PSYCHE A Journal of Entomology Volume 61 1954 Editorial Board Frank M. Carpenter, Editor P. J. Darlington, Jr. Charles T. Brues Joseph C. Bequaert Published Quarterly by the Cambridge Entomological Club Editorial Office; Biological Laboratories Harvard University Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A. The numbers of Psyche issued during the past year were mailed on the following dates: Vol. 60, no. 4, Dec., 1952: April 27, 1954 Vol. 61, no. 1, March, 1953: June 30, 1954 Vol. 61, no. 2, June, 1953: August 26, 1954 Vol. 61, no. 3, Sept., 1953: November 12, 1954 PSYCHE A JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY Established in 1874 Vol. 61 March, 1954 No. 1 .Mill COMP. 200L JUL 7 1954 .III; .;r? TABLE OF CONTENTS A New Myrmecophiloiis Scarabaeid Beetle from the Philippine Islands with a Review of Hnroldius. F. S. Pereira .... Additional Studies on Pseudornyrmex apache (Hymenoptera ; Formicidae). W m. S. Creighton 9 The Taxonomic Identity of Melitaea (Athaliaeformia) mayi Giinder (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) . AL TF. Gillharn 16 Geographical Distribution of the Genus Myrmoteras, Including the Description of a New Species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). P. E. Gregg 20 The Baltic Amber Mecoptera. F. M. Carpenter 31 CAMBRIDGE ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB Officers President .... FOR 1953-54 . W. L. Brown, Jr. Vice-President . . . S. K. Harris Secretary . . . E. 0. Wilson Treasurer . . . F. M. Carpenter Executive Committee j . . . 1 • • • J. C. Bequaert A. G. Humes EDITORIAL BOARD OF PSYCHE F. M. Carpenter — editor C. T. Brues P. J. Darlington, Jr. J. Bequaert PSYCHE is published quarterly, the issues appearing in March, June, September, and December. Subscription price, per year, payable in advance: $3.00 to subscribers in the United States and Canada; other subscriptions $3.35. Single copies, 85 cents. Cheques and remittances should be addressed to Treasurer, Cambridge Entomological Club. Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. 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AUTHOR’S SEPARATES Reprints of articles may be secured by authors, if they are ordered before, or at the time proofs are received for corrections. The cost of these will be furnished by the Editor on application. The December, 1953, Psyche (Vol. 60, No. 4) was mailed April 27. 1954 EATON PRESS INC., WATERTOWN. MASS. PSYCHE flDS. CO^ ZOOl 1 l!88WY JUL ? 1954 haryaro university Vol. 61 March, 1964 No. 1 A NEW MYRMECOPHILOUS SCARABAEID BEETLE FROM THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS WITH A REVIEW OF HAROLDIUS ' By Pe. F. S. Pereira C.M.F. Departamento de Zoologia, Sao Paulo, Brasil I have recently received from Dr. P. J. Darlin^on a short series of a scarabaeid beetle of the genus Haroldius from the Philippines. According to Dr. Darlington, who collected them, “All 6 specimens of the beetle were taken in one nest of ants under a stone in forest. Dr. W. L. Brown tells me that the ant is a Diacamma of the group vagans F. Smith of the tribe Ponerini.” The specimens are markedly different from Haroldius glohosus, the only species of the genus previously known from the Philippines. Dr. Darlington has kindly donated two of the specimens to the Departamento de Zoologia; one of these has been dissected and upon examination of the genitalia proved to be a female. No sexual dimorphism being apparent in un- dissected specimens, I have decided not to attempt a study of the male genitalia until more material is available. Haroldius philippinensis, n. sp. (Figs. 1-10) Length : 3. 5-4.0 mm. ; humeral width : 2. 5-3.0 mm. Shape oval, broadest at middle of elytra; color black with brown overtones on anterior margin of clypeus, sides of elytra, legs, and under parts of body. ^Published with a grant from the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College. 1 2 Psyche [Marcn Head: Clypeus (fig. 2) finely punctate, more densely so in front, its anterior margin with sharp parallel denticles separated at base by a well-defined longitudinal sulcus. Genae separated from clypeus by one well-defined sulcus, not denticulate in front; posterior angles acute. Dorsal aspect of eyes small. Mouth-parts (figs. 1, 4) with 4-seg- mented labial palpi; first segment short and robust; second shorter and thinner than first; third as long as first plus second, thicker than either, oval-shaped ; all three proximal segments with bristles; fourth segment thin and short. Maxillary palpi also 4-segmented ; first segment very short and thin; second much longer than first, apically dilated; third with sub-parallel sides, a little longer than first, as thick as apex of second; fourth much longer than three proximal ones together, a little thinner than third, nar- rowed towards tip. Antennae (fig. 3) 8-segmented, first segment much longer than four next ones together, with a median constriction; second and third sub-equal, sub- cylindrical, third somewhat dilated towards apex; fourth and fifth sub-equal, shorter than third, wider than long; sixth to eighth forming lamellae of decreasing size, of which first is much longer than third to fifth segments together; second lamella sub-equal to first; third lamella much shorter. Prothorax: pronotum (fig. 2) much broader than long, smooth, with a series of elongate punctures near poste- rior angles, vanishing towards middle; a small round fovea in front of each posterior angle; no foveae on sides; ante- rior angles rounded, posterior poorly-defined. Anterior part of prosternum with a deep depression, separated from poste- rior part by a keel which runs from near coxae to lateral margin of prosternum ; prosternal process very wide, smooth. Mesothorax: Scutellum completely covered by elytra; its anterior part opaque, with numerous punctures and small bristles; posterior part triangular, smooth. Mesoster- Explaxatiox of Plate 1 Haroldius philippiyicusis, n. sp. 1. Labial j)alpi. 2. Dorsal view of head and pronotum. 3. Antenna. 4. Maxillary palpi. 5. Wing. 6. Spermatheca. 7. Claws (much enlarged). 8. Foreleg. 9. Middle leg. 10. Hind leg. Figs. 3, 4. 6. 8. 9. 10 on the same scale. Psyche, 1954 VoL. 61, Plate 1 Pereira — Haroldius philippinensis 4 Psyche [March num smooth, very wide and long, separated from metaster- num by an arcuate suture. Mesoepisterna broad, sub- quadrangular. Metathorax: Metasternum smooth, very broad between coxae, a little swollen on middle. Metaepisternum wide in front, narrower behind. Abdomen: Six segments visible at middle, finely punc- tate; second, third, and fourth segments sub-equal; fifth much longer than fourth; sixth still longer. Posterior sternites with round marginal foveae. Pygidium swollen, with small punctures (visible only under strong magnifica- tion) ; its basal portion weakly emarginate. Elytra smooth, with seven very weak, not obvious striations, which are not punctate. Interstriae fiat, with two rows of pits with microscopic yellow bristles, effaced posteriorly. Anterior angle of elytra acute, produced for- ward. Epipleurae very wide, with very fine punctures on anterior half, more strongly sculptured posteriorly. Forelegs: Coxae (fig. 8) long, transverse, with very fine, short pubescence. Trochanters sub-globose, dentate at internal apices. Femora robust, with punctures and small bristles on under surface of apex; anterior face strongly excavated along its entire length. Tibiae a little longer than femora but more slender; thinner basally, gradually dilated apically; only two latero-apical spines and one angular process on middle of anterior margin; upper and lateral faces very finely sculptured and with microscopic bristles; inner and outer faces with somewhat larger bristles. Spurs very short and thin, bristle-like. Tarsi set in foveae at inner corners of tibiae ; first segment small, partly hidden in the fovea, so that sometimes only four segments are visible; second, third and fourth segments sub-equal, four-sided, elongate, curved, with narrow tips; fifth seg- ment a little longer than third plus fourth, ending in two short, robust claws. Middle legs: Coxae (fig. 9) smooth, widely separated, almost parallel (slightly convergent backwards). Trochan- ters small and elongate. Femora less robust than anterior ones. Tibiae shorter than femora, and much more dilated towards apex, with very minute yellow bristles on upper and lower faces; inner faces with bristle-bearing keels; 1954 J Pereira — Haroldius 5 outer faces strongly excavated. Spurs minute, bristle-like. Tarsi robust; first, second, and third segment sub-globose, slightly dilated on inner side; fourth segment more cylin- drical, a little longer than any of others; each of four basal segments with an internal tuft of bristles; fifth tarsal segment thinner than others, cylindrical, narrower at apex, a little longer than third plus fourth. Claws similar to those of forelegs. Hind legs: Coxae (fig. 10) long, transversely placed. Trochanters more triangular than middle ones, with some bristles. Femora much longer than middle ones ; under surface smooth ; one keel on anterior margin ; posterior face excavated. Tibiae much shorter than femora, less dilated towards apex than middle tibiae but more strongly arched. Spurs bristle-like. Tarsi similar to those of fore — and middle legs. The present species can be distinguished from Harold- ius globosus by the following table: 11 . philippinensis n. sp. Larger (3.5-4.0 mm.) Black with brownish overtones on front of clypeiis, elytra, under parts, and legs Elytia pubescent, with striae visible on anterior half and effaced pos- teriorly //. globosus Boucomont 1925 Smaller (2.0 mm.) Metallic green with a slighi purplish sheen Elytra glabrous, with striae ef- faced on disc Type-locality: Dingalan Bay, East Luzon, Philippine Islands. Type-material: Type and 3 paratypes in the Museum of (^Comparative Zoology at Harvard College; 2 paratypes (one dissected and mounted on slides) in the Departamento de Zoologia, Sao Paulo. All collected by P. J. Darlington (VII-VIII, 1945) at the type-locality, in a nest of ants of the genus Diacamma (group vagans F. Smith, Ponerini). This genus is scarce in collections. The biology of the species is poorly known. Some of them have been found in ant nests {H. heimi with Pheidole latinoda, the present species with Diacamma) . H. perroti has been collected with numerous specimens of Bacanius (Coleop., Histeridae) by sifting dead leaves. 6 Psyche A list of the species of Haroldius Type of genus: H. fairmairei Bouc., by designation of Paulian 1945, 58. 1. H. calcaratus Janssens 1934, 33, figs. 1-2. Barway (India) . 2. H. cardoni Boucomont 1923, 83; Arrow 1931, 414; Paulian 1934, 164. Chota Nagpur. 3. H. chapmani Paulian 1934, 163. Bangalore. 4. H. fairmairei Boucomont 1914, 254; Paulian 1934, 164. Singapore. 5. H. fleutiauxi Paulian 1945, 60. Tonkin. 6. H. globosus Boucomont 1925, 151. Philippines. 7. H. heimi Wassman 1918, 4, pi. 1, fig. 1 (Cyclotrogus) ; Arrow 1931, 414-415; Paulian 1934, 164. (Syn. : Cyclotrogus nigrita Wassman loc. cit.) . Bengal; Bombay. 8. H. oberthilri Paulian 1934, 163. India. 9. H. perroti Paulian 1939, 70; 1943, 262, fig. 132; 1945, 160. Tonkin. 10. H. philippinensis n. sp. Philippines. 11. H. rugatulus Boucomont 1914, 253; Paulian 1934, 164. Singapore. 12. H. stevensi Arrow 1931, 414, 416, fig. 60; Paulian 1934, 164. Bengal. Ponerotrogus annandalei Silvestri 1924 (Rec. Indian Mus. 26, p. 586, figs. 1-2), collected by Annandale in a nest of Ponera tesserinoda Mayr [now = Bothroponera sulcata (Frauenfeld) ] , under stones on the Barkuda Islands, Chilka Lake, seems to have characters similar to those of Harold- ius; the two genera are possibly synonymous. Provisional key to the species of Haroldius 1. Clypeus not emarginate, with no denticles on anterior margin; middle and hind spurs longer than four basal tarsal segments together ; meso-metasternal suture straight; anterior tibiae quadridentate ; 2.5 mm.; Barway 1) H. calcaratus Janss. 1'. Clypeus dentate; middle and posterior spurs short, only longer than first tarsal segment; meso-meta- sternal suture arcuate 2 1954] Pereira — Haroldius 7 2. Basal portion of pronotum with a central triangular depression 3 2'. Basal portion of pronotum without such a depression. 5 3. Sides of pronotum with oblique striae near posterior margin; 2. 5-3.0 mm.; Bombay 2) H. heimi Wassm. 3'. Sides of pronotum punctate, not striate 4 4. Large, 3.5 mm.; Bengal ?>)H. stevensi Arr. 4'. Small, 1.5 mm.; Singapore 4) H. fairmairei Bouc. 5. Bases of pronotum with oblique striae 8 5'. No such striae 7 6. Elytral interstriae each with one row of setiferous punctures; fore part of body cupreous, hind part black; 2 mm. ; Tonkin 5) 77. fleutiauxi Paul. 6'. Interstriae each with two rows of setiferous punctures; black or brown; 2.5 mm.; Singapore 6) 77. rugatulus Bouc. 7. Elytra glabrous 8 7'. Elytra pubescent 9 8. Elytral striae almost effaced on disc; metallic green with slight purplish sheen ; 2 mm. ; Philippines 7) 77. globosus Bouc. 8'. Elytral striae evident even on disc; upper parts brown or cupreous; under parts lighter; basal part of antennae grayish; 1.9 mm.; Tonkin 8) 77. perroti Paul. 9. Elytral interstriae each with one row of setiferous punctures; 3mm.; Chota Nagpur 9) 77. cardoni Paul. 9'. Interstriae each with two rows of setiferous punc- tures 10 10. One longitudinal sulcus immediately behind anterior denticles of clypeus; 3. 5-4.0 mm.; Philippines 10) 77. philippinensis n. sp. 10'. No such sulcus 11 11 Clypeus with strong, dense punctures; pronotum with strong, dense punctures on anterior half, and fine, scattered ones on posterior half ; 3 mm. ; Chota Nagpur 11) 77. chapmani Paul. 11'. Clypeal and pronotal punctures fine and sparse; 2.5- 3.0 mm.; Chota Nagpur . . . 12) 77. oberthuri Paul. 8 Psyche [March Acknowledgements I am indebted to Dr. Philip J. Darlington, Jr., Curator of Insects, Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College, for the opportunity of describing this interesting new form, as well as for the gift of two specimens to the Departamento de Zoologia. To Mrs. M. A. V. d’Andretta, of the latter institution, I am indebted for the drawings which illustrate the description. Dr. P. E. Vanzolini has kindly translated the manuscript into English. Bibliography Arrow, G. 1931. Fauna of British India including Ceylon and Burma. Lamel- licornia III. London, xii + 428 pp., 13 pis., 1 map. Boucomont, a. 1914. Les Coprophages de TArchipel Malais. Ann. Soc. Ent. France 83: 238-350. 1923. Notes sur divers Coleopteres coprophages. Bull. Mus. Hi.st. Nat. Paris 29; pp. 81-83. 1925. Lamellicornes Coprophages des lies Philippines. Bull. Soc. Ent. France : 151-154. Janssens, A. 1934. De'scription (fun Haroldius nouveau. Bull. Soc. Ent. Belgique 74; 33-34, 2 figs. Pai-lian, R. 1934. (^uehiues Panelini Asiatiques nouveaux on pen connus. Bull. Soc. Ent. Phance: 162-164. 1939. Quehiues nouvelles especes de Coleopteres Lamellicornes. Bull. Soc. Pint. Phance: 68-74, 3 figs. 1943. Les Coleopteres, P'orms, Moeurs, Role. Paris. 396 pp., 14 pis. 1945. Coleoi>teres Scarabeides de Tlndochine. I. Paris. 225 pp., 105 figs., 1 map. Wassman, E. 1918. Myrmecophile und termitophile Coleojderen aus Ostmdien, hauptsachlich gesammelt von P. v. Assmuth S. J. Wiener Ent. Zeit. 37: 1-23, 2 pis. ADDITIONAL STUDIES ON PSEUDOMYRMEX APACHE (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) By William S. Creighton Department of Biology, City College, New York When Pseudomyrmex apache was described in this Jour- nal in 1952 (1), the writer called attention to the fact that the incidence of this ant appeared to be greatest in the mountains of southeastern Arizona and that the incidence seemed to decrease sharply in areas south of that region. Additional field work in northern Mexico during the spring of 1953^ has shown that this view is correct. Moreover, these studies indicate that the range of apache does not enter the tropics at all. This is a noteworthy distribution for a member of the genus Pseudomyrmex. The majority of the species in that genus are strictly confined to the Neo- tropical region and the few species which range into the southern United States are usually more abundant south of the Tropic of Cancer than north of it. The unique geo- graphical position of Ps. apache is, therefore, a matter of unusual interest. The new records for apache are presented below, together with a map showing the known range of this species: Texas: Arsarca Canyon, Chinati Mts., (4800') one colony Quercus grisea. Nuevo Leon : China (600') one colony in Prosopis juliflora, work done on a Guggenheim Fellowship. Chihuahua: 3 miles south of Encinillas (4900') one col- ony in Q. emoryi; 16 miles west of General Trias (5800') two colonies, one in Q. emoryi, the other in a deciduous oak (sp?) ; 23 miles south of Parral (5500') one colony in Q. santaclarensis ; 34 miles south of Par- ral (5800') one colony in Q. santaclarensis. Durango: Villa Ocampo (5700') one colony in Q. fusifor- mis or closely related species. It should be noted that, except for the two colonies taken 9 10 Psyche [March west of General Trias, none of the stations in Chihuahua yielded more than a single colony. Many of the oak groves in Chihuahua, particularly those near the larger towns, have been denuded by wood-cutters. Despite this there are numerous areas where the groves are untouched. Those south of Parral are as extensive as any that the writer has encountered. Since apache will nest in at least three of the oaks present in this region, it follows that there are abund- ant nest sites available for it in central and southern Chi- huahua. Yet the incidence of apache in these groves is low. In many groves the writer failed to find any specimens of apache and the few colonies which were secured are the result of repeated visits to the station at which they were finally taken. It may be recalled that identical collecting procedure in the oak groves of southeastern Arizona often produced from three to ten colonies per station. The survey which gave the above records was carried south into Jalisco and Guanajuato and west through the Sierra Madre Occidental in Durango to the eastern border of Sinaloa. Except for the single record from Villa Ocampo, a small town five miles south of the Durango-Chihuahua border, no colonies of apache were taken south of the state of Chihuahua. The three southernmost records for apache, Villa Ocampo (Durango), China (Nueva Leon) and Monte Alto (Texas) are all near Latitude 26°. China lies about twenty-one miles to the south of the parallel, the other two stations lie a little to the north of it. Hence, there is a distance of at least one hundred and fifty miles between each of these stations and the Tropic of Cancer. The writer has repeatedly collected in the region between Latitude 26° and the Tropic of Cancer. The eighty-nine stations which have been visited extend from Tamaulipas through Nuevo Leon and southern Coahuila to the western border of Du- rango. Oaks were present at many of the stations and these oaks frequently contained arboreal ants. But the only record for apache coming from this region is the China record cited above. It is certain, therefore, that the incidence of apache south of Latitude 26° is even lower than it is in Chihuahua and it is probable that this ant is absent over much of the region between Latitude 26° and the tropics. 1954] Creighton — Pseudomyrmex apache 11 There are now enough records to show that apache oc- curs in a comparatively narrow band of territory, about twelve hundred miles long, which extends northwestward from the mouth of the Rio Grande River to southern Cali- fornia. Because of the skew of this band to the northwest it is difficult to give satisfactory northern and southern limits for the range of apache. If only latitude is considered the range runs from Lat. 33° 25' to Lat. 25° 48', a north- south extent of approximately 512 miles. But this method of delimiting the range is confusing, for it leaves out of account the fact that at any point along the east-west axis the width of the range is much less than five hundred miles. Indeed, in most places the band seems to be no more than two hundred miles wide and its maximum width does not exceed 370 miles. The distribution of apache throughout this long, narrow band is not uniform. The figures below show the total number of stations and colonies in each of the states where apache occurs. Stations Colonies California 1 2 Arizona 11 39 Chihuahua 5 10 Texas 3 4 Nuevo Leon 1 1 Durango 1 1 The very marked abundance of apache in the region near the southeastern border of Arizona is even more striking when it is considered that half of the ten colonies secured in Chihuahua came from a station in the extreme north- western corner of the state (Nogales Ranch) which is only about thirty miles south of the U. S.-Mexico border. Since the most favorable part of the range of apache appears to be the region at the northern end of the Sierra Madre Occidental, it is instructive to consider the environmental conditions in this area. The majority of the Arizona records for apache come from what Shreve (2) has called the ‘‘western xeric ever- green forest where oaks are dominant.” This association is closely similar to LeSeur's (3) '' santaclarensis consocia- tion” in Chihuahua. There seems to be no essential climatic difference in the two biomes, the principal distinction be- 12 Psijche [March ing the dominant oak involved. In Arizona this is Q. emoryi, in Chihuahua it is Q. santaclarensis. Both these oak associations appear to reach their maximum develop- ment in areas where the average minimum annual temper- ature is not less than 15 °F. or more than 20 °F. In such areas light winter snows are not uncommon and minimum January temperatures as low as -6°F. have been recorded at several weather stations (4). The ayerage annual rain- fall in such areas is from 15 to 20 inches. Of this total more than half falls during the period from the first of July to the middle of September. Spring rains are excep- tionally light, seldom comprising more than 10% of the total annual rainfall. Over most of the year there is a difference of at least 40°F. between the daily minimum and maximum temperatures. The humidity is low and the evaporation rate very high, since the area has an unusually large percentage of cloudless days. Fig. 1. Map sliowing the known distribution of Pseudomyrmex apache in tlie southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It seems clear from the above data that apache can tol- erate lower temperatures than most of the other species of Pseudomyrmex which occur in the southern United States. 1954] Creighton — Pseudomyrmex apache 13 For the range of Ps. elongata is confined to areas where the average annual minimum temperature is 30°F. or more (southern Florida). That of Ps. gracilis mexicanum is limited to areas where the above temperature is 25°F. or more (southern Texas). Ps. brunnea is restricted to areas where the average annual minimum temperature does not go below 20°F., hence, while it occurs as far north as the Carolinas and thence south through the Gulf States into Mexico, it does not occur in southern Arizona. Only Ps. pallida, whose tolerance for low temperatures is equal to that of apache, does so, and pallida occurs through the Gulf States and north to the Carolinas. The question immediately arises as to why, since apache can tolerate low temperatures as well as pallida, does not apache occupy the same area as the latter species. The restricting factor in this case appears to be rainfall rather than temperature. Although apache can live in areas where the average annual rainfall is as low as ten inches, it has never been taken in an area where the annual average rain- fall is more than twenty-four inches. Beginning in west Texas (10 inches) and running east to Alabama (65 inches) there is a gradient of rainfall which increases to the east. It is interesting to note that the line which marks the area where the average annual rainfall passes 25 inches lies only a few miles north and east of the known eastern limit of the range of apache. It is further inter- esting to note that there is a comparable gradient of rain- fall which increases southward from the Rio Grande Val- ley down the coastal plain of Mexico. This gradient begins with 25 inches in the Brownsville area, rises to 45 inches at Tampico and reaches 64 inches at Vera Cruz. As has been noted elsewhere, apache appears to be absent in this area. This might be expected if the ant is unable to toler- ate an average annual rainfall in excess of 24 inches. If, as seems to be the case, it is rainfall rather than temperature which plays the major part in determining the range of apache, some interesting speculations can be advanced as to how apache reached its present geographical position. It may be taken as axiomatic that apache came to southern Arizona from tropical sources. Since three of the species of Pseudomyrmex which occur in the southern 14 Psyche [March United States also occur along the coastal plain of eastern Mexico, this region has served as a pathway for northern migration of some members of this genus. It is possible that apache might have come north by this route and reached southern Arizona by turning west up the Rio Grande Valley. But if this has been the case then the climatic conditions along the eastern coastal plain in Mexi- co must have been different from what they are now or apache must have acquired its low tolerance for annual rainfall after it turned west from the coastal plain. In either case it is difficult to see why apache should have stopped its migration along the coastal plain at the Rio Grande River. For, on either count, areas north of the Rio Grande along the Gulf Coast should have been available to it. It can be argued that subsequent climatic change elim- inated apache from the Gulf Coast except for the narrow strip of arid territory in the Rio Grande Valley area. The writer finds it difficult to believe that there would not be some traces of apache left in other parts of the Gulf Coast region under such circumstances. A much more acceptable explanation of the present range of apache can be made if it is assumed that the insect migrated north along the Mexican Plateau. The traces of this northern progress are present along the western edge of the Plateau, for the de- creasing incidence of apache south through Chihuahua may be regarded in this light. There is additional evidence from the responses of apache that it has had a long and extensive acquaintance with conditions on the Plateau. It has been shown elsewhere (1) that apache customarily nests in sizeable limbs or the trunk of the tree, and that it rarely, if ever, nests in hollow twigs as do many species of Pseudomyrmex. It has also been shown (5) that larger limbs, particularly those stubs which point upward, ac- cumulate much moisture after a rain fall. It seems clear that apache has lived under arid conditions long enough to have restricted its nesting habits to the parts of the tree which provide the maximum conservation of moisture. Coupled with this is the large tolerance of apache for vari- ous sorts of trees as nest sites. To date this ant has been taken from six species of evergreen oak, two species of deciduous oak and mesquite. It is interesting to note that 1954] Creighton — Pseudo myrmex apache 15 there is a succession of different species of oaks from north to south along the Plateau and that these oaks by no means form a continuous belt throughout this region. There are many areas where the oaks are replaced by mesquite. It may be no more than a coincidence that apache accepts several species of oaks as well as mesquite as nest sites but, at least, this behavior is precisely what would be ex- pected if apache had migrated north along the Mexican Plateau. Literature Cited 1. Creighton, W. S., Psyche, Vol. 59, No. 4, p. 141, December, 1952. 2. Shreve, F., in Kearney and Peebles, U.S.D.A. Misc. Pub. No. 423, May 1942. 3. LeSeiir, H., Univ. Texas Publication No. 4521, June 1945. 4. Smith, H. V., Univ. Ariz. Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. 197, July 1945. 5. Creighton. AV. S.. Psyche. Vol. 59, No. 4.. p. 161, December 1952. THE TAXONOMIC IDENTITY OF MELITAEA {ATHALIAEFORMIAy MAYI GUNDER (LEPIDOPTERA, NYMPHALIDAE) By Nicholas W. Gillham Harvard University Ever since mayi was described by Gunder (1929) as a new species it has been suspected of being closely related to the Melitaea species of the athalia group, which is pri- marily Palearctic. However, heretofore nobody appears actually to have compared specimens of mayi with any of the Palearctic members of the group. In his original de- scription Gunder, l.c., expresses the belief that mayi is very close to M. (A.) athalia latefascia Fixsen, basing his conviction on the insect figured on plate 66i of Seitz (1906) under the latter name. Verity (1941) concludes that the name latefascia is probably not applicable to Korean speci- mens previously listed under that name and that these specimens should be assigned to M. (A.) coreae Verity. This is important because he goes on to state that the species which Seitz, l.c., figured is the same thing as coreae. Therefore it can be seen that both Verity and Gunder equated mayi with the same species. I have made quite a number of genitalic preparations, male and female, of mayi and of several of the Asian species Verity (1950) proposed the siihgeneric name Athaliaeformin to include those members of the genus Melitaea belonging to the athalia group. He specifically lists Melitaea mayi as belonging to this subgenus. Explan.\tion of Plate 2 Fig. 1. Dorsal view of the male genitalia of Melitaea (Athaliaejormia) ambigua (z=mayi) from Banff, Alberta (Genitalic Preparation 166). Fig. 2. Left lateral view of the genitalia in Fig. 1. Fig. 3. Dorsal view of the male genitalia of M. (4.) ambigua from Hsiolin, Manchuria (Genitalic Preparation 217). Fig. 4. Left lateral view of the genitalia in Fig. 3. Fig. 5. Dorsal view of the male genitalia of another specimen from Hsiolin, Manchuria (Genitalic Preparation 218). Fig. 6. Left lateral view of the genitalia in Fig. 5. All figures drawn to the same scale. The aedeagus has been removed and is not shown in any of the figures. 16 Psyche, 1954 VoL. 61, Plate 2 Gillham — Melitaea mayi 18 Psyche [March of the athalia group-. The preparations as well as the facies of 77myi indicate that it does not belong to the same specific complex as coreae, as Verity thought, but is instead conspecific with another species, M. (A.) ambigua Mene- tries. I have figured the male genitalia of mmji (figs. 1 and 2) and of two specimens of ambigua (figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6) to show that they represent the same thing within the limits of individual variation. I have not figured the female genitalia because I can find no publication where the fe- male genitalia of related species of the athalia group have been figured or studied other than for group characters as a whole. However, my preparations of the female genitalia of both yyiayi and ambigua show no real differences. The genitalia of coreae, on the other hand, appear to be quite distinct from those of ambigua and indeed the male geni- talia indicate that this species is extremely close if not conspecific with what Verity, l.c., considers to be M. (A.) britomartis Assmann. The male genitalia of coreae that I have examined agree quite well with those of britomartis figured by Petersen (1945) . I must admit that on the basis of my studies I strongly doubt the distinctness of coreae from britomartis but since I do not have the material available to confirm my doubts I must leave the question open. Lastly it should be noted that coreae has an earlier flight period (late May to the middle of June) than does ambigua or its Nearctic representative mayi (late June to early August) . The synonomy of mayi with ayyibigua provides us with a very interesting case of geographical distribution. My own examination of specimens and references in the litera- ture indicate that ayyibigua ranges from Japan west to the Eastern Sayansk Mountains in Siberia and between the fourtieth and fiftieth parallels in the north-south direction in the Palearctic region. In the Nearctic region its distribu- tion is drastically reduced and the only records that I can ^In this connect ion I should like to thank Dr. F. H. Rindge of the American Museum of Natural History, Dr. P. J. Darlington of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Mr. H. K. Clench of the Carnegie Museum, and Mr. J. A. G. Rehn of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia for making it possible for me to examine specimens under their care. 1954] Gillham — Melitaea mayi 19 find are for the area around Banff, Alberta, and Smithers, British Columbia. References Gunder, J. D. 1929. New Butterflies and Sundry Notes. Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc., 24: 325-332, plates 30 and 31. Higgins, L. G. 1941. An Illustrated Catalogue of the Palearctic Meliinea (Lep, Rhopalocera). Trans. Royal Ent. Soc. of London, 91:175-365, 16 plates, 215 figures. Petersen, B. 1945. Melitaea hritornartis Assm. und Melitaea parthenie (Bkh.) (aurelia Nick.) in Schweden. Opuscula Entoniologica, 10:135- 139, 1 plate, and 7 figures. Seitz, A. 1906. The Macrolepidoptera of the World. Volume 1, The Macro- lepidoptera of the Palearctic Fauna, 89 plates. Verity, R. 1941. Revision of the athalia group of the genus Melitaea Fabricius, 1807 (Lepidopt., Nymphalidae). Trans. Ro3^al Ent. Soc. of London, 89:591-706, 14 plates. 1950. Le Farfalle Diurne d’ltalia. Volume 4. 380 pages. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS MYRMOTERAS, INCLUDING THE DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) By Robert E. Gregg Department of Biology, University of Colorado In 1925, Carlo Emery summarized the accumulated knowledge concerning the ant genus Myrmoteras in the Genera Insectorum, Fasc. 183, p. 36, and listed four species with their general distribution in portions of Malay and the East Indies. The following brief anatomical diagnosis of the genus is adapted from Emery, and gives the import- ant distinguishing characteristics. Worker: monomorphic. Head relatively large and angular; eyes enormous, very convex, covering one-half to three-quarters of the sides of the head; ocelli present; a deep, transverse groove behind the ocelli separates a prominent occipital bulge from the vertex ; the bulge shows a marked median depression. Clypeus produced and with a sinuate anterior border con- tinuing into rather sharp clypeal teeth laterally. Frontal area and epistomal suture distinct. Mandibles slightly longer than the head, approximated at their bases, narrow and almost straight, armed with long teeth evenly spaced along the medial border; the mandibular apex with two quite long, sharp teeth, the terminal one representing the recurved tip of the mandible ; between these two teeth two small denticles may be present. Maxillary palps 6-seg- mented; labial palps 4-segmented. Frontal carinae obso- lete. Antennal fossae remote from the epistomal suture; antennae filiform and composed of 12 segments. Thorax resembles that of Oecophylla; pronotum and epinotum prominent and convex, mesonotum depressed and 20 Text-figure 1. M yrmoleras karnyi sj). nov'. A. Profile of worker. B. Head of worker, dorsal view. 22 Psyche [March saddleshaped; mesonotal tubercles pronounced and their spiracular openings conspicuous. Petiole more or less pedunculate anteriorly and posteriorly, and provided with a thick, vertical scale. Tarsi long; tibiae more or less inflated. Gaster with five visible segments; sting absent; pore of formic acid gland surrounded by a circlet of small hairs. Female : resembles the worker ; winged. Anterior wing with the radial cell about equal to the cubital cell; a small discoidal cell. Male: smaller than the female. Head large, rounded posteriorly, and without transverse cephalic groove and occiptal bulge. Mandibles very short and rudimentary ; without teeth. Antennae with 13 articles. Eyes, clypeus and antennal insertions as in the worker. Thorax, petiole, gaster and wings as in the female. Geni- talia almost the same as in Prenolepis. Proventriculus provided anteriorly with a concave calyx, of which the sepals are thick, heavily chitinized, and reflected outwardly. Genotype: Myrmoteras binghami Forel, 1893. Burma ( ^ ). Two new species were described and much additional information about these ants was provided by Creighton, when in 1930 he wrote at considerable length concerning the feeding relationships and other aspects of their be- havior. He gave attention to the possibility of the pheno- menon of retrosalience (backward leaping) occurring in Myrmoteras. Such behavior has been observed in Odon- toynachus, Anochetus among the ponerines, and in Strumi- genys among the myrmicines. These genera, and also cer- tain others in the tribe Dacetini, such as Acanthognathus, Orectognathus, Mici^odaceto7i and Epitritus, according to Creighton, may be described as “trapjawed”. That is to say, they have elongated, narrow mandibles, articulated near the center of the anterior border of the head, and armed with various types of dentition. The mandibles when widely opened (extending in a plane at right angles to the long axis of the head), are operated by long trigger hairs attached either on the labrum or basal borders of the mandibles. These hairs when stimulated by appropriate 1954] Gregg — Distribution of Myrmoteras 23 prey cause the mandibles to snap shut, impaling small in- sects or other arthropods within their grasp. The closure is affected by powerful mandibular muscles, and the en- largement of these muscles has caused a protrusion and elongation of the occipital region of the head for their ac- commodation. The retrosalient behavior is attributed by Creighton to the effect of the mandibles snapping shut upon some object too hard and too large to be included in their bite. It is an ecological by-product, and he believes has no true functional significance in the lives of these ants. Field observations on Myrmoteras are extremely scant, and so far no one has seen the feeding activities or retro- salience in any of the species. It can only be inferred from the structure of the Myrmoteras head and jaws, and the presence of long trigger hairs, that the behavior is similar to that known to occur in the various other trap-jawed gen- era mentioned above. Wilson (1953) has recently added considerable interest- ing information about the feeding habits of North Ameri- can dacetine ants, and has confirmed the previously described hunting behavior of these ants in which the prey (Collembola and a few other arthropods) are caught by the convulsive snap of widely opened mandibles. Thus we appear to have some remarkable cases of con- vergence associated with trophic adaptations among ants. Two genera in the Ponerinae, a number of myrmicine genera, and one in the Formicinae have evolved indepen- dently food-seizing mechanisms of astonishing similarity, and these analogies are adequately described and illustrated in Creighton’s account. A fertile field of ecological and behavioristic studies is available for any myrmecologist with the opportunity to observe Myrmoteras in its natural habitat. The following is a description of a new species belong- ing to this genus. Myrmoteras karnyi sp. nov. Worker: Length 3.6 mm.; head index 0.92 Of the seven species heretofore recognized in the genus, Myrmoteras karnyi is most closely related to M. hinghami by virtue of possessing a frontal furrow and by the pres- 24 Psyche [March ence of cephalic striations or rugulae. Also, two minute denticles between the apical and the penultimate teeth constitute a further similarity. The lack of a furrow in harhowri and mjoebergi, as well as the nature of the head sculpture and the mandibular characters in these species, at once separate them from the new species. The forms with a frontal furrow, namely, hinghami, donisthorpei, tvilliamsi and bakeri, may all be distinguished from karnyi in various ways. In bakeri the dorsum of the head is en- tirely smooth, while in tvilliamsi it is entirely coriaceous or covered with a sculpture of minute and contiguous punctures, giving the surface a matte appearance. The frons and clypeus of donisthorpei and binghami, according to Creighton, are reticulo-striate, but in the latter species the striae are feebler and rather fragmented. The head of karnyi possesses striations also, but these are less wavy, being curved only where they pass around the antennal insertions, and furthermore, they are confined to the frons. In addition, karnyi differs from binghami in that the man- dibles each bear ten teeth (rather than nine), apart from the minute denticles between the two terminal teeth. The two basal teeth are themselves mere denticles, but never- theless distinct, and all teeth show a gradual increase in size outward toward the apex of the mandible. The clypeus presents lateral furrows or depressions separating an elevated median portion from the marginal flanges, and such a condition seems to be lacking from binghami. The thorax of karnyi also contrasts noticeably with that of binghami, for the pronotum in profile is higher and more convex, and the mesonotum is decidedly saddle-shaped and narrowed, recalling the condition in williamsi, with strong longitudinal rugae traversing it. The mesonotal spiracles are sizable openings and are raised on prominent tubercles. The epinotum is as high as the pronotum, very convex resembling in general appearance the same struc- ture in Myrmecocystus , and the angle between the basal and declivious faces is only weakly indicated. The petiole has short anterior and posterior peduncles, with a high, vertical scale, the front and rear surfaces of which slope slightly. The petiolar crest is flat but is inclined a little posteriorly and ventrally. 1954] Gregg — Distribution of Myrmoteras 25 Holotype: a, single worker in the collection of the Zoolo- gisch Museum en Laboratorium, Bogor (formerly Buiten- zorg), Indonesia. Type locality: Island of Sipora, in the Mentawai Arche- pelago off the west coast of Sumatra. The specimen was collected by H. H. Karny, ^22g, on October 31, 1924. The following key has been modified from Creighton (1930) and Wheeler (1933), and includes the diagnostic features for the eight known species of the genus. Key to the species of Myrmoteras 1. Frontal furrow well developed, extending back to the median ocellus 2 Frontal furrow absent or represented only by an ob- solete impression which does not extend beyond the anterior third of the head 6 2. Head opaque, completely coriaceous, except the occipital fold. Length 3.9 mm ivilliamsi Head smooth and shining; sculpture if present consist- ing of striae on the frons and clypeus 3 3. Head entirely smooth. Female : length 4 mm bakeri Frons, or frons and clypeus striate 4 4. Mandibles 14-toothed; denticles between apical and pen- ultimate teeth not well developed. Female: length 4.5 mm donisthorpei Mandibles 9 or 10-toothed; denticles between apical and penultimate teeth well developed 5 5. Mandibles 9-toothed; frons and clypeus striate. Length 5.3 mm binghami Mandibles 10-toothed; frons striate, clypeus smooth. Length 3.6 mm karnyi 6. Head completely smooth and very shining. Length 5- 5.6 mm mjoebergi Head subopaque, finely and feebly coriaceous 7 7. Mandibles with a pair of denticles between the apical and penultimate teeth ; meso- and epinotum opaque. Len^h 6 mm kemneri Mandibles without denticles between the apical and penultimate teeth ; meso- and epinotum shining. Length 6.9 mm barbouri 26 Psyche [March The genus Myrmoteras appears to belong to an archaic branch of the formicine subfamily, and according to Emery represents the relicts of an otherwise extinct group. The structure of the gizzard is obscure, though it is apparently primitive and not developed into the complicated mechan- ism found in the higher genera of the Formicinae. From Forel’s figure (reproduced in the Genera Insectorum), it can be seen that the sepals of the proventriculus are only slightly reflected over the anterior end of the bulb, and ap- pear to be similar to the condition observable in other primitive formicine genera (such as Anoplolepis, Plagio- lepis, Melophorus and Myrmelachista) which are also near to the base of the stem from where these genera and other formicines have arisen. Nevertheless, Myrmoteras and an allied genus, Myrmecorhynchus, are considered by Emery sufficiently aberrant to be placed in a separate section of the subfamily, and his decision is based upon the nature of the gizzard. But he states that the organ in Myrmecorhyn- chus is more like those of the primitive genera mentioned above, and that the proventriculus of Myrmoteras is per- haps transitional to the condition seen in the more advanced genera. The anatomy of the gastric valves in Myrmoteras are too poorly understood to allow an unequivocal phylogenetic placement of this genus, but whatever its eventual position, it is certain that these ants form a very unusual group. The most obvious facts in this connection are the elongate and sharply dentate mandibles, with trigger hair mech- anisms, the modification of the cephalic structure to ac- commodate the mandibular muscles, and the enormous eyes fitted with very numerous facets. These structural charac- ters are clearly associated with feeding habits, as can be ascertained from similar and convergently evolved morpho- logical traits in other ant genera. These interpretations, together with a probably parallel but subsidiary accompani- ment of the phenomenon of retrosalience, as deduced by Creighton, show that Myrmoteras, though undoubtedly archaic, has produced some very specialized structures and behavior associated with its nutritional requirements and feeding methods. The mixture of primitive and highly ad- vanced adaptive features is not peculiar to these ants, but 1954] Gregg — Distribution of Mijrmoteras 27 has turned up independently in diverse and unrelated taxo- nomic groups. It may be regarded as an indication of the resilience of the hereditary composition of living material, enabling the organism, through selection, to make neces- sary adjustments to, and exploitation of, the available habitats, irrespective of evolutionary primitiveness or specialization which the animal may show in regard to its closest relatives. Text-figure 2. Estimated distribiiticn of the genus M yrmoteras. Malay Peninsula, Philippines, Borneo, Java, and the Island of Sipora. Apart from the extraordinary adaptations displayed by Myrmoteras, we are also concerned with geographic dis- tribution of this group. The distribution suggests that of an ancient and perhaps once more widespread and flourish- ing genus. The modern representatives are few in number (8 species), and appear to be very rare as individuals even in their geographic headquarters, if we may judge from the paucity of material that has found its way into collec- tions. The group was present, presumably, during the Tertiary Period, but there is no fossil evidence to confirm this assumption. In his study of the ants preserved in 28 Psyche [Marc/. the Baltic Amber, Wheeler (1914) found that a number of Indomalayan genera and others which are tropicopolitan at the present time, had a much broader range, including northern Europe, during the Oligocene. However, Myrmo- teras was not among them. Such negative information cannot show that these ants had not yet evolved, and on the other hand the primitive nature of the genus is a strong argument in favor of its origin at least by the Eocene or perhaps in Cretaceous times. Its absence from the Baltic Amber is a matter of conjecture, for advanced formicine genera like Prenolepis, Lasius, Formica, and Camponotus are abundantly represented and should have evolved no earlier than Myrmoteras. In this connection it should be noted that Plagiolepis is represented by a number of amber species. Peculiarities of behavior could hardly have kept Myrmoteras out of the resin traps for a great many ants of diverse habits are known from the amber. It seems reasonable to conclude that either the species of Myrmo- teras were so rare (as they are today) that their chances of being preserved in fossil resin were drastically reduced, or that the range of the genus did not include the localities where amber was being formed. The latter possibility ap- peals to the writer to be much more probable. The present distribution of these insects is outlined briefly in the list below. The reader is referred also to the adjoining map. Myrmoteras bakeri Wheeler. Sandakan, Borneo — Type locality Myrmoteras binghami Forel. Thaungyin Valley, Tenas- serim, Burma — Type locality Myrmoteras barbouri Creighton. Singdanglalia, Java — Type locality Myrmoteras donisthorpei Wheeler. Mt. Matang, Sara- wak, Borneo — Type locality Myrmoteras mjoebergi Wheeler. Mt. Tibang, Dutch Bor- neo — Type locality Myrmoteras kemneri Wheeler. Tjibodas, Java — Type locality Myrmoteras karnyi Gregg. Sipora, Mentawai Islands — Type locality 1954 i Gregg — Distribution of Myrmoteras 29 Myrmoteras ivilliamsi Wheeler. Los Banos, Philippine Islands — Type locality; Dumaguete, Philippine Islands Dr. Brown informs me {in litt.) of an additional record of Myrmoteras taken from the island of Hainan (Ta Han, and collected by J. L. Gressitt), which thus considerably extends the known range of the genus. The specimen is a male, and has not been identified definitely with any of the known species. It may belong to donisthorpei, but until it can be associated with other castes, its determination is uncertain. The scarcity of these ants is readily apparent from the above list in that all but one are known only from the type localities, and very little material beyond the type speci- mens seems to be known. M. bakeri is represented by the female and male, donisthorpei by the female caste, bing- hami, barbouri, mjoebergi, kemneri, and karnyi by the worker caste, and ivilliamsi by worker, female, and male castes. Some of the differences among these species may seem rather slight, and might be interpreted as indicating sub- specific status. Wheeler thought 'this might be the case between barbouri and his new form kemneri, but in an ancient stock it appears more likely that the surviving species are relicts of a formerly broadly dispersed fauna, and a group in which the process of speciation had com- pletely sorted out and separated an array of forms rather than one which presented the early (subspecific) stages of differentiation. For this reason, the writer is inclined to the belief that the eight species or forms so far discovered will be confirmed as specifically distinct when more ex- tensive information is available. It will be noticed that the distribution map implies com- plete occupancy by Myrmoteras of Borneo, Java, the Philip- pines and the Malay Peninsula. This was done despite our fragmentary knowledge and the very limited actual locali- ties where the ants have been taken, because the genus if present on an island at all, probably exists at numerous stations. In addition, such relatively primitive ants may be holding on in the face of a more advanced fauna of higher formicines, in which case they would be expected to occur in the undisturbed forest areas rather than locations 30 Psyche [March subject to human interference, and when these forests are more thoroughly collected it seems certain many more specimens of Myrmoteras will come to light. The new species, karnyi, is from an island near the coast of Sumatra, consequently it is logical to suppose that the genus is repre- sented by this species or some other form native to this large island of the East Indies, especially since adjacent major islands, and Malay, possess the ants. However, in the absence of any records known to me from Sumatra, it is thought best to leave the island unshaded. Acknowledgement is due Dr. William L. Brown for the opportunity to describe and figure the specimen upon which the latest species of Myrmoteras is based. Dr. Creighton has also examined the specimen and I have had the benefit of his opinion in proposing the new form. Literature Chapman, J. W. and S. R. Capco. 1951. Check list of the ants of Asia. Monog. In.st. Sci. Tech., Manila, Monog. 1, 327 })p. Creighton, W. S. 1930. A review of the genus Myrmoteras. Jour. X. Y. Ent. 8oc., 38:177-192, 2 figs., 1 pi. Emery, C. 1925. Genera Insectorum. Ease. 183, Suhfain. Formicinae. Forel, a. 1893. >Tote preventive sur un nouveau genre et une nouvelle esjiece (le Forinicide. Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg.. 37:607-608. Wheeler, W. M. 1914. The ants of the Baltic Amber. Schrift. d. Physik.-bkonom. Gesell. Kenigsberg, 55:1-142. 1919. The ants of Boineo. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zook, 63:43-147. 1933. .\ new M yrm'.teras from Java. Pioc. New Englan I Zool. Club, 13:73-75. Wilson, E. O. 1953. The ecology of some North American dacetine ants. Ann. Ent. Soc. .\mer.. 46:479-495. THE BALTIC AMBER MECOPTERAi By F. M. Carpenter Harvard University The scorpion-flies and their relatives have a long and varied geological record. They are well represented in Permian and Mesozoic strata, which were formed when the order was more extensive than it is now, but poorly represented in Tertiary deposits. Even the Baltic amber, which has contributed enormously to our knowledge of Tertiary insects in general, has yielded very few Mecop- tera. Seven specimens, mentioned by Hagen and Pictet a century ago, constitute the only published record of the order in the amber. The nineteen specimens forming the basis of the present paper have been accumulated since 1931, when my inter- est in the Mecoptera was first aroused. All of these fossils, except for one belonging to the British Museum, are part of the Harvard collection of amber insects contained in the Museum of Comparative Zoology. - The seven species represented in the collection belong to the living families Panorpidae and Bittacidae. This is the oldest record of the Panorpidae but not of the Bit- tacidae, which have already been found in Eocene deposits (Green River). The amber species also belong to extant genera : Panorpodes, Panorpa and Bittacus. The occur- rence of the first of these is especially interesting since it now has a very restricted Asiatic distribution. Note- worthy, also, is the close similarity of these Oligocene Mecoptera to living species. This was observed by Hagen (1856), who pointed out that he had difficulty in distin- guishing one of the amber species of Bittacus from the European B. italicus. A comparable similarity between the ^Published with a grant from the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Haio'ard College. "A comparable collection of amber Xeuro}:)tera has also been ac- cimndated and will be considered in a sub.seciuent paper. 31 32 Psyche [March amber and extant faunas has previously been observed in most other insect families. Family Panorpidae Genus Panorpodes Panorpodes MacLachlan, 1875, Trans. Ent. Soc. London: 188. Electropanorpa Carpenter, 1931, Journ. N. Y. Ent. Soc., 39:409. This genus, which is known extant only in Japan and Korea, is represented in the Baltic amber by two species. The generic characteristics are distinctive and can clearly be seen in specimens of both species: a short rostrum, un- modified 7th and 8th abdominal segments of the male, and a definite pleural membrane on the 6th abdominal segment of the male. The occurrence of Panorpodes in the Baltic amber, remote from the regions which it now occupies, is noteworthy, for it adds another example of the presence of an existing Asiatic genus in the Baltic region during the Tertiary. The genus Electropanorpa, which I erected for Panorpa brevicauda Hagen, now seems to me to be inseparable from Panorpodes. Panorpodes brevicauda (Hagen) (Figure 1) Panorpa brevicauda Hagen, 1856, in Berendt’s Bernstein befindl. organ. Reste Vorw., 2(1) :91; pi. 8, fig. 21. Electropanorpa brevicauda Carpenter, 1931, Journ. N. Y. Ent. Soc., 39:409. Fore wing: length, 11.5-13 mm.; width, 3.5-4 mm.; length of rostrum, 2 mm. Body generally dark brown ; wings slightly yellowish, but clear and without maculations ; venation as in Panorpodes, R1 being posteriorly curved just below the end of Sc; male genital bulb globular, not slender as in paradoxa; forceps also are more slender than those of paradoxa ; hypovalvae extending only to about the base of the forceps. The dorsal surface of the genital bulb in not visible in any of the specimens which I have seen. 1954] Carpenter — Amber Mecoptera 33 The collection at hand contains three males of this in- sect, all more or less complete (M.C.Z. nos. 5103, 5104, 5105). Hagen based his description of the species on two specimens, one well-preserved male, and the other a frag- mentary specimen consisting mainly of the wings. Figure 1. Panorpodes brevicauda (Hagen). A, Front view of head; B, fore wing; C, genital bulb of male. All drawing.s based on specimen no. 5103, M.C.Z. Hagen’s assignment of brevicauda to Panorpa is not surprising, since at that time (1856) the only two living genera known in the Panorpidae were Panorpa and Choris- ta. That Hagen was aware of the peculiarities of the ab- domen is clear from his account and from the meaning of the specific name which he used. In my 1931 paper, I called attention to the affinities of brevicauda with the species of Panorpodes, but concluded from Hagen’s figured specimen that the radial sector and media of brevicauda had six and five branches respectively, more than is found in living panorpid genera. The additional specimens of brevicauda now at hand show that this is not consistently so: the radial sector has six branches in one specimen, five in another, and four in the third; the media has four branches in all specimens. Panorpodes hageni, n. sp. Fore wing: length, 13.5 mm., width, 4 mm.; length of rostrum, 2 mm. Body generally dark brown ; wings uni- formly dark brown from base to apex, with three trans- verse hyaline bands and a few hyaline spots distally ; vena- tion as in brevicauda; the genital bulb has the same form 34 Psyche [March as that of brevicauda, but details cannot be discerned be- cause of debris covering part of the body. Holotype: No. 5106, M.C.Z.; Baltic amber collection; this consists of a complete male. The generic position of this insect is shown by the structure of the sixth and seventh abdominal segments and the short beak. It is separated from brevicauda on the distinctive wing-markings, the wing being essentially dark brown, with hyaline bands. The markings of Panorpa trizonata are similar, but include more hyaline areas than these of hageni. The wing-markings of the living Panor- podes paradoxa show great variability, which has caused at least six synonymous species to be established (apicalis, decorata, notata, etc.) ; but even the most heavily marked individuals do not approach the specim.en on which hageni is based. Genus Panorpa Payiorpa Linne, 1758, Syst. Nat., 10:551. The Baltic amber collection includes two species of this genus; a third species may be present, but the specimen (no. 5110) is too poor to permit description. The occur- rence of Panorpa in the amber is not at all surprising, for it is now the dominant genus of the order Mecoptera, with a very wide distribution. Three species of the genus have been described from mid-Tertiary deposits of Europe and North America, but their reference to Panorpa is not necessarily correct, since only their wings are known. The Baltic amber specimens show clearly the head and ab- dominal structures peculiar to the genus. Panorpa obsoleta, n. sp. (Figures 2 A and 4A) Fore wing: length 12 mm.; width, 3 mm.; length of rostrum, 3 mm. Body generally light brown ; wings with light yellowish membrane and gray-brown maculations; apical band complete; pterostigmal band reduced to an elongate oblique spot; basal band reduced to two large spots; in the type specimen, Rs has five branches, M, four; 7th and 8th abdominal segments short (fig. 4A), genital bulb rounded, hypovalvae extending to just beyond the 1954] Carpenter — Amber Mecoptera 35 base of the forceps, details of which are not discernible in the fossil; hypovalvae broad, resembling those of the living Japanese species, Panorpa pryeri McL. Holotype: No. 5107, M.C.Z., Baltic amber collection. This is a whole specimen ( c? ) , though parts of the body and wings are obscured by opaque amber. The wing-markings of this insect, especially the form of the pterostigmal band, are very distinctive. Figure 2. A, Hind wing of Panorpa ohsoleta, n. s]). (holotype); B, fore wing of Panorpa mortua, n. 8p. (holotv})e). Fore wing : length, 14.5 mm. ; width, 4 mm. ; length of rostrum, 3 mm. Body generally dark brown, almost black ; wing with hyaline membrane and very dark brown or nearly black markings, resembling those of the Japanese P. klugi McL. ; apical band complete ; pterostigmal band complete or nearly so: basal band broad and extensive, al- most touching the pterostigmal band ; first and second basal spots apparently fused ; in the type specimen Rs has five branches and M, four; abdomen with the characteristic form of the genus; the shape of the subgenital plate not discernible. Holotype: No. 5108, M.C.Z., Baltic amber collection; this is a whole and very well preserved specimen ( 9 ) . There are two other females of the species in the amber collec- Panorpa mortua, n. sp. 36 Psyche tion (nos. 5109 and 5119), with similar dimensions and wing markings. Family Bittacidae Genus Bittacus Latr. Bittacus Latreille, 1805, Hist. Crust. Ins., 8:20. Electrohittacus Carpenter, 1931, Journ. N. Y. Ent. Soc., 39:410. This is a very widely distributed genus at present, al- though it includes only about fifty species. The amber collection contains the three-^ species described below; a fourth species is also present but is not being described because of the fragmentary nature of the single speci- men which represents it. The occurrence of this number of species is striking, since only two species now exist in all of Europe; it substantiates evidence provided by other fossils that the family Bittacidae was more extensively developed during early Tertiary times than at present. An additional point of interest about the amber Bittacus is the small size of certain species. The wing expanse of most living members of. genus is at least 34 mm., although in a few species, such as B. apicalis, it may be 30 mm. One of the amber species described below (minimus) has a wing expanse of 24 mm., and is, I believe, the smallest species of the genus known. Bittacus fossilis, n. sp. (Figures 3A and 4B) Bittacus antiquus Hagen, 1856, in Berendt’s Bernstein Befindl. organ. Reste Vorw., 2(1) :92; pi. 8, fig. 22 (nec Bittacus antiquus Pictet, 1854, Traite PaleontoL, :379; pi. 40, fig. 26). Fore wing: length, 14.5-16 mm.; width, 3. 3-3. 8 mm.; body light brown; wings uniformly light brown, except for pterostigma, which is slightly darker; no wing mark- ings; venation and wing shape as in figure 3A; a single pterostigmal cross-vein; cubital cross-vein below first fork ^This figure does not include B. valid us Hagen, which, as I have previously pointed out (1931), can on’y douhtfully be assigned to the Mecoptera. 1954] Carpenter — Amber Mecoptera 37 of M; no anal cross-vein. Male genitalia as in figure 4B; the copulobi (cl) with deeply incised margins dorsally, forming a posterior lobe; paraprocts (pr) large; spiral filament (sf) forming only part of a single loop, much as in apicalis. Figure 3. A, Fore wing of Bittacus jossilis, n. sp. (liolotype) ; B, fore wing of Bittacus succinus, n. sp. (holotype). There are four amber specimens which I am identifying as this insect: No. 5117, a complete male (fore wing, 15.5 mm. long), with virtually all body structures preserved, including genitalia; No. 5118, a female (fore wing, 15 mm. long), complete except for one pair of wings; No. 5111, a female (fore wing, 16 mm. long), complete except for one pair of wings. I am convinced that this is the species of which Hagen had four specimens (females) and which he discussed under the name of Bittacus antiquus Pictet. The latter was first technically described by Pictet in 1854 (p. 379; pi. 40, fig. 26) from a single, poorly preserved specimen. Hagen reproduced Pictet’s original figure and added one of his own (pi. 8, fig. 22). The most notable aspect of Pictet’s drawing is the very short beak (much like that of Panorpodes) ; it was this characteristic that induced me to establish the genus Electrobittacus for antiquus in 1931. Hagen expressed doubt about Pictet’s representa- tion of the head, but did not state what his specimens showed in this respect. Significant, also, is Pictet’s draw- 38 Psyche [March ing of the whole insect, depicting a form of wing entirely foreign to the bittacids, but similar to that of most Trichop- tera. Hagen’s drawing of the wing of one of his speci- mens, however, is that of a typical Bittacus and agrees in venation and size with the wings of a species in the Harv- ard collection. Since none of the bittacids in this collec- tion has a short beak or a wing-form like that shown in Pictet’s figure, I believe that the four specimens which Hagen identified as antiquus were not that species. I also believe that Pictet’s type specimen of antiquus is not a true bittacid; it may have been a trichopteron, but since its identity is very uncertain, I propose that antiquus, which now carries the generic name Electrohittacus, be considered a nomen duhium. The species which Hagen pre- sumably had is described here as fossilis. Figuie 4. A. Seventh an l eighth al) lominal segments and genital bulb of Panorpa obsolcta, n. sp. ( ^ , holotyjie) ; B. terminal part of abdomen of Bittacua fossilis holotype) ; C, terminal part of abdomen of Bittacus succinus, n. s]>. ( ^ , holotyi)e) ; D, terminal part of abdomen of Bittacus )niuimus, n. sp. ( ^ . holotype). 1954j Carpenter — Amber Mecoptera 39 Bittacus minimus, n. sp. (Figure 4D) Fore wing: length, 11.5-13 mm.; width, 3 mm.; body light brown; wings uniformly light brown, much as in antiquus; no wing-markings ; venation as in fossilis, with a single pterostigmal cross-vein ; cubital cross-vein below first fork of M; no anal cross-vein. Male genitalia as in figure 4D; copulobi short, without a dorsal incision, broad basally; paraprocts apparently small (not clearly pre- served) ; spiral filament small, forming only part of a single loop. Holotype: No. 5113, M.C.Z., Baltic amber collection; a nearly complete male, clear dorsally but cloudy ventrally; length of fore wing, 13 mm. In addition to the type, there are three females in the Harvard collection which I believe belong here: No. 5114, a complete and well preserved female, with a wing length of 13.5 mm.; No. 5116, another complete female, with a wing length of 11.5 mm.; and No. 5115, an exceptionally well preserved female, with a wing length of 11.5 mm. There is also a nearly complete female, apparently this species, in the amber collection of the British Museum (No. IN 18855) ; it has a wing length of 13 mm.'^ The male on which this species is based is readily dis- tinguished from that of fossilis by the different form of the copulobi; but the wings of the two species show no differences, in either venation or form. On the basis of the material at hand, however, I consider minimus to be the smaller of the two and I have placed the above-men- tioned females here on that basis. Bittacus succinus, n. sp. (Figures 3B and 4C) Fore wing: length, 17 mm.; width, 5 mm.; body and wings light brown; distal part of wings with nebulous dark areas ; venation as in figure 3B ; two pterostigmal cross-veins; cubital cross-vein below fork of M; no anal "*1 am indebted to the authorities of the British Museum for the loan of this specimen. 40 Psyche [March cross-vein. Male genitalia as in figure 4C ; copulobi long, narrowed at base, abruptly indented; paraprocts relatively small, not projecting beyond copulobi; spiral filament ap- parently forming an incomplete loop. Holotype: No. 5112, M.C.Z., Baltic amber collection; a complete male. This is a very distinctive species, larger than the two preceding ones and readily recognized by the two pterostig- mal cross-veins. CAMBRIDGE ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB A regular meeting of the Club is held on the second Tues- day of each month (July, August and September, excepted) at 8:00 p.m. in Room B-455, Biological Laboratories, Divin- ity Ave., Cambridge. Entomologists visiting Boston are cordially invited to attend. BACK VOLUMES OF PSYCHE The Cambridge Entomological Club is able to offer for sale the following volumes of Psyche. Those not mentioned are entirely out 6f print. Volumes 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, each covering a period of three years, $5.00 each. Volumes 10, 12, 14, 17, each covering a single year, $1.00 each. Volumes 18 to 26, each covering a single year, $1.50 each. Volumes 27 to 53, each covering a single year, $2.00. Volumes 54 to 60, each covering a single year, $3.00. Orders for 2 or more volumes subject to a discount of lOfr. Orders for 10 or more volumes subject to a discount of 209^. All orders should be addressed to F. M. Carpenter, Editor of Psyche, Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. FOR SALE Classification of Insects, by C. T. Brues, A. L. Melander and F. M. Carpenter. Published in March, 1954, as vol- ume 108 of the Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, with 917 pages and 1219 figures. It consists of keys to the living and extinct families of insects, and to the living families of other terrestrial arthropods; and in- cludes 270 pages of bibliographic references and an index of 76 pages. Price $9.00 (cloth bound and postpaid). Send orders to Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard Col- lege, Cambridge 38, Mass. PSYCHE A JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY Established in 1874 Vol. 61 June, 1954 No. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Studies on the Habits and Distribution of Cryptocerus texanus Santschi (Hymenoptera; Formicidae). W. S. Creighton and R. E. Gregg . '41 Transporting Live Hippoboscids (Diptera). I. B. Tarshis . . . . . .58 A Large Bombus Nest from Mexico. C. D. Michener and W. E. LaBerge New Synonymy of an Australian Iridomyrmex (Hymenoptera; Formicidae). W. L. Brown, Jr 67 The Indo- Australian Species of the Ant Genus Strumigenys Fr. Smith : S. chapmani New Species. W. L. Brown, Jr 68 Tabanidae of New Hampshire. R. L. Blickle 74 CAMBRIDGE ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB ^ Officers for 1953-54 President . . W. L. Brown, Jr. Vice-President . . S. K. Harris . E. 0. Wilson Secretary . F. M. Carpenter Treasurer . j . . . J. C. Bequaert Executive Committee 1 . . . A. G. Humes EDITORIAL BOARD OF PSYCHE F. M. Carpenter — EDITOR C. T. Brues p. J. Darlington, Jr. J. Bequaert PSYCHE is published year payable advance: $3.00 to subscribers and December. other subscriptions $3.35. Single copies, 85 cents, in the united St^es and Treasurer, Cambridge Entomological ClS."‘SSo"g?ca[\aboratori address, etc.. sh?ifd'L^senrto^ tie Edfiiorial Office of Psyche. Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. IMPORTANT NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS of ‘yf f “te “borne" b/'con'SlbutoS' tbf «pen« for 'rauffrom Unf d?aiS“s”f ap?^rox.mate,/ $8.00 each, and for full page half-tones, $10.00 each; smaller sizes in proportion. AUTHOR’S SEPARATES thfKSirp?o'o,?'Srre”cirve^dSrio?re7tl^^^^^ by the Editor on application. The March, 1954, Psyche (VoL 61, No. 1) was mailed June 30, 1954 EATON PRESS INC., WATERTOWN, MASS. PSYCHE Vol. 61 June, 1954 No. 2 STUDIES ON THE HABITS AND DISTRIBUTION OF CRYPTOCERUS TEXANUS SANTSCHI (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) By W. S. Creighton, City College, New York and R. E. Gregg, University of Colorado In recent years Dr. M. R. Smith (1,2) and Fr. W. W. Kempf (3,4) have published papers on the genus Cryp- tocerusK These studies deal primarily with taxonomy and do not supply many data on the habits of the ants of this genus. The habits of Cryptocerus texanus, the only mem- ber of the group whose occurrence in the United States can be regarded as abundant, thus remain largely unknown. From the fall of 1951 to the spring of 1953 the senior author took twenty colonies of C. texanus in southern Texas and northeastern Mexico^. Three of these colonies were studied in artificial nests for several weeks and later three more colonies were sent to the junior author for further observation. One of this second group of colonies was still alive a year afterwards when this paper was sent to press. The habits recorded here were largely deter- mined from studies made on these six colonies. 'The writers have appealed to the International Commission on Zo- ological Nomenclature to have Emery’s use of the generic names Ceph- alotes and Cryptocerus sustained. Until a decision has been handed down we prefer to use Emery’s system. The name changes advocated by Dr. Smith have already caused regrettable confusion in this group. ^Fieldwork done on a Guggenheim Fellowship. 41 42 Psyche [June Before discussing these studies it seems advisable to present certain general observations on Cryptocerus tex- anus. In the paper which Dr. M. R. Smith published on texanus in 1947(1) seventeen stations were listed. Only six of these carried notations as to the nest site of the Figure 1. Cryptocerus texanus: a, lateral view of the head of the major; b, sculpture of the cephalic disc on the head of the major, showing the rectangular, silvery, longitudinally grooved hair in each foveola. Figure 1, a, is drawn to a scale twdce that of plates 3 and 4. colony. Of these six only one referred to a nest in a live- oak tree. On the basis of the above data it would be unlike- ly for anyone to conclude that texanus prefers to nest in live-oaks. Nevertheless, this appears to be the case. Pre- sented below is a list of trees in which texanus has been found nesting. This is a composite of the data publi^ed by Dr. Smith and those more recently secured by the senior author. In two cases the information reported by Dr. Smith 1954] Creighton and Gregg — Cryptocerus texanus 43 has been interpreted on the basis of probability so that it fits into the list. Thus his nest reported from “persim- mon” has been assigned to Brayodendron and that said to have come from a “live-oak” has been allocated to Q. virginiana. 1. Quercus virginiana (live-oak) 14 colonies 2. Quercus fusiformis (live-oak) 3 colonies 3. Quercus stellata (deciduous oak) 2 colonies 4. Zygia flexicaidis (Texas ebony) 3 colonies 5. Brayodendron texanum (Mexican persimmon) 2 col- onies 6. Xanthoxylum clava-herculis (prickly ash) 1 colony 7. Celtis pallida (hackberry) 1 colony 8. Prosopis jidiflora (mesquite) 1 colony Of the twenty-seven colonies listed above seventeen (63%) came from live-oaks. It thus appears that texanus definitely prefers to nest in live-oaks, although it is suffi- ciently flexible in its nesting habits to accept other trees as well. The size of the colony and the number of dealated queens present are also matters of interest. Four of the colonies taken by the senior author were plainly fragmentary and these have been omitted from the list below. Female Major Media & Total Station Minor 1. 1 8 22 31 Lapara Creek, Texas 2. 6 10 73 89 n jj 3) 3. 1 19 56 76 ?3 33 33 4. 3 12 52 69 >3 33 V 5. 5 25 61 91 Hochheim, Texas 6. 2 13 37 52 7. 2 6 53 61 Floresville, Texas 8. 1 17 53 71 Gambel Creek, Texas 9. 22 13 115 150 Sealy, Texas 10. 5 18 55 78 Iturbide Canyon, Nuevo Leon 11. 3 8 25 36 33 33 33 33 12. 0 46 186 232 33 33 35 33 13. 0 9 28 37 33 .3 33 33 14. 1 8 31 40 El Pastor, Nuevo Leon 15. 7 10 32 49 Belmont, Texas 16. 2 1 26 29 ” 44 Psyche [June Two facts are shown by the above figures. The colonies of texanus are always small and they are often pleometro- tic. It may be stated that most of the above colonies came from separate trees. The chance that a colony of texanus may be polydomus was constantly kept in mind. Hence colonies taken in closely adjacent limbs or at separated intervals in the same limb were treated as parts of a single nest. It may be, therefore, that the relatively large totals in colonies 9 and 12 represent more than a single colony. The outstanding point of interest in the biology of texanus is the possibility that the major may serve in a phragmotic capacity. A good deal of what has been said on this subject seems to have been published without much idea of certain structural features which are involved. In order to make these features clear the junior author has prepared figures of the female, major and minor of Cryp- tocerus texanus (Pis. 3 and 4; text-figs. 1 and 2). Refer- ence to these figures will show that the prominent cephalic disc present in the female and major of texanus, does not cover all of the upper surface of the head. Projecting rear- ward beyond this disc are two conspicuous occipital angles. Although these angles lie below the level of the rim of the disc they cannot be disregarded for they, and not the rounded posterior rim of the cephalic disc, determine the size of the aperture into which the head can be thrust. Behind these occipital angles stand the even more prom- inent humeral angles of the thorax. In the figure of the major considerations of perspective have made it neces- sary to show these angles as wider than the head, for the latter lies below and in front of them. But, even disre- garding the matter of perspective, the maximum width of the dorsum of the thorax at the humeral angles equals or slightly exceeds the maximum diameter of the cephalic disc. It follows that the thorax of the major and the female of texanus (at least at the humeri) is fully as wide as the head and often a little wider than the head. It further follows that the diameter of a passage which the texanus major can occlude is determined as much by the width of the prothorax as it is by the size and shape of the cephalic disc. The failure of previous investigators to grasp this fact has been the cause of confusion in the past. 1954] Cr'eighton and Gregg — Cryptocerus texanus 45 The first person to suggest a phragmotic function for the major of Cryptocerus appears to have been W. M. Wheeler. In 1905 (5) Wheeler stated that the nest entrance of sev- eral colonies of Cryptocerus varians, which he had found in hollow twigs in the Bahamas, was always exactly the size and shape of the cephalic disc of the major. Wheeler made no claim that the major blocks the nest entrance with its head, but the implication that it does so was clear and this seems to have been the basis for later views expressed by Wheeler in 1910 (6) and by Emery in 1922 (7) that the major of Cryptocerus is probably phragmotic. But no Figure 2. Dorsal view of the head of the minor of Cryptocerus texmius. Drawn to the same scale as figure 1, a. positive statement was made on this point until 1942. In that year a posthumous paper by Wheeler (8) which had been prepared for publication by Dr. Joseph Bequaert, definitely made such a claim in the case of Cryptocerus pallens (the variety porrasi) and C. setidifer. The state- ment concerning pallens is as follows : “Its habits are similar to those of Colobopsis. The ellip- tical nest entrance is guarded by one of the soldiers which occludes the orifice with its disc-shaped cephalic disc just as the Colobopsis soldier uses the truncated anterior sur- 46 Psyche [June face of the head for the same purpose. The cephalic disc in old soldiers and in the mother queen of the colony often becomes coated with dirt and extraneous particles so that it closely resembles the bark of the plant.” The most recent note on the phragmosis of Cryptocems is that which Kempf published in 1952 (4). Kempf’s single observation on Cryptocerus macidatus failed to show the behavior cited by Wheeler. It was not until Kempf had enlarged the small nest entrance that any majors were seen. These majors, which were well inside the nest, then tried to occlude the passage which Kempf had opened up by standing “side on side”. Kempf recalled that a similar compound shield, consisting of the approximated heads of several minor workers, was reported for a colony of Ceph- alotes atratus by Santschi in 1919 (9). The date of this publication is incorrectly given by Kempf as 1929. Kempf was clearly aware that neither Santschi’s observation on atratus nor his own on maculatus are comparable to Wheeler’s statement of the phragmosis of the major of pallens. But the writers agree with Kempf that clarifica- tion is needed in the case of Wheeler’s 1942 statement. The major of Cryptocerus is undoubtedly phragmotic, but it is misleading to say that it behaves just as does the Colobop- sis major. The notable differences which mark the reac- tion of the Cryptocerus major are discussed in the follow- ing pages. The junior author’s colonies were housed in the modi- fied Janet nests used in earlier studies on Pheidole (10). These nests gave little opportunity for studying the phrag- mosis of texanus, since they lacked restricting passages. In order to study this response two other types of nests were used, both of very simple construction. The first con- sisted of two glass vials with the bottoms removed. These vials were held together by a cork, which was forced into the neck of each vial until the two rims touched. On one side of this cork a groove was cut which approximated the size and shape of the cephalic disc of the major as closely as possible. The open end of each vial was plugged with cotton after the colony was installed. The second type of nest was a small, plaster one, cast over a microscope slide. 1954] Creighton and Gregg — Cryptocerus texanus 47 After the plaster hardened the slide was removed and suitable chambers and passages were cut in the plaster. The slide was then put back in place and held in position with rubber bands. In both these nests the action of the major in the passages could be easily observed and the passages could be enlarged when necessary. Figure 3. a, lateral view of the major of Cryptocerus texanus in the phragmotic position in a hollow twig; b, cephalic disc of above maji^r seen in full-face view. It soon became apparent that if the passages were made to fit the cephalic disc of the major closely, this caste would not enter them at all. Since the medias and minors would use such passages freely there was no reason to suppose that an3Tthing other than the size of the passage determined the refusal of the majors to use them. When such passages were enlarged the majors used them without hesitation. But this behavior indicated that the major of texanus can- not or will not go into a passage whose size and shape closely approximates that of the cephalic disc. The reason for this appears to lie in the fact that the major of texanus occludes the nest opening not only with the cephalic disc 48 Psyche [June but with the humeri of the thorax as well. The head of the major of texanus can be lowered until its long axis is at right angles to the long axis of the rest of the body. Al- though many majors die in this position it is rarely as- sumed by the living insect, presumably because in such a posture the anterior edge of the head is so far below the level of the coxae that the insect would have to stand on tiptoe to keep the mandibles clear of the substrate. Con- versely, the head of the major can be raised until its long axis is parallel to that of the rest of the body. Under such circumstances the rim of the cephalic disc lies at the same level as the dorsum of the thorax. But in this position the head of the major does not occlude the passage for there is then a considerable space below the ventral surface of the head. To occlude the passage the major must lower the head until its anterior edge is on or near the floor of the passage. But when the head of the major is in this position, with its long axis forming an angle of approxi- mately 120° with the long axis of the rest of the body, the posterior rim of the cephalic disc is well below the level of the humeral angles. Thus if a major of texanus is to occlude a passage, this passage must be large enough to accommodate not only the cephalic disc but also the humeral angles above and behind it. For if the head is lowered enough to form an effective barrier there is no way in which the humeral angles can be brought down to the level of the posterior rim of the cephalic disc. It would appear, therefore, that it is physically impossible for the major of texanus to occlude a passage whose size closely approxi- mates that of the cephalic disc. It may be readily appreciated that the situation just de- scribed is wholly different from that which marks the major of Colobopsis. In the cork-shaped head of the major of Colobopsis maximum occlusion occurs when the long axis of the head is parallel to that of the rest of the body. In this position the truncated anterior face of the head is presented to the exterior. Since the diameter of this truncated portion exceeds that of any other part of the Explanation of Plate 3 Cryptocerus texanus, dorsal view of the major. Psyche, 1954 VoL. 61, Plate 3 Creighton and Gregg — Cryptocerus texanus 50 Psyche [June insect, it follows that the head of the Colobopsis major can be thrust into close-fitting apertures without putting the rest of the insect into an impossible posture. We may now consider the method by which minors of texanus are admitted to the nest. When the guarding major has assumed the phragmotic position the lower rim of the head usually projects slightly beyond the edge of the nest entrance. The antennae are held at either side of the cephalic disc and are clearly visible from the outside. The returning minor may or may not touch the antennae of the guard, although it usually does so. Thereafter the guard crouches down. This brings the anterior rim of the head below the level of the fioor of the passage or, if the guard stands completely inside the passage, the front of the head is raised as the guard crouches. The dorsum of the guard’s thorax is now no longer close to the roof of the passage and the minor can, if it is sufficiently active, wriggle be- tween the dorsum of the thorax and the roof of the pass- age. This action is seldom completed without considerable struggle on the part of the entering minor and at times the major will cease to crouch before the minor has gone through and pin the minor between its thoracic dorsum and the roof of the passage. The senior author has seen minors thus trapped who, perforce, remained in this awk- ward position for several minutes until the major would crouch again and release them. If the passageways are made large enough to accomodate two majors simultaneous- ly, they ordinarily assume a position where they are back to back. Under such circumstances the two opposed ceph- alic discs form a V-shaped area. The bottom of this V is open but the space behind it is closed by the closely ap- proximated thoracic dorsi of the two guards. When minors are admitted to the nest both majors crouch and the enter- ing worker struggles through the narrow space between the thoraces of the guards. It seems scarcely necessary to state that there is no part of this behavior which at all resembles that of the Colobopsis major, which must back away from the nest entrance to admit the returning minor. Explanation of Plate 4 Cryptocei'Uf^ texanusi, dorsal view of dealated female. Psyche, 1954 VoL. 61, Plate 4 (/Kkk;hton and Gregg — Cryptocerus texanus 52 Psyche [June Two other habits of the major of texanus may be men- tioned. It should be apparent that when a major is in a closely confining passage its head has much the position of the blade of a snowplow. The concave surface of the cephalic disc slopes forward and downward and its lower rim is close to the floor of the passage. When a major moves forward along a passage any minors which are in it are pushed ahead of the advancing major unless they are active enough to force their way between the thoracic dorsum of the major and the roof of the passage. This sometimes leads to rather surprising results for workers clustered within the nest entrance may be suddenly ejected from the nest by the advancing major. Before assuming its phragmotic position the major often comes out of the nest entirely. After exploring the area immediately around the entrance it backs into the passage. This is never true of minors who always go through the nest entrance head first. Much remains to be learned about the feeding habits of texanus. In 1947 M. R. Smith published the statement that our species of Crypto.cerus feed “largely on honey dew or the flesh of small arthropods” (2) . This may be true but the writers were unable to discover any food for which the captive colonies showed much relish. They refused mealworms and termites, even when the latter were torn open to expose the tissues. High protein foods such as peanut butter and cheese were also refused. This would seem to indicate a distaste for a protein diet but other observations contradict such a view. While the ants re- fused pure honey they accepted honey mixed with egg yolk. In one instance an injured female was accidentally included when a colony was installed in an artificial nest. The gaster of this female had been broken open and her own workers promptly proceeded to eviscerate her. The gastric contents were completely cleaned out in a few hours. This action may have been due to some improper condition in the artificial nest and the food in this case can scarcely be the regular dietary staple of the insects. Yet it can be stated that was the only instance where the workers seemed at all interested in what they were eating. Other foods which were refused were pears, apples and 1954] Creighton and Gregg — Cryptocerus texanus 53 jelly. Bananas were accepted by some colonies but rejected by others. The most generally acceptable food seemed to be maple syrup. This suggests that the insects may pos- sibly feed on the sap of the trees in which they live. If this is the case it is probable that such a diet is augmented by other food, for the workers of texanus forage on the surface of the ground, which they would scarcely do if the diet was entirely confined to sap. Whatever the natural food of texanus may be it seems certain that it is not sticky. Both writers found that it was inadvisable to leave sticky food in the nest for any length of time, since a num- ber of minors were certain to get caught in it. The other workers make no effort to free their trapped nestmates, who ultimately die. To judge from the captive colonies these ants are very sluggish in their nests. They often pack themselves to- gether in a nest chamber or passage and remain immobile for hours. If disturbed both majors and minors may open their mandibles and keep them open. This is a preliminary to an attack on any intruder. When living termites were placed in the captive nests they were immediately attacked by both majors and minors. The attack was made with the open jaws of the attackers held close to the floor of the nest. As a result the termites suffered very little dam- age to any parts except their legs. These were rapidly cut off, but once the termites had been immobilized no further attention was paid to them. The female of texanus lays a comparatively large egg and has considerable difficulty in doing so. The egg, which is from 1.3 to 1.5 mm. in length and about 0.5 mm. in diameter, is cylindrical with rounded ends. The senior author twice observed the process of egg-laying in this species. In both cases the egg was about one-quarter of its length out of the end of the gaster when first observed. Its extrusion was not a continuous process but proceeded by a series of slight motions which occurred at intervals. The entire process consumed about ten minutes. On one occasion the partially extruded egg was seized by a worker who pulled on it with sufficient force to haul the female backward without, however, releasing the egg from the gaster. Since only two instances of egg-laying were ob- 54 Psyche [June served the writers are not sure that the process described above is normal for texanus. But it should be remembered that the gaster of the texanus female is heavily sclerotized and because of this a large egg should be difficult to eject. Brood is tended by both minors and majors who, despite their clumsy heads, handle the eggs and young larvae with surprising gentleness. The distribution of texanus is unusually interesting, since it is one of the few cephalotine ants which live out- side the tropics. The structural relationship of texanus to certain Neotropical species is close but, because of the lack of records from northeastern Mexico, the spatial relation of texanus to the more southern species has been con- jectural. In the following pages the writers have discussed the distribution of texanus and that of several other cephalotines which occur in eastern Mexico. The northern range of the latter species seldom agrees with the data published by Kempf in 1951 (3) and 1952 (4). In his important work with the cephalotine ants Kempf has been hampered by lack of adequate records from Mexico. This is particularly true of the region north of Mexico City, where the ranges of several Neotropical species terminate. Kempf cannot be blamed for the absence of records from this area but his attempt to supply distribution data from specimens intercepted at plant quarantine stations is far from satisfactory. Kempf’s citation of Guerrero, Coahuila as a possible source of specimens of C. minutus, inter- cepted on orchids and labelled only "‘Guerrero” is a case in point. Guerrero, Coahuila lies four hundred miles outside .the northern limit of the range of C, minutics. Moreover, the village is situated in a very arid part of the Rio Grande Valley where the ants are strictly xerophilous. That min- utus could occur there is out of the question. Most of the colonies of texanus secured by the senior author came from the area outlined by M. R. Smith in his 1947 publication. They were taken in what may be called the Brownsville-San Antonio-Houston triangle. The rec- ord from Sealy extends the known range of texanus about twenty-five miles to the east of its former limit (Colum- bus, Texas) but this extension is negligible and we agree with Dr. Smith that it is unlikely that texanus occurs east 55 1954] Creighton and Gregg — Cryptocerus texanus of Texas. On the other hand the records from Nuevo Leon are a significant southern extension of the range. It may be recalled that Dr. Smith had specimens of texanus which came from Mexico but the source of these specimens was unknown. It is now clear that texanus occurs in the foot- hills of the Sierra Madre Oriental at least as far south as the latitude of Linares (24° 40') . Of the five colonies taken in Nuevo Leon, one came from El Pastor, a small village west of Montemorelos, and the remaining four from Itur- bide Canyon, west of Linares. In this area the ant nests at elevations about the 2300 foot level, a considerable ele- vational rise over the stations in southern Texas, none of which were more than a few hundred feet above sea-level. In addition to texanus the following cephalotine ants were taken in eastern Mexico: Procryptocerus scabriuseulus Em. Cryptocerus scutellatus Sm. Cryptocerus cristatus Em.^ C. {Paracryptocerus) minutus Em. Because of the lack of reliable records from eastern Mexico a list of the localities where these species were taken is presented here: San Luis Potosi: Tamazunchale (600-800') five colonies of C. {Paracrypto- cerus) minutus; one colony of C. scutellatus; Xilitla Ferry (200') 22 miles north of Tamazunchale, one col- ony of C. {Paracryptocerus) minutus; Xilitla (1800') one colony of C, {Paracryptocerus) minutus, one colony of Procryptocerus scabriuseulus; 3 miles east of Xilitla (2000') one colony of Cryptocerus cristatus; Axtla (200') 23 miles northeast of Tamazunchale, one colony of Cryptocerus scutellatus^; 22 miles east of Ciudad del ^The single colony of cristatus which was taken consisted of eight majors and 330 medias and minors. Kempf believes that majors are seldom produced by cristatus, for he found none in the material which he ex- amined. But since this material consisted of only 35 minors and 17 females coming from 11 stations, it seems probable that Kempf ’s con- clusion is the result of inadequate series. ^This colony was observed in an artificial nest for a period of three weeks. These observations indicated that the habits of scutellatus do not differ significantly from those of texanus. 56 Psyche [June Maiz (3300') one colony of Procryptocerm scahriitscvlus; El Salto (1400') 30 miles west of Antiguo Morelos, one stray worker of Cryptocems scutellatus. Tamaulipas : 5 miles west of Altimira (300') one colony of C. (Para- cryptocerus) minutus\ The three northernmost records cited above (Ciudad del Maiz, El Salto and Altimira) all lie less than ten miles from Latitude 22° 30'. They are, thus, a little more than fifty miles south of the Tropic of Cancer. As has already been shown the present known range of texanus does not extend south of Latitude 24° 40', which is approximately eighty miles north of the Tropic of Cancer. As things stand at present there is a gap of one hundred and thirty miles between the southern end of the range of texanus and the northern end of the range of the species cited above. Further studies in northeastern Mexico, particular- ly in the mountains southwest of Ciudad Victoria, may narrow or even close this gap. But if this happens it will not alter the fact that the distribution of texanus has little in common with that of the Neotropical species. For the range of minutus extends to southern Brazil and the other three species range into Colombia and Venezuela. It is safe to assume, therefore, that the area of maximum abund- ance for each of these species lies well within the tropics. This is certainly not the case with texanus, which is more abundant near the latitude of San Antonio, Texas than anywhere else in its range. A comparable pattern of distribution has been reported by the senior author (11) for another “Neotropicar' species, Pseudomyrmex apache. It would appear that the Neotropical component of the ant fauna in the southern United States is more complex from a distributional stand- point than has been previously supposed. Some of our representatives are northern fringes of species whose main range lies in the tropics. But others, like Cryptocerus tex- anus and Pseudo7uyr7nex apache are more at home out of the tropics than in them. This last type of distribution ^Winged males and females were present in this colony and in one from Tamazunchale. Both colonies were taken in early April._ 1954] Creighton and Gregg — Cryptocerus texanus 57 casts considerable doubt on the statement made by Wheeler in 1917 (12) and repeated by Emery in 1920 (13) that the major Neotropical additions to our ant fauna are rela- tively recent. If this northward migration was, as these authorities suppose, post-Pleistocene (Emery admits the possibility that it may have extended back to the Pliocene) at least there has been time for the development of marked changes in the ecology of some of the migrant species. No other conclusion is possible in the case of Cryptocerus tex- anus and Pseudomyrmex apache. The environmental prefer- ence of both these species has altered from that of their tropical ancestors to the extent that now neither of them seems capable of life in the tropics. This may, of course, be a recent phenomenon but more likely it indicates a long residence in the areas that they now occupy. Literature Cited 1. Smith, M. R., Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash. Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 29-40, 1947. 2. Smith, M. R., Psyche, Vol. 56, No. 1, pp. 18-21, 1949. 3. Kempf, W. W. Revista de Entomologica, Vol. 22, Ease. 1-3, pp. 1- 244, 1951. 4. Kempf, W. W., Studia Entomologica, Petropolis, Brazil, pp. 1-30, 1952. 5. Wheeler, W. M. Bull. Amer. Miis. Nat. Hist. Vol. 20, p. 104, 1905. 6. Wheeler, W. M., Ants, Columbia Univ. Press, p. 304, 1910. 7. Emery, Carlo, in Wytsman Genera Insectorum, Ease. 174, p. 305, 1922. 8. Wheeler, W. M., Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. Harvard, Vol. 90, No. 1, p. 210, 1942. 9. Santschi, E., Ann. Soc. Cien. Argentina, Vol. 87, p. 10 (44) 1919. 10. Gregg, R. E., Ecology, Vol. 23, No. 3, p. 299, 1942. 11. Creighton, W. S., Psyche, Vol. 59, No. 4, p. 134, 1952. 12. Wheeler, W. M., Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts Sci. Vol. 52, No. 8, p. 492, 1917. 13. Emery, Carlo, Reale Accad. Lincei, Series 5, Vol. 13, Ease. 6, p. 440, 1920. TRANSPORTING LIVE HIPPOBOSCIDS (DIPTERA)i By I. Barry Tarshis Entomology Branch, Camp Detrick, Frederick, Maryland During my investigations of the biology of Stilbometopa impressa (Bigot) and Lynchia hirsuta Ferris, Hippobos- cidae of California quail, Lophortyx calfornica californica (Shaw and Nodder) (Tarshis, 1953), it was necessary to transport live flies from the fleld to the laboratory. Three different methods were evolved, which, together with the necessary equipment, are described herewith. 1. Transporting Live Flies on Quail. The most satisfac- tory and the easiest method of transporting live flies from the fleld to the laboratory after removal of the flies from wild trapped quail (Tarshis, 1952), was the placing of the flies on quail in fly-proof cages. Quail used for transport- ing flies were brought into the field from the home labora- tory as it is a usual requirement that all trapped quail be released in the area from which they are taken, after the flies are removed and all other necessary procedures or observations are completed. When the flies are to be introduced in the feathers, the bird is placed on its back in the palm of the hand and its left wing is raised (this will be the wing towards the worker’s right). The total number of flies to be placed on the bird are slid out of a shell vial into the crotch formed by the bird’s wing and body. The wing is then carefully folded back over the flies and held closed so that the flies will not escape. The bird is laid on its back in the cage and the hand very gently removed. If this procedure is meticu- lously followed the bird will remain motionless for at least ^From the Department of Entomology and Parasitology, University of California, Berkeley, California. The author wishes to express sincere appreciation to Dr. M. A. Stewart of the University of California, Dr. J. Bequaert of Harvard University, and Dr. C. M. Herman of the Fish and Wildlife Service for the interest and help extended by them to the author during the course of his in- ve.stigations. 58 1954] Tarshis — Hippoboscids 59 five to ten minutes. Laying the bird on its back in this manner seems to put it in a state of hypnosis, and mean- while the flies readily scurry under the feathers. Fig. 1. Fly-proof cage used for transporting quail and live flies from the field to the laboratory. Only a limited number of flies should be placed on one bird for each trip. One adult quail will tolerate as many as 15 flies of either species of hippoboscid, and a juvenile bird about 10 flies. Birds on which 25 or more flies were placed died of exsanguination. It was found most desirable to place only one bird carry- ing flies in each cage. The more birds that are kept in a cage the greater the risk that flies leaving the birds for deposition of prepuparia or for other reasons will be cap- tured or trampled on by the birds. Also, with more than one bird in a cage there is always a great deal of commotion which especially disturbs the gravid female flies, often causing them to deposit their young prematurely. If space is extremely limited two birds may be placed in a single cage, but never more. The cage shown in Fig. 1 has been found most suitable for transporting live flies on birds. It has an exactly 1 X 1-inch fir stock framework covered on five sides with SHEET MEl TRAY 60 Psyche [June No. 16 mesh bronze screen cloth. The bottom of the cage has a %-inch galvanized hardware cloth floor with a No. 28 gauge galvanized sheet metal collection tray placed on runners 1-inch below this floor. The front of the cage is fitted with a sliding galvanized sheet metal door (No. 28 gauge) . 2. Shipping Live Flies by Mail. Mailing live flies in cardboard mailing tubes was also tried by the author, but did not prove as successful as the preceding method or the third method described below. The captured flies were placed in shell vials (24 mm. wide and 95 mm. long) stoppered with perforated, screened corks. These corks were made by removing a large center core from each and then gluing a circle of 1 /16-inch mesh nylon bobbinette over the opening on the bottom of the cork. Several of these vials were placed in an 8-inch card- board mailing tube, cork end up. The metal mailing tube lid was perforated in several places and the underneath surface of the lid was lined with No. 16 mesh bronze screen cloth to prevent loss of flies if a vial broke in transit. The perforated corked vials were next to the perforated mail- ing tube lid which enabled the flies to get a sufficient amount of air. The bottom of the mailing tube and the spaces between the vials were tightly packed with cotton to prevent rattling or breakage. Where air mail service is available this method is quite adequate, but it is not very satisfactory with ordinary first class or second class postal service. Since hippoboscid flies cannot live long away from the host speed is of prime importance in transporting flies by mail. 3. Shipping Live Flies in a Cold Temperature Cabinet. This third method for transporting live hippoboscid flies was found to be very satisfactory. The technique was adapted from one used by Geigy (1948) to ship adult tsetse flies of the species Glossina palpalis. Geigy devised and used a cold temperature cabinet, which was adjusted to be kept at 8° C. (46.8° F.), to send adult flies from tropical Africa (Congo) to Basle, Switzerland, via air express. The present author used the modified cabinet (Fig. 2) to 1954] Tarshis — Hippoboscids 61 transport flies by automobile from various field stations to headquarters (distances of 70 to 300 miles). An Arctic Hamper was the basis for the cold temperature cabinet and a wooden stand with a wire basket was placed in the Fig. 2. Cut-away view of Arctic Hamper converted to cold temperature cabinet for transporting live flies from the field to the laboratory. hamper. A 20-pound piece of ice was placed on the floor of the hamper to keep the temperature around 45° F. Adult flies of both species of quail Hippiboscidae were placed in vials with screened corks (the same vials as used for mail- ing flies). The vials were placed in racks which fitted into the wire basket in the hamper. The wooden stand was high enough above the ice that the vials did not get wet as the ice melted. Flies shipped in the cold Arctic Hamper become rigid and motionless but revive quickly after 10 minutes in a 62 Psyche [June constant temperature cabinet set at 78 °F. or when kept at room temperature (70°F.) for a period upwards to 60 minutes. LITERATURE CITED Geigy, R. 1948. Elevage de Glossina palpalis. Acta Tropica, 5:201-218. Tarshis, I. B. 1952, Equipment and methods for the collection of hippoboscid flies from trapped California valley quail, Lophortyx californica vallicola (Ridgway), (Diptera). Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc., 47:69-78. 1953. The transmission of H aemoproteus lophortyx O’Roke of the valley California quail by hippoboscid flies of the species Stilbometopa impressa (Bigot) and Lynchia hirsuta Ferris and the elucidation of the biology of these ectoparasites. Manu- script of Ph.D. Thesis, Deposited in Library, University of California, Berkeley, California. A LARGE BOMBUS NEST FROM MEXICO^ By C. D. Michener and W. E. LaBerge University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas Although many aspects of the bionomics of temperate climate bumblebees are rather well known, little has been published on the biology of tropical species. It therefore seems worthwhile to make known the observations result- ing from the excavation of a nest of Bombus medius Cres- son. The nest was found at the edge of second growth jungle beside a field 15 miles south of Pujal, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, on June 21, 1953. This is in a region shown as tropical evergreen forest in Leopold’s (1950) vegetation map of Mexico. It is near the town of Tamazunchale, on which the following climatic data is available: Rainfall average 63.4 inches per year, most of it falling during the months of June to October. Monthly temperature averages range from 63°F. for January to 81°F. for July and August. Minimum temperatures probably reach freezing only once in many years. The bee is a tropical species, ranging from tropical Mexico to Paraguay. The nest was about four inches below the surface of the ground in a hollow which may have been an old rodent nest. The entrance was a hole about 1.5 inches in diameter. The hollow in which the nest was located was partially filled with decaying strips of bark, leaves, twigs, and the like, on which termites were feeding. The nest itself con- sisted of an irregular mass of cocoons and cells 10.5 inches in maximum diameter, nearly as large in other diameters, and three to four inches thick. Some of the cocoons were old, their walls whitened with fungus. Some of these old cocoons (about 10%) were filled with honey and sealed. As elsewhere in the nest, no cocoons used for honey storage were elongated with wax before sealing. For the most part these very old cocoons were at one side of the nest and on its lower surface. The bulk of the nest was made up of ^Contribution No. 871 from the Department of Entomology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 63 64 Psyche [June somewhat younger looking cocoons, most of which were full or partially full of honey, although many had only a little honey in the bottom. Most of the cocoons were ar- ranged in clusters of 7 to 11, each cluster representing a group of young that developed in a single cell. No cocoons large enough to have produced queens were present. Most pollen pots were made entirely of wax, which like other wax in the nest was soft and black. These pollen pots were up to 18 mm. in diameter and 32 mm. high. Some were empty, others full or partly so. Pollen was also stored in a very few cocoons, and in one or two pollen pots consisting of cocoons lengthened and enlarged with wax. Cells containing eggs were small, but ranged up to 31 mm. in diameter when the larvae were mature. Several cells contained larvae spinning cocoons and one single larva had pupated. Remarkably few cocoons contained eggs and larvae, suggesting that reproduction was at a low ebb. This was likely due to the fact that we dug this nest just after the end of the dry season which had been long and intense. The following is a tabulation of the nest contents: queen 1 males 0 workers 800 pupae 1 mature larvae 70 medium sized larvae 14 small larvae 18 larvae of unrecorded size approx. 24 eggs 28 empty cocoons 804 cocoons with honey 1227 large pollen pots with pollen 7 small pollen pots with pollen 16 empty pollen pots 29 From the above tabulation it is evident that the queen must have produced 2183 offspring, of which 2031 had reached maturity before the nest was dug, and of which at least 800 survived until that time. This appears to be 1954] Michener and LaBerge — Bombus Nest 65 a record for size in bumblebee colonies, especially when it is realized that most large colonies previously recorded contained numerous males. Nearly all the adult bees were collected. Most of them were in the nest but a great many were afield. We are much indebted to Mr. I. Slesnick for help in capturing the returning bees, about half of which carried pollen. Bees returned at a rather steady rate from the time excavation WING length in mm- Figure 1. Frequency distribution of the size of the workers and the queen from the nest of Bombus medius Cresson based on wing length. The wings were measured from the proximal end of cell 1st M to the distal end of the marginal cell. We wish to thank Mr. Carl W. Retten- meyer for taking these measurements. began at 10:00 a.m. until about noon, and at a progressive- ly reduced rate until 1 :00 p.m. when the excavation work was complete. No doubt a few returned after this time and were not captured. These data indicate some foraging trips of very long duration. As shown in figure 1, measurements of the workers show 66 Psyche [June considerable variation, with a wide discontinuity between the largest worker and the queen. All of the very small workers were found in the nest. Casual observations of foraging bees in this area and elsewhere at lower and middle altitudes in Mexico where this species is common indicate that the smallest workers do not visit the flowers, suggesting that a division of labor among workers has progressed farther than that described by Brian (1952) for B, agrorum (Fabricius). She found that while most workers of agrorum eventually forage, small ones begin later in life and that a few of the small ones never do so. Collections of foraging bees made elsewhere in Mexico during July contained a number of queens of B. medius. They were visiting flowers just as do queens of temperate climate bumblebees in the spring. This observation, to- gether with the presence of only a single queen in the large nest excavated, throws doubt on von Ihering’s (1903) theory that in a Brazilian bumblebee which is either the same as medius or a closely allied species colony multiplica- tion is by swarms. Perhaps the several fecundated queens reported by von Ihering to occur in single nests were most- ly young queens which had mated in or temporarily re- turned to their parental nests. The colony excavated by us would appear to consist of the progeny of a single queen. It was just renewing activity after a season of reproductive inactivity, probably cor- related with the dry season. In spite of its large size, this colony probably had not yet passed through the phase when new queens and males are produced, for no queen cocoons were found in the nest. The disparity in size be- tween the queen and workers and the large number of queens ordinarily produced in Bombus nests make it un- likely that queen cocoons were present, but unrecognized. In Brazil, von Ihering (1903) observed fecundated queens and some males overwintering in the parental nest. Col- lections of B. medius queens visiting flowers in July sug- gest that the fecundated queens may pass the season of adversity (dry season combined with the cool season) in the same manner in Mexico. 1954] Michener and LaBerge — Bombus Nest 67 Literature Cited Brian, Anne D. 1942. Division of labor and foraging in Botnbus agrorum (Fabricins). Jour. Anim. Ecology, 21:223-240. Ihering, R. von 1903. Biologische Beobachtnngen an brasilianischen Boinbus-Nestern. Allgemeine Zeitsch. Ent., 8:447-453. Leopold, A. Starker 1950. Vegetation zones of Mexico. Ecology, 31 :507-518. New Synonymy of an Australian Iridomyrmex (Hy- MENOPTERA: Formicidae). — Iridomyvmex biconvexus San- tschi, 1928, Bull. Soc. Vaud Sci. Nat., 56: 471, worker (Type loc. : Ringwood, Victoria. Syntypes in Naturh. Mus., Basel; Mus. Comp. Zool.) proves to be the senior synonym of Iridomyrmex foetans Clark, 1929, Viet. Naturalist, Mel- bourne, 46: 122, pi. 1, figs. 4, 4a, worker (Type loc.: Cann River, Victoria. Syntypes in Nat. Mus. Viet., Melbourne; Mus. Comp. Zool.) as here noticed for the first time. I have compared syntypes directly, and they are obviously con- specific. The promesonotal suture is mobile, affecting the alitruncal profile. I have found this species abundant in the Dandenongs and Warburton Ranges, Victoria, in medi- um to wet sclerophyll forest, particularly in those parts dominated by Eucalyptus regnans, although its also occurs down to sea level near Melbourne. Clark also found it common on the Otway Peninsula. In wet E. regnans-ir^a- fern gullies of the Warburton Range, this is the dominant ant species up to at least 3,000 feet. In the snow gum-grass areas above this, it is replaced by a similar Iridomyrmex identical with types of I. emeryi Crawley, but perhaps synonymous with some older species name. All ant names mentioned here are perhaps junior synonyms of older names obscurely attached. — W. L. Brown, Jr., Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University. THE INDO-AUSTRALIAN SPECIES OF THE ANT GENUS STRUMIGENYS FR. SMITH: S. CHAPMANl NEW SPECIES^ By William L. Brown, Jr. Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University This paper is a further contribution in a series which, when complete, will cover the world fauna of the dacetine ant genus Strumigenys Fr. Smith. Previous parts, the first three of which include explanations of the abbreviations used for citing measurements and indices, are in Psyche 60: 1-5; 60: 85-89 (1953), and 60: 160-166 (1954) ; Jour. N.Y. Ent. Soc. 61: 53-59; 61: 101-110 (1953) ; 61: 189-200 (1954), and in press. Strumigenys chapmani, new species (Text-fig. 1) Holotype worker: TL 2.8, HL 0.76, ML 0.24 (Full ex- posed L mandibles 0.27 mm., cited because the mandibles tilt dorsad from the general plane of the cephalic dorsum at an angle approaching 30°, so that they appear fore- shortened in the view at which HL is measured in the standard way. In fig. 1, the head is shown as slightly tilted forward, so that the head is a bit shorter and the mandibles a bit longer than as seen at standard HL position.) Head width across occipital lobes 0.68 mm. WL 0.70, exposed scape L 0.30-0.31, funiculus L 0.46 mm., greatest perpen- dicular depth of head (near posterior quarter of length) about 0.30 mm. ; index of cephalic depression (head depth/HL X 100) 39-40, Cl 89, MI 31-32. Head shape as in text-figure 1 ; bottom of posterior ex- cision with a fine, low translucent lamella. Dorsal surface of head just inside of and parallel to the dorsal scrobe (lateral cephalic) border on each side with a shallow sulcus or broad depression. Occipital lobes massive, with convex apical surfaces. Antennal scrobes deep, overhung by strong, lamellar dorsal borders. Eyes situated a little in front of ^Published with a grant from the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College. 68 1954] Broivn — Indo-Australian Strumigenys 69 the midlength on the dorsal sides of the ventral scrobe borders, fairly well developed, but not visible from direct dorsal view. A feeble vertical groove in front of the eye terminates the preocular lamina on each side, but does not Figure 1. Strumigenys chapmani new species, paratype worker, dorsal view of head, showing pilosity of outline only. Teeth on ventral side of mandibular apex omitted. (F. Y. Cheng). interrupt the rearward extension of the scrobe itself and does not induce any excision or concavity of the dorsal scrobe border directly above. Ventral surface of head just behind the eyes with a broad, deep, arcuate transverse postoral groove or sulcus; behind this, the ventral surface of the occipital lobes are convex. Preocular laminae subparallel, continuing the lat- eral clypeal borders posteriad. Clypeus nearly half again as broad as long, broadly subpentagonal, feebly convex over the mandibular insertions and posteromedially ; an- terior border nearly straight, but strongly impressed in the center. Mandibles short, stout, depressed, dorsally tilted and very feebly arched as seen from the side, approximately parallel at full closure; inner margins with cultrate trans- lucent borders reaching from near bases to beginning of subapical narrowed portions. Apex of mandible bearing a long, straight, slender dorsal tooth (length 0.11-0.12 mm.) which I interpret as a secondarily migrated preapical tooth that has assumed an apparent apical position. Ven- 70 Psyche [June tral to this tooth, and even slightly basad, is found what I consider to be the true apical fork, crowded into a new position, consisting of two principal spiniform teeth and two acute, but small, intercalary teeth. The distal (dorsal) of the two larger teeth is 2/3, the proximal about half the length of the large false apical tooth. From direct dorsal view, the true ventral apical tooth appears like a preapical tooth, being situated a bit basad of the false apical tooth, but on the ventral edge of the inner border in contrast to the usual position of preapical teeth in the genus. The ven- tral tooth is not shown in the figure, although it would normally be at least partly visible in the same view. Al- together, the apical armature reveals its aberrant relation- ships only on close, critical examination, and the total ef- fect is not strikingly different from that of other species of Strumigenys, several of which lack preapical dentition. The basal lamella present as a stout, blunt projection form- ing a continuation of the inner margin; normally covered entirely by the clypeus at mandibular closure. From ven- tral view, the basal portion of each mandible is excavated to receive an axehead-shaped lateral lobe of the labrum. Labrum deeply cleft in the middle, the two labral con- icles short and subacute, bearing divergent trigger-hairs which curve to follow the mandibles to a little beyond the midlength of the latter. Palpi as usual for the genus. Antennal scapes very short, exposed length slightly less than the breadth of the head at the level of their inser- tions and less than half the maximum distance across the occipital lobes, moderately incrassate, with nearly straight posterior border and gently arcuate anterior border. Fun- iculus stout, the apical segment taking up very slightly more than half its length; segments II and III appearing nearly as broad as long in some views and slightly broader than long in others, together about equalling in length IV ; the basal segment very slightly longer, but more slender, than IV. Alitrunk compact, high in profile, but rather narrow; pronotum less than half as broad as head, disc convex in both directions, narrowly rounded in front and with a low margin here; no humeral angles. Seen from the side, pro- mesonotum forms a high, strongly arched hump, with the 1954] Brolun — I ndo -Australian Strumigenys 71 posterior mesonotum sloping through a feeble convexity posteriorly. Metanotal groove obsolete; propodeum ex- tremely feebly convex in dorsal outline, beginning at the foot of the posterior mesonotal slope and itself sloping posteriorly, but much more gently so. Propodeal teeth long (0.10 mm.) and stout, acute, obliquely elevated; in- fradental lamellae very narrow, concave, widening below into low, convex metapleural lobes. Petiole with very slender peduncle, longer than the sub- globose free portion of the node, which is about as broad as long and has a feeble longitudinal carinula running over each dorsolateral surface. Posterior neck of petiole partly covered by the narrow spongiform collar, which widens a bit on each side to form a broadly rounded posterolateral spongiform lobe. Midventral spongy strip well developed. Postpetiole moderate in size, slightly broader than long and distinctly broader than the petiole, its disc convex and surrounded by spongiform margins ; well developed spongi- form masses posterolaterally and ventrally. Gaster with ventral surface much more strongly convex than dorsum; anterior spongiform margin narrow dorsally, its edge gently raised and convex in the middle. Basal gastric costulae rather irregular and indefinite, extending about the length of the basal tergite; gastric surface other- wise smooth and shining. Head, including scapes and dorsal surfaces of mandibles, dorsum of alitrunk, legs and petiole densely and finely granulose-punctulate, opaque. Much of sides of alitrunk and dorsal surface of postpetiole with punctulation partial- ly effaced, weakly shining to subopaque. Cephalic dorsum, mandibles, scapes and promesonotum with a regular and dense pilosity consisting of small, numerous, subappressed to subreclinate, spatulate to in- verted-spoon-shaped hairs, on the dorsum of the head ap- pearing like small oval scales. Anterior scape border with a regular, prominent row of outstanding narrowly spoon- shaped hairs, prevailingly slightly oblique apicad. Special- ized erect pilosity of head and alitrunk lacking, except for a single weakly differentiated suberect spatulate hair on the extremity of each occipital lobe. Propodeum, anterior of petiolar node and legs with a sparse growth of small. 72 Psyche [June subreclinate spatulate hairs; legs also with a few fine, erect subclavate hairs. Long (up to 0.13 mm.) sturdy erect hairs, distinctly spatulate apically and mostly posteriorly inclined: one pair on petiolar node; 3-4 pairs, some shorter, on postpetiole; about four ragged transverse rows of 4-6 hairs each on the gastric dorsum. Gastric apex with a few fine erect hairs. Underside of head with small, fine appressed hairs. Color uniform medium ferruginous; legs, mandibles and antennae appearing a little lighter and more yellowish. Paratype ivorkers: Four specimens from the type nest. TL 2.63-2.85 mm., HL 0.72-0.76 mm., ML 0.22-0.24 mm., WL 0.66-0.71 mm.; Cl 89-91, MI 31-32. Outside the minor variation in dimensions and proportions, as cited, the length and proportions of the antennae and antennal seg- ments appear to vary very slightly, and there are some small differences in position, size and direction of hairs. Everything considered, the variation in this series is re- markably slight. Further series of this species, seen be- latedly and reviewed more hastily, do not seem to vary much, if any, from the type nest series. Female not seen. Male from type nest: TL 2.58 mm.. Cl about 76, length of forewing about 2.25 mm. Mandibles reduced and in- serted far apart, but very strongly incurved, falcate, with very acute, simple, opposable apices, their shafts broadened just beyond the bases and externally bluntly subangulate, somewhat as in the workers of certain Lahidogenys species. Notauli very indistinct near point of convergence; parap- sidal furrows distinct; anterior mesonotum with a median longitudinal furrow; scutellum convex and salient. Pro- podeal teeth represented by two low subangular welts. Petiole and postpetiole formed as in worker, but spongi- form appendages reduced to cariniform vestiges. Basal gastric costulae absent. Caster and most of meso- and metapleura smooth and shining; nodes and fore coxae very feebly punctulate and shining; remainder of body densely punctulate, opaque. Head and alitrunk with short, fine appressed hairs, curved and inconspicuous; gaster with a few very small, fine, suberect and reclinate hairs, more abundant at apex. 1954] Broivn — I ndo- Australian Strumigenys 73 General body color castaneous, head brownish-black ; pronotum dark ferruginous, mesonotum with lighter mark- ings anteriorly and along parapsidal furrows; legs, man- dibles and antennae sordid yellow-brown. Forewing with R -j- Sc, Stigma, 2r, Rsfi, Mfi, M + CuA and CuA persist- ing, but scarcely pigmented. Rs and M indicated apically by long grooves. Hind wing with 4 subapical hamuli. Wings densely microtrichiate. Volsellae not especially dis- tinctive; penis valves each with about 15 serrations. A second male taken in the type nest was smaller, but other- wise similar. Holotype worker, and worker and male paratypes taken from a single nest. Horns of Negros [Cuernos Mts.] near Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippine Islands, at about 1500 feet altitude (J. W. Chapman). Holotype deposited in the Museum of Comparative Zoology; paratypes in U. S. National Museum, California Academy of Sciences, and elsewhere. Several series of this species, collected by Dr. Chapman and D. Empeso in the Cuernos Mts. at or near the type locality, were examined after the descriptions had been drawn up. Although this additional material slightly extends the range of variation in dimensions and propor- tions, the total variation away from the holotype is hardly worth recording. S. chapmani is a species apparently totally different and distinct from any of the known groups of the genus anywhere in the world. Even its affinities with the re- mainder of the Indo-Papuasian fauna must be considered as more or less arbitrarily drawn. If the interpretation of the apical mandibular dentition given above is correct, a tentative relationship may be suggested with the loriae and szalayi groups; the form and tilt of the mandibles also suggests that of certain members of the “Labidogenys’^ complex. TABANIDAE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE By R. L. Blickle' University of New Hampshire Many species of Tabanidae are of economic importance in the state as pests of man and of livestock. In general, the species of the genus Tahamis are more important as regards livestock, while those of the genus Chrysops are irritating to man. The following horseflies, listed in order of their appearance during the summer, are of economic importance; Tabanus lasiopthalmics, T. typhus, T. lineola, T. trispilus, T. aurilimhus, and T. sidcifrons. Along the coast T. nigrovittatus in mid-summer and T. actaeon in late summer have been numerous enough at times to be important. Other species present at the same time as those mentioned above, though not numerous, contribute to the losses attributed to horseflies. The deerflies, although very numerous, do not irritate the cattle or cause as much loss of blood as do the larger horseflies. The deerflies are im- portant as pests of man in recreational areas and in tracts where lumbering operations are being conducted. Those species causing discomfort to man because of their abund- ance are: Chrysops initis, C. sordida, C. carbonaria, and C. excitans in early summer. C. lateralis, C. striata, C. univittata, and C. vittata are important along the seashore and causes more discomfort to many than any other species of Tabanidae. The list of species and subspecies is based mainly on material in the University of New Hampshire collection. Incorporated in the collection are the specimens donated by the late S. A. Shaw. Mr. Shaw was an active collector of insects, especially Diptera, from 1890 until 1934. Other collectors contributing to the collection have been: R. L. Blickle, J. G. Conklin, W. F. Fiske, A. G. Humes, P. R. Lowry, W. J. Morse, H. W. Smith and C. M. Weed. Ad- ditional records were obtained from the Museum of Com- T^iblished with the permission of the Director as Scientific Contribu- tion Xo. 156 of the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station. 74 1954] Blickle — Tabanidae 75 parative Zoology and from the Boston Society collection, now at Boston University. The examination of these col- lections was made possible through the courtesy of Drs. J. Bequaert and A. G. Humes, respectively. Published lists recording species taken in New Hamp- shire are: Johnson (1925, 1925a), Brennan (1935), Stone (1938), Philip (1947, 1950), and Fairchild (1950). In all forty-nine species and subspecies are recorded in the above works. The present list contains seventy-one species and subspecies. Four species recorded from both Maine and Massachusetts are also listed. Judging from the dis- tribution of tabanids in the neighboring states and in Can- ada, the number recorded will eventually be approximately ninety. Locality records are given as townships. Only the ex- treme dates of capture are listed. Most of the records are from the southeastern part of the state and from the White Mountain area. The western part of the state north of the Mt. Monadnock area is poorly represented. The author is indebted to Dr. L. L. Pechuman for the determination of the flies. Stonemyia Brennan rasa (Loew) : Durham, Gilmanton, Hampton, Lee, Mt. Washington, New Durham, Pelham, July 19 to Aug. 29. tranquilla (Osten Sacken) : Crawford Notch, Durham, Gilmanton, Hampton, Kearsarge, Lee, New Durham, Mt. Washington, North Conway, Ossipee, Pinkham Notch, Twin Mts., White Mountains (type loc.) July 18 to Aug. 23. Chrysops Meigen aberrans Philip: Alton, Durham, Gilmanton, Lee, Mad- bury. New Durham. June 15 to Sept. 9. amazon Daecke: Durham, Lee, Rochester. June 15 to July 13, atlantica Pechuman: Hampton (S. A. Shaw). July 1 to Aug. 21. callida Osten Sacken: Barrington, Durham, Gilmanton, Hampton, Lee, Milford. June 12 to Aug. 4. carbonaria Walker: Bretton Woods, Colebrook, Conway, 76 Psyche [June Durham, Gorham, Hampton, Hanover, Intervale, Lee, Madbury, Merrimack, Ossipee, Pittsburg, Twin Mts. May 7 to July 14. celer Osten Sacken : Colebrook, Dummer, Durham, Hamp- ton, Lee, Milford, Pittsburg, Rye, June 1 to July 23. cuclux Whitney: Bretton Woods, Colebrook, Durham, Hampton, Madbury, Milford (type loc.), Moulton- boro, Pittsburg, White Mts., May 10 to July 14. Whitney: Milford (type loc.). July. delicatula Osten Sacken : Alton, Durham, Gilmanton, Lee, Madbury, Madison, New Durham, North Conway (type loc.), Webster. July 12 to Aug. 14. dimmocki Hine: Lee (R. L. Blickle). July 8. excitans Walker: Antrim^ Belmont, Bretton Woods, Colebrook, Dixville, Durham, Dummer, Gorham, Lee, Madbury, Newfields, North Conway, Ossipee, Pitts- burg, Rye, Tamworth. June 3 to July 12. frigida Osten Sacken: Durham, Lee, Milford, New Dur- ham, North Conway, White Mts. June 11 to July 14. frigida xantha Philip: Milford, Franconia. July 8. fuliginosa Wiedemann: Durham, Hampton, Lee. June 6 to July 2. geminata Wiedemann : Belknap, Belmont, Durham, Greenfield, Hill, Lee, Lyme, Madbury, Milford, New Durham, Wilton. July 5 to July 25. geminata impunctata Krober: Durham (R. L. Blickle). July 18. . inda Osten Sacken : Milford, Pittsburg. June 20 to July 1. lateralis Wiedemann : Barrington, Belmont, Bretton Woods, Dublin, Durham, Gilford, Gilmanton, Hamp- ton, Hanover, Intervale, Lee, Jaffrey, Madbury, Mil- ford, Mt. Monadnock, New Durham, North Conway, Portsmouth, Rochester, Squam Lake, Mt. Washington, Woodstock. June 11 to Aug. 24. mitis Osten Sacken: Bretton Woods, Dixville, Franconia, Jaffrey, Mt. Washington, Pittsburg. June 11 to July 7. moecha Osten Sacken: Alton, Durham, Hampton, Lee, Madbury. June 1 to Aug. 24. montana Osten Sacken: Alton, Durham, Lee. July 6 to July 18. nigi'a Macquart : Alton, Belmont, Dixville, Durham, 1954] Blickle — Tabaniclae 77 Hampton, Madbury, Milford, Mt. Washington, New- fields, Pittsburg, Rochester. June 1 to Aug. 11. nigrihimho Whitney: Milford (type loc.). July 9 to July 21. puclica Osten Sacken: Durham, Lee (R. L. Blickle). July 4. sackeni Hine: Durham, Hampton, Lee, Milford, New- fields. June 17 to Aug. 8. shermani Hine: Berlin, Dixville (R. L. Blickle). June 19 to June 20. sorclida Osten Sacken: Bretton Woods, Colebrook, Dix- ville, Dummer, Franconia, Mt. Washington, Pittsburg, Twin Mts. (type loc.). June 19 to July 16. striata Osten Sacken : Belmont, Durham, Gilmanton, Hampton, Lee, Madbury, New Durham, Sanbornton. June 22 to July 30. univittata Macquart : Belmont, Durham, Gilmanton, Hampton, Lee, Madbury, Milford, New Durham, New- fields, Ossipee. May 21 to Sept. 11. vittata Wiedemann: Belmont, Durham, Gilmanton, Greenfield, Hampton, Lee, Madbury, Milford, New Durham, Pelham, Rye, Sanbornton. June 19 to Sept. 9. iviedemanni Krober: Alton, Durham, Epping, Hampton, Lee, Madbury, Milford, New Durham. June 12 to Sept. 9. Atylotus Osten Sacken bicolor (Wiedemann) : Hampton, Webster. July 15 to Aug. 5. pemeticus (Johnson) : Recorded from Maine and Massa- chusetts (Philip 1947). thoracicus (Hine) : Recorded from Maine and Massa- chusetts (Philip 1947). Tabanus L. {Hybomitra Enderlein) affinis Kirby: Bretton Woods, Intervale, Jaffrey, Mt. Monadnock, New Durham, Peterboro, Shelburne, Mt. Washington. June 21 to July 11. aurilimbus Stone : Belmont, Durham, Gilmanton, Hamp- ton, Epping, Madbury, Milford, New Durham, North Hampton. June 29 to Aug. 5. 78 Psyche astutus Osten Sacken: Pinkham Notch, White Mts. (type loc.). Aug. 21-22. brennani Stone: Franconia (type loc.). July 14. cinctus Fabricius: Dublin, Durham, Lee, Madbury, Union. July 23 to Aug. 2. epistates Osten Sacken: Durham, Lee, Mt. Monadnock, Shelburne. July 4 to July 25. hinei Johnson: Lee, Madbury (R. L. Blickle) . June 28 to July 25. illotus Osten Sacken: Pittsburg (Morse, Blickle). June 20. lasiopthalmus Macquart: Bretton Woods, Dummer, Dur- ham, Hampton, Hanover, Jackson, Jefferson, Lee, New- fields, Pelham, Pittsburg, Rye, Twin Mts. May 30 to Aug. 15. longiglossus Philip : Recorded from Maine and Massa- chusetts (Philip 1947). metabolus McDunnough : Hampton, Jaffrey, Milford, Passaconaway, Pittsburg. microcephalus Osten Sacken: Lee, Jackson, Madbury, New Durham, Pinkham Notch, Rumney, Twin Mts., White Mts. (type loc.). July 8 to Sept. 9. minusculus Hine: Philip (1950). nuclus McDunnough : Durham, Hampton, Jackson, Jaff- rey, Lee, New Durham, Passaconaway, Pittsburg. May 3 to June 20. septentrionalis Loew: Recorded from Maine and Massa- chusetts (Philip 1947). trepidus McDunnough : Colebrook, Dummer, Durham, Hampton, Lee. June 10 to Aug. 10. trispilus Wiedemann : Barrington, Dublin, Durham, Ep- ping, Franconia, Hampton, Lee, Madbury, Newfields, Pittsfield. July 4 to Aug. 8. typhus Whitney: Barrington, Durham, Freedom, Lee, Madbury, Milford (type loc.). New Durham, North Conway. June 15 to July 27. zonalis Kirby: Lee, Milford, Passaconaway. June 8 to July 15. 1954] Blickle — Tabanidae 79 Tabanus L. {Tabanus s.str.) actaeon Osten Sacken : Amherst, Dublin, Durham, Hamp- ton, Lee, Milford, Pelham, Rye. Aug. 9 to Sept. 17. americanus Forster: Dublin. (Johnson 1925 a). July. atratus Fabricius: Durham, Hampton, Lee, Pelham. June 30 to Aug. 28. atratus fulvopilosus Johnson: Durham (H. W. Smith). July 22. atratus nantuckensis Hine: Hampton, Newfields, Roches- ter. July 9 to Sept. 13. catenatus Walker: Durham, Hampton, Jaffrey, Lee, Rye. July 7 to Aug. 27. fairchildi Stone: Alstead, Hillsboro. July 1 to July 16. lineola Fabricius : Barrington, Durham, Gilmanton, Hampton, Lee, Madbury. lineola scutellaris Walker: Durham, Hampton, Lee. June 17 to July 20. nigripes Wiedemann: Hampton, Milford. July 3 to July 14. nigrovittatus Macquart: Durham, Hampton, Newmark- et, Portsmouth, Rye. June 30 to Aug. 8. nivosus Osten Sacken : Durham, Freedom, Hampton, Lee, New Durham. June 12 to July 31. pumilus Macquart: Barrington, Durham, Lee, Madbury, Portsmouth. July 1 to July 31. quinquevittatus Wiedemann: Durham, Gilmanton, Lee, Madbury, New Durham, Newfields, Newmarket. July 2 to Sept. 21. reinwardtii Wiedemann: Durham, Newfields. July 11 to Aug. 1. sparus Whitney: Durham, Hampton, Lee, Milford (type loc.), Newfields, Rye. June 10 to July 20. stygius Say: Durham, (no date). sulcifrons Macquart: Durham, Hampton, Lee, Madbury. July 11 to Sept. 9. super jumentarms Whitney: Durham, Epping, Hampton, Lee, Madbury, Milford (type loc.). June 14 to Aug. 3. vivax Osten Sacken: Durham, Farmington, Gilmanton, Hampton, Lee, Strafford. July 4 to July 23. 80 Psyche [June Literature Cited Brennan, J. M. 1935. The Pangoniinae of Xearctic America. Diptera. Tabanidae. Bull. Univ. Kansas, 36:1-401. F.^irchild, G. B. 1950. The Diptera or true flies of Connecticut. Family Tabanidae. Fasc. 4. Conn. State Geol. Xat. Hist. Surv. Bull., 75:3-31. Johnson, C. W. 1925a. Fauna of Xew England 15. List of the Diptera or two-winged flies. Occas. Pap. Bost. Soc. Xat. Hist., VII: 1-326. 1925b. Diptera of the Harris Collection. Proc. Bost. Soc. Xat. Hist., 38:57-90. Philip, C. B. 1947. A catalog of the Blood-sucking Fly Family Tabanidae of the Xearctic Region Xorth of Mexico. Amer. Mid. Xat., 37(2): 257-324. 1950. Corrections and Addenda to a Catalog of Xearctic Tabanidae. Amer. Mid. Xat., 43(2) :430. Stone, Alan 1938. The Horseflies of the Subfamily Tabanidae of the Xearctic Region. U.S.D.A. Misc. Pub. Xo. 305: 1-168. CAMBRIDGE ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB A regular meeting of the Club is held on the second Tues- day of each month (July, August and September, excepted) at 8:00 p.m. in Room B-455, Biological Laboratories, Divin- ity Ave., Cambridge. Entomologists visiting Boston are cordially invited to attend. BACK VOLUMES OF PSYCHE The Cambridge Entomological Club is able to offer for sale the following volumes of Psyche. Those not mentioned are entirely out of print. Volumes 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, each covering a period of three years, $5.00 each. Volumes 10, 12, 14, 17, each covering a single year, $1.00 each. Volumes 18 to 26, each covering a single year, $1.50 each. Volumes 27 to 53, each covering a single year, $2.00. Volumes 54 to 60, each covering a single year, $3.00. Orders for 2 or more volumes subject to a discount of 10%. Orders for 10 or more volumes subject to a discount of 20%. All orders should be addressed to F. M. Carpenter, Editor of Psyche, Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. FOR SALE Classification of Insects, by C. T. Brues, A. L. Melander and F. M. Carpenter. Published in March, 1954, as vol- ume 108 of the Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, with 917 pages and 1219 figures. It consists of keys to the living and extinct families of insects, and to the living families of other terrestrial arthropods; and in- cludes 270 pages of bibliographic references and an index of 76 pages. Price $9.00 (cloth bound and postpaid). Send orders to Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard Col- lege, Cambridge 38, Mass. I PSYCHE A JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY Established in 1874 Vol. 61 September, 1954 No. 3 ' IPfOTTTUUq LIBRARY ^ SOV 1 5 ll;54 HARVARD 1 P^^SSITY XATHAX BAXKS. a Biographic Sketch and List of Publications. F. Carpcrilcr and P. J. Darlington. Jr 81 CAMBRIDGE ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB Officers for 1953-54 President . Vice-President . Secretary . Treasurer . Executive Committee . E. 0. Wilson . T. Eisner . N. W. Gillham F. M. Carpenter W. L. Brown, Jr. S. K. Harris EDITORIAL BOARD OF PSYCHE F. M. Carpenter — editor C. T. Brues P. J. Darlington, Jr. J. Bequaert PSYCHE is published quarterly, the issues appearing in March, June, September, and December. Subscription price, per year, payable in advance: $3.00 to subscribers in the United States and Canada: other subscriptions $3.35. Single copies, 85 cents. Cheques and remittances should be addressed to Treasurer, Cambridge Entomological Club, Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. Orders for back volumes, missing numbers, notices of change of address, etc., should be sent to the Editorial Office of Psyche, Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. IMPORTANT NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS Manuscripts intended for publication, books intended for review, and other editorial matter, should be addressed to Professor F. M. Carpenter, Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. Authors contributing articles over 8 printed pages in length will be required to bear a part of the extra expense, for additional pages. This expense will be that of typesetting only, which is about S3. 00 per page. The actual cost of preparing cuts for all illustrations must be borne by comlributors; the expense for full page plates from line drawings is approximately $8.00 each, and for full page half-tones, $10.00 each; smaller sizes in proportion. AUTHOR’S SEPARATES Reprints of articles may be secured by authors, if Uhey are ordered before, or at the time proofs are received for corrections. The cost of these will be furnished by the Editor on application. The June, 1954, Psyche (Vol. 61, No. 2) was mailed August 26, 1954 EATON PRESS INC., WATERTOWN, MASS. Psvc II K. ]()54 Vol. 61, Plat:-; Xathax Banks 1868-1953 l''rom ;i |tli()l()grai)li takon in 1933. PSYCHE [.'ijs. tur F. zuuL LIBRARY 1 5 1954 HAilV.'iRa UK“;LaSlTY Vol. 61 September, 1954 No. 3 NATHAN BANKS A Biographic Sketch and List of Publications Nathan Banks was born at Roslyn, New York, on April 13, 1868. After attending the Roslyn schools, he went to Cornell University, from which he received the Bachelor of Science degree in 1889. His early interest in natural history, which was apparent eve'^ in boyhood, developed during his college days into an enthusiasm for entomology that never diminished. Graduate studies at Cornell, under the supervision of Professor J. H. Comstock, led to the Master of Science degree in 1890. Later in that year he was appointed to a position in the Bureau of Entomology of the United States Department of Agriculture in Wash- ington, where for twenty-six years he did research on the taxonomy of insects and arachnids. As the years passed, however. Banks became dissatis- fied with the Washington position. One of his concerns was the safe housing and maintenance of his private col- lection of insects, which, as a result of exchanges with numerous entomologists in many countries, had attained extraordinary size and significance. In 1904 he wrote to Samuel Henshaw, the newly appointed director of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, inquiring about the pos- sibility of a position there. Henshaw was unable to ar- range for an appointment at that time, although he gave Banks definite encouragement for the future. Nearly ten years later, 1913, the appointment became something more than a hope. Towards the end of that year Banks wrote Henshaw: “When I get to the Museum I shall not expect to publish much for several years, as I 81 82 Psyche [September expect the curatorial work and sorting and identification of material will take up all my time.” This kind of work did in fact take up much of his time for most of his work- ing life, although it did not stop his publishing on his re- search. It was partly his willingness to do such work that enabled him to build up a magnificent insect collec- tion at the Museum of Comparative Zoology. The appoint- ment was, however, delayed nearly three years longer, and in the interval Banks was offered a position by another museum in this country, specifically the curatorship of Thysanura, Arachnida and Neuroptera. He refused this offer, however, pointing out that “he rather fancied him- self an entomologist”, not just a specialist in a few orders. By early 1916 definite provisions for the appointment at the Museum of Comparative Zoology were made by its governing board. Banks shipped his collection and library to the Museum during early fall and finally moved to Cambridge in November. Banks’ collection, which was donated to the Museum on his arrival, constituted one of the largest and most valuable entomological collections ever received by the Museum. It included more than 120,000 specimens, of which 1,800 were types. His library, also given to the Museum, contained about a thousand pamphlets and books not in the Museum library. The Annual Report of the Museum for 1916-17 con- tained the following reference to the new curator: “The permanent staff of the Museum has been strengthened by the appointment of Mr. Nathan Banks as Curator of In- sects. During the early years (1863-1867) of the Museum, the entomological collections were in charge of three As- sistants, Samuel H. Scudder, Alpheus S. Packard, Jr., and Phillip R. Uhler, later three eminent entomologists. In October, 1867, Dr. H. A. Hagen took charge of the collec- tions, and during his term of service which lasted until his death, they were placed in the front rank of University collections. During the fifty years since Dr. Hagen’s ap- pointment, the study of insects has become more and more specialized, and the Museum is fortunate in its appoint- ment of an entomologist whose training and interests in- 1954] Nathan Banks 83 sure a broad and equitable consideration of the work of his department.’’ In 1928, as part of an initial step in the integration of the Department of Biology and the research staff of the Museum, Banks was appointed Associate Professor of Zo- ology. Although he gave no formal lecture course in the University, his informal instruction through research courses was invaluable to advanced students and became of even greater significance a few years later, when gradu- ate instruction in entomology was transferred from the Bussey Institution at Forest Hills to the Biological Labora- tories at Cambridge. In 1941, when additional curators were appointed in entomology at the Museum, Banks was designated Head Curator of Insects, a title which he held until his retirement in 1945, at the age of 76. Banks remained active for a few years after his retire- ment, working chiefly on the preparation of a catalogue of literature on the habits of insects, but his strength gradually failed him. He died at his home in Holliston, Massachusetts, on January 24, 1953, at the age of 84. He is survived by his wife (nee Mary A. Lu Gar) and eight children. The contributions made by Banks through his publica- tions are truly impressive. His bibliography, given below, includes 440 technical papers, on many aspects of ento- mology. The majority of his early publications, from 1890 to 1900, were on arachnids, but most of his later ones dealt with the insect orders Trichoptera, Mecoptera, Neu- roptera, Perlaria and Psocoptera, on all of which he was a world authority. Banks was a good collector, but he was too occupied with the Museum duties to make extensive trips. In 1906 he collected in the vicinity of the Black Mts., in North Carolina; in 1924 he made his longest field trip — to Barro Colorado Island, in the Canal Zone; in 1931 he made a collecting trip to the Smoky Mts., accompanied by his son Gilbert, and P. J. Darlington, Jr., and F. M. Carpenter. He also made extensive collections in the vicinity of his home; the collections at the Museum contain many thou- sands of specimens from Sea Cliff, New York; Falls 84 Psyche [September Church, Virginia; and Lexington and Holliston, Massa- chusetts — these being the successive locations of his home. Banks’ greatest contribution to entomology was through his service and devotion as curator of the entomological collections. Having virtually no assistance at the Museum, he did the routine curatorial work on the collection, com- piled catalogues of types and genera, and prepared speci- mens for shipment to investigators in other institutions. The continued high rank of Harvard’s entomological col- lection is chiefly the result of his efforts. The collection it- self is indeed a memorial to the devotion which he had for entomology. He had a great capacity for work, a single-mindedness of purpose, and a good memory. It is a misfortune that his knowledge of the structural diversity and adaptations of insects was not more available to biologists. This was partly his fault. He had not learned the modern vocabu- laries of genetics and evolution. Moreover, Banks, feeling that he was too busy, did not join the smoking and con- versation group on the Museum steps in mid-morning and mid-afternoon, further restricting the circulation of his knowledge. Nevertheless he liked people and liked to talk, and was kind, helpful, and had a sense of humor. The following list of Nathan Banks’ publications is as nearly complete as we can make it. Since he kept no record of his own papers, we have had to compile this list from many sources. We are indebted to Miss Jolane P. Baum- garten and Miss Ruth Dunn for assistance in the prepara- tion of the bibliography. A few additional publications by Mr. Banks will undoubtedly come to light; we would ap- preciate being informed of them, so that we may include them in a subsequent list. F. M. Carpenter P. J. Darlington, Jr. 1954] Nathan Bariks 85 PUBLICATIONS OF NATHAN BANKS 1890 A new pseudoscorpion. Canadian Ent., ^^:152. On Thcdamia parietalis Hentz. Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash- ington, ^:125-128. 1891 Notes on North American Chernetidae. Canadian Ent., 23:U1-1Q6. Notes on the Dysderidae of the United States. Canadian Ent., ^-5:207-209. Notes on some spiders described by Hentz. Ent. News, 2:84-87. Synonymical notes on spiders. Ert. News, 2:193. Mimicry in spiders. Proc. Ent. Soc. Washington; 2:174- 176. A new genus of Phalangiidae. Proc. Ent. Soc. Washing- ton, 2:249-250. On Prodidomus rufus Hentz. Proc. Ent. Soc. Washing- ton, 2:259-261, 1 fig. 1892 A classification of the North American spiders. Can- adian Ent., 2.4:88-97. Our Atypidae and Theraphosidae. Ent. News, 3 : 147-150. The spider fauna of the Upper Lake, Cayuga Basin. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, pt. 1:11-81, pis. 1-5. A synopsis, catalogue, and bibliography of the neurop- teroid insects of temperate North America. Trans. Ameri- can Ent. Soc., 15:327-373. 1893 Notes on the mouth parts and thorax of insects and chilopods. American Nat., 27:400-401. Review of : Histoire Naturelle des Araignees : deuxieme edition, par Eugene Simon. Canadian Ent., 25 :27-28. New Chernetidae from the United States. Canadian Ent., 2.5:64-67. The Phalanginae of the United States. Canadian Ent., 2.5:205-211. 86 Psyche [September A new species of Oligolophics. Canadian Ent., 25 :252-253. The silk of spiders. Insect Life, 5 :210. Notes on spiders. J. New York Ent. Soc., 1 :123-134. Arachnida in the “Scientific results of the U.S. ‘Eclipse’ expedition to West Africa, 1889-’90.” Proc. United States Mus., id:586-587. A new American Lacinius. Psyche, ^:402-403. The Phalangida Mecostethi of the United States. Trans. American Ent. Soc., ^0:149-152. 1894 The Odonata of Ithaca, N.Y. Canadian Ent., 2^:76-78. Concerning Calotarsa omatipes, Townsend. Canadian Ent., 26:SS. Washington Phalangidae, with descriptions of a new southern Liohunum, Canadian Ent., 160-164. Some Psychodidae from Long Island, N.Y. Canadian Ent., ^(?:329-333. Notes on Larinia and Cercidia. Ent. News, 5 :8-9. On a collection of neuropteroid insects from Kansas. Ent. News, 5:178-180. On a classification of arthropods. Ent. News, 5:213-216. Two families of spiders new to the United States. Ent. News, 5 :298-300. The Phalangidae of New York. J. New York Ent. Soc., ^:40-41. On the Lycosidae of Colorado. J. New York Ent. Soc., ;2:49-52. Notes on Phalangidae. J. New York Ent. Soc., ^:145-146. Some new American Acarina. Trans. American Ent. Soc., 21 :209-222. 1895 The Arachnida of Colorado. Ann. New York Acad. Sci., 5:417-434. Some new Attidae. Canadian Ent., ^7:96-102. Notes on Psychoda. Canadian Ent., 27:324. Comment on “Insect life”, by Wm. H. Ashmead. Ent. News, 5:18-19. Chernetid attached to a fly. Ent. News, 5:115. Aeschna pentacantha in New York. Ent. News, 5:124. 1954] Nathan Banks 87 Some Missouri spiders. Ent. News, 6 :204-207. Notes on the Pseudoscorpionida. J. New York Ent. Soc., Two California phalang-ids. J. New York Ent. Soc., -5:66. A list of spiders of Long Island, N. Y., with descriptions of new species. J. New York Ent. Soc., 5:76-93. Some acarians from Sphagnum swamp. J. New York Ent. Soc., 5:128-130. Some Mexican Neuroptera. Proc. California Acad. Sci., 5:515-522. The Nemastomatidae and Trogulidae of the United States. Part 1. Psyche, 7:11-12. The Nemastomatidae and Trogulidae of the United States. Part 2. Psyche, 7:51-52. The genus Oxyptila. Psyche, 7 :241-244. On the Oribatoidea of the United States. Trans. Ameri- can Ent. Soc., ^5:1-16. New neuropteroid insects. Trans. American Ent. Soc., .^^:313-316. 1896 A few new spiders. Canadian Ent., 28 :62-65. A new species of Meleoma. Ent. News, 7:95-96. New California spiders. J. New York Ent. Soc., ^:88-91. Additions to the list of Long Island spiders. J. New York Ent. Soc., .4:190-192. A new species of Gomphus. J. New York Ent. Soc., 5:193-195. Indiana caves and their fauna. Rep. Indiana Geol. Surv., 21 :202-205. New North American spiders and mites. Trans. Ameri- can Ent. Soc., 23:57-77. 1897 Some notes on the flora and fauna of Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. American Nat., 51:377-392 (R. E. Call). Descriptions of new spiders. Canadian Ent., ^5:193-197. A Leucochrysa from Florida. Ent. News, 7:183. Descriptions of two new smynthurids. J. New York Ent. Soc., 5:33-34. Some Syrphidae from Long Island. J. New York Ent. Soc., 5:40-41. 88 Psyche [September Three new species of Chrysopidae. Proc. Ent. Soc. Washington, ^:173-175. New North American neuropteroid insects. Trans. Amer- ican Ent. Soc., 1898 Bibliography of the more important contributions to American economic entomology. The more important writ- ings published between June 30, 1888, and December 30, 1896. United States Div. Ent., 273 pp. ‘‘Araneae Hungariae”, by C. Chyzer and L. Kulczynski. A Review. Canadian Ent., S0:16S. Some new spiders. Canadian Ent., 185-188. Three myrmecophilous mites. Canadian Ent., JP;265-266. Arachnida from the Malaspina Glacier, Alaska. Ent. News, 9:16. Concerning the names of some common spiders. Ent. News, i^:141-142. Some Mexican Phalangida. J. New York Ent. Soc., ^:181-182. Arachnida from Baja California and other parts of Mexico. Proc. California Acad. Sci., 1 :205-308. pis. 13-17. Descriptions of new North American neuropteroid in- sects. Trans. American Ent. Soc., ;^5:199-218. 1899 Reports upon the insects, spiders, mites, and myriapods collected by Dr. L. Stejneger and Mr. G. E. H. Barrett- Hamilton on the Commander Islands. Report of the fur- seal investigations, 1896-1897, Pt. 4, Appendix C, p. 328, Edited by W. H. Ashmead. A classification of the North American Myrmeleonidae. Canadian Ent., 31 :67-71. Spiders in bananas. Ent. News, 10:44-45. New Myrmeleonidae. Ent. News, 10:170-172. The psocids of an old snake-fence. Ent. News, 10:260- 261. The Smynthuridae of Long Island, New York. J. New York Ent. Soc., 7:193-197. Some spiders from northern Louisiana. Proc. Ent. Soc. Washington, J:188-195. 1954 j Nathan Banks 89 A new species of the genus Halarachne. Proc. Ent. Soc. Washington, 4 :212-215. An American species of the genus Caeculus. Proc. Ent. Soc. Washington, ^:221-222. Tarsonemus in America. Proc. Ent. Soc. Washington, 4 :294-296. A new solpugid from California. Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash- ington, ^:314-315. New genera and species of Nearctic neuropteroid insects. Trans. American Ent. Soc., 26 :236-260. 1900 Synopses of North American invertebrates. IX. The .scorpions, solpugids, and Pedipalpi. American Nat., 25 : 421-427. The red spiders of the United States. {Tetranychus and Stigmaeus) . Tech. Bull. United States Div. Ent., 5:65-77, 17 figs. Cotton insects in Egypt. Bull. United States Div. Ent., ^^:99-100. A list of works on North American entomology. Bull. United States Div. Ent., 2^:95 pp. On two genera of mites. Canadian Ent., 52:30-33. Some new North American spiders. Canadian Ent., 52:96-102. A new genus of Atropidae. Ent. News, 11 :431-432. ,Two new species of Troctes, Ent. News, 11 :559-560. A new species of Myrmeleon from Texas. Ent. News, 11 :596. Psocids at Light. Ent. News, 11 :601. New genera and species of Phalangida. J. New York Ent. Soc., 5:199-201. Papers from the Harriman Alaska expedition. Ento- mological results (4) :Neuropteroid insects. Proc. Wash- ington Acad. Sci., 2:465-476, pis. 27-28. Papers from the Harriman Alaska expedition. Ento- mological results (5) :Arachnida. Proc. Washington Acad. Sci., 2:477-486, pi. 29. Camphor secreted by an animal. Science (n.s.), 12:649. 90 Psyche [Septembei 1901 Synopses of North American invertebrates. XVI. The Phalangida. American Nat., ^5:669-679, 6 figs. Flies as carriers of disease. American Nat., 35 :406-407. The eastern species of Psychoda. Canadian Ent., 32 :27S- 275. A new genus of Myrmeleonidae. Canadian Ent., ^2:329- 330. A new ascalaphid from the United States. Ent. News, 7^:172. Notes on some spiders of Walkenaer, Koch and others. J. New York Ent. Soc., P:182-189. Some Arachnida from New Mexico. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 5:103-106. 1933 Entomological investigations on the spike disease of sondal (9). Neuroptera. Indian Forest Rec., Ent. Ser., 18:1-4. New Psammocharidae from the United States. Psyche, 40:1-19. 106 Psyche [September 1934 The Psammocharidae of the Philippines. Proc. Ameri- can Acad. Arts and Sci., 1-117. Supplementary neuropteroid insects from Mt. Kinabalu, Borneo. 38. J. Fed. Malay States Mus., 17:567-578, 23 figs. 1935 A few new North American Neuroptera. Psyche, ^^:53- 57. The males of certain Priocnemis (Psammocharidae). Psyche, J^2 :1Q2. Metr atrichia from New England (Scenopinidae) . Psyche, .4-^:162. 1936 Four new Trichoptera from the United States. Arbeit. Morph. Tax. Ent. Berlin-Dahlem, 5:265-268. In “The Development of Harvard University”, 1869-1929. Notes concerning the history and contents of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. The Entomological collection. Cambridge, 60-62 (S. E. Morison). Trichoptera from the Fiji Islands. Psyche, 45:29-36. Notes on some Hydropsychidae. Psyche, 45:126-130. 1937 Neuropteroid insects from Formosa. Philippine J. Sci., 5^:255-291, 3 pis. Philippine neuropteroid insects. Philippine J. Sci., 55: 125-174, 6 pis. 1938 Notes on native Myrmeleonidae. Ann. Ent. Soc. Ameri- ca, 31 :413-430. New Chrysopidae and species new to the United States. Canadian Ent., 70:118-122. A new myrmeleonid from Yucatan. Fauna of the caves of Yucatan. Publ. Carnegie Inst. Washington, No. 491:235. Antillean Ascalaphidae. J. Agric. Univ. Puerto Rico, ;2^:177-180. Further neuropteroid insects from Malaya. J. Fed. Malay States Mus., 15:220-235. Zoological results of the George Vanderbilt African ex- 1954] Nathan Banks 107 pedition, 1934. Part 9. The neuropteroid insects. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., Philadelphia, 90:5-9. Two new genera of Myrmeleonidae. Proc. Ent. Soc. Washington, 4^:125-129. Some Psammocharidae from Singapore. Proc. Ent. Soc. Washington, 40 :236-249. New native neuropteroid insects. Psyche, 45:72-78. A new genus of Perlidae. Psyche, 45:136-137. New West Indian neuropteroid insects. Revista Ent., 9 :285-304. New West Indian Psammocharidae. Mem. Soc. Cubana Hist. Nat., 12:245-252. 1939 New genera and species of neuropteroid insects. Bull. Mus. Comp. ZooL, 85 :439-504, 9 pis. Notes and descriptions of native Psammocharidae. Ca- nadian Ent., 71 :225-231. On some new and previously-known Neuroptera in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Phila- delphia. Notulae Naturae, Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 32:1-5. Neuropteroid insects from the Philippines. Philippine J. Sci., 5P:133-145, 1 pi. Notes and descriptions of Oriental Oestropsychinae (Trichoptera) . Psyche, 45:52-61. Concerning CMoropeWa (Perlidae). Psyche, 45:167-168. 1940 Some Psammocharidae from Madagascar (Hymenop- tera). Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, 5^:335-362, 11 figs. Report on certain groups of neuropteroid insects from Szechwan, China. Proc. United States Nat. Mus., 88, 3079: 173-220, 4 pis. New Chrysopidae from Australia. Psyche, 47:129-135. 1941 A new species of Cymothales (Myrmeleonidae). Ann. Carnegie Mus., ^5:187-188, pi. 13. 108 Psyche [September Some new and interesting Neuroptera in the American Museum of Natural History. American Mus. Nat. Hist. Novitates, No. 1143:1-5. A partition of our Cryptochilus, with some new Psam- mocharidae (Hymenoptera) . Canadian Ent., 7-5:119-122. Results of the Oxford University Cayman Islands bio- logical expedition, 1938, (Neuroptera). Ent. Mo. Mag.. 77:176-177. New neuropteroid insects from the Antilles. Mem. Soc. Cubana Hist. Nat., 1-5:385-402, 3 pis. Psammocharidae from the Solomon Islands, Prince of Wales Island, and New Caledonia. Occ. Pap. Bishop Mus., 15:231-245, 1 pi. Three new species of Myrmeleonidae. Psyche, 45:101- 104. 1942 Neuropteroid insects from Guam. Bull. Bishop Mus., 175:25-30. Notes on the United States species of Tachytes. (Hymen- optera: Larridae). Bull. Mus. Comp. ZooL, 55:395-436. 2 pis. Contributions toward a knowledge of the insect fauna o^ Lowov California. No. 4. Neuroptera: Myrmeleonidae. Proc. California Acad. Sci., 54:133-152, 1 pi. 1943 Neuroptera of northern South America. Part 1, Mega- loptera. Family Sialidae. Bol. Ent. Venezolana, 5:59-66. Neuroptera of northern South America. Part 2. Myrme- leonidae. Bol. Ent. Venezolana, 5:161-173. Notes and descriptions of Nearctic Trichoptera. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 55:341-369. Some interesting Neuroptera from Australia. Proc. New England Zool. Club, 55:99-103. New Neuroptera and Trichoptera from the United States. Psyche, 50:74-81. Two new genera in Psammocharidae (Hym.). Psyche. -50:82. 1954] Nathan Banks 109 1944 Neuroptera of northern South America, Part 3. Bol. Ent. Venezolana, 5:1-34. Psammocharidae (spider-wasps) : Notes and descrip- tions. Bull. Bus. Comp. Zool., 54:165-187. The Psammocharidae (Hymenoptera) taken at Kartabo and other localities in British Guiana. Zoologica, New York, ^5:97-112. 1945 The Psammocharidae (spider-wasps) of northern South America, Part 1. Bol. Ent. Venezolana, 4:81-126. Two new species of Psammocharidae. Psyche, 52:105- 106. A review of Chrysopidae (Nothochrysidae) of Central America. Psyche, 52:139-174. 1946 Studies of South American Psammocharidae. Part 1. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 55:308-525, 3 pis. Athysanus argentatus Fabr. in New England (Homop- tera). Psyche, 55:4-5. 1947 Studies of South American Psammocharidae. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 55:107, 1 pi. Seme neuropterous insects from Szechwan, China. Field- iana-Zoology, Chicago Nat. Hist. Mus., 31 :97-107. Synopsis of west coast Cerceris (Hymenoptera, Cer- ceridae). Psyche, 54 : 1-35. Some Acarina from North Carolina. Psyche, 54:110-141, 6 pis. Some characters in Perlidae. Psyche, 54:266-291, 2 pis. 1948 A new species of Coryclalus (Neuroptera). Psyche, 55: 82-83. Notes on Perlidae. Psyche, 55:113-130, 3 pis. Chrysopidae (Nothochrysidae) collected in Mexico by Dr. A. Dampf (Neuroptera). Psyche, 55:151-177, 3 pis. 110 Psyche [September 1950 Notes and descriptions of western Chrysopidae (Neurop- tera). Psyche, 57:45-67, 2 pis. A new species of Limnephilidae from Maine (Trichop- tera). Psyche, 57:72-73, 1 fig. 1951 Notes on some New England Phryganeidae (Trichop- tera). Psyche, 55:20-23. CAMBRIDGE ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB A regular meeting of the Club is held on the second Tues- day of each month (July, August and Septem.ber, excepted) at 8:00 p.m. in Room B-455, Biological Laboratories, Divin- ity Ave., Cambridge. Entomologists visiting Boston are cordially invited to attend. BACK VOLUMES OF PSYCHE The Cambridge Entomological Club is able to offer for sale the following volumes of Psyche. Those not mentioned are entirely out of print. Volumes 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, each covering a period of three years, $5.00 each. Volumes 10, 12, 14, 17, each covering a single year, $1.00 each. Volumes 18 to 26, each covering a single year, $1.50 each. Volumes 27 to 53, each covering a single year, $2.00. Volumes 54 to 60, each covering a single year, $3.00. Orders for 2 or more volumes subject to a discount of 10%. Orders for 10 or more volumes subject to a discount of 20%. All orders should be addressed to F. M. Carpenter, Editor of Psyche, Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, Macs. FOR SALE Classification of Insects, by C. T. Brues, A. L. Melander and F. M. Carpenter. Published in March, 1954, as vol- ume 108 of the Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Avith 917 pages and 1219 figures. It consists of keys to the living and extinct families of insects, and to the living families of other terrestrial arthropods; and in- cludes 270 pages of bibliographic references and an index of 76 pages. Price $9.00 (cloth bound and postpaid). Send orders to Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard Col- lege, Cambridge 38, Mass. PSYCHE A JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY Established in 1874 Vol. 61 December, 1954 No. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS The Ant Larvae of the Myrmicine Tribes Basicerotini and Dacetini. G. C. Wheeler and J. Wheeler Ill Preliminary Studies on the Hydracarina of Michigan: The Genus Limnesia, Subgenera Limnesiopsis Piersig and Limnesiella Daday. D. R. Cook 146 The Beetle Genus Paralimulodes Bruch in North America, with Notes on Morphology and Behavior (Coleoptera: Limulodidae). E, 0. Wilson, T. Eisner, and B. D. Valentine .... 154 The Type of Hesperia horns Edwards (Lepidoptera : Hesperidae). N. W. Gillham .... . ... . . 162 Index to Volume 61 163 CAMBRIDGE ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB Officers for 1954-55 President . . . E. 0. Wilson Vice-President . . . T. Eisner Secretary . . . N. W. Gilham Treasurer . ) • i • F. M. Carpenter W. L. Brown, Jr. Executive Committee S. K. Harris EDITORIAL BOARD OF PSYCHE F. M. Carpenter — editor C. T. Brues P. J. Darlington, Jr. J. Bequaert PSYCHE is published quarterly, the issues appearing In March, June, September, and December. Subscription price, per year, payable in advance: $3.00 to subscribers in the United States and Canada; other subscriptions $3.35. Single copies, 85 cents. Cheques and remittances should be addressed to Treasurer, Cambridge Entomological Club, Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. Orders for back volumes, missing numbers, notices of change of address, etc., should be sent to the Ediitorial Office of Psyche, Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. IMPORTANT NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS Manuscripts intended for publication, books intended for review, and other editorial matter, should be addressed to Professor F. M. Carpenter, Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. Authors contributing articles over 8 printed pages in length will be required to bear a part of the extra expense, for additional pages. This expense will be that of typesettin'' only, which is about $3.00 per page. The actual cost of preparing cuts for all illustrations must be borne by comlributors; the expense for full page plates from line drawings is approximately $8.00 each, and for full page half-tones, $10.00 each; smeller sizes in proportion. AUTHOR’S SEPARATES Reprints of articles may be secured by authors, if they are ordered before, or at the time proofs are received for corrections. The cost of these will be furnished by the Editor on application. The Sept., 1954, Psyche (Vol. 61, No. 3) was mailed November 12, 1954 E.tTON PRESS INC., WATERTOWN, MASS. THE ANT LARVAE OF THE MYRMICINE TRIBES BASICEROTINI AND DACETINI By George C. Wheeler and Jeanette Wheeler Department of Biology, University of North Dakota We have treated these two tribes together because they were considered as one tribe (Dacetini) by Emery (1922) and by Wheeler (1922). Recently Brown^ (1949) sep- arated out several genera to form a new tribe Basicerotini. Our studies of the larvae of three of these genera corrobo- rate this separation, for they differ as a group from the Dacetini (as restricted by Brown) in body hairs, mandibles and maxillae. However, one might with equal justification split the larvae of the Dacetini {sensu strictiore) into three groups, which would differ from each other to at least as great a degree. Tribe Basicerotini Brown This tribe comprises some three dozen species in seven genera: Basiceros, Aspididris, Creightonidris, Rhopaloth- rix, Octostruma, Heptastruma and Talaridris, About half the species are in Rhopalothrix, which is Neotropical, Indo- malayan, Papuan and Australian ; the remaining genera are strictly Neotropical. The larvae of the Basicerotini are a homogeneous group, if one can apply that adjective to only two types, for the larvae of Basiceros and Aspididris are generically indistin- guishable. The tribe may be characterized as follows: — Moderately stout. Thorax and first two abdominal somites strongly curved ventrally. Anus ventral. Somites distinct on the anterior half, indistinct on the posterior. Spiracles small. Body hairs numerous; short to long; uni- 111 112 Psyche [December formly distributed (except that some part of the midventral surface is naked), denticulate and of two types: (1) short and flexible; (2) a few long and slightly curved or flexible. Cranium vaguely subhexagonal in anterior view, but with the occipital border impressed at the middle. Clypeus bulg- ing. Antennae minute. Head hairs long, flexible and den- ticulate. Ventral border of labrum spinulose, with two or three sensilla; posterior surface spinulose. Mandibles rather long and narrow, slightly curved medially; with one apical tooth and two teeth on the inner border; some part of the surface furnished with a few spinules or den- ticles. Each maxilla divided into two parts by a trans- verse lateral impression, the basal half swollen laterally and bearing the palp, the distal spinulose (at least in part) and bearing the galea; palp and galea digitiform. Labium with all surfaces spinulose; palp a low knob bearing five sensilla; an isolated sensillum between each palp and the opening of the sericteries ; the latter a short transverse slit. Hypopharynx spinulose. Genus Basiceros Schulz Moderately stout. No neck, but thorax and first two abdominal somites strongly curved ventrally. Body hairs moderately numerous, of at least two types: (1) short, denticulate and flexible; (2) moderately long, denticulate and slightly curved. Labrum trilobed. Mandibles with two very stout medial teeth on the inner border; basal third of inner surface with minute spinules in arcuate subtransverse rows. Maxillae large; palp with four apical sensilla. Labium large. Basiceros sp. (PL 10, figs. 16 and 17) Body moderately stout; diameter greatest at abdominal somite iv, decreasing gradually to i, then increasing slightly to the mesothorax; thorax and first two abdominal somites strongly curved ventrally. Anus ventral. Spiracles small, mesothoracic slightly larger than the rest. Integument of ventral surface of thorax with spinules in transverse rows. Body hairs moderately numerous and uniformly 1954] Wheeler and Wheeler — Bosicerotini and Dacetini Ant Larvae 113 distributed. Of at least two types : (1) denticulate, flexible, short (about 0.16 mm), without alveolus and articular membrane, probably the more abundant type; (2) den- ticulate, slightly curved, moderately long (about 0.25 mm), with alveolus and articular membrane. Cranium vaguely subhexagonal in anterior view; a third broader than long; occipital border impressed at the middle ; genae and clypeus numerous subtransverse rows; posterior surface of each of which bears a spinule. Head hairs moderately numerous, long (0.108-0.26 mm), flexible and denticulate. Labrum short (breadth 2.3 times length), trilobed, anterior sur- face of each lateral lobe with eleven minute hairs and/or sensilla, ventral border of each lateral lobe with two con- tiguous sensilla; whole ventral border spinulose; posterior surface spinulose, the spinules near the lateral borders isolated and rather long, the remainder minute and in numerous subtransverse rows; posterior surface of each lateral lobe with a cluster of four sensilla. Mandibles moderately sclerotized; long and narrow, slightly curved medially; apical tooth slender, slightly curved and round pointed; two much stouter teeth projecting inward from the inner border ; basal % of the inner surface with minute spinules in short arcuate subtransverse rows. Maxillae large, with a lateral swelling bearing the palp and a para- boloidal apex bearing the galea; apex spinulose; palp digitiform with four apical sensilla (two encapsulated and two with a spinule each) ; galea digitiform with two apical sensilla. Labium large, with all surfaces spinulose, the spinules in short subtransverse rows; palp a low knob with five apical sensilla (two encapsulated and three bear- ing a spinule each) ; opening of sericteries a transverse slit. Hypopharynx spinulose. (Material studied : one dam- aged semipupa from “Hamburg Farm”, Costa Rica ; worker identified by Dr. W. L. Brown as B. sp. near singularis (F. Smith). ) Genus Aspididris Weber Moderately stout. No neck, but thorax and first two abdominal somites strongly curved ventrally. Body hairs moderately numerous, denticulate and of two types: (1) short and flexible; (2) long, curved or flexible, about a 114 Psyche [December dozen on each somite (except abdominal somites ix and x). Mandibles with two moderately stout medial teeth; a small patch of minute spinules on the medial surface just above the middle. Maxillary palp with five sensilla. Labium large. Aspididris militaris Weber (PI. 6, figs. 11-15) Body moderately stout; diameter greatest at abdominal somites V and VI, decreasing to I, then increasing slightly to the mesothorax, then decreasing rapidly to less than the diameter of the head. Thorax and first two abdominal somites strongly curved ventrally; dorsal profile c-shaped, ventral J-shaped. Anus ventral. Leg and wing vestiges present. Spiracles small, mesothoracic slightly larger than the rest. Integument of the ventral surface of the thorax and abdominal somites i and ii spinulose, the spinules in rather short subtransverse rows. Body hairs numerous and uniformly distributed except for a naked strip on the midventral surface of the thorax and abdominal somites I and II. Of two types: (1) short (about 0.19 mm), flex- ible, denticulate, on all somites, without alveolus and arti- cular membrane; (2) long (about 0.32 mm), curved or flexible, denticulate, with alveolus and articular membrane, about a dozen on each somite except abdominal somites IX and X. Cranium vaguely subhexagonal in anterior view; a third broader than long; occipital border feebly impressed at the middle; clypeus bulging. Antennae minute, each with three sensilla, each of which bears a spinule. Head hairs moderately numerous, long (0.09-0.193 mm), flexible Explanation of Plate 6 Rhopalothrix gravis Mann, Figs. 1-10, — 1, head in anterior view, X76; 2, left mandible in anterior view, Xl48; 3, left mandible in posterior view, X148; 4, immature(?) larva in side view, X32; 5 and 6, two types of body hairs, X185; 7, left maxilla in anterior view, X235; 8, left maxillary palp in anterior view, X470; 9, left labial palp in pos- terior view, X470; 10, profile of mature larva in side view. (After Men- ozzi, 1936). Aspididris militaris Weber, Figs. 11-15. — 11 and 12, two types of body hairs, X109; 13, larva in side view, X20; 14, left mandible in an- terior view, X95; 15, head in anterior view, X53. I 1 Psyche, 1954 VoL. 61, Plate 6 Wheeler and Wheeler — Basicerotini IS 116 Psyche [December and denticulate. Labrum bilobed ; breadth about twice the length ; anterior surface of each lobe with seven minute hairs and/or sensilla; ventral border of each lobe with two contiguous sensilla and numerous rather long isolated spinules; posterior surface spinulose, the spinules near the lateral borders isolated and rather long, the remainder minute and in numerous subtransverse rows; posterior surface of each lateral lobe with two isolated and a cluster of four sensilla. Mandibles heavily sclerotized; moderately long and narrow, slightly curved medially; apical tooth moderately stout, slightly curved and round-pointed; two moderately stout teeth projecting inward from the inner border; a small patch of minute spinules (in short rows) on the inner surface just above the middle. Maxillae with a slight lateral swelling bearing the palp and a paraboloidal apex bearing the galea ; apex spinulose, the spinules rather long and in short rows, elsewhere short and isolated; palp digitiform with one lateral (bearing a spinule) and four apical (two encapsulated and two with a spinule each) sensilla ; galea digitiform with two apical sensilla. Lab- ium large, with all surfaces spinulose, the spinules in short subtransverse rows; palp a low knob with five apical sen- silla (three with a spinule each) ; an isolated sensillum on each side of the opening of the sericteries; the latter a short transverse slit. Hypopharynx spinulose. (Material studied: two larvae from British Guiana, courtesy of Dr. Neal A. Weber.) Genus Rhopalothrix Mayr Thorax and first two abdominal somites forming a stout neck which is strongly curved ventrally; rest of abdomen much plumper; posterior end broadly rounded. Body hairs numerous, denticulate and of two types: (1) slender, flexible, short to moderately long; (2) stout, slightly curved, with hooked tip, in a narrow irregular band around the middle of each somite. Labrum small. Mandibles with two medial teeth, the subapical small, the proximal large; with three or four denticles on the distal half of the poste- rior surface. Maxillae large; palp with five sensilla. 1954] Wheeler and Wheeler — Basicerotini and Dacetini Ant Larvae 117 Rhopalothrix gravis Mann (PL 6, figs. 1-10) Immature: Length about 2.8 mm. Somewhat stout; thorax and first abdominal somite forming a neck which is strongly curved ventrally, remainder of abdomen with the dorsal profile curved and the ventral nearly straight; posterior end broadly rounded. Anus ventral, with a dis- tinct posterior lip. Spiracles rather small. Integument of the ventral surface of the thorax and abdominal somites I and II with a few short transverse rows of minute spi- nules. Body hairs numerous and uniformly distributed, except scarce on the ventral surface. Of two types: (1) slender, flexible, denticulate, short to moderately long (0.09-0.11 mm), without alveolus and articular membrane, on the dorsal and lateral surfaces, the more abundant type; (2) stout, of nearly uniform diameter, slightly curved, with a short sharp apical hook, denticulate, short to long (0.09-0.22 mm), with alveolus and articular membrane, in a narrow irregular band around the middle of each somite. Head moderately large; cranium somewhat broader than long, vaguely subhexagonal in anterior view, but with the occipital border strongly impressed at the middle; cly- peus bulging. Antennae minute, each with three sensilla, each of which bears a spinule. Head hairs few, long (0.09- 0.14 mm), flexible and denticulate. Labrum small, breadth twice the length, feebly bilobed; anterior surface of each lobe with 4 or 5 minute hairs and/or sensilla; lateral bor- ders with isolated coarse spinules; ventral border of each lobe with minute spinules in short rows and with one isolated and two contiguous sensilla; posterior surface of each lobe with two isolated and two contiguous sensilla; whole posterior surface spinulose, the spinules minute and in numerous rows, the rows transverse on the middle half. Mandibles heavily sclerotized, long and slender, slightly curved medially; apical tooth long and rather slender; with two teeth projecting inward from the inner border (the distal small and the proximal large) ; with 3 or 4 denticles on the distal half of the posterior surface. Maxillae large; each divided into two parts by a transverse lateral impres- sion, the basal part swollen laterally and bearing the palp. 118 Psyche [December the distal part spinulose, bearing the galea and having a conoidal apex; palp digitiform with five sensilla (two apical and encapsulated, three subapical and bearing a spinule each) ; galea a slender frustum bearing two apical sensilla. Labium densely spinulose, the spinules in short subtransverse rows; palp a low knob with five sensilla (two apical and encapsulated, three subapical and bearing a spinule each) ; an isolated sensillum between each palp and the opening of the sericteries; the latter a transverse slit. Hypopharynx densely spinulose, the spinules long and in numerous transverse rows. (Material studied: three larvae from Costa Rica.) Menozzi, 1936, pp. 84-85 : ‘‘Descrizione della larva matura di R. SchmidtP n. sp. Ipocefala, col corpo di forma subclaviforme, con la porzione anteriore stretta, subci- lindrica e coi segment! distinti, quella posteriore e rigon- fiata ed i limit! dei segment! non sono distintamente segnati. Di colore bianco sporco, col capo cremeo e con le porzioni sclerificate del pleurostoma, del margine an- teriore del clipeo, nonche delle mandibole e del peritrema degli spiracoli tracheal! di colore ocraceo piu o meno in- tense. Cranio visto dal dorse piu largo che lungo, oppure cosi largo che lungo se ad esso si comprende anche il labbro super lore, coi lati arrotondati e leggermente convergenti in avanti e col margine occipitale lievemente impresso nel mezzo; le lunghe setole di cui esso e provvisto sono fine- mente barbellate . . . Aree antennal! di forma triangolare, situate sublateralmente sulla linea medio-trasversale del cranio, fornite ciascuna nel mezzo di tre sensilli, al centre dei quali si erge una piccola appendice spiniforme che e ben visibile anche alia semplice osservazione binoculare della larva in toto. II clipeo appare circoscritto ai lati da un sottile ispessimento sclerificate, che per trasparenza sembra come una semplice piega tegumentale, ma che trovandosi in tutti gli esemplari esaminati, non mi pare dubbio che tali pieghe segnano effettivamente i margin! lateral! di esso. II labbro superiore, separate dal clipeo da un leggero solco, e tras verso, coi lati fortemente arrotondati alia base e col margine anteriore incavato nel mezzo. Dorsalmente esso e provvisto di un certo numero di sensilli chetici ; . . . ventral- 1954] Wheeler and Wheeler — Basicerotini a?id Dacetini Ant Larvae 119 mente la superficie e tutta cosparsa di piccoli process! tegu- mentali dentiformi, nonche di 6 papille bacilliformi collocate in numero di tre ad ogni lato della incavatura mediana del margine anteriore e di due aree sensorial! le quali, portano due sensilli ciascuna, di cui uno molto piu grande dell’altro. Le mandibole sono robuste, del doppio piu lunghe che larghe e tridentate. Le mascelle appaiono ciascuna come formate di un unico pezzo, di mode che lo sclerite stipetale, quello cardinale e il cardine non sono differenziati, o almeno, non sono riuscito, come tali, ad individuarli. Palpo mascellare un poco piu lungo che largo, provvisto di tre setolette, due nel lato anteriore ed una in quello posteriore, ed apicalmente di due vistosi sensilli a forma di flabello. Galea del doppio piu lunga che larga, gradatemente ristretta dalla base aH’apice, fornita distalmente di due sensilli bacilliformi che sorgono ciascuno da una rispettiva area rotondeggiante sclerificata e ben distinta dal resto della membrana cir- costante. Labbro inferiore piu lungo che largo, di un terzo circa sporgente oltre le mascelle, coi lati ed il margine anteriore pressoche diritti. Palpo labiale cosi lungo che largo, con una setoletta per ciascun lato, un sensillo placoide al dorso e due alFapice di forma simile a quelli del palpo mascellare. Tanto le mascelle che il labbro inferiore nella superficie orale non hanno alcuna setola o peluzzo, mentre in quella dorsale hanno un certo numero di peluzzi dis- scminati nel lato esterno delle mascelle e lungo la linea longitudinale mediana nel labbro inferiore. Tutto il corpo della larva e cosparso di setole eguale a quelle del capo, inoltre g!i urotergiti 1 — 8 sono forniti di tre aptochete ciascuno . . . Sistema tracheale olopneustico, con 10 paia di spiracoli, dei quali due paia nel torace e otto paia nell’ad- dome, situati nella regione pleurale di ciascun segmento. Lunghezza della larva naturalmente curvata mm. 2, 3 ; lunghez. del capo senza il labbro superiore mm. 0,62, larg- hezza mm. 0,93.” Fig. 2 (p. 84), larva in side view and head in anterior view; Fig. 3 (p. 85), details of mouth parts and a hair. Tribe Dacetini Forel This tribe (in the restricted sense) comprises about 300 species in 29 genera, according to Dr. W. L. Brown {in 120 Psyche [December litt.). The largest genus is Strumigenys with some 200 species; next is Smithistruma, with about 56 species; the other genera are quite small with fewer than ten species each. The tribe is essentially tropical but a few genera range into the warmer parts of the North Temperate Zone. The adults form “an aberrant and sharply distinct group belonging to the subfamily Myrmicinae, as is demonstrated by the structure of the abdominal pedicel and the male genitalia’’ (Brown, 19536, p. 465). They show an extreme reduction in the number of antennal segments ; head shape, head hairs and mandibles could be characterized as bizarre. Their larvae — in contrast — are quite ordinary and far less specialized than the larvae of many other ant genera. The larvae of the Dacetini are a heterogeneous group but not more so than most other tribes of Myrmicinae. Daceton is easily separated. Strumigenys and Smithis- truma are quite distinct from other genera, although they are not distinguishable from each other. The remaining genera in our collection, although more similar to each other, are still something of a melange. This grouping of the larvae confirms somewhat Brown’s recent (19536) division of the Dacetini into subtribes: Dacetiti (includ- ing Daceton) ; Orectognathiti (including Orectognathus) ; Epopostrumiti (including Epoyostruma, Mesostruma, Alis- truma and Clarkistruma) ; and Strumigeniti (including Strumigenys and Smithistruma). The tribe may be char- acterized as follows: — Explanation of Plate 7 Daceton armigerum (Latreille), Figs. 1-14. — 1, head in anterior view, X36; 2, left mandible in lateral view, X86; 3, mature larva in side view, X8; 4, left mandible in anterior view, X86; 5, head in side view, X36; 6-8, 10 and 11, bifid-tipped body hairs, X185; 9, simple body hair, X185; 12, labrum (left half of drawing shows posterior view, right half, anterior view), Xl85; 13, very young larva in side view (hairs omitted), X8; 14, young larva in side view, X8. Epopostruma sp. from Victoria, Figs. 15-19. — 15, left mandible in anterior view, X185; 16, head in anterior view, X109; 17, larva in side view, X30; 18 and 19, two types of body hairs, X185. Epopostruma sp. from South Australia, Fig. 20, left mandible in an- terior view, X185. Psyche, 1954 VoL. 61, Plate 7 122 Psyche [December Anus ventral. Spiracles small. Body hairs of the most abundant type bifid, and except in Clarkistruma, denti- culate. Head hairs few (20-30), except moderately nu- merous (52) in Daceton. Labrum small; posterior surface spinulose. Mandibles subtriangular in anterior view; with one apical and (except in Daceton) two medial teeth; no spinules or denticles on the surfaces. Maxillae usually without spinules (occasionally a few present). Palp a conspicuous protuberance bearing five sensilla (usually two encapsulated and three bearing each a spinule), except in Strumigenys and Smithistruma. Galea tall and rather slender. Anterior surface of labium spinulose; palp re- sembling maxillary palp but shorter; an isolated sensillum between each palp and the opening of the sericteries; the latter a short transverse slit. Hypopharynx spinulose. Brown, 19535, p. 467 : “No dacetine was ever observed to feed the larvae by regurgitation . . . Food delivered to and fed upon by the Australian dacetine larvae consisted only of Collembola.” Genus Daceton Perty Somewhat stout; thorax and first two abdominal somites strongly curved ventrally but not forming a neck; diameter greatest at abdominal somites iv and v, decreasing grad- ually to the anterior end and more abruptly to the posterior end, which is round-pointed ; dorsal profile C-shaped, ventral J-shaped. Body hairs numerous. Of two types: (1) short, nearly straight, with short-bifid tip, each branch recurved and bearing short denticles; (2) very few, widely scattered, simple, minute. Antennae moderately large; with three to five sensilla each. Head hairs short, simple or with short-bifid tip. Posterior surface of labrum with 16 sensilla. Daceton armigerum (Latreille) (PI. 7, figs. 1-14) Mature worker larva: Length about 12 mm. Some- what stout ; thorax and first two abdominal somites strongly curved ventrally but not forming a neck ; diameter greatest at abdominal somites iv and v, decreasing gradually to the anterior end and more abruptly to the posterior end. 1954] Wheeler and Wheeler — Basicerotini and Dacetini Ant Larvae 123 which is round-pointed; dorsal profile C-shaped, ventral j-shaped. Anus ventral. Leg, wing and gonopod vestiges present. Spiracles small. Integument apparently without spinules. Body hairs numerous and uniformly distributed, except for the naked midventral surface; the longest and stoutest hairs border this naked area. Of two types: (1) short (0. 105-0. 175mm) , nearly straight, with short-bifid tip, each branch recurved and denticulate; (2) very few, widely scattered, simple, minute (about 0.009 mm). Head small; cranium about as long as broad; vaguely subpen- tagonal in anterior view, with a small dorsal projection from the middle of the occipital border. Each antenna mounted on a drumlin-shaped convexity, with three (some- times four or five) sensilla, each of which bears a spinule. Head hairs moderately numerous, short (0.024-0.072 mm), simple or with short-bifid tip. Labrum very small, sub- rectangular, about twice as broad as long; anterior surface with a pair of ventrolateral convexities, each of which bears nine or ten sensilla and/or minute hairs; near the ventral border the middle of the anterior surface is coarsely spi- nulose; ventral border coarsely spinulose and bearing four to six sensilla; lateral borders coarsely spinulose; posterior surface coarsely spinulose near the lateral and ventral borders, elsewhere beset with a few minute spinules (except for the center which is smooth) ; posterior surface with about 16 sensilla. Mandibles heavily sclerotized; straight and subtriangular in anterior view, curved posteriorly; apex stout, straight and blunt ; inner border with two blunt teeth near the middle. Maxillae with the apex paraboloidal and directed medially, on its outer surface a patch of large isolated spinules; palp digitiform with five sensilla (one lateral, two subapical and two apical) ; galea a tall cone with two apical sensilla. Labium densely spinulose, the spinules isolated and rather large; palp a skewed peg, with one lateral and four apical sensilla; an isolated sensillum between each palp and the opening of the sericteries; the latter a short transverse slit. Hypopharynx with a few minute spinules in short transverse rows. Young larva: Length about 5.5 mm. Subcylindrical ; strongly curved ventrally; thorax with a pair of ventro- 124 Psyche [December lateral bosses on each somite. Segmentation distinct. Body hairs moderately numerous and uniformly distributed; hairs short (0.035-0.15 mm), with short-bifid tip. Other- wise similar to the mature larva. Very young larva: Length about 2.4 mm. Subcylindri- cal, but somewhat constricted at the mesothorax and meta- thorax. Anus terminal. Body hairs moderately numerous, except for large naked intersomitic areas; with short-bifid tip, short to moderately long (0.035-0.105 mm). Head hairs simple. Otherwise similar to the young larva. Material studied: numerous larvae from British Guiana. Genus Orectognathus F. Smith Shaped somewhat like a crookneck squash; thorax and first abdominal somite curved ventrally; diameter greatest at abdominal somite V, decreasing gradually toward the anterior end and more rapidly toward the posterior end, which is broadly rounded. Body hairs moderately nu- merous. Of three types: (1) short to moderately long, bifid, with the branches equal, short to long, denticulate and recurved at the tip, the most abundant type; (2) on the ventral surface, short to moderately long, slightly curved, distal half denticulate, usually with a minute hook at the tip; (3) a few on the dorsal and lateral surfaces of each somite, long, sparsely denticulate, with a minute hook at the tip and a short denticulate lateral branch near the base. Antennae moderately large, with two or three sensiila each. Head hairs short to long, fiexible, with a few Explanation of Plate 8 Orectognathus clarki Brown, Figs. 1, 2 and 4-10. — 1, head in anterior view, X67 ; 2, larva in side view, X20; 4, long body hair with unequal branches, X235; 5, denticulate body hair, X235; 6 and 7, body hairs with equal branches, X235; 8, left mandible in anterior view, X185; 9, left maxilla in anterior view, X185; 10, left maxillaiy palp in anterior view, X730. Orectognathus satan Brown, Fig. 3, labium (left half of drawing shows posterior view, right half, anterior view), X235. Clarkistruma alinodis Forel, Figs. 11-15. — 11, mandible in anterior view, X185; 12, head in anterior view, X105; 13, larva in side view, X37: 14 and 15, two types of body hairs, X185. PsYCHE;, 1954 VoL. 61, 1’late 8 126 Psyche [December denticles near the tip. Posterior surface of labrum with ten sensilla. Labium feebly bilobed; anterior surface with two or three slight swellings. Orectognathus clarki Brown (PI. 8, figs. 1 and 2 and 4-10) Mature worker larva : Length about 3.8 mm. Shaped somewhat like a crookneck squash ; thorax and first abdom- inal somite curved ventrally; diameter greatest at abdom- inal somite V, decreasing gradually toward the anterior end and more rapidly toward the posterior end, which is broadly rounded. Anus ventral, with a small posterior lip. Leg and wing vestiges distinct. Spiracles small. Integument of the ventral surface of the thorax and abdominal somites I and II and of the dorsal surface of a few posterior somites with a few transverse rows of minute spinules. Body hairs moderately numerous. Of three types: (1) short to mod- erately long (0.07-0.14 mm), bifid, with the branches short to long, equal, denticulate and recurved at the tip, on the lateral and dorsal surfaces, the most abundant type; (2) on the ventral surface, short to moderately long (0.07- 0.175 mm), slightly curved, distal half denticulate, usually with a minute hook at the tip; (3) a few (about eight) on the dorsal and lateral surfaces of each somite, long (0.175-0.245 mm), sparsely denticulate, with a minute hook at the tip and a short denticulate lateral branch near the base. Cranium vaguely subhexagonal in anterior view, scarcely broader than long. Antennae with two or three sensilla, each bearing a spinule. Head hairs few, short to long (0.035-0.175 mm), flexible, with a few denticles near the tip. Labrum small; subrectangular, width twice the length ; with a median impression of the ventral border which extends as a trough onto the anterior surface; an- terior surface of each half with four minute hairs and/or sensilla ; lateral borders with a few isolated spinules ; ven- tral border with minute spinules and two contiguous sen- silla; posterior surface smooth near the ventral bordm% elsewhere spinulose, the spinules minute and in short trans- verse rows medially, but isolated laterally; posterior surface with about 10 sensilla. Mandibles heavily sclerotized. 1954] Wheeler and Wheeler — BasiceroLini and Dacetini AnL Larvae 127 subtriangular in anterior view; body curved medially and produced inward to form a blade which bears two stout teeth on its inner border. Maxillae with the apex para- boloidal and directed medially; palp chair-shaped with five sensilla (two apical and bearing a minute spinule each, two subapical and encapsulated, one lateral and bearing a large spinule) ; galea conical with two apical sensilla. Labium feebly bilobed, anterior surface with three slight swellings (one basal and an anteroventral on each side) ; anterior surface densely spinulose, the spinules minute and in short transverse rows ; palp similar to maxillary palp but shorter ; an isolated sensillum between each palp and the opening of the sericteries; the latter a short transverse slit in a ventral depression. Hypopharynx spinulose, the spinules minute and in moderately long transverse rows. Very young larva: Length about 1.4 mm. Subcylindri- cal; hairs seemingly more abundant; otherwise very similar to the mature larva. Material studied: 18 larvae from Victoria (Australia) ; courtesy of Dr. W. L. Brown, who believes that the larvae feed on Collembola (Brown, 1953b). Or'ectognathus mjobergi For el Apparently very similar to clarki, except cranium trans- versally subelliptical. (Material studied: 5 damaged in- teguments from Queensland.) Orectognathus satan Brown (PI. 8, fig. 3) Generally similar to clarki, except in the following details : -Head subcordate in anterior view due to a median impression of the occipital border. Spinules on the posterior surface of the labrum fewer and larger. Mandibles with the apical tooth longer and stouter, the blade shorter and narrower, medial teeth sharper-pointed. Maxillae with a few minute spinules on the apex. Anterior surface of labium with only two swellings and with the spinules longer but fewer. Hypopharynx with the spinules larger and in longer rows. (Material studied: a dozen immature (?) larvae from Queensland; courtesy of Dr. W. L. Brown.) 128 Psyche [December ^ Orectognathus versicolor Donisthorpe Mature larva: Length about 3 mm. Generally similar to clarki but differing in the following details: Mandibles with the apical tooth shorter and stouter and the blade narrower. Anterior surface of labium with only two swell- ings, the spinules moderately abundant; palp a skewed frustum. (Material studied: numerous larvae from Queensland and New South Wales.) Genus Epopostruma Forel Shaped somewhat like a crookneck squash; thorax and first abdominal somite forming a long and rather slender neck; metathorax constricted. Remainder of abdomen very stout ; dorsal profile C-shaped, ventral nearly straight ; seg- mentation indistinct. Body hairs short and moderately numerous. Of two types: (1) slightly curved, with the distal 2/3 denticulate, a few on the ventral surface; (2) bifid, with the branches denticulate. Antennae minute; with three sensilla each. Head hairs moderately long, flex- ible, with the distal half denticulate. Posterior surface of labrum with 12 sensilla. Middle 2/3 of labium raised into a ventral projection. ■Epopostruma sp. (PI. 7, figs. 15-19) Length about 3.4 mm. Shaped somewhat like a crookneck squash; thorax and first abdominal somite forming a long and rather slender neck, which is bent ventrally to 90°; metathorax constricted. Remainder of abdomen very stout; dorsal profile C-shaped, ventral profile nearly straight; segmentation indistinct. Anus ventral. Leg vestiges indis- tinct. Spiracles small ; the mesothoracic the largest, diam- eter decreasing posteriorly. Integument of the ventral surface of the thorax and anterior abdominal somites and the dorsal surface of the posterior somites spinulose, the spinules minute and in short transverse rows. Body hairs moderately numerous; uniformly distributed, except for naked intersomitic areas. Of two types: (1) short (0.054- 0.185 mm), slightly curved, with the distal 2/3 denticulate, a few on the ventral surface; (2) short (0.07-0.11 mm), 1954] Wheeler and Wheeler — Badcerotini and Dacetini Ant Larvae 129 bifid, with branches denticulate, on the dorsal and lateral surfaces. Cranium vaguely subhexagonal in anterior view, occipital border feebly impressed at the middle. Antennae minute, each with three sensilla, each bearing a moderately long spinule. Head hairs few, moderately long (0.039-0.12 mm), flexible, with the distal half denticulate. Labrum small, twice as broad as long, bilobed ; anterior surface of each lobe with three minute hairs and/or sensilla; ventral border of each lobe with two or three sensilla and a few spinules; posterior surface of each lobe with three isolated and three contiguous sensilla; posterior surface spinulose, the spinules minute and in transverse rows. Mandibles heavily sclerotized, rather small, subtriangular in anterior view; apical tooth curved medially; two stout blunt teeth on the inner border. Maxillae large, apex paraboloidal; palp a skewed peg with one lateral (bearing a spinule) and four apical (two encapsulated and two bearing a spi- nule each) sensilla; galea a tall cone bearing two apical sensilla. Labium with the middle 2/3 raised into a broad ventral projection; anterior surface densely spinulose, the spinules in subtransverse rows; palp similar to maxillary palp but smaller; an isolated sensillum between each palp and the opening of the sericteries; the latter a transverse slit on the ventral surface. Hypopharynx with a few rather long rows of minute spinules. (Material studied: two dozen larvae from Burwood, Victoria, Australia, IX-12-51 ; collected by Dr. W. L. Brown and identified by him as E. sp. near qiLadrispinosa Forel.) Epoposiruma sp. (PL 7, fig. 20) Length about 3.6 mm. Quite similar to the Victorian species described above, except that the apical tooth of mandible is stout, straight and blunt. (Material studied: three dozen larvae from Aldgate, South Australia, VII-8- 50; collected by Dr. W. L. Brown and identified by him as a new species near quadrispinosa Forel.) Brown, 19536; The larvae of E. spp. were observed to feed only on collembolans. 130 Psyche [December Genus Mesostruma Brown Shaped somewhat like a crookneck squash; thorax and first abdominal somite forming a long slender neck, which is strongly curved ventrally; metathorax constricted; re- mainder of abdomen subovoidal. Body hairs sparse. Anten- nae small ; with three sensilla each. Head hairs minute and simple. Posterior surface of labrum with ten sensilla. Mesostruma laevigata Brown (PI. 9, figs. 1-3) Length about 4 mm. Shaped somewhat like a crookneck squash; thorax and first abdominal somite forming a long slender neck, which is strongly curved ventrally; metatho- rax constricted ; remainder of abdomen very stout and sub- ovoidal. Anus ventral. Spiracles small; the mesothoracic the largest, the diameter decreasing posteriorly. Inte- gument thin, flimsy and apparently without spinules. Body hairs apparently sparse. Cranium vaguely subhexagonal in anterior view; slightly broader than long, broadest at the antennal level; occipital border feebly concave. Anten- nae very small, each with three sensilla, each of which bears a spinule. Head hairs few, simple, minute (about 0.012 mm long). Labrum small; twice as broad as long; subrectangular, with the ventral corners rounded and the medial border slightly concave; anterior surface of each half with three or four sensilla near the ventral border; ventral border with two clusters of two or three sensilla each ; posterior surface of each half with three isolated and two contiguous sensilla; dorsal 2/3 of posterior surface spinulose, the spinules minute and in short arcuate rows. Mandibles with the apical half heavily sclerotized, sub- triangular in anterior view; apical tooth rather long and tapering to a rounded point, a narrow blade extends medial- ly off the anterior surface and bears two round-pointed teeth. Maxillae short and lobose ; palp chair-shaped with one lateral (with a spinule) and four apical (two encapsulated and two bearing a spinule each) sensilla; galea a frustum with two apical sensilla. Labium with numerous short rows of minute spinules on the anterior surface; palp similar to maxillary palp but shorter ; an isolated sensillum between 1954] Wheeler and Wheeler — Basicerotini and Dacetini Ant Larvae 131 each palp and the opening of the sericteries; the latter a short transverse slit on the ventral surface. Hypopharynx with a few short arcuate rows of spinules. (Material studied: a dozen larvae from Victoria, Australia; hairs broken off.) Genus Alistruma Brown Thorax and first abdominal somite strongly curved ventrally; dorsal profile C-shaped, ventral J-shaped; begin- ning with the anterior end of the prothorax the diameter increases to the mesothorax, decreases somewhat to abdom- inal somite i, increases to V and then decreases gradually to the posterior end, which is narrowly rounded. Body hairs sparse and moderately long. Of two types: (1) slightly curved, simple or denticulate, a few on the ventral surface; (2) mostly bifid (a few with one of the branches reduced to a denticle), the branches smooth or with very few denticles. Antennae small; with three sensilla each. Head hairs long, mostly simple (rarely denticulate). Posterior surface of labrum with 10 sensilla. Alistrutna n. sp. (PI. 9, figs. 4-10) Mature larva: Length about 3 mm. Thorax and first abdominal somite strongly curved ventrally; dorsal profile C-shaped, ventral J-shaped; beginning with the anterior end of the prothorax the diameter increases to the meso- thorax, decreases somewhat to abdominal somite i, increases to V and then decreases gradually to the posterior end, which is narrowly rounded. Anus ventral, with a small posterior lip. Segmentation distinct. Spiracles small; the mesothoracic the largest, the diameter decreasing posteri- orly. Integument of the ventral surface of the thorax and a few anterior abdominal somites and the dorsal surface of a few posterior somites with numerous short transverse rows of minute spinules. Body hairs uniformly distributed, moderately long and rather sparse. Of two types: (1) a few on the ventral surface, 0.036-0.16 mm long, slightly curved, simple or denticulate; (2) on the dorsal and lateral 132 Psyche [December surfaces, 0.1-0.21 mm long, mostly bifid (a few with one of the branches reduced to a denticle), the branches smooth or with a very few denticles. Cranium as broad as long; occipital angles smoothly rounded ; occipital border straight. Antennae small, each with three sensilla, each of which bears a spinule. Head hairs few, long (0.027-0.18 mm), flexible and mostly simple (only rarely denticulate). Labrum small and very short (breadth three times length) ; narrowed dorsally; feebly bilobed due to a shallow medial impression of the ventral border; anterior surface of each lobe with three or four minute hairs and/or sensilla; ven- tral border of each lobe with one isolated and a cluster of three sensilla; posterior surface of each lobe with three isolated and a cluster of three sensilla; dorsal % of poste- rior surface spinulose, the spinules minute and in short arcuate rows. Mandibles heavily sclerotized ; somewhat short and stout; subtriangular in anterior view; apical tooth short; with two teeth on the inner border (one small and subapical, the other large and central). Maxillae short and lobose; palp a skewed peg bearing five sensilla (two apical and bearing a spinule each, two subapical and encap- sulated and one lateral with a spinule) ; galea a cone bear- ing two apical sensilla. Labium with the anterior surface spinulose, the spinules minute and in short rows; palp similar to maxillary palp but smaller; an isolated sensillum between each palp and the opening of the sericteries; the Explanation of Plate 9 Mesostrumn laevigata Brown, Figs. 1-3. — 1, head in anterior view, X95; 2, left mandible in anterior view, X185; 3, larva in side view (hairs omitted), X17. Alistruma n. sp., Figs. 4-10. — 4, left antenna in lateral view, X740; 5, head in anterior view, X95; 6, left maxillary palp in lateral view, X740; 7 and 8, two types of body hairs, X185; 9, left mandible in anterior view, X222; 10. mature larva in side view, X30. Smithistruma talpa (Weber), Figs. 11-18. — 11, head in anterior vdew, X130; 12, anchor-tipped body hair, X370; 13 and 14, denticulate body hairs, X370; 15 and 16, bifid body hairs, X370; 17, mature larva in side view, X43; 18, left mandible in anterior view, X235. Smithistruma nigrescens (Wheeler), Fig. 19, very young larva in side view, X43. Psyche, 1954 VoL. 61, Plate 9 134 Psyche [December latter a short transverse slit. Hypopharynx spinulose, the spinules minute and in short transverse rows. Young larva: Length about 1.4 mm. Similar to the mature larva, except in the following details: postanal lip large; body and head hairs shorter; palps and galeae shorter. Material studied : 20 larvae from Kallista, Victoria, Australia, IX-50; collected by Dr. W. L. Brown. Brown, 19535: The larvae feed only on collembolans. Genus Clarkistruma Brown Shaped somewhat like a crookneck squash; thorax and first abdominal somite forming a short and very stout neck which is bent ventrally to about 90°; remainder of abdomen much stouter, its dorsal profile c-shaped, its ven- tral nearly straight. Body hairs short, very sparse, stout, blunt-pointed and scarcely tapering. Of two types: (1) a few on the anterior portion of the prothorax and on the ventral surface, with denticles on or near the tip; (2) deeply bifid, with the branches strongly divergent and curved. Antennae minute; with three sensilla each. Head hairs long, stout, scarcely tapering, blunt, with denticles on and near the tip. Posterior surface of labrum without sensilla. Middle 2/3 of labium raised into a ventral pro- jection. Clarkistruma alinodis (Forel) (PI. 8, figs. 11-15) Length about 2.4 mm. Shaped somewhat like a crookneck squash ; thorax and first abdominal somite forming a short and very stout neck which is bent ventrally to about 90°; remainder of abdom^en much stouter, its dorsal profile C- shaped, its ventral nearly straight. Anus ventral. Spiracles small; the mesothoracic the largest, diameter decreasing posteriorly. Integument of ventral surface of anterior somites with numerous short transverse rows of minute spinules ; dorsal surface of last few abdominal somites with a few short rows of minute spinules. Body hairs very sparse, short, stout, blunt-pointed and scarcely tapering. Of two types: (1) a few on the anterior portion of the prothorax and on the ventral surface, 0.018-0.11 mm long, 1954] Wheeler and Wheeler — Basicerotini and Dncetini Ant Larvae 135 with denticles near and on the tip; (2) deeply bifid with the branches strongly divergent and curved, 0.054-0.1 mm long. Cranium subhexagonal in anterior view ; slightly broader than long; occipital border straight. Antennae minute, each with three sensilla, each of which bears a spinule. Head hairs few, long (0.036-0.1 mm), stout, scarcely tapering, blunt, with denticles near and on the tip. Labrum bilobed due to a wide and deep impression of the ventral border; breadth 1.6 times length; anterior surface of each lobe with three to five sensilla ; ventrolateral corners spinulose; ventral border of each lobe with one isolated and two contiguous sensilla; posterior surface ap- parently without sensilla but with numerous rather long transverse rows of minute spinules. Mandibles with the apical half heavily sclerotized; apical tooth long, stout, sharp-pointed and curved medially; inner border produced into a blade bearing two rather stout acute teeth. Maxillae with the apex paraboloidal ; palp vaguely chair-shaped with one lateral (bearing a spinule) and four apical (two en- capsulated and two bearing a spinule each) sensilla; galea a tall cone bearing two apical sensilla. Labium large ; middle 2/3 raised into a ventral projection; anterior sur- face spinulose, the spinules minute and in numerous arcuate rows; palp sim.ilar to maxillary palp but smaller; an isolated sensillum between each palp and the opening of the seri^teries; the latter a very short transverse slit cn the ventral surface. Hypopharynx with long transverse rows of minute spinules. (Material studied: twenty larvae from South Queensland; courtesy of Dr. W. L. Brown.) Brown, 1953& : The larvae feed only upon collembolans. Genus Struniigenys F. Smith Short and stout; prothorax short and directed ventrally; head ventral ; dorsal profile C-shaped, ventral feebly si- nuate; diameter of body increasing gradually from anterior end to abdominal somite V, then decreasing to posterior end. Segmentation indistinct. Body hairs moderately numerous and short to moderately long. Of three types : (1) on the ventral surface, few, denticulate, flexible: (2) bifid, with the branches denticulate; (3) anchor-tipped, with tortuous shaft, four in a row across the dorsum of 136 Psyche [December each abdominal somite i-v. Antennae small, with only two sensilla each. Head hairs short to moderately long, flexible and denticulate. Posterior surface of labrum with six sen- silla. Maxillary palp a low elevation bearing four sensilla. Labium with a pair of mammiform ventrolateral lobes, each bearing a palp which is a low elevation with four sensilla. Strumigenys louisianae Roger (PL 10, flgs. 1-6) Mature larva: Length about 2 mm. Short and stout; prothorax directed ventrally; head ventral; anterior end formed from the dorsum of the prothorax; dorsal profile C-shaped, ventral feebly sinuate; diameter of body increas- ing gradually from the anterior end to abdominal somite V, then decreasing to the posterior end, which is broadly rounded. Anus ventral. Leg vestiges present. Segmenta- tion indistinct. Spiracles small, diameter decreasing grad- ually from the mesothoracic toward the posterior end. Integument of ventral surface of thorax and first three abdominal somites with rather long transverse rows of minute spinules; a few shorter rows of minute spinules on the posterior surface of the last few abdominal somites. Body hairs moderately numerous, uniformly distributed (except on the naked midventral surface of the thorax and abdominal somites i-ili), short to moderately long. Of three types: (1) on the ventral surface of the thorax and of abdominal somites i-vi, few, denticulate, 0.027-0.126 mm long, flexible; (2) on the dorsal and lateral surfaces, 0.054-0.148 mm long, bifid, with the branches finely den- ticulate; (3) anchor-tipped, with tortuous shaft, about 0.165 mm long, four in a row across the dorsal surface of each abdominal somite l-v. Cranium vaguely subhexagonal ; slightly broader than long; middle of occipital border feebly convex. Antennae minute, each with only two sensilla; each sensillum bears a spinule. Head hairs few, moderately long (0.054-0.125 mm), flexible and denticulate. Labrum small and short; breadth 2.5 times length; bilobed due to a median impression of the ventral border ; anterior surface of each lobe with three sensilla; ventral border of each 1954] Wheeler and Wheeler — Basicerotini and Dacetini Ant Larvae 137 lobe with a few minute spinules and two contiguous sen- silla ; posterior surface of each lobe with three sensilla ; middle half of posterior surface densely spinulose, the spinules minute and in subtransverse rows. Mandibles subtriangular in anterior view, with the apical half heavily sclerotized; apical tooth long, stout, sharp-pointed and curved medially; with two sharp-pointed teeth on the inner border. Maxillae short and lobose; palp a low eleva- tion bearing four sensilla; galea digitiform, with two apical sensilla. Labium large; anterior surface spinulose, the spinules in short curved subtransverse rows; with a pair of mammiform ventrolateral lobes, each bearing a palp, which is a low elevation bearing four sensilla ; an isolated sensillum between each palp and the opening of the seric- teries ; the latter a very short transverse slit. Hypopharynx densely spinulose, the spinules minute and in numerous long subtransverse rows. (Material studied: two dozen larvae from Alabama and Mississippi; courtesy of Dr. W. L. Brown.) Wilson, 1953: The larval food is chiefly Collembola, but a few other arthropods are occasionally eaten (p. 481). “Larvae are fed by being placed directly on the prey. As many as ten or more may be piled at first on the same collembolan, and since they are active feeders they may wholly consume a small individual within several hours. The final fragments of the insect are held aloft, ponerine fashion. No case of ingluvial feeding of the larvae by the workers was ever observed, although occasionally workers were seen passing food in this manner” (p. 483). The life cycle was found to be: egg, 12 days; larva, 29 days; pupa, 12 days. (p. 491). Strumigenys australis Forei (PI. 10, figs. 8-15) Immature (?) : Length about 1.6 mm. Generally similar to louisianae, except in the following characters : Seg- mentation distinct. Spinules restricted to ventral surface of thorax. Body hairs — (1) length 0.009-0.12 mm, with- out alveolus and articular membrane; (2) shorter (0.054- 0.11 mm), with or without alveolus and articular 138 Psyche [December membrane; (3) as in louisianae. Cranium transversely subelliptical; breadth 1.4 times length; middle of occipital border straight. Head hairs shorter (0.029-0.09 mm). Labrum shorter and broader (breadth 2.8 times length) ; anterior surface of each lobe with four sensilla ; entire posterior surface spinulose, the spinules minute and in long subtransverse rows. Mandibles shorter and stouter; apical tooth long, slender and round-pointed; subapical tooth anterior, proximal medial tooth much larger. Labial palp with five sensilla. (Material studied: 10 larvae from Queensland, Australia; courtesy of Dr. W. L. Brown.) Brown, 1953b, p. 467 : The larvae feed only on Collem- bola. Strumigenys elongata Roger Length about 1.7 mm. Similar to louisianae, except in the following details: Body hairs — (1) occurring back as far as abdominal somite Vlil, shorter (0.018-0.12 mm) ; (2) shorter (0.014-0.12 mm) ; (3) slightly longer (about 0.18 mm.). Head moderately large. Head hairs shorter (0.036-0.1 mm). Apical tcoth of mandibles longer and slenderer. (Material studied: 10 larvae and semiouoae from Mexico, collected by E. 0. Wilson ; courtesy of Dr. W. L. Brown.) Explanation* of Platk 10 St nimigoiys louisianae Hofjor, Fifis. 1-6. — 1. head in anterior view. X105; 2. left mandible in anterior view. X185; 3. mature larva in .side view, X'*^8; 4-6, three types of body hairs. Xl8o. Strumigeuijs nidijcx Mann, Fig. 7, a deeply bifid anehor-tipj^ed liair. X185. Strumigenys australis Forel, Figs. 8-15. — 8. immature (?) larva in ventral view. XF3 ; 9. anchor-tipiied liody haii', X185; 10 and 11. liifid body hairs. X185; 12. denticulate body hair. X185; 13. left man lible in anterior view. Xl85; 14, head in anterior view, 15, immature (?'< larva in side view. Xd3. Basiccros .‘^p.. Figs. 16 and 17. — 16, head in anterior view. X^L 17, left mandible in anterior view. X86. ’We wish to thank Dr. W. L. Brown for material, for identificaticii'^ and for advice. "Dr. W. L. Brown regards schmidti as a synonym of gravis. Psyche, 1954 VoL. 61, Plate 10 13 Wheeler and Wheeler — Basicerotini and Dacetini 16 140 Psyche ' [December SUmmigenys leivisi Cameron Young larva: Length about 1 mm. Generally similar to louisianae. (Material studied: six young larvae from Jap- an; courtesy of Cho Teranishi.) Strumigenys nidi f ex Mann (PL 10, fig. 7) Length about 3.5 mm. Similar to louisianae, except in the following details: Mesothorax more swollen, abdomen less so. Body hairs — (1) occurring back as far as abdom- inal somite vii and covering all the prothorax, except the middorsal surface, longer (0.036-0.18 mm) ; (2) longer (0.054-0.148 mm) ; (3) longer (about 0.3 mm) and some- times deeply bifid, each branch bearing a single anchor- hook. Head hairs shorter (0.054-0.08 mm). Mandibles longer and narrower with more slender round-pointed teeth. (Material studied: a dozen larvae and semipupae from Fiji; courtesy of Dr. W. L. Brown.) Strumigenys perplexa (F. Smith) Length about 1.6 mm. Similar to louisianae, except in the following details: Spinules on the ventral surface of the thorax and first abdominal somite only. Body hairs — (1) occurring back as far as abdominal somite viii, shorter (0.036-0.087 mm) ; (2) shorter (0.036-0.09 mm) ; (3) usually on abdominal somites i-iv, rarely one or two on v. Head hairs shorter (0.036-0.092 mm). Anterior surface of each lobe of the labrum with four or five sensilla. (Ma- terial studied: numerous larvae from Victoria, Australia; courtesy of Dr. W. L. Brown.) Brown, 19536, p. 467 : The larvae feed only on Collem- bola. Strumigenys saliens Mayr Apparently very similar to louisianae. (Material studied: a single larva with hairs broken off, from “Rio Negro, Parana.”) Strumigenys n. sp. Length 1.9 mm. Similar to louisianae except in the fol- lowing details: Body hairs — (1) shorter (0.027-0.1 mm) ; (2) shorter (0.054-0.134 mm) ; (3) slightly longer (about 1954] Wheeler and Wheeler — Ba.sicerotini and Dacetini AnL Larvae 141 0.173 mm). Cranium transversely subelliptical; breadth 1.5 times length; occipital border feebly concave at the middle. Head hairs shorter (0.042.-0.1 mm). Labrum twice as broad as long; with four sensilla on the anterior surface of each lobe. (Material studied: 10 larvae from Malanda, Queensland, 2400', 4-XI-50, W. L. Brown.) Genus Smithistruma Brown Short and stout; diameter increasing gradually from the mesothorax to abdominal somite iv, then decreasing to the posterior end, which is broadly rounded; thorax and first abdominal somite strongly curved ventrally ; head ventral; dorsal profile c-shaped, ventral feebly sinuate. Segmentation indistinct. Body hairs moderately numer- ous and short to moderately long. Of three types: (1) on the ventral surface, few, denticulate, slightly curved; (2) bifid, with a few denticles on each branch; (3) anchor- tipped, with tortuous shaft, four in a row across the dor- sum of each abdominal somite i-iv, i-V or i-vi. Antennae small; with two sensilla each. Head hairs short to long, flexible and denticulate. Posterior surface of labrum with six sensilla. Maxillary palp a low elevation bearing four sensilla. Labium with a pair of mammiform ventrolateral lobes, each bearing a palp, which is a low elevation with four or five sensilla. Brown, 1953a, p. 43; “The larvae are whitish in color and rest motionless or nearly so in the brood chambers. They are well cared for by the workers, which feed them at least part of the time by placing them directly on top of freshly-killed springtails. In my particular colony of S. rostrata, I never once observed regurgitation from work- er to larva, but since my colony did not seem very healthy or vigorous, I would certainly not say that the larvae are never fed by regurgitation in nature.” Smithistruma talpa (Weber) (PI. 9, figs. 11-18) Mature larva: Length about 1.6 mm. Short, stout and turgid; diameter increasing gradually from the mesotho- rax to abdominal somite iv, then decreasing to the posterior end (which is broadly rounded) ; anterior end broadly 142 Psyche [December rounded and formed from the dorsum of the prothorax; thorax and first abdominal somite strongly curved ventral- ly; head ventral; dorsal profile C-shaped, ventral feebly sinuate. Anus ventral. Segmentation indistinct. Spiracles small, diameter decreasing slightly from the mesothoracic toward the posterior end. Integument of the ventral sur- face of the thorax and abdominal somites i and ii with short rows of minute spinules. Body hairs moderately numerous, short to moderately long and (except for a small ventral naked area on the thorax and first two abdominal somites) uniformly distributed. Of three types: (1) few, 0.018-0.072 mm long, on the ventral surface of the thorax and abdominal somites i-vi, slightly curved and denticulate; (2) on the dorsal and lateral surfaces, 0.018-0.072 mm long, bifid, with a few denticles on each branch, the most numerous type; (3) anchor-tipped, with tortuous shaft, about 0.125 mm long, four in a row across the dorsal surface of each abdominal somite i-vi; types 1 and 2 with or without alveolus and articular membrane. Head moderately large; cranium transversely subelliptical in anterior view, a fourth broader than long; occipital border slightly concave at the middle. Antennae small, each with only two sensilla, each of which bears a short spinule. Head hairs few, flexible, moderately long (0.054- 0.072 mm) and denticulate. Labrum small, breadth 2.7 times length ; bilobed, due to a median concavity of the ventral border ; anterior surface of each lobe with three sensilla; ventral border of each lobe with a few spinules and two contiguous sensilla ; posterior surface of each lobe with three sensilla; middle half of posterior surface spin- ulose, the spinules minute and in transverse rows. Man- dibles heavily sclerotized; subtriangular in anterior view; apical tooth long, slender, sharp-pointed and curved medi- ally; two sharp-pointed teeth on the inner border. Max- illae short and lobose; palp a low elevation bearing four sensilla ; galea digitiform, with two apical sensilla. Labi- um large ; anterior surface spinulose, the spinules in curved subtransverse rows; with a pair of mammiform ventro- lateral lobes, each bearing a palp, which is a low eleva- tion with four sensilla; an isolated sensillum between each palp and the opening of the sericteries; the latter a short 1954] Wheeler and Wheeler — Basicerolini ami Dacetini Ant Larvae 143 transverse slit. Hypopharnyx spinulose, the spinules in rather long transverse rows. (Material studied: two dozen larvae from Alabama; courtesy of Dr. W. L. Brown.) Wilson, 1953, p. 486: The food consists chiefly of Col- lembola, but a few other arthropods are eaten. Smithistruma brevisetosa (M. R. Smith) Wilson, 1953, p. 485 : ‘This species appears to be identical in food habits to Smithistruma rostrata” Smithistruma clypeata (Roger) Wilson, 1953 : The food of the larvae consists mostly of Collembola, but a few other arthropods are eaten (p. 486). The life cycle was found to be: egg, 14 days; larva, 25 days; pupa, 14 days (p. 491). Smithistruma dietrichi (M. R. Smith) Wilson, 1953, p. 487 : The larval food consists chiefly of Collembola, but a few other arthropods are used. Smithistruma epinotalis (Weber) Semipupa (?) : Length about 1.8 mm. Similar to talpa, but differing in the following details: Anchor-tipped body hairs slightly longer (about 0.15 mm) and occurring on abdominal somites I-IV only. Occipital border of cranium slightly convex at the middle. Head hairs shorter (0.036- 0.054 mm). Labial palps each with five sensilla. (Material studied : two damaged specimens from Costa Rica and Mex- ico.) Smithistruma missouriensis (M. R. Smith) Wilson, 1953, p. 486: The food of the larvae consists of Collembola. Smithistruma nigrescens (Wheeler) (PI. 9, fig. 19) Mature larva: Length about 1.6 mm. Similar to talpa but differing in the following details: Body hairs — (1) slightly longer (0.02-0.09 mm) ; (2) longer (0.063-0.088 mm) ; (3) longer (about 0.144 mm) and occurring on ab- dominal somites l-V only. Head hairs slightly longer (0.056-0.085 mm). Mandibles more slender. Labial palp with five sensilla. 144 Psyche [December Very young larva: Length about 0.84 mm. Hairs rela- tively longer; head and postanal lip relatively larger. Otherwise very similar to mature larva. Material studied: two dozen larvae from Cuba, collected by E. 0. Wilson; courtesy of Dr. W. L. Brown. Smithistruma rostrata (Emery) Young larva: Length about 1.4 mm. Generally similar to talpa except in the following details: Head relatively larger. Anchor-tipped body hairs longer (about 0.14 mm). Antennae moderately large. Anterior surface of each lobe of the labrum with four sensilla and a few oblique rows of minute spinules. Labial palp with five sensilla. (Mater- ial studied: two dozen larvae from Illinois; courtesy of Dr. W. L. Brown.) Wilson, 1953: “Essentially similar to Trichoscapa mem- branifera in details of . . . larval feeding and in the total absence of trophallaxis” (p. 485). The life cycle was found to be: egg, 9 days; larva, 31 days; pupa, 19 days (p. 491). Smithistruma schulzi (Emery) Length about 1.7 mm. Similar to talpa but differing in the following details:. Anchor-tipped body hairs longer (about 0.14 mm) and occurring on abdominal somites I-IV only. Head hairs shorter (0.027-0.054 mm). Anterior sur- face of each lobe of the labrum with four sensilla. Man- dibles rather small. (Material studied: three larvae from Brazil.) Smithistruma studiosi (Weber) Apparently similar to talpa. (Material studied: three damaged specimens from Costa Rica.) Smithistruma {W essonistruma) pergandei (Emery) Immature larva: Length about 1.6 mm. Similar to talpa, except in the following details: Body hairs — (1) slightly longer (0.027-0.1 mm) ; (2) longer (0.045-0.1 mm); (3) considerably longer (about 0.17 mm). Head hairs shorter (0.036-0.054 mm). Mandibles more slender. (Material studied: seven larvae from Virginia; courtesy of Dr. W. L. Brown.) 1954] Wheeler and Wheeler — Basicerotini and Dacetini Ant Larvae 145 Wesson, 1936, p. 173: “The larvae are fed by being placed on top of whole springtails.” Genus Trichoscapa Emery Trichoscapa membranifera Emery Wilson, 1953 : “Details of larval feeding seem to be sim- ilar to those in the case of Strumigenys. In addition, the Trichoscapa were never observed to participate in any sort of trophallaxis, either between workers or between workers and larvae” (p. 484). The life cycle was found to be: egg, 13 days; larva, 19 days; pupa, 19 days (p. 491). Literature Cited Brown, W. L. 1949. Revision of the ant tribe Dacetini: IV. Some genera properly excluded from the Dacetini, with the establishment of the Basicerotini new tribe. Trans. Amer. Entom. Soc., 75: 83-96. 1953a. Revisionary studies in the ant tribe Dacetini. Amer. Midland Nat., 50: 1-137, 3 pis., 10 text figs. 19536. A preliminary report on dacetine ant studies in Australia. Ann. Entom. Soc. Amer., 46: 465-471. Emery, C. 1921/22. Earn. Formicidae, Subfam. Myrmicinae. Genera Insecto- rum. Ease. 174: 397 pp., 7 pis. Menozzi, C. 1936. Due nuovi Dacetini di Costa Rica e descrizione della larva di uno di essi. Arb. Morph. Tax. Entom. Berlin-Dahlem, 3: 81-85, 3 figs. Wesson, L. G. 1936. Contributions toward the biology of Strumigenys pergandei: A new food relationship among ants. Entom. News, 47 : 171-174. Wheeler, W. M. 1922. Keys to the genera and subgenera of ants. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 45: 631-710. Wilson, E. O. 1953. The ecology of some North American dacetine ants. Ann. Entom. Soc. Amer.. 46: 479-495. PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON THE HYDRACARINA OF MICHIGAN: THE GENUS LIMNESIA, SUBGENERA LIMNESIOPSIS PIERSIG AND LIMNESIELLA DADAY^ By David R. Cook Department of Biology, Wayne University The genus Limnesia is represented in Michigan by mem- bers of four subgenera: Limnesia s.s., Tetralimnesia, Lim- nesiopsis and Limnesiella. Only the latter two subgenera will be treated in this paper. Both Limnesiopsis and Lim- nesiella have at times been considered to be distinct genera. However, most workers now look upon them as merely polyacetabulate members of the genus Limnesia. There has been some confusion between Limnesia {Limnesiopsis) anomala and Limnesia (Limnesiella) marshallae, the only previously described species belonging to these subgenera known from North America. It is hoped that a redescrip- tion of these two species will clear up this situation. In addition, a new Limnesiella is described from Michigan. Subgenus Limnesiopsis Piersig Limnesiopsis Piersig, 1897. Sitzungsb. Naturf. Ges. Leip- zig, 22/23:52. Subgeneric diagnosis: Genital acetabula numerous; claws with a series of three to five minor clawlets posterior to the two major clawlets; acetabular plates of male broadly joined at anterior and posterior ends. Limnesia (Limnesiopsis) anomala Koenike Figs. 1, 2, 7, 12 Limnesia anomala Koenike, 1895. Abh. naturw. Ver. Bre- men, 13:207. Linmesiopsis anomala Piersig, 1897. Sitzungsb. Naturf. Ges. Leipzig, 22/23:52. Limnesiopsis anomala Marshall (in part), 1932. Trans. Wisconsin Acad. Sci., 27 :346. ’Contribution from the Universit}' of Michigan Biological Station. 146 1954] Cook — Hydracarina of Michigan 147 Male: Length of body 1.3-1. 5 mm; length of genital field 0.43-0.46 mm; width of genital field 0.49-0.54 mm. Body rounded, integument soft; a pair of small sclerites present near posterior end of dorsum, these plates approxi- mately 0.07 mm in length; acetabular plates broadly joined at both ends, length of genital opening less than one-half length of genital field; genital acetabula numerous (55-65 on each side), two pairs of acetabula considerably larger than the others; apodemes of posterior border of third coxae complete. Palps large and powerful; the dorsal lengths of the pal- pal segments, in millimeters, varied as follows : P-I, 0.031- 0.040 mm; P-II, 0.224-0.240 mm; P-III, 0.184-0.204 mm; P-IV, 0.392-0.406 mm; P-V, 0.092-0.095 mm; peg on ven- tral side of P-II located on a slightly raised tubercle, peg projecting directly outwards (Fig. 7) ; swimming hairs present on third and fourth pairs of legs ; claws with minor clawlets present posterior to the major clawlets. Female: Length of body 1.4-1. 6 mm; length of genital field 0.35-0.37 mm; width of genital field 0.33-0.38 mm; width of pregenital sclerite 0.21-0.23 mm. Body, legs and palps similar to those of male except that they average slightly larger; 58-67 genital acetabula on each side; acetabular plates not united as in male, but able to open and close over the genital valves; posterior portion of genital field only slightly wider than anterior portion. Habitat: Most commonly taken in lakes but the author has one record from a permanent pond. Although this species is an excellent swimmer, it is often found crawl- ing about in cracks and crevices of submerged logs. Range: Marshall (1932) lists this species from New York, Wisconsin and Michigan. Limnesia {Limnesiopsis) anomala has been taken in only eleven Michigan counties. However, these are widely scattered and it is likely that this species occurs throughout the state. Subgenus Limnesiella Daday Limnesiella Daday, 1905. Zoologica, 44 :306. Neolimnesia Lundblad, 1936. Zool. Anz., 116:202. Subgeneric diagnosis : Genital acetabula numerous ; claws 148 Psyche [December without minor clawlets posterior to the major clawlets; small setae-bearing tubercles present on ventral side of fourth palpal segment. Limnesia {Limnesiella) marshallae (Viets) Figs. 3, 6, 8 Limnesiopsis anomala Marshall (in part), 1932. Trans. Wisconsin Acad. Sci., 27 :346. Limnesiopsis anomala marshallae Viets, 1938. Zool. Anz. 121:134. Limnesia hutchinsoni Lundblad, 1941. Ibid., 133:158. (non) Lhnnesia marshallae hundblsid, 1941. Ibid., 133:157. Limnesia marshallae Lundblad, 1952. Arkiv for Zool. (Ser. 2), 3:525. Male: Length of body 1.15-1.72 mm; length of genital field 0.27-0.35 mm; width of genital field 0.30-0.37 mm. Body rounded, integument soft; a single, median scle- rite, approximately 0.087-0.120 mm in diameter, present near posterior edge of dorsum; acetabular plates united at both ends, genital opening much greater than one-half total length of genital field ; outer margin of acetabular plates concave; 22-27 genital acetabula present on each side, these roughly grouped into two circles of small acetabula surrounding the two pairs of larger acetabula; apodemes of posterior border of the third coxae incom- plete, ending near setigerous gland of fourth coxae. Palpi swollen at distal end of second segment, peg di- rected posteriorly, similar to that found in Limnesia macu- lata (Muller) ; dorsal lengths of the palpal segments were: P-I, 0.035-0.041 mm; P-II, 0.192-0.216 mm; P-III, 0.132- 0.152 mm; P-IV, 0.282-0.335 mm; P-V, 0.059-0.074 mm; swimming hairs present on third and fourth pairs of legs; claws with only two major clawlets. Female: Length of body 1.72-2.13 mm; length of genital field 0.28-0.36 mm; width of genital field 0.23-0.31 mm; width of pregenital sclerite 0.21-0.23 mm; female similar to male except in size and structure of the genital field; acetabular plates not united, 22-23 acetabula on each side, these grouped as in male. Habitat: Usually found in lakes, often in rather deep 1954] Cook — Hydracarina of Michigan 149 water. This species has also been taken in bogs and per- manent ponds. Range : Known only from Wisconsin and Michigan. Lim- nesia marshallae has been collected in eight Michigan counties, but as in Limnesia anomala, these are widely scattered and it probably is statewide in occurance. Remarks : Limnesia marshallae was originally described from a drawing by Ruth Marshall of the genital field of the male. Marshall (1932) included drawings of the ven- tral view of a female, genital field of a male and provisional genital field of a nymph, all labeled Limnesiopsis anomala. Viets (1938) recognized that the male was distinct and set it up as the variety Limnesiopsis anomala marshallae. Since none of the subgeneric characters were illustrated, Viets could not know that it was really a Limnesiella in- stead of a Limnesiopsis. Lundblad (1941) described a fe- male from Wisconsin as Limnesia (Limnesiella) hutchin- soni. The present author sent a female specimen of Lim- nesia marshallae (Viets) to Lundblad and he found it to be identical with his L. hutchinsoni. The latter name there- fore becomes a synonym. In the same paper Lundblad also described a new species of Limnesia s.s. under the name of Limnesia marshallae. This name is therefore a homonym and Lundblad (1952) has renamed the species L. marshal- liana. One of the male specimens of L. marshallae (Viets) from Marshall’s collection, now in the Chicago Natural History Museum, should be designated as lectotype. Limnesia (Limnesiella) eggletoni n. sp. Figs. 4, 5, 9, 10, 11 Male: Length of body 0.88-1.08 mm; length of genital field 0.25-0.28 mm; width of genital field 0.26-0.31 mm. Body rounded, integument soft; sclerites absent from posterior end of dorsum; acetabular plates united, outer margin convex; 14-18 genital acetabula present on each side, these grouped into anterior and posterior sets with a wide area free of acetabula between ; posterior acetabular group arranged in the form of a hook about the large acetabula; apodemes of posterior border of third coxae complete; setigerous gland of fourth coxae located about 150 Psyche [December two-fifths distance between posterior ends of third and fourth coxae. Palp swollen near distal end of second segment, peg di- rected outwards; setae present on fourth segment but these not on well developed tubercles; dorsal lengths, in millimeters, of the palpal segments varied as follows: P-I, 0.036-0.041 mm; P-II, 0.116-0.128 mm; P-III, 0.095-0.108 mm; P-IV, 0.160-0.169 mm; P-V, 0.047-0.052 mm; swim- ming hairs present on third and fourth pairs of legs; claws with two major clawlets. Female: Length of body 1.27-1.39 mm; length of genital field 0.24-0.30 mm; width of genital field 0.19-0.23 mm; width of pregenital sclerite 0.16-0.17 mm. Female similar to male except in size, structure of the genital field and in having the setigerous glands of the fourth coxae much closer to the third coxae than in the male; acetabular plates not united, with 12-18 genital acetabula on each side, these arranged as in male; palpal segments averaging slightly larger than in male. Nymph: Length of fully grown nymph approximately 0.55-0.59 mm. ; length of provisional genital field 0.085- 0.091 mm; width of provisional genital field 0.123-0.128 mm. Provisional genital field with only two pairs of acetabula, apodemes forming a cross (Fig. 10) ; three pairs of setae present on provisional genital field ; palps resembling those Explanation of Plate 11 Fig. 1. Limnesia ( Limnesiopsis) anomala Koenike, ventral view, male. Fig. 2. Limnesia (Limnesiopsis) anomala Koenike, ventral view of third and fourth coxae, and genital field, female. Fig. 3. Limnesia (Limnesiella) marshallae (Viets), ventral view of third and fourth coxae, and genital field, female. Fig. 4. Limnesia (Limnesiella) eggletoni n. sp., ventral view, male. Fig. 5. Limnesia (Limnesiella) eggletoni n. sp., ventral view of third and fourth coxae, and genital field, female. Fig. 6. Limnesia (Lim- nesiella) marshallae (Viets), ventral view, male. Fig. 7. Limnesia (Lim- nesiopsis) anomala Koenike, palp, male. Fig. 8. Limnesia (Limnesiella) marshallae (Viets), palp, male. Fig. 9. Limnesia (Limnesiella) eggletoni n. sp., palp, male. Fig. 10. Limnesia (Limnesiella) eggletoni n. sp., pro- visional genital field, nymph. Fig. 11. Limnesia (Limnesiella) eggletoni n. sp., claw, male. Fig. 12. Limnesia (Limnesiopsis) anomala Koenike, claw, male. Psyche, 1954 VoL. 61, Plate 11 Cook — Hydracarina 152 Psyche [December of adults except that the peg is absent and the distal end of the second segment is not as swollen; dorsal lengths of the palpal segments were: P-I, 0.019-0.024 mm; P-II, 0.067- 0.078 mm; P-III, 0.058-0.064 mm; P-IV, 0.106-0.114 mm; P-V, 0.035-0.038 mm. Holotype: Adult male, taken in Nichols’ Bog, Cheboygan County, Michigan (T36N/R3W/ S2) on July 24, 1952. Allotype: Adult female, same date and locality as holo- type. Paratypes: 32 males, 33 females, 14 nymphs, same date and locality as holotype; 9 males, 11 females, 6 nymphs, same locality on July 13, 1952; 6 males, 10 females, col- lected in a temporary pond near Big Star Lake, Lake County, Michigan (T17N R14W/S25) on April 30, 1952; one male, found in Whitmarsh Lake, Chippewa County, Michigan (T45N R5W/S6) on July 29, 1949. Habitat : Usually taken in temporary and semipermanent ponds and bogs. However, they are occasionally found in small lakes. Range: At present this species is known only from the northern half of the lower peninsula and the eastern half of the upper peninsula of Michigan. Remarks: Limnesia eggletoni most closely resembles the South American species L. malacoderma Lundblad. How- ever, the new species may be separated from the latter by the position of the setigerous glands of the fourth coxae and by the fact that the nymphs have only two pairs of genital acetabula. The nymphs of L. malacoderma (and all of the known Limnesiella nymphs from South America) are polyacetabulate. The holotype and allotype will be placed in the Chicago Natural History Museum, paratypes will be deposited in the United States National Museum. References Daday, E. von 1905. Untersiichiingen uber die Siisswasser-Mikrofauna Paiaguays. Zoologica, 44:272-326. Koenike, F. 1895. Nordamerikanische Hjaliachniden. Abh. naturw. Ver. Bremen, 13:167-226. 1954] Cook — Hydracarina of Michigan 153 Lundblad, 0. 1936. Di’itte Mitteilimg iiber Wassermilben aiis Santa Catharina in Sudbrasilien. Zool. Anz., 116:200-211. 1941. Neue Wassermilben aiis Amerika, Afrika, Asien und Australie. Ibid., 133:155-160. 1952. Hydracarinen von den ostafrikanischen Gebirgen. Arkiv for Zool. (Ser. 2), 3:391-525. Marshall, R. 1932. Preliminary list of the Hydracarina of Wisconsin: Part II. Trans. Wisconsin Acad. Sci., 27:339-358. PlERSIG, R. 1897. Beitrage ziir Kenntnis der in Sachsen einheimischen Hydrach- niden-Formen. Sitzimgsb. Natiirf. Ges. Leipzig, 22/23:33-103. ViETS, K.arl. 1938. Tiber Hydrachnellae aus Uruguay, Zool. Anz., 121:131-136. THE BEETLE GENUS PARALIMULODES BRUCH IN NORTH AMERICA, WITH NOTES ON MORPHOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR (COLEOPTERA: LIMULODIDAE) i By E. 0. Wilson, T. Eisner, and B. D. Valentine Biological Laboratories, Harvard University The family Limulodidae was erected by Seevers and Dybas in 1943 to receive the staphylinid subfamily Ceph- aloplectinae and the trichopterygid subfamily Limulodinae. It includes a small number of species with body form con- spicuously modified for a myrmecophilous existence: body tear-shaped or oblong, head covered by the pronotum, base of the antennae protected by deep fossae, labrum in re- pose contiguous with the mentum, etc. These specializa- tions are of the type generally characterizing “loricate synoeketes”, ant guests more or less indifferently toler- ated by their hosts and protected from occasional molesta- tion by a shielded body form. Of the five limulodid genera recognized by Seevers and Dybas, the most specialized and obscure is Paralimulodes Bruch. This genus has hitherto been known only from four specimens of the single species, P. ivasinanni Bruch, taken with a colony of the army ant N eivamyrmex spegaz- zinii (Emery) at La Plata, Argentina in 1919. It was therefore a matter of some interest when the genus was recently rediscovered, this time in the southeastern United States. Living material was maintained with the host ant colonies in artificial nests long enough to record some as- pects of behavior, and enough preserved material was ob- tained to fill in most of the important detail inadequately covered by Bruch’s original description. New information obtained in this study is presented in the sections below. Distribution and taxonomic status of the North Ameri- can popidation. Over two hundred specimens, all appar- ently belonging to the same species, were collected by Wil- son at the following three localities in central and northern q^iiblished witli a grant from the Museum of Comparative Zoology at U’vard College. 154 1&54] Wilson, Eis7ier, and Valentine — North American Paralirnulodes 155 Alabama: Bryce Lake, Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa Co. [host N eivamyrmex carolinense (Emery)]; Hurricane Creek, near Peterson, Tuscaloosa Co. [host N. carolinense] ; King Cove, Bankhead National Forest, Lawrence Co. [host N. nigrescens (Cresson)]. The species has been tentative- ly determined as P. ivasmanni. Since syntypes of ivasman- ni are not available at present, we have relied on Bruch’s original description and detailed drawings. No difference could be found on this basis, and we feel confident in stat- ing that the two populations must be very close if not Text-figure 1. Paralirnulodes riding on the head of a Neivamyrmex nigrescens major worker. identical. Specimens have been deposited in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, and Chicago Natural History Museum. Morphology. (See figures. Most of the specimens used in this study were cleared with 10% KOH and stained with Chlorazol Black E, acid fuchsin, or fast green. Because of the minute size of the material, most of the examination was made under oil immersion lens.) Size extremely small, total length approximately 0.6 mm Antenna 8-segmented. Antennal fossa deeply excavated but nevertheless capable of accommodating only the scape. The antenna is otherwise well protected, being able to move freely between the prosternum and the concave ven- tral surface of the remainder of the prothorax. The ter- minal four segments are flattened dorsoventrally. A pair of what seem to be sensory pegs, one dorsal and one ven- 156 Psyche [December tral, project beyond the tip of the terminal segment. These are visible only under the best conditions of lighting and were apparently missed by Bruch. Two “eye-spots”, apparently nothing more than tiny optically light areas, are present near the outer lateral margins of the head. These are essentially no different from other such areas which occur sporadically on several other parts of the body (see pi. 13, fig. d), but may be significant in that they are larger and uniform in size and are evident at the same location in every specimen examined. Maxilla tripartite ; maxillary palp 4-segmented, the third segment greatly swollen and ovoid. The labium appears to be degenerate in comparison with that described by Seevers and Dybas for Cephaloplectus mus, although ad- mittedly this structure could be seen only in ventral view in our material. Two segments are visible, the distal one subglobose and with no appendages other than the palps evident. Segmentation in the labial palps is apparently obsolescent. The mandible consists of a well sclerotized piece, the distal portion of which is divided into a “molar” projection terminating in several sharp teeth, and a thin, nearly trans- parent “incisor area”, edged by numerous seriate denticles barely within the limit of light resolution. The incisor area has never been described in other limulodid genera but may have been overlooked due to its almost invisible structure. Paralimulodes does not differ much from Limulodes and Cephaloplectus in thoracic structure. Contrary to the claim of Bruch, the prosternum is not a distinct piece, but merges into the pronotum anteriorly by a pair of narrow arms. Posteriorly it is free and overlaps the mesosternum and anteromedian metasternal projection. The tarsus is two-segmented, the basal segment sub- Explanation of Plate 12 {Paralimulodes wasmanni Bruch; Lawrence Co., Ala.). — Fig. A, out- line, dorsal view, showing habitus. Fig. B, dorsal view, with abdomen distended by treatment with KOH. Fig. C, ventral view, abdomen also distended. (Sculptural detail not shown). Psyche, 1954 VoL. 61, Plate 12 0.2 mm. Wilson, Eisner and Valentine — Limulodidae 158 Psyche [I>ecember triangular in outline and partly overlapping the cylindrical distal segment. The pretarsus contains some detail not resolvable by the light microscope, but there is visible a single (?) irregularly shaped, nearly transparent distal pad flanked by at least two bristles. Claws in the conven- tional sense are lacking. Seven abdominal segments are visible in ventral view (see pi. 12, flg. B). Division in the anterior tergites is indistinct, so that correspondence with individual sternites is uncertain. Perhaps the most unusual feature of the ab- domen is the shape of the first six visible sternites. These are very wide and are produced dorsally to overlap in part the adjacent tergites. The dorsal sternital tips are pre- sumably what Seevers and Dybas refer to as “paratergites” in their general description of the limulodid abdomen. This peculiar modification in abdominal structure seems best interpreted as providing a sort of shingle-armor pro- tection for the lateral intersegmental membranes. Behavior. As noted previously, Paralimulodes occurs naturally with the army ants Neivaynyrmex carolinense and N. nigrescens in Alabama. Both of these species are abundant within the presently known range of the beetle. That Paralimulodes is truly host-specific for N eivamyinnex is suggested by the following observations. A colony of N. nigrescens from Hurricane Creek, found within fifty feet of the infested carolinense colony, was maintained for sev- eral days with the queen in an artificial nest. No Paralimu- lodes could be found with the thousands of workers, des- pite the earlier proximity of the two ant colonies. But when beetles were isolated from the carolineyise and placed in the nigrescens nest, they proceeded with little hesita- tion or opposition into the mass of resting workers. Twen- ty-four hours later they were still ensconced with their new hosts. When other Paralimulodes were transferred to Explanation of Plate 13 {Paralimulodes wasmanni Bruch; Lawrence Co., Ala.). — Figs, a-d, mouthparts in ventral view. Fig. e, ventral view of left antenna. Fig. f, aedeagus tube, ventral view. Fig. g, spermatheca, ventral view. Fig. h, tarsus, including only structures clearly visible with the light micro- .scope; terminal tarsal segment rotated to show pretarsus in dorsal view. Psyche, 1954 VoL. 61, Plate 13 Wilson, Eisner and Valentine Limulodidae 160 Psyche [December nests containing colonies of the non-ecitonine species Mono- morium minimum (Buckley), Crematogaster minutissima Mayr, and Camponotus pennsylvanicus (DeGeer), they completely ignored these ants and wandered aimlessly about the nest chambers. The Paralimulodes present a very bizarre appearance in life. When resting they superficially resemble mites. They are usually to be seen riding on the heads and ab- domens of the workers and only rarely run along the ground in a foraging column of the ants. On several oc- casions two were observed riding on the same worker and in this circumstance were positioned symmetrically on each side of the head or abdomen, a phenomenon already noted in some myrmecophilous mites (Wheeler, 1926) and in Limulodes (Park, 1933). When the ants are moving in columns the beetles re- main more or less stationary on single individuals. Only when the ants crowd together to rest do the beetles show much activity of their own. Then they begin to travel over the bodies of their hosts in light, rapid, jerky move- ments, climbing appendages, scurrying around curved body surfaces, and skipping freely from one individual to an- other. The ants do not seem to be bothered by this activity at all, and in fact show no sign that they are aware of their tiny guests’ existence. Once a beetle was seen to cross the extended antennae of two workers which had met and were palpating one another, and even this imperti- nence failed to evoke a response. Like Limulodes parki (see Park, 1933), Paralimulodes is a strigilator, obtaining its food by scraping organic matter from the cuticle of its hosts. On several occasions individuals were seen moving their mouthparts along the anterior gular rim and coxal insertions of resting workers. No ant brood was present in the nests at the time of ob- servation, so that it could not be determined whether the beetles confine their attention to the adults. Acknowledgement, The authors are indebted to Dr. H. S. Dybas for examining part of the Lawrence County series and making certain valuable corrections and sug- gestions relative to the foregoing section on morphology. 1954] Wilson, Eisner, and Valentine — North American Paralimulodes 161 Literature Cited Park, 0. 1933. Ecological study of the ptiliid myrmecocole, Limulodes para- doxus Matthews. Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer., 26; 255-261, fig. Seevers, C. H. and H. S. Dybas 1943. A synopsis of the Limulodidae (Coleoptera) : a new family proposed for myrmecophiles of the subfamilies Limulodinae (Ptiliidae) and Cephaloplectinae (Staphylinidae). Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer., 36: 546-586, 81 figs. Wheeler, W. M. 1926. Ants, their structure, development, and behavior. Columbia Univ. Press. 663 pp. 162 Psyche [December The Type of Hesperia horus Edwards (Lepidoptera: Hesperidae) . — Recently H. A. Freeman (1948, Ent. News, 59:203) placed horus in the synonomy of Hesperia metea licinus Edwards. He did not, however, have access to the holotype of horus which is a unique female in the collection of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Since Freeman based his synonomy of horus upon its facies, which are very unsatisfactory for a proper diagnosis, I felt that further investigation of the matter was warranted. I have now compared the genitalia of horus with those of metea and am convinced that Freeman was quite correct in placing horus as a synonym of metea licinus. The figure given is a camera lucida reproduction of the genitalia of the holotype of horus. — Nicholas W. Gill- ham, Harvard University, Cambridge. Ventral view of tlie genitalia of the holotype female of He.^pcria horus Edwards (Type 8975; M. C. Z.; Genitalic Preparation 323, X. Gillham). PSYCHE INDEX TO VOL. 61, 1954 INDEX TO AUTHORS Blickle, R. L. Tabanidae of New Hampshire. 74 Brown, W. L., Jr. New Synonymy of an Australian Iridomyrmex (Hymen- optera: Formicidae). 67 The Indo- Australian Species of the Ant Genus Strumigenys Fr. Smith; S. chapmani New Species. 68 Carpenter, F. M. The Baltic Amber Mecoptera. 31 Carpenter, F. M. and P. J. Darlington, Jr. Nathan Banks, a Biographic Sketch and List of Publications. 81 Cook, D. R. Preliminary Studies on the Hydracarina of Michigan; The genus Limnesia, Subgenera Limnesiopsis Piersig and Lim- nesiella Daday. 146 Creighton, W. S. Additional Studies on Pseudomyrmex apache (Hymen- optera; Formicidae). 9 Creighton, W. S. and R. E. Gregg. Studies on the Habits and Distribu- tion of Cryptocerus texanus Santschi (Hymenoptera ; Formicidae). 41 Gillham, N. W. The Taxonomic Identity of Melitaea (Athaliaeformia) mayi Gunder (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) . 16 The Type of Hesperia horus Edwards (Lepidoptera; Hesperidae). 162 Gregg, R. E. Geographical Distribution of the Genus Myrmoteras, In- cluding the Description of a New Species (Hymenoptera; For- micidae). 20 Michener, C. D. and W. E. LaBerge. A Large Bombus Nest from Mex- ico. 63 Pereira, F. S. A New Myrmecophilous Scarabaeid Beetle from the Philippine Islands with a Review of Haroldius. 1 Tarshis, I. B. Transporting Live Hippoboscids (Diptera). 58 Wheeler, G. C. and J. Wheeler. The Ant Larvae of the Myrmicine Tribes Basicerotini and Dacetini. Ill Wilson, E. O., T. Eisner and B. D. Valentine. The Beetle Genus Paralimulodes Bruch in North America, with Notes on Morph- ology and Behavior (Coleoptera; Limulodidae). 154 163 164 Psyche [December INDEX TO SUBJECTS All new genera, new species and new names are printed in Large axd Small Capital Tate. Additional Studies on Pseudomyrm- ex apache, 9 Alistriima, 131 Ant Larvae of the Myrmicine Tribes Basicerotini and Dacetini. Ill Aspididris militaris, 114 Baltic Amber Mecoptera. 31 Banks, Nathan. A Biographic Sketch and List of Publications, 81 Basiceros, 112 Basicerotini, 111 Beetle Genus Paralimulodes Bruch in North America, with Notes on Morphology and Behavior, 154 Bittaciis FossiLis, 36 Bittacus MINIMUS, 39 Bittacus succiNUS, 39 Bomhiis, 63 Clarkistnima alinndis, 134 Cryptocerus texanus, 41 Dacetini, 111 Daceton armigerum, 122 Epopostruma, 128 Formicidae, 9. 20, 41, 67, 68, 111 Geographical Distribution of the Genus Myrmoteras, Including the Description of a New Species, 20 Haroldius philippinensis, 1 Hespciia horns, 162 Hippoboscids, 58 Indo-Australian Species of the Ant Genus Strumigenys Fr. Smith: S. CHAPMANi New Species, 68 Iridomyrmex biconvexus, 67 Large Bomhus Nest from Mexico, 63 Limnesia (Limnesiella) eggletoni, 149 Limriesia (Limnesiella) marshallae. 148 Limnesia (Limnesiopsis) anomala, 146 Limulodidae, 154 Mecoptera, 31 Melitaea (Athaliaeformia) mayi, 16 Mesostruma Laevigata, 130 MATmecophilous Scarabaeid Beetle, i Myrmoteras karna'i, 23 Nathan Banks, A Biographic Sketch and List of Publications, 81 New Myrmecophilous Scarabaeid Beetle from the Philippine Islands with a Review of Haroldius, 1 New Synonym}^ of an Australian Iridomyrmex, 67 Nymphalidae, 16 Orectognathus clarki, 126 Orectognathus mjohergi, 127 Orectognathus satan, 127 Orectognathus versicolor, 128 Panorpa obsoleta, 34 Panorpa mortua, 35 Panorpodes hrevicauda, 32 Panorpodes hageni, 33 Paralimulodes, 154 Preliminaiy Studies on the Hydra- carina of Michigan: The Genus Limnesia, Subgenera Limnesiop- sis Piersig and Limnesiella Da- day, 146 Pseudomyrmex apache, 9 Rhopalothrix gravis, 117 Smithistruma brevisetosa, 143 Smithistruma clypeata, 143 Smithistruma dietrichi, 143 Smithistruma epinotalis, 143 S m it hist ru m a m issou riensis, 1 43 Smithistru?na nigrescens, 143 Smithistruma rostrata, 144 Smithistruma schulzi, 144 Smithistruma studiosi, 144 Smithistruma talpa, 141 Smithi