ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
VOLUME LXVIII, 1957
PHILIP P. CALVERT, EDITOR EMERITUS
R. G. SCHMIEDER, EDITOR
EDITORIAL STAFF
J. A. G. REHN M. E. PHILLIPS
E. F. J. MARX H. J. GRANT, JR.
PUBLISHED BY
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1957
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ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
JANUARY 1957
Vol. LXVIII
No. 1
CONTENTS
Stallings and Turner Four new species of Megathymus
1
Dvorak A character useful in separating Cafius seminitens Horn
and Cafius canescens Makl 17
Muesebeck New World Apanteles parasitic on Diatraea 19
Review
Beitrage zur Systematik der Larven der Itonididae
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ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
VOL. LXVIII JANUARY, 1957 No. 1
Four New Species of Megathymus (Lepidoptera,
Rhopalocera, Megathymidae)
By DON B. STALLINGS and J. R. TURNER
Megathymus alliae, new species
FEMALE : Upper surface of primaries. Dull black with the
base overscaled with dull yellow-brown. Spots 1 (cell spot),
2, 3, 4 (subapical spots), 5, 6 (submarginal spots), 7, 8 and 9
(discal band) bright yellow-brown. Spot 7, 9 mm. wide ; spot
8, 8 mm. wide; spot 9, 7 mm. wide. The dull yellow-brown
overscaling extends about halfway in the costal area, and about
three-fourths the way towards the outer angle. Veins narrowly
edged with dull black. Fringes dull yellow-brown with vein
tips smoky.
Upper surface of secondaries. Dull black, basal third cov-
ered with dull yellow brown hairs, with further dull yellow
brown overscaling in the anal area. The discal band is com-
posed of 5 bright yellow-brown spots, separated by narrow dull
black lines along the veins. The discal band is about the same
width as the dull black marginal area. Fringes dull yellow-
brown with vein tips faintly smoky.
Under surface of primaries. Dull black with the apex heavily
overscaled with dull yellow-brown. All the spots reappear with
spots 2, 3, and 4 lighter in color.
Under surface of secondaries. Dull black heavily overscaled
with dull yellow-brown. The discal band appears only as a
series (reduced in size) of lighter spots in the overscaling.
There are two faint spots below the costal area.
(1)
JAN - 8 1957
2 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Jan., 1957
Abdomen : Dull yellow-brown above, dull gray-brown below.
Thorax : Dull yellow-brown above, beneath dull white. Palpi :
Dull white. Antennae : Base of club white, remainder of an-
tennae black above, lighter beneath, showing white at joints.
Expanse of fore wing from 30 to 36 mm. ; average 35 mm.
Wing measurements of holotype : forewing, apex to base 36
mm., apex to outer angle 21 mm., outer angle to base 26 mm. ;
hindwing, base to end of vein Cu x 25 mm.
MALE : Upper surface of primaries. Dull black with the base
narrowly overscaled with dull yellow-brown. Spots 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 bright yellow-brown. All spots greatly reduced
in size compared with the female. All spots except 2, 3, and 4
separated from each other by more than the width of the veins.
Fringes checkered dull yellow-brown and dull black.
Upper surface of secondaries. Dull black, basal half covered
with dull yellow-brown hairs, extending outward in the anal
area. The bright yellow-brown discal band is again greatly
reduced in size, compared with the female. The spots of the
discal band are separated by well denned dull black along the
veins. Fringes checkered dull yellow-brown and dull black.
Under surface of primaries. Same as the female.
Under surface of secondaries. Same as the female, except
that the lighter spots are only faintly discernible.
Abdomen, thorax, palpi and antennae : Same as female except
palpi and underside of thorax are dull gray-brown.
Expanse of forewing from 28 to 32 mm. ; average 30 mm.
Wing measurements of allotype : Forewing, apex to base 30
mm., apex to outer angle 18 mm., outer angle to base 22 mm. ;
hindwing, base to end of vein Ci^ 20 mm.
Described from 62 specimens (35 males and 27 females) col-
lected 15 miles west of Cameron, Ariz., along the canyon of
the Little Colorado River, elevation 5000 ft. All ex-larvae or
ex-pupae emerging from Aug. 25 to Oct. 5, during 1953, 1954
and 1955. Collected by Dr. and Mrs. R. C. Turner, Dee, Jack,
Don, and Viola Stallings.
Holotype, female, Sept. 23, 1955, 15 miles west of Cameron,
ARIZONA, el. 5000 ft. (Turner) ; allotype, male, Sept. 17, 1954,
15 miles west of Cameron, Ariz., el. 5000 ft. (Turner) are in
Ixviii]
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
Br
PLATE I, Megathymus alliae
Top row : Holotype, upper side to left ; under side to right.
2nd row : Allotype, upper side to left ; under side to right.
3rd row : Left : $ genitalia ; center : <? valva ; right : c? uncus.
4 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Jan., 1957
the collection of the authors. Paratypes of both sexes will be
placed in the following collections : H. A. Freeman, C. L.
Remington, U. S. Nat. Museum, American Mus. of Nat. His-
tory, Los Angeles County Museum.
Food plant : Agave utahensis Engelmann.
It will be interesting to learn whether M. alliae uses Agave
kaibabensis McKelvey (a closely allied species of Agave utahen-
sis which occurs on the north rim of Grand Canyon) as a food
plant.
The females select medium sized plants for oviposition. The
trap door, which is paper white, is nearly always (we have seen
one exception) on the under side of the leaf.
It is rather difficult to select the nearest relative of M. alliae
from which to distinguish it, for M. alliae does not fit in with
any of the now known groups of species of Megathymus. M.
alliae is the largest known species in the U. S. A. that feeds on
the Agave. We will distinguish it from M. baueri Stallings &
Turner as the two species are similar in some respects and occur
rather close to each other.
First, M. alliae is distinguished from M. baueri by its huge
size. The ground-color of the upper surface of M. alliae is
dull black while in M. baueri it is deep black. The under sur-
face of M. alliae has much heavier overscaling and this over-
scaling has much more yellow in it than does M. baueri. In the
female the deep black ground color of M. baueri on its upper
surface is much more extensive than in M. alliae.
The valva of the genitalia of the male M. alliae is characterized
by having the projection at the apex uniformly narrow. In
M. baueri and allied species this projection is tapered. In M.
alliae the uncus seen in lateral view abruptly turns down at
its apex while in M. baueri and related species the apex curves
down, evenly. In the female of M. alliae the center portion of
the genital plate is built more complex than M. baueri and
allied species.
This species is named in honor of the mother-in-law and
mother of the authors, Mrs. R. C. (Allie) Turner, who has
aided materially in our work on the genus Megathymus and
who collected the first pupa of this new species.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 5
The next three species to be described all belong to the
Megathymus neumoegeni Edwards complex. We will first
describe all three, then consider them together with M. neu-
mocycni and with M. chisosensis and M. nicalpinei recently
described by H. A. Freeman, both of which belong to this group.
Megathymus judithae, new species
FEMALE : Upper surface of primaries. Light orange with a
black border along the outer edge of the wing approximately
4 mm. wide. Spots 1 (cell spot), 2, 3, 4 (subapical spots), 5, 6
(submarginal spots), 7, 8, and 9 (discal band) are all fused
together with the light orange in the basal area. There is an
irregular black spot between the cell and subapical area. There
is a black line of color in the costal area towards the base.
About equidistant between the base of the wing and the outer
angle there is an irregular square black spot (actually two spots
fused together) that is 4 mm. wide. Above this fused spot is
a small black spot 1.5 mm. wide. Fringes yellow with vein
tips black.
Upper surface of secondaries. Light orange with marginal
black border. There is a band of black, heavily overscaled with
light orange inward from the discal area. This band becomes
weaker in color and narrower as it approaches the anal area.
Fringes yellow with vein tips black.
Under surface of primaries. Dull brown-black with apex
overscaled with white giving it a gray appearance. Spots 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 appear on this surface as spots. All spots
light orange in color except spots 2, 3, and 4 which are white.
Under surface of secondaries. Dull brown-black overscaled
with white giving a gray appearance. At the base of the wing
there are a few white hairs mixed with light orange hairs. In
the anal area there are a few light orange scales mixed with
the white scales. The discal band is indicated by heavier white
overscaling. There is a round white spot in the costal area with
a smaller white spot below it.
Abdomen, orange above, gray- white beneath. Thorax, yellow-
gray above, white beneath. Palpi, dull white. Antennae, white
ringed with black, base of antennae white, remainder black.
6 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [ fan., 1957
MALE: Upper surface of primaries. Black with the base
overscaled with light orange. Spots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9
light orange, spot 9 narrower than spots 7 and 8. Fringes
yellow with vein tips black.
Upper surface of secondaries. Light orange with a marginal
black border. All very similar to female. Fringes yellow with
vein tips black.
Under surface of primaries. Dull black with apex overscaled
with white. Spots reappear as above, except that spots 2, 3,
and 4 are white.
Under surface of secondaries. Similar to female with discal
band not so well denned.
Abdomen, thorax, palpi, and antennae same as female.
Expanse of forewing of female varies from 25 to 32 mm. ;
average 30 mm. Wing measurements of holotype : Forewing,
apex to base 32 mm., apex to outer angle 18 mm., outer angle
to base 22 mm. ; hindwing, base to end of vein Cu x 22 mm.
Expanse of forewing of male varies from 26 to 29 mm. ;
average 28 mm. Wing measurements of allotype : Forewing,
apex to base 28 mm., apex to outer angle 16 mm., outer angle
to base 20 mm. ; hindwing, base to end of vein Cn l 20 mm.
Described from 24 males and 23 females collected in the
Hueco Mts., near Hueco, Texas, elevation 5300 feet. All ex-
larvae or ex-pupae emerging from Sept. 10 to Sept. 30 during
1953 and 1954. Collected by Dr. and Mrs. R. C. Turner, Judith,
Gayle, Beulah and J. R. Turner, Dee, Jack, Viola and Don B.
Stallings.
Holotype, female, Sept. 21, 1953, Hueco Mts., Hueco, TEXAS,
el. 5300 ft. (Turner) ; allotype, male, Sept. 20, 1954, Hueco
Mts., Hueco, Texas, el. 5300 ft. (Stallings & Turner) are in
the collection of the authors. Paratypes of both sexes will be
placed in the following collections : H. A. Freeman, C. L.
Remington, U. S. Nat. Museum, American Mus. of Nat.
History.
Food plant : Agave parryi Engelmann. It is well to note
here that the name Agave parryi is applied loosely. Agave
parryi in the Hueco Mts. of Texas is not the same thing as
Agave parryi in the Guadeloupe Mts. of Texas and N. Mex.
PLATE II, Megathymus judithac
Top row : Holotype, upper side to left ; under side to right.
2nd row: Allotype, upper side to left; under side to right.
3rd row: Left: $ genitalia; center: <? valva; right: <$ uncu.;.
8 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Jan., 1957
This species is named in honor of Judith Turner, the daughter
of J. R. Turner, who was present when the species was dis-
covered and helped collect the type series.
The females select medium sized plants for oviposition. The
trap door which is medium brown in color is usually on the
upper side of the leaf. The length of the pupal case is 3.3 times
the diameter of the case.
Megathymus carlsbadensis, new species
FEMALE : Upper surface of primaries. Bright yellow-orange
with a black border along the outer edge of the wing, approxi-
mately 5 mm. wide. Spots 1 (cell spot), 2, 3, 4 (subapical
spots), 5, 6 (submarginal spots), 7, 8, and 9 (discal band) are
all fused together with the bright yellow orange in the basal
area. There is an irregular black spot between the cell and sub-
apical area. There is a thick black line of color in the costal
area towards the base. About equidistant between the base of
the wing and the outer angle there is an irregular black spot
(actually two spots fused together). The bottom half of this
fused spot is 4 mm. wide, the top half 5 mm. wide. Above
this fused spot there is a small triangular spot (with the apex
of the triangle pointed towards the base of the wing) that is
2.5 mm. wide. Fringes checkered yellow and black.
Upper surface of secondaries. Bright yellow-orange with
marginal black border. There is a band of black overscaled
with bright yellow-orange inward from the discal area. Fringes
checkered yellow and black.
Under surface of primaries. Brown-black with apex over-
scaled with white giving it a gray appearance. Spots 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 appear on this surface as spots, slightly lighter
in color than the upper surface, except spots 2, 3, and 4 which
are white, and spots 5 and 6 which are pale yellow-orange.
Under surface of secondaries. Brown black overscaled with
white giving a gray appearance. At the base of the wing there
are a few white hairs, sometimes with a few yellow hairs mixed
in. In the anal area there is a strip with little white overscaling
but usually has a few light orange scales. The discal band is
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
faintly indicated by slightly more white overscaling. There is
a distinct round white spot in the costal area with a smaller
(and fainter) white spot below it.
Abdomen, bright yellow-orange above, gray-white beneath.
Thorax orange-gray above, gray white beneath. Palpi, gray-
white. Antennae, white ringed with black, base of antennae
white, remainder black.
MALE : Upper surface of primaries. Black with the base
overscaled with reddish orange. Spots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and
9 reddish orange. Spots 7, 8, and 9 all about the same size
(3 mm.). Fringes yellow with vein tips black.
Upper surface of secondaries. Reddish orange with a mar-
ginal black border. All very similar to the female. Fringes
checkered yellow and black.
Under surface of primaries. Brown-black with apex over-
scaled with white. Spots reappear as above, except that spots
2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are white.
Under surface of secondaries. Similar to female.
Abdomen, thorax, palpi, and antennae same as female except
for reddish orange color of abdomen and thorax above.
Expanse of fore wing of female varies from 26 to 31 mm.;
average 30 mm. Wing measurements of holotype, forewing,
apex to base 30 mm., apex to outer angle 18 mm., outer angle
to base 22 mm. ; hindwing, base to end of vein Cu x 22.5 mm.
Expanse of forewing of male varies from 25 to 29 mm. ;
average 27 mm. Wing measurements of allotype, forewing,
apex to base 26 mm., apex to outer angle 15 mm., outer angle to
base 19 mm. ; hindwing, base to end of vein Cv^ 19 mm.
Described from 37 males and 25 females collected in the
Guadeloupe Mts., Carlsbad Cavern National Park, New Mexico
and immediately south around Nickle, TEXAS, in the Guade-
loupe Mts., elevation from 4300 ft. to 5700 ft. All ex-larvae
or ex-pupae emerging from Sept. 14 to Oct. 1st, during 1953
and 1954. Collected by Dr. and Mrs. R. C. Turner, Judith,
Gayle, Beulah and J. R. Turner, Dee, Jack, Viola and Don B.
Stallings.
Holotype, female, Sept. 21, 1953, Gaudeloupe Mts., Carlsbad
Cavern National Park, NEW MEXICO, on the mesa at head of
10 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Jan., 1957
Yucca Canyon, el. 5470 ft. (Turner) ; allotype, male, Sept. 21,
1953, same data and collector, are in the collection of the au-
thors. Paratypes of both sexes will be placed in the following
collections: H. A. Freeman, C. L. Remington, U. S. National
Museum, American Mus. of Nat. History.
Food plant : Agave parryi Engelmann. There are three spe-
cies of Agave plants in the Guadeloupe Mts. : A. parryi, A. lechu-
guilla Torrey and what we believe to be A. chisosensis Mueller
(Mrs. Stallings and some other members of the family feel that
the last named may in fact be a hybrid between the first two
named).
In this area Agave lechuguilla always produced Megathymus
mariae and nothing else. In the area around Nickle, Texas
(Parker Ranch) we found A. parryi and A. chisosensis in about
equal numbers, and in this area Megathymus carlsbadensis laid
eggs on both species of plants in about equal numbers. In
August of 1954 we made a rather careful survey of the situa-
tion. At that time nearly 80% of the A. parryi plants that had
had eggs of M. Carlsbadensis laid on them, still had live larvae
in the leaves (these were plants that showed that the larvae
had hatched from the egg and entered the leaves). On the
other hand only 20% of the A. chisosensis plants at that time
(which had had larvae hatch and enter the leaves) had live
larvae. We were successful in securing 6 butterflies from A.
chisosensis, but these were not included in the type series of
M. carlsbadensis. The first specimen that hatched from A.
chisosensis (a female) was distinctly different from M. carlsba-
densis; the other five specimens appear identical to M. carls-
badensis. H. A. Freeman and C. L. Remington, who have both
examined the above mentioned female, are of the opinion that
this female may be a distinct species. More specimens will have
to be secured before a final determination can be made. In the
meantime, we are inclined to consider the five other specimens
that we secured from A. chisosensis as belonging to M. carls-
badensis, although we do not consider A. chisosensis the normal
food plant. Population pressure could explain the use of this
plant as food.
Ixviii]
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
11
PLATE III, Mi-i/athyiims carlsbadensis
Top row : Holotype, upper side to left ; under side to right.
2nd row: Allotype, upper side to left; under side to right.
3rd row: Left: $ genitalia ; center: c? valva; right: cT uncus.
12 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Jan., 1957
The females select medium sized plants on which to lay eggs.
The trap door, which is amber in color, is usually on the upper
side of the leaf. The length of the pupal case is 3.6 times the
diameter of the case.
Megathymus florenceae, new species
FEMALE: Upper surface of primaries. Bright orange with
a dull black border along the outer edge of the wing, approxi-
mately 4 mm. wide. Spots 1 (cell spot), 2, 3, 4 (subapical
spots), 5, 6 (submarginal spots), 7, 8, and 9 (discal band) are
all fused together with the bright orange in the basal area.
There is an irregular black spot between the cell and subapical
area. There is a thin black line of color (sometimes absent) in
the costal area towards the base. About equidistant between the
base of the wing and the outer angle there is an irregular black
spot (actually two spots fused together). The bottom half of
the fused spot is 3 mm. wide, the top half 4 mm. wide. Fringes
checkered yellow and dull black.
Upper surface of secondaries. Bright orange with marginal
black border. There is a band of dull black overscaled with
bright orange inward from the discal area. Fringes checkered
yellow and dull black.
Under surface of primaries. Dull black with apex overscaled
with white giving it a gray appearance. Spots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8, and 9 appear on this surface as spots. All spots bright
orange, except spots 2, 3, and 4 which are white.
Under surface of secondaries. Dull black sparsely overscaled
with white giving a dark gray appearance. At the base of the
wing there are a few white hairs mixed with light orange hairs.
In the anal area there are less white scales, with some light
orange scales mixed with them. The discal band is indicated by
heavier white overscaling. There is a round white spot in
the costal area.
Abdomen, bright orange above, gray-white beneath. Thorax,
orange-gray above, gray-white beneath. Palpi, dull white. An-
tennae, white, ringed with black, base of antennae white, re-
mainder black.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 13
MALE : Upper surface of primaries. Dull black with the base
overscaled with bright orange. Spots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9
bright orange. Spot 8 (5 mm.) wider than spots 7 and 9.
Inward from spot 8 there is a black spot with a small bright
orange spot inward from this black spot. Fringes yellow with
vein tips black.
Upper surface of secondaries. Bright orange with a marginal
black border, all very similar to the female. Fringes checkered
yellow and black.
Undersurface of primaries. Dull black with apex overscaled
with white. Spots reappear as above except that spots 2, 3,
and 4 are white.
Undersurface of secondaries. Similar to female.
Abdomen, thorax, palpi and antennae same as female.
Expanse of forewing of female varies from 26 to 31 mm.;
average 30 mm. Wing measurements of holotype, forewing,
apex to base 30 mm., apex to outer angle 19 mm., outer angle
to base 21 mm. ; hindwing, base to end of vein Cu t 21 mm.
Expanse of forewing of male varies from 24 to 29 mm. ; aver-
age 28 mm. Wing measurements of allotype, forewing, apex
to base 28 mm., apex to outer angle 16.5 mm., outer angle to
base 20 mm. ; hindwing, base to end of vein Cu t 20 mm.
Described from 16 males and 31 females collected in the
Davis Mountains near Ft. Davis, Texas, el. 6200 ft. All ex-
larvae or ex-pupae emerging from Sept. 17th and Oct. 5th,
1954. Collected by Dr. and Mrs. R. C. Turner, Dee, Jack,
Viola and Don B. Stallings.
Holotype, female, Sept. 23rd, 1954, Davis Mts., Ft. Davis,
TEXAS, el. 6200 ft. (Stallings & Turner) ; allotype, male, Sept.
17th, 1954, Davis Mts., Ft. Davis, Texas, el. 6200 ft. (Stallings
& Turner) are in the collection of the authors. Paratvpcs of
both sex will be placed in the following collections : H. A. Free-
man, C. L. Remington, U. S. National Museum, American Mus.
of Nat. History, Los Angeles County Museum.
Food plant : We have not been able to satisfy ourselves as to
the species of plant in the Davis Mts. at this elevation (6200
ft.). It appears to be between //. parryi and A. scabra Lam-
Dyck.
14 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Jan., 1957
This species is named in honor of Miss Florence Draper, who
gave the first named author, a great deal of encouragement,
when a small boy, to continue his work in the field of the
Lepidoptera.
For a number of years both H. A. Freeman and our group have
known that a species of Megathymus occurred in the Davis Mts.
None of us had been able to find the larvae. In 1954 Freeman
was supposed to join us in a joint effort to work out the prob-
lem, but at the last minute was unable to join us. Plants of
all sizes were plentiful in the area that we hunted (this species
of Agave grows considerably bigger than A. parryi), but the
first day that we hunted we found only one larva in a medium
sized plant and it was parasitized. The second day as we con-
tinued to hunt without a sign of a larva Jack Stallings sug-
gested that we check some of the tiny juvenile plants that are
so small that they do not reach the height of the short grass in
the area. Improbable as this seemed we started checking the
tiny plants. The larvae were there. All of the type series were
collected from these tiny plants. This distinct difference in the
size of the food plant selected by the female upon which to ovi-
posit is, in our opinion, a significant difference between this
species and other species of this species group which use much
larger (and older) plants on which to lay eggs. Later this same
year, while on Mingus Mt. in Arizona hunting for larvae of
M. neumoegeni, we found that M. neumoegeni uses the tiny
juvenile plant for the food plant.
The trap door, which is amber in color, is usually on the
upper side of the leaf. The length of the pupa case is 4.35
times the diameter of the case, and this difference in propor-
tions from the two previously described species we also con-
sider significant.
We are well aware that in describing allopatric species such
as these that it may be that we are dealing with subspecies of
one polytypic species. If we were separating these species on
morphological characters alone we would be more inclined to
treat them as subspecies. Another difficulty with treating them
as subspecies is that with six distinct forms before us no cline
PLATE IV, Megathymus florcnccae
Top row : Holotype, upper side to left ; under side to right.
2nd row : Allotype, upper side to left ; under side to right.
3rd row: Left: $ genitalia; center: <? valva; right: <$ uncus
15
16 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Jan., 1957
seems to appear. Freeman has already described two species
(chisosensis and mcalpinei} in this group and has examined the
type series of the three here described and agrees with us that
all are species.
While all six species appear somewhat alike it is rather sim-
ple to separate them by constant differences. One of the key
differences in the females is the black spots on the upper surface
of the forewing located between the base of the wing and the
outer angle, usually two or three spots, one above the other.
If the spot is about round we call it a dot and if elongated a
dash, if one of the spots is absent we call that a blank. Listing
the spots from the bottom to the top of the wing, we then have :
neumoegeni: dash-dash-dot
chisosensis : dot-dash-dot
mcalpinei: dot-dash-dot
judithae : dash-dash-dot
carlsbadensis: dash-dash-dot
florenceae: dash-dash-blank
This key separates florenceae into a group by itself, cliisosensis
and mcalpinei into a second group and judithae, carlsbadensis
and neumoegeni into a third group. Neurnoegcni (in both
sexes) separates from all the others by its slightly smaller size
and the darker ground color (less white overscaling) of the
undersurfaces of both wings. Judithae (in both sexes) sep-
arates from the others by its lighter orange color. Cliisosensis
(in both sexes) separates from the others by the extreme amount
of black on the upper surfaces of both wings. The "dot" on the
female neumoegeni is much smaller than on either judithae or
carlsbadensis.
In the males of the six species (except chisosensis) on the
upper surface of the forewings there is a large irregular black
spot near the base of the wings. This spot is roundish in neu-
moegeni, judithae and carlsbadensis, and is rectangular (longer
with the body, than wide) in florenceae and mcalpinei. In
florenceae the bright orange spot inward from spot 8 always
separates it from mcalpinei.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 17
All six species are found in isolated desert mountains ; the
habitat, however, differs. Neumoegeni, chisosensis and floren-
ceae are found in open woods while carlsbadensis, judithac and
nicalpinei, particularly the first two, are found in open country.
The last three named lay eggs on medium to large plants ;
neumoegeni and florenceae lay their eggs on tiny juvenile plants.
From the few larvae and pupae collected it appears that chiso-
sensis lays its eggs on medium to large plants.
The genitalia of the six species are different ; however, the
female genitalia seem to break into two groups : nicalpinei,
carlsbadensis and florenceae in one group and neumoegeni,
judithae and chisosensis in the other. The male genitalia break
into three groups : neumoegeni and judithae; florenceae and
nicalpinei; chisosensis and carlsbadensis.
A Character Useful in Separating Cafius (sg. Bryo-
nomus Csy.) seminitens Horn and canescens
Makl. (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)
By RUDOLF DVORAK, Praha, Czechoslovakia
Cafius (Bryonomus) seminitens Horn and C. (B.) canescens
Makl. are two very closely related species, both of which may
occur at the same time in the same localities in California. To
distinguish these two species from each other may often be very
difficult, and mistakes in identification have often been made.
In using existing keys and works of authors one is often at a
loss to separate these two species in a large series of specimens
due mainly to the individual variability of the shagreen on the
shining spots of the head and thorax.
Thanks to Mr. R. Q. Bliss of the Academy of Natural Sci-
ences of Philadelphia and to Mr. R. L. Gillogly of California
I received a large number of specimens of both species, and con-
sequently was able to discover that the male copulatory organs
constitute an excellent differentiating feature. Sketches of these
parts of both species are presented herewith.
18
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
[Jan., 1957
C. (B.) seminitens has the end of the aedeagus well rounded,
the paramere stouter and a little shorter. In lateral view, the
top also appears rounded. C. (B.} canescens, on the contrary,
has an aedeagus with the top prolonged and pointed, and the
paramere narrower. The lateral view shows a more swollen
convex outline at the end of the outer side.
FIG. 1. Cafius (Bryonoinus) seminitens Horn. Aedeagus.
FIG. 2. The same, lateral view.
FIG. 3. Cafius (Bryonomus) canescens Makl. Aedeagus.
FIG. 4. The same, lateral view.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 19
New World Apanteles Parasitic on Diatraea.
(Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
By C. F. W. MUESEBECK, United States National Museum
The seven species of Apanteles treated here, of which three
were previously described, develop in larvae of species of Diatraea
that live in the stems of certain grasses. One of them, .ranthopns
(Ashmead), is a solitary parasite ; all the rest are gregarious and
their cocoons, when formed, are tightly packed in the host
burrows.
The following key will distinguish the seven forms.
1. Propodeum with a broad, sharply margined areola, and
with distinct costulae that set off large apical, lateral
areas. A solitary parasite xanthopus (Ashmead)
Propodeum without an areola or with a very narrow one
that is usually poorly defined, and with no suggestion
of costulae. All gregarious parasites 2
2. Mesoscutum impunctate impunctatus Muesebeck
Mesoscutum distinctly punctate, at least anteriorly 3
3. Plate of first tergite narrowing conspicuously from mid-
dle to apex ; tegulae pale 4
Plate of first tergite parallel-sided from middle to apex ;
tegulae black or blackish 5
4. Hind femora black ; length about 3 mm. ; female an-
tennae nearly as long as the body ; ovipositor sheath
longer than hind tarsus minator, new species
Hind femora yellow : length about 2 mm. ; female an-
tennae much shorter than the body; ovipositor sheath
not longer than hind femur sisaniae, new species
5. Anterior and middle femora entirely yellow : hind femora
piceous apically abditus, new species
Anterior femora in part, and middle and hind femora
entirely, black 6
6. Plate of first tergite about twice as long as broad ; second
flagellar segment of female antenna as long as first
and twice as long as wide; ovipositor sheath longer
than hind femur diatraeae Muesebeck
Plate of first tergite three times as long as broad ; second
flagellar segment of female antenna shorter than first
and not nearly twice as long as wide ; ovipositor sheath
shorter than hind femur deplanatus, new species
20 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Jan., 1957
Apanteles xanthopus (Ashmead)
Urogaster xanthopus Ashmead, 1900. Trans. Ent. Soc. Lon-
don 1900, Pt. 2: 288. $.
The type is from the island of St. Vincent. Numerous addi-
tional specimens in the U. S. National Museum are labeled as
having been reared from Diatraca saccharalis (F.) in Argen-
tina, Uruguay and Brazil. Jaynes, 1933 (U. S. Dept. Agr.
Tech. Bull. 363: 21), points out that the cocoons occur singly
in the smaller tunnels of the host, indicating that only one para-
site develops in a host larva, and suggesting further that the
Apanteles attacks the very small borers "shortly after they enter
the stalk, or possibly even before they actually enter it."
This differs strikingly from all the other American species
parasitic on Diatraea in its strongly sculptured and areolate
propodeum. The thorax is not noticeably depressed ; the female
antennae are fully as long as the body ; the mesoscutum is
closely, finely punctate, confluently so anteriorly; the plate of
the first tergite is nearly parallel-sided and about twice as long
as broad at apex, and the ovipositor sheath is at least as long as
the hind femur but decidedly shorter than the hind tibia. The
legs, including all coxae, are yellow.
Apanteles impunctatus Muesebeck
Apanteles impunctatus Muesebeck, 1933. Proc. Ent. Soc.
Wash. 35 : 194. J 1 $.
This species is known only from the type series of 18 speci-
mens which were reared from a single larva of Diatraea saccha-
ralis (F.) in Louisiana.
Apanteles minator, new species
This is conspicuously the largest of the known American gre-
garious species of Apanteles that parasitize Diatraea larvae. It
differs further in its less strongly depressed thorax, and in its
longer ovipositor sheath which is longer than the hind tarsus.
Female. Length 3 mm. Head not broader than thorax;
face only slightly convex, smooth and shining ; frons polished ;
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 21
temple with weak, setigerous punctures, somewhat receding ;
antenna nearly as long as the body, flagellar segments 1 to 8
at least twice as long as broad, the first not longer than the
second.
Thorax a little broader than high ; mesoscutum rather closely
punctate, especially anteriorly, impunctate and polished at pos-
terior border ; disc of scutellum flat, polished, impunctate ; pol-
ished area on lateral face of scutellum triangular and extending
almost to base ; propodeum indefinitely sculptured along lateral
margins and down the middle, with an indication of a narrow,
elongate areola ; meso- and metapleuron impunctate, polished ;
hind coxa polished ; inner spur of hind tibia much less than half
as long as metatarsus ; radius tending outward, very slightly
longer than intercubitus ; stigma and metacarpus subequal in
length.
Abdomen with plate of first tergite narrower at apex than at
base, more than twice as long as broad at apex, the apical half
finely longitudinally rugulose and with a shallow, longitudinal
median impression ; plate of second tergite smooth and polished,
slightly broader at base than long, defined laterally by strongly
oblique grooves that diverge caudad, its posterior margin arcu-
ate ; ovipositor sheath slightly curved downward at apex, a
little longer than hind tarsus.
Black ; antennae, labrum and mandibles brownish black ;
tegulae transparent whitish ; wings hyaline, stigma and veins
hyaline except stigmal margin, radius, intercubitus and stub of
last abscissa of cubitus, which are pale brown ; anterior and
middle legs brown, their coxae blackish; hind legs with coxae
black, trochanters brown, femora piceous, tibiae light brown on
basal two-thirds and blackish on apical third, and tarsi brownish
black.
Male. Like the female except for the normal sexual dif-
ferences and in having the antennae longer than the body and
the legs more extensively darkened.
Type. U. S. National Museum No. 63285.
Type-locality. Misiones, ARGENTINA.
Described from five females and three males reared from
Diatraea angnstclla Dyar by 11. L. Parker.
22 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Jan., 1957
Apanteles zizaniae, new species
Distinguished from all the other gregarious species consid-
ered here, except impunctatus, by its entirely yellowish legs, and
from impunctatus by its distinctly punctate mesoscutum.
Female. Length about 2 mm. Face strongly convex, only
about one-third as long as broad, weekly punctate and sub-
opaque ; frons smooth and polished, more than twice as long as
face ; level of upper eye margins far below anterior ocellus ;
antenna much shorter than the body, first flagellar segment
longer than second, second twice as long as broad, flagellar seg-
ments 10 to 15 not distinctly longer than broad.
Thorax strongly depressed ; mesoscutum distinctly punctate,
the punctures weaker posteriorly ; disc of scutellum flat, smooth
and polished ; propodeum nearly horizontal, mat, finely rugu-
lose, and with a poorly defined median longitudinal area ; first
abscissa of radius and intercubitus subequal in length, meeting
in a very weak angle ; hind coxa smooth and shining ; hind
femur about three times as long as its greatest width; inner
calcarium of hind tibia hardly half as long as metatarsus.
Abdomen with plate of first tergite parallel-sided on basal
half, narrowing gradually from middle to apex, about three
times as long as broad at apex, finely rugose, its flexible mar-
gins broad ; plate of second tergite smooth and polished, strongly
transverse, defined laterally at base by short, widely divergent
grooves, less than half as long as broad at base and only one-
fourth as long as the third tergite ; suture separating second
and third tergites very weak, sometimes not distinct ; ovipositor
sheath hardly as long as hind femur.
Head and thorax black ; abdomen dark brown, with plate of
first tergite black ; antennae brown, yellowish basally ; all legs
yellowish ; wings hyaline, stigma brown.
Male. Essentially like the female but with the antennae as
long as the body, more slender than in the female and paler
in color.
Type. U. S. National Museum No. 63286.
Type-locality. Anacostia Island, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Described from 16 females and 1 male reared by C. E. Cham-
bliss from Diatraea sp. in wild rice from the type locality, and 3
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 23
specimens of each sex reared from a larva of Diatraea sp. in
wild rice, at Wilmington, Delaware, by H. L. Dozier.
Apanteles abditus, new species
In habitus very similar to diatraeae Muesebeck, but distin-
guished especially by the much narrower sclerotized plate of the
first tergite which is more than three times as long as its median
width, by its somewhat shorter antennae and paler legs, and by
having the first abscissa of the radius usually shorter than the
intercubitus.
Female. Length about 2 mm. Head broader than thorax;
face much broader than long, convex, smooth and shining ; f rons
and vertex smooth and shining, impunctate ; temple not receding
but less than half as wide as eye ; antenna shorter than body,
first flagellar segment conspicuously the longest, flagellar seg-
ments 10 to 15 as broad as long.
Thorax strongly depressed ; mesoscutum shining, sparsely
punctate on anterior two-thirds, impunctate and polished poste-
riorly ; disc of scutellum flat, impunctate, polished ; propodeum
only slightly declivous, finely rugulose, with a poorly defined,
narrow, median longitudinal area and without costulae; meso-
pleuron polished, impunctate ; posterior femur rather stout ; in-
ner calcarium of hind tibia less than half as long as metatarsus ;
first abscissa of radius usually distinctly shorter than inter-
cubitus and joining the latter in a distinct angle.
Abdomen about as long as thorax ; sclerotized plate of first
tergite more than three times as long as its greatest width, nearly
parallel-sided, weakly sculptured on caudal half ; second tergite
with two short, oblique furrows delimiting the central plate
basally ; suturiform articulation not evident ; abdomen beyond
first tergite polished ; ovipositor sheath about as long as hind
femur.
Black; antennal flagellum yellowish brown toward base; palpi
pale yellow ; all coxae black ; remainder of legs yellowish ex-
cept hind femora which are more or less piceous, and hind tibiae
apically and hind tarsi which are dusky ; tegulae and wing bases
blackish ; wings subhyaline, stigma pale yellow, transparent ;
veins pale.
24 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Jan., 1957
Male. Essentially like the female but with the antennae
slender and longer than the body, all the flagellar segments
being at least twice as long as broad.
Type. U. S. National Museum No. 63287.
Type-locality. Itaquaquecetuba, BRAZIL.
Described from 20 females and 1 male reared by H. L. Parker
from a Diatraea larva in a grass belonging to the genus Panicum.
Apanteles deplanatus, new species
Most similar to abditus, described above, but with the poste-
rior legs largely black, the stigma brown rather than hyaline as
in abditus, and the propodeum smooth and shining each side of
the median area.
Female. Length about 2 mm. Face twice as broad as high,
convex, shining, weakly punctate ; antennae longer than head
and thorax combined but shorter than the body; first flagellar
segment distinctly longer than second, which is less than twice
as long as broad ; last ten segments of flagellum as broad as long.
Thorax strongly depressed, flattened above ; mesoscutum
shining, with numerous though distinctly separated punctures
except posteriorly where it is smooth and polished ; disc of scu-
tellum flat, polished and impunctate ; propodeum nearly hori-
zontal, only very slightly and gradually declivous caudad, with
a weak suggestion of a median longitudinal area, the space
between this and the large spiracle on each side smooth and
polished, the posterior lateral angles a little rugulose ; first
abscissa of radius and intercubitus subequal and meeting in a
distinct angle ; hind coxa smooth and polished ; hind femur only
slightly more than twice as long as broad ; hind tibia conspicu-
ously thickened apically, its inner calcarium nearly or quite half
as long as metatarsus.
Abdomen with plate of first tergite more than three times as
long as broad, very weakly sculptured ; second tergite less than
half as long as third, its central plate barely as long as broad at
base, defined laterally by sharp, posteriorly divergent grooves,
smooth and polished ; the following tergites smooth and pol-
ished ; ovipositor sheath shorter than hind femur.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 25
Black; antennae brownish basally; anterior femora apically,
anterior and middle tibiae and their tarsi yellowish brown ; hind
tibiae brown basally; wings hyaline, stigma brown.
Type. U. S. National Museum No. 63288.
Type-locality. MEXICO.
Described from 12 female specimens reared from a larva of
Diatraea sp. in sugarcane from an unknown locality in Mexico,
intercepted at Laredo, Texas, March 2, 1949, by inspectors of
the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Apanteles diatraeae Muesebeck
Apanteles diatraeae Muesebeck, 1921. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus.
58:491,520. ^ $.
The type series is from Cuba but I have seen numerous speci-
mens from other islands of the West Indies, and also from
various localities in Central and South America, as well as one
series from Arizona. The recorded hosts are Diatraea saccha-
ralis (F.), D. lineolata (Walk.), and Zcadiatraea grandiosella
(Dyar).
Professor Bradley Honored by the Tenth Congress
One of the actions taken by the recent Tenth International
Congress held at Montreal was the election of DR. J. CHESTER
BRADLEY as an Honorary Life Member of the congresses. Dr.
Bradley also continues as a member of the Permanent Com-
mittee of the entomological congresses. DR. O. A. JOHANNSEN
is the only other American Honorary Life Member, having
been elected at the Stockholm congress in 1950. Both Pro-
fessors Bradley and Johannsen have long been members of the
American Entomological Society and contributors of scientific
papers to ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS.
26 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Jan., 1957
Review
BEITRAGE ZUR SYSTEMATIK DER LARVEN DER ITONIDIDAE
(= CECIDOMYIIDAE, DIPTERA). Teil 1: Porricondylinae und
Itonidinae Mitteleuropas, by Edwin Mohn. Zoologica, Band
38, Lieferung 1, Heft 105, Lieferung 1 and 2, pp. 1-247, 30
plates. 1955.
In spite of the fact that there is an abundance of gall midges
in Europe, and many are of economic importance, very few
entomologists have turned their attention to a taxonomic study
of the larvae of these insects. Dr. Mohn is presenting for the
first time a comprehensive treatise on the larvae for the entire
family Itonididae. Part 1 is a very admirable study of the sub-
families Porricondylinae and Itonidinae, which comprise the
vast majority of the family. (It should be mentioned that at
the Copenhagen Congress, the International Committee on Zoo-
logical Nomenclature ruled that a family name may be based
on a genus placed in synonymy. Hence the Meigen 1800 names
do not invalidate the better known family names in the Diptera,
and Cecidomyiidae must replace the rather recent change to
Itonididae. Similarly the Porricondylinae must revert to the
Epidoseinae. However, the usage employed by Dr. Mohn is
employed in this review.)
Following a section describing the taxonomic features ex-
hibited by the larvae, there is a brief section on their biology
and ecology. The section on general taxonomy is a valuable
contribution on comparative morphology as related to phylo-
genetic relationships. On a basis of personal study, Dr. Mohn
has been able to characterize 129 genera, while 15 other genera
are included on a basis of published descriptions. Only 31
genera that are known to occur in central Europe remain
unknown.
Keys are presented to the subfamilies and genera. It is par-
ticularly noteworthy that this is the first time that keys have
been prepared for the identification of the larvae of porricon-
dyline, asphondyliine, oligotrophine, and lasiopterine midges.
Although certain anatomical features of cecidomyiid larvae
were first noted rather early in the eighteenth century, it was
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 27
not until late in the nineteenth century that any attempt was
made to present a diagnostic description. Shortly thereafter,
J. J. Kieffer began to pioneer larval systematics, and in 1913
he presented keys to many of the lestremiine and cecidomyiine
genera.
Dr. Mohn has provided the first comprehensive work on gall
midge larvae since that by Kieffer. It is generally accepted that
Kieffer maintained no collection, but Dr. Mohn was fortunate
in having access to the valuable material of Riibsaamen. He
was also able to study larval specimens from the extensive col-
lection of Dr. H. F. Barnes and enlisted the aid of other
cecidologists.
The higher classification of gall midges until rather recently
has consisted of three subfamilies, in one of which a few tribes
were recognized. Enderlein (1936) recognized four subfami-
lies and a very large number of tribes, his work, of course, being
based on adult morphology ; but his classification, for the most
part, has not been accepted. Limited contributions toward a
suprageneric classification have more recently been made by
F. W. Edwards; and M. J. D. White has made proposals based
on cytological studies.
This is the first attempt to further our knowledge of the
phylogenetic relationships of the gall midges on a basis of mor-
phological studies of the larvae. Dr. Mohn recognizes the four
subfamilies of Enderlein. Furthermore, he recognizes within
the Itonidinae the four supertribes of Enderlein. However,
larval relationships are found to be strongly divergent to Ender-
lein's opinions concerning tribes and subtribes. Rather than
use formal names that might lead to confusion, Dr. Mohn has
merely recognized a large number of generic groups to show
immediate relationships.
Thus, in this excellent monograph, a new tool has been used
to clarify phylogenetic relationships within the Itonididae, keys
have been presented to facilitate identification of the larvae of
most of the middle European genera, and a diagnosis is given
of each genus and many species. It is hoped that there will be
no delay in Dr. Mohn's treatment of larval forms representing
the rest of the family. A. EARL PRITCHARD
NOTICE: The December 1956 issue of ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS \vas mailed
at the Post Office at Lancaster, Pa., on December 1, 1956.
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The NEW and the OLD join forces
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A TEXTBOOK of ENTOMOLOGY
By HERBERT H. ROSS, University of Illinois.
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This second edition covers the recent advances in
our knowledge of insect physiology, insect evolution,
and insect biogeography and paleo-ecology. The au-
thor has almost entirely rewritten the chapters on
Arthropoda and their allies, the material on geological
history, and many sections on physiology. The new
version includes enlarged and reworked keys to orders
of insects. Entire new sections on aquatic insects and
many new drawings have been added as well. In addi-
tion, much of the author's coverage of the ecological
aspects of the subject has been changed in the light of
current ideas.
THE OLD
This text will continue to provide students with a
broad introduction to the basic fields of entomology-
including morphology, physiology, taxonomy and ecol-
ogy. The author also continues to stress the integra-
tion of entomology with the general concepts of biology.
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251 pages of text, 19 pages of tables, 7 maps,
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THE NEOTROPICAL SPECIES OF THE
'SUBGENUS AESCHNA' SENSU SELYSII 1883
(Odonata)
By Philip P. Calvert
This paper presents an account of the Neotropical species referred
by de Selys in 1883 to his subgenus Aeschna and of some species un-
known to him. His subgenus is here divided into three genera,
Aeschna, Coryphacschna, and Castoraeschna, Aeshna in its turn be-
ing subdivided into the subgenera Aeschna, Hesperaeschna, Rhio-
naeschna, Schizuraeschna, Mannaraeschna and Neureclipa. These
five subgenera include 2, 15, 1, 3, 4 and 5 species and subspecies
respectively. Coryphaeschna embraces 9 species and subspecies,
Castoraeschna 5. Larvae of 2 species of Hesperaeschna, 1 species of
Schizuraeschna, 1 species of Neureclipa and 6 species of Cory-
phaeschna are described and figured. Generalities are discussed under
the headings : Relationships of the Neotropical Aeshnas to the North
American fossils; Relations of the South American Aeshnas to the
Palaearctic and Australian species ; The geological age and geographi-
cal distribution of the ancestors of the Odonata and of the Mammalia ;
Relations of the Neotropical Aeshnas to each other; The seasonal
distribution of the Neotropical species of Aeshna. Forty plates in
black and white illustrate the structural and colorational features of
the adults, seven those of the larvae. Nineteen tables show the varia-
tions in size and in venation of the adults. Six maps show the geo-
graphic distribution of all the species concerned. There is an alpha-
betical index of species, subgenera, genera, authors quoted, and topics.
Price $10.00 postpaid
THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
1900 RACE STREET, PHILADELPHIA 3, PA.
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
FEBRUARY 1957
Vol. LXVIII No. 2
CONTENTS
Phillips -How much do you pay for your fun ? 29
Judd Diptera collected from bird's nests 32
Blickle and Conklin Distribution of Dermacentor 34
Sublette Immature stages of Polypedilum obtusum 37
Nomenclature notice 40
Brown Early entomological collectors in Colorado 41
Lewis Distribution of the bat flea, Nycteridopsylla 48
Schmieder Hermann Weber ( 1899-1956) 49
Review A morphological study of a relic dragonfly Epiophlebia
superstes Selys 53
Books Received 55
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ENTOMOLOGICAL NEIS
VOL. LXVIII FEBRUARY, 1957 No. 2
How Much do You Pay for Your Fun?
By MAURICE E. PHILLIPS
This may seem a light subject for the News, but a very serious
matter is involved. Pure scientific research, so-called, has al-
ways been considered by its devotees as an inviolable field-
akin to a man's religion. It is the fiber of which our journals
are made.
Of those who contribute papers to such periodicals a ques-
tion might be asked : why did you become an entomologist, a
botanist, an ichthyologist? That you are definitely character-
ized in moving pictures and on television as something of a
freak, and as a harmless screw-ball by the public at large must
mildly fret you at times. But I now ask this question and in-
vite you to join me in seeking an answer.
For our present purposes it will do you no good unless you
seriously indulge for a time in a little introspection ; forget the
standard answers and get down to brass tacks why did you?
There must be good reasons, worth-while compensations.
There are several fairly obvious possible replies to the ques-
tion we have asked. Could the answer lie in the field of our
personal economics do we expect to get rich at it? This seems
hardly likely. The number of pure research scientists who
amass a fortune by their endeavours is small indeed. They usu-
ally make an adequate living, but I know many who draw a
smaller wage than a first-class union plasterer. The average
young research scientist just starting his career, has spent seven
or eight expensive years of his time and effort in college he is
an intelligent young man or he would not be where he is today.
(29)
FEB 3 8 1957
30 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Feb., 1957
With his natural talents and the same amount of time spent in
business training, he could go places in the business world.
Money, therefore, seems hardly the answer.
Could it be that there are involved here various aspects of
nobility and self-sacrifice? Are we throwing our considerable
talents into the pot for the uplift of mankind for sweet char-
ity's sake? In many years' association with universities and
research institutions, I have known hundreds of research scien-
tists. On the whole they are as fine a group of people as you
can find anywhere. They don't beat their wives, they love their
children, they go to the polls, and they come as near living by
the Golden Rule as any segment of society you are apt to exam-
ine. But I have never observed in them any very obvious force
driving toward humanitarian uplift. They know, of course, that
a project on which they are working, and which may have no
apparent practical value, may some day turn out to have one,
but it would be gambling their time to assume it and they are
not a race of gamblers.
What do we have left then ? It may be heresy even to think
it, but the most apparent answers are : fun and glory. These
may seem cynical answers, but they are human ; they may sug-
gest clay feet, but who can cast stones at clay feet? There can
be no question but the research scientist looks with high ap-
proval at his name on papers with more approval yet if it is
oh many papers. I do not condemn this ; I have felt the tug
myself. The number of his readers will not be large his works
are not best sellers, but the approval of his fellow scientists is
one of life's sweetest treasures.
But the big pay-off for the research scientist is fitn he really
has it. Many of the world's greatest have no hobbies but their
work. They live and breathe it; they eat with it; they take it
home in brief cases, satchels and bags ; when not doing it they
talk about it most of their waking time. They would be very
unhappy and neurotic if their fathers had insisted they be me-
chanics. Some have never learned how to dance, it is a waste
of time to go to the movies ; anyway they are having too good
a time with their research it is their recreation, their amuse-
ment. If you have never been one you will never know the
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 31
pull of the unknown, the lift from finding out, and adding to
the "sum-total of human knowledge." If you arc one of these
lucky people, how much are you paying for your fun? The
budget experts concede that it is just and proper to expend at
least 5% of your income for amusement and recreation.
It is unquestionable that a tradition has grown up that after
a scientist has devoted his skills to doing a piece of research, it
is his just due that it be published at no cost to him. This,
even though a mass of such published work may immeasurably
increase his scientific stature and, to a considerable extent his
salary.
Entomological News is one of the many journals, which as
the organ of an independent society, is feeling the pinch in the
matter of imposing no amusement tax on its authors. An anal-
ysis of the 1956 volume, exclusive of the December issue, reveals
that of the general papers on taxonomy, ecology, morphology,
life histories, etc., eight were by members of the Society, and
contained a total of approximately 29 pages. Forty papers by
36 authors with a total of 166 pages are by authors who are
not members, and who consequently contributed nothing except
the minor cost of engraving to the operation and maintenance
of the Nc^vs. That is, the strictly scientific material was made
up of approximately 15% member papers, and 85% non-mem-
ber. Who paid the bill? It has largely been paid over the
years by resident members, in time and work, and in financial
contributions to permanent funds. The drudgery of editorial
work has been donated ; the building up of what permanent funds
there are has been a long, slow arduous task, but with increasing
costs these are not now enough.
If your name has appeared often as an author over a period
of years, the Society may have put up some thousands of dollars
for you. If authors paid one-fourth of the cost of printing their
papers, the News would again be in the black. It is as simple as
that. How much are you paying for your fun?
Any donation you might care to make toward the expenses
of publishing the News will be gratefully received. It should
32 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Feb., 1957
be addressed to the AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 1900
Race St., Philadelphia 3, Pa. You may designate its use for
either the permanent funds or for the relief of the present
shortage.
Have you joined the Society?
Diptera (Calliphoridae, Heleidae and Chloropidae)
Collected from Birds' Nests at London, Ontario
By W. W. JUDD, Department of Zoology, University of Western
Ontario, London, Ontario
In an earlier communication (Judcl, 1954) a report was pre-
sented on insects collected and reared from nests of birds in the
vicinity of London, Ontario during 1951-1953. These studies
were continued in 1955 and among the insects collected were
several flies which were kindly identified by two taxonomists of
the United States National Museum, C. W. Sabrosky (Calli-
phoridae and Chloropidae) and W. W. Wirth (Heleidae).
Calliphoridae
Many blowfly larvae were collected from nests when these
nests were examined on the day that the last of the young birds
left each nest. The larvae were put into jars with part of the
fabric and debris from the nest ; and as the adult flies emerged
they were pinned and the dates of their emergence were re-
corded.
Protocalliphora sp. (sialia S. and D.?) :
All the blowflies reared were identified as Protocalliphora,
probably sialia S. and D., but Mr. Sabrosky pointed out (in lit.)
that they represent a complex of species still requiring revision.
The larvae were taken from three nests of robins (Turdus mi-
cjratorhis) and one of a brown thrasher (To.vostoina rufiuii).
1. Robin This nest, in the crotch of a Manitoba maple, con-
Ixviii | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 33
tainecl four young birds on May 16. One bird was gone on May
18 and two others departed on May 20, leaving the fourth bird
dead in the nest. The nest yielded 54 larvae. Twenty-seven
flies were reared : 3 June 3 ; 1 5 June 4 ; 7 June 5 ; 2 June
6.
2. Robin This nest, in a bush of twin honeysuckle, contained
two eggs on May 12, three on May 13 and four on May 14.
There were four young birds on May 27 and they left the nest on
June 6, when 40 larvae were collected. Only three flies
emerged : June 20.
3. Robin This nest, in a grape vine twining through an
apple tree, contained one egg on May 30, and two eggs on June
7. Two young birds were present on June 14 and they de-
parted on June 23, when 8 larvae were found in the fabric of
the nest. Seven flies emerged on July 4.
4. Brown Thrasher This nest, in a bush of twin honey
suckle, contained one egg on May 11, two on May 12, three on
May 13, four on May 14 and five on May 17. Four eggs
hatched on May 27 and the fifth on a later date, and the five
young birds left the nest on June 7, when 4 larvae were found in
it. Three flies emerged on June 21 and a fourth on June 22.
The 41 flies are retained in the U.S.N.M. Protocalliphora
sp. (near sialia S. and D.) was reared at London in 1952 from
nests of the red-winged blackbird (Judd, 1954).
Heleidae
Culicoides travisi Vargas :
A nest of a catbird (Dinnetclla carolinensis) , in a barberry
bush, contained three catbird eggs and one cowbird egg on May
30. The cowbird egg was missing on June 7. The last of the
young catbirds left the nest on June 23, when a female C. twist
was found in the fabric of the nest. The specimen is retained in
the U.S.N.M. Flies of the genus Culicoides have previously
been reported in nests of crows in Montana ( Jellison and Philip,
1933) and in the nest of a catbird at London (Judd, 1954). In
the latter case the flies were engorged with blood.
34 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Feb., 1957
Chloropidae
Oscinella luteiceps Sabrosky :
A nest of a catbird, in a bush of black-berried elder, was com-
plete on May 23. Four eggs were laid in it successively on May
27, 28, 29 and 30. Two birds hatched on June 11, a third on
June 12 and the fourth on June 13. All four birds left the nest
on June 23, when one fly, O. luteiceps, was found in it. The
specimen is deposited in the collection of the Department of
Zoology, University of Western Ontario. One of the paratypes
from which this species was described was collected at London
(Sabrosky, 1940).
REFERENCES
JELLISON, W. L, and C. B. PHILIP. 1933. Can. Ent. 65: 26-31.
JUDD, W. W. 1954. Can. Field-Nat. 68 : 122-123.
SABROSKY, C. W. 1940. Can. Ent. 72 : 214-230.
Distribution of Dermacentor variabilis (Say), the
American Dog Tick, in New Hampshire
By R. L. BLICKLE and J. G. CONKLIN l
The published records for the distribution of Dermacentor
variabilis (Say) for New Hampshire as are follows: Bishopp
and Smith (1936), Bishopp and Smith (1938), Bishopp and
Tremblay (1945), and Smith ct al (1946) for the central and
southwestern part of the state, all based on collections of the
Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine made in 1936.
Bequaert (1947) published a record for Ossipee, a town in the
east central part of the state.
Recent collecting and a study of the records in the collection
of the University of New Hampshire show D. variabilis to be
well established in at least nine towns. There are additional
records for ten other towns. However, the data is such that,
1 Published as Scientific Contribution No. 189 of the New Hampshire
Agricultural Experiment Station.
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 35
for the present, these are considered to be stray collections rather
than established foci.
The following areas are considered to have established foci
of tick infestations. These records are in addition to the ones
published by the above authors. Central area : Moultonboro
(April 8 to June 20, with tick drag) (18 July, 1949, on fox,
D. L. Collins coll.) ; Sandwich (April 19 to May 20, on dogs) ;
Tuftonboro (May 25, with tick drag) ; Wolfeboro (May, on
man) ; New Durham (May to July, on man) ; Center Harbor
(18 July 1949, with tick drag, D. L. Collins coll.) ; Ossipee
(May 30, on man); southern and southeastern area: Dover
(May and June, on dogs) ; Amherst (July, with tick drag).
Four towns from which ticks have been recorded, namely,
Conway, Eaton, Freedom, and Barnstead, probably have estab-
lished infestations since they border the central area. The six
towns from which ticks have been recorded but are not con-
sidered to have established foci are Concord, Dublin, Jaffrey,
Laconia, Lancaster, and Sutton.
The main area of infestation is in the central and east central
part of the state. This area is bounded by Lake Winnipesaukee
on the west and extends eastwartlly into Maine. In the past
twenty years, from 1936 to 1956, the infested area has increased
from approximately 100 square miles to an area of at least 400
square miles. Throughout this area the ticks are confined to
the grassy areas, or to the low vegetation and pine woods adja-
cent to the grassy area. If the infested area in Maine is in-
cluded the total infested area would be approximately 1000
square miles and would extend to Lake Sebago.
The infestation is quite heavy in some parts, notably along
Shannon Brook and along parts of the lake shore in the towns
of Moultonboro and Tuftonboro. In May 1952 the above areas
showed a population of one tick per square yard when a tick
drag was used for sampling. However, most of the samples
taken in other localities showed a considerably smaller popu-
lation.
How and when the infestation in Moultonboro and Tufton-
boro started is rather obscure. The local inhabitants claim.
36 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Feb., 1957
probably through prejudice, that a certain individual brought
the ticks in when he pastured sheep on the land. This so-called
introduction of ticks occurred approximately thirty years ago.
It may be that the increase of ticks coincided with the introduc-
tion of sheep and the residents associated the two occurrences.
Smith et al. (1946) state, "A small area of infestation occurs
around Lake Winnipesaukee, N. H., with indications that in
certain localities it has persisted there for at least several dec-
ades. In other localities the infestation is apparently recent,
and may have been caused by the transportation of infested
dogs by vacationists."
The infestation in the town of Amherst is of recent origin,
and was started, presumably, by the introduction of ticks on
dogs. This infestation is confined to two or three farms. A
family living in this area traveled, frequently, between Cape
Cod, Mass., and the farm in question. The family dogs were
carried back and forth on these occasions. There is no history
of ticks previous to the family's moving into the area, and since
the infestation is limited to this and adjoining properties, it
seems safe to assume that the infestation was started in this
manner.
LITERATURE CITED
BEQUAERT, J. 1947. Bull. Brook. Ent. Soc. 42: 141.
BISHOPP, F. C. and C. N. SMITH. 1936. Insect Pest Survey Bull. U. S.
Dept. Agr. 16 (10) : 534.
- and C. N. SMITH. 1938. U. S. Dept. Agr. Circ. 478, 26 pp.
- and H. L. Tremblay. 1945. J. Parasit. 31 : 1-54.
SMITH, C. N., M. M. COLE, and H. K. GOUCK. 1946. U. S. Dept. Agr.
Tech. Bull. 905, 74 pp.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 37
The Immature Stages and Female of Polypedilum
(Polypedilum) obtusum Townes (Tendi-
pedidae: Diptera)
By JAMES E. SUBLETTE, Northwestern State College,
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Several adult male and female midges were reared from ma-
ture larvae collected in Little Bayou Pierre, a small, clear,
sandstone-rubble bottomed stream of the Kasatchie Wold in
West-Central Louisiana. The adult males agreed with Townes'
(1945) description in all respects except size. Measurement
of seven specimens gave: mean wing length, 1.73 mm.; stand-
ard deviation, .55 mm.; range, 1.6-2.1 mm.; mean leg ratio,
1.68; range, 1.37-1.93; the antennal ratio, 1.95 (mean of two
specimens only). Townes lists these measurements for this
species as: wing, 2.2 mm. long; leg ratio, 1.75; and antennal
ratio, 2.0. Although a size difference exists, P. obtusum has
such distinctive male genitalia that there can be no doubt as to
the identity of these specimens. Eight females having the same
identical immature stages as the males of P. obtusum were
reared from the same material and undoubtably belong to that
species.
Female. Coloration and general body features same as male
except that abdomen of female has a definite light green color
instead of a very faint green color. Mean wing length, 1.8 mm. ;
standard deviation, .34 mm.; range, 1. 4-2 .4 mm.; mean leg
ratio, 1.83; range, 1.67-1.96.
Larva. Total length (mean of two mature specimens), 5.4
mm. ; head length, .45 mm. Color, pale yellowish-green ; head
capsule, very lightly colored with only tips of mandibles, la-
bial plate and ventral part of occipital area darkened. Labial
plate (Figure 1) very closely resembles that of P. conviction
(Walker) as illustrated by Johannsen (Plate V, Figure 76,
1937). Paralabial plates (Figure 1), finely pointed at both
ends, with about 28-30 coarse striae. Posterior margin of para-
labial plate very strongly arched, apparently more so than other
38 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Feb., 1957
described species of this genus. Antennal ratio, 56:20:5:6:5.
Antennae slightly longer than mandibles and have a mean ratio
of 21 :22. Antennal blade reaches tip of fifth segment or very
slightly exceeds it (Figure 3). Mandibles (Figure 2) are
blackened at tips with usual preapical comb and compound
brush ; accessory tooth of mandible reaches tip of first free
tooth ; basal tooth fused with distal end of the mesial shelf of
mandible. Epipharyngeal comb has 13 teeth arranged in three
groups, a central group bearing 3 teeth and two lateral groups
with 5 teeth each. Lateral to epipharyngeal comb are about
6 long slender blades ; posterior ventral surface of labrum bears
broad median pectinate blade which is rounded on free border ;
anteriorly, two pairs of socketed pectinate blades, most anterior
pair being smaller ; lateral, inferior surface of labrum with 5
heavy curved pectinate bristles on each side. Premandibles
with tips bifid and darkened. Maxillary palpus inconspicuous,
3 segmented ; basal segment slightly longer than remaining two ;
basal segment bears about 5 blades at apex. The rather small
rounded eye spots (diameter about one third the length of the
mandible) are contiguous. Anterior prolegs are composed of
two dense tufts of long slender claws ; posterior prolegs are
short and terminate in a group of pale hooked claws. Each pre-
anal papilla bears 8 bristles ; on anterior surface is a bristle.
Two anal gills, about half as long as prolegs, each constricted
and tapering beyond middle ; anterior to gills are two strong
bristles.
Pupa. Total length (mean of two specimens), 4.4 mm.;
respiratory organs not clearly discernible on mounted slides.
Second abdominal tergite with anterior, inconspicuous band of
erect denticles, posterior margin with up to 30 dorsally turned
black hooks ; segments 3-6 with distinct anterior and posterior
bands of suberect, barbed denticles, the anterior and posterior
bands being broadly joined along the mid-dorsal line by a broad,
fenestrated band of the same denticles. Segments 7 and 8 with
a greatly reduced anterior band only. Lateral margin of seg-
ment 5 and 6 with 3 lateral bristles; segment 7 with 4 bristles,
the anterior 2 broadly separated from the posterior 2 ; eighth
IxviiiJ
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
39
segment also with 4 bristles, most anterior one being scarcely
beyond middle (Figure 4). Posterior lateral spur of segment 8
as in Figure 4 ; basal denticles, frequently obscured. Swim fin
with 60-70 bristles.
Polypedilum (Polypedilum) obtusnm Townes
FIG. 1. Labial and paralabial plates of larva.
FIG. 2. Mandible of larva (preapical brush omitted).
FIG. 3. Antenna of larva.
FIG. 4. Posterior lateral corner of segment eight of the pupa show-
ing spur and lateral fringe.
Polypedilum obtusnm very closely resembles the description
of P. convictum in all of its life stages. As I have not had the
opportunity of studying immature stages of P. convictum I am
not certain that the larvae of the two can be separated unless
size and the greatly arched posterior margin of the paralabial
40 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Feb., 1957
plate are diagnostic. The pupae can be separated on the basis
of two characters : tergal armature and features of the posterior-
lateral spur of segment 8. The females do not appear to have
any diagnostic features which will separate them from other
members of the convictum group.
The occurrence of Polypcdiluni obtusum in Louisiana repre-
sents a new state record and a considerable extension of range
as the species has been previously reported only from New York
and Michigan (Townes, 1945).
The illustrations were prepared by microprojection. I grate-
fully acknowledge the assistance of my wife, Mary Smith
Sublette, in the preparation of those illustrations.
LITERATURE CITED
JOHANNSEN, O. A. 1937. Aquatic Diptera. Part IV. Chironomidae :
Subfamily Chironominae. Cornell Univ. Agric. Experiment Sta.
Memoir 210 : 1-56.
TOWNES, H. K., JR. 1945. The Nearctic species of Tendipedini [Dip-
tera, Tendipedidae (= Chironomidae)]. Amer. Midland Nat. 34(1) :
1-206.
Nomenclature Notice
All comments relating to the following should be marked with
the Commission's File Number, and sent to Francis Hemming,
28 Park Village East, Regent's Park, London N. W. 1, England.
Pieridae Duponchel, 1832, validation of family-group name
(Class Insecta, Order Lepidoptera). File: Z.N. (S.) 289.
For details see Bull. Zool. Nomencl. Vol. 12, Part 11.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 41
Two Early Entomological Collectors in Colorado
By F. M. BRONVN, Fountain Valley School, Colorado Springs
While engaged upon a search for the source of W. H. Ed-
wards' Kansan co-type of Coenonytnpha ochracea I have un-
earthed information that may be of assistance to others who are
interested in material collected during 1858-1863 in what is
now the state of Colorado. First let me review some of the
history of the area. During the period under consideration the
region around Denver and Colorado Springs, Colorado, was
first a part of Kansas Territory and then part of Colorado
Territory. During the time it was part of Kansas Territory
the western boundary of that Territory was the Continental
Divide. When the Colorado Territory was established in Feb-
ruary 1861 the western boundary of Kansas was moved east-
ward to about the 102nd meridian.
In 1859 there was considerable effort on the part of the
residents of Kansas living west of Denver in the mining camps
to establish there the Territory of Jefferson. To the south, in
the Pikes Peak region, later to center on Colorado Springs, the
residents wanted the new territory to be called Colorado. In
the end the Coloradans won but from 1859 to 1861 the advo-
cates of the Territory of Jefferson were militant and used
that name.
The first entomologist to visit the region was Thomas Say
who accompanied Major Stephan H. Long to the Rocky Moun-
tains in 1819-1820. His collections were stolen by a pair of
packers on the return journey. The next generally accepted
collector in the region is James Ridings of Philadelphia who
visited the Denver region in 1864, a few years after Colorado
became a territory. In 1866, Tryon Reakirt compiled the first
list of Colorado butterflies upon the strength of Riding's collec-
tion and those in the hands of members of the Entomological
Society of Philadelphia and in the Society cabinet.
A careful study of Reakirt's paper and of several earlier ones
by William II. Edwards and others yields plenty of evidence
that there were earlier collectors in the region than Ridings.
42 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS | Feb., 1957
Two of these earlier Collectors, Winslow J. Howard and Wil-
liam S. Wood, Jr., were early members of the Entomological
Society of Philadelphia. There is a suggestion that there was
at least one other, but as yet I have no inkling who he was.
WILLIAM S. WOOD, JR.
According to Ewan (1950, p. 340), Wood was a member of
the expedition led by Lieutenant F. T. Bryan, U. S. A., to scout
a wagon road from Fort Riley, Kansas, to the Great Salt Lake
over Bridger's Pass in 1856 and 1857. James Cooper, the
ornithologist, was surgeon for this party. Hume (1942, p. 41)
in his account of Cooper states that the party disbanded upon
reaching the Rocky Mountains without fulfilling its mission.
There are three primary sources of information about the
naturalists and collectors who accompanied the military expedi-
tions of this era : The published reports of the War Depart-
ment ; those of the Smithsonian Institution ; and, Prof. Spencer
Fullerton Baird's fabulous correspondence files in the Smith-
sonian Institution. In the Annual Report of the Smithsonian
Institution for 1856 (Baird, 1857, p. 64) is this entry: "Lieu-
tenant F. T. Bryan, U. S. A., Six boxes, one keg containing
alcoholic specimens, birds, mammals, and skeletons, from United
States wagon-road to Bridger's Pass." There is no reference
to insects collected. In the Report for the next year (Baird,
1858, p. 50) I found: "Lieutenant F. T. Bryan, U. S. A., Three
boxes of zoological specimens collected by William S. Wood on
the wagon-road expedition from Fort Riley to Bridger's Pass."
On the following page acknowledgment is made of Cooper's
material collected from Fort Laramie back to Independence,
Missouri.
The earliest extant correspondence between Wood and Baird
is a letter dated February 19, 1857. This is No. 221 in Baird's
letter-press book for 1857. It reads :
"February 19, '57
"My dear Mr. Wood
"The wagon route you saw announced is not under charge
of the War Dept. but under that of the Department of the
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 43
Interior. Lt. Bryan will not have charge of it. As soon as
an opportunity presents itself however, I will try to find you
a good place on one or other of the exploring parties. We
shall know about them in about three weeks.
"I have deposited your eagle in the Mechanics Institute fair
here, in your name, for competition as a specimen of taxidermy.
"Wm. S. Wood
"Phila."
'Yours truly
ss/ Spencer F. Baird
In a letter dated April 24, 1857, Baird offered Wood a post
with Lt. Bryan. One dated July 12, 1857, and addressed to
Wood at Fort Kearney, N. T. (Nebraska Territory), is ample
evidence that Wood was on the 1857 field party but most likely
not with the party in 1856. There is no evidence that Wood
penetrated the area now included in Colorado while on the 1857
Bridger's Pass Wagon Road Expedition. His collections for
that year in all probability were made along the Platte River
in Nebraska, in eastern Wyoming, and around Fort Laramie.
In March 1859 there was an extended correspondence be-
tween Baird and Wood about the Landeges wagon road party
bound for the Great Salt Lake and about Lt. Mullen's wagon
road party exploring the route between Walla Walla, Wash-
ington, and Fort Benton, Montana. At this time Wood was
living on Oak Street at the corner of Rose Street in West Phila-
delphia. Wood had been idle for some months and was anxious
to get into the field on a collecting expedition. A letter from
Wood dated March 28, 1859, told Baird that arrangements had
been made to go west on a collecting trip for another group.
Baird was so irate about this that he struck Wood from the
rolls of field collectors for the Smithsonian and there is no
further correspondence between the two.
The 1859 collecting trip to the west may well have been
undertaken for the Entomological Society of Philadelphia.
Both Charles J. Wood and William S. Wood are listed by
Cresson (1909, p. 51) as "Organization Members" of the So-
ciety. They attended the meeting held on March 1, 1859, and
44 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Feb., 1957
it was shortly after this that William Wood wrote to Baird
telling him that he could not accept Baird's proposal since he
had accepted a $60.00 advance to go west for another group.
Where did Wood go in 1859? Edwards in his description
of C alias Alexandra (1863, p. 15) states: "From Pikes Peak;
in the Society's collections ; 6 males, 1 female. The second
female is from the collection of Mr. George Newman and was
taken among the Rocky Mountains, some years ago, by Mr.
Wood." There are other similar citations that link "Mr.
Wood" and "Rocky Mountains." There is no doubt in my
mind that "Mr. Wood" is William S. Wood, Jr. In 1859 there
was only one place that a person from the East not attached
to a government party could use as a base for operations in
the Rocky Mountains. That was the vicinity of Denver. There
were several flourishing mining camps in the mountains con-
nected with Denver City on the plains by wagon roads and good
horseback trails. The settlement of Colorado City in the
shadow of Pikes Peak was just forming and the chances that
Wood visited it and not Denver are very slight. Bird speci-
mens collected by Wood tie him to the Clear Creek area west
of Denver. Travel was slow except to the mining camps west
of Denver. With limited time and virgin territory, I am sure
that Wood confined his travels to the region delimited by
Denver, Golden, Empire and Central City in Colorado. All
of his insect specimens were labelled "Rocky Mountains."
I have been unsuccessful in finding biographical material
about Wood. He was the son of an Englishman, William S.
Wood, who had leanings toward natural history. Mr. Wood,
Sr., may have been a taxidermist. I know that he sent bird
skins to the Smithsonian Institution (Baird, letter June 26,
1858). William, Jr., in addition to being a member of Lt.
Bryan's expedition, was a member of the Naval Expedition to
New Grenada, Colombia, under Lt. Muhler in 1857-1858. On
this trip he was accompanied by his brother Charles. Another
brother, Christopher, accompanied the Naval expedition to the
Rio Plata in southern South America in 1858. I have no in-
formation about William, Jr., between 1859 and 1878 when he
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 45
was listed as a taxidermist in Wilmington, Delaware, first at
903 Market Street and later at 402 East llth Street. He drops
out of sight again after 1884 (Hindes, letter June 14, 1956).
Frank Morton Jones, the dean of Delaware naturalists, was
unable to give me any information to add to what I had.
WINSLOW J. HOWARD
It will be noted in Edwards' description of alexandra cited
and in part quoted above is the locality "Pikes Peak." There
are many specimens in the collections of the Entomological So-
ciety of Philadelphia that bear this label. I had been misled
by Reakirt's article about Colorado butterflies and by references
by Edwards in "Butterflies of North America" into thinking
that Ridings was responsible for these captures. Since there
are a number of citations of the locality in the literature before
Ridings set out on his trip someone else must have collected
the specimens.
I have found that some of these "Pike's Peak" specimens are
credited to "Howard." The solution of the question of who
"Howard" was is found in an article on Hymenoptera by
Cresson (1863, p. 73) where in stating the type locality of
Masaris vespoides he wrote : "Hab. Pike's Peak. Collected by
Mr. Winslow J. Howard." The history of the American Ento-
mological Society written by Cresson (1909) for its fiftieth
anniversary includes among the members "Howard, W. I., Cen-
tral City, Colo., March 10, 1862." As far as I know this makes
Howard the earliest resident entomologist in Colorado.
Who was Howard? Ewan (1950, p. 235) notes very briefly
that he sent some specimens of plants from Montana to Asa
Gray at Harvard University in 1866. Dr. C. E. Kobuski
(letter, April 13, 1956) could find no mention of Howard in
the archives of the Gray Herbarium. In the literature of
entomology there are scattered references to specimens collected
by Howard outside of Colorado. These almost invariably place
him in Prescott, Arizona, during the 1870s. Inquiries in Pres-
cott drew a blank. Howard's constant association with mining
camps led me to suspect that he was a mining engineer or at
46 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS | Feb., 1957
least associated with that industry. He was, but in a most
indirect way. Looking for information about him I ran into
more blind alleys than I care to mention. At last in the West-
ern History section of the Denver Public Library I struck
pay-dirt.
While scanning the earliest newspapers printed in Colorado
for mention of Howard's name I found in The Western Moun-
taineer for July 19, 1860, this article :
"Watches and Jewelry We solicit your special attention to
the advertisement of W. J. Howard, Esq., which appears in this
issue. Mr. Howard was formerly in the leading establishment
in his line on the continent that of Messers Tiffany & Co.,
New York City and we are able to assure our readers from
personal knowledge that any work entrusted to him will be
skillfully and properly done. He has a rare collection of the
natural curiosities of the Rocky Mountains, which will be found
very entertaining to those interested in natural science. Give
Mr. Howard a call, and if you have any interesting specimens
of the mineral wealth of the country, take them with you."
Although the newspaper quoted was published in Golden
City, J. T. (Jefferson Territory), Howard's business was lo-
cated on the east corner of Larimer and F Streets in Denver
City. As late as December 20, 1860, Howard's advertisements
appeared in The Western Mountaineer. We know that Howard
gave Central City as his residence when he applied for member-
ship in the Entomological Society of Philadelphia (later the
American Entomological Society) in March 1862. Probably
he moved there during the summer of 1861. In Central City
he established Howard and Colony, manufacturing jewelers.
The advertisements for this concern appear as late as January
4, 1865, in the daily Rocky Mountain Nezvs, the first news-
paper published in Denver and still active.
Apparently Howard moved back East late in 1865. The
February 27, 1866, issue of the Rocky Mountain News carried
a note from a returning Coloradan that Howard was living in
Brooklyn, New York, and had married. Howard returned to
the West that autumn. The Rocky Mountain Nczvs for Oc-
tober 15, 1866, noted his arrival on the H. O. M. & Ex. Co.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 47
stage from the East and that he registered at the Pacific House
in Denver on the 14th. On the next page is this note: "W. J.
Howard . . . collector of botanical, mineral and entomological
specimens, called on us today. He arrived from the East by
the last coach and goes on to Montana tomorrow." There my
knowledge of Howard stops. I am anxious to get further infor-
mation about the movements of both Wood and Howard in the
West.
REFERENCES
BAIRD, S. F. 1857. In Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, for 1856.
-. 1858. The same for 1857.
. Letters to William S. Wood in the archives of the Smithsonian
Institution dated: Feb. 19, 1857; Apr. 24, 1857; July 12, 1857; Oct.
4, 1857; Dec. 18, 1857; June 2, 1858; Oct. 22, 1858; June 26, 1858
(Wood, Sr.) ; Mch. 24, 1859; Mch. 27, 1859 (two letters).
CRESSON, E. T. 1863. Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila., vol. 2.
. 1909. A History of the American Entomological Society, Phila-
delphia, 1859-1909. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 60 pp.
The Daily Rocky Mountain News, 1865, January 4.
, 1866, February 27 and October 15.
EDWARDS, W. H. 1861. Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila., vol. 1, p. 163, original
description of Coenonympha ochracea.
-. 1863. Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila., vol. 2.
EWAN, J. 1950. Rocky Mountain Naturalists. University of Denver
Press. Denver, Colo.
HINDES, R. Letter to FMB dated June 14, 1956, about records relating
to William S. Wood in the Historical Society of Delaware.
HUME, E. E. 1942. Ornithologists of the United States Army Medical
Corps. Johns Hopkins Press. Baltimore, Maryland.
KORBUSKI, C. E. Letter to FMB dated April 13, 1956, stating that there
is no trace of Winslow Howard at the Gray Herbarium of Harvard
University.
REAKIRT, T. 1866. "Coloradoan Butterflies." Proc. Ent. Soc. Phila.
6: 122-151.
The Western Mountaineer. 1860. July 19 et seq.
WOOD, W. S. Letters to Spencer Fullerton Baird in the Archives of
the Smithsonian Institution dated: Jan. 15, 1859; Mch. 21, 1859;
Mch. 25, 1859 (from Wood, Sr.) ; Mch. 28, 1859.
48 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Feb., 1957
Known Distribution of a Bat Flea, Nycteridopsylla
chapini Jordan (Siphonaptera: Ischnopsyllidae)
By ROBERT E. LEWIS, Department of Entomology,
University of Illinois
The brown bat flea, Nycteridopsylla chapini Jordan, is now
known from several widely distributed areas of the United
States east of the Great Plains. Originally it was described
from Glen Echo, Maryland, by Jordan (1929). The type speci-
mens were taken from the big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus
(Beau.), and were collected by R. C. Shannon in 1916. Vernon
Bailey collected N. chapini from the Indiana bat, Myotis sodalis
Miller and Allen, taken at Colossal Cave, Kentucky. M. W.
Sanderson took N. chapini from the type host from a cave in
Benton County, Arkansas. Lane (1953) noted the collection
of a single female from the type host in Hocking County, Ohio,
in 1951. The latest record is that of one male and four females
collected by R. F. Myers from a male of the type host collected
in Pulaski County, Missouri, in 1955.
This determination was confirmed by Dr. G. P. Holland,
Department of Agriculture, Division of Entomology, Ottawa,
Ontario, Canada, and one male and one female were deposited
with him. Of the other three, two are housed in the collection
of the Illinois Natural History Survey, and the remaining one
is in the collection of the Department of Entomology, University
of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
Miller and Kellogg (1955) list the distribution of Eptesicus
fuscus fiiscus (Beau.) as: "Eastern North America, west ap-
proximately to longitude 102W., from Quebec, Ontario and
Manitoba south to northern Florida and Nuevo Leon, Mexico."
If one considers the other eight subspecies of Eptesicus fuscus
as well as the additional four species of the genus which occur
in North and Central America, it seems reasonable to assume
that further collections will extend the known range of this flea
to the west. It is doubtless a much more common species than
its presence in collections would indicate (Holland, 1956).
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 49
REFERENCES
Fox, I. 1940. Fleas of eastern United States. Iowa State College
Press, Ames, Iowa, p. 107.
HOLLAND, G. P. 1949. The Siphonaptera of Canada. Dominion of
Canada, Department of Agriculture, Publ. 817, Tech. Bull. No. 70,
p. 179.
. 1956. Personal communication.
HOPKINS, G. H. E. 1952. J. Wash. Acad. Sci., 42: 364.
JORDAN, K. 1929. Novit. zool. 35 : 39.
LANE, J. E. 1953. Ohio J. Sci. 53: 178.
MILLER, G. S. and KELLOGG, R. 1955. List of the North American
recent mammals. Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. 205 : 1-954.
SANDERSON, M. W. 1941. J. Kans. Ent. Soc. 14: 60.
Hermann Weber (1899-1956)
Professor Dr. Hermann Weber, a Corresponding Member of
the American Entomological Society, died November 18, 1956,
at Tubingen, Germany, a few days before his 57th birthday.
Although without doubt one of the really important entomologists
of the present century he was hardly known personally in this
country. Dr. Weber apparently never visited America, al-
though he did correspond with a number of American morpholo-
gists. From Dr. A. Glenn Richards, Entomological News
learned of Weber's death, and from Dr. R. E. Snodgrass we
were able to learn of his serious illness for the past year or more.
Dr. O. A. Johannsen was able to tell us of a brief but pleasant
visit at Weber's home in Danzig many years ago, and of their
discussion of certain morphological problems.
From an examination of Kurschner's Gelehrten Kalender for
1954 we learned that Weber was born in Bretten, Baden, No-
vember 27, 1899, and that before coming to Tubingen in 1950 to
become Professor and Director of the Zoologisches Institut of
the University of Tubingen, he had taught at Bonn, Danzig,
Freiburg, Miinster, Wien. and Strasbourg. He was awarded
the Fabricius Medal by the Deutsche entomologische Gesell-
schaft, was an Honorary Member of the Royal Entomological
Society of London, and of the Osterreichsche Akademie der
Wissenschaften.
50 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Feb., 1957
However meager our information regarding Weber as a
person, we know a great deal of him as a scientist. He is per-
haps best known as the author of the "Lehrbuch der Ento-
mologie," (1933), generally considered the finest textbook of
entomology ever written, despite the fact that the author was
only 33 years old when it appeared. Quoting from Dr. Snod-
grass' review, in Ent. News 44 : 166-168 : "The book is not
only predominantly morphological in the sense that it deals
largely with structure and the homologies of structural parts,
but it is morphological from the viewpoint that anatomical form
is an adaptation to function. In other words, the morphology
of insects becomes a part of the biology of insects, as it properly
should be. ... The subject of insect morphology, as demon-
strated by Dr. Weber's book, has now reached a stage in which
it may rightly assert its ability to render the fundamental serv-
ices that should be expected of it to the other branches of en-
tomological science, particularly, in taxonomy and insect re-
lationships, physiology, and ecology." And, we may add, this
same approach to morphological studies is characteristic of
Weber's other writings, that the structures are expressive of
the life of the insect and necessarily tied to function and to
ecology.
Another textbook, "Grundriss der Insektenkunde," appeared
in 1938 and was intended as an introduction to entomology.
The second edition and third edition were much enlarged, es-
pecially in areas in which research had progressed rapidly in
recent years. This was desirable because the "Lehrbuch" of
1933 had been long out of print, and the work on a proposed
revision still incomplete. The third edition (Gustav Fischer
Verlag, Stuttgart, 1952) is noteworthy for the clear and concise
accounts it gives of the recent work in the field of experimental
embryology (Seidel, Bock, Krause), of the many studies on
insect hormones, and of the work of Henke, Stossberg, Suffer!,
etc., on development of butterfly scales and wing pattern, and
of many other matters otherwise available only in lengthy
original papers.
Of great value also are Weber's review articles that appeared
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 51
in Fortschritte der Zoologie, in 1939 and 1942 (Vols. 4 and 9).
In the latter he provides critical reviews of recent works deal-
ing with the morphology, histology, and development of all
articulates. In the first 31 pages he gives a complete and very
clear discussion of the theories of head segmentation and comes
to a series of conclusions as regards possibilities, but finds more
information is necessary to provide a theory applicable to an-
nelids as well as arthropods. In the same way, the thorax and
abdomen are covered, and the histology and functioning of the
various internal systems and organs.
Another large general work is the "Biologic der Hemipteren"
(1930), regarding which we may again cite Dr. Snodgrass
(Ent. News 41 : 275-276) : [It] ". . . is without question one
of the best publications of recent times in biological entomology.
Within it the writer brings together not only a review of all that
has heretofore been written on the life and structure of the
Hemiptera, but also the results of his own extensive and minute
studies of the complex hemipterous mechanisms that for a
century have baffled the skill of insect anatomists."
A glance through the Zoological Record for the years 1923 to
1953, shows that Weber also published a large number of re-
search papers making up an additional 1500 odd pages in Zool.
Jahrb. (Anat.), in Zeitschr. Morph. Okol. Tiere, in Zeitschr.
vergl. Physiol., in Zool. Anz., and in other journals. These
researches deal with the morphology of the head and thorax in
various groups, as a contribution to general morphology, and
with detailed investigations on the anatomy, particularly of the
mouth parts, on the physiology of sucking, and on the sensory
physiology of a number of homopterous species and the Anoplura.
Noteworthy is the important place Weber always assigned to
ecological considerations. In his "Grundriss," the chapter on
ecology occupies about one-fifth of the text. And finally, al-
though essentially a morphologist, he also gave serious thought
to fundamental theoretical aspects of systematics as exemplified
in his article on "Grenzen in der Biologic," in Vol. 5 of Studium
Generale. Here is a discussion on the possibilities of drawing
definite boundaries in the course of our research and thinking.
52 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Feb., 1957
After much philosophical argument he concludes, e.g., that
systematics cannot exist by itself, but that ecological, population,
behavior, genetic, and especially population-genetic studies must
go hand in hand with it if we are to discover the reasons for the
existence or non-existence of boundaries between populations.
Also, the animal and its environment must be considered as a
unit, and the variability of the environment compared with the
variability of the animal. If one does not thus arrive at precise
definitions and limits, one nevertheless has a truer picture of
reality. In the study of colonies, social groups, societies, mixed
populations, and biomes the defining of boundaries is even more
difficult. As a result, physicists and professional philosophers
may conclude that biology is an inexact science. Weber's point
of view was that where sharp boundaries exist we do well to
define them, but where they do not, where transitions are fluid
or series continuous, precise delimitation w r ould really make
biology inexact, would not present a true picture.
In sum, Hermann Weber contributed a great deal towards our
present knowledge of the morphology and functional anatomy of
insects, particularly of the Hemiptera and Anoplura. He was
also thoroughly conversant with most other aspects of ento-
mological science so that by means of his text-books, and hih
monographic reviews on morphology, histology, and develop-
ment he earned the gratitude of teachers and investigators over
the world by providing them with such reliable accounts of the
present state of knowledge. His untimely death is truly a great
loss to entomology.
R. G. SCHMIEDER.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 53
Review
A MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY OF A RELIC DRAGONFLY EPIO-
PHLEBIA SUPERSTES SELYS. By Syoziro Asahina. The Japan
Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, 1954. iv +153
pp., 71 pi. [Maruzen Co. Nihonbashi, Tokyo, $5 (U. S.) ]
Epiophlebia superstes, a species somewhat zygopteroid and
anisopteroid but essentially unique, is the subject of a painstaking
morphological analysis by Syoziro Asahina. Dr. Asahina, along
with his colleagues, has given us over the past years considerable
information on the ecology and life history of this interesting
Japanese species which is attaining thereby the status of one of
the most completely known Odonata. Turning his attention
now to more critical matters the author introduces evidence from
comparative anatomy to facilitate settling the long-standing
problem of the affinity of Epiophlebia to the recent two great
suborders. He also succeeds in another aim of his study,
namely, "to bring forward some rather neglected problems of
Odonata structure in the light of recent progress on insect
morphology."
The gomphine Davidius nanus Selys and the calopterygine
Mnais strigata Selys are anatomically compared from the view-
point of homology to both larval and imaginal Epiophlebia su-
perstes with special reference to sclerites, muscles and several
internal organs. Comparisons with other Odonata and with
generalized insects (according to the interpretations of Ferris
and Snodgrass) add to the significance of this study and to the
weight of evidence in favor of the author's conclusions. This
detailed comparative anatomy occupies over three-quarters of
the text and is supplemented by more than 200 figures.
Into his review of the chronology of opinion on the systematic
position of Epiophlebia the author adeptly dovetails the progress
in understanding of odonate phylogeny. He relates that Selys
placed Epiophlebia in the Zygoptera ; Needham and Tillyard did
likewise in their earlier studies but Needham later shifted the
genus to the Anisoptera whereas Tillyard subsequently placed
it in Handlirsch's Anisozygoptera, the suborder which flourished
during the Mesozoic era; Schmidt and Fraser also hold to
54 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Feb., 1957
Anisozygoptera placement. Because of the identical nature of
the discoidal cells in both pairs of wings. Carpenter is of the
opinion that a new suborder is probably necessary to accomodate
this relic species. Although seeming to be in considerable sym-
pathy with Carpenter's viewpoint, Asahina is of the opinion that
the Anisozygoptera affinities of Epiophlcbia are quite close based
on wing venation characters alone. He goes only so far as to
separate the Epiophlebiidae from the remaining fossil families
of Tillyard and Eraser's Heterophleboidea by proposing a new
superfamily, Epiophleboidea ; he considers it advisable to limit
the fossil Anisozygoptera to the Liassic forms represented by
the Heterophleboidea and he suggests that the only known
Tertiary Anisozygoptera, Sieblosiidae of Oligocene times, might
be a true Zygoptera.
Evolutionary tendencies of certain morphological features,
particularly the wings, are discussed with regard to the three
suborders. Asahina significantly concludes that the super-
family Epiophleboidea [was] "established from a narrow-
winged ancestor before the families of Heterophleboidea ap-
peared and advanced along its own evolutionary passage toward
the direction of Anisoptery ... it has arrived, in the present
day, at a state where the body structure, especially the larval
shape, has attained nearly to a complete Anisopteric stage."
Dr. Asahina's lucid style has occasional refreshing oriental
phraseology ; the comparative morphological approach appears
to be fundamentally sound in the choice of materials ; his conclu-
sions are not so far-reaching as one might have anticipated but
are nevertheless well documented. The arrangement of the
figures is sometimes awkward since they do not always read
from top to bottom or from left to right and there are one or two
omissions of figure references on the plates ; although not of the
usual high oriental standard the figures are wholly sufficient
for the author's purpose.
This is a most notable and significant contribution to the
literature on Odonata and to a broader-based understanding
of phylogenetic relationship within this group. EDWARD J.
KORMONDY
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 55
Books Received
COTT, H. E. Systematics of the Suborder Tubulifera (Thy-
sanoptera) in California. University of California Publications
in Entomology. Vol. 13, pp. 210, pis. \-A, 1956. Price : $3.50.
MENDES, E. A revision of the genus Megarthroglossus Jor-
dan and Rothschild 1915 ( Siphonaptera : Hystoichopsyllidae).
Ibidem, Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 159-192, 14 figs., 1956. Price $.85.
MELLAN, I. and E. Dictionary of poisons. Pp.150. Philo-
sophical Library, N. Y. Price $4.75.
MILLER, N. C. E. The biology of the Heteroptera. Pp. x
+ 162, 4 pis. and 64 text-figs. Leonard Hill Books Ltd., 9
Eden St., London N.W.I, 1956. Price : 30 s. net.
Ross, H. H. Evolution and classification of the mountain
caddisflies. Pp. vi + 312; 370 figs., 45 charts. University of
Illinois Press, Urnana, 111.
Ross, H. H. A textbook of entomology. 2nd ed. Pp. x
+ 519, 402 figs. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1956. Price:
$7.75.
SKAIFE, S. H. Dwellers in darkness. An introduction to
the study of Termites. Pp. x + 134 ; 40 figs., 14 plates. Long-
mans Green and Co., London, New York, Toronto, 1955.
Price : 30 s. net.
EXCHANGES
This column is intended only for wants and exchanges, not for
advertisements of goods for sale or services rendered. Notices
not exceeding three lines free to subscribers.
These notices are continued as long as our limited space will allow;
the new ones are added at the end of the column, and, only when neces-
sary those at the top (being longest in) are discontinued.
Conopidae of the World wanted. Will pay 10^ to $1.00 for pinned
and labelled specimens. S. Camras, 4407 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago
30, Illinois.
Anisoptera Nearctic sp. wanted for exchange, espec. Ophiog., Arigom.,
Aeschna, Neurocor., Somatoc., Cordulia, Dorocor., Leucor. R. D. Cuyler,
Dept. of Entomology, N. C. State College, Raleign, N. C.
Bembicini and Stizini (Hym., Sphec.) of New World wanted for revis.
study. Will return upon request or at end of project. James E. Gillaspy,
Dept. of Zoology, Univ. Texas, Austin 12, Texas.
Agapema galbina. Will exchange cocoons of this moth for nature
books. E. Frizzell, Route 4, Box 96, San Benito, Texas.
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THE NEOTROPICAL SPECIES OF THE
'SUBGENUS AESCHNA' SENSU SELYSII 1883
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This paper presents an account of the Neotropical species referred
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THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
1900 RACE STREET, PHILADELPHIA 3, PA.
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
MARCH 1057
Vol. LXVIII No. 3
CONTENTS
Richards and Kolderie Oncopeltus eggs and mother's age 57
Ananthakrishnan Bamboosiella n. gen. (tubilifera) 65
Judd Insects from the pond snail 69
Dreisbach A new species of Arachnoproctonus 72
Evans Notes on a Stictia new to the United States 76
Frost More about Membracidae at lights 77
Notes and News in Entomology 79
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MEMOIRS OF THE AMERICAN
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
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251 pages of text, 19 pages of tables, 7 maps,
47 plates, 3 pages of contents and index
THE NEOTROPICAL SPECIES OF THE
'SUBGENUS AESCHNA' SENSU SELYSII 1883
(Odonata)
By Philip P. Calvert
This paper presents an account of the Neotropical species referred
by de Selys in 1883 to his subgenus Aeschna and of some species un-
known to him. His subgenus is here divided into three genera,
Aeschna, Coryphaeschna, and Castoraeschna, Aeshna in its turn be-
ing subdivided into the subgenera Aeschna, Hesperaeschna, Rhio-
nacschna, Schisuracschna, M armor aeschna and Neureclipa. These
five subgenera include 2, 15, 1, 3, 4 and 5 species and subspecies
respectively. Coryphaeschna embraces 9 species and subspecies,
Castoraeschna 5. Larvae of 2 species of Hesperaeschna, 1 species of
Schisuraeschna, 1 species of Neureclipa and 6 species of Cory-
phaeschna are described and figured. Generalities are discussed under
the headings : Relationships of the Neotropical Aeshnas to the North
American fossils; Relations of the South American Aeshnas to the
Palaearctic and Australian species ; The geological age and geographi-
cal distribution of the ancestors of the Odonata and of the Mammalia ;
Relations of the Neotropical Aeshnas to each other; The seasonal
distribution of the Neotropical species of Aeshna. Forty plates in
black and white illustrate the structural and colorational features of
the adults, seven those of the larvae. Nineteen tables show the varia-
tions in size and in venation of the adults. Six maps show the geo-
graphic distribution of all the species concerned. There is an alpha-
betical index of species, subgenera, genera, authors quoted, and topics.
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THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
1900 RACE STREET, PHILADELPHIA 3, PA.
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
VOL. LXVIII MARCH, 1957 No. 3
Variation in Weight, Developmental Rate, and
Hatchability of Oncopeltus Eggs as a
Function of the Mother's Age l
By A. GLENN RICHARDS and MARJORIE O. KOLDERIE,
Department of Entomology and Economic Zoology,
University of Minnesota
It is well known that egg production of various insects may
be greatly affected by environmental conditions and the past
history of the mother. But it is commonly assumed that eggs
laid by females raised and kept under standard conditions will
be the same irrespective of the age of the female. We uncon-
sciously assumed this in experiments with the milkweed bug,
Oncopeltus fasciatus (Dallas), until it became evident that such
was not strictly true. To be sure, a considerable literature on
the influence of parental age has accumulated for some groups
of organisms (see Strong, 1954) but only recently has the phe-
nomenon been measured in insects (Durrant, 1955 ; Sang, 1956).
The manner in which many insect species are cultured in the
laboratory leads to the production of distinct broods rather than
a population containing all stages of the life cycle. Commonly,
then, there occur periods when the stage desired is not avail-
able. As soon as the desired stage becomes available it is used.
Proceeding in this manner we encountered unexpected trouble.
The number of hours required for incubation at various tem-
peratures had previously been satisfactorily taken from the data
1 Paper No. 3697, Scientific Journal Series, Minnesota Agricultural
Experiment Station, St. Paul 1, Minnesota.
Acknowledgment is due to the National Science Foundation for a grant
supporting this research project.
(57)
58 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [March, 1957
of Lin et al. (1954). The data given by Lin et al. were ob-
tained from eggs collected during the peak of egg laying periods,
i.e., when the females were two-three weeks post emergnce.
We have now found that the data of Lin et al. are valid for eggs
laid during that period but are not valid for eggs laid early or
late in the fecund stage. Partly to learn how precisely we
needed to control the mother's age in the sense of restricting egg
collection to what portion of the fecund period, and partly be-
cause we needed weight and time data from a fairly large num-
ber of egg lots for another purpose (Richards, 1957), a syste-
matic study was made of certain variables. This was repeated
once ; the general conclusions were the same in the two tests
and both times fitted with discrepancies previously encountered
in time of hatching. Only the more extensive set of data will
be presented.
For the tests, five dozen teneral adults of Oncopeltus were
segregated from the stock cultures. The number of each sex
was not determined but presumably there were about half males
and half females. This group was held under the same environ-
mental conditions as they had grown under, i.e., 25 C. and
60-75% R.H. Eggs will be dropped promiscuously in the
culture if nothing is present that the female prefers. If small
rolls of gauze or other open-mesh cloth are added, egg laying
is stimulated and the eggs are laid in batches inside the roll
of cloth by insertion of the ovipositor therein. The cloth rolls
also provide a convenient method for obtaining eggs of known
age since one has only to remove the roll of gauze after the
desired interval and open it to extract the eggs. The eggs were
counted and sorted into weighing bottles using a small soft
brush. When the group was laying most actively, 400-600
eggs were used in each lot, but commonly fewer were available,
and at the beginning and end of the egg laying period only a
few dozen were available for each lot. The eggs were then
incubated at 75% R.H. and usually 17 or 25 C. Subse-
quently, determinations were made of per cent hatching, average
weights of the newly hatched larvae, and viability of the young
bugs under standard favorable conditions.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 59
Adult Onco pel 'tits at 25 C. begin mating 4-6 days after reach-
ing the adult stage, and start laying eggs on the 5th to 8th day.
At first only a few eggs are laid perhaps only certain females
begin this early. Thus, for data presented in fig. 1, no eggs
were obtained on the 5th day, only 78 on the 6th day, 289 on
the 7th day, but more than 1,500 on the 10th day. Egg produc-
tion then reached a peak at about 20 days and remained almost
at the same high level until about 40 days; then it fell off and
became somewhat erratic. Very late in the test (> 50 days),
when only the most long-lived were still alive, egg production
again dropped to a few dozen but the single venerable female
which lived for 72 days laid 10 eggs shortly before dying.
As far as longevity of the adult is concerned, we have reason
to believe that this group lived unusually long. In general, our
segregated groups seem to have died sooner but we usually dis-
card groups as soon as significant numbers are seen to have
died. In one repeat test on longevity, all the females were dead
after 41-44 days but some males lived to > 50 days. Also,
less complete data suggest that the peak egg production period
is not constant from one generation to another. In the gen-
eration plotted in fig. 1, peak production occurred 18-20 days
after ecdysis but in other generations it has been sooner (as
low as 10-12 days). But, however long the groups live and
whenever the peaks occur, egg production and egg weight are
low the first few days of egg laying and fall off to low again
near the end of life.
As shown in fig. 1, the first several batches of eggs are rela-
tively light. In this test, the first group had an average weight
of only 225 micrograms. Average weights then increased to a
maximum of 280 micrograms in the period when maximum
numbers of eggs were being produced. This is an increase of
about 25^o. Subsequent average egg weights then dropped
but not constantly or with regularity in the period of 25-55
days of age. Terminal egg lots had very much lower weights
(about 25% lower than the first lot and 409c lower than the
maximum value). Averaging all the values together one ob-
tains an over-all average of 255.0 3.6 micrograms. A pre-
60 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [March, 1957
vious test that involved six lots collected at 8-22 days of female
adult life gave somewhat lower values ranging 226-240 and
averaging 234 micrograms. It will bear repeating that the
range of 160-280 micrograms is a range of averages; the range
of individual egg weights must be greater than this and may be
very much greater. Even average values from the two halves
of a single large batch of eggs may vary by several per cent
(note 33 day group).
Freshly hatched larvae of course weigh less than the eggs
from which they develop. But, surprisingly, at below about
20 C. there is a greater effect of temperature in slowing devel-
opment than in slowing energy expenditure (Richards, 1957).
One of the results of this is that whereas larvae from eggs incu-
bated at 25 C. average 224.8 3.2 micrograms, those from
eggs incubated at 17 average 203.2 2.7 /*g., and those from
eggs incubated at 15 C. average only 190.0 /*. Comparing
values from matched eggs lots, the wet weight losses following
incubation are 33 micrograms at 25, 53 /xg. at 17, and 83 /xg.
at 15. Compared to the 20-30 C. range, then, there is 1.6 X
as much loss at 17, and 2.5 X as much loss at 15. As already
pointed out elsewhere (Richards, 1957), the weight of eggs is
not only correlated with their hatchability but seems to be one
of the factors involved in successful hatching. In other words,
lighter eggs have less stored food reserves. And since an egg
contains only a finite amount of food and cannot get more, it
follows that lighter eggs are less likely to give larvae that hatch
successfully. It also follows that the variable hatching per-
centages obtained at and near threshold temperatures may be
no more than an expression of the variation in egg weights in
different batches of eggs. In fact, we have data showing that
only the heaviest eggs can hatch at the threshold temperature
of 15 C.
Incidentally, one can calculate the approximate amount of
energy required for embryonic development from the weight
losses. Extractions show that almost all of the dry weight loss
at an incubation temperature of 25 C. is fat ; the water content
remains constant at 68-707^- From this and well-known aver-
Ixviii]
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
61
age caloric values, one can calculate that only about a tenth of
a gram calorie is required to complete the development through
hatching for an Oncopeltus egg at 25 C. This is only enough
energy to raise the temperature of one drop of water 2 C. or
about 4 F. !
Living
280
Age of Female in Days
FIG. 1. Average weights of Oncopeltus fasciatus as a function of time
after molting to the adult instar. Top curves give weights of freshly laid
eggs ; egg lots shown as solid circles incubated at 25 C. to give larvae
plotted as open circles ; egg lots shown as crosses incubated at 17 to give
larvae plotted as crosses. A single value for larvae from eggs incubated
at 15 shown at day 28. Most of the points represent averages from lots
of 200-500 eggs but fewer eggs were available for the first two and the
last five points.
The egg weight value at 53 days must have been erroneously recorded
to judge from the weight of the larvae obtained; a calculated probable
value is plotted and joined in by the broken line. The last points of each
larval curve are queried because of low hatching percentage in these lots.
Hatchability of the eggs shows differences somewhat parallel-
ing the weight differences (fig. 2). At 25 C., hatching rises
from an initial value of 80% to the 92-96% range, and falls
precipitously for eggs from old females. The differences are
even greater at 17 where hatchability rises from 38% to nearly
90% (or even higher if rupture of the egg shell is taken as the
criterion of hatching). Similar results were obtained in an
earlier set of determinations.
62 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS | March, 1957
Similarly, the rate of development is slower for eggs from the
first and last parts of the fecund period (fig. 4). This quanti-
tative difference implies a qualitative difference in the eggs that
can hardly be just a matter of weight and amount of stored
reserves. What the difference is remains to be determined but
clearly early and late eggs develop more slowly. [In Drosoph-
ila inclanogaster, Sang (1956) reports that the opposite is true,
i.e., the early and late eggs are about 10% faster than those of
the peak middle period.]
There is, however, no clear cut difference in the viability of
larvae that hatch until very late in the egg laying period (fig. 3).
Larvae from eggs incubated at 25 C. are much more likely to
grow to maturity when placed at optimum conditions than are
ones that were incubated at 17. Possible reasons for this are
being discussed elsewhere (Richards, 1957).
The dips in the center of the curves in fig. 3 require some
explanation. Near the end of the experiment M. Q. K. went
away on vacation leaving these growing larvae to the tender
ministrations of A. G. R. Her departure came when the larvae
from 25 incubations of eggs from 38-day females and larvae
from 17 incubations of eggs from 24-day females were grow-
ing. The precipitous drop in the 25 curve was due to known
drowning of the 40-, 42- and 45-day lots, but the drop in the 17
curve was correlated with infrequent cleaning and renewal of
seeds rather than accidental mortality. Then, M. Q. K. re-
turned to tend the final few groups, and survival of 17 lots
returned to what it had been.
This otherwise unfortunate episode does suggest an explana-
tion of a previous discrepancy. Hodson and Al Rawy (1956)
have reported that Oncopeltus larvae from eggs incubated at
25 grow satisfactorily whereas ones from eggs incubated at
17 all die. M. O. K. had not been able to reproduce Al Rawy's
results but A. G. R. did ! Omitting the facetious language, eggs
incubated at 17 give weak larvae only a minority of which
survive under the best care, all of which die under care which
will suffice for larvae from eggs incubated at 25. [While the
point was not proven, it seems that the lethal effect is due to
Ixviii j
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
63
the development of mold on the milkweed seeds. Even at 75%
R.H. which is rather low for mold growth, seeds must be
changed and containers cleaned every 2-3 days for survival of
larvae from eggs incubated at 17 C]
Fig. 2
10
30 30 40 50
Age of Female in Days
60
FIG. 2. Hatching percentages for Oncopcltus eggs incubated at 25 C.
(solid circles) and 17 (open circles). Open circles connected by a solid
line represent complete hatching ; open circles connected by a broken line
include those larvae that developed and broke the egg shell but did not
emerge completely therefrom.
FIG. 3. Survival percentages for larvae reared at 25 C. and 75% R.H.
from eggs incubated at 25 (solid circles) and 17 (open circles). The
fall of the 25 curve to zero for the 40-45 day period was due to acci-
dental deaths. See text for discussion.
FIG. 4. Days required for incubation and hatching at 17 C.
In conclusion, eggs are laid by Oncopcltus females from about
one week after adult emergence until death. But very early and
very late in the fecund period fewer eggs are laid, and these
weigh less, take longer to develop, and give lower hatching
percentages. These differences are mostly in the 10-20^ range
64 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [March, 1957
but in extreme cases may be much greater. It follows that
minimum variation within a single collection will be obtained
by using eggs from females of a known standard age (and in
practice greatest constancy is obtained with Oncopcltus at the
peak egg production period ) . Conversely, maximum variability
will be obtained from cultures or populations containing indi-
viduals of extreme ages plus ones in the peak production period.
However, as Durrant (1955) points out, quantitative values
vary from one generation to the next, and less variability may
be encountered in summing data from different generations if
a selected sampling procedure is used instead of restricting data
to the progeny of mothers of a particular age.
All the data presented in the present paper deal with constant
temperatures in incubator cabinets. This is satisfactory for
showing physiological differences but we have reason to know
that Oncopcltus has considerably narrower tolerance range un-
der constant temperature conditions than under varying tem-
peratures whose weighted average equals the constant tempera-
ture. But this is another story on which we are still working.
LITERATURE CITED
DURRANT, A. 1955. Effect of time of embryo formation on quantitative
characters in Drosophila. Nature, 175 : 560-561.
HODSON, A. C. and M. A. AL RAWY. 1956. Temperature in relation to
developmental thresholds of insects. Proc. Xth Int. Congress
Entomol. (in press).
LIN, S., A. C. HODSON and A. G. RICHARDS. 1954. An analysis of
threshold temperatures for the development of Oncopeltus and
Tribolium eggs. Physiol. Zool., 27: 287-311.
RICHARDS, A. G. 1957. Cumulative effects of optimum and suboptimum
temperatures on insect development. Symp. Soc. Gen. Physiol. (in
press).
SANG, J. H. 1956. The quantitative nutritional requirements of Dro-
sophila tnclanogastcr. J. Exp. Biol., 33 : 45-72.
STRONG, L. C., editor. 1954. Parental age and characteristics of the
offspring. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 57: 451-614.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 65
Bamboosiella nov. gen. (Phlaeothripidae, Tubuli-
fera) from India
By T. N. ANANTHAKRISHNAN, Lecturer in Zoology,
Loyola College, Madras (S. India)
Genus BAMBOOSIELLA nov.
Antenna 8-segmented, slender as in Liothrips; joint 3 emar-
ginated within, 8 slightly narrowed at base, but not constricted,
joint 1 narrowed towards apex; sense-cones rather long and
fine, though on 3 and 4 not setiform. Head elongate, slightly
narrowed towards base, widest across eyes, cheeks with a few
weak spines especially in posterior third, as in Hoplandrothrips.
Mouth-cone short, rounded, maxillary stylets confined to mouth-
cone, very short, fine. Eyes large, oval ; anterior ocellus on a
slight elevation but not surpassing interantennal projection.
Postocular setae long, knobbed, longer in the male. Prothorax
much broader than head, heavy in the male, with black internal
middle ridge. Bristles long, all knobbed, inner anteromarginals
vestigial ; epimerals single. Pterothorax tapering from the mid-
dle towards apex.
Legs slender, but forefemora of female distinctly, of male
strongly enlarged, foretibiae unarmed, foretarsi of both sexes
with tooth, stouter in the male. Wings narrowed towards mid-
dle, but from middle to apex little widened, with up to 7 double-
fringe cilia. Tube short, conical, anal setae long, longer than
tube, dark.
Bristle 2 of segment IX of male stouter, much shorter than
bristle 1, though only spine-like. Bristles on IX (female) long,
pointed nearly as long as tube.
Genotype Bamboosiella bicoloripes sp. nov.
Dr. Priesner, who has kindly examined the specimens, informs
me that this genus has very close resemblance to Adraneothrips
Hood and Hoplandrothrips Hood. Adraneothrips differs from
this genus in the smaller eyes, shorter prothorax, forefemora not
or scarcely enlarged and cheeks unarmed. Hoplandrothrips has
66 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [March, 1957
long, closely approximated maxillary stylets (very short in
Bamboosiella) and forefemora of male with one or two apical
teeth. Similarly the genera Apelaunothrips Karny, Phyllado-
thrips Priesner and Mesothrips Zimmerman, also show affinities,
though much less than Adrancothrips and Hoplandrotlirips.
Apelaunothrips has similar coloration, but differs in the band-
shaped maxillary stylets, short cephalic production, thin fore-
legs, unarmed tarsi and reticulate ocellar region. Phyllado-
thrips on the other hand has short head, no double fringe, fore-
tarsi of female and cheeks unarmed; Mesothrips also has head
constricted at base, but antennae are thicker, joint 3 shorter
and strongly conical, more strongly sclerotised in general.
I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Priesner of
Egypt for kindly examining the specimens and for his invaluable
advice and suggestions.
Bamboosiella bicoloripes gen. et sp. nov.
Macropterous female: Total body length * 1.862 mm. Abdo-
men bicolorous, segments I-VI almost yellow, VII-X blackish
brown like head and thorax. Antennals 1, 2, 7 and 8 dark, the
remainder pale yellow. All legs wholly yellow, coxae dark-
ened; patches of red pigment scattered all over the brownish
areas, except those of antennal region. Eyes dark, ocelli with
dark red pigment. Wings hyaline, wing fringes brown.
Head elongate, 238 ^ long from front margin of eyes, 196 ^
wide across eyes, slightly narrowed at base (182 ft) ; cheeks with
a few weak spines, the posterior-most one, the longest. Mouth-
cone short, rounded, 84 ^ long, 70 ^ wide at apex, reaching the
middle of the prosternum. Eyes large, oval, 98 ^ long, 56 ^
wide, occupying 0.4 time the head length ; interocular space
70 p wide. Ocelli well developed, anterior ocellus placed far
forward, but not surpassing interantennal projection ; posterior
ocelli placed just above the middle region of eyes. Postocular
setae 64 ^ long, knobbed, placed 29 /A from cheeks and 26 //, from
lower margin of eyes. Antenna 8-jointed, slender, nearly twice
as long as head ; joint I narrowed at apex ; joint III emarginated
* Posterior abdominal segments little telescoped.
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
67
within ; joint VIII narrowed slightly at base, but not constricted.
Antennal joint III and IV each, with an outer and inner sense
cone, rather long and fine, not setijorm; joints V and VI each,
with only an outer sense cone, slightly shorter than those on
III and IV. Measurements of joints: Length(width) in p.:
38(38 at base, 35 at middle, 32 at apex) ; 51(26 at middle) ;
77(26); 83(26); 70(26); 58(26); 45(22); 32(13).
Q
Bainboosiclla bicoloripes gen. et sp. nov.
A. Head and prothorax of male.
B. Head and prothorax of female.
a. Antennal joints 3 and 4.
b. Antennal joints 5-8.
Prothorax 168 /* long at middle, shorter than head, being 0.7
time as long; much broader than head, 168 /A wide at anterior
margin and 350 //, at base including coxae. Prothoracic bristles
long, anteroangulars moderately so, knobbed ; inner anteromar-
ginals vestigial ; anteroangulars 32 /A long ; micllaterals 35 p. ;
epimerals 58 /A; coxals 43 p.. Pterothorax tapering from mid-
dle towards apex, 350 p. long and 378 /A wide at middle.
Legs slender but forefemora distinctly enlarged, 98 tt wide at
middle ; forefemora and tibiae unarmed, foretarsus with a dis-
tinct tooth.
Forewings 812 p, long, narrowed at middle, but, from middle
68 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [March, 1957
to apex, little widened, with 7 fringe cilia; basal wing bristles
strong and well developed, measuring 38, 48 and 64 p long, re-
spectively, knobbed.
Abdomen narrower than pterothorax, widest across IV and
V segments ; wing retaining bristles well developed, 2 pairs in
each of the segments II-VI. Bristle 2 of segment IX, 147 /A
long, pointed, nearly as long as tube ; tube short, about 0.65
time head length, 63 //, wide at base, and 35 //, wide at apex.
Anal setae 182 p. long, longer than tube, dark.
Measurements in //. (unless otherwise specified}: Total body
length, 1.862 mm.; head, length 238; width across eyes 182;
prothorax, length at middle, 168; width at anterior margin,
224; width at posterior margin, inclusive of coxae, 350; ptero-
thorax, length 154; anal setae, length 182.
Habitat : Holotype on bamboo sheaths, 12-4-1954, Coim-
batore, T.N.A. Colls. No. 256.
Male (Macropterous) : General coloration and characters as
in the female, but for the following : Postoculars longer, 67 ^t ;
prothorax on one side in the allotype, with an abnormal addi-
tional epimeral bristle, while the normal condition for the genus
is only one. Prothorax heavier than in female, with black in-
ternal middle ridge. Prothoracic bristles well developed ; an-
teroangulars 32 p. ; epimerals 57 ; coxals 42 ju, long.
Forefemora strongly enlarged, 112 p, wide at middle, fore-
femora and tibiae unarmed, foretarsus with a stout tooth.
Abdomen widest at base, gradually tapering towards apex.
Segments VII-IX 203, 168 and 98 ^ wide, respectively. Bris-
tle 2 of IX segment stouter and shorter than B.I ; B.I and B.2,
141 and 160 ^ long, respectively. Tube shorter than head, half
as wide at apex, as at base.
Measurements in ^: Total body length 1.918 mm. Head,
length 217; width across eyes 154; eye, length 91; prothorax
length at middle 182; width at anterior margin, 182; width at
posterior margin inclusive of coxae, 308 ; pterothorax, length
308, width at middle, 322; tube length 140; width at base 49,
at tip 28 ; anal setae, length 196.
Habitat: 2 males on bamboo sheath. 12^41954. Coim-
batore, T.N.A. Colls. No. 256.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 69
Insects Reared and Collected from the Pond Snail,
Lymnaea palustris Miill., at London, Ontario
By W. W. JUDD, Department of Zoology, University of
Western Ontario, London, Ontario
In London, Ontario there is a small cat-tail marsh located at
the south-east corner of Adelaide and Cheapside Streets, well
within the built-up area of the city. On May 20, 1955 the
marsh was dried up to the extent that there was no standing
water in it and only damp mud formed its floor. On that day
a large population of the pond snail, Lymnaea palustris Miill.,
was found on the mud. Most of the snails were crowded into
the damper, shaded hollows while some were generally scattered
over the mud. None of the snails were moving and each snail
was withdrawn into the upper portions of the spiral of its shell
so that no parts of the body could be seen. By cracking open
the shells it was found that some of the snails were alive, while
others were dead with the body flaccid and in various stages of
decay. The living snails were found to be harbouring no para-
sites or predators, but several of the dead snails contained wrig-
gling maggots. During the next two weeks collections of the
snails were made in the marsh and insects were collected or
reared from them, as related in the following account. All
specimens are deposited in the collections of the Department of
Zoology, University of Western Ontario except a few retained
in the United States National Museum (U.S.N.M.), as noted.
COLLECTIONS
1. May 20 One dipterous larva, collected from a snail,
pupated and from the puparium there emerged on June 7 four
wasps, Aphaereta auripes (Prov.) (Braconidae).
2. May 25 One beetle, Glischrochilus quadrisignatus (Say)
(Nitidulidae) was found in a shell.
3. May 27 Two Glischrochilus quadrisignatus were found
among shells in a hollow in the mud. Two rove-beetles, Ale-
70 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [March, 1957
ochara sp. and Philonthus sp., were found moving actively
about in two shells. One wasp, Aphaereta auripes, was col-
lected as it emerged from the mouth of a shell.
4. June 1 Six rove-beetles of the subfamily Omaliinae
(Omalium? sp.) were collected from shells.
5. June 2 Eighty-five intact shells were collected and placed
in two jars and adult insects emerging from them were col-
lected and the dates of their emergence were recorded, as fol-
lows : June 11 1 Athyroglossa? sp. (Ephydridae) ; June 12
1 Athyroglossa? sp., 2 Sarcophaga sinuata Mg. (Sarcophagi-
dae) ; June 13 1 Sarcophaga melampyga Aid., 1 Sarcophaga
sp. ; June 17 1 Pherbellia justifies (Macq.) (Sciomyzidae), 1
Pherbellia nana (Fall.), 1 Phygadeuonl sp. (Ichneumonidae),
10 Aphaereta auripes (Prov.) ; June 18 1 Pherbellia justifies
(Macq.) ; July 3 1 Muscina stabulans (Fall.) (Anthomyiidae),
1 Chlacnius sericeus Forst. (Carabidae) ; Aug. 5 1 Muscina
stabulans (Fall.).
DISCUSSION OF COLLECTIONS
Coleoptera
The ground beetle, Chlacnius sericeus Forst., was in its
teneral condition when it appeared, so it must have emerged
from a pupa formed in the snail shell. This species is recorded
by Blatchley (1910) as being "common about the margins of
ponds, lakes and streams." Carabid beetles are known to be
predaceous upon snails (Boettger, 1934, 1935, Ingram, 1946
and SchaefTer, 1931). The most prevalent beetles in the col-
lections were the staphylinid beetles of the genera Ale ochara,
Omalium?, and Philonthus. When the shells were picked up
these beetles emerged rapidly from the mouth of the shell and
attempted to escape to cover. The three Glischrochilus quad-
risignatus were found in or by the shells. Parsons (1943)
records that this species breeds in fleshy fungi and that other
nitidulid beetles breed in carrion and are predaceous on insects.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 71
Hymenoptera
Muesebeck et al. (1951) list several species of calyptrate flies
as hosts of Aphaereta auripes. The wasps that appeared on
June 7 emerged from a puparium and those that emerged on
June 17 were doubtless parasites of puparia in the shells col-
lected on June 2. The 15 specimens are deposited in the
U.S.N.M. Muesebeck ct al. (1951) record that wasps of the
genus Phygadeuon are parasites of muscoid flies. It is likely
that the ichneumonid wasp that emerged on June 17 was a
parasite on one of the flies predaceous on the snails.
Diptera
Two ephydrid flies, Athyroglossat sp., were the first flies to
emerge from the snails collected on June 2. The two specimens
are deposited in the U.S.N.M. One specimen of the non-biting
stable-fly, Muscina stabulans, emerged on July 3 and the second
was found in the jar on August 5 when the collection of shells
was discarded. At least two species of Sarcophaga (melampyga
and sinuata) were reared from the snails. Berg (1953) re-
ports that flies of the families Ephydridae, Anthomyiidae and
Sarcophagidae have been reared from snails. Of the three
specimens of Pherbellia that emerged from snails, one of P.
juscipes is deposited in the U.S.N.M. Berg (1953) records
that flies in several genera of Sciomyzidae are predators of snails
but does not include P. nana or P. fuscipes.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Dr. H. van cler Schalie, Curator of Mollusks, Museum of
Zoology, University of Michigan, kindly identified the snails
as Lymnaea palustris Mull. Identifications of insects in sev-
eral families were made by the following taxonomists of the
United States National Museum: L. L. Buchanan (Carabi-
dae), L. M. Walkley (Nitidulidae), C. F. W. Muesebeck (Bra-
conidae), R. E. Warner (Ichneumonidae), W. \Y. \Yirth
(Ephydridae), C. W. Sabrosky (Anthomyiidae, Sarcophagi-
72 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [March, 1957
dae, Sciomyzidae). Dr. C. H. Seevers, Roosevelt University,
Chicago, identified the Staphylinidae.
REFERENCES
BERG, C. O. 1953. Jour. Parasitol. 39, 630-636.
BLATCHLEY, W. S. 1910. Coleoptera or beetles known to occur in In-
diana. Nature Publ. Co., Indianapolis.
BOETTGER, C. R. 1934. Natur und Volk (Frankfurt-am-Main) 64: 380-
381.
-. 1935. S.B. Ges. naturf. Fr. (Berlin) (1935) : 93-102.
INGRAM, W. M. 1946. Bull. So. Calif. Acad. Sci. 45 : 34-36.
MUESEBECK, C. F. W., K. V. KROMBEIN, H. K. TOWNES et al. 1951.
U. S. Dept. Agric., Monogr. No. 2.
PARSONS, C. T. 1943. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard Coll. 92: 121-
278.
SCHAEFFER, P. E. 1931. Ohio Jour. Sci. 21 : 406-415.
A New Species in the Genus Arachnoproctonus
(Hymenoptera: Psammocharidae) with
Photomicrographs of the Genitalia
and Subgenital Plate
By R. R. DREISBACH, Midland, Michigan
Until the writer's description of Arachnoproctonus occiden-
talis (ref.), the species A. relativus (Fox) was the only species
known in this genus which had hair bands on the abdominal
ventral segments in the male, very similar to those in the genus
Anopolius. In working on a lot from the American Museum,
another specimen with hair bands on the fourth and fifth ven-
trites turned up which had a distinctly different subgenital plate
than either of the other two, and also with other differences.
This is described below as a new species.
Arachnoproctonus variegatus n. sp.
Holotype male : Completely black, except for the apex of the
mandibles which are reddish, rather long black hair on the
vertex, shorter and thinner on clypeus, pronotum, sides of thorax
and propodeum ; heavy hair brushes on the ventral parts of the
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 73
fourth and fifth abdominal sternites, these bands over whole
length of segments, and hair of same length on each ; when seen
from the side, nearest of posterior ocelli just barely visible and
the front below anterior ocellus barely raised above the eyes,
clypeus almost flat but slightly bowed in the middle, practically
no posterior orbits ; when seen from the front, the vertex slop-
ing slightly above the eyes with a slight mound, which contains
the ocelli, the head width almost equal to the length (0.88) ;
interocular distance equal to 0.63 X transfacial distance at great-
est eye width ; vertex width equal to the interocular at the
clypeus; clypeus twice as wide as its length; posterior ocelli
slightly greater distance apart than their distance to the eyes
(16:12) ; ratios of the first four and last two joints of the an-
tennae are as 25:8:20:25:19:19. Thus it is seen that the first
and fourth joints are slightly longer than the third ; the third,
fourth, fifth and sixth joints with ventral surface flattened
slightly; the pronotum rises in a smooth curve from the neck
to the dorsal surface, posterior edge slightly triangular and
curved ; propodeum with short upright hair on dorsal border
and covered with whitish, very short, almost appressed hairs on
posterior edge, this is the only silvery hair on the body ; the
third intercubital vein slopes backward, is slightly wavy but
almost straight ; the first intercubital vein is strongly arched
inward, that is convex ; second cell is longer on the cubitus than
on the marginal vein; second and third cubital veins are only
about 3 X their width apart on the marginal vein ; the length
of the two cells on the cubitus almost equal ; basal vein inter-
stitial with the transverse in the forewings, and in the rear
wings the cubitus and the discoidal are also interstitial ; the
wings are very dark colored, more so at the apex ; the abdomen
increases in width slightly from the base to the middle of the
second tergite and then decreases to apex of abdomen ; the first
tergite on the apical half covered with fairly long hair ; legs are
fairly well spined as is usual with the genus ; ratios of the joints
of the posterior legs starting with the femur are as 90 : 1 1 5 : 90 :
45:27:22:28. The longer spur of the posterior legs is equal to
0.7 the length of its metatarsal joint.
74
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
[March, 1957
Genitalia similar to rclativus but with the hair tufts on vol-
sellae with the hair shorter and with knobs at tip of hairs not
quite as large, and with fewer long hairs at base of volsellae;
subgenital plate with basal two-thirds of plate almost parallel-
sided (slightly tapering toward apex) with sides at middle of
this part sinuous ; apical third of plate suddenly narrowed and
slightly tapering to broad fairly long haired apex; length of
head and thorax 6.0 mm ; abdomen same length ; forewing 8.6
mm long; rear wing 7.3 mm long; genitalia length 1.32 mm,
width 0.86 mm, subgenital plate 1.66 mm long, 0.73 mm wide.
Holotype male: N. Mexico only data (Am. Mus.).
Ar achno pro clonus varicgalus n. sp.
Genitalia and subgenital plate X 45
Key for Separating the Three Species with Ventral Hair Bands
1. Hair bands on fourth and fifth ventral segments; genitalia
with a very large hair tuft of long hair, bent at right angles
near tip and clubbed at tip, near apical part of volsellae
but with apex bare of hair ; wing heavily infuscated, poste-
rior femora compressed 2
Lxviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 75
1. No hair bands on ventral segments, nor with the long heavy
tufts of hair on volsellae Remaining species of Genus
2. Hair band on fourth ventral not prominent, of much shorter
hair and less well haired than the fifth, which is long haired
and prominent ; third antennal joint shorter than both the
first and fourth, only % as long as fourth, twice as long as
wide ; interocular distance 0.58 as long as transfacial at the
widest point ; subgenital plate slightly ovate-shaped but
with apex broad across tip, widest about mid-length taper-
ing to each end ; parapenial lobes narrow and shorter than
aedeagus. Over the whole of U. S rclativns (Fox)
2. Hair band on fourth ventral with as long hair as the one on
fifth; third antennal joint as long as or longer than either
first or fourth, 1.04 and 1.26 as long respectively; inter-
ocular distance 0.50 and 0.63 times as long as transfacial ;
subgenital plates either parallel sided or much reduced in
width on apical third 3
3. Hair band over whole length of fourth and fifth ventrals, not
so dense as next ; subgenital plate parallel sided ; parapenial
lobes very wide at least twice as wide as the preceding and
the following and longer than the aedeagus ; volsellae with
hair on hair tuft not as long nor with tips as bent as in
relativus, tips blunt and with longer bare surface, while
tips of the other two are more acute ; third antennal joint
1 1 / times as long as fourth and 1 .65 times as long as wide ;
interocular distance 0.50 times as long as transfacial ; head
0.94 times as long as wide. California
occidcntalis Dreisbach
3. Hair band on fourth and fifth ventrals only over % or less
length of the segments (posterior %) ; subgenital plate
with basal % almost parallel but sinuous and with the
apical V:i suddenly reduced to a broad tip ; parapenial lobes
about like relativus; volsellae with tuft of hair shorter and
tips not bent so much ; third antennal joint about as long
as first almost 3 times as long as second and slightly longer
than fourth, 2.3 times as long as wide ; interocular distance
0.63 times transfacial ; length head 0.88 times as long as
wide. New Mexico varicyatus n. sp.
REFERENCE
DREISBACH, R. R. 1954. Am. Mid. Nat., vol. 52, no. 2, pp. 437-442.
76 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [March, 1957
Notes on a Stictia New to the United States
(Hymenoptera : Sphecidae: Bembicini)
By HOWARD E. EVANS, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.
The genus Stictia includes some of our largest and most
showy digger wasps. Only one species, the common "horse
guard," S. Carolina (Fabr.), is truly a member of the Nearctic
fauna. One other species, the Neotropical 5". signata (L.) has
been taken in southern Florida and in southern California. It
is now possible to add a third species, 6". vivida (Handl.), to
the list of species known to occur in the United States. Hand-
lirsch (1890, Akad. Wiss. Wien, Math.-Nat. Kl. Sitzber., 99:
25-26) described this species from one female from "Mexico"
and another female without locality data. Parker (1929, U. S.
Nat. Mus. Proc., v. 75, art. 5, p. 35) recorded seven females
from Alta Mira, Tamaulipas, Mexico. These are the only pub-
lished records on this species, and the male has remained
unknown.
From June 22 to June 28, 1956, Eric G. Matthews and myself
collected insects in Cameron Co., Texas. Most of our time was
spent along the shores of Laguna Madre about five miles west
of Port Isabel. In this locality a great many Hymenoptera
were taken on the flowers of black mangrove, Avicennia nitida
Jacq., including four male Stictia vivida. We also discovered
two female vivida nesting on the beach at Boca Chica, several
miles south and east of Port Isabel. The nests were situated
in rolling but fairly hard-packed sand well back from, but facing,
the Gulf shore. The nests were of simple structure, with a
burrow 60-68 cm long leading to a cell about 2 X 5 cm in size.
Both nests contained fairly large larvae plus a few horseflies,
Tabanus texanus Hine [det. L. L. Pechumanj. The females
carried the flies in the usual manner of Bembicini and always
closed the nest upon leaving.
Thus Stictia vivida appears to be well established in extreme
southern Texas. I also collected the species on June 19, 1951,
at Tecolutla, Vera Cruz, Mexico. In this locality nine females
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 77
were taken in sand dunes immediately behind the beach. These
new records, along with Parker's record from coastal Tamau-
lipas, indicate that the species ranges along the Gulf shore for
at least 400 miles. I have collected Stictia at several inland
localities in Mexico, but have never taken vivid a away from
the sea beach.
Since the male has not previously been described, a few notes
on its recognition may be in order. In both Handlirsch's and
Parker's papers, the males key directly to dives (Handl.), a
common inland Mexican species. They bear a close resemblance
to dives, but differ in the following characters : labrum narrowly
bordered with black, but with little or no black medially ; yellow
on the scutellum narrowly interrupted medially ; penultimate
sternite with moderately dense, short, suberect setae and with
the specialized median elevation located at the extrem base and
not conspicuous. The male vivida closely resembles the female
in color pattern, differing chiefly in having less yellow on the
mesopleura, in having the apical abdominal tergite marked with
yellow, and in having the legs much more extensively marked
with yellow.
More About Membracidae at Lights
By S. W. FROST, Pennsylvania State University
In 1955 l the writer reported large numbers of Membracidae
taken at lights and noted that previously most entomologists
considered they were not strongly attracted to light. During
1956, a trap operated in Centre County, Pennsylvania, attracted
even larger numbers of these insects. This trap was equipped
with a 60-watt tungsten filament lamp and was placed in a
dense oak woodlot. Several nights during July unprecedented
numbers of Membracidae were caught. Collections on the
!Ent. News, 66(3) : 63-64, 1955.
78
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
[March, 1957
nights of July 1 and 6 were selected for analysis. The insects
were caught in a quart jar, containing kerosene, at the bottom
of the trap. The Membracidae were separated from the other
insects, dried and weighed. Immediately a sample was taken
and the species of treehoppers determined as follows.
Membracidae taken at one light trap July 1, 1956,
Centre County, Pa.
Species
Males
5-gram
Females
sample
Estimation for
total catch
54.5 grams
Cyrtolobus vau Say
424
4621.6
Cyrtolobus pallidifrontis Emns
2
1
32.7
Atymna querci Fitch
34
370.6
Ophiderma flavicephala Coding
115
1253.5
Smilia camelus Fab.
1
10.9
Total
575
2
6289.3
Membracidae taken at one light trap July 6, 1956,
Centre County, Pa.
Species
Males
2 -gram
Females
sample
Estimation for
total catch
20 grams
Cyrtolobus vau Say
395
3
3980
Cyrtolobus fenestratus Fitch
25
250
Atymna querci Fitch
18
1
190
Ophiderma flavicephala Coding
4
40
Total
442
4
4460
It is more evident than previously published that Membraci-
dae, especially those of the Genera Atymna, Cyrtolobus and
Ophiderma, are attracted in large numbers when lights are close
to the infestations. It is also evident that the males respond
more freely than the females.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 79
Notes and News in Entomology
Under this heading we present, from time to time, notes, news, and
comments. Contributions from readers are earnestly solicited and will
be acknowledged when used.
Pacific Science Congress. The Ninth Pacific Science Con-
gress will be held at Bangkok, Thailand, 18 Nov. to 9 Dec.,
1957 (including post-sessional tours). Plans for the entomol-
ogy section include sessions on problems in Pacific entomology ;
zoogeography of Pacific insects ; fauna and ecology of Thailand
(with Zoology) ; use of insecticides, their merits and hazards,
and insects of medical importance (both with Public Health
section) ; biological control of insects and weeds; insect pests
of rice ; coconut pests ; ecology and control of the giant African
snail ; and quarantine. Also, participation in UNESCO sym-
posium on climate, vegetation and land utilization in the humid
tropics, and participation, with zoology and botany, in sympo-
sium on bibliographic problems in the Pacific. For the latter,
the undersigned would like to receive information regarding
bibliographies in preparation, or in existence, which include
Pacific insects or relate to Pacific entomology, or suggestions
for needs in this line.
It is hoped that as many entomologists as possible may try
to get to the Congress, and that papers on the above, or addi-
tional subjects, may be submitted. Correspondence may be
addressed to the undersigned, chairman of the Standing Com-
mittee on Pacific Entomology, at Bishop Museum, Honolulu 17.
-J. L. GRESSITT
Fire at the Budapest Museum. During the revolution in
Hungary in late 1956 part of the Hungarian National Museum
in Budapest was burned. According to Mrs. J. J. H. Szent-
Ivany who was working at the museum at the time, the Acarina,
Orthoptera, neuropteroid and Diptera (except acalyptrates) col-
lections were entirely destroyed (including a few thousand Dip-
tera types), and the very important Horvath collection of Het-
eroptera was partly destroyed, but the Coleoptera and Lepidop-
tera collections remained safe, with only slight damage. Mrs.
80 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [March, 1957
Szent-Ivany escaped to Vienna with her daughter near the end
of the year, and both are joining Dr. Szent-Ivany in New
Guinea. J. L. GRESSITT
New Book on Tropical American Butterflies. The Ameri-
can Museum of Natural History is about to publish "BUTTER-
FLIES OF THE AMERICAN TROPICS The Genus Anaea (Lepi-
doptera Nymphalidae) a study of the species heretofore
included in the genera Anaea, Caoenophlebia, Hypna, Poly-
grapha, Protogonius, Sidcronc, and Zaretis" by William
Phillips Comstock.
From advance specimen pages sent out it is evident that this
will be a large and beautiful volume. The page size, trimmed,
is 9% x 13 inches, and there will be xvi + 276 pages and 30
full-page color plates. Dr. A. B. Klotz has spoken very highly
of the scientific value of this work and also points out that . . .
"because of its superb beauty of illustration and excellence of
design, [it] is destined to have the strongest appeal to biblio-
philes the world over, as well as to everyone genuinely inter-
ested in natural history. I am afraid that we in the United
States have lagged behind in the production of such books.
This one, happily combining great intrinsic scientific worth
with illustrative artistry of the highest calibre, will do much
to redeem us."
Because of the great costs of the 30 color plates it is necessary
for the American Museum to obtain in advance an indication
of the demand for such a book, as well as for a series of such
books on butterflies and on other groups that is under consid-
eration. The pre-publication price is $20.00 per copy. After
publication the price will be $25.00. Orders should be sent to:
The American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West
at 79th Street, New York 24, N. Y. If British sterling is more
convenient, send orders direct to the printer, W. S. Cowell,
Ltd., Butter Market, Ipswich, Suffolk, England.
Summer Grants at Oklahoma. The National Science Foun-
dation has provided funds for a number of grants-in-aid for
students and investigators during the summer session at the
University's Biological Station, Lake Texoma. Both post- and
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 81
pre-doctoral grants are available, from $200, $350, to $500 each.
Applications should be sent before April 10 to Carl D. Riggs,
Director, University of Oklahoma Biological Station, Norman,
Okla.
Reviews
Ross, HERBERT H. 1956. Evolution and Classification of the
Mountain Caddisflies. University of Illinois Press, Urbana.
vi + 213 pp. Price: $6.00.
Though this volume treats, in detail, only the families Philo-
potamidae, Rhyacophilidae and Glossosomatidae, it is in reality
far broader in its scope than the title would indicate.
In the introduction Dr. Ross treats of such concepts as "liv-
ing fossils," "primitive, generalized and specialized" and "dis-
persal." These concepts, basic to any discussion of phylogeny,
are briefly and lucidly denned. This is followed by an excellent
discussion of the evolution and origin of the caddisflies as a
whole. The main part of the book consists of a detailed treat-
ment of each of the above mentioned families. For each family
the evolution and dispersal of the genera and species is given
followed by a systematic treatment of the family with keys to
genera and species.
The last major section is concerned with the dispersal in
geologic time of the above three families. This is a difficult
and, to a large extent, speculative subject involving as it does
the superimposition of the aforementioned evolutionary and dis-
persal data upon the geologic and ecologic history of the earth.
This task is very ably handled here and this section could serve
as a model for this type of study. The volume is well worth
reading by any student of systematics and evolution, regardless
of his particular field of study. SELWYN S. ROBACK.
SYSTEMATICS OF THE SUBORDER TUBULIFERA (THYSANOP-
TERA) IN CALIFORNIA. By H. Edwin Cott. University of
California Publications in Entomology, Vol. 13. (University
82 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [March, 1957
of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles.) 216 pp., 4 pis.
1956. Price: $3. 50.
This is the first analytical work of size on a thrips fauna to
appear in America since Hinds' monograph in 1902. Although
limited to California, which is relatively depauperate in repre-
sentatives of Tubulifera as compared to the eastern and tropical
regions of North America, Cott's work is of wide significance
because it summarizes the taxonomic criteria and methods com-
monly used in the study of the suborder. Furthermore, because
intergrading species between Haplothrips and Leptothrips and
between Liothrips and Rhynchothrips flourish in California,
Cott is able to bring meaningful attention to the problem of
delimiting these extensively distributed genera.
In all, Cott treats 29 genera and 60 species, of which 12 of
the species are new. His classification is a conservative one
following closely the system proposed in 1927 by Priesner.
Each genus is redefined and is discussed with particular refer-
ence to affinities and taxonomic status. The species are de-
scribed in detail and type localities, hosts, distribution, and
material studied are given. The keys appear to be workable.
Of general interest to entomologists is Cott's break with
tradition in referring to the immature stages of thrips as nymphs
and pseudopupae rather than as larvae and pupae. His argu-
ment for this nomenclature is that it is in keeping with the
nomenclature used for other insects having paurometabolous
development.
This careful study provides the specialist with much new
information on a heretofore little known fauna and, of equal
importance, it provides interested entomologists with the first
modern American guide to a portion of the Tubulifera. LEWIS
J. STANNARD, JR., Illinois Natural History Survey, Urbana.
A TEXTBOOK OF ENTOMOLOGY by Herbert H. Ross. Second
edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, Chapman & Hall,
Ltd., London. 1956. Pp. xi + 519. Price: $7.50.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 83
The first edition of this textbook was reviewed in ENTOMO-
LOGICAL NEWS for May, 1949 (Vol. 60: 139). This second
edition maintains all the virtues described in that review, and
we may affirm in 1957 that this is still the only American text-
book that will provide the student with an introduction to the
science of entomology as it exists to-day. Covering, as it does,
so wide a field in only 500-odd pages, it necessarily concerns
itself with fundamentals to the exclusion of minor detail. Each
chapter, whether it deals with the history of the subject, ex-
ternal or internal anatomy, physiology, life cycles, the orders
of insects, geological history, ecology, or control, is very skill-
fully written so as to present the basic facts concisely, and in
simple language. In spite of treating the subject from such
a broad standpoint, the study of the insect orders is by no means
slighted. Under each order there are keys to the principal fami-
lies with line drawings illustrating all the characters used in
these keys, and there are the customary habitus pictures of rep-
resentative forms, and descriptive text.
The entire book has been re-set in a different style of type
and with more pleasing headings. A great improvement in
general appearance has also resulted from re-drawing and mak-
ing new engravings of most of the numerous anatomical illus-
trations. The convenience of having each anatomical part
labelled directly with its name instead of with a symbol will
also be appreciated. R. G. SCHMIEDER.
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ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
APRIL 1957
Vol. LXVIII No. 4
CONTENTS
Alexander James Speed Rogers, 1891-1955 85
Woolley Redescription of Ewing's Oribatid mites, I 89
Nomenclature notice 96
Bradley A new species of Brazilian Campsomeris 97
Reinhard New American muscoid Diptera 99
A new film Ill
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ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
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ILLUSTRATIONS. Authors will be charged as follows: For text-
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JAMES SPEED ROGERS
1891-1955
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
VOL. LXVIII APRIL, 1957 No. 4
James Speed Rogers, 1891-1955
With the passing of Doctor James Speed Rogers, at the rela-
tively early age of 63, the world has lost the leading student of
the biology and ecology of the Tipulidae, largest family in the
order Diptera (over 11,000 species). Dr. Roger's longtime
associate, Dr. Theodore H. Hubbell, present Director of the
Museum of Zoology at the University of Michigan, has pre-
pared a detailed account of his life and work. 1 In the brief
space available I am able to note only a few points of general
and personal interest in the career of this outstanding worker
and dear personal friend.
Dr. Rogers, affectionately known to his close friends by his
middle name of "Speed," was born in Dayton, Indiana, Novem-
ber 4, 1891, son of the Reverend Mr. Henry Martyn Rogers
and Alma Goodloe (Smith) Rogers. He died suddenly and
unexpectedly of a heart ailment at Ann Arbor, Michigan, on
May 17, 1955. Following his high school days, he briefly
attended Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana, later going to the
University of Michigan from whence he received successively
the degrees of A.B. (1915), A.M. (1916), and Ph.D. (1930).
From 1919 to 1922 he was on the staff of Grinnell College,
Grinnell, Iowa, which he left to become Professor of Biology at
the University of Florida, from 1922 to 1946. In 1946 he was
called to his Alma Mater to become Professor of Zoology and
Director of the Museum of Zoology, a position that he held to
the moment of his decease. On April 18, 1918, he was married
to Miss Irene Russell, whom he had known in his college days,
1 HUBBELL, THEODORE H., James Speed Rogers, 1891-1955. Report of
the Director, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan 1954-1955,
pp. 8-19, portrait; 1956.
(85)
APR
86 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [April, 1957
and who survives him, together with his two children, Dr.
James Speed Rogers and Mrs. Irene Russell Howard. At the
time of his passing he was a member of several of the leading
entomological societies.
Although his studies on the biology of crane-flies occupied
virtually all of his research time, he prepared, with Drs. Hubbell
and Byers, one of the outstanding university texts, "Man and
the Biological World." 2 His published papers on the Tipulidae,
18 in number, have been listed in the Bibliography prepared by
Dr. Hubbell. To this record one further article that had been
omitted inadvertently, should be added. 3 While all of the
papers that he wrote on the biology and ecology of the Tipulidae
are important, three are so outstanding that they must always
rank as models in their treatment of the subjects. 4
At the time of his passing, Dr. Rogers had some further
papers in various stages of preparation, one of which (on
Lipsothrix sylvia} was completed by his student, Dr. George
W. Byers. Others are sufficiently advanced that they may be
reviewed and eventually published. However, as is so often the
case with outstanding workers who are overwhelmed with other
duties, the great mass of his observations remains unpublished,
and very many, perhaps the great majority, of his numerous
observations passed with him. There remain, however, care-
fully prepared field notes, voluminous records, and an unparal-
leled collection of the immature stages in the family, which will
provide the basis for future work on the subject.
2 ROGERS, J. S., with T. H. HUBBELL and C. F. BYERS. Man and the
Biological World. Ed. 1, pp. x-607, 180 figs.; 1942. Revised Ed. 2:
xiv-690, 375 figs.; 1952. McGraw Publishing Co. A Spanish trans-
lation by R. Muratorio was published in Buenos Aires in 1946.
3 ROGERS, J. S. Descriptions of the immature stages of some New
Zealand crane-flies: Part 1. Trans. New Zealand Inst. 58: 301-309,
14 figs.; 1927.
4 ROGERS, J. S. The summer crane-fly fauna of the Cumberland plateau
in Tennessee. Occas. Papers Mus. Zool., Univ. Michigan 215: 1-60,
5 pis. ; 1930. The ecological distribution of the crane-flies of northern
Florida. Ecol. Mon. 3, No. 1 : 1-74. 25 figs. ; 1933. The crane-flies
(Tipulidae) of the George Reserve, Michican. Misc. Publ., Univ. Michi-
gan 53: 1-128, 8 pis., 1 map; 1942.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 87
Additional to his great work on the immature stages of crane-
flies, Dr. Rogers later in his career became intensely interested
in problems of subspeciation, clinal distribution, and comparable
aspects, and in his attempts to solve some of the problems that
are found here, built up a vast collection of the adult flies in this
group. He once told me that he wished he could secure 10,000
specimens of every species. Dr. Hubbell estimates that the col-
lection may include 100,000 pinned specimens of the adult flies,
with between 400,000 and 1,000,000 still in papers, accompanied
by more than 7,000 microscope slides showing the critical struc-
tures needed in classification, particularly the wings and male
genitalia. The vast bulk of this unparalleled collection is from
the United States and Canada and many, if not the greatest
proportion thereof, were collected by him while on his various
field excursions. A fuller account of this outstanding work is
included in Dr. Hubbell's paper.
Very early in our careers, Speed and I were attracted to one
another through our mutual interest in the crane-flies, and it
was soon decided that he would devote his principal energies
to the biology and ecology, while I hoped to give more and more
of my time to a taxonomic study of the group. To further this
arrangement, I at once turned over to Speed my extensive col-
lections of the immature stages of crane-flies that had formed the
basis of my report "The crane-flies of New York, II, Biology
and Phylogeny." Even at that early period, Speed once wrote
that "he hoped that some day the two of us might perhaps live
sufficiently long to make this group the best known of all the
families of the Diptera."
Because of our wide geographical separation, we had very
few opportunities to meet or to enjoy joint field trips. Two
outstanding meetings may be mentioned. In June 1921 we
enjoyed a two- weeks' collecting trip across southern Indiana,
beginning at Hanover, the family home, continuing westward
across the southern counties to New Harmony on the Wabash
River. This trip was rich with happy experiences for both of
us. It was at New Harmony that we had the good fortune to
locate many hitherto unknown data concerning Thomas Say,
88 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [April, 1957
which were later used by Weiss and Ziegler in their classic
account of the subject. 5 In July 1928, prior to the meetings of
the Fourth International Congress of Entomology at Ithaca,
N. Y., the late Dr. Fred W. Edwards of London, England, with
Mrs. Edwards, visited us at Amherst for one week, and Speed
came from Gainesville, Florida, for the occasion. Most enjoy-
able and profitable field excursions during the days, and happy
evenings spent around a table pinning and papering the col-
lected materials, provided all of us with unforgettable memories.
During that time a vast range of subjects relating to the Tipu-
lidae came under review, adding to a better understanding and
appreciation for all of us.
Speed Rogers developed various students of crane-fly biology
and ecology, both at Florida and later at Michigan. The more
outstanding of such students include Drs. R. E. Bellamy, George
W. Byers, Dennis Hynes, and Benjamin Foote. It is expected
and believed that these students will carry the Roger's tradition,
as it concerns the Tipulidae, far into the future. To persons
such as myself, who have been privileged to a long association
with Speed Rogers, a simple expression of appreciation and
thanks seems quite inadequate. It is certain that the lives of
all of us were vastly enriched by this association and by the
priceless friendship of a great and kindly man.
The accompanying portrait of Dr. Rogers was taken by Dr.
George W. Byers, in the Museum of Zoology at Ann Arbor,
within a few days of his death.
CHARLES P. ALEXANDER
5 WEISS, HARRY B. and GRACE M. ZIEGLER. Thomas Say, early Ameri-
can Naturalist, pp. xiv-260, 27 illustrations; 1931. (Reference, p. 231.)
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 89
Redescriptions of Ewing's Oribatid Mites, I Fam-
ilies Zetorchestidae, Hermanniellidae (Acarina:
Oribatei) *
By TYLER A. WOOLLEY, Department of Zoology, Colorado
A. & M. College, Fort Collins, Colorado
Two summers ago the writer received a series of pencil draw-
ings of Ewing's type oribatids from Dr. E. W. Baker, Curator
of Acarina at the U. S. National Museum. Dr. Baker sug-
gested that the recipient finish the drawings and redescribe the
mites for publication. Following this suggestion the redescrip-
tions were begun.
Originally the author planned to incorporate these drawings
and redescriptions in reviews or revisions of the various families
involved. This was done in a few minor instances. Subse-
quently, however, the writer became convinced that such delay
would defer the publication of these drawings for too long a
time ; that early publication of the redescriptions and drawings
would be an asset to anyone whose research might require exact
knowledge of Ewing's species.
The writer, therefore, proposes to submit a series of articles
on Ewing's type oribatids for publication. The redescriptions
and discussions of these forms will be presented in a somewhat
cursory fashion, without attempts to do much more than iden-
tify and illustrate the mites. It may be possible later to incor-
porate these data into more effective arrangements, such as
reviews or revisions of families or genera.
The author has attempted to utilize the same general sequence
of description as employed by Ewing. Some statements of the
latter are incorporated in the redescriptions in more modern
terms by the use of current acarological terminology. Discrep-
ancies or minor variations in the descriptions are indicated by
parenthetical means.
It should be noted that while the current article is first in
the numerical designation of the series, several redescriptions
1 Research supported by a grant-in-aid from the National Science
Foundation.
90 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [April, 1957
preceded this writing (Woolley & Higgins, 1955; Woolley,
1955; Woolley, 1956).
The writer expresses his sincere appreciation to Dr. E. W.
Baker for the drawings of Ewing's type oribatids, recognition
of which is made by initials on the finished plates.
FAMILY ZETORCHESTIDAE MICHAEL, 1898
According to Baker and Wharton (1952) the principal char-
acteristic of the family Zetorchestidae is the pronounced devel-
opment of the fourth pair of legs, which enables these mites to
jump. Grandjean (1951) cites this feature and other details
in his descriptions of the family and its genera Zctorchestes,
Saxicolestes, Diorchestes, Belorchestes and Litholcstes.
The two species known by Ewing were Zctorchestes micro-
nychus Berlese, 1888 and Zetorchestes equestris Berlese, 1908.
Ewing (1909b) cites the collection of a specimen of the former
species by C. R. Crosby at Columbia, Missouri, but no date is
indicated. Dr. Baker's drawing is of the latter species, which
was collected by C. R. Crosby in trash at Columbia, Missouri.
Its description follows.
Zetorchestes equestris Berlese, 1908. (Figs. 1, 2)
Color black ; rostrum blunt ; rostral hairs stout, simple, curved
at tips, inserted in short peduncles. Lamellae roughened plates
at sides of propodosoma, divided by a suture mid-way between
insertion of lamellar hair and base of pseudostigmata. Lamellar
hairs long, simple, incurved, extended beyond anterior tip of
rostrum, twice as long as rostral hairs, narrower. Surface of
propodosoma with small knobs. Interlamellar hairs fine, de-
curved, inserted half their lengths from medial edges of lamellae
at level of pseudostigmata, about four times their lengths apart.
A glandular area posterior and medial to insertions of inter-
lamellar hairs. Pseudostigmata large, cup-like, contiguous with
posterior width of lamellae. Pseudostigmatic organ clavate,
about twice as long as interlamellar hairs, setose at tips.
Hysterosoma almost circular in outline (specimen broken on
right side), with a prominent posterior tubercle. Seven pairs
Ixviii]
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
91
of prominent, simple bristles on dorsum (Fig. 1). Two pairs of
glandular fissures, one pair antero-laterad of c:2 bristles (an-
tero-lateral corner) ; second pair posterior and laterad of large
tubercle at distal end of hysterosoma.
FIG. 1. Zetorchestcs equestris Berlese, 1908, from the dorsal aspect.
Specimen broken on right side by pressure of coverslip.
FIG. 2. Zctorchestes equestris Berlese, 1908, from the ventral aspect.
Venter with a prominent camerostome ; chelicerae stout.
Pedunculate insertions of lamellar hairs visible antero-laterad
of camerostome.
Surface of ventral plate covered with small knobs. Genital
opening nearly circular, close to anal opening and about three-
fourths as long as latter. Anal opening broadly triangular ; anal
plates agape in specimen due to pressure of coverslip. A single
pair of adanal setae posterior to anal opening.
Apodemata I curved posteriorly adjacent to camerostome at
level of base of chelicerae. Tibia of leg I an expanded triangle,
with long tactile bristle (Fig. 2). Tarsi of leg I ending in a
single claw, setal arrangement incompletely shown in Fig. 2.
Apodemata II and III extended mediad, parallel and close to
each other; insertions of legs II and III close together. Distal
92 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [April, 1957
parts of legs II and III incompletely illustrated in original draw-
ings. Insertions of legs IV at level of middle of genital aper-
ture. Leg IV modified for jumping; coxa with triangular cap;
trochanter greatly curved ; genu short, between stout femur and
distally expanded tibia ; tarsus attenuated, ending in a single
claw.
Length 400 /*, width 300 ^.
DISCUSSION. Ewing (1909) indicates both Zetorchestes mi-
cronychus and Z. equestris as having been collected in trash by
C. R. Crosby at Columbia, Missouri. Berlese's original descrip-
tion of Z. equestris (1908) is rather terse and without an ac-
companying figure. He cites the location as Columbia, which
Grandjean (1951) indicates to be in Canada.
FAMILY HERMANNIELLIDAE GRANDJEAN, 1934
The distinctive characteristic of this family is a projected
lateral peduncle on each side of the opisthosoma. This peduncle
constitutes the opening of an oil gland duct.
Four varieties of the genus Hermanniella Berlese, 1908, are
listed by Ewing (1918), two of which are redescribed below as
separate species.
Hermanniella robusta Ewing, 1918. (Figs. 3, 4)
Rostrum depressed, rostral hairs not visible. Dorsum of
propodosoma with two prominent humps on anterior face, sur-
face pitted ; an elevated shelf anterior to pseudostigmata ; a
median trough near hysterosoma, between pseudostigmata. In-
terlamellar hairs erect, barbed, inserted between pseudostigmata
on each side of median trough. Pseudostigmata prominent cups
(Figs. 3, 3 A) ; pseudostigmatic organs erect, with barbed tips.
Hysterosoma oval in outline (specimen slightly tilted), with
pitted surface ; with nine pairs of stout, erect hairs, all hairs of
equal size. Glandular tubercle as in Fig. 3.
Chelicerae stout, beneath propodosomal prominences (as seen
in tilted specimen). Apodemata broad plates in anterior part
of venter, apparently flattened. Setal insertions as shown in
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 93
Fig. 4. Genital aperture nearly circular, genital plates oval,
with four pairs of setal insertions visible; g:2 remote from
medial margin of plates, other insertions approximating medial
margin of plates. Anal aperture separated slightly from genital
opening, broadly oval; anal plates somewhat triangular, with
two pairs of simple setae near median margin of plates. Two
adanal setal insertions laterad of anal aperture.
Insertions of legs I and II in conical sheaths ; coxae of legs
III and IV expanded distal to insertions.
Length 800 /x, hysterosoma 642 /A; width (tilted position)
470 ^
H. E. Ewing collected a single specimen from Mary's Peak,
Oregon.
Hermanniella occidentalis Ewing, 1918. (Figs. 5, 6)
Propodosoma broadly triangular, dorsum pitted. Rostrum
bluntly pointed, rostral hairs short, incurved. Lamellar hairs
erect, stiff, directed forward, inserted half their lengths from
and almost directly behind rostral hairs. Posterior part of
propodosoma elevated and rounded between pseudostigmata.
Interlamellar hairs nearly twice as long as lamellar hairs, erect,
slightly outcurved, inserted laterad of rounded summit of propo-
dosoma, closer to pseudostigmata than to median line. Pseudo-
stigmata depressed cups, rims of cups continuous with surface
of propodosoma. Pseudostigmatic organ clavate, setose at tip,
with darkened center (Fig. 5A).
Hysterosoma broadly oval, dorsum pitted, with nine pairs of
strong, erect setae ; median posterior pair of dorsal setae heavier
than others. Lateral oil gland ducts pedunculate, extended from
lateral surface between legs III and IV, about mid- way between
anterior and posterior margins (Fig. 5).
Camerostome triangular, two setae posterior to chelicerae.
Apodemata and setal insertions as shown in Fig. 6. Genital
opening nearly circular, slightly oval ; aperture medial, between
legs IV ; genital plates with straight medial margins, rounded
lateral edges, each plate with five setal insertions along medial
margin, subequally spaced. Anal opening about twice as large
94 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [April, 1957
as genital aperture ; anal plates with straight medial margins,
rounded lateral sides ; each plate with two long setae inserted
remote from medial margin. Three pairs of adanal setae, two
pairs near antero-lateral margin of anal aperture (Fig. 6) ; a
pair adjacent to posterior margin of anal aperture.
Legs I and II with triangular coxae; coxae of legs III and
IV expanded; setation of legs as in Fig. 5.
Length 666 p, hysterosoma 500 ^ ; width 400 p. at tubercles.
Dr. Ewing collected two specimens under a rotting log on
the top of Mary's Peak, Oregon.
DISCUSSION. The original description of Hcrmanniella punc-
tiilata Berlese, 1908, consists of five words that describe the
minute pits in the dorsal integument. The description is fol-
lowed by the measurements (540/x long, 380^ wide) and a
statement that the species is smaller than H. granulata (650 ^
long, 450 /A wide). Van der Hammen (1952) points out that
the sculpturing of the hysterosoma varies and that some of
Berlese's measurements are contradictory.
Ewing (1918) indicates that H. punctulata var. robusta dif-
fers from Berlese's type in size, but his variety also shows other
differences than those indicated for the European species. The
writer is convinced that both of the varieties which Ewing de-
scribes are separate species. H. robusta Ewing, 1918, differs
from H. punctulata Berlese, 1908, in the prominent knobs and
dorsal median trough on the propodosoma (Fig. 3). There is
an additional distinction in the integumental reticulations, which
vary in both European and American species.
Hcrmanniella accident alis Ewing, 1918, is considered a sepa-
rate species because of the rounded, relatively inornate propodo-
soma, which lacks knobs and a median groove ; the sunken
FIG. 3. Hermanniella robusta Ewing, 1918, from the dorso-lateral as-
pect. A. pseudostigmata and pseudostigmatic organ (after Ewing 1918).
FIG. 4. Hermanniella robusta Ewing, 1918, from ventro-lateral aspect.
Legs partially shown.
FIG. 5. Hermanniella occidental Ewing, 1918, from the dorsal aspect,
showing legs. A. pseudostigmatic organ (after Ewing, 1918) ; B. en-
larged drawing of depressions of hysterosomal integument.
FIG. 6. Hermanniella occidcntalis Ewing, 1918, from the ventral aspect,
most of legs omitted.
Ixviii]
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
95
96 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [April, 1957
pseudostigmata, differences in pseudostigmatic organs ; the pos-
terior pair of stout hysterosomal bristles ; and the difference in
setation of the genital covers.
Possibly Hermanniella subnigra (Ewing), 1909, should be
considered as a separate species inasmuch as Ewing's descrip-
tions and illustrations indicate it is in this genus instead of
Hermannia (Nic.). The writer does not have a drawing or
specimen of this species for comparison, however, and therefore
defers exact placement.
LITERATURE CITED
BAKER, E. W. and G. W. WHARTON. 1952. An Introduction to Acarol-
ogy. Macmillan Co., N. Y.
BERLESE, A. 1908. Redia V: 1-15.
EWING, H. E. 1909a. Jour. N. Y. Ent. Soc. 17(3) : 116-136.
-. 1909b. Ent. News 20 : 373-376.
-. 1918. Ent. News 29(3) : 81-90.
GRANDJEAN, F. 1951. Mem. Mus. Nat. d'Hist. Nat. 4(1) : 1-50.
VAN DER HAMMEN, L. 1952. Zool. Verhandl. No. 17, 139 pp.
WOOLLEY, T. A. and H. G. HIGGINS. 1955. Bull. Chicago Acad. Sci.
10(4) : 45-60.
WOOLLEY, T. A. 1955. Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash. 57(5) : 219-222.
. 1956. Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash. 58(5) : 287-291.
Nomenclature Notice
All comments relating to the following should be marked with
the Commission's File Number, and sent to Francis Hemming,
28 Park Village East, Regent's Park, London N.W.I, England.
Bithys and Chrysophanus Hiibner, 1818 (generic names of
neotropical Theclids), svippression of (Order Lepidoptera)
(File No.: Z.N. (S.) 802).
Cephalomutilla Andre, (1908), designation of type species
for, in harmony with accustomed usage (Order Hymen-
optera) (File No.: Z.N. (S.) 902).
For details see: Bull. Zool. Nomencl. Vol. 13, Part 1.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 97
A New Brazilean Species of Campsomeris
(Hymenoptera: Scoliidae)
By J. CHESTER BRADLEY
Campsomeris tenebrica, n. sp.
$. Color entirely black, including all vestiture, except whitish
puberulence on sides of scutellum and of metanotum, and on the
propodeum. Wings black with strong violaceous reflection.
Clypeus convex, wrinkled, its basal margin and depressed
sides coarsely punctate and bristly; a narrow impunctate strip
below each antenna; area frontalis and spatium frontale not
separated, the former with a small median smooth tubercle, the
latter with a larger median tubercle, densely punctate and
bristly, the bristles extending into the sinus ocularis but not to
its apex; lamina frontalis prominent; fissura frontalis distinct;
front polished with a few small punctures; ocellar furrow dis-
tinct, curved, a weakly indicated furrow extending caudad from
behind each of its ends. Vertex, including occipital surface,
impunctate and polished, except for a group of fine punctures
at corners of the eyes ; temples polished, impunctate, except for
a line of small punctures bordering the eyes; upper surface of
scape punctate.
Dorsal surface of pronotum and the scapulae finely and densely
punctate, scapulae becoming much more coarsely and less densely
punctate posteriorly ; mesonotum impunctate and polished, ex-
cept for small, sparse punctures on the parapsides and a strip
within the parapsidal furrows ; median anterior groove distinct ;
scutellum and metanotum impunctate, polished, the lateral pieces
finely punctate and puberulent ; mesopleura with a distinct ridge
which is strongly punctate on its anterior slope, and the lower
part of the lower plate on its posterior slope, its upper plate
punctate and hairy except on the lower border, the tubercle
pronounced. Metapleura impunctate, polished, but with a little
appressed pubescence.
Area horizontalis medialis broad and very short, with neither
carina nor tubercle at apex, entirely impunctate and polished;
98 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [April, 1957
areae horizontales laterales each with a transverse strip of small
punctures and apical puberulence ; area posterioris impunctate,
smooth, but with some whitish puberulence ; areae laterales
punctate along their upper and posterior borders.
Terga polished; sternum 3(2) rounded at base; lateral teeth
of hypopygium small but distinct.
Longer hind tibial spur spatulate, its proportion to the length
of the metatarsus as 8:11.
Length 29 mm., of forewing 23 mm.
Types. BRAZIL: Espiritu Santo, 2 55 (Friihstorfer holo-
type, Mus. Comp. Zool., Harvard Univ. and paratype 1, Cornell
Univ.) ; Bahia, 1 5 (Friihstorfer paratype 2, Mus. Comp.
Zoology, Harvard Univ.) ; Para, 1 $ (C. F. Baker paratype 3,
Mus. Comp. Zool., Harvard Univ.), 1 5, 6, 11 '99 (A. Ducke
paratype 4, Cornell Univ.) ; Minas geraes, 1 5> 1897 (Friih-
storfer paratype 5, Hungarian Nat. Mus.) ; Rio Grande, 1 5
(paratype 6 Brit. Mus.) ; "Brazil," 1 5 (Friihstorfer para-
type 7, Mus. Comp. Zool., Harvard Univ.).
The holotype and paratype one are entirely black.
Paratypes 5 and 7 have a minute yellow fleck in the center of
the metanotum.
Paratype 2 has a larger fleck in the same location.
Paratype 4 has a transverse yellow spot in the center of the
metanotum and a minute fleck on the scutellum.
Paratype 6 has a similar spot on the metanotum, and a trans-
verse, interrupted spot, very small, on the scutellum.
Paratype 3 has a transverse yellow spot on the pronotum,
and a round yellow spot on the scutellum.
This is a rare species.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 99
New American Muscoid Diptera * (Sarcophagidae,
Tachinidae)
By H. J. REINHARD, College Station, Texas
The new forms herein described were received for study from
several sources as mentioned below and also include some mate-
rial from my collection. Types of new species based upon the
latter are retained and the remainder are returned to the Snow
Collection, University of Kansas and to the U. S. National
Museum.
Phytodes inconismus, n. sp.
Similar to P. hirculus (genotype) but readily distinguished
by the shining black pollenless abdomen and the wholly black
antennae.
Male. Head thinly grayish to brown pollinose on black
background ; broad cheek groove red, this color extending up-
wards on inner part of parafacial to base of antennae; front
strongly produced forward in profile and at vertex 0.38 of head
width; frontal bristles stopping at antennal base; ocellars pro-
clinate; verticals and orbitals two pairs; antennae unusually
small, about one-fourth as long as face, apical segments sub-
equal ; arista short, micro pubescent ; subbulbous near base ;
parafacial with a row of bristles extending obliquely downward
from inner upper extremity to near lower level of eye and with
scattered black hairs outside of latter ; cheek equal or exceeding
eye height ; narrow epistoma produced downward and receding ;
proboscis short; palpus blackish, short and stoutish.
Thorax and scutellum black, notum with thin subopaque
greenish gray pollen, vittae not denned ; three post dorsocentral
and three sternopleural bristles; prescutellars differentiated;
postnotal slope bare ; scutellum with three lateral and a small
or hairlike apical pair, discals barely differentiated. Wing with
a light uniform tawny tinge ; first vein bare third setulose almost
to small cross vein ; first posterior cell closed, petiole reaching
1 Contribution No. 2590, from the Department of Entomology, Texas
Agricultural Experiment Station.
100 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [April, 1957
costa a little before wing tip and a trifle shorter than last section
of fourth vein ; hind cross vein about midway, last section of
fifth vein less than one-half length of preceding section; costal
spine long ; calypters rather small and narrow. Legs black,
weakly bristled ; claws and pulvilli shorter than apical segment.
Abdomen long ovate, hairs on upper surface appressed; one
or two median marginal bristles on second segment and a mar-
ginal row on each of last two ; sternites exposed ; hypopygium
black, retracted, forceps thin and slightly bowed in profile, rather
broad at base, tapered distally with prongs separated on apical
fourth; lobes of fifth sternite small and retracted.
Female. Head and thorax more densely pollinose, palpus
usually paler, last three abdominal segments often subpollinose
on basal margin ; otherwise as in male.
Length, 5.5-7 mm.
Holotype male and allotype female, del Maiz, San Luis
Potosi, MEX., 4700 ft., Aug. 22-23, 1954, Univ. Kans. Mex.
Expedition in the Snow Collection, LIniv. of Kansas ; Paratypes,
6 males and 4 females, same data as type and 2 males, "Valles,
Mex., Aug. 9, 1930."
BAROMYIA n. gen.
A minute fly with cephalic characters approaching those of
Procatharosia and wing venation similar to Gynmopliania but
differing from both in having a longer, more slender, subtubular
abdomen.
Female head wider than high, frontal profile equal to facial,
antennal axis at or slightly above eye middle and barely longer
than vibrissal which is close to ventral margin of head ; clypeus
deeply depressed widened downward, short epistoma full width
and gently bowed forward from clypeal plane ; faciale almost
vertical with one or two bristly hairs on lower extremity ;
vibrissae long, decussate, on oral margin ; frontals short, rather
weak, in a single row extending two bristles beneath antennal
base ; two proclinate and one reclinate orbital and two vertical
pairs ; proclinate ocellars small but distinct ; antenna reaching
nearly to epistoma, third segment widened from base to broadly
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 101
rounded apex and hardly one-half longer than second, first seg-
ment very short ; arista a little longer than antenna, thickened
near base thence slender and micro pubescent to tip, basal seg-
ments short; bare parafacial narrow above middle becoming
linear below ; eye bare, not quite reaching vibrissal level ; pro-
boscis short, labella fleshy ; palpus rather short, spatulate ; cheek
about one-sixth eye height. Thoracic chaetotaxy poorly devel-
oped, only the middle supraalar, hindmost postalar and the
single lateral scutellar approach macrochaetal size ; prescutellars
and outer presutural differentiated; dorsocentral 2, 3 (barely
larger than surrounding hairs) ; humeral 3-A; sternopleural 2;
hypopleural row distinct, pteropleural absent; postscutellum
very prominent ; propleuron bare ; postnotal slope setose along
attached edge of calypter. Legs stoutish, weakly bristled; fore
tarsus longer than corresponding tibia; claws and pulvilli
shorter than apical tarsal segment. Wing extending about to
tip of abdomen ; third vein with two minute hairs near base ;
fourth vein only slightly curved beyond middle or without a
defined cubitulus and reaching costa a trifle beyond extreme
wing tip leaving first posterior cell open ; costa broken near
apex of subcostal vein, spine absent ; calypters well developed.
Abdomen widest on basal third thence tapering to a narrow
truncate tip; anal segment much shorter than preceding ones
and all segments destitute of macrochaetae ; sternites covered.
Genotype. Baromyia mitis, n. sp.
Baromyia mitis, n. sp.
Female. Front uniformly broad from antennal base to ver-
tex, latter 0.37 of head width; frontalia red, widened before
ocelli and extending on either side of triangle to vertex; para-
frontal gray to subplumbeous, with only a few minute hairs
anteriorly which extend to or beneath lowermost frontal, antenna
reddish to arista thence black to apex ; arista reddish on thick-
ened base, black beyond ; parafacial and cheek gray pollinose,
latter sparsely black setose; palpus brownish to almost black.
Thorax brownish in ground color, notum lightly dusted with
opaque gray pollen, not vittate, pleura subshining; scutellum
concolorous with notum; halteres pale yellow, rather short and
102 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [April, 1957
strongly enlarged at tip. Legs black, femora moderately thick-
ened ; tarsi beset above with a vestiture of suberect short black
hairs, basal segment short. Wing clear with a slight yellowish
tinge apparent anteriorly ; veins yellow including costa which
bears somewhat longer and denser spinules before break tlian
beyond ; calypters more or less infuscated with margin and
sometimes middle area of both lobes a little paler.
Abdomen brownish black in ground color with narrow hind
edge of last three segments pallid and upper surface of each (in
well preserved specimens) showing thin gray pollen at sides
and forming a pollinose median vitta when viewed in a flat
rare angle ; anal cerci forceps like ; genitalia retracted.
Length, 1.75-2 mm.
Holotype female, Kerrville, TEXAS, June 16, 1953 (L. J.
Bottimer) in the U. S. National Museum. Paratypes, 3 females,
same data as type.
Parepalpus labeosus, n. sp.
Much darker in general aspect than P. flavidits Coq. (ger
type), from which it differs further in having a red abdomen,
marked with a distinct but interrupted black median vitta;
wings and calypters distinctly infuscated, etc.
Male. Head densely yellow pollinose, parafrontal darker,
clothed with longish black hairs outside and inside main frontal
row, which is doubled anteriorly with about three bristles be-
neath antennal base ; vertex 0.32 of head width ; verticals two
pairs, inner decussate ; ocellars absent ; frontalia red, narrower
than parafrontal ; antenna yellow to base of third segment,
latter black about one-third longer than second and strongly
convex on front edge ; arista black, thickened on basal two-
fifths, middle segment moderately elongated ; parafacial fully
one-half clypeal width, sparsely clothed with intermixed pale
and black hairs ; faciale flattened with three or four bristles
next to vibrissae ; latter well above the nasutely produced epi-
stoma ; cheek slightly over three-fifths eye height, beset with
long pale hairs ; proboscis a little over head height ; palpus
papilliform, bearing several black setae of unequal length ; eye
bare ; back of head clothed with pale yellowish pile.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 103
Thorax black with moderately dense greenish gray pollen,
mesonotum marked with four narrow dark vittae, outer one
interrupted at suture and stopping well before base of scutellum ;
latter wholly reddish and lightly sprinkled with white pollen.
Oaetotaxy: acrostichal 3, 3; dorsocentral 3, 3; intraalar 3;
supraalar 3 ; presutural 2 ; posthumeral 2 ; humeral 46 ; post-
alar 3 ; sternopleural 3 ; pteropleural 2 (as large as sterno-
pleural) ; scutellum with 2 lateral, 1 decussate apical, 1 pre-
apical and 6-8 discal pairs, besides numerous erect bristly hairs
on basal half ; prosternum and postnotal slope bare ; propleuron
black setose. Legs yellow, rather long and slender, well bris-
tled ; yellow black-tipped claws subequal to length of last tarsal
segment. Wing uniformly fuscous throughout ; first posterior
cell open well before wing tip; hind cross vein oblique, joining
fourth much nearer to cubitulus than small cross vein ; costal
spine vestigial ; epaulet red, subepaulet pale yellowish ; calypter
reddish brown.
Abdomen short ovate, wider than thorax and practically
^ollenless on upper surface which bears a vestiture of erect fine
black hairs ; one pair of median marginals and discals on second
segment, a complete marginal row and one pair of discals on
third ; anal segment with several irregular rows of discal on
apical half above besides a row of weaker marginals ; hypo-
pygium small and retracted ; forceps broader than long, fused
nearly to tips which are separated by a small V-shaped excision,
hind surface convex and beset with longish wavy black hairs;
accessory process yellowish on broad basal part, much narrowed
or fingerlike distally ; fifth sternite black, lobes hardly divergent
along median excision, clothed with fine black hairs ; sternites
two to four well exposed beset with black hairs and bristles.
Female. Similar to male except for sexual differences ; geni-
talia retracted within anal orifice, terminating in a fleshy or soft-
textured bunt tip.
Length, 9.5-10 mm.
Holotype male, Cuernavaca, MEX., 3-22-34 (S. E. Jones).
Allotype female, "West Slope Cortez Pass, Mex., 9000', 7-13-
54, Univ. Kans. Mex. Expedition." Paralyses, 2 males and 1
female, same data as allotype, two collected by R. R. Dreisbach
104 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [April, 1957
and 1 male, "Cuernavaca, Mor. Mex., 7100', 7-15-54, Univ.
Kans. Mex. Expedition."
Plagiomima euethes, n. sp.
Pollen on abdomen disposed in evident crossbands as in alter-
nata Aid., from which it differs most obviously in the conforma-
tion of the genital forceps.
Male. Front at vertex 0.45 of head width and only slightly
wider at antennal base ; head pollen subsilvery with a yellowish
or slightly golden cast on parafrontal ; latter with scattered black
setae which continue downward on parafacial ; vibrissae on oral
margin with only three or four hairs on ridge next above ; two
pairs of large verticals, proclinate orbitals and preverticals ;
ocellars divaricate, proclinate; two frontal bristles beneath an-
tennal base ; cheek bare about one-third eye height ; proximal
antennal segments red, third wholly black, stout, a trifle over
twice length of second ; arista bare, short, thickened nearly to
tip, second segment about twice longer than wide ; haustellum
slender, nearly two-thirds head height, labella small ; palpus
yellow, slender to tip ; occiput cinereous, rather thinly clothed
with short pale hairs.
Thorax and scutellum black gray pollinose, notum marked
with four vittae before suture and five behind. Chaetotaxy:
acrostichal 3, 3 ; dorsocentral 3, 3 ; intraalar 3 ; supraalar 3 ;
precutural 2; postalar 3 (intermediate one very stout) ; sterno-
pleural 3; pteropleural vestigial; scutellum with 3 lateral (hind-
most weak and middle one reaching to base of third abdominal
segment), 1 preapical and 1 much larger decussate apical be-
sides 1 discal pair behind middle with erect bristly hairs in
front of latter ; prosternum, propleuron and postnotal slope bare.
Legs black, mid tibia with a row of unequal-sized bristles on
outer front side ; front tibia with two median posterolateral
bristles ; claws and pulvilli short. Wing gray hyaline ; first,
third and fifth veins setose ; hind cross vein oblique and strongly
retracted with last section of fifth vein subequal to preceding;
cubitulus with a long stump plus fold ; costal spine vestigial ;
calypters opaque white.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 105
Abdomen with gray pollen on last three segments in broad
basal bands leaving apical third or more of each shining black;
one pair of median marginals on second segment and a marginal
row on third ; anal segment with a submarginal and marginal
row ; no discals ; hypopygium black, largely retracted in repose ;
forceps fused, black base subglobose behind thence flattened into
a thin reddish bladelike structure which is thin and broadly
bowed in profile ; sternites covered.
Female. Antennae a little more slender than in male ; geni-
talia retracted not adapted for piercing.
Length, 6.5-8 mm.
Holotype male and allotype female, Sedona, ARIZONA, Sep-
tember 13-16, 1955 (G. D. Butler). Paratypes: 1 pair, same
data as type and 1 male, Flagstaff, Arizona, September 12-16,
1955 (G. D. Butler).
Plagiomima faceta, n. sp.
Aside from its larger build, this species differs from the pre-
ceding one mainly as follows :
Male. Head pollen wholly grayish yellow on pale back-
ground ; vertex 0.47 of head width ; red frontalia diverging
upwards and much wider than parafrontal above middle; third
antennal segment nearly three times longer than second ; ocellars
divaricate ; three proclinate orbitals but middle one weak ; para-
facial subequal clypeal width, beset with short inconspicuous
pale and black setae ; cheek two-fifths eye height ; haustellum
slender, about three-fifth head height. Thoracic chaetotaxy as
in preceding species ; postnotal slope setose, propleuron bare.
Wing pale yellowish costobasally ; first and third veins setulose,
fifth bare ; costal spine subequal to small cross vein. Abdomen
with gray pollen extending nearly to hind margin on inter-
mediate segments but stopping at apical third of last leaving
apex shining black; fused genital forceps strongly compressed
and bladelike straight from base to tip on ventral edge as viewed
from side with hind apical margin bowed obliquely forward to
a blunt reddish tip; accessory process as wide as forceps but a
trifle longer, with apex more broadly rounded and hind margin
106 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [April, 1957
sulcate ; fifth sternite with a broad median excision, lobes black
with longish fine black hairs along inner margin.
Female. Anal segment of abdomen strongly deflexed and
without any macrochaetae, polished black on apical half above;
genitalia retracted, terminating in a compressed blunt-tipped
larvipositor ; otherwise similar to male.
Length, male 12 mm; female 10.5 mm.
Holotype male and allotype female, Plainview, TEXAS, 9-
25-48 (F. A. Cowan).
The species belongs in Siphoplagiopsis (type similis Town-
send), if the latter, based chiefly upon female characters, is
accepted as valid.
Phorocera pellecta, n. sp.
Close to P. indivisa A & W, but the abdomen is more exten-
sively pollinose ; the male front is wider and there are decisive
differences in the genitalia.
Male. Head bright silvery pollinose becoming opaque on
paraf rental ; vertex 0.35 of head width; inner verticals and
two preverticals stout and reclinate ; ocellars long, proclinate,
frontal rows widely divergent beneath antennal base and de-
scending to level of arista; latter black, bare, long and slender,
with short proximal segments ; antenna black, third segment
rather broad and over three times length of second ; facialia
strongly bristled to upper third or more ; vibrissae on oral
margin ; eye pilose ; cheek a little over one-fifth eye height ;
palpus yellow ; proboscis short ; occiput cinereous, pale-haired.
Thorax and scutellum black, with moderately heavy gray pol-
len marked with 45 changeable vittae on notum ; chaetotaxy
as in indivisa. Legs black ; fore tibia with one stout postero-
lateral and mid tibia with two anterodorsal bristles ; claws and
pulvilli subequal to length of last tarsal segment. Wing gray
hyaline ; first posterior cell open well before wing tip ; cubitulus
subrectangular, without a distinct stump or fold ; third vein
with 3 to 6 setulae near base ; costal spine small ; calypters white.
Abdomen black with changeable subsilvery pollen on basal
half or more of last three segments above ; one pair of median
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 107
marginal bristles on first and second segments ; a marginal row
on third and fourth besides a discal row on latter, which is also
beset with erect bristly hairs on most of upper surface ; hypo-
pygium black, smallish and retracted with tip of anal segment ;
forceps with a deep groove behind which is densely clothed with
a vestiture of pale or whitish hairs. In the undescribed male
of indivisa the forceps compared with the present species, are
broadly expanded basally, flattened behind and thickly clothed
with soft short black hairs.
Female. Front at vertex 0.36 of head width gradually di-
verging forward into facial angle ; two pairs of proclinate or-
bitals ; outer verticals differentiated ; abdomen with heavier
pollen and anal segment more narrowed apically than in male ;
claws and pulvilli shorter than last tarsal segment.
Length, 6.5-8 mm.
Holotype male and allotype female, Brown's Cn. Baboquivari
Mts. ARIZ., August 19, 1955 (F. G. Werner & G. D. Butler).
Paratypes, 7 females, "Catalina Mts., Ariz. Htchk. Hwy. Mi. 1,
August 22, 1955, G. D. Butler & F. G. Werner."
Phorocera stolida, n. sp.
Traces to P. coccyx (equals P. heros Schiner Masicera
longiuscida Walker) in Aldrich and Webber's key (Proc.
U.S.N.M., 63, 1924: 46, 52), from which it differs chiefly in
genital features as listed below.
Male. Vertex 0.27 of head width, front equibroad on upper
half thence widening gradually into facial angle ; parafrontal
yellow pollinose, uniformly clothed with fine black hairs ; frontals
in a single row, three or four bristles beneath antennal base, two
uppermost reclinate and but little shorter than inner vertical ;
proclinate ocellars strong, usually more or less parallel and
reaching beyond mid front ; frontalia reddish black, narrower
than parafrontal ; black antenna as long as face, third segment
unusually compressed and widened, nearly five times longer
than second, which barely equals one and one-half times length
of first segment ; bare arista black, uncommonly long, thickened
on proximal fourth thence flattened and slender to tip, basal
108 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [April, 1957
segments short ; clypeus and faciale cinereous, latter with strong
infraclinate bristles ascending above level of lowest frontals ;
vibrissae on oral margin ; bare yellowish parafacial becoming
grayish below ; proboscis short, haustellum subequal length of
spatulate yellow palpus ; cheek gray pollinose, clothed with fine
black hairs, about one-sixth eye height; eye large and thickly
long pilose ; occiput with a heavy vestiture of yellowish white
pile.
Thorax black scutellum with a reddish tinge in ground color,
gray pollinose ; notum with four narrow dark vittae before
suture and five behind. Chaetotaxy : acrostichal 3, 3 ; dorso-
central 3, 4 ; intraalar 3 ; supraalar 4 ; humeral 5-6 ; post-
humeral 3 ; presutural 2 ; postalar 2 ; intrapostalar strong ;
sternopleural 3; pteropleural 2 (smaller than hindmost sterno-
pleural) ; scutellum with 3 lateral, 1 wide-spaced appressed
discal and 1 strong usually decussate apical pair directed back-
ward. Legs long but not very slender; mid tibia with two
strong bristles before middle on outer front side ; fore claws
and pulvilli subequal combined length of last three tarsal seg-
ments. Wing gray hyaline ; third vein setulose one-fourth to
halfway to small cross vein ; cubitulus rectangular without stump
or fold ; first posterior cell open well before wing tip ; costal
spine vestigial ; calypters translucent white.
Abdomen well tapered towards tip, black with ground color
at sides sometimes showing a reddish tinge, last three segments
with gray pollen which becomes thinner beyond middle on each
and in some views interrupted by a vague dark median vitta ;
one pair of median marginal bristles on first two segments and
a marginal row on last two, besides a submarginal row with
numerous shorter discals and erect bristly hairs in front of
latter on anal segment ; hypopygium blackish, rather small and
retracted ; fused forceps rather thick in profile and in rear view
equibroad to middle thence tapered to a sharp beaklike tip,
deeply excavated behind with surface of latter bearing dense
yellow hairs, which are replaced on either side near base by a
fasicle of longer black hairs directed obliquely forward and ter-
minate in pale wavy tips ; fifth sternite with a broad and deep
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 109
median excision, lobes black, large and prominent. Female
unknown.
Length, 12-14 mm.
Holotype, Amherst, OHIO, August 28, 1930 (H. J. Reinhard).
Paratypes, 2 males, same data as type and 1 male, Blood Mt,
Ga., September 20, 1945 (P. W. Fattig) in the U. S. National
Museum.
Phorocera noera, n. sp.
Smaller in build than stolida, differing chiefly in the structure
of the male genitalia as noted below. Other minor differences
may be listed as follows :
Male Only. Length 10 mm. Head pollen bright silvery be-
coming somewhat brassy on parafrontals ; third antennal seg-
ment nearly equibroad from base to tip and four times longer
than second; five narrow notal vittae; median one well defined
to base of scutellum ; mid tibia with one strong median antero-
dorsal bristle; fore pulvilli subequal to combined length of last
two tarsal segments ; abdomen with moderately heavy gray pol-
len above on basal three-fifths of segments two and three and
on basal half of last, remainder of each subshiny black; hypo-
pygium well exposed in repose, second segment reddish; fused
forceps strikingly slender from base to acute apex, hind surface
grooved with a low but sharp median carina extending out-
wardly from base about halfway to tip ; lateral margin of forceps
sparsely clothed with black hairs and base behind more thickly
so; fifth sternite deeply incised, lobes widely exposed, bearing
some longish black hairs on inner basal margin.
Holotype: Male, "Cuernavaca, MEXICO, August 6, 1942."
This specimen has been in my collection for some time await-
ing additional material. The species is included here since it
is closely allied to the preceding form.
Euceromasia floridensis, n. sp.
Readily distinguished from E. solata by the wholly reddish
legs and abdomen and the presence of defined patches of dense
110 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [April, 1957
appressed hairs on venter of third abdominal segment in the
male.
Male. Front well narrowed above middle, at vertex 0.22 of
head width ; frontalia deep red, narrower than parafrontal ;
frontals reclinate above mid front, three bristles beneath an-
tennal base ; proclinate ocellars weak or hairlike ; verticals
(inner) erect, as large as upper frontals; head pollen gray on
dark background ; parafrontal sparsely setose outside frontal
row ; bare parafacial moderately narrowed downward ; vibrissae
large, on oral margin, with bristly hairs on ridge above extend-
ing up on about basal third ; antennal segments one and two
pale reddish yellow, third black, rather slender but less than
twice length of second ; arista brownish, micro pubescent, thick-
ened on about proximal fourth thence tapered and very slender
to tip, both basal segments short ; cheek about one-fifth eye
height, clothed with black hairs and several bristles near middle,
eye bare, rather large and descending to vibrissal level ; pro-
boscis short, stoutish, labellum large and fleshy ; palpus pale
reddish yellow, slightly flattened and beset with short stubby
black hairs before apex ; occiput flat, grayish pollinose, with a
vestiture of rather short sparse pale hairs.
Thorax and scutellum black, gray pollinose, humeri pleura
and apex of scutellum with a reddish tinge in ground color ;
notum marked with four narrow black vittae, outer pair inter-
rupted at suture and inner ones stopping shortly behind ; acro-
stichal 3, 3 ; dorsocentral 3, 4 ; intraalar 3 ; supraalar 3 ; humeral
3 ; posthumeral 2 ; presutural 2 ; postalar 2 ; intrapostalar well
developed; sternopleural 3 (almost in horizontal row); ptero-
pleural 1 (shorter than hindmost sternopleural) ; scutellum with
3 lateral, 1 cliscal and 1 weak non-decussate suberect apical pair ;
postnotal slope bare. Mid tibia with one good-size bristle on
outer front side beyond middle ; hind tibia subciliate or with a
row of rather widely spaced uneven bristles on outer posterior
edge ; claws and pulvilli equal to or exceeding length of last
tarsal segment. Wing hyaline with a faint yellowish tinge
except on hind margin ; veins including costa yellow, third with
two to four hairs near base ; cubitulus broadly rounded, without
stump or fold ; first posterior cell open shortly before wing tip ;
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 111
calypters tawny, semitransparent ; epaulet and subepaulet
reddish.
Abdomen conical, somewhat thickened in profile, last three
segments gray pollinose above but thinly so behind middle on
two and three; one pair median marginal on basal segments,
one median and four or more lateral discals besides a marginal
row on third; anal segment with two or more irregular discal,
one submarginal and a marginal row ; anal orifice narrow and
slitlike ; sternites covered.
Female. Front at vertex 0.28 of head width, diverging rather
strongly downward into facial angle ; two proclinate orbitals ;
outer verticals vestigial ; calypters whitish tinged with yellow ;
claws and pulvilli shorter than apical tarsal segment ; one discal
and one marginal row of bristles on fourth abdominal segment ;
genitalia retracted, not adapted for piercing.
Length, 5.75-7 mm.
Holotype male and allotype female, "Seabreeze, FLA., Host:
Trichostiba parvula," in the U. S. National Museum. Para-
types, 1 male and 2 females, same data as type ; 1 female, Or-
mond Beach, Florida, 6-5-55 Cat. No. P-248b, ex : T. parvula,
and 1 female, "College Station, Texas, July 1916."
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THE NEOTROPICAL SPECIES OF THE
'SUBGENUS AESCHNA' SENSU SELYSII 1883
(Odonata)
By Philip P. Calvert
This paper presents an account of the Neotropical species referred
by de Selys in 1883 to his subgenus Aeschna and of some species un-
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Price $10.00 postpaid
THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
1900 RACE STREET, PHILADELPHIA 3, PA.
"V
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
MAY 1957
Vol. LXVIII No. 5
CONTENTS
Woolley Redescriptions of Ewing's Oribatid mites, II 113
Pechuman A Tabanus from the United States 118
Sinha Oenocytes of Oryzaephilus mercator 119
Selander A new Mexican Eupompha (Col.) 123
Chamberlin A new Henicopid chilopod 126
Morse and Blickle List of New Hampshire Trichoptera 127
Notes and News in Entomology 131
Dancing bees at the equator, and nocturnal dances. Zoogeog-
raphy of Pacific insects. Budapest Museum
Reviews 135
The Neotropical species of the "Subgenus Aeschna," sensu
Selysii 1883 (Odonata). The biology of the Heteroptera
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ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
VOL. LXVIII MAY, 1957 No. 5
Redescriptions of Ewing's Oribatid Mites, II
Family Carabodidae (Acarina: Oribatei) l
By TYLER A. WOOLLEY, Department of Zoology, Colorado
A. & M. College, Fort Collins, Colorado
This article is the second in a series of redescriptions sug-
gested by Dr. E. W. Baker, Curator of Acarina at the U. S.
National Museum. Two of Ewing's type oribatids are de-
lineated below.
FAMILY CARABODIDAE WILLMANN, 1931
Two of the diagnostic features of this family usually comprise
broad lamellae and highly sculptured integument. According
to Willmann (1931), and Baker and Wharton (1952) femora
I and II in these mites exhibit thin stalks and swollen distal
ends, also. Many of these mites, in addition, possess a cero-
tegument, which covers the body and sometimes the legs in such
thickness that details of the propodosoma and hysterosoma are
obscured.
Carabodes flavus (Ewing), 1918, nov. comb. (Figs. 1, 2)
Cotype : Ccpheits flavus Ewing, 1918, p. 86.
Description: Propodosoma nearly rectangular, about a fourth
as long as hysterosoma; surface highly sculptured and rough-
ened due to presence of cerotegument. Rostrum obscured by
cerotegument of broad lamellae, which extend along the lateral
length of propodosoma and are broadly joined medially at an-
1 Research supported by a grant-in-aid from the National Science
Foundation.
(113)
114 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [May, 1957
terior end to form a hood-like structure above the rostrum.
Lamellar hairs not visible. No translamella. Interlamellar
hairs not observed. Pseudostigmata cup-like, with deep bowl,
inserted at latero-posterior aspect of propodosoma in angle
formed by projecting shoulders of hysterosoma. Pseudostig-
matic organs clavate with a short, bent pedicel ; projected pos-
tero-laterad, finely setose at tips. Tectopedia I anterior to
level of pseudostigmata, closely appressed to propodosoma.
Hysterosoma broadly oval in outline, with roughened surface
and slightly scalloped lateral and posterior margins, dorsal cover
hexagonally reticulate. The roughened surface evidently a
cerotegument, which stands above the actual body surface and
obscures some details of the understructure. Beneath this cover
the integument is pitted with even, round pits. The only hys-
terosomal setae visible in the type specimen are four, short,
simple bristles at posterior margin of hysterosoma (Fig. 1).
Camerostome oval in outline, with two simple bristles poste-
rior to chelicerae. Apodemata II, III and IV darkly sclerotized
transverse bars, IV angled slightly posteriorly from anterior
edge of genital aperture. Genital opening subcircular in out-
line, slightly smaller than anal opening; each genital cover with
four setal insertions on medial edge ; g : 1 and g : 2 subequally
spaced from each other; g:3 and g:4 farther apart. Anal aper-
ture trapezoidal in outline, anal covers open slightly in type
specimen : each anal cover with two setae ; a : 1 near middle of
medial edge, a:2 close to medio-posterior corner of cover.
Legs as in Figs. 1 and 2. Leg IV does not extend to poste-
rior margin of hysterosoma. Legs tridactyle, all tarsal claws
subequal in length.
Length 785 /*, hysterosoma 556 /A ; width 486 p.
Ewing (1918) indicates that the specimens were collected
from the top of Mary's Peak, Oregon and from Corvallis, Ore-
gon, in both instances beneath logs. He mentions that the type
is one of the specimens from Corvallis collections and differs
slightly from the examples from Mary's Peak.
Ixviii]
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
115
FIG. 1. Carabodcs flavus (Ewing), 1918, from the dorsal aspect; legs
shown.
FIG. 2. Carabodes flavus (Ewing), 1918, from the ventral aspect; legs
shown.
FIG. 3. Ccphcus sub nig er (Ewing), 1917, from the dorsal aspect; legs
omitted.
FIG. 4. Ccphcus subnigcr (Ewing), 1917, from the ventral aspect; legs
omitted.
116 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [May, 1957
Cepheus subniger (Ewing), 1917, nov. comb. (Figs. 3, 4)
Cotype : Tegeocranus subniger Ewing, 1917, p. 163.
Description: Dark brown, almost black. Propodosoma and
hysterosoma covered with secretion or cerotegument which ob-
scures details beneath. Rostrum slightly visible between distal
ends of lamellae ; rostral hairs not visible. Lamellae very large,
covering lateral aspects of propodosoma from pseudostigmata
to base of rostrum ; about as wide as length of pseudostigmatic
organ and apparently covered with secretion. Lamellar and in-
terlamellar hairs not visible ; no translamella. Pseudostigmata
cornuate, extended mediad about half the width of a single
lamella ; rim margin apparently continuous with margin of la-
mella. Pseudostigmatic organ clavate, slightly recurved, with
pectinate head and about as long as width of lamellae at level
of pseudostigmata. Tectopedia I extended forward from level
of pseudostigmata half the length of lamella, sclerotized dorso-
medial margins.
Hysterosoma broader than long, broadly rounded behind ;
with a few minute hairs dorsally, according to Ewing. A
pteromorph-like band of secretion between base of leg IV and
proximal end of lamellae, extended in a shoulder expansion,
with undulating margins and reticulate surfaces.
Camerostome attenuated anteriorly, with two ventral setae.
Setal insertions of ventral plate as in Fig. 4. Apodemata II
long and narrow, medial ends approximated near mid-line.
Genital opening between apodemata III and IV, about three-
fourths as large as anal aperture, two-thirds the length of geni-
tal covers anterior to anal opening; genital covers nearly rec-
tangular, wider at level of g:2, with five setal insertions visible
on medial margin of each cover; g:l, g:2, g:3 and g:4 sub-
equally spaced on medial margin of each cover; g:5 more
widely separated from g:4 and close to medio-posterior corner
of cover. Anal aperture trapezoidal, narrowed anteriorly. No
anal setae visible. Three pairs of adanal setae, insertions as in
Fig. 4.
Legs large; anterior pair extending beyond tip of rostrum
nearly full length of tarsi ; tibiae of anterior legs without ante-
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 117
rior tubercles ; legs IV extending beyond posterior margin of
hysterosoma; all tarsi with a single, stout, curved claw.
Length 771 /x (to tip of rostrum), hysterosoma 412 /*.; width
542 p..
Ewing (1917) indicates that this species was collected under
pieces of old board at Ames, Iowa.
Discussion: The generic designation of Carabodcs flauus
(Ewing) is as exact as is presently possible because of the
cerotegument, which prevents description of other details. This
species is much larger than known species of Carabodes, but
possesses three tarsal claws and four pairs of genital setae,
which are distinctive for the genus. The notations on the co-
type slide in the writer's possession designate this specimen as
"Cephcus javus, n. sp." The "1" is missing in the specific name.
Collection data on this same slide indicate : "Top of Mt. Chinti-
mini, Or., Sept. 12, '12; by myself. Under rotting log. Bal.
H. E. Ewing."
The specific position of Cephens sitbniger (Ewing) is as exact
as is possible at present because the cerotegument obscures other
details. The species corresponds in size to other representatives
of the genus. Its generic placement is based on size, presence
of single tarsal claws and five pairs of genital setae. Baker and
Wharton (1952) synonymize Tegeocranus Nic., 1855, the genus
in which Ewing originally described this species, with Cepheus
Koch, 1836. This synonymy substantiates the writer's conclu-
sion. The author does not have access to the cotype specimen
of this species, the description of which was executed from Dr.
Baker's pencil drawings in consolidation with Ewing's original
description.
Both of the above species differ from known representatives
of their respective genera in their possession of heavy cero-
tegument.
LITERATURE CITED
BAKER, E. W. and G. W. WHARTON. 1952. An Introduction to Acarol-
ogy. Macmillan Company, N. Y.
EWING, H. E. 1917. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 37: 149-172.
-. 1918. Ent. News 24: 81-90.
WILLMANX, K. 1931. Tierwelt Deutschlands 22: 79-200.
118 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [May, 1957
A Tabanus not Previously Known from the
United States (Diptera: Tabanidae)
By L. L. PECHUMAN, Lockport, New York
Occasional female Tabanus of the line ola-vit tiger group from
south Florida and the Keys show characters which have made
it impossible to place them as any of the forms of this group
known from continental United States. Most workers have
placed them with a question as an anomalous form of Tabanus
lineola scutellaris Walker. Specific placement in this group is
more difficult with females than with males and until recently
no associated males had been collected.
A series of both sexes collected at Cape Sable, Florida, as
prey of the wasp BembLv cinerca (Handl.) by Prof. H. E.
Evans of Cornell University seems to have established the iden-
tity of this form. The hairy, enlarged upper facets of the eye
of the male places them as Tabanus vittiger Thomson. In Fair-
child's (1942) revision of the group, the south Florida speci-
mens key out to subspecies caymanicus Fairchild. A series of
both sexes of caymanicus from the type locality, the Cayman
Islands, loaned by Prof. Joseph Bequaert of the Museum of
Comparative Zoology, compare closely with the Florida
specimens.
It is the writer's belief, however, that caymanicus is the same
as Tabanus bellardii described by Szilady (1926) from Cuba.
Szilady's description and figures match the specimens on hand
in every detail.
The Cape Sable specimens were collected on 24 March 1954.
Females of Tabanus vittiger bellardii seen from other Florida
localities include : Homestead, March, 1953 ; Key West, 8 July
1952 ; Big Pine Key, 25 July 1947.
REFERENCES CITED
FAIRCHILD, G. B. Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 35 (2) : 153-182. 1942.
SZILADY, Z. Biol. Hungarica, 1, fasc. 7: 1-31. 1926.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 119
A Study of Oenocytes in Oryzaephilus mercator
(Fauvel). (Coleoptera, Cucujidae) with
Phase Microscopy 1
By R. N. SINK A, 2 Department of Zoology, McGill University,
Montreal, Canada
Oenocytes are large cells associated with the fat body, and
occurring exclusively in insects (Richards, in Roeder, 1953).
Unlike fat cells oenocytes are ectodermal in origin and are well
denned (Wigglesworth, 1953). In the present paper the loca-
tion, arrangement, and histology of the oenocytes of imagines of
Oryzaephilus mercator (Fauvel) are given. A description of
this nature seems to be important because of our complete lack
of knowledge of the specialized tissues in the hemocoel of spe-
cies of the coleopteran family Cucujidae.
The insects studied were reared in oats under controlled con-
ditions of temperature and humidity (30 C and 75% R.H.).
The imagines were approximately two weeks old and were
taken from an inbred culture maintained for the last three years
by Dr. J. Stanley at the Department of Zoology, McGill Uni-
versity. They were fixed in Mukerji's fluid (Mukerji, 1937).
Serial sections of the entire body of the insect, four to eight ^
in thickness, were made in transverse and longitudinal planes
(Sinha, 1953). Unstained sections were cleared in cedarwood
oil and mounted in permount.
Phase microscopy has been used in different fields of biology
(Richards, 1956), but its use in insect histology, especially in
the study of fixed materials, is rather new. The author has
found the following advantages in the use of phase microscopy.
Unstained sections of fixed materials are as good as, or, in some
respects, better than stained sections for the study of the mor-
phology of cells. Greater detail in fine structures is often
observed in an unstained section studied with phase microscopy
than in a stained section with ordinary microscopy. This con-
1 This work was supported by a grant from the National Research
Council of Canada.
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow, National Research Council of Canada.
120
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
[May, 1957
elusion was reached by comparing a large number of unstained
sections of the same species of insect with sections stained with
Mallory's triple stain, and with Delafield's hematoxylin and
eosin respectively. The elimination of a lengthy and compli-
cated staining process enables one to avoid certain artifacts, and
to examine a large number of slides in a reasonably short time.
Of course, staining is important in the study of physiological
and biochemical aspects of specific cells. Phase microscopy
(Zeiss Winkel) with oil immersion was used with success in
the study of the oenocytes described below. The drawing was
made with the aid of a camera lucida.
Fat cell
Epidermis
Cuticle
Oenocyte I
FIG. 1. A longitudinal section through the body wall, in the middle of the
abdomen (elytra excluded), of an adult Oryzaephilus mcrcalor.
The oenocytes in 0. mercator are distinct cells found along the
dorsal side of the abdomen and not extending caudad beyond
the penultimate segment. In some areas they are more aggre-
gated than in others, and usually they are separated from the
FIG. 2. A longitudinal section through the dorsum of the posterior
part of the abdomen (elytra excluded).
FIG. 3. A transverse section through the anterior part of the abdomen
showing the alimentary canal, ventral nerve cord and the binucleate
oenocyte in natural position.
Ixviii]
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
121
Nerve ganglion
SECTIONS OF ADULT ORYZAEPHILUS MERCATOR
122 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [May, 1957
thin layer of epidermis by one or more layers of the fat body.
In some cases a few scattered oenocytes have been observed
lying against the dorso-lateral wall of the gut, especially in the
region of the proventriculus (Fig. 3).
The oenocytes lie close together, often with adjacent walls.
The individual cells are usually elliptical, 20 to 45 ju. long by 7
to 11 ^ wide, and have a distinct cell wall. The cytoplasm is
granular throughout and there is usually a single nucleus, al-
though in some cells two or three nuclei have been observed
(Fig. 3). The size of the nucleus varies, and it may be either
rounded (Fig. 3) or elliptical (Fig. 2) in outline. Although
studied in fixed materials these oenocytes lack the spindle
shaped clefts or the radiating canals observed in other species
of beetles (Wiggles worth, 1953).
The author is grateful to Dr. H. R. Scott, Professor of His-
tology, McGill University for giving helpful suggestions and to
Mr. J. W. Pollock, Department of Zoology, McGill University,
Montreal, Canada, for taking the photomicrographs used in this
paper.
REFERENCES
MUKERJI, D. 1937. A note on section cutting of insects. Current Sci-
ence, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India 6: 16-17.
RICHARDS, O. W. 1956. Phase microscopy 1954-56. Science 124(3226) :
810-814.
ROEDER, K. D. 1953. Insect Physiology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
New York.
SINHA, R. N. 1953. Sectioning of insects with sclerotized cuticle.
Stain Technology 28(5) : 249-253.
WIGGLESWORTH, V. B. 1953. The Principles of Insect Physiology.
Methuen & Co. Ltd., London.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 123
A New Mexican Eupompha (Coleoptera, Meloidae)
By RICHARD B. SELANDER, Illinois Natural History
Survey, Urbana
The only species of Eupompha LeConte ( Calospasta Le-
Conte) previously known to occur in southern Mexico is sulci-
frons (Champion), which has been recorded from two localities
in the Rio Balsas region of Guerrero (see Selander, 1954, Jour.
Kansas Ent. Soc. 27: 84). It is consequently of some interest
that among the material collected by the Hoogstraal Mexican
Biological Expeditions of 1940 and 1941 there are representa-
tives of a new species of Eupompha from Michoacan.
Eupompha (Eupompha) terminalis, new species
Orange. Apex of mandibles, eyes, scutellum, apical fifth of
elytra, and under surface black. Under surface with a greenish
luster. Antennae (except basal three to five segments) and
coxae infuscate ; pronotum is one specimen with a median and
two lateral infuscate marks at apex. Wings colorless except
for brown apical area. Pubescence pale throughout. Length :
12-14 mm.
Vertex and upper frontal area smooth, shiny, sparsely micro-
punctate, moderately, coarsely, sparsely punctate, clothed with
short pubescence ; under side of head more finely, densely punc-
tate, clothed with longer pubescence. Antennae filiform, moder-
ately compressed ; segments not at all globular. Pronotum
elongate, one-fourth to nearly two-fifths longer than wide ; disk
regular, impressed anteriorly and on midline at base ; surface
and pubescence of disk as on vertex, with longer pubescence on
deflexed sides. Scutellum impunctate, glabrous. Elytra finely,
confusedly scabro-punctate ; pubescence evenly, densely dis-
tributed, semi-erect, moderately long, as long and as conspicu-
ous as that on under surface of abdomen. Outer hind tibial
spur greatly thickened, obliquely truncate, acute or subacute at
apex ; inner spur like outer but more acute, shorter, only about
half as wide. Tarsal claws as in Fig. 9. Under surface densely
punctate and pubescent; pubescence longer on thorax than on
abdomen. First segment of all tarsi clothed with regular cloth-
124 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [May, 1957
ing setae beneath, lacking the more erect, sericeous pubescence
which on other segments constitutes the tarsal pads.
Male : Antennae extending five segments beyond occiput,
weakly tapered to apex. Front of head (Figs. 1,3) with a very
broad, very deep, impunctate, glabrous channel extending from
epistomal suture to near center of vertex (not attaining occi-
put) ; a well-marked sulcus on midline at bottom of channel
between eyes; frontal area from top of eyes to epistomal suture
greatly swollen on each side of channel to form a pair of large
callosities which are strongly undercut by channel ; top of callosi-
ties very finely punctate, sparsely clothed with a few minute
setae. First four segments of fore tarsi greatly thickened ;
dorsal side swollen, subimpunctate, glabrous, not sulcate. Sixth
abdominal sternum moderately deeply, obtusely emarginate.
Genitalia as in Figs. 5-6.
Female : Antennae extending three segments beyond occiput,
not tapered. Front of head deeply impressed along midline
from epistomal suture to near center of vertex ; midline itself
clearly indicated at bottom of this impression. Sixth abdominal
sternum shallowly, triangularly notched at apex.
Type Material: Holotype male from Apatzingun, 1200 ft.,
Michoacan, August 13, 1941, [H.] Hoogstraal. Allotypc fe-
male, same data but August 21, 1941. Paratypes: one female,
same data but August 18, 1941 ; one male, one female, same
locality, semi-desert scrub, August 5, 1940, [H.] Hoogstraal and
[K.] Knight. Holotype and allotype in the U. S. National
Museum.
This species is readily distinguishable from all other species
of Eupompha on the basis of color. It is in all respects most
similar to sulcijrons. In structural characters sulcifrons differs
from tcrminalis mainly as follows : frontal channel of male lack-
ing sulcus at bottom, not undercutting frontal callosities (Figs.
2, 4) ; frontal impression of female wider, more evenly rounded
in cross-section ; eyes larger, more prominent ; elytral pubescence
distinctly shorter and sparser ; first four segments of male fore
tarsi proportionately wider; male genitalia (Figs. 7-8) with
gonocoxal (basal) piece proportionately narrower, gonostyli
separated for less than half their length, and ventral hooks of
aedeagus more apical in position.
Ixviii]
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
125
FIGS. 1, 3. Eupompha terminalis, frontal and dorsal views of male
head. FIGS. 2, 4. E. sulcifrons, same. FIGS. 5-6. E. terminalis, ven-
tral view of male gonoforceps and lateral view of aedeagus. FIGS. 7-8.
E. sulcifrons, same. FIG. 9. E. terminalis, tarsal claw (middle leg).
The morphological distinctness of terminalis and sulcifrons
notwithstanding, the possibility that these two forms are races
of a single species cannot be overlooked. So far as known, both
are confined to the hot, arid valley system of the Rio Balsas.
The few distributional data available suggest allopatry, snlci-
jrons presumably ranging along the valley of the Rio Balsas
proper and being replaced by terminalis in the valley of the
Rio Tepalcatepec, a tributary of the Rio Balsas. In all proba-
bility the ranges of the two forms are in contact, in which case
it will be possible to determine their true taxonomic status
through further field work.
For a description of the physiography and vegetation of the
Apatzingan area see Leavenworth (1946, Amer. Midland Nat.
36: 137-206, illus.).
126 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [May, 1957
A New Henicopid Chilopod from Peru
By RALPH V. CHAMBERLIN, University of Utah
The types of the henicopid herein described were collected by
E. R. Ross and E. I. Schlinger in the course of the California
Academy of Sciences expedition to the northern Andes areas
of South America in 1954-55. These types are deposited in the
California Academy. Records are also given for a previously
known species of the same genus.
ORDER LITHOBIIDA
Family Henicopidae
Lamyctes cerronus new species
Reddish brown or somewhat chestnut. Length, 6 mm.
A species agreeing with L. rcctns in lacking any definite ecto-
dont on the prosternum, although a slight obtuse prominence
may show in the place usually occupied by the ectodont when
present in related species. The median sinus separating the
dental series of the prosternum is wide as in rcctns, but in
cerronus there is an acute incision at the middle of the sinus not
present in the other species. Prosternal teeth 2-2. Cf. the
accompanying figure.
Prosternum of Lamyctes cerronus n. sp.
Whereas in rectus tibial spines are present on leg 13, in the
present form these are present only on the first twelve pairs of
legs. In rectus the anal legs have the tibia ecjual in length to
the first tarsal joint, but in cerronus it is longer than that joint
in about the ratio 5:4.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 127
Locality. Peru : 5 mi. NE of Cerro de Pasco, the holotype
taken Dec. 29, 1954; 48 mi. S. of Carhuamayo, Dec. 30, 1954,
one specimen; and 16 mi. NW of Chamay, Loma Lachay, Sept.
11, 1954.
Lamyctes anderis Chamberlin
Localities. Peru: 27 mi. E of Carhuamayo, Sept. 11, 1954,
one ; Carhuamayo, Dec. 20, 1954, one ; 48 km. E of Carhuamayo,
Dec. 30, 1954, two; 16 mi. NW of Chamay, Loma Lachay,
Sept. 11, 1954, one. Ecuador: 17 mi. S of Cayamba, Pichincha,
Feb. 16, 1955, one.
Additions and Corrections to the List of New
Hampshire Trichoptera
By W. J. MORSE and R. L. BLICKLE l
Since the list of New Hampshire Trichoptera was published
forty-one species, new to the state, have been collected. These,
along with certain corrections to be made in the 1953 list, are
as follows :
RHYACOPHILIDAE
Rhyacophila Pictet
vibox Milne, Winchester (WJM), June 28.
PSYCHOMYIIDAE
Polycentropus Curtis
carolinensis Banks, Lee, Plymouth (It), July 7-Aug. 6;
clinei (Milne), Lee, Jaffrey (It), July 8-24; elarus Ross, Lee
(It), Aug. 3; page 70, delete the following locality records for
maculatus Banks, Lee, Plymouth, July 15-Aug. 6; melanae
(Ross), Durham, Lee, Plymouth (It), June 21-July 31; pici-
cornis Steph., Durham, Lee, Jaffrey, Plymouth (It), June 18-
1 Published with the permission of the Director as Scientific Contribu-
tion No. 204 of the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station.
128 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [May, 1957
July 24; weedi Blickle & Morse, Bow, Lee (It), June 15-
Aug. 5.
HYDROPSYCHIDAE
Cheumatopsyche Wallengren
pinaca Ross, Plymouth (It), July 29.
HYDROPTILIDAE
The known distribution of certain species of Hydroptilidae is
greatly increased by the following data. The pattern is in two
forms, one extending southward and roughly paralleling the
Appalachian Mountains and the other extending westward
across the northern states. Several species known only from
Florida, Georgia and New Hampshire and two species recorded
from British Columbia and New Hampshire accentuates the
lack of Trichoptera collecting, especially in the Hydroptilidae.
Ochrotrichia Mosley
Page 72, shawnee (Ross), delete, this was a misdetermina-
tion ; denningi Blickle & Morse, Plymouth (It), June 9-July 16.
Oxyethira Eaton
abacatica Denning, Bow, Durham (It), June 25-Oct. 5, also
recorded from Georgia; aeola Ross, New Durham (It), Sept.
12, also recorded from British Columbia ; coercens Morton, Lee
(It), Aug. 28, also known from Illinois, Indiana, New York
and Oklahoma ; michiganensis Mosely, Bow, Durham, Hopkin-
ton, Jaffrey, Plymouth (It), June 16-Oct. 5, known also from
New York, Michigan and British Columbia ; obtatus Denning,
Bow, Durham, Lee (It), June 22-Oct. 5, also recorded from
Minnesota; rivicola Blickle & Morse, Bow, Durham, Lee, Ply-
mouth (It), June 15-Sept. 22; sida Blickle & Morse, Bow, Lee,
Durham (It), June 21-Sept. 22; verna Ross, Bow, Durham,
Plymouth (It), June 25-Aug. 24, ranges from New Brunswick
to Louisiana.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 129
Orthotrichia Eaton
instabilis Denning, Durham, Lee (It), June 16-Aug. 21,
known previously from Florida.
Hydroptila Dalman
amoena Ross, several female specimens are on hand which
appear to be this species. The records in the 1953 list should
be referred to the following species ; ampoda Ross, Durham,
Lee, Plymouth (It), June 4-Sept. 22, see note under H. amoena
Ross; armata Ross, Durham (It), June 20-July 28, previously
recorded from the middlewest ; consimilis Morton, Plymouth
(It), June 11, a very widely distributed species now recorded
from the state; lonchera Blickle & Morse, Durham, Lee (It),
Aug. 10-25 ; metoeca Blickle & Morse, Durham, Lee (It), June
14-Sept. 4; novicola Blickle & Morse, Durham, Plymouth
(It), June 30-July 8; quinola Ross, Bow, Durham, Lee (It),
June 24-Sept. 25, previously recorded from Ontario ; rernita
Blickle & Morse, Durham, Lee (It), July 24-Sept. 22; rossi
Blickle & Morse, Bow (It), Aug. 5; salmo Ross, Bow, Lee,
Plymouth (It), Aug. 5-13, an interesting extension of range
since this species is known from Wisconsin ; spinata Blickle &
Morse, Durham, Lee, Plymouth (It), June 30- Aug. 25 ; strepha
Ross, Plymouth (It), June 30, previously known from Pennsyl-
vania; valhalla Denning, Bow, Durham, Lee (It), June 24
Aug. 16, previously known from Michigan and Minnesota ;
wyomia Denning, Colebrook (WJM & RLE), Durham, Lee
(It), June 21-July 28, another "middlewestern" species now
recorded from the state; virgata Ross, Lee (It), Winchester
(WJM), June 28-Aug. 28, other records from Arkansas, Illi-
nois and Oklahoma; xoncla Ross, Bow (It), Aug. 13.
Neotrichia Morton
okopa Ross, Durham, Plymouth (It), Aug. 7-25, known
previously from Illinois, Ohio, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.
130 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [May, 1957
Mayatrichia Mosely
ayama Mosely, Durham (It), July 16, this widespread spe-
cies is recorded east of the Appalachian Mountains for the
first time.
PHRYANEIDAE
Agrypnia Curtis
improba (Hagen), Plymouth (It), June 19.
Eubasilissa Martynov
Page 73, paradalis, change to pardalis (Walker).
LlMNEPHILIDAE
Limnephilus Leach
Page 98, curtis, change to curtus (Banks).
sublunatus Prov., Lee (It), July 24.
Pycnopsyche Banks
Page 98, antica (Walker), a synonym of scabripennis
(Rambur).
divergens (Walker), New Durham (Merrymeeting Lake)
(JGC), Sept. 13.
Page 99, Neophylas, change to Neophylax.
LEPTOCERIDAE
Athripsodes Billberg
annulicornis (Steph.), Colebrook (RLB & WJM), Durham
(It), Pittsburg (RLB), June 15-22.
BRACHYCENTRIDAE
Micrasema McLachlan
rusticum (Hagen), Durham (It), June 21-July 11.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 131
LITERATURE CITED
MORSE, W. J. and R. L. BLICKLE. 1953. A check list of the Trichoptera
(Caddis Flies) of New Hampshire. Ent. News LXIV (3) (4) :
68-73, 97-102.
Notes and News in Entomology
Under this heading we present, from time to time, notes, news, and
comments. Contributions from readers are earnestly solicited and will
be acknowledged when used.
Dancing Bees at the Equator and Nocturnal Dances. To
those of our readers who have been following the amazing dis-
coveries on communication in honey bees by Professor KARL
VON FRISCH 1 and his students, the latest experiments of Dr.
MARTIN LINDAUER - will be of great interest.
In a number of publications, from 1946 to the present, von
Frisch has revealed the dominant role that the sun plays in the
orientation of bees, and that the shortcomings of the sun as a
compass the fact that it is at times obscured by clouds and that
it is constantly changing its position in the sky the bees know
how to circumvent. For bees living in the latitudes between the
tropics of Cancer and Capricorn there is still another problem,
for here there are the times, twice a year, when the sun passes
through the zenith and is then useless as a means of orientation.
In Peradeniya, on Ceylon, as the sun approached the zenith,
dances continued throughout the day up until April 2, when the
sun at noon came to within 2^ of the zenith. On these days
bees normally discontinued their flights between 11.40 and 12.30.
When nevertheless induced to fly during the noon hour, the
dances between 11.55 and 12.20 were disoriented. This shows
that when the sun's position makes it useless as a compass, the
bees are without any means for giving information on direction ;
1 Brief articles on these appeared in Ent. News : 66 : 263, and earlier.
See also the book by VON FRISCH : The dancing bees. Harcourt. Brace
& Co., N. Y., 1955, $4.00.
- LINDAUER, M. 1957. Sonnenorientierung der Bienen unter der Aqua-
torsonne und zur Nachtzeit. (Dedicated by Dr. Lindauer to his professor,
K. von Friscli on the occasion of his 70th birthday, Nov. 20, 1956.) Die
Naturwissenschaften 44 : 1-6.
132 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [May, 1957
they may, however, continue to visit the food, orienting their
flights by means of the landscape.
There are also other observations cited that help to determine
exactly how close the sun may be to the zenith while the bees
are still able to measure its azimuth accurately. Disoriented
dances occurred only on the six days before and after the sun's
passage through the zenith. Also, the dates were recorded when
the change of dance direction around noon would be from the
counterclockwise to clockwise, due to the sun passing now to the
south instead of north of the zenith. All evidence indicates that
the sun's azimuth is clearly observable by bees even when the
sun is only 2| from the zenith.
The facetted eyes of the bee thus represent a remarkably
efficient apparatus for astronomical measurements. In this con-
nection, it is noted that observations published years ago show
that the angle of divergence of the ommatidia in the dorsal re-
gion of honey bee's eyes is likewise 2\ \
Nocturnal Dances. Several years ago, while observing dances
on the surface of swarms, Lindauer had found bees dancing at
night, and that these dances were correctly oriented according to
the (nocturnal) position of the sun at the time of the dance.
In the present paper he describes the training of bees to two
different stations. One and the same group of bees was trained
to frequent a place east of the hive one hour before sunset, and
a place west of the hive one hour after sunrise. When these
bees now dance during the night, which place will their dances
refer to? Perhaps to the place last visited, the afternoon sta-
tion? Actual records taken throughout the night showed that
the nocturnal dances before midnight refer to the afternoon
station, those after midnight to the morning station, while close
to midnight the dances are disoriented. This behavior is indeed
a remarkable exhibition of memory and association.
The problem of how the bees obtain their sure knowledge of
the sun's position during every hour of the day and night called
for further investigation. Is it congenital or do they learn it on
their daily flights?
In one experiment, a hive was flown overnight from Ceylon,
on this day 5 35' south of the sun's path, to a locality near
Bombay 5 35' north of the sun's path. It was found that now
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 133
the bees confused their directions corresponding to the altered
position of the sun in the sky. It was, moreover, also found
that after several weeks the bees become adjusted to the new
position of the sun.
The fact that bees must acquire their knowledge of the sun's
path by direct repeated observations, even in their native lati-
tude, was also demonstrated. For this purpose, bees eclosed
in an incubator and combined into a colony that was kept in a
cellar with artificial illumination for four weeks were used.
This hive was brought out and opened one day at noon, and
that afternoon trained to a feeding place. The next morning
these bees were unable to find the feeding place and were com-
pletely disoriented. After a week in the open, a similar experi-
ment showed that most bees were able to locate the next morn-
ing a place they had been trained to the evening before, but
there was still some uncertainty.
Finally, Lindauer found that a thorough familiarity with a
part of the sun's diurnal path suffices to permit a bee to derive
the complete path of the sun inclusive of the nocturnal portion.
A second colony, likewise of bees eclosed and kept in the dark,
was brought outdoors daily at noon and permitted to fly freely
only during the afternoons. After 35 days of this, the hive was
transferred to a new locality, opened at noon, and during the
afternoon trained to a feed place. That night the hive was
transferred to still another locality and now opened at 8 A.M.
Although this was the first time these bees had ever been out in
the forenoon, the majority of bees flew in the correct direction
to seek their food. If they can thus calculate the position of
the sun during the morning, a time when they had never before
seen it, there is no reason they should not be able to calculate
its position during the night also. It is true the nocturnal
dancers do not take into account the small irregularities in the
rate of angular movement of the azimuth. In our latitudes the
azimuth curves (azimuth plotted against time) are small, but
near the equator they become very steep, and it remains to be
determined how accurately nocturnal dancers in the tropics re-
late their movements to the sun's position. R. G. SCHMIEDER.
Zoogeography of Pacific Insects, the project bearing this
title (see Ent. News 67: 79, March, 1956) has been enlarged.
134 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [May, 1957
Mr. WILLIAM W. BRANDT has been employed jointly by the
Bishop Museum and the Administration of the Territory of
Papua and New Guinea, and has started last October with work
on Normandy I. and Woodlark I. Next he will go to the
Owen Stanley Mts. Lepidoptera collected will go to Canberra;
other insects to the Bishop Museum, with duplicates to Port
Moresby. The plans for 1957 also include: J. L. GRESSITT to
New Hebrides, E. Solomons, N. New Guinea, N. Borneo and
Thailand; C. W. SABROSKY (Bishop Museum with cooperation
of U.S.D.A. and Office of Naval Research) to Palau, Yap, and
Guam, in April through June ; D. E. HARDY to New Guinea, by
the Museum ; and E. G. MUNROE to New Guinea, with Canada
Dept. of Agriculture cooperating.
Of the "Insects of Micronesia," 16 issues have already ap-
peared, two more are about to appear, and others are in press.
Budapest Museum. A recent letter from Dr. ZOLTAN
KASZAB of the Hungarian National Museum carries additional
depressing news of the disastrous damage in October and No-
vember. The Paleontology and Mineralogy sections suffered
great destruction. Among the zoological exhibitions lost was
the African Diorama, 25 meters long and modern in workman-
ship. More serious losses, scientifically regarded, are : 30,000
herps, 10,000 fishes, 40,000 birds, 30,000 eggs, 500,000 molluscs,
and mammalian bones, including the African material of Kitten-
berger. The insect collections were also damaged, especially
the Diptera, of which 250,000 specimens (including 1,000
types), 1,500 volumes and 6,000 separates were burned.
Dr. Kaszab writes that the Museum Annals will probably be
published this year as usual but includes in his letter the follow-
ing (free translation) :
"The replacement of the destroyed collections and renewal of
scientific work in the museum surpasses our own resources and
will be possible only through the sympathetic help of foreign
institutes and foundations, zoological and entomological socie-
ties. We ask of anyone who is able, help us ! I also ask you
to make the contents of my letter widely known. The zoologists
at the museum are all alive and working strenuously to salvage
everything worth saving."- H. F. STROHECKER, University of
Miami.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 135
Reviews
THE NEOTROPICAL SPECIES OF THE "SUBGENUS AESCHNA"
SENSU SELYSII 1883 (Odonata). Memoirs of the American
Entomological Society, Number 15 (Academy of Natural Sci-
ences of Philadelphia). By Philip P. Calvert, Professor Emeri-
tus of Zoology, University of Pennsylvania, and Editor Emeri-
tus of the Entomological News.
For many years odonatologists have been aware of the need
of an adequate revision of the many species of Aeshna (sensu
lato) of South and Central America. For some years past,
however, it has been well known that Dr. Calvert was working
on this project and now this gap in our knowledge of dragonflies
has been filled.
Dr. Calvert's report is an imposing document of 251 pages
of text, 614 figures arranged on 47 plates, 19 tables of venational
and other measurements and 7 maps showing both geographical
and altitudinal distribution of all the species and subspecies
treated in the study.
Thirty-eight species comprise the neotropical members of the
three genera recognized, but forty are actually considered, since
two species of Hespcraeschna, a typically neotropical subgenus
of Aeschna, are unknown south of Baja California, Mexico, one
of these being the type species, Aeshna (//.) calif ornica Calvert.
The main body of the study is divided into seven parts, the
first and by far the largest part dealing with the adult dragon-
flies, the second with the larvae, while the remaining parts are
brief dissertations on the following topics: III Relationships
of the Neotropical Aeshnas to the North American fossils ; IV
Relations of the South American Aeshnas to Palearctic and
Australian species ; V The Geological Age and Geographical
Distribution of the Ancestors of the Odonata and Mammalia;
VI Relations of the Neotropical Aeshnas to each other ; and
VII The Seasonal Distribution of the Neotropical Species of
Aeshna.
In the introductory pages of Section I a full account is given
of the historical events leading to the fixation of the generotype
of Aeshna Fab. as A. grandis L. by Cowley in 1934. This is
followed by an all-inclusive key to genera, subgenera, species and
136 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [May, 1957
subspecies. Being of the descriptive kind, a number of charac-
ters are used, not only venational and genitalic but also many
others from various regions of the body, including color pattern.
Such a key may be more time-consuming than the usual shorter
kind but is far more reliable. Immediately following the key a
number of abdominal details are described, these having been
used as taxonomic characters for the first time in the present
work.
No pains have been spared to make this study as complete and
accurate as possible. In the descriptive part the treatment of
each species includes an apparently complete list of references in
chronological order, numbered consecutively, and detailed state-
ments as to sources of material and distribution of species and
subspecies, not only geographical but also altitudinal and sea-
sonal. Under the caption "Ecology" are various field notes,
often copied as exactly as possible from the collector's label, this
being usually necessary since adequate accounts of the habits or
haunts are rarely available in published form. Finally, under
"discussion" are considered the numerous problems, chiefly tax-
onomic, which inevitably arise in a work of this kind, particu-
larly in the case of little-known species.
A total of 40 species of the "subgenus Aeschna" sensu Selysii
1883 are treated in this work. These include some more re-
cently described species belonging to the same "subgenus" and,
as already stated, two that are not actually Neotropical in
distribution.
As now classified, these 40 species belong to three genera,
Aeshna, Coryphaeschna and Castoraeschna. Coryphaeschna
was separated from Aeshna in 1903 by E. B. Williamson, the
generotype being A. ing ens Rambur and other species of Aeshna
were transferred to the new genus by various workers, including
Calvert. Six species are now referred to Coryphaeschna, all
inhabiting the Neotropical Region, although C. ingens pene-
trates North America as far as North Carolina.
The only new genus that appears in the present study is
Castoraeschna, although it should be noted that Dr. Calvert
published preliminary diagnoses of this new genus and his new
subgenera of Aeshna in 1952 (Ent. News, 63). Five species
belong to Castoraeschna and all but one of them had been placed
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 137
in Coryphaeschna by Ris or Kimmins, including the generotype
Aeshna castor Brauer.
The remaining species are placed in the genus Aeshna, but
this genus, as represented in the Neotropical Region, is now sub-
divided into six nominal subgenera, namely, Aeshna, Hesper-
aeschna Cockerell, Rhionaeschna Foerster, Schizuraeschna Cal-
vert, Marmaraeschna Calvert, and Neureclipa Navas. Only
two species are referred to the typical northern subgenus Aeshna
and these are both too little known to give much assurance that
they actually belong to this subgenus. Rhionaeschna, repre-
sented by a single species not seen by Calvert is doubtfully dis-
tinct from Hesperaeschna, the dominant neotropical subgenus.
This leaves thus four well defined and well established subgenera
of Aeshna in the region considered.
The largest and most widely distributed of these subgenera is
Hesperaeschna, whose 14 species together have an unbroken
range from Terra del Fuego (A. variegata} to southern British
Columbia {A. calif arnica}, a latitudinal range of 102 degrees.
None of the other subgenera or even genera approach Hesper-
aeschna in latitudinal range. Coryphaeschna comes second with
66 degrees, and likewise entering North American (North
Carolina), while the third is the subgenus Schisuraeschna (60),
which ranges even farther north than Hesperaeschna (A. multi-
color to southern British Columbia), although the southward
extension of its range is only to Panama or possibly Venezuela
(A. jalapensis). There are only four species each of the sub-
genera Marmaraeschna and Neureclipa, and three of Schisur-
aeschna, so that the total number of species of Aeshna, includ-
ing two in the subgenus Aeshna and one of Rhionaeschna is 28.
The 7 species of Coryphaeschna and 5 of Castoraeschna make
the total number of species described 40.
Comparatively little larval material was available for Dr.
Calvert's study but that little has been most carefully investi-
gated. The key to the larvae is modified from the keys of
Wright and Peterson (1944, Ohio Jl. Sci. : 151-161) and Need-
ham and Westfall (1955, Manual N. Amer. Drgfls. : 253-255).
Although the larva of Coryphaeschna ingens, the generotype of
this genus, is strikingly unlike the typical Aeshna larva, the dif-
ference between larvae of these two genera may be very slight.
138 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [May, 1957
Castoraeschna is still unknown in the larval state and, as far as
any of the genera are concerned, larvae of less than a dozen
species and subspecies are known with certainty. This is, how-
ever, as many as could be expected in a group whose larvae
have not yet been systematically collected or reared.
Dr. Calvert's study is profusely illustrated, partly from photo-
graphs, partly from line drawings, but the great majority of the
figures are from pencil drawings, reproduced in halftone. These
drawings are most carefully and accurately executed, but the
lack of contrast of pencil drawings is increased in the reproduc-
tion, so that they appear somewhat dull and flat. Nevertheless,
the figures perform their main function, accurately representing
the parts which they illustrate.
The final impression left on the mind of the reviewer after a
careful scrutiny of this work is that of an extremely exact and
detailed study in which nothing has been done hastily and no
opinion expressed on any problem without due consideration of
every one of its angles.
Besides being a work that every serious odonatologist will
desire to possess, this monograph will doubtless be wanted for
entomological libraries everywhere, particularly those in Cen-
tral and South America. EDMUND M. WALKER.
THE BIOLOGY OF THE HETEROPTERA; by N. C. E. Miller.
Pp. 162, 64 figs. Leonard Hill Ltd. 9 Eden Street, London
N.W. 1. 30 s.
This small book by Professor Miller will be of considerable
value to the general entomologist and the specialist in Heterop-
tera as it contains numerous fine illustrations of adult and imma-
ture stages of many species of the suborder. For almost the
first time, all of the heteropterous families are brought together
and discussed in a single volume and the author as a result of
his extensive work in the tropics of the Eastern Hemisphere has
been able to avoid the over-emphasis upon Holarctic species so
evident in most general works. A useful list of family and sub-
family names and their synonyms is included. Particularly
valuable is the extensive section on the Reduvoidea of which
group Dr. Miller is one of the great authorities.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 139
From specialists in the group have come expressions of regret
on account of many errors and omissions, and the poor balance
of the work. For example, 101 of the some 152 pages of text
are devoted to discussions of the various families. The Redu-
voidea are treated in 40 pages, the Tingidae receive three-
fourths of one page, the Coreidae four pages, the Lygaeidae
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ily of Heteroptera) are treated in two and one-half pages.
Any book of this type must, of course, be highly selective, but
in view of some of the very limited references included it is sur-
prising to find no mention of such important biological papers
as Bailey's on the Tingidae, Esselbaugh's on Pentatomidae,
Blatchley's "Heteroptera of E. N. America," Renter's classic
work on the Heteroptera of Palearctic Conifers and a great
many others.
Much important biological information is lacking. To take
two examples, maternal care in Heteroptera is very casually
discussed without reference to the important papers on the sub-
ject by Bequaert, Frost & Haber and Kirkaldy among others
and there is no consideration of the important Mullerian and
Batesian mimicry phenomena exhibited by some members of
the suborder.
Statements of the geographic distribution of the various fami-
lies is unfortunately most misleading. The Isometopidae are
said to be Palearctic and Oriental, the Berytidae Ethiopian and
Indo-Australian, the Aradidae Palearctic and Nearctic, and the
Salclidae Nearctic and Palearctic.
Economic workers will certainly object to the omission or
summary treatment of such destructive species as Antestia linea-
ticollis, Anasa tristis, Blissus leucopterus, Nysius ericae and
Nysius vinitor among others.
The book appears to be valuable for students of the Redu-
voidea and for general workers in providing an overall view of
the groups of Heteroptera and for its excellent illustrations. It
must, however, be used with great caution and by no means
represents a definitive work upon the biology of the Heteroptera.
R. G. S.
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THE NEOTROPICAL SPECIES OF THE
'SUBGENUS AESCHNA' SENSU SELYSII 1883
(Odonata)
By Philip P. Calvert
This paper presents an account of the Neotropical species referred
by de Selys in 1883 to his subgenus Aeschna and of some species un-
known to him. His subgenus is here divided into three genera,
Aeschna, Coryphaeschna, and Castoraeschna, Aeshna in its turn be-
ing subdivided into the subgenera Aeschna, Hesperaeschna, Rhio-
naeschna, Schizuraeschna, Marmaraeschna and Neureclipa. These
five subgenera include 2, 15, 1, 3, 4 and 5 species and subspecies
respectively. Coryphaeschna embraces 9 species and subspecies,
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Schizuraeschna, 1 species of Neureclipa and 6 species of Cory-
phaeschna are described and figured. Generalities are discussed under
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American fossils ; Relations of the South American Aeshnas to the
Palaearctic and Australian species ; The geological age and geographi-
cal distribution of the ancestors of the Odonata and of the Mammalia ;
Relations of the Neotropical Aeshnas to each other; The seasonal
distribution of the Neotropical species of Aeshna. Forty plates in
black and white illustrate the structural and colorational features of
the adults, seven those of the larvae. Nineteen tables show the varia-
tions in size and in venation of the adults. Six maps show the geo-
graphic distribution of all the species concerned. There is an alpha-
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Price $10.00 postpaid
THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
1900 RACE STREET, PHILADELPHIA 3, PA.
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>v S
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
,H Xi: 1957
Vol. LXVIII No. 6
CONTENTS
Michener Biology of a parasitic bee 141
Laboratory Training Courses 146
Woolley Redescriptions of Ewing's Oribatid mites, III 147
Nomenclature Notice 156
Buscemi Endochironomus overwintering cocoons 157
Linsley New longicorn beetles from Texas 159
Ignoffo Records of mammal-lice associations 162
Balduf Weight of puparia of Rhagoletis basiola 163
Brown Distribution and variation of Formica dakotensis 165
Change of policy on separates 167
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ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
VOL. LXVIII JUNE, 1957 No. 6
Notes on the Biology of a Parasitic Bee, Isepeolus
viperinus (Hymenoptera, Anthophorinae) x
By CHARLES D. MICHENER -
The purpose of this paper is to present information on the
biology of the South American parasitic bee, Isepeolus viperinus
(Holmberg). The observations are fragmentary but, in view
of the interesting structural and behavioral parallelisms that
occur among various parasitic bees, it seems worth publishing
them, especially since very little has been known previously of
the biology of any Protepeolini.
The so-called parasitic bees that inhabit nests of solitary bee
hosts are inquilines after the manner of cuckoos. They lay their
eggs in the cells of the host ; each larva destroys the egg or
young larva in a cell of the host, then eats the food stored by
the host. When a parasite locates a host nest, she revisits it
from time to time in order to lay an egg in each cell, or at least
in more than one cell. Even though the parasites occur in
1 Contribution number 958 from the Department of Entomology, Uni-
versity of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas.
2 The field work for this study was possible thanks to a John Simon
Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship and aid kindly made available by the
Campanha Nacional de Aperfeigoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior,
Rio de Janeiro ; the Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas, Rio de Janeiro ;
and the Rockefeller Foundation, New York. In particular, thanks are
due to Father J. S. Moure for the use of facilities of the Secgao de
Zoologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Universidade do Parana, Curitiba,
Parana, Brazil, and for identification of the bees concerned. Early com-
pletion of the manuscript and figures was made possible by a grant from
the National Science Foundation.
(141)
JUN.20 mi
142 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS IJutie, 1957
different families, they exhibit a remarkable series of paral-
lelisms. Some of those relating to adult morphology have been
treated by Grutte (1935), Michener (1944), and others. A
most remarkable parallelism concerns the first stage larva, which
in various parasites is equipped with an enormous head and
jaws which are used to destroy the egg or young larva of the
host. This modification occurs in such parasites as Coelioxys
(Megachilidae), Melecta, Oreopasites, Epeolus, Triepeolus, and
Noniada (Anthophorinae). It is possible that this character is
an indication of phylogenetic relationship of the last three, but
must have arisen independently in Coelioxys and Melecta, and
probably in Oreopasites. Another parasitic bee, Stelis, how-
ever, has nearly normal first stage larvae. It is interesting to
find that Isepeolus has a large head and jaws in this stage, just
as do its parasitic relatives in the Anthophorinae.
The genus Isepeolus has been recorded as a parasite of Col-
letes previously (Claude- Joseph, 1926; Ruiz, 1942, 1944, under
the name Epeolus luctuosus Spinola), but information on imma-
ture stages has been limited to notes on the mature larva by
Claude-Joseph.
The observations here recorded concern its parasitism of
Colletes kerri Moure. The ethology of this species has been
discussed elsewhere (Michener and Lange, 1957).
Among 25 occupied cells of C. kerri collected from nests in
an earth bank at Araucaria, Parana, Brazil, on January 13,
1956, 6 were occupied by cocoons of Isepeolus, the others by
pupae of the Colletes. The Isepeolus cocoons are 11 to 12 mm.
long, 6 mm. wide, strong, firm, made of coarse brown fibers
sometimes as much as .02 mm. in diameter, criss-crossed, fused
at points of crossing. These form an outer layer separable with
difficulty from a second layer of finer fibers partially imbedded
in an amorphous membrane. This layer is easily separable from
a third which is similar to the second. The fourth and inner-
most layer, separable with difficulty from the third, is very thin,
almost without fibers or with only very fine pale ones, and is
thus mostly amorphous material. It is very smooth and shining
on the inner surface except near the anterior end where it is more
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 143
fibrous, less smooth, and with some open interspaces among the
fibers. The thickness of the whole cocoon wall is about .28 mm.
The outside of the cocoon is fairly uniformly covered with a
layer of fecal matter and perhaps unused pollen. This layer is
.1 to .2 mm. thick, and blackish; separate fecal pellets cannot
be recognized.
At the time that these cocoons were collected one adult was
already chewing its way out through one end of its cocoon.
Others were still pupae, but all had emerged by January 25.
Other observations on the relations between Isepeolus viperi-
nus and its host were made in a series of banks near Curitiba,
Parana, Brazil, which are termed for our purposes the Bangui
roadside banks. They are described in detail by Michener,
Lange, Bigarella, and Salamuni (1958). On February 26, a
female Isepeolus viperinus was seen to enter a known nest of
Colletes kerri. The nest was left undisturbed, but on March 4
it was excavated. It contained two cells, both of which were
occupied by young Isepeolus larvae. The latter were straight
(unlike the curled Colletes larvae) and floated at the surface of
the semiliquid provisions. They had killed the Colletes larvae,
but the remains of the latter were uneaten in the mass of pro-
visions ; apparently Isepeolus larvae do not eat those of their
host.
A young Isepeolus larva is shown in fig. 1, with a young
Colletes larva drawn to the same scale in fig. 2. The two draw-
ings were traced from a photograph of living larvae removed
from the cells. The young larva of Isepeolus is remarkable for
being nearly straight, the body with thick projecting lateral
folds, especially posteriorly, which disappear in larvae of the
same stage which have fed and are more distended. The body
is remarkable among Anthophorinae for having a few hairs,
especially in the anterior half. The large, depressed, heavily
sclerotized head is also rather hairy. Sclerotization extends
back as a spreading shield over the anterior part of the pro-
thorax, especially ventrally, as shown in figs. 3 and 4, where
membranous areas are stippled. The pointed labrum, relatively
long antennae, absence of palpi, and the large sickle-shaped
144 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [June, 1957
mandibles are noteworthy features. However, the fusion of
the labium, maxillae and hypopharynx to form an undivided
ventral plate which is completely fused with the head capsule
and has the salivary opening exposed on its ventral surface is
a most remarkable modification of the pattern seen in related
nonparasitic Anthophorinae (e.g., Anthophora, see Michener,
1953). A deep midapical emargination in this plate is sur-
rounded by downflexed margins (fig. 5). The posterior ten-
torial pits are reduced to a pair of inconspicuous depressions,
from which exceedingly slender tentorial rods extend ante-
riorly ; no tentorial bridge was seen, nor were anterior tentorial
pits located.
The head is so differently modified from that of Oreopasites
(Rozen, 1954), another parasitic anthophorine whose young
larval head has been studied with some care, that it may be that
the head enlargement and sclerotization in Oreopasites and
Iscpeolus larvae have been independent. In Oreopasites the
labrum is deeply bifid, the antennae and palpi are small but
recognizable and the maxillary and labial area is separated from
the rest of the head. These are primitive features which agree
with bee larvae in general. Hence it is reasonable to state that
the primary larvae of Oreopasites are less specialized than
those of Isepeolus. Unfortunately, those of other parasitic
Anthophorinae have not been described in sufficient detail to
permit comparison.
One might imagine that larvae so modified could only kill
the egg or larva of the host and could not feed on the stored
food. This is not the case, for one small larva, presumably first
stage, had the body distended with pollen.
Finally, it should be noted that a prepupa of Isepeolus viperi-
nus was found in a cocoon in the nest of an unknown species of
Colic tes (not kern) near Restinga Seca, 20 km. east of Pal-
meira, Parana, Brazil, on January 27, 1956. This prepupa
pupated in mid-February and emerged in the laboratory in early
March. Apparently this individual belonged to a population not
synchronized with Colletcs kerri but rather with its own host.
Ixviii]
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
145
FIG. 1. Young (probably first stage) larva of Isopeolits viperiwus
(Holmberg), dorsal view.
FIG. 2. Side view of larva of the same age of the host, Colleges kerri
Moure.
FIGS. 3-5. Lateral, dorsal and ventral views of head of young larva
of Isopeolus viperiwus (Holmberg).
Morphologically it agreed with specimens reared from nests of
C. kerri.
As the pupa of Isepeolus has not been described, the following
notes may be useful : No pubescence ; no spines on coxae or
elsewhere ; a pair of tubercles on vertex near ocelli ; a pair of
large tubercles behind middle of mesoscutum. This pupa, as
can be seen from the study of bee pupae by Michener (1954),
has fewer spines and projections than any other bee pupa known.
Perhaps this is because the adult is largely devoid of long hairs ;
in the paper mentioned above it is suggested that pupal spines
serve principally to provide space for the development of the
long hairs characteristic of most nonparasitic bees.
146 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [June, 1957
LITERATURE CITED
CLAUDE-JOSEPH, F. 1926. Recherches biologiques sur les Hymenopteres
du Chili (Melliferes), Ann. Sci. Nat., Zool. [Paris], (10)9: 113-
268.
GRUTTE, E. 1939. Zur Abstammung der Kuckucksbienen (Hymenopt.
Apid.), Arch. Naturgesch. (new ser.), 4: 449-534.
MICHENER, C. D. 1944. Comparative external morphology, phylogeny,
and a classification of the bees, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 82 :
151-326.
1953. Comparative morphological and systematic studies of bee
larvae with a key to the families of Hymenopterous larvae, Univ.
Kansas Sci. Bull., 35: 987-1102.
1954. Observations on the pupae of bees, Pan-Pac. Ent., 30: 63-70.
MICHENER, C. D. and R. B. LANGE. 1957. Observations on the biology
of some Brazilian colletid bees (Hymenoptera, Apoidea), Jour.
Kansas Ent. Soc. (in press).
MICHENER, C. D., R. B. LANGE, J. J. BIGARELLA, and R. SALAMUNI.
1958. Factors influencing the distribution of bees' nests in earth
banks, Ecology (in press).
ROZEN, J. G. 1954. Morphological description of the larva of Oreopa-
sites vanduzeei Cockerell, Pan-Pac. Ent., 30 : 203-207.
Ruiz P., F. 1942. Notas biologicas de algunos generos de abejas soli-
tarias de Chile, Boletin de Sanidad Vegetal [Ministerio de Agri-
cultura, Santiago], 2(1) : 8-16.
1944. Apidologia Chilena, segunda parte, Rev. Chilena Hist. Nat.,
46 and 47: 200-231.
Laboratory Training Courses
A schedule of the Laboratory Refresher Training Courses
that will be given by the Laboratory Branch of the Communica-
ble Disease Center during the period September 9, 1957 to
March 28, 1958 has been issued. About twenty different
courses on laboratory diagnoses of the various viral, bacterial,
rikettsial, fungous, protozoan, and other parasitic diseases of
man and animals are included. Each course runs from one to
four weeks at designated periods ; a few are repeated. For
detailed information, and for application forms write to the
Laboratory Training Services, Communicable Disease Center,
U. S. Public Health Service, P.O. Box 185, Chamblee, Georgia.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 147
Redescriptions of Ewing's Oribatid Mites, III
Family Eremaeidae (Acarina: Oribatei) '
By TYLER A. WOOLLEY, Department of Zoology, Colorado
A. & M. College, Fort Collins, Colorado
This paper delineates several redescriptions of oribatid mites,
the original accounts of which were made by the late Dr. Henry
E. Ewing. The article is a sequential part of a series pro-
posed by Dr. E. W. Baker of the U. S. National Museum.
The writer follows Ewing's descriptions as far as possible, but
uses modern acarological terms.
FAMILY EREMAEIDAE WILLMANN, 1931
According to Willmann (1931) this family of aptyctimous
mites is characterized by the lack of pteromorphae, legs shorter
than the body and leaf-like or ridge-like lamellae. Legs III
and IV are usually inserted at the lateral margins of the
hysterosoma.
The first three species redescribed below are representatives
of the genus Lucoppia Berlese, 1908, in which the narrow,
ridge-like lamellae converge, the pseudostigmatic organ is capi-
tate, with a globe on a short, thin stalk. The last species dis-
cussed in this paper is in the genus Eremaeus Koch, 1836,
which is characterized by reduced, parallel lamellae, short tarsi
with three claws and apodemata IV fused into a sclerotized band
which surrounds the genital aperture.
Lucoppia magnipilosa (Ewing), 1909. (Figs. 1, 2)
Type: Damacus magnipilosus Ewing, 1909, p. 130.
Description: Olive brown in color, integument rough, with
small, raised kernels. Propodosoma triangular (specimen tilted
on slide), rostrum rounded anteriorly; rostral hairs simple,
incurved at tips, inserted half their lengths posterior to rostral
tip. Lamellae not noticeable except as slight ridge on right
1 Research supported by a grant-in-aid from the National Science
Foundation.
148 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [June, 1957
side. Lamellar hairs a third longer than rostral hairs, erect
and inserted two-thirds their lengths directly posterior to rostral
hairs. Interlamellar hairs simple, about same size as lamellar
hairs, erect, inserted between pseudostigmata. Pseudostigmata
cylindrical, low, slightly raised above surface of propodosoma,
cornuate beneath. Pseudostigmatic organs small, erect, with
narrow, short peduncle and globose head. Tectopedia I lateral,
between levels of pseudostigmata and lamellar hairs.
Hysterosoma oval, wider anteriorly in tilted specimen, longer
than broad. Dorsum with eleven pairs of long, fine, simple
setae. Each seta finely serrate as shown in fig. 1. Two poste-
rior median pairs of setae shorter than others. Ewing's de-
scription states : "At the posterior margin of the abdomen are
situated two pairs of short, stout, fusiform bristles, character-
istic of this species ; the upper two are about twice as long as the
lower two, and both pairs are inclined away from the median
plane." In the specimen from which this description is con-
structed these dorsal hairs are fine and not stout. There are,
however, two short, fusiform adanal hairs on the venter, which
Ewing may have viewed from above, but none of the setae on
the dorsum is stout.
Camerostome oval as seen in tilted specimen, with two simple
bristles posterior to chelicerae. Other bristles as shown in
fig. 2. Ventral plate shield shaped, anterior margin of shield
formed by curved apodemata IV. Genital opening oval, nearly
three times its length from anal aperture, anterior margin con-
tiguous with curved front margin of ventral plate adjacent to
apodemata IV. Each genital plate longer than broad and with
five simple setae inserted closer to lateral margin than to
medial (fig. 2); g:l inserted on anterior margin of genital
plate; g:5 inserted in middle of posterior edge; g:2, g:3, g:4
and g : 5 equidistant from each other, a slightly wider separation
between g : 3 and g : 4. Anal aperture nearly square ; anal
plates nearly three times as large as genital plates, longer than
broad, with two anal setae; a:l inserted laterally on plate, a: 2
shorter and closer to median and posterior margin of plate
(fig. 2).
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 149
According to Ewing the anterior pair of legs are as long as
entire body, the leg segments less swollen than in other species.
He describes all legs with stout, curved, pectinate hairs and leg
IV as the longest of the legs.
Length 725 /j., hysterosoma 528 /A ; width 428 /j..
Discussion: The original description by Ewing (1909a) is
slightly different in some respects from the current redescrip-
tion. The specimen described above is not the type, but bears
the same identification as the type. According to Ewing the
type species was collected by J. D. Hood at Urbana, Illinois,
under the bark of soft maple. The specimen described above
is one collected by C. R. Crosby at Columbia, Missouri, and
mounted June 19, 1908.
Lucoppia curviseta (Ewing), 1909. (Figs. 3, 4)
Type : Notaspis curviseta Ewing, 1909, p. 105.
Description: Dark reddish brown, integument thick and hard.
Propodosoma narrowly triangular, about one third as long as
body, expanded laterally in outline by projection of tectopedia I
and II. Rostrum rounded; rostral hairs simple, erect, about
half as long as lamellar hairs, inserted three-fourths their lengths
from tip of rostrum at lateral margins. Lamellae narrow, con-
vergent bands or ridges on surface of propodosoma, extended
from base of pseudostigmata to level of anterior margin of
tectopedia I, expanded distally for insertion of lamellar hairs.
Lamellar hairs about as long as propodosoma, finely serrate
(Ewing states: "pectinate"), directed forward. No trans-
lamella. Interlamellar hairs about three-fourths as long as
lamellar hairs, simple, erect, but curved outward and upward,
inserted near lamellae, antero-mediad of pseudostigmata. Pseu-
dostigmata small, circular pits, slightly larger in diameter than
width of lamella. Pseudostigmatic organ short, directed antero-
laterad, with straight, narrow pedicel, a spherical head at level
of tectopedia II. Tectopedia I and II as shown in fig. 3.
Hysterosoma subglobose, slightly broader in front, anterior
margin indented laterally to form a small scallop around inser-
tion of first pair of setae directly behind tectopedia II ; first
150 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [June, 1957
pair of setae straight, directed laterad ; dorsmn with thirteen
pairs of simple, curved setae (Ewing says: "pectinate"). Four
pairs of areae porosae, one pair posterior to shoulder of
hysterosoma, three pairs postero-lateral in position (fig. 3).
A glandular fissure postero-laterad of fourth pair of hystero-
somal bristles.
Camerostome subtriangular, two setate immediately posterior
to chelicerae. Other setae as in fig. 4. Apodemata I and II
long, narrow, directed mediad; apodemata III and IV short,
curved, extended mediad a fourth the distance to genital open-
ing. Anterior margin of genital aperture contiguous with apo-
demata II, opening nearly square in outline, about three times
its length anterior to anal aperture. Each genital plate rectangu-
lar, with straight, medial margin, rounded lateral corners ; four
short, fine genital setae on each plate; g:l and g:2 anterior,
g:3 and g:4 posterior (fig. 4). Anal aperture nearly three times
as large as genital opening, somewhat polygonal in outline.
Anal covers with two fine, curved hairs inserted closer to
medial margin than to lateral. Two pairs of stout, fusiform,
adanal setae, one at postero-lateral corner of anal aperture,
second pair posterior to aperture near posterior margin of ven-
tral plate, projected posteriorly beyond margin of hysterosoma.
Legs subequal, posterior pair not extended beyond hind
margin of hysterosoma.
Length 766 /A, hysterosoma 566 /*. ; width 533 /A.
Ewing (1909b) states that several specimens of this species
were collected at Arcola and Homer, Illinois.
EXPLANATION OF FIGURES
FIG. 1. Lucoppia magnipilosa (Ewing), 1909, from dorso-lateral as-
pect ; A. pseudostigmatic organ (after Ewing 1909) ; legs omitted.
FIG. 2. Lucoppia magnipilosa (Ewing), 1909, from ventral aspect;
legs omitted.
FIG. 3. Lucoppia curviseta (Ewing), 1909, from dorsal aspect; legs
omitted.
FIG. 4. Lucoppia curviseta (Ewing), 1909, from ventral aspect; legs
omitted.
Ixviii]
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
151
3
4-
FIGS. 1-4.
152 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [June, 1957
Lucoppia boletorum Ewing, 1913, p. 120. (Figs. 5, 6)
Description: Light yellowish brown. Propodosoma longer
than broad, rostrum blunt. Rostral hairs inserted in slight
prominences a third their lengths from rostral tip. Lamellae
less than half the length of propodosoma, low sclerotized ridges
apparently extending to pseudostigmata, but interrupted by
insertion of interlamellar hairs. Lamellar hairs pectinate,
curved ; inserted in low crescentic pits at anterior end of lamellae,
reaching nearly to insertion of rostral hairs. Interlamellar hairs
pectinate, divergent, a third longer than lamellar hairs, inserted
in slightly curved, medial projections of lamellae, closer to
pseudostigmata than to lamellar hairs. No translamella. Pseu-
dostigmata cup-like ; pseudostigmatic organs short, with narrow
pedicel and subglobose, simple head.
Hysterosoma somewhat oval (except for broken dor sum on
right side), surface irregular, but not pitted; dorsum with eleven
pairs of slightly pectinate, curved setae (fig. 5). Areae porosae
as shown in fig. 5.
Venter misshapen due to breakage of specimen. Apodemata
I curved around base of camerostome ; apodemata II directed
medio-posteriorly from between tectopedia I and II. Apode-
mata III nearly horizontal at level anterior to genital aperture,
not extended to margin of latter. Genital opening about two
and one-half times its length from anal aperture, rounded;
genital covers with straight medial margins, rounded laterally ;
genital setae not visible, a single setal insertion in postero-
lateral corner of left cover. Anal opening about twice the size
of genital opening, each anal cover with a single visible seta.
An adanal seta adjacent to postero-lateral ir^argins of anal aper-
ture.
EXPLANATION OF FIGURES
FIG. 5. Lucoppia boletorum Ewing, 1913, from dorsal aspect, hystero-
soma broken on right side ; legs partially shown.
FIG. 6. Lucoppia boletorum Ewing, 1913, from ventral aspects ; legs
emitted.
FIG. 7. Ercmaeus brevitarsus (Ewing), 1917, from dorsal aspects;
legs omitted.
FIG. 8. Ercmaeus brevitarsus (Ewing), 1917, from ventral aspect;
legs omitted.
Ixviii]
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
153
7
FIGS. 5-8.
154 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [June, 1957
Length 614 /A, hysterosoma 470 /A.
Ewing (1913) states that this species was collected by J. E.
Guthrie at Jordan, Minnesota.
Discussion: According to Ewing (1913) this species is simi-
lar to L. pilosus (Banks), but he differentiates L. boletorum on
the basis of an almost circular hysterosoma and shorter lamellar
hairs. The fact that the specimen of the latter species is broken
makes exact comparisons difficult.
Eremaeus brevitarsus (Ewing), 1917, nov. comb. (Figs.
7,8)
Cotype : Damaeus brevitarsus Ewing, 1917, p. 164.
Description: Propodosoma large, bluntly triangular in out-
line, narrower than hysterosoma and about two thirds as long,
with small tubercles on lateral and posterior surfaces (fig. 7).
Rostrum broad and blunt, rostral hairs inserted in slight notches
at lateral edges of propodosoma approximately half their lengths
from anterior tip. Lamellae small, elongated, triangular promi-
nences, about as long as rostral hairs, located on dorsal surface
of propodosoma, with anterior cusp that projects above surface
of propodosoma. Lamellar hairs short, about one-fourth as
long as lamellae, each inserted in tip of anterior lamellar cusp
and slightly decurved. Translamellae reduced to small medial
projections on inner edges of lamellae. Interlamellar hairs
stouter than lamellar hairs, but about same length, pectinate,
inserted antero-mediad of pseudostigmata. Pseudostigmata cir-
cular and pit-like, as wide as half the length of interlamellar
hair, nearly three times their diameters from anterior margin of
hysterosoma. Pseudostigmatic organ elongate, club-like and
pectinate, extending almost directly laterad from pseudostigmata.
Tectopedia I prominent, posterior to level of lamellar hairs,
but directly laterad of lamellae. Tectopedia II a prominent,
notched lateral tubercle at postero-lateral angle of propodosoma
between legs II and III.
Hysterosoma longer than broad, swollen and slightly oval in
outline, truncate anteriorly, anterior margin apparently flat-
tened behind propodosoma, shoulder regions sclerotized ; nine
pairs of fine, dorsal setae; integument smooth (fig. 7).
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 155
Posterior margin of camerostome angular ; setal insertions at
level of tectopedia I and medial. Apodemata II and III trans-
verse bars, each ending in curved, sclerotized coxal insertions ;
apodemata IV coalesced with sclerotized margin of genital
aperture. Two pairs of setal insertions anterior to genital
aperture on each side of sclerotized bar between apodemata III
and IV 7 , a single setal insertion mediad of coxal insertion IV.
Genital aperture oval in outline, surrounded by sclerotized ring
formed by apodemata IV ; each genital cover subrectangular,
with six genital setae in a row near medial edge of cover. Anal
opening trapezoidal, each cover somewhat triangular, opened
slightly in cotype specimen (fig. 8), with two setae; two pairs
of adanal setae, fine, simple, subequal in length.
Ewing (1917) describes the legs of this species as follows:
"Legs . . . with short, globose tarsi ; femora swollen but not
globose though pedicellate at their bases. Anterior pair of
legs extending beyond the tip of the rostrum by about two
thirds their length; tarsi slightly shorter than the tibiae; tibiae
each with distal tubercle and long tactile hair which extends
beyond the tip of the tarsus. Tarsi of posterior legs strongly
globose scarcely two thirds as long as the tibiae ; tibiae not
globose, bearing each a very long tactile hair distally which
extends beyond the tips of the tarsi. Ungues of all tarsi
unequal."
Length 580 /x; width 300 p..
Ewing mentions that a single specimen was found by him
beneath an old piece of wood at Ames, Iowa.
Discussion: Two discrepancies exist between the Ewing's
original description and the cotype described above. Ewing
indicates the lamellar hairs as large, straight, simple bristles
which extend beyond the rostrum. The pencil drawing of the
cotype indicates these as short and decurved. Ewing's original
illustration shows four setae in the shoulder region ; the cotype
exhibits three. Minor differences in the lamellae also exist as
illustrated here and as drawn by Ewing.
This species resembles Ereinaeus foveolatus Hammer, 1952,
but differs in the shorter length of the interlamellar hairs, lack of
pits on the hysterosoma and the shorter, cusped lamellae.
156 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [June, 1957
REFERENCES
BAKER, E. W. and G. W. WHARTON. 1952. An Introduction to Acarol-
ogy. Macmillan Company, N. Y.
EWING, H. E. 1909a. Jour. N. Y. Ent. Soc. 17: 116-136.
. 1909b. Univ. 111. Bui. 7(14) : 1-120.
. 1913. Bui. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 32: 93-121.
WILLMAN, K. 1931. Tierwelt Deutschlands 22 : 79-200.
Nomenclature Notice
All comments relating to the following should be marked with
the Commission's File Number, and sent to Francis Hemming,
28 Park Village East, Regent's Park, London N.W.I, England.
Dictyoploca Jordan, 1911, validation of (Order Lepidop-
tera) (File No. : Z.N.(S.) 1072).
Staphylinus Linnaeus, 1758, designation of Staphylinus ery-
thropterus (emend, of crytropterus) Linnaeus, 1758, as type
species of (Order Coleoptera) (File No.: Z.N.(S.) 242).
Anopheles Meigen, 1818, designation of type species for, in
harmony with accustomed usage (Order Diptera) (File
No.: Z.N.(S.) 1165).
picta Walckenaer, 1802 (Aranea), validation of, and of
Theridium (emend, of Theridion) Walckenaer, 1805, vali-
dation of (Class Arachnida) (File No.: Z.N.(S.) 1006).
For details see : Bull. Zool. Nomencl. Vol. 13, Double-Part 2/3.
Toxorhynchites Theobald, July 1901, validation if (Order
Diptera) (File No. : Z.N.(S.) 1166.
For details see Bull. Zool. Nomencl. Vol. 13, Part 4.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 157
First Record of Endochironomus subtendens
(Townes) Larval Overwintering Cocoons
from North America (Diptera:
Tendipedidae) *
By PHILIP A. BUSCEMI, Department of Biological Sciences,
University of Idaho
During the course of a year-round study of the bottom fauna
of Parvin Lake, Colorado (located in Larimer County at an
altitude of 8200 feet), an unusually large number of overwinter-
ing cocoons of Endochironomus subtendens 2 larvae were col-
lected from the plant detritus of Elodea canadensis in the inlet
bay. To date, they have been reported only four times from
certain European lakes: by Harnish (1922) from a pond of
the Silesian plain, by Aim (1922) from Yxtasjon in central
Sweden, by Decksbach (1933) from the Russian Pereslawskoje
Lake, and by Thienemann (1954) from some north German
lakes. This, then, is the first North American record for such
overwintering cocoons of Endochironomus.
Overwintering cocoon of Endochironomus subtendens, X 20
Cocoons were collected by the writer as early as October 20,
1952, but the great majority were taken between November 28,
1954 to May 8, 1955. Most of the cocoons were found at
depths of 0.3 to 3.0 m. They thus occurred over a slightly
1 Contribution No. 29, Limnology Laboratory, Dept. of Biology, Uni-
versity of Colorado.
2 Kindly identified by W. W. Wirth, U. S. National Museum.
158 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [June, 1957
greater depth range than that reported by Thienemann, who
collected them only between 1.0 and 2.0 m. The maximum
concentration on the bottom of the inlet bay was recorded at
1.0 m. (4928 per sq. m.) on February 26, 1955. The cocoons
averaged 4.0 mm. long and 1.6 mm. wide (i.e., somewhat smaller
than those described by Thienemann). They are weakly con-
cave along the mid-line, and the ends are approximately semi-
circular in shape (fig.). The larvae are bent at 180 at the
mid-point of their length, and the head and caudal regions
occupy the same end of the cocoon.
A number of cocoons measuring only 1.4 mm. in length were
also collected in the samples, so that apparently all three larval
stages have the ability to build overwintering cocoons. The
cocoon is closed on all sides and is constructed of silk-like oral
secretions to which bits of inorganic detritus and diatoms
adhere. Their color is dark yellow to brown.
On the basis of near-bottom water temperature data, larvae
of E. subtendens start to build cocoons shortly after the mini-
mum daily water temperature falls to 10 and the mean daily
water temperature falls below 13. This latter temperature was
first recorded in the inlet bay on November 20, 1954. Eight
days later cocoons were found in the dredgings. Conversely,
the mean critical temperature for reactivation of the larvae in
the spring must lie between 5 and 9. Over 50 per cent of the
larvae had become active on April 22, 1955, when the mean
daily water temperature was 5.3, and over 70 per cent were
active by May 8, 1955, when the mean temperature had in-
creased to 9.3.
Representative specimens are in the collections of the United
States National Museum.
LITERATURE CITED
ALM, G. 1922. Meddel. Kungl. Lantbruks. 236: 1-186.
DECKSBACH, M. L. 1933. Archiv. fiir Hydrobiol. 25: 365-382.
HARNISH, O. 1922. Archiv. fiir Hydrobiol. 14: 89-96.
THIENEMANN, A. 1954. Die Binnengewasser 20: 1-834.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 159
New Longicorn Beetles from Texas (Coleoptera,
Cerambycidae)
By E. GORTON LINSLEY, University of California, Berkeley
The following species are described in order that the names
may be available in connection with another study.
Heterachthes texanus Linsley, new species
Male : Form slender, small ; integument uniformly dark brown,
surface subglabrous except for very long erect pale setae which
are longer than greatest width of femora; elytra without pale
markings. Head coarsely, irregularly punctate between eyes;
antennae very heavy, exceeding elytral apices by about three
segments, segments three to six greatly swollen, thicker than
scape, apically ciliate but not carinate, segments seven to eleven
filiform. Pronotum dull, coarsely, rugosely punctate, a little
more than one and one-half times as long as basal width ; pro-
sternum shining, subglabrous ; metasternum shining, glabrous
practically impunctate. Elytra dullish, with scattered coarse
punctures bearing very long setae ; apices separately rounded.
Legs moderate ; femora clavate, with scattered long erect setae.
Abdomen shining, subglabrous, almost impunctate. Length,
4.5 mm.
Holotype male (Calif. Acad. Sciences, Entom.), from the
Chizos Mts., Big Bend, TEXAS, July 5, 1942 (E. C. Van Dyke).
This is a small, obscure species, easily known by the uniform
dull coloration above, shining impunctate ventral surface, ex-
tremely heavy basal segments of the antennae and the very long
erect setae of the elytra and legs.
Crossidius inflaticollis Linsley, new species
Male : Form large, subparallel ; integument dull, red, antennae,
legs, scutellum, and sterna of meso- and metathorax black,
elytra with a broad parallel-sided anteriorly pointed bluish area,
humeri narrowly black. Head densely, coarsely punctate above ;
160 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [June, 1957
antennae eleven-segmented, exceeding elytral apices by about
three segments, basal segments sparsely ciliate internally, finely
punctate, eleventh segment elongate, vaguely appendiculate.
Pronotum large, a little narrower than elytra (11:12), less
than one and one-half times as broad as long (11:8), sides
tumid or very feebly subtuberculate, surface uneven, impressed
on each side of disk, coarsely, shallowly, densely and somewhat
confluently punctate, pubescence long, erect, moderately dense ;
prosternum finely densely punctate with coarser punctures
superimposed, densely clothed with long erect pale hairs, meso-
and metasterna finely, densely punctate. Elytra about two and
one-third times as long as basal width, sides subparallel, surface
thinly clothed with moderately long suberect hairs, closely and
rather coarsely punctate but the basal punctures distinctly
smaller than those of pronotum, becoming finer, denser apically ;
apices sinuate truncate, inner and outer angles distinct but not
produced. Legs finely punctate, thinly clothed with suberect
pale hairs. Abdomen very finely and densely punctate, clothed
with long, pale, suberect hairs. Length, 18.5 mm.
Holotype male (Calif. Acad. Sciences, Entom.), from Chinati
Mt., Presidio Co., TEXAS, October 29, 1928 (E. R. Tinkham).
This species superficially resembles those of the corallinus-
cruentus group but may be recognized at once by the large pro-
notum without a prominent lateral tubercle and the long pubes-
cence of the upper and lower surfaces. The blue area of the
elytra is unusually extensive for males in this genus.
Amannus atriplicis Linsley, new species
Male : Form robust ; integument black, elytra testaceous, basal
margin and suture black, median black vitta extending from
near apex to humerus ; pubescence dense, pale. Head rather
finely punctate at base, clothed with moderately long, appressed
hairs ; antennae twelve-segmented, exceeding elytral apices by
from two to three segments, third segment a little longer than
fourth, fourth segment subequal to fifth, segments five to eleven
successively slightly shorter, twelfth segment distinctly shorter
than eleventh, attenuate, segments three to seven carinate in-
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 161
ternally. Pronotum nearly one and one-third times as wide as
long, sides obtusely rounded or subtuberculate, surface mod-
erately coarsely, densely punctate, densely clothed with long
appressed hairs which obscure the surface sculpture; scutellum
densely clothed with long appressed hairs; pro-, meso-, and
metasterna densely clothed with long, appressed pubescence
which obscures the surface. Elytra about two and one-fourth
times as long as basal width, finely costate; surface rather
tate, clothed with suberect pale hairs which are a little longer
coarsely, densely, contiguously and somewhat confluently punc-
near base; apices rounded to suture, very slightly dehiscent.
Legs slender; femora clothed with long appressed pubescence.
Abdomen very densely clothed with long appressed hairs.
Length, 10.5 mm.
Female : Antennae not quite reaching to base of abdomen ;
abdomen with apical margins of sternites evident but not
broadly arcuately denuded. Length, 9-12 mm.
Holotype male, allotype female and two paratypes, male and
female (United States National Museum), from Presidio,
TEXAS, May 7, 1944, on Atriplex canescens (no. 44-12184),
collected by J. H. Russell.
This species is related to A. vittiger Le Conte, but is a little
larger and more robust with the elytra only about two and one-
fourth times as long as basal width, the pubescence of the pro-
notum appressed, rather than erect, and obscuring the surface,
and the abdomen of the female without broadly arcuate de-
nuded apical margins on the sternites. The elytra are margined
with black at the base and along the suture and the median black
vitta attains the humerus.
162 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [June, 1957
New Records of Mammal-Lice Associations *
By CARLO M. IGNOFFO
Eight living lice collected from a freshly killed cottontail
rabbit, Sylvilagus audubonii (Baird), in the Great Salt Lake
Desert region south of the Cedar Mountains, Tooele County,
Utah, were identified as Haemodipsus setoni Ewing. Although
Ferris 2 mentions collecting this louse "from an undetermined
species of cottontail presumably a species of Sylvilagus . . .
from the state of Montana," this is believed to be the first
definite record of this association.
Other new records of lice parasitizing mammals from this
same area are :
Neohaematopinus laeviusculus (Grube)
Townsend ground squirrel, Citellus tozvnsendii (Bachman)
Neohaematopinus citellinus Ferris
Antelope ground squirrel, Citellus leucurus (Merriam)
Hopopleura hesperomydis (Osborn)
Pinyon mouse, Perotnyscus truei (Shufeldt)
Canyon mouse, Peromyscus crinitus (Merriam)
Hopopleura arboricola Kellogg and Ferris
Cliff chipmunk, Eutamias dor sails (Baird)
Least chipmunk, Eutamias minimus (Bachman)
Fahrenholzia reducta Ferris
Great Basin pocket mouse, Perognathus parvus (Peale)
Fahrenholzia pinnata Kellogg and Ferris
Ord kangaroo rat, Dipodomys ordii Woodhouse
Little pocket mouse, Perognathus longimembris (Coues)
1 This work was supported by U. S. Army Chemical Corps contract,
No. DA-18-064-CML-2639, with the University of Utah.
2 FERRIS, G. F. 1951. The Sucking Lice, Mem. Pacific Coast Ent.
Soc., 1: 179.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 163
The Weight of Puparia of Rhagoletis basiola
(O. S.)- (Trypetidae, Diptera)
By W. V. BALDUF, Urbana, Illinois
INTRODUCTION
In a previous investigation (in press), I found that the
puparia of this rose hip fly varied widely in length from 3.0 to
6.9 mm. and in ratio of length to diameter from 2.00:1.00 to
2.74:1.00. Thus, curiosity prompted me to inquire briefly also
into the nature of their variation in weight. The 222 individ-
uals involved here developed from larvae in the hips of Rosa
blanda and R. Carolina near Chetek, Wisconsin. Whereas the
hips were picked on September 5, 1950, pupariation of the
materials concerned here occurred at Urbana, Illinois, on Sep-
tember 17 to 22 and 26 to 28. The nine daily samples were
weighed each day and kept separated in shell vials stored out-
of-doors but sheltered from direct sun and rain.
RESULTS
The puparia were found to vary in two ways: (1) in their
initial weights taken at the time of pupariation, i.e., within 24
hours after the mature larvae emerged from the hips, and (2)
in the subsequent period of 35 to 40 days during which they
were subjected to "dry" and wet conditions, alternately.
Original Weights. The initial weight of the 222 puparia
totalled 3.310 grams, which gave an average value of .0149 gr.
per individual. The nine daily samples consisted of 9 to 33
puparia. The initial average weight per puparium for these
samples was as follows, in chronological order: .0179 (Sept.
17), .0166, .0155, .0159, .0133, .0145, .0167, .0141 and .0096
(Sept. 28). These data, in general, show a tendency of the
puparia to decrease gradually in weight from the beginning to
the end of the over-all period of pupariation, September 17 to
28. One condition that probably contributed to this decline was
the deterioration of the stored hips which formed the food of
the advanced larval instars from September 5 to 28. However,
164 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [June, 1957
some hips remained in a well-preserved state, while others de-
teriorated to varying extents. These differences in the condi-
tion of the hips may well explain the chronological irregularity
of the observed decline in weight of the puparia.
Parasitism probably was another factor in the observed de-
cline. The hymenopterous endoparasites, Halticoptera rosae
Burks, Opius baldufi Mues. and 0. rosicola Mues. attacked this
fly significantly in several years at Chetek. However, the
present purparia were not dissected to learn the rate of inci-
dence of the parasites, nor the manner in which they affected
the weights of the hosts.
Weights and Humidity. Because some puparia of all but
two of the nine samples died in the course of the weighings, and
because such fatalities probably prejudice the results of the
tests, I am presenting here only the data for the two whole
samples. Yet, the excluded samples have some informational
value since they reflect the same general type of variations as
the included two, namely, ( 1 ) a decided increase in weight with
exposure to water, and (2) a marked decrease in weight under
"dry" conditions.
The two samples for which I have complete records involve
56 puparia. On the days of pupariation, they were placed on
cotton in normally dry atmosphere and weighed daily until they
ceased to lose weight. During this period of 17 to 20 days,
their combined initial or original weight .9404 gr., fell off to
.6990 gr., which represents a decline of 25.67 per cent.
Next, the dry puparia were transferred at once to a water-
saturated wad of cotton in a vial. At the end of seven days,
their weight had levelled off and had increased from .6990 gr.
to .8248, i.e., 15.26 per cent. However, they still were 12.29 per
cent short of their initial weight of .9404 gr.
Now the puparia were again kept on air-dry cotton until the
daily records showed their weight had again become constant.
This condition had developed on the twelfth day, when they
weighed .6903 gr. This figure represents a loss of 16.31 per
cent from the previous saturated weight of .8248 gr., and of
26.60 per cent from the initial weight of .9404 gr.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 165
DEDUCTIONS
The observed pattern of changes suggests the following
deductions :
First, the living puparia have the capacity to vary sharply
in weight, the increases noted here being due to the absorption
of environmental water, and the decreases to the evaporation of
body fluids through the cuticla.
Second, the fact that the weight achieved at the termination
of the seven-day wet period fell short, by 12.29 per cent of the
initial weight, indicates the puparia tend to lose some of their
capacity to regain by absorption. However, since mortality in
puparia is not readily detected, it is possible that some of this
loss of ability to regain all the previously lost weight was
apparent, not real.
Third, a change in color, texture and specific gravity accom-
panies the variations in weight that arise from alternate wetting
and drying. When newly pupariated, the puparia were nor-
mally dark ocherous and rubbery, tough; when they reached
the extreme of dryness imposed in the treatment, they had
turned pale stramineous, rigid and fragile. The darker flexible
condition is restored with wetting. Dry puparia float lightly on
water; wet ones float deeply.
Fourth, these variations in color, texture and weight, or spe-
cific gravity, are extrinsic and inconstant, hence have only nega-
tive taxonornic significance for segregation of species in the
puparial stage.
Distribution and Variation of the Ant Formica
dakotensis Emery
By W. L. BROWN, JR., Museum of Comparative Zoology,
Harvard University
Our understanding of Formica dakotensis Emery has been
advanced considerably by Creighton (1950, Bull. Mus. Comp.
Zool. 104: 480, 484-486) who cites data and references I need
not repeat here. The easternmost record for dakotensis, doubted
166 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [June, 1957
by Creighton, was based on a mixed series from Digby, Nova
Scotia (J. Russell leg., MCZ), consisting of eight workers
mounted on two pins. By coincidence, the top two workers on
each pin happened to be F. subnuda Emery, the bottom two on
each pin, F. dakotensis. Evidently Creighton saw these top
workers only, and assumed that the pins had been misplaced in
a group of the wrong species ; at my first glance, I also made
the assumption that the series was homogeneous subnuda, and
it was only after an intensive study of subnuda was begun that
I found that instead it was a mixture of these two superficially
similar species. There seems to be no reason any longer to
doubt that both species occur as far east as Nova Scotia, espe-
cially in view of the considerable range extensions that are
reported next below for F. dakotensis.
Variation in dakotensis includes a "race montigena," said to
differ by having erect hairs on petiolar margin and gula. A
series from Bluff Prairie, London, Ohio (C. H. Kennedy leg.),
has from 3-5 erect hairs on the dorsal petiolar border ; the Nova
Scotia specimens have 1-5 per border.
A long series from Fairbanks, Alaska (W. Briggs leg.), is
like the eastern lots in lacking gular hairs entirely, and generally
has fewer on the petiolar border, often lacking hairs here com-
pletely. The samples with both gular and petiolar hairs erect
are found in the Colorado Rockies, Idaho, Montana, Alberta
Rockies and British Columbia, but there is as much variation
in series from Alberta and Montana as in the rest of the distri-
bution combined ; some series from this region are extreme
"typical" dakotensis, others are extreme montigena, and still
others are intergradient and/or mixtures of the extremes.
Since the distributional patterns of the gular hairs and the
petiolar hairs are strongly discordant, it is obvious that they
cannot be used together to define geographical races. Consid-
ered alone, the gular hairs are characteristic in Colorado, but
are less so farther north. The evidence for intergradation in
this character alone is not quite good enough to rule out the
possibility that montigena is a Rocky Mountain sibling that
meets the east-west range of dakotensis in Montana and Alberta.
The few females available do not provide very good support for
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 167
this hypothesis, although the considerable variation they show
may fall into line when better material comes into evidence.
Everything considered, it seems likely at this time that monti-
gena should pass into the synonymy of dakotensis; at least, the
burden of proof should fall on those who wish to maintain mon-
tigena as an independent taxon.
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THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
1900 RACE STREET, PHILADELPHIA 3, PA.
V
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
JULY 1957
Vol. LXVIII No. 7
CONTENTS
Allen A Japanese weevil in the Philadelphia area 169
Review General and Applied Entomology 174
Rehn Removal of certain Decticinae to Listroscelinae 175
Woolley Redescriptions of Ewing's Oribatid mites, IV 177
Ross New oak-inhabiting Erythroneura 183
Nomenclature Notice 190
Krombein Synonomy of two North American Chrysis 191
Judd Chalcidoid wasps from bullet galls 193
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ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
VOL. LXVIII JULY, 1957 No. 7
A Japanese Weevil Abundant in the Philadelphia
Area
By H. W. ALLEN * -
The Japanese weevil, Pscudocneorhinus bifasciatus Roelofs,
appears to be increasing in numbers near Philadelphia. In 1956
it was one of the most abundant defoliating insects in this area,
and despite its inconspicuous nature an increasing number of
homeowners are becoming aware of its work.
Although injury to cultivated plants was first reported from
Connecticut in 1924 (Britton), the earliest record of the weevil's
occurrence in the United States is from specimens collected in
1914 in Philadelphia but not identified until years later (Bu-
chanan 1946). Infestations of this insect in several heavily
populated areas of the Eastern States are discussed by Smith
(1955). According to Buchanan (1946), it occurred in Lans-
downe, Pa., in 1940 and in Germantown in 1944. The author
found it present in damaging numbers at Moorestown, N. J.,
in 1946 and again in 1948 (Allen 1948).
This weevil is distinctly polyphagous, and many host plants
have been listed, but little has been published on its life history
and habits. Buchanan dissected 55 specimens from Moorestown
and found that only females were present. Smith (1955) noted
that the beetles have fused wing covers and cannot fly, and that
they deposit their eggs in partially eaten, curled leaves. He
found that weevils infesting plants can be killed by application
of dusts containing 5% of heptachlor or 2.5% of aldrin.
1 Entomology Research Branch, Agricultural Research Service, U.S.D.A.
2 E. L. Flasket assisted in the observations.
(169)
JUt 8 1955
170 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS IJ u ty> 1957
Observations by the author on food plants of the adult weevils
are reported below. In the Philadelphia area privet hedges are
commonly heavily infested and defoliated. Other plants that
may be severely defoliated include azalea, perennial phlox, fire-
thorn, and occasionally abelia, Japanese barberry, rose, climbing
honeysuckle, Japanese quince, shrubby althea, forsythia, redbud,
coralberry, hazelnut, flowering dogwood, chrysanthemum, and
the sprouts or young plants of oak, sycamore, flowering crab,
and walnut. Several large-leafed ornamentals not often de-
foliated, such as rhododendron, mountain laurel, English ivy,
and lilac, are conspicuously disfigured by the feeding of the
weevils. Feeding has been observed also on Spirca vanhonttei,
Euonymous radicans, coral bell, perennial veronica, geranium,
germander, wild sweet-william, and several common weeds in-
cluding wild aster, lamb's-quarters, Pcrsicarea, and northern
bugleweed.
In 1956 a few adults were found on June 9. Thereafter they
were observed frequently throughout the season until after the
first heavy frosts. The peak of abundance was in late July,
but beetles were still plentiful in late September, and feeding
continued throughout that period. Early in August one side of
a section of moderately infested privet hedge about 3 feet high
was jarred over a 90-inch length of sheeting and 70 beetles were
knocked down. On September 26, 170 beetles were collected in
a few minutes from about 60 feet of azalea and privet, but on
October 12 only one could be found on the same shrubs. In an
indoor cage at room temperatures nearly all these beetles were
alive and vigorous on October 25.
Although samples of soil from beneath heavily infested bushes
and around the roots and crowns of adjacent weeds and grasses
were examined several times between June and October, no
larvae or pupae were found. Egg pods were found first on
September 21, but may have been present earlier, since well-
developed ovarian eggs were found in 2 of 20 females on August
2, and 14 of 20 on August 23. Among beetles collected on
September 26 maximum oviposition occurred from September
28 to October 9. There seems to be no diapause in the egg
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 171
stage. By October 22 nearly all the eggs deposited from Sep-
tember 27 to 30 and kept at room temperatures had hatched.
October hatching also occurred among eggs kept in an outdoor
insectary. In late October one newly hatched larva was found
in the soil beneath heavily infested privet. However, eggs de-
posited early in the month and bedded in dead leaves in the
shade had not hatched by October 22. It appears that this
insect starts hibernation in the egg stage, and also as small
larvae in the soil.
The adult (Fig. 1 ) is a robust, brownish-gray weevil, 4.5 to
7 mm. long, with two broad, transverse black bands across the
elytra. The snout is broad and only slightly longer than wide.
Adults are sluggish and unable to fly ; hence their dissemination
must be chiefly by transport. Of 42 dissected during July and
August none had membranous wings and all were females. No
males have yet been found.
The adults are usually found in shaded areas. They frequent
the foliage and twigs of host plants and the ground beneath them.
They are present on foliage both day and night, and on both
fair and rainy days. They may remain quiescent for long pe-
riods in the angle between leaf petioles and the stem of a twig,
where they resemble axillary buds. They feed at the edge of
the leaf, cutting out small sinuses and sometimes giving it a
ragged, coarsely serrate appearance. Feeding continues from
June to October, and may cause nearly complete defoliation by
late summer. The beetles have a tendency to form clusters, and
bunches of 3 to 20 may be seen on heavily infested plants. De-
foliation is always progressively less from the ground level
upward, and heavy feeding is not often found more than 6 feet
from the ground. When there are many beetles feeding on a
bush, the leaves below them are usually spotted with black,
adhesive, more or less cylindrical fragments of excrement.
When infested shrubs are slightly jarred, most of the beetles
drop to the ground, and some will drop when the shadow of a
hand passes quickly before them. Beetles that have dropped to
the ground are inactive for a minute or two, when they may be
rolled about like small pellets of earth, but they soon regain
activity and crawl away.
172 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [J u ty> 1957
When the egg is first laid it is white, with a thin, translucent,
flexible, unsculptured shell. It is about 1.1 mm. long by 0.35
mm. wide, and slightly enlarged at the posterior end. As the
embryo develops, the egg becomes creamy yellow, and the light-
brown mandibles of the larva are visible through the shell.
The eggs are usually deposited in inconspicuous folds at the
margins of dead leaves or leaf fragments, but some have been
found over the midrib near the petiole, and a few eggs have been
found on green leaves. The free edge of the fold is sealed to
the basal portion of the leaf fragment, enclosing the eggs like
seeds in a pod. There may be one to eight eggs in a fold. In
the natural habitat a few egg pods were found in the dead mar-
gins of leaves on azalea and lilac bushes. Several more were
found in scattered leaf fragments under a privet hedge nearly
free of trashy mulch, and others were located by diligent search
in the copious leafy trash under infested rose and azalea. Caged
beetles deposited eggs more freely in leaf fragments on the
ground than in leaves or leaf fragments attached to the twigs
in the feeding area, and this condition is probably true in the
natural habitat. Of a total of 168 egg clusters deposited by
caged beetles, 72% were found in the leafy debris on the ground.
Newly hatched larvae are creamy yellow with light-brown
heads. They are footless, with long, sparse pubescence. On
hatching they crawl from the egg pods, drop to the ground,
crawl an inch or less over the surface, enter some depression,
and quickly burrow into the soil. In a cage at room tempera-
ture several young larvae that were more than twice the size
of the eggs were found in moist soil containing pieces of lilac
roots. There seems to be little doubt that the larval stage de-
velops in the soil under or close to the plant where the egg pods
were deposited.
Moderate to heavy feeding on ornamentals by P. bifasciatus
adults was observed in 1956 in Mt. Holly, Burlington, Moores-
town, Maple Shade, Merchantville, Haddonfield, Palmyra,
Riverton, Runnemede, Woodbury, Paulsboro, Williamstown,
and Hammonton, N. J. ; Langhorne, Bustleton, Germantown,
Chestnut Hill, Whitemarsh, Conshohocken, and Phoenixville,
Ixviii]
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
173
FIG. 1. A cluster of Psendocneorhimts bifasciatus adults on a twig
of privet.
174 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Juty* 1957
Pa. These towns enclose an urban area of about 900 square
miles. Infestation is apparent chiefly in built-up residential
sections, particularly where there are well-shaded gardens bor-
dered by shrubs and perennial plantings or by hedges. This
area includes almost completely urban Philadelphia and Cam-
den, and scores of towns, villages, and residential developments
where the weevil thrives. It also includes more sparsely popu-
lated countryside where weevils are absent or not easily found.
In nearly all the towns listed above, more than half the privet
hedges were found to be moderately to heavily infested. In
Moorestown, N. J., interspersed among the many infested prop-
erties were gardens in which no beetles could be found. There
were even hedges with practically no evidence of weevil injury
directly across the street from heavily infested hedges.
REFERENCES
ALLEN, H. W. 1948. Jour. Econ. Ent. 42: 450.
BRITTON, W. E. 1924. Conn. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bull. 256: 313-314.
BUCHANAN, L. L. 1946. Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc. 41 : 143.
SMITH, F. F. 1955. Jour. Econ. Ent. 48 : 628-629.
Review
GENERAL AND APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY. By V. A. Little; A.
and M. College of Texas. Pp. vii + 543 ; 323 figs. Harper and
Brothers, 1957, New York 16, N. Y. Price : $7.00.
Most students take but one course in entomology. If this has
to be one in applied entomology, we have here a book that will
serve well as a text. It includes 35 pages of anatomy and physi-
ology, and about that many on the principles of control ; the rest
is chiefly classification and biology. Each order has keys to
principal families, and under each family one or more species is
taken up in detail. When a family contains economic insects it
is these that are chosen, and all the commoner pests receive ade-
quate attention, each under its proper order and family.
In some applied texts, one studies in succession the pests of
corn, cotton, etc., etc. ; one never, for example, takes up aphids
as aphids, since they are scattered about in the book under their
host plants, and juxtaposed to entirely unrelated insects, which
seems, somehow, a curious way to study entomology. Is this
(Continued on p. 192}
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 175
On the Removal of Certain New World Genera
from the Decticinae to the Listroscelinae
(Orthoptera; Tettigoniidae)
By JAMES A. G. REHN, Curator of Insects, Academy of
Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
In 1900 the present author described a very unusual species
of tettigoniid from the hot Rio Balsas valley of Guerrero, Mex-
ico, as a new species (impcrfectus) of the genus Capnobotes, 1
which latter was then and has since been consistently referred
to the subfamily Decticinae. The other species of Capnobotes
were then, and are yet, considered to be limited to the south-
western United States, but they undoubtedly also occur in arid
northwestern Mexico. In 1901, after study of material of true
Capnobotes not previously available, the author erected the new
genus Ncobarrettia for the species Capnobotes imperfectus, 2
dedicating it to the collector of the original material, Otis W.
Barrett. In 1907, my friend and colleague, Mr. A. N. Caudell,
in a revision of the North American Decticinae, established the
genus Relmia, 3 assigning to it two new species, R. victoriae,
from Victoria, Guerrero, Mexico, and R. spinosa, from Texas.
We now know victoriac from a relatively broad range of locali-
ties extending northward as far as Kansas, and spinosa con-
versely extending down into eastern Mexico. Two species have
been added subsequently to Rchnia R. cerberus Rehn and
Hebard, from western Texas, and R. sinaloae Rehn and Hebard,
from Sinaloa, Mexico. 4
For some years past I have had the impression that both
Neobarrettia and Rchnia were misplaced in the Decticinae, but
only recently has it been possible for me to make the needed
series of comparisons to prove or disprove this belief. It is now
possible to say definitely that both genera do not belong to the
Decticinae, but are instead members of the Listroscelinae, an
1 Trans. Amer. Entom. Soc., XXVII, p. 89.
2 Entom. News, XII, p. 16.
3 Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., XXXII, pp. 288, 305.
4 Trans Amer. Entom. Soc., XLVI, pp. 234-244, (1920).
176 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [J u ly> 1957
otherwise chiefly pan-tropical subfamily very well developed in
South America.
The evidence for this conclusion has been drawn from the
following structural features of the two genera, which fully agree
with what we find in other representative genera of the Listro-
scelinae, and accordingly disagree with typical members of the
Decticinae : ( 1 ) the very narrow, strongly and lamellately com-
pressed fastigium; (2) the general structural pattern of the
pronotum ; (3) the strongly developed and paired spiniform
processes on the prosternum, mesosternum and metasternum,
not just on one or the other element, but on all; (4) the dis-
tinctly tuberculate or subspiniform process found on the internal
surface of the coxae, particularly of the median and caudal
limbs; (5) the well spined character of both of the ventral
margins of the cephalic and median femora, and the relatively
marked development of the spines on the ventral margins of the
corresponding tibiae ; and (6) the relative expansion and de-
planation of the ventral surfaces of the cephalic and median
femora, the latter a condition strongly developed in Listroscelis
and other members of the subfamily.
The criteria used in the past for the separation of the sub-
families of the Tettigoniidae have frequently been the presence
or absence of certain limb spines, which, increasingly, we know
are of less diagnostic value than long supposed. For instance,
the presence of a disto-dorsal spine on the external (caudal)
margin of the cephalic tibiae often has been given much weight.
In twenty-nine specimens of Ncobarrcttia imperjecta I find this
spine present in twenty-eight, but in one individual curiously
it is absent from the external margin but has shifted to the other-
wise unspined internal (cephalic) margin. In fourteen indi-
viduals of Rehnia sinaloac this spine is present on both cephalic
tibiae in all but one, in which it is present on one limb and
absent from the other. In sixty specimens of Rehnia victoriae
this spine is present on both cephalic tibiae. Absence can be a
matter of early injury, hence have a teratological background.
Thus it is increasingly desirable that morphological features of
more fundamental character be found and utilized to define
generic or suprageneric categories.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 177
It is quite evident that Rehnia and Neobarrettia are closer to
some of the Neotropical genera of the Listroscelinae with which
they have been compared, such as Arachnoscclis, than they are
to the more divergent lines represented in tropical America by
Phlugis, and in the Old World tropics and subtropics by
Xiphidiopsis.
The removal of Neobarrettia and Rehnia from the Decticinae
to the Listroscelinae is here made only after a comparative study
of all the North American genera of the former subfamily and
a considerable number of the extra-limital ones. Except where
the Sonoran element penetrates into northern Mexico I know
of no unquestioned decticines from the whole of America south
of the United States. The present investigation carries the
Listroscelinae definitely into North America as usually defined
politically. I believe Neobarrettia and Rehnia represent a rela-
tively early invasion of our territory from a more southern
center of the subfamily, and that they have developed individu-
ally in their respective areas of arid or semi-arid conditions.
The Rio Balsas valley, the home of Neobarrettia, is regarded by
meteorologists as the hottest area of Central America.
Redescriptions of Ewing's Oribatid Mites, IV
Family Achipteriidae (= Notaspididae)
(Acarina: Oribatei) 1
By TYLER A. WOOLLEY, Department of Zoology, Colorado
A. & M. College, Fort Collins, Colorado
This article is another in the series which deals with rede-
scriptions of Ewing's type species of oribatid mites. Pencil
drawings were prepared by Dr. E. W. Baker of the U. S.
National Museum and made available to the writer. Acknowl-
edgment of the drawings is indicated by the initials on the
finished plates. Ewing's original descriptions are followed as
closely as possible, but modern acarological terms are substituted
where necessary. The article is presented in somewhat cursory
1 Research supported by a grant-in-aid from the National Science
Foundation.
178 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [July, 1957
fashion since it is the intention of the writer to incorporate
details later in a review or revision of the family.
FAMILY ACHIPTERIIDAE VAN DEN HAMMEN, 1952
(= NOTASPIDIDAE OUDEMANS, 1900)
The anteriorly projecting cusps on the pteromorphae and the
broad, medially-fused lamellae are the principal characteristics
of this family of pterogasterine mites.
Both Grandjean (1936) and van der Hammen (1952) con-
clude that the name Notaspis is improperly used in this family
since the generic designation as originally indicated by Hermann
(1804) is applicable to eleven different mites. Accordings to
the former authors the genus Achipteria Berlese, 1885, more
properly designates the type genus in this family, and is char-
acterized by slit-like pores on the dorsum of the hysterosoma.
This paper deals principally with two species in the genus
Achipteria which were described by Ewing (1918) from collec-
tions in Oregon. In other publications (1909, 1910) he dis-
cusses several species of Notaspis. In this paper the writer
proposes changes in the generic designations of these species
and discusses their taxonomic relationships.
Achipteria oregonensis Ewing, 1918. (Figs. 1, 2)
Description: Cotype broken on left side of hysterosoma. Dark
brown. Lamellae broad at base, completely obscuring rostrum
and other aspects of propodosoma ; each lamella with incurved
antero-lateral margin and blunt tip, sclerotized medial margins
from insertions of lamellar hairs to base of lamellae ; a narrow
U-shaped cleft between anterior half of sclerotized medial mar-
gins of lamellae, cleft extending from insertions of lamellar hairs
half the distance to hysterosoma. Lamellar hairs about as long
as widest width of lamellae, extended from insertions beyond
anterior tip of lamellae, minutely pectinate and curved laterally
at tips. Translamella a brief sclerotized bar at posterior margin
of U-shaped cleft between lamellae. Interlamellar hairs barbed
along entire length, about as long as lamellae, inserted close to
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 179
mesal edge of lamellae near anterior margin of hysterosoma,
incurved at tips. Pseudostigmata deep, cup-like, in notch
formed by latero-posterior margin of lamellae and curved medial
bases of pteromorphae. Pseudostigmatic organs three-fourths
as long as cusp of pteromorph, somewhat fusiform, with minute
spines, projected forward between lamellae and pteromorphae.
Surface of hysterosoma smooth (broken on left side in cotype
specimen), broadly oval in outline with angular shoulders and
rounded posterior margin. Each pteromorph with an anterior
cusp; cusp projecting forward, outward and downward at distal
tip, about two-thirds as long as lamella, not reaching level of
anterior margin of propodosoma. A single, simple dorsal bristle
directly posterior to inner proximal margin of pteromorphal
cusp, inserted its length posterior to hysterosomal margin ; an-
other simple bristle near latero-posterior margin of pteromorph.
Other bristles and glandular fissures as shown in Fig. 1.
Camerostome broadly oval. Ventral plate distorted and
broken in cotype specimen. Setae of ventral plate and apode-
mata as seen in Fig. 2. Genital opening nearly square, about
two-thirds as large as anal opening; genital covers with 7 pairs
of setae ; g : 1 and g : 2 inserted in anterior margin of each cover ;
g:3, g:4, g:5, g:6 inserted in a longitudinal row in middle of
cover ; g : 7 inserted mediad of this row and near posterior mar-
gin of cover. Anal aperture about twice as large as genital
opening, each anal cover trapezoidal in outline and with two
setae. Insertions of anal and adanal setae as in Fig. 2.
Legs described by Ewing (1918) as long and heterodactyle.
Length 771 //,, hysterosoma 614 /x; width 530 /A.
Several specimens were collected by H. E. Ewing from the
ground beneath an old piece of wood at Corvallis, Oregon.
Achipteria borealis Ewing, 1918, nov. comb. (Figs. 3, 4)
Type : Achipteria oregonensis var. borealis Ewing, 1918, p. 84.
Description: Lamellae broad at base, tapered to a sharp point
anteriorly, a deep V-shaped cleft between anterior tips and
extending nearly half the distance to base of lamellae ; medial
180 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [July, 1957
margins sclerotized from insertions of lamellar hairs posteriorly,
where lamellae are separated slightly anterior to hysterosomal
margin. Lamellar hairs simple, stouter than interlamellar hairs,
projected slightly beyond anterior points of lamellae, inserted
their lengths from anterior ends of lamellae in frontal tip of
sclerotized medial margin. Interlamellar hairs nearly as long as
lamellae, fine, simple, inserted in meso-posterior margin of
lamellae, distal tips curved inward. Pseudostigmata cornuate
beneath surface of hysterosoma at base of lamellae. Pseudostig-
matic organs not seen.
Hysterosoma smooth, broadly oval ; pteromorphae extended
nearly two-thirds the length of lateral margin ; anterior cusps
nearly straight, projected forward about half the length of
lamellae. Six pairs of setal insertions and two pairs of glandular
fissures as shown in Fig. 3.
Details of ventral aspect obscured by dark color of specimen
except for those shown in Fig. 4. Tectopedia I similar to the
same structure in A. oregonensis , but ribbed on lateral margins.
Genital and anal apertures as figured; genital and anal setae
not visible.
Length 571 /*, hysterosoma 470 /A; width 356 /t.
Ewing (1918) collected a single specimen of this species
under a rotting log at the top of Mary's Peak, Oregon.
Discussion: Ewing's original description (1918) of Achipteria,
oregonensis is accompanied by a single text-figure of the right
pteromorphal cusp of one of the cotypes from Corvallis, Oregon.
As originally described A. borealis differs in size and shape of
the pteromorphal cusp. Further differences are noted, however,
in the sclerotization of the lamellae and pteromorphae; in the
lengths of lamellar and interlamellar hairs, which are stout and
pectinate in A. oregonensis and simple in A. borealis; in the
relative size of the two species, A. borealis is the smaller of the
two. Ewing (1918) used the pteromorphal cusp to distinguish
his described variety from the species. These other marked
differences, however, are sufficient to justify the elevation of
the variety to specific rank, in the opinion of the writer.
Both A, oregonensis and A. borealis differ from the known
European species and from the Canadian species, A. nivalis
Ixviii]
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
181
FIG. 1. Achipteria oregonensis Ewing, 1918, from the dorsal aspect.
Left side of hysterosoma crushed.
FIG. 2. Achiptcria oregonensis Ewing, 1918, from the ventral aspect.
Left side of ventral plate broken.
FIG. 3. Achipteria borcalis Ewing, 1918, from the dorsal aspect.
FIG. 4. Achipteria borcalis Ewing, 1918, from the ventral aspect.
Details obscured because of darkened specimen.
FIG. 5. Notaspis tcxana Ewing, 1909, part of propodosoma.
FIG. 6. A leg of Notaspis tcxana Ewing, 1909.
182 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [July, 1957
Hammer, 1952, in size and arrangement of lamellae, lamellar
and interlamellar hairs.
Ewing (1909) describes other species of Notaspis which
should be discussed. All cotypes of one of these, Notaspis tex-
ana Ewing, 1909, are smashed. The writer has drawn part of
the propodosoma and the leg of one of these cotypes (Figs. 5, 6).
The lamellae, pseudostigmata and interlamellar hairs indicate
that this species is definitely not Notaspis nor Achipteria. It
probably belongs in the genus Zygoribatula, but the condition
of the specimens makes final determination impossible.
Notaspis brevirostris Ewing, 1910, and Notaspis depilis
Ewing, 1909, also are species of indeterminate position. Neither
appears to belong to Achipteria. The former is illustrated by a
photograph which is not detailed enough to allow critical diag-
nosis. Analysis of the verbal description, in which there is no
mention of pteromorphae, indicates that it is definitely not a
species of Achipteria. The lamellae are short with free cusps,
also in contradistinction to the large plates typical of Achipteria.
Furthermore, the genital and anal apertures are nearly con-
tiguous, a condition which is not characteristic of this genus.
Notaspis depilis is much more characteristic of the genus Zygori-
batula. In the opinion of the writer, these facts constitute suf-
ficient justification to infer taxonomic misplacement of these
two species. Their exact designation cannot be determined,
however, until all of the specimens can be examined and com-
pared with known species.
LITERATURE CITED
BAKER, E. W. and G. W. WHARTON. 1952. An Introduction to Acarol-
ogy. Macmillan Company, New York.
EWING, H. E. 1909. Jour. N. Y. Ent. Soc. 17: 116-136.
-. 1910. Trans. Acad. Sci. St. Louis 19: 113-121.
-. 1918. ENT. NEWS 29(3) : 81-89.
GRANDJEAN, F. 1936. Ann. Ent. Soc. France 105: 1-110.
HAMMEN, VAN DER, L. 1952. Zool. Verhandl. 17: 1-139.
WILLMANN, C. 1931. Tierwelt Deutschlands 22 : 79-200.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 183
New Oak-Inhabiting Species of Erythroneura from
Illinois (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae)
By HERBERT H. Ross, Illinois Natural History
Survey, Urbana
Among the oak-inhabiting species of Erythroneura found in
Illinois, those with a rigid restriction to shingle oak (Quercus
imbricaria} and the black oaks (Quercus nigra group) are prov-
ing to have been the least understood. This situation is due to
the relatively infrequent occasions when the collector encounters
large populations of Erythroneura on these hosts. By good
fortune, in the last two years we have found a few groves of
these oaks having moderate to large leafhopper populations.
On the basis of the large numbers of individuals thus available
for study, it is now apparent that certain observed structural
differences, previously suspected of being only variations of one
or two species, in reality demark distinctive species segregates.
It is these species which are described in this paper.
ERYTHRONEURA LENTA complex
In Erythroneura lenta and its immediate allies the body
markings are scattered red bars and dots on a pale background,
typical for the great majority of species in the maculata group;
the style has either no posterior point or a minute one; the
aedeagus is simple, deeper than thick ; and the pygofer hooks are
slender and either nearly straight, curved, or only moderately
sinuate. To this complex belong lenta Beamer, longa Knull,
patris Ross and DeLong, and several other species, some of
them apparently undescribed.
Erythroneura marilandicae new species
Most closely related to longa, this species may be distinguished
by the shorter, tapering shaft of the aedeagus and the more
curved dorsal aspect of the pygofer hooks. In longa the latter
are almost straight.
184 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [July, 1957
Color and general structure as in typically spotted members
of the lento, complex. Male genitalia as in Fig. 1. Pygofer
hook slender, extending considerably beyond pygofer 5 the latter
aspect slightly curved ventrad, the dorsal aspect bowed, the two
hooks converging toward apex. Style without posterior point
(as in Fig. 3). Aedeagus with curved internal apodeme;
phalicata short, straight, and slightly tapering, lateral aspect
only moderately deep, ventral aspect narrow.
Holotype <$. Meredosia, ILLINOIS, Sept. 8, 1954, on Quercus
marilandica, Ross and Stannard. Paratypes. All from Illinois ;
same data as holotype, 9J 1 ; Forest City, Sept. 11, 1953, on
Q. marilandica, Stannard and Ross, 1 J 1 ; same, but Sept. 8,
1954, 4c?; n. of Marion, Sept. 21, 1950, on Q. velutina, Ross
and Evers, 1 <?; Rocky Branch Cr., Oliver, Apr. 22, 1949, Ross
and Stannard, 2J 1 ; Starved Rock St. Pk., Sept. 7, 1951, on
Juglans cinerea, Mills and Ross, 1 J 1 ; W. Vienna, Jn. 5, 1951,
on Ulmus alata, Ross and Richards, 1 <$.
Erythroneura econa new species
Based on general proportions of aedeagus and pygofer hooks,
this species also is most closely related to longa, but differs in
that the pygofer hooks diverge at apex and have an apparent
twist to the apical portion, Fig. 2A, B, resulting in the apical
half being abruptly narrowed in dorsal view.
Color and general structure as for typically spotted members
of lenta complex. Male genitalia as in Fig. 2. Pygofer process
extending just beyond apex of pygofer; in lateral view the base
is narrow and the apical half is slightly wider (in some speci-
mens this enlargement is not seen until the abdomen is rotated
a few degrees from a strictly lateral position) ; in dorsal view
the base is relatively thick and the apical half is abruptly thinner.
Style without posterior point. Aedeagus with short, straight
internal apodeme ; shaft slender, moderately long, and almost
straight.
Holotype <$. Neoga, ILLINOIS, Sept. 2, 1955, on Quercus
ivnbricaria, Ross and Stannard. Paratypes. Newton, 111., Sept.
12, 1956, on Q. imbricaria, Ross and Selander, 8 ^.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 185
Erythroneura metopia new species
The ventrally-curved pygofer hook indicates a close relation-
ship between this species and patris, from which metopia can be
diagnosed by the angulate rather than gently curved pygofer
hook and the very short aedeagal shaft.
Color and general structure typical for the lenta complex.
Male genitalia as in Fig. 3. Pygofer hook slender, extending to
end of pygofer and bent relatively sharply ventrad at midpoint ;
the two hooks, seen from dorsal view, converge slightly toward
apex. Style without posterior point. Aedeagus with short in-
ternal apodeme ; shaft unusually short for the complex, tapering
and both shallow and narrow.
Holotype rf. Shawneetown, ILLINOIS, July 14, 1948, on
Quercus imbricaria, Mills and Ross. Paratypes. All from
Illinois; same data as holotype, 3 J 1 , 5$; Danville, July 23,
1949, on Q. imbricaria and Q. velutina, DeLong and Ross, 2<$\
n. of Marion, Sept. 21, 1950, on Quercus sp., Ross and Evers,
3 J 1 ; Fairfield, June 12, 1934, DeLong and Ross, 1 <?; Newton,
Sept. 11-12, 1956, on Q. imbricaria, Ross and Selander, 15 J 1 .
Erythroneura alicia new species
On the basis of genitalic structures this species is closest to
longa and marilandicae, from both of which it differs in the
more sinuate pygofer hooks and sinuate aedeagal shaft. From
all members of the lenta complex alicia differs in possessing
three pink transverse bands across the dorsum, in position like
the darker bands of tnvittata.
Color pale with three transverse pink bands across the folded
tegmina, one at the base including also the scutellum, one across
the middle, and the third slightly before the apex. General
structure typical for complex. Male genitalia as in Fig. 4.
Pygofer hook slender and tapering, extending slightly beyond
apex of pygofer, moderately sinuate from either lateral or dorsal
view. Style without posterior point. Aedeagus with short
internal apodeme; shaft short, only moderately deep, its lateral
aspect definitely sinuate, its ventral aspect narrow.
186 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Juty. 1957
Holotype J\ Neoga, ILLINOIS, Sept. 2, 1955, on Q. imbri-
caria, Ross and Stannard. Paratypes. All from Illinois on
Q. imbricaria; same data as holotype, 2 J 1 , 7 $ ; nw. of Casey,
Sept. 8, 1955, Ross, 2 J\ 1 $ ; Dahlgren, Sept. 24, 1952, Ross
and Evers, 2 <\ Fairfield, June 12, 1934, DeLong and Ross;
Newton, Sept. 12, 1956, Ross and Selander, 2 J 1 , 1 5 ; Raymond,
Sept. 29, 1955, Ross, 1 <$.
ERYTHRONEURA TRIVITTATA complex
Two previously described species, confirmata McAtee and
trivittata Robinson, form a distinctive small complex in which
the style has both a posterior and anterior point, both slender
and pointed, Fig. 5E. In confirmata the dorsal aspect (with
wings folded) has an exquisite red saddle-like pattern, whereas
in trivittata the dorsal aspect has a light ground color crossed
by three nearly black transverse bands. Previously this banded
pattern was considered diagnostic for the species trivittata, but
we have discovered two additional species described below
possessing this pattern. Shingle oak is the host for all four
species of the complex.
Erythroneura amethica new species
This and the following species are close relatives of trivittata
Robinson, possessing in common with it three conspicuous trans-
verse red and black bands across the tegmina. E. amethica
differs from the other two banded species in the shape of the
pygofer hooks, which converge at the apex.
Male genitalia as in Fig. 5. Pygofer hook elongate, of nearly
uniform thickness to near curved apex ; dorsal aspect gently
sinuate. Style with sharp anterior point and sharp, narrow
posterior point. Aedeagus with base unusually large ; phalicata
nearly cylindrical, the apical half and most of the ventral margin
spiculate ; ventral aspect slightly irregular.
Holotype J\ Shawneetown, ILLINOIS, July 14, 1948, on
Quercus imbricaria, Mills and Ross. Paratypes. All from
Illinois on Q. imbricaria; Dixon Springs, April 21, 1935, T. H.
Ixviii]
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
187
4B
FIGS. 1-4. Male gcnitalia of Erythroncura. A, B, pygofer hooks, lat-
eral and dorsal aspects ; C, D, aedeagus, lateral and ventral aspects ; E,
apical portion of style.
188 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [July, 1957
Frison, 1 5; Edgewood, June 5, 1955, Ross and Richards, 1 J 1 ;
Sesser, Aug. 5, 1954, Ross and Moore, 2 J*.
Erythroneura arpegia new species
Color and general structure as in the preceding species. Male
genitalia as in Fig. 6. Pygofer hook quite unlike that of trivit-
tata and amethica in that it is widened into a broad blade just
before the middle, and the dorsal aspect is sharply angled laterad
at the point of widening very much as in paluloides Ross. Style
exactly as in trivittata, the posterior point being only half as
long as in amethica. Aedeagus also very much as in trivittata,
the base of normal size and the phalicata nearly cylindrical, with
a scattering of short spicules.
Holotype <$. Adams County, ILLINOIS, north of Kinderhook,
Sept. 9, 1954, on Quercus imbricaria, Ross and Stannard.
Paratypes. All from Illinois on Q. imbricaria; same data as
holotype, 1 J 1 ; nw. of Casey, Sept. 8, 1955, H. H. Ross, 10 <?;
Danville, July 23, 1949, DeLong and Ross, 1 J 1 ; Neoga, Sept.
2, 1955, Ross and Stannard, 1 J 1 .
ERYTHRONEURA TUMIDA complex
The species tumida Knull is unusual in the maculata group
of Erythroneura in possessing a sickle-shaped style, much as in
Fig. 7E. Two closely related species are here described, bring-
ing to three the number of known species possessing this
character.
Erythroneura protuma new species
In structure of style and pygofer process this species resem-
bles tumida, but differs markedly in the tapering flanges of
the aedeagus.
Color pale with the usual pattern of red spots and bars found
in most species of the maculata group. General structure typical
EXPLANATION OF FIGURES
FIGS. 5-8. Male genitalia of Erythroneura. A, B, pygofer hooks, lat-
eral and dorsal aspects ; C, D, aedeagus, lateral and ventral aspects ; E,
apical portion of style.
Ixviii]
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
189
7A '/
PROTUMA
190 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [July, 1957
for genus. Male genitalia as in Fig. 7. Pygofer process short
and bladelike, almost straight, and not reaching apex of pygofer.
Style with posterior point long and curved over foot so that
the entire apex of the style is sickle shaped. Aedeagus with
large, triangular internal apodeme ; shaft arising from ventral
area of socket, upturned, massive, and having lateral flanges
which are moderately wide at the base and taper into the body
of the shaft a short distance from the apex; apical portion of
the shaft with a few small lateral teeth.
Holotype <$. Oregon, ILLINOIS, Sept. 27, 1956, on Quercus
bor calls, Ross and Stannard. Paratypes. Same data, 4 J 1 ;
same, but Sept. 15, 1955, on Quercus alba, 4 <.
Erythroneura mimica new species
This species resembles the preceding most closely but differs
from it in the chubby apex of the pygofer hooks and the dorsal
position of the aedeagal shaft on its socket.
Color and general structure as in the preceding species. Male
genitalia as in Fig. 8. Pygofer hook short, ending some dis-
tance before the apex of the pygofer, and connected at its base
with a strong surface thickening of the pygofer ; the apical por-
tion of the hook is slightly constricted just before the tip, and
the latter is blunt. Style sickle-like, with long, curved posterior
point. Aedeagus with small internal apodeme ; shaft arising
near dorsal part of socket, straight and tapering, its lateral
margins forming serrate flanges which taper gradually to the
tip of the shaft.
Holotype <$. Oregon, ILLINOIS, Sept. 15, 1955, on Quercus
borealis, Ross and Stannard. Paratypes. Same data, 2 J*.
Nomenclature Notice
All comments relating to the following should be marked with
the File Number, and sent in duplicate to Francis Hemming,
28 Park Village East, Regent's Park, London N.W.I, England.
Mansonia Blanchard, 1901, validation of (Order Diptera)
(File No. Z.N.(S.) 553).
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 191
The Synonymy of Two Species of North American
Chrysis, sens. str. (Hymenoptera,
Chrysididae)
By KARL V. KROMBEIN, Entomology Research Branch,
United States Department of Agriculture,
Washington, D. C.
The synonymy proposed below is a result of a recent com-
parison of the types of several species of typical Chrysis de-
scribed by Viereck and by Rohwer with those described by
Aaron in the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.
Chrysis (Chrysis) pattoni Aaron
Chr\sis Pattoni Aaron, 1885. Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 12 : 235.
Chrysis (Tetrachrysis) decepta Rohwer, 1909. Psyche 16: 90.
NEW SYNONYMY.
The unique type of decepta, a female from Boulder, Colorado,
in the U. S. National Museum, is extremely similar to the
unique type of pattoni, a female from Colorado, differing in
only a few details of infraspecific importance. The type of
pattoni has the facial carina a little weaker and not so curved
downward in middle, head in frontal view but quite so strongly
arched above, and small area immediately basad of median
apical emargination of third tergum flatter.
Chrysis (Chrysis) propria Aaron
Chrysis propria Aaron, 1885. Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 12: 238.
Chrysis (Tetrachrysis) kahli Viereck, 1906. Trans. Amer. Ent.
Soc. 32: 194. NEW SYNONYMY.
Chrysis (Tetrachrysis) pattonclla Viereck, 1906. Trans. Amer.
Ent. Soc. 32: 194. NEW SYNONYMY.
The unique male type of kahli from Kansas and of pattonclla
from Hamilton County, Kansas, both in the University of Kan-
sas collection, are very similar to each other in details of the
sculpture and vestiture. They differ in color, that of kahli being
blue, while that of pattonclla is green. Both agree very well in
192 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [July, 1957
all details of sculpture with the male lectotype (selected by
Cresson) of propria from Montana.
The type series of propria is a mixed one, and includes repre-
sentatives of at least two and possibly three species. Four of
the available paratypes are females, and two are males (the
original type series consisted of eight specimens).
One male and two females from Montana and one female
from Colorado are conspecific with the lectotype. A male from
California is perhaps different the facial carina is absent, the
head and thorax are not so closely punctate, and the apical teeth
of third tergum are shorter. The female from Arizona is cer-
tainly a distinct species it is the only member of the type series
having the pronotum longer than the head (shorter than the
head in the others ) , and the pronotal punctures are much larger
and the median pronotal groove extends almost to the posterior
margin.
I am indebted to G. W. Byers of the Department of Entomol-
ogy, University of Kansas, for making available the types of
typical Chrysis described by Viereck.
(Continued from p. 174)
method really so "practical?" Every farmer and grower knows
his pests, and his local store will provide the latest insecticide
with full instructions. It is when a new insect appears, or when
one has a plant not in the book, or one is confronted with some
other novel situation that one must draw on whatever general
knowledge and understanding of insects that one may have. This
fundamental (often called theoretical or impractical) knowledge
then turns out to be the truly useful, and can be applied to the
specific situation.
This book, with its truly entomological approach, is a valuable
addition to our list of applied text-books ; it represents a return
to the method of the renowned John B. Smith's "Economic En-
tomology" of a past generation. It is hoped that it will be fol-
lowed by other editions, or other applied texts, in which, in fair-
ness to the student, still more general entomology is set forth,
including, particularly, more of the general ecological side of
insect life. R. G. SCHMIEDER.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 193
Chalcidoid Wasps (Eulophidae, Eurytomidae)
Reared from the Bullet Gall Caused by
Disholcaspis mamma (Cresson)
(Cynipidae)
By W. W. JUDD, Department of Zoology, University of
Western Ontario, London, Ontario
On March 31, 1956, several galls were collected from twigs
on a sapling of Bur Oak, Quercus macrocarpa, in a copse of
hardwood trees on the north shore of Fanshawe Lake in London
Township, Middlesex County, Ontario. The galls were in three
clusters on the twigs with 11, 3 and 7 galls, respectively, in the
three clusters. They were identified with keys in Felt (1940)
as the Rough Bullet Gall caused by the cynipid wasp Dishol-
caspis mamma (Cresson). This species is included as a gall-
maker on Q. macrocarpa by Muesebeck et al. (1951). Most of
the galls were about 1.5 cm. in diameter, a few of them being
smaller than this. When the galls were dissected after the
rearing of insects from them had been completed it was found
that each gall consisted of a solid, woody exterior wall about
5 mm. thick and, within this, a separable central capsule with a
tough, thin wall. This capsule could be rolled out of the gall
intact and resembled a small, yellow pea 4 mm. in diameter.
The capsule from one of the galls, opened on the day of the
collection, contained 26 small, white hymenopterous larvae.
Only one gall showed an emergence hole, 1.5 mm. in diameter.
Each of the remaining 20 intact galls was placed in a cotton-
plugged vial of dimensions 60 mm. X 15 mm. and kept on a
rack in a laboratory. Each day the vials were examined for the
presence of emerged insects and these were pinned and labelled
or preserved in fluid. On January 31, 1957, the galls were split
open and insects remaining in them were removed. Of the 20
galls, 4 yielded adults of the wasp Eurytoma querci-globuli
(Fitch), 1 showed an emergence hole perhaps made by E.
querci-globuli, 9 yielded adult wasps, Tetrastichus phegus Burks,
3 contained molded contents in their capsules and 3 were small
194
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
[July, 1957
and undeveloped with aborted central capsules. The numbers
of wasps that emerged from or were found in the galls are
presented in Table 1. All specimens are deposited in the col-
lection of the Department of Zoology, University of Western
TABLE 1. Numbers of wasps reared and collected from the galls
Date
1956
Telrastichus phegus
Euryloma
querci-globuli
cf
9
Total
9
May 30
31
9
7
9
14
18
21
June 1
3
7
1
14
14
21
15
4
1
1
5
19
18
37
18
1
22
1
28
1
July 3
1957
1
Jan. 31
22
47
69
Total :
65
117
182
4
Ontario except 1 female E. querci-globuli and 3 male and 4
female T. phegus which are deposited in the United States
National Museum.
EULOPHIDAE
Tetrastichus phegus Burks
Nine of the galls yielded 65 male (367c) and 117 female
(64%) T. phegus. Many of these emerged from six of the
galls between May 30 and June 5 (Table 1) and the remainder
were found in three galls when they were dissected. The wasps
emerged from the galls through circular holes in the wall 0.7
mm. in diameter. In some galls all the wasps emerged from a
single hole in the gall and in other galls from two or three holes.
Those wasps which failed to emerge from three of the galls
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 195
were found dead in the central capsule of one gall and jammed
between the wall of the capsule and the solid exterior wall in
two galls. The distribution of sexes of the wasps from each of
the nine galls was as follows: (lljtf, 13??), (1 33, 14??),
(19 eta 18?$), (8^, 11??), (9c?<T, 12??), (6 cJtf, 14??),
(14??), (9J^, 13??), (2 &?, 8??). T. phegus is a wasp
described by Burks (1943) from specimens reared from cynipid
galls of the genera Disholcaspis and Heteroecus, including para-
types from D. mamma.
EURYTOMIDAE
Eurytoma querci-globuli (Fitch)
Four female E. querci-globuli emerged from four galls be-
tween June 18 and July 3 (Table 1), after T. phegus had ceased
emerging, and no gall yielded these two species. E. querci-
globuli emerged through a circular hole 1.5 mm. in diameter in
the wall of the gall. In addition one gall, examined on the day
of collection, showed an emergence hole of the same diameter.
E. querci-globuli is included by Muesebeck ct al. (1951) as a
parasite of galls of the genus Disholcaspis.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Dr. B. D. Burks, United States National Museum, kindly
examined and identified the wasps, T. phegus and E. querci-
globuli, and specimens of the gall, D. mamma.
LITERATURE CITED
BURKS, B. D. 1943. Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus. 93 : 505-608.
FELT, E. P. 1940. Plant galls and gall makers. Comstock Publ. Co.,
Ithaca.
MUESEBECK, C. F. W., K. V. KROMBEIN, H. K. TOWNES et al. 1951.
U. S. Dept. Agric., Agric. Monogr. No. 2.
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THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
1900 RACE STREET, PHILADELPHIA 3, PA.
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
OCTOBER 1957
Vol. LXVIII No. 8
CONTENTS
Mockford Psocoptera from Tikal, Guatemala 197
Porter A new subspecies of Megarhyssa atrata 206
Burks A new Profenusa (Hym. : Tenthr.) 207
\Yoolley Redescriptions of Ewing's Oribatid mites, IV 177
Sanderson Status of the tortoise beetle M. ormondensis 222
Nomenclature notice 223
Books received ... 223
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ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
VOL. LXVIII OCTOBER, 1957 No. 8
Some Psocoptera from Tikal, Guatemala
By EDWARD L. MOCKFORD, Illinois Natural History Survey,
Urbana, Illinois
The psocids discussed in this paper were collected at Tikal,
Department of Peten, Guatemala, in late winter and spring of
1956 by Dr. Irving J. Cantrall of the University of Michigan
Museum of Zoology, Ann Arbor. The material consists of
seven specimens representing seven species, seven genera, and
four families. Five of the species are new and are described
below ; the other two may be new. To my knowledge, these
are the first published records of Guatemalan psocids. The
meagre information on psocids of Central America in general
suggests that a very rich fauna must exist in that region.
Two genera used in this paper have not previously appeared
in the New World literature. The genus Ghesquierella Badon-
nel is based on African material, but the similarities between
the Guatemalan species and the African genotype are sufficiently
striking to indicate a probable close relationship. The genus
Psoddus Pearman was erected to include all forms in the Psoci-
dae which cannot be placed in one of the existing genera. Until
the relationships of such forms become better understood, it
seems advisable to continue using Psoddus in this way rather
than to erect new genera.
FAMILY PTILONEURIDAE
Loneura splendida new species ($)
Diagnosis: Near L. brasilicnsis Roesler, differing in the fol-
lowing forewing characters: cell R 2 + 3 proportionally much
(197)
198 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Oct., 1957
longer ; a premarginal band of connected spots from vein M 3
to R 4 + r , ; each spot centered on a vein. Clouded area below vein
Cu 1 much larger than in L. brasiliensis, extending below vein An.
Measurements: Total body length 2.97 mm.; forewing length
4.93 mm. ; hindwing length 3.24 mm. ; posterior tibia length
2.07 mm. ; posterior tarsus length T, 0.84 mm., T. 2 0.06 mm.,
T, 0.15 mm.
Morphology: Ocelli close together on a prominent ocellar
interval ; anterior ocellus smaller than posteriors. IO/D = 1.22,
PO/D = 0.78. Lacinia broad distally, with an apical toothed
area separated by a notch from a large preapical tooth. Maxil-
lary palpi long and slender ; terminal segment nearly as long as
the preceding two segments together. Middle and posterior
tarsi each with a single row of ctenidia, with the numbers per
segment as follows : middle tarsus T, 17, T 2 1, T 3 3 ; posterior
tarsus TJ 24, T 2 1, T 3 4. Wing venation and ciliation similar
to that of L. brasiliensis, the chief differences being in forewing,
where Rs from the point where it leaves r-m crossvein to the
point where it forks proportionally much shorter than in L.
brasiliensis, whereas radial fork proportionally much longer ;
vein M- branched in right wing, the anterior branch rebranching
in left wing. Subgenital plate with rounded posterior margin ;
pigmented area of subgenital plate in form of a broad U, ends
of which are curved outward. Gonapophyses (Fig. 7) : first
valvula slender, about three-quarters length of second valvula,
bearing a few tiny spines near apex ; second valvula with re-
curved apex, bearing numerous slender spines ; rudimentary
third valvula bearing only a few hairs. Interior genital plate
( Fig. 8 ) nearly as large as subgenital plate. Paraprocts bearing
many hairs and near their median margins numerous small,
slender spines. Epiproct bearing numerous hairs.
Color (in alcohol}: Compound eyes black. Body generally
straw colored, marked with deep brown distributed as follows :
entire clypeus and labium ; a band across vertex immediately
above ocelli, but dipping down to include ocellar interval ; large
blotches involving most of thoracic pleura and terga (some
blotches pale brown on terga ) ; all coxae and femora, except a
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 199
pale preapical band on each femur. Antennae straw colored
with a colorless apical band on each flagellar segment. \Yings
marked as indicated in the diagnosis and in Figs. 1 and 2.
Type locality: GUATEMALA: Department of Peten, Tikal.
April 5, 1956, at light, I. J. Cantrall collector. The type is in
my collection.
Triplocania spinosa new species (J 1 )
Diagnosis: Differs from the other neotropical species of its
genus in wing markings, possessing a premarginal band in the
forewing from vein M 3 to R 4 + r ,, in contrast to a marginal band
in T. inagnifica Roesler, T. refle.va Roesler, and T. margine-
picta Roesler, and no band in T. lucida Roesler and T. dolosa
Roesler. Curvature of veins in forewing most similar to that
of T. refle.va, but differing in the marked flexure of R 2 + 3 , M 2 ,
and M.j, and in the less marked flexure of the distal edge of the
areola postica.
Measurements: Total body length 2.32 mm. (abdomen con-
tracted) ; forewing length 4.44 mm. ; hindwing length 3.18 mm. ;
posterior tibia length 2.07 mm. ; posterior tarsus length T t
0.90 mm., T, 0.21 mm.
Morphology: Compound eyes very large and prominent,
IO/D = 0.93, PO/D = 1.00. Mouthparts typical of the Epi-
psocetae, as described for the preceding species. Middle and
posterior tarsi each with a single row of ctenidia, with their
numbers per segment as follows : middle tarsus T, 20, T., 3 :
posterior tarsus T 1 30, T, 4. Hypandrium (Fig. 3) with a
small, weakly sclerotized central lobe and a pair of well scler-
otized lateral lobes curving medially and bearing numerous
denticles. A complex set of phallic sclerotizations dorsal to
the parameres (Fig. 12).
Color (in alcohol) : Compound eyes and ocellar interval black.
Body generally straw colored, marked with various shades of
brown. Deep brown lines indicating some of the clypeal stria-
tions, but not attaining mid-line. Bands of deep brmvn around
antennal bases. Forewings marked as indicated in Fig. 4 and
in the diagnosis. Antennae mostly straw colored with deep
200 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Oct., 1957
brown basal and preapical bands on each of the flagellar seg-
ments, except no basal band on i l} and a colorless apical band
on each flagellar segment.
Type locality: GUATEMALA: Department of Peten, Tikal.
February 14, 1956, at light, I. J. Cantrall collector. The type
is in my collection.
FAMILY EPIPSOCIDAE
Epipsocus petenensis new species (5)
Diagnosis: A species of the subgenus Epipsocus, near E. lati-
stignia Roesler and E. scrcnus Roesler, differing markedly from
either of these in the shape and color pattern of the pterostigma,
and in the much larger size of the dark spot associated with the
distal end of the anal vein in both fore- and hindwings.
Measurements: Total body length 2.64 mm. ; forewing length
3.51 mm. ; hindwing length 2.46 mm. ; posterior tibia length 1.59
mm.; posterior tarsus length T l 0.75 mm., T., 0.15 mm.
Morphology: IO/D =: 1.33, PO/D == 1.00. Mouthparts of
usual form for the Epipsocetae. Middle and posterior tarsi
each with a single row of ctenidia, the numbers per segment
as follows : middle tarsus T 5 22, T. 2 ; posterior tarsus
Tj 34, T 2 4. Pterostigma decidedly clavate ; venation otherwise
normal for the genus. Subgenital plate of usual form for the
genus. Gonapophyses as in Fig. 9 ; second valvula bearing
numerous tiny denticles on its inner edge.
Color (in alcohol): Compound eyes and ocellar interval black.
Body generally straw colored marked with brown. A brown
EXPLANATION OF FIGURES
FIGS. 1-2. Lnncura sploidida n. sp. ?, 1. forewing, 2. hindwing.
FIGS. 3-5. Triplocania spinosa n. sp. J\ 3. hypandrium and phallic
sclerites, ventral aspect, 4. forewing, 5. hindwing.
FIG. 6. Ghesqnicrclla cantralli n. sp. c?, phallic frame.
FIGS. 7-8. Loncura splcndida n. sp. $, 7. gonapophyses, 8. interior
genital plate.
FIGS. 9-11. Epipsocus petenensis n. sp. $, 9. gonapophyses, 10. fore-
wing, 11. hindwing.
FIG. 12. Triplocania spinosa n. sp. c?, hypandrium and phallic sclerites,
dorsal aspect.
Ixviii |
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
201
12
202 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS | Oct., 1957
blotch around each antennal base, extending to ocellar interval.
Brown lines along upper clypeal striae. A pair of brown spots
postero-lateral to ocelli. Thoracic pleura and coxae mostly
brown. Femora brown basally, paling apically. Wings mostly
hyaline with brown markings as indicated in Figs. 10 and 11,
and in the diagnosis. Antennae colorless.
Type locality: GUATEMALA: Department of Peten, Tikal.
March 24, 1956, on laboratory table in camp, I. J. Cantrall col-
lector. The type is in my collection.
FAMILY MYOPSOCIDAE
Lichenomima sp.
A single female was taken at a light, February 8, 1956. Al-
though it may represent a new species, it is very similar in
wing markings and genitalia to L. sparsa (Hagen) and an
undescribed U. S. species.
FAMILY PSOCIDAE
Psocidus tikalus new species
Diagnosis: Probably belongs in subfamily Psocinae, but its
relationships otherwise unknown.
Measurements: Total body length 3.45 mm.; forewing length
4.29 mm.; hindwing length 3.18 mm.; posterior tibia length
1.86 mm.; posterior tarsus T, 0.60 mm., T 2 0.21 mm.
Morphology: Compound eyes very large; IO/D 1.06,
PO/D = 1 .00. Ocelli large, the ocellar interval decidedly prom-
inent. Antennae clothed in short hairs ; first flagellar segment
slightly thickened basally, gradually becoming narrower apically ;
the thickened portion bearing three discoid sensillae (flagellum
broken off in second segment on left side and after third on
right). All tarsi with a single row of ctenidia, the numbers per
segment as follows : anterior tarsus T t 15, T 2 0; middle tarsus
-T, 20, To 0; posterior tarsus T x 31, T 2 5. Wing venation
as in Figs. 20 and 21 ; forewing with tapering apex. Weak,
unpigmented section of vein R s restricted to base of R 4 + r ,. Fu-
Ixviiij
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
203
FIGS. 13-15. Ghesquierella cantralli n. sp. d 1 , 13. forewing, 14. hind-
wing, 15. hypandrium.
FIGS. 16-18. Psocidus tikalus, n. sp. d 1 , 16. hypandrium, 17. phallic
frame, 18. apex of paraproct.
FIG. 19. Ghesquierella cantralli n. sp. (?, apex of paraproct.
FIGS. 20-21. Psocidus tikalus n. sp. c?, 20. forewing, 21. hindwing.
204 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Oct., 1957
sion of R s and M in forewing very short. Pterostigma deep
and angular. Hypandrium (Fig. 16) nearly symmetrical, pro-
duced into three processes on each side, the processes and
central area denticulate. Phallic frame shaped as in Fig. 17,
apex denticulate. Each paraproct with a slender, pointed
process on its apex as in Fig. 18.
Color (in alcohol}: Compound eyes and ocellar interval black.
Body generally pale gray marked with brown as follows : stria-
tions on upper half of clypeus ; two transverse bands on vertex
between eyes (both passing through ocellar interval) ; pair of
spots on vertex postero-lateral to ocelli ; anterior portions of
alinota ; irregular blotches on pleural regions of thorax ; narrow
segmental rings on abdomen. Wings marked as in Figs. 20
and 21. Legs pale gray except for cloudy apical band on each
femur, and brown second tarsal segments on all legs. First
flagellar segment pale brown ; remainder dark brown (broken
off beyond third flagellar segment).
Type locality: GUATEMALA : Department of Peten, Tika!.
April 3, 1956, I. J. Cantrall collector. The type is in my
collection.
Ghesquierella cantralli new species
Diagnosis: Agrees with genotype, G. calcnsis Bad., in struc-
ture of the hypandrium, shape of forewing and of most of its
cells (notable exceptions being the narrower, bent cell R 2 + 3 and
narrower An in G. cantralli), presence of a mark below ptero-
stigma and another below that in cell R-, and pattern of dark-
bordered veins in forewing. Differs from the genotype in pos-
sessing a pair of spiny lateral areas on hypandrium, a fumose
basal portion of forewing, and in shape of the apex of the
phallic frame. In forewing, vein Sc joins radial stem in G.
cantralli but not in G. calcnsis.
Measurements: Total body length 3.36 mm. : forewing length
4.93 mm. ; hindwing length 3.60 mm. ; posterior tibia length 2.04
mm. ; posterior tarsus T, 0.57 mm., T, 0.24 mm.
Morphology: Compound eyes small; IO/D = 2.33, PO/D =
0.90. Ocellar interval not prominent. Anterior ocellus smaller
Ixviii | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 205
than posteriors. Antennae clothed in rather long, curved hairs.
First flagellar segment with two discoid sensillae near its base.
Antennae broken off, but probably much longer than forewing
as right antenna to basal part of f. t equals length of forewing.
Distribution of tarsal ctenidia : none on anterior tarsus ; middle
tarsus T, 15, T 2 4; posterior tarsus 1\ 23, T 2 5. Wing
venation (Figs. 13 and 14) much as in the genotype, differing
as indicated in the diagnosis. Hypandrium (Fig. 15) nearly
symmetrical, produced apically into a central lobe bordered on
each side by a row of spines, and a spiny lobe on each side.
Phallic frame as in Fig. 6, its apex shaped somewhat as in
Psococerastis. Paraprocts each with a large sensory area about
midway between base and apex, and a slightly curved apical
process (Fig. 19).
Color (in alcohol) : Compound eyes, inner rims of ocelli,
flagella, and distal two segments of maxillary palpi black. Body
generally orange. Legs straw colored basally, becoming nearly
black on tarsi. Forewings fumose basally, hyaline apically ex-
cept for dark borders of veins and two spots below pterostigma ;
pterostigma orange. Hindwings hyaline except for faintly
fumose anal cell.
Type locality: GUATEMALA: Department of Peten, Tikal.
February 14, 1956, I. J. Cantrall collector. The type is in
my collection.
Metylophorus sp.
A single male was taken April 6, 1956. It is very similar to
M. novaescotiae (Walker), a species common throughout East-
ern U. S. The only differences noted were the slightly smaller
body size and proportionally much larger size of the compound
eyes of the Guatemalan form. There may be differences in the
numbers of teeth on the hypandrial ridges, but the extent of
variation in these numbers in M. novaescotiae is not known.
These differences may prove to be clinal or subspecific when
additional material becomes available.
206 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Oct., 1957
A New Subspecies of Megarhyssa atrata (Fabricius)
(Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)
By CHARLES C. PORTER
The subject insect was discovered as a result of a more or
less preliminary study of the Rhyssini in the collection of the
American Museum of Natural History. At the outset, there-
fore, I express my thanks to Miss Alice Gray and Dr. C. H.
Curran of that institution, the two of whom very kindly made
it possible for me to pursue these investigations, and to Dr.
H. K. Townes for his help in verifying my findings.
The subspecies may be recognized as follows :
Megarhyssa atrata lineata, new subspecies
Exactly similar to typical form in structure, size, and general
habitus. Distinguished by the following color characteristics :
A line on the upper margin of prothorax, similar line on its
lower front margin, pair of central vittae on mesonotum, scu-
tellum except extreme base, the postscutellum, spot below tegulae
of both anterior and posterior wings, thin lateral line on first
two sternites and their apices narrowly, yellow. General color
somewhat more brownish than in typical form, central lobe of
mesoscutum anteriorly especially so, forming a marked contrast
with the black lateral lobes. Wings perfectly hyaline, with no
trace of the deep infumation so characteristic of M. atrata atrata.
Color otherwise precisely as in typical form.
The type series consists of two females collected by Mrs. A. T.
Slosson at Franconia, New Hampshire. Types are deposited in
collection of American Museum of Natural History.
In conclusion, it would seem that this represents the extreme
northern development of M. atrata. In this conclusion Dr.
Townes fully concurs. Certainly there is nothing like it among
the many specimens I have examined from more southerly
localities.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 207
A New Profenusa from the California Plane Tree
(Hymenoptera, Tenthredinidae)
By B. D. BURKS, Entomology Research Division, Agricultural
Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture
In the fall of 1956 I received from Dr. L. R. Brown, of the
University of California at Los Angeles, specimens of a small
sawfly for identification. These had been reared by Mr. Clark
O. Eads at Santa Barbara and Santa Monica, California, from
leaf mines on the California plane tree, Plat anus racernosa, dur-
ing May and June of 1956. The information supplied with the
specimens was that they had developed from larvae which lived
in leaf mines superficially resembling those made by the graci-
lariid moth Lithocolletis jelinella (Heinrich) on the same tree.
Both the moth and the sawfly make blotch mines.
Study of these sawfly specimens showed that they repre-
sented an undescribed species of the genus Profenusa MacGil-
livray, as defined by Benson (1941, Proc. Roy. Ent. Soc.
London, ser. B, 10: 85-90). This genus in the Nearctic region
contains the species alumna (MacGillivray), which mines Betula
leaves; canadensis (Marlatt), mining Crataegus leaves; inspi-
rata (MacGillivray), the host of which is unknown; and lucijex
(Ross), also of unknown host. The host likewise is unknown
for the closely related Setabara histrionic a (MacGillivray).
Profenusa platanae, new species
This species most closely resembles P. inspirata (MacGilliv-
ray) in being mostly black and in having the ovipositor sheaths
exserted. The two differ in that the sheaths in inspirata are
broad and short, while they are slender and long in platanae,
see Fig. 4. In inspirata (see Ross, 1936, Trans. 111. Acacl. Sci.
29: 264, Fig. 2) the lancet of the saw has the ventral margins
between the apical 4 lobes minutely serrulate, while these mar-
gins are smooth in platanae, Fig. 1 ; the lobes in inspirata have
extremely minute sub-denticles, but in platanae each lobe bears
4 relatively large teeth. P. platanae differs from Setahara his-
208 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS | Oct., 1957
trionica (MacGillivray) in having cell R, of the hind wing open
rather than closed; the two differ also in that histrionica does
not have the ovipositor sheaths exserted and has the hind tibia
almost completely brown. The hind tibia in platanac is almost
entirely yellow.
Female: Length, 4.0 mm. Head and body black; antenna
black, with narrow band at apex of pedicel yellow and apical
segment of flagellum very dark brown ; tegula mostly yellow,
a small dorso-basal area black ; wings hyaline with venation
brown ; apices of all femora, fore and middle tibiae, and all tarsi
yellow, coxae and basal area of each femur black, second tro-
chanter of each leg dark brown, hind tibia yellow with apex
shaded with dark brown.
Surface of head and body smooth, shining ; fronto-vertex and
temples of head densely clothed with fine, golden hair ; clypeus,
labrum, and normally exposed portions of mandibles clothed
with slightly sparser and longer golden hair ; pronotum laterally
setose, mesonotum glabrous, dorsal half of mesepisternum finely
setose, this sclerite ventrally glabrous ; all coxae apically setose,
trochanters densely setose, femora sparsely setose, tibiae and
tarsi very densely setose ; dorsum of abdomen glabrous, venter
very sparsely setose ; exserted ovipositor sheaths each with 6 to
8 rather long, slightly curved setae and a few short hairs, Fig. 4.
Head with genae acarinate laterally ; relative proportions of
parts of antenna : Scape 33, pedicel 25, first flagellar segment 50,
second 35, third 30, fourth 30, fifth 25, sixth 25, seventh 25;
pedicel twice as long as wide. Forewing with crossvein 2r
joining Rs basad of 3r-m, first abscissa of Rs wanting or very
faintly indicated, 2r-m very short ; vein M with portion between
Im-cu and 2r-m and just distad of 2r-m, and crossvein 2m-cu
minutely fractured, similar minutely fractured sectors in 2r and
3r-m ; vein 2A very weak near its apex, vein 3A straight, but
obsolescent. Hind wing with 1 1 or 12 hamuli, basal ones widely
spaced ; cell R, open ; anal cell present, vein 3 A represented by
a straight stub. Hind tarsus three-quarters as long as hind
tibia ; tarsal claw with a large basal lobe, Fig. 2. Lancet of
saw with 4 pointed teeth on lobes, Fig. 1.
Ixviii]
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
209
Male: Length, 3.5 mm. Color as in female except that tegula
is mostly black, yellow only at apex and lateral margin ; pubes-
cence as in female. Relative proportions of parts of antenna:
Scape 30, pedicel 25, first flagellar segment 50, second 30, third
30, fourth 25, fifth 25, sixth 25, seventh 25. Legs and wings
as in female. Penis valve as in Fig. 3.
Projenusa platanae, n. sp. Fig. 1, saw; Fig. 2, tarsal claw; Fig. 3, penis
valve ; Fig. 4, ovipositor sheath.
Type locality: Santa Barbara, CALIFORNIA.
Types: U.S.N.M. No. 63460.
Described from 6 9 and 6 J 1 specimens, as follows : Holotype,
allotype, and 2 $ and 4 J 1 paratypes, Santa Barbara Calif., May
20, 1956, reared from Plataniis raccmosa, Clark O. Eads ; 3$
and 1 J 1 paratypes, Santa Monica, Calif., June 12, 1956, reared
from Plataniis racemosa, Clark O. Eads. All specimens de-
posited in the U. S. National Museum collection.
Mature larva: Thorax only slightly thicker than abdomen and
of the same width. Length 9.0 mm., width of head 1.1 mm..
210 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS | Oct., 1957
width of metathorax 1.9 mm., width of third abdominal segment
1.9 mm., width at anterior margin of ninth abdominal segment
1.25 mm., width at posterior margin of ninth segment 1.1 mm.
Head and legs very pale brown, mandibles brown, body cream
colored, dorsal and ventral thoracic shields wanting. Labrum
bearing 2 bristles near either lateral margin, a pair of sublateral,
arcuate rows of brown micro-denticles borne on lower, inner
face of labrum, and a row of smaller, more widely set micro-
bristles extending across outer ventral margin of labrum. Each
mandible bearing one bristle at base. Clypeus bearing one
bristle near either dorso-lateral angle. Antenna with 2 seg-
ments, basal one large and almost as broad as long, apical one
minute, papilliform. A row of 6 bristles extending across fronto-
vertex between the 2 ocellarae. Surface of body obscurely
shagreened, not spinulose ; spiracles slit-like, not winged ; tho-
racic legs 4-segmentecl ; prolegs present on abdominal segments
2 to 8, and very poorly developed, lacking spines or setae ; anal
larvapod wanting. Abdominal tergites 2 to 8 each with 2 well-
marked annulets, anterior annulet one-third as long as posterior
one ; posterior end of body blunt.
This is the larva that leaves the mine and drops to the ground
to pupate in an earthen cell.
Penultimate larval instar : Thorax wider and thicker than
abdomen. Length of body 7.5 mm., width of head 1.1 mm.,
width of metathorax 1.5 mm., width of third abdominal seg-
ment 1.4 mm., width at anterior margin of ninth abdominal
segment 1.25 mm.
This is presumably the last larval instar that feeds.
Mine: Begun as a serpentine mine, developing into a blotch
mine, the blotch mines commonly multiple and coalescent, in
the leaves of Platanus raccinosa. Excrement in young mines
concentrated in the center, in mature mines tending to form
bands near lateral margins.
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 211
Redescriptions of Ewing's Oribatid Mites, V
Families Belbidae and Opiidae (Acarina:
Oribatei) l
By TYLER A. WOOLLEY, Department of Zoology, Colorado
State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
This paper is the fifth in a series which deals with redescrip-
tions of Ewing's type oribatid mites. The accompanying fig-
ures were completed from pencil drawings sent to the writer by
Dr. E. W. Baker of the U. S. National Museum. Acknowledge-
ment of these drawings is made by Dr. Baker's initials on the
finished plates. Ewing's original descriptions are followed as
closely as possible, but the writer incorporates modern acarologi-
cal terms where needed.
Both Grandjean (1936) and Strenske (1955) indicate fea-
tures which can be employed to differentiate the genera of the
Belbidae. The solenidions, or tactile hairs, constitute one of
these morphological features ; other characters also are men-
tioned by these authors. Many of these diagnostic features
were not known to Ewing. Most of his descriptions were ac-
companied by an illustration or two, but in many instances the
figures represented single diagnostic features such as a pseudo-
stigmatic organ, lamella, leg, etc. In many cases Ewing did not
illustrate the entire mite, which is the situation in some of the
belbids described by him.
The descriptions in this paper are as detailed as possible
with the information available from Ewing's figures and de-
scriptions and the drawings from Dr. Baker. The figures show
the whole body of the mite and the proximal segments of the
legs. Solenidions and other critical details are lacking in the
descriptions and figures because the writer does not have ac-
cess to the type specimens. It is impossible to be absolutely
certain of the generic designations of all of these mites, but the
writer has placed them as accurately as possible. He has used
Ewing's designations for some of them until such time as the
1 Research supported by a grant-in-aicl from the National Science
Foundation.
212 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Oct., 1957
type specimens can be examined critically for solenidions and
other details. Despite the latter difficulties, these redescriptions
should be of value because the fragmentary accounts and il-
lustrations of these mites have been embellished in this paper.
FAMILY BELBIDAE WILLMANN, 1931
These apterogasterine mites are distinguished by legs which
are longer than the body and frequently consist of bead-like seg-
ments. Legs III and IV are usually inserted in the lateral
margins of the body and the dorsal surface of the hysterosoma
is not reflected ventrally. In some instances the cast nymphal
skins are carried on the dorsum of the hysterosoma.
Genus HETERODAMAEUS, n. g. (Figs. 1, 2)
Description: Sclerotized sculpturing on dorsum of propo-
dosoma between and anterior to the pseudostigmata ; a transverse
suture on dorsum of propodosoma at level of insertions of rostral
hairs ; pseudostigmatic organs large, clavate, setose ; dorsum of
hysterosoma with four posterior setae in a transverse row ad-
jacent to posterior margin of hysterosoma; surfaces of propodo-
soma, hysterosoma and legs with many small tubercules ; a large
spine projecting laterad from the rim of camerostome to the
edge of tectopedia I anterior to level of coxae I.
Heterodamaeus magnisetosus (Ewing), 1909. (Figs. 1, 2)
Cotype : Damacus magnisetosus Ewing, 1909, p. 129.
Description: Chestnut brown; propodosoma about two-thirds
as long as hysterosoma and about three-fourths as wide, some-
what triangular in shape, surface pebbled with many small
tubercles. A transverse, sclerotized ridge and suture between
insertions of rostral hairs. Rostrum blunt, depressed ; rostral
hairs inserted in lateral margins of sclerotized transverse ridge
which runs between them, about as long as transverse ridge,
stout and pectinate, curved medially until they nearly meet an-
terior to tip of rostrum. Lateral margins of propodosoma ex-
panded in prominent tectopedia of legs I and II ; tectopedia I
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 213
larger and directed anteriorly. Lamellae absent. Lamellar
hairs fine, simple, inserted about half their lengths anterior to
pseudostigmata and directly laterad of antestigmatic bar. In-
terlamellar hairs not visible, but insertions of these hairs are
mediad and anterior of pseudostigmata. Three sclerotized bars
or ridges on dorsum of propodosoma anterior to pseudostigmata
(fig. 1 ) . Anterior bar curved posteriorly at lateral ends, curved
apex at level of tectopedia I in mid-dorsal area of propodosoma.
A posterior bar behind and forming an eye-like loop (fig. 1).
Two antestigmatic bars which extend between insertions of
lamellar and interlamellar hairs and end at antero-lateral mar-
gins of pseudostigmata (fig. 1). Pseudostigmata large pits
with sclerotized rims at posterior end of antestigmatic bar,
mediad of level of tectopedia II, cup projected above surface of
propodosoma. Pseudostigmatic organs about as long as leg
II, clavate, the head nearly as wide as opening of pseudostig-
matic cup and about one-third as long as entire organ, setose
(Ewing says: "pectinate"), with a long, thin pedicel, slightly
curved, but extended laterally.
Hysterosoma globose, surface pebbled like propodosoma, evi-
dently covered with an exudate, lateral margins bent ventrally
slightly ; four pairs of visible setae in a transverse row near
medio-posterior margin; a pair of glandular fissures (?) in
mid-lateral surfaces of dorsum (fig. 1).
Ventral margins of propodosoma with a prominent lateral
spine anterior to leg I, extending from lateral rim of camero-
stome to margin of tectopedia I. Ventral plate circular in out-
line, about as broad as long, broken on right side in cotype speci-
men. A single pair of setal insertions visible anterior to genital
opening (fig. 2). Genital aperture subrectangular, at level of
leg IV. Genital covers as wide as anal covers, but half as long;
genital setae not visible. Anal aperture nearly twice as long
as genital opening, separated from genital aperture by half the
width of a genital cover. Anal covers slightly opened in cotype
specimen ; no visible anal setae.
All legs with pebbled, tuberculate surface. Ewing (1909)
states : "First pair of legs as long as the body ; second pair about
214 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Oct., 1957
three fourths as long as the first pair ; third pair equal to the
first, and the last pair of legs the longest of all. Tarsus of leg I
shorter than the tihia. The tibia of leg I is peculiar in this spe-
cies in that it possesses a large process or tubercle at its dorsal
distal aspect from which arises a large, long, tactile hair. Un-
gues tridactyle, situated on very long and slender tarsal pedicels ;
dactyles unequal."
Length 560 /A, hysterosoma 360 /x; width 330/t.
Specimens of this species were collected in moss by C. A. Hart
at Pulaski, Illinois and by H. E. Ewing at Arcola, Illinois.
Discussion: Ewing (1909) considers this species remarkable
because of the large pseudostigmatic organs, the tibial projection
on leg I, and the shorter length of the second pair of legs. The
writer contends that the sclerotized ridges on the propodosoma,
the large pseudostigmatic organs, the ventral spines lateral to
the camerostome and the four dorsal posterior setae are valid
evidences for the generic designation of this species.
Damaeus michaeli Ewing, 1909, p. 129. (Figs. 3, 4)
Description: Chestnut brown; propodosoma broadly triangu-
lar in outline, insertions of legs I and II making posterior two-
thirds broader than anterior end. Rostrum with a sclerotized
margin, somewhat square in outline ; rostral hairs curved, stout,
inserted in antero-lateral corners of sclerotized margin. Lamel-
lae absent, lamellar hairs inserted twice the width of insertions
posterior to rostral hairs ; lamellar hairs stout, curved, nearly
as long as width of rostrum. Interlamellar hairs inserted be-
tween pseudostigmatic organs, directed anteriorly. Pseudo-
stigmata funnel-shaped, placed mediad of space between legs I
and II in lateral margin of propodosoma, with a sclerotized rim.
Pseudostigmatic organs flagelliform and barbed (Ewing says:
"pectinate"), directed laterad and upward. Tectopedia III
with stout spines projecting somewhat anteriorly near margin
of propodosoma. Spinae adnatae stout, slightly decurved at
tips, arising at level of leg III, projected anteriorly from beneath
anterior edge of hysterosoma (fig. 3).
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 215
Hysterosoma globular, about twice as long as propodosoma,
lateral edges curved ventrally, surface brittle, almost smooth,
with eight pairs of curved, stout, pectinate bristles in two medio-
lateral rows on dorsum (fig. 3).
Camerostome pyramidal with two fine, short bristles near
chelicerae. Venter of propodosoma with sclerotized margins,
four pairs of bristles lateral and posterior to camerostome (fig.
4), posterior margin of propodosoma with two short, blunt
spines which project posteriorly and evidently fit into small
recesses in venter of hysterosoma. Genital opening subglobose
in outline, about as long as anal aperture, but slightly wider ;
genital covers rectangular, each cover with six genital setae in
a row closer to medial edge than to lateral ; g : 1 close to anterior
margin of cover; g : 2-g : 6 equally spaced posteriorly. Two
pairs of adgenital setae as in fig. 4. Anal opening slightly nar-
rower than genital aperture, oval in outline, covers narrower
than genital covers ; each cover with two pairs of anal setae ; a: 1
closer to anterior margin of anal cover than a : 2 is to the pos-
terior margin (fig. 4). Two pairs of adanal setae near pos-
tero-lateral curve of anal aperture. Two pairs of fine, simple
setae on decurved surface of dorsal plate, each pair postero-
laterad of adanal setae, but with more widely separated inser-
tions.
Ewing (1909) states: "Legs stout; femora with narrow
peduncle and large clavate head ; each segment bears several
stout, curved, pectinate bristles. Portions of cast skin generally
carried on the dorsum of the abdomen."
Length 495 /x, hysterosoma 380 p. ; width 320 /x.
Many specimens of this species were collected by H. E.
Ewing in moss and under bark of logs at Homer, Illinois.
Damaeus globifer Ewing, 1913, p. 120. (Figs. 5, 6)
Description: Chestnut brown. Propodosoma about two-
thirds as long as hysterosoma, broadly triangular. Rostrum
blunt, cone-like ; rostral hairs inserted about a third their
lengths posterior to rostral tip on lateral edges, incurved so that
tips nearly meet. Lamellae wanting. Lamellar hairs inserted
216 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Oct., 1957
about a third their lengths posterior and medial to rostral hairs ;
a sclerotized, raised lateral prominence between rostral and
lamellar hairs (fig. 5). Sclerotization of insertions of legs I
prominent, visible at lateral margins of propodosoma. Inter-
lamellar hairs inserted medial to pseudostigmata, long, filiform,
broken at tips in type specimen. Pseudostigmata prominent,
funnel-shaped, between expanded insertions of legs I and II and
on slightly raised prominence lateral to insertions of interlamellar
hairs. Pseudostigmatic organ long, stout, slightly pectinate.
Spinae adnatae stout, curved laterad at tips, inserted about twice
their lengths posterior to pseudostigmata. (Ewing (1913)
states that these spine-like spurs curve inward, but his illustra-
tion in the same article shows them curved outward in the fash-
ion indicated in fig. 5.)
Hysterosoma spherical, smooth, with nine pairs of stout,
curved, simple setae on dorso-lateral aspects, their raised in-
sertions arranged in an elongated oval on the dorsum ; tips of
some bristles broken in type specimen.
Camerostome trapezoidal, a pair of setae posterior to chelic-
erae and medial to tectopedia I. Apodemata II narrow, de-
curved bars, medial portion indistinctly projected medio-pos-
teriorly beneath integument. Three simple setae inserted in a
diagonal line on each side from level of tectopedia II to level of
lateral spine between legs II and III (fig. 6). A large curved,
lateral spine at junction of propodosoma and hysterosoma be-
tween legs II and III; a small lateral spine projects anteriorly
close to base of the large lateral spine. A long lateral spine be-
tween legs III and IV. A simple decurved bristle anterior to
coxa IV ; other ventral setae as shown in fig. 6. Genital open-
ing rectangular, directly between legs IV, each corner rounded,
entire aperture ringed with a sclerotized margin; each genital
cover with six setae in a row down middle of cover ; g : 1 in-
serted close to anterior margin of cover ; g : 2, g : 3, g : 4 equi-
distant from each other ; g : 5 closer to g : 6 than to g : 4 ; all
genital setae simple and decurved ; a diagonal sclerotized bar in
each genital cover and transecting insertion of g:2 (fig. 6).
Anal aperture nearly twice the width of peripheral genital band
Ixviii |
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
217
FIG. 1. Dorsal view of Hctcrodamacus magnisetosus (Ewing). Hys-
terosoma broken on right side.
FIG. 2. Ventral view of Hctcrodamacus magnisetosus (Ewing).
FIG. 3. Dorsal view of Damaens tnicltacli Ewing.
FIG. 4. Ventral view of Dtniwctis micliacli Ewing.
218 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Oct., 1957
from genital aperture, oval in outline ; anal covers opened
slightly, each with two simple bristles in medial aspects of
cover. Adanal setae as seen in fig. 6.
Ewing's descriptions of the legs is as follows : "All segments
of the legs with a swollen portion ; second pair of legs subequal
to the others. Femora of legs with a thin proximal part ; distally
suddenly enlarged. Anterior pair of legs about as long as the
whole body. Distal end of tibia of leg I without a large tubercle
bearing a tactile hair. Femur of leg IV with a very long, tac-
tile bristle at its distal end."
Length 711|u,, hysterosoma 500 /^; width 500 /t.
The type specimen was collected by J. E. Guthrie on decaying
mushrooms at Jordan, Minnesota.
Discussion: Ewing indicates that this species is similar to
D. sufflexus Mich., but the hairs on the dorsum of the hystero-
soma are "about twice as long as those of sufflexus" With the
current use of solendidions and minute details for differentiation
of genera and species, better comparisons cannot be made with-
out study of the type specimens of these belbid mites.
FAMILY OPIIDAE GRANDJEAN, 1953
The opiid mites constitute the smallest of the Oribatei. Their
coloration is usually light yellowish brown, their legs are like
those of most eremaeids, but their body size seems to separate
them rather easily from the latter and from other Oribatei.
Ewing (1917) used Damaeus as the generic designation of one
of his mites, which would place it in the family Belbidae. Its
propodosomal configurations and its size, however, indicate that
it belongs in the Family Opiidae as designated by Grand jean
(1953).
Oppia minuta (Ewing), 1917. (Figs. 7, 8)
Type: Damacits minutus Ewing, 1917, p. 164.
Description: Minute; light yellowish brown, shiny. Propo-
dosoma bluntly pointed anteriorly, with nearly parallel sides,
broadest immediately anterior to pseudostigmata, a raised dorsal
Ixviii |
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
219
FIG. 5. Dorsal view of Damacus ylobifcr Evving.
FIG. 6. Ventral view of Damaeus globifer Ewing.
FIG. 7. Dorsal view of Oppia minitta (Ewing).
FIG. 8. Ventral view of Oppia minuta (Ewing).
220 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Oct., 1957
platform circumscribed by a narrow lateral ridge which extends
from pseudostigmata almost to anterior tip of rosturum.
Rostrum blunt, rostral hairs short, pilose, strongly curved.
Dorsum of propodosoma smooth except for shallow depressions ;
upper surfaces of tectopedia I and II with small raised tubercles
(fig. 7). Lamellae thin lines mediae! of pseudostigmata, an-
terior tips remote from lamellar hairs ; lamellar hairs simple,
about their lengths apart, inserted on dorsum of propodosoma
about twice their lengths from anterior end. Interlamellar
hairs absent. Dorsum of propodosoma with three large de-
pressions on either side of raised platform posterior and lateral
to lamellar hairs ; three pairs of smaller depressions on dorsum
between pseudostigmata, arranged in a linear fashion (fig. 7).
Pseudostigmata wide cups in postero-lateral margins of propodo-
soma. with heavily sclerotized rims ; pseudostigmatic organs
clavo-lanceolate, pectinate, almost straight, extended laterally,
with a long, narrow pedicel.
Hysterosoma oval in outline, about two-thirds as broad as
long, bluntly pointed posteriorly, smooth and rounded dorsally,
with seven pairs of long, curved simple setae ; left side of speci-
men broken.
Camerostome rounded with two long ventral setae in posterior
third. Apodemata I and II heavily sclerotized, curved ; apodem-
ata III straight bars; apodemata IV curved posteriorly, form-
ing an arch anterior to genital covers ; a pair of setal insertions
near top of arch; ventral plate broken on right side (fig. 8).
Genital opening rectangular, situated at level of leg IV, anterior
border partially circumscribed by arch of apodemata IV. Geni-
tal covers rectangular, about twice as long as broad ; each cover
with four genital setae ; g : 1 and g : 2 inserted in middle of an-
terior half of cover ; g : 3, g : 4 inserted near postero-lateral
corner of cover, g:4 closer to posterior margin than g: 3 (fig.
8). A pair of setal insertions posterior to genital opening,
separated the length of one genital cover. Anal aperture twice
as large as genital aperture, rectangular ; anal covers slightly
broader posteriorly than anteriorly, each cover with two setae ;
a : 1 near lateral margin of cover and a third the length of a single
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 221
cover from anterior end ; a : 2 inserted in medio-posterior corner
of each cover.
Ewing (1917) states that the "legs (are) prominent, but
short for the genus ; anterior pair extending beyond the tip of
the rostrum by over one-half their length, tarsi longer than tibiae,
tibiae each with a long tactile hair at its tip above, which extends
beyond the tip of the tarsi. Coxae of third pair of legs sub-
spherical in shape, each with a small tubercle on its anterior as-
pect and a single strongly curved, singly pectinate bristle.
Posterior legs extending beyond the tip of the (hysterosoma)
by the full length of their tarsi. Most of the segments of the
legs are moderately swollen toward one end, and pedicellate at
the other end."
Length 293 //,, hysterosoma 207 p ; width 153 p..
This species was collected in Illinois, but the locality and the
collector are unknown. Dr. Ewing had a single specimen "of
this very minute and rare species."
Discussion: It seems obvious from the comparisons of this
species with drawings and descriptions of genera in Belbidae
that the species described above does not belong in any of the
belbid genera. Its size and other features of the body conform
to the characters of the genus Oppia, for which Grand jean
(1953) designated the family Opiidae. The configurations on
the propodosoma are unlike those of any others the writer has
seen in the literature and he therefore considers this to be a valid
species in the genus Oppia.
REFERENCES
BAKER, E. W., and G. W. WHARTON. 1952. An Introduction to
Acarology. Macmillan Company, N. Y.
EWING, H. E. 1909. Jour. N. Y. Ent. Soc. 17 : 116-136.
-. 1913. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 32: 93-121.
-. 1917. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 37: 149-172.
GRANDJEAN, F. 1936. Ann. Ent. Soc. France 105: 27-110.
. 1953. Bull. Soc. Zool. France 78: 421-446.
STRENSKE, K. 1955. Microfaune du sol de 1'Eqe Greenland, Volume 1,
Arachnides. Expedition Polaires Franchises. Hermann et Cie.,
Paris.
222 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS I Oct., 1957
The Status of the Tortoise Beetle Metriona
ormondensis Blatchley
By MILTON W. SANDERSON, Illinois Natural History
Survey, Urbana
In 1920 Blatchley (Can. Ent. 52: 71) described Metriona
ormondensis on the basis of two specimens taken on wild morn-
ing-glory (possibly Ipomoea) at Ormond, Florida, April 13,
1913. He mentioned that Barber (1916, Proc. Ent. Soc.
Wash. 18: 125) had called attention to a larger, more de-
pressed and more highly colored Florida specimen in the
Schaeffer collection which Barber regarded as a local race of
Metriona purpurata Boh. but which Blatchley thought repre-
sented his new species. Schaeffer (1925, Jour. N. Y. Ent.
Soc. 33 : 233 ) stated that ormondensis possibly was only a
variety of purpurata. Thus the question of the status of ormon-
u . nsis has remained for more than 30 years.
Through the courtesy of the Department of Entomology at
Purdue University, I have been permitted to examine the two
Blatchley specimens of ormondensis, and I am therefore able
to offer some information to support its specific status. Sander-
son and King (1951, Jour. Kans. Ent. Soc. 24(4) : 125-128)
noted the value of the structure of the tarsal claws for sex and
species recognition in some species of Metriona. Blatchley did
not mention the claws of ormondensis nor did he indicate the
sex of his specimens but examination of the types has disclosed
that the type female and the paratype male differ with respect
to claws, and that these differ from both sexes of pnrpnrata.
The anterior claws of both sexes of ormondensis each has an
inner marginal basal angulation or tooth (hereafter referred to
as tooth) ; one posterior claw is toothed, the other untoothed :
both middle claws of the male of ormondensis are untoothed ;
and in the female one claw only is toothed. The female of pur-
purata has all claws toothed except for one untoothed middle
claw. These differences for both sexes of the two species are
expressed in the following key :
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 223
Metriona onnondcnsis and purpurata
1. Each tarsal claw with a broad basal angulation or tooth on
inner margin ; female purpurata Boh.
At least one claw of middle tarsus untoothed 2
2. Both middle tarsal claws untoothed ; male
onnondcnsis Blatch.
Only one middle claw untoothed 3
3. Only one posterior claw untoothed ; female
ormondensis Blatch.
Both posterior claws toothed; male purpurata Boh.
In addition to the foregoing differences, the dorsum of ormon-
densis is duller, and the beetle averages a little larger than
purpurata.
Nomenclature Notice
All comments relating to the following should be marked with
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28 Park Village East, Regent's Park, London N.W.I, England.
Oeobia Hubner, 1825, and its emendation Oebia, suppression
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in connection with names published in works written in Latin
(Z.N.(S) 1223).
Books Received
BAILEY, S. F. The thrips of California. Part 1, Suborder
Terebrantia. Bull, of the California Insect Survey. Vol. 4,
No. 5, pp. 143-220. Univ. of Cal. Press, 1957. Price: $1.50.
BOH ART, R. M. and E. I. SCHLINGER. California wasps of
the genus Oxybelus (Hym. Sphecidae). Bull, of the California
Insect Survey. Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 103-134, 8 pis. Univ. of
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ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
NOVEMBER 1957
Vol. LXVIII No. 9
CONTENTS
Bechtel and Schlinger Ectemnius and their Ogcodes prey .... 225
LaRivers A new Ambrysus from Mexico 232
Whitaker Trichobius (Streblidae) in West Virginia 237
Brown and Wilson A new parasitic Monomorium, and status
of the genus Epixenus 239
Nomenclature Notice 246
Roback New records of Plecia 247
Notes and News in Entomology
Meetings of the American Entomological Society 250
Publication of "Official Lists," and "Official Indexes" 251
Books Received 251
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ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
VOL. LXVIII NOVEMBER, 1957 No. 9
Biological Observations on Ectemnius with Partic-
ular Reference to their Ogcodes prey (Hymen-
optera: Sphecidae. Diptera: Acroceridae)
By ROBERT C. BECHTEL a and EVERT I. SCHLINGER 2
It is known that various species of crabronid wasps provision
their nests with adult flies. Accurate reports of these associa-
tions are not numerous, however, and there are apparently no
published records of specifically identified American crabronid
wasps associated with the dipterous family Acroceridae. For
this reason preliminary observations are presented which indi-
cate that there may be a frequent predator-prey relationship be-
tween certain species of the crabronid genus Ectemnius Dahl-
bom and the acrocerid genus Ogcodes Latreille. Future ob-
servations and research should uncover additional facts needed to
understand fully these relationships.
The first apparent record of crabronid wasps storing acrocerid
flies as food for their larvae \vas by Westwood (1840) who
stated that van Heyden and Audouin had observed that numer-
ous specimens of Ogcodes gibbosus (Linnaeus) were selected
as food for the progeny of a species of Crabro. Other authors
reporting similar relationships were: Tournier (1878), Sahl-
berg (1883), Gorham (1902), Enslin (1922), Marechal (1934),
Leclercq (1941, 1954), Bristowe (1948) and Sabrosky (1948).
Our knowledge of these relationships through 1954 was sum-
marized by Leclercq (1954: 318-319). We infer from this
that only crabronid wasps of the genus Ectemnius, subgenus
1 University of California, Davis.
- University of California, Riverside.
(225)
226 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Nov., 1957
Hypocrabro Ashmead, are known to have this relationship with
the Acroceridae. Furthermore, all of the above records (ex-
cept Sabrosky (1948) which refers to a Nearctic species) per-
tain to a restricted association with the widespread Palearctic
crabronid, Ectemnius (Hypocrabro) rubicola (Dufour and Per-
ris), even though other species of this subgenus are found in the
same region.
Another important fact is that all of the recorded acrocerid
prey belong to the genus Ogcodes. These are 0. gibbosus (Lin-
naeus), marginatus (Meigen) ( pallipes Latr.), pallipes La-
treille and sonatns Erichson. As normal Ogcodes specimens
appear to be of a suitable size for use by these wasps, it is likely
that certain of the Holarctic genera Acrocera Meigen, Opsebius
Costa and Pterodontia Gray would be satisfactory also. In ad-
dition to size, abundance of the prey may be paramount in the
selection of Ogcodes, rather than any preferential selection of
flies. This is substantiated by the fact that species of fourteen
families of Diptera have been recorded as hosts for Hypocrabro.
On the other hand, we do not have adequate observations on the
biologies of the various crabronids and perhaps future work will
demonstrate that other genera and/or species provision their
nests with acrocerids.
To our knowledge only two published articles have reported
the use of acrocerid flies as hosts for Nearctic wasps, and only
one specified association with a crabronid. James (1938) re-
corded that a wasp (species unknown), collected at Boulder,
Colorado, February 28, 1933, by C. H. Hicks, stocked its nest
with specimens of Ogcodes albicinctus Cole. Some of these
specimens have been examined and are males of 0. cugonatus
Loew. The second report was made by Sabrosky (1948) who
recorded that ten male specimens of 0. pallidipennis Loew
(western subspecies) had been collected from a crabronid nest
at Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona, June 8, 1940. The collector,
G. E. Bohart, noted that "this species of wasp was not seen to
use any other species of fly." An examination of these speci-
mens showed them to be a new species of Ogcodes (species No.
1, Schlinger MS.).
IxviiiJ ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 227
Two other observations record Ogcodes species from wasp
nests, but as far as we have been able to determine the wasps
were probably spider-killing forms. Champlain and Knull
(1923) recorded adults of "Oncodes dispar (Macquart)" in a
wasp nest from a decaying log at Wildwood Park, Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, in August. They stated that "The wasp ap-
parently caught the spiders that were infested by the larvae of
Oncodes, stored them in cells with her eggs, sealed the gallery
and departed. The Oncodes larvae consumed the spiders and
possibly the wasp larvae, then transformed and were unable to
get out. Remains of the spiders were present in the cells."
Cole (1919) reported that a specimen of 0. palidipennis Loew
had been bred from a nest of Sceliphron ccmcntarius collected
at Coulterville, Illinois.
As previously mentioned, no positive information other than
the verified record of Sabrosky (1948) has been published on
the association of crabronids and acrocerids in the Nearctic re-
gion. It was of interest, therefore, when several nests of
Ectemnius (Hypocrabro) spiniferus (Fox) were found to con-
tain specimens of Ogcodes eugonatus Loew. E. spiniferus is
confined to the western part of the Nearctic region and is com-
mon in California. For a more detailed distribution see Krom-
bein (1951: 1027) and Leclercq (1954: map 30).
In attempting to ascertain the association of crabronids with
this dipterous family, the excellent "Monographic . . . Cra-
broniens" of Leclercq (1954) was consulted. This work gave
only a single Palearctic species, E. (//.) rubicola, as utilizing
acrocerid flies. On the basis of various characters, we assumed
that E. spiniferus could be closely related to E. rubicola. This
assumption was verified by J. Leclercq (in litt., 1956) who
stated that "From a morphological point of view it is certain
that Ectemnius (Hypocrabro} spiniferus and E. (//.) rubicola
are closely allied. I should say however that the closest relative
of spiniferus in the Palearctic region is by all means lamigatus
(DE STEFANI)."
He also stated that there was little information on the habits
of laevigatus, and it probably provisioned its nests with aero-
228 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Nov., 1957
cerids. Leclercq (in litt., 1956) also mentioned that if species
groups were erected in Hypocrabro, one such group would in-
clude laevigatus, rubicola, and spiniferus.
The prey species, 0. eugonatus (0. olbicinctus Cole, of
authors), is not common in California north of the Tehachapi
Mountains. We have examined specimens only from Turlock
(Stanislaus County) and Davis, Elkhorn Ferry, and Putah
Canyon (Yolo County) in northern California. This species
is distributed throughout North America where it ranges from
Canada to southern Mexico, but it appears to be most common
in the great plains and eastern United States. Furthermore,
eugonatus may be conspecific with the European 0. zonatus
Erichson. If this conspecificity should prove to be correct, it
would be of particular interest in that the close relationship of
rubicola and spiniferus would be further substantiated biologi-
cally.
The material upon which the following new biological data
presented in this paper are based was collected at Elkhorn
Ferry. Yolo County, California, February 12, 1956, by R. C.
Bechtel.
The linear nests of spiniferus were located in dead or injured
and dying twigs of blue elderberry, Sambucus coerulea Rafines-
que. The cells and their respective partitions of macerated el-
derberry pith were found at the inner end of the tunnels. These
tunnels varied in length from 19-36 mm. Details of the cell
contents are summarized in table 1.
The length of the cells varied greatly, ranging from 8-22
mm., whereas the diameter of the cells varied only from 5-7 mm.
The partitions exhibited a variation in length (4-7 mm.) similar
to that of the cells, but these lengths appeared to have no cor-
relation with the associated cells.
An examination of the cell contents indicated that they could
be divided into six groups as follows : Crabronids only ; cra-
bronid cocoons only; fly prey of crabronids (Hylemya, Ogcodcs
and Sphaerophoria} ; crabronid cocoons, fly prey of crabronids
and scavenger flies (Megaselia) ; parasite (Monodontomcrus]
or predator (Cymatodera) of crabronids and fly prey; and fly
prey and scavenger flies.
Ixviii]
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
229
Certain cells, other than those which harbored a parasite or
predator, or from which no spinifents adults emerged, con-
tained cocoons in which dead crahronid larvae were found.
The Megaselia apparently did not cause the death of the larvae
since these flies did not occur in all of the cells. Also, there was
no evidence of cocoon penetration when they did occur. There-
fore, the cause of death was unknown.
Approximately one-half of the specimens of 0. eugonatus
were in good condition. The other half were partly or almost
entirely eaten. Some of them lacked the head or legs, while
others were more completely mutilated, with only part of the
TABLE 1. Cell Contents of Ectemnius (Hypocrabro)
spiniferus (Fox)
Twig
Cell
Ect.
Ogc.
Hyl.
Sph.
Man.
Cym.
Meg.
1
1
2
3
1 9
7 0*0*
10 rfd 1
1
1
2
1
2
3
1 <?
2 cf rf 1
2 <?<?
5
5
31
19
3
1
2
3
4
5
6
1 <?
1 d 1
1 c? 1
Coc.
Coc.
Coc.
4
1
2
3
4
5
Coc.
Coc.
Coc.
1 <?
5
2 rfrf
3 cfd 1
8 cfcf
1
4
6
5
5
1
2
1
Abbreviations :
Ect. Ectemnius (Hypocrabro} spiniferus (Fox).
Ogc. Ogcodes eugonatus Loew.
Hyl. Hylemya sp.
Sph. Sphaerophoria sp.
Man. Monodontomerus n. sp.
Cym. Cymatodera ovipennis LeConte.
Meg. Megaselia sp.
Coc. Cocoon.
230 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Nov., 1957
abdomen and/or thorax and wings present. As a result, we
were not able to determine the sex of several specimens.
Individuals of the other fly prey, an anthomyiid (Hylemya,
det. C. W. Sabrosky) and a syrphid (Sphacrophoria, det. W. W.
Wirth), were in such poor condition that specific identification
was impossible. The numerous wings and body fragments in
the cells indicated that additional specimens of these genera had
been present, however.
A single specimen of a new species of the torymid genus
Monodontomerus (det. P. H. Timberlake) was reared from
one Ectemnius cocoon. Peck (1951:528-529) listed various
Hymenoptera as hosts for Monodontomerus, but no Crabronini
were included. Therefore, this appears to be a new host record
for the genus.
A clerid predator, a larva of Cyinatodcra ovipcnnis LeConte,
was found in one twig. This larva had chewed a hole in a
spiniferus cocoon, eaten approximately % of the crabronid
larva, and was later observed to consume the remainder of it.
There were indications also of two additional cells which the
predator presumably had destroyed.
Several of the cells contained larvae and pupae of a phorid,
Megaselia sp. (det. W. W. Wirth). Various authors have re-
ported a parasitic relationship of Megaselia species with insects
(Clausen, 1940: 385-386), but this species appeared to be a
scavenger. It is of interest that in the cells in which the cra-
bronid larvae failed to develop, the adult Ogcodcs specimens
were not used as food by the phorids, while the other host speci-
mens were almost entirely consumed. Also, some of the cells
in which this scavenger occurred had a blackened appearance
due to the presence of a fungus.
In addition to the above observations, two other instances of
a crabronid-acrocerid relationship have been noted. Four male
specimens of 0. citc/onatiis, collected at La Mesa, San Diego
County, California, January 22, 1953, by F. X. Williams, were
examined. A label on these specimens included the data "in
Crabro wasp nest." Williams (in litt., 1956) stated that his
notes read "La Mesa . . . also a nest of Crabro sp. with many
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 231
dead (last year's) acrocerid flies only, of one species in cells,
and Crabro cocoons ; . . . likewise in dead Salvia stems (Salvia
apiana Jepson)." He stated also that he used the name Crabro
in a general way, that the wasp could have been Ectemnius and
that only the better acrocerids were retained.
Also, we have studied four male and three female specimens
from Escragnoles Alpes, France, labeled "ex. Crabro nest."
This record was of interest since it was the first time that female
Ogcodes specimens have been found in a crabronid nest. Fe-
male Ogcodes seldom fly, but males make short, rapid flights
at frequent intervals and are more subject to capture by female
crabronids.
Another unverified association was found during the exami-
nation of twelve male specimens of a new species of Ogcodes
(species No. 2, Schlinger MS.). The specimens were collected
in San Bernardino County, California, elevation 6,000 ft., August
2, 1940, by J. A. Comstock. Labels on the specimens referred
to a museum note which read, "12 Hymenopterous cocoons in
the pith of Sambncus relutina. In one cell were the stored re-
mains of 15 little flies (Cyrtidae), of which, though mouldy, a
chloroform treatment made 12 available for mounting. All of
these wasps had stored the same fly, but in case the larval wasp
had matured, the flies were all consumed."
REFERENCES CITED
BRISTOWE, W. S. 1948. Proc. Linn. Soc. London, 160: 12-37, figs. 1-6.
CHAMPLAIN, A. B., and J. N. KNULL. 1923. Ent. News, 34: 211-215.
CLAUSEN, C. P. 1940. Entomophagous insects. McGraw-Hill Book
Company, Inc., New York and London.
COLE, F. R. 1919. Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., 45: 1-79, pis. 1-25.
ENSLIN, E. 1922. Konowia, 1 : 1-15, figs. 1-7.
GORHAM, H. S. 1902. Ent. Monthly Mag., 38: 205-206.
JAMES, M. T. 1938. Jour. Kans. Ent. Soc., 11: 21-23.
KROMBEIN, K. V. 1951. U. S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Monog. no. 2, pp.
1013-1029.
LECLERCQ, J. 1941. Bui. Mus. Roy. Hist. Nat. Belg., 17(14) : 1-16.
1954. Monographic systematique, phylogenetique et zoogeographique
des Hymenopteres Crabroniens. 371 pp., 40 figs., 20 tables, 84
maps. Lejeunia, Liege.
232 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Nov., 1957
MARECHAL, P. 1934. Lambillionea, 1934: 49-52.
PECK, O. 1951. U. S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Monog. no. 2, pp. 410-594.
SABROSKY, C. W. 1948. Amer. Midland Nat, 39: 382^30, pis. 1-2.
SAHLBERG, J. R. 1883. Meddel. Soc. Fauna Flora Fenn., 9: 164.
TOURNIER, H. 1878. Compt. Rend. Soc. Ent. Belg., 21: XV-XVIII.
WESTWOOD, J. O. 1840. An introduction to the modern classification of
insects, v. 2. Longman ct al., London.
A New Ambrysus from Mexico (Hemiptera,
Naucoridae)
By IRA LA RIVERS, University of Nevada, Reno
Subfamily AMBRYSINAE Usinger, 1941
Genus Ambrysus Stal, 1862
Ambrysus drakei, sp. nov.
General appearance: A rather large, robust species with the
mottled coloration typical of Ambry si. Size 12.0-13.0 mm. long
and 7.5-9.0 mm. wide. Dorsum lighter over prothorax and
head, where the background color is light yellowish, darker
brownish over hemelytra ; embolia the only prominently light
area in the otherwise dark hemelytra ; scutellum with a faint
reddish caste. Venter light yellow, slightly darker on abdo-
men, legs whitish-yellow.
Head: Sparsely punctate, shiny, comparatively flat; vertex
only very faintly protuberant before eyes, forming an almost
smooth, nearly flat contour between leading angles of the eye.
Eyes essentially flush with general head surface ; outer and pos-
terior eye margins not forming a smooth, uninterrupted semi-
circle, but showing a slight angulation at their meeting points,
which is the anterior inception of the thin but prominent border
of the posterior eye margin. Labrum smoothly rounded, but its
outline, rather than being an even semicircle, suggests a point-
ing of the tip; ratio of length-to-width 23: :40 (58%), uniform
in color ; mouthparts similar to head in color, darkening toward
tip. Head ratios are :
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 233
(1) total length to width (including eyes) 43: :68 (63%)
(2) anterior distance between eyes to posterior distance 32: :
40 (80%)
(3) anterior distance between eyes to inner eye length 31 : :28
(90%)
(4) posterior distance between eyes to greatest length of head
posterior to this line 40: : 10 (25%)
Pronotutn: Moderately punctate, shiny; background color
light yellowish, bearing five prominent brownish areas within
the disc, composed of aggregations of brown spots in the manner
typical of Ambry si in general; posterior border rather broad,
separated from disc by thin black line; lateral edges smooth,
non-pilose, weakly curved, curvature more pronounced at hind
angle (postero-lateral angle) per cent of curvature (viewed
perpendicular to the frontal plane of section of the animal as
a unit) about 12% (av. 68: :8) ; venter light yellowish, promi-
nently pilose along posterior edge, particularly centrally, about
the keel and the procoxal cavities ; keel ridged anteriorly, flatly
sloping posteriorly beneath median union of propleura, the
slope smooth except for suggestion of transverse rugulosity
ratio of anterior keel ridge to total keel length (including poste-
rior sloping face) 45:: 70 (64%). Prosternum free from pro-
pleura, and disappearing caudad beneath the latter. Propleura
united along median line just posterior to prosternum. Pro-
notal ratios are :
( 1 ) width between anterior angles to width between posterior
angles 68:: 135 (50%)
(2) median length to greatest width 44: : 135 (33%)
(3) distance between anterior and posterior angles on same
side to perpendicular distance between anterior angle and
baseline of pronotum 65 : : 62
Scutellum: A pale reddish brown with light yellow area at
posterior angle and some lightening in color laterally ; ratio of
three sides, anterior and two laterals, 90: :68: :68.
234 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Nov., 1957
Hemelytra: Background color nearly unicolorous brown-black,
with some light yellowing, most prominently on embolia ; rather
shiny, punctate, each puncture with a whitish spot ; embolium
well defined at its posterior edge, rather broad for the genus
(length-to- width 75: '.28 = 37%) emboliar crease very weak,
barely noticeable in anterior one-fifth embolium typically bi-
colored, light yellow in anterior two-thirds, reddish brown pos-
teriorly with rather pronounced contrast between the two areas.
Hemelytra rather markedly exposing lateral connexival spinose
margins posterior to embolia, and attaining abdominal tip.
Wings functional, as long as hemelytra, and possessing the usual
large, "costal" cell.
Venter: The prothoracic venter has been discussed above. All
connexival segments moderately spinose except Segment I, the
angles being acutely prolonged posteriorly ; Segment I angle is
right-angulate, not protruding laterad of general body outline,
and is non-spinose. Connexival Angles II-IV are the most
prominent, becoming progressively larger anterior-to-posterior ;
lateral connexival edges essentially smooth, non-serrate, even
with considerable magnification. Tip of female subgenital plate
quadrisinuate in terminal outline, the two inner sinuosities
grouped together as two low, rounded angles, the two outer
sinuosities sharp-angulate and not reaching as far caudad as
the median portion. Actually, this tip outline is a combination
of the characteristics of A. mexicanus (A. dilatus, A. hintoni)
and A. fuscus; the sinuation is indistinguishable from that of
A. fuse-its, and the left lateral asymmetry of A. mc.vicanns may
be quite evident (see illustration). The male genital process is
prominently developed, and greatly resembles that of a small
A. guttatipennis or a large A. mexicanus (see illustration).
Legs: Prolegs coxa and trochanter usual for the genus.
Femoral incrassation about average, ratio of length to greatest
median width 60:: 36 (60%); tibia average, combined tibia-
tarsus, when closed, just attaining adjacent (proximal) end of
femur.
Mesolegs coxa and trochanter usual ; femoral ratio of length
to greatest median width 60: : 11 (18%) length 2.6 mm. ; tibia
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 235
with usual spination for the subgenus Ambrysiis distal end
ventrally with two prominent transverse rows of spines set
across tibial width, the terminal row set solidly across apex,
the secondary or proximal row extending only about half way
across tibial width ratio of length to median width 55::8
(15%) length 2.5 mm.; tarsus long, narrow, whitish, 3-seg-
mented, the first segment very small and usually hidden by
terminal spines, third segment terminating in two prominent,
moderately curved claws.
DR AKEI
Ambrysus drakci, holotype female and allotype. The enclosing, top
outline represents the terminal configuration of the female subgenital plate
as seen in ventral view with caudum at top ; the slender, left-pointing
structure below this outline is the male genital process.
Metalegs coxa and trochanter usual ; femoral ratio of length
to median width 82:: 12 (15%) length 4.0 mm.; tibia essen-
tially an enlargement of mesotibia, although comparatively more
elongate ratio of length to median ventral width 93: :9 (10%)
length 4.6 mm. ; tarsus an enlargement of mesotarsus, and
more conspicuously armed beneath with large, sparse bristles.
Distribution: See types.
Type locality data: MEXICO Durango (Ditrango, 6(viii)50,
C. /. Drake & F. C. Hottes).
Location of types and etymology: Holotypic male, allotype
and several paratypes in the collection of Dr. C. J. Drake, Ames,
Iowa, to whom the species is dedicated ; paratypes in the Cali-
fornia Academy of Sciences, San Francisco ; and in the collec-
tion of the author, Reno, Nevada.
236 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Nov., 1957
Comparative data: Ambrysus drakei is a member of the sig-
norcti group of the genus, and while it is an easily separable
species, presents the rather interesting appearance of being in-
termediate between two of the rather subtle and un-named, but
broadly recognizable, sections of the genus. The signorcti group
per se is one in which broadness of form, including emboliar
inflation, prominent maculation and quite often pronounced con-
nexival spination, is the rule ; whereas the closely related section
typified by A. mc.vicanus, is somewhat slimmer, more uniformly
colored and relatively or entirely spineless along the connexival
margins. In general ovality, noticeable color contrast and lateral
connexival spination, A. drakei is undeniably a typical part and
parcel of the signoreti group ; in its pronounced A. me.vicanus
type of female subgenital plate outline, it is rather aberrant and
closely linked to this latter group. Fortunately, at least with
present material, the species is not as confusing as the above
comparison may sound, and it readily segregates from its rela-
tives by the insertion of the following auxiliary couplet in the
published key to Mexican Ambrysi
27 (26). Lateral apical angles of female subgenital plate promi-
nent, sharp, even with median, low-rounded angles or
sinuosities ; median angles set close together, their width
across tips 40% or less of total width between lateral apical
angles ; male genital process either narrowing conspicuously
and pointedly toward tip, or weakly goosehead-shaped . . 27A
Lateral apical angles of female subgenital plate weak, al-
though even with median, low-rounded angles or sinuosi-
ties, which latter are hardly more than flattened curves
along mid-line of tip ; median angles wide, their width across
tips more than 50% of total width between lateral apical
angles ; male genital process not distinctive, weakly-to-
moderately curved and not shaped as above
signorcti-portheo
27 'A (27). Connexival angles non-spinose; smaller species,
8.5-9.5 mm. long; lateral apical angles of subgenital plate
long, comparatively narrow, sharp and spinosely produced,
the concavity between them and the median angles deep;
male genital process progressively narrowing to tip, inner
terminal corner enormously produced into a straight-edged
Ixviii | ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 237
long process, somewhat like a greatly exaggerated, thin
foot juscus
- Connexival angles spinose; larger species, 12-13 mm.
long; lateral apical angles of subgenital plate shorter,
broader, although with rather sharp tips, the concavity be-
tween them and the median angles rather shallow; male
genital process not as above, but much like guttatipennis,
i.e., somewhat goosehead-shaped drakei
For those specimens of A. drakei which show a slight asym-
metry of the left side of the female subgenital plate such as oc-
curs conspicuously in A. mexicanus, the spinosity of the con-
nexival angles, size and increased inflation of the embolia (width
more than 35% of length) will readily separate them from A.
mexicanus (= emboliar width less than 35% of length).
REFERENCE
LA RIVERS, I. 1953. The Ambrysus of Mexico (Hemiptera, Naucori-
dae). Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull. 35(11:10) : 1279-1349, illus.
Trichobius (Streblidae) in West Virginia (Dipt.)
By J. O. WHITAKER, JR., 34 East Street, Oneonta, N. Y.
On March 23 and 24, 1957, I found Streblid flies of the genus
Trichobius on the long-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii
rafinesquii) in Pendleton County, West Virginia. There is
some disagreement as to the taxonomic standing of this para-
site. It is considered as Trichobius major, variety quadriseto-
sus, by Kessel (1925), as Trichobius quadrisetosus by Curran
(1935), and as Trichobius corynorhini by Jobling (1938), who
considers this and Kessel's variety, quadrisetosus, as synonyms.
In the key by Kessel, the only difference between corynorhini
and major is the dark line marking the transverse suture in
major. I am inclined to agree with Jobling, and would desig-
nate the West Virginia specimens as T. corynorhini, possibly
as subspecies quadrisetosus.
In the two caves of West Virginia in which I made my collec-
tions, Sinnit and Minor Rexrode, I found this fly to be very
238 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Nov., 1957
common. There were from zero to six flies crawling on each
Corynorhinus, with an average of about three per bat. This
population was marked by very little variation in the taxonomi-
cally important characters, with the exception of the number of
eye facets. Thirty-seven specimens were examined, and the
following results were obtained.
a. The transverse suture of the mesonotum was marked by
the dark line in every case.
b. In 33 cases the median line of the mesonotum extended to
the transverse suture. In three it extended .8 of that distance,
and in one it extended .9 of that distance.
c. The number of scutellar bristles was four in every case.
d. The number of eye facets varied from 12 to 16, with an
average of 13.08, and a standard deviation of 1.10.
e. Pubescence was comparatively sparse in all.
f. The sex ratio seemed to be 1:1, with 18 females and 19
males.
In contrast to this, 16 specimens of Trichobius major, from
Fort Hood, Texas (Host: Myotis vclifcr), collected by H. E.
Evans and E. G. Matthews on July 1, 1956, were also examined.
According to Dr. Evans these flies were found on the walls of
the cave, near the bats. The results were as follows :
a. The transverse suture was dark in 12 of the 15, but light
in three. However, the other three were in teneral condition,
and I assumed that this line would darken on maturation.
b. The distance the median line extended to the transverse
suture on the mesonotum varied from .7 to 1.2, with a mean of
1.1, and a standard deviation of .16.
c. The number of bristles on the scutellum varied from 6 to
9, with an average of 7.75, and a standard deviation of .68.
d. The number of eye facets varied from 6 to 9, with a mean
of 7.81, and a standard deviation of .63.
e. Pubescence ranged from very sparse to very dense.
f. This sample contained 8 males and 8 females.
The Texas population is probably much closer to the center
of origin and has not been as long isolated from the rest of the
Trichobius group, thus has not had fixation of characters to
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 239
such an extent as the West Virginia group. I would like to
examine specimens from Kansas, where both species are known
to occur in the same caves, and even on the same individual bat
(Jobling, 1949). I would also like to know the extent of the
range of the nearctic Trichobiits (corynorhini and major} east
of Kansas, and whether it is continuous with the range of
Corynorhinus between Kansas and West Virginia.
REFERENCES
KESSEL, Q. C. 1925. Jour. N. Y. Ent. Soc., 33: 11-34.
CURRAN, C. H. 1935. Amer. Mus. Nov. 765.
JOBLING, B. 1936. Parasitology, 28: 355-380.
-. 1938. Parasitology, 30: 358-387.
. 1949. Parasitology, 39: 315-329.
A New Parasitic Ant of the Genus Monomorium
from Alabama, with a Consideration of the
Status of Genus Epixenus Emery
By W. L. BROWN, JR., and E. O. WILSON, Harvard University,
Cambridge, Massachusetts
The specimen described below was found in a nest of Mono-
morium minimum (Buckley) at Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Al-
though we have only a single example, the characters are so
distinct that it is evident that we have here another aberrant
inquilinous species of the kind now becoming almost a common-
place discovery among the Myrmicinae. It has become the
custom to consider parasitic forms of this degree of differentia-
tion from the host species as "new" genera in almost every case
found, but we shall give reasons below to show that the desig-
nation of new generic names for myrmicine parasites has been
a greatly overworked practice, due for critical review.
Monomorium metoecus sp. nov.
Holotype ergatogyne : TL 3.0, HL 0.67, HW 0.54, pronotal
W 0.41, WL (alitrunk L) 0.88, petiolar W 0.35, postpetiolar
240 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Nov., 1957
W 0.36, W first gastric tergite, somewhat collapsed and widened
0.93 mm. Cephalic index 81, scape index 93. W pronotum
0.41, W petiole 0.35 mm.
Head quadrate, without clypeus just about as long as broad;
sides nearly parallel (very slightly narrowed behind eyes),
feebly convex ; occipital margin transverse, straight in full-face
view ; occipital angles gently rounded. Clypeus convex behind,
the median lobe bicarinate, the carinae continued as two acute
teeth, each tooth longer than broad at base and inclined very
slightly mesad. Space between teeth semicircularly excised,
impressed. Compound eyes intermediate in size between those
of the worker and female of M. minimum, greatest diameter
0.12-0.13 mm. Antennal scapes slender, curved gently flexad,
gently incrassate toward tips; exposed length 0.50 mm.; when
laid straight back, apices surpassing the occipital border by
less than the apical scape width. Funiculus like that of M.
minimum, but a little more slender. Segment I long and slender,
II-VIII small, as broad as long, or broader; IX, X, and XI
forming a distinct club, IX and X subequal, both longer than
broad; XI (apical segment) longer than IX and X taken to-
gether. Mandibles with 4 teeth, increasing in size apicad.
Minute vestiges of ocelli present, but exceedingly indistinct, the
anterior one connected to clypeus by a feeble sulcus. The head
in all respects is intermediate between that of the worker and
the female of Monomorium minimum, except for the longer
clypeal teeth (reminiscent of those of M. viridum Brown) and
the slender antennae.
Form of alitrunk, petiole, postpetiole and base of gaster as
shown in fig. 1. Points of greatest interest are the higher and
more convex promesonotum and propodeum (as compared to
the M. minimum worker), the deep metanotal groove, and par-
ticularly the curiously hypertrophiecl nodes of petiole and post-
petiole. The postpetiole is produced on each side below as a
subacute conule, each conule bearing at its summit a spiracle.
Gaster broad and somewhat collapsed.
Ixviii]
ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
241
Integument smooth and shining, with scattered inconspicuous
piligerous punctures. Frontal lobes and extreme anterior cor-
ners of head longitudinally striate. Striate areas of alitrunk
indicated in the figures, as well as the reticulostriate parts of
the postpetiole. Center of mesonotum with a small, transversely
oval pit or puncture, the detailed structure of which cannot be
made out.
FIG. 1. Monomorium metoccus sp. nov., ergatogyne, holotype. A. Side
view, and B. dorsal view of alitrunk, petiole, postpetiole and base of gaster.
Drawing by Nancy Buffler.
Pilosity abundant, fine, whitish, erect, uneven in length and
widely distributed over head, scapes and body. Legs with
dilute pubescence of fine appressed hairs. Pilosity intermediate
in abundance and conspicuousness between that of the host spe-
cies workers and queens. Color dark reddish-brown, to the
242 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Nov., 1957
naked eye appearing blackish ; legs, antennae and mandibles tan,
shading to yellowish on tarsi.
The holotype, a unique, was taken in a colony of Monomorium
minimum (Buckley) (sensu Creighton) nesting under the loose
bark of a living pine tree, just above the ground level, in dis-
turbed open pine woods called "Smith Woods," on the Univer-
sity of Alabama campus at Tuscaloosa, Alabama (E. O. Wilson
leg., No. M-178). In the bark of the same tree was found a
nest of Leptothorax bradleyi Wheeler. The host Monomorium
nest contained numerous workers, brood, and at least two nor-
mal dealate females of the minimum, the host species ; both
females are preserved with workers under the number M-178
in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, which is also the
depository for the M. metoecus type.
With the exception of the very aberrant petiole and post-
petiolar structure, plus other minor details of sculpture, etc.,
M. metoecus is exactly intermediate in every detail between the
worker and female castes of M. minimum. In fact, if it were
not for the form of the nodes, the new species might well have
been taken for an ergatoid or pseudogyne of minimum; worker-
female intermediates are very commonly met with among the
species of Monomorium, with or without dealate queens, and in
quite a few species the ergatogyne is the only functional queen.
From these facts, it is clear that the ergatoid condition is in
itself no generic character.
This raises the question of the relationship of Monomorium
to Epixcnus Emery. Epixenus was originally based on an
ergatogyne found in the nest of Monomorium venustum Andre
in Palestine, and on a doubtful male from Crete, taken sepa-
rately (Emery, 1908). Forel (1910) added E. biroi, based on
an ergatogyne found with M. crcticum Emery, a member of
the salomonis complex (referred to salomonis as a subspecies
by Emery in 1922) from Crete. These ergatogynes differ from
Monomorium ergatogynes only in the form of the petiolar and
postpetiolar nodes, which are more than usually anteroposte-
riorly compressed, and therefore tend to be somewhat scale-like.
However, this characteristic shape of the nodes is more a matter
Ixviii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 243
of degree than of absolute qualitative difference, and other
Monomorium females can be found that more or less approach
the condition of the Epixenus so far as the nodes are concerned.
M. metoecus, in fact, has the postpetiolar node more aberrant
in form than in any of the Epi.reniis species. From these facts
alone, it would seem that Epixenus is at best very doubtfully
distinct from Monomorium at genus, or even at subgenus, level.
Against this background, we can consider the recent contri-
butions by Bernard (1952, 1955) to the taxonomy of Epixenus.
Bernard first described E. guineensis from workers taken in
West Africa, and then, in his 1955 review of Epixenus, he de-
scribed E. algiricus from workers and females from each of a
series of colonies taken in Algeria. The figure of the female
does not show clearly whether wing stumps are present or
absent, though the alitrunk is very narrow and like those of
some ergatogynes of other species ; Bernard says only that the
females are "reines desailees" taken in the nests, and the situa-
tion seems to make it fairly certain that these females are not
just parasites in the nest of a host species represented by the
E. algiriciis workers (though the parasite hypothesis is not yet
entirely to be discarded until a larger number of nests can be
examined). Although Bernard emphasizes in his description
and figures (especially fig. Id) the scale-like structure of both
nodes, our comparison of two workers from the algiricus type
series with other workers of the genus Monomorium indicates
that algiricus is only very slightly more extreme in this char-
acter than are workers of some other species of Monomorium,
among which are M. hesperimn Emery and M. creticum Emery.
It seems to us that on the basis of worker characters alone, algi-
ricus, creticum and hesperimn could scarcely be put into differ-
ent species-groups, let alone genera! And it must be remem-
bered that E. biroi Forel was described from the nest of M.
creticum, which suggests that the relationship of these two
forms needs to be reexamined, keeping in mind the possibility
that biroi may be just an ergatoid form of creticum.
In discussing the biology of algiricus, Bernard makes clear
that this species usually nests independently of other ants, and
244 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Nov., 1957
he believes that in the rest of the cases, it is associated only as
a kind of thief-ant with other ant species (other species of
Monomorium are supposed to follow lestobiotic habits, e.g.,
M. andrei fur Forel). This information eliminates the supposed
parasitic habits of Epixenus as a group character, even if such
habits were ever considered to define a genus in this case at a
time when the Epixenus workers were still unknown.
Consideration of the above details will, we think, show that
what has been considered to constitute a distinct genus, Epi-
xenus, is in fact nothing more than a heterogeneous collection
of a few species of Monomorium that tend to have the nodes
more strongly compressed than usual for the genus. Some of
these species (e.g., andrei} may represent workerless ergato-
gynous inquilines derived from their host species, while others,
such as algiricus, seem to be rather average species of Mono-
morium. The larval characters described for algiricus by Ber-
nard may be a little unusual for Monomorium, but we must
remember that only a triflng fraction of the Monomorium
species have been described in the larval state, and the other
Epixenus larvae also remain unknown. We offer below the
formal synonymy of Epixenus with Monomorium, and the new
combinations necessary after this change.
MONOMORIUM Mayr
Monomorium Mayr, 1855, Verh. zool.-bot. Ver. Wien, 5 : 452.
Type: Monomorium minutnm Mayr, monobasic.
Epixenus Emery, 1908, Deutsch. ent. Zeitschr., p. 556. Type :
Epixenus andrei Emery, by designation of Wheeler, 1911.
NEW SYNONOMY.
Monomorium advena nom. nov.
pro Epixenus andrei Emery, 1908, Deutsch. ent. Zeitschr., p.
557, fig. 5a-c, female, nee Monomorium andrei E. Saunders,
1890, Ent. Mon. Mag., 26 : 204, worker.
Monomorium biroi (Forel) comb. nov. (nom. praeocc.)
Epixenus biroi Forel, 1910, Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., 54: 21, female
(ergatogyne), nee Monomorium biroi Forel, 1907, Ann. Mus.
Nat. Hungar., 5 : 19 
