we have found out that whole groups of genera
and species are parasitic in the eggs of other insects and that
these are the most important. |
The species belonging to the family Mymaride are parasitic
in the eggs of Hemiptera, Diptera, Neuroptera, &c. Certain
Proctotrypids belonging to the tribe Scelionini destroy the eggs
of destructive orthopterous insects,—grasshoppers, katydids,
326 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
locusts, &c.; the tribe Telenomini destroy lepidopterous,
hemipterous, dipterous, and neuropterous eggs; the tribe Bzini,
spider eggs; the tribe Teleasini, beetle eggs; while the family
Trichogrammide destroy the eggs of moths, butterflies, beetles,
bugs, &c. The species belonging to the genus Evania in the
family Evaniide destroy the eggs of cockroaches; while some
Chalcidids are also egg-destroyers, species of Encyrtus and
Anastatus (= Antigaster).
The tribe Bethylini in the Proctotrypide are parasitic on the
larve of the Micro-lepidoptera and on coleopterous larve; the
subfamily Dryinine on homopterous larve; the subfamily
Platygasterine on dipterous larve; the subfamily Helorine on
neuropterous insects; the subfamilies Proctotrypine and Belytine
on coleopterous larve; while the Diapriine attack dipterous
larve. |
The parasitic Cynipide attack principally dipterous larve,
although one subfamily, the Allotriine, destroy plant-lice belong-
ing to the homopterous family Aphidide.
The species belonging to the families Chalcidide, Braconidae,
and Ichneumonide, comprising thousands and thousands of
species, destroy the larve, pupz, and imagoes of nearly all
orders. 3
And we find in these families, just as we have found to be the
case in the Proctotrypide, whole tribes and genera with a unity
of habit that is universal. The genera Bracon, Spathius,
Meteorus, Euphorus, Ichneumon, Pteromalus, Eupelmus, Aph-
elinus, Coccophagus, Tetrastichus, Melittobia, etc., have the
same habits in Europe, Asia, Africa, or Australia as they have
in America; and I hope to see the knowledge we are acquiring
of these parasitic insects put to practical use.
I hope to live to see these parasites bred in great numbers in
the laboratory and then transported into regions where they do
not exist and where they will do the most good, in destroying
their destructive insect hosts,
There is no reason why we cannot send our American para-
sites to other countries and receive in return other parasites not
in our fauna.
Some of our most destructive insect pests were imported from
OF WASHINGTON. 527
foreign shores, and we should look to the original habitat of
these insects for their natural enemies and parasites; and if these
are not already with us, they should be imported.
THE PHYLOGENY oF HExapous INSECTS.
From what [have said, I think I-have clearly demonstrated
the high rank of the order and its great economic importance,
and will now proceed to show its phylogenetic his Nabe
and its position among other orders.
Dr. A. S. Packard, one of our best systematic entomologists,
says: ‘* There is nothing like a linear series in the animal king-
dom, but it is Kke a tree. The higher series of orders form
more of a linear series than the lower series, so that the Neurop-
‘tera, Orthoptera, Hemiptera, and Coleoptera form a more
broken series than the Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Diptera.
A bee, butterfly, and house-fly are much more closely allied to
each other than a beetle, squash-bug, a grasshopper, and a
dragon-fly are among themselves.”
This is quite true and a principle now almost universally ac-
cepted by zoologists.
Before proceeding with the phylogeny of the Hymenoptera, I
shall, therefore, first attempt to show briefly the phylogeny of
hexapodous insects, in an ideal genealogical tree.
This ideal tree is shown on my diagram No, 1
It will be observed that | agree with Brauer, Packard, Lub-
bock, and others in considering the order Thysanura as repre-
senting the less specialized type of insects and from which de-
veloped all others, which is emphasized again and again in
the larval development of the different orders.
Twenty distinct orders are recognized, Uratochelia being a
new order proposed for the family Japygidz since I believe
these insects, although closely allied, are quite distinct from
other thysanurians. 3
This ideal genealogical tree will, I hope, enable you to at once
grasp the affinities of the different orders and will show you the
evolution that has taken place in their development.
It will also demonstrate to you more clearly than pages of
328 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
DIAGRAM No. 1.
1 THYSANURA.
Ideal Genealogical Tree of Insects.
OF WASHINGTON. 329
text the evolution of insects from a primitive wingless type, with-
out metamorphosis, into more specialized types of winged and
wingless insects, with incomplete or complete metamorphosis.
The thysanurians, or springtails, are always apterous and
undergo no distinct metamorphosis.
If in this ideal sketch of the phylogeny of insects I have
drawn somewhat upon my imagination, instead of depending
always upon facts, for my conception of their development, I
have no apology to make; but, on the contrary, claim it is just
as permissible for naturalists, as it is for philosophers to draw
sometimes upon their imagination in order to interpret nature
correctly.
This ideal gtnealogical tree is given merely to illustrate the
origin of the Hymenoptera, and the position which I believe
these insects should occupy among other orders, and I will now
proceed to say something about this order.
The geological history of the Hymenoptera is very meagre.
Some authorities, and especially Mr. Samuel H. Scudder, of Cam-
bridge, Mass., our highest authority on fossil insects, consider
that hexapodous insects were not ordinarily differentiated until
post-palzozoic time, and class all fossil insects before this time in
a single order, termed Palzodictyoptera, since these fossils cannot
be referable to any of our modern orders.
Most of these insects, however, show neuropterous and or-
thopterous affinities and demonstrate the great age of these insects.
As we ascend the geological strata, insects become better differ-
entiated and other orders appear—the Hemiptera, Coleoptera, etc.,
but no trace of hymenopterous insects appears until the tertiary
formation is reached.
The earliest known fossil Hymenoptera occur in England in
the middle Odlite, while in this country they have been obtained
from different localities in the tertiary formation. Scudder in
his Tertiary Insects of North America (U.S. Geol. Surv., 1890)
describes 15 fossil terebrants and 8 aculeates from the Floris-
sant beds of Colorado.
These fossils, however, are of so recent a date that, with one
or two exceptions, all are referred to modern genera, and all
belong to well-defined modern families, so that no clew as to the
330 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
origin of the order is obtainable from geological strata and we
must look to other sources for this information.
This clew, I believe, may be obtained, at least approximately,
from living forms and from the position assigned the order by
various systematic workers.
PosITION ASSIGNED THE HYMENOPTERA BY DIFFERENT
AUTHORITIES.
The older authors divided insects into two principal groups: (1)
The Mandibulata, or insects with jaws fitted for biting; and (2)
The Haustellata, or insects with the mouth-parts fitted for suck-
ing. From Westwood I find that Lamarck thought the Hymen- —
optera were the connecting order between the two series.
Latreille placed it between the Neuroptera and the Lepidoptera,
regarding Phryganea and Termes as forming the link between
them, considering the long-tongue bees as approaching nearest
to the Lepidoptera.
MacLeay, on the other hand, placed the Hymenoptera between
the Coleoptera (with which they are supposed to be connected
by the osculant order Strepsiptera) and the Trichoptera, the
Tenthredinide being considered as trichopterous and the Uro-
ceride as forming an osculant order, Bomboptera, between T'ri-
choptera and Hymenoptera, which last order is reduced to the
species possessing apodal larve: thus by means of the connec-
tion between the ants (Formicide) and white ants (Termitide),
and the caddice-flies (Phryganeidz) and the saw-flies (Tenthre-
dinidz), a strong relationship is shown to exist between the Lin-
nzan orders Hymenoptera and Neuroptera.
Packard in his paper entitled On Synthetic Types in Insects
(Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., vii, p. 591-22, 1863) says that the
Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, and Neuroptera ‘‘ seem
bound together by affinities such as those that unite by them-
selves the bees, moths, and flies,” and to the latter or what he
considers the higher series he has since applied the term Meta-
bola, and to the former Heterometabola. He says: ‘‘ The
Metabola are unquestionably more homogeneous than the other
group. One of their primary features is found in the more
OF WASHINGTON. 331
clearly marked regional divisions of the body; this is a consid-
eration of great significance, since in the progress of structure,
from the worms, through the crustaceans to the insects; or with
the progress of structure, from myriapods, through the arach-
nids to the hexapods; or in the developmental history of the
Metabola themselves, from the larva, through the pupa to
the imago, we discover constantly increasing concentration of the
segments of which the body is composed into distinct regions,
culminating in the Hymenoptera, where head, thorax, and abdo-
men are most sharply defined.”
All the orders of the Heterometabola and none ak the Metabola
are represented in the paleozoic rocks. Scudder states: ‘‘ This
is the more striking from the fact that if we omit mention of the
single discovery of insect wings in the Devonian, the three orders
of insects—hexapods, arachnids, and myriapods—appear simulta-
neously in the Carboniferous strata. The Metabola are then
later in time and more perfect in development than the Hetero-
metabola.”’
Packard also believes the Hymenoptera are descendant from
the Lepidoptera.
Thus we see that most authorities are agreed as to the affini-
ties existing between the Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera, and
there is scarcely any doubt in my own mind now that this is the
correct view, and that these two orders with the Trichoptera
and part of the Diptera had a common ancestry.
This relationship is shown in the close resemblance between
the larve of the phytophagous Hymenoptera and those of cer-
tain lepidopterous larve, although the direct line of descent
cannot be pointed out absolutely.
The relationship will probably be found among some of the
wood-boring Lepidoptera, Cosstde, <geriide, Hepialide,
etc., and more particularly among those lepidopterous insects
furnished with an ovipositor.
The larve of the Mecaptera (Panorpidez) also approach close
to the Hymenoptera, and the peculiar rostrate head of the imagoes
of this order is frequently reproduced among the parasitic species
(Agathis, Cremnops, etc.).
Mr. Nathan Banks has suggested that the Megaptera were the
332 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
D1aGRAM No. 2.
AMPULICIOE.
TENTHRED/N/IDA..
Phylogeny of the Hymenoptera.
OF WASHINGTON. 333
ancestors of the Diptera. There is apparently a close relation-
ship between these insects and certain 7zpulide.
In my diagram No. 2, I have attempted to show the develop-
ment and relationship of the different families of the Hymenoptera,
and to illustrate how the phytophagous species, whose larve
are furnished with legs, in time gave place to higher and more
specialized forms, whose larve are apodous. |
I consider the Tenthredinide to be the lowest of hymenop-
terous insects, and from these in time were evolved on one hand
the Cephidz and Oryssidz, on the other hand the Uroceride.
From the latter probably evolved the Braconide and Ichneu-
monide, in which the egg-boring apparatus is usually well
developed. From the Orysside were evidently evolved other
forms, in which the egg-boring apparatus becomes variously
modified and gradually develops into a true sting, and from
which in time came the true aculeates—wasps, bees, etc. It is
the stem of three or four different families.
The family Stephanide is evidently a branch of the Orysside,
with strong braconid affinities. The Cynipide, Proctotrypide,
and Evaniide also had a common origin and in time evolved
other forms.
From the Cynipidz came the Chalcidide, a recent type; while
from the Proctotrypide, which I believe represent some of the
most ancient types of hymenopters, we have a distinct line of
descent into the Scoliide, Mutillida, and the higher Aculeata.
My diagram will sufficiently show my conception of the rela-
tionship of these families, and I will therefore close with a brief
synopsis of a new classification of these insects, based upon their
relationship as illustrated in my diagram.
334 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
I. Sub-order Heterophaga.* Abdomen petiolate or subpetiolate, never
broadly sessile; larve apodous.
* Hypopygium entire and closely united with the pygium, the
sting or ovipositor always issuing from tip of abdomen.
a. Pronotum not extending back to tegule.
Tarsi dilated or thickened.. I. Anthophila Hartig.
Tarsi slender, not dilated...IJ. Entomophila Ashm.
aa. Pronotum extending back to the tegule.
+ Apical segments of abdomen normal.
° Petiole or first segment of abdomen simple,
without scales or nodes.
Wings usually folded longitudinally
in repose; if straight the antennz
ending in a large club.
III. Diplopteryga Latr.
Wings not folded longitudinally in
TEPORE Ls a. 6 cicias IV. Fossores Latr.
° Petiole or first segment of abdomen with
one or more scales or nodes; sexes usu-
OEY Bo soe B ikesseces V. Heterogyna Latr.
tt Apical segments of abdomen tubular and re-
tractile, telescopic-like, visible dorsal seg-
ments from 3-5........... WI. Tubulifera Latr.
ttt Apical segments of abdomen usually tubular,
but not retractile or telescopic-like. :
VII. Oxyura Latr.
** Hypopygium divided or never united with the pygium; ovi-
positor originating some distance before tip of abdomen.
Front wings withouta stigma... VIII. Stenospili Ashm.
Front wings with a stigma...... IX. Megaspili Ashm.
II. Sub-order Phytophaga.** Abdomen broadly sessile: larvz with legs.
Anterior tibiz with 1 apical spur.................e00 I. Xylophaga.
Anterior tibiz with 2 apical spurs .........sccseeeees II. Phyllophaga.
The series indicated above represent the following families,
which may be arranged consecutively thus:
* Petioliventres Haliday. ** Sessiliventres Haliday.
OF WASHINGTON,
Anthophila.......
Entomophila .
Diplopteryga ....
POOAGURG. 66 csc.
Heterogyna.......
Tubulifera.........
PAGER § ance. 5 cans
Stenospili.........
Megaspili.... .....
Xylophaga........
Phyllophaga......
true relationship.
fo is (aera teen pam
al
ee
( III.
IV.
V.
VI.
use VIL.
VIII.
132
x.
XI.
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
XV.
XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.
XIX.
XX.
XXI.
XXIT.
XXIII.
XXIV.
XXV.
XXVI.
XXVII.
XXVIII.
XXEX.
XXX.
XXXI.
XXX:
} XXXII
XXXIV.
XXXV.
L MXXVE
XXXVII.
~ XXXVIIL
i XXxXEX:
. Pamphiliide.
. Tenthredinide.
a ee
Apide. .
Andrenide.
Crabronide.
Pemphredonide.
Bembicide.
Larride.
Trypoxylonide.
Philanthide.
Nyssonide.
Sphecide.
Ampulicide.
Masaride.
Vespide.
Eumenide.
Pompilide.
Sapygide.
Rhopalosomide.
Scoliide.
Thynnide.
Mutillide.
Poneride.
Dorylide.
Formicide.
Myrmicide..
Chrysididz.
Pelecinide.
Proctotrypide.
Cynipide.
Chalcidide,
Mymaride.
Evaniide.
Trigonalide.
Stephanide.
Braconide.
Ichneumonide.
Agriotypide.
Orysside.
Siricidz.*
Cephide.
335
Tables defining the above families are already prepared and
will be published in a separate paper.
given now, in connection with the diagram, merely to show how
these families are arranged in my collection, so as to exhibit their
This arrangement is
* Uroceridz of American authors.
336 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
You have now had a modern opinion as to the origin and
development of the Hymenoptera, and, in conclusion, I shall
bring my address to a close by a quotation from Cowan, as to
the opinion held by the ancients, respecting the development of
the bees and wasps:
He says: ‘‘It was the general opinion of antiquity that Bees
were produced from putrid bodies of cattle. Varro says they
are called Bovydévat by the Greeks, because they arise from pu-
trefied bullocks. In another place he mentions their arising
from these putrid animals, and quotes the authority of Archelaus,
who says Bees proceed from bullocks, and Wasps from horses:
Virgil, however, is much more satisfactory, for he gives us the
recipe in all its details for producing these insects :
‘*First, in a place, by nature close, they build
A narrow flooring, gutter’d, wall’d, and til’d.
In this, four windows are contriv’d, that strike
To the four winds oppos’d, their beams oblique.
A steer of two years old they take, whose head
Now first with burnished horns begins to spread:
They stop his nostrils, while he strives in vain
To breathe free air, and struggles with his pain.
Knock’d down he dies: his bowels bruis’d within,
Betray no wound on his unbroken skin.
Extended thus, in his obscene abode,
They leave the beast; but first sweet flowers are strow’d;
Beneath his body, broken boughs, and thyme,
And pleasing Cassia, just renew’d in prime.
This must be done, ere spring makes equal day,
When western winds on curling waters play :
Ere painted meads produce their flowery crops,
Or swallows twitter on the chimney tops.
The tainted blood, in this close prison pent,
Begins to boil, and thro’ the bones ferment.
Then wondrous to behold, new creatures rise,
A moving mass at first and short of thighs;
Till shooting out with legs, and imp'd with wings.
The grubs proceed to Bees with pointed stings:
And more and more affecting air, they try
Their tender pinions and begin to fly.”
IN DY AA Oe:
Acanthia inodora, 40. _
Acherontia atropos, 60.
Agrilus bilineatus, 82.
Ammophilus gryphus, Additional observa-
tions on habits of, 168.
Amphicoma vulpina, 193.
Amplicotes, Occurrence of, in Florida, 94.
Anchonus floridanus n. sp., 42.
Anthicus haldemani, 311; heroicus, 311;
quadrilunatus, 313:
Anthocharis genutia, 53.
Antinonnin, 103.
Aphids, Prolificacy of, 204.
Apis florea, Comb of, 292; meilifica, 23;
mating of queens, 169.
Arachnida, Degeneration by disuse of certain
organs of, 26.
Aramigus fulleri, 145.
Archeoplax notopus, 183.
Argas americanus, 199,
Arrhenophagus chionaspidis, Occurrence of _
in America, 239.
Ashmead, W. H., Notes on the genus Cen-
trodora, 9; A Synopsis of the Spalan-
giine of N. A., 27; Synopsis of the N.
A, species of Toxoneura Say, 47; Notes
on the family Pachylommatoide, 55;
Notes on the genus Liopteron Perty,
174; Presidential Address for 1894:
Some important structural characters
in the classification of the parasitic
Hymenoptera, 202; On the genus Pele-
cinella Westwood and its position
among the Chalcidide, 230; On the
genus Barycnemis Forster, 238 ; Lysiog-
natha, a new and remarkable genus in
the Ichneumonide, 275; Discovery of
the genus Elasmosoma, Ruthe, in
America, 280; Rhopalosomide, a new
family of fossorial wasps, 303; Presi-
dential Address for 1895 : The Phylogeny
of the Hymenoptera, 323; Shorter com-
munications, 94, 106, 138, 182, 318.
Aspidiotus perniciosus, Distribution of, 220
tenebricosus, 66.
Barycnemis, On the genus, 238; linearis n.
sp., 238,
Belostoma, Notes on, 83.
Bembex cinerea, Nesting habits of, 236.
Benacus, Notes on, 83.
Benton, Frank, The curious defenses con-
structed by Melipona and Trigona, 18;
The Death’s-head moth in relation to
honey-bees, 60; Shorter communica-
tions, 160, 169, 292.
Blissus leucopterus, Distribution of, 224.
Brathinus, Note on, 10; californicus n. sp.,
11,
California, Notes from, 250.
Carpocapsa pomonella, Futher note on, 228.
Centrodora, Notes on the genus, 9; clisio-
campee n. sp., 10.
Cerambycidez, Notes on food-habits of, 95.
Ceresa bubalus and C. taurina, Eggs of, 88.
Cerocephala, Synopsis of, 31; pityophthori
n. sp., 32; scolytivora n. sp., 33.
Cheetopsila, 34.
Chalcis cyanea, 106.
Chittenden, F. H., On the habits of some
Longicorns, 95; A Leaf-beetle of the
Golden Rod, 273.
Chrysobothris femorata, 92.
Chrysomela flavomarginata, 9.
Cicada, Mouth-parts of, 241; septendecim,
Larval history of, 115.
Cicindela severa, 194; striga, 194.
Clerus formicarius, 193.
Coccidze, Destroyed by fungus disease, 180,
181; Distribution of, 173; Hibernation
of, 67: Notes on, 65.
Coccinellide, Importation of coccidiphagous,
251.
Cockerell, T. D. A., Communications by,
127, 173.
Codling moth, Further note on, 228.
Cold, Effect of, on insects, 27, 279.
Coleoptera of Alaska, 170; Collections made
in the Northwest,17; Exhibition of rare
N. A. species, 17; Malformation in, 39;
Melsheimer’s Catalogue of, 134; Method
of mounting small, 146; Termitophilous
and myrmecophilous, 73.
Coleopterous enemy of Corydalis cornutus,
310,
398
Colorado potato beetle, Distribution of, 222.
Colors, Their use to insects in the struggle
for existence, 139.
Commensalim, 3.
Cook, O. F., Communication by, 303.
Coquillett, D. W., On the nesting habits of
the digger-wasp, Bembex cinerea, 236;
A new Dipterous genus related to
Gnoriste, 321.
Cordyceps clavatula, 180.
Coriscus flavomarginatus, 292.
Corthylus columbianus n. sp., 104; Food-
habits and galleries of, 105, 107, 138.
Coruco, a Hemipteron infesting poultry in
New Mexico, 40.
Corydalis cornutus, A coleopterous enemy
of, 310.
Crioceris asparagi, Distribution of, 222, 285.
Crustacea, Do they belong within the do-
main of entomoligical journals? 183.
Cryptogastri, Table of subfamilies, 175.
Cryptorhopalun triste, Larva of, 146.
Crypturgus alutaceus, n. sp., 17.
Culex pungens, 316.
Cynipidz, Oviposition in, 254.
Davis, G. C., Communication by, 12.
Death’s-head moth in relation to honey-
bees, 60.
Degeneration,
spiders, 26.
Dermestes larva on a corpse, 320,
Diatrea saccharalis, Distribution of, 224,
Diptera as carriers of contagious diseases,
by disuse, of organs in
Dinteiputeon: Gray’s law of, 253; of some
injurious insects, 219, 222, 284; of cer-
tain species of Mytilaspis, 319.
Donacia, Note on the ovipositor of, 24.
Doryphora 10-lineata, 139; Distribution of,
222. Bann
Driver-ants in Liberia, 303.
Drosophila living within the mouth of a
crab, 184.
Eciton, 303.
Elasmine, Peculiar structural feature in, 13.
Elasmosoma, Discovery of the genus, in North
America, 280; bakeri n. sp., 282; per-
gandei n. sp., 283; schwarzii n. sp., 283.
Entomological Society of Washington,
Election of officers for 1894, 94; Review
of the work of, 161.
Epidapus scabiei n. sp., 152.
Eudoxima transversa, 138.
Eugnoriste n, gen., 321; occidentalis n. sp.,
322,
INDEX.
Eupachylomma n. g., 58; flavocincta n,
sp., 59.
Eutermes morio, 160; rippertii, 160.
Euura perturbans, 266.
Fernow, B. E., Communication by, 103.
Fig-insects, Exhibition of, 182.
Fleas, Structural characters of mouth-parts,
38.
Galeruca xanthomelena, Distribution of, 223,
Gallerucella americana, Life-history of, 273.
Gall-making nematids, 264, 266.
Gastrospheria, 46.
Geographical distribution, see Distribution.
Gill, Dr. Theo, N., Communication by, 183.
Gononotus angulicollis, 53.
Gopher insects, 299, 301.
Gossamer spiders’ web, 191.
Gray’s law of distribution, 253.
Heidemann, Otto, Communications by, 53,
94, 106, 143, 292, 317.
Hemipeplus marginipennis, 193.
Hemiptera, Mouth-parts of, 241; Phylogeny
of, 185; Rare species found near Wash-
ington, 143.
Hibernation of nematids, 263,
Hippelates pusio, 178.
Hopkins, Prof. A. D., Note on the discovery
of a new Scolytid, with brief description
of the species, 104 ; Notes on food-habits
of Corthylus punctatissimus, 105; Notes
on the habits of certain Mycetophilids,
with descriptions of Epidapus scabiei,
sp. nov., 149; Shorter communications,
82, 107, 138, 193.
Howard, L. O., A peculiar structural feature
of the Elasminz, 13 ; Note on the mouth-
parts of Stenopelmatus, 102; A Review
of the work of the Entomological Society
of Washington during the first ten years
of its existence, 161; On Gossamer
Spiders’ Web, 191; Notes on the geo-
graphical distribution within the U. 8. of.
certain insects injuring cultivated crops,
219; Arrhenophagus in America, 239; A
Coleopterous enemy of Corydalis cornu-
tus, 310; Shorter communications, 180,
292, 316.
Hubbard, H. G., Note on Brathinus, 10;
The Oviposition of Melitara prodenialis
Walker, 129; Additional notes on the
insect guests of the Florida land tor-
toise, 299; Some insects which brave
INDEX.
the dangers of the Pitcher-plant, 314 ;
On the distribution of certain species of
Mytilaspis [author’s abstract], 319;
Shorter communications, 9, 139, 182, 184,
193, 291, 318.
Hyleccetus braziliensis, 181; lugubris, 82.
Hymenoptera, Further note on the structure
of the ovipositor in, 142; Important
structural characters of parasitic, 202;
of Jamaica, 127; Phylogeny of, 323.
Ichneumonide, Arrangement of subfamilies
and tribes, 277; Structure of mouth-
parts, 278.
Injurious insects, Distribution of some, 284,
Inquilinous Nematids, 265, 267.
Insecticides, Discussion on, 103.
Insects, Apparatus for examining alcoholic
specimens, 193; “Associated with the
Florida land tortoise, 299; Braving the
dangers of the pitcher-plant, 314; Col-
lection of, at the Michigan Agricultural
College, 12; Collecting in Africa, 303;
Distribution of injurious species, 219,
284; Distribution of,in the West Indies,
128; Effect of cold on, 27, 279; Found
on corpses, 320; Importation of bene-
ficial, 251; Longevity in, 108; Number
of species described, 203; Relative size
in the two sexes, 147; Retardation in de-
velopment, 121; Use of colors to, in the
struggle for existence, 139; Phylogeny
of, 327,
Isocrates vulgaris, 29.
Isodontia azteca, 46 ; philadelphica, 315, 316.
Isosoma tritici, Distribution of, 224.
Ixodidex figured by Dr. Marx, 199.
Johnson, C. W., Communication by, 53.
Koebele, A., Results of his second mission to
Australia, 250.
Lachnosterna, Further notes on, 64,
Leaf-beetle of the Golden Rod, 273.
Liberia, Driver-ants in, 303.
Liopteron, Notes on the genus, 174; Synopsis
of species, 176; fenestratum n. sp., 177;
rufum n, sp., 178; tarsale n. sp., 177.
Loganius ficus n. sp., 44.
Longevity in insects, 108.
Longicorns, On the habits of some, 95.
Lycosa in pitchers of Sarracenia, 315.
Lygeus kalmii, 106; turcicus, 106,
*
339
Lymexylon navale, 18; sericeum, 181,
Lysiognatha n, g., 276; comstockii n. sp.,
276.
Macrostola lutea, 182.
Margarodes, Notes on, 148, 172.
Marlatt, C. L., Neuration on the wings of
Teuthredinide, 78; Further note on
the structure of the ovipositor in
Hymenoptera, 142; On the food-habits
of Odynerus, 172; Further note on the
Codling moth, 228; The American species
of Scolioneura Knw., 234; The Hemip-
terous mouth, 241 ; The hibernation of
Nematids, and its bearing on inquilinous
species, 263; Shorter communication, 95.
Marx, Dr. Geo., Degeneration by disuse of
certain organs in spiders, 26; Continua-
tion of the life-history of the Whip-tail
scorpion, 54; Figures of Ixodide [post-
humous' publication], 199; Shorter
communication, 138.
Marx, Dr. Geo., Obituary of, 195; Bibliog-
raphy of, 199,
Melipone, Exhibition of a living colony ©
from Montserrat, W. I., 160; Ourious
defenses of, 18.
Melitara prodenialis, Oviposition of, 129.
Melsheimer’s Catalogue of the Coleoptera of
Pennsylvania, 134,
Mosquitoes, habits of, 316.
Murgantia histrionica, Distribution of, 288.
Mutillide, generic differences in, 318.
Mutualism, 3. y
Mycetophilids, Notes on the habits of, 149,
Myrmecophilous Coleoptera, 74.
Mytilaspis, Distribution of certain species
of, 319; citricola, 319; gloveri, 319;
pomorum, 320.
Nematids, Hibernation of, 263.
Nematus fur, 267 ; mendicus, 267 ; quercicola,
266.
Neuration of the wings of Tenthredinida,
78.
Nomaretus, Synopsis of, 269; hubbardi n.
sp., 272; incompletus n. sp., 271.
Odynerus, Food-habits of, 172.
Oonopidex, A remarkable species of, 138.
Ophionectra coccicola, 280,
Orange Insects, Effect of cold on, 279.
Ornithodorus americanus, 199.
Osborn, Herbert, The Phylogeny of Hemip-
tera, 185.
Oviposition in Cynipide, 254; in Hymen-
optera, Further note on, 142.
340
Oxyporus 5-punctatus, Sexual characters
of, 147.
Pachylommatoide, Notes on the family, 55,
Paralesthia, 30.
Parasitic Hymenoptera, Some important
structural characters of, 202.
Parasitism, Definition of, 1; Discussion on,
7; Spurious, 4, 17.
Patton, W. H., Notes upon wasps.—lI, 45.
Pelecinella, Its position among the Chal-
cidide, 230; howardi n. sp., 283; phan-
tasma, 232; westwoodi n. sp., 233.
Pepsis hesperie n. sp., 46; marginata, 47;
sommeri, 47.
Pergande, Theo., Additional observations on
the habits of Ammophila gryphus Sm.,
168.
Phleotribus frontalis in Paper mulberry,
146,
Photopsis, 318.
Phylogeny of Hemiptera, 185 ; of Hymenop-
tera, 323; of Hexapod Insects, 327.
Pitcher-plant, Insects braving the dangers
of, 314.
Pityophthorus coniperda n. sp., 144.
Platypus, Borings of, in Orange wood, 291.
Pontania, Notes on, 266; hospes, 266; inqui-
lina, 266,
Poulton, Prof. E. B., Communication by,
139.
Pristiphora sycophante, 267.
Pterostichus covered with Laboulbenia, 94 ;
Malformation in, 39.
Pulicide, Structural characters of, 38.
Retropluma, new name, 183.
Retroplumida, new family, 183.
Rheumatobates rileyi, 317; tenuipes, 318.
Rhodobeenus, Remarkable species of, 72.
Rhopalosoma poeyi, 303.
Rhopalosomidz, new family, 303.
Rhynchoprium spinosum, 199.
Riley, Dr. C. V., Further notes on Lachnos-
terna, 64; Notes on Coccide, 65; Notes
upon Belostoma and Benacus, 83; The
eggs of Ceresa bubalus Fabr. and those
of C, taurina Fitch, 88; Presidential
Address for 1893: Longevity in Insects,
108; Notes from California: Results of
Mr. Koebele’s second mission to Austra-
lia, 250; On oviposition in the Cynipide,
254; Shorter communications, 92, 148,
160, 172, 181, 182, 184,
Riley, Dr. C. V,, Obituary of, 293.
INDEX.
Sarcophaga sarraceniz, 315.
Sarracenia flava, 314; psittacina, 315.
Schistocerca americana, Distribution of, 225.
_ Schwarz, E. A., A “parasitic” Scolytid, 15;
Note on the oviposition of some species
of Donacia, 24: Descriptions of two
Rhynchophorous Coleoptera from semi-
tropical Florida, 42; Additions to the
lists of N. A. termitophilous and myrme-
cophilous Coleoptera, 73; Some notes
on Melsheimer’s Catalogue of the Coleop-
tera of Pennsylvania, 134; Description
of the pine-cone-inhabiting Scolytid,
143; Notes on Nomaretus, with descrip-
tions of two new species, 269; Shorter
remarks, 9, 39, 53, 72, 94, 145, 146, 147
170, 171, 178, 194.
Scolia impaled upon a thorn, 292.
Scolioneura, The American species of, 234;
canadensis n. sp., 235; populi n. sp.,
235.
Scolytid, A ‘* parasitic,’? 15; The pine-cone-
inhabiting, 143,
Scolytids infesting pine trees, 192,
Serropalpus striatus, 82.
Sexual characters, Value of, 93,
Silpha lapponica, 9.
Simulium, egg-laying habits, 317.
Smith, Dr. John B., Communication by, 38.
Spalangia, Synopsis of, 34; hzematobie n.
sp., 37; rugosicollii n. sp., 36.
Spalangiinez, Synopsis of North America, 27.
Spherius gibbioides, 39.
Sphex philadelphica, 315, 316.
Spiders, Degeneration by disuse of certain
organs of, 26,
Spiders’ web, Gossamer, 191.
Steniola edwardsii, 45.
Stenopelmatus, Note on mouth-parts of, 102.
Stenopelmus rufinasus, 185.
Stiles, Dr. C. W., Parasitism, 1; Shorter re-
marks, 127, 320.
Swingle, W. T., Communication by, 279.
' Tenthredinide, Neuration of the wings of,
78.
Termite, A diurnal species of, 182.
Termitophilous Coleoptera, 73.
Thelyphonus giganteus, 54,
Timber-worms of West Virginia, 82.
Townsend, C, H. Tyler, Note on the Coruco,
a hemipterous insect which infests poul-
try in southern New Mexico, 40.
Toxoneura, Synopsis of North America, 47:
californica n. sp., 50; floridana n. sp.,
50; pluto n, sp., 49,
INDEX. | 341
Trigona, Curious defenses of, 18. Webster, F. M., Notes on the distribution of
Trochilium syringes, 92. some injurious insects, 284.
Whip-tail scorpion, Life-history of, 54,
Uratochelia, new order, 327. Xanthoptera ridingsii, 314; semicrocea, 314.
Xyleborus, Borings of in Orange wood, 291 ;
affinis, 171; perforans, 171 ; xylographus
Wasps, Notes upon, 45. 318,
CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.
OBITUARY OF CHARLES. V. RILEY....-.......0s..0¢ sees wb nasteo sto ak aPermeeaved 293
; ne ASHMEAD, W. H.: Rhopalosomide, a new family of Fossorial Wasps,
303; Annual Address of the President: The Phylogeny Of the
Hymenoptera........ Diskh tcteusa hem apenegenetnavalkeapasesass aks sabe Gist sd ES bs + 323
ee hoa leme aie Dy W.: A ‘new Dipterous genus related to Gnoriste
ETTAM EPAT OE Fd yi ccrng Vea vaca rv sod tes ou abadan sanded de ae Sbags shee aba Cacecasepes 321
- Howarp, L. O.: A Coleopterous enemy of Corydalis cornutus......... 310
Husparp, H. G.: Additional notes on the insect guests of the Florida
Land Tortoise, 299; Some insects which brave the dangers of the
Pitcher-plant, 314; On the distribution of certain species of
ig teeny [author’s abstract]... .....t..6 Sau eee eah ae Laat aie eaten RET RORRERE - 319
ps
$e
Le
eat Ded
ae Sw
FF Otay
+ linet cies
ae
gay ra rie
ive ee
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11