ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS PROCEEDINGS v.SY OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA VOLUME XXXIV, 1923 PHILIP P. CALVERT, PH.D., Editor E. T. CRESSON, JR., Associate Editor HENRY SKINNER, M.D., Sc.D., Editor Emeritus ADVISORY COMMITTEE : EZRA T. CRESSON J. A. G. REHN PHILIP LAURENT H. W. WENZEL PHILADELPHIA, PA.: LOGAN SQUARE V The several numbers of the NEWS for 1923 were mailed at the Post Office at Philadelphia, Pa., as follows : No. 1— January Januarys, 1923 2— February February 10 3— March March 5 4-April April 2 " 5— May May 4 " 6— June May 31 7— July July 5 " 8— October October 5 9 — November November 2 The date of mailing the December, 1923, number will be announced on the last page of the issue for January, 1924. JANUARY, 1923 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS Vol. XXXIV No. 1 WILLIAM HARRIS ASHMKAD 1855-1908 PHILIP P. CALVERT, Ph. D., Editor. E. T. CRESSON, JR., Associate Editor. HENRY SKINNER, M.D., Sc.D., Editor Emeritus. ADVISORY COMMITTEE: EZRA T. CRESSON, J. PHILIP LAURENT, H -*^v U 3>NREHN, W. WENZEL. PHILADELPHIA, PA. THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, Logan Square Entered at the Philadelphia, Pa., Post Office as Second Class Matter. Acceptance for mailing at the special rate of postage prescribed for in Section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized January 15, 1921. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS published monthly, excepting August and September, in charge of the Entomological Section of The Academy of Natural Sciences, Phila- delphia, and The American Entomological Society. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION, $2.50 IN ADVANCE FOREIGN SUBSCRIPTIONS, $2.70 IN ADVANCE SINGLE COPIES 30 CENTS ADVERTISING RATES: Full width of page. Payments in advance. One issue, 1 in., $ 1.20, 2 in., $ 2.40, half page, $ 4.00, full page,, $ 8.00 Five issues, " 5.50, " 11.00, " 17.50, " 35.00 Ten issues " 11.00, " 20.00, " 35.00, " 70.00 SUBSCRIPTIONS AND ADVERTISEMENTS. 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The printer of the NEWS will furnish reprints of articles over and above the twenty- five given free at the following rates: One or two pages, twenty-five copies, 35 cents; three or four pages, twenty-five copies, 70 cents; five to eight pages, twenty-five copits. $1.40; nine to twelve pages, twenty -five copies, $2.00; each half-tone plate, twenty-five copies, 30 cents; each plate of line cuts, twenty-five copies, 25 cents; greater numbers of copies will be at the corresponding multiples of these rates. ENT. NEWS, Vol. XXXIV. Plate I. TANYTARSUS FATIGANS-BRANCH. ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, PHILADELPHIA VOL. XXXIV JANUARY, 1923 No. 1 CONTENTS Branch — Description of the Farlv Stages of Tanytarsus fatigans Jkh. (Dipt. : Chironomidae) i Malloch — A New Species of Forcipo- myia trom the Eastern United States ( Diptera. Ceratopogonidae) 4 Malloch — A New Kmpid from the East- ern United '•Hates ( Diptera) 5 Williamson — Odonatologiral Results of an Auto Trip Across Indiana, Ken- tucky and Tennessee 6 Nakahara — Two New Aberrant Basilar- chias from Northeastern United States ( Lepid : Nymphalidae) q Dr Fdwin C. Van Dyke in China 10 Weiss and Kirk — Pontedera's 1718 Paper on the Cicada ( Horn op ) II Alexander — Undescribed Species of Eri- ocera and Penthoptera from Tropi- cal America (Tipulidae, Diptera)... 17 Parshley — Hemipterological Notices — III. ( Miridae, Lvgaeidae) 21 West — Immunity to Parasitism in Samia cecropia Linn. (Lep.: Saturnidae ; Dip.: Tachinidae) 23 Felt— Scarites subterraneus Fabr., an Interesting Malformation (Coleop : Carabidae ) 25 Additions to the Collections of Insects at Iowa State College 25 Editorial— " Kindness to Butterflies".. 26 Seitz: Macrolepidoptera of the World 26 Howard— The Proper Spelling of Orni- thodoros talaje Gue'in-Meneville (Acar. : Ixodoidea) 27 Leussler — Indian Massacres of Early- Days Outdone! Wholesale Slaughter of Peaceful Pawnees by Whites 27 Leussler — Notes on Variation in 53 Spe- cimens Pamphila pawnee collected at Pilger, Nebraska, September 2 1922 (Lep.. Hesperidae) 28 Caudell — Ceuthophilus Infesting a Well (Orth.: Locustidaeor Tettigoniidae) 28 Cockerell — Symphoromyia hirta John- son Annoying in Colorado (Dipt; Leptidae) 20 Entomological Literature.. 29 Description of the Early Stages of Tanytarsus fatigans Joh. (Dip. : Chironomidae).* BY HAZEL ELISABETH BRANCH. (Plate I) Egg masses of a Chironomid, which later proved to he Tanytarsus fatigans Joh., were found in April upon the baffle, board of a sluice at the Fish Hatchery of Cornell Universitv. As the early stages of this species are as yet undescrihed, the following may he of interest to Entomologists. The egg masses were found above the water level, but in situations where the spray of the flowing water kept them moist. Swarms of adults were seen about these places from April fifth to twenty-second and egg masses were numerous during this period. Upon being floated in water, the masses freed themselves from each other and showed their individual size and shape. Each single mass is a disc of approximately 5 mm. in diameter. *A contribution from the Limnological laboratories, Cornell University 1 2 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Jan., '23 (PI. I, Figure 3). In the transparent gelatinous matrix of this mass is a rope of eggs about two eggs wide and two eggs deep. This rope curves back and forth, up and down in this shallow disc as illustrated in Figure 3, there being 435 to 450 eggs in one mass. The eggs are pale cream color and opaquely transparent. They measure 0.175 mm. to 0.182 mm,, in length and 0.077 mm. to 0.105 mm. in width. No definite period of incubation can be given, as no egg laying was observed, but the period is at least three days, as those eggs taken on April 5th hatched April 8th. The newly hatched larva is pale like the egg color and measures 0.49 mm. in length. The head capsule is 0.07 mm. in length and the antennae are 0.0875 mm. in length from the base of the first joint to the tip of the antennal filaments. The antennal length in this stage is greater in relation to the head than in the later stages. There are four anal gills present and the rounded caudal projections hear six hairs each. The anal prolegs bear bifid claws 0.01125 mm. in length. (PI. I, Figure 7). The little newly-hatched larvae crawled about the old egg mass for the first day and well in to the second, when they started the task of building their tubes, which were made of silt and particles of dirt. These were not individual as in the later stages but are branched and connected to each other. The tube in which a larva was living was open only at one end, the other end being filled with frass. As the tube became too short, the occupant either built up this identical tube ahead of itself or else cut a hole in the side and built a new tube from the side of the old one. These tubes measured about 1.5 mm. to 2 mm. in width and from 10 to 20 mm. in length. When five days old the larva measured 0.84 mm. but the head had not changed, indicating that a molt had not taken place. During the next twelve days this took place as at the end of that time two sizes of heads were noticed, 0.175 mm. and 0.28 to 0.35 mm. At the nineteenth day (April 27th) the third molt and fourth instar were evident. The head measured 0.42 mm. and the larva 5.74 mm. On the twenty-eighth day a larva pupated and the follow- ing day the adult emerged, making twenty-nine days from hatching to emergence. In a second rearing experiment the hatching occurred April xxxiv, '23] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 15th with a head size of 0.07 mm. On the eleventh day the head size changed to 0.157 mm., on the sixteenth day to 0.23625 mm., and on the "twenty-seventh day to 0.385 mm., the fly emerging on the thirty-first day after hatching. The older larvae (beyond the second instar) make tubes of mud and algae and these are more or less erect, the opening being in most cases brought near the surface of the water. The food of the larva is mainly Scenedesmus caiidata, Tctraspora sp. and several species of Ankistrodesmus. Fig. i.— Dorsal view of the head. Fig. 2.— Ventral view of the head. Larva of Tanytarsus fatigans Joh. The length of a full (jrotm larva is about 5.74 mm. and the head about 0.40 mm. The antennae are shorter than the length of the head. The larva is pale red in color with the thorax green, due probably to food content, and the peripheral layer of fat is greenish. The penultimate segment does not bear a dorsal hump as in T. dircs Joh. and the caudal projections are pale with fuscous tips and eight dark hairs each. Upon the dorsal side of these projections are two dark short hairs. (PI I, Figure 9). The larva belongs to Bause's incrmipcs group which is char- acterized by the elongate antennal filaments and the chitinous 4 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Jan., '23 point on the inner side of the antennal tubercles. (See Eber- hard Bause, Archiv f. Hyrdobiolog. Stuttgart, Suppl.-Bd. II, 1914). The details of the head and appendages are best illustrated by reference to the text figures and Plate I. The pupa is 5.74 mm. in length; with the thorax, head, wing pads and legs fuscous. The dorsum of the abdomen bears setae as illustrated in PI. I, Figure 8. The respiratory tubercle is pale, transparent and haired (PI. I. Figure 6). The eighth abdominal segment bears a lateral spur with five teeth, this spur being very dark (PI. I, Figure 10). EXPLANATION OF PLATE I. Tauytai'sus fatigans Joh. Fig. 3. Egg Mass. Fig. 4. Portion of the egg rope. Fig. 5. Tip of the pupal case. Fig. 6. Respiratory tubercle. Fig. 7. Claw of anal proleg. Fig. 8. Setae pattern on abdomen of pupal case. Fig. 9. Caudal projection of full grown larva. Fig. 10. Lateral tooth of pupal case. Fig. 11. Labium of larva. Fig. 12. Mandible of larva, ventral view. A New Species of Forcipomyia from the Eastern United States (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae). By I. R. MALLOCH, U. S. Bureau of Biological Survey, Washington, D. C. On August 14th, 1921, I went to Cabin John, Maryland, to collect insects and shortly after I reached the collecting ground a heavy thunderstorm broke. The rain was so exceptionally heavy and prolonged that the trees did not suffice as shelter more than a few minutes and very- soon, everything was super- saturated, including my clothes and collecting outfit. While trying to wring the water from my clothes to make things a little more comfortable if possible, I stood under a large beech tree upon the trunk of which there still remained a few dry spots and my attention was attracted to some minute white clots on these areas, A close scrutiny disclosed that they were small ceratopogonine flies and a series was bottled for a more detailed inspection later. This inspection disclosed the fact that the species is undescribed and one of the most strikingly XXXIV, '23] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 5 colored occurring in this country. It is so very small that it \vas not at any time seen in the net nor elsewhere during the summer though I collected at the same spot frequently. Forcipomyia pluvialis sp. n. $ 9. — Whitish yellow, subopaque. Thorax in male with a dark brown central vitta anteriorly, of female unicolorous yellow; scutellum with a brown spot on each side at base; metanotum hrmvn; pleura darkened below. Abdomen dark on sides, sometimes with a blackish spot on sides of each tergite. Less usually more or less brownish but sometimes entirely yellowish with tips of tarsal segments dark. Wings clear, with yellow hairs, two large black spots on costa, one at apex of first vein and the other between it and apex, the margin of wing some- times with a faint dark spot at apex of each vein. Basal segment of hind tarsus subequal to second. Length, .75 mm. Type, male, allotype and 11 paratypes. Glen Echo, Maryland, August 14th, 1921 (J. R. Malloch), in the author's collection. A New Empid from the Eastern United States (Diptera). By J. R. MALLOCH, U. S. Bureau of Biological Survey, \Yashington, D. C. The species described below is slightly different in venation from the genotype, but there are insufficient structural char- acters to warrant its generic separation. Coloboneura exquisita sp. n. S .—Shining rufous yellow, head, disc of scutellum and of metanotum, and the abdomen fuscous. Antennae brownish yellow ; palpi fuscous. Mesonotum with two brownish marks on anterior margin. Pleurae and legs whitish yellow. Wings with brownish clouds on each of the longi- tudinal veins preapically, two blacksh spots behind posterior basal cell, a similar spot in apex of latter close against the cross-vein and one in base (A each cell against outer sides of the cross-vein. Eyes contiguous for a short distance above antennae, third segment of the latter conical, the style thick and nearly as long as third seg- ment. Mesonotum with short black hairs, the notopleural region with some fine setulae, posterior margin with 2 setulae ; scutellum with 6 sctulae, the apical pair longest. Abdomen tapered, hypopygium small. Legs moderately stout, the hind tibiae with short setulae. Cross veins closing basal cells forming a continuous oblique line ; anal vein com- plete, very close to margin. Length, 1.5 mm. Type, Glen Kcho. Maryland. August 28th, 1921 (J. R. Malloch), in the author's collection. 0 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEW.- [Jan.. '23 Odonatological Results of an Auto Trip Across Indiana. Kentucky and Tennessee. By E. B. WILLIAMSON. BluiTton. Indiana. In the summer of 1918, Arch L. Cook, of Bluffton. Indiana, and myself planned a trip by auto through Indiana and Ken- tucky to Tennessee, especially to look for Macromias. We selected the latter part of July and the early part of August as probably the most favorable season, realizing, at the same time, that this season would probably yield scanty returns in general dragonfly collecting. The expedition met with a Aeries of mishaps during its eighteen days in the field and the num- ber of dragonflies collected was small both in specimens and species. At the same time it seems worth while to record our captures and notes, though personally I have never been able to grow enthusiastic over things one doesn't find. Twenty species on a stream are more exciting than two, though the latter record may have some scientific value. We fitted Mr. Cook's one-seated Ford with a truck body in which we carried two covered folding cots, bedding, some scanty personal effects, a few cooking utensils and some food and the necessary equipment for collecting and for caring for the auto. The load was covered with a heavy tarpaulin and roped down. The seat had no top or cover and we took the weather as it came without protection. We left Bluffton early in the afternoon of July 21 and camped that night in a school house yard near Lafayette, where an inventory showed us the first day had cost us a burned out bearing and a broken windshield, and the loss of one coat and our water jug. This depletion of our supply was checked and eventually avoided entirely as we grew more pro- ficient in loading and roping our equipment. Early July 22 our machine hobbled into a Lafayette garage, where we abandoned it for a visit with friends at Purdue University. At 11 A. M. we were again on our way. passing through Wingate and Waynetown and eating our noonday lunch near the covered bridge over Turkey Run. Six- to eight miles south of Waynetown a spermophile ran across the XXxiv, '23] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 7 road ahead of us. Along Turkey Run near the covered bridge, the dragonflies Hetaerina am eric ana and Argia apicalis were common and one Libcllula luctuosa was seen. After our lunch we visited the Shades, — a new and strange Indiana to a resi- dent from the level portions of the northern part of the state We crossed Otter Creek at the mill north of Terre Haute about 6.45 P. M. and camped that night at Blue Hole, a wash- out of the Wabash below the level, and a fine place, resembling a large deep, abandoned gravel pit. Our cots were placed on the bank just above the water, and with a good supper, a good swim and clean pajamas life seemed really worth while. In the morning about Blue Hole, we collected Lcstcs rec- tangnlaris. Argia apicalis, Enallagma c.rsulans, Ischniira posita and Libcllula hictuosa. About 9 A. M. we reached Middletown (P. O., Prairie Creek), then south to Fairbanks, and then south and west along levees and sloughs to Merom. . About two miles west of Merom at a slough or bayou we took Macromia taeniolata and Dromogom-phus spoliatns. From Merom we went to Carlisle, then to Yincennes and from there to Hazelton where we ferried White River and from there, by way of Princeton, arrived at Evansville about 7.15 P. M. That night we camped near Henderson Ferry, and in the morn- ing, July 24th, ferried the Ohio River to Henderson, Kentucky. Fives miles south of Henderson we saw our first mocking- bird. Between Henderson and Madisonvilie. where we ar- rived about noon, we saw no ponds or streams except a very small creek two or three miles south of Henderson. Just south of Madisonvilie is a large lake-like pond, evidently arti- ficial. About its shores grewr large areas of Nelumbo in full bloom, with the magnificent flowers forming great patches of creamy white color. Sparganium was also abundant. We collected here about an hour and the following dragonflies were taken : Lcstcs rectancjiilaris, Etia^lagmaci^ilc, Ischmtra i-crticalis, I. posita. Anomalagrion hastatum, Ana-x jumus, Epkordulia princess, Pcritheniis tcticra, Pachydiplax~tonyipcnniTr€tfithc)nis epomna, Libcllula pulchclla. L. luctuosa, Plathcmis lydui, and Tramca la Enroute from Madisonvilie to Hopkinsville we missed our wav 8 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Jan., '23 and wandered over atrocious stair-step hill roads and soft mud valley roads through Carbondale. St. Charles and Daniel Boone to Mannington, where we found a splendid road from that town to the fine little city of Hopkinsville. .South of Hopkins- ville to Clarksville, Tennessee, the pike was badly worn and the recent rains had left long pools of water covering the road in many places. We arrived at Clarksville about 6.30 P. M. and camped that night on the banks of a small creek about five miles west of Thomasville. The feature of our supper was coffee, prepared early that morning in Indiana, transported across western Kentucky and taken hot from the thermos bottle that evening in Tennessee. In crossing western Kentucky, as mentioned above, we cross- ed a very small stream two or three miles south of Henderson. The next running water seen was a small river between Man- nington and Hopkinsville, and about four miles north of Clarks- ville we crossed Red River. No other streams were seen. Some creek beds crossed were dry and sandy. On the morning of July 25 we collected along the creek near our camp of the night before. Calopteryx maculata was very common and we found nothing else. About noon we reached the old, familiar and always beautiful Sycamore Creek, at Sycamore, and were soon renewing our acquaintanceship with our old friends, the Jacksons, at whose home I had lived over seventeen years before when collecting on Sycamore Creek. Mr. Jackson kindly placed a log cabin situated in a grove of magnificent white oaks at our disposal, and we hurried through a belated noon lunch to again wade Sycamore Creek. Calop- tcryx maculata and Hetaerina americana were abundant, and ;.he Argias, apicalis tibialis, scdula and mocsta were common. A single male Hagcnins brevistylus, a single male Erpetogom- phus designates and a single female Dromogom-phus spinosiis A-ere seen — and all were captured. July 26 we started in at the road bridge and followed down the creek to below the ford. The day was hazy, cool and windy. We were disappointed in finding no Erpetogomphus. During the day we saw possibly twenty Dromogompkus spinosns at ripples. Only two Hagcnins brevistylus were seen, and one of XXxiv, '23] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS these, a female, was captured while eating an adult female Caloptcryx maculata. Caloptcry.r maculata, to judge from its numbers in habitats frequented by cuckoos, vireos. several '.pecies of flycatchers, and probably other insectivorous bird-, must be immune from attacks by these possible enemies: But its protective character, in the case of birds, seems ineffective against larger s}>ecies in its own order. It began raining about 11.30 P. M. and kept it up all night and all day Saturday, July 27. During the day my left eye became very sore and inflamed. Sunday we left Sycamore and went to Nashville and called on Professor C. S. Brown anC ramily at Yanderbilt University. In the afternoon f visited an oculist and learned I had four corneal ulcers on my left eye. The Browns most kindly took us into their home and Monday and Tuesday were spent nursing the sore and throbbing eye, over which, during the entire remainder of the trip I was compelled to wear an eye patch, which prevented my doing any effective collecting. ( I o be continued ) Two New Aberrant Basilarchias from Northeastern United States (Lepid. : Nymphalidae). By WARO NAKAHARA, New York City. In the ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS for June, 1922, I have re- ported on certain anomalies in wing markings of Basilarchia astyanax Fab. (= = Limaiitis Ursula Goclt.), and expressed the opinion that this butterfly and B. arthonis Drury are probably two local races of a single species. If this be true, B. art he mis f. proserpina Edw., once considered to be a hybrid between B. arthemis and B. astyanax, must represent a real transition from one to the other ; also, one of the two aberrant forms of B. astyana.r I mentioned in my previous note should be of sig- nificance as a further link -between the two so-called species. For this reason I am persuaded to propose a name for that form of B. astyanax, and to redescribe it. Availing myself of the opportunity, I also commit to the record here an aberrant form of B. misippus Fab. (-=Llmcnitls archippus Cr.), which I happened to catch during the last season. 10 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Jan., '23 Basilarchia astyanax ab. atlantis, nov. aberr. Differs from the typical astyanax by the presence of a complete sub- marginal series of fulvous spots on the upper side of hindwing, exactly as in B. arthemis. Length of body, 4/5 inch; expanse of wings, 2l/2 inches. Holotypc: $, Elmhurst, Long Island, August 5, 1921 (W. Nakahara). The specimen was found in company with nu- merous examples of typical B. astyanax. Type in my collec- tion. As far as the wing markings are concerned, arthemis and astyanax can be connected up by two principal types of inter- mediate forms, namely, proserpina and atlantis, as follows : arthemis : the white band, as well as the submarginal series of fulvous spots on upper side of hind wing complete; proserpina : the white band partly obsolete ; the fulvous spots present ; atlantis: the white band totally absent; the series of ful- vous spots complete ; astyanax : the white band as well as the fulvous spots ab- sent. Basilarchis misippus ab. cayuga, nov. aberr. The narrow postdiscal black belt of hindwing, upper side, closely pre- ceded by a more or less broken series of white crescents. The white crescents larger on underside and form an interrupted belt, which is as wide as the black one. The oblique black belt of fore wing, upper side, extends down across the second interspace to join the black hind margin, instead of stopping short and running into the outer border at the third interspace. Otherwise same as the typical misippus. Length of body, 4/5 inch ; expanse of wings, 2?4 inches. Holotype : 9 , Ithaca, New York, August 6, 1922 (W. Na- kahara). Paratopotype : $, August 10, 1922. Types in my. collection. Dr. Edwin C. Van Dyke in China. During the year 1923 Dr. Edwin C. Van Dyke's address will be, College of Agriculture, Nanking, China, where he will carry on some of the work already started by Prof. Woodworth. He expects to do some traveling as well in North China and Japan. XXXIV, '23] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS H Pontedera's 1718 Paper on the Cicada (Homop.). Introduction by HARRY B. WEISS and Translation by WILLIAM HAMILTON KIRK, Ph.D., New Brunswick, New Jersey. INTRODUCTION. While engaged in writing a biographical sketch of the life of Professor Benedict Jaeger, one of New Jersey's early entomologists, Mr. W. T. Davis, called my attention to a state ment made by Jaeger in his book The Life of North American Insects (p. 101, ed, 1854) on the authority of Pontedera, that some cicadas live two years in the immature condition. Jaeger applied this to our species and this statement, more or less modified but substantially the same, has appeared in American text books on entomology issued as recently as 1921. Mr. Davis says that as far as he is aware the only cicada life cycle which is known is that of the 17-year one. In an effort to trace Jaeger's statement to its source reference was had to Pontedera's writings and the only cicada paper which could be located was found to be incorporated in Pontedera's "Compendium of Botanical Tables etc.," as a part; of a letter to G. Sherard, occupying some seventeen pages at the end of the book. Through the kindness of Dr. John Barn- hart of the New York Botanical Garden, photographs were taken of these pages and from the photographs the translation of the original Latin has been made. According to the biographical dictionaries consulted (Rose's Biographical Dictionary vol. XI, p. 192, London 1853 ; Biographic Generale, Didot Freres, vol. 4, p. 781) Pontedera, a learned botanist and antiquarian, was born at Yicenza, May 7th, 1688, and died September 3, 1757. He studied medicine and anatomy under the celebrated Morgagni at Padua where he afterward succeeded Yiali in the botanical chair at the Univer- sity of Padua. " It is also stated that he neglected the practice of medicine and applied himself to the study of botany. Accord- ing to Sachs' "History of Botany," Pontedera rejected the idea of sexuality in plants and thought that the nectar pro- duced by the flowers was absorbed by the seeds that they might be longer preserved. He regarded the male (lower in dioecious plants as a useless appendage. 12 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS ' [Jan., '23 In the translation which follows nothing definite can be found concerning1 the length of time which the cicada spends in the ground. However, as will be noted, Pontedera makes the following statement,— "for neither in the year in which it is born does it turn out a tettigometra, nor in that in which it exists as a tettigometra does it become a Cicada." and this may have been interpreted by . Jaeger as indicating a subterranean period of two years regardless of the vague manner in which Pontedera wrote. However in spite of the fact that the origin of the "two year statement" is not to be definitely found in Pontedera's writings, it was thought desirable to present the translation of this hitherto inaccessible cicada paper in view of Pontedera's other statements and so that it would be avail- able to American students. TRANSLATION. [The complete title of the book is "A Compendium of Botanical Tables by Giulio Pontedera, Philosopher and Physic- ian, in which are enumerated two hundred and seventy-two Plants lately discovered by him in Italy. With a letter of the author to the distinguished William Sherard, Englishman, the foremost of the Botanists of our age, discussing these Tables and others to be published at another time. Padua. 1718," and the translation of the part of the Sherard letter dealing with the cicada follows:] I have expounded to you briefly my opinion also regarding the second Tables, to which I will add as a conclusion a little work, which I have in hand, on the Cicada, in imitation of Fabius Columna, a most eminent man, who added accounts of some animals to his Plants. Furthermore, this little animal, than which we find none more celebrated and illustrious in the writings of ancient and modern Physicists, still lies, in this light of Philosophy, wrapped in much darkness. For although by fine discoveries the later age has shaken many opinions which the ancients arrived at concerning other animals, in the case of the Cicada there has not only been no progress, but even statements that were not altogether improbable have been made more obscure and uncertain. The cause of this, if you want XXxiv, '23] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 13 to know, was the Cicada itself; first the fact that thev never caught it in the act of hollowing out its nest and depositing eggs ; for as soon as anyone approaches it flies away he fore it can be seen; then in dissecting it not only is there great difficulty, but a previous knowledge of its nature is required ; for my part I did not hit upon the real use of its parts, al- though I had dissected innumerable specimens, until I had studied the habits of the Cicaclae in the fields. Besides most people are averse to this laborious method of study ; not know- ing that only those can grasp the nature of the Cicada who have followed it assiduously while it, as Hesiod says, "All day from early morning on pours forth its song In the fiercest heat, when Sirius parches the skin." But all this was made easy to me by my investigation of Plants. Wherefore I intend to undertake a complete history of the Cicada ; for the present, since I have found that you take pleasure in matters of this kind, I will let you have this brief description. And first I will divide the Cicadae into two genera as Aristotle did, History of Animals, Book V, ch. XXV; "Of cicadae (tettiges) there are two genera; the small which appear first and die last ; and the large, those that sing, which are born later and die earlier ;" whom Ulysses Aldrovandus followed in his fifth book, entitled "On Insects." I too knowing no others, will divide them into greater and less; and first I will notice the greater, which the Philosopher calls achetae; then I will speak of the smaller, called tcttigoniac; and will use these names. Of the greater there are two forms namely male and female ; of the lesser, the same number. In both genera only the male^. chirp, the females being mute; since they are destitute of musical organs. But what Aristotle said of the male tcttigoniac "those which have the division sing somewhat," I have found not to be true ; for these tettigoniae sing just as much and are achctac except for the difference in size. But what the organs are, with which the Cicadae make their noise, has not been made clear by our authorities. Some assert that the song of the Cicadae is made by the motion of their wing, the air struck by this communicating to our senses the vibrations and tremors ; 14 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Jan., '23 one saying "From its wings it pours a clear song ;" another, "the Cicada sending forth its song by rubbing itself under the wings." This is the general opinion, people being deceived by the likeness to the Grylli and to some Locusts. I have heard others affirm that the Cicadae make the sound ti-ti by the lowest part of the belly approching the breast and retreating from it with varying rapidity. But all those who have studied the formation of the Cicadae with more care refer these trill- ings to the membrane which the males in both classes possess. Aristotle, from whom others have borrowed, says in Hist. Anim. Bk. TV. ch. VII : "Those which are called achetac are divided at the waist and have a visible membrane : but the tcttigonla have not;" and in ch. IX: "Some (insects) are said to sing, as the Cicadae; all which make the sound by means of the membrane, which is stretched at the incision of the waist, as the Cicada, by the friction of the respiration." And in Bk. V. ch. XXV, "those which sing, whether they are of the class of the larger or of the smaller, have an incision at the waist ; but those in which that part is unbroken do not sing." This is about all that Aristotle has written about this organ ; from which I will show that he was ignorant of the true instrument of the sound ; first because he affirms that there is one membrane ; for in each Cicada there are two, one on each side ; then because he calls this "apparent" and (in Scaliger's interpretation) "such that it can be seen." Which is not at all the case ; for in the achetac (of whom he is chiefly thinking, since he hardly admits the tetticjoniae among the singing Cicadae. as I have indicated above) these membranes are covered with scales and are not visible unless you remove the scales; only in the tcttif/onmc are they uncovered. Finally as to the fact that he places this membrane under the part between the thorax and abdomen and allows it to other insects, for I have always found it, or rather them, in the thorax and only in the Cicadae. But what Aristotle understands by this membrane. I will show by repre- sentations ; meanwhile I will put here for your benefit, the description of Ulysses Aldrovandus. "For" (says he, in Bk. II On Insects, ch. XIII, On the Cicada) "I have found from a careful inspection of both sexes that all the males have a mem- XXxiv, '23] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 15 brane outside" (note outside) "in the neighborhood of the waist, split in the middle: the form of which corresponds to the fruit of Thlaspns parvus Hieracifolius depicted by Lo belius ; and that the females lack this membrane ; this is known to the peasants, who also all affirm that the Cicadae lacking1 such a membrane are silent ; but that those which have it sing." John Tonston, Bk. I, ch. V, On Insects, repeats this but more plainly: "This" he says "is to be ascribed to the reverberation of the membrane under the flabellae (so they call the coverings adhering to the belly behind the hindmost legs)." But this membrane of which they speak has nothing to do with the chirping ; for, when it is pierced, the Cicada still chirps ; but when those I mean are lacerated it becomes mute. This is the opinion as to the song of the Cicadae, shared by all others, whether Philosophers or Poets as Aelian, de Animalibus Bk. I ; "the Cicadae are most talkative at the waist." He is followed by Phile in his Book on the properties of Animals who says, "The bridge (constriction) of the waist makes the males of the race of Cicadae song-loving." Also Joachim Camerarius (to name one of our learned men also) in the book, which be- gins "on Cicadae," speaks thus ; "A thin membrane is the organ of song." I shall take care to have these membranes carefully delineated in the Tables, and shall call them drums, not only from a certain resemblance of the parts, but also from the not different use ; for as the spirits of soldiers are fired to fight more boldly by those warlike instruments, so the Cicadae, when "The places are excited and swell with seed, and the inclination arises to emit the seed towards that to which the fell desire all tends" (Lucretius, IV, 1045. 1046), conceive greater madness from these concussions, and rage more greedily for sexual intercourse. And the females, which lack these or- gans, are solicited by the song of the males to come to inter- course with no less alacrity, and are also carried away by the internal madness, by which the genital parts are stimulated. For I think that this organ was created in the Cicadae for no other purpose, than that there might be a fixed signal for their coming together for the act of generation. In other animals nature, which is intent chiefly on this end, has placed something1 16 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Jan., '23 not dissimilar. The males of the Grylli and of some Locusts invite the females by making a noise with theiV wings, the Bombyces also enter into intercourse with a clapping of their wings : but more remarkable is what I noticed not long ago in the Cicindelae. They are brought together not by song or rubbing of the wings, but by the vibration of light. It was by mere chance that I observed this ; for when I was collecting the females at night, and, placing them in the hollow of my hand, was inspecting their bright part, a male attracted by their light flew up, and gave the desired embraces (Virgil, Aeneid, VIII. 405), and when he was removed, others came. In short, it often happened to me to have this experience. And there is a reason for it ; for since the females lack wings and therefore belong to the earth, and the males are winged and wander through the air, they would not be so easilv called to intercourse, if a signal were not given on both sides. Where- fore a light was invented by the wonderful artificery of nature, than which nothing could be perceived at a greater distance or more clearly by the little animals of the night. Perhaps the same nature belongs to the Indian Cucujus, which can in a wav he put in the class of the Cicindelae ; for weighty authors testify that it glows at night. But I see that natural historians are not agreed as to why the Cucuji come to the torch, when it is displayed. Peter Martyr has this to say about the nature of the Cucujus : "A man who wants Cucuji goes out at twilight, in his hands he carries a lighted brand, he ascends a near height, from which he can be seen by the Cucuji ; calling the Cucujus in loud tones, he whirls the brand around, crying 'Cucujus, Cucujus.' Some simple people think that the Cucuji fly up delighted at his shouting, for they come in haste," etc. I suspect that they come to the light in the way in which the Cicindelae are called to the Cicindelae. And let this have been said by the way concerning the uses, which I think the song of the Cicadae serves, and I could show something not dissimilar in birds, in animals, which are called perfect, and also in snakes, which for the same rea- son nature has implanted in all these, but enough of this. (To be continued) XXXJV, '23] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 17 Undescribed Species of Eriocera and Penthoptera from Tropical America (Tipulidae, Diptera). By CHARLES P. ALEXANDER, Amherst, Massachusetts. The new species described in this paper were collected by E. B. and J. H. Williamson- and \Y. H. Ditzler, in Venezuela, and by J. H. Williamson in Peru. Through the kindness of the collectors, the author has been permitted to retain the types in his collection. Eriocera longipennis sp. n. Antennae short in both sexes; general coloration reddish fulvous; wings long and narrow, brown ; stigma very small ; abdomen and legs dark brown. c?.— Length 9.5 mm.; wing 15.5 mm. Rostrum brown, the palpi dark brown. Antennae short, dark brown. Head fulvous, the anterior part of the vertex more suffused with brown. Mesonotum reddish fulvous, the praescutum with a narrow and indis- tinct brown line. Pleura brownish fulvous, the dorso-pleural membrane dark brown. Halteres dark brown, the base of the stem paler. Legs with the coxae and trochanters testaceous ; remainder of the legs black, the bases of the femora paler. Wings long and narrow, strongly tinged with brown; stigma very small, faintly indicated, dark brown; veins dark brown. Venation : Sc extending a short distance beyond the fork of Rs, Sc2 about opposite the fork of Rs : Rs very long, much longer than R4-\- 5 ; basal deflection of the latter very short ; cell Ml lacking ; veins issuing from cell 1st .1/2 long and slender ; basal deflection of Cul just beyond the fork of M ; Cn2 a little shorter than the basal deflection of Cul ; cell 2nd A very narrow ; anal angle lacking. Abdomen dark brown, the hypopygium a little brighter. Habitat. — Venezuela. Holotype, $ , Macuto, January 29, 1920 (Williamson). It is possible that Eriocera longipennis may more properly be considered a species of Penthoptera. Eriocera dimidiata sp. n. Antennae short in both sexes ; general coloration black, the mesonotal scutellum and postnotum reddish; pleura reddish, marked with black; wings with a strong brownish suffusion. $. — Length 10 mm.; wing 13 mm. 9. — Length 12 mm.; wing 11.6 mm. Rostrum and palpi dark brown. Antennae short in both sexes, black. Head brownish black, the occiput more brownish ; vertical tubercle very conspicuous, each lateral angle produced into a conical knob. 18 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [}&"•, '23 Mesonotal praescutum and scutum black, the scutellum and postnotum abruptly reddish. Pleura reddish, the dorso-pleural membrane and a spot on the mesepisternum dark brown. Halteres dark brown. Legs entirely black, including the coxae. Wings with a strong brown suffu- sion, darkest in the costal and subcostal cells ; basal and anal cells slightly paler medially ; veins dark brown. Venation : Cell Ml lacking ; cell 1st M2 irregularly pentagonal ; basal deflection of Cul beyond the fork of M, longer than Cu2. Abdomen black. Habitat. — Venezuela. Holotype, $ , Tachira, Tachira, April 8, 1920 (J. H. and E. B. Williamson and W. H. Ditzler). Allot opoty pc, 9, April 11, 1920. Paratopotypc,- $, April 4, 1920. The paratype is in the collection of the University of Michigan. Er'o^era perenensis sp. n. General coloration yellow ; mesonotal praescutum with four conspic- uous dark brown stripes; a conspicuous basal pit on mesonotal postnotum; wings faintly tinged with brown, the stigma only faintly darker ; abdomen with a broad black subterminal ring. $. — Length 15 mm.; wing 13.3 mm. Rostrum brown; palpi black. Antennae short ; scape obscure yellow ; remainder of antennae brownish black, the base of the first flagellar segment pale. Head obscure yellow ; vertical tubercle inconspicuous, dorsally with two rows of black setae ; a small shiny cicatrice on antero-lateral portion of tubercle. Pronotum brown, blackened laterally. Mesonotal praescutum with four conspicuous, dark brown stripes, the median pair but narrowly separated ; scutum yellow, the lobes largely dark brown ; scutellum testaceous medially, dark laterally ; postnotum obscure yellow, darker posteriorly ; on either side between the median and lateral sclerites at base a large, conspicuous, circular pit. Pleura yellow, the dorso-pleural region narrowly dark brown. Halteres dark brown, the base of the stem conspicuously yellow. Legs with the coxae pale, the base narrowly and indistinctly darkened; trochanters obscure yellow; femora brownish yellow, the bases clearer, the apices darker brown ; tibiae and tarsi dark brown. Wings faintly tinged with brown ; stigma and broad seams along the longitudinal veins indistinctly darker ; veins dark brown. Venation : Sc2 close to tip of Scl, the latter a little the longer; r on R2 less than its length beyond the fork and on 7\1 about three to four times its length from the tip, R\ being bent strongly caudad at r; deflection of 7^4+5 subequal to r-m; cell 1st M2 a little narrowed distally, m less than one-half the outer deflection of M3 ; cell Ml lacking ; basal deflection of Cul just beyond the fork of M, Cu2 and the deflection of Cul sub- equal. XXXlV, '23] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 19 Abdomen with the first tergite brown basally ; remainder of the abdomen yellow except a broad black subterminal ring which includes all of segments six and seven, and all of five except the narrow base. Habitat.- — Peru. Holotype, $ , Colonia del Perene, Cam- pamiento, June 5, 1920 (J. H. Williamson ) . Eriocera pcrcncnsis is related to E. coruic/cra Alexander, dif- fering in the lack of slender curved horns on the vertical tuber- cle and the details of coloration. Eriocera williamsoni sp. n. General coloration dark brown, the ventral sclerites of the thorax and abdomen yellow ; legs black ; wings with a pale brown tinge, the stigma and indistinct seams along the cord pale brown ; Sc comparatively short, Scl ending just beyond the fork of Rs; cell .Ul lacking: cell Isf M2 very long and narrow. $ . — Length 9.8 mm. ; wing 9.7 mm. Rostrum and palpi brownish black. Antennae with the first scapal segment brownish black ; second segment brown; flagellum broken. Head blackish, gray pruinose; verti- cal tubercle inconspicuous. . Mesonotum dark velvety brown, the praescutal stripes a trifle paler than the ground-color, the broad median stripe split by a capillary dark line. Dorsal pleurites dark brown, including the lateral sclerite of the postnotum ; ventral pleurites and sternites yellow. Halteres relatively long and slender, the base broadly dark brown, the distal half of the stem paler brown; knobs dark brown. Legs with the coxae and tro- chanters obscure brownish yellow; remainder of the legs black, the femoral bases very little paler. Wings with a pale brown tinge, more suffused in cells C and Sc and at the wing-tip ; stigma and indistinct seams along the cord and outer end of cell 1st .1/2 slightly darker brown. Venation: Rs only a little longer than R; Sc comparatively short, Scl ending just beyond the fork of Rs, Sc2 a short distance before the fork ; ;• on R2 about one and one-half times its length beyond the fork and on /?! about two and one- half times its length from the tip; R2 more than twice 7?2+3; deflec- tion of 7?4+5 shorter than r-ni ; cell 1st M2 very long and narrow, rec- tangular, longer than any of the veins beyond it; cell Ml lacking; basal deflection of Cn\ at about two-fifths its length beyond the fork of M, longer than Cu2 alone. Abdominal tergites dark brownish black, the base of tergite two paler : sternites obscure brownish yellow. Habitat. — Peru. Holotype. $ , Colonia del Perene, Cani- pamiento, June 6. 1920 (J. H. Williamson). This interesting species is named in honor of the collector, Mr. Jesse H. Williamson, to whom I am indebted for several 20 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Jan., '23 interesting Neotropical Tipulidae. The fly much resembles a Penthoptera and it is probable that the two genera will need to be united, a course already followed by Mr. Edwards. Penthoptera candidipes sp. n. Mesonotum reddish brown, unmarked ; pleura yellow with a broad brownish, dorsal, longitudinal stripe ; legs brown, the tarsi white ; on the posterior legs, the metatarsi entirely white ; wings with a yellowish tinge : distal section of R\ about three times r ; r-m connecting with Rs at its tip, obliterating the basal deflection of /\4+5. 9. — Length 10.5 mm.; wing 10.3 mm. Rostrum and palpi brown. Antennal scape yellow, flagellum dark brown. Head dark brown, sparsely gray pruinose. Mesonotal praescutum reddish brown, without stripes, the extreme lateral margin narrowly yellowish ; remainder of the mesonotum reddish brown, the postnotum more plumbeous. Pleura yellowish, the dorsal sclerites with a broad brownish longitudinal stripe. Halteres dark brown. Legs with the coxae and trochanters obscure yellow ; remainder of the legs dark brown, the femoral bases indistinctly paler ; terminal tarsal segments snowy white, on the fore and middle legs the white includes a little more than the distal half of the metatarsi ; on the hind legs the metatarsi are entirely white ; fore metatarsi much longer than the posterior metatarsi ; fore metatarsi about three and one-half times the remaining tarsal segments ; posterior metatarsi less than twice the remaining tarsal segments ; inner apical angles of the tarsal seg- ments slightly produced and armed with bristles, those of the metatarsi stronger than the others. Wings with a yellowish tinge ; stigma lacking ; wing-tip indistinctly darkened ; veins dark brown. Venation : Scl ending about opposite one- third the length of R2+3, Sc2 some distance from the tip of Scl, the latter alone being longer than r-m; Rs long, strongly arcuated at origin; r on R2 a little more than its length beyond the fork of R2+3; distal section of Rl about three times r; deflection of 7^4+5 lacking, r-m con- necting directly with the end of Rs; cell 1st M2 elongate-rectangular, a little shorter than vein Ml+2 beyond it; cell Ml lacking; basal deflec- tion of Cul a little more than one-half its length beyond the fork of M. Abdominal tergites dark brown ; sternites obscure yellow. Ovipositor with the basal shield obscure yellow ; tergal valves reddish horn color, acicular. Habitat. — Venezuela. Holotypc, ? , Tachira, Tachira, April 9, 1920 (J. H.'and E. B. Williamson and W. H. Ditzler). The only close ally of the present species is Penthoptera batesi Alexander of the Upper Amazons. The present species is readily told by the diagnostic characters as given above. XXXIV, '23] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 21 Hemipterological Notices. — III. (Miridae, LygaeidaeJ1 By H. M. PARSHLEY, Northampton. Massachusetts. Dicyphus gracilentus sp. nov. General coloration pale yellow, marked with brown and black, polished. Head black, marked at base with a yellow area slightly wider than distance between eyes and extending from the postocular transverse impression posteriorly beneath pronotal collar. Pronotum yellow, with large pleural black areas barely visible from above ; translucent, the inferior dark coloration showing through to some extent ; scutellum black, opaque, with two very small triangular yellow spots at basal angles of apical lobe. Hemelytra pale yellowish, nearly opaque, marked with reddish brown ; clavus reddish brown with pale streaks along vein and on basal half of commissure, and a faint pale dot at apex ; corium with vague reddish areas inwardly on disc and two dark brown spots at apex ; cuneus pale yellow, with a brown spot at apex ; membrane largely brown, paler at sides. Antennae black, the basal segment variably paler except toward apex. Rostrum pale yellow, dark at apex. Legs pale yellow, the femora inconspicuously dotted, the tarsi black apically. Ventral surface polished ; thorax black except prosternum and area of scent gland ; abdomen yellow, with variable dark markings often con- fined to genital segments. Head slightly wider than long (30-25), the vertex prominently s\vollen anteriorly, the eyes decidedly prominent and large ; viewed from above the distance between eyes is about equal to the width of one eye, and length of eye much greater than width (15-10) ; sides of head behind eyes moderately convergent, the postocular distance much less than distance between eyes. Antennae about twice as long as head, pro- notum, and scutellum together ; first segment twice as long as distance between eyes; proportions of segments: 1st, 20; 2nd, 56; 3rd, 46; 4th, 20. Rostrum extending between posterior coxae, the first segment some- what beyond posterior margin of eyes. Pronotum twice as broad at base as long on median line ; apical stricture and transverse depression very deep and distinct, strongly curved, concentric ; the anterior lobe strongly convex; posterior lobe shorter than anterior with collar (5-7), very obsoletely and sparsely punctate. Scutellum about as broad as long, not carinate, the anterior lobe shorter than the posterior (12-17). Hemelytra very obsoletely punctate, a little more than three times as long as wide (85-27), slightly broadened at middle in both sexes; apex of cuneus extending well beyond apex of abdomen in both sexes. Head, pronotum, and scutellum with a few sparse setae ; hcmelytra with very fine and sparse pale pubescence; femora and tibiae minutely spinulose. Apical segments of male abdomen slightly enlarged, the claspers very small. Length 4.5-5 mm. 'Contributions from the Department <>i" Zoology, Smith College, No. 90. 22 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Jan., '23 Holotypc $ and allotype : Urbana, Illinois, 14 July, 1922 (P. A. Click) in my collection. Paralyses $ 9 : numerous specimens with sam'e data, and, from the same locality : 8 July, 1887 (C. A. Hart) ; 2 July, 26 September, 1921 (A. O. Weese) in collections of H. H. Knight, P. A. Click, A. O. Weese, etc. This species seems most closely related to D. famcliciis Uhler, from which it is readily distinguished by coloration, less exserted head, slightly broader form, etc. In a gilts Uhler the pronotal groove is scarcely developed and the first antennal segment is shorter. Mr. Click, who intends to figure the insect in his forthcoming work on insects affecting weeds, found it in great abundance on Polymnia canadcnsis Linn., the leafcup. Dr. H. H. Knight independently established the novelty of this form from the Hart material mentioned above among the para- types. I take this opportunity of recording the second locality for Dicyphns notatns, which I recently described from South Dakota ; Knight has sent me two specimens collected by C. A. Hart, labeled respectively, Fountain Bluff, Illinois, 8 July, 1887 and Urbana, Illinois, 18 March, 1888. NEW RECORDS OF LYGAEIDAE. Orthaea fracticollis Schilling. Montreal, Quebec, 1(> May, 1915 (J. I. Beaulne). Orthaea lurida Hahn. Montreal, Quebec, 17 May, 1915 (J. I. Beaulne). These European species, now recorded for the first time from North America, are described and figured (under the genus Plociomcrus, later corrected to Pamera) in Saunders' "Hemiptera Heteroptera of the British Islands." My friend H. G. Barber was the first to detect fracticollis, and he has con- firmed my determination of lurida. The following key will aid in distinguishing these species from one another and from their only congener found in the northeastern .states. 1. Pronotum moderately constricted slightly behind middle, the sides of the anterior lobe but slightly curved, convergent ; length 4.7-5 mm Orthaea fracticollis Schilling. Pronotum strongly and sharply constricted well behind middle, the sides of the anterior lobe strongly curved 2 2. Anterior lobe o>f pronotum transverse, widest at middle, with fine erect pubescence ; scutellum black or brown ; pale markings of dorsal surface indistinct; length 4.5 mm Orthaea lurida Hahn. Anterior lobe of pronotum more elongate, widest behind middle, with sparse decumbent pubescence ; scutellum bicolored ; pale markings very distinct ; length 4-4.5 mm Orthaea basalis Dallas. , '23] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 23 Immunity to Parasitism in Samia cecropia Linn. (Lep. : Saturniidae ; Dip. : Tachinidae.) By L. S. WEST, Instructor in Parasitology, Dept. of Ento- mology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. The possession of immunity on the part of certain hosts to parasitic invasion is a recognized fact, hut our knowledge of this wliole suhject is so meagre, that any illustration of the phenomenon is worthy of note. The following striking exam- ple in our common Cecropia moth, came under the observation of the writer, who is conducting investigations on the life- habits of "Tachinidae" (Diptera), and who has in progress a systematic revision of this group of parasitic flies, as occurring in the State of New York. On August 1, 1921, there was brought into this laboratory by a student, a fully grown Cecropia larva, bearing along its back and sides thirty-five or forty white, "macrotype" Tachinid eggs. Examination revealed the fact that the eggs had already hatched, and a tiny puncture in the integument of the host near each egg indicated the point where the little maggot had gained entrance. The caterpillar was accordingly confined in a suit- able rearing cage and kept supplied with food until August 5, 1921, when pupation took place. It was of course supposed that a rearing record would be secured, and the cage and con- tents were placed outdoors and kept under observation during the wrinter.* On June 25, 1922, no parasites had emerged and it was con- sidered probable that severe weather conditions had destroyed them. On July 14 however, the writer was exceedingly aston- ished to find a normal female Cecropia, emerged from the cocoon. She was dead, but a considerable mass of eggs testified that she had lived long enough for oviposition. Dr. W. T. M. *A few of the recorded parasites of Samia cecropia might be men- tioned. Hymenoptera : Ophion macrurum Linn., Opinion bilineatus Say, Bracon flavator Fabr., Cryptus extrematis Cr., Cryptus nuncius Say, Diglochis omnivorus Walk., Spilochalcis mariae Riley, Theronia ful- vescens Cr. Diptera : Frontina f renchii Will., and Winthemia quadri- pustulata Fabr. Both these flics are parasitic on a great variety of hosts. 24 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Jan., '23 Forbes, of this laboratory, specialist in Lepidoptera, examined the specimen and asserted that the moth had apparently laid a full complement of eggs and had died of old age. The eggs were shrunken in the manner characteristic of Cecropia eggs that have not been fertilized. Careful dissection and examination of the cocoon revealed no evidences of parasitic invasion beyond the old hatched eggs, which were still to be seen, attached to the remains of the last larval skin. The interim of five days between observation of parasitism and the spinning of the cocoon would seem to exclude all possibility of the parasites being "molted" at the time of pupation, hence the possession of "complete immunity" in this case must perforce be acknowledged. But when we con- sider the tremendous power of resistance, necessary, on the part of the host, to destroy and absorb such a large number of parasites, and then to mature normally, as though nothing of a disturbing nature had taken place, the phenomenon acquires added significance. The question first arises as to whether we have illustrated a case of "specific immunity" or, more remarkable still, of "indi- vidual immunity." That is to say, would another Cecropia moth have been able to resist this particular parasite in the same way, or was this particular individual immune, just as individuals among us are immune to the invasion of certain disease organisms ? In the absence of conclusive evidence, and in consideration of the complete failure of the parasites to mature, we are forced to take the former view, as the more conservative, but the other possibility is worthy of considera- tion, and the accumulation of a certain amount of careful data, in connection with several rearing records, might go far toward clearing up this particular question. Also, in touching upon the problems of immunity, we find ourselves confronting the old question, as to just how immunity reactions take place. Is the resistant action phagocytic or are there toxins produced which act as destructive agents ? This is a problem affecting workers in fields far beyond the realm of Entomology, but the writer, who is keenly interested in this subject, is of the opinion that insect parasites and their hosts XXxiv, '23] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 25 furnish excellent material for the solution of this very problem. Some work of this type has already been done,* but the prob- lem, as everyone knows, is an open one. Who can •viy but that one phase of Entomology may be thus brought to serve work- ers in other fields of scientific endeavor? Scarites subterraneus Fabr., an Interesting Malformation (Col.: Carabidae). There is in the New York State collection of insects a specimen oi this beetle having two nearly equally developed and almost normal pro- thoracic segments, each with normal or nearly normal prothoracic leg.-.. The anterior prothoracic segment is a little narrower, a little shorter, and inserted somewhat like the head usually is in the presumably normal segment. The mesothoracic legs are represented only by normal coxae and slightly modified trochanters, the remaining segments having dis- appeared. The specimen, therefore, has the normal six legs, though it is what might be characterized as an unusually "chesty" individiv.il with its two pairs of prothoracic legs. — E. P. FELT, Albany, New York. Additions to the Collections of Insects at Iowa State College. Dear Doctor SKINNER: It may interest you to know that the be>t part of my collection of Mexican Lepidoptera is now at the State College, at Ames, Iowa, and is known as the "Dr. Skinner Collection." This is out of courtesy to you for the work done in identifying and naming most of the rarer specimens. Enclosed you will also find a clipping from a local paper that will interest collectors. I have never seen tin's collection so do not know just what it is but presume it is good. — M. E. HOAG, YYapello, Iowa. Ames, Nov. 3 — A collection of 17,000 butterflies from all parts of the world has been added to the entomological collection at Iowa State College, according to an announcement made by Dr. C. J. Drake, head of that department. This collection, which was made up by J. S. Faaborg, of Clinton, includes 8,000 different varieties of butterflies. Mr. Faaborg began his collection of insects while be was a school teacher in Denmark, nearly fiftv years ago, and has continued it along with his other business. In disposing of the collection to the college at small price, scarcely enough to pay for the cases containing the collection, he desired to place his life work where it would be of use to the public and receive good care. (. \Yrada f/n:cv/] liz\'iiin