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BULLETIN 

OF  THE 

Brooklyn  Entomological 
Society 

VoL  XLII  1947 


EDITED  BY 

J.  R.  de  la  TORRE-BUENO 


PUBLICATION  COMMITTEE 

J.  R.  de  la  TORRE-BUENO,  Editor 
GEORGE  S.  TULLOCH  EWDIN  W.  TEALE 


THE  BUSINESS  PRESS,  INC. 
LANCASTER,  PENNSYLVANIA 


/TV3  ^ 

Vol.  XLII  FEBRUARY,  1947  No.  1 

BULLETIN 

OF  THE 

Brooklyn  Entomological 
Society 

NEW  SERIES 


PUBLICATION  COMMITTEE 

J.  R.  de  la  TORRE-BUENO,  Editor 

GEORGE  S.  TULLOCH  EDWIN  W.  TEALE 

Published  for  the  Society  by 

The  Science  Press  Printing  Company, 

N.  Queen  St.  and  McGovern  Ave.,  Lancaster,  Pa., 

Price,  75  cents  Subscription,  $3.50  per  year 

Mailed  May  28,  1947 


Entered  as  second-class  matter  January  21,  1919,  at  the  post  office  at  Lancaster,  Pa., 
under  the  Act  of  March  3,  1879 


The  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 

Meetings  are  held  on  the  second  Thursday  after  the  first  Tuesday  of  each 
month  from  October  to  May,  inclusive,  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum,  Eastern 
Parkway  and  Washington  Ave.,  Brooklyn.  The  annual  dues  are  $2.00. 


OFFICEES,  1946 
Honorary  President 
J.  E.  DE  LA  TOEEE-BUENO 


President, 
Vice  President 
OTTO  BUCHHOLZ 
Secretary 

GEOEGE  S.  TULLOCH 


E.  McELVAEE 

Treasurer 
E.  E.  McELVAEE 
280  Fourth  Ave., 
New  York,  N.  Y. 


Editor 

J.  E.  DE  LA  TOEEE-BUENO 


Delegate  to  Council  of  New  York 
Academy  of  Sciences 


EDWIN  WAY  TEALE 


CONTENTS 


NEW  INDO-AUSTEALIAN  LYCAENIDAE,  Wind  & Clench  1 

DIOSTEACUS  PEASINUS,  Steyskal  16 

NEW  CYMATODEEA,  Barr  17 

OCTHEPHILUM  FEACTICOENE,  Frost  18 

NEW  PTYCHOPTEEIDAE,  PT.  Ill,  Alexander  19 

BIOLOGY  OF  HYMENAECYS,  Esselbaugh  25 

ADDEESSES  AND  POSITIONS  OF  AUTHOES  30 

NEW  PAEATYNDAEIS,  Parker  31 

BOXELDEE  BUG  BITES,’’  Knowlton  33 

NOTES  ON  DOLICHOPUS,  Steyskal  34 

BOOK  NOTES,  J.  E.  T.-B.  & Eichards  38,  39 

PEOCEEDINGS  OP  THE  SOCIETY,  Tulloch  42 

VEEY  SPECIAL  NOTICE  44 


Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 


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BULLETIN 

OF  THE 

BROOKLYN  ENTOMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY 


VoL.  XLII  February,  1947  No.  1 


NEW  INDO-AUSTRALIAN  LYCAENIDAE 
(LEPIDOPTERA). 

By  Robert  G.  Wind,  Berkeley,  California,  and 
Harry  K.  Clench,  Cambridge,  Massachusetts. 

The  following  new  species  and  subspecies  have  come  to  our  at- 
tention during  the  course  of  research  on  the  Lycaenidae  of  New 
Guinea.  It  seems  advisable  to  publish  them  at  this  time,  so  that 
they  might  become  more  readily  available. 

The  material  is  largely  from  two  main  sources:  the  extensive 
collections  made  by  the  senior  author  in  Australia,  New  Guinea 
and  many  of  the  other  East  Indian  islands  over  a period  of  two  and 
a half  years;  and  the  large  number  of  Lepidoptera  (principally 
Rhopalocera)  collected  for  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology 
by  Herbert  Stevens,  in  the  Morobe  District  of  New  Guinea.  We 
wish  to  thank  the  authorities  of  the  American  Museum  of  Natural 
History,  and  particularly  Mr.  W.  P.  Comstock,  for  the  loan  of  ad- 
ditional valuable  material,  as  well  as  Prof.  W.  T.  M.  Forbes,  of 
Cornell  University,  for  making  available  to  us  that  institution’s 
specimens  of  this  difficult  group. 

The  genera  covering  the  species  presently  under  consideration 
are  on  a very  insecure  footing  and  will  require  considerable  re- 
vision, not  possible  in  the  present  paper.  Those  herein  adopted 
constitute,  in  our  opinion,  the  ones  most  widely  accepted  at  present 
and  those  least  likely  to  cause  confusion. 

Candalides  erinus  stevensi,  new  subspecies 
Upperside  : 

Male.  Both  wings  dark,  dully  shining  purple.  Fore  wing 
with  a narrow  costal  and  a moderately  broad,  dark,  marginal 
border,  thickest  at  the  apex.  The  hind  zving  also  has  a moder- 
ately thick  black-brown  border  on  costal,  outer  and  inner  mar- 
gins, becoming  faintly  scalloped  basally  on  the  outer  margin, 

1 


JUN2  1947 


2 


Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLll 


near  the  anal  angle.  Fringe  of  fore  wing  basally  brown,  out- 
wardly white;  of  hind  wing,  similar,  but  more  prominently 
white. 

Female.  Both  wings  uniformly  brown.  Fringe  as  in  the 
male. 

Underside  : 

Male.  Both  wings  grayish  white.  Fore  wing  with  a thin 
marginal  line  running  from  apex  to  inner  margin.  An  inter- 
rupted submarginal  line  parallels  this,  frequently  with  the 
apical  part  obscure,  and  always-  with  the  lower  (near  inner 
margin)  two  segments  moderately  swollen.  A post-discal  line 
also  runs  parallel  to  these.  It  also  is  frequently  obscure 
towards  the  apex.  Between  the  two  inner  lines,  and  on  the 
outer  margin  at  the  inner  angle,  the  ground  color  is  lightened 
to  nearly  pure  white.  Ftind  wing  with  the  marginal  line  as  in 
the  fore  wing,  but  slightly  thickened  at  the  veins.  A marginal 
series  of  hazy  spots,  frequently  fused,  is  inwardly  and  out- 
wardly bordered  by  white.  Basal  to  this  row  of  spots  is  a row 
of  faint,  V-shaped  dashes,  apices  basad,  extremities  joined.  A 
convex  post-discal  row  of  similarly  V-shaped  dashes,  more 
acute,  and  not  joined,  proceeds  from  costa  to  inner  margin. 
Four  basal  spots,  roughly  parallel  to  the  body  line,  are  placed, 
one  near  the  costa,  one  near  the  inner  margin,  and  with  the 
inner  two  alternately  a bit  out  of  line.  At  the  end  of  the  cell 
is  an  obscure  dash,  and  just  basal  to  that  is  a pair  of  dots,  below 
which  is  another  dot,  and  between  this  last  and  the  lower  one 
of  the  basal  series  is  yet  another. 

Length  of  fore  wing:  Male,  11-12  mm. ; female,  12  mm. 

Holotype,  male,  Wau,  Morobe  District,  New  Guinea,  April  4, 
1932  (H.  Stevens). 

Allotype,  female,  same  locality  and  collector.  May  30,  1932. 

Paratypes,  three  males,  same  locality  and  collector ; two,  April  19, 
1932,  and  one,  Oct.  2,  1932. 

Holotype,  allotype,  and  one  paratype.  No.  27629,  in  the  Museum 
of  Comparative  Zoology.  One  paratype  each  in  the  authors’  col- 
lections. 

Rejnarks.  Stevensi  differs  from  typical  erinus  in  the  thickened 
marginal  borders  of  the  male  above,  and  in  the  reduced  intensity  of 
the  lower  two  dashes  of  the  submarginal  series  on  the  fore  wing 
below.  In  the  typical  race  these  form  one  of  the  outstanding 
characters  of  the  under  surface  pattern. 

It  would  seem  that  stevensi  is  quite  local,  as  this  seems  to  be  the 
first  record  of  the  species  for  the  island. 


Feh.,1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  3 


Candalides  meeki  kunupiensis,  new  subspecies 
Upperside: 

Male.  Both  wings  pure  white.  Outer  margin  of  fore  wing 
as  far  as  Cih  very  broadly  black-brown,  extending  basad  on 
the  costa  about  half  way.  From  there  it  tapers  to  Cu2  (where 
it  is  about  one-third  as  thick),  and  sharply  disappears  just 
below  that  vein.  Both  wings  obscurely  shaded  at  the  base  with 
blackish  scales,  heaviest  on  the  hind  wing.  Fringe  of  fore  wing 
black-brown  opposite  the  black-brown  areas,  white  opposite  the 
white  areas ; of  hind  wing  white,  with  one  or  two  dark  scales  at 
Cui,  Cu2,  and  2A. 

Underside  : 

Male.  Fore  ming  white ; base  and  costa  pale  gray-brown. 
Outer  margin  very  narrowly  brown,  basal  to  which  is  a row  of 
tiny  brown  internervural  dashes.  Immediately  basad  of  them 
is  a very  heavy  band  of  black-brown  (more  brown  than  the 
corresponding  band  on  the  upper  surface),  running  from  the 
costa  where  it  is  thickest,  to  Cu2.  Cell  closed  by  a narrow 
brown  line.  Hind  wing  white,  with  a filamentous,  obsolescent 
marginal  border,  slightly  swollen  at  the  veins.  Immediately 
basal  to  this  is  a marginal  series  of  small  brown  dots,  one  to 
each  interspace.  A very  irregular  discal  brown  line  crosses  the 
wing,  segmented  as  follows:  one  just  outward  of  the  midpoint 
on  the  costa,  extending  to  Mi ; one  very  irregular  one  in 
M1-M3,  displaced  marginally ; one  in  Mg-Cui,  placed  slightly 
basad ; one  in  Cui-Cu2,  still  further  basad ; one  in  Cii2-2A  in 
line  with  the  one  in  Mg-Cui.  In  the  base  is  another,  much 
shorter,  transverse  line,  also  disconnected,  one  segment  on 
costa,  one  in  cell,  slightly  outward,  and  one  on  inner  margin,  in 
line  with  the  central  one,  but  angled  basad.  Basal  area  shaded 
with  pale  brown,  leaving  white  encirclements  about  the  seg- 
ments. On  the  inner  margin,  between  the  two  bands,  is  a 
small  brown  spot.  Fringe  of  fore  wing  brown,  white  at  inner 
angle ; of  hind  wing  white,  faintly  brown  at  vein-ends. 

Length  of  fore  wing:  Male  13.5-14  mm. 

Holotype,  male,  Mt.  Kunupi,  Menoo  Valley,  Weyland  Mts., 
Dutch  New  Guinea,  6000  ft.,  Nov.-Dee.  1920  (C.,  F.,  and  J. 
Pratt),  ex  coll.  E.  I.  Huntington,  Acc.  34,909. 

Paratype,  male,  same  data  as  holotype. 

Holotype  and  paratype  in  the  American  Museum  of  Natural 
History. 


4 


Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLII 


Remarks.  This  subspecies  connects  two  hitherto  geographically 
isolated  forms  that  have  long  been  regarded  as  distinct  species,  i.e., 
Candalides  meekd-  and  Candalides  arfaki,^  from  which  we  infer 
that  these  are  merely  extreme  subspecies,  with  kunupiensis  inter- 
mediate. The  markings  below  are  thinner  and  paler  than  in  arjaki, 
but  heavier  than  in  meeki.  Above,  the  black-brown  on  the  outer 
margin  of  the  fore  wing  stops  just  below  Cus  as  in  meeki,  and  does 
not  proceed  to  the  inner  margin  as  in  arjaki.  On  the  hind  wing 
above  the  shading  at  the  base  does  not  extend  to  the  anal  angle  as 
in  arjaki,  but  is  restricted  to  the  base,  agreeing  with  meeki. 

Candalides  m.  meeki  is  restricted,  so  far  as  known,  to  eastern  New 
Guinea.  It  was  described  from  specimens  taken  on  the  Angabunga 
River  (erroneously  stated  by  Bethune-Baker  to  have  come  from 
Owgarra — see  Jordan,  toe.  cit.).  Jordan  also  records  it  from  the 
Edie  River  (west  side  of  the  Herzog  Mts.).  In  the  Museum  of 
Comparative  Zoology  are  a number  of  examples  from  Mt.  Misim 
(5-6000  ft.),  not  far  from  the  latter  locality. 

C.  meeki  arjaki  is  apparently  restricted  to  the  Vogelkop.  There 
is  a series  in  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  History  from  the 
Angi  Lakes,  Arfak  Mts.,  Dutch  New  Guinea,  and  a specimen  from 
Dohunsehik  in  the  same  region.  They  agree  perfectly  with 
Bethune-Baker’s  excellent  figure. 

Candalides  grandissima  morobea,  new  subspecies 
Upperside  : 

Male.  Both  wings  shining  purplish,  with  a very  thin  dark 
border.  Costa  of  fore  wing  very  narrowly  bordered  with  black. 
Costa  of  hind  wing  narrowly  bordered  with  brown-black.  The 
inner  margin  of  the  hind  wing  is  white,  shading  into  grayish 
towards  the  anal  angle.  Fringe  of  fore  wing  blackish  white 
near  the  inner  angle;  that  of  the  hind  wing  dark  inwardly, 
white  outwardly ; dark  at  the  veins. 

Underside: 

Male.  Both  wings  white.  The  costa  and  outer  margin  of 
the  fore  wing,  and  frequently  the  whole  of  the  hind  wing  shaded 
with  light  ruddy  brown.  Fore  wing:  A submarginal  series  of 
angled  spots  runs  from  apex  to  Cu2.  A prominent,  curved 
post-discal  band  of  brown  runs  from  a point  three-quarters  out 

^Bethune-Baker,  1906,  Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  (7),  17,  p.  101. 
Figured  by  Jordan,  1930,  Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  London  5,  p.  60,  pi.  3, 
fig.  14. 

^Bethune-Baker,  1909,  Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  (8),  4,  p.  184, 
pi.  7,  fig.  4. 


Fel.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  5 


on  the  costa  to  C112  just  basal  to  the  submarginal  line.  A thin 
line  crosses  the  end  of  the  cell.  On  the  costa,  basal  to  the  post- 
discal  line,  are  two  brown  spots,  the  inner  one  placed  slightly 
basad  of  the  center  of  the  costa,  the  other  midway  between  it 
and  the  costal  end  of  the  post-discal  line.  Hind  wing.  A sub- 
marginal line  of  very  faint  angled  dashes  follows  the  margin 
completely.  These  dashes  are  very  faint,  on  close  inspection 
apparently  consisting  merely  of  concentrated  brown  irroration. 
Marginal  to  the  anal  few  dashes  are  several  small  spots,  one 
to  each  interspace.  The  one  between  Cu2  and  2A  is  duplex. 
A very  tortuous  post-discal  line  runs  from  two-thirds  out  on 
the  costa  down  towards  the  anal  angle  in  a shallow  curve. 
Towards  the  inner  margin  this  line  merges  basally  with  a 
spattering  of  brown  that  appears  to  be  without  any  definite 
pattern.  Near  the  base,  parallel  to  the  body,  runs  a series  of 
four  or  five  brown  spots,  frequently  quite  indistinct.  Between 
the  spot  nearest  the  costa  and  the  costal  end  of  the  post-discal 
band,  is  a brown  bar,  parallel  to  the  latter.  Immediately  below 
this  in  the  cell  is  another  elongate  spot.  As  was  mentioned 
above,  the  whole  of  the  under  surface  of  the  hind  wing  is  fre- 
quently overlaid  with  pale  brownish.  When  any  white  ground 
is  present  it  lies  between  the  post-discal  line  and  the  sub- 
marginal line,  near  the  costa.  The  general  appearance  of  the 
underside  of  the  hind  wing  of  this  species  is  quite  reminiscent 
of  the  North  American  Lycaenopsis  pseudargiolus  form  lucia 
Kirby,  although  on  a more  elaborate  scale. 

Length  of  fore  wing:  Male  14.5-17.5  mm. 

Holotype,  male,  Wau,  Morobe  District,  New  Guinea,  April  18, 
1932  (H.  Stevens). 

Paratypes,  one  male,  same  locality  and  collector,  March  15,  1932 ; 
nine  males,  Mt.  Misim,  Morobe  District,  New  Guinea  (6400  ft.)^ 
dated  respectively  as  follows:  Feb.  17,  March  5,  10,  25,  26,  April  8, 
1932 ; two,  April  13,  1933 ; one,  no  date. 

Holotype  male,  and  eight  male  paratypes.  No.  27630,  in  the 
Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology.  One  paratype  each  in  the 
authors’  collections. 

Remarks.  Differs  from  typical  grandissima^  only  in  minor  points. 
The  marginal  line  of  the  hind  wing  below  is  fainter,  and  the  brown 
discal  scaling  there  is  heavier,  and  the  costa  is  shaded  with  brown. 
The  post-discal  band  is  slightly  variable  in  length.  Concepts  of 
typical  grandissima  are  based  on  Bethune-Baker’s  description  and 
illustration  (loc.  eit.). 


2 Bethune-Baker,  1908,  P.Z.S.  1908,  p.  121,  PI.  8,  fig.  15. 


6 


Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLII 


An  additional  five  males  of  this  subspecies,  from  the  same  gen- 
eral region  as  the  types,  and  collected  by  the  same  person,  are  in  the 
collection  of  the  senior  author.  They  were  not  made  a part  of  the 
type  series  as  they  were  not  examined  by  both  authors. 

Philiris  diana  papuanus,  new  subspecies 
Upperside: 

Male.  Both  wings  moderately  lustrous  violet.  Fore  wing 
with  costa  and  outer  margin  narrowly  black.  Hind  zuing  with 
costa  light  gray,  outer  margin  narrowly  black,  slightly  thicker 
towards  the  anal  angle.  Outer  margin  somewhat  scalloped 
concavely  near  the  anal  angle.  Inner  margin  gray,  lighter, 
almost  white  near  the  base.  Fringe  of  fore  wing  black  basally, 
white  outwardly ; of  hind  wing  similar,  but  at  the  anal  veins 
(Cui,  Cu2,  2A,  and  to  a lesser  extent  Mg)  solidly  black  and 
tufted. 

Underside  : 

Male.  Both  wings  uniform,  slightly  pearly  white.  Fore 
zving  with  a grayish  brown  patch  on  inner  margin  near  base, 
usually  covered  by  the  costa  of  the  hind  wing.  Fringe  of  both 
wings  white,  blackish  at  the  ends  of  veins  Mg,  Cui,  Cu2,  and  2A. 

Length  of  fore  wing:  male  14  mm. 

Holotype,  male,  Wau,  Morobe  District,  New  Guinea,  June  2, 
1932  (H.  Stevens),  No.  27625,  in  the  Museum  of  Comparative 
Zoology. 

Remarks.  This  race  differs  from  typical  diana'^  in  the  absence 
of  a discal  white  patch  on  the  upperside  of  the  fore  wing.  Otherwise 
it  appears  very  similar.  Typical  diana  has  not  been  examined  by 
the  authors,  and  the  association  of  papuanus  with  that  species  is 
based  solely  on  the  figures  and  descriptions  of  diana  in  the  two 
works  referred  to  above.  In  view  of  the  close  interresemblance  of 
many  of  the  species  of  Philiris  there  is  more  than  a possibility  that 
papuanus  may  be  a species  in  its  own  right.  It  seems  likely,  how- 
ever, that  our  present  arrangement  is  correct. 

P.  diana,  as  represented  by  the  papuanus  holotype  at  any  rate,  is 
a magnificent  insect,  even  for  this  group.  It  is  about  the  largest 
species  in  the  genus,  and  from  above  might  easily  be  mistaken  for 
a species  of  Miletus. 

^ Waterhouse  and  Lyell,  1914,  The  Butterflies  of  Australia,  p.  76, 
figs.  183,  220,  271.  See  also,  Waterhouse,  1932,  What  Butterfly 
is  That?  p.  138,  pi.  20,  figs.  4,  4a. 


F el.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  7 


Philiris  ariadne,  n.  sp. 

Eyes  ringed  with  white.  Frons  brown,  flanked  by  the  white 
eye-margining.  Behind  the  bases  of  the  antennae  is  a nearly 
straight  whitish  line,  and  between  them  are  two  lines  of  whitish 
scales,  tending  to  converge.  Collar  above  of  dense  brown  hair, 
sprinkled  sparsely  with  some  bluish.  Below,  the  collar  is  pure 
white  as  characteristic  in  this  genus.  Antennae  black-and- 
white  annulate;  club  blackish  brown  above,  fulvous  below. 
Thorax  above  dull  blue-black,  fringed  with  scattered  light  hairs, 
anally  more  densely  fringed  with  bluish  hair ; below  with  long 
dense  pure  white  hair.  Abdomen  above  brown,  below  narrowly 
white.  Wing-shape:  (fore  wing) — costa  normal;  outer  mar- 
gin rather  strongly  (for  this  genus — excepting  the  aurelia 
group)  rounded;  (hind  wing) — costa,  inner  margin  normal; 
outer  margin  nearly  evenly  rounded. 

Upperside  : 

Male.  Both  wings  moderately  lustrous  violet.  Fore  zving 
with  a very  narrow  filamentous  black  border  on  both  outer  and 
costal  margins  (that  of  the  latter  somewhat  thicker),  the  former 
rather  thickened  at  the  apex.  Hind  zving  with  costa  gray- 
brown.  A narrow  border  of  black,  thickening  almost  im- 
perceptibly towards  the  anal  angle,  margins  the  wing.  Inner 
margin  colored  as  the  costa,  but  with  a whitish  patch  near  the 
base.  Fringe  of  fore  wing  outwardly  white,  basally  blackish ; of 
hind  wing,  similar,  but  solidly  black  brown  on  the  veins  from 
Mg  to  2A ; the  white  is  also  more  prominent. 

Underside  : 

Male.  Both  wings  uniformly  pearly  white.  Fringe  of  fore 
wing  white,  touched  lightly  with  dark  at  the  ends  of  some 
veins  (hardly  noticeable)  ; of  the  hind  wing  similar,  but 
prominently  black  on  the  anal  veins  (Mg  to  2A). 

Length  of  fore  zving:  male  13.5  mm. 

Holotype,  male,  Wau,  Morobe  District,  New  Guinea,  May  6, 
1932  (H.  Stevens),  No.  27626,  in  the  Museum  of  Comparative 
Zoology. 

Remarks.  This  species  is  very  similar  in  general  appearance  to 
diana  papuanus,  and  occurs  in  the  same  general  locality.  The 
similarity  between  the  two  is  so  great  that  at  first  they  were  taken  to 
be  the  same.  They  agree  quite  closely  in  size,  color,  and  reduced 
marginal  bordering,  but  differ  in  several  rather  important,  though 
not  at  first  obvious  points.  The  marginal  black  of  the  fore  wing 
is  thickened  slightly  at  the  apex  in  ariadne,  but  not  at  all  in 


8 


Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLll 


papuanus.  In  fact,  the  whole  costal  and  outer  marginal  border  of 
the  fore  wing  is  thicker.  On  the  hind  wing  this  border  is  not 
thickened  anally  as  much  as  it  is  in  papuanus,  and  the  whole  border 
is  thinner  (just  the  converse  to  that  obtaining  on  the  fore  wing). 
In  papuanus  the  outer  margin  of  the  fore  wing  is  only  very  shallowly 
convex,  while  in  ariadne  this  margin  is  prominently  so ; and  in  the 
hind  wing  the  outer  margin  in  papuanus  is  straight  or  slightly  con- 
cave from  Ml  to  Cui,  and  from  M3  to  2 A is  concavely  scalloped 
between  the  veins,  while  in  ariadne  this  border  is  entirely  convex, 
with  scarcely  a trace  of  scalloping.  Below,  the  white  appears  to  be 
slightly  more  pearly  in  ariadne. 

Philiris  azula,  n.  sp. 

Eyes  ringed  with  white.  Frons  brown  with  a central  white 
line  directed  downward  from  between  the  bases  of  the  antennae 
to  mingle  with  a white  area  at  the  base  of  the  eyes.  Collar 
above  with  long  profuse  hair  of  mixed  white  and  bluish.  Just 
back  of  the  eyes  is  a short  bar  of  white  scales,  tapering  towards 
either  side.  On  the  sides  the  color  changes  from  dorsally 
black-brown  with  scattered  white  scales  and  hairs  to  ventrally 
white  with  a few  brown  scales.  Antennae  black-and-white 
annulate  ; club  black,  tipped  with  bright  fulvous.  Thorax  above 
black,  with  a moderate  amount  of  long  hair,  directed  back,  lying 
along  the  sides.  Below  covered  heavily  with  long  white  hair. 
Abdomen  above  black,  overlaid  with  blue,  chiefly  near  the  base  ; 
below  white ; sides  with  thin  bluish  lines  extending  partially 
upwards  along  the  sutures.  Legs  white,  femora  with  two 
lengthwise  black  lines ; tibiae  and  tarsi  annulated  with  black. 
Upperside  : 

Male.  Both  wings  slightly  purplish  blue,  only  slightly 
iridescent.  Fore  wing  with  costa  narrowly  black.  Apex  more 
broadly  so,  outer  margin  from  Cui  very  thinly  so.  Veins  for 
a short  distance  inward  obscurely  black-pencilled.  Hind  wing 
with  costa  pale  gray.  Outer  margin  very  narrowly  black, 
thickening  slightly  towards  the  anal  angle.  Inner  margin 
from  2A  gray,  darker  near  the  vein,  and  near  the  base,  lighter 
on  the  edge.  Fringe  of  fore  wing  black  basally,  white  out- 
wardly ; that  of  hind  wing  similar. 

Underside  : 

Male.  Both  wings  uniform,  slightly  pearly  white.  Fore 
wing  with  a gray-brown  spot  at  the  base  on  the  inner  margin, 
usually  obscured  by  the  costa  of  the  hind  wing.  Hind  wing 
with  a black  spot  about  1 mm.  in  from  the  center  of  the  inner 


Feb.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 


9 


margin.  Fringe  white,  black  at  the  vein-ends ; only  faintly  so 
on  the  fore  wing  and  upper  part  of  the  hind  wing. 

Length  oj  jore  zving:  male  13  mm. 

Holotype,  male,  Wau,  Morobe  District,  New  Guinea,  Oct.  15, 
1932  (H.  Stevens),  No.  27627,  in  the  Museum  of  Comparative 
Zoology. 

Remarks.  In  wing  shape  and  size  azula  is  very  close  to  fitly ens 
(septentrionalis) , but  may  be  told  from  that  species  instantly  by  the 
narrower  black  on  the  fore  wing,  and  the  fact  that  the  ground  color 
of  fore  and  hind  wings  above  are  identical,  rather  than  different,  as 
in  fulgens.  The  pale,  lustreless  blue  of  the  upper  surfaces,  the 
narrow  black  borders,  the  pale  line  on  the  frons,  and  the  relatively 
large  amount  of  blue  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  abdomen  all 
combine  to  make  asiila  a very  distinct  species. 

Philiris  fulgens  bicolorata,  new  subspecies 
Upperside  : 

Male.  Fore  wing  dully  shining  dark  purple.  Costa  and 
outer  margin  narrowly  black ; veins  outwardly  obscurely  black- 
pencilled.  Hind  wing  bright  shining  coerulean  blue,  very 
faintly  violet  in  some  lights.  Costa  pale  brown.  Outer  margin 
narrowly  black,  extending  basad  on  the  veins  for  short  dis- 
tances. Inner  margin  white,  becoming  brown  on  the  outer 
third.  Fringe  outwardly  white  on  both  wings,  obscurely  dark 
at  the  vein-ends. 

Underside  : 

Male.  Both  wings  pure  white.  A minute  spot  on  the  inner 
margin  of  the  hind  wing,  one  third  out  from  the  base.  Fringe  of 
both  wings  white,  black-tipped  on  Cui-Cua  and  2A  of  hind  wing. 

Length  of  fore  zving:  male  13.5  mm. 

Holotype,  male,  Dobo,  Aru  Islands,  June  3,  1939  (R.  G.  Wind), 
in  the  collection  of  the  senior  author. 

Remarks.  This  is  a very  interesting  subspecies,  apparently  form- 
ing a link  between  the  subspecies  septentrionalis^  of  New  Guinea  and 
Kurandae  has  heretofore  been  considered  a good  species,  but  is 
quite  obviously  only  Australia’s  representative  of  fulgens. 
between  the  two.  The  apical  black  is  broader  than  in  septentrionalis 
(where  it  only  covers  the  outer  half  of  the  cell-end-to-apex  area), 
but  not  so  broad  as  in  kurandae  (in  which  the  whole  cell-end-to- 
apex  area  is  black).  The  hind  wing  is  the  bright  blue  of  kurandae 

^ Joicey  and  Talbot,  1916,  Trans.  Ent.  Soc.  London,  1916,  p.  76. 
kurandae^  of  Australia.  It  is,  in  fact,  almost  exactly  intermediate 

® Waterhouse,  1902,  Proc.  Linn.  Soc.  N.  S.  W.  27,  p.  651. 


10  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLIl 


and  not  the  violet  of  septentrionalis.  The  marginal  black  of  the 
hind  wing  is  narrow  as  in  the  New  Guinea  race. 

Typical  fulgens'^  was  described  from  Amboina.  No  specimens 
have  been  seen.  From  the  description  and  figure  it  would  seem  to 
be  rather  like  kiirandae,  but  with  the  violet  hind  wing  of  septen- 
trionalis. 

Philiris  intensa  birou,  new  subspecies 
Upperside  : 

Male.  Both  wings  bright,  iridescent,  and  slightly  purplish 
blue.  Fore  wing  with  a narrow  costal  and  a broader  marginal 
black  border,  the  latter  thickening  toward  the  apex,  where  it 
occupies  the  outer  third  of  the  cell-end-to-apex  area.  Hind 
wing  with  costa  and  inner  margin  moderately  broadly  brown- 
black,  and  outer  margin  less  broadly  black.  Fringe  of  both 
wings  white,  black  at  the  ends  of  the  veins. 

Female.  Both  wings  brown.  Fore  zving  with  a large  pale 
bluish  area  that  occupies  the  lower  half  of  the  cell  to  the  inner 
margin,  and  out  about  three-quarters  of  the  way  on  the  latter. 
The  outer  extremity  of  this  blue  area  extends  from  the  above- 
mentioned  point  on  the  inner  margin  straight  up  to  Cui,  where 
it  curves  over  and  meets  the  upper  limit  at  the  origin  of  M2. 
Near  the  apical  end  of  this  bluish  area,  between  the  bases  of 
M3  and  Cu2,  is  an  obscure  whitish  patch.  Hind  zving  with 
costa  faintly  lighter.  Cell  entirely  bluish,  which  extends  beyond 
the  end  half  way  to  the  outer  margin,  below  into  the  basal 
thirds  of  the  Cui-Cu2  and  Cu2-2A  interspaces,  and  above, 
faintly  into  the  base  of  the  Rs-Mi  interspace.  Fringe  as  in  the 
male. 

Underside  : 

Male.  Pure  white  on  both  wings.  A small  black  spot  oc- 
cupies the  center  of  the  inner  margin  of  the  hind  wing,  about 
1 mm.  in  from  the  edge.  Fringe  white,  black  at  the  ends  of  the 
veins. 

Female.  Similar  to  the  male. 

Length  of  fore  wing:  male;  large  13  mm.,  average  12.8, 
small  12.  Female;  large  14  mm.,  average  13.3,  small  13. 

Holotype,  male,  Wau,  Morobe  District,  New  Guinea,  Aug.  8, 
1932  (H.  Stevens). 

Allotype,  female,  same  locality  and  collector,  Feb.  13,  1932. 

^ Smith  and  Kirby,  1897,  Rhop.  Exot.  Orient.  Lyc.  X,  p.  8, 
figs.  14,  15. 


Feh.,1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  11 


Paratypes,  6 males  and  2 females,  same  locality  and  collector ; 1 
female  each  Feb.  13,  19,  1932;  one  male  each,  March  10,  16,  25, 
April  15,  Ang.  8,  Oct.  15,  1932;  two  males,  Bialowat,  Morobe 
District,  New  Guinea  (H.  Stevens)  resp.  Aug.  6,  13,  1932. 

Holotype,  allotype,  and  6 male  paratypes.  No.  27623,  in  the 
Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology.  One  male  and  one  female  para- 
type  in  each  of  the  authors’  collections. 

Remarks.  Birou  differs  from  typical  intensa  in  the  reduction  in 
size  of  the  marginal  bordering  of  both  wings.  In  typical  intensa  the 
apical  part  of  this  bordering  on  the  fore  wing  extends  back  half-way 
to  the  cell-end,  while  in  hirou  it  extends  back  but  one-third.  The 
marginal  black  on  the  hind  wing  is  about  half  as  thick  as  that  of 
typical  intensa.  Also,  there  is  no  pencilling  of  the  outer  extremities 
of  the  veins,  such  as  that  found  on  the  typical  subspecies.  In  the 
female,  the  bluish  appears  to  be  more  extensive  on  the  hind  wing. 

The  typical  insect  was  described  from  the  Aru  Islands.  Speci- 
mens in  the  collection  of  the  senior  author  from  Samarai  and  Milne 
Bay,  eastern  New  Guinea,  agree  well  with  Aru  specimens  in  the 
same  collection  and  in  the  collection  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative 
Zoology.  From  Fak-Fak  (Kapaur),  Dutch  New  Guinea,  is  a 
series  of  some  few  specimens  that  apparently  belong  to  an  inter- 
mediate race.  It  was  not  deemed  worthy  of  description,  in  the 
absence  of  a greater  and  more  convincing  number  of  specimens. 
From  Inanwatin,  Dutch  New  Guinea,  is  a very  large  male,  whose 
length  of  fore  wing  is  15  mm.  It  otherwise  corresponds  with  the 
Fak-Fak  specimens.  In  the  Carnegie  Museum  is  a male  of  intensa 
{s.l.)  from  Hollandia,  Dutch  New  Guinea,  that  apparently  repre- 
sents an  extreme  development  along  the  hirou  line,  the  black  border- 
ing being  even  narrower  than  in  hirou.  Because  of  this  difference, 
and  the  fact  that  it  hails  from  a locality  quite  far  removed  from  the 
type  locality  of  hirou,  it  was  not  made  part  of  the  type  series. 

The  name  hirou,  Malay  for  bright  blue,  seems  to  be  particularly 
applicable  to  intensa  and  its  subspecies. 

Philiris  innotatus®  evinculis,  new  subspecies 
is  a good  species,  quite  distinct  from  Amboinese  ilias  Felder 
( Sitzungsber.  kais.  Akad.  Wiss.  (Vienna)  40,  1860,  p.  454),  with 
which  it  has  previously  been  associated. 

Upperside: 

Male.  Both  wings  blue-lilac.  Fore  wing  with  costa  nar- 
rowly black-brown,  and  outer  margin  with  a border  of  similar 

^ Philiris  innotatus  Miskin  (Ent.  Mo.  Mag.  11,  Dec.  1874,  p.  165) 


12  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLll 


color,  thickest  at  the  apex,  where  it  covers  the  outer  half  of  the 
distance  from  cell-end  to  apex.  This  border  extends  briefly 
basad  on  the  veins.  Hind  zving  with  a gray  costal  and  inner 
marginal  border,  and  a black-brown  outer  marginal  border,  also 
extending  briefly  basad  on  the  veins.  Fringe  of  both  wings 
white,  basally  black-brown  and  also  at  the  vein-ends  near  the 
anal  angle  of  the  hind  wing. 

Female.  Both  wings  black-brown.  Fore  zving  with  a large 
sky  blue  patch  covering  the  whole  cell,  save  for  the  upper 
cell-end,  and  the  whole  region  below  to  the  inner  margin, 
where  it  occupies  the  inner  four-fifths  of  the  wing.  Veins  Mg, 
Cui  and  C112  in  this  blue  area  are  white.  Hind  zving  with  a 
central  dull  blue  patch  leaving  the  veins  and  a dash  across  the 
cell-end  brown.  Fringe  as  in  the  male. 

Underside: 

Male.  Both  wings  sublustrous  white.  Fringe  white,  basally 
black  near  the  anal  angle  of  the  hind  wang,  and  at  the  vein-ends 
there. 

Female.  Similar. 

Length  of  fore  zving  (last  two  paratypes  only)  : male  11 
mm. ; female  12.5  mm. 

Holotype,  male,  Redlynch,  North  Queensland,  Australia,  August 
14,  1938  (R.  G.  Wind). 

Allotype,  female,  same  locality  and  collector  as  holotype,  Sep- 
tember 17,  1938. 

Paratypes,  same  locality  and  collector  as  holotype : two  males, 
October  1,  3,  1938,  resp. ; one  female,  August  14,  1938. 

Holotype,  allotype,  and  one  male  paratype  in  the  Cornell  Uni- 
versity collection.  One  male,  one  female  paratype  in  the  collection 
of  the  senior  author. 

Remarks.  Differs  from  a number  of  topotypical  (Brisbane) 
specimens  in  the  collection  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology 
as  follows : In  the  male,  the  ground  color  above  is  paler,  less  violet, 
and  the  outer  marginal  border  is  narrower  (one-half  instead  of  two- 
thirds  the  distance  from  cell-end  to  apex).  In  the  female  the  blue 
is  more  extensive  on  both  wings  above. 

Philiris  moira  putih,  new  subspecies 
Upperside  : 

Male.  Both  wings  bright  shining  violet-blue.  Fore  zving 
with  a costal  and  outer  marginal  border,  the  former  about 
1 mm.  thick,  the  latter  about  5 mm.  at  the  apex,  narrowing 


Fel).,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  13 


down  to  a minimum  of  1.5  mm.  This  dark  bordering  extends 
basad  a short  distance  on  each  vein.  Hind  zving  with  a costal, 
outer  and  inner  marginal  border,  the  first  and  last  somewhat 
paler  and  slightly  thicker  (maximum  1.5  mm.),  the  second 
slightly  less  than  1 mm.  This  bordering  also  extends  briefly 
basad  on  each  vein.  Fringe  brown,  whitish  outwardly  between 
the  veins. 

Female.  Both  wings  uniformly  brown.  Fore  wing  with  the 
basal  third  each  of  M3,  Cui  and  Cu2  and  the  lower  DC  between 
them  white.  Between  the  whitened  portions  of  these  veins  are 
scattered  pale  blue  scales,  and  below  in  the  Cu2-2A  interspace 
are  some  darker  scales. 

Underside  : 

Male.  Both  wings  pure,  very  slightly  lustrous  (save  on  inner 
margin  of  fore  wing)  white.  Below  the  cell  of  the  fore  wing, 
near  the  base,  is  a brown  patch,  usually  hidden  by  the  costa  of 
the  hind  wing.  On  the  hind  wing  is  a spot  on  the  inner  margin, 
just  basad  of  the  center  of  that  margin.  Fringe  of  fore  wing 
white,  dark  at  the  vein-ends  and  towards  the  apex;  of  hind 
wing  black,  whitish  outwardly  between  the  veins. 

Female.  Similar  to  the  male. 

Length  of  fore  zmng:  male  11.5  mm. ; female  11.5  mm. 

Holotype,  male,  Pt.  Moresby,  British  New  Guinea,  April  26, 
1939  (R.  G.  Wind). 

Allotype,  female,  same  data. 

Paratypes,  three  males,  same  locality  and  collector  as  holotype, 
April  18,  22,  May  5,  1939  resp. 

Holotype  and  allotype  in  the  Cornell  University  collection.  One 
paratype.  No.  27624,  in  the  collection  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative 
Zoology,  and  one  paratype  each  in  the  authors’  collections. 

Remarks.  This  may  well  be  a good  species.  It  differs  from 
moira  in  being  much  smaller  (less  than  1 inch  in  expanse,  while 
moira  attains  to  nearly  inches).  The  black  border  on  the  fore 
wing  of  the  male  is  thicker,  and  the  blue  above  on  the  female  is 
reduced  considerably.  Putih  has  a black  spot  on  the  inner  margin 
of  the  hind  wing  below,  which  is  absent  from  the  illustration  (with 
which  these  comparisons  were  made)  given  by  Smith  and  Kirby 
of  moira.^ 

^ Rhop.  Exot.  3,  Lycaenidae  (Oriental)  Plate  XVIII  Holochila 
IV,  Jan.  1899,  p.  14,  figs.  9,  10,  11. 

Putih  is  the  Malay  word  for  zvhite. 


14  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLII 


Philiris  mayri,  n.  sp. 

Eyes^^  ringed  with  white.  Frons  brown,  narrowing  towards 
the  base  of  the  eyes.  Collar  above  with  long  brown  hair,  be- 
coming shorter  and  white  on  the  sides.  Antennae  black,  an- 
nulated  with  white;  club  black,  tipped  obscurely  with  dull, 
dark  fulvous.  Thorax  above  black  with  long,  back-directed 
hair  on  the  front,  sides,  and  just  before  the  abdomen;  below 
covered  with  long  projecting  white  hair.  Abdomen  black- 
brown  above,  narrowly  cream-white  below;  on  each  side  are 
three  small  patches  of  metallic  scales,  one  each  in  the  three 
segments  next  the  thorax.  Legs  white,  annulate  with  black. 
Wing  shape:  (Fore  wing) — costa  evenly  rounded,  slightly 
more  sharply  at  the  base  and  apex ; outer  margin  shallowly  and 
evenly  rounded,  with  apex  blunt  but  angled;  inner  margin 
straight.  (Hind-wing) — costa  arched  at  base,  evenly  rounded 

beyond,  gradually  merging  into  the  outer  margin,  which  is 
moderately  well-rounded,  more  so  at  about  Cui,  meeting  inner 
margin  bluntly  at  anal  angle.  Inner  margin  evenly  curved. 
Upperside  : 

Male.  Both  wings  lustrous  violet.  Fore  zving  on  costa  with 
moderately  broad  black-brown  border.  Outer  margin  with  a 
similar  border,  narrow  at  the  inner  margin,  and  thickening 
considerably  above  Cu2,  to  cover  the  outer  half  of  the  cell-end- 
to-apex  area.  This  bordering  extends  slightly  basad  on  the 
veins.  Hind  zving  with  outer  margin  narrowly  and  evenly 
black-brown.  Costa  white.  Inner  margin  to  2A  gray. 
Fringe  on  the  specimen  examined  too  poor  for  description. 
Underside  : 

Male.  Both  wings  rather  flat  white.  Just  basad  of  the 
center  of  the  inner  margin  of  the  hind  wing  is  a tiny  black 
spot.  Fringe  on  hind  wing  appears  to  be  black  towards  the  anal 
angle. 

Length  of  fore  zving:  male  13  mm. 

Holotype,  male,  Mt.  Siwi,  Arfak  Mts.,  Dutch  New  Guinea, 
800  m.,  April-June  1928  (Dr.  E.  Mayr),  Acc.  31075,  in  the  Ameri- 
can Museum  of  Natural  History. 

Remarks.  Evidently  closely  allied  to  P.  marginatd^'^  but  differs 
in  the  narrower  dark  borders,  in  the  shape  of  the  hind  wing,  mayri 

The  condition  of  the  single  specimen  examined  does  not  permit 
a too  accurate  description  of  the  less  obvious  parts.  Hence  there 
are  very  likely  some  discrepancies. 

Grose-Smith,  Nov.  Zool.  1,  1894,  p.  579. 


Feh.,1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  15 


having  a blunter  anal  angle  than  marginata.  Below  on  the  hind 
wing  mayri  differs  in  possessing  the  black  inner  marginal  spot, 
apparently  lacking  in  marginata,  and  the  anal  fringe  is  apparently 
blacker. 

This  species  is  named  for  the  collector,  Dr.  Ernst  Mayr,  whose 
Ornithological  work  is  well  known. 

Philiris  misimensis,  n.  sp. 

Eyes  ringed  with  white.  Frons  broadly  brown  between  the 
eyes,  contracting  sharply  towards  the  palpi  to  a narrow  brown 
line.  Collar  above  with  long  profuse  brown  hair,  with  a few 
white  hairs  at  the  top.  Between  the  bases  of  the  antennae  are 
two  short  white  dashes,  both  parallel  to  the  body  axis.  On 
the  sides  the  brown  hair  shortens  and  mingles  with  white,  be- 
coming all  white  below.  Antennae  black,  white  annulate ; club 
black,  tipped  obscurely  with  dull  fulvous.  Thorax  above  black, 
nearly  hairless  at  summit,  but  along  sides  with  rather  long, 
back-directed  hairs,  heaviest  just  behind  the  head  and  just 
before  the  abdomen.  Below  covered  with  profuse  long  white 
hair.  Abdomen  above  black,  below  creamy  white.  Above, 
frontad,  with  long,  dull,  back-directed  hairs  as  on  thorax. 
Legs  white — prothoracic  infrequently  annulated  with  black ; 
mesothoracic  with  femora  and  tibiae  outwardly  almost  solid 
black,  inwardly  white  marked,  tarsi  black  and  white  annulate 
(basal  segment  mostly  black)  ; metathoracic  similar  to  meso- 
thoracic. Wing  shape:  (Fore  wing) — costa  shallowly  and 
evenly  rounded ; apex  blunt ; outer  margin  heavily  rounded  ; 
inner  margin  rounded;  (Hind  wing) — costa  slightly  rounded, 
sharply  so  near  base,  outer  margin  merging  with  it  gradually, 
almost  eliminating  outer  angle ; outer  margin  very  rounded ; 
inner  margin  evenly,  well  rounded ; anal  angle  blunt,  but 
present. 

Upperside  : 

Male.  Both  wings  dully  shining  dark  purple.  Fore  zving 
with  a moderately  narrow  costal  dark  border  (towards  the 
base  limited  by  Sc).  Outer  margin  with  a heavier  border, 
slightly  thickened  apically,  and  extending  for  a short  distance 
basad  on  the  veins.  Hind  zving  with  a broad,  dark  costal 
border  and  a slightly  narrower  and  darker  outer  marginal  one, 
the  latter  extending  shortly  basad  on  the  veins.  Inner  margin 
dark  bordered  (same  shade  as  costal  border),  limited  by  2 A. 
Fringe  of  fore  wing  white  towards  inner  margin  (basally  dark) , 


16  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  VoLXLII 


becoming  grayish  towards  apex.  Obscurely  dark  at  the  vein- 
ends.  Outer  margin  appears  to  be  slightly  scalloped,  especially 
towards  the  anal  angle,  apparently  due  to  the  lengthened  fringe 
at  the  vein-ends  as  well  as  the  more  produced  wing  itself. 
Underside  : 

Male.  Both  wings  pearly  grayish-white.  End  of  cell  on 
each  wing  crossed  by  a pale  streak.  Costa  of  fore  wing  edged 
very  narrowly  with  fulvous.  At  base  of  fore  wing,  below  the 
lower  DC  and  above  2A,  is  an  obscure  dark  patch,  usually 
hidden  by  the  costa  of  the  hind  wing.  Inner  margin  of  hind 
wing,  in  about  1 mm.,  and  slightly  basad  of  the  center,  with  a 
small  black  dot.  Fringe  of  both  wings  white.  Cui,  C112  and 
2A  prominently  tipped  with  black,  the  remaining  veins  ob- 
scurely so. 

Length  of  fore  wing:  male  13.5  mm. 

Holotype,  male,  Mt.  Misim,  Morobe  District,  New  Guinea, 
5-6000  feet  (H.  Stevens),  No.  27628,  in  the  Museum  of  Com- 
parative Zoology. 

Remarks.  This  species  belongs  to  the  subovata-aurelia  group, 
and  seems  to  find  its  nearest  affinities  in  siibovata^^  or  theleos.^^ 
It  is  slightly  larger  than  the  former,  the  color  on  the  upperside 
darker  and  less  lustrous.  It  is  also  darker  below.  From  the  latter, 
as  well  as  from  all  other  members  of  this  group,  it  may  be  told  by 
the  paler  cell-end  streak  on  each  wing  below.  An  additional  speci- 
men from  Wau  (Morobe  District)  may  be  this  species,  but  it  is  so 
worn  that  it  cannot  be  placed  with  certainty. 


Diostracus  prasinus  Loew  in  Tennessee  (Diptera,  Dolichopo- 
didae). — This  peculiar  fly  was  described  in  1861  from  “New  York.” 
Nothing  more  about  it  was  known  in  1911  when  Aldrich  described 
another  species  of  the  genus  from  the  West.  It  was  recorded  in  the 
New  York  List  from  Wells,  N.  Y.  (in  the  Adirondack  Mts.)  and 
from  Bolton  Mt.,  Vt.,  and  Chester,  Mass.,  by  Johnson  in  the  New 
England  List.  These  seem  to  be  the  only  records.  On  June  11, 
1946,  I took  two  males  close  to  the  water  rushing  over  the  rocks  in 
the  river  at  the  Chimneys  Camp  in  the  Great  Smoky  Mountains 
National  Park  (Tenn.)  and  on  June  15  1 took  one  more  male  in  a 
similar  situation  at  Elkmont,  Tenn.,  also  in  the  Park.^ — 

Geo.  Steyskal,  Detroit,  Michigan. 

Grose-Smith,  Nov.  Zool.  1,  1894,  p.  579. 

H.  H.  Druce,  Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  (6)  19,  Jan.  1897,  p.  15. 


Feh.,1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  17 


A NEW  SPECIES  OF  CYMATODERA  FROM  CALI- 
FORNIA AND  OREGON  (COLEOPTERA, 
CLERIDAE). 

By  William  F.  Barr,^  Berkeley,  Calif. 

The  following  description  is  offered  at  the  present  time  in  order 
that  the  species  name  may  be  used  elsewhere. 

Cymatodera  pseudotsugae  Barr,  n.  sp. 

Male : Elongate,  slender ; dark  castaneous ; elytra  with  a pale 
median  fascia.  Head  finely,  densely  punctured,  slightly  rugose 
on  front,  clothed  with  short  and  long,  erect,  brownish  hairs ; 
antennae  slender,  extending  to  basal  fourth  of  elytra,  second 
segment  three-fourths  as  long  as  third,  segments  three  to  seven 
nearly  equal  in  length,  segments  eight  to  ten  slightly  shorter 
than  those  immediately  preceding.  Pronotum  three-fourths  as 
wide  as  long,  widest  at  middle ; anterior  margin  slightly  wider 
than  posterior  margin ; sides  constricted  behind  anterior  mar- 
gin, more  strongly  constricted  in  front  of  base ; surface  finely, 
densely  punctured,  slightly,  but  conspicuously  wrinkled,  rather 
abundantly  clothed  with  long,  erect,  brown  hairs  ; ante-scutellar 
impression  faintly  evident.  Elytra  nearly  twice  as  long  as  basal 
width,  wider  than  pronotum,  widest  behind  middle ; humeri 
distinct ; apices  separately  rounded ; surface  finely  punctulate, 
striae  evident  only  at  base,  consisting  of  a few,  rather  fine 
punctures,  interspaces  much  wider  than  punctures,  rather 
densely  clothed  with  short,  suberect,  dark  hairs ; median  fascia 
interrupted  before  suture,  widest  at  sides,  front  margin  oblique, 
hind  margin  nearly  transverse.  Legs  pale  castaneous,  finely, 
densely  punctured,  sparsely  clothed  with  short  and  long,  sub- 
erect, pale  hairs.  Metasternum  very  finely  and  densely  punc- 
tured, rather  densely'  clothed  with  short,  suberect,  fine  brown 
hairs  ; carinae  absent.  Abdomen  dark  testaceous,  finely,  densely 
punctured,  pubescence  very  fine,  pale  and  recumbent ; fifth 
sternite  broadly,  not  deeply  emarginate  at  apex ; sixth  sternite 
slightly  prolonged,  sides  acute  at  apex,  posterior  margin 
broadly  emarginate,  truncate  at  middle;  fifth  tergite  shallowly 
emarginate  at  apex,  notched  at  middle ; sixth  tergite  narrower 
than  sixth  sternite,  broadly  rounded  and  subtruncate  at  apex, 
slightly  notched. 

^ The  writer  wishes  to  express  his  appreciation  to  Dr.  E.  C.  Van 
Dyke  and  Mr.  Kenneth  M.  Eender  for  the  privilege  of  studying 
some  of  their  material  in  this  genus. 


18  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLll 


Length : 9 mm.,  width : 2.5  mm. 

Female:  Ante-scutellar  impression  more  pronounced  than  in 
male ; elytra  with  distinct  striae  on  basal  half,  punctures  rather 
fine,  median  fascia  indistinct ; fifth  abdominal  sternite  broadly, 
shallowly  emarginate  at  apex;  sixth  sternite  rather  narrowly 
rounded  at  apex ; sixth  tergite  broadly  rounded  at  apex,  com- 
pletely overlapping  the  last  sternite. 

Length:  9.1  mm.,  width:  2.2  mm. 

Holotype,  male  (No.  5620  Calif.  Acad.  Sc.,  Ent.)  from  Placer- 
ville,  California,  collected  by  F.  B.  Herbert;  allotype,  female  (No. 
5621  Calif.  Acad.  Sc.,  Ent.)  from  McMinnville,  Oregon.  The  labels 
on  the  holotype  indicate  that  it  was  reared  from  Pseudotsuga  taxi- 
folia  (Lamb.)  on  April  10,  1916. 

C.  pseudotsugae  will  run  to  C.  oblita  Horn  in  Wolcott’s  key,^  but 
may  be  readily  distinguished  from  that  species  by  thS  secondary 
sexual  characters  of  the  last  two  abdominal  segments  of  both  the 
male  and  the  female.  Further,  the  males  of  C.  oblita  have  a pair  of 
longitudinal  carinae  on  the  metasternum  which  are  absent  in  C. 
pseudotsugae.  The  distribution  of  the  two  species  is  also  quite 
different,  C.  pseudotsugae  having  only  been  taken  in  northern  Cali- 
fornia and  Oregon,  whereas  C.  oblita  is  recorded  from  the  extreme 
southern  part  of  California  and  from  Arizona  and  Lower  California. 


Octhephilum  fracticorne  Payk. — This  European  and  North 
African  Staphylinid  has  been  recently  taken  in  dead  swamp  grass 
just  above  the  mud  and  water  on  several  occasions  in  the  little  swamp 
at  Framingham  near  the  Natick  Town  line.  The  following  dates  are 
on  the  specimens  now  at  hand : April  2,  1944,  April  29,  1945,  and 
October  4 and  14,  November  5,  and  December  10,  1946.  I now 
have  six  males  and  one  female  and  a pair  have  been  sent  to  Mr.  M. 
W.  Sanderson  of  the  Illinois  Natural  History  Survey  at  Urbana, 
Illinois,  who  very  kindly  made  the  determination.  I recently  dis- 
covered a specimen  in  a lot  of  material  sent  me  from  the  Connecticut 
Agricultural  Experiment  Station  at  New  Haven,  Conn.  This  was 
taken  in  nursery  stock  from  Holland  in  December  of  1910  by  A.  B. 
Champlain. — C.  A.  Frost,  Framingham,  Mass. 


2 Wolcott,  A.  B.,  1921,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  59:  284. 


Fel).,i947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  19 


NEW  SPECIES  OF  PTYCHOPTERIDAE  (DIPTERA). 

PART  III. 

By  Charles  P.  Alexander,  Amherst,  Mass. 

The  preceding  parts  under  this  title  were  published  in  the  Bul- 
letin OF  THE  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society,  32:  140-143, 
1937,  and  38:  37-42,  1943.  At  this  time  I wish  to  describe  three 
further  new  species  from  Western  North  America,  as  well  as  a fur- 
ther novelty  from  Burma.  A few  additional  records  of  distribution 
for  certain  rare  and  little-known  Nearctic  species  of  Ptychopteridae 
are  given.  The  types  of  the  new  species  herewith  described  are  pre- 
served in  my  personal  collection  of  Tipuloidea. 

Ptychoptera  uta  sp.  n. 

Male. — Length,  about  9-9.5  mm. ; wing  8-8.5  mm. ; antenna 
about  5 mm. 

Generally  similar  to  Ptychoptera  lenis  color  ad  ensis  Alex- 
ander (Bull.  Brooklyn  Ent.  Soc.,  32:  141-142,  1937),  differing 
especially  in  details  of  structure  of  the  male  hypopygium. 

Ninth  tergite  with  the  lateral  lobes  distad  of  the  outer  spine 
very  small,  exceeded  by  the  spine;  subtergal  spinulose  lobe 
large  and  clavate;  lowermost  tergal  lobe  reduced.  Dististyle 
longer  and  more  slender,  sinuous,  blackened,  the  tips  pale. 
Gonapophyses  large  and  massive,  blackened,  the  apex  broadly 
obtuse.  Ninth  sternite  with  the  setae  of  the  median  spatula 
long  and  slender ; subtending  lobes  nearly  parallel-sided,  the 
tips  truncated  or  weakly  expanded. 

Habitat. — Utah. 

Holotype,  J',  Willard,  April  29,  1939  (Knowlton  & Harmston). 
Paratopotypes,  J'J' ; paratype,  J',  May  1,  1939  (Knowlton  & Harms- 
ton) . 

I am  greatly  indebted  to  George  Knowlton  and  Fred  Harmston 
for  these  specimens  and  for  many  other  Tipuloidea  from  Utah.  The 
detailed  record  for  the  state  is  in  press  (Amer.  Midi.  Nat.,  1947). 

Ptychoptera  sculleni  Alexander. 

Described  from  Washington  and  Oregon.  Additional  records : 

Oregon:  Peavine  Ridge,  near  McMinnville,  Station  3 (605  feet). 
September  10-24,  1945  (K.  M.  Fender)  ; Bald  Mountain,  Coast 
Range,  Yamhill  Co.,  July  19,  1942  (K.  M.  Fender). 

California:  Orick,  Humboldt  Co.,  June  21,  1935  (A.  L.  Melan- 
der). 


20  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLll 


Ptychoptera  pendula  Alexander. 

Utah:  Kimballs  Fort,  June  29,  1943  (G.  F.  Knowlton). 

Wyoming:  Yellowstone  National  Park — Roosevelt  Station,  July 
5,  1923;  Old  Faithful,  July  14,  1923;  Spring  Creek,  July  15,  1923; 
Turbid  Lake,  July  20,  1923  (all  A.  L.  Melander). 

Ptychoptera  townesi  Alexander. 

Washington:  Everett,  July  6,  1924 ; Pluvius,  July  16,  1922 ; Puget, 
August  4,  1925 ; Swauk  Creek,  June  28,  1924;  Toledo,  June  27, 
1935  (all  A.  L.  Melander). 

Oregon:  Hood  River  (Leroy  Childs). 

Ptychoptera  monoensis  sp.  n. 

Allied  to  pendula;  general  coloration  of  body  polished  black, 
the  pronotum  and  mesonotal  scutellum  yellow ; antennae  with 
scape  and  pedicel  yellow ; all  coxae  yellow ; wings  with  a weak 
brownish  tinge,  the  prearcular  field  yellow ; male  hypopygium 
with  the  ninth  tergite  deeply  notched,  each  lobe  bearing  two 
blackened  lobules,  in  addition  to  the  apical  point;  dististyle 
conspicuously  trilobed,  the  outer  one  a very  large  flattened 
yellow  blade,  the  intermediate  arm  a darkened  subcylindrical 
rod ; innermost  arm  more  compressed,  bearing  four  or  five 
powerful  spinous  setae. 

Male. — Length  about  8.5  mm.;  wing  8 mm. ; antenna  about 
4.1  mm. 

Rostrum  and  mouthparts  yellow ; palpi  yellow,  the  terminal 
segment  brownish  black.  Antennae  of  moderate  length,  ap- 
proximately one-half  as  long  as  wing ; scape  and  pedicel  yellow, 
flagellum  black;  flagellar  segments  cylindrical,  the  verticils 
shorter  than  the  segments.  Head  polished  black. 

Pronotum  obscure  yellow.  Mesonotum  polished  black,  the 
central  portion  of  the  scutal  region  and  the  scutellum  obscure 
yellow,  the  parascutella  blackened ; postnotum  black,  the  dorsal 
portion  of  the  suture  between  the  mediotergite  and  pleuroter- 
gite  more  reddened ; dorsal  pleurotergite  with  conspicuous 
setae.  Pleura  black,  sparsely  pruinose,  more  heavily  so  on  the 
pteropleurite ; dorsopleural  region  buffy  yellow.  Halteres 
yellow,  the  knobs  weakly  darkened.  Legs  with  all  coxae  and 
trochanters  yellow ; femora  yellow,  the  tips  rather  narrowly  but 
conspicuously  blackened,  the  amount  subequal  on  all  legs; 
tibiae  obscure  yellow,  the  tips  narrowly  blackened ; tarsi  brown- 
ish black  to  black,  the  narrow  proximal  portions  of  the  basitarsi 


Feh.,1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  21 


vaguely  obscure  yellow.  Wings  with  a weak  brownish  tinge, 
the  prearcular  field  yellow ; a very  restricted  brown  pattern, 
especially  evident  over  the  central  cord ; very  restricted  dark- 
enings  at  forks  of  veins  and  ; veins  brownish  black, 
yellow  in  the  prearcular  field.  Macrotrichia  of  cells  relatively 
abundant,  including  all  cells  beyond  the  general  level  of  fork 
of  and  as  restricted  series  in  cell  R,  basal  portions  of  cells 
Rs  and  R^  and  as  even  more  restricted  groups  in  cells  C,  Ri  and 
M;  no  trichia  in  bases  of  cells  M2  or  Mg.  Venation:  Rs  rela- 
tively long ; r-m  connecting  with  R^,  at  fork  or  in  R^+^  shortly 
beyond ; cell  2nd  A broad. 

Abdomen  polished  black,  the  posterior  borders  of  the  second 
and  third  tergites  narrowly  pale ; hypopygium  chiefly  black. 
Male  hypopygium  of  the  general  type  of  pendula  but  difbering 
in  important  regards,  especially  of  the  tergite  and  dististyle. 
Ninth  tergite  with  an  unusually  deep  U-shaped  notch,  the  lateral 
lobes  produced  into  small  conical  points,  on  mesal  edge  of  apex 
further  produced  into  two  blackened  hairy  lobules,  the  outer 
one  more  slender  and  elongate.  Dististyle  trilobed,  the  outer 
lobe  a very  large  flattened  yellow  blade,  on  inner  margin  near 
base  bearing  a small  tubercle;  intermediate  arm  a darkened 
subcylindrical  rod,  the  distal  half  and  especially  the  apex  with 
conspicuous  dark-colored  setae ; innermost  or  lowest  arm  a 
flattened-compressed  blade  that  bears  four  or  five  strong  spi- 
nous setae,  in  cases  the  terminal  one  isolated  and  slightly  larger ; 
in  other  instances  the  spines  arranged  more  definitely  in  pairs. 

Habitat. — California. 

Holotype,  J',  Coleville,  Slinkard’s  Canyon,  Mono  County,  May  28, 
1939  (Mont  Cazier  & T.  H.  G.  Aitken). 

Ptychoptera  monoensis  is  most  nearly  allied  to  P.  pendula  Alex- 
ander and  P.  townesi  Alexander,  being  somewhat  closer  to  the  former 
yet  very  distinct  in  the  structure  of  the  male  hypopygium,  partic- 
ularly the  tergite  and  dististyle. 

Ptychoptera  persimilis  sp.  n. 

Male. — Length,  about  8 mm. ; wing  7 mm. 

Color  characters  almost  as  in  P.  annandalei  Brunetti,  1918, 
that  is,  the  mesonotum  uniformly  black  excepting  the  yellow 
scutellum  and  adjoining  portion  of  the  mediotergite.  Pleura 
yellow,  apparently  darker  on  the  mesepisterum.  Femora  yel- 
low, the  tips  narrowly  and  inconspicuously  infuscated,  the 
amount  subequal  on  all  legs ; tibiae  clearer  yellow,  the  tips  still 


22  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLll 


more  narrowly  darkened ; basitarsi  obscure  yellow,  the  tips  and 
remainder  of  tarsi  blackened.  Wings  with  the  outer  darkened 
crossband  broken,  most  distinct  at  stigma  and  over  each  of  the 
forks.  Venation:  Rs  short  and  straight.  Abdominal  tergites 
yellow,  the  caudal  borders  ringed  with  brownish  black;  basal 
tergite  uniformly  blackened ; a dark  ring  on  proximal  half  of 
tergite  two ; darkened  areas  on  outer  tergites  more  extensive ; 
sternites  and  hypopygium  yellow.  Male  hypopygium  with  the 
tergite  profoundly  bifid,  as  in  annandalei  and  allied  species,  but 
the  arms  much  stouter,  especially  at  bases ; arms  bent  at  near 
midlength,  the  apical  portion  stout,  provided  with  abundant 
pale  setae,  before  apex  with  a small  tubercle.  Dististyle  of 
entirely  dififerent  conformation;  basal  half  expanded  into  a 
broad  lobe,  additional  to  the  two  basal  lobules  in  annandalei ; 
outer  lobes  not  forceps-like,  as  in  annandalei,  the  main  lobe  with 
the  outer  blackened  setae  long  and  abundant;  separated  from 
the  outer  group  and  nearer  the  base  of  style  a linear  row  of 
about  five  shorter  and  stronger  spines ; outer  lobe  of  dististyle 
pale,  clavate,  provided  with  long  slender  setae.  Sternal  lobes 
long  and  pale,  densly  hairy,  the  setae  of  inner  margin  near  base 
of  unusual  length,  the  more  proximal  ones  progressively  longer. 
In  annandalei,  the  tergal  arms  are  long  and  slender,  provided 
at  apex  with  a dense  brush  of  blackened  setae.  Dististyle  more 
or  less  forceps-shaped,  the  two  outer  lobes  being  opposed  to 
one  another  at  their  free  ends ; no  dilation  on  basal  portion  of 
style ; spines  of  the  axial  portion  all  short  and  stout.  Sternal 
lobes  much  more  slender  and  fingerlike. 

Habitat. — Burma. 

Holotype,  J',  Shwenyaung,  Southern  Shan  States,  August  1930. 

For  the  most  recent  consideration  of  the  Oriental  Ptychopteridae, 

see  Alexander,  Arkiv  for  Zoologi,  38  A,  No.  2:  1-10,  map,  1946. 

Bittacomorphella  fenderiana  sp.  n. 

Generally  similar  to  sackenii;  antennae  black  throughout; 
mesonotal  praescutum  with  the  disk  chiefly  black,  the  four 
stripes  being  divided  only  by  paler  gray  interspaces ; ventral 
pleurites  darkened ; legs  with  the  basitarsi  black,  the  tips  not 
or  but  narrowly  whitened,  tarsal  segments  two  and  three  snowy 
white ; male  hypopygium  with  the  tergal  lobes  produced  caudad 
into  small  slender  points ; lateral  tergal  arms  almost  glabrous ; 
dististyles  two,  there  being  a small  cylindrical  style  or  lobe  at 
the  base  of  the  major  one;  phallosome  without  blackened  parts, 
the  outer  lateral  angles  produced  into  obtuse  hairy  lobes. 


Feb.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  23 


Male. — Length,  about  11-13  mm.;  wing  7-8  mm.;  antenna 
about  6-8  mm. 

Female. — Length,  about  10-13  mm. ; wing  7-9  mm. 

Frontal  prolongation  of  head  yellow,  the  basal  portion  sil- 
very ; palpi  brown  basally,  passing  into  black.  Antennae  black 
throughout.  Head  behind  black,  gray  pruinose. 

Pronotum  very  restricted,  pale  yellow.  Mesonotal  praescu- 
tum  with  the  disk  chiefly  black,  produced  by  four  conspicuous 
stripes  and  only  slightly  paler  gray  interspaces ; humeral  and 
lateral  regions  pale  yellow,  sparsely  pruinose;  scutum  pale 
yellow,  each  lobe  with  two  separate  black  areas,  the  posterior 
one  very  small;  posterior  sclerites  of  notum  yellow.  Pleura 
silvery,  the  ventral  sternopleurite  and  meron  restrictedly 
brownish  black;  a more  or  less  distinct  darkened  area  on  the 
anepisternum,  sometimes  obscured  by  pruinosity ; in  cases,  the 
mesopleura  even  more  extensively  darkened.  Halteres  pale, 
knobs  weakly  infuscated.  Legs  with  the  coxae  and  trochanters 
yellow ; femora  brownish  yellow,  the  tips  passing  into  black ; 
tibiae  dirty  whitish,  the  tips  narrowly  infuscated ; basitarsi 
brownish  black,  the  tips  very  narrowly  to  scarcely  whitened ; 
tarsal  segments  two  and  three  snowy-white,  four  and  five  black. 
Wings  with  a faint  grayish  tinge,  unpatterned ; veins  brown, 
those  at  extreme  base  more  yellowed.  Venation:  r-m  variable 
in  position,  from  shortly  before  the  fork  of  Rs  to  about  an  equal 
distance  beyond  on  i^4+5,‘  Rs  variable  in  length,  in  cases  only  as 
long  as  r-m,  in  other  specimens  nearly  twice  this  vein. 

Abdomen  of  both  sexes  brownish  black,  in  male  the  subter- 
minal segments  a trifle  paler.  Male  hypopygium  with  the 
lobes  of  the  tergite  produced  caudad  into  slender  spinous  points ; 
lateral  tergal  arms  almost  glabrous,  with  only  a few  long  setae 
just  before  the  acute  apical  spine.  Dististyles  two,  there  being 
a small  cylindrical  style  or  lobe  at  the  base  of  the  major  one. 
What  appears  to  represent  an  interbase  is  a slender  curved 
horn,  the  apical  half  very  attenuated.  Phallosome  stout,  with- 
out sclerotized  points ; outer  angles  produced  laterad  into  obtuse 
hairy  lobes ; apex  obtuse. 

In  sackenii,  the  lobes  of  the  tergite  are  low  and  obtuse,  hairy, 
not  produced ; lateral  tergal  arms  relatively  stout,  with  scattered 
setae  over  the  entire  length,  more  concentrated  about  the  acute 
black  terminal  spine.  A single  dististyle,  provided  with  numer- 
ous setae,  broadest  at  base,  narrowed  outwardly.  The  sup- 
posed interbase  has  the  basal  half  thickened,  the  apical  spine 


24  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLll 


nearly  straight,  Phallosome  with  heavily  blackened,  sclero- 
tized  armature,  the  long  simple  unblackened  lobe  with  coarse 
setae. 

Habitat. — Northwestern  North  America  (Vancouveran) . 

Holotype,  J',  Peavine  Ridge,  near  McMinnville,  Oregon,  Station 
3 A,  May  15,  1946  (K.  M.  Fender) . Allotype,  J,  Albright’s  Ranch, 
Dayton,  Oregon,  September  19,  1946  (K.  M.  Fender).  Paratopo- 
types,  4 J'J',  Stations  3 and  3 A,  May  5-26,  1945,  August  22,  1946, 
September  17,  1946  (K.  M.  Fender)  ; paratypes,  1 J',  with  the 
allotype;  1 J',  Massett,  Queen  Charlotte  Island,  British  Columbia, 
1898  (J.  H.  Keen)  ; 1 5,  Stanley  Park,  Vancouver,  British  Colum- 
bia, September  3,  1930  (H.  B.  Leech)  ; Ashford,  Washington, 
August  18,  1940  (H.  & M.  Townes)  ; Keyport,  Washington,  July 
1905  (R.  W.  Doane)  ; Lewis  and  Clark  State  Park,  Washington, 
September  28,  1946  (K.  M.  Fender).  Certain  of  the  above  para- 
types were  earlier  (Bull.  Brooklyn  Ent.  Soc.,  38:41;  1943)  recorded 
as  being  Bittacomorphella  sackenii  and  the  change  should  be  noted. 

Mr.  Kenneth  M.  Fender,  keen  student  of  the  Cantharid  beetles, 
first  called  to  my  attention  the  fact  that  there  were  two  distinct 
species  of  Bittacomorphella  occurring  at  his  study  stations  on  Pea- 
vine  Ridge,  near  McMinnville,  Oregon.  From  a study  of  the  male 
genitalia  there  is  no  question  but  that  two  distinct  species  are 
involved.  I am  most  pleased  to  name  this  new  species  for  Mr. 
Fender,  in  appreciation  of  invaluable  co-operation  in  the  study  of 
our  western  Tipuloidea.  Von  Roder’s  description  of  sackenii 
(Wiener  Entomol.  Zeitung,  9:  230;  1890),  for  a copy  of  which  I 
am  indebted  to  Mr.  George  Gyrisko,  is  short  but  quite  sufficient 
for  purposes  of  identification  of  the  species.  It  is  evident  that 
sackenii  is  a somewhat  more  southern  species,  its  known  range 
including  Nevada  and  California,  as  well  as  Washington  and  Ore- 
gon, as  far  north  as  Mount  Rainier,  Washington.  The  type  was 
from  the  Sierra  Nevada,  in  Nevada,  presumably  from  the  Lake 
Tahoe  section,  taken  by  Herbert  K.  Morrison,  who  collected  in  the 
state  in  1878  and  again  in  1884.  Aldrich  (Psyche,  7:  200-201; 
1895)  re-described  what  he  considered  to  be  sackenii  (from  Lake 
Union,  Seattle,  Washington,  August-September  1894,  John  M. 
Aldrich)  but  which  is  very  evidently  the  new  species,  fenderiana. 


Feb.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  25 


SOME  NOTES  ON  THE  BIOLOGY  OF  HYMENARCYS 
AEQUALIS  SAY  (PENTATOMIDAE).* 

By  Charles  O.  Esselbaugh, 

Pullman,  Wash. 

Like  that  of  several  other  Pentatomidae,  the  biology  of  Hymen- 
arcys  aeqiialis  is  almost  completely  shrouded  in  mystery.  While 
recorded  from  the  greater  part  of  the  United  States,  it  is  usually 
regarded  as  a comparatively  rare  species  but,  as  Blatchley  (1926) 
points  out,  this  view  exists  because  collectors  have  not  looked  in  the 
right  places  or  during  the  hibernating  period.  While  supposedly 
much  less  common  than  H.  nervosa  Say,  I certainly  have  not  found  it 
so  since  only  two  specimens  of  the  latter  were  taken  during  my  last 
five  seasons  of  collecting,  while  the  former  could  be  had  in  as  great 
numbers  as  desired  if  collected  during  hibernation. 

Hibernation. 

My  best  collecting  of  Hymenarcys  aeqiialis  has  been  at  the  time 
they  were  going  into  their  hibernation  cpiarters,  namely  October  7 
on  two  successive  years,  when  this  activity  was  taking  on  the  aspect 
of  a definite  migration.  In  these  instances  scores  of  individuals  were 
at  hand  in  a fringe  of  blue-grass  and  low  weeds  along  the  edge  of  an 
open,  grassy  woodland  bordering  the  gardens  at  the  University  of 
Illinois.  A few  days  later  they  were  to  be  found  in  hibernation 
there  and  in  the  margin  of  the  woods,  under  a cover  of  short  grass 
and  dead  leaves.  I have  on  two  other  occasions  taken  hibernating 
individuals,  to  the  number  of  a dozen  or  so,  from  very  light  debris 
in  south-facing  pockets  between  the  buttress  roots  of  elm  trees. 
The  debris  consisted,  for  the  most  part,  of  bits  of  bark  little  larger 
than  the  bugs  themselves. 

Although  Blatchley  (1895)  reports  taking  hibernating  individuals 
from  beneath  logs,  mullein  leaves,  etc.,  I have  never  taken  a living 
specimen  of  this  or  any  other  species  of  pentatomid  under  such 
situations.  Blatchely  further  states  that  rarely  nymphs  of  this 
species  are  found  in  winter.  No  subsequent  author  supports  this 
record  and  Blatchley,  in  his  Heteroptera  of  Eastern  North  America, 
for  some  reason  does  not  repeat  it  in  his  treatment  of  the  species. 
It  seems  to  be  the  only  such  record  for  American  Pentatomidae. 

* Contribution  No.  271  of  the  Department  of  Entomology,  Uni- 
versity of  Illinois. 


26  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLIl 


Summer  Habitat. 

Blatchley  (1926)  also  states  that  aequalis  “occurs  in  summer  on 
mullein,  thistle  and  other  plants  in  dry  or  sandy  soils.”  My  ex- 
perience with  the  species  corresponds  far  more  closely  with  that  of 
Stoner  (1920)  in  Iowa.  He  reports  taking  comparatively  few  by 
sweeping,  most  being  taken  in  late  fall  or  early  spring  in  their 
hibernating  quarters,  the  few  taken  with  a sweep  net  being  on  low 
weeds  and  usually  in  more  or  less  moist  places.  He  further  reports 
finding  specimens  walking  about  on  city  sidewalks  on  warm  sun- 
shiny days  in  late  autumn  and  early  spring. 

I have  taken  active  specimens  on  several  occasions,  for  most  of 
which  I have  insufficient  data,  but  I have  the  following  records. 
One  was  discovered  May  22  on  the  upper  surface  of  a leaf  of 
Hydrophyllum  appendiculatum  and  it  dropped  immediately  to  the 
ground,  where  I found  it  after  a few  minutes  search.  Another  (no 
date  record)  was  taken  from  a sunny  window  ledge  and  two  were 
swept  May  30  from  some  low  roadside  vegetation  which  consisted 
mostly  of  grasses.  On  July  26  and  August  31  four  males  were 
swept  from  a mixed  stand  of  grass  and  rather  low  weeds  growing 
around  a gravel  pit.  My  specimens  are  all  from  Ohio  and  Illinois 
and,  with  the  exception  of  those  taken  in  hibernation,  bear  dates 
from  May  22  to  November  1.  In  none  of  these  instances  is  there 
a definite  food  plant  record.  In  only  one  instance  have  I taken  a 
nymph  and  that  one  was  not  recognized  until  it  had  transformed  to 
the  adult  state. 

Life  History. 

My  attempts  at  rearing  this  species  have  met  with  very  scant 
success.  During  the  season  of  1942,  adults  taken  from  hibernation 
during  the  first  week  in  March  were  kept  in  confinement  until  all 
died,  the  last  on  June  11.  During  this  period  of  more  than  three 
months  no  individuals  were  observed  feeding  or  mating  and  like- 
wise there  was  no  oviposition.  The  cage,  during  this  time,  was 
placed  over  potted  seedlings  of  bean  and  pea  and  evening  primrose, 
Oenothera  sp. 

During  the  following  season,  however,  seedlings  of  corn  and 
garden  beet  were  supplied  along  with  the  bean  seedlings.  The 
latter  were  included  because  it  seemed  almost  incredible  that  the 
bugs  had  not  fed  upon  them,  to  some  extent  at  least,  the  preceding 
season.  Feeding  has  now  been  definitely  observed  upon  the  corn 
seedlings  and  on  a few  occasions  an  individual  seemed  to  be  feeding 
upon  the  bean  seedlings.  All  observed  feeding  took  place  on  the 
youngest  and  tenderest  seedlings,  those  not  more  than  two  inches  tall 
seemingly  preferred. 


Feh.,1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  27 


The  manner  of  feeding  is  very  peculiar.  As  observed  here,  feed- 
ing took  place  on  the  stem  near  the  ground  line,  the  bug  in  all  in- 
stances being  headed  downward.  Much  of  its  time  is  spent  either 
near  the  base  of  the  stem  or  on  the  ground,  which  is  probably  a good 
indication  as  to  why  so  few  are  taken  by  sweeping.  When  on  the 
ground,  this  species  possesses  protective  coloration  to  a high  degree 
and  would  therefore  seldom  be  observed  in  the  field. 

This  species  has  the  greatest  aversion  to  flight  of  any  pentatomid 
I have  yet  observed.  Although  possessing  apparently  functional 
wings,  I have  as  yet  observed  no  attempt  to  use  them.  Caged  speci- 
mens frequently  drop  to  the  ground  when  observed,  as  did  the  one 
seen  on  the  Hydrophyllum  leaf.  In  examining  the  plants  in  the 
cage  for  egg  masses  it  was  not  necessary  to  take  any  precautions 
whatsoever  to  prevent  the  escape  of  the  individuals  on  the  ground  or 
on  the  seedlings.  As  often  as  not  they  did  not  even  attempt  to 
crawl  away  and  when  they  did  it  was  very  slowly  and  only  for  an 
inch  or  two,  and  crawling  usually  was  limited  to  those  individuals 
already  on  the  ground,  those  on  the  stem  near  the  ground  usually 
remaining  absolutely  quiet. 

Mating. 

Mating  was  first  observed  April  12,  in  the  laboratory.  This  pair 
had  been  known  to  be  in  coitu  almost  12  hours  (continuity  not 
established)  when  the  cage  was  knocked  over  and  they  separated. 
The  same  pair  were  observed  mating  again  on  April  20  and  also 
on  April  24,  but  apparently  for  shorter  periods  of  time.  The  actual 
duration  of  these  matings  is  not  known  but  the  second  time  they  had 
already  separated  within  one  and  one-half  hours  after  being  ob- 
served. In  the  last  instance  they  were  in  coitu  about  one  and  one- 
half  hours  after  first  being  observed  but  were  not  checked  again 
for  nearly  five  hours,  when  they  were  found  to  be  separated.  An- 
other pair  mated  on  April  27  but,  because  of  infrequency  of  observa- 
tion, were  only  known  to  be  joined  40  minutes. 

OVIPOSITION. 

Six  masses  of  eggs  have  now  been  obtained  from  this  species, 
all  from  a single  female  which  was  not  observed  to  mate.  The  first 
egg  mass  had  hatched  when  found  on  the  morning  of  May  24,  liut 
the  nymphs  had  not  yet  dispersed.  It  is  estimated  this  mass  was 
deposited  about  May  19.  The  last  was  deposited  June  11,  making 
an  oviposition  period  of  slightly  more  than  three  weeks,  the  last  five 
masses  being  produced  at  almost  precisely  two-day  intervals. 

The  masses  ranged  in  size  from  four  to  thirteen  eggs,  three  of 


28  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLll 


the  masses  being  of  seven  eggs  each.  From  the  limited  material 
available,  the  tendency  seems  to  be  to  arrange  the  eggs  in  two 
definite,  interlocking  rows ; however  the  two  largest  masses  showed 
some  tendency  toward  deviation  from  this  pattern.  One  mass  of  1 1 
eggs  contained  a partial  third  row  of  two  eggs,  while  the  largest 
mass,  which  consisted  of  13  eggs,  had  7 arranged  in  the  apparently 
customary  two  rows,  then  three  pairs  in  the  same  line  but  spaced 
at  considerable  intervals. 

At  the  time  of  the  death  of  this  female,  on  June  15,  the  ovarian 
tubes  still  contained  six  eggs,  making  a total  of  55  eggs  produced. 
Five  of  the  six  masses  were  attached  to  leaves  of  the  corn  seedlings 
and  the  other  to  the  slender  growing  tip  of  a bean  seedling. 

Rate  of  Development. 

Due  to  lack  of  success  in  rearing,  only  the  incubation  period  and 
the  length  of  the  first  nymphal  instar  have  been  determined.  Of 
those  eggs  whose  incubation  period  is  known,  about  half  hatched  in 
four  days  and  the  remainder  in  five.  Since  the  four-day  and  five-day 
periods  did  not  alternate,  it  is  to  be  suspected  that  fluctuation  in 
temperature  played  an  important  part. 

Immature  Stages. 

Egg.  Length,  0.70-0.82  mm. ; diameter,  0.65-0.70  mm.  Form 
kettle-shaped  and  more  squat  than  egg  of  Mormidea  lugens  Fab., 
which  it  so  closely  resembles.  Base  quite  convex,  operculum  only 
moderately  so ; maximum  diameter  nearer  base,  side  walls  straight 
or  slightly  constricted  at  middle.  Chorion  hyaline,  reticulated,  the 
reticulations  consisting  of  a series  of  close-set  secondary  spines, 
these  being  longer,  more  robust,  and  apparently  more  numerous, 
than  in  Mormidea  lugens,  giving  the  egg  a more  spinose  appearance  ; 
cells  almost  invariably  triangles.  Primary  spines  also  present,  one 
at  each  intersection  of  the ‘reticulations,  somewhat  longer  and  coarser 
than  the  secondary  spines.  With  exception  of  a few  small  spots, 
contents  of  egg  remain  white  during  embryonic  development. 
Chorionic  processes  only  slightly  dilated  at  apex,  25  to  29  in  number. 

First  Nymphal  Instar.  Length,  0.81-1.06  mm.;  width,  0.74- 
0.85  mm.  Form  broadly  oval  to  elliptical.  Head  (except  mark- 
ings), thorax,  plates,  legs  to-apex  of  femora,  fuscous  to  olivaceous. 
Tylus  roseate,  exceeding  juga.  Two  comma-like  red  marks  on 
vertex  and  front.  Antennae  roseate,  apical  segment  somewhat 
darker.  Antennae  and  front  with  a few  minute  pale  hairs.  Ratio  of 
length  of  antennal  segments  approximately  1 : 1 : 1 : 3.  Thoracic 


Feh.,1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooldyn  Entomological  Society  29 


margins  slightly  expanded.  Abdominal  tergites  white,  heavily 
flecked  with  crimson  and  having  sutures  and  the  intervening  pseudo- 
sutures of  same  color,  somewhat  more  dilute  on  disk.  First  median 
plate  on  dorsum  of  abdomen  narrow  but  somewhat  dilated  at  ends, 
both  plate  and  glandular  slit  perceptibly  longer  than  following  plates 
and  slits.  Second  median  plate  reniform,  third  oval.  Middorsal 
line  and  margins  of  glandular  slits  on  median  plates  only  slightly 
paler  than  plates  themselves.  Lateral  plates  with  apical  angles 
quite  acute.  Body  margins  and  thoracic  nota  bearing  a few  minute 
pale  hairs,  those  on  nota  in  three  irregular,  transverse  rows. 
Ventral  surface  concolorous  with  dorsum.  Rostrum  almost  hyaline. 
Tibiae  and  tarsi  paler  than  femora,  tibiae  very  broadly  and  shallowly 
sulcated  on  upper  side. 

Second  Nymphal  Instar.  Length,  1.24-1.51  mm.;  width,  0.92- 
1.09  mm.  Form  oval  to  oblong.  Head  and  thoracic  nota  pale 
greenish,  with  coarse,  shallow,  blue-green  punctures  becoming  al- 
most black ; transverse  dark  area  on  vertex.  Head  moderately 
declivent.  Tylus  dilated  apically,  exceeding  juga  by  nearly  its  own 
width.  Margins  of  head  feebly  sinuated  before  eyes.  Tylus  and 
front  sparsely  pubescent,  each  hair  arising  from  a puncture.  Eyes 
mahogany.  Ratio  of  length  of  antennal  segments  approximately 
7:9:8:  17,  reddish  with  pale  pubescence  and  slightly  paler  annulae 
at  articulations,  apical  segment  somewhat  darker.  Lateral  thoracic 
margins  pale,  explanate,  almost  impunctate ; pronotal  margin 
straight,  mesonotal  margin  strongly  arcuated.  Paired  markings  on 
thoracic  nota  almost  identical  to  those  on  Euschistus  spp.  Ab- 
dominal tergites  white,  mottled  with  crimson,  giving  somewhat 
barred  effect.  Sutures  and  intervening  pseudosutures  crimson. 
Lateral  plates  on  dorsum  of  abdomen  impunctate,  translucent,  with 
inner  margin  black  ; anterior  pairs  with  mesal  apices  acute.  Median 
plates  fuscous  with  mediodorsal  line,  outline  of  glandular  slit,  and 
lobe  mesad  of  ostiolar  openings  pale.  No  plates  cephalad  of  first 
glandular  one.  Color  pattern  of  ventral  surface  like  that  of  dorsum 
as  regards  color  combinations,  but  impunctate.  Head  and  thorax 
more  or  less  greenish-black  with  pale  green  or  greenish-white  mark- 
ings. Basal  rostral  segment,  and  half  of  second  segment,  hyaline, 
remainder  almost  piceous.  Proximal  portion  of  legs  to  middle  of 
femora  hyaline,  apical  portion  of  femora  and  tibiae  wine-colored 
except  lateral  angles  on  proximal  half  of  tibiae,  which  are  shining 
white.  Tibiae  sulcated  on  upper  side.  Tarsi  piceous.  Venter  with 
series  of  dark  median  spots,  apex  of  each  lateral  plate  directed 
somewhat  caudad. 


30  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLll 


Other  Instars.  No  specimens  of  other  nymphal  instars  were 
available.  One  fifth-instar  nymph  was  taken  in  the  field  but  was 
mistaken  for  another  species  until  the  final  molt,  which  occurred 
on  July  19. 

Bibliography. 

Blatchley,  W.  S.  1895.  Notes  on  the  winter  insect  fauna  of  Vigo 
County,  Indiana — II.  Psyche,  7 : 265-270. 

. 1926.  Heteroptera  or  true  bugs  of  Eastern  North 

America.  Nature  Publishing  Co.,  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  pp.  143- 
144. 

Hart,  C.  A.  1919.  The  Pentatomoidea  of  Illinois  with  keys  to  the 
nearctic  genera.  111.  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Bull.,  13 : 194. 

Stoner,  Dayton.  1920.  The  Scutelleroidea  of  Iowa.  Univ.  Iowa 
Studies,  Nat.  Hist.,  8 (No.  4)  : 89-90. 


Names  and  Addresses  of  Authors 
Dr.  Charles  P.  Alexander, 

Head,  Department  of  Entomology,  Mass.  State  College, 
Eernald  Hall,  Amherst,  Mass. 

William  F.  Barr, 

112  Agricultural  Hall,  University  of  California,  Berkeley  4, 
Calif. 

Harry  K.  Clench, 

48  Avon  Hill  St.,  Cambridge  40,  Mass. 

Charles  O.  Esselbaugh, 

212  Columbia  St.,  Pullman,  Wash. 

C.  A.  Frost, 

46  Henry  St.,  Framingham,  Mass. 

Dr.  F.  H.  Knowlton, 

Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  Logan,  Utah. 

Frank  H.  Parker, 

3606  North  Franklin  Avenue,  Phoenix,  Ariz. 

George  Steyskal, 

2945  Wabash  Avenue,  Detroit  16,  Mich. 

Dr.  George  S.  Tulloch, 

Brooklyn  College,  Bedford  Avenue  & Avenue  H,  Brooklyn 
10,  N.  Y. 

Robert  G.  Wind, 

Department  of  Entomology,  University  of  California,  Berkeley 
4,  Calif. 


Feh.,1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  31 


A NEW  PARATYNDARIS  FROM  ARIZONA 
(COLEOPTERA,  BUPRESTIDAE). 

By  Frank  H.  Parker,  Phoenix,  Arizona. 

Paratyndaris  grassmani,  n.  sp. 

— Form  robust,  cylindrical,  black  with  a vague  violaceous 
lustre ; each  elytron  with  three  red  spots,  one  irregularly  round 
basal  spot  covering  three  intervals  midway  between  humeral 
umbone  and  scutellum,  two  lateral  spots  one  of  which  is  below 
and  extends  beyond  humeral  umbone,  the  other  a median  tri- 
angular spot  that  extends  to  middle  of  elytron ; with  recumbent 
silvery  pubescence,  much  denser,  longer,  and  more  noticeably 
flattened  on  lateral  margins  of  pronotum,  front,  and  lateral 
margins  of  ventral  surfaces. 

Front  convex,  shining,  coarsely,  densely  punctate,  narrowed 
above ; epistoma  broadly  emarginate ; antennae  robust,  extend- 
ing one-third  the  length  of  pronotum  when  laid  along  lateral 
margin,  distinctly  serrate  from  fifth  segment. 

Pronotum  slightly  wider  than  long,  widest  at  middle,  base 
wider  than  apex,  sides  evenly  arcuately  rounded,  apical  margin 
entire,  basal  margin  slightly  sinuate  and  narrowly  emarginate 
at  middle ; disk  convex,  narrowly  longitudinally  sulcate,  an  im- 
punctate  shining  line  in  basal  half  of  the  depression;  surface 
alutaceous  and  coarsely,  densely  asperate ; lateral  margins  shin- 
ing, densely,  coarsely  punctate.  Scutellum  broadly  oval,  alu- 
taceous. 

Elytra  slightly  narrower  than  pronotum  at  its  widest  point, 
slightly  expanded  behind  the  humeral  angles,  sinuately  con- 
verging to  apical  third,  arcuately  converging  to  irregularly  trun- 
cate apices  which  have  three  large  teeth  on  margin  and  three 
above ; apical  half  of  lateral  margin  with  a double  row  of  strong 
serrations ; disk  slightly  convex,  striate,  intervals  convex,  punc- 
tation  of  striae  and  interspaces  coarse,  dense,  sub-equal ; apical 
fourth  of  fourth  interval  with  a series  of  stout  erect  tubercles 
that  are  convex  anteriorly,  concave  behind,  with  margin  pos- 
terior and  acute  (similar  in  structure  to  those  on  elytral  mar- 
gins) ; a similar  series  of  four  very  large  tubercles  in  sixth 
interval  immediately  behind  median  red  spot,  a few  small  tuber- 
cles behind  these  and  in  seventh  interval ; a series  of  ten  to 
twelve  large  tubercles  in  eighth  interval  extending  from  median 
spot  to  apex ; umbone  prominent. 


32  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLIl 


Thoracic  sternites  densely,  coarsely  punctate,  except  a broad 
glabrous  band  just  below  the  lateral  margin  of  the  pronotum; 
ventral  abdominal  segments  densely,  coarsely  punctate  laterally, 
sparsely  punctate  medially,  finely  so  on  first  two  segments ; 
second  segment  with  a broadly  rounded,  alutaceous,  impunctate, 
median  lobe  extending  over  basal  third  of  third  segment;  last 
segment  strongly  acutely  produced,  longitudinally  rugose. 
Tarsi  slender,  claws  simple,  swollen  at  base. 

Length  9 to  11  mm. ; width  3 to  3.7  mm. 

2 differs  from  male  in  having  a very  small  median  lobe  on 
posterior  margin  of  second  ventral  abdominal  segment. 

Length  10.5  to  12  mm. ; width  3.3  to  4 mm. 

Holotype  male  collected  at  Cave  Creek,  Maricopa  County,  Ari- 
zona, Sept.  4,  1944,  allotype  female  and  one  paratype  collected  at  the 
same  locality.  Sept.  10,  1944,  five  paratypes  collected  at  the  same 
locality,  two  on  Sept.  5,  1943,  one  on  Sept.  11,  1943,  and  two  on 
Aug.  24,  1944,  all  by  the  writer.  Holotype,  allotype  and  paratypes 
in  author’s  collection,  a male  and  female  paratype  in  collection  of  J. 
N.  Knull,  Columbus,  Ohio.  It  is  with  pleasure  that  I dedicate  this 
remarkable  species  to  my  friend,  the  late  Peter  C.  Grassman. 

This  species  resembles  olneyae  Skinner  and  mexicanus  Fisher. 
The  pattern  of  ornamentation  and  tuberculate  elytra  readily  dis- 
tinguish it  from  olneyae  Skinner  and  all  other  described  species 
credited  to  America  north  of  Mexico.  In  the  original  description 
of  Paratyndaris  mexicanus  Fisher  (Proc.  of  the  U.  S.  N.  M.,  Vol. 
82,  Art.  27,  1933,  pp.  4-5)  it  is  stated  that  the  antennae  are  serrate 
from  the  sixth  joint,  and  “each  elytron  with  a longitudinal  row  of 
short,  erect  teeth  near  the  lateral  margin  on  apical  half.”  The 
present  species  has  antennae  serrate  from  the  fifth  segment,  in  which 
respect  it  is  unique,  and  four  longitudinal  rows  of  tubercles,  three 
of  which  are  very  prominent,  on  apical  half  of  each  elytron. 

The  specimens  were  found  resting  upon  dead  ironwood  (Olneya 
tesota)  and  palo  verde  (Cercidium  floridum)  twigs  late  in  the  after- 
noon. 

Paratyndaris  coursetia  Fisher 

Eighteen  specimens  of  this  species  were  collected  by  the  writer  on 
dead  ironwood  (Olney  tesota)  and  palo  verde  {Cercidium  floridum) 
twigs  at  Cave  Creek,  Maricopa  County,  Arizona,  on  Sept.  5 and  11, 
1943.  This  series  exhibits  considerable  variation  in  markings  of 
elytra.  Of  these,  nine  females  and  five  males  were  marked  with  only 
a red  marginal  spot  one  third  from  base  of  elytra ; one  female  with 


Fel.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  33 


in  addition,  on  each  elytron,  a small  yellow  basal  spot  adjacent  to 
scutellum ; one  female  with  a slightly  post  median  discal  orange  spot 
on  each  elytron,  as  well  as  lateral  red  and  basal  yellow  spots ; one 
female  with  a discal  spot  on  right  elytron,  lacking  on  left,  lateral  red 
spots  but  no  basal  spots ; and  another  female  identical  but  with  basal 
spots  present.  In  a series  of  seventeen  specimens  taken  at  the  same 
locality  on  Sept.  10,  1944,  fourteen  were  marked  with  a red  marginal 
spot  only,  two  had  additional  basal  yellow  spots  and  one  had  post 
median  discal  orange  spots,  as  well. 

A series  of  nine  specimens  collected  on  dead  Mimosa  at  Globe, 
Arizona,  July  29  and  31,  1944,  are  all  marked  with  only  a red  mar- 
ginal spot. 

One  male  emerged  on  August  8,  1937  from  a palo  verde  (Cerci- 
diurn  floridum)  branch  collected  at  Florence,  Arizona  in  January, 
1935. 

Paratyndaris  tucsoni  Knull 

One  male  collected  on  dead  mesquite  (Prosopis  chileusis)  at  Cave 
Creek,  Maricopa  Co.,  Arizona,  Sept.  5,  1943,  and  a male  and  female 
collected  at  same  locality  on  Aug.  24,  1944,  on  dead  palo  verde  (Cer- 
cidium  floridum) . 


Boxelder  Bug  “Bites”  Man. — During  recent  years,  several  Utah 
persons  have  stated  verbally  to  me  that  boxelder  bug  nymphs  had 
“bitten”  them.  Two  such  individuals  reported  being  thus  attacked 
while  in  bed,  the  supposed  offending  bugs  being  found  in  the  beds. 
One  boxelder  bug  nymph  was  brought  in  to  me  during  the  fall  of  1945 
from  a woman’s  dormitory ; the  young  woman  concerned  declared  it 
had  bitten  her,  while  she  was  in  bed,  causing  definite  irritation. 

While  driving  through  the  town  of  Axtell,  Utah,  at  5 : 25  P.M.  on 
July  12,  1946,  I suddenly  became  aware  of  a sharp  irritation  on  my 
upper  left  forearm,  below  the  inside  bend  of  the  elbow.  Straight- 
ening out  the  arm  revealed  a boxelder  bug  nymph,  Leptocoris  trivit- 
tafus  (Say),  approximately  one-fourth  inch  long.  This  nymph 
continued  its  attempt  to  “feed”  for  approximately  seven  seconds 
after  being  observed,  then  withdrew  its  mouthparts.  Definite  local 
irritation  persisted  for  approximately  twenty  minutes,  with  slight 
discomfort  still  evident  at  the  end  of  a half  hour.  The  writer  now 
is  convinced  that  occasionally  a trivittatus  nymph  actually  does 
“bite”  a person. — G.  F.  Knowlton,  Logan,  Utah. 


34  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLII 


NOTES  ON  THE  GENUS  DOLICHOPUS  (DIPTERA, 
DOLICHOPODIDAE).  PAPER  3." 

By  George  Steyskal,  Detroit,  Michigan. 

At  this  time  new  epigamic  observations  upon  five  species  are 
presented,  as  well  as  additional  notes  upon  another  species,  D.  gratus 
Lw.,  upon  which  fragmentary  notes  were  offered  previously  (Paper 
2).  Collection  notes  principally  from  the  Great  Smoky  Mountains 
National  Park  (Tennessee  and  North  Carolina)  are  also  included. 

Dolichopus  harbecki  V.D. 

This  species,  which  has  a large  dark  spot  in  the  apical  part  of  the 
wing,  was  observed  close  to  the  water  on  the  rocks  at  the  base  of  the 
Ramsey  Cascades  in  the  Great  Smoky  Mountains  National  Park 
(Tenn.)  near  noon  on  June  12,  1946.  The  male  stood  close  (1  to 
2 cm.)  before  the  female  in  a normal  position  or  slightly  elevated. 
He  extended  his  wings  at  right  angles  laterally  and  vibrated  them 
(fluttered  them  through  a short  arc)  very  rapidly.  About  every 
second,  or  a little  more  often,  he  very  quickly  flipped  his  hypopygium 
down  and  then  up  again.  After  a little  of  this  display  he  flew 
around  to  mount  the  female  and  attempt  to  copulate.  The  females, 
however,  were  unreceptive. 

Dolichopus  sexarticulatus  Lw. 

At  the  Chimney  Tops  Camping  Area  (Tennessee)  in  the  Great 
Smokies,  on  June  11,  1946,  this  species  was  observed  on  the  mud 
among  the  Impatiens  growth  around  a spring.  The  male  stood  in 
a normal  position  at  various  distances  near  the  female.  The  wings 
were  closed  and  the  fore  legs  extended  laterally  with  the  tibiae  and 
tarsi  turned  forward.  He  waved  the  tibiae  and  tarsi  (the  tip  of 
which  is  peculiarly  modified)  rather  slowly  sidewise.  Although 
copulation  was  attempted,  here  also  the  females  rejected  the  males. 

Dolichopus  quadrilamellatus  Lw. 

This  species,  which  received  its  specific  name  from  the  bilobate 
form  of  the  hypopygial  lamellae  of  the  males,  was  observed  in  the 
Great  Smokies  near  Elkmont,  Tenn.,  on  the  morning  of  June  17, 
1946.  There  had  been  rain,  and  by  lying  in  the  wet  vegetation  along 
a muddy  rill  flowing  in  a rut  in  a side  road  the  writer  watched  this 

^ For  Paper  1 see  this  Bulletin,  vol.  33,  pp.  193-194  (1938); 
Paper  2,  1.  c.,  vol.  37,  pp.  62-67  (1942). 


Feb.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  35 


species  and  Tachytrechus  moechus  Lw.  (epigamy  reported  else- 
where) . 

The  male  stood  for  a short  time  in  a normal  position  about  a 
centimeter  before  the  female,  then  he  reared  up  and  thrust  his 
hypopygium  forward  and  apparently  placed  his  yellowish  lamellae 
against  the  female’s  face,  at  the  same  time  extending  his  fore  legs 
straight  laterally  and  quivering  them  a little.  The  wings  were  held 
motionless  V-wise  backwards  with  the  lower  edge  turned  forward. 
The  females  paid  no  attention  and  accepted  none  of  the  males.  The 
latter  apparently  recognized  each  other.  Frequently  one  male 
rushed  at  another  and  chased  him  off,  or  two  males  would  have  a 
tumbling  aerial  “dog-fight.” 

Dolichopus  finitus  Wlk,  (D.  scoparius  Lw.) 

This  close  northern  relative  of  D.  quadrilamellatus  was  watched  on 
the  mud  around  a spring  2.5  miles  west  of  North  Branch,  Lapeer 
County,  Michigan,  shortly  before  noon  on  July  4,  1946.  The  tem- 
perature was  78°  F.  The  male  stood  at  his  length  from  the  female, 
a little  reared  up  forwardly.  The  fore  femora  were  extended  at 
right  angles  laterally  to  the  body  with  the  tibiae  and  tarsi  at  right 
angles  to  them  and  projecting  directly  forward.  No  motion  of  the 
fringed  fore  tarsi  was  perceptible  and  the  wings  remained  closed. 
The  females  never  stayed  long  in  one  spot.  Sometimes  a male 
moved  close  to  a female  after  holding  his  fore  tarsi  before  her,  and 
with  his  tarsi  still  extended,  he  reared  up  and  applied  his  yellowish 
lamellae  to  her  face,  much  in  the  same  fashion  as  did  D.  quadri- 
lamellatus. There  were  but  few  females,  all  unreceptive. 

The  males  of  D.  finitus  also  seem  to  recognize  each  other’s  sex. 
One  male  often  would  rush  on  wing  at  another  male,  many  times 
backing  up  a centimeter  or  two  and  repeating  the  attack  (which 
might  be  described  as  “bouncing”)  several  times  before  the  object 
of  the  attack  would  be  driven  off.  Sometimes  males  would  tumble 
about  in  the  air.  The  epigamic  display  was  never  performed  before 
another  male. 

Dolichopus  lobatus  Lw. 

This  is  probably  the  closest  relative  of  D.  omnivagus  V.D.,  the 
epigamy  of  which  was  reported  in  the  first  paper  of  this  series.  D. 
lobatus  was  observed  west  of  North  Branch,  Michigan,  between 
nine  and  ten  o’clock  on  the  cool,  dewy  morning  of  July  13,  1946,  at 
the  same  spring  at  which  D.  finitus  was  watched,  and  about  a mile 
from  the  spot  where  the  observations  on  D.  omnivagus  were  made 


36  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLll 


in  1936.  D.  omnivagus  and  D.  I oh  at  us,  indeed,  commonly  occur 
together,  a phenomenon  also  noted  in  connection  with  other  closely 
related  species  and  one  which  makes  especial  care  necessary  to  secure 
a correct  identification  of  the  species  observed.  Although  at  this 
time  three  male  D.  lohatus  were  captured  as  well  as  a single  D.  om- 
nivagus, and,  with  the  exception  of  the  fact  that  no  motion  of  the 
hypopygium  was  observed,  the  epigamy  was  identical  with  that 
reported  for  D.  omnivagus,  it  is  believed  that  D.  lohatus  was  ob- 
served. It  is  possible  that  the  report  on  D.  omnivagus  may  even 
actually  refer  to  D.  lohatus.  In  view  of  these  circumstances  the 
following  observation  is  of  greatest  importance. 

On  July  4,  1946,  at  the  same  time  and  place  that  the  observations 
on  D.  finitus  were  made,  a D.  lohatus  was  seen  close  behind  a female 
Argyra  rohusta  Jns.  In  this  case  there  is  no  doubt  of  the  identity 
of  the  Dolicliopus,  since  by  a rare  stroke  of  luck,  the  two  flies  were 
captured  alone  in  the  net  immediately  after  watching  them.  The 
Dolichopus  was  reared  up  with  his  hypopygium  lowered  and  in  con- 
tact with  the  tip  of  the  abdomen  of  the  Argyra.  The  wings  were 
quivered  at  a 60°  angle  backwards.  The  fore  legs  were  held  with 
the  femora  projecting  laterally.  The  tibiae  and  tarsi  were  extended 
forward  and  a little  downward  in  a rather  deliberate  manner  and 
then  rather  quickly  brought  back  against  the  femora.  The  action 
was  repeated  rather  slowly  several  times  before  the  strange  female 
moved  away. 

Dolichopus  gratus  Lw. 

D.  gratus  was  the  most  abundant  member  of  the  Dolichopus  fauna 
at  the  spring  near  North  Branch,  Michigan.  On  July  13,  1946, 
many  D.  gratus  of  both  sexes  were  seen  on  leaves  of  Bide  ns  and 
Polygonum  species.  The  chasing  of  females  over  the  surface  of  the 
water  as  previously  recorded  was  abundantly  noted  here  as  well  as 
on  numerous  other  occasions,  but  here  a more  definitely  epigamic 
behavior  was  observed.  The  males  would  frequently  stand  in  a 
considerably  reared-up  position  close  behind  a female.  The  wings 
were  held  at  60°  backward  with  the  lower  margin  turned  a little 
forward,  but  without  any  movement.  Every  little  while  the  male 
would  thrust  his  hypopygium  at  the  tip  of  the  female’s  abdomen. 
She  would  walk  about  some,  and  he  would  follow,  but  no  copulation 
was  apparently  effected. 

A week  after  these  observations  males  were  very  scarce  but 
females  were  very  abundant,  especially  at  the  edge  of  the  spring-pool. 


Pel.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  87 


where  they  were  flying  close  over  the  water  and  frequently  stopping 
to  dip  their  abdomens  into  the  water,  apparently  ovipositing.  Two 
weeks  later,  on  July  28,  there  were  many  males  again,  but  only  the 
chasing  over  the  water  was  seen. 

Collection  Notes. 

The  following  records  represent  interesting  extensions  of  range 
in  most  cases.  They  are  largely  from  the  Great  Smoky  Mountains 
National  Park  (GSMNP)  and  are  the  result  of  a trip  made  by  the 
writer  and  Robert  R.  Dreisbach  during  June  8 to  June  17,  1946. 
The  writer  is  indebted  to  Mr.  Dreisbach  for  permission  to  include 
material  he  collected ; species  taken  by  him  only  and  in  his  collection 
are  indicated  by  his  initials,  RRD. 

Dolichopus  dorycerus  Lw.  GSMNP,  along  trail  from  Forney 
Ridge  Parking  Lot  to  Andrews  Bald,  N.  C.,  June  16:  7J',  ; 

GSMNP,  Ramsey  Cascades,  June  12,  1(J  (RRD). 

D.  flavilacertus  V.D.  GSMNP,  Elkmont,  Tenn.,  June  17 : IJ'. 

D.  funditor  Lw.  GSMNP,  Ramsey  Cascades,  Tenn.,  June  12: 
lcJ(RRD). 

D.  gratus  Lw.  (D.  calcaratus  Aid.).  GSMNP,  Elkmont,  Tenn., 
June  15 : 2^^. 

D.  harbecki  V.D.  GSMNP,  Ramsey  Cascades,  Tenn.,  June  12: 
2?;  GSMNP,  Chimneys  Camp,  Tenn.,  June  11:1^,  GSMNP, 
Elkmont,  Tenn.,  June  15  : I J ; GSMNP,  Andrews  Bald,  N.  C.,  June 
16:2^,  1?.. 

D.  laciniatus  Coq.  GSMNP,  Elkmont,  Tenn.,  June  15  : 1 J'. 

D.  pantomimus  Mel.  and  Brues.  GSMNP,  Elkmont,  Tenn., 
June  15:  Ic?  (RRD). 

D.  pulchrimanus  Bigot  (D.  willistonii  Aid.).  Nicholas  Co.,  Ky., 
June 8 :2c?  (RRD). 

D.  quadrilamellatus  Lw.  GSMNP,  Elkmont,  Tenn.,  June  17 : 7^, 
2? ; GSMNP,  Cades  Cove,  Tenn.,  June  13  : 1?. 

D.  scapidaris  Lw.  Lebanon,  Tenn.,  June  9 : 1 J',  GSMNP,  Chim- 
neys Camp,  Tenn.,  June  11:  3c?,  IJ;  GSMNP,  Elkmont,  Tenn., 
June  15  : 6c?,  3?. 

D.  sexarticulatus  Lw.  Lebanon,  Tenn.,  June  9:  6c?;  GSMNP, 
Chimneys  Camp,  June  11 : 6c?;  GSMNP,  Elkmont,  June  15  : 1^?. 

D.  slossonae  V.D.  GSMNP,  Ramsey  Cascades,  June  12:  2c?; 
GSMNP,  Andrews  Bald,  N.  C.,  June  16:  Ic?. 

D.  sphaeristes  Brues.  Lebanon,  Tenn.,  in  swale  at  small  creek 
about  seven  miles  south  of  town,  in  company  with  D.  sexarticulatus, 


38  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLIl 


June  9:  2QJ'.  This  species  seems  not  to  have  been  recorded  since 
its  description  from  Austin,  Texas,  in  1901.  The  white  process  on 
the  distal  tarsal  joint  is  not  an  enlarged  empodium  as  stated  by 
Brues,  but  the  tip  of  a process  of  the  tarsal  joint  somewhat  similar 
to  those  of  D.  sexarticulatus  and  D.  pulchrimanus. 


BOOK  NOTES. 

Insects  of  Guam — II.  Bulletin  189,  Bernice  P.  Bishop  Mu-  . 
seum.  Pp.  i-iii  + 1-237.  1946.  Published  by  the  Museum,  Hon- 

olulu, Hawaii. 

This  part  of  the  entomological  survey  of  the  island  takes  in  the 
Orders  in  their  taxonomic  sequence,  beginning  with  the  Orthoptera 
and  related  Orders,  by  O.  H.  Swezey ; and  continuing  with  Isoptera, 
by  S.  F.  Light;  Heteroptera,  by  R.  L.  Usinger;  Homoptera  by  Z. 
P.  Metcalf;  Lepidoptera,  by  O.  H.  Swezey;  Diptera,  By  O.  A. 
Johannsen  and  O.  H.  Swezey ; and  Hymenoptera,  by  D.  T.  Fullaway 
and  O.  H.  Swezey.  There  are  also  numerous  figures,  separately 
numbered  for  each  aggregation  in  which  they  appear.  A map  of 
the  Island  of  Guam,  p.  iii,  is  very  helpful. 

The  parts,  or  Orders,  are  of  varying  extent  and  treatment. 
Those  on  Heteroptera,  Homoptera,  and  Diptera,  contain  numerous 
new  species,  and  become  basic  for  an  understanding  of  the  Pacific 
island  fauna.  The  most  extensive  part  is  that  on  the  Heteroptera 
by  Usinger,  with  its  numerous  and  very  enlightening  comments  and 
many  new  species.  From  the  point  of  view  of  students  of  the  Heter- 
optera, this  is  a very  important  contribution. 

Butterflies  of  Washington,  by  Ben  V.  Leighton.  University 
of  Washington  Publications  in  Biology,  vol.  9,  pp.  47-63.  1946. 

University  of  Washington,  Seattle,  Wash.  (45  cents.) 

This  is  a careful  faunal  list  for  the  State,  and,  as  such,  has  real 
value — ^a  good  paper  to  have  in  a library  dedicated  to  the  Lepi- 
doptera. 


J.  R.  T.  -B. 


Feh.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  39 


BOOK  NOTES. 

The  North  American  Clear-Wing  Moths  of  the  Family 
Aegeriidae,  by  George  P.  Engelhardt.  U.  S.  National  Museum, 
Bull.  190,  vi  + 222  pages,  32  plates,  1946.  (Price : $0.75.) 

As  one  of  the  numerous  scientific  friends  of  the  late  Mr.  Engel- 
hardt it  is  a pleasure  and  a privilege  to  be  asked  to  present  a review 
of  this  the  major  scientific  contribution  of  his  life.  The  monograph 
is  really  the  product  of  over  40  years  of  continuous  study  of  this 
small  family,  especially  studies  in  the  field  over  the  whole  of  the 
North  American  continent.  It  is  the  good  fortune  of  entomology 
that  although  Mr.  Engelhardt  did  not  live  long  enough  to  see  this 
paper  published,  he  did  prior  to  his  death  complete  a preliminary 
manuscript  which  could  be  and  was  put  into  final  shape  for  publica- 
tion by  his  good  friend  and  collaborator,  the  late  Mr.  August  Busck. 
And  so  science  did  not,  as  it  sometimes  does,  lose  the  fruits  of  a life- 
time’s work  by  the  death  of  the  investigators. 

In  format,  the  monograph  follows  the  usual  style  of  U.  S.  N.  M. 
works  in  taxonomy.  The  one  unusual  feature  is  the  inclusion  of 
16  colored  plates,  made  possible  by  the  generosity  of  Mr.  Engel- 
hardt’s  wife  and  son.  Beginning  with  the  discussion  of  the  struc- 
tural characters  of  the  family,  the  revision  includes  a key  to  the  26 
genera  recognized  (7  being  described  as  new),  and  then  a systematic 
treatment  of  these  genera  and  their  171  recognized  species,  races  and 
forms  (of  which  16  species  and  20  races  and  forms  are  described  as 
new).  In  some  cases  keys  to  species  and  subspecific  groups  are 
given,  in  other  cases  not.  As  anyone  who  knew  Mr.  Engelhardt 
would  expect,  the  treatments  include  extensive  notes  on  the  known 
biologies  and  food  plants  of  the  various  species — a feature  that  is 
especially  valuable  in  a group  that  contains  over  a dozen  important 
economic  pests. 

Mr.  Engelhardt’s  attitude  in  approaching  his  study  is  well  illus- 
trated by  an  experience  the  author  had  with  him.  In  1930  he  looked 
over  my  personal  collection  and  picked  out  the  short  series  that 
furnished  the  types  of  Conopia  richardsi.  He  spotted  them  imme- 
diately and  turned  to  ask  where  I had  gotten  them.  He  was  very 
glad  to  get  the  specimens  but  could  not  completely  hide  the  disap- 
pointment from  his  face  when  I had  to  say  I had  netted  them  on 
flowers  and  so  could  give  him  no  clues  on  either  food  plant  or  general 
biology. 

The  chief  criticism  of  the  work  noted  by  the  reviewer  concerns 
the  treatment  of  genitalic  data.  As  usual  in  U.  S.  N.  M.  publica- 
tions in  entomology,  the  male  and  female  genitalia  of  the  genotypes 


40  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLII 


are  figured.  Unfortunately  there  is  usually  no  comment  about  the 
genitalic  characters  of  other  species.  Yet  in  this  introductory  char- 
acterization there  appears,  . . the  modifications  . . . are  con- 
stant within  the  species  and  furnish  excellent  diagnostic  specific 
characters  and,  in  our  opinion,  also  dependable  generic  characters.’^ 
The  fact  that  this  omission  will  to  a certain  extent  lessen  the  useful- 
ness of  the  revision  to  entomologists  not  located  at  the  National 
Museum  is  readily  apparent  from  the  text.  Thus,  under  Penste- 
monia  dammersi  there  appears,  “A  single  worn  specimen,  labeled 
San  Diego,  Calif.  . . . was  determined  easily  as  a male  of  dammersi 
from  the  genitalia.”  No  one  could  duplicate  this  from  data  supplied 
in  the  monograph.  More  seriously,  Carmenta  helenis  is  admittedly 
based  primarily  on  characters  of  the  male  genitalia,  and  brief  notes 
are  given  comparing  these  characters  to  those  of  C.  ithacae;  but  the 
genitalia  of  C.  ithacae  appear  never  to  have  been  described  or 
figured  and  accordingly  the  comparative  notes  are  of  little  value. 
And  so  although  the  basic  revisional  work  included  a consideration 
of  the  genitalic  characters,  this  set  of  data  is  not  available  below  the 
generic  level  to  the  user  of  the  monograph.  There  is  one  exception : 
the  genus  Thamnosphecia  with  12  included  species  has  the  male 
genitalia  of  5 species  and  the  female  genitalia  of  4 species  figured 
and  the  text  contains  very  brief  notes  on  the  genitalia  of  some  of  the 
other  species.  I feel  inclined  to  suggest  that  had  Mr.  Engelhardt 
and  Mr.  Busck  been  able  to  complete  the  manuscript  more  leisurely 
the  genitalia  would  have  been  described  and  figured  more  completely. 

Forty-five  years  have  elapsed  since  the  last  publication  of  a mono- 
graph of  this  interesting  family.  It  is  needed,  and  it  seems  likely  to 
stand  as  a monument  for  years  to  come.  The  entomologists  of 
America  will  always  be  indebted  to  Mr.  Engelhardt  and  Mr.  Busck 
for  the  completion  of  this  work. 

A.  Glenn  Richards. 

DDT  and  the  Insect  Problem,  by  James  C.  Leary,  William  I. 
Fishbein  and  Lawrence  C.  Salter.  Pp.  i-vii  + 1-176.  1946.  Mc- 

Graw-Hill Book  Co.,  Inc.,  New  York,  N.  Y.  ($2.50.) 

Now  that  DDT  has  ceased  to  be  a very  hush-hush  military  secret, 
we  can  be  certain  that  we  shall  hear  much  about  it.  And  here  we 
have  a popularized  treatise  on  the  new  insecticide  by  three  non-ento- 
mologists: James  B.  Leary,  President  of  the  National  Association 
of  Science  Writers;  William  I.  Fishbein,  epidemiologist,  Chicago 
Health  Department ; and  Lawrence  C.  Salter,  of  Lawrence  C.  Salter 
& Associates,  and  former  Science  Editor  of  the  Detroit  Free  Press. 


Feh.,1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  41 


The  authors  frankly  term  it  a compilation ; and  they  might  well 
have  added  that  it  is  a collation  and  a condensation  of  numerous 
Department  of  Agriculture  Bulletins  and  similar  publications  of  a 
like  nature  from  other  sources,  all  highly  technical.  This  does  not 
tell  against  the  book,  which  is  not  final,  for  there  is  still  much  to  be 
done  over  the  years  to  delimit  the  use  of  DDT.  However,  the 
authors  categorically  say  (p.  vi)  : ‘Tt  is  rather  a summary  prepared 
with  the  needs  of  the  user  in  mind,  and  emphasis  herein  stems  from 
that  objective.” 

Following  the  Preface,  there  are  eight  chapters,  each  with  a bibli- 
ography. The  Introduction  sets  forth  the  problem  and  the  general 
principles.  The  seven  chapters  following  deal  respectively  with 
insects  and  insecticides,  chemistry  and  pharmacology  of  DDT,  how 
to  use  DDT,  DDT  at  war,  man’s  health  and  comfort,  agriculture ; 
forest,  shade,  and  fruit  tree  insects.  A twenty-two  page  Index 
winds  up  the  book. 

“DDT”  is  a difficult  book  to  appraise.  However,  it  seems  to  this 
writer,  who  has  some  experience  in  non-technical  presentation,  that 
the  book  is  far  too  technical  for  the  average  householder,  who  dis- 
covers a few  green  plant  lice  in  his  little  garden  and  a couple  of 
mosquitoes  in  his  house;  and  he  unable  to  distinguish  between 
Aedes,  Anopheles,  and  Culex — ^all  bite  alike.  Nor  would  such  a 
lay  person  derive  much  nourishment  from  the  figures  of  the  benzene 
ring. 

However,  until  McGraw-Hill  produce  the  authoritative  book, 
this  one  will  meet  the  need  of  the  moment. 


J.  R.  T.  -B. 


42  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLll 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 

Meeting  of  November  14,  1946. 

A regular  meeting  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  was 
held  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum  on  November  14,  1946. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  at  8:00  P.M.  by  President 
R.  R.  McElvare. 

Members  in  attendance  were  Messers  McElvare,  Teale,  Nicolay, 
Naumann,  Buchholz  and  Tulloch. 

The  minutes  of  the  meetings  of  October  10,  1946,  were  read  and 
accepted. 

Mr.  McElvare  reported  that  because  of  increased  printing  costs 
the  yearly  subscription  rates  for  the  Bulletin  and  Entomologica 
Americana  have  been  increased  $.50  and  $1.00  respectively. 

The  Society  voted  to  continue  the  fee  of  $4.00  to  cover  both  the 
subscription  to  the  Bulletin  and  the  annual  dues  for  membership 
in  the  Society. 

Mr.  Teale  reported  on  an  observation  relayed  to  him  by  a reader 
of  his  column  which  has  a similarity  to  the  phenomenon  of  “anting” 
which  was  discussed  at  the  October  meeting.  This  reader,  a resi- 
dent of  Pennsylvania,  had  spread  moth  balls  over  the  surface  of  a 
lawn  as  a means  of  skunk  control.  After  the  moth  balls  had  be- 
come somewhat  decreased  in  size  grackles  were  observed  picking 
them  up  and  rubbing  them  in  amongst  their  feathers.  It  is  believed 
that  this  is  an  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  grackles  to  rid  themselves 
of  lice.  Other  observers  have  reported  a similar  action  in  which  the 
birds  employ  cigar  butts. 

The  speaker  of  the  evening  was  Mr.  Otto  Buchholz  who  told  of 
his  experiences  in  connection  with  a six  months  collecting  trip 
during  the  spring  and  summer  of  1946.  The  areas  visited  were  in 
Virginia,  North  and  South  Carolina,  Georgia  and  Elorida.  The 
object  of  the  trip  was  to  secure  material  to  study  the  distribution  of 
members  of  certain  families  of  the  Lepidoptera.  Particular  attention 
was  devoted  to  the  collection  of  the  species  described  by  Abbott 
some  years  ago.  Specimens  of  a skipper  which  feeds  upon  the 
Yucca  plant  were  exhibited. 

The  meeting  adjourned  at  9:45  P.M. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

George  S.  Tulloch,  Secretary  pro  tern. 

Meeting  of  December  12,  1946. 

A regular  meeting  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  was 
held  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum  on  December  12,  1946. 


Feh.,1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  43 


The  meeting  was  called  to  order  at  8:00  P.M.  by  President 
R.  R.  McElvare. 

Members  in  attendance  were  Messers  Moennich,  Gaul,  Teale, 
Buchholz,  McElvare,  Noaks,  Naumann  and  Tulloch.  Eourteen 
visitors  were  present. 

The  minutes  of  the  meeting  of  November  14,  1946,  were  read, 
corrected  and  accepted. 

The  President  appointed  Messers  Buchholz,  Naumann  and  Noaks 
to  serve  as  a nominating  committee  to  report  at  the  annual  meeting 
in  January. 

Mr.  Edwin  Way  Teale  delivered  the  evening’s  lecture  which  was 
entitled  Henry  David  Thoreau  as  an  Entomologist.  An  account 
was  given  of  Thoreau’s  life  with  particular  reference  being  made 
to  the  period  which  this  naturalist  spent  at  Walden  Pond.  Although 
Thoreau’s  interests  were  not  restricted  to  any  particular  phase  of 
Biology  or  Natural  History  he  made  numerous  observations  dealing 
with  many  different  kinds  of  insects  which  are  recorded  in  his 
journals  and  in  his  book  Walden.  Certain  of  these  observations  were 
presented  by  Mr.  Teale  who  also  read  certain  sections  from  the  Book 
Walden.  A series  of  Kodachrome  slides  were  projected  which 
showed  scenes  taken  at  Concord,  Massachusetts,  and  nearby  Walden 
Pond. 

The  meeting  adjourned  at  10:  00  P.M. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

George  S.  Tulloch,  Secretary  pro  tern. 

Meeting  of  January  16,  1947. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  was 
held  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum  on  January  16,  1947. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  at  8:00  P.M.  by  President 
R.  R.  McElvare. 

Members  in  attendance  were  Messers  Teale,  Naumann,  Buchholz, 
McElvare  and  Tulloch. 

The  minutes  of  the  meeting  of  December  12,  1946  were  read  and 
accepted. 

The  Treasurer  submitted  a report  for  the  period  October  1- 
December  31  as  well  as  an  annual  report  for  the  year  1946.  Both  of 
these  were  accepted  by  the  Society. 

The  report  of  the  Publication  Committee  was  read  and  accepted. 
Particular  appreciation  was  expressed  regarding  the  fine  work 
which  our  Editor  accomplished  during  the  year. 


44  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLll 


The  report  of  the  Nomination  Committee  was  held  over  until  the 
February  meeting. 

The  programs  for  the  February  and  March  meetings  were 
announced. 

The  meeting  adjourned  at  10:  00  P.M. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

George  S.  Tulloch,  Secretary  pro  tern. 


VERY  SPECIAL  NOTICE. 

All  matters  referring  to  any  of  the  publications  of  the  Brooklyn 
Entomological  Society  must  be  addressed  either  to  R.  R.  McElvare, 
Treasurer,  or  to  the  undersigned  Editor.  Any  communications  of 
any  kind  whatsoever  addressed  to  the  printers  or  to  any  other  per- 
son or  agency  is  subject  to  delay  of  from  ten  days  to  two  weeks. 
LIBRARIES  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  ALL  KINDS 
PLEASE  TAKE  NOTE.  THE  SOCIETY  IS  NOT  RESPON- 
SIBLE EOR  DELAYS  CAUSED  BY  THEIR  MISTAKES. 

J.  R.  de  la  Torre-Bueno,  Editor 
Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 
925  East  6th  St.,  Tucson,  Ariz. 

R.  R.  McElvare,  Treasurer, 

76  Ivy  Way,  Port  Washington,  L.  L,  N.  Y. 


Vol.  XLII  APRIL,  1947  No,  2 

BULLETIN 

OF  THE 

Brooklyn  Entomological 
Society 


PUBLICATION  COMMITTEE 

J.  R.  de  la  TORRE-BUENO,  Editor 

GEORGE  S.  TULLOCH  EDWIN  W.  TEALE 

Published  for  the  Society  by 

The  Science  Press  Printing  Company, 

N.  Queen  St.  and  McGovern  Ave.,  Lancaster,  Pa., 

Price,  75  cents  Subscription,  $3.50  per  year 

Mailed  August  25,  1947 


Entered  as  second-class  matter  January  21,  1919,  at  the  post  office  at  Lancaster,  Pa., 
under  the  Act  of  March  3,  1879 


The  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 

Meetings  are  held  on  the  second  Thursday  after  the  first  Tuesday  of  each 
month  from  October  to  May,  inclusive,  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum,  Eastern 
Parkway  and  Washington  Ave.,  Brooklyn.  The  annual  dues  are  $2.00. 


OFFICERS,  1947 
Honorary  President 
' J.  R.  DE  LA  TORRE-BUENO 


President,  R.  R.  McELVARE 
Vice  President  Treasurer 

OTTO  BUCHHOLZ  r.  r.  McELVARE 

Secretary  280  Fourth  Ave., 

GEORGE  S.  TULLOCH  New  York,  N.  Y. 

Editor 

J.  R.  DE  LA  TORRE-BUENO 


Delegate  to  Council  of  New  YorTc 
Academy  of  Sciences 
EDWIN  WAY  TEALE 


CONTENTS 


ADDITIONS  TO  SYNOPSIS  OF  ALEYRODIDAE,  Sampson 45 

CHRYSOPHILUS  PROXIMUS,  Knowlton  50 

GENOTYPES  FIXED  BY  FABRICIUS,  Blackwelder  51 

VESPINE  BIOLOGY.  II,  Gaul  58 

SCHIZOLACHNUS  PINI-RADIATAE,  Knowlton  62 

FREQUENAMIA  GUERRERA,  n.  g.,  n.  sp.,  DeLong  63 

GENUS  OCHLEROPTERA,  Pate  65 

SUBFAMILY  NAME  IN  PSAMMOCHARIDAE,  Pate  70 

POPLAR  APHIDS,  Knowlton  71 

FREDERICK  EDWARD  WINTERS,  Chamberlain  72 

MYZUS  APHID  NOTES,  Knowlton  74 

BOOK  NOTES,  J.  R.  T.-B.  75 

SIMPLIFICATION,  J.  R.  T.-B.  76 

A FEW  APHIDS,  Knowlton  77 

PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  SOCIETY,  Tulloch  78 

GEOCORIS  NOTES,  Knowlton  ' 79 

EXCHANGES  80 


Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 


Published  in 

February,  April,  June,  October  and  December  of  each  year 

Subscription  price,  domestic,  $3.50  per  year ; foreign,  $3.75  in  advance  ; single 
copies,  75  cents.  Advertising  rates  on  application.  Short  articles,  notes  and 
observations  of  interest  to  entomologists  are  solicited.  Authors  will  receive  25 
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J.  R.  de  la  TORRE-BUENO,  Editor, 

925  East  6th  8t.,  Tucson,  Ariz. 


BULLETIN 

OF  THE 

BROOKLYN  ENTOMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY 


VoL.  XLII  April,  1947  No.  2 


ADDITIONS  AND  CORRECTIONS  TO  “A  GENERIC 
SYNOPSIS  OF  THE  ALEYRODOIDEA.” 

By  W.  W.  Sampson,  Berkeley,  Calif. 

Opportunity  is  taken  here  to  correct  several  rather  glaring  mis- 
takes which  make  the  key  to  the  genera  of  the  Aleyrodinae  in  “A 
Generic  Synopsis  of  the  Hemipterous  Superfamily  Aleyrodoidea” 
(Entomologica  Americana,  XXIII  (3)  : 196-200)  entirely  un- 
workable. Two  recently  described  genera  are  added  to  those 
already  listed. 

Attention  is  called  to  the  fact  that  the  genera  Septaleurodicus 
Sampson  and  Hesperaleyrodes  Sampson,  described  in  the  above 
paper,  due  to  a certain  amount  of  confusion  during  the  war,  were 
figured  and  described  as  new  in  the  Mexican  journal  “Anales  de  la 
Escuela  Nacional  de  Ciencias  Bioldgicas”  (3(3^)  : 437-444)  a 
short  time  later. 

Key  to  Genera  of  the  Aleyrodinae. 

(Pupal  Cases.) 

1 . Lingula  extremely  short,  hardly  longer  than  wide ; adults  with 

radial  sector  vein  only  in  fore  wing  (Neomaskellini) . 

N eomaskellia 

Lingula  elongate,  much  longer  than  wide 2 

2.  Dorsum  completely  covered  with  simple  pores ; adults  with 

radiali,  radial  sector,  and  cubital  veins  in  fore  wing 

(Aleurochitonini)  Aleurochiton 

Dorsum  with  relatively  few  simple  pores;  adults  with  radial 
sector  and  cubital  veins  in  fore  wing 3 

3.  Dorsum  with  elongate,  siphon-like  wax  tubes;  adults  lacking 

tarsal  paronychium  (Siphonini)  Siphoninus 

Dorsum  without  siphon-like  wax  tubes;  adults  with  tarsal 
paronychium  4 

StP  2 f947 


46  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLil 


4.  Thoracic  tracheal  folds  and  combs  or  pores,  or  pores  or  combs 

only,  and  anal  fold,  or  only  anal  fold,  present  ( Di- 
al eurodini)  5 

Thoracic  tracheal  folds,  combs,  pores,  and  anal  fold  absent 
(Aleyrodini)  36 

5.  Thoracic  tracheal  folds  and  pores  or  combs,  or  pores  and  combs 

only,  and  anal  fold  present  6 

Anal  fold  only  present  26 

6.  Dorsal  disc  separated  from  submarginal  area  by  a distinct  line 

or  fold 7 

Dorsal  disc  not  separated  from  submarginal  area . 14 

7.  Tracheal  folds  distinctly  visible 8 

Tracheal  folds  indistinct  or  pores  or  combs  only  visible  ....  9 

8.  Thoracic  tracheal  folds  ending  in  a pore Asialeyrodes 

Thoracic  tracheal  folds  ending  in  a comb  of  teeth. 

Paraleurolohus 

9.  Usual  marginal  ending  of  tracheal  fold  forming  a pore  ....  10 
Usual  marginal  ending  of  tracheal  fold  forming  a comb  of 

teeth  12 

10.  Dorsal  segmental  sutures  having  heavily  sclerotized  link-like 

designs  Bellitudo 

Dorsal  segmental  sutures  without  these  designs 11 

11.  Dorsum  with  blunt  tubercles,  dorsal  disc  not  defined. 

Al  euro  tub  erculatus 

Dorsum  without  tubercles,  dorsal  disc  defined. 

Malayaleyrodes 

12.  Vasiform  orifice  cordate,  not  surrounded  by  a trilobed  figure, 

lingula  knobbed  and  exposed Pseudaleurolobus 

Vasiform  orifice  subcordate,  often  surrounded  by  a trilobed 
figure  13 

13.  Margin  entire  Africaleurodes 

Margin  toothed  Aleurolobus 

14.  Many  lines  encircling  case Acanthaleyrodes 

These  lines  lacking 15 

15.  Thoracic  tracheal  pore  ending  in  a pore,  or  only  a pore 

present  16 

Thoracic  tracheal  pore  ending  in  a comb  of  teeth,  or  only  a 
comb  present  17 

16.  Case  with  a ring  of  large  submarginal  pores  . . . Dialeuropora 

Case  without  a ring  of  submarginal  pores Dialeurodes 

17.  Dorsal  glands  present Aleuroglandulus 

Dorsal  glands  absent 18 

18.  Operculum  semi-lunar,  filling  less  than  half  of  orifice. 

Pseudaleyrodes 


April,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  47 


Operculum  otherwise  shaped,  filling  at  least  half  of  orifice  . . 19 

19.  Submargin  with  a series  of  papilla-like  pores 20 

Submargin  without  papilla-like  pores 21 

20.  Dorsum  with  numerous,  large  irregular  pores,  operculum 

subcordate  Aleuro paradoxus 

Dorsum  without  large  irregular  pores,  operculum  transversely 
rectangular  Stenaleyrodes 

21.  Submarginal  area  with  a row  of  prominent  spines 22 

Submarginal  area  without  prominent  spines 24 

22.  Abdominal  ridge  with  prominent  papillae Mixaleyrodes 

Abdominal  ridge  without  papillae 23 

23.  Vasiform  orifice  broadly  cordate,  projecting  posteriorly. 

Xenaleyrodes 

Vasiform  orifice  roundly  trapezoidal,  not  projecting  posteriorly. 

Corbettella 

24.  Vasiform  orifice  pointed  posteriorly,  lingula  exposed 25. 

Vasiform  orifice  rounded  posteriorly,  lingula  hidden. 

Aleuroplatus 

25.  A series  of  wart-like  structures  outlining  the  developing  insect. 

Aster  oh  emisia 

The  wart-like  structures  lacking Asterochiton 

26.  Submarginal  area  with  a series  of  papilla-like  pores. 

T rial  eur  odes 

Submarginal  area  without  papilla-like  pores 27 

27.  Vasiform  orifice  triangular,  operculum  not  filling  most  of 

it  28 

Vasiform  orifice  rounded,  operculum  filling  most  of  it 30 

28.  Operculum  trapezoidal  29 

Operculum  rounded Bemisia 

29.  Submarginal  area  with  many  short  setae  ....  Acanthob emisia 

Submarginal  area  without  setae  Metaleyrodes 

30.  Dorsal  disc  with  chitinized  tubercles Tuberaleyrodes 

Dorsal  disc  without  chitinized  tubercles 31 

31.  Margin  smooth  Aleuroporosus 

Margin  crenulate  or  toothed  32 

32.  Vasiform  orifice  situated  in  a ribbed  or  reticulated  pit  ...  . 33 

Vasiform  orifice  not  situated  in  a pit 34 

33.  Operculum  rounded  Setaleyrodes 

Operculum  transversely  subrectangular Pealius 

34.  Dorsum  covered  with  raised  circular  papillae Singhiella 

Dorsum  without  circular  papillae  35 

35.  Venter  of  case  with  a distinct  rim,  dorsum  with  four  segmented 

setae  Taiwanaleyrodes 


48  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLll 


36. 

37. 

38. 

39. 

40. 


41. 

42. 

43. 


44. 

45. 

46. 

47. 

48. 


49. 


Venter  of  case  plain,  dorsum  with  round  patches  with  suture- 
like markings  Aleuroclava 

Dorsal  disc  separated  from  submarginal  area  by  a line  or 
fold  37 


Dorsal  disc  not  separated  from  submarginal  area  by  a line  or 

fold  41 

Margin  smooth  or  with  one  row  of  teeth  . 38 

Margin  with  two  rows  of  teeth Hempelia 

Submarginal  area  elevated,  with  papilla-like  folds. 

Aleuromigda 

Submarginal  area  not  elevated,  without  papilla-like  folds  . . 39 

Vasiform  orifice  transversely  elliptical Hesperaleyrodes 

Vasiform  orifice  cordate  or  subcordate 40 


Operculum  subcordate,  vasiform  orifice  elevated. 

T etraleurodes 

Operculum  transversely  rectangular,  vasiform  orifice  not 

elevated  Aleuroputeus 

Dorsum  with  a large  number  of  mammiform  papillae. 

Al  euro  tit  hius 

Dorsum  without  mammiform  papillae  42 

Margin  smooth  or  slightly  irregular,  not  regularly  toothed  . 43 

Margin  regularly  toothed 44 

Vasiform  orifice  elevated,  operculum  filling  orifice. 

N eoaleurodes 

Vasiform  orifice  not  elevated,  operculum  not  filling  orifice. 

Aleyrodes 

Margin  with  one  row  of  teeth  45 

Margin  with  two  rows  of  teeth 53 

Inner  subdorsal  area  with  a longitudinal  line  of  scallop-shaped 

thickenings,  or  furrow  or  line Crenidorsum 

Inner  subdorsal  area  without  above  lines  or  furrow 46 

Sides  of  case  deflexed  to  meet  shortened  ventral  disc. 

T etralicia 

Sides  of  case  not  deflexed 47 

Dorsal  disc  separated  from  submarginal  area  by  a series  of 

pores  48 

Dorsal  disc  not  separated  from  submarginal  area 49 

Submarginal  area  with  prominent  setae,  operculum  subcordate. 

Corbettia 

Submarginal  area  without  prominent  setae,  operculum  roundly 

semilunar  Bulgarialeurodes 

Vasiform  orifice  elevated,  dorsum  with  many  prominent  setae. 

Aleurocanthus 


April,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  49 


Vasiform  orifice  not  elevated,  dorsum  without  prominent 
setae  50 

50.  Vasiform  orifice  subcordate 51 

Vasiform  orifice  subcircular 52 

51.  Body  elliptical,  operculum  subcordate  Aleurotulus 

Body  narrowly  elongate,  operculum  trapezoidal. 

Aleurocybotus 

52.  Body  pyriform,  operculum  subcircular  Nealeyrodes 

Body  elliptical,  operculum  trapezoidal Mexicaleyrodes 

53.  Vasiform  orifice  elevated 54 

Vasiform  orifice  not  elevated 56 

54.  Posterior  edge  of  vasiforjn  orifice  prolonged  into  a bifid  horn. 

Aleurocerus 

Posterior  edge  of  orifice  not  prolonged  into  a horn 55 

55.  Small,  plain  circular  pores  on  dorsum Zaphanera 

Small  compound-like  pores  on  dorsum Laingiella 

56.  Vasiform  orifice  roundly  rectangular  or  transversely  ellipti- 

cal   57 

Vasiform  orifice  cordate  or  subcordate 58 

57.  Vasiform  orifice  roundly  rectangular,  situated  on  an  oval  area 

with  a posterior  projection Luederwaldtiana 

Vasiform  orifice  transversely  elliptical,  not  situated  on  an  oval 
area  Aleurothrixus 

58.  Vasiform  orifice  cordate,  operculum  filling  half  of  the  orifice. 

Aleuromarginatus 

Vasiform  orifice  subcordate,  filling  more  than  half  of  the 
orifice  59 

59.  Submarginal  area  with  a row  of  setae,  dorsum  without  a 

prominent  ridge  Pentaleyrodes 

Submarginal  area  without  a row  of  setae,  dorsum  with  a 
prominent  ridge Aleurotrachelus 


Genus  Bellitudo  Russell. 

Bellitudo  Russell,  1943,  Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  Wash.,  45(6)  : 132. 

Large  in  size,  circular  to  oval  in  shape.  Margin  dentate; 
submargin  separated  from  dorsal  disc  by  a line,  with  a row  of 
tooth-shaped  designs  behind  the  margin.  Thoracic  tracheal 
folds  absent,  tracheal  pores  clearly  evident ; caudal  furrow  well 
defined,  deep,  ending  in  a pore.  Dorsum  with  clearly  defined 
segmental  sutures  having  heavily  sclerotized,  link-like  designs. 
Vasiform  orifice  cordate,  deep,  finely  ridged;  operculum 
cordate,  filling  orifice ; lingula  hidden. 

Genotype:  Bellitudo  jamaicae  Russell,  1943. 


50  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLil 


Genus  Crenidorsum  Russell. 

Crenidorsum  Russell,  1945,  Jour.  Wash.  Acad.  Sci.,  35(2)  : 55. 

Moderate  in  size,  oval  in  shape.  Margin  with  one  row  of 
teeth ; submarginal  area  not  separated  from  dorsal  disc. 
Thoracic  tracheal  folds  and  pores  absent ; caudal  fold  absent. 
Dorsum  with  longitudinal,  differentiated  line  of  scallop-shaped 
thickenings  or  ridge  or  furrow,  in  inner  subdorsal  area.  Vasi- 
form  orifice  subcordate  to  broadly  elliptical ; operculum  nearly 
filling  orifice;  lingula  hidden.  Caudal  depression  with  lateral 
ridges  present. 

Genotype : Crenidorsum  tuberculatum  Russell,  1945. 


Seasonal  Occurrence  of  Chrysopilus  proximus  (Walker). — 

This  Rhagionid  fly  has  been  collected  in  Utah  more  frequently  than 
any  other  species  of  snipe  fly,  if  records  from  the  Utah  State  Agri- 
cultural College  insect  collection  are  an  indication. 

No  collections  were  taken  until  May,  then  specimens  were  taken 
at  Benson  and  Brigham.  During  June,  this  species  was  collected  at 
American  Fork,  Blacksmith  Fork  Canyon,  Brigham  Canyon,  Brig- 
ham City,  College  Ward,  Eden,  Ft.  Duchesne,  Garland,  Hayden, 
Huntsville,  Hyde  Park,  Laketown,  Manti,  Mapleton,  Mantua,  Mill 
Creek  Canyon,  Provo,  Roosevelt,  Salt  Lake  City,  Sandy,  Smith- 
field,  Springville,  Union  and  Wellsville.  July  collections  named 
above  only  duplicated  the  localities  Brigham,  Eden,  Huntsville, 
Laketown  and  Wellsville.  Additional  localities  were:  Amalga, 
Antimony,  Avon,  Bicknel,  Bluff  dale.  Card  Canyon,  Earmington, 
Garden  City,  Hooper,  Kanab,  Lehi,  Linden,  Logan,  Logan  Canyon, 
Ogden,  Paradise,  Providence,  Richmond,  St.  George  and  Warren. 
August  collections  dropped  off  sharply,  with  records  being  from 
Kimble  Junction,  Logan,  Manila,  Mantua,  Wanship  and  Wolf  Creek 
Pass.  In  September  this  species  was  taken  only  at  Duchesne,  and 
Logan  Canyon,  in  Utah. 

Erom  the  above  collection  data,  covering  collection  records  for 
several  years,  it  appears  that  this  fly  seldom  was  taken  in  the  same 
locality  during  two  or  more  months,  even  though  the  species  was 
collected  from  May  into  September.  In  general  its  occurrence 
tended  to  be  later  at  higher  elevations,  as  might  be  expected.  Identi- 
fications were  made  by  C.  T.  Greene,  M.  T.  James,  and  D.  E. 
Hardy. — G.  F.  Knowlton,  Utah  State  Agricultural  College,  Logan, 
Utah. 


April,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  51 


THE  GENOTYPES  (OF  COLEOPTERA)  FIXED  BY 
FABRICIUS. 

By  Richard  E.  Blackwelder,  U.  S.  National  Museum, 
Washington,  D.  C. 

In  a previous  paper^  the  writer  has  reviewed  the  claim  of  Dr. 
Rene  Malaise  that  Fabricius  was  the  originator  and  first  designator 
of  type  species  of  genera.  An  outline  of  the  system  employed  by 
Fabricius  was  presented,  and  the  conclusion  was  reached  that  he 
made  acceptable  designations  of  genotypes. 

During  the  preparation  of  that  paper  lists  of  the  genera  of 
Coleoptera  employed  by  Fabricius  were  assembled,  with  indication 
of  such  designations  as  occur.  A list  of  these  in  systematic  order 
is  presented  here  for  the  use  of  persons  desiring  to  test  this  claim 
and  for  those  who  decide  to  accept  the  designations  and  need  an 
index  to  Fabricius’  work. 

All  of  these  designations  have  been  checked  against  original 
sources  (or  Sherborn’s  Index  Animalium).  Unless  statement  is 
made  to  the  contrary,  the  species  designated  was  originally  in- 
cluded or  was  among  the  first  included  in  the  genus,  and  the  genus 
was  not  monobasic.  Fabricius’  action  is  listed  as  a “designation” 
only  where  is  appears  to  be  the  first  valid  fixation.  In  cases  of 
previous  fixation  or  erroneous  designation  his  action  is  listed  as 
“citation.” 

(All  references  will  be  found  together  preceding  Bibliography.) 

CUPESIDAE. 

Cupes  Fabr.  01-66,  capitata  Fabr.,  by  original  designation. 

CiCINDELIDAE. 

Collyris  Fabr.  01-226,  formicaria  Fabr.,  by  original  designation. 
Manticora  Fabr.  81-320,  maxillosa  Fabr.,  by  monotypy. 

Carabidae. 

Carabus  Linn.  58-413,  hortensis  (Linn.),  by  1801  designation. 
Calosoma  Weber  01-20,  reticulatum  (Fabr.),  by  1801  designation. 
Cychrus  Fabr.  94-440,  rostratus  (Linn.),  by  1801  designation. 
Anthia  Weber  01-17,  6-guttata  (Fabr.),  by  1801  designation. 
Scolytus  Fabr.  91-23  (not  Geoffroy,  1762),  limhatus  (Fabr.),  by 
1792  designation.^ 

Agra  Fabr.  01-224,  aenea  Fabr.,  by  original  designation. 

Odacantha  Payk.  98-169,  melanura  (Linn.),  cited  in  1801.^ 

Drypta  Latr.  96-75,  emarginata  (Fabr.),  by  1801  designation.^ 


52  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLli 


Galerita  Fabr.  01-214  (not  Gouan,  1770),  hirta  Fabr.,  by  original 
designation. 

Dytiscidae. 

Hydrachna  Fabr.  01-255  (not  Mueller,  1776),  hermanni  (Fabr.), 
by  original  designation. 

Staphylinidae. 

Stenus  Latr.  96-77,  iuno  (Payk.),  cited  in  1801.^ 

SiLPHIDAE. 

Peltis  Geoff.  62-117,  grossa  (Linn.),  by  1801  designation.^ 

Catops  Payk.  98-342,  sericeus  (Payk.),  by  1801  designation. 

Leiodidae. 

Anisotoma  Knock  98-69,  humeralis  (I1L)>  by  1801  designation. 

SCAPHIDIIDAE. 

Scaphidium  Oliv.  90-1,  4-maculatum  Oliv.,  by  1792  designation. 

Lycidae. 

Omalysus  Fabr.  92-103  (error  for  Omalisus  Geoff.  62-179),  sutu- 
ralis  Oliv.,  cited  in  1792.® 

Melyridae. 

Melyris  Fabr.  75-58,  viridis  Fabr.,  by  monotypy. 

Zygia  Fabr.  75-126,  ohlonga  Fabr.,  by  monotypy. 

Da^ytidae. 

Dasytes  Payk.  99-156,  ater  (Fabr.),  cited  in  1801.'^ 

Dascillidae. 

Atopa  Payk.  99-116,  cinerea  (Fabr.),  cited  in  1801.'^ 

Helodidae. 

Cyphon  Payk.  99-117,  pallidus  (Fabr.),  by  1801  designation. 

Cleridae. 

Clerus  Geoff.  62-303,  mutillarius  Fabr.,  by  1801  designation.^ 
Tillus  Oliv.  90-1,  elongatus  (Fabr.),  by  1792  designation. 
Trichodes  Hbst.  92-154,  alvearius  (Fabr.),  cited  in  1801.'^ 
Corynetes  Payk.  98-274  (error  for  Korynetes  Hbst.  92-148), 
violaceus  (Linn.),  by  1801  designation. 


April,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  53 


Anobiidae. 

Ptilinus  Geoff.  62-64,  pectinicornis  (Fabr.),  cited  in  1792.® 
Dorcatoma  Payk.  98-319  (error  for  Dorkatoma  Hbst.  92-103), 
dresdense  Fabr.,  cited  in  1801.® 

Cebrionidae. 

Cebrio  Oliv.  90-30  bis,  gigas  (Fabr.),  cited  in  1792.'^ 

Melasidae. 

Melasis  Oliv.  90-1,  flabellicornis  (Fabr.),  cited  in  1792.'^ 

Buprestidae. 

Trachys  Fabr.  01-218,  tessellata  Fabr.,  by  original  designation. 

Dryopidae. 

Parnus  Fabr.  92-245,  prolifericornis  Fabr.,  by  original  designation. 

Heteroceridae. 

Heterocerus  Fabr.  92-262,  marginatus  (Fabr.),  by  monotypy. 

Hydrophilidae. 

Spercheus  Kugel.  98-241,  emarginatus  (SchalL),  by  inclusion  in 
1801.® 

Byrrhidae. 

Chelonarium  Fabr.  01-101,  atrum  Fabr.,  by  original  designation. 
Temnochilidae. 

Trogosita  Fabr.  92-114  (error  for  Trogossita  Oliv.  90-6),  coerulea 
(Oliv.),  by  1892  designation. 

Nitidulidae. 

Ips  Fabr.  77-23  (not  Degeer,  1775),  4-pustulata  (Linn.),  by  1792 
designation. 

CUCUJIDAE. 

Cucuius  Fabr.  75-204  (error  for  Cucujus  Geoff.  62-123),  de- 
pressiis  Fabr.,  by  inclusion  in  1775.® 

Brontes  Fabr.  01-97,  flavipes  (Fabr.),  by  original  designation. 

Erotylidae. 

Aegithus  Fabr.  01-9,  simnamensis  (Linn.),  by  original  designation. 
Erotylus  Fabr.  75-123,  jasciatus  Fabr.,  cited  in  1801.'^ 


54  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLII 


Engis  Payk.  00-349,  fasciata  (Fabr.),  cited  in  1801d 
Triplax  Hbst.  93-146,  nigripennis  (Fabr.),  cited  in  1801.'^ 

COLYDIIDAE. 

Colydium  Fabr.  92-495,  sulcatum  Fabr.,  by  original  designation. 
Sarrotrium  111.  98-339,  muticum  (Linn.),  cited  in  1801.® 

Endomychidae. 

Eumorphus  Weber  01-31,  immarginatus  Fabr.,  cited  in  1801.'^ 

Oedemeridae. 

Dryops  Fabr.  92-74  (not  Olivier,  1791),  jemorata  Fabr.,  by  original 
designation. 

Pythidae. 

Pytho  Latr.  96-23,  castaneus  (Fabr.),  by  1801  designation.^ 

Anthicidae. 

Anthicus  Payk.  98-253,  monodon  Fabr.,  cited  in  1801.'^ 

Serropalpidae. 

Tetratoma  Fabr.  90-217,  fungorum  Fabr.,  by  1792  designation. 
Dircaea  Fabr.  98-6,  barbata  (SchalL),  by  1801  designation. 
Melandrya  Fabr.  01-163,  serrata  (Fabr.),  by  1801  designation. 

Meloidae. 

Apalus  Fabr.  75-127,  2-maculatus  (Linn.),  by  monotypy. 

Horia  Fabr.  87-164,  maculata  (Swed.),  cited  in  1792.'^ 

Ripiphoridae. 

Ripiphorus  Bosq  91-327,  subdipterus  Fabr.,  by  1792  designation.^ 

Alleculidae. 

Allecula  Fabr.  01-21,  morio  (Fabr.),  by  1801  designation. 

Cistela  Fabr.  75-116  (not  Geoffroy,  1762),  ceramboides  (Linn.), 
by  1801  designation. 

Tenebrionidae. 

Eurychora  Thunb.  89-9,  ciliata  (Fabr.),  by  inclusion  and  designa- 
tion in  1801.^ 

Scaurus  Fabr.  75-253,  atratus  Fabr.,  by  monotypy. 


April,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  55 


Pimelia  Fabr.  75-251,  scahra  Fabr.,  by  original  designation. 
Platynotus  Fabr.  01-138,  reticulatus  (Fabr.),  by  original  designa- 
tion. 

Bolitophagus  111.  98-100,  crenatus  (Fabr.),  cited  in  1801.^ 

Diaperis  Geoff.  62-337,  boleti  (Linn.),  cited  in  1792.® 

Hypophlaeus  Fabr.  90-222,  castaneus  Fabr.,  by  1792  designation. 
Cossyphus  Oliv.  91-121,  depressus  (Fabr.),  cited  in  1792.® 

Upis  Fabr.  92-515,  ceramhoides  (Linn.),  by  monotypy. 

Cnodulon  Fabr.  01-12  (error  for  Cnodalon  Latr.  96-23),  cupreum 
(Fabr.),  by  inclusion  and  designation  in  1801.^ 

Lucanidae. 

Aesalus  Fabr.  01-254,  scarabaeoides  (Panz.),  by  monotypy. 

Passalidae. 

Passalus  Fabr.  92-240,  interruptus  (Linn.),  by  original  designation. 

SCARABAEIDAE. 

Copris  Geoff.  62-87,  lunaris  (Linn.),  by  1801  designation.^ 
Ateuchus  Weber  01-10,  koenigii  (Fabr.),  cited  in  1801.'^ 
Aphodius  111.  98-15,  jossor  (Linn.),  by  1801  designation. 

Lethrus  Scop.  77-439,  cephalotes  Scop.,  cited  in  1787,  1792,  and 
1801.® 

Hexodon  Oliv.  89-1,  reticulatum  Oliv.,  by  1792  designation. 

Cerambycidae. 

Molorchus  Fabr.  92-356,  abbreviata  (Fabr.),  by  original  designa- 
tion. 

Clytus  Laich.  84—88,  arcuatus  (Linn.),  by  1801  designation. 

Gnoma  Fabr.  01-315,  longicoUis  (Fabr.),  by  original  designation. 

Chrysomelidae. 

Sagra  Fabr.  92-51,  femorata  (Drury),  by  original  designation. 
Megalopus  Fabr.  01-367,  ruficornis  Fabr.,  by  original  designation. 
Colaspis  Fabr.  01-411,  crenata  (Fabr.),  by  original  designation. 
Eumolpus  111.  98-498,  nitidus  (Fabr.),  cited  in  1801.'^ 

Helodes  Payk.  99-84,  phellandrii  (Linn.),  cited  in  1801.® 

Adorium  Fabr.  01-409,  2-punctatnm  (Fabr.),  by  original  designa- 
tion. 

Galleruca  Fabr.  92-12  (error  for  Galeruca  Geoff.  62-251),  tanaceti 
(Linn.),  by  1792  designation.® 

Alurnus  Fabr.  75-94,  grossKs  Fabr.,  by  monotypy. 


56  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLlI 


Imatidium  Fabr.  01-345,  3-maculatum  Fabr.,  by  original  designa- 
tion. 

Anthribidae. 

Anthribus  Geoff.  62-306,  albinus  (Linn.),  cited  in  1792.® 

Brentidae. 

Brentus  Panz.  85-189,  anchorago  (Linn.),  cited  in  1801.'^ 

CURCULIONIDAE. 

Brachycerus  Oliv.  89-36,  ohesus  (Linn.),  cited  in  1792.'^ 

Lixus  Fabr.  01-498,  anguinus  (Linn.),  by  original  designation. 
Rhinomacer  Fabr.  81-199  (not  Geoffroy,  1762),  curculioides  Fabr. 
by  monotypy. 

Calandra  Fabr.  01-429  (error  for  Calendra  Schell.  98-62),  ferru- 
ginea  (Oliv.),  cited  in  1801.'^ 

References 

^ Fabrician  Genotype  Designations.  Bull.  Brooklyn  Ent.  Soc., 

41,  pp.  72-78. 

^ I have  seen  a reference  to  1790  as  the  date  of  this  genus.  In 
such  a case  the  designation  might  be  invalid. 

® Originally  monobasic  upon  this  species. 

^ Without  originally  included  species.  This  was  among  the  first 
species  included. 

^ Without  originally  included  species.  This  was  the  first  species 
included. 

® Without  originally  included  species.  This  was  not  among  the 
first  species  included. 

^ Not  among  the  originally  included  species. 

® Possibly  monobasic  in  original. 

Bibliography. 

Bose  d’Antic,  L.  A.  G. 

1791.  La  Medine  eclairee  (Fourcroy’s),  I. 

Fabricius,  J.  C. 

1775.  Sy sterna  Entomologiae. 

1777.  Genera  Insectorum.  ( P1776) 

1781.  Species  Insectorum,  I. 

1787.  Mantissa  Insectorum,  I. 

1790.  Nova  Insectorum  Genera.  Skrift.  nathist.  Selskabet, 
I,  pp.  213-228. 


April,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  57 


1791.  Schneider’s  Neii.  Mag.  Lieb.  Ent.,  I.  ( ?1790) 

1792.  Entomologia  Systematica,  L 
1794.  Entomologia  Systematica,  IV. 

1798.  Supplementum  Entomologia  Systematica. 

1801.  Systema  Eleutheratorum,  I,  II. 

Geoffrey,  E.  L. 

1762.  Histoire  abregee  des  insectes  qui  se  trouvent  aux  en- 
virons de  Paris. 

Herbst,  J.  F.  W. 

1792.  In  Jablonsky,  Natursystem  Insecten  (Kafer),  IV. 

1793.  Jablonsky,  Natursystem  Insecten  (Kafer),  V. 

Illiger,  J.  C.  W. 

1798.  In  Kugelann,  Verzeichniss  der  Kafer  Preussens. 

Knoch,  A.  W. 

1798.  In  Kugelann,  Verzeichniss  der  Kafer  Preussens. 

Kugelann,  J.  G. 

1798.  In  Illiger,  Verzeichniss  der  Kafer  Preussens. 

Laicharting,  J.  N.  von 

1784.  Verzeichniss  und  Beschreibung  der  Tyroler  Insecten, 

II. 

Latreille,  P.  A. 

1796.  Precis  des  Caracteres  generiques  des  Insectes. 

Linne,  C.  von 

1758.  Systema  Naturae,  ed.  10,  I. 

Olivier,  A.  G. 

1789.  Entomologie,  I. 

1790.  Entomologie,  II. 

1791.  Encyclopedie  Methodique,  VI. 

Panzer,  G.  W.  F. 

1785.  In  Drury,  Abbild.  und  Beschr.  Exotischer  Insecten. 
Paykull,  G.  von 

1798.  Eauna  Suecica,  I. 

1799.  Fauna  Suecica,  II. 

1800.  Fauna  Suecica,  III. 

Scopoli,  J.  A. 

1777.  Introductio  ad  historian!  naturalem. 

Schellenberg,  J.  R. 

1798.  Helvetische  Entomologie,  I. 

Thunberg,  C.  P. 

1789.  Periculum  Entomologicum. 

Weber,  Fr. 

1801.  Observationes  Entomologicae. 


58  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLll 


ADDITIONS  TO  VESPINE  BIOLOGY.  II: 
CASTE  PHASES  AMONG  VESPINES 
(HYMENOPTERA,  VESPIDAE). 

By  Albro  T.  Gaul,  Brooklyn,  New  York. 

In  this  paper  I have  endeavored  to  show  the  actual  types  and  re- 
lationships of  wasps  in  a normal  nest  of  some  of  the  North  American 
Vespinae,  particularly  the  genera  V espula  (s.str.)  and  Dolicho- 
vespula.  Throughout  the  literature  on  the  taxonomy  and  biology 
of  the  Vespinae,  little  or  no  attention  has  been  paid  to  the  various 
castes  and  phases  to  be  found  in  a normal  colony. 

On  the  basis  of  extended  observations  I propose  the  recognition 
of  seven  forms,  male,  queen,  worker,  and  four  specialized  or  inter- 
graded  forms.  One  phase  may  be  produced  by  parasitism.  The 
others  are  produced  by  physiological  or  nutritive  factors.  All  forms 
are  encountered  with  enough  frequency  to  warrant  the  application 
of  an  accurate  and  uniform  terminology  to  them. 

Some  phases  and  castes  among  the  ants,  as  determined  by  Wheeler 
(1  & 2)  closely  parallel  the  phases  among  the  Vespinae.  Whenever 
possible,  therefore.  Dr.  Wheeler’s  terminology  has  been  applied. 

It  is  therefore  suggested  that  the  following  terms  be  applied  to 
the  Vespinae  for  increased  accuracy  and  understanding  of  the  func- 
tion of  the  individuals  in  the  colony. 

1.  Aner  (male) — Only  one  male  form  has  been  found  among  the 

Vespines.  So  far  as  has  been  determined  there  are  no  inter- 
grades with  other  castes.  The  male  usually  appears  toward  the 
end  of  the  colony  season  and  may  survive  into  the  spring.  It 
is  easily  recognized  by  the  genitalia  and  the  thirteen-segmented 
antennae. 

2.  Gyne  (queen) — The  queen  is  usually  the  largest  member  of  a 

colony.  She  is  the  only  form  able  to  lay  fertilized  eggs.  She 
founds  the  colony  and  lives  a full  year.  In  common  with  all  the 
female  phases,  she  possesses  twelve-segmented  antennae. 

The  queen  often  intergrades  with  the  workers.  Except  in 
the  case  of  V espula  squamosa  Drury  the  queen  and  workers 
not  only  intergrade  but  often  bear  a close  resemblance  to  each 
other. 

3.  Apterogyne  (new  term) — This  form  is  characterized  by  a queen, 

normal  in  every  apparent  respect  save  for  the  absence  of  wings. 
The  most  frequently  encountered  apterogyne  has  small  un- 
developed wing  stubs  projecting  caudad  from  the  tegulae.  The 
insect  is  apparently  capable  of  mating  and  egg  producing.  Be- 
cause of  its  apterous  condition,  however,  it  is  doubtful  if  it  could 


April,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  59 


survive  the  winters,  and  it  would  be  nearly  impossible  for  it  to 
found  a new  colony.  This  aberrant  phase  has  been  found  in 
colonies  of  Vespula  maculifrons  Buy.,  V.  squamosa  Drury, 
Dolichovespula  maculata  Linn.,  and  D.  arenaria  F.  It  will 
probably  be  found  in  the  colonies  of  other  species  as  they  are 
studied. 

The  apterogyne  is  presumably  the  result  of  an  unfortunate 
environment,  heredity,  physiology,  or  a combination  of  several 
of  these  factors.  I have  observed  the  production  of  apterogynes 
as  a result  of  parasitogenic  factors.  When  young  queen  pupae 
of  V.  macitlijrons  were  exposed  to  the  attacks  of  larvae  of 
Melittobia  species  (Chalcidoidea,  Elachertidae),  the  few  sur- 
vivors became  adult  apterogynes.  Other  apterogynes  may  be 
encountered  in  colonies  without  any  parasites.  In  one  such 
case,  the  nest  had  been  nearly  deserted  by  the  workers  at  the 
termination  of  the  colony  season.  Perhaps  incompletely  satis- 
fied nutritive  requirements  may  have  caused  the  non-develop- 
ment of  wings.  At  best,  the  apterogyne  is  a teratological  form, 
and  is  described  here  only  because  of  the  frequency  with  which 
it  is  encountered. 

4.  Ergate  (worker) — The  ergate  represents  the  largest  percentage 

of  the  total  colony  population.  It  is  absent  from  those  species 
which  are  inquilines,  such  as  Dolichovespula  adulterina  var. 
arctica  Rohwer.  The  ergate  is  usually  smaller  than  the  queen 
and  similar  in  color.  It  is  incapable  of  producing  fertile  eggs, 
either  because  of  its  physiology  or  because  there  are  no  males 
about,  until  the  close  of  the  season,  with  which  it  can  mate. 
Unlike  the  ergate  of  the  ants,  the  Vespine  ergate  is  normally 
winged  and  has  complete  thoracic  musculature.  Although  the 
true  ergate  does  not  produce  eggs,  it  may  intergrade  with  the 
gynaecoid  phase,  and  in  many  species  may  be  morphologically 
indistinguishable  from  it.  The  ergate  performs  the  functions 
of  brood  nursing,  nest  construction,  and  the  defense  of  the 
colony. 

5.  Micrergate — This  phase  of  the  ergate  is  found  in  many  species, 

probably  in  all  species  having  an  ergate  caste.  I have  recog- 
nized the  form  in  V.  maculifrons,  V . squamosa,  V.  rufa  var. 
vidua  Sauss.  and  among  Dolichovespula  maculata  and  D.  are- 
naria. The  micrergate  is  essentially  a diminutive  form  of 
ergate.  In  some  colonies  it  may  attain  only  about  two-thirds 
of  the  size  of  the  normal  ergate.  It  is  typically  the  first  brood ; 
reared  by  the  foundress  queen.  It  dififers  from  the  normal 
ergate  only  in  size. 


60  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLlI 


This  form  does  not  parallel  the  ‘minor  workers’  among  the 
ants.  The  minor  workers  bear  a constant  size  relationship  to 
the  other  workers  and  they  appear  throughout  the  life  of  the 
colony.  The  micrergate  intergrades  with  the  normal  workers. 
So  far  as  can  be  determined,  this  form  does  not  intergrade  with 
the  gynaecoid  and  thus  cannot  produce  eggs. 

■ 6.  Gynaecoid — The  gynaecoid  is  an  ergate  phase,  usually  larger 
than  the  ergate  and  somewhat  smaller  than  the  queen.  It  is 
characterized  by  its  ability  to  produce  eggs.  It  usually  appears 
in  the  colony  after  the  mid-point  of  the  season.  Its  eggs  always 
produce  males.  The  gynaecoids  have  been  observed  in  my  own 
colonies  of  V.  maculijrons,  D.  maculata  and  D.  arenaria  and 
they  have  been  recorded  for  many  other  species.  In  some 
species  the  gynaecoid  may  be  indistinguishable  from  the  nor- 
mal ergate  (in  V.  macnlifrons  for  example).  In  other  species, 
the  two  are  readily  separable  (D.  maculata  as  an  example) . 

This  may  be  a distinct  form  of  ergate,  or  it  may  represent  an 
intergrade  between  the  ergate  and  the  gyne.  Like  the  ergate, 
the  gynaecoid  will  enter  into  all  the  phases  of  work  about  the 
colony.  Its  ability  to  produce  eggs  may  be  facultative.  While 
the  foundress  queen  is  alive  and  active  there  will  be  little  or  no 
evidence  of  gynaecoid  eggs.  After  the  death  or  disfunction  of 
the  foundress,  the  gynaecoids  will  produce  their  eggs. 

7.  Apterergate  (new  term) — This  term,  as  applied  to  the  Vespinae 
is  designated  to  parallel  the  term  pterergate  among  the  ants. 
The  pterergate  in  the  ants  is  a winged  worker  in  species  nor- 
mally composed  of  apterous  workers.  The  apterergate  in  the 
Vespinae  is  an  apterous  worker  in  a species  of  normally  winged 
workers.  Naturally,  the  apterergate  appears  only  in  the  species 
having  a worker  caste. 

I have  observed  the  apterergates  working  side  by  side  with 
the  normal  winged  ergates.  Their  functions  are  confined  to 
brood  nursing  and  immediate  nest  repair.  They  do  not  at- 
tempt to  enter  into  the  defense  of  the  colony  although  the  sting 
is  apparently  normal.  They  do  not  forage,  either  for  paper 
pulp  or  food.  This  form  has  been  observed  only  among  the 
ground  dwelling  species  of  Vespula  s.str.  It  may  occur  in  con- 
siderable numbers  among  some  colonies. 

Like  the  apterogyne,  the  apterergate  has  a rudimentary  wing 
stalk  projecting  caudad  from  the  tegula.  In  other  respects  it 
appears  to  be  normal.  It  occurs  in  colonies  in  apparent  good 
health  and  economy  under  conditions  where  malnutrition  and 
parasitogenic  factors  could  not  very  well  be  responsible.  It  is 


April,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  61 


possible  to  regard  this  form  as  a primitive  or  mutative  step 
toward  the  complete  loss  of  wings  such  as  has  occurred  among 
the  ants.  Since  it  is  found  only  among  subterranean  dwellers, 
such  a species  might  be  most  likely  to  continue  and  utilize  this 
phase,  supporting  to  some  extent  the  possibility  of  the 
apterogyne  being  a mutative  form. 

The  apterous  phases  discussed  above  are  seldom  or  never  found 
in  collections,  nor  are  they  mentioned  in  the  literature.  Since  few 
collectors  gather  whole  colonies  of  Vespines,  the  flying  individuals 
are  more  or  less  taken  for  granted  as  being  the  sole  inhabitants  of  a 
nest.  This  omission  is  not  strange.  Such  common  forms  as  the 
gynaecoids  and  micrergates,  although  found  in  collections,  are  sel- 
dom segregated  nor  are  they  observed  in  living  colonies  throughout 
the  season. 

The  only  satisfactory  way  of  separating  these  forms  is  to  collect 
an  entire  colony  population  and  to  arrange  the  individuals  in  each 
colony.  A normal  ergate  in  one  colony  may  be  the  same  size  as  a 
micrergate  in  another  colony  of  the  same  species.  However,  colony 
by  colony,  it  can  be  demonstrated  that  some  or  all  of  these  forms  are 
present. 

In  this  paper,  no  attempt  has  been  made  to  catalog  any  but  the 
most  common  forms  to  be  encountered  in  the  usual  Vespine  nest. 
Gynandromorphs,  ergatandromorphs,  and  other  asymmetrical 
forms,  if  such  occur  among  the  Vespinae,  are  not  within  the  scope 
of  this  paper.  Unique  teratological  forms  have  been  recorded  (5) 
but  they  too  have  no  place  in  this  discussion. 

’ Winged  forms  appear  in  the  colony  in  the  following  chronological 
sequence:  gyne  (foundress  queen),  micrergate,  ergate,  gynaecoid, 
and  simultaneously  the  aner  and  gyne.  Recognition  of  these  forms 
and  of  their  sequence  of  appearance  in  the  colony  leads  inevitably 
to  the  conclusion  that  they  are  of  trophogenic  origin.  As  the  season 
progresses  the  number  of  ergates  increases  and  the  volume  of  avail- 
able insects  for  food  increases.  With  this  increase  in  food  and  labor, 
the  larvae  receive  progressively  more  and  more  food,  hence  the  in- 
crease in  size  and  in  function  from  the  micrergate  to  the  gyne. 

The  trophogenic  origin  of  caste  differentiation  among  the  Ves- 
pinae is  not  a new  proposal  (3  & 4).  An  analysis  of  the  phases  in 
the  colony,  however,  seems  to  constitute  more  evidence  to  support 
the  trophogenic  theory  of  caste  differentiation. 

In  conclusion,  it  is  evident  that  there  are  seven  forms,  or  phases, 
of  individuals  which  may  appear  in  the  normal  Vespine  colony.  All 
may  not  appear  at  the  same  time  but  (except  for  the  atypical  wing- 
less forms)  rather  appear  in  a certain  sequence.  All  seven  forms 


62  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLll 


may  not  appear  in  every  species  of  the  subfamily.  They  do  occur 
with  sufficient  regularity,  however,  to  warrant  a record  being  made 
of  their  presence  and  function.  By  studying  these  phases  and  the 
sequence  of  their  appearance  in  the  colony,  additional  evidence  may 
be  presented  in  support  of  the  trophogenic  theory  of  caste  distinction 
among  the  Vespinae. 

Literature  Cited. 

1.  Wheeler,  W.  M.,  Ants,  Their  Structure,  Development  and  Be- 

havior, 1926,  Columbia  University  Press,  pp.  92-101. 

2.  , Mosaics  and  Other  Anomalies  Among  Ants,  1937, 

Harvard  University  Press,  pp.  80-86. 

3.  , Ibid.,  p.  36. 

4.  , Social  Life  Among  the  Insects,  1923,  Harcourt  Brace 

Pub.  Co.,  pp.  85-86. 

5.  Duncan,  C.  D.,  A Contribution  to  the  Biology  of  North  Ameri- 

can Vespine  Wasps,  1939,  Stanford  University  Pub.,  Vol. 
VIII,  No.  1,  pp.  176. 


Schizolachnus  pini-radiatae  (Davidson). — This  dark  olive- 
green  to  slate-brown  aphid  has  been  collected  on  Pinus  ponderosa 
at  summit  of  Uinta  Canyon,  Uinta  Mountains,  Utah,  August  26, 
1940;  specimens  were  being  fed  on  by  the  predacious  bugs  Nabis 
alternatus  Parsh.  and  Orius  tristicolor  (White)  at  the  foot  of  Mt. 
Nebo,  Utah,  July  12,  1942,  near  a camp  ground  area;  summit  of 
Emigration  Canyon,  Idaho,  August  24,  1934  (Knowlton-C.  F. 
Smith)  ; Klein,  Montana,  June  19,  and  Big  Timber,  Montana, 
August  13,  1942  (H.  F.  Thornley)  ; Flagstaff,  Arizona,  September 
22,  1944;  Tahoe  National  Forest,  California,  July  23,  1944;  North 
West  of  Reno,  Nevada,  August  17,  1945  (Knowlton)  ; Dixie  Na- 
tional Forest  and  Bryce  Canyon,  Utah,  August  10,  1936  (Knowlton- 
C.  F.  Smith). — G.  F.  Knowlton,  Utah  State  Agricultural  College, 
Logan,  Utah. 


April,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  63 


A NEW  GENUS  (FREQUENAMIA)  AND  SPECIES  OF 
MEXICAN  LEAFHOPPER  RELATED  TO 
MESAMIA  (HOMOPTERA, 
CICADELLIDAE). 

By  Dwight  M.  DeLong,  Columbus,  Ohio. 

Genus  Frequenamia,  n.  g. 

Apparently  related  to  Mesamia  and  Omanana  but  with  a 
sloping  vertex  from  pronotum  to  margin  which  is  thick  and 
blunt.  There  is  a transverse  depression  just  back  of  margin. 
Face  rather  strongly  inflated  giving  the  margin  a thicker  ap- 
pearance. The  elytron  has  the  characteristic  crossveins  of 
Mesamia  on  the  outer  clavus  but  fewer  costal  veinlets  espe- 
cially on  the  anterior  portion.  There  is  no  cross  nervure  form- 
ing an  inner  anteapical  cell. 

Frequenamia  guerrera,  n.  sp. 

Resembling  an  unmarked  Mesamia  in  general  form,  but  with 
a thicker  vertex,  different  coloration  and  different  type  of  male 
genitalia.  Length  5-5.5  mm. 

The  vertex  is  bluntly  produced  and  forms  a thick  margin 
with  the  front.  It  is  almost  twice  as  broad  between  the  eyes 
as  the  median  length. 

Color:  Vertex  dull  yellow  with  some  brownish  mottling. 
Pronotum  yellowish  anteriorly,  pale  brownish  posteriorly ; 
scutellum  yellowish,  elytra  pale  brownish  with  dark  brown 
veins.  Face  yellowish  unmarked. 

Genitalia:  Female  last  ventral  segment  with  lateral  angles 
produced  and  broadly  rounded,  forming  a broad  deep  con- 
cavely  excavated  posterior  margin  extending  about  half  way 
to  the  base,  at  the  apex  of  which  is  a narrow  median  incision 
which  extends  half  the  remaining  distance  to  base.  Male  plates 
longer  than  pygofer,  rather  narrow  and  blunt  at  apex.  Styles 
long  and  narrow.  The  broadened  portion  at  the  base  is 
abruptly  narrowed  at  about  the  middle  to  form  a slender  apical 
fingerlike  process  which  about  equals  in  length  the  basal 
portion.  The  aedeagus  is  slender  in  lateral  view  with  a dorsally 
directed  basal  portion  and  a caudally  directed  portion  which 
bears  four  slender  apical  processes,  two  of  which  extend  out- 
wardly and  two  of  which  are  directed  anteriorly.  The  pygofer 
bears  a broad  dorsal  spine  which  extends  downward  to  the 
apex  of  the  pygofer. 


64  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLIl 


Holotype  male  and  paratype  males  collected  at  Pandancuarco, 
Gro.,  August  28,  1930  (M.  F.  1785).  Allotype  female  and  male 
paratypes  from  Cutzamala,  Gro.,  August  20,  1930  (M.  F.  1768) — 
all  collected  by  Jose  Parra.  Male  paratypes  from  Finca  Vergel, 
Chiapas,  May  23,  1935  (M.  F.  4268;  elevation  2400  feet),  collected 
by  Dr.  Dampf. 

Explanation  of  Figures. 


Fig.  1.  Dorsal  view  of  head,  pronotum  and  scutellum. 
Fig.  2.  Ventral  view  of  male  genital  structures. 

Fig.  3.  Lateral  view  of  male  genital  structures. 

Fig.  4.  Ventral  view  of  female  ninth  segment. 


4 


April,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  65 


ON  THE  GENUS  OCHLEROPTERA  HOLMBERG 
(HYMENOPTERA,  SPHECIDAE,  GORYTINI). 

By  V.  S.  L.  Pate,  Ithaca,  N.  Y. 

Ever  since  Say  described  it  in  1824,  Gorytes  bipunctatus  has  had 
a checkered  generic  career.  Say  started  matters  by  remarking 
that  his  bipunctatus  corresponded  precisely  in  its  generic  characters 
with  Arpactus  Jurine,  i.e.,  Dienoplus  Fox  as  now  understood.  In 
1843,  Dahlbom  placed  the  species  in  Lestiphorus ; later  in  1845  this 
author  transferred  it  to  Euspongus  where  Cresson  and  most  sub- 
sequent writers  were  content  to  let  it  rest.  However,  in  1912  Roh- 
wer  erected  the  genus  Paramellinus  for  its  reception,  and  later  in 
1921  commented  very  pertinently  that  although  some  authors  like 
Mickel  and  Bradley  still  assigned  bipunctatus  to  Euspongus,  never- 
theless Say’s  species  exhibited  none  of  the  characteristics  of  Lepe- 
letier’s  genus.  In  the  past  quarter  of  a century  Rohwer’s  name 
Paramellinus  has  been  gradually  adopted  by  many  writers  and  ac- 
corded either  discrete  generic  status  or  placed  as  a subgenus  of  vari- 
ous genera  such  as  Gorytes  or  Ammatomus , a genus  with  which 
however  it  has  little  in  common  save  very  general  consanguity. 
But  as  I indicated  in  1937,  Holmberg  had  anticipated  Rohwer  by 
nine  years.  For  in  1903' he  established  Ochleroptera  for  the  South 
American  species  of  Handlirsch’s  Gorytes  aeneus  complex:  these 
are  congeneric  with  bipunctatus  and  consequently  Holmberg’s  name 
Ochleroptera  must  be  used  in  lieu  of  Paramellinus  Rohwer.  In 
1937,  I considered  the  Gorytes  aeneus-bipunctatus  group  merely 
a subgeneric  division  of  Gay’s  Chilean  and  Australian  entity 
Clitemnestra.  However,  in  the  past  decade  more  data  have  become 
available,  particularly  specimens  of  the  rare  and  distinctive  Eremian 
genera  Olgia  Radoszkowski  and  Kaufmannia  Radoszkowski : as  a 
consequence  I am  now  of  the  opinion  that  Oehleroptera  merits  full 
generic  rank.  The  chief  characters  for  separating  Oehleroptera 
from  its  near  relative  Clitemnestra  are  presented  below  in  the  intro- 
ductory diagnosis  of  the  following  genus. 

Ochleroptera  Holmberg 

Gorytes  [Arpaetus^  Say,  App.  Narrat.  Exped.  St.  Peter’s  R. 
(Long’s  Second  Exped.),  II,  p.  338  (1824).  [Nee  Jurine, 
1807.] 

Lestiphorus  Dahlbom,  Hymen.  Europ.,  I,  p.  157  (1843).  [In  part, 
nec  Lepeletier,  1832.] 

Euspongus  Dahlbom,  Hymen.  Europ.,  I,  p.  480  (1845)  ; [in  part. 


66  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  yol.XLIl 


nec  Lepeletier,  1832]. — Cresson,  Trans.  Amer.  Ent.  Soc., 
Suppl.  VoL,  pp.  117,  280  (1887);  [nec  Lepeletier,  1832]. — 
Ashmead,  Canad.  Entom.,  XXXI,  p.  300  (1899)  ; [nec 
Lepeletier,  1832]. — Mickel,  Univ.  Nebraska  Stud.,  XVII,  p. 
352  (1918)  ; [nec  Lepeletier,  1832]. 

Gorytes  [in  part]  : Smith,  Cat.  Hymen.  Brit.  Mus.,  IV,  p.  367 
(1856).— Fox,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.,  p.  523  (1897).— 
Dalla  Torre,  Cat.  Hymen.,  VIII,  p.  535  (1897). — BrHhes,  An. 
Mus.  Nac.  Hist.  Nat.  Buenos  Aires,  XXIV,  p.  130  (1913). 
Gorytes  [Group  aeneus  (in  part)]  Handlirsch,  Sitzber.  k.  k.  Akad. 

Wissen.  Wien,  XCVII,  p.  335  (1888). 

Gorytes  [Clytaemnestra:  Artgruppe  bipunctatus  (in  part)]  Hand- 
lirsch, Sitzber.  k.  k.  Akad.  Wissen.  Wien,  CIV,  p.  1020  (1895). 
[A^ec  Dana,  1848.] 

Clytemnestra  Turner,  Ann.  & Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  (8),  X,  p.  58 
(1912).  [In  part,  nec  Dana,  1848  or  Spinola,  1851]. 
Miscothyris  Turner,  Ann.  & Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  (8),  XV,  p.  67 
(1915).  [In  part,  nec  Smith,  1869.] 

Ochleroptera  Holmberg,  An.  Mus.  Nac.  Buenos  Aires,  (3),  II,  p. 
487  (1903). 

Clitemnestra  ( Ochleroptera)  Pate,  Mem.  Amer.  Ent.  Soc.  no.  9,  p. 
44  (1937). 

Paramellinus  Rohwer,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus*.,  XLI,  p.  469  (1912). 

— Rohwer,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  LXIX,  p.  412  (1921). 
Gorytes  (Euspongus)  Maidl  & Klima,  Cat.  Hymen.,  VIII  (1),  p. 
72  (1939).  [In  part.] 

Gorytes  (Miscothyris)  Maidl  & Klima,  Cat.  Hymen.,  VIII  (1),  p. 
107  (1939).  [In  part.] 

Gorytes  (Parainellinus)  Maidl  & Klima,  Cat.  Hymen.,  VIII  (1),  p. 
109  (1939).  [In  part] 

Genotype:  Ochleroptera  oblita  Holmberg,  1903.  (Monobasic.) 
The  genus  Ochleroptera  is  closely  allied  to  Clitemnestra  Gay,  but 
may  be  differentiated  from  the  latter  by  the  petiolate  first  abdominal 
segment  and  the  presence  of  a continuous  reflexed  flange  along  the 
dorsal  margins  of  the  mesopleura  and  metapleura.  Furthermore, 
the  males  of  Clitemnestra  have  seven  abdominal  tergites  clearly 
visible  and  a distinct  pygidial  area  present  on  the  seventh,  whereas 
in  Ochleroptera  the  seventh  tergite  is  completely  obtect  and  the 
sixth  bears  a well-defined,  semicircular  pygidial  area. 

Generic  Characters. — Small,  more  or  less  fulgid,  generally 
finely  punctate  forms.  Head  transversely  subrectangular  in 
dorsal  aspect,  subcircular  in  anterior  aspect.  Eyes  large,  much 
more  coarsely  facetted  anteriorly  than  posteriorly ; inner  orbits 


April,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  67 


broadly  rounded,  divergent  above  and  below.  Front  flat,  nar- 
rowed medially,  generally  bisected  by  an  impressed  line  from 
anterior  ocellus.  Vertex  with  ocelli  in  a curved  line  to  a very 
low  and  broad  triangle,  the  postocellar  line  longer  than  ocellocu- 
lar  line.  Occipital  carina  a complete  circle  in  extent  and  gen- 
erally separated  ventrally  from  apex  of  hypostomal  carinule 
bordering  the  transverse  subclepsydrate  oral  fossa.  Antennae 
situated  well  above  dorsal  margin  of  clypeus  toward  middle  of 
face;  thirteen-segmented  in  males,  twelve-segmented  in  fe- 
males ; scapes  short,  cylindrical ; flagellum  short,  filiform  to 
subclavate.  Clypeus  transversely  subelliptical,  about  twice  as 
broad  as  long,  generally  abruptly  indexed  subapically  before  a 
narrow  apical  flange.  Maxillary  palpi  six-segmented ; labial 
palpi  four-segmented.  Mandibles  stout ; apices  acute ; inner 
margins  with  a stout  preapical  tooth ; lower  margins  entire. 

Thorax  with  pronotum  short,  transverse,  linear,  vertically 
declivous  anteriorly,  rounded  and  ecarinate  dorsally,  separated 
from  mesonotum  by  a deep  furrow.  Mesonotum  simple,  gently 
arched ; mesonotal  laminae  very  poorly  developed,  without  an 
oblique,  truncate  posterior  face.  Axillae,  scutellum  and  post- 
scutellum  simple.  Propleura  with  a well-developed  pronotal 
hamus.  Mesopleura  with  episternal  suture  distinct,  very  short, 
running  obliquely  from  below  tegulae  to  omauli ; episternauli 
obsolescent ; sternauli  absent ; mesopleura  and  metapleura 
furnished  with  a strong  horizontal  reflexed  margin  or  contin- 
uous flange  along  their  dorsal  margins ; metapleura  elongate, 
subrectangular,  tapering  only  slightly  toward  truncate  base. 
Mesosternum  broadly  rounded,  ecarinate  anteriorly.  Pro- 
podeum  long,  arcuately  to  obliquely  declivous  behind ; dorsal 
face  with  an  impressed  trigonal  area;  stigmatal  grooves  com- 
pletely absent. 

Fore  wing  with  marginal  cell  elongate,  lanceolate,  nearly  five 
times  as  long  as  wide,  apex  acuminate ; three  large  submarginal 
cells,  all  sessile;  recurrent  veins  more  or  less  interstitial  with 
transverse  cubital  veins,  or  first  recurrent  vein  received  in  apex 
of  first  submarginal  cell ; cubital  vein  relatively  straight  and 
not  appreciably  angled  backward  in  second  submarginal  cell ; 
basal  and  transverse  median  veins  interstitial.  Hind  wing  with 
cubitus  arising  far  distad  of  the  short,  straight,  perpendicular 
transverse  median  vein ; anal  lobe  about  one-half  the  length  of 
the  narrow,  elongate  submedian  cell. 

Legs  short,  stout,  simple.  Tibial  calcaria  1-2-2  in  both 


68  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLlI 


sexes.  Tarsi  moderately  slender  and  elongate,  the  last  seg- 
ment somewhat  enlarged ; tarsal  claws  simple,  symmetrical ; 
arolium  moderate. 

Abdomen  petiolate.  First  segment  more  or  less  coarctate 
to  nodose  at  apex,  occasionally  only  petioliform.  Males  with 
only  six  tergites  and  sternites  visible,  seventh  tergite  completely 
obtect ; sixth  tergite  with  a broad  semicircular  pygidial  area 
clearly  delimited.  Females  with  a trigonal  pygidial  area  on 
sixth  tergite. 

Component  Species. — The  genus  Ochleroptera  corresponds  ap- 
proximately to  Handlirsch’s  Gorytes  aeneus-hipunctatus  group,  and 
comprehends  the  following  species:  aenea  (Handlirsch)  from  Bra- 
zil; championii  (Cameron)  from  Guatemala;  bipunctata  (Say) 
from  North  America;  colorata  (Fox)  from  Brazil;  hirta  (Hand- 
lirsch) from  Brazil;  oblita  Holmberg  from  Argentina;  parvula 
(Handlirsch)  from  Brazil  and  Argentina;  pygmaea  (Brethes)  from 
Argentina;  sphaerosoma  (Handlirsch)  from  South  America; 
subtilis  (Handlirsch)  from  Venezuela;  tenera  (Handlirsch)  from 
Venezuela;  and  violacea  (Handlirsch)  from  Brazil.  Many  of  the 
foregoing  are  known  from  only  one  sex,  and  consequently,  when 
the  South  American  forms  are  better  and  more  fully  known,  the  total 
number  of  species  will  probably  be  considerably  reduced  through 
synonymy. 

Ethology. — Like  most  other  Gorytine  wasps,  the  species  of 
Ochleroptera  nest  in  dry  or  sandy  soil  and  provision  their  nests 
with  small  Homoptera  of  the  families  Membracidae  or  Cercopidae. 

Distribution. — The  genus  Ochleroptera  is  predominantly  Neo- 
tropical in  distribution.  Eleven  species  have  been  reported  and 
occur  in  continental  Central  and  South  America,  exclusive  of  the 
Chilean  region  which  is  the  abode  of  the  closely  related  ancestral 
complex  Clitemnestra.  One  species,  described  elsewhere,  is  now 
known  from  Jamaica  in  the  Greater  Antilles.  In  the  Nearctic  Re- 
gion, the  genus  is  represented  by  only  the  following  widely  dis- 
tributed species  bipunctata. 

Ochleroptera  bipunctata  (Say) 

Gorytes  [Arpactus]  bipunctatus  Say,  App.  Narrat.  Exped.  St. 

Peter’s  R.  (Long’s  Second  Exped.),  II,  p.  338  (1824)  ; 

[“Inhabits  Pennsylvania”]. — Le  Conte,  Descr.  Insect. 

North  America  by  Thos.  Say,  I,  p.  228  ( 1859) . 

Gorytes  bipunctatus  E.  Smith,  Cat.  Hymen.  Brit.  Mus.,  IV,  p. 

367  (1856)  ; [Penna. ; S.  C.j. — Handlirsch,  Sitzber.  k.  k. 

Akad.  Wissen.  Wien,  XCVH,  p.  355  (1888)  ; [Penna.; 


April,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  69 


Tenii. ; S.  C. ; Ga. ; Mexico]. — Fox,  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci. 
Phila.,  p.  523  (1895)  ; [throughout  U.  S.,  except  New 
England] . 

Lestiphorus  bipunctatus  Dahlbom,  Hymen.  Europ.,  I,  p.  157 
(1843)  ; [South  Carolina]. 

Euspongus  bipunctatus  Dahlbom,  Hymen.  Europ.,  I,  p.  480 
(1845)  ; [South  Carolina]. — Cresson,  Trans.  Amer.  Ent. 
Soc.,  Suppl.  voh,  pp.  117,  280  (1887)  ; [Penna.,  “uncom- 
mon”].— Ashmead,  Canad.  Entom.,  XXXI,  p.  300 
(1899);  [put  in  Mellinini]. — Mickel,  Univ.  Nebraska 
Stud.,  XVII,  p.  352  (1918)  ; [Nebraska:  Rulo ; Omaha. 
At  flowers  of  Chamaecrista  fasciculata  and  Melilotus  alba] . 
Gorytes  [Euspongus]  bipunctatus  Cameron,  Biol.  Centr.- 
Amer.,  Hymen.,  II,  p.  71  (1890);  [Mexico:  Presidio. 
Temax  in  northern  Yucatan]. — Viereck  in  Smith,  Ann. 
Kept.  New  Jersey  St.  Mus.,  1909,  p.  680  (1910)  ; [New 
Jersey : Great  Notch  ; Camden  Co. ; Clementon] . 
Paramellinus  bipunctatus  Rohwer,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 
XLI,  p.  469  (1912). — Rohwer,  Conn.  St.  Geol.  & Nat. 
Hist.  Surv.  Bull.  22,  p.  656  (1916);  [Connecticut:  E. 
Hartford]. — Rohwer,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  LXIX,  p. 
412  (1921).— Rau,  Trans.  Acad.  Sci.  St.  Louis,  XXIV 
(7),  p.  19  (1922)  ; [Missouri:  Creve  Coeur  Lake  (found 
dead  in  a shallow  hole  in  sand)]. — Brimley,  Insects  of 
North  Carolina,  p.  446  ( 1938)  ; [North  Carolina : Raleigh  ; 
Aberdeen;  Edgecombe  Co.;  Highlands;  Mars  Hill]. — 
Strandtmann,  Ann.  Ent.  Soc.  Amer.,  XXXVIII,  p.  312 
(1945)  ; [Texas:  nesting  in  flower  boxes  at  Dallas  hos- 
pital; provisions  nest  with  Cyrtolobus  acutiis  V.  D.]. 
Gorytes  (Paramellinus)  bipunctatus  Maidl  & Klima,  Hymen. 
Catah,  VIII  (1),  p.  109  (1939);  [Ga.;  Tenn. ; N.  J. ; 
Mexico;  Guatemala;  Brazil]. 

Ammatomus  (Paramellinus)  bipunctatus  Bradley  in  Leonard, 
Cornell  Univ.  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Mem.  101,  p.  1015  (1928)  ; 
[New  York:  Albany;  Nyack]. 

Clitemnestra  ( Ochleroptera)  bipunctata  Pate,  Amer.  Ent.  Soc. 
Mem.  no.  9,  p.  47  (1937). 

Ochleroptera  bipunctata  Pate,  Bull.  Brooklyn  Ent.  Soc.,  XLI, 
p.  99  (1946)  ; [New  York:  Ithaca,  with  prey:  Philaenus 
lineatus  (L.)]. 

Type. — Pennsylvania  [probably  Philadelphia  or  vicinity]. 

This  is  a small,  dainty,  black,  finely  punctate  species,  6 to  8 mm. 
in  length.  The  clypeus,  scapes,  pronotum,  pronotal  tubercles, 


70  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLli 


tegulae,  postscutellum,  the  tarsi  in  large  part,  and  stripes  on  the 
outer  faces  of.  the  tibiae  are  white  or  yellowish-white  in  color. 
In  addition,  the  second  abdominal  tergite,  and  occasionally  the 
third  also,  bears  a pair  of  small  ovate  spots.  The  sexes  are  alike, 
although  the  male  is  usually  smaller  and  more  finely  punctate  and 
sculptured  than  the  female. 

Ethology. — The  present  species  usually  nests  in  dry  or  sandy  soil 
and  provisions  its  nests  with  various  small  Homoptera : tree  hoppers 
such  as  Cyrtolobus  acutus  Van  Duzee  or  spittle  bugs  as  Philaenus 
line  at  us  (L.). 

Distribution. — This  little  wasp  is  generally  distributed  through- 
out the  Upper  and  Lower  Austral  zones  of  the  United  States  and 
ranges  as  far  southward  into  Mexico  as  Yucatan. 

A Minute  on  a Subfamily  Name  of  the  Psammocharidae 
(Hymenoptera). — Ashmead  in  1900  (Canad.  Entom.,  XXXII, 
p.  154)  established  the  subfamily  Ageniinae  with  Agenia  Schiddte, 
1837  as  its  type  genus.  Inasmuch  as  Schiddte’s  generic  name  is  a 
homonym,  Haupt  (Deutsch.  Ent.  Zeitschr.,  1926,  Beiheft,  pp.  23, 
126)  altered  the  name  of  the  subfamily  to  Macromerinae,  based  on 
the  oldest  included  genus,  Macromeris  Lepeletier,  1831.  Bradley 
(1944,  Not.  Nat.,  no.  145,  p.  3)  disagrees  with  Haupt  and  remarks: 
‘‘The  type  genus  must  remain  the  one  established  by  Ashmead 
under  its  new  name,  Pseudagenia.’'  Rohwer,  however,  anticipated 
Bradley’s  statement  and  action  by  twenty-eight  years : in  the  “Hy- 
menoptera of  Connecticut”  (Conn.  Geol.  & Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Bull, 
no.  22,  p.  627)  he  designated  this  complex  the  Pseudageniini. 
Banks  apparently  concurs  with  Rohwer : he  has  generally  used 
Pseudagen[i]ini  for  the  group  (v.:  1946,  Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  Zook, 
XCVI,  p.  404;  1945,  Bob  Ent.  VenezoL,  IV,  p.  112;  1944,  Zoo- 
logica,  XXIX,  p.  106) . Pate  follows  a similar  course,  although  since 
Pseudagenia  Kohl,  1884  is  an  absolute  synonym  of  Pilpomus  A. 
Costa,  1859  he  proposes  to  change  the  group  name  to  Pilpomini 
(1946,  Trans.  Amer.  Ent.  Soc.,  LXXH,  p.  117).  But  all  these 
authors  are  wrong.  Eor  Pseudagenia  Kohl,  1884  is  not  the  alternate 
name  for  Agenia  Schiodte,  1837  nee  Descourtilz,  1825.  Sustera  in 
1913  (Verb.  k.  k.  Zool.-Bot.  Ges.  Wien,  LXH,  p.  191)  rechristened 
Schiodte’s  pre-occupied  generic  name  Deuteragenia  and  at  the  same 
time  renamed  the  group  Deuterageniini  {op.  cit.,  p.  176).  How- 
ever, Banks  has  shown  that  Dipogon  Eox,  1897  is  congeneric  with 
Agenia  Schiddte  and,  as  the  oldest  valid  name,  takes  precedence  over 
Deuteragenia  Sustera,  1913.  Therefore  the  correct  name  for  Ash- 
mead’s  subfamily  (or  tribe)  Ageniinae  is  Dipogoninae. — V.  S.  L. 
Pate,  Ithaca,  N.  Y. 


April,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  71 


Two  Poplar  Aphids. — While  making  observations  as  to 
grasshopper  abundance  in  fields  along  the  Vernal-Naples  highway 
west  of  Naples  in  Uintah  County,  Utah,  on  July  25,  1945,  an  un- 
usually severe  condition  of  poplars  due  to  two  species  of  aphids  was 
observed. 

Trees  which  appeared  to  be  Popiilus  sargentii  were  found  to  have 
extremely  heavy  infestations  of  large  Mordvilkoja  vagabunda 
(Walsh)  aphid  galls;  these  galls  developed  from  terminal  buds. 
The  number  of  normal  leaves  on  these  infested  trees  was  greatly  re- 
duced, there  being  almost  as  many  aphid-filled  galls  as  normal  leaves 
in  many  cases.  A few  branches  of  adjoining  poplars  (evidently 
Populus  occidentalis)  which  extended  right  into  closely  planted,  ad- 
jacent trees  heavily  damaged  by  vagabond  aphid  galls,  also  had 
similar  vagabond  galls,  though  these  were  very  scarce  or  absent 
elsewhere  on  the  tree. 

Trees  evidently  killed  by  heavy  vagabond  gall  aphid  attack  and 
adorned  with  great  numbers  of  M.  vagabunda  galls  have  been  found 
at  Myton,  Randlett  and  Roosevelt,  in  Uintah  Basin.  Other  heavy 
vagabunda  infestations  were  encountered  at  Richfield,  July  25,  1941 
(W.  E.  Peay  and  the  late  Ensign  H.  C.  Bennion),  at  Leeton,  July 
19,  1941,  Vineyard,  Lake  Shore,  Geneva  and  Vernal,  in  Utah.  This 
species  was  found  at  Litchfield  Park  and  Glendale,  Arizona  during 
March  of  1945,  and  collected  at  Savage,  Minnesota,  June  2,  1926. 
Vagabond  aphid  galls  still  adhered  to  trees  at  Riverside,  Nevada, 
January  11,  1946. 

The  larger  percentage  of  the  trees  in  the  Vernal-Naples  highway 
windbreak  evidently  were  Populus  occidentalis.  Erom  5 to  16  or 
more  terminal  leaves  were  folded  on  a large  percentage  of  the 
twigs  of  nearly  all  these  trees,  the  folded  leaves  sheltering  numerous 
Thecabius  populi-conduplifolius  (Cowen)  and  occasionally  of  a 
few  vagabond  aphid  galls.  Thecabius  populi-conduplifolius  also  has 
been  collected  in  folded  poplar  leaves  at  Newton,  September  26, 
1935,  abundant  at  Clinton  on  July  15,  1937  (Knowlton-C.  E. 
Smith),  Et.  Duchesne,  Roosevelt,  Leeton,  and  Duchesne,  in  Utah; 
Chandler,  Arizona,  March  1945 ; and  on  Ranunculus  at  Puyallup, 
Washington,  September  9,  1937  (H.  C.  Bennion). — G.  E.  Knowl- 
TON,  Logan,  Utah. 


72  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLIl 


FREDERICK  EDWARD  WINTERS. 

By  F.  K.  Chamberlain,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

With  a deep  sense  of  sorrow  and  personal  loss  we  record  the  death 
of  Mr.  Fred.  E.  Winters  which  occurred  at  his  home  in  Santa 
Barbara,  California,  on  July  17,  1946.  Mr.  Winters  was  well 
known  to  American  coleopterists  chiefly  because  of  his  work  in 
North  American  Hydrophilidae.  His  interest  in  this  family  con- 
tinued right  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  and  for  many  years  he 
enjoyed  the  distinction  of  being  one  of  the  leading  American  special- 
ists in  this  difficult  group. 

Fred.  E.  Winters  was  born  in  Vienna,  Austria,  March  17,  1885. 
He  was  the  son  of  Eduart  E.  and  Barbara  Neher  Wintersteiner, 
and  it  is  by  the  longer  name  that  he  will  be  remembered  by  the  older 
American  coleopterists.  Eor  the  sake  of  brevity  and  greater  per- 
sonal convenience,  he  changed  the  name  to  Winters  some  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  years  ago.  His  father  died  while  Fred,  was  still  too 
young  to  retain  any  memory  of  him.  Later,  his  mother  married 
Ludwig  Laula  and  the  stepfather  seems  to  have  taken  a keen  in- 
terest in  the  boy.  At  any  rate,  he  appears  to  have  stimulated  Fred’s 
interest  in  natural  history  by  taking  him  on  long  walks  through  the 
Wienerwald  (Vienna  Woods)  so  that  the  boy  began  collecting 
insects,  salamanders,  snails,  and  young  mice  at  an  extremely  early 
age. 

Just  after  the  turn  of  the  century,  about  1902  or  1903,  there  oc- 
curred an  event  in  Fred’s  life  which  may  have  had  considerable 
influence  upon  his  future  entomological  career.  He  was  a student 
at  the  K.  & K.  (Kaiser  und  Kdniglich)  Akademie  in  Vienna  at  that 
time.  It  was  here  that  he  formed,  at  the  age  of  seventeen  or 
eighteen,  a lifelong  friendship  with  a fellow  student,  Alfred  Knisch. 
Knisch  subsequently  became  one  of  the  world’s  leading  authorities 
in  the  Hydrophilidae  and  is  the  author  of  Part  79  of  the  Coleopte- 
rorum  Catalogus  which  constitutes  the  section  devoted  to  that 
family.  The  two  youths  were  approximately  the  same  age,  Fred 
being  about  two  months  the  older.  While  we  cannot  hope  to  know 
which  one  supplied  the  initial  inspiration,  it  seems  more  than  a 
coincidence  that  both  should  later  emerge  as  specialists  in  the  same 
family  of  the  Coleoptera. 

Knisch  died  suddenly  in  Vienna  June  7,  1926,  at  the  early  age  of 
forty-one.  An  obituary,  written  by  Franz  Heikertinger,  appears 
on  pages  87-88  of  the  Koleopterologische  Rundschau,  XHI,  1927, 
and  a translation  of  the  second  paragraph  of  this  obituary  may  well 
be  included  here : 


April,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  73 


“Two  decades  ago — I have  a perfectly  clear  memory  of  the  time — 
two  young  collectors  joined  the  ranks  of  the  ‘Leber-Gesellschaft.’ 
The  ‘Leber-Gesellschaft’  at  that  time  was  under  the  leadership  of 
Ludwig  Ganglbauer,  who  was  the  central  pivot  of  Coleopterology 
in  Vienna,  Austria.  The  name  was  derived  from  the  customary 
Thursday  meetings  of  a small  group  in  the  Leber  Restaurant,  later 
known  as  Deierl  Restaurant.  The  two  young  collectors  mentioned 
above  were  two  friends,  Alfred  Knisch  and  Fritz  Wintersteiner. 
The  latter  soon  departed  for  America.  Knisch  remained  a member 
of  the  ‘Gesellschaft,’  and  somewhat  later,  when  the  younger  genera- 
tion became  inclined  towards  specialization,  he  informed  me  one 
day  in  very  few  words  that  he  had  decided  to  specialize  in  the 
Hydrophilidae.  He  has  followed  his  decision  to  the  end — one  of 
the  few,  all  too  few.” 

Mr.  Winters  arrived  in  America  in  September  or  October,  1907, 
resided  in  New  York  City  and  the  immediate  vicinity  until  January, 
1916,  and  in  June  of  the  same  year  he  removed  to  California  where 
he  has  lived  ever  since.  He  became  a naturalized  citizen  in  1914, 
and  on  December  26,  1915,  he  married  Miss  Thilda  Wilhelm  of 
New  York  City.  He  is  survived  by  Mrs.  Winters  and  two  children, 
a son  and  a daughter. 

Mr.  Winters  was  a member  of  the  Wiener  Koleopterologen 
Verein,  New  York  Academy  of  Sciences,  New  York  Entomological 
Society,  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society,  and  the  Southern  Cali- 
fornia Academy  of  Sciences.  While  he  had  an  extensive  and  ac- 
curate knowledge  of  the  Hydrophilidae  of  both  Europe  and  North 
America,  he  was  not  much  inclined  towards  expressing  his  views 
either  in  public  or  in  private.  His  publications,  therefore,  are  com- 
paratively few  and  may  be  listed  as  follows : 

1913.  Environment  of  Hydrophilidae.  Journ.  N.  Y.  Ent. 
Soc.,  XXI,  pp.  54-55. 

1926.  Notes  on  the  Hydrobiini  of  Boreal  America.  Pan- 

Pacific  Ent.,  HI,  pp.  49-58. 

1927.  Key  to  the  Subtribe  Helocharae  Orchym.  of  Boreal 

America.  Pan-Pacific  Ent.,  IV,  pp.  19-29. 

1944.  Sphaeridini  Inhabiting  Boreal  America.  Bull.  Brook- 
lyn Ent.  Soc.,  XXXIX,  pp.  94-95. 

At  the  time  of  his  death,  Mr.  Winters  and  the  author  of  this 
notice  were  engaged  in  a revisional  study  of  the  North  American 
Species  of  Helophorus  (Coleoptera,  Hydrophilidae).  We  hope  to 
complete  this  study  and  to  publish  the  revision  under  joint  author- 
ship as  originally  planned. 

As  a final  tribute  to  Fred.  E.  Winters  we  take  the  liberty  of 


74  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLIl 


quoting  the  words  of  Mr.  John  L.  Sperry  of  Riverside,  California, 
a close  personal  friend  and  entomological  colleague : 

“He  was  an  enthusiastic  collector  and  lover  of  the  out-of-doors 
and  in  his  dealings  with  his  fellows  he  was  a very  kindly  gentleman 
in  every  sense  of  the  word.” 

The  author  is  greatly  indebted  to  both  Mrs.  Winters  and  Mr. 
Sperry  for  much  of  the  information  used  in  this  notice. 


Myzus  Aphid  Notes. — The  green  peach  aphid  and  the  black 
cherry  aphid  are  encountered  frequently  in  Utah,  often  in  connection 
with  injury  to  their  hosts.  Other  Myzus  species  are  encountered 
less  frequently. 

Myzus  cerasi  (Fab.)  was  collected  from  curled  leaves  and  tips  of 
twigs  of  Prunus  cerasus  in  Utah  at  Granite,  Mill  Creek,  Lake  View, 
Vineyard,  Brigham  and  Farmington  during  June,  and  Perry  in 
May.  Also  taken  at  Puyallup,  Washington,  June  19,  1939. 

M.  circumflexus  (Buckt.)  on  Cyclamen  in  greenhouse,  Logan, 
February  1936  (R.  C.  Roskelly)  ; violets.  Bear  River  City,  June  11, 
1930;  asparagus.  Plain  City,  June  27,  1925,  in  Utah;  Wendell, 
Idaho  (D.  E.  Fox). 

M.  convolvulae  (Kalt.)  on  tulip,  Logan,  March  22,  1927  (Knowl- 
ton-M.  W.  Allen)  ; alate  on  raspberry,  Hyrum,  October  12,  1938; 
Solanum  tuberosum,  Provo,  July  15,  1925,  in  Utah.  Infesting 
strawberry  in  greenhouse,  Corvallis,  Oregon,  July  1934;  strawberry. 
Hood  River,  Oregon,  May  3,  1934  (R.  Dimick)  ; Lactuca,  Bozeman, 
Montana,  August  12,  1926  (C.  B.  Philip)  ; common  on  potato  in 
Snohomish  and  Skagit  counties,  Washington  during  July,  1940 
(G.  A.  Huber). 

M.  persicae  (Sulzer)  on  watermelon,  Provo,  July  15,  1925;  on 
Prunus  cerasus,  Puyallup,  Wash.,  June  27,  1939  (the  late  H.  C. 
Bennion)  ; trumpet  vine,  Overton,  Nevada,  April  25,  1935 ; Roripa 
nasturtium,  Washington,  Utah,  May  18,  1945 ; Kingman,  Arizona, 
May  10,  1945  ; apricot.  Bountiful,  Utah,  Oct.  26,  1929  (H.  J.  Pack). 

M.  porosus  Sand,  on  wild  rose,  Judith  Gap,  Montana,  June  18, 
1942  (H.  F.  Thornley)  ; Rapolje  and  Trail  Creek,  Montana,  July 
1942  (Thornley)  ; Rosa,  Kingman,  Arizona,  May  10,  1945;  Naches 
Pass,  Washington,  July  18,  1939;  Santaquim,  Utah. 

M.  lytiwi  (Schr.)  on  Prunus  mahaleh,  at  Springville,  Utah,  June 
1942;  Declo,  Idaho  (D.  E.  Eox). — G.  E.  Knowlton,  Utah  State 
Agricultural  College,  Logan,  Utah. 


April,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  75 


BOOK  NOTES. 

A Catalogue  of  the  Hesperioidea  of  Venezuela,  by  E.  L. 

Bell,  Boletin  de  Entomologia  Venezolana,  vol.  V,  nos.  3 & 4,  pp. 
65/203  ; dated  December  31,  1946. 

Mr.  Ernest  L.  Bell,  the  author  of  this  extensive  work,  is  well- 
known  to  students  of  the  skippers  as  a lifelong  and  highly  compe- 
tent specialist  in  this  superfamily  of  the  Lepidoptera. 

The  Catalogue  comprises  155  genera  and  409  species;  it  is  re- 
stricted to  the  Family  Hesperiidae,  since  the  Megathymidae  is  not 
known  from  Venezuela  and  the  Euschemonidae  is  confined  to  the 
Australian  Region.  The  Families  and  genera  of  the  Hesperiidae 
are  briefly  characterized,  and  the  genotypes  are  noted.  Distributions 
of  a general  nature,  such  as  “South  America,”  are  discarded,  al- 
though many  species  not  as  yet  recorded  from  Venezuela  are 
included. 

It  should  be  brought  out  that  in  keeping  with  the  policy  of  ''Ento- 
mologia Venezolana,”  the  commentaries  in  the  Catalogue  are  in 
English.  No  price  is  given  for  the  double  number  containing  the 
Catalogue.  The  subscription  price  for  the  journal,  for  the  volume 
is  given  as  “Bs.  15.00”  (Bolivar,  the  monetary  unit  of  Venezuela, 
worth  at  par  about  32  cents  U.  S.  currency),  which  is  $5.00  more  or 
less,  varying  with  the  rate  of  exchange. 

The  Editor  is  Dr.  Pablo  Anduze ; his  address : Departamento 
Medico,  Creole  Petroleum  Corporation,  Los  Caobos,  Caracas, 
Venezuela,  So.  Am.  In  writing  him,  this  address  must  be  given 
exactly  as  above  on  the  envelope. 

Nomina  de  los  Artropodos  Vulnerantes  Conocidos  Actual- 
mente  en  Venezuela,  by  Pablo  J.  Anduze,  Felix  Pifano  C.  and 
Enrique  G.  Vogelsang.  This  is  an  extra  number  of  Entomologia 
Venezolana,  published  January  24,  1947,  pages  1/16. 

This  List  was  presented  to  the  delegates  of  the  Xllth  Pan  Ameri- 
can Sanitary  Conference,  held  at  Caracas.  It  includes  the  Arach- 
noidea  as  well  as  the  Insecta,  as  the  biting  arthropods  recorded 
from  Venezuela  in  the  literature.  It  may  be  noted  that  among  the 
biting  insects  is  listed  the  Lygaeid  Clerada  apricornis  Signoret,  fol- 
lowing the  Reduviidae  and  without  indication  of  the  Family — one 
of  those  minor  oversights  that  plague  editors.  It  is  here  mentioned 
for  the  benefit  of  cataloguers.  Four  hundred  and  forty-eight  species 
are  mentioned,  the  largest  number  being  the  Culicidae,  with  183 
species,  followed  by  the  Tabanidae  with  110. 


76  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLIl 


“The  Coleopterists’  Bulletin”  has  come  to  us  recently.  It  is 
a “mimeoprint”  of  12  pages  (on  one  side  only),  edited  by  Ross  H. 
Arnett,  Jr.,  and  the  address  is  Box  84,  Dryden,  N.  Y.,  subscription 
$1.00  for  one  year,  or  ten  numbers.  The  present  number  carries 
ten  pages  of  names,  addresses  and  specialties  of  coleopterists,  with  4 
pages  of  notes  on  beetles. 

Entomologica  Americana,  volume  26,  for  1946,  of  which  no.  4 
is  just  out  is  by  an  accident  of  Fate,  wholly  dedicated  to  the  Order 
Heteroptera.  The  first  article  of  the  two  in  it,  is  Part  III  of  the 
Synopsis  of  the  Heteroptera  of  America  North  of  Mexico,  by 
J.  R.  de  la  Torre-Bueno,  parts  I and  II  of  which  have  already  ap- 
peared in  this  journal  in  previous  years.  It  takes  up  the  Family 
Lygaeidae  in  pages  1-142,  and  is  solid  keys.  The  second  article  is 
“Notes  and  Keys  on  the  Genus  Brochymena''  by  H.  S.  Ruckes, 
pages  143-238,  with  4 plates  of  details.  In  spite  of  its  modest  title, 
this  is  really  a monograph  of  the  genus  as  far  as  it  is  known  to  date. 
It  is  also  the  basis  for  all  future  studies  of  the  genus. 

J.  R.  T.-B. 


SIMPLIFICATION. 

When  we  take  thought  on  the  apparently  ever  more  burning 
passion  for  the  actual  type  specimen  as  the  final  criterion  of  the 
validity  of  a species,  without  which  it  may  not  be  known  or  even 
valid,  here  is  a labor-saving  formula  suggested  to  descriptive 
entomologists : 

''Goldurnya  nasopollifer  n.  sp. — Agrees  in  every  particular  with 
the  type  specimen  no.  i,ooo,oooJ,  in  the  International  Museum 
of  Cosmic  Culture,  Ponape,  Micronesia.” 

I resisted  a violent  temptation  to  give  this  one  of  the  current 
numbers  of  one  of  our  great  museums.  Some  resurrectionist 
might  have  madly  dug  it  up  and  galvanized  it  into  the  synonymy. 

N.  B. — None  of  the  names  herein  mentioned  refers  to  any  living 
person  or  institution  in  esse;  and  if  any  are  construed  to  have  any 
present  application,  intent  is  hereby  specifically  disclaimed. 

J.  R.  T.-B. 


April,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  77 


A Few  Aphids. — The  following  records  are  of  a few  less  com- 
monly encountered  aphids. 

Aphis  bonnevillensis  Knit,  was  collected  on  greasewood,  Sarco- 
hatus  vermiculatus,  at  Winnemucca,  Nevada,  July  24,  1944;  Wells, 
Nevada,  August  16,  1945 ; a wingless  female  bonnevillensis  was 
being  fed  on  by  an  aphid  lion  at  Coolidge,  Arizona,  March  13,  1945  ; 
Camanche,  Montana,  May  27,  and  Rapelje,  Montana,  July  1,  1942 
(H.  F.  Thornley)  ; Moab,  June  14,  Greenwood,  June  27,  and 
Gandy,  August  8,  in  Utah  during  1945. 

A.  filifoliae  G.-P.  was  very  abundant  on  Artemisia  filifolia  at 
Castle  Rock,  Utah,  June  16,  1925.  Several  Hippodamia  convergens 
Guerin  were  feeding  on  aphids  of  this  heavy  infestation,  while  large 
numbers  of  black  ants  were  attending  these  and  also  some  larger 
Macrosiphum  filifoliae  G.-P.  aphids  occurring  on  the  same  plants. 
A minute  pirate  bug,  Oriiis  tristieolor  Wh.,  was  feeding  on  a 
nymphal  A.  filifoliae  at  Battle  Mountain,  Nevada,  August  16,  1945. 
Aphis  filifoliae  also  was  curling  apical  leaves  on  Chrysothamnus 
nauseosus  at  Maybelle,  Colorado,  August  18,  1935  (Det.  M.  A. 
Palmer) . 

Rhopalosiphum  scirpifolii  G.-P.  was  extremely  abundant  on  tule, 
Scirpus  sp.,  on  Antelope  Island,  Utah,  October  12,  1941  (W.  E. 
Peay).  A specimen  of  this  aphid  was  picked  up  by  the  writer  in 
sweeping  grass  and  sedge  at  Gould,  Colorado,  August  18,  1940. 

R.  serotinae  Oest.  was  extremely  abundant  on  goldenrod  at  Boise, 
Idaho,  August  19,  1938  (Knowlton)  ; collected  at  Buhl,  Castleford, 
Hansen,  Hollister,  and  Murtaugh,  in  Idaho  during  October,  1930 
(D.  E.  Fox).  Also  taken  on  Solidago  at  Lewiston,  Utah,  June  18, 
1936;  at  Nyssa,  Oregon,  August  25,  1944  (Knowlton);  and 
Bozeman,  Montana,  August  16,  1926  (C.  B.  Philip). 

Amphorophora  geranii  G.-P.  was  taken  on  wild  Geranium  at  the 
summit  of  Wolf  Creek  Pass,  Utah,  July  24,  1945. 

Asiphum  sacculi  Gill,  was  found  in  crumpled  leaves  of  aspen  on 
Beaver  Mountain,  Utah,  July  10,  1942. 

A.  tremulae  De  G.  on  Populus  aitrea,  Lehman  Caves,  Nevada, 
August  31,  1938  (T.  O.  Thatcher,  Coll.;  Det.  A.  C.  Maxson). 

Trifidaphis  phaseoli  (Pass.)  was  found  in  ant  nest  at  Logan, 
Utah,  March  24,  1933;  at  Logan,  June  25,  1928  (Det.  A.  C. 
Maxson)  ; on  carrot  root  at  Logan,  1943;  on  root  of  bed  straw 
above  the  mouth  of  Big  Cottonwood  Canyon,  Utah,  June  6,  1935. — 
George  F.  Knowlton,  Logan,  Utah. 


78  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLIl 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 

Meeting  of  February  13,  1947. 

A regular  meeting  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  was 
held  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum  on  February  13,  1947. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  at  8 : 00  P.M.  by  President  R.  R. 
McElvare. 

Members  in  attendance  were  Messrs.  Teale,  Buchholz,  Gaul, 
Nicolay,  McElvare  and  Tulloch. 

The  minutes  of  the  meeting  of  January  16,  1947,  were  read  and 
accepted. 

The  program  of  the  evening  was  devoted  to  the  projection  of 
three  motion  pictures  dealing  with  (1)  Termites,  (2)  The  Yellow 
Fever  Mosquito  and  (3)  Ants,  Bees  and  Wasps. 

The  meeting  adjourned  at  9 :40  P.M. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

George  S.  Tulloch. 

Meeting  of  April  10,  1947. 

A regular  meeting  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  was 
held  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum  on  April  10,  1947. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  at  8 : 00  P.M.  by  President  R.  R. 
McElvare.  Members  in  attendance  were  Messrs.  Naumann,  Nico- 
lay, McElvare  and  Tulloch. 

The  minutes  of  the  meeting  of  Eebruary  13,  1947,  were  read  and 
accepted. 

The  Treasurer  submitted  a report  for  the  first  quarter  of  1947 
which  was  accepted. 

A preliminary  discussion  of  plans  to  celebrate  the  75th  anniversary 
of  the  founding  of  the  Society  was  held. 

The  program  of  the  evening  was  devoted  to  the  reading  of  a paper 
entitled  Insects  as  Eood  of  Man  which  was  presented  by  G.  S. 
Tulloch. 

Attention  was  called  to  the  fact  that  insects  were  recognized  as 
potential  sources  of  food  by  the  military  authorities  during  World 
War  II.  Practically  all  of  the  survival  manuals  prepared  by  the 
armed  services  mentioned  that  the  larvae  of  wood-inhabiting 
beetles,  grasshoppers  and  termites  were  acceptable  as  emergency 
sources  of  food. 

Although  members  of  the  present-day  American  society  do  not 
include  insects  as  standard  items  in  their  diet  it  was  pointed  out 
that  in  other  parts  of  the  world  certain  of  the  insects  are  considered 


April,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  79 


to  be  very  suitable  for  rounding  out  the  daily  caloric  needs. 

A list  of  edible  insects  representing  ten  dif¥erent  orders  was  dis- 
cussed. Recipes  for  the  preparation  of  some  of  the  insects  were 
given. 

The  meeting  adjourned  at  9:  30  P.M. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

George  S.  Tulloch. 


Geocoris  Notes. — Geocoris  decoratus  Uhler  has  commonly 
been  encountered,  often  in  reasonable  abundance,  on  range  as  well 
as  crop  land,  in  Utah.  In  alfalfa  fields  it  usually  is  exceeded  in 
abundance  by  both  the  tiny  Orius  tristicolor  White,  and  the  damsel 
bug,  Nahis  alternatus  Parsh,  unless  during  a short  time  in  the 
spring.  All  three  of  these  bugs  have  been  observed  to  prey  upon 
adult  and  nymphal  beet  leafhoppers  and  pea  aphids,  as  well  as  on 
certain  other  insects. 

Geocoris  decoratus  was  observed  to  be  feeding  on  a mature  wing- 
less aphid,  Macrosiphum  zerozalphum  Knit,  on  the  ground  beneath 
the  low-growing  host  of  the  aphid,  alfilaria,  at  Gunnison,  Utah,  May 
19,  1944.  On  June  8,  1944,  a decoratus  was  observed  feeding  on 
a large  nymphal  M.  zerozalphum  at  Salt  Lake  City.  This  time  the 
predator  was  on  the  plant,  suspending  its  aphid  prey  in  space,  at 
the  end  of  its  beak.  On  June  28,  1945,  a decoratus  was  feeding  on 
a third  instar  aphid,  Macrosiphum  pisi  (Kalt.),  on  blossoming 
alfalfa  plant  at  St.  George,  Utah.  In  this  case  the  aphid  dangled 
in  space  below  the  predator,  suspended  at  the  end  of  the  rostrum, 
the  big-eyed  bug  being  supported  on  a leaf  just  below  the  plant 
blossoms.  Orius  tristicolor  was  abundant  and  O.  insidiosus  (Say) 
was  less  abundant  in  this  alfalfa  field.  A decoratus  was  observed 
to  be  feeding  on  an  apterous  female  of  Aphis  chrysothamni  Wilson 
in  a colony  of  this  aphid  occurring  on  young  bark  of  Chrysothamnus 
(nauseosusf)  at  Dodge,  Washington,  August  11,  1944.  At  Stink- 
ing Water  Mountains,  Oregon,  on  August  25,  1944,  a Macrosiphum 
escalantii  Knit,  upon  Chrysothamnus  nausea sus  was  being  fed  on 
by  a C.  decoratus.  Geocoris  atricolor  Montd.  was  found  to  be 
unusually  abundant  in  an  alfalfa  field  at  Pleasant  Valley,  Utah,  on 
September  5,  1945,  five  being  taken  in  10  sweeps  of  the  insect  net. 
In  this  field  Nahis  alternatus  averaged  0.6  per  sweep  and  Orius 
were  extremely  abundant. — George  F.  Knowlton,  Logan^ 
U V tristicolor  2.5  per  sweep,  while  Lygus  elisus  V.  D.  adults  and 
^Utah.  ^ 


80  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLII 


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CERAMBYCIDAE  AND  CHRYSOMELIDAE  from  Asia 
and  Pacific  desired  for  determination ; purchase ; exchange. — J. 
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FOR  COLEOPTERA  OF  THE  WEST  INDIES  and  Chrys- 
omelidae  of  the  world,  will  collect  entomological  material  from  Cuba, 
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Cuba. 


Vol.  XLII  JUNE,  1947  No.  3 

BULLETIN 

OF  THE 

Brooklyn  Entomological 
Society 


NEW  SERIES 


PUBLICATION  COMMITTEE 

J.  R.  de  la  TORRE-BUENO,  Editor 

GEORGE  S.  TULLOCH  EDWIN  W.  TEALE 

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under  the  Act  of  March  3,  1879 


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OFFICERS,  1947 
Honorary  President 
J.  R.  DE  LA  TORRE-BUENO 

President,  R.  R.  McELVARE 
Vice  President  Treasurer 

OTTO  BUCHHOLZ  R.  R.  McELVARE 


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GEORGE  S.  TULLOCH 


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Port  Washington,  N.  Y. 


Editor 

J.  R.  DE  LA  TORRE-BUENO 

Delegate  to  Council  of  New  York 
Academy  of  Sciences 
EDWIN  WAY  TEALE 


CONTENTS 


VARIATIONS  IN  LARVAE  OF  ORTHODOMYIA,  Breland  81 

UTAH  MANTIDS,  Knowlton  86 

VESPINE  BIOLOGY.  Ill,  Gaul  87 

NOTES  ON  HELIOTHIINAE,  McElvare  96 

NEW  SUBSPECIES  OF  BUTTERFLIES,  Dillon  97 

SAY’S  BLISTER  BEETLES,  Houghton  103 

CONGRESS  OF  ENTOMOLOGY,  Johannsen  106 

EDITORIAL,  J.  R.  T.-B 107 

BOOK  NOTES,  Bequaert  107 


Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 


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BULLETIN 

OF  THE 

BROOKLYN  ENTOMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY 


VoL.  XLII  June,  1947  No.  3 


VARIATIONS  IN  THE  LARVAE  OF  THE  MOSQUITO, 
ORTHOPODOMYIA  ALBA  BAKER  (DIPTERA, 
CULICIDAE). 

By  Osmond  P.  Breland,^  The  University  of  Texas. 

When  a biologist  describes  a new  species  he  should  have  ideally 
a large  number  of  specimens  collected  from  many  localities.  When 
such  a situation  obtains,  individual  variations,  and  variations  oc- 
curring within  diflerent  parts  of  the  range  of  the  species  can  be 
taken  into  consideration  in  making  the  original  description. 

Sometimes  it  has  seemed  advisable  to  a worker  to  describe  a 
species  from  only  a few  specimens  collected  at  a single  locality. 
Under  such  circumstances,  it  is  almost  inevitable  that  a later  study 
of  a large  series  from  an  area  some  distance  from  the  type  locality 
will  reveal  variations  that  did  not  occur  within  the  specimens  upon 
which  the  original  description  was  made.  Mutations  may  arise  in 
various  parts  of  the  range  of  a species,  and  the  resulting  character- 
istics persist,  but  these  different  features  may  be  incorporated  within 
the  members  of  the  species  in  a limited  area,  rather  than  spreading 
throughout  the  whole  population. 

The  mosquito,  Orthopodomyia  alba  Baker,  is  of  considerable  in- 
terest in  this  connection.  The  species  was  described  from  a rela- 
tively few  specimens  from  a single  locality,  Ithaca,  New  York 
(Baker  1936) . At  the  time  of  the  original  description,  it  was  recog- 
nized that  the  adults  of  0.  alba  and  of  its  relative  O.  signijera  Coq., 
are  quite  similar,  although  the  larvae  of  the  two  species  are  distinct. 
Recently  it  has  been  pointed  out  that  at  the  present  state  of  our 
knowledge,  there  are  no  known  features  by  which  the  adults  of  the 

^ The  writer  wishes  to  express  his  appreciation  to  Mr.  Orin 
Wilkins,  a graduate  student,  who  helped  with  the  collections,  and 
who  has  checked  some  of  the  features  discussed  with  his  own 
specimens. 

19^7 


DEC  9 


82  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLII 


two  species  can  be  separated  (Jenkins  and  Carpenter  1946),  and  for 
this  reason,  only  larval  collections  should  be  accepted  as  positive 
proof  of  the  presence  of  O.  alba  in  a given  locality.  The  species  has 
been  so  rare  to  date  that  its  collection  has  usually  been  considered 
worthy  of  comment.  As  of  1946,  less  than  100  larvae  of  O.  alba 
had  been  reported  collected  from  some  twelve  localities  (Jenkins 
and  Carpenter  1946),  and  five  of  these  collections  were  represented 
by  a single  specimen.  In  the  summer  of  1947,  the  writer  discovered 
the  species  at  Austin,  Texas^  and  during  subsequent  weeks,  several 
hundred  larvae  of  the  species  were  obtained. 

A study  of  a large  series  of  the  larvae  has  revealed  considerable 
variation  from  the  original  description,  and  from  subsequent  publi- 
cations in  which  the  original  description  has  been  modified.  In 
view  of  the  relatively  few  specimens  of  this  species  in  existence,  and 
the  distance  of  this  area  from  the  type  locality,  it  has  seemed  ad- 
visable to  point  out  the  most  important  of  these  variations.  This  is 
especially  true  when  it  is  noted  that  some  of  the  variations  are  so 
striking  that  a worker  might  believe  he  was  dealing  with  a new 
species,  if  he  were  to  collect  only  a few  specimens  possessing  these 
features.  Most  features  that  have  been  studied  show  certain  vari- 
ations, as  might  be  expected,  but  only  those  are  discussed  that  are 
of  such  a nature  as  to  appear  significant  when  compared  to  the 
generally  accepted  description  of  the  larvae. 

In  drawing  the  conclusions  set  forth  in  this  paper,  more  than 
forty  fourth  instar  larvae  of  O.  alba  have  been  studied  intensively, 
while  certain  structures  have  been  checked  with  several  dozen  addi- 
tional specimens.  Recently  killed  specimens  as  well  as  preserved 
larvae  and  those  mounted  on  slides  have  been  examined  so  that  any 
possible  distortion  of  preserved  or  mounted  specimens  could  be  taken 
into  consideration.  Preserved  larvae  sometimes  become  somewhat 
distorted,  but  specimens  killed  in  warm  water  and  mounted  im- 
mediately retain  their  significant  features  considerably  longer.  It 
has  been  thought  best  to  consider  each  part  of  the  body  separately. 

Head:  The  principal  variations  that  were  observed  in  this  region 
were  in  the  length  of  the  upper  and  lower  head  hairs,  and  in  the 
length  and  attachment  of  the  antennal  tuft.  Baker  (1936)  in  his 
original  description  of  the  larvae  states  that  the  upper  and  lower 
head  hairs  are  multiple  and  long,  and  in  a drawing  of  the  head, 
shows  that  the  upper  hairs  reach  to  the  posterior  edge  of  the  pre- 
clypeus,  while  the  lower  hairs  extend  slightly  beyond  the  anterior 
margin.  Carpenter,  Middlekauf  and  Chamberlain  ( 1946)  state  that 
these  hairs  reach  to  or  beyond  the  preclypeus.  Most  of  the  writer’s 


2 Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  Wash.  49 : 185/187. 


June,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  83 


specimens  agree  with  these  descriptions,  but  in  an  occasional  indi- 
vidual, the  head  hairs  are  relatively  short,  and  do  not  even  reach 
the  posterior  edge  of  the  preclypeus. 

According  to  Baker  (1936)  the  antennal  tuft  is  one  half  the 
length  of  the  shaft  of  the  antennae,  while  Carpenter  et  al.  (1946) 
state  that  the  tuft  is  short  and  attached  at  the  basal  fourth  of  the 
shaft.  In  the  illustration  of  the  antenna  in  the  latter  publication,  the 
tuft  is  shown  to  be  considerably  less  than  one  half  the  length  of  the 
antennal  shaft.  All  of  these  conditions  are  represented  in  the 
writer’s  series,  but  in  the  majority,  the  antennal  tuft  is  approxi- 
mately half  as  long  as  the  shaft,  and  is  attached  to  the  shaft  some- 
what more  distally  than  indicated  by  Carpenter. 

No  striking  variations  were  noted  in  the  thorax. 

Abdominal  Segments  1-7:  The  abdominal  segments  bear  several 
important  groups  of  hairs,  and  some  of  these  were  described  by 
Baker  from  the  dorsal,  lateral  and  ventral  surfaces.  This  worker 
notes  the  presence  of  a long  pair  of  tufts  on  the  ventral  surfaces  of 
segments  3,  4,  and  5,  and  states  that  a pair  of  short  but  conspicuous 
fan-like  tufts  occur  on  the  ventral  surface  of  segment  6.  No  men- 
tion is  made  of  comparable  tufts  on  the  ventral  surfaces  of  segments 
1,  2,  and  7,  and  it  is  not  possible  to  determine  from  the  drawing  of 
the  larva  whether  or  not  such  occurred  in  Baker’s  specimens.  The 
larvae  examined  by  the  writer  possess  the  pair  of  long  hairs  on 
segments  3,  4,  and  5 and  the  shorter  more  bushy  pair  on  segment  6. 
In  addition,  however,  there  is  a pair  of  tufts  on  the  ventral  surfaces 
of  segments  1,  2,  and  7.  These  tufts  occur  in  line  with  the  hairs 
mentioned  above,  and  those  on  segments  1 and  2 are  frequently 
longer  than  those  on  segment  6.  The  branches  of  the  tufts  on 
segments  1,  2,  and  6 are  feathered,  and  as  a rule,  these  secondary 
branches  are  longer  and  more  numerous  on  the  tufts  of  segment  6. 

Some  workers  (Carpenter  and  Jenkins  1946;  Carpenter  et  al. 
1946)  state  that  the  upper  lateral  hairs  on  abdominal  segments  1 
and  2 have  either  two  or  three  branches.  In  some  of  the  writer’s 
larvae,  these  hairs  are  four  or  five  branched. 

Terminal  Segments:  Considerable  variation  occurs  in  the  number 
of  scales  in  both  the  anterior  and  posterior  rows  of  the  comb.  Some 
of  these  variations  have  been  previously  indicated  (Baker  1936; 
Jenkins  and  Carpenter  1946;  Shields  and  Miles  1937).  Baker  re- 
ports 10  to  12  in  the  anterior  row  of  his  specimens,  while  others 
indicate  that  as  many  as  18  may  occur.  Baker  states  that  the 
posterior  row  of  comb  scales  contains  8 to  9 teeth,  while  other  work- 
ers (Carpenter  et  al.  1946)  report  the  presence  of  9 to  11.  In  the 


84 


Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLII 


present  larvae  the  scales  in  the  anterior  row  varied  from  12  to  16, 
while  there  were  from  9 to  12  in  the  posterior  row. 

The  anterior  row  of  comb  scales  overlaps  the  posterior  row  in  the 
specimens  examined  by  the  writer  considerably  more  than  has  been 
indicated  in  previous  publications.  In  most  instances,  the  anterior 
row  overlaps  at  all  places  where  the  two  rows  are  opposite  each 
other,  and  near  the  center,  the  ends  of  the  anterior  scales  extend 
to  the  middle  of  the  posterior  scales,  and  in  a few  instances,  even 
past  the  middle.  The  bases  of  the  scales  of  the  two  rows  are  fre- 
quently almost  in  contact  with  each  other. 

Carpenter,  Middlekauf  and  Chamberlain  (1946)  point  out  the 
presence  of  a small  sclerotized  plate  near  the  base  of  the  anal  seg- 
ment, but  this  structure  is  not  mentioned  by  Baker  in  his  original 
description  of  the  species.  All  larvae  studied  by  the  writer  possess 
this  plate. 

The  dorsal  plate  of  the  anal  segment  exhibited  the  most  striking 
variation  that  was  observed.  Baker  states  in  his  original  larval  de- 
scription that  this  plate  does  not  ring  the  ninth  or  anal  segment,  and 
his  drawing  indicates  that  the  plate  ends  some  distance  dorsal  to  the 
ventral  edge  of  the  segment.  All  other  publications  that  have  been 
noted  agree  in  general  with  Baker’s  description.  In  most  of  the 
larvae  studied  from  this  locality,  this  dorsal  plate  extends  to  or 
beyond  the  ventral  margin  of  the  segment,  and  in  approximately 
half  of  the  specimens,  the  dorsal  plate  passes  ventrally  on  each  side 
and  fuses  in  the  mid-ventral  line.  Sometimes  there  is  only  a small 
strip  that  extends  to  the  midventral  line,  while  in  others  there  is  a 
fusion  throughout  the  width  of  the  plate.  Considering  the  complete 
series,  there  is  every  gradation  from  a dorsal  plate  that  ends  dorsal 
to  the  ventral  segmental  margin,  to  one  that  completely  rings  the 
segment.  This  variation  is  considered  to  be  of  particular  im- 
portance, since  the  incomplete  dorsal  plate  in  previously  reported 
larvae  of  O.  alha  has  been  considered  to  be  one  of  the  key  charac- 
teristics by  which  0.  alha  can  be  distinguished  from  O.  signifera 
(Baker  1936;  Carpenter  ct  al.  1946;  Matheson  1945).  It  is  now 
obvious  that  this  distinction  frequently  breaks  down,  although  there 
are  other  features  by  which  the  larvae  of  the  two  species  may  be 
separated. 

Some  variation  exists  in  the  point  of  attachment  of  the  lateral  hair 
of  the  anal  segment,  and  in  the  number  of  its  branches.  In  Baker’s 
specimens,  this  hair  was  sometimes  attached  to  the  dorsal  plate,  and 
sometimes  to  the  segment  posterior  and  ventral  to  the  plate.  The 
hair  had  two  branches.  Some  of  the  larvae  examined  by  Shields  and 


June,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  85 


Miles  (1937)  possessed  a three-branched  hair,  while  Carpenter 
et  al.  (1946)  indicate  a variation  of  two  to  three  hairs.  The  at- 
tachment of  the  hair  in  the  figure  of  the  species  in  the  latter  publi- 
cation is  upon  the  plate  itself.  In  most  of  the  writer’s  larvae,  the 
attachment  of  this  hair  has  been  posterior  to  the  dorsal  plate, 
although  in  a few  specimens  it  was  attached  to  the  plate’s  posterior 
edge.  The  number  of  branches  varied  from  two  to  four. 

Despite  the  variations  that  have  been  noted  in  the  larvae  of  0. 
alha,  the  writer  has  never  experienced  any  difficulty  in  distinguish- 
ing the  larvae  of  this  species  from  those  of  O.  signifera.  All  speci- 
mens of  0.  alba  that  have  been  seen  have  been  white  in  color  with 
no  indication  of  a dorsal  plate  on  segments  6,  7,  or  8.  All  larvae  of 

0.  signifera  have  possessed  a reddish  color,  even  in  the  young 
instars,  while  a dorsal  plate  occurs  on  segment  8 in  the  fourth  instar, 
and  in  addition  one  is  frequently  present  on  segments  6 and  7. 
Jenkins  and  Carpenter  (1946)  have  listed  a series  of  features  by 
which  the  two  species  of  larvae  may  be  distinguished.  It  was 
pointed  out  above  that  larvae  of  0.  alba  from  this  region  sometimes 
have  4 or  5 branches  in  the  upper  lateral  abdominal  hairs  on  seg- 
ments 1 and  2,  rather  than  2 or  3 as  stated  in  this  list.  The  speci- 
mens examined  by  the  writer  can  in  general  be  distinguished  on  the 
basis  of  the  characteristics  listed  by  Jenkins  and  Carpenter  with  one 
other  exception.  According  to  these  authors,  the  preantennal  tuft 
of  0.  alba  is  prominent,  while  that  of  O.  signifera  is  minute. 
Carpenter  et  al.  (1946)  however,  point  out  that  the  preantennal 
tuft  is  quite  large,  and  this  is  true  for  the  writer’s  specimens.  It  is 
thus  possible  that  a misprint  occurred  in  the  previously  cited  article, 
and  that  the  authors  had  another  tuft  in  mind  rather  than  the 
preantennal. 

Summary. 

1.  A study  of  a large  series  of  larvae  of  the  mosquito,  Orthopo- 
domyia  alba  Baker  from  Austin,  Texas,  has  revealed  several  vari- 
ations in  structure  from  the  original  and  subsequent  descriptions 
of  the  species.  The  most  significant  of  these  variations  have  been 
discussed. 

2.  Of  the  variations  noted,  probably  the  most  important  con- 
cerns the  dorsal  plate  of  the  anal  segment.  Until  now  it  has  been 
generally  accepted  that  in  0.  alba  this  plate  is  incomplete,  while  in 
0.  signifera,  a related  species,  the  plate  rings  the  anal  segment. 
This  structural  difference  has  been  used  as  a key  characteristic  in 
distinguishing  the  two  species. 

3.  Of  the  larvae  of  O.  alba  examined  by  the  writer,  approxi- 
mately half  possessed  a dorsal  plate  that  completely  ringed  the  anal 


86 


Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Eyit ontological  Society  XLII 


segment,  and  for  this  reason,  this  feature  should  not  be  relied  upon 
to  separate  the  larvae  of  the  two  species. 

4.  Although  the  structure  of  the  dorsal  plate  cannot  now  be 
considered  important  in  the  differentiation  of  these  larvae,  other 
relatively  constant  features  have  been  found  to  be  reliable  in  this 
area.  These  include  the  color  of  the  larvae  and  the  presence  or 
absence  of  a dorsal  plate  on  abdominal  segment  8. 

5.  It  seems  very  probable  that  a study  of  other  large  series  of 
larvae  from  additional  localities  will  reveal  variations  different  from 
those  indicated  in  this  paper. 

Literature  Cited. 

1.  Baker,  F.  C.  1936.  A new  species  of  Orthopodomyia,  O. 

alba,  sp.  n.  (Diptera,  Culicidae).  Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  Wash. 
38:  1-7. 

2.  Carpenter,  Stanley,  J,,  Middlekauf,  Woodrow  W.,  and 

Chamberlain,  Roy  W.  1946.  The  mosquitoes  of  the 
southern  United  States  east  of  Oklahoma  and  Texas. 
Monograph  No.  3,  The  American  Midland  Naturalist, 
The  University  Press,  Notre  Dame,  Indiana. 

3.  Jenkins,  Dale  W.  and  Carpenter,  Stanley  J.  1946.  Ecology 

of  the  tree  hole  breeding  mosquitoes  of  nearctic  North 
America.  Ecological  Monographs  16:  31-47. 

4.  Matheson,  Robert.  1944.  Handbook  of  the  mosc^uitoes  of 

North  America.  Comstock  Publishing  Co.,  Ithaca,  New 
York. 

5.  Shields,  S.  E.  and  Miles,  Virgil  L.  1937.  The  occurrence  of 

Orthopodomyia  alba  in  Alabama  (Diptera:  Culicidae). 
Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  Wash.  39:  237. 


Two  Mantids  from  Utah. — Recently  Dr.  A.  B.  Gurney  identified 
the  following  material,  present  in  the  W.  W.  Henderson  collection 
of  Orthoptera  at  Utah  State  Agricultural  College,  Logan,  Utah : 
Litaneiitria  minor  Scudder,  at  Bountiful,  Utah,  August  10,  1941 
(D.  Ashdown)  ; Delta,  July  15,  1941  (Knowlton — F.  C.  Harms- 
ton)  ; Timpie,  August  5,  1940  (Knowlton — G.  S.  Stains)  ; Emery 
County,  June  25,  1941  (W.  W.  Henderson). 

Stagmomantis  californica  R.-H.,  taken  at  Dolomite,  Tooele 
County,  Utah,  October  28,  1941  (W.  D.  Fronk). — G.  F.  Knowl- 
ton, Logan,  Utah. 


June,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 


87 


ADDITIONS  TO  VESPINE  BIOLOGY  III:  NOTES  ON 
THE  HABITS  OF  VESPULA  SQUAMOSA  DRURY 
(HYMENOPTERA,  VESPIDAE). 

By  Albro  T.  Gaul,  Brooklyn,  New  York. 

This  paper  presents  some  observations  on  the  habits  of  Vespula 
squamosa  Drury.  Since  the  habits  of  this  species  seldom  appear  in 
the  literature  on  Vespinae,  it  was  thought  worth  while  to  place 
these  notes  on  record. 

A nest  of  Vespula  squamosa  Drury  was  found  at  Baldwin,  Long 
Island,  N.  Y.  on  August  18,  1946.  It  was  located  in  a sandy  field 
which  had  been  overgrown  with  grasses.  About  ten  yards  to  the 
east,  the  field  sloped  rapidly  down  to  a marsh.  About  five  yards  to 
the  east  was  a thriving  colony  of  Vespula  maculijrons  Buy.  Ap- 
parently the  proximity  of  the  two  colonies  did  not  interfere  with  the 
economy  of  either  species. 

This  is  the  first  colony  of  V.  squamosa  to  be  recorded  in  the  State 
of  New  York.  A number  of  individual  queens  and  workers  have 
been  captured  in  the  state  previously.^  Since  no  nest  or  colony  has 
been  previously  identified  in  New  York,  it  was  assumed  that  the 
individuals  captured  might  have  been  introduced  through  human 
transportation  facilities,  or  that  the  species  may  have  been  living 
in  the  state  and  that  its  colonies  may  have  remained  unnoticed. 
That  the  latter  is  the  more  likely  case  may  be  indicated  by  my  field 
trip  record  for  June  12,  1941.  This  record  shows  that  I ob- 
served a queen  squamosa  at  Yaphank,  Long  Island,  N.  Y.  She 
was  scraping  wood  pulp  from  a deserted  barn  door.  This  would 
be  a normal  activity  of  a foundress  queen  at  that  time  of  the  year. 

The  species  of  Vespula  (s.str.)  with  which  I am  familiar  all 
build  their  nests  underground  and  in  juxtaposition  to  the  nest 
entrance.  This  colony  of  V . squamosa,  however,  built  a twenty- 
four-inch  tunnel  from  the  nest  to  the  ground  entrance.  This  tunnel 
slanted  at  an  angle  from  the  ground  to  a position  about  nine  inches 
below  the  surface  where  it  joined  the  nest  cavity.  Daecke^  states 
that  this  tunnel  is  lined  throughout  its  length  with  regular  wasp 
paper.  Manee^  mentions  no  tunnel  or  paper  lining.  Although  the 
tunnel  of  this  nest  from  Baldwin  was  lost  occasionally  by  the  caving 
in  of  loose  sand  during  excavation  activities,  it  was  rediscovered 
regularly  by  the  unearthing  of  bits  of  paper.  Since  this  colony  built 
a long  tunnel,  at  least  partly  lined  with  paper,  Daecke’s  observations 
are  confirmed. 


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The  nest  was  about  eight  inches  in  diameter  and  four  inches  deep 
(Figure  1).  It  was  covered  with  a typical  paper  envelope.  This 


Fig.  1.  Vespiila  squamosa  nest. 

envelope  was  absent  on  the  bottom  of  the  nest,  leaving  the  brood 
comb  exposed  to  the  earth  a few  millimeters  below.  The  paper  of 
the  envelope  was  built  in  horizontal  strips  similar  to  the  paper  en- 
velope of  Dolichovespiila  maculata  L.  and  very  unlike  the  “clam 
shell”  pattern  frequently  encountered  in  V.  maculijrons. 

At  the  time  of  capture  the  nest  comprised  two  full  tiers  of  comb 
(six  inches  in  diameter)  and  one  half  tier  (four  inches  in  diameter). 
It  was  estimated  that  the  colony  contained  two  hundred  adult 
workers,  some  of  which  perished  during  the  removal  of  the  nest, 
and  some  of  which  were  afield.  About  one  hundred  and  fifty  work- 
ers and  the  foundress  queen  were  taken  with  the  nest.  The  colony 
was  etherized  and  taken  to  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  for  further  observations 
and  experiments. 

In  the  early  evening  of  August  18,  1946,  the  nest  and  its  inhabi- 
tants were  placed  in  a large  rearing  cage.  This  cage  had  been 
sprayed  with  DDT  some  months  before,  and  unfortunately  a number 
of  workers  were  killed  by  the  residual  poison  before  the  error  was 
noticed.  The  colony  was  quickly  placed  in  another  cage  and  no 


June,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 


89 


further  mortality  was  noticed.  The  queen,  who  seldom  leaves  the 
nest  at  that  time  of  year  was  not  efifected  by  the  DDT. 

The  new  cage  had  a sandy  bottom.  The  nest  was  placed  in  the 
sand  in  an  inverted  position  (i.e.,  with  the  brood  comb  facing 
upward).  The  queen  and  remaining  workers  were  given  a supply 
of  glucose,  sucrose,  water,  chopped  beef,  fish,  meat  juices  and  living 
Lepidopterous  larvae.  Except  for  the  water  and  the  sugars  which 
were  greedily  devoured,  these  provisions  were  largely  ignored. 

The  nest  was  retained  in  complete  captivity  until  August  26,  1946. 
During  this  time  the  workers  became  cannibalistic.  Cannibalism 
was  first  noticed  on  the  evening  of  August  21,  1946.  The  workers 
were  removing  larvae  from  the  brood  cells  and  eating  them. 

Throughout  this  period  of  social  degeneration,  including  cannibal- 
ism, the  prepupae  were  consistently  refused  as  food  by  the  ergates. 
Perhaps  any  silk  accumulated  in  the  glands  prior  to  spinning  was 
repellent  to  the  adults.  Larvae  and  pupae  were  regularly  eaten 
during  this  period. 

There  were  several  methods  of  seizing  the  brood  for  cannibalistic 
purposes. 


Fig.  2.  V.  squamosa  worker  removing  pupa  from  cell.  Note 
silk  pupal  caps  torn  open  by  adults. 


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1 —  The  most  frequent  method : an  adult  worker  would  reach  into 
a brood  cell  with  its  head,  grasp  the  larva  with  its  mandibles,  and  by 
a combination  of  lifting  and  pulling  backwards  remove  the  larva 
from  the  cell.  Such  larvae  often  became  the  objects  of  “tug  of  war” 
tactics  between  two  or  more  workers.  With  tugging  and  biting 
the  larvae  would  be  torn  into  pieces  and  devoured.  At  least,  the 
juices  would  be  extracted  from  the  tissues.  Whether  the  solid  parts 
of  the  body  were  eaten  could  not  be  ascertained  with  absolute 
accuracy. 

2 —  If  the  victim  were  a pupa,  the  silk  pupa  cap  would  be  torn 
open  (Figures  2 & 3).  Usually  only  a small  part  of  this  pupa 
cap  was  removed;  just  enough  to  permit  the  seizure  of  the  pupa. 


Fig.  3.  V.  squamosa  worker  eating  pupa  which  is  partially 
dismembered. 

The  pupae  would  then  be  dismembered  and  eaten  in  much  the  same 
fashion  as  the  larvae. 

3 —  In  several  instances  the  ergate  would  crawl  head  first  into  a 
brood  cell  containing  a smaller  larva.  While  in  the  cell,  the  ergate 
would  eat  the  larva. 

4 —  A variation  on  the  above-mentioned  method  was  noted  when 
an  ergate  crawled  into  an  empty  cell,  tore  away  a part  of  the  paper 


June,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  91 


partition  to  gain  access  to  an  adjacent  cell,  and  ate  part  of  a pupa 
in  the  adjacent  cell. 

The  queen  never  became  cannibalistic.  The  ergates  never  fed 
her  with  malaxated  pieces  of  cannibalized  larvae  or  pupae.  In  fact, 
during  this  period  of  social  degeneration,  the  ergates  never  brought 
the  queen  any  food  at  all.  However,  the  queen  helped  herself  to 
water  and  sugar  solutions.  Every  evening  between  eight  and 
ten  P.M.  she  engaged  in  ovipositing.  She  even  placed  eggs  in  brood 
cells  from  which  the  young  had  just  been  removed  by  cannibals. 

It  was  soon  apparent  that  cannibalism  was  but  one  phase  of  a 
general  social  degeneration  on  the  part  of  the  workers. 

No  worker  made  any  attempt  to  repair  the  nest  although  several 
pieces  of  weathered  wood  and  old  Vespine  paper  were  placed  in  the 
cage.  During  this  time,  the  queen  endeavored  to  keep  the  nest  and 
colony  on  a sound  basis.  She  made  about  two  square  inches  of 
paper  which  she  used  for  minor  repairs  on  the  nest.  This  indicates 
that  the  foundress  queen  can  and  will  enter  into  communal  activities 
other  than  ovipositing  after  the  appearance  of  the  first  workers. 

No  worker  fed  any  larvae,  either  with  food  provided  in  the  cage 
or  with  dismembered  parts  of  other  larvae.  In  consequence,  the 
larvae  survived  without  food  and  with  what  little  water  and  glucose 
solution  I spattered  on  the  combs. 

The  only  normal  communal  activity  in  which  the  ergates  indulged 
was  the  ventilation  of  the  nest.  This  activity  was  completely  un- 
necessary as  the  nest  envelope  had  been  completely  removed  and  the 
bare  comb  was  exposed  to  whatever  air  currents  there  may  have 
been.  It  is  my  conclusion  therefore,  that  the  “ventilation”  or  beating 
of  wings  by  the  workers  may  be  an  entirely  automatic  response  to 
temperature  and  humidity  conditions,  or  it  may  be  a method  of 
exercising.  It  is  my  opinion  that  it  is  primarily  an  individual  re- 
sponse and  that  its  social  function,  if  any,  is  secondary. 

On  August  26,  1946,  the  colony  was  placed  out  of  doors  and  the 
cage  door  was  opened.  As  soon  as  the  workers  were  permitted  their 
freedom  they  made  the  regular  orientation  flights  and  resumed  a 
social  life,  quite  wholesome  and  typical. 

It  is  concluded,  therefore,  that  this  case  of  social  degeneration  was 
caused  primarily  by  the  circumscribed  space  in  which  the  wasps 
were  retained.  Normally  the  ergates  would  forage  for  food,  paper 
pulp  and  would  remove  diggings  from  the  nest  cavity.  During  ab- 
normal confinement  they  might  be  expected  to  behave  abnormally. 
The  foundress  queen  on  the  other  hand  would  not  normally  leave  the 
confines  of  the  nest  at  that  season ; she  would  not  then  be  sub- 
jected to  any  abnormal  conditions  while  confined  to  the  cage.  She 
did  not  behave  abnormally. 


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As  soon  as  the  orientation  flights  were  made,  cannibalism  ceased ; 
the  brood  was  fed ; the  nest  was  repaired.  By  August  30,  1946,  the 
nest  envelope  had  been  rebuilt  to  the  extent  that  I could  no  longer 
observe  the  activities  within.  Consequently  on  the  evening  of 
August  30,  the  colony  was  anaesthetized  for  further  observations 
and  for  photographs. 

Up  to  this  time  the  nest  was  kept  in  the  inverted  position  de- 
scribed above.  Although  the  wasps  can  use  their  comb  when  in- 
verted, their  normal  instinct  is  to  build  the  comb  cells  with  the  open- 
ing underneath.  Any  new  comb  added  between  the  26th  and  the 
30th  of  August  was  built  normally.  Therefore,  some  of  the  comb 
cells  were  at  180°  to  the  others.  I have  observed  this  same  phe- 
nomenon among  the  colonies  of  V.  maculifrons  (Figure  4)  and 
D.  arenaria  F. 


Fig.  4.  V.  maculifrons  nest  showing  inverted  comb. 

About  forty  new  cells  had  been  built  along  the  periphery  of  the 
old  comb.  One  small  new  comb  was  started  between  the  tiers  of  the 
old  comb.  This  was  built  in  the  normal  position  (180°  to  the  old 
comb)  and  contained  three  cells.  A few  of  the  peripheral  comb 
cells  were  built  at  90°  on  the  base  of  the  old  comb.  Some  new  cells 
were  “U”-shaped  as  the  cell’s  hexagonal  walls  were  swung  to  meet 


June,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  93 


the  requirements  of  habit.  One  cell  of  this  latter  type  contained  a 
large  larva  whose  body  had  been  bent  over  in  an  arc. 

The  new  nest  envelope  was  somewhat  modified.  It  is  normally 
attached  to  the  first  comb.  It  touches  the  periphery  of  the  other 
combs.  Regardless  of  the  position  of  the  nest  the  wasps  have  no 
instinct  to  construct  the  envelope  in  any  other  way.  With  the  nest 
inverted,  therefore,  they  build  their  envelope  attached  to  the  top  of 
the  comb.  The  paper  was  placed  over  the  mouth  of  the  cells,  ef- 
fectively covering  eggs,  larvae  and  pupae.  The  paper-making  in- 
dividuals had  difficulties  with  the  brood  nurses.  The  nurses  tore 
aw^ay  the  paper  to  gain  access  to  the  young.  The  paper  makers 
stubbornly  replaced  it.  Not  until  the  larvae  pupated  and  the 
nurses  lost  interest  in  them  did  this  conflict  cease.  It  is  interesting 
to  note  that  the  workers  evolved  no  plastic  behavior  pattern  to 
circumvent  this  trouble.  The  emerging  imagines  had  no  trouble 
in  tearing  their  way  out  of  this  unusual  paper  covering. 

A new  nest  entrance  had  been  made  just  below  the  level  of  the 
sand  in  the  cage.  The  entrance  was  facing  the  gate  of  the  cage. 

At  this  time  the  nest  population  had  increased  to  an  estimated 
three  hundred  workers.  The  queen  was  found  and  appeared  to  be 
in  good  health. 

Before  the  effects  of  the  ether  had  dissipated,  the  nest  was  turned 
right  side  up,  replaced  in  the  cage,  and  returned  out  of  doors  (in 
exactly  the  same  place).  The  cage  gate  was  closed  to  prevent  the 
aimless  wandering  of  the  wasps  upon  their  recovery  from  the 
anaesthetic. 

The  next  morning,  August  31,  1946,  the  cage  gate  was  opened 
again.  The  wasps  flew  out  but  made  no  orientation  flight,  ap- 
parently because  they  recognized  their  surroundings. 

As  the  nest  envelope  had  again  been  completely  removed  the 
previous  evening,  the  wasps  began  rebuilding  it.  Ninety  workers 
were  counted  engaged  in  this  work.  One  wasp  whom  I learned  to 
recognize  by  her  clypeal  markings  made  regular  four-minute  round 
trips  to  an  old  weathered  oak  clothes  post  in  the  back  yard.  The 
flight  was  ten  feet  from  the  nest.  Her  activities  were  followed  for 
one-half  hour.  She  had  selected  a part  of  the  post  six  feet  four 
inches  from  the  ground  level.  She  flew  directly  from  the  nest  to 
the  post.  Alighting  on  the  post  head  upward,  she  would  turn 
around  until  facing  directly  downward  to  work  on  the  wood.  Using 
her  forelegs  and  mouthparts  to  gather  wood  pulp,  she  clung  to  the 
post  with  her  two  posterior  pairs  of  legs.  After  collecting  a large 
wad  of  pulp,  she  would  turn  again,  facing  upward,  and  holding  the 
pulp  in  her  mandibles  and  forelegs  would  fly  directly  to  the  nest. 


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Never  did  she,  nor  any  other  wasps  engaged  in  paper-making,  share 
the  pulp  brought  in,  as  do  the  foraging  workers  with  the  nurses. 

Since  the  colony  was  well  along  in  the  season,  the  method  of 
effecting  repairs  was  different  from  the  construction  methods  of  a 
new  colony.  Primarily  many  more  workers  were  available  at  one 
time  to  make  repairs  than  there  would  be  in  a younger  nest.  None 
of  the  repairs  to  be  made  were  of  a structural  nature,  as  none  of  the 
tiers  of  comb  had  been  damaged.  All  that  was  required  was  the 
construction  of  a new  envelope.  A primitive  envelope  was  begun 
along  the  periphery  of  each  tier  of  comb.  A number  of  workers 
were  engaged  on  each  tier.  They  applied  a ring  of  paper  straight 
out  as  a continuation  of  the  base  of  the  comb.  As  this  ring  expanded 
in  diameter,  the  weight  of  the  wasps  working  on  it  caused  it  to 
bend  downward.  When  this  single  layer  of  paper  touched  the  next 
lower  tier  of  comb,  it  was  immediately  affixed  to  this  comb.  The 
first  single  paper  envelope  was  completed  in  eleven  hours,  a job  of 
approximately  990  wasp  hours.  In  subsequent  days  additional 
layers  of  the  envelope  were  added  to  the  nest. 

At  the  same  time  a number  of  wasps  were  busy  expanding  the 
living  quarters  by  excavating  the  sand  under  the  nest.  By  using 
the  mandibles  and  forelegs  to  gather  sand  grains,  and  using  saliva 
to  effect  the  adhesion  of  these  grains  into  a pellet,  excavation  was 
efficiently  carried  on.  The  wasps  who  prepare  these  pellets  of 
sand  grasp  them  in  the  mouth  and  fly  from  the  nest.  The  pellets 
are  then  dropped.  Never  was  sand  dropped  less  than  five  yards 
from  the  nest.  -As  soon  as  the  pellet  was  dropped,  the  wasp  circled 
back  to  the  nest  for  another  load  of  sand. 

Although  the  efficiency  of  the  nest  labor  could  have  been  im- 
proved had  each  sand  dropping  wasp  continued  her  flight  for  forage 
or  wood  pulp  before  returning  to  the  nest,  this  was  never  observed. 
It  would  seem  that  any  individual  wasp  who  assumes  one  responsi- 
bility will  not  combine  this  responsibility  with  another,  even  at  the 
expense  of  efficiency.  This  was  also  noted  among  the  paper  makers 
who  never  stopped  to  eat  or  drink  while  repairing  the  nest.  It  was 
also  noted  among  the  foraging  workers,  returning  to  the  nest  with 
food  and  finding  a number  of  workers  rushing  out  in  defense  of 
the  colony  (at  my  own  provocation).  The  foragers  would  never 
deviate  from  their  normal  habit,  but  would  take  the  food  in  to  the 
young  and  the  nurses.  Whether  they  would  then  adapt  to  the 
emergency  and  become  defenders  I have  never  waited  to  determine. 
It  seems  evident  that  a wasp  who  assumes  one  duty  will  fulfill  that 
duty  to  the  exclusion  of  any  other. 


June,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  95 


During  the  season  it  was  noted  that  there  were  a number  of 
apterergates/  They  do  not  leave  the  nest  although  they  fit  well  into 
the  labor  scheme  of  the  colony.  Some  work  on  the  internal  ex- 
pansion of  the  nest,  tearing  away  inner  layers  of  the  nest  envelope 
and  replacing  it  on  the  outside.  Others  help  the  foraging  workers 
as  nurses  in  the  distribution  of  food  to  the  brood.  Although  they 
possess  a functional  sting  they  never  attempt  to  defend  the  colony. 
None  were  found  at  the  time  of  the  capture  of  the  colony,  although 
they  may  have  been  buried  under  the  loose  sand.  They  were  present 
throughout  the  colony  season  in  varying  numbers. 

When  the  nest  was  captured  on  August  18,  1946,  it  contained  an 
estimated  two  hundred  workers.  Despite  cannibalism,  DDT,  and 
other  forms  of  sudden  death,  by  August  30  the  population  had  in- 
creased to  an  estimated  three  hundred.  By  September  9,  1946,  the 
population  peak  of  the  season,  I estimated  four  hundred  workers 
present.  By  September  17  the  wasps  had  dwindled  until  there  were 
only  about  one  hundred  and  seventy  left.  This  decline  in  popula- 
tion continued  more  slowly  until  by  October  1 1 there  were  no  work- 
ers at  all.  From  the  25th  of  September  males  began  to  appear  and 
increase  in  number.  When  the  nest  was  brought  indoors  on  October 
16,  there  were  only  males  wandering  about  the  deserted  comb. 
There  were  fourteen  empty  queen  brood  cells  which  had  never  been 
used. 

During  the  season  the  nest  itself  had  been  considerably  enlarged. 
It  now  comprised  four  full  tiers  of  comb,  and  one  small  comb  of  six 
cells.  At  some  time  in  the  season  the  first  two  tiers  of  cells  had 
been  rejected  for  further  brood  rearing  and  the  comb  walls  were 
torn  away  for  reclaimed  paper. 

At  the  close  of  the  colony  season  about  ten  per  cent  of  the  brood 
cells  contained  dead  pupae.  There  was  no  evidence  of  insect  para- 
sites, but  there  were  several  fungus  covered  or  diseased  individuals 
in  the  comb.  There  were  many  mites  on  the  comb,  whether 
fungivorous  or  carnivorous  has  not  been  determined. 

In  conclusion,  V espula  squamosa  Drury  has  been  found  nesting 
in  New  York  State.  Social  degeneration  may  follow  when  the  ac- 
tivities of  ergates  are  circumscribed.  Wasps  engaged  in  one  duty 
will  not  readily  deviate  from  this  duty,  nor  will  they  adapt  nest 
building  habits  to  a change  in  nest  position. 

References. 

1.  Bequaert,  J.  C.  A Tentative  Synopsis  of  the  Hornets  and 
Yellow  jackets  of  America.  Entomologica  Americana,  XI, 
pp.  108-111.  1931. 


96  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^LII 


2.  Daecke,  F.  Minutes  of  Meeting.  Ent.  News,  17,  p.  182.  1906. 

3.  Manee,  A.  H.  Observations  in  Southern  Pines,  N.  C.  Ent. 

News,  26,  p.  265-8.  1915. 

4.  Gaul,  A.  T.  Additions  to  Vespine  Biology.  II : Caste  Phases 

Among  Vespines.  Bull.  Brook.  Ent.  Soc.,  17,  58-62. 
1947. 


NOTES  ON  HELIOTHIINAE. 

By  Rowland  R.  McElvare,  Port  Washington, 

Long  Island,  N.  Y. 

Heliosea  fasciata  Hy.  Edw. — Originally  described  in  1875  and 
placed  in  the  genus  Melicleptria.  This  species  was  reduced  to  a 
synonym  of  Heliosea  pictipennis  Grote  by  F.  H.  Benjamin  (Bull. 
So.  Calif.  Acad.  Sci.,  Vol.  34,  1935,  p.  194).  Actually  fasciata  is 
not  a heliothid  moth  but  is  a valid  species  belonging  in  the  genus 
Heliothodes  Hamp.  in  the  Amphipyrinae.  In  the  original  de- 
scription Edwards  comments  that  fasciata  is  “very  nearly  allied  to 
M.  vaccina e of  which  it  may  possibly  be  the  other  sex.”  John  B. 
Smith  (Synop.  N.  A.  Heliothinae,  1882,  p.  246)  considered  it  a 
variety  of  diminutivus  Grote  and  put  both  in  the  genus  Heliaca 
H.Sch.  of  which  he  said  “tibiae  not  spinose,  anterior  unarmed.” 
Inspection  of  the  Edwards  type  of  fasciata  at  the  American  Museum 
of  Natural  History  confirms  this  observation  of  the  tibiae.  Ap- 
parently Benjamin  was  not  familiar  with  the  actual  type  of  fasciata 
as  it  differs  markedly  from  pictipennis  in  general  appearance  and 
lacks  the  tibial  arming  with  which  he  credits  it. 

Melicleptria  sabulosa  Smith — Considered  a synonym  of  Heliosea 
fasciata  Hy.  Edw.  It  is  a synonym  of  H.  pictipennis  Grote,  as 
Benjamin  indicates.  A type  of  sabulosa  is  in  the  Smith  Collection 
at  New  Brunswick,  and  another,  somewhat  faded,  in  the  U.  S. 
National  Museum. 

Heliosea  pictipennis  Grote — Apparently  the  distinctive  vinous 
purple  marking  in  the  primaries  of  pictipennis  is  subject  to  con- 
siderable variation.  Specimens  of  both  sexes  entirely  devoid  of  this 
coloring  are  taken  in  some  number  in  the  Mojave  Desert,  and  on 
occasion,  some  in  copulation  with  similar  specimens  and  others  in 
copulation  with  specimens  having  the  characteristic  purple  coloring. 
The  absence  of  the  purple  does  not  seem  to  be  accompanied  by  any 
other  distinctive  differentiating  characters. 


June,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  97 


SOME  NEW  SUBSPECIES  OF  BUTTERFLIES  FROM 
DOMINICA,  B.  W.  I. 

By  Lawrence  S.  Dillon,  Reading  Public  Museum,  Pa. 

Among  the  lots  of  butterflies  from  Dominica  received  during  the 
past  several  years  from  Mr.  P.  K.  Agar  were  the  following  new 
forms,  one  of  which  is  particularly  striking.  The  writer  is  grateful 
to  Mr.  William  P.  Comstock,  of  the  American  Museum  of  Natural 
History,  for  his  many  kindnesses  during  the  course  of  the  study  of 
these  and  other  Antillean  insects.  His  thanks  are  also  extended  to 
Dr.  William  T.  M.  Forbes,  of  Cornell  University,  and  to  Mr.  V. 
Nabokov,  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology,  for  the  loan  of 
material. 

Appias  (Glutophrissa)  drusilla  comstocki  Dillon,  subspec.  nov. 

Apparently  most  closely  related  to  d.  jacksoni  Kaye  from  Jamaica 
and  d.  monomorpha  Hall  from  Grenada,  this  form  is,  nevertheless, 
quite  distinct  from  these  and  the  other  races,  especially  in  its  peculiar 
greenish  coloration. 

Male:  Expanse  39-51  mm.  Upper  surface  very  pale  green- 
ish-white, glossy  near  base,  especially  of  forewing,  without 
markings  of  any  sort,  except  for  a fine  line  of  fuscous  along 
anterior  edge  of  forewing,  extending  along  distal  margin  to 
Cui  or  beyond,  and  a streak  of  fuscous  scales  along  costal 
margin  of  the  same  wing  as  far  as  the  origin  of  Ri.  Lower 
surface  of  forewing  pale  greenish-white,  its  apex,  and  entire 
hind  wing,  glossy  dull  creamy ; base  of  forewing  cell  yellow, 
evanescent  distally. 

Female:  Expanse  41-48  mm.  Upper  surface  as  male  but 
more  distinctly  greenish,  hindwing  tinged  with  yellow  towards 
base;  the  forewing  with  the  same  fuscous  markings  as  male 
but  extending  to  tornus,  expanded  to  a width  of  2.5  mm.  at 
apex  and  to  about  1 mm.  along  distal  edge,  the  narrow  band 
thus  formed  being  irregular  in  outline.  Under  surface  as  in 
male  but  the  white  more  strongly  tinged  with  greenish,  the 
creamy  areas  paler  and  more  glossy,  and  the  yellow  markings 
brighter. 

Wing  shape  quite  as  in  the  corresponding  sexes  of  d.  poeyi 
Butler. 

Male  genital  armature  quite  similar  to  that  of  boydi  as  illustrated 
in  Comstock  (American  Museum  Novitates,  No.  1238,  1943,  p.  4, 
f . 1 ) , differing  only  in  minor  details.  The  principal  differences  are 


98  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^Lll 


the  somewhat  broader  form  of  the  harpe,  which  is  less  deeply 
emarginated  in  its  anterior  end,  in  the  narrower  form  of  the 
tegumen,  approaching  punctifera  in  this  respect,  and  the  aedeagus  is 
more  strongly  flexed. 

Holotype:  Male;  La  Haut,  Dominica,  Dec.  26,  1926;  (P.  K. 
Agar)  ; [Reading  Public  Museum  number  127]. 

Allotype:  Female;  same  data  as  holotype;  [R.P.M.]. 

Paratypes:  14  males,  6 females;  topotypic,  Nov.  1944  to  Feb. 
1945;  (P.  K.  Agar)  [R.P.M.]. 

This  species  is  named  for  William  P.  Comstock,  research  as- 
sociate of  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  History,  whose  re- 
visional  and  faunistic  studies  have  contributed  so  greatly  to  our 
knowledge  of  the  Antillean  butterflies. 

Phoebis  agarithe  pupillata  Dillon,  subspec.  nov. 

Apparently  this  is  quite  the  most  distinct  subspecies  of  agarithe, 
differing  to  a much  greater  extent  from  antillia  Brown  than  that 
race  does  from  either  of  the  mainland  forms.  It  may  be  character- 
ized as  follows : 

Male:  38-44  mm.  Upper  surface  of  forewing  rather 
brighter  than  Cuban  specimens,  edged  with  a series  of  promi- 
nent fuscous  bars,  in  size  equal  to  more  than  half  the  space 
between  them ; hindwing  similarly  with  a series  of  distinct  bars, 
the  disk  a clear  light  yellow,  contrasting  sharply  with  the  usual 
band  of  modified  scales,  which  are  of  the  same  color  as  the 
forewing.  Lower  surface  uniformly  clear  yellow,  somewhat 
lighter  in  shade  than  forewing  above,  sprinkled  rather  lightly 
with  Indian-red  and  fuscous  scales,  forming  a pattern  less  dis- 
tinct than  in  antillia  but  stronger  than  in  maxima;  the  spot  at 
end  of  discal  cell  more  distinct  than  in  antillia  (which  is  far 
more  pronounced  than  in  maxima)  and  pupillated  with  silvery ; 
hindwing  with  the  two  small  spots  beyond  discal  cell  pro- 
nounced and  both  very  strongly  pupillated  with  silvery. 

Female:  Expanse  52  mm.  Very  similar  to  specimens  from 
Florida,  but  differs  from  specimens  both  from  there  and  from 
the  Greater  Antilles  in  the  fuscous  edging  of  forewing  rather 
more  pronounced,  in  lacking  Indian-red  scaling  on  upper  sur- 
face of  hindwing,  and  in  wanting  the  scattered  silvery  scales 
on  the  under  surface  of  the  hindwing. 

Holotype:  Male;  Springfield,  Dominica,  June  4,  1945;  (P.  K. 
Agar)  ; [Reading  Public  Museum  No.  129]. 

Allotype:  Female;  St.  Lucia,  B.W.I.,  Aug.  31,  1927;  [American 
Museum  of  Natural  History]. 


June,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 


99 


Paratypes : Dominica:  2 J';  Antria  Valley,  June  8,  1945;  (P.  K. 
Agar);  [R.P.M.].  La  Haut,  Feb.  9,  1945;  (P.  K.  Agar)  ; 
[R.P.M.].  J';  Springfield,  Jan.  5,  1945;  (P.  K.  Agar)  ; [R.P.M.]. 
J';  Roseau  Valley,  Nov.  18,  1920;  (Cornell  U.  Exped.)  ; [C.U.] . 
St.  Lucia:  c?;  Castries,  Sept.  10-22,  1919;  (J.  C.  Bradley)  ; [C.U.]. 

The  male  genitalia  agree  essentially  with  the  figure  of  those  of 
the  nymotype  published  by  Brown,  in  American  Museum  Novitates, 
No.  368,  1929,  p.  14. 

Eurema  Hubner 

Either  as  Terias  or  Eurema,  the  New  World  species  of  this  genus 
have  received  considerable  attention  in  comparatively  recent  years. 
Klots,  in  Entomologica  Americana,  vol.  IX,  1928,  and  D’Almeida, 
in  Memorias  Instituto  Oszvaldo  Cruz,  vol.  31,  1936,  have  revised 
the  American  species.  Yet,  in  spite  of  the  general  excellence  of 
these  two  works,  there  is  still  an  unfortunately  large  amount  of 
confusion  concerning  the  identity  of  certain  of  the  forms.  Notable 
among  these  confused  species  are  nise  and  its  allies  which  occur  in 
the  antillean  region.  Perhaps  the  following  notes  will  serve  to  help 
remedy  the  disordered  state  of  affairs  to  a small  degree : 

Eurema  nise  Cramer 

Papilio  nise  Cramer,  Pap.  Exot.,  I,  1775,  p.  31,  pi.  20,  fig.  K,L, 
Not  Terias  nise  Boisduval,  Spec.  Gen.  Lepid.,  1836,  p.  657. 
Eurema  nise  Cramer.  Moschler,  Verh.  Zool.  Bot.  Ges.  Wien, 
1882.  Klots,  Ent.  Amer.,  IX,  1928,  p.  140. 

Terias  nise  Cramer.  D’Alnieida,  Mem.  Inst.  Oswald.  Cruz, 
XXXI,  1936,  p.  244. 

As  Klots  states,  there  has  been  a great  deal  of  confusion  as  to  the 
correct  application  of  the  name  nise  Cramer.  Eor  this,  Boisduval 
is  in  large  part  responsible ; he  assumed  that  Cramer’s  figure,  show- 
ing the  upper  surface  of  both  pairs  of  wings  of  the  same  shade  of 
yellow,  to  be  an  error.  On  this  assumption,  he  redescribed  the 
species  as  having  the  hind  wings  much  paler  than  the  fore.  How- 
ever, as  Moschler  points  out,  the  figure  was  not  in  all  likelihood 
erroneous,  for  Cramer  compares  his  species  to  an  Old  World  form, 
hecahe  L.,  which  has  concolorous  wings. 

Eurema  vemista  Boisduval 

Terias  nise  Boisduval  [non  Cramer],  Spec.  Gen.  Lepid.,  1836, 
p.  657. 

Terias  venusta  Boisduval,  op.  cit.,  p.  658. 

Eurema  diosa  Moschler,  Verh.  Zool.  Bot.  Ges.,  Wien.,  1882. 


100  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 


Concerning  venusta  Boisduval,  Klots  states  that  “Mr.  N.  D. 
Riley  of  the  British  Museum  . . . had  examined  the  type,  a male  from 
Martinique.”  This  appears  certainly  to  be  in  error,  for  Boisduval, 
in  the  first  place,  like  almost  all  early  workers,  probably  did  not 
select  a single  specimen  as  a type.  Secondly,  in  his  original  de- 
scription, he  lists  the  species  as  from  Jamaica  and  Colombia.  Hence 
it  appears  evident  that  the  Martinique  specimen  must  have  been 
labelled  at  a later  date  and  probably  was  not  among  the  original  type 
material,  and  is,  therefore,  invalid.  On  this  assumption,  the 
present  writer  proposes  to  accept  Colombia  as  the  type  locality, 
due  to  the  lack  of  any  Jamaican  examples  and  also  because  Boisdu- 
val’s  description  applies  very  aptly  to  the  Colombian  variety. 

Eurema  venusta  venusta  Boisduval 

Male:  Expanse  32-39  mm.  Upper  surface  of  forewing 
bright  yellow,  with  a border  of  fuscous  scales  along  costal 
margin,  where  it  is  sparsely  overlaid  with  yellow  scales  but 
usually  not  interrupted  by  these,  and  continued  around  distal 
margin  to  broadly  beyond  tornus  on  anal  margin,  at  its  widest 
point  it  attains  a width  of  19%  to  27%  the  length  of  the  wing 
(4.2  mm.  on  a 19  mm.  wing).  Hindwing  nearly  white,  more 
strongly  tinged  with  yellow  distally,  with  a border  of  fuscous 
from  Rs  to  2 A,  sometimes  (in  about  25%  of  the  specimens) 
broken  or  reduced  to  small  dots  at  ends  of  veins.  Undersur- 
face pale  yellow,  a little  deeper  and  brighter  anteriorly  and  in 
forewing  cell  at  base ; forewing  nearly  entirely  free  of  fuscous 
scales  (except  along  costal  margin)  ; hindwing  very  sparingly 
sprinkled  with  fuscous  scales,  concentrated  along  apical  quarter 
of  disk  to  form  four  or  five  vague  patches)  at  end  of  cell  with 
two  small  dots,  the  hind  one  always  slightly  larger  than  the 
other. 

Female:  Expanse  32-38  mm.  Upper  surface  nearly  white; 
forewing  tinged  with  yellow,  the  costal  fuscous  scaling  in- 
terrupted, distally  as  broad  as  in  male,  but  terminating  at  tornus 
or  only  narrowly  continued  to  anal  margin.  Hindwing  tinged 
with  yellow  along  distal  margin  and  with  fuscous  maculae  at 
ends  of  veins.  Under  surface  nearly  white,  forewing  bright 
yellow  anteriorly ; fuscous  scaling  as  in  male,  but  sometimes  a 
little  more  distinct. 

Eurema  venusta  emanona  Dillon,  subsp.  nov. 

Male:  Expanse  24-34  mm.  As  nymotype  but  differing  as 
follows,  in  addition  to  its  much  smaller  size : Upper  surface  of 


June,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  101 


forewing  with  the  fuscous  border  broadly  interrupted  at  base 
with  a strong  overlay  of  yellow  scales,  attaining  a maximum 
width  of  between  10%  and  15%  of  the  wing’s  length,  usually 
closer  to  the  former  figure,  scarcely  continued  around  tornus. 
Hindwing  usually  rather  strongly  tinged  over  most  of  disk  with 
yellow,  the  dark  border  much  reduced  or  absent.  Under  sur- 
face of  hindwing  a little  more  yellow,  with  the  fuscous  scaling 
somewhat  diminished. 

Female:  Expanse  28-33  mm.  As  in  the  nymotypic  female, 
but  with  the  forewing  bordering  of  fuscous  somewhat  narrowed, 
but  not  so  much  as  in  the  male,  running  between  13%  and 
17%  of  the  length  of  the  wing.  Under  surface  nearly  uniformly 
pale  yellow. 

Holotype:  Male:  La  Haut,  Dominica,  Nov.  6,  1944;  (P.  K. 
Agar)  ; [R.P.M.  No.  130]. 

Allotype:  Female;  topotypic,  Nov.  9,  1944;  (P.  K.  Agar); 
[R.P.M.]. 

Paratypes:  14  J',  3 J i topotypic.  May  to  Dec.;  (P.  K.  Agar)  ; 
[R.P.M.].  5,  Dominica;  [C.M.].  7 3 J;  Roseau  val.,  Do- 

minica, Nov.  18,  1920;  [C.U.].  6 J',  2 J;  Castries,  St.  Lucia; 
(J.  C.  Bradley)  ; [C.U.].  J';  Port  Charles,  St.  Lucia,  June  28, 
1911;  [C.U.].  9^,  ?;  Grenada,  July  13,  1927;  [C.U.]. 

Panoquina  nyctelia  agari  Dillon,  subspec.  nov. 

At  once  distinguished  from  the  mainland  form  by  the  darker 
coloring  of  the  upper  surface,  which  is  a rich  chocolate  brown ; 
the  hairy  patches  are  dull  fulvous  and  inconspicuous  (not  dis- 
tinct and  pale  greenish-stramineous  as  in  the  nymotype),  the 
hindwings  above  have  the  maculae  obscure  or  wanting.  Under 
surface  also  much  darker;  forewing  without  white  or  whitish 
scales  except  those  forming  the  elongate  macula  behind  the 
hyaline  spots,  the  preapical  pale  region  indicated  only  by  a 
slight  paling  of  the  ground  coloration,  the  scales  along  basal 
half  of  costa  fulvous  (not  pale  greenish-stramineous)  ; hind- 
wings  pale  markings  indistinct,  the  flying  scales  of  disk  dark 
fulvous  (not  pale  stramineous),  the  median  dark  band  broader. 
The  mat  of  scales  which  covers  the  palpi  and  the  fore  part  of  the 
body  beneath  is  strongly  colored  with  ochraceous,  not  nearly 
pure  white  as  in  nyctelia  sens.  str.  The  hyaline  maculae  at 
middle  of  forewing  are  somewhat  larger.  Expanse  33-41  mm. 
(The  foregoing  comparison  is  made  against  specimens  from 
Santa  Catharina,  Brazil,  Venezuela,  and  British  Guiana,  in  the 
American  Museum  of  Natural  History.) 


102  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLII 


Holotype:  Male;  La  Haut,  Dominica,  Dec.  31,  1944;  (P.  K. 
Agar)  ; [Reading  Public  Museum  number  128]. 

Paratypes:  5 males;  topotypic;  Dec.  17  and  30,  1944;  (P.  K. 
Agar)  ; [R.P.M.J.  4 males;  Canefields,  Oct.  and  Nov.  1933,  Jan. 
1934;  (L.  E.  Chadwick)  ; [A.M.N.H.j. 

Remarks : Named  for  P.  K.  Agar,  through  whose  efforts  the 
above  new  forms  were  brought  to  light. 

Two  specimens  from  Santiago  de  Cuba,  in  the  collection  of  the 
American  Museum  of  Natural  History,  are  in  many  respects  inter- 
mediate between  the  above  and  the  mainland  form,  but  are  closer  to 
the  latter.  They  agree  with  nyctelia  sens.  str.  in  the  surface  colora- 
tion of  the  upper  surface,  but  the  discal  hairs  of  the  hindwing  are 
brown ; on  the  underside,  the  hindwing  median  dark  band  is  broad 
as  in  agari  and  the  flying  scales  are  fulvous  or  brownish,  but  the 
pale  markings  are  distinct  as  in  the  nymotype.  The  forewing  be- 
neath resembles  the  latter’s  closely,  except  that  the  scales  along  the 
base  of  the  costal  margin  are  fulvous  instead  of  stramineous.  The 
name  coscinia  Herrich- Schaeffer  is  available  for  this  form,  which 
may  prove  to  be  distinct. 


June,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  103 


SAY’S  BLISTER  BEETLES. 

By  Frederick  Houghton,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

One  June  day  in  1941  we  noticed  that  the  air  about  locust  trees 
in  our  gardens  at  the  Peak  in  Springville,  New  York,  was  filled  with 
large  flying  insects  which  were  evidently  feeding  upon  the  locust 
blossoms.  We  could  not  identify  them,  but  Dr.  C.  P.  Alexander  of 
Massachusetts  State  College,  to  whom  specimens  were  sent,  identi- 
fied them  as  Say’s  Blister  Beetles,  Pomphopoea  sayi.  Since  that 
time  we  have  been  invaded  every  year  by  a swarm  of  these  beetles 
which  devour  all  the  locust  blossoms  and  thereafter  devastate  our 
shrubbery  borders. 

The  beetles  are  uniformly  seven-eights  of  an  inch  long.  The 
males  are  slender  and  active,  the  females  heavy-bodied  and  sluggish. 
Their  bodies,  including  their  wing  covers,  are  soft.  The  wing 
covers  are  dull  green,  the  rest  of  the  body  being  bright  metallic 
green.  The  legs  are  orange  or  red  with  black  joints.  The  under 
part  of  the  abdomen  is  pubescent.  They  fly  well  and  high  but  they 
seem  to  find  difficulty  in  rising  when  on  the  ground,  and  are  apt  to 
climb  a blade  of  grass  or  twig  from  which  to  rise.  When  a flower 
or  twig  upon  which  they  are  feeding  or  resting  is  shaken  they  drop 
inertly  to  the  ground.  They  are  active  in  hot,  bright  sunlight,  but 
after  dusk  or  when  the  sky  is  overcast,  they  rest  upon  flowers  or 
twigs. 

The  beetles  arrive  suddenly  in  a swarm  of  many  hundreds  of 
males  and  females,  and  the  arrival  of  this  swarm  coincides  exactly 
with  the  blooming  of  locust  trees,  Robinia  Pseudo-Acacia.  They 
feed  so  voraciously  upon  the  blossoms  of  these  trees  that  in  two 
days  our  two  large  locusts  and  several  small  ones  are  entirely 
stripped  of  their  flowers.  They  mate  on  the  flower  clusters  as  they 
feed.  After  having  devoured  the  locust  blossoms  they  move  to  our 
shrubs. 

Our  locust  trees  adjoin  a long  border  of  tall  shrubs.  Excepting 
for  the  past  two  years  these  shrubs  have  bloomed  at  the  same  time 
as  the  locusts  and  during  the  years  1941-1945  the  beetles  have 
moved  directly  from  the  locusts  to  the  shrubs,  and  have  completely 
stripped  all  blossoms  from  those  shrubs  which  bear  light-colored 
flowers.  In  1946  and  1947  however  the  locusts  bloomed  ten  days 
later  than  usual,  so  that  although  the  beetles  invaded  the  shrubbery, 
most  petals  had  dropped  and  the  damage  was  slight. 

Two  days  after  their  arrival  the  beetles  have  usually  departed  as 
abruptly  as  they  had  appeared.  This  year  their  arrival,  activities 


104  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLII 


and  departure  have  been  carefully  noted,  and  the  details  have  been 
set  forth  below. 

June  26,  1947.  No  beetles  have  appeared. 

June  27  and  28.  A few,  perhaps  a dozen,  were  seen  flying  about 
the  tallest  locust  tree. 

June  29.  This  was  a hot,  sunny  day.  The  locust  trees  were 
filled  with  beetles  which  were  feeding  upon  the  petals,  possibly  also 
the  stamens,  of  the  flowers  on  all  the  trees.  We  dusted  three 
small  trees  with  DDT,  reaching  as  high  as  possible  from  a ladder, 
and  the  beetles  left  those  portions  which  we  reached  with  the  dust. 
All  the  trees  were  almost  stripped  of  blossoms. 

June  30.  The  morning  was  cool,  and  no  beetles  were  flying  or 
feeding.  We  searched  carefully  under  the  trees  which  we  had 
dusted  but  found  no  beetles  alive  or  dead.  We  shook  the  trees, 
using  a tree  pruner  on  a long  pole,  and  beetles  dropped  down  in  a 
shower.  Under  one  tree  we  killed  and  counted  110  beetles,  under 
another,  79.  The  swarm  stripped  all  the  trees  and  in  the  afternoon 
they  moved  to  the  shrubbery  border.  They  passed  by  large  bushes 
of  pink  and  yellow  roses,  white  philadelphus  and  peonies,  and  red 
weigela,  and  settled  on  two  kolkwitzia  bushes  whose  pink  blossoms 
were  just  beginning  to  drop,  and  on  a white  rugosa  rose  which  was 
in  full  bloom.  They  fed  on  the  petals  of  the  kolkwitzia  and  on  the 
stamens  and  petals  of  the  rose.  We  dusted  the  bushes  heavily  with 
DDT,  without  immediate  visible  effect,  and  saved  the  rose  by  hand 
picking  all  afternoon.  At  dusk  the  beetles  ceased  feeding. 

July  1 was  cool  and  the  sky  overcast.  We  examined  the  locusts 
and  shrubs  but  found  no  beetles.  In  the  afternoon  the  sun  shone, 
and  we  picked  about  two  dozen  beetles  from  the  white  rose,  but  only 
a few  from  the  other  shrubs.  By  evening  only  about  a dozen  were 
to  be  seen,  and  during  the  whole  day  not  one  female  was  seen. 

July  2 and  3.  About  a dozen  males  were  killed  as  they  were 
feeding  on  the  rose.  No  others  were  seen.  The  swarm  had 
vanished. 

Several  problems  present  themselves. 

Where  did  the  swarm  come  from?  No  local  gardeners  have  ever 
seen  them.  They  are  unknown  to  the  Director  of  the  local  Forestry 
project. 

Where  did  they  breed  ? The  manuals  describe  briefly  the  proba- 
ble habits  of  some  genera  and  species  of  the  Family  Meloidae  to 
which  these  belong,  but  none  to  which  I have  access  mention  this 
species.  We  submitted  specimens  to  Mr.  R.  B.  Fales,  Director  of 
Forestry  in  Erie  County,  and  he  sent  them  to  Dr.  A.  H.  Mac 
Andrews,  on  the  staff  of  the  New  York  State  College  of  Forestry, 


June,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  105 


who  writes,  “As  you  perhaps  know,  the  life  history  of  the  blister 
beetle  group,  as  a whole,  is  very  imperfectly  known.”  Further  he 
writes,  “The  eggs  are  laid  in  large  numbers  in  the  soil  and  the  larvae 
spend  their  life  in  the  soil  feeding  on  other  insects  or  on  vegetation 
depending  upon  the  species.  Pupation  takes  place  in  the  soil  and 
large  swarms  of  the  beetles  emerge  to  attack  vegetation.” 

This  checks  a statement  made  by  a careful  observer  who  visited 
us  just  when  the  swarm  was  arriving.  He  said  that  he  had  ob- 
served beetles  emerging  from  holes  in  the  soil  under  our  locust 
trees.  Yet  we  have  dug  carefully  and  repeatedly  under  our  trees  and 
shrubs  without  having  found  any  evidences  of  larvae  or  pupae 
which  might  be  attributed  to  these  beetles. 

The  fact  that  the  swarm  arrives  exactly , at  the  time  that  the 
locusts  blossom  seems  remarkable.  In  1946  and  1947  these  trees 
bloomed  ten  days  later  than  they  had  done  in  the  previous  five 
years,  yet  the  beetles  arrived  every  year  just  as  the  blossoms  opened. 

The  fact  that  the  swarm  disappears  as  abruptly  as  it  arrives,  and 
the  place  to  which  they  depart,  need  some  investigation.  This  year 
DDT  might  have  exterminated  the  whole  swarm,  but  though  this  is 
slow  in  acting,  there  should  be  some  dead  beetles  on  the  ground. 
In  1946  we  sprayed  with  lead  arsenate,  and  the  ground  was  littered 
with  dead  beetles.  To  observe  the  effect  of  DDT  upon  them  I 
placed  some  in  a glass  jar  and  dusted  lightly  with  DDT.  They 
moved  feebly  for  a little  time,  but  remained  alive  for  four  hours. 

This  abrupt  disappearance  is  not  confined  to  our  swarm.  Mr. 
James  Blackmer,  a careful  observer,  has  informed  me  that  on  June  3, 
1942,  “myriads”  appeared  at  his  preserve  in  Wethersfield,  Wyoming 
County,  New  York,  four  days  later  few  were  to  be  seen,  and  on  June 
10  none  was  found. 

The  need  of  a careful  study  of  these  beetles  seems  indicated. 


106  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^LII 


CONGRESS  OF  ENTOMOLOGY. 

The  eighth  International  Congress  of  Entomology  will  be  held  in 
Stockholm,  Sweden,  August  8-15,  1948.  The  fact  that  all  steam- 
ship sailings  are  currently  booked  to  capacity  for  months  in  ad- 
vance makes  it  seem  necessary  for  those  expecting  to  attend  the 
congress  in  1948  to  arrange  for  passage  as  early  as  possible.  Steam- 
ship companies  have  not  issued  sailing  lists  for  1948,  but  expect  to 
do  so  in  the  early  fall.  A number  of  lines  have  listed  sailings  for  the 
present  season,  among  them,  the  Cunard,  French,  Belgian,  Swedish, 
Norwegian,  Gdynia  (Polish),  Holland- American,  etc.,  the  first 
mentioned  expecting  soon  to  have  two  new  steamers  in  service.  It 
is  understood  that  the  Thirteenth  International  Congress  of  Zoology 
will  be  held  in  Paris  some  time  in  July,  1948,  and  it  is  hoped  that 
all  entomologists  going  to  Stockholm  will  plan  to  attend  the  Zo- 
ological Congress  also  in  order  that  the  interests  of  the  entomolo- 
gists may  be  fully  represented  before  the  more  comprehensive  body. 
Should  a sufficient  number  of  individuals  indicate  that  they  expect 
to  sail  about  mid  June,  it  may  be  feasible  to  engage  passage  on  the 
same  steamer.  Early  information  as  to  the  probable  number  of 
participants  is  especially  desired  in  order  that  the  housing  com- 
mittee in  Stockholm  may  make  the  necessary  arrangements.  The 
undersigned,  as  member  of  the  executive  committee,  would  ap- 
preciate it  if  he  be  kept  informed  as  early  as  possible  as  to  plans  of 
those  expecting  to  attend  the  sessions. 

O.  A.  JOHANNSEN, 

Comstock  Hall,  C.  U. 

Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  June,  1947. 


June,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  107 


EDITORIAL. 

In  this  Bulletin  (VoL  XXXVIII,  p.  177),  the  Editor  presented 
a brief  study  of  the  correct  use  of  the  words  PART  and  PORTION. 

PORTION  is  a falsely  elegant  word  favored  by  writers  of 
pseudo-literature,  which  has  crept  into  common  usage.  The  basis 
for  this  is  the  notion  that  the  use  of  a longer  word  for  a shorter  and 
less  learned  one  is  a symbol  of  culture  and  refinement. 

Now,  entomological  and  other  scientific  writing  is  not  literature 
in  the  generally  accepted  meaning  of  the  term ; such  writing  is 
purely  factual  and  requires  no  adornment.  For  this  reason,  it  must 
be  clear;  this  clarity  can  come  only  from  the  correct  and  exact  use 
of  words  to  express  definite  and  exact  things  and  concepts.  We 
cannot  cloud  our  meanings  or  the  ideas  in  our  minds  by  misty 
wording,  which  inevitably  leads  to  ambiguity  and  misunderstanding. 

There  are  times  and  places  in  entomological  writing  where  we 
may  use  graceful  language  to  form  a mental  image  and  to  express 
subjective  thought,  such  as  beauty,  or  harmony.  But  there  is  a 
symmetrical  elegance  in  correctly  expressed  technical  writing ; how- 
ever, this  symmetry  and  this  elegance  certainly  do  not  derive  from 
loose  usage  of  so-called  literary  values — they  are  born  of  the 
lucidity  of  correct,  terse  and  accurate  wording. 

We  ask  our  authors  to  read  our  article  for  their  guidance ; for 
PART  and  PORTION  will  be  correctly  used  in  our  journals,  even 
if  we  find  ourselves  compelled  to  “emend”  the  writings  of  valued 
contributors  and  cherished  friends. 

J.  R.  T.-B. 


BOOK  NOTES 

Elementos  de  Entomologia  General,  con  Especial  Referencia 
a los  Insectos  de  Interes  Forestal.  By  Gonzalo  Ceballos. 
Published  by  the  Escuela  Especial  de  Ingenieros  de  Montes, 
Madrid,  1945.  (Price,  50  Pesetas)  251  pp.,  76  text  figures. 

In  the  course  of  my  dealings  during  the  past  twenty  years  with 
entomologists  and  students  from  the  Spanish-speaking  countries  of 
the  Americas,  I have  often  deplored  the  lack  of  an  original  Manual 
of  Entomology  in  the  Spanish  language.  I heard  therefore  with 
much  interest  of  the  recent  publication  of  the  book  with  the  above 
title.  Through  the  author’s  generosity  a copy  is  now  in  my  hands. 
I take  great  pleasure  in  introducing  it  to  the  American  entomo- 
logical public. 


108  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLII 


Intended  primarily  for  beginners  and  laymen,  as  the  title  implies, 
this  Manual  will  serve  its  purpose  admirably.  The  introductory 
chapters,  dealing  with  the  external  and  internal  morphology  and 
general  classification,  cover  some  70  pages,  or  a little  less  than  one- 
fourth  of  the  book.  They  are  clearly  written,  with  up-to-date 
terminology  and  adequate  illustrations.  The  remainder  of  the  book 
discusses  the  taxonomic  and  biological  aspects  of  the  several 
orders.  Here  the  slant  is  decidedly  on  the  forest  insects,  as  indi- 
cated by  the  subtitle  of  the  book.  As  a result,  the  two  orders 
Coleoptera  and  Lepidoptera  receive  in  proportion  more  attention 
than  the  others.  The  purpose  and  limitations  of  this  approach  are 
explained  by  the  author  in  a footnote  (p.  133).  Notwithstanding 
the  author’s  modest  claims,  his  book  contains  much  valuable  first- 
hand information  on  the  forest  pests  of  Spain.  Some  of  this  is  not, 
or  scarcely,  accessible  elsewhere  and  should  be  of  value  to  North 
American  entomologists,  many  of  the  pests  discussed  being  also 
prevalent  with  us. 

Special  mention  should  be  made  of  the  clear  and  accurate  illus- 
trations, one  of  the  most  attractive  features  of  the  work.  Some 
are  copied  or  adapted  from  previous  publications,  due  credit  being- 
given  in  each  case;  but  the  majority  are  from  original  drawings. 
The  typographical  presentation  is  up  to  the  best  standards.  I have 
noted  remarkably  few  misprints,  which  are  particularly  trouble- 
some in  textbooks,  as  they  are  likely  to  lead  the  beginner  astray. 

Entomology  deals  with  many  small  or  minute  creatures  and  a 
multitude  of  details,  whose  interpretation  is  often  contradictory  or 
hopelessly  in  dispute.  The  writer  of  a general  text  could  therefore 
not  possibly  be  expected  to  agree  with  every  other  entomologist’s 
opinions,  particularly  in  such  matters  as  morphological  interpre- 
tations and  terminology.  Even  so,  very  few  statements  in  Pro- 
fessor Ceballos’  book  are  open  to  question  and  it  would  seem 
hardly  fair  to  harp  on  such  minor  defects,  which  will  no  doubt  be 
removed  in  future  editions,  when  the  author’s  attention  is  called 
to  them. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  Professor  Ceballos’  book  will  rapidly  be- 
come popular  among  South  American  entomologists.  Perhaps  it 
will  incite  one  of  them  to  produce  a companion  Hispano-Amerfcan 
textbook  based  on  New  World  tropical  insects.  Such  a work 
would  be  a real  boon  and  emulate  the  several  manuals  produced  in 
recent  years  by  Brazilian  entomologists  in  the  Portuguese  language. 
— J.  Bequaert,  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology,  Cambridge, 
Mass. 


Vol.  XLII 


OCTOBER,  1947 


No.  4 


BULLETIN 

OF  THE 

Brooklyn  Entomological 
Society 


NEW  SERIES 


PUBLICATION  COMMITTEE 

J.  R.  de  la  TORRE-BUENO,  Editor 

GEORGE  S.  TULLOCH  EDWIN  W.  TEALE 

Published  for  the  Society  by 

The  Science  Press  Printing  Company, 

N.  Queen  St.  and  McGovern  Ave.,  Lancaster,  Pa., 

Price,  75  cents  Subscription,  $3.50  per  year 

Mailed  March  19,  1948 

Entered  as  second-class  matter  January  21,  1919,  at  the  post  office  at  Lancaster,  Pa., 
under  the  Act  of  March  3,  1879 


The  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 

Meetings  are  held  on  the  second  Thursday  after  the  first  Tuesday  of  each 
month  from  October  to  May,  inclusive,  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum,  Eastern 
Parkway  and  Washington  Ave.,  Brooklyn.  The  annual  dues  are  $2.00. 


OFFICEES,  1947 
Honorary  President 
J.  R.  DE  LA  TORRE-BUENO 

President,  R.  R.  McELVARE 


Vice  President 
OTTO  BUCHHOLZ 
Secretary 

GEORGE  S.  TULLOCH 


Treasurer 
R.  R.  McELVARE 
76  Ivy  Way, 

Port  Washington,  N.  Y. 


Editor 

J.  R.  DE  LA  TORRE-BUENO 


Delegate  to  Council  of  New  YorTc 
Academy  of  Sciences 
EDWIN  WAY  TEALE 


CONTENTS 


THE  SUBGENUS  PHORBIA  IN  N.  A.,  Huckett  109 

SILPHA  FEEDING  ON  DEAD  BEES,  Knowlton  125 

DIETHYLENE  GLYCOL  IN  BALSAM  MOUNTING,  Chamberlain  126 

PYGMY  GRASSHOPPERS,  Knowlton  130 

NEW  CRANE  FLIES,  Alexander  131 

GENUS  FLEXiMIA  IN  MEXICO,  DeLong  & Hershberger  136 

NOTES  ON  BUPRESTIDAE,  Heifer  140 

DERMACENTOR  VARIABILIS  IN  N.  H.,  Bequaert  141 

SNOWY  TREE  CRICKET  EATS  APHIDS,  Knowlton  142 

PROCEEDINGS  OP  THE  SOCIETY,  Tulloch  143 

EXCHANGES,  144 


Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 

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BULLETIN 

OF  THE 

BROOKLYN  ENTOMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY 


VoL.  XLII  OCTOBER,  1947  No.  4 


THE  SUBGENUS  PHORBIA  ROBINEAU-DESVOIDY 
IN  NORTH  AMERICA,  GENUS  HYLEMYIA  ^ 
SENS.  LAT.  (DIPTERA,  MUSCIDAE). 

By  H.  C.  Huckett,  Riverhead,  New  York. 

The  species  dealt  with  in  this  paper  belong  to  a group  commonly 
associated  with  the  name  sepia,^  and  forming  an  integral  part  of  the 
genus  Hylemyia  sens.  lat.  Their  kinship  is  plainly  revealed  by  the 
peculiar  appearance  of  the  ovipositor  (Karl,  1917,  1928)^  and  by  the 

^ The  identity  of  the  species  sepia  within  the  group  still  remains 
a matter  of  considerable  conjecture.  Meigen  (Syst.  Beschr.,  V : 
152,  1826)  described  the  fly  from  specimens  provided  by  Wiede- 
mann and  von  Winthem,  and  named  it  Anthomyia  sepia.  Villeneuve 
(Notices  dipterologiques,  Ann.  Soc.  Ent.  Erance,  LXXXVIII : 
259,  1919)  on  finding  the  type  missing  from  the  Meigen  collection 
at  Paris  decided  to  adopt  Meade’s  interpretation  of  the  species, 
which,  Collin  informs  me,  was  probably  that  of  genitalis  Schnabl. 
Stein  ( 1916)  on  referring  back  to  the  Winthem  collection  at  Vienna 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  sepia  was  none  other  than  curvicauda 
(Zett.),  and  further  that  many  authors  had  mistaken  sepia  for 
another  species,  for  which  he  proposed  the  new  name  Chortophila 
penicillaris.  Karl  (1917)  following  up  Stein’s  work  and  with  the 
type  of  curvicauda  before  him  limited  the  name  sepia  to  specimens 
of  another  species,  namely  Adia  flexicauda  Schnabl,  pointing  out 
that  the  specimens  under  sepia  in  the  Winthem  collection  consisted 
of  many  species,  including  cw'vicauda.  Karl  evidently  was  of  the 
opinion  that  Stein  in  his  diagnosis  had  confused  flexicauda  with 
curvicauda.  On  the  other  hand,  Ringdahl  (1933)  and  Seguy 
(1923)  have  alluded  to  sepia  as  having  a short  tuft  of  setulae  on 
the  cerci,  a character  not  present  in  flexicauda,  and  which  is  not 
unlike  that  present  in  sepia  of  authors  according  to  Stein. 

^ Reference  to  literature  cited  in  the  synonymies  is  signified  by 
dates  of  publication. 


110  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLIl 


interrelated  form  of  the  male  appendages  to  the  fifth  abdominal 
sternum  (Tiensuu,  1935) . The  terminal  segments  of  the  ovipositor 
are  sharply  flattened  vertically,  being  sheathlike  and  bristleless ; 
the  male  appendages  of  the  fifth  sternum  are  more  or  less  scalloped 
or  notched  distad,  and  possess  fine  setulae  arranged  in  series  or  as 
a mat  on  inner  border. 

The  species  occurring  in  North  America  include  the  European 
forms  Phorbia  curvicauda  (Zetterstedt),  P.  genitalis  (Schnabl  and 
Dziedzicki),  P.  penicillaris  (Stein),  the  native  forms  P.  sinuata 
(Malloch),  P.  lohata  (Huckett),  and  five  additional  undescribed 
species.^  The  larvae  of  several  are  reported  to  feed  in  stems  of 
cereals  and  grasses  (Seguy,  1934,  1937),  to  such  a degree  in  some 
instances  as  to  cause  injury  of  economic  importance.^’® 

Phorbia  Robineau-Desvoidy 

Phorbia  Robineau-Desvoidy,  p.p.  Essai  Myod.,  p.  559  (1830). 
— Coquillett,  Proc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  XXXVII:  589 
(1910). — Karl,  Tierwelt  Deutschlands,  XIII,  Pt.  3,  p. 
178  (1928).— Ringdahl,  Ent.  Tidskr.,  LIV:  34  (1933). 
— Tiensuu,  Act.  Soc.  Faun.  Flor.  Fenn.,  LVIII : 14 
( 1935 ) . — Kloet  and  Hincks,  List  Brit.  Ins.,  p.  425  ( 1945 ) . 

Chortophila  Macquart,  p.p.  Hist.  Nat.  d.'Ins.,  II:  326  (1835). 
— Westwood,  Introd.  Mod.  Class.  Ins.,  II  SuppL,  p.  142 
(1840). — Rondani,  Dipt.  Ital.,  Prodr.  I:  96  (1856). — 
Lioy,  Att.  Inst.  Venet.  Sci.,  IX,  ser.  3,  p.  991  (1864). — 
Karl,  Stett.  Ent.  Zeitg.,  LXXVIII : 292  (1917).— Collin, 
Ent.  Month.  Mag.,  LXIIl : 134  (1927). 

Adia  Schnabl  and  Dziedzicki,  Abh.  K.  Leop. -Carol.  Deutsch. 
Akad.  Naturforsch.,  XCV  (2)  : 97  (1911). 

® Malloch  (Descriptions  of  diptera  of  the  families  Anthomyidae 
and  Scatophagidae,  Ohio  Jour.  Sci.,  XX  (7)  : 273,  1920)  has 
provisionally  recognized  sepia  Zett.  as  occurring  in  North  America. 
I have  not  seen  the  specimens  on  which  this  record  was  based,  and 
in  view  of  the  difficulties  surrounding  the  name  sepia  it  has 
seemed  preferable  to  leave  the  matter  open  for  further  enquiry. 
Ringdahl  (1933)  has  noted  that  sepia  of  Zetterstedt  (not  Meigen) 
is  a synonym  of  Hylemyia  pratensis  (Meigen),  a species  not  be- 
longing to  Phorbia  as  herein  delimited. 

^ Schiner,  J.  R.  1865.  Dipterologische  Miscellen.  Verb,  zool.- 
bot.  Gesell.  Wien,  XV : 999. 

® Mesnil,  L.  et  Petre,  F.  1932.  Un  Anthomyidae  (Dipt.) 
nuisible  aux  cereales  en  France.  Bull.  Soc.  Ent.  France,  XXXVII : 
217-222. 


Oct.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  111 


Genotype:  Phorbia  muse  a Robineau-Desvoidy  (by  designation  of 
Coquillett,  1910). 

The  genus  Phorbia  was  erected  by  Robineau-Desvoidy  in  1830 
for  the  reception  of  five  nominal  species,  none  of  which  has  since 
been  recognized  with  any  degree  of  confidence  by  subsequent 
workers.  Macquart  in  1835  included  Phorbia  as  a part  of  a 
composite  grouping  entitled  Chortophila,  retaining  therein  the 
nominal  species  musca  and  grisea  of  the  original  series  and  also 
Anthomyia  sepia  Meigen.  The  species  Phorbia  musca  was  se- 
lected by  Coquillett  (1910)  as  the  genotype  of  Phorbia.  Earlier 
Westwood  (1840)  had  recorded  Anthomyia  sepia  Meigen  as  type  of 
Chortophila.  I have  accepted  this  early  association  of  the  name 
sepia  with  musca  as  indicating  that  the  two  species  may  be  re- 
garded as  congeneric.  Hence  preference  has  been  given  to  the 
retention  of  the  older  name  Phorbia  for  the  group  in  place  of  Chorto- 
phila.^  It  should  be  noted  that  the  species  Anthomyia  sepia  Meigen 
has  been  cited  by  Karl  (1928)  and  Kloet  and  Hincks  (1945)  as  the 
genotype  of  Phorbia.  The  validity  of  such  action,  in  my  opinion, 
depends  on  whether  it  may  be  shown  that  sepia  can  be  recognized 
as  being  represented  among  the  original  species  included  in  Phorbia. 

Subgeneric  characters. — Small  stoutish  species,  well  bristled, 
markings  poorly  defined  though  extensive  on  male  abdomen. 
Latter  subcylindrical  and  truncate,  increasingly  lustrous  and 
stronger  bristled  caudad,  hypopygium  large ; abdomen  of  female 
shining  black  with  little  trace  of  pruinescence,  unmarked. 
Parafrontals  in  male  with  a pair  of  minute  setulae  adjacent 
anterior  ocellus,  arista  subnude  or  minutely  haired,  vibrissal 
angle  not  prominent,  proboscis  of  slightly  reduced  proportions, 
mesopleura  devoid  of  bristlelike  seta  on  upper  border  near 
anterior  notopleural  bristle ; prealar  bristle  long.  Legs  not 
slender,  fore  femur  with  a few  semierect  setulae  on  median 
plane  of  anterior  (inner)  surface.  Processes  of  fifth  abdom- 
inal sternum  of  male  with  inner  margin  more  or  less  scalloped 


® Mr.  J.  E.  Collin  has  kindly  pointed  out  in  correspondence  that 
Macquart  had  introduced  the  name  Chortophila  for  a combination 
of  four  of  Robineau-Desvoidy ’s  little-known  genera,  Nerina,  Adia, 
Phorbia,  Chloe,  without  using  the  name  Chortophila  for  any  one 
of  the  contained  groups.  It  thus  seems  evident  that  if  the  name 
Chortophila  is  to  survive  the  genotype  for  that  group  should  at 
least  be  selected  with  a view  to  avoiding  the  prior  claims  of  Robi- 
neau-Desvoidy’s  older  names. 


112  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLIi 


or  notched  distad,  with  a fringe  or  mat  of  minute  blackish 
setulae  on  inner  border,  and  with  one  or  two  short  erect 
bristles  on  apical  region  directed  ventrad;  ovipositor  strongly 
chitinized  and  extensively  flattened  laterally,  sheathlike,  caudal 
sclerites  bristleless. 

None  of  the  species  here  recorded  has  an  apical  posteroventral 
bristle  on  hind  tibia,  as  is  present  in  the  European  species  grisea 
Ringdahl,  moliniaris  Karl,^  and  singularis  Tiensuu.® 

In  formulating  the  keys  it  has  been  found  necessary  to  rely 
largely  on  the  structure  of  the  copulatory  appendages  for  distin- 
guishing the  species.  Many  of  the  parts  forming  these  appendages 
in  the  male  are  likely  to  be  obscured  in  unrelaxed  specimens.  This 
is  a hindrance  that  should  not  hide  the  fact  that  in  such  structures 
may  be  found  the  most  dependable  means  of  specific  recognition 


and  differentiation. 

Key  to  Species. 

Males 

1.  Mid  tibia  with  no  median  anteroventral  bristle 2 

Mid  tibia  with  one  or  more  median  anteroventral  bristles  ...  5 


2.  Cerci  (upper  forceps)  armed  with  a shaggy  tuft  of  setulae,  the 

latter  about  equal  to  the  length  of  hind  metatarsus;  proc- 
esses with  a small  callosity  near  middle  on  inner  margin; 
posthumeral  bristles  strongly  duplicated. 

masculans,  n.  sp. 

Cerci  with  no  such  tuft,  setulae  shorter  than  hind  meta- 
tarsus   3 

3.  Processes  imperceptibly  notched  distad,  and  fringed  for  nearly 

entire  length  of  inner  margin,  less  densely  so  apicad ; inner 
margins  of  processes  subparallel  basad,  not  convergent; 
cerci  divided  laterally  into  two  hairy  lobes. 

lobata  (Huck.) 

Processes  abruptly  notched  distad  and  not  fringed  for  nearly 
entire  length  of  inner  margin;  inner  margins  convergent 
basad ; cerci  not  formed  into  lateral  folds  or  lobes 4 

4.  Processes  slender,  much  longer  than  hind  metatarsus,  mar- 

ginal mat  of  setulae  extending  along  median  half  of  inner 

^ Ringdahl,  O.  1929.  Ubersicht  der  in  Schweden  gefundenen 
Hylemyiaarten  mit  posteroventraler  Apikalborste  an  den  Hinter- 
schienen.  Ent.  Tidskr.,  LI : 268. 

^ Tiensuu,  L.  1938.  Beitrage  zur  Kenntnis  der  Musciden 
(Dipt.)  Finnlands.  Ann.  Entom.  Fenn.,  IV  (1)  : 24. 


Oct.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  113 


border  (fig.  8)  ; tergum  5 with  one  or  two  well-developed 
discal  bristles  laterad  portensis,  n.  sp. 

Processes  scarcely  longer  than  hind  metatarsus,  marginal  mat 
of  setulae  restricted  to  a small  subapical  patch  (fig.  6)  ; 
tergum  5 with  discal  bristles  lacking  or  weak. 

conicans,  n.  sp. 

5.  Cerci  armed  with  a shaggy  tuft  of  setulae,  the  latter  slightly 
longer  than  hind  metatarsus penicillaris  (Stein) 

Cerci  armed  on  distal  half  with  numerous  slender  setulae,  not 
densely  grouped  nor  as  long  as  hind  metatarsus ; apical 
margin  of  cerci  not  deeply  cleft;  gonostyli  (inferior  for- 
ceps) not  indented  nor  notched  on  inner  margin  (fig.  5). 

barbicula,  n.  sp. 

Cerci  deeply  cleft  on  distal  region,  lateral  processes  with  numer- 
ous slender  setulae  which  appear  as  a marginal  fringe  when 
viewed  from  above;  gonostyli  notched  on  inner  margin 


(fig.  1)  curvicauda  (Zett.) 

Cerci  not  tufted  nor  coarsely  fringed  6 


6.  Mesonotum  densely  pale  bluish  gray  pruinescent;  parafacials 

conspicuously  receding  ventrad,  at  narrowest  not  wider 
than  half  breadth  of  parafacials  at  base  of  antennae ; tergum 
5 conspicuously  narrowed  laterad  (ventrad),  lateral  margin 

not  half  as  long  as  that  of  tergum  4 sinuata  (Mall.) 

Mesonotum  sparsely  pruinescent,  subshining ; parafacials  at 
narrowest  at  least  equal  to  half  its  width  at  base  of  anten- 
nae; lateral  margins  of  terga  4 and  5 about  equal  in 
length  7 

7.  Processes  armed  with  a fringe  of  short  setulae  on  median  third 

of  inner  margin;  dististylus  (inner  forceps)  compressed 
laterally  and  strongly  notched,  crooklike  in  profile,  apex 

rounded  (fig.  11) genitalis  (Schnabl) 

Processes  fringed  for  nearly  entire  length  of  inner  margin; 
dististylus  slender,  in  profile  not  compressed  nor  notched, 
apex  pointed  impula,  n.  sp. 

Females 

1.  Upper  (dorsal)  margin  of  anal  palpi^  in  profile  sharply  angular 

apicad  (fig.  16)  2 

Upper  margin  of  anal  palpi  at  most  slightly  inclined  apicad 

(fig.  22)  3 

^ Cerci  of  Crampton  (The  Diptera  or  true  flies  of  Connecticut, 
Bull.  64,  Conn.  Geol.  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.,  p.  153,  fig.  E,  1942). 


114  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLll 


2.  Wing  membrane  uniformly  brownish  tinged,  not  notably  darker 

basad;  cephalic  margin  of  parafacials  in  profile  receding 
sharply  ventrad  from  base  of  antennae,  at  an  angle  compa- 
rable to  that  of  parafrontal  margin  sloping  dorsad ; anal 
palpi  sharply  angulate  at  apex  (fig.  16). 

curvicauda  (Zett.) 

Wing  membrane  largely  clear,  or  by  contrast  much  darker 
basad ; cephalic  margin  of  parafacial  in  profile  receding  from 
base  of  antennae  at  an  angle  wider  or  more  obtuse  than  that 
of  parafrontal  margin  sloping  dorsad;  anal  palpi  obtusely 
angulate  at  apex  (fig.  17)  genitalis  (Schnabl) 

3.  Parafacials  becoming  much  narrower  ventrad,  at  narrowest 

about  equal  to  half  its  maximum  breath  at  base  of  anten- 
nae   4 

Width  of  parafacials  well  maintained  ventrad,  at  narrowest 
exceeding  half  its  maximum  breadth  at  base  of  anten- 
nae   5 

4.  Mesonotum  and  scutellum  pale  bluish  gray,  densely  pruines- 

cent;  hind  tibia  with  a robust  apical  posterodorsal  bristle; 

halteres  reddish sinuata  (Mall.) 

Mesonotum  and  scutellum  slate  gray,  subshining;  hind  tibia 
with  a weak  apical  posterodorsal  bristle ; halteres  yellowish. 

portensis,  n.  sp. 

5.  Wing  membrane  largely  hyaline,  clear  basad. 

penicillaris  ( Stein  ) 

Wing  membrane  partly  brownish  tinged,  darker  basad.  ...  6 

6.  Fifth  abdominal  tergum  with  weak  or  slender  discal  bristles; 

lower  sternopleural  bristle  of  caudal  pair  usually  weak. 

conicans,  n.  sp. 

Fifth  abdominal  tergum  with  well-developed  discal  bristles; 
lower  sternopleural  bristle  of  caudal  pair  usually  well 
developed  7 

7.  Caudal  pair  of  ocellar  bristles  longer  than  presutural  acrostical 

bristles  lobata  (Huck.) 

Caudal  pair  of  ocellar  bristles  shorter  than  median  pair  of 
presutural  acrostical  bristles  barbicula,  n.  sp. 

Hylemyia  (Phorbia)  barbicula,  n.  sp. 

Male:  Black,  mesonotum  lightly  dusted  and  with  trace  of 
darker  lines  along  planes  of  dorsocentral  and  acrostical  bristles ; 
abdomen  subshining,  with  poorly  defined  dorsal  mark.  Wings 
slightly  brownish  tinged,  densely  so  basad;  calyptrae  whitish. 


Oct.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  115 


halteres  purplish.  Narrowest  distance  between  eyes  about 
equal  to  that  between  posterior  ocelli  inclusive,  frontal  vitta  well 
maintained  caudad,  ribbandlike ; parafrontals  at  base  of  anten- 
nae as  wide  as  breadth  of  third  antennal  segment,  slightly 
receding  ventrad,  height  of  cheeks  slightly  less  than  width  of 
third  antennal  segment ; arista  subnude.  Acrosticals  composed 
of  weak  irregularly  paired  bristles,  three  presutural  pairs, 
posthumeral  bristle  not  duplicated ; lower  bristle  of  caudal  pair 
of  sternopleurals  weak.  Abdomen  subcylindrical,  lateral  discal 
bristles  on  terga  3,  4,  and  5 lacking;  distal  half  of  cerci  with 
a loose  grouping  of  slender  setulae,  the  latter  scarcely  as  long  as 
hind  metatarsus,  processes  shorter  than  gonostyli  (inner  for- 
ceps), distinctly  notched  apicad,  marginal  mat  confined  to 
median  third  of  inner  margins,  the  latter  convergent  basad, 
gonostyli  slender,  pointed  at  apex,  not  incised  (figs.  5,  10). 
Fore  tibia  with  a fine  median  and  apical  posteroventral  bristle, 
mid  tibia  with  1 median  anteroventral,  1 anterodorsal,  2 poster- 
odorsal  and  2 posteroventral  bristles,  hind  tibia  with  2 antero- 
ventral, and  with  2 stronger  and  2 weaker  bristles  on 
anterodorsal  and  on  posterodorsal  surfaces,  with  a weaker 
bristle  on  proximal  half  of  posteroventral  surface.  Costa  with 
a sparse  series  of  slightly  longer  setulae,  costal  thorns  well 
developed,  veins  and  M1+2  subparallel  to  wing  margin, 
m-cu  crossvein  erect.  Length,  4 mm. 

Female  similar  to  male,  abdomen  shining;  frons  at  level  of 
anterior  ocellus  about  one  third  as  wide  as  diameter  of  head 
when  viewed  from  above,  fifth  abdominal  tergum  with  discal 
bristles,  dorsal  margin  of  anal  palpi  weakly  angulate  at  apex. 

Holotype:  J',  Cypress  Hills,  Alberta,  V. 15.26  (F.  S.  Carr). 
[C.N.C.] 

Allotype:  Cypress  Hills,  Alberta,  VI.25.27  (F.  S.  Carr). 

[C.N.C.] 

Paratype:  J',  Saskatoon,  Saskatchewan,  V.  11.25  (K.  M.  King). 

The  male  of  barhicula  may  be  distinguished  from  those  of  peni- 
cillaris  and  masculans  by  the  much  weaker  vestiture  arising  from 
the  cerci.  The  specimens  have  stood  before  me  as  sepia  sensu 
Ringdahl,  and  as  such  were  submitted  to  Mr.  J.  E.  Collin  for  com- 
ment. The  species  was  unknown  to  Mr.  Collin,  in  view  of  which 
it  has  seemed  preferable  to  regard  it  as  distinct,  pending  the  results 
of  further  enquiry. 


116  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLIl 


Hylemyia  (Phorbia)  conicans,  n.  sp. 

Male:  Black,  subshining,  thorax  and  abdomen  slightly  prui- 
nescent,  mesonotum  with  trace  of  three  stripes,  abdominal 
marks  broad,  dilating  along  cephalic  and  caudal  margins  of 
each  segment.  Wings  blackish  or  brownish  tinged,  deeply  so 
basad;  calyptrae  white,  halteres  yellow.  Narrowest  distance 
between  eyes  equal  to  that  between  posterior  ocelli ; frontal 
vitta  reduced  to  sublineal  dimensions  caudad,  parafrontals  in 
profile  at  base  of  antennae  about  as  wide  as  breadth  of  third 
antennal  segment,  narrower  ventrad;  presutural  acrosticals 
weak  and  irregular,  lower  bristle  of  caudal  pair  of  sterno- 
pleurals  slender,  lateral  discal  bristles  on  abdominal  terga  3,  4, 
5 weak  and  scarcely  distinguishable,  anal  sclerite  (tergum  9) 
notably  angular  dorsad  (caudad  as  viewed  from  below),  cerci 
with  a few  longish  setulae  apicad,  processes  short,  sparsely 
bristled  on  outer  surface,  abruptly  notched,  inner  margins  con- 
vergent basad  and  with  a patch  of  fine  black  setulae  situated 
immediately  basad  of  notched  region.  Fore  tibia  with  a fine 
median  and  apical  posteroventral  bristle ; mid  femur  with  2 or 
3 strong  anteroventral  bristles,  mid  tibia  with  1 anterodorsal, 
1 or  2 posterodorsal,  2 posteroventral  bristles;  hind  femur 
with  a strongish  preapical  seta  on  posteroventral  surface,  hind 
tibia  with  2 or  3 anteroventral,  3 anterodorsal  and  3 postero- 
dorsal bristles,  and  with  2 or  3 weaker  bristles  on  median  half 
of  posteroventral  surface,  apical  posterodorsal  bristle  weak. 
Costal  thorn  short,  costal  setulae  fine,  r-m  crossvein  erect, 
straight.  Length,  4 mm. 

Female:  Frontal  vitta  black,  abdomen  shining,  black;  caudal 
region  of  frons,  viewed  from  above,  about  one  third  as  wide  as 
maximum  breadth  of  head,  dorsal  margin  of  anal  palpi,  in  pro- 
file, weakly  extended  apicad.  Fore  tibia  with  a median  antero- 
dorsal bristle,  mid  tibia  with  a median  anteroventral  bristle, 
hind  femur  with  bristles  on  proximal  half  of  anteroventral  sur- 
face weaker,  hind  tibia  without  bristles  on  posteroventral  sur- 
face. Otherwise  similar  to  male. 

Holotype:  J',  Cuchara,  8000  ft.,  Colorado,  VIII. 7.40  (F.  M. 
Snyder)  [U.S.N.M.] 

Allotype : 2,  Mt.  Lemmon,  Santa  Catalina  Mts.,  8000  ft.,  Arizona, 
VII.27.17.  [U.S.N.M.] 

Paratypes : J',  Pinery  Canyon,  Chiricahua  Mts.,  Cochise  County, 
Arizona,  J,  Flagstaff,  Arizona,  VIII. 5.33  (R.  H.  Beamer).  [Univ. 
Kans.]  ij',  Jemez  Springs,  New  Mexico,  VI. 29. — (J.  Woodgate), 


Oct.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  117 


J',  5,  Cloudcroft,  New  Mexico,  VI.27.40  (R.  H.  Beamer).  [Univ. 
Kans.]  J',  Cuchara,  8000  ft.,  Colorado,  VIII. 7.40  (F.  M.  Snyder). 

The  male  of  conicans,  as  in  portensis,  has  no  median  anteroventral 
bristle  on  mid  tibia,  and  no  fascicle  or  grouping  of  setae  on  cerci, 
thereby  differing  from  other  males  of  similar  habitus.  The  male  of 
conicans  differs  from  that  of  portensis  in  the  shorter  processes  and 
less  expansive  proportions  of  the  gonostyli  (figs.  6,  14). 

Hylemyia  (Phorbia)  impula,  n.  sp. 

Male:  Black  with  brownish  cast;  mesonotum  and  abdomen 
lightly  pruinescent,  markings  on  thorax  and  abdomen  lacking, 
wings  and  calyptrae  slightly  tinged,  the  former  darker  basad, 
halteres  purplish.  Frontal  vitta  prominent,  broadly  main- 
tained caudad ; narrowest  distance  between  eyes  greater  than 
that  between  posterior  ocelli,  parafacials  in  profile  notably  re- 
ceding ventrad,  cheeks  as  high  as  width  of  parafacials  at  base 
of  antennae,  arista  nearly  bare.  Acrosticals  weak  and  sparse, 
lower  bristle  of  caudal  pair  of  sternopleurals  slender ; notched 
section  about  equal  to  half  length  of  process;  inner  margin 
fringed  along  entire  length,  basal  half  composed  of  a mat  of 
minute  coarse  setulae  and  apical  half  of  finer  longer  setulae; 
inner  margins  of  processes  subparallel  basad.  Fore  tibia  with 
a median  anterodorsal  and  posterior  bristle,  mid  femur  with 
3 well-developed  bristles  on  median  half  of  anteroventral  sur- 
face ; mid  tibia  with  2 anteroventral,  1 anterodorsal,  1 postero- 
dorsal  and  1 or  2 posteroventral  bristles,  hind  tibia  with  2 or  3 
anteroventral,  2 or  3 anterodorsal,  3 or  4 posterodorsal,  and  2 
or  3 weaker  bristles  on  median  third  of  posteroventral  surface, 
apical  posterodorsal  bristle  long.  Costal  thorns  robust,  as 
long  as  r-m  crossvein,  m-cu  crossvein  erect.  Length,  3.5  mm. 

Holotype:  ,J',  Nicola  Lake,  British  Columbia,  IV.  16.22  (E.  R. 
Buckell).  [C.N.C.] 

The  male  of  impula  is  notably  small,  and  may  be  separated  from 
males  of  similar  appearance  by  the  form  and  bristling  of  the  proc- 
esses. In  impula  the  inner  margins  are  subparallel  basad  (not 
convergent),  and  are  fringed  with  setulae  for  nearly  their  entire 
length,  the  notched  region  comprises  half  their  length. 

Hylemyia  (Phorbia)  masculans,  n.  sp. 

Male:  Black  with  slight  brownish  cast,  subshining,  meso- 
notum and  abdominal  terga  brownish  gray  pruinescent ; meso- 
notum weakly  striped,  abdomen  with  a fuscous  dorsocentral 


118  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLIl 


band,  broader  basad.  Eyes  narrowly  separated  caudad  (para- 
frontals  contiguous  in  type) , mesonotum  with  a pair  of  stronger 
presutural  acrostical  bristles,  posthumeral  bristle  strongly 
duplicated.  Lower  bristle  of  caudal  pair  of  sternopleurals 
slender ; lateral  discal  bristles  well  developed  on  abdominal 
terga  3,  4,  and  5 ; cerci  densely  clothed  with  longish  flaccid 
setae;  processes  slender,  coarsely  bristled  on  outer  border, 
fringed  with  fine  setulae  along  inner  margin,  notched  distad, 
with  a small  shining  callosity  on  inner  margin  basad  of  notched 
region.  Fore  tibia  with  a median  posteroventral  bristle,  apical 
posteroventral  fine;  mid  femur  with  a series  of  weak  short 
bristles  on  proximal  half  of  anteroventral  surface;  mid  tibia 
with  1 anterodorsal,  2 posterodorsal,  2 or  3 posteroventral 
bristles;  hind  tibia  with  3 or  4 anteroventral,  4 anterodorsal, 
4 posterodorsal,  and  a few  weaker  bristles  on  proximal  half  of 
posteroventral  surface,  apical  posterodorsal  bristle  as  long  as 
apical  anterodorsal.  Wings  with  m-cu  crossvein  slightly  ob- 
lique, costal  setulae  weak,  costal  thorns  not  long,  cell  slightly 
narrowed  toward  wing  margin  owing  to  curved  course  of  vein 
i^4+5.  Length,  4.5  mm. 

Holotype:  J',  Cloudcroft,  New  Mexico,  VI.18.02.  [A.N.S.P.] 
The  type  of  masculans  is  slightly  teneral,  hence  it  seems  inad- 
visable to  state  more  fully  the  breadth  of  frons,  coloration  of  wings 
and  halteres.  The  male  may  be  distinguished  by  the  dense  clothing 
of  long  setulae  on  cerci,  as  in  penicillaris,  absence  of  a median  antero- 
ventral bristle  on  mid  tibia,  and  by  the  small  shining  callosity  on 
inner  margin  of  process,  situated  basad  of  notched  region. 

Hylemyia  (Phorbia)  portensis,  n.  sp. 

Male:  Black,  mesonotum  and  scutellum  infuscated,  humeral 
and  notopleural  regions  in  contrast  paler,  whitish  gray ; meso- 
notum with  darker  streaks  along  planes  of  dorsocentral  bristles ; 
abdominal  terga  1 + 2,  3,  4,  with  trace  of  pruinescence  laterad, 
dorsocentral  marking  wider  than  long  on  each  segment.  Wings 
infuscated,  densely  so  basad,  calyptrae  whitish,  halteres  yellow. 
Narrowest  distance  between  eyes  equal  to  that  between  poste- 
rior ocelli,  frontal  vitta  uninterrupted,  reduced  to  lineal  di- 
mensions caudad;  narrowest  width  of  parafacials  about  half 
as  wide  as  third  antennal  segment ; height  of  cheeks  about  equal 
to  half  length  of  third  antennal  segment;  arista  finely  haired. 
Mesonotum  with  one  or  two  pairs  of  slender  presutural 
acrostical  bristles,  posthumeral  bristle  weakly  duplicated ; 


Oct.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  119 


lower  bristle  of  caudal  pair  of  sternopleurals  well  developed. 
Abdomen  stoutish,  tergum  5 narrowed  ventrad  by  oblique 
forward  slant  of  caudal  margin,  terga  3,  4,  5,  with  discal 
bristles  laterad;  processes  about  one  and  a half  times  as  long 
as  hind  metatarsus,  slender,  deeply  notched,  and  coarsely 
bristled  on  apical  region,  median  third  of  inner  margin  fringed 
with  a mat  of  minute  black  setulae,  inner  margins  of  processes 
convergent  basad  (fig  8).  Fore  tibia  with  a median  antero- 
dorsal  and  posteroventral  bristle;  mid  femur  with  2 to  4 
longish  bristles  on  median  half  of  anteroventral  surface,  mid 
tibia  with  1 anterodorsal,  2 posterodorsal  and  2 posteroventral 
bristles ; hind  tibia  with  3 to  5 anteroventral,  4 or  5 antero- 
dorsal and  posterodorsal  bristles,  and  with  a series  of  weaker 
bristles  on  proximal  half  of  posteroventral  surface,  apical 
posterodorsal  bristle  weak.  Costal  thorn  robust,  as  long  as 
m-cu  crossvein,  costal  setulae  in  an  extensive  semierect  series, 
veins  7^4+g  and  M1+2  subparallel  towards  wing  margin.  Length, 
5 mm. 

Female:  Thorax  paler,  abdomen  shining  black  and  unmarked, 
frontal  vitta  black ; frons  caudad,  viewed  from  above,  narrower 
than  one  third  maximum  width  of  head ; dorsal  margin  of  anal 
palpi,  in  profile,  slightly  undulated  at  apex  (fig.  20) . Mid  tibia 
with  1 or  2 anteroventral,  1 or  2 anterodorsal,  2 posterodorsal 
and  2 posteroventral  bristles.  Otherwise  comparable  to  male. 

Holotype:  ,J',  Waldport,  Oregon,  VI. 7.42  (R.  E.  Rieder). 
[U.S.N.M.] 

Allotype:  2,  Waldport,  Oregon,  VI. 7.42  (R.  E.  Rieder). 
[U.S.N.M.] 

Paratypes:  2.J',  Newport,  Oregon,  V.24.31  (J.  Wilcox), 
Boiler  Bay,  Oregon,  V.  11.30  (J.  Wilcox),  2>  Waldport,  Oregon, 
VI.7.42  (R.  E.  Rieder). 

The  male  of  portensis  may  be  distinguished  by  the  form  and 
bristling  of  processes,  differing  from  lobata  in  the  marked  apical 
notch  and  in  the  convergence  of  inner  margins  basad.  The  cerci 
are  not  divided  laterally  as  in  lobata,  and  the  gonostyli  are  in  pro- 
portion considerably  more  expansive  than  in  other  species  (fig.  15). 

Hylemyia  (Phorbia)  curvicauda  (Zetterstedt) 

Arieia  eurvicauda  Zetterstedt,  Dipt.  Scand.,  IV,  p.  1618 
(1845). 

Anthomyia  curvicauda  Schiner,  Faun.  Austr.,  I,  p.  639  (1862). 
Chortophila  curvicauda  Meade,  Ent.  Month.  Mag.,  XXV : 449 


120  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Voi.XLli 


(1889). — Pandelle,  Rev.  ent.  France,  XIX:  265  (1900). 
—Karl,  Stett.  Ent.  Zeitg.,  LXXVIII : 301  (1917). 

Hylemyia  (Adia)  curvicauda  Schnabl  and  Dziedzicki,  Abh.  K. 
Leop.-Carol.  Deutscb.  Akad.  Naturforscb.,  XCV  (2)  : 
98  (1911). 

Hylemyia  curvicauda  Ringdabl,  Tr^mso  Museums  Ar shelter, 
XLIX  (1926),  p.  41  (1928).— Seguy,  Gen.  Insect.,  Fasc. 
205,  p.  88  (1937). 

Phorhia  curvicauda  Karl,  Tierwelt  Deutschlands,  XIII,  Pt.  3, 
p.  180  (1928). — Tiensuu,  Act.  Soc.  Faun.  Flor.  Fenn., 
LVIII  (4):  16  (1935).— Kloet  and  Hincks,  List  Brit. 
Ins.,  p.  425  (1945). 

Hylemyia  {Phorhia)  curvicauda  Ringdabl,  Ent.  Tidskr.,  LIV 
(1):  34  (1933).— Ringdabl,  Opus.  Entom.,  IV  (3-4): 
147  (1939). 

Alberta:  J,  Edmonton,  V.2.37  (F.  O.  Morrison). 

Quebec : 2 ?,  Aylmer,  V.19-21.27  (Curran  & Walley) . [C.N.C.] 

I have  regarded  the  above  female  specimens  as  representative  of 
curvicauda,  having  compared  them  with  specimens  collected  at  Are, 
Sweden.  Males  from  the  latter  locality  have  been  utilized  for  com- 
parative purposes.  The  male  of  curvicauda  may  be  distinguished  by 
the  bifid  form  of  the  cerci,  the  border  of  which  has  numerous  longish 
setulae  (fig.  1).  In  comparison  the  setulae  of  barhicula  and  peni- 
cillaris  are  grouped  on  the  discal  surface  of  the  cerci.  The  female  of 
curvicauda  has  the  anal  palpi  of  ovipositor  angularly  extended  at 
apex,  and  wings  more  uniformly  brownish  tinged,  not  notably 
darker  basad. 

Hylemyia  {Phorhia)  genitalis  (Schnabl  and  Dziedzicki) 

Hylemyia  {Adia)  genitalis  Schnabl  and  Dziedzicki,  Abh.  K. 
Leop.-Carol.  Deutsch.  Akad.  Naturforscb.,  XCV  (2)  : 
248  (1911). 

Chortophila  genitalis  Karl,  Stett.  Ent.  Zeitg.,  LXXVIII : 299 

Phorhia  genitalis  Karl,  Tierwelt  Deutschlands,  XIII,  Pt.  3, 
p.  181  (1928). — Tiensuu,  Act.  Soc.  Faun.  Flor.  Fenn., 
LVIII  (4):  17  (1935).— Kloet  and  Hincks,  List  Brit. 
Ins.,  p.  425  (1945). 

Hylemyia  {Phorhia)  genitalis  Ringdabl,  Ent.  Tidskr.,  LIV 
(1):  34  (1933). 

Hylemyia  genitalis  Seguy,  Encyl.  Ent.  Dipt.,  VII : 235  (1934). 
— Seguy,  Gen.  Insect.,  Fasc.  205,  p.  94  (1937). 


Oct.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  121 


Colorado:  J',  Florissant,  VI.1.38  (M.  T.  James).  J,  Spring 
Creek  Pass,  VI.29.37  (C.  L.  Johnson).  [Univ.  Kans.] 

Saskatchewan:  2 <J',  Saskatoon,  V.  14.24,  J,  same  locality,  V.4.23 
(K.  M.  King).  [C.N.C.] 

The  male  of  genitalis  may  be  distinguished  by  the  spatulate  crook- 
like form  of  the  distal  half  of  gonostylus  when  viewed  in  profile  (fig. 
11).  In  both  sexes  the  wings  are  largely  clear  or  faintly  grayish 
tinged  with  basal  region  clear  or  by  contrast  infuscated.  The  anal 
palpi  of  ovipositor  are  angularly  extended  at  apex.  The  species 
genitalis  has  been  reported  by  Mesnil  and  Petre^°  as  a common  pest 

Hylemyia  (Phorbia)  lobata  (Huckett) 

Hylemyia  lobata  Huckett,  Can.  Ent.,  LXI : 137  (1929). — 
Seguy,  Gen.  Insect.,  Fasc.  205,  p.  101  (1937). 

Alaska:  Headly,  VI.26.21  (J.  M.  Aldrich).  [U.S.N.M.] 

Alberta:  3 J',  2 ?,  Banff,  V.25-27.22  (C.  B.  D.  Garrett). 
[C.N.C.]  J',  Edmonton,  VI.6.35,  ?,  Wabamun,  VI.30.40  (E.  H. 
Strickland). 

Arizona:  2 Santa  Rita  Mts.,  VII. 19-22.38  (Hepner  & Sailer). 
British  Columbia:  4 1 J,  Fort  St.  John,  VI.15.27  (P.  N. 

Vroom).  J',  Vancouver  Isl.,  Cowichan  Bay,  VII. 12.24  (A.  L. 
Melander). 

Colorado:  J',  Tennessee  Pass,  VII.23.17  (J.  M.  Aldrich). 
[U.S.N.M.]  2 ?,  Grant,  Geneva  Park,  10,000  ft.,  VII.2.16  (E.  C. 
Jackson). 

Oregon : 2 J',  Parkdale,  VII.  1.38  (Gray  & Schuh) . 3 J',  3 mi.  E. 
of  Ochoco  Ranger  Sta.,  V.3.39  (Schuh  & Gray).  J',  Corvallis, 
V.8.29  (V.  T.  Shattuck).  $,  Salem,  IV.27.28  (J.  Wilcox). 

Utah:  2 J,  Cache  Junction,  IV.27.38  (G.  F.  Knowlton). 
Washington:  5>  Seattle,  V.25. — (J.  S.  Hine).  <J',  Tacoma, 
V.27.17  (A.  L.  Melander).  5>  Mt.  Rainier,  Yakima  Park, 
VII.22.24  (A.  L.  Melander). 

Wyoming:  2 1 J,  Yellowstone  Park,  Apollinaris,  VII.8.23 

(A.  L.  Melander). 

The  male  of  lobata  may  be  distinguished  by  the  laterally  divided 
form  of  cerci  (Huckett,  1929,  fig.  10).  The  processes  are  finely 
fringed  for  nearly  entire  length  of  inner  margin,  are  imperceptibly 
notched  distad,  and  the  inner  margins  are  largely  subparallel  basad, 
not  convergent.  The  presutural  acrostical  setae  in  both  sexes  are 
of  cereal  grains  in  France,  where  it  had  become  known  generally 
by  the  name  sepia. 


Mesnil,  L.  et  Petre,  F.  Loc.  cit.,  p.  217. 


122  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 


weak,  and  the  anal  palpi  of  ovipositor  are  not  angularly  extended  at 
apex. 

Hylemyia  (Phorbia)  penicillaris  (Stein) 

Chortophila  penicillaris  Stein,  Arch.  f.  Naturgesch.,  (1915) 
LXXXI  A,  heft  10,  p.  193  (1916).— Karl,  Stett.  Ent. 
Zeitg.,  LXXVIII:  296  (1917). 

Hylemyia  (Chortophila)  penicillaris  Seguy,  Faune  de  France, 
VI,  p.  132  (1923). 

Phorbia  penicillaris  Karl,  Tierwelt  Deutschlands,  XIII,  Pt.  3, 
p.  179  (1928). — Tiensuu,  Act.  Soc.  Faun.  Flor.  Fenn., 
LVIII  (4) : 15  (1935). 

Hylemyia  (Phorbia)  penicillaris  Ringdahl,  Ent.  Tidskr.,  LIV : 
101  (1933). 

Hylemyia  penicillaris  Seguy,  Gen.  Insect.,  Fasc.  205,  p.  106 
(1937). 

Alberta:  ,c?,  $,  Clymont,  V.20-24.37  (E.  H.  Strickland). 

Saskatchewan:  J',  Dundurn,  V. 16.23  (K.  M.  King).  J,  Swift 
Current,  V.15.36  (A.  R.  Brooks).  [C.N.C.] 

The  males  of  penicillaris  and  masculans  have  dense  flaccid  setae 
arising  from  discal  surface  of  cerci.  In  the  male  of  penicillaris  the 
mid  tibia  has  a median  anteroventral  bristle,  and  abdomen  lacks 
lateral  discal  bristles  on  terga  4 and  5,  thereby  differing  from  the 
male  of  masculans.  In  both  sexes  of  penicillaris  the  wings  are 
largely  clear,  as  in  genitalis. 

Hylemyia  (Phorbia)  sinuata  (Malloch) 

Hylemyia  sinuata  Malloch,  Psyche,  XXXI  (5)  : 196  (1924). 
— Seguy,  Gen.  Insect.,  Fasc.  205,  p.  114  (1937). 

Michigan:  J',  Midland  County,  V.  18.40  (R.  R.  Dreisbach). 

New  Hampshire:  J',  Hampton,  IV.  11.10  (S.  A.  Shaw). 

New  York:  ,J',  Karner,  IV.27.06.  $,  Hempstead,  Long  Island, 
IV.10.21  (H.  C.  Huckett). 

The  species  sinuata  may  be  distinguished  by  the  dense  whitish 
pruinescence  of  the  thorax,  strongly  receding  parafacial  margin,  and 
by  the  robust  development  of  apical  posterodorsal  bristle  on  hind 
tibia.  In  the  male,  tergum  5 is  sharply  narrowed  ventrad  by  the 
oblique  direction  of  caudal  margin  cephalad. 

Postscript:  Since  submitting  this  paper  for  publication  I have 
had  the  privilege  of  reexamining  the  types  of  Pegomyia  nitidula 
Coquillett,  deposited  in  the  collections  of  the  Academy  of  Natural 
Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  and  have  concluded  that  this  species  also 
belongs  to  Phorbia.  The  specimens  were  taken  at  Beulah,  New 
Mexico,  on  August  17. 


Oct.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  123 


124  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  t^oi.  XLII 


Bull.  B.  E.  S.,  Vol.  XLII  Plate  II 


21 


20 


22 


Oct.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  125 


Explanation  of  Plates. 

Plate  I 

Male  copulatory  appendages,  showing  dorsal  or  caudal  aspect  of 
tergum  9,  and  ventral  aspect  of  sternum  5. 

Figures  1,  7.  P horbia  curvicauda  (ZettevstQdt) . 

Figures  2,  6.  Phorbia  conicans,  new  species. 

Figures  3,  9.  Phorbia  genitalis  (Schnabl). 

Figures  4,  8.  Phorbia  portensis,  new  species. 

Figures  5,  10.  Phorbia  barbicula,  new  species. 

Plate  II 

Male  and  female  copulatory  appendages,  showing  lateral  aspect  of 
tergum  9 in  male  and  of  anal  palpus  in  female. 

Figures  11,  17.  Phorbia  genitalis  (Schnabl). 

Figures  12,  16.  Phorbia  curvicauda  (Zetterstedt). 

Figures  13,  19.  Phorbia  barbicula,  new  species. 

Figures  14,  18.  Phorbia  conicans,  new  species. 

Figures  15,  20.  Phorbia  portensis,  new  species. 

Figure  21.  Phorbia  penicillar is  (Stein). 

Figure  22.  Phorbia  lobata  (Huckett). 


Silpha  Feeding  on  Dead  Bees. — During  years  of  heavy  adult 
honeybee  death  loss  in  Utah,  such  as  1939  and  1943,  large  numbers 
of  dead  bees  often  have  occurred  in  front  of  hives. 

Silpha  ramosa  Say  and  S',  lapponica  Hbst.,  and  larvae  typical  of 
this  genus,  have  on  various  occasions  been  observed  to  be  eating 
out  the  body  contents  of  the  dead  honeybees.  It  has  not  been 
unusual  to  see  bodies  of  dead  bees  “moving,”  either  with  the  Silpha 
in  sight,  or  discovered  when  several  dead  bees  are  moved  at  the 
point  of  disturbance.  Adult  S',  ramosa  were  collected  from  such 
situations  during  1945  on  various  occasions  at  Roy,  Slaterville, 
North  Farmington,  Lehi  and  Pleasant  Grove,  in  Utah.  At  Spring 
City,  with  sometimes  approximately  a quart  of  dead  bees  in  front  of 
individual  hives  of  bees  poisoned  by  calcium  arsenate  dusting, 
Silpha  adults  and  larvae  were  particularly  abundant  and  feeding  on 
body  contents  of  the  dead  bees,  on  June  25,  1945.  Ants  frequently 
were  found  eating  out  the  body  tissues  of  the  dead  bees.  A number 
of  Dermestidae,  Staphylinidae  and  fewer  adult  Nitidulidae  also 
have  been  present  among  the  dead  bees. — G.  F.  Knowlton,  Logan, 
Utah. 


126  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Voi.XLll 


ON  THE  USE  OF  DIETHYLENE  GLYCOL  IN  THE 
PREPARATION  OF  BALSAM  MOUNTS  OF 
THE  MALE  GENITALIA  OF  CERTAIN 
COLEOPTERA. 

By  K.  F.  Chamberlain,  New  York  State  Museum,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

During  the  past  two  years,  in  the  course  of  a revisional  study  of 
the  North  American  species  of  the  genus  Helophorus  (Coleoptera, 
Hydrophilidae),  the  present  writer  has  had  occasion  to  make  a 
great  many  mounts  and  dissections  of  the  male  genitalia  of  the 
various  species  of  this  genus.  Early  in  the  study,  it  became  evident 
that  transparent  balsam  mounts  of  these  structures  would  be  very 
desirable,  but  certain  complications  in  dehydrating  and  clearing  the 
dissections  were  encountered  which,  we  believe,  were  primarily  due 
to  the  fact  that  we  had  previously  used  a 5%  solution  of  ammonia 
for  relaxing  and  cleaning  the  specimens. 

The  male  genitalia  of  Helophorus  are  quite  fragile  and  very 
thinly  chitinized,  and  it  is  believed  that  the  ammonia  removed  some 
of  the  natural  fats  and  oils  so  that  serious  shrinkage  and  distortion 
occurred  when  the  usual  methods  of  dehydration  were  employed. 
It  was  the  effort  to  overcome  this  difficulty  that  led  ultimately  to 
the  use  of  diethylene  glycol  as  a dehydrating  agent,  and  the  choice 
of  this  chemical  proved  to  be  a happy  one.  Not  only  is  diethylene 
glycol  an  efficient  dehydrating  agent,  but  it  also  clears  the  tissues 
so  that  the  dissections  may  be  transferred  directly  into  balsam  with- 
out further  manipulation. 

Some  explanation  of  the  use  of  ammonia  is  perhaps  in  order  at 
this  point.  It  is  a well-known  fact  that  the  various  species  of 
Helophorus  secrete  a peculiarly  stubborn  surface  exudation  in 
which  particles  of  dirt,  mud,  and  other  foreign  substances  become 
embedded,  with  the  result  that  the  more  minute  surface  characters 
are  usually  almost  completely  obscured.  Dr.  David  Sharp  con- 
siders this  condition  at  some  length  in  his  “Studies  in  HelophorinH 
(Ent.  Mo.  Mag.,  LI,  1915,  pp.  116-117)  and  states:  “Specimens 
are  best  cleaned  by  soaking  in  very  hot  water,  then  washing  them 
with  soap  and  afterwards  with  benzine.”  We  have  never  tried  Dr. 
Sharp’s  method,  but  for  some  years  have  used  an  aqueous  solution 
of  ammonia  of  a strength  of  about  5%  for  this  purpose.  Ordinary 
commercial  household  ammonia  averages  about  5 % . 

The  use  of  ammonia  for  the  cleaning  of  certain  Coleoptera  was 
first  brought  to  my  attention  by  my  good  friend  C.  A.  Erost  of 


Oot.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  127 


Framingham,  Mass.,  who,  in  turn,  believes  that  the  method  orig- 
inated with  Roland  Hayward.  At  any  rate,  whatever  its  origin, 
the  present  writer  has  found  that  ammonia  of  this  strength  yields 
excellent  results,  and  is  particularly  valuable  in  cases  where  a 
stubborn  surface  coating  is  involved.  It  has  been  my  custom, 
therefore,  to  soak  specimens  of  Helophorus  in  a 5%  solution  of 
ammonia  for  a period  of  fifteen  to  twenty  minutes,  after  which  the 
surface  coating  may  be  rather  easily  removed,  either  by  means  of 
a camel’s  hair  brush,  or  with  the  point  of  an  insect  pin.  The  am- 
monia softens  and  swells  the  coating  so  that  it  frequently  comes  away 
in  large  flakes  leaving  the  true  surface  of  the  specimens  bright  and 
clean.  No  injurious  effects,  either  to  colors  or  otherwise,  have  been 
observed  as  a result  of  the  use  of  ammonia  in  the  manner  just 
described.  At  the  same  time,  prolonged  soaking  in  ammonia  will 
frequently  cause  pale  colors  to  become  permanently  darkened.  On 
one  occasion,  several  specimens  that  were  normally  of  an  ochraceous 
color,  were  forgotten  and  remained  in  ammonia  over  night.  The 
next  morning  they  had  become  very  dark  piceous  and  subsequent 
efforts  to  restore  the  original  color  were  useless.  Another  possible 
objection  to  the  use  of  ammonia  has  already  been  cited,  namely,  the 
tendency  of  the  male  genitalia  to  shrinkage  and  distortion  when 
dehydrated  in  alcohol  series,  or  by  some  of  the  other  methods 
commonly  used. 

In  the  case  of  dried  specimens,  soaking  in  ammonia  for  twenty 
minutes  usually  results  in  a nearly  complete  relaxation  of  the  speci- 
men, accompanied  by  a certain  amount  of  softening  and  swelling  of 
the  connective  tissues.  This  is  a decided  advantage  in  the  genus 
Helophorus  since  the  primary  separation  of  two  main  divisions  of 
the  genus  depends  upon  an  accurate  count  of  the  number  of  antennal 
segments.  The  counting  of  these  segments  often  proves  to  be 
rather  troublesome,  since  the  antennae  are  usually  closely  appressed 
to  the  under  side  of  the  head,  and  the  individual  joints  are  often 
difficult  to  see.  When  ammonia-treated  specimens  are  examined  in 
a drop  of  the  solution  under  a binocular  microscope,  the  counting  of 
antennal  segments  becomes  relatively  simple.  It  will  be  found  that 
the  antennae  may  be  readily  drawn  away  from  the  head,  and  the 
swelling  effect  of  the  ammonia  causes  the  chitinized  portion  of  each 
segment  to  become  definitely  separated  from  those  adjacent  to  it. 
Likewise,  it  is  a relatively  simple  matter  to  remove  the  male 
genitalia  of  ammonia-relaxed  specimens.  Because  of  these  obvious 
advantages,  we  have  been  reluctant  to  discard  the  use  of  ammonia 
in  favor  of  some  other  cleaning  and  relaxing  agent  and;  for  the 
same  reason,  we  have  sought  to  overcome  the  lesser  disadvantages 
involved  in  its  use. 


128  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLII 


The  male  genitalia  in  Helophorus  are  of  the  usual  trilobed  type, 
flattened,  so  that  all  of  the  characters  of  taxonomic  value  lie  in  one 
plane,’^  and  quite  small,  the  average  length  for  all  of  the  North 
American  species  known  at  present  being  about  0.6  mm.  The 
abdomen  in  this  genus  has  five  visible  ventral  segments,  but  closer 
examination  will  reveal  that  there  is  a sixth  segment  which  is 
normally  concealed  beneath  the  fifth.  The  male  genitalia  are  lo- 
cated between  the  tergite  and  sternite  of  the  sixth  segment  and,  in 
fresh  or  in  perfectly  relaxed  specimens,  are  rather  easily  extracted 
with  a fine  needle  or  the  point  of  a slender  insect  pin.  Because  of 
the  minute  size  of  the  structures,  the  extraction  and  subsequent 
handling  of  the  genitalia  has  been  performed  under  a binocular 
microscope.  The  members  of  this  genus  show  a remarkable  lack  of 
secondary  sexual  characters,  and  the  sexes,  except  for  the  average 
smaller  size  of  the  males,  can  only  be  recognized  with  certainty  by 
actual  extrusion  of  the  genitalia. 

In  the  preparation  of  male  genitalia  for  mounting  in  balsam,  the 
following  method  seems  to  work  equally  well  for  all  specimens 
regardless  of  the  media  in  which  they  may  have  been  collected. 
We  have  used  this  method  for  specimens  that  have  been  collected 
in  alcohol,  in  ethyl  acetate,  and  for  many  other  specimens,  from 
various  sources,  for  which  the  collecting  medium  was  wholly  un- 
known. It  works  equally  well  for  either  dried  or  freshly  collected 
specimens,  whether  they  have  been  cleaned  and  relaxed  in  am- 
monia or  not.  In  short,  we  believe  that  it  will  prove  satisfactory 
regardless  of  preliminary  technique,  so  that  any  one  may  use  it 
and  still  adhere  to  his  favorite  methods  of  collection  and  prepara- 
tion. Inasmuch  as  our  own  method  involves  the  use  of  ammonia  as 
described  above,  that  is  the  method  that  will  be  described  herewith. 

The  student  should  provide  himself  with  a dozen  pairs  of  watch 
glasses,  each  pair  numbered  consecutively ; also  a dozen  glass  micro- 
scope slides  numbered  to  correspond  with  the  paired  watch  glasses. 
After  the  specimens  have  been  cleaned  and  relaxed  in  ammonia, 
a single  specimen  is  removed  from  the  solution,  and  placed  ventral 
side  up  under  a binocular  microscope.  A drop  of  ammonia  solution 
is  immediately  added  so  that  the  specimen  is  completely  immersed. 
The  number  of  antennal  joints  is  first  counted  and  recorded  on  a 
temporary  penciled  pin-label.  Next,  the  genitalia  are  extruded,  and 
if  the  specimen  proves  to  be  a female,  it  is  placed  in  alcohol  in  one 
of  the  watch  glasses  and  covered  with  another  glass  which  contains 

^ It  is  obvious  that  balsam  mounts  can  only  be  used  for  genera  in 
which  the  genitalia  lie  in  the  same  plane. 


Oct.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  129 


the  penciled  label,  locality  labels,  and  other  data  that  may  pertain  to 
that  particular  specimen.  Should  the  specimen  prove  to  be  a male, 
the  same  procedure  is  followed  with  regard  to  the  antennae,  next 
the  genitalia  are  extracted  and  allowed  to  remain  in  ammonia 
under  the  microscope,  while  the  specimen  itself  is  placed  in  alcohol 
exactly  as  in  the  case  of  the  female. 

Returning  now  to  the  genitalia,  the  ventral  flap  and  enveloping 
tissues  are  teased  away  with  a pair  of  fine  needles,  and  the  dis- 
section is  then  transferred  to  a drop  of  ammonia  placed  on  one  of 
the  glass  microscope  slides.  This  slide  bears  the  same  number  as 
the  watch  glass  in  which  the  male  specimen  was  placed.  With 
the  container  of  diethylene  glycol  ready  at  hand,  draw  off  as  much  of 
the  ammonia  as  possible  with  a strip  of  lintless  blotting  paper  that 
has  been  cut  to  a diagonal  point  at  the  tip.  As  soon  as  most  of  the 
ammonia  is  drawn  off,  add  a drop  of  diethylene  glycol  immediately, 
and  with  the  point  of  a needle  make  certain  that  the  dissection  is 
completely  immersed  and  free  of  air  bubbles.  Slide  and  dissection 
may  now  be  set  aside  for  dehydration  and  clearing.  It  is  important 
to  keep  the  dissection  immersed  in  ammonia  right  up  to  the  moment 
that  the  glycol  is  applied. 

Additional  specimens  may  be  carried  along  in  the  same  way  until 
all  of  the  numbered  watch  glasses  contain  specimens.  Each  male, 
of  course,  is  kept  in  its  own  numbered  glass  so  that  it  may  be  re- 
associated with  the  genitalia  on  the  slide  of  corresponding  number. 
Females  bearing  the  same  collecting  data  may  be  placed  together  in 
the  same  watch  glass.  Each  student  can  devise  his  own  methods  for 
keeping  these  important  items  straight.  By  the  time  a dozen 
specimens  have  been  completed.  No.  1 dissection  should  be  ready 
for  mounting  in  balsam. 

We  have  found  that  cellulose  acetate  sheeting^  is  the  most  satis- 
factory material  for  mounting  the  dissections.  For  the  mount  itself, 
we  use  acetate  sheeting  0.015  inch  thick  cut  into  strips  3/16  inch 
wide.  The  cover  slips  are  made  from  0.010-inch  sheeting  cut  into 
1/8-inch  squares.  The  dissection  is  transferred  from  glycol  directly 
to  the  base  slip  and  the  excess  of  glycol  drained  off  by  means  of  a 
pointed  strip  of  blotting  paper.  Balsam  is  added  immediately  and 
the  cover  slip  placed  in  position.  Meanwhile,  the  specimens  have 
been  removed  from  the  alcohol  and  mounted  upon  paper  points  in 
the  usual  manner.  The  acetate  mounts  are  trimmed  to  suitable  size 
and  pinned  directly  beneath  the  specimen  from  which  each  dissec- 
tion was  made.  The  advantages  of  this  method  lie  in  the  fact 

^ Cellulose  acetate  sheeting  should  now  be  obtainable  in  various 
thicknesses  from  the  Eastman  Kodak  Company,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 


130  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLII 


that  the  mount  takes  up  no  more  room  than  the  average  locality 
label  and  the  genitalia  are  available  for  examination  and  study  at 
all  times. 

The  use  of  diethylene  glycol,  as  a clearing  and  dehydrating  agent 
in  the  preparation  of  insect  tissues  for  mounting  in  balsam,  appears 
to  be  new.  The  advantages  attending  its  use  would  seem  to  be 
obvious.  Clearing  and  dehydrating  is  accomplished  in  a single 
operation  and  the  dissections  may  be  transferred  directly  to  balsam 
without  further  treatment.  No  subsequent  deterioration  of  the 
mount  has  been  observed  when  a small  quantity  of  glycol  is  carried 
into  the  balsam  with  the  dissection.  Mounts  that  were  made  in 
this  manner  nearly  two  years  ago  are  still  in  first-class  condition. 
As  a check,  several  mounts  were  made  in  which  the  excess  of 
glycol  was  not  drained  from  the  dissection.  These  mounts,  at  the 
end  of  a year,  show  a slight  iridescence  in  the  balsam  which,  at  the 
present  time,  does  not  greatly  impair  the  transparency  of  the  mount. 

Diethylene  glycol  (CH^OH  • CH2  * O • CH2  • CH20H)^  is  nearly 
colorless  and  odorless,  with  a specific  gravity  of  1.1318  at  0 degrees 
centigrade.  It  is  very  hygroscopic  and  will  absorb  more  than  its 
own  weight  of  water  at  ordinary  room  temperatures. 


Pygmy  Grasshopper  Notes. — Recently  Dr.  A.  B.  Gurney  iden- 
tified a number  of  pygmy  locusts  which  included  the  following 
records : 

Tettix  acadicus  (Sc.).  Vernal,  Utah,  June  17,  1940  (B.  A. 
Haws). 

T.  suhulatus  (L.).  In  Utah  at  Bear  River  City,  May  5,  1939; 
Cedar  City,  June  10,  1938;  Soldier  Summit,  May  16,  1939;  Vernal, 
April  27,  1939;  and  Woodruff,  June  11,  1939,  by  Knowlton  and  F. 
C.  Harmston.  Other  collections  included  Lewiston  (K.  and  D.  E. 
Hardy),  Logan  (D.  E.  Hardy),  Logan  Canyon  (R.  E.  Nye), 
Mantua  (K.  and  D.  L.  Bischoff),  and  Kanab  (K.  and  W.  E.  Peay). 

Paratettix  cucullatus  extensus  Morse.  Riverdale,  July  10,  1937, 
and  Monticello,  Sept.  5,  1937  (Knowlton)  ; Moab  and  Roosevelt  in 
June  (K.  and  Harmston)  ; Ogden,  July  6,  (W.  D.  Fronk)  ; Logan, 
August  5,  1903,  all  in  Utah. — G.  F.  Knowlton,  Utah  State 
Agricultural  College,  Logan. 

^ I am  indebted  to  the  Carbide  and  Carbon  Chemicals  Corporation 
for  information  regarding  the  chemical  and  physical  properties  of 
diethylene  glycol. 


Oct.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  131 


NEW  OR  INSUFFICIENTLY-KNOWN  CRANE-FLIES 
FROM  THE  NEARCTIC  REGION  (DIPTERA, 
TIPULIDAE).  PART  VIII." 

By  Charles  P.  Alexander,  Amherst,  Mass. 

The  preceding  part  under  this  title  was  published  in  1941  (Bull. 
Brooklyn  Ent.  Soc.,  36:  12-17).  Most  of  the  species  described 
herewith  were  taken  in  California  by  the  writer,  one  further  species 
of  unusual  interest  being  from  Oregon  where  it  was  taken  by  my 
good  friend  Mr.  Kenneth  M.  Fender.  The  types  of  all  the  novelties 
are  preserved  in  my  personal  collection  of  these  flies. 

Dicranoptycha  laevis  n.  sp. 

Size  small  (wing,  male,  8 mm.  or  less)  ; general  coloration 
of  thorax  light  gray,  the  praescutum  with  four  very  poorly  in- 
dicated darker  gray  stripes ; wings  with  a weak  grayish  tinge ; 
costal  fringe  short ; abdomen  pale  brownish  gray,  with  a black 
subterminal  ring;  male  hypopygium  with  the  outer  dististyle 
relatively  slender,  entirely  smooth;  phallosome  produced  into 
two  flattened  reniform  plates  that  lie  side  by  side,  produced 
beyond  the  other  phallosomic  elements. 

Male. — Length  about  7-8  mm. ; wing  7-8  mm. 

Female. — Length  about  9 mm. ; wing  9 mm. 

Rostrum  gray ; palpi  black.  Antennae  with  the  scape 
darkened,  heavily  pruinose ; pedicel  yellow ; flagellum  chiefly 
brownish  black,  the  proximal  two  or  three  segments  paler. 
Head  clear  light  gray. 

Thorax  almost  entirely  light  gray,  the  praescutum  with  four 
very  poorly  indicated  darker  gray  stripes.  Pleura  a little  paler 
gray,  appearing  yellow  with  a relatively  light  gray  bloom. 
Halteres  with  the  stem  pale,  knob  infuscated.  Legs  with  the 
coxae  and  trochanters  pale  yellow ; femora  obscure  yellow,  the 
tips  narrowly  and  inconspicuously  darkened;  tibiae  and  tarsi 
yellow,  the  outer  tarsal  segments  brownish  black.  Wings  with 
a weak  grayish  tinge,  the  prearcular  field  narrowly  pale ; veins 
pale  brown.  Costal  fringe  short.  Venation:  Rs  short,  only 
a little  longer  than  the  basal  section  of  R5  and  approximately 
two-thirds  cell  1st  M2;  m-cu  from  about  one-half  to  nearly  its 
own  length  beyond  the  fork  of  M. 

^ Contribution  from  the  Entomological  Laboratory,  University  of 
Massachusetts. 


132  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLII 


Abdomen  pale  brownish  gray,  with  a conspicuous  black  sub- 
terminal ring ; hypopygium  obscure  yellow.  Male  hypopygium 
with  the  outer  dististyle  relatively  slender,  blackened  but 
smooth,  lacking  the  conspicuous  denticles  of  other  regional  spe- 
cies. Inner  dististyle  slightly  broadest  at  the  very  obtuse  tip. 
Lateral  tergal  arms  pale,  expanded  into  broad  obtuse  blades. 
Phallosome  massive,  with  two  flattened  reniform  plates  that 
project  beyond  the  other  elements. 

Habitat:  California  (San  Diego  County). 

Holotype:  Palomar  Mountain,  altitude  4700  feet,  July  12,  1946 

(C.  P.  Alexander) . Allotopotype:  Paratopotypes:  3 

The  present  fly  is  readily  told  from  other  regional  species  by 
the  structure  of  the  male  hypopygium,  particularly  the  smooth  outer 
dististyles  and  the  phallosome.  It  is  very  different  from  certain 
Eastern  Nearctic  species,  as  Dicranoptycha  minima  Alexander  and 
D.  pallida  Alexander  that  likewise  have  the  outer  style  smooth,  at 
least  on  its  outer  face. 

Pedicia  (Tricyphona)  actaeon  n.  sp. 

Allied  to  macrophallus;  antennae  17-segmented ; medio- 
tergite  dark  brown  with  a broad  central  gray  area;  pleura 
variegated  with  brown ; femora  yellow,  the  tips  conspicuously 
brownish  black ; wings  pale  yellow,  sparsely  but  conspicuously 
patterned  with  dark  brown ; male  hypopygium  with  the  caudal 
border  of  tergite  with  a deep  U-shaped  notch;  interbase  nar- 
rowly obtuse  at  apex,  with  a conspicuous  subapical  flange ; no 
spines  on  mesal  face  of  basistyle;  aedeagus  elongate,  with  a 
conspicuous  lobe  beyond  the  base. 

Male, — Length  about  17  mm.;  wing  15.5  mm. 

Rostrum  and  palpi  black.  Antennae  17-segmented ; scape 
black,  pedicel  yellow,  basal  flagellar  segments  obscure  yellow, 
the  outer  ones  passing  into  brown ; flagellar  segments  cylindri- 
cal, the  outer  ones  more  elongate.  Head  dark  gray;  tubercle 
on  anterior  vertex  conspicuous. 

Pronotum  above  fulvous,  more  darkened  medially,  especially 
on  the  scutellum ; pretergites  whitened.  Mesonotal  praescutum 
pale  yellow  with  three  fulvous  stripes,  the  cephalic  end  of  the 
median  one  narrowly  darker;  scutellum  dark  brown  in  front, 
the  posterior  half  gray,  the  lateral  callosities  paling  to  yellow ; 
scutellum  gray,  parascutella  brown  and  yellow;  mediotergite 
dark  brown,  the  broad  central  area  light  gray,  pleurotergite 
yellow.  Propleura  light  yellow ; mesepisternum  infuscated. 


Oct.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  133 


more  heavily  so  on  the  sternopleurite ; pteropleurite  less  evi- 
dently darkened.  Halteres  yellow,  the  knobs  weakly  darkened. 
Legs  with  the  fore  coxae  clear  light  yellow,  the  remaining  pairs 
slightly  infuscated,  especially  the  cephalic  face  of  the  middle 
pair ; trochanters  yellow ; femora  yellow,  the  tips  conspicuously 
brownish  black;  tibiae  yellow,  the  tips  more  narrowly  dark- 
ened ; tarsi  yellow,  the  terminal  segments  brownish  black. 
Wings  with  the  ground  pale  yellow,  sparsely  but  conspicuously 
patterned  with  dark  brown ; cells  C and  Sc  medium  brown,  the 
proximal  half  of  Sc  darker ; dark  brown  spots  at  origin  of  Rs, 
along  cord,  including  the  tip  of  R2  and  m;  a yellow  suf- 
fusion behind  vein  Cu;  veins  brown.  Venation:  R2  + 3 + 4:  sub- 
equal to  or  longer  than  r-m;  R1+2  about  twice  R2;  r-m  just 
beyond  the  fork  of  Rs,  the  basal  section  of  R5  thus  very  short ; 
cell  1st  M2  elongate,  subequal  to  cell  Mj_;  m connecting  veins 
M2  and  Mz;  m-cu  from  one-third  to  one-fourth  its  length 
beyond  the  fork  of  M. 

Abdomen  elongate ; first  tergite  dark  brownish  gray ; suc- 
ceeding tergites  yellow,  the  broad  margins  dark  brown,  more  or 
less  pruinose ; sternites  more  uniformly  yellow ; sixth  and  suc- 
ceeding segments,  including  the  hypopygium,  dark  brown  to 
brownish  black.  Male  hypopygium  generally  as  in  macro- 
phallus but  dif¥ering  in  important  details.  Ninth  tergite  nar- 
rowed outwardly,  the  caudal  border  with  a deep  U-shaped 
' notch,  the  narrower  lateral  lobes  truncated.  Basistyle  with 
the  interbase  narrowly  obtuse  at  tip,  with  a conspicuous  sub- 
apical  flange ; no  spines  on  mesal  face  of  style  above  the  origin 
of  the  interbase.  Conformation  of  the  apical  lobe  of  basistyle 
and  the  dististyle  distinctive  in  the  two  species.  Aedeagus 
elongate,  as  in  macrophallus,  with  a conspicuous  ventral  lobe 
or  flange  beyond  the  base. 

Habitat:  California  (Humboldt  County). 

Holotype:  J',  Prairie  Creek  State  Park,  in  coastal  redwood  forest, 
July  31,  1946  (C.  P.  Alexander). 

Although  it  is  very  different  in  its  general  appearance  from 
Pedicia  (Tricyphona)  macrophallus  Alexander,  the  structure  of 
the  male  hypopygium  indicates  that  the  two  flies  are  allied.  Both 
have  the  elongate  aedeagus  and  the  dististyle  of  characteristic  form. 
The  present  fly  differs  in  the  coloration  of  the  body  and  wings  and 
in  important  details  of  the  hypopygium,  particularly  the  tergite  and 
interbase. 


134  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Voi.XLIl 


Dicranota  (Rhaphidolabis)  nuptialis  n.  sp. 

Size  small  (wing,  female,  5.5  mm.)  ; general  coloration  dark 
brown,  the  praescutum  unpatterned ; legs  black ; wings  with  a 
strong  blackish  tinge,  the  stigma  only  a little  darker  than  the 
ground;  R2  + 3 + 4.  and  r-m  subequal  in  length. 

Female. — Length  about  5 mm. ; wing  5.5  mm. 

Rostrum  and  palpi  brownish  black.  Antennae  black  through- 
out ; flagellar  segments  oval  to  long-oval.  Head  brown. 

Thoracic  notum  almost  uniformly  dark  brown,  the  praescu- 
tum unpatterned ; lateral  praescutal  border  and  the  postnotum 
slightly  more  pruinose.  Pleura  dark  brown,  sparsely  pruinose. 
Halteres  with  stem  pale,  knob  dark  brown.  Legs  with  the 
coxae  brown,  paling  to  yellow  at  tips ; trochanters  obscure  yel- 
low; remainder  of  legs  black.  Wings  with  a strong  blackish 
tinge,  the  stigma  only  a little  darker  than  the  ground;  veins 
brown.  Venation:  Rs  relatively  short,  gently  arcuated;  i^i+2 
shorter  than  R2,  the  latter  transverse ; R2  + 3+4  and  r-m  subequal 
in  length ; m-cu  nearly  its  own  length  beyond  the  fork  of  M. 

Abdomen  brownish  black,  the  cerci  brown,  paling  to  yellow 
at  tips. 

Habitat:  California  (Yosemite  National  Park). 

Holotype:  5,  Bridalveil  Creek,  above  the  Falls,  altitude  7075 
feet,  July  22,  1946  (C.  P.  Alexander) . 

A very  distinct  species,  readily  recognized  by  the  unpatterned 
praescutum  and  the  strongly  darkened  wings.  The  most  similar 
species  include  Dicranota  {Rhaphidolabis)  stigma  Alexander  and 
D.  {R.)  vanduzeei  A\tx.2Xidtr. 

Tasiocera  (Dasymolophilus)  squiresi  n.  sp. 

Size  medium  (wing,  male,  3.3  mm.)  ; general  coloration  of 
body  black;  wings  with  a strong  dusky  tinge;  macrotrichia  of 
wing  cells  relatively  numerous;  male  hypopygium  with  the 
dististyle  terminal  in  position,  the  base  broad,  the  inner  angle 
abruptly  narrowed  into  a long  curved  spine,  the  corresponding 
outer  angle  bearing  a small  fingerlike  lobe  that  is  tipped  with 
small  spiculose  points ; aedeagus  terminating  in  a long  slender 
spine ; gonapophyses  paired,  symmetrical,  each  a blackened  rod, 
the  outer  margin  with  a few  appressed  teeth. 

Length  about  2.5  mm. ; wing  3.3  mm. 

Rostrum,  palpi  and  antennae  uniformly  black,  the  last  short. 
Head  black. 

Thorax  uniformly  black.  Halteres  blackened,  the  base  of 


Oct.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  135 


stem  abruptly  pale.  Legs  with  the  coxae  testaceous  yellow ; 
trochanters  yellow ; remainder  of  legs  brownish  yellow,  clothed 
with  long  dark  colored  setae;  pretarsal  armature  complex,  as 
in  the  genus.  Wings  with  a strong  dusky  tinge,  even  darker 
along  the  costal  border ; pale  streaks  along  vein  M and  behind 
the  outer  half  of  1st  A;  veins  pale  brown.  Macrotrichia  of  cells 
relatively  numerous  and  well-distributed,  especially  in  the  cen- 
ters of  the  cells,  especially  numerous  in  the  outer  ends  of  cells 
R and  M.  Venation:  J?2  + 3 perpendicular  at  end  of  Rs,  R2  in 
direct  transverse  alignment  with  i?2  + s or  virtually  so;  a long- 
backward  spur  at  point  of  forking  of  R2  + Z,  jutting  into  cell  R^; 
R4  + 5 subequal  in  length  to  basal  section  of  R5,  in  direct  longi- 
tudinal alignment  with  Rs  and  R4;  cell  M2  open  by  the  atrophy 
of  m;  m-cu  about  one-third  to  one-fifth  its  length  beyond  the 
fork  of  M;  cell  2nd  A relatively  broad. 

Abdomen,  including  hypopygium,  black.  Male  hypopygium 
with  the  dististyle  terminal  in  position,  of  distinctive  shape ; 
basal  portion  broad,  slightly  widened  outwardly,  the  inner  angle 
abruptly  narrowed  into  a long  curved  spine ; outer  angle  at 
point  of  narrowing  with  a small  fingerlike  lobe  that  is  tipped 
with  small  blackened  spiculose  points.  Aedeagus  with  the  base 
dilated,  the  outer  half  a strongly  curved  acute  spine.  Gona- 
pophyses  paired,  each  a small  blackened  curved  rod  that  nar- 
rows to  the  acute  tip,  the  outer  margin  with  a few  appressed 
teeth. 

Habitat:  Oregon  (Yamhill  County). 

Holotype:  ,J',  Peavine  Ridge,  Station  3,  May  16,  1946  {K.  M. 
Fender).  Paratopotypes:  Stations  3,  3 A,  May  15-16,  1946;  May 
20-30,  1947  (K.  M.  Fender). 

I take  great  pleasure  in  naming  this  interesting  fly  for  Mr.  Vernon 
Squires,  of  McMinnville,  Oregon,  owner  of  Station  3 on  Peavine 
Ridge,  to  whom  Mr.  Fender  and  others  are  very  indebted  for  much 
appreciated  co-operation  in  Fender’s  detailed  survey  of  the  Insect 
Fauna  of  Peavine  Ridge,  in  the  Oregon  Coast  Range.  The  fly  is 
entirely  different  from  the  three  other  Nearctic  species  so  far  made 
known,  including  the  western  Nearctic  Tasiocera  (Dasymolophilus) 
subnuda  (Alexander).  The  latter  has  all  details  of  the  male 
hypopygium  quite  distinct,  as  described  in  the  original  description 
(Pan-Pacific  Entomologist,  3:  77;  1926). 


136  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Voi.XLlI 


THE  GENUS  FLEXAMIA  (HOMOPTERA, 
CICADELLIDAE)  IN  MEXICO. 

By  Dwight  M.  DeLong  and  Ruth  V.  Hershberger, 

Ohio  State  University,  Columbus,  Ohio. 

The  Genus  Flexamia  was  erected  by  DeLong^  in  1926  to  include 
those  species  of  the  Deltocephaloid  group  which  have  strongly  re- 
flexed veins  on  the  apical  portion  of  the  costal  margin  of  the  first 
pair  of  wings.  Deltocephalus  reflexus  O.  and  B.  was  cited  as  the 
genotype.  Some  27  species  have  been  described  for  the  United 
States  and  are  recognized  as  distinct.  No  previous  records  have 
been  published  for  Mexican  species,  three  of  which  are  treated  at 
this  time,  all  new.  From  field  collecting  in  many  states  in  Mexico 
it  is  apparent  that  the  species  of  this  genus  are  not  as  common  nor 
abundant  as  they  are  in  the  United  States.  They  occur  upon  grasses 
of  various  types,  more  especially  prairie  grasses,  and  are  common  in 
grazing  areas. 

The  three  species  seem  to  be  distributed  in  different  areas  as  re- 
gards ecological  factors.  F.  mexicana,  a large  and  conspicuous 
species,  has  been  taken  in  abundance  at  Iguala,  Gro.,  on  grasses  of 
the  semi-desert  at  an  elevation  of  2300  feet.  F.  zamora,  a medium 
sized  species,  was  taken  from  grasses  on  the  high  plateau  at  Zamora, 
Mich.,  at  an  elevation  of  5600  feet.  F.  minima,  a small  species  was 
collected  in  the  low  hot  country  at  Valles,  S.  L.  P.,  from  grasses  in 
the  tropical  area  at  an  elevation  of  300  feet. 

Flexamia  mexicana  n.  sp. 

A large  species,  in  general  appearance  somewhat  resembling 
alhidus  but  much  longer  and  with  distinct  genitalia.  Length 
5.5-6  mm. 

Vertex  flat,  strongly  produced  and  bluntly  pointed  at  the 
apex  about  two  thirds  as  wide  between  eyes  at  base  as  median 
length.  The  vertex  is  one  third  longer  than  the  pronotum. 

Color:  Vertex  creamy  white  with  a conspicuous  dark  mar- 
ginal spot  either  side  of  apex.  There  is  a transverse  dark  band 
not  extending  to  the  margin  on  anterior  portion,  about  one 
fourth  the  distance  from  apex  to  base.  There  are  six  dark 
longitudinal  bands  extending  across  pronotum.  The  central 
pair  arise  on  the  posterior  portion  of  the  vertex  and  extend 
across  the  scutellum.  The  elytra  are  milky  white  subhyaline 
and  the  veins  are  margined  with  dark  brown.  The  broadest 
marks  are  on  the  disc.  The  apical  and  costal  cells  are  tinted 
with  pale  brown. 


Oct.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  137 


Genitalia:  Female  last  ventral  segment  broadened  apically. 
The  lateral  margins  strongly  produced  to  form  long  narrow 
pointed  lateral  angles  between  which  the  posterior  margin  is 
broadly,  deeply  excavated  and  forms  a slightly  produced  lobe 
either  side  of  middle.  Male  plates  long  and  broad,  rather 
broadly  rounded  on  apices.  Styles  rather  short,  gradually 
narrowed  to  two-thirds  their  length  where  they  are  abruptly 
narrowed  to  form  finger-like  apices  which  are  pointed  on  outer 
margin  of  apex.  The  aedeagus  is  composed  of  a narrow  basal 
process  which  curves  ventrally  beneath  a broad  dorsal  process. 
The  dorsal  portion  curves  ventrally  near  base  then  extends 
caudally,  is  broadened,  flattened  and  is  impressed  medially  on 
the  ventral  side.  The  pygofers  are  produced  laterally  to  form 
a process  each  side  which  bears  a long  curved,  broadened, 
spear-like  spine  which  is  margined  with  coarse  hairs. 

Holotype  male,  allotype  female  and  male  and  female  paratypes 
collected  at  Iguala,  Guerrero,  Mexico,  November  11,  1939  and 
October  25,  1941  by  C.  C.  Plummer,  E.  E.  Good  and  D.  M. 
DeLong.  Male  paratype  was  collected  at  Atencinga,  Puebla,  1930 
(M.  F.  1703)  by  Dr.  Dampf. 

Flexamia  zamora  n.  sp. 

Resembling  reflexa  in  general  appearance  but  with  distinct 
genitalia.  Length  3.5-4  mm. 

Vertex  produced  and  bluntly  pointed  three  fourths  as  wide 
between  eyes  at  base  as  median  length. 

Color:  Vertex  cream  with  a dark  circular  spot  around  apex 
and  a pale  brown  transverse  dash  on  either  side  at  about  the 
middle.  Pronotum  cream  with  scattered  longitudinal  brownish 
markings.  Elytra  cream  subhyaline,  a dark  brown  spot  on 
disc,  the  costal  veinlets  heavily  margined  with  dark  brown. 
The  veins  on  the  posterior  portion  narrowly  brown  margined. 
Face  black  above,  pale  brown  on  lower  portion. 

Genitalia:  Female  last  ventral  segment  with  posterior  mar- 
gin broadly  shallowly  emarginate  with  a set  of  four  produced 
black  teeth  at  middle.  Each  side  of  a median  notch  there  is  a 
narrow  produced  rounded  lobe  separated  from  a pointed 
produced  tooth  by  a narrow  V-shaped  notch.  Male  plates 
with  outer  margins  straight  to  about  two  thirds  their  length 
where  they  are  rapidly  narrowed  by  a sloping  margin  to  blunt 
apices  which  are  separated  by  a notch  formed  by  the  inner 
apical  concave  margins.  Styles  decidedly  narrowed  on  apical 


138  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLII 


half,  the  apices  are  long,  narrow,  finger-like  and  directed  out- 
wardly. The  aedeagus  is  rather  short,  slender,  tapered  to  a 
pointed  attenuated  apex  and  directed  caudally  and  dorsally. 
There  is  a basal  portion  which  extends  dorsally  and  is  en- 
larged and  bears  a horizonal  portion  on  its  dorsal  margin. 

Holotype  male,  allotype  female  and  male  and  female  paratypes 
collected  at  Zamora,  Michoacan,  Mexico,  October  2,  1941  by 
Plummer,  Good,  Caldwell  and  DeLong. 

Flexamia  minima  n.  sp. 

Resembling  zamora  in  general  appearance  but  smaller  and  with 
different  male  styles.  Length,  male  3 mm. 

Vertex  produced  and  bluntly  angled  about  one  fourth  longer 
at  middle  than  basal  width  between  the  eyes. 

Color:  Vertex  cream  with  a dark  brown  circular  mark  en- 
closing apex.  Pronotum  with  a short  longitudinal  dark  brown 
band  behind  each  eye  near  lateral  margin.  Scutellum  un- 
marked. Elytra  creamy  white  with  two  small  brown  marks 
near  base,  just  back  of  claval  suture.  A dark  brown  spot  on 
disc  and  costal  veinlets  conspicuously  brown  margined.  A dark 
brown  spot  on  first  apical  cell.  Upper  portion  of  face  dark 
brown  with  pale  arcs.  Lower  portion  of  face  yellowish. 

Genitalia:  Male  plates  rather  short,  strongly  sloping  from 
base  and  curved  convexly  then  slightly  concavely  to  form  blunt 
pointed  apices  which  are  separated  by  a V-shaped  notch  formed 
by  the  oblique  slope  of  the  inner  apical  portion.  The  styles  are 
elongate  narrowed  on  apical  half,  curved  outwardly  at  apex 
and  bluntly  pointed.  The  aedeagus  in  lateral  view  is  short, 
broadened  at  base  with  a dorsally  produced  process  and  nar- 
rowed on  ventral  portion  to  form  a rather  long,  curved  slender 
process  which  curves  dorsally  on  apical  half.  The  pygofer  is 
produced  into  a divergent  wing-like  structure  on  each  side  at 
apex. 

Holotype  male  collected  at  Valles,  S.  L.  P.,  Mexico,  December  1, 
1938  by  J.  S.  Caldwell. 


Explanation  of  Plate  III 

Dorsal  view  of  heads ; ventral  view  of  last  ventral  female  segment 
(marked  J)  ; and  ventral  and  lateral  views  of  male  genitalia  of 
species  as  labeled. 


Oct.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  139 


Bull.  B.  E.  S.,  Vol.  XLII 


Plate  III 


140  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLIl 


NOTES  ON  THREE  BUPRESTIDAE. 

By  Jacques  R.  Helper,  Mendocino,  California. 

Melanophila  obtusa  Horn,  1882,  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc.,  10,  p.  106. 

This  little-known  species  was  based  upon  a single  specimen  from 
Georgia,  now  conserved  in  the  Philadelphia  Academy  of  Sciences. 
Recently  I acquired  a specimen  of  this  species.  It  agrees  with  the 
description  of  M.  obtusa  very  well  in  all  respects  excepting  that  my 
specimen  is  slightly  larger,  5.75  mm.  as  compared  to  the  5.5  mm. 
of  the  type.  The  data  on  this  specimen  is : “Bear  Mtn.,  N.  Y.,  VII, 
5,  1925,  F.  M.  Schott.”  This  extends  the  known  range  of  this 
species  more  than  750  miles  Northeast  from  the  type  locality. 

In  Sloop’s  paper  on  Melanophila,  1937,  Univ.  Calif.  Pub.  Ent.  7, 
p.  12,  a copy  of  Horn’s  original  description  is  given  wherein  is 
contained  a confusing  misquotation  as  follows:  “Length  0.22  inch, 
width  5.5  mm.”  Of  course  the  word  “width”  is  Sloop’s  and  Horn 
was  giving  the  length  only,  in  two  different  systems  of  linear 
measure,  not  mentioning  the  width  at  all.  The  width  of  my  speci- 
men is  2.1  mm. 

Buprestis  catoxantha  Gory 

Examination  by  the  writer  of  the  type  of  Buprestis  elongata 
Casey,^  preserved  in  the  U.  S.  Natl.  Museum,  has  revealed  that  B. 
elongata  Casey  is  in  every  way  a typical  specimen  of  B.  catoxantha 
Gory,  a well-known  Mexican  species.  Thus  the  synonymy  as  given 
by  Nicolay  and  Weiss^  and  Heifer,^  placing  B,  elongata  as  a 
synonym  of  B.  rufipes  Oliver,  is  incorrect.  The  type  specimen  of 
B.  elongata  is  labeled  “N.  Y.”  Casey  doubted  the  authenticity  of 
this  locality  and  wrote:  “more  probably  from  Colorado.”  Now  it 
appears  that  he  was  guessing  too  far  North  even  at  that  as  there 
are,  to  my  knowledge,  no  records  of  B.  catoxantha  from  anywhere 
in  the  U.  S. 

Chrysobothris  subopaca  Schaeffer,  1904,  N.  Y.  Ent.  Soc.  Jour.,  12: 
208. 

The  type  of  this  species  has  been  lost  for  many  years.  It  is  in  my 
possession  having  turned  up  in  the  F.  M.  Schott  collection  of 
Buprestidae  which  I acquired.  There  are  four  labels:  “Type  J',” 


^ 1909,  Proc.  Wash.  Acad.  Sc.,  11 : 105-106. 
2 1918,  Journ.  N.  Y.  Ent.  Soc.,  26:  99. 

2 1941,  Ent.  Am.,  21,  3:  173. 


Oct.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  141 


‘‘Tulare  Co.,  Cal.,”  “Chrysohothris  suhopaca  type  Schffr.,”  and 
''subopaca  Schffr.”  This  spelling  of  the  specific  name  verifies  the 
observation  of  Mr.  W.  S.  Fisher  in  his  revision  of  N.  A.  Chryso- 
bothris^  that  Schaeffer’s  original  spelling,  “subapaca,”  was  probably 
a typographical  error. 


A Breeding  Focus  o£  Dermacentor  variabilis  (Say),  the 
American  Dog  Tick,  in  New  Hampshire. — When  I wrote  my 
account  of  the  ticks  of  the  northeastern  United  States  (1946, 
Entomologica  Americana,  XXV),  I was  unable  to  find  a published 
record  of  the  occurrence  of  D.  variabilis  in  New  Hampshire.  I also 
failed  to  obtain  specimens  collected  there,  although  I had  heard  it 
stated  that  “spotted  ticks”  had  occasionally  been  taken  from  dogs 
by  summer  residents.  Whether  or  not  these  might  have  been 
casual  introductions  from  farther  south,  on  the  dogs  themselves,  it 
was,  of  course,  impossible  to  trace.  I have  now,  however,  obtained 
conclusive  evidence  that  there  is  a breeding  focus  of  D.  variabilis 
in  at  least  one  section  of  the  state.  While  spending  most  of  the 
summer  of  1947  at  Center  Ossipee,  my  former  colleague  Dr.  David 
Weinman  kept  a sharp  lookout  for  ticks.  During  July  he  obtained 
several  females  and  males  of  Dermacentor  variabilis  from  dogs  and 
from  people.  There  cannot  be  the  slightest  doubt  that  they  were 
picked  up  in  the  surrounding  woods  and  had  been  produced  by 
local  larvae  and  nymphs.  Several  specimens  were  removed  from 
Dr.  Weinman’s  dog,  which  had  been  taken  directly  from  Boston 
to  Ossipee  and  could  not  have  picked  up  any  ticks  in  the  woods  be- 
fore reaching  New  Hampshire.  From  this  evidence  D.  variabilis 
appears  to  be  slowly  extending  its  breeding  territory  northward. 
It  would  be  well  worth  investigating  what  particular  ecological  con- 
ditions favor  its  breeding  in  the  Ossipee  area.  It  might  also  be 
advisable  to  stamp  out  this  breeding  focus  in  its  early  stages,  so 
that  the  tick  will  not  spread  to  other  favorable  sites  in  the  state, 
tain  spotted  fever  in  certain  sections  of  Cape  Cod  and  Long  Island 
show  that  the  problem  of  the  spread  and  survival  of  this  tick  is  not 
purely  academic. — ^J.  Bequaert,  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology, 
The  well-known  relations  between  D.  variabilis  and  Rocky  Moun- 
Cambridge,  Mass. 


^ 1942,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Misc.  Pub.  470  : 141. 


142  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLII 


Snowy  Tree  Cricket  Eats  Pea  Aphids. — During  July  of  1939 

an  adult  female  Oecanthus  niveus  (De  Geer)  was  observed  to  be 
feeding  on  a pea  aphid,  Macrosiphum  pisi  (Kalt.)  in  an  aphid  in- 
fested pea  field  near  Logan,  Utah.  This  snowy  tree  cricket  was 
collected  and  brought  into  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Station 
laboratory,  where  it  was  caged  with  fourth-instar  pea  aphids. 
Almost  immediately  the  niveus  fed  on  an  aphid,  manipulating  it 
with  its  palpi,  its  legs  not  being  used.  The  aphid  abdomen  was 
eaten  first,  then  the  legs,  head  and  antennae.  Following  a three- 
minute  rest,  this  cricket  moved  around  the  small  cage,  biting  into 
the  abdomens  of  three  other  aphids,  from  which  the  body  fluids 
were  observed  to  flow.  Six  of  the  twelve  aphids  attacked  the  first 
day  were  completely  consumed. 

Following  one  day  of  caged  existence  without  food,  10  fourth- 
instar  pisi  were  introduced  with  this  tree  cricket.  The  first  aphid 
was  consumed  within  ten  seconds;  three  pea  aphids  were  entirely 
eaten  within  125  seconds.  Eight  aphids  had  been  consumed  within 
an  elapsed  time  of  15  minutes  while  the  abdomens  of  the  remaining 
two  aphids  had  been  bitten  and  the  body  fluids  were  escaping  freely. 
At  this  time  a small  bug,  Orius  tristicolor  White,  was  introduced ; 
it  was  devoured  immediately. 

A few  other  snowy  tree  crickets  were  collected  from  the  same 
pea  field  and  caged.  These  also  proved  to  be  voracious  feeders. 
Often  a fourth-instar  or  a mature  pisi  was  completely  devoured 
within  a few  seconds.  As  a rule  the  abdomen  first  was  bitten  or 
chewed,  the  juices  consumed,  then  the  remainder  of  the  body 
eaten.  Occasionally  legs  or  antennae  were  discarded,  or  the  bitten 
body  soon  passed  up,  in  case  aphids  were  numerous  in  the  cage. 
During  another  15-minute  period  a male  niveus  entirely  consumed 
6 adult  pea  aphids  while  a number  of  others  were  so  severely  bitten 
that  they  soon  died.  In  two  of  the  latter  cases,  juices  were  largely 
“sucked”  from  the  torn  openings  in  the  aphid  bodies,  before  the 
plant  lice  were  discarded.  One  O.  niveus  killed  148  fourth-instar 
pea  aphids  and  consumed  most  of  them  while  it  was  caged  for  24 
days ; this  constituted  an  average  of  6 pea  aphids  per  day.  Usually 
only  10  aphids  per  day  were  provided.  It  was  observed  that  when 
a larger  number  of  pea  aphids  were  caged  with  this  predator,  more 
pisi  were  killed  and  eaten.  Another  niveus  ate  121  fourth-instar 
pisi  in  15  days,  an  average  of  8 pea  aphids  per  day. — George  F. 
Knowlton,  Utah  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  Logan,  Utah. 


Oct.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  143 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 

Meeting  of  May  15,  1947. 

A regular  meeting  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  was 
held  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum  on  May  15,  1947. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  at  8:00  P.M.  by  President  R. 
R.  McElvare.  Members  in  attendance  were  Messrs.  Naumann, 
Nicolay,  McElvare  and  Tulloch.  One  visitor  was  present. 

The  minutes  of  the  meeting  of  April  10,  1947,  were  read  and 
accepted. 

The  Treasurer  reported  that  Information  return  #990  had  been 
filed  with  the  Collector  of  Internal  Revenue. 

The  President  appointed  Messrs.  Teale,  Nicolay  and  Tulloch 
to  serve  as  a committee  to  arrange  plan  to  memorialize  the  75th 
anniversary  of  the  society. 

There  followed  a discussion  of  plans  for  summer  collecting  by 
the  members  present. 

The  meeting  adjourned  at  9:30  P.M. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

George  S.  Tulloch,  Secretary. 

Meeting  of  October  16,  1947. 

A regular  meeting  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  was 
held  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum  on  October  16,  1947. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  at  8:00  P.M.  by  Vice  President 
Otto  Buchholz.  Members  in  attendance  were  Messrs.  Naumann, 
Nicolay,  Buchholz,  Teale  and  Tulloch. 

The  minutes  of  the  metting  of  May  15,  1947,  were  read  and 
accepted. 

The  report  of  the  Treasurer  for  the  second  and  third  quarters 
of  1947  was  read  and  accepted. 

There  was  a discussion  of  plans  for  the  celebration  of  the  75th 
anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the  Society. 

The  program  of  the  evening  was  devoted  to  a discussion  of  the 
summer  collecting  activities  of  the  members. 

The  meeting  adjourned  at  9:30  P.M. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

George  S.  Tulloch,  Secretary. 


144  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLli 


EXCHANGES  AND  FOR  SALE. 

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will  go  in  our  regular  advertising  pages  at  our  regular  ad- 
vertising rates  to  everybody, 

PENTATOMIDAE : Want  to  buy  or  exchange  Pentatomidae 
from  the  United  States  and  Mexico.  Herbert  Ruckes,  College  of 
the  City  of  New  York,  17  Lexington  Ave.  N.Y.C. 

ACALYPTRATE  DIPTERA  OF  THE  WORLD  wanted  for 
determination  or  in  exchange  for  other  insects.  Geo.  Steyskal, 
23341  Puritan  Ave.,  Detroit,  Mich. 

WANTED.— MANTID  EGG  CASES  from  West  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi River.  If  interested  in  collecting,  write : Osmond  P. 
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WILL  PURCHASE  complete  sets  of  the  Bulletin,  Old  Series, 
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Port  Washington,  L.  L,  N.  Y. 

LEPIDOPTERA  AND  ORTHOPTERA  from  Florida  in  pa- 
pers and  local  specimens  mounted  to  exchange  for  other  Lepidoptera. 
— Alex  K.  Wyatt,  5842  N.  Kirby  Avenue,  Chicago  (30),  111. 

“LEPIDOPTERISTS ! Drawer  front  labels  2 7/8"  xi  6/16" 
on  white-faced  board  at  cost ! Non-profit ! Don’t  delay,  write 
today ! Kent  H.  Wilson,  430  Ridgewood  Rd.,  Fort  Worth  7, 
Texas.” 

WANTED — Geometrid  moths,  for  cash  or  exchange.  John  L. 
Sperry,  3260  Redwood  Drive,  Riverside,  Calif. 

CERAMBYCIDAE  AND  CHRYSOMELIDAE  from  Asia 
and  Pacific  desired  for  determination;  purchase;  exchange. — J. 
Linsley  Gressitt,  Lignan  University,  Canton,  China. 

FOR  COLEOPTERA  OF  THE  WEST  INDIES  and  Chrys- 
omelidae  of  the  world,  will  collect  entomological  material  from  Cuba, 
by  previous  arrangement.  Am  interested  in  buying  literature  in 
the  above-mentioned  classes,  and  would  be  glad  to  be  advised  by 
individuals  or  institutions  of  such  articles ; or  to  send  them  to  me. 
Manuel  Barro,  Calle  12,  no.  220,  altos,  apto.  3,  Vedado,  Habana, 
Cuba. 


Vol.  XLll 


DECEMBER,  1947 

BULLETIN 


No.  5 


OF  THE 


Brooklyn  Entomological 
Society 


PUBLICATION  COMMITTEE 

J.  R.  de  la  TORRE-BUENO,  Editor 

GEORGE  S.  TULLOCH  ED^  IN  W.  TEALE 

Published  for  the  Society  by 

The  Science  Press  Printing  Company, 

N.  Queen  St.  and  McGovern  Ave.,  Lancaster,  Pa., 

Price,  75  Subscription,  $3.50  per  year 


NEW  SERIES 


Mailed  April  8,  1948 


Entered  as  second-class  matter  January  21,  1919,  at  the  post  office  at  Lancaster,  Pa., 


The  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 

Meetings  are  held  on  the  second  Thursday  after  the  first  Tuesday  of  each 
month  from  October  to  May,  inclusive,  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum,  Eastern 
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OFFICEES,  1947 
Honorary  President 
J.  R.  BE  LA  TORRE-BUENO 


Vice  President 
OTTO  BUCHHOLZ 
Secretary 

GEORGE  S.  TULLOCH 


President,  R.  R.  McELVARE 

Treasurer 

R.  R.  McELVARE 
76  Ivy  Way, 

Port  Washington,  N.  Y. 

Editor 

J.  R.  BE  LA  TORRE-BUENO 


Delegate  to  Council  of  New  York 
Academy  of  Sciences 
EBWIN  WAY  TEALE 


CONTENTS 


NEW  SPECIES  OF  HYBROPTILIBAE,  Penning  145 

NOTES  ON  APHIS  SPECIES,  Knowlton 155 

NEW  GENUS  ANB  SPECIES  OP  MEXICAN  LEAPHOPPER, 

BeLong  and  Hershberger  159 

PROCIPHILUS  APHIB  NOTES,  Knowlton  161 

OBSERVATIONS  ON  BIOLOGY  OP  MUTILLIB  WASPS,  Shappirio  . 182 

GEOGRAPHICAL  NAME,  Torre-Bueno  163 

REMARKS  ON  GENUS  CHLOROCHROA,  Esselbauh  164 

LEAPHOPPER  BITES”  MAN,  Knowlton  169 

ROBBERFLIES  PREYING  ON  HONEYBEES,  Alex  170 

8TH  INTERNATIONAL  CONGRESS  OP  ENTOMOLOGY  172 

BOOK  NOTES,  Usinger  173 

PHYMATA  KILLS  HONEYBEES,  Knowlton  175 

EXCHANGES  176 


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BULLETIN 

OF  THE 

BROOKLYN  ENTOMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY 


VoL.  XLII  December,  1947  No.  5 


NEW  SPECIES  AND  RECORDS  OF  NEARCTIC 
HYDROPTILIDAE  (TRICHOPTERA) 

By  D.  G.  Denning,  University  of  Wyoming,  Laramie,  Wyo. 

A recent  study  of  Hydroptilidae  disclosed  not  only  several  new 
species  but  a number  of  interesting  and  unsuspected  distributional 
records.  The  seven  new  species  described  herein  will  increase 
the  number  of  Hydroptilidae  known  from  the  United  States  and 
Canada  to  127  species.  Unless  indicated  otherwise  all  types  are 
in  the  authors  collection  at  the  University  of  Wyoming.  I would 
like  to  take  this  opportunity  to  thank  Mr.  M.  W.  Wing,  Mr.  W.  W. 
Wirth  and  Mr.  R.  E.  Pfadt  for  collecting  some  of  the  specimens 
discussed  in  this  paper. 

Leucotrichia  pictipes  (Banks) 

This  is  the  first  time  this  species  has  been  recorded  from 
California.  In  all  specimens  collected  the  claspers  were  directed 
rather  sharply  ventrad  instead  of  caudad  and  slightly  ventrad  as  is 
usual.  Other  differences  between  these  and  specimens  collected 
elsewhere  in  its  wide  range  are  of  minor  importance.  However, 
an  extreme  condition  in  which  the  claspers  (viewed  ventrally)  are 
not  fused  their  entire  length  is  illustrated,  fig.  1. 

California:  Kaweah  River,  Tulare  County,  July  2,  1947,  14 
males  (W.  W.  Wirth). 

Tascobia  hrustia  (Ross) 

Not  recorded  since  the  holotype  was  collected  at  Parco,  Wyo- 
ming. The  specimen  was  taken  from  the  swift  flowing  North  Platte 
River  at  an  approximate  elevation  of  7500  feet.  Wyoming:  8 
miles  north  of  State  Line,  North  Platte  River,  September  7,  1947, 
1 male  (D.  G.  Denning). 

Tascobia  delira  (Ross) 

Previously  recorded  from  Wisconsin,  this  species  apparently 

145 


146  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.  XLII 


has  a wide  distribution  as  shown  by  the  following  records,  Wyo- 
ming: Laramie  River,  Laramie,  Wyoming,  July  28,  1947,  1 male 
(D.  G.  Denning).  Colorado:  Permanent  Pond,  Rocky  Mt.  Na- 
tional Park,  August  10,  1947,  1 male,  1 female,  (D.  G.  Denning)  ; 
Stream  South  of  Walden,  August  10,  1947,  1 male  (D.  G.  Den- 
ning) ; Poudre  River,  15  miles  west  of  Ted’s  Place,  August  17, 
1947,  8 males,  2 females  (D.  G.  Denning)  ; Poudre  River,  15  miles 
east  of  Cameron  Pass,  August  17,  1947,  9 males,  6 females  (D.  G. 
Denning)  ; Junction  Elkhorn  Creek  and  Poudre  River,  east  of 
Cameron  Pass,  August  19,  1947,  2 males,  5 females  (D.  G. 
Denning). 

May  atrichia  ayama  Mosely 

This  species  has  not  been  recorded  from  Canada,  which  consti- 
tutes a considerable  extension  in  its  known  northerly  range. 

Saskatchewan:  Saskatoon,  August  1,  1947,  Light  trap,  21  males, 
40  females  (R.  Coleman). 

Wyoming:  near  Wheatland,  Bluegrass  River,  at  lights,  1 male, 
4 females  (D.  G.  Denning).  The  Wyoming  male  indicates  that 
minor  variations  in  the  apex  of  the  aedeagus  and  ventro-lateral 
processes  will  be  encountered. 

0 chrotrichia  stylata  (Ross) 

This  species  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  Hydroptilidae  in  Wyo- 
ming. The  species  has  been  collected  from  June  19  to  October  1, 
and  although  the  weather  conditions  were  favorable  none  could  be 
taken  later  than  that  date.  The  species  was  taken  only  from  clear, 
fast  flowing  streams.  It  is  here  recorded  from  Colorado,  Utah  and 
South  Dakota  for  the  first  time.  Several  hundred  males  and  fe- 
males from  southern  Wyoming,  June  19  to  October  1,  1947. 
South  Dakota:  Legion  Lake,  near  Custer,  August  28,  1947  (D.  G. 
Denning).  Colorado:  Boulder  River,  near  Boulder,  September 
28,  1947  (D.  G.  Denning).  Utah:  Duchesne,  Strawberry  River, 
September  26,  1947,  3 males,  4 females  (R.  E.  Pfadt). 

Ochrotrichia  potomus,  n.  sp. 

This  species  is  closely  related  to  tar  satis  (Hagen)  but  can 
be  distinguished  from  it  by  the  dorsal  aspect  of  the  tenth 
tergite.  Color  and  general  structure  typical  of  genus.  Anten- 
nae long  reaching  almost  to  apex  of  tenth  tergite,  consisting 
of  27  to  28  segments. 

Male:  Length  2.7  mm.  Genitalia  as  in  fig.  2.  Mesal  in- 
cision of  ninth  tergite  wide,  deep,  extending  almost  to  base ; 


Dec.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  147 


segment  almost  quadrate  from  lateral  aspect,  except  that  dorso- 
caudal  corner  is  produced  caudad.  Apical  part  of  tenth  tergite 
from  dorsal  aspect,  fig.  2,  divided  into  a group  of  sclerotized 
processes.  Ventral  plate  concave,  bounded  on  left  by  “A”; 
slender  apically  widened  aedeagus  rests  on  this  plate.  The 
right  part,  “B,”  terminates  at  base  of  ”F.”  Process  ‘‘C” 
short  and  acute,  extends  caudad  to  base  of  “D.”  The  prom- 
inent very  heavily  sclerotized  process  “D,”  acute  distally, 
gradually  curved  mesad  (degree  varies  in  individuals,  in  some 
almost  at  right  angle)  ; seen  from  lateral  aspect  apex  curved 
slightly  dorsad  above  any  other  portion  of  tergite.  Hidden 
from  dorsal  view  by  base  of  “D”  is  a small  acute  process  ‘‘G’’ 
which  extends  laterad  to  edge  of  structure.  Long  stout  right 
process  “F,”  has  distal  portion  twisted,  apex  attenuated  and 
bent  sharply  laterad  and  slightly  cephalad ; seen  from  lateral 
aspect  apex  turned  dorsad.  Claspers  symmetrical,  mesal  sur- 
face concave,  apex  bluntly  pointed,  entire  structure  directed 
gradually  dorso-caudad  to  a point  just  dorsad  of  tenth  tergite; 
inner  margin  of  apex  and  ventral  distal  third  clothed  with 
dense,  short  black  setae.  Left  clasper  with  a single  short 
black-tipped  spine  on  mesal  surface  just  beyond  base,  seen 
laterally  directed  dorsad ; dorso-mesal  margin  with  a single 
short  spine  base.  Mesal  margin  of  right  clasper,  just  beyond 
base,  with  one  short  cephalad  directed  spine. 

Female:  General  structure,  size  and  color  similar  to  male. 
Genitalia  as  in  fig.  2A.  Eighth  sternite  heavily  setose,  mesal 
lobe  wide,  rounded,  distinct  emargination  near  lateral  margin. 
Shape  and  position  of  bursa  copulatrix  as  in  figure. 

Holotype,  male. — Torrington,  Wyoming,  North  Platte  River, 
October  1,  1947  (D.  G.  Denning). 

Allotype,  female. — Same  data  as  for  holotype. 

Paratypes. — Torrington,  Wyoming,  North  Platte  River,  Sep- 
tember 19,  1947,  2 males,  1 female  (D.  G.  Denning)  : Torrington, 
Wyoming,  North  Platte  River,  September  19,  1947,  1 male  (R.  E. 
Pfadt)  ; Torrington,  Wyoming,  North  Platte  River,  August  27, 
1947,  1 male  (D.  G.  Denning). 

Ochrotrichia  oregona  (Ross) 

This  species  has  not  been  recorded  since  its  original  description 
from  La  Grande,  Oregon.  Apparently  oregona  is  quite  a plastic 
species,  in  the  relatively  small  series  of  males  examined  by  the 


148  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLII 


writer  (13)  considerable  variation  was  exhibited  in  the  contour  of  - 
the  clasper,  in  the  density  and  arrangement  of  the  cluster  of  black  Ij 

spines  along  the  ventro-mesal  margin  of  each  clasper  and  in  the  ^ 

two  basal  sclerotized  points  of  the  tenth  tergite.  In  this  latter  |, 
respect  eight  of  thirteen  males  were  very  similar  to  that  illustrated  , 
by  Ross  (1938)  while  five  varied  from  a condition  in  which  the 
larger  most  caudad  spine  was  directed  slightly  cephalad  to  an  f | 
extreme  where  it  was  curved  sharply  cephalad  and  slightly  laterad  « 
and  lying  just  above  the  main  structure,  in  the  same  specimen  the  ““ 
most  basal  spine  is  curved  sharply  mesad  and  cephalad.  j 

Female:  Length  3.1  mm.  Genitalia  as  in  fig.  3.  Mesal  proc- 
ess of  seventh  sternite  slender,  acute.  Apical  margin  of  eighth  1 
sternite  nearly  straight,  merges  almost  imperceptibly  into  | i 
ninth.  The  shield-shaped  area  of  the  eighth  sternite  has  a | 
reticulate  surface  composed  of  oblong  almost  linear  reticules,  I 
apical  margin  acute,  lateral  margin  arcuate,  basal  margin  ' . 
withdrawn  into  seventh  segment.  Present  near  the  basal  i 
portion  of  the  eighth  sternite  is  a prominent  heavily  setose,  | 
acute  mesal  projection,  surface  bearing  short  tubercle-like 
structures,  several  long  prominent  setae  along  margin.  Bursa 
copulatrix  long,  reaching  cephalad  into  seventh  segment,  apical  ; 
branches  incised.  ^ . 

Allotype,  female. — Granby,  Colorado,  Colorado  River;  Septem-  | 
ber  27,  1947  (R.  E.  Pfadt).  | 

Colorado : 10  males,  8 females,  same  data  as  for  allotype.  | ! 

Wyoming:  8 males  north  of  State  Line,  North  Platte  River,  | 
September  8,  1947,  3 males,  1 female  (D.  G.  Denning).  | 

Oxyethira  cibola  Denning  | 

This  recently  described  species  was  previously  known  only  from  \ 
Macon,  Georgia.  The  species  is  evidently  present  either  in  rivers  | 
or  lakes. 

Wyoming:  Douglas,  at  light,  July  29,  1947,  1 male  (D.  G.  Den-  | 
ning)  ; Cheyenne,  along  small  lake  in  park,  August  2,  1947,  2 males  1 
(D.  G.  Denning)  ; Cheyenne,  along  small  lake  in  park,  August  7,  I 
1947,  22  males  (D.  G.  Denning). 

I 

Oxyethira  serrata  Ross  | 

This  species  was  previously  recorded  from  Illinois,  New  York,  | 
Wisconsin,  Minnesota  and  British  Columbia.  The  species  is  | 
probably  transcontinental  m distribution. 


Dec.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  149 


Wyoming:  Cheyenne,  along  small  lake  in  park,  August  2,  1947, 
7 males  (D.  G.  Denning)  ; Cheyenne,  along  small  lake  in  park, 
August  7,  1947,  93  males,  7 females  (D.  G.  Denning). 

Hydroptila  argosa  Ross 

This  species  has  been  found  widely  distributed  throughout  the 
eastern  half  of  Wyoming  and  has  been  collected  from  June  19  to 
September  20. 

Hydroptila  callia,  n.  sp. 

This  species  bears  some  resemblance  to  Hydroptila  amoena 
Ross  but  differs  radically  from  it  in  the  three  filamentous  processes 
of  the  aedeagus,  the  long  slender  ventrad  directed  clasper,  the 
prominent  process  at  the  base  of  the  clasper  and  several  other 
details  of  the  genitalia. 

Male:  Length  3.5  mm.  Genitalia  as  in  fig.  4.  Mesal  pro- 
jection of  the  seventh  sternite,  fig.  4C,  long,  reaching  to  the 
ninth  sternite,  slender,  about  same  width  throughout,  ventro- 
apical  margin  serrate.  Ventral  margin  of  ninth  segment 
bordered  with  dense  prominent  setae,  lateral  lobe  projected 
ventro-caudad,  bearing  several  large  prominent  setae.  Invagi- 
nated  lateral  part  of  ninth  segment  long,  reaching  into  seventh 
segment.  Tenth  tergite  from  dorsal  view,  fig.  4B,  deeply  cleft 
along  meson,  has  appearance  of  being  divided  almost  entire 
length ; viewed  laterally  apex  nearly  truncate,  a small  blunt 
point  at  dorsal  corner.  Base  of  clasper  withdrawn  into  ninth 
segment,  exposed  part  directed  ventro-caudad,  slender  through- 
out, extreme  apex  with  an  acute  tooth,  fig.  4A ; claspers  closely 
appressed  on  meson.  Arising  from  near  base  of  clasper  is  a 
prominent  dorsad  directed  process  bearing  a long  caudad 
directed  spine ; from  ventral  aspect  these  processes  are  arcuate 
apex  directed  slightly  mesad,  apical  spine  extending  caudad 
beyond  claspers.  Seen  from  ventral  view  there  is  a pair 
of  small,  not  easily  discernible,  caudad  directed  tubular 
processes  bearing  a caudad  directed  spine.  Aedeagus,  when 
viewed  laterally  has  main  part  arcuate ; viewed  ventrally, 
fig.  4,  apical  portion  divided  into  three  filamentous  processes, 
the  largest  one  gradually  tapering  to  an  acute  apex  and  gently 
curved  laterad,  the  next  process  slender,  about  the  same  width 
throughout  and  reaching  almost  to  apex  of  first  mentioned 
branch,  the  third  process  is  shortest  with  a slender  acute  apex. 

Holotype,  male. — Raleigh,  North  Carolina ; June  9,  1947,  at 
light  (Merle  W.  Wing). 


150  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLII 


Hydroptila  wyomia,  n.  sp. 

This  species  bears  some  resemblance  to  Hydroptila  modica 
Mosely,  but  differs  from  it  and  other  described  species  in  the  beak- 
like apex  of  the  aedeagus,  and  several  other  details  of  the  genitalia. 

Male:  Length  3.5  mm.  Sternite  of  fifth  segment  bears  a 
pair  of  protuberances  laterally  which  give  rise  to  a long  and  a 
short  seta.  Mesal  style  of  seventh  sternite  long,  slender, 
extends  caudad  beyond  margin  of  eighth  sternite  for  about  one- 
half  its  distance,  apex  slightly  enlarged,  ventral  margin  some- 
what irregular,  a few  long  setae  at  base. 

Genitalia  as  in  fig.  5.  Lateral  lobe  of  ninth  segment  slender, 
apex  curved  caudad,  dense  cluster  of  caudad  directed  setae 
near  base,  dorsal  portion  with  a cluster  of  four  long  stout 
setae  one  of  which  extends  beyond  the  tenth  tergite.  Near 
base  of  lateral  lobe  arises  a prominent  tubular  process  which 
bears  a long  seta  at  ventral  corner  of  apex,  fig.  5A ; viewed 
ventrally  processes  slightly  arcuate,  apical  setae  markedly  so. 
Tenth  tergite  lightly  sclerotized,  apex  blunt  from  lateral  view, 
emarginate  from  dorsal  view.  Claspers  short,  fig.  5A,  some- 
what saber-shaped,  curved  ventrad ; viewed  from  ventral 
aspect  apices  darkly  pigmented,  contiguous  along  meson,  a 
few  minute  setae  discernible,  viewed  ventrally  a pair  of  small 
tubercles,  each  bearing  a long  seta,  present  just  cephalad  to  base 
of  claspers.  Aedeagus,  fig.  5,  long,  nearly  straight,  tubular, 
basal  portion  about  same  length  as  apical  portion,  actual  length 
slightly  over  1 mm ; near  base  of  apical  portion  arises  a slender 
acuminate  filament,  distal  portion  bulbous  then  abruptly  nar- 
rowed to  a beak-shaped  apex ; near  constriction  inner  tubular 
part  extends  outward  to  a point  beyond  apex;  beak-shaped 
apex  either  blunt  or  acute,  depending  on  angle  of  view. 

Female:  Size,  color,  general  characteristics  same  as  for  male. 
Tergite  of  eighth  segment  emarginate.  Eighth  sternite  with  a 
single  row  of  5 to  6 stout,  wavy  setae.  Sixth  sternite  with  a 
minute  acute  mesal  projection. 

Holotype,  male. — Laramie  River,  Laramie,  Wyoming,  July  1, 
1947  (D.  G.  Denning). 

Allotype,  female. — Same  data  as  for  holotype. 

Paratypes. — Same  data  as  for  holotype,  3 males,  2 females. 

Hydroptila  pullatus,  n.  sp. 

This  species  is  closely  related  to  angusta  Ross  differing  from  it 
in  the  very  slender  claspers  which  are  constricted  near  the  center, 


Dec.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  151 


the  acute  ventral  plate,  the  rounded  mesal  lobe  of  the  tenth  tergite 
and  details  of  the  aedeagus.  The  female  of  this  species  differs  from 
angusta  in  the  short  wide  mesal  lobe  of  the  eighth  sternite,  the  wider, 
flattened  bursa  copulatrix  as  well  as  other  details. 

Male:  Length  2.3  mm.  Seventh  sternite  with  mesal  process 
acuminate,  short,  about  one-half  its  length  extending  beyond 
margin.  Genitalia  as  in  fig.  6.  Claspers  from  ventral  aspect 
very  slender,  narrowed  near  middle,  apices  acute,  divergent,  a 
dark  pigmented  spot  near  base  of  curve ; seen  from  lateral 
aspect  clasper  is  directed  slightly  ventrad,  apex  curved  dorsad. 
Ventral  plate,  fig.  6,  translucent,  membranous,  acute  apically, 
bearing  three  short  erect  spines  just  below  center.  Tenth 
tergite,  fig.  6A,  cleft  about  one-third  its  length,  lateral  lobes 
acute,  mesal  lobe  short  and  bluntly  rounded ; lateral  margin 
sinuate,  somewhat  more  heavily  sclerotized  than  remainder. 
Aedeagus  from  dorsal  view,  fig.  6B,  slender,  long,  originating 
in  fifth  segment ; basal  tube  gradually  narrowed  to  a creased 
area  which  extends  almost  to  spiral  process,  this  portion 
slender  and  sinuate ; distal  portion  with  bulbous  base,  gradu- 
ally narrowed  to  an  acute  apex  projected  laterad  almost  at 
right  angles ; seen  from  lateral  aspect  apex  acuminate  and 
sharply  turned  ventrad ; spiral  process  encircles  tube  one  and 
one-half  times,  long,  apically  very  slender. 

Female:  Length  3.1  mm.  Mesal  style  of  seventh  sternite 
acute,  short,  does  not  reach  to  margin.  Eighth  sternite,  fig.  6C, 
with  a subtriangular  reticulate  area  about  center ; apical  margin 
with  a wide  blunt  mesal  lobe.  Eighth  tergite,  fig.  6D,  with  a 
deep  blunt  incision  (not  truncate  as  in  angusta),  lateral  lobes 
rounded.  Bursa  copulatrix  as  in  fig.  6E,  main  body  com- 
pressed, heavily  sclerotized,  triangular  reticulate  area  on  basal 
margin  extends  cephalad  to  cover  entire  next  portion,  this  and 
remainder  translucent. 

Llolotype,  male. — Bluegrass  River,  near  Wheatland,  Wyoming, 
August  29,  1947  (D.  G.  Denning), 

Allotype,  female. — Same  data  as  for  holotype. 

Paratype,  female. — Same  data  as  for  holotype. 

Hydroptila  pecos  Ross 

This  species  has  not  been  recorded  since  its  original  description 
from  Carlsbad,  New  Mexico.  The  following  records  constitute  a 
considerable  extension  to  the  northward  of  its  known  range. 

Female:  Length  2.8-3  mm.  Genitalia  as  in  fig.  7.  Eighth 


152  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^Lil 


sternite  meson  produced  into  a rounded  lobe.  A truncate 
darkened  area  cephalad  to  mesal  lobe  bears  several  irregularly 
placed  prominent  setae  along  margin.  Eighth  tergite  with  a 
prominent,  rounded,  heavily  sclerotized  mesal  lobe.  Bursa 
copulatrix  as  in  fig.  7,  long,  extending  to  seventh  segment, 
apical  margin  deeply  incised. 

Allotype,  female. — Torrington,  Wyoming,  North  Platte  River, 
August  27,  1947  (R.  E.  Pfadt). 

Wyoming:  Same  data  as  allotype,  7 males,  3 females  ; Torrington, 
North  Platte  River,  August  27,  1947,  16  males,  7 females  (D.  G. 
Denning)  ; Bluegrass  River,  near  Wheatland,  at  lights,  August  29, 
1947,  1 female  (D.  G.  Denning).  Colorado:  Boulder  River,  near 
Boulder,  September  28,  1947,  2 males  (D.  G.  Denning). 

Hydroptila  xera  Ross 

This  species  has  not  been  recorded  since  its  original  description  in 
1938  from  two  localities  in  Idaho.  Apparently  it  can  be  found 
either  in  lakes  or  rivers. 

Female:  Length  2.3-3. 5 mm.  Genitalia  as  in  fig.  8.  Tergite 
of  eighth  segment  with  a shallow  mesal  incision.  Sternite  of 
eighth  segment  with  truncate  mesal  lobe  extending  slightly 
beyond  the  ventro-lateral  lobes.  A single  row  of  prominent, 
wavy  setae  near  apical  margin.  Lateral  margin  sinuous. 
Bursa  copulatrix  large,  as  in  fig.  8. 

Allotype,  female. — Sodergren  Lake,  near  Woods  Landing,  Wyo- 
ming, August  10,  1947  (D.  G.  Denning). 

Wyoming : Same  data  as  allotype,  10  males,  2 females ; Laramie 
River,  Laramie,  July  1,  1947,  4 males,  1 female  (D.  G.  Denning)  ; 
Cheyenne,  along  lake  in  park,  August  2,  1947,  1 male  (D.  G. 
Denning)  ; Cheyenne,  along  lake  in  park,  August  7,  1947,  2 males 
(D.  G.  Denning)  ; Bluegrass  River,  near  Wheatland,  at  lights, 
August  29,  1947,  1 male,  4 females  (D.  G.  Denning). 

Neotrichia  ersitis,  n.  sp. 

This  interesting  species  is  not  only  one  of  the  smallest  of  the 
known  members  of  the  genus,  but  it  also  occurs  further  north  than 
any  other  recorded  Neotrichia  in  North  America. 

The  species  belongs  to  the  okopa  Ross  section  of  the  genus.  It 
can  easily  be  separated  from  other  described  species  of  the  genus  by 
the  serrate  ventrad  directed  claspers  and  the  three  sclerotized  hooks 
of  the  aedeagus. 

Male:  Length  1.9  mm.  Genitalia  as  in  fig.  9.  Dorsum  of 
ninth  segment  with  a scattering  of  dense  short  setae,  apica 


Dec.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  153 


margin  apparently  produced  caudad  to  help  form  the  very  ir- 
regular appearing  tenth  tergite,  division  between  the  two  not 
discernible.  Claspers,  seen  from  lateral  aspect,  fig.  9A,  di- 
rected ventro-caudad,  thick  at  base  and  tapering  to  a rather 
acute  apex,  dorsal  margin  serrate  and  bearing  a few  minute 
setae.  Dorsad  to  the  claspers  is  a prominent  beak-shaped 
structure  directed  ventro-caudad  and  bearing  a large  seta  at 
apex.  Cercus,  short,  base  narrow,  tapering  gradually  to  an 
expanded  apex,  entire  structure  heavily  setose.  Tenth  tergite 
membranous,  distal  margin  irregular  in  outline,  extends  caudad 
slightly  beyond  claspers.  Ventral  aspect,  fig.  9,  shows  claspers 
with  mesal  margin  serrate,  apex  sub-acute,  lateral  margin 
sinuate ; cercus  finger-like  in  shape,  divergent.  Aedeagus,  seen 
from  dorsal  view,  fig.  9B,  with  base  very  wide,  tubular ; sud- 
denly narrowed  to  a bulbous  base  bearing  a slender  filament 
which  encircles  structure  once  and  follows  aedeagus  to  near 
head  of  apex ; apical  portion  consists  of  two  heavily  sclerotized 
hooks  side  by  side  and  a shorter,  slender,  arrow-shaped  hook 
to  which  the  main  internal  duct  is  connected. 

Female:  Length  2.3  mm.  Apical  portion  of  seventh  sternite 
with  a pair  of  dark  colored  androconial  scale-like  structures. 
Apical  margin  of  eighth  segment  irregular,  bearing  six  long 
setae.  Main  structure  of  bursa  copulatrix  as  in  fig.  9C. 

Holotype,  male. — Saskatoon,  Saskatchewan,  August  1,  1947, 
light  trap  (R.  Coleman). 

Allotype,  female. — Same  data  as  for  holotype. 

Paratype,  female. — Same  data  as  for  holotype. 

Neotrichia  halia,  n.  sp. 

This  species  is  similar  to  kitae  Ross  but  can  easily  be  differentiated 
from  it  and  other  described  species  by  the  shape  of  the  subgenital 
plate,  the  acute  claspers  with  an  apical  spine,  the  terminal  processes 
of  the  aedeagus  and  several  other  details  of  the  genitalia. 

Male:  Length  2 mm.  Sternite  of  eighth  segment  fringed 
with  long  setae.  Ninth  segment  with  sternite  projected  caudad 
a short  distance.  Genitalia  as  in  fig.  10.  From  lateral  aspect 
claspers  directed  caudad  with  apex  only  slightly  upturned; 
from  ventral  view,  fig.  10,  claspers  short,  mesal  margin  sud- 
denly narrowed  about  midway  to  form  an  acute  apex  bearing 
a prominent  seta.  Cercus  from  lateral  view  broad,  gradually 
narrowed  apically,  fig.  lOA ; from  ventral  view  it  is  elongate, 
divergent,  reaching  beyond  subgenital  plate,  quite  heavily 


154  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^LII 


setose.  Subgenital  plate  viewed  from  ventral  aspect  with  distal 
margin  arcuate,  bearing  a pair  of  prominent  divergent  spines ; [ 

viewed  from  lateral  aspect  lateral  margin  flared  dorsad,  a large  ; 
horn-like  process  arises  from  near  distal  margin,  directed 
ventrad.  Tenth  tergite  lightly  sclerotized,  widely  emarginate ; : 

viewed  laterally  apex  broadly  rounded.  Aedeagus,  fig.  lOB,  | 

with  broad  tubular  portion  over  twice  as  long  as  apical  portion,  | 
just  beyond  narrowed  neck  is  a prominent  spiral  process  en-  I 

circling  tube  one  and  one-half  times,  directed  laterad  apically ; I 

apex  consists  of  a pair  of  heavily  sclerotized  processes,  one  ^ j 
acuminate,  the  other  hook-like ; extending  to  base  of  these  proc-  \ 
esses  a large  heavily  sclerotized  internal  tube  is  discernible.  ' 

Female:  Length  2.2  mm.  Apical  part  of  seventh  segment 
lightly  sclerotized  and  with  a dense  covering  of  minute  spicules.  |i 

Eighth  segment  with  apical  portion  darker  than  remainder  I 

which  is  translucent.  Eighth  sternite,  fig.  IOC,  with  several 
long  setae  along  margin;  central  ornamentation  not  plainly  | 
marked,  apex  acute ; on  meson  near  base  of  sternite  are  two  | 
very  dark  androconia  scale-like  structures,  their  basal  part  | 
covered  by  margin  of  seventh  sternite.  Bursa  copulatrix,  fig.  | 
lOD,  long,  extending  from  margin  of  seventh  to  apical  margin  I 
of  eighth  segment.  ’ 

Holotype,  male. — Bluegrass  River,  near  Wheatland,  Wyoming, 

August  29,  1947,  at  lights  (D.  G.  Denning). 

Allotype,  female. — Same  data  as  for  holotype. 

Paratypes. — Same  data  as  for  holotype,  2 males. 

Neotrichia  panneus,  n.  sp. 

This  species  is  closely  related  to  osmena  Ross  but  differs  from  it  in  ‘ 
the  slightly  upturned  apex  of  the  clasper,  the  ventrad  directed  apex 
of  the  heavily  sclerotized  structure  dorsad  to  the  clasper,  the  large  ; 
evenly  rounded  ventral  margin  of  the  cercus,  the  deeply  incised 
apex  of  the  aedeagus  as  well  as  several  other  details  of  the  male  1 
genitalia.  , , 

Male:  Length  2.5  mm.  Color  of  body  and  appendages  light  | 

brown.  Genitalia  as  in  fig.  11.  Dorsum  of  ninth  segment  | 

covered  with  minute  rather  dense  setae,  apical  margin  produced  | 

beyond  the  tenth  tergite  as  an  irregular  membranous  hood,  | 

incised  mesally ; lateral  margin  difficult  to  discern  clearly ; : 

sternite  produced  caudad  as  a triangular  process.  Tenth 
tergite,  fig.  IIB,  bluntly  rounded,  margin  irregular,  a pair  of 
long  prominent  spines  arise  from  apical  margin.  Viewed  from 


Bee.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  155 


lateral  aspect  base  of  claspers  withdrawn  into  ninth  segment, 
directed  caudad  with  truncate  apex  slightly  upturned,  a few 
minute  setae  present;  seen  from  ventral  aspect  fig.  IIC,  base 
of  clasper  broad,  at  about  three-quarters  distance  to  the  apex 
mesal  margin  tapers  suddenly  to  an  acute  apex ; dorsal  hook 
of  clasper  extends  caudad  to  this  point,  the  pair  contingent  on 
meson.  Dorsad,  to  the  claspers  arises  a pair  of  heavily 
sclerotized  processes,  triangular  from  lateral  view  and  gradually 
directed  ventrad,  slightly  convergent  from  ventral  view. 
Cercus,  fig.  11,  large,  considerably  expanded  distally,  quite 
heavily  setose ; laterally  it  covers  all  of  genital  processes  ex- 
cept portion  of  clasper,  no  indication  of  mesal  surface  being 
concave.  Apparently  arising  from  the  side  of  the  tenth  tergite, 
discernible  from  the  lateral  view,  fig.  11,  there  is  a pair  of 
broad  spine-like  points  directed  dorso-caudad,  and  near  its 
base  a long  slender  seta.  Aedeagus,  fig.  11  A,  with  neck  con- 
stricted, spiral  process  encircles  tube  one  and  one-half  times ; 
from  lateral  view  a distinct  constriction  present  at  point  where 
spiral  process  arises ; apex  deeply  incised,  lateral  processes 
convergent,  mesal  projection  triangular,  a large  internal  tube 
extending  from  its  base  to  constricted  portion;  apical  portion 
slightly  enlarged  distally. 

Holotype,  male. — Little  Laramie  River,  Albany  County,  Wyo- 
ming, August  11,  1947  (R.  E.  Pfadt). 


Notes  on  Six  Aphis  Species. — Aphis  artemisicola  Wms.  was 
very  abundant  on  Artemisia  trident ata  at  Huntington,  Oregon, 
June  18,  1939.  Aphis  forbesi  Weed  was  abundant  in  one  patch  of 
strawberries  at  Mill  Creek,  Utah,  June  28,  1925 ; also  taken  on 
strawberry  plants  at  Farmington,  August  4,  1925,  and  abundant 
in  greenhouse  at  Logan,  Utah,  March  26,  1942.  Aphis  illinois- 
ensis  Shimer  was  taken  on  grape  tendrils  at  Bloomfield,  Mo.,  May 
19,  1922  (A.  C.  Burrill),  and  Mercersburg,  Pa.,  June  12,  1931  (J. 
O.  Pepper).  Aphis  marutae  Oest.  on  Cineraria,  Pullman,  Wash- 
ington, November  17,  1941  (L.  K.  Jones).  Aphis  nasturtii  Kalt. 
was  moderately  abundant  on  watercress,  Roripa  nasturtium,  at 
Locomotive  Springs,  Utah,  April  10,  1930.  Aphis  tulipae  (Boyer) 
was  damagingly  abundant  on  carrots  in  storage  at  Logan,  January 
1942,  and  Salt  Lake  City,  April  3,  1942. — George  F.  Knowlton, 
Logan,  Utah. 


156  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLII 


Bull.  B.  E.  S.,  Vol.  XLII  Plate  IV 


Explanation  of  Plates  IV,  V and  VI. 

Eig.  1.  Leucotrichia  pictipes,  claspers,  ventral  aspect. 

Eig.  2.  Ochrofrichia  potomus,  tenth  tergite,  dorsal  aspect;  2A, 
female  genitalia,  eighth  sternite. 

Fig.  3.  Ochrotrichia  oregona,  female  genitalia,  seventh  and 
eighth  sternite. 

Fig.  4.  Hydro ptila  callia,  aedeagus,  ventral  aspect;  4A,  lateral 


Dec.,  1947  Bulletm  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  157 


Bull.  B.  E.  S.,  Vol.  XLII  Plate  V 


aspect;  4B,  tenth  tergite,  dorsal  aspect;  4C,  projection  of  seventh 
sternite. 

Fig.  5.  Hydroptila  wyoniia,  aedeagus;  5A,  lateral  aspect. 

Fig.  6.  Hydroptila  pullatus,  ventral  aspect;  6A,  tenth  tergite, 
dorsal  aspect ; 6B  aedeagus,  dorsal  aspect ; 6C,  female,  eighth  ster- 
nite ; 6D,  female,  eighth  tergite ; 6E,  female,  bursa  copulatrix. 

Fig.  7.  Hydroptila  pecos,  female,  eighth  sternite. 

Fig.  8.  Hydroptila  xera,  female,  eighth  sternite. 

Fig.  9.  Neotrichia  ersitis,  ventral  aspect;  9A,  lateral  aspect; 
9B,  aedeagus,  dorsal  aspect ; 9C,  female,  bursa  copulatrix. 


158  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLII 


Bull.  B.  E.  S.,  Vol.  XLII 


Plate  VI 


Fig.  10.  Neotrichia  halia,  ventral  aspect;  lOA,  cercus;  lOB, 
aedeagus;  IOC,  female,  eighth  sternite ; lOD,  female,  bursa  copu- 
latrix. 

Fig.  11.  Neotrichia  panneus,  lateral  aspect;  11  A,  aedeagus; 
IIB,  tenth  tergite,  dorsal  aspect ; IIC,  ventral  aspect. 


Dec.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  159 


A NEW  GENUS,  NEODONUS,  AND  SPECIES  OF 

MEXICAN  LEAFHOPPER  (HOMOPTERA, 
CICADELLIDAE)  RELATED  TO 
IDIODONUS. 

By  Dwight  M.  DeLong  and  Ruth  V.  Hershberger,^  Ohio  State 
University,  Department  Zoology-Entomology, 

Columbus,  Ohio. 

Related  to  Idiodonus  and  other  blunt  headed  forms  of  the 
Thamnotettix  group.  The  vertex  is  short  and  blunt,  almost 
parallel  margined  and  is  broad.  The  head  is  decidedly  nar- 
rower than  the  pronotum.  The  margin  of  vertex  is  thick  and 
rounded  to  the  front,  meeting  the  front  at  almost  a right  angle ; 
face  appearing  inflated.  Clavus  of  elytra  with  a few  reticulate 
veins. 

Genotype,  Neodonus  piperatus,  n.  sp. 

The  specimens  of  this  species  are  known  only  from  Mexico. 

Neodonus  piperatus,  n.  sp. 

In  general  form  and  appearance  resembling  Idiodonus  morsei  but 
with  a broader,  blunter  vertex ; head  decidedly  narrower  than  pro- 
notuni ; more  robust  with  face  more  inflated  and  with  cross  veins  on 
the  clavus.  Length  5.5  to  6.5  mm. 

Vertex  blunt,  transverse,  scarcely  longer  at  middle  than 
next  the  eyes.  More  than  twice  as  wide  at  base  as  median 
length.  Pronotum  more  than  twice  as  wide  as  vertex.  Elytra 
with  several  crossveins  on  clavus. 

Color : Straw  to  pale  brownish  marked  with  dark  peppered 
pigment  spots.  Male  more  heavily  marked  than  female,  usually 
with  the  disc  black  or  dark  brown.  Vertex  with  a pair  of 
round  black  spots  on  margin,  about  equally  distant  from  each 
other  and  the  eyes.  Ocelli  red,  equidistant  from  eye  and 
nearest  marginal  spot.  Face  straw,  heavily  peppered  with 
brown  pigment  in  the  male,  faintly  marked  in  the  female. 

Genitalia:  Female  last  ventral  segment  with  posterior  mar- 
gin rather  shallowly,  concavely  excavated  either  side  of  a 
median,  blunt,  slightly  produced  tooth  which  is  about  the 
width  of  the  ovipositor.  Male  plates  long  and  narrow,  bluntly 
pointed  at  apex,  concavely  tapered  on  outer  margins.  Styles 

^ The  authors  wish  to  acknowledge  with  appreciation  the  as- 
sistance obtained  from  a Grant-in-Aid  from  the  Sigma  Xi  research 
fund. 


160  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 


Explanation  of  Figures. 


Fig.  1.  Dorsal  view  of  head,  pronotum  and  scutellum  of  Neo- 
domis  piperatus. 

Fig.  2.  Ventral  view  of  ninth  abdominal  segment  of  female. 

Fig.  3.  Lateral  view  of  male  genital  structures. 

Fig.  4.  Ventral  view  of  male  genital  structures.  ,• 

short,  broad  and  curved  on  outer  margin  at  base,  rapidly  nar-  j 
rowed  to  form  a narrow,  obliquely  truncated  apex,  the  outer  j 

margin  of  which  is  pointed  and  a little  more  produced  than  | 

the  inner  margin.  Aedeagus  in  lateral  view  with  a rather  long, 
narrow,  dorsally  produced  basal  process.  The  body  of  the 
aedeagus  is  narrowed  from  this  basal  process  to  form  a dor- 
sally  curved  portion,  which  extends  to  the  ventral  margin  of 


Dec.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  161 


the  anal  tube,  is  narrowly  rounded  at  apex,  with  a pair  of 
rather  long  spine-like  processes  rising  on  the  inner  margin  a 
short  distance  from  the  apex. 

Holotype  male,  allotype  female,  and  male  and  female  paratypes 
collected  at  Morelia,  Mich.,  Mexico,  September  30,  1945,  by  Plum- 
mer, Elliott,  Hershberger  and  DeLong.  Paratype  males  and  fe- 
males from  Tasquilla,  Hgo.  (K-172),  October  1945,  collected  by 
DeLong,  Hershberger  and  Elliott;  October  29,  1941,  by  Good  and 
DeLong;  Valles,  S.  L.  P.,  November  7,  1941,  by  Good  and  DeLong; 
Carapan,  Mich.  (K-432),  October  2,  1941,  by  DeLong,  Good, 
Caldwell  and  Plummer. 

These  were  taken  from  shrubs  on  the  semi-desert  and  have  been 
found  at  elevations  from  300  to  6000  feet.  They  have  not  been 
found  under  any  other  habitat  conditions. 


Prociphilus  Aphid  Notes. — The  following  notes  deal  with 
Prociphiliis  records : — 

Prociphilus  corrugatans  (Sirrine)  collected  in  slightly  rolled 
leaves  of  Amelanchier  alnijolia  in  Emigration  Canyon,  Utah,  June 
21,  1925;  Logan  Canyon,  June  14,  1936,  and  Bluff,  in  Utah,  June 
19,  1933  ; in  Idaho  at  St.  Anthony,  Upper  Sand  Creek  and  Rexburg, 
June  13,  1936.  Collected  by  W.  W.  Baker  on  Amelanchier  florida 
in  Washington  at  Crosby,  May  20,  and  Spanway,  May  29,  1934. 

P.  jraxinijolii  (Riley)  on  Fraxinus  americana,  severely  damaging 
10  per  cent  of  the  plants  in  the  College  nursery  at  Logan,  Utah, 
June  30,  1941,  with  95  per  cent  of  the  aphids  infested  by  internal 
parasites;  curling  ash  leaves  at  Brigham,  July  13,  1938,  Smithfield, 
June  3,  1930,  Garland,  Salt  Lake,  and  Provo,  in  Utah.  Also 
Bozeman,  Montana,  July  3,  1926  (C.  B.  Philip). 

P.  tessellatus  (Pitch)  on  Alnits  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  May  16, 
1925  (Knowlton)  ; Clarks  Valley,  Pa.,  on  Alnus  rugosa,  May  20, 
1930  (J.  N.  Knull). 

P.  venafuscus  Patch  on  bark  of  Fraxinus  pennsylvaniea  at  Evans 
(Box  Elder  County),  Utah,  May  13  and  18,  1930;  Pleasant  View 
and  Utah  Hot  Springs  (Weber  County)  October  9,  1937 ; Center- 
ville, May  19,  1931 ; and  Logan,  the  alate  taken  on  October  17, 
1929,  evidently  being  an  accidental  on  Juniperus. — George  P. 
Knowlton,  Utah  State  Agricultural  College,  Logan,  Utah. 


162  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLII 


OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  BIOLOGY  OF  SOME 
MUTILLID  WASPS  (HYMENOPTERA, 
MUTILLIDAE). 

By  David  G.  Shappirio,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Dasymiitilla  obscura  (BL) 

On  July  10,  1947,  Mr.  Richard  Boettcher,  of  Washington,  re- 
marked that  while  collecting  wasps  in  Rock  Creek  Park,  D.  C.,  he 
had  noticed  a colony  of  Cerceris  clypeata  Dahlb.  ( Hymenoptera, 
Sphecidae)  which  not  only  displayed  clypeata  engaged  in  their  nest- 
ing activities,  but  also  numerous  mutillid  wasps  which  were  de- 
cidedly interested  in  burrows  of  the  former  species.  He  noted  that 
a female  mutillid  entered  one  of  the  clypeata  nests,  and  also  observed 
two  female  mutillids  fighting  outside  the  entrance  to  another  nest. 
I accompanied  Mr.  Boettcher  to  the  location  on  the  morning  of  July 
11.  Immediately  three  mutillids,  definitely  Dasymiitilla  obscura, 
were  seen  walking  on  the  ground  among  open  clypeata  burrows. 
The  mutillids  did  not  run  hurriedly  over  the  ground  in  their  custom- 
ary manner,  but  held  their  abdomens  high,  and  slowly  patrolled  the 
area,  constantly  making  the  squeaking  noise  often  described. 

A C.  clypeata  returned  to  her  nest.  She  seemed  reluctant  to 
enter  it  for  some  reason,  and  indeed,  a female  D.  obscura  was  watch- 
ing her  from  under  a leaf  only  a few  inches  away.  This  reluctance 
appeared  to  be  universal,  but  the  larger  clypeata  never  attempted  to 
drive  the  mutillids  away.  Later,  an  obscura  entered  one  of  the 
burrows,  then  removed  and  scattered  some  of  the  dirt  piled  up 
around  the  entrance  by  clypeata.  All  these  activities  continued 
until  dusk,  about  7 : 30  P.M.,  E.S.T.  By  7:  45,  no  mutillids  were 
active,  although  a few  clypeata  were  present.  It  was  not  then  ap- 
parent whether  the  mutillids  spent  the  night  in  clypeata  burrows, 
but  this  would  be  suggested  by  later  observations. 

At  7 : 30  the  next  morning,  many  clypeata  were  about  and  active. 
The  first  mutillid  suddenly  appeared  at  7 : 50,  and  before  8 : 00  two 
more  had  arisen  from  burrows  in  the  ground.  Whether  these  bur- 
rows were  originally  clypeata  burrows  is  questionable,  since  none  of 
them  contained  weevils  (as  did  all  those  definitely  clypeata),  and 
both  of  these  mutillids  were  caked  with  dirt,  indicating  probably 
that  they  had  been  digging  considerably. 

These  observations  were  verified  repeatedly  during  July.  We 
were  unable,  however,  in  reaching  to  definite  proof  that  Dasymutilla 
obscura  lives  at  the  expense  of  clypeata.  Nevertheless,  regardless  of 


Bee.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  163 


their  absolute  conclusiveness  alone,  these  observations  are  at  least 
very  suggestive  of  such  activity,  and  any  other  explanation  seems 
unreasonable. 

Dasymutilla  lepeletierri  (Fox) 

Both  males  and  females  of  this  species  (kindly  determined  by 
Dr.  K.  V.  Krombein)  were  very  numerous  in  a sandy  area  near 
Odenton,  Anne  Arundel  County,  Maryland,  on  July  26,  1947.  At 
about  3:00  P.M.  a pair  was  taken  in  copula.  Apparently  it  has 
not  previously  been  taken  mating. 

Dasymutilla  nigripes  (Fab.) 

Two  mating  pairs  of  this  species  were  taken  during  July,  1947, 
by  Mr.  Boettcher.  In  July,  1946,  I observed  another  pair  which 
remained  in  copula  for  less  than  ten  seconds. 

Timiilla  vagans  (Fab.) 

Timulla  seems  to  be  the  genus  of  Mutillidae  which  most  fre- 
quently is  encountered  mating.  Possible  explanation  for  this  lies 
in  the  fact  that  the  wasps  of  this  genus  remain  in  copula  for  a longer 
period  than  other  mutillids. 

On  July  29,  1947,  in  watching  a female  vagans  climb  a steep  bank, 
a male  of  the  same  species  was  seen  to  dart  down  from  a height  of 
several  feet  upon  her.  He  had  no  difficulty  in  finding  her.  They 
remained  in  copula  for  several  minutes,  surprising  when  compared 
with  the  mating  times  for  other  genera.  Pseudomethoca  simillima 
and  P.  jrigida}  remained  together  for  only  about  fifteen  seconds. 


Note  on  a Geographical  Name — From  Arizona,  many  collectors 
have  received  specimens  from  Mount  (or  Mt.)  Lemmon,  Santa 
(or  Sta.)  Catalina  Mountains  (or  Mts.).  The  correct  spelling  of 
the  name  is  as  above,  since  it  is  a surname,  bearing  no  relation  to 
lemon,  the  well-known  acid  fruit.  J.  R.  de  la  Torre-Bueno, 
Tucson,  Arizona. 

^ See  Scientific  Monthly,  XLIV,  No.  4,  Apr.  1947,  pp.  348-50. 
The  Dasymutilla  nigripes  referred  to  above  also  remained  together 
for  a very  short  period.  And  another  species  of  Dasymutilla,  this 
unidentified,  remained  together  about  thirty  seconds. 


164  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 


SOME  REMARKS  ON  THE  GENUS  CHLOROCHROA 
(HEMIPTERA,  PENTATOMIDAE)  AND 
A NEW  SPECIES. 

By  Charles  O.  Esselbaugh,  Pullman,  Wash. 

In  making  some  observations  on  the  immature  stages  of  some 
Pentatomidae  in  eastern  Washington,  some  nymphs  with  accom- 
panying adults  were  collected  from  Opuntia  polyacantha  Haw.,  a 
species  of  prickly  pear  cactus  growing  in  the  Snake  River  canyon 
near  Clarkston,  Washington.  Similar  observations  concerning 
Chlorochroa  persimilis  Horv.  in  the  sandhill  country  of  Illinois  on 
another  species  of  prickly  pear,  0.  rafinesquii  Engelm.,  readily  sug- 
gested a comparison.  Although  it  was  assumed  at  first,  because  of 
the  food  plant,  that  the  pentatomid  species  was  the  same,  some 
discrepancies  began  to  assert  themselves. 

The  first  discordant  note  was  that,  even  making  allowance  for 
climatic  conditions,  first  generation  nymphs  seemed  too  far  ad- 
vanced in  their  development  and  instead  of  being  dark  green  in 
color,  as  in  C.  persimilis,  they  ranged  in  color  from  a sky  blue  to  a 
deeper  blue,  the  deeper  shade  confined  mostly  to  the  younger  instars. 
Also  the  egg  masses  were  readily  found  on  the  spines  of  the  food 
plant,  which  had  not  been  the  case  with  C.  persimilis  in  Illinois,  the 
eggs  not  being  found  there  or  anywhere  else  so  far  as  field  observa- 
tions were  concerned.  Even  those  in  captivity  never  oviposited 
upon  the  cactus  spines.  In  addition  to  the  above,  the  adults  could 
readily  be  distinguished  from  those  of  the  above  species  by  little 
more  than  a casual  glance,  probably  due  largely  to  the  difference  in 
color,  yet  a definite  morphological  character  for  their  separation 
was  not  readily  in  evidence. 

The  matter  of  determining  whether  the  species  is  a new  one  has 
been  complicated  by  the  inadequacy  of  the  literature  and  the  ac- 
companying uncertain  status  of  some  of  the  species.  The  most  re- 
cent generic  key  (Torre-Bueno,  1939)  is  a recast  of  the  one  by  Van 
Duzee  (1904)  with  some  added  characters,  some  gleaned  from  the 
original  descriptions  and  others  apparently  by  Torre-Bueno  him- 
self. I regret  to  say  I still  find  the  key  unsatisfactory  in  some 
respects.  Chief  among  my  troubles  has  been  my  ability  to  reconcile 
either  persimilis  or  uhleri  to  the  key  in  question.  Van  Duzee 
(1916)  synonymized  these  two  species  and  seems  to  have  been 
followed  by  other  authors  for  some  thirty  years,  with  attendant  con- 
fusion of  distribution  records.  As  regards  persimilis,  I would  not 
consider  the  color  to  be  a deep,  clear  green,  as  indicated  in  the  key. 


Bee.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  165 


but  nearer  a pea  green,  in  pinned  specimens  at  least.  I would 
interpret  the  terminology  “clear  green”  to  imply  the  absence  of  pale 
dots  or  points,  such  as  are  present  in  some  of  the  other  species,  but 
these  are  also  present  in  varying  degree  in  more  than  half  my 
specimens,  nearly  all  of  which  are  from  Illinois.  Neither  have  I 
been  able  to  recognize  the  character  “male  genital  segment  strongly 
produced  on  the  ventral  surface,”  but  most  misleading  is  the  part 
relating  to  the  relative  length  of  the  antennal  segments,  the  difficulty 
apparently  arising  from  faulty  translation  of  Horvath’s  original  latin 
description.  Instead  of  “antennal  segment  II  one-half  as  long  as 
III,”  I translate  it  to  read  “one-half  longer  than  third,”  which  is 
approximately  true  of  the  specimens  at  hand.  The  specimens  in  my 
personal  collection  also  measure  13-16  mm.  in  length,  most  of  them 
longer  than  the  14  mm.  indicated  in  the  key  and  as  per  the  original 
description. 

In  fact,  Horvath’s  description  does  not  well  describe  the  species 
at  present  recognized  as  persimilis  but  it  cannot  well  be  applied  to 
any  other  known  species.  In  addition  to  the  above  discrepancies, 
the  specimens  I have  examined  have  a black  abdominal  tergum 
rather  than  a green  one. 

As  regards  uhleri,  in  the  few  specimens  I have  (two  of  them  de- 
termined by  Dr.  H.  M.  Harris),  the  three  smooth  dots  at  the  base 
of  the  scutellum  are  moderately  conspicuous,  as  are  also  smooth 
calloused  points  on  pronotum,  scutellum  and  hemelytra,  hence  giving 
difficulty  in  couplet  9 of  Torre-Bueno’s  key.  Van  Duzee  (1904) 
himself  expresses  much  uncertainty  regarding  this  species  and  sug- 
gests it  may  be  still  a plastic  group  or  alternatively  that  his  ma- 
terial contained  two  or  more  species  he  had  been  unable  to  delimit. 

Perhaps  less  important  is  the  discrepancy  in  size  between  that 
indicated  for  the  various  species  and  what  I find  in  measuring  my 
specimens.  It  seems  that  in  most  cases  I have  specimens  2 to  3 mm. 
longer  than  the  indicated  maximum.  In  addition  to  the  instance 
of  persimilis,  I also  have  a specimen  of  sayi  14  mm.  in  length  and  a 
ligata  17  mm.,  although  I have  only  a very  few  specimens  of  these 
species.  The  indicated  15  mm.  for  ligata  is  in  close  agreement  with 
the  eleven-twentieths  inch  given  in  Say’s  original  description,  which 
may  well  have  been  based  upon  a single  specimen. 

I have  not  seen  the  species  C.  congrua  Uhler.  Van  Duzee  ( 1904) 
says  plainly  that  it  is  somewhat  of  a puzzle  to  him,  adding  that 
Uhler’s  description  agrees  very  well  with  some  of  his  smaller  speci- 
mens of  uhleri  but  he  chose  to  follow  the  lead  of  other  authors  and 
identified  it  with  a smaller  species  that  had  come  to  him  from  vari- 
ous correspondents.  It  is  to  be  noted  here  that  localities  given  for 


166  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 


it  include  Moscow,  Idaho,  but  Harris  and  Shull  (1944)  do  not 
include  it  in  the  list  of  Hemiptera  from  that  state,  although  the  Uni- 
versity collection  at  Moscow  must  have  been  one  of  the  sources  of 
data. 

The  species  described  below  has  been  compared  with  all  the  listed 
North  American  species  except  congrua.  It  is  distinct  from  them 
and  seems  to  be  definitely  excluded  from  congrua  by  size  and  an- 
tennal characters.  If,  as  Van  Duzee  states,  Uhler’s  description  of 
congrua  agrees  with  small  specimens  of  uhleri,  the  smooth  white 
spots  on  pronotum,  scutellum  and  hemelytra  would  be  indicated  and 
likewise  the  three  dots  at  base  of  scutellum,  none  of  which  are 
present  in  the  species  described  below. 

Chlorochroa  opuntiae,  n.  sp. 

Oval,  abdomen,  measured  across  scutellum  at  apical  third, 
slightly  wider  than  across  humeri.  General  color  varies  from 
clear  blue-green  to  olivaceous,  the  latter  color  on  specimens 
taken  in  autumn.  Most  strongly  resembles  C.  persimilis  Horv. 
in  form  and  coloration  but  having  no  conspicuous  raised  pale 
spots  on  corium  or  base  of  scutellum.  It  is  also  a larger  and 
slightly  more  elongate  species.  Pale  margin  of  thorax  and 
abdomen  stramineous,  not  conspicuous.  Fourth  and  fifth 
antennal  segments  subequal,  fuscous ; third  shorter  and  less 
infuscated,  second  about  one-third  longer  than  third ; first 
two  segments  concolorous  with  head.  Head  more  elongate 
than  in  persimilis,  being  longer  than  wide  and  with  lateral 
margins  more  deeply  sinuated  and  parallel  for  a perceptible 
distance.  First  rostral  segment  surpasses  bucculae  by  abcut 
one-third  its  own  length  (Fig.  1),  or  some  three  times  as  much 
as  in  other  species  in  the  genus  (Fig.  2).  Third  rostral  about 
three-fourths  as  long  as  second  and  slightly  longer  than  fourth, 
which  reaches  fourth  abdominal  segment.  Lateral  margins  of 
pronotum  reflexed  and  nearly  straight  as  compared  to  shallowly 
sinuate  in  persimilis.  Lateral  margins  of  scutellum,  opposite 
basal  one-third,  less  sinuate  than  in  persimilis.  Elytra  much 
as  in  persimilis  but  membrane  usually  somewhat  more  infus- 
cated, not  spotted.  Legs  may  be  entirely  green  or  tibiae  and 
tarsi  may  be  infuscated  in  varying  degrees,  more  so  in  oliva- 
ceous specimens.  Claspers  as  shown  in  Fig.  3. 

Length  (to  apex  of  membrane)  13.5-15.0  mm. ; width, 
7. 5-9.0  mm. 

Described  from  29  specimens  taken  near  Clarkston,  Wash.,  from 


Dec.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  167 


Explanation  of  Figures. 


Fig.  1.  Chlorochroa  opuntiae,  sp. ; a,  basal  segment  of 
rostrum,  h,  buccula. 

Fig.  2.  Chlorochroa  persimilis  Horv.  a,  and  h,  as  above.  Also 
representative  of  other  presently  known  species. 

Fig.  3.  Left  genital  clasper  of  C.  opuntiae. 

Fig.  4.  Left  genital  clasper  of  C.  persimilis  Horv. 


168  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLll 


May  20  to  September  29,  1947.  Holotype,  male  taken  at  above 
location  May  20.  Paratypes,  16  males,  12  females.  Holotype 
and  2 paratypes  to  be  deposited  in  U.  S.  National  Museum  and  two 
paratypes  in  each  of  the  following  museums:  Washington  State 
College,  Pullman,  Wash. ; University  of  California  College  of 
Agriculture,  Berkeley,  Calif. ; Illinois  State  Natural  History  Survey, 
Urbana,  Illinois. 

To  date  the  species  has  not  been  observed  on  any  food  plant  other 
than  Opuntia  polyacantha  Haw.  and  no  locality  other  than  the 
above  has  been  established.  It  is  my  understanding  that  O.  poly- 
acantha occurs  as  far  east  as  the  eastern  base  of  the  Rockies  and 
there  may  well  be  other  food  plants,  especially  among  the  rather 
numerous  species  of  Opuntia.  One  specimen  of  C.  uhleri  was  also 
taken  from  this  food  plant  on  September  29. 

As  was  true  of  C.  persimilis,  both  nymyhs  and  adults  prefer  the 
fruits  for  food  so  long  as  these  remain  succulent,  but  when  they 
have  dried  up  the  bugs  move  to  the  flattened  stems  which  serve 
the  function  of  leaves.  The  adults  oviposit  principally  upon  the 
spines  of  the  cactus  but  sometimes  upon  the  slender  stem  of  some 
other  plant  which  happens  to  be  growing  among  the  cactus.  The 
eggs  are  arranged  in  two  interlocking  rows  and  usually  number 
from  20  to  30  per  mass ; so  far  as  noted  to  date  they  are  identical 
with  those  of  C.  persimilis  (Esselbaugh,  1946).  According  to  my 
observations,  three  generations  are  produced  annually. 

Addendum. 

After  completion  of  the  above  paper,  I have  been  informed 
through  correspondence  with  Dr.  Reece  Sailer  of  the  U.  S.  National 
Museum  that  the  genus  Chlorochroa  has  been  found  to  be  a hom- 
onym. He  seems  inclined  to  think  that  the  species  described  above 
will  eventually  land  in  the  genus  Rhytidolomia  Stab  Since  this 
is  in  no  sense  a revisional  paper,  I am  keeping  the  status  quo  until 
Dr.  Sailer’s  forthcoming  revision. 

Bibliography. 

Esselbaugh,  C.  O.  1946. — A study  of  the  eggs  of  the  Penta- 
tomidae  (Hemiptera).  Ann.  Ent.  See.  Amer.,  39:  667-691. 
Harris,  H.  M.  and  W.  E.  Shull.  1944. — A preliminary  list  of  the 
Hemiptera  of  Idaho.  Iowa  State  College  Jour.  Sci.,  18(2)  : 
199-208. 

Horvath,  G.  1908. — Remarques  sur  quelques  Hemipteres  de 
I’Amerique  du  Nord.  Ann.  Mus.  Nat.  Hungarici,  6:  555-569. 


Dec.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  169 


Say,  Thomas.  1831. — Descriptions  of  new  species  of  Heterop- 
terous  Hemiptera  of  North  America.  In  Complete  Writings, 
Vol.  I,  p.  315. 

Torre-Bueno,  J.  R.  de  la.  1939. — A synopsis  of  the  Hemiptera- 
Heteroptera  of  America  north  of  Mexico.  Part  I.  Entomo- 
logica  Americana,  19:  213-217. 

Van  Duzee,  E.  P.  1904 — Annotated  list  of  the  Pentatomidae 
recorded  from  America  north  of  Mexico,  with  descriptions  of 
some  new  species.  Trans.  Amer.  Ent.  Soc.,  30:  35-42. 

Van  Duzee,  E.  P.  1916 — Check  list  of  the  Hemiptera  (excepting 
the  Aphididae,  Aleurodidae  and  Coccidae)  of  America  north 
of  Mexico.  New  York  (N.  Y.  Ent.  Soc.),  xi+  111  pp. 

Vestal,  A.  G.  1913. — An  associational  study  of  Illinois  sand 
prairie.  Bull.  Illinois  St.  Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  10:  29-30. 


Leafhopper  “Bites”  Man. — A green  leafhopper,  Opsius  stacto- 
galus  Eieb.  (Det.  Dr.  P.  W.  Oman),  was  present  in  extreme  abund- 
ance on  severely  bleached  Tamarix  on  grounds  of  the  Garfield 
Smelter,  Salt  Lake  County,  Utah.  A few  sweeps  with  the  insect 
net  yielded  nearly  a half  pint  of  these  leafhoppers,  plus  a few 
predators  and  other  insects.  A pocket  cyanide  bottle  was  filled, 
the  balance  of  the  insects  being  permitted  to  escape. 

Several  dozen  living  leafhoppers  still  rested  on  my  clothing  when 
I entered  an  automobile  and  drove  away.  Within  five  minutes, 
one  leafhopper  had  “bitten”  me  on  the  left  wrist,  a second  had 
entered  through  the  open  neck  of  my  shirt  and  “bitten”  me  on  the 
chest,  a third  leafhopper  “bit”  me  on  the  right  wrist,  and  another 
“bit”  me  on  the  neck.  While  I was  discussing  this  with  my  com- 
panion, Dr.  A.  E.  Barney,  one  “bit”  him  on  his  left  wrist.  The 
irritation  did  not  persist  long  from  any  of  these  “bites,”  inflicted 
about  4:10  P.  M.  on  August  19,  1947.  The  day  was  warm  and 
overcast,  but  we  were  not  particularly  moist  from  perspiration. 

On  numerous  occasions  during  the  past  23  years,  in  the  summer 
while  “working  over”  the  day’s  collection  of  insects  beneath  a 
light  at  night,  I have  been  “bitten”  by  leafhoppers,  including  Eutet- 
tix  tenelhis  (Baker),  Erythroneura  ziczac  (Walsh),  E.  coloraden- 
sis  (Gill),  Empoasca  sp.,  and  others.  This  most  frequently  hap- 
pened at  “auto  camps”  or  in  rural  hotels  on  evenings  of  heavy  insect 
flight  to  lights. — G.  F.  Knowlton,  Logan,  Utah. 


170  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLll 


NOTES  ON  ROBBER  FLIES  (ASILIDAE)  PREYING 
ON  HONEYBEES  IN  THE  SAN  ANTONIO 
AREA  DURING  1946. 

By  A.  H.  Alex,  Texas  Agricultural  Experiment  Station, 

San  Antonio,  Texas. 

Robber  flies,  Asilidae,  are  of  much  interest  in  Texas  because  of 
their  wide  distribution  over  the  State,  the  relatively  large  number  of 
their  species,  the  abundance  of  individuals,  and  their  economic 
status. 

Since  asilid  larvae  live  in  soil  and  dead  wood  and  feed  on  larvae 
of  Phyllophaga  and  other  beetles  they  must  be  considered  beneficial. 

Adult  asilids  feed  almost  exclusively  on  insects.  Dr.  P.  W. 
Fattig  lists  the  prey  of  47  asilid  species  in  Georgia.  The  prey 
comprises  112  species  of  insects  of  seven  orders.  In  so  far  as  the 
prey  includes  flies,  beetles,  butterflies,  moths,  grasshoppers  and 
true  bugs,  robber  flies  may  be  considered  beneficial.  Since  a 
portion  of  asilid  prey  consists  of  pollinating  insects,  including 
honeybees,  and  the  latter  constitute  the  prey  of  30  asilid  species, 
these  predacious  flies  are  to  be  considered  detrimental. 

Dr.  S.  W.  Bromley  lists  161  species  of  asilids  for  Texas  of 
which  at  least  20  are  known  to  kill  honeybees.  Four  species  show 
preference  for  honeybees  and  often  take  a heavy  toll  of  bees  in  the 
vicinity  of  apiaries. 

Robber  flies  are  encountered  in  large  numbers,  every  year  in 
the  apiaries  of  the  Apicultural  Research  Laboratory  of  the  Texas 
Agricultural  Experiment  Station.  During  1946  robber  flies  were 
collected  in  five  apiaries  of  the  Laboratory.  Flies  with  honeybee 
prey  were  collected  as  they  were  observed  in  the  apiaries  during 
routine  manipulation  of  the  colonies.  The  more  abundant  species 
Saropogon  dispar  and  Mallophora  orcina  were  collected  only  in 
representative  numbers.  However,  effort  was  made  to  collect  all 
specimens  of  the  less  abundant  species  in  order  that  as  many  as 
possible  of  the  bee-killing  species  might  be  included  in  the  collection. 
Determinations  were  made  by  Dr.  S.  W.  Bromley. 

Two  permanent  apiaries  are  located  in  southeastern  Bexar 
County.  Soils  in  this  area  vary  from  a heavy  clay  loam  to  a sandy 
loam.  The  native  vegetation  consists  of  a heavy  growth  of 
mesquite  trees  and  a heavy  cover  of  underbrush,  cacti  and  grasses. 
Three  apiaries  operated  for  the  production  of  queen  bees  were 
located  in  Wilson  County  at  a distance  of  eight  to  twelve  miles 


Dec.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  171 


from  the  laboratory.  The  soil  in  this  area  consists  of  coarse  sand  of 
considerable  depth.  The  native  vegetation  consists  of  a dense 
growth  of  post  oak  and  hickory  and  cover  of  grasses,  legumes  and 
composites. 

In  the  apiaries  in  Wilson  County  robber  flies  with  honeybees 
prey  collected  are  as  follows : 

9,  Mallophora  orcina  Wiedemann  6-17,  6-24 
2,  Promachus  bastardii  Macquart  6-6,  6-24 
1,  Andrenosoma  rubidum  Williston  6-23 
1,  Stenopogon  latipennis  Loew  6-24 
1,  Erax  estuans  Linnaens  6-26 

Numerous  robber  flies  of  other  species  were  observed.  The 
prey  of  these  consisted  chiefly  of  grasshoppers,  flies  and  stink  bugs. 
Among  the  bee-killing  species  only  Mallophora  orcina  was  plentiful 
and  preyed  almost  exclusively  on  honeybees.  Several  hundred 
specimens  of  this  species  with  honeybee  prey  were  observed 
during  about  50  hours  spent  in  the  apiaries  in  that  area.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  loss  of  worker  bees  it  seems  probable  that  some  loss 
of  queens  resulted  from  the  depredation  of  Mallophora  orcina. 

Robber  flies  with  honeybee  prey  collected  in  the  apiaries  in 
Bexar  County  are  as  follows : 

28,  Saropogon  dispar  Coquillett  6-5  to  6-23 
7,  Diogmites  symmachus  Loew  6-16,  6-23,  X-12 
3,  Diogmites  angnstipennis  Loew  X-2,  X-16,  X-28 
1,  Andrenosoma  rubidum  Williston  6-26 
1,  Erax  completus  Macquart  X-12 

3,  Erax  grand  is  Mine  4-30,  5-6,  5-27  recorded  in  Bexar 
County  during  1947 

In  Bexar  County  Saropogon  dispar  is  by  far  the  most  abundant 
and  serious  “bee-killing.”  At  least  3,000  specimens  were  observed 
with  honeybee  prey  during  June,  July  and  August  1946.  This 
robber  fly  is  abundant  every  year.  Some  years  ago  these  flies  were 
very  abundant  in  a queen-rearing  apiary.  One  was  observed 
catching  a queen  bee,  and  it  seemed  probable  that  loss  of  queens 
suffered  at  the  time  might  be  caused  by  these  depredations.  Over 
700  specimens  of  X.  dispar  were  killed  in  three  days  with  insect 
nets  and  wooden  paddles.  Thereafter  loss  of  queens  was  less 
evident,  until  the  flies  again  became  common.  Saropogon  dispar 
seized  its  prey  boldly,  often  at  the  hive  entrances.  Occasionally 
the  bees  are  able  to  seize,  overpower  and  kill  the  attacker.  As 
many  as  eight  dead  flies  have  been  observed  near  the  entrance 
of  one  colony.  Diogmites  symmachus  was  not  plentiful  in  the 


172  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLII 


laboratory  apiaries  during  1946,  but  is  considered  more  serious  in 
other  areas,  and  will  prey  on  other  asilids.  Diogmites  angustipennis 
usually  less  common  than  6'.  dispar  was  not  plentiful  in  1946. 
While  honeybees  appear  to  be  the  favorate  prey,  this  species  preys 
also  on  other  asilids  and  is  often  cannibalistic. 

It  is  significant  that  the  two  localities  covered  in  the  collection 
differ  greatly  in  types  of  soil,  vegetation  and  also  in  their  respective 
asilid  fauna.  Andrenosoma  7'ubidum  is  the  only  species  collected  in 
both  localities  in  1946. 

Asilids  appear  to  be  sufficiently  selective  in  their  food  habits  to 
permit  differentiation  of  beneficial  and  injurious  species.  While 
most  species  may  be  beneficial,  four  species,  Saropogon  dispar, 
Diogmites  symmachus,  Diogmites  angustipennis  and  Mallophora 
oreina  in  their  habits  of  killing  bees  are  detrimental  in  Texas. 
Saropogon  dispar  is  especially  detrimental  in  the  San  Antonio  area. 

Literature  Cited. 

Bromley,  S.  W.  1930.  Bee-killing  Robberflies.  Jour.  N.  Y. 
Ent.  Soc.  38:  159-176. 

Bromley,  S.  W.  1934.  The  Robber  Flies  of  Texas.  Ann.  Ent. 
Soc.  Amer.  27  ( 1 ) : 74-1 10. 

Fattig,  P.  W.  1945.  Asilidae  or  Robber  Flies  of  Georgia. 
Emory  Univ.  Mus.  Bui.  3. 


THE  EIGHTH  INTERNATIONAL  CONGRESS  OF 
ENTOMOLOGY  IN  STOCKHOLM. 

The  Congress  will  assemble  in  Stockholm  from  August  9th  to 
14th,  1948.  The  following  sections  are  provided  for  discussion: 
Systematic  Entomology.  Physiology.  Oecology  and  Zoogeogra- 
phy. Morphology  and  Anatomy.  Embryology.  Agricultural  and 
horticultural  Entomology.  Apiculture.  Forest  Entomology. 
Stored  products  insects.  Medical  and  Veterinary  Entomology. 
Methods  of  control  and  insecticides.  Nomenclature  and  history. 
Bibliography.  Arachnids.  Specific  information  about  the  Pro- 
gramme of  the  Congress  and  the  arrangements  in  connection  there- 
with, will  be  forwarded  in  the  next  time. 

Address  of  the  Congress  Office:  Stockholm  50  (Sweden). 


Dec.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomoiogical  Society  173 


BOOK  NOTES. 

A synopsis  of  the  Hemiptera-Heteroptera  of  America  North 
of  Mexico.  J.  R.  de  la  Torre-Bueno.  Part  I,  Entomologica 
Americana,  XIX:  141-304,  1939;  Part  II,  op.  c.  XXI:  41-122, 
1941;  Part  III,  op.  c.  XXVI:  1-141,  1946.  Brooklyn  Entomo- 
logical Society,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

In  the  year  1917  a new  era  dawned  in  North  American  hemip- 
terology.  The  Van  Duzee  Catalogue  brought  together  all  of  the 
loose  ends  of  this  vast  subject.  As  a logical  outgrowth  of  this 
pioneer  work,  one  would  have  expected  a period  of  integration.  But 
the  time  was  not  right  for  comprehensive  works.  The  catalogue 
brought  to  light  glaring  gaps  in  our  knowledge  and  showed  that 
hundreds  of  genera  and  species  remained  to  be  described.  There 
followed  a period  of  intense  specialization.  The  only  general  work 
of  this  period  was  Parshley’s  “Bibliography  of  the  North  American 
Hemiptera-Heteroptera”  (1925).  “The  Hemiptera  of  Connecti- 
cut” (1924)  and  Blatchley’s  “Heteroptera  of  Eastern  North  Amer- 
ica” (1926)  were  noteworthy  attempts  at  complete  taxonomic  treat- 
ment but  they  were  local  in  character  and,  as  mentioned  above, 
they  were  poorly  timed  with  respect  to  the  advancement  of  special- 
ized knowledge. 

Now,  after  a quarter  of  a century,  we  have  the  beginnings  of 
a taxonomic  outgrowth  of  the  Van  Duzee  catalogue.  It  comes  from 
the  pen  of  one  of  our  elder  hemipterists,  a colleague  of  Van  Duzee 
and  other  pioneers  of  the  profession.  It  comes  in  a spirit  of  humility. 
In  the  words  of  the  author,  “It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  these 
keys  have  no  pretensions  to  a monographic  status — they  . . . are 
the  distillation  of  widely  scattered  data,  to  make  such  facts  avail- 
able in  one  place.”  (Pt.  II,  p.  42).  “It  is  hoped  that  the  keys  . . . 
will  be  found  helpful  by  hemipterists,  especially  by  those  with  pri- 
vate collections  who  are  far  from  too-busy  museums  and  their  over- 
worked staffs.”  (Pt.  HI,  p.  1).  My  copy  is  signed,  “With 
regards  from  the  compiler.”  (Italics  mine).  This,  then,  is  the 
spirit  in  which  the  Synopsis  is  offered  and  hence,  also,  the  spirit 
in  which  I agreed  to  review  it. 

First  there  are  some  errors.  I recall  an  old  adage,  “To  avoid  crit- 
icism, do  nothing,  say  nothing,  be  nothing !”  Torre-Bueno  has  cho- 
sen to  do  something,  say  something  and  be  something  and  I do  not 
know  any  one  hemipterist  in  the  world  who  would  presume  to 
review  critically  all  of  the  thirteen  families  which  he  has  done  to 
date.  For  my  own  part,  I have  simply  browsed  through  certain  sec- 
tions which  were  of  special  interest  to  me  at  the  time.  The  errors 


174  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^LIl 


or  omissions  which  I encountered  are  trivial  but  are  probably 
representative.  Neottiglossa  cavifrons  Stal  was  used  in  place  of 
tumidifrons  Downes  (Canad.  Ent.,  60:  90,  1928).  Vanduzeeina 
aenescens  Usinger  was  misspelled  ''senescens''  and  Calisius  con- 
tubernalis  Bergroth  was  misspelled  ‘^cotuhernalis.”  In  part  II, 
the  varieties  artuflava  McAtee  and  artuatra  McAtee  (Bull.  Brook. 
Ent.  Soc.,  14:  8,  1919)  of  Chelinidea  vittiger  Uhler  were  omitted 
and  the  ‘‘subspecies”  vittiger  and  aequoris  were  called  varieties. 
Dubious  though  McAtee’s  treatment  may  be,  we  recall  that,  “This 
Synopsis  is  in  no  sense  a revision — it  simply  reflects  current  prac- 
tice, right  or  wrong.”  (Pt.  II,  p.  43). 

As  to  content,  the  Synopsis  now  covers  three  parts  with  a total 
of  385  pages.  Part  I includes  a glossary  and  key  to  families  fol- 
lowed by  keys  to  the  genera  and  species  of  Scutelleridae,  Cydnidae, 
Pentatomidae,  Aradidae,  Dysodiidae  and  Termitaphididae.  Part 
II  covers  the  Coreidae,  Alydidae,  Corizidae,  Neididae,  Pyrrhocor- 
idae,  and  Thaumastotheriidae ; and  Part  III  is  devoted  entirely  to 
the  family  Lygaeidae.  Each  part  contains  an  annotated  bibliography 
of  references  to  the  literature  since  the  Van  Duzee  Catalogue. 
Part  IV  is  being  prepared  at  the  present  time  and  the  author  writes 
that  it  will  “contain  the  remaining  families,  except  Miridae  and 
probably  Corixidae.”  Additions  and  corrections  have  appeared 
as  follows  : Part  I,  containing  revised  keys  to  the  genera  of  Podopini 
with  the  addition  of  Allopodops  mississippiensis  Harris  and  John- 
ston, a key  to  Coenus  and  a correction  in  the  key  to  Rhytidolomia, 
Liodermion,  and  Chlorochroa  (Bull.  Brook.  Ent.  Soc.,  35:  51, 
1940)  ; Part  II,  an  insertion  sheet  containing  a revised  key  to  the 
genera  of  Mictini. 

It  is  stated  in  the  Preface  to  Part  I that  nomenclature  adheres 
closely  to  the  Van  Duzee  Catalogue.  This  was  a wise  policy  since 
the  Synopsis  “introduces  no  innovations  ...  in  nomenclature.” 
But  what  of  the  numerous  changes  since  1917?  Allocoris  McAtee 
and  Malloch,  1933  for  Corimelaena  White,  1839,  is  rejected  (and 
rightly  so  in  the  reviewer’s  opinion).  (See  Sailer,  Proc.  Ent.  Soc. 
Wash.,  47 : 128,  1945 ; McAtee  and  Malloch,  Proc.  Ent.  Soc. 
Wash.,  47:  212,  1945.)  Macroparins  Stal  for  Nysius  Dallas  was 
ignored  along  with  other  changes  proposed  in  Part  8 of  “The 
Generic  Names  of  British  Insects”  by  W.  E.  China,  Royal  Ent.  Soc. 
Lond.,  1943.  Appeals  have  been  submitted  to  the  International 
Commission  on  Zoological  Nomenclature  for  suspension  of  the 
Rules  in  some  of  these  cases  (China,  loc  cit.\  Usinger  and  Sailer, 
Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  Wash.,  46 : 260,  1944)  but  some  of  the  changes 


Dec.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  175 


such  as  Pachybrachiits  Hahn  for  Orthaea  Dalias  will  probably  have 
to  be  used. 

I cannot  forego  some  comment  on  the  author’s  philosophy  with 
respect  to  descriptions  and  types.  The  inadequacy  of  existing  de- 
scriptions is  decried  on  nearly  every  page  of  the  Synopsis  and  is 
well  known  to  all  working  taxonomists.  The  only  satisfactory 
solution  known  to  me  and  other  “worshippers  of  the  Type  Fetish” 
(Pt.  Ill,  p.  4)  is  to  continue  our  annual  or  sabbatical  pilgrimages 
to  the  four  corners  of  the  globe  and  to  impose  upon  the  time  and 
good  nature  of  curators  and  colleagues  to  loan  authentic  specimens. 
I cannot  see  that  this  leads  us  along  “a  road  going  nowhere,  except 
to  confusion.”  Quite  the  contrary.  On  the  other  hand,  it  must 
be  admitted  that  such  work  is  monographic  rather  than  synoptic 
and  therefore  would  be  impossible  to  see  through  to  completion 
in  the  case  of  the  Synopsis. 

Mr.  Torre-Bueno  should  be  praised  for  his  vision,  industry  and 
patience  in  carrying  out  this  project  and  for  the  pleasing  format 
of  the  Synopsis.  Let  us  hope  that  he  may  carry  the  work  on  to 
completion  and  that  it  may  fulfill  the  objectives  which  he  has  so 
clearly  defined. — Robert  L.  Usinger. 


Phymatid  Kills  Honeybees. — An  adult  ambush  bug,  Phymata 
pennsylvanica  coloradensis  Melin,  was  abserved  to  have  captured 
and  to  be  feeding  on  a recently  dead  worker  honeybee  at  Hunting- 
ton,  Utah,  on  September  2,  1947.  The  dead  bee  was  sprawled 
awkwardly  on  top  of  the  flowering  heads  of  rabbitbrush,  Chryso- 
thaninus  nauseosus.  On  nearby  flower  heads  another  P.  p, 
coloradensis  was  feeding  on  a female  cluster  fly,  Pollenia  rudis 
(Fabr.),  which  it  had  captured.  A third  Phymata  was  feeding  on 
a smaller  fly,  while  eight  others  observed  on  rabbitbrush  blossoms 
at  the  time  held  no  prey. 

Next  day  a dead  worker  honeybee  was  found  on  the  outermost 
disk  flowers  of  a sunflower  head,  6 miles  north  of  Monticello,  Utah. 
Close  examination  showed  this  freshly  dead  bee  also  was  held  by  a 
Phymata  p.  coloradensis.  This  phymatid  also  held  to  the  anterior 
end  of  the  body  of  its  prey  and  fed  in  the  region  of  the  head.  Only 
a few  phymatids  were  observed  on  other  blossoming  sunflowers 
here,  but  numerous  adult  Lygus  bugs,  worker  honeybees,  and  a few 
wild  bees  were  working  these  blossoms.  In  both  above  instances  the 
observations  were  made  at  stops  along  the  highway  and  at  approxi- 
mately 5 P.M.,  the  sky  being  overcast  and  threatening  storm. — 
G.  F.  Knowlton,  Logan,  Utah. 


176  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLll 


EXCHANGES  AND  FOR  SALE. 

This  page  is  limited  to  exchange  notices  and  to  small  For 
Sale  advertisements  from  members  of  the  Society  and  from 
actual  paid  subscribers  to  the  Bulletin  exclusively.  Ex- 
change notices  from  members  of  the  Society  and  from  sub- 
scribers are  limited  to  three  (3)  lines  each,  including 
address;  beyond  3 lines,  there  will  be  a charge  of  $1.00  for 
each  3 lines  or  less  additional.  For  Sale  ads  will  be  charged 
at  $1.25  for  each  3 lines  or  part  of  3 lines.  Commercial  or 
business  advertisements  will  not  be  carried  in  this  page,  but 
will  go  in  our  regular  advertising  pages  at  our  regular  ad- 
vertising rates  to  everybody. 

PENTATOMIDAE : Want  to  buy  or  exchange  Pentatomidae 
from  the  United  States  and  Mexico.  Herbert  Ruckes,  College  of 
the  City  of  New  York,  17  Lexington  Ave.  N.Y.C. 

ACALYPTRATE  DIPTERA  OF  THE  WORLD  wanted  for 
determination  or  in  exchange  for  other  insects.  Geo.  Steyskal, 
23341  Puritan  Ave.,  Detroit,  Mich. 

WANTED.— MANTID  EGG  CASES  from  West  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi River.  If  interested  in  collecting,  write:  Osmond  P. 
Breland,  The  University  of  Texas,  Austin,  Texas. 

WILL  PURCHASE  complete  sets  of  the  Bulletin,  Old  Series, 
Vols.  1-7,  1878-1885.  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society,  Ivy  Way, 
Port  Washington,  L.  L,  N.  Y. 

LEPIDOPTERA  AND  ORTHOPTERA  from  Florida  in  pa- 
pers and  local  specimens  mounted  to  exchange  for  other  Lepidoptera. 
— Alex  K.  Wyatt,  5842  N.  Kirby  Avenue,  Chicago  (30),  111. 

“LEPIDOPTERISTS!  Drawer  front  labels  2 7/8"  x i 6/16" 
on  white-faced  board  at  cost ! Non-profit ! Don’t  delay,  write 
today!  Kent  H.  Wilson,  430  Ridgewood  Rd.,  Fort  Worth  7, 
Texas.” 

WANTED — Geometrid  moths,  for  cash  or  exchange.  John  L. 
Sperry,  3260  Redwood  Drive,  Riverside,  Calif. 

CERAMBYCIDAE  AND  CHRYSOMELIDAE  from  Asia 
and  Pacific  desired  for  determination;  purchase;  exchange. — J. 
Linsley  Gressitt,  Lignan  University,  Canton,  China. 

FOR  COLEOPTERA  OF  THE  WEST  INDIES  and  Chrys- 
omelidae  of  the  world,  will  collect  entomological  material  from  Cuba, 
by  previous  arrangement.  Am  interested  in  buying  literature  in 
the  above-mentioned  classes,  and  would  be  glad  to  be  advised  by 
individuals  or  institutions  of  such  articles ; or  to  send  them  to  me. 
Manuel  Barro,  Calle  12,  no.  220,  altos,  apto.  3,  Vedado,  Habana, 
Cuba. 


CONTENTS. 

(Arranged  alphabetically  throughout.) 
COLEOPTERA. 


A New  Paratyndaris  from  Ari- 
zona, Frank  H.  Parker,  31 
New  Species  of  Cymatodera 
from  California  and  Oregon, 
William  H.  Barr,  17 
Notes  on  Three  Buprestidae, 
Jacques  E.  Heifer,  140 
Ochthephilum  fracticorne  Payk., 
C.  A.  Frost,  18 

Say’s  Blister  Beetles,  Frederick 
Houghton,  103 


Silpha  Feeding  on  Dead  Bees, 
George  F.  Knowlton,  125 
The  Genotypes  (of  Coleoptera) 
fixed  by  Fabricius,  R.  E. 
Blackwelder,  51 

The  Use  of  Diethylene  Glycol 
in  the  Preparation  of  Balsam 
Mounts  of  the  Male  Genitalia 
of  Certain  Coleoptera,  K.  F. 
Chamberlain,  126 


Diptera. 


Diostracus  prasinus  Loew  in 
Tennessee,  George  Steyskal, 
16 

New  or  Insufficiently-known 
Crane-Flies  from  the  Nearc- 
tic  Region.  Part  VHI, 
Charles  P.  Alexander,  131 
New  Species  of  Ptychopteridae, 
Part  HI,  Charles  P.  Alex- 
ander, 19 

Notes  on  the  Genus  Dolichopus, 
George  Steyskal,  34 
Notes  on  Robber  Flies  (Asili- 


dae)  Preying  on  Honeybees 
in  the  San  Antonio  Area  in 
1946,  A.  H.  Alex,  170 
Seasonal  Occurrence  of  Chriso- 
philtts  proximus  (Walker), 
George  F.  Knowlton,  50 
The  Subgenus  Phorhia  Robin- 
eau-Desvoidy  in  North  Amer- 
ica, Genus  Hylemyia,  sens, 
lat.,  H.  C.  Huckett,‘l09 
Variations  in  the  Larvae  of  the 
Mosquito  Orthopodomyia  alba 
Baker,  Osmond  P.  Breland,  82 


General 

Book  Notes  (in  order  of  appear- 
ance) : 

Insects  of  Guam,  J.  R.  T.-B., 
38 

Butterflies  of  Washington,  J. 
R.  T.-B.,  38 

The  North  American  Clear- 
Wing  Moths  of  the  Family 
Aegeriidae,  A.  Glenn  Rich- 
ards, 39 


Subject. 

DDT  and  the  Insect  Problem, 
J.  R.  T.-B.,  40 

A Synopsis  of  the  Hemiptera- 
Heteroptera  of  America 
North  of  Mexico,  Robert  L. 
Usinger,  170 

A Catalogue  of  the  Hesper- 
oidea  of  Venezuela,  75 

N6mina  de  los  Artrdpodos 
Vulnerantes  Conocidos  Act- 


177 


178  Bulletin  of  the  Brookly 7i  Entomological  Society  Vol.  XLII 


iialmente  en  Venezuela,  J. 
R.  T.-B.,  75 

Elementos  de  Entoniologia 
General  con  Especial  Re- 
ferencia  a los  Insectos  de 
Interes  Eorestal,  J.  R.  T.- 
B.,  107 

Congress  of  Entomology,  O.  A. 

Joliannsen,  106 

Editorials,  J.  T.  T.-B.,  76,  107 

Frederick  Edward  Winters,  K. 

F.  Chamberlain,  72 


Names  and  Addresses  of  Au- 
thors, 30 

Note  on  a Geographical  Name, 
J.  R.  de  la  Torre-Bueno,  163 
Proceedings  of  the  Society, 
George  S.  Tulloch,  42,  143 
The  Eighth  International  Con- 
gress of  Entomology,  172 
The  Use  of  Diethylene  Glycol 
in  the  Preparation  of  Balsam 
Mounts  of  the  Male  Genita- 
lia of  Certain  Coleoptera,  K. 
F.  Chamberlain,  126 


Heteroptera. 


A Synopsis  of  the  Hemiptera- 
Heteroptera  of  America  North 
of  Mexico,  R.  L.  Usinger,  173 
Boxtlder  Bug  “Bites”  Man^ 
George  F.  Knowlton,  33 
Geocoris  Notes,  George  F. 
Knowlton,  79 

Phymata  Kills  Honeybees, 
George  F.  Knowlton,  175 
Schisolachnus  pini-radiatae  (Da- 


vidson), George  F.  Knowl- 
ton, 62 

Snowy  Tree  Cricket  Eats  Pea 
Aphis,  George  F.  Knowlton, 
142 

Some  Notes  on  the  Biology  of 
Hymenarcys  ae'quaUs  Say, 
Charles  O.  Esselbaugh,  25 

Some  Remarks  on  the  Genus 
Chlorochroa,  Charles  O.  Es- 
selbaugh, 164 


Homoptera. 


Additions  and  Corrections  to 
“A  Generic  Synopsis  of  the 
Aleyrodidae”  W.  W.  Samp- 
son, 45 

A Few  Aphids,  George  F. 
Knowlton,  77 

A new  Genus  (Frequenamia) 
and  Species  of  Mexican  Leaf- 
hopper  Related  to  Mesamia, 
Dwight  M.  DeLong,  63 

A New  Genus,  Neodonus,  and 
Species  of  Mexican  Leaf  hop- 
per, Dwight  M.  DeLong  and 
Ruth  V.  Hershberger,  159 


Leafhopper  “Bites”  Man,  George 
F.  Knowlton,  169 
Myzus  Aphid  Notes,  George 
F.  Knowlton,  74 
Notes  on  Six  Aphis  Species, 
George  F.  Knowlton,  155 
Prociphilus  Aphid  Notes,  George 
F.  Knowlton,  161 
The  Genus  Flexamia  in  Mexico, 
Dwight  M.  DeLong  and  Ruth 
V.  Hershberger,  136 
Two  Poplar  Aphids,  George  F. 
Knowlton,  71 


Dec.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  179 


Hymenoptera. 


Additions  to  Vespine  Biology. 

II.  Caste  Phases  among  Ves- 
pines,  Albro  T.  Gaul,  58 

Additions  to  Vespine  Biology. 

III.  Notes  on  the  Habits  of 
Vespula  squamosa  Drury,  Al- 
bro T.  Gaul,  87 

A Minute  on  a Subfamily  Name 
of  the  Psammocbaridae,  V.  S. 
L.  Pate,  70 

Notes  on  Robber  Flies  (Asili- 


dae)  Preying  on  Honeybees  in 
the  San  Antonio  Area  during 
1946,  A.  H.  Alex,  170 
Observations  on  the  Biology  of 
Some  Mutillid  Wasps,  David 
G.  Shappirio,  162 
On  the  Genus  Ochleroptera 
Holmberg,  V.  S.  L.  Pate,  65 
Phymata  Kills  Honeybees, 
George  F.  Knowlton,  175 
Silpha  Feeding  on  Dead  Bees, 
George  F.  Knowlton,  125 


Lepidoptera. 

New  Indo- Australian  Lycaeni-  Some  New  Species  of  Butter- 
dae,  Robert  G.  Wind  and  flies  from  Dominica,  B.  W.  I., 
Harry  K.  Clench,  1 Lawrence  S.  Dillon,  97 

Notes  on  Heliothiinae,  R.  R. 

McElvare,  96 

Orthoptera. 

Pygmy  Grasshopper  Notes,  Aphids,  George  F.  Knowlton, 

George  F.  Knowlton,  130  142 

Snowy  Tree-Cricket  Eats  Pea  Two  Mantids  from  Utah,  George 

F.  Knowlton,  86 


Other  Groups. 


A Breeding  Focus  of  Derma- 
centor  variabilis  (Say),  the 

Smaller 

New  Species  and  Records  of 
Nearctic  Hydrophilidae,  D.  G. 
Denning,  145 


American  Dog  Tick,  in  New 
Hampshire,  J.  Bequaert,  141 

Orders. 


180  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLII 


INDEX  TO  VOLUME  XLII. 

Arranged  alphabetically  throughout ; valid  species  in  Roman 
type,  synonyms  in  italics,  new  species  bold  face.  ^ indicates  other 
animals;  * plants.  Not  included  in  this  Index:  Genera  of  Aley- 
rodidae,  pp.  45/50;  extensive  list  of  Genera  and  Genotypes  of 
Coleoptera,  pp.  51/57;  extensive  Synonymy  of  the  Genus  Ochler- 
optera,  pp.  65/70. 


Adia,  111 

curvicauda,  120 
flexicauda,  109,  110 
genitalis,  120 
Agenia,  70 
Allocoris,  174 

Allopodops  mississippiensis,  174 
*Alnus  rugosa,  161 
*Amelanchier  alnifolia.  161 
florida,  161 

Amphorophora  geranii,  77 
Andrenosoma  rubidum,  171,  172 
Anthomyia  curvicauda,  118 
sepia.  111 

Aphis  artemisicola,  155 
bonnevillensis,  77 
chrysothamni,  79 
filifoliae,  77 
forbesii,  155 
illinoiensis,  155 
marutae,  155 
nasturtii,  155 
tridentata,  155 
tulipae,  155 

Appias  (Glutophrissa) 

drusilla  cofnstocki,  97 
boydi,  97 
jacksoni,  97 
monomorpha,  97 
poeyi,  97 
punctifera,  98 
Aricia  curvicauda,  119 
Argyra  robusta,  36 
^Artemisia  filifolia,  77 


Asiphum  sacculi,  77 
tremulae,  77 

*Bidens,  36 

Bittacomorphella  fenderiana,  22, 
24 

Buprestis  catoxantha,  140 
don  gala,  140 
rufipes,  140 

Calisius  contubernalis,  174 
cotubernalis,  174 
Candides  erinus  stevensi,  1 

grandissimus  morobea,  4 
meeki  arfaki,  4 

kunupiensis,  3 
Carmenta  helenis,  40 
ithacae,  40 

*Cercidium  floridanum,  32,  33 
Cerceris  clypeata,  162 
*Chamaecrista  fasciculata,  69 
Chelinidea  vittiger,  174 

subsp.  aequoris,  174 
vittiger,  174 
var.  artuatra,  174 
artuflava,  174 

Chloe,  111 
Chlorochroa,  174 

congrua,  165,  166 
ligata,  165 
opuntiae,  166 
persimilis,  164,  165  166 
uhleri,  164,  165,  166,  168 
Chortophila,  110,  111 
curvicauda,  119 


Bee.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  181 


genitalis,  120 
penicillaris,  109,  122 
Chrysobothris  siibopaca,  140 
*Chrysothamnus  nauseosus,  77, 
79,  175 

^Cineraria,  155 

Clerada  apricornis,  75  (mis- 
print for  apiciconiis) 

Coenus,  174 
Conopis  richardsi,  39 
Corimelaena,  174 
^Cyclamen,  74 
Cymatodera  oblita,  18 
pseudotsugae,  17 
Cyrtolobus  acutus,  69,  70 

Dasymutilla  lepeletieri,  163 
nigripes,  163 
obsenra,  162 

Deltocepbalus  reflexus,  136 
dDermacentor  variabilis,  141 
Deuteragenia,  70 
Dicranota  laevis,  131 

(Rbapbidolabis)  nuptialis, 
134 

stigma,  134 
vandnzeei,  134 
Dicranoptyeba  minima,  132 
pallida,  132 

Diogmites  angustipennis,  171, 
172 

symmaebus,  171,  172 
Diostracus  prasinus,  16 
Dipogon,  70 

Dolicbopus  calcaratus,  37 
finitus,  35,  36 
flavilacertus,  37 
funditor,  37 
dorycerus,  37 
gratus,  34,  36,  37 
barbecki,  34,  37 
laciniatus,  37 


lobatus,  35,  36 
omnivagus,  35,  36 
pantomimus,  37 
pulcbrimanus,  37,  38 
quadrilamellatus,  34,  35 
scapularis,  37 
scoparius,  35 
sexarticulatus,  34,  37,  38 
slossonae,  37 
spbaeristes,  37 
zmllistonii,  37 

Dolicbovespula  adulterina  v. 
arctica,  59 
arenaria,  59,  60 
maculata,  59,  60,  88 

Empoasca  sp.  169 
Erax  completus,  171 
estuans,  171 
grandis,  171 

Erytbroneura  coloradensis,  169 
ziczac,  169 
Eurema  diosa,  99 
nise,  99 

venusta,  99,  100 
emanona,  100 
venusta,  100 
Eusebistus  spp.,  29 
Eutettix  tenellus,  169 

Elexamia,  136 
albidus,  136 
mexicana,  136 
minima,  136,  138 
reflexa,  136,  137 
zamora,  136,  137,  138 
*Eraxinus  americana,  161 
pennsylvanica,  161 
Frequenamia,  63 
guerrera,  43 

Geocoris  atricolor,  79 
decoratus,  79 


182  Bulletm  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLII 


^Geranium,  77 
Glutophrissa,  see  Appias 

Heliosea  fasciata,  96 
pictipennis,  96 
sahulosa,  96 
vacciniae,  96 
Heliothodes  fasciata,  96 
Helophorus,  126,  127,  128 
Hippodamia  convergens,  77 
*Hydrophyllum  appendiculatum, 
26,  27 

Hydroptila  amoena,  149 
angusta,  250 
argosa,  149 
callia,  149 
modica,  150 
pecos,  151 
pullatus,  150 
wyomia,  149 
xera,  152 

Hylemyia  (Phorbia)  109/125 
barbicula,  113,  114,  115, 
120 

conicans,  113,  114,  116 


curvicauda. 

109, 

no, 

113, 

114,  120, 

121 

genitalis,  109, 

no, 

113, 

114,  120, 

121 

grisea,  111, 

112 

impula,  113, 

, 117 

lobata,  110, 

112, 

113, 

114, 

121 

masculans, 

112, 

115, 

117, 

118,  121 

molinaris,  112 

musica.  111 

penicillaris. 

no. 

113, 

114, 

115,  120, 

122 

portensis. 

113, 

114, 

118, 

119 


pratensis,  110 


sepia,  109,  110,  111 
singularis  112 
sinuata,  110,  113,  114,  122 
Hymenarcys  aequalis,  25/30 
nervosa,  25 

Idioiius,  159 
morsei,  159 
*Impatiens,  34 

*Juniperus,  161 

*Lactuca,  74 
Leptocoris  trivittatus,  33 
Leucotrichia  pictipes,  145 
Liodermioii,  174 
Litaneutria  minor,  86 
Lycaenopsis  pseudoargiolus  f. 

lucia,  5 
Lygus,  175 

Macromeris,  70 
Macroparius,  174 
Macrosiphum  filifolia,  77 
pisi,  79,  142 
zerozalphum,  79 
Mallophora  orcina,  170,  171,  172 
Mayatrichia  ayama,  146 
Melanophila  obtusa,  140 
Melicleptria  sabulosa,  96 
*Melilotus  alba,  69 
Melittobia  sp.,  59 
Mesamia,  63 

Mordvilkoja  vagabunda,  71 
Mormidea  lugens,  28 
Myzus  cerasi,  74 
circumflexus,  74 
convolvulae,  74 
lytbri,  74 
persicae,  74 
porosus,  74 


Dec.,  1947  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  183 


Nabis  alternatus,  62,  79 
Neodonus  piperatus,  159 
Neotrichia  ersitis,  152 
halia,  153 
kitae,  153 
opopa,  152 
osmena,  154 
pannaeus,  154 
Neottiglossa  cavijrons,  173 
tumidifrons,  174 
Nerina,  111 
Nysius,  174 

Ochrotrichia  oregona,  147 
potomus,  146 
sty  lata,  146 

Octephilum  fracticorne,  18 
Oecanthus  niveus,  142 
*Oenothera  sp.  26 
Olneya  tesota,  32 
Omana,  63 

Opsius  stactogalus,  169 
*Opuntia  polyacantha,  164,  168 
Orius  insidiosus,  79 

tristicolor,  62,  77,  79,  142 
Orthoea,  174 

Orthopodomyia  alba,  81/86 
signifera,  81,  84 
Oxythira  cibola,  148 
serrata,  148 

Pachybrachius,  174 
Panorquina  coscinia,  102 
nyctelia  agari,  101 
Papilio,  see  Eurema 
Paratettix  cueullatus  extensus, 
130 

Paratyndaris  coursetia,  32 
grassmani,  31 
mexicanus,  32 
olneyae,  32 
tiicsoni,  33 


Pedicia  (Tricyphona) 
actaeon,  132 
macrophalliis,  132,  133 
Pentstemonia  dammersi,  40 
Philaenus  lineatus,  69 
Philiris  amboineiise  ilias,  11 
ariadne,  7 
aurelia,  16 
azula,  8 

diana  papuensis,  6,  7 
fiilgens,  9 

bicolorata,  9 
innotatus  evinculus,  11 
intensa  birou,  10 
kuwandae,  9 
marginata,  14 
mayri,  14 
misimensis,  15 
moira  puthi,  12 
scptentrionalis,  9 
subovata,  16 
theleos,  16 

Phobia  agarithe  pupillata,  98 
antiilia,  98 

Phorbia,  see  Hylemyia 
Phymata  pennsylvanica  colora- 
densis,  175 
Pilpomus,  70 
*Pinus  ponderosa,  62 
Pollenia  rudis,  175 
* Polygonum  sp.,  36 
Pomphopoea  sayi,  103 
*Populus  aurea,  77 
occidentalis,  71 
sargenti,  71 

Prociphilus  corrugatus,  161 
fraxinifolia,  161 
tessellatus,  161 
venafuscus,  161 
Promachus  bastardii,  171 
*Prosopis  chilensis,  33 
*Prunus  cerasus,  74 
mahaleb,  74 


184  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLII 


Pseudagenia,  70 
Pseudomethoca  frigida,  163 
simillima,  163 
*Pseudotsuga  taxifoliae,  18 
Ptychoptera  annandalei,  21 
lenis  coloradensis,  19 
monoensis,  20 
pendula,  20,  21 
persimilis,  21 
sculleni,  19 
townsi,  20,  21 
ula,  19 

^Ranunculus,  71 
Rhopalosiphum  scirpifolii,  77 
serotinae,  77 
Rhytidolomia,  168,  174 
*Robinia  pseudoacacia,  103 
*Roripa  nasturtium,  74,  155 

*Sarcobatus  vermiculatus,  77 
Saropogon  dispar,  170,  171,  172 
Schizolachnus  pini-radiatae,  62 
*Scirpus,  77 
Silpha  lapponica,  125 
ramosa,  125 

*Solanum  tuberosum,  74 
*Solidago,  77 


Stagmomantis  Carolina,  86 
Stenopogon  latipennis,  171 

Tachytrechus  moechus,  35 
*Tamarix,  169 
Tascobia  brustia,  145 
delira,  145 

Tasiocera  (Dasymolophilus) 
squiresi,  134 
subnuda,  135 
Terias,  see  Eurema 
nise,  99 
venusta,  99 
Tettix  acadicius,  130 
subulatus,  130 
Thamnosphecia,  40 
Thamnotettix,  159 
Thecabius  populi-conduplifolius, 
71 

Timulla  vagans,  163 
Tricyphona,  see  Pedicia 
Trifidaphis  phaseoli,  77 

Vanduzeeina  aenescens,  174 
sene  scans,  174 
Vespula  arenaria,  60,  92 
maculifrons,  59,  87,  92 
rufa  V.  vidua,  59,  60 
squamosa,  58,  59,  87,  95 


Number  of  New  Genera  in  this  Index,  2. 

Number  of  New  Species  and  other  forms  in  this  Index,  40. 


\ 


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OFFICERS,  1948 
Honorary  President 
J.  R.  DE  LA  TORRE-BUENO 
President 

GEORGE  S.  TULLOCH 

Vice  President  Treasurer 

4-  Secretary  r McELVARE 

ALLAN  S.  NICOLAY  76  Ivy  Way, 

Port  Washington,  L.  I.,  N.  Y. 

Editor 

J.  R.  DE  LA  TORRE-BUENO 

Delegate  to  Council  of  New  YorTc 
Academy  of  Sciences 
EDWIN  WAY  TEALE 


CONTENTS 


HUBBARD  ON  FLEAS  OF  WESTERN  NORTH  AMERICA,  Fuller  ...  1 

BOXELDER  BUGS  FEEDING  ON  HONEYBEES,  Knowlton  17 

SYNONYMICAL  NOTES  ON  SPHECOID  WASPS,  Krombein  18 

SYNONYMY  IN  NEIDIDAE,  Barber  21 

POPULATION  SURVEY  FOR  LARVAE  OF  TABANIDAE,  Bailey  22 

GRASSHOPPERS  IN  TURKEY’S  CROP,  Knowlton  29 

BOOK  NOTES,  Bequaert  30 

RECORD  OP  STYGNOCORIS  RUSTICUS,  Barber  31 

PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  SOCIETY,  Tulloch  32 

EDITOR’S  CHANGE  OP  ADDRESS  35 

EXCHANGES  36 


Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 


Published  in 

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BULLETIN 

OF  THE 

BROOKLYN  ENTOMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY 


VoL.  XLIII  February,  1948  No.  1 


DR.  C.  ANDRESEN  HUBBARD  ON  FLEAS  OF  WEST- 
ERN NORTH  AMERICA— A REVIEW,  WITH 
CRITICAL  NOTES  (SIPHONAPTERA). 

By  Henry  S.  Fuller,  M.D.,  The  Bowman  Gray  School 
of  Medicine,  Winston-Salem,  North  Carolina 

Fleas  of  Western  North  America.  Their  Relation  to  the 
Public  Health ; by,  Clarence  Andresen  Hubbard ; pp.  i-ix  plus 
1-533,  5 half-tone  plates,  and  many  text  figures.  1947.  (The  Iowa 
State  College  Press,  Ames,  Iowa.  $6.00.) 

This  volume  on  a subject  of  importance  to  workers  in  several 
fields  is  far  more  comprehensive  than  any  previous  attempt  of  this 
nature.  It  concerns  the  fleas,  their  hosts,  and  their  relation  to  the 
public  health,  in  a zone  of  North  America  west  of  the  100th  meridian 
of  longitude  and  north  of  Mexico.  The  100th  meridian  was  chosen 
because  the  fleas  of  the  United  States  east  of  this  line  had  been 
treated  by  Irving  Fox,  1940,  “Fleas  of  Eastern  United  States.” 
Hubbard’s  area  includes  Alaska,  and  parts  of  Canada  and  the  United 
States,  and  it  is  therefore  neither  a faunal  nor  a political  region. 

In  view  of  the  accepted  importance  of  fleas  as  parasites  and  as 
vectors  of  disease,  and  in  view  of  the  widespread  presence  of  certain 
flea-borne  diseases  in  the  area  under  consideration,  a competent 
and  reliable  book  on  the  subject  has  been  a long-felt  need.  Further- 
more, the  flea  fauna  of  this  area  is  rich  in  species,  and  precise  identi- 
fications are  essential  to  critical  work  in  medical  entomology.  With- 
out a comprehensive  catalogue,  the  task  of  the  systematist  is  be- 
wildering, and  he  may  be  unable  to  give  anything  better  than  generic 
determinations.  The  present  work  is  an  attempt  to  cover  the 
entire  subject,  from  the  standpoints  of  taxonomy,  distribution,  host 
relationships,  and  medical  importance.  Presumably,  therefore,  it 
is  of  interest  to  medical  men,  veterinarians,  public  health  workers, 


2 Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


epidemiologists,  and  incidentally  to  mammalogists  and  ornitholo- 
gists, as  well  as  students  of  the  taxonomy  of  Siphonaptera.  With 
these  points  in  mind,  it  is  believed  that  a critical  review  of  the  book 
will  be  a constructive  and  useful  contribution. 

The  book  is  divided  into  three  parts.  The  first  part,  consisting 
of  just  forty  pages,  contains  four  chapters  on  general  topics  of 
orientation.  Part  II  is  the  body  of  the  book,  concerning  the  taxon- 
omy of  the  Siphonaptera  of  this  region.  Part  III  contains  the  de- 
tailed host  index,  a selected  bibliography,  and  several  indices. 

It  is  a pleasure  to  note  the  dedication  to  Doctor  Karl  Jordan. 
Critical  British  readers  may  be  surprised,  however,  to  find  that  the 
name  of  one  of  their  counties,  Hertfordshire,  has  been  abbreviated 
to  ‘‘Hertz”  on  the  dedicatory  page. 

Chapter  1 concerns  the  students  of  western  American  fleas,  and 
their  contributions.  Many  interesting  facts  are  presented  in  a 
somewhat  anecdotal  style.  Half-tone  plates  present  portraits  of 
most  of  those  whose  contributions  are  discussed. 

Chapter  2 is  devoted  to  the  medical  importance  of  fleas  in  western 
North  America.  It  is  extremely  disappointing,  and  in  the  re- 
viewer’s opinion  it  should  have  been  edited  before  publication  by  a 
medical  man  or  by  a medical  entomologist.  The  important  human 
infectious  diseases  of  western  North  America  in  which  fleas  are 
known  to  play  a role  are  bubonic  plague,  endemic  or  murine  typhus, 
and  tularemia.  On  page  17,  in  writing  of  the  origin  of  plague  in 
North  America,  Hubbard  states,  “It  is  supposed  . . . that  rats 
infested  with  the  Oriental  rat  flea  . . . escaped  off  ships  ...  to 
spread  the  infection  through  uninfected  rats  and  later  to  ground 
squirrels.”  To  find  a mention  of  the  alternative  theory  we  must 
turn  to  page  394,  where  it  is  expressed  as  follows:  “One  [view] 
holds  that  plague  has  been  on  the  continent  for  long  periods  of  time 
and  the  slowness  in  its  discovery  is  due  primarily  to  lack  of  re- 
search.” This  is  an  allusion  to  the  fact  that  wild  rodents  may  have 
been  infected  with  plague  long  before  its  presence  was  actually  ob- 
served in  man  and  rats. 

In  a discussion  of  plague  in  1939  in  the  province  of  Alberta 
(page  19),  we  read  that  fleas  from  Citellus  columbianiis  were  shown 
to  be  plague  positive.  The  ground  squirrel  involved  was  not  this 
species,  but  Citellus  richardsonii  richardsonii  (Sabine,  1822),  ac- 
cording to  Holland,  1944,  Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  British  Columbia,  41, 
reprint,  pp.  1-12. 

On  page  21,  if  Hubbard  chooses  to  discuss  immunity  in  plague, 


Fei).,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  3 


he  should  give  facts  concerning  the  efficacy  of  vaccine,  its  availabil- 
ity, and  the  probable  duration  of  immunity  following  its  administra- 
tion. Space  which  might  have  been  given  to  these  fundamental 
matters  was  devoted  on  page  26  to  minute  details  of  “Flea  Antigen” 
to  be  given  to  persons  suspected  of  suffering  from  flea  allergy. 

The  name  of  the  etiologic  agent  of  endemic  or  flea-borne  typhus 
is  given  as  R.  p.  mooser  (sic,  page  23).  This  is  a lapsus  for 
Rickettsia  prozvazekii  mooseri.  The  name  R.  p.  typhi  (Wolbach 
and  Todd,  1920)  is  accepted  as  having  priority  by  Philip,  1943, 
Amer.  Jl.  Hyg.,  37,  no.  3,  pp.  301-309. 

We  read  (page  23)  : “Recovery  from  either  type  of  typhus  is 
said  to  result  in  a solid  and  lasting  immunity  to  both.”  This  state- 
ment is  absolutely  incorrect,  and  therefore  quite  misleading. 

One  is  unable  to  find  in  this  chapter  a list  of  the  states  west  of 
the  100th  meridian  from  which  flea-borne  typhus  has  been  reported. 
Hubbard  might  have  included  a specific  reference  to  a list  of  the 
flea  vectors  of  plague  in  the  area  under  consideration,  or  at  least 
a list  of  the  species  incriminated,  together  with  their  known  distri- 
bution. The  subject  of  sylvatic  plague  is  inadequately  treated  in 
this  chapter,  at  the  expense  of  space  devoted  to  the  role  of  fleas  in 
the  transmission  of  tularemia.  The  name  of  Dr.  Karl  F.  Meyer 
appears  only  in  the  bibliography  on  page  517,  and  this  fact  alone 
suggests  the  inadequacy  of  Chapter  2. 

Furthermore,  Hubbard  discusses  control  of  fleas,  but  he  makes  no 
reference  to  DDT,  or  to  pyrethrins  and  other  well-known  prepara- 
tions. Information  on  these  matters  was  available  when  the  book 
was  being  written.  (See  Bishopp,  1945,  Bull.  N.  Y.  Acad.  Med., 
21,  no.  11,  pp.  561-580,  for  DDT.) 

A paragraph  is  devoted  to  the  subject  of  fleas  as  farm  pests.  In 
referring  to  fleas  which  may  menace  poultry  and  pigs,  we  read, 
“All  three  fleas  can  be  controlled  by  liberal  applications  of  kerosene 
or  used  engine  oil  about  the  premises.”  This  advice  will  be  of  little 
practical  help  to  the  chicken  farmer  who  might  possibly  consult  the 
book  in  an  effort  to  eradicate  fleas  infesting  his  brooders.  He 
would  regard  this  advice  as  rubbish  on  account  of  the  possible  fire 
hazard.  The  use  of  derris  powder  or  creosote  oil  was  known  as 
long  ago  as  1937.  (See  Bishopp,  1937,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Leaflet 
No.  152,  4 pages.) 

Chapter  3 concerns  field  and  laboratory  technique  in  the  collection 
and  preservation  of  fleas.  Much  helpful  and  useful  information  is 
given,  particularly  on  methods  of  collection  of  small  mammals.  De- 
tailed information  on  methods  of  handling  nests  would  have  been 


4 Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^Llll 


helpful,  and  Hubbard  might  have  discussed  the  use  of  a Berlese 
funnel  type  of  apparatus  for  recovering  fleas  from  nests  and  debris. 

Chapter  4 consists  of  two  pages  of  text  and  a full  page  of  figures 
on  the  anatomy  of  the  flea  in  relation  to  its  taxonomy.  One  is  dis- 
appointed to  find  such  a superficial  treatment  of  this  very  important 
aspect  of  the  subject.  It  will  be  of  no  help  to  the  beginner,  who 
may  be  puzzled  later  by  the  term  vinculum  (page  309),  or  by  fre- 
quent references  to  the  female  stylet,  to  mention  only  two  examples. 
One  gains  the  distinct  impression  from  this  chapter  that  Hubbard 
has  considered  only  those  structures  which  he  believes  to  be  of  use 
in  making  determinations  of  species  of  fleas.  There  is  much  more 
to  taxonomy  than  the  mere  determination  of  the  correct  scientific 
name  to  be  applied  to  a dead  specimen.  (See  Ferris,  1928,  The 
Principles  of  Systematic  Entomology;  Stanford  University  Press.) 

Since  Part  II,  on  systematic  classification,  occupies  the  major 
portion  of  the  book,  a detailed  review  had  best  be  preceded  by  gen- 
eral remarks.  Hubbard  has  correctly  discarded  a primary  division 
of  Siphonaptera  into  suborders,  adopting  instead  the  direct  group- 
ing into  five  families.  There  is  no  attempt  to  define  these  families, 
beyond  giving  a key  after  Ewing  and  Eox  (1943).  Each  species 
is  considered  in  detail,  with  descriptions  of  both  sexes,  when  known, 
and  data  on  host,  seasonal,  and  geographical  distribution.  In  cer- 
tain instances  notes  on  medical  importance  are  included,  when  data 
were  available.  In  mentioning  flea  hosts,  Hubbard  gives  the  scien- 
tific name  of  the  bird  or  mammal,  indicating  subspecies  wherever 
possible,  followed  by  the  common  name  in  parentheses.  This  com- 
mendable practice  enhances  the  usefulness  of  the  host  records,  mak- 
ing them  more  easily  understood  by  those  who  are  unfamiliar  with 
Latin  host  names.  It  is  unfortunate  that  Hubbard  has  not  given 
complete  references  to  synonymy,  referring  the  reader  (page  43) 
instead  to  Jellison  and  Good,  1942,  Nat.  Inst.  Health  Bulletin  No. 
178.  He  should  at  least  have  indicated  the  synonyms,  even  if  space 
for  complete  references  was  not  available.  In  a monographic  work, 
it  is  customary  to  include  information  on  the  depositories  of  type 
material.  This  has  not  been  done  uniformly  by  Hubbard. 

In  many  instances  keys  to  genera  and  species  are  given,  appar- 
ently enhancing  the  usefulness  of  the  book.  These  keys  will  not 
bear  close  scrutiny,  however,  and  one  need  not  be  an  advanced  stu- 
dent of  flea  taxonomy  to  observe  the  inclusion  of  hosts  and  localities 
as  characters,  or  a sudden  shift  from  male  to  female  characters.  In 
general,  then,  the  calibre  of  the  keys  is  poor  to  mediocre. 

Insofar  as  possible,  each  species  is  illustrated,  emphasis  being 


Feh.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  5 


given  to  the  head,  to  parts  of  the  modified  male  segments  or  geni- 
talia, and  to  the  female  spermatheca.  It  is  useful  to  have  a collection 
of  such  illustrations  in  a single  publication.  The  criticisms  are  two : 
namely,  that  many  of  the  drawings  are  too  schematic,  and  that  for 
purposes  of  comparison  there  should  have  been  uniformity  in  mak- 
ing all  of  them  face  either  to  the  left  or  to  the  right.  Most  drawings 
currently  published  show  the  flea  facing  to  the  left. 

A word  about  Hubbard’s  literary  style  may  be  appropriately  in- 
cluded in  a review.  One  notes  frequent  omissions  of  pronouns, 
prepositions,  etc.,  leading  to  a telegraphic  style,  similar  to  the  head- 
lines of  a newspaper.  For  example,  we  read  (page  190)  : “It  is 
possible  flea  is  a nest  flea  with  distribution  during  winter  or  spring.” 
Hubbard  frequently  uses  the  verb  “release”  when  he  means  publish 
or  submit  for  publication;  perhaps  this  usage  has  been  borrowed 
from  the  field  of  journalism.  On  page  189,  we  read  that  two  fleas 
were  collected  from  pocket  gophers,  “.  . . which  were  working  in 
school  yard  at  Fort  Dick.  . . .”  Such  usage  of  colloquialisms  may 
lead  the  uninitiated  reader  to  wonder  what  compensation  these 
pocket  gophers  received  for  their  work.  In  general,  then,  Hubbard’s, 
style  is  sufficiently  variable  to  be  interesting  and  provocative,  al- 
though it  is  frequently  ungrammatical,  and  at  times  abominable. 

The  following  new  genus  and  four  new  subspecies  are  described  : 
Thrassoides  (page  144)  ; Foxella  utahensis  arizonensis  (page  184)  ; 
Monopsyllus  ciliatus  kincaidi  (page  232)  ; M egarthroglossiis  procus 
oregonensis  (page  299)  ; and  M egarthroglossiis  divisus  wallozvensis 
(page  301).  A blunder  has  been  committed  in  placing  the  dates 
1945  or  1946  after  these  names.  In  article  25  of  the  International 
Rules,  it  is  specifically  recommended  that  “.  . . the  date  of  publica- 
tion be  not  added  to  the  name  in  its  first  publication.”  The  date 
of  publication  of  these  names  is  February  1947. 

Hubbard  recognizes  five  families  of  fleas  in  western  North 
America:  Hectopsyllidae,  Pulicidae,  Dolichopsyllidae,  Hystrichop- 
syllidae,  and  Ischnopsyllidae.  His  treatment  of  these  will  now  be 
considered  in  detail. 

Family  Hectopsyllidae  Baker,  1904.  Hubbard  should  have 
pointed  out  that  the  name  Tungidae  was  proposed  by  C.  Fox,  1925, 
Insects  and  Diseases  of  Man,  pp.  120  and  130.  He  should  have 
given  some  attention  to  the  classification  into  subfamilies  Echidno- 
phaginae  Wagner,  1927,  and  Tunginae  Jellison  and  Good,  1942, 
new  name  for  Sacropsyllinae  Wagner,  1927.  Hubbard’s  key  to  the 
three  genera  treated  in  this  family  is  workable.  The  generic  name 
Tunga  is  correctly  attributed  to  Jarocki,  1838,  Zoology,  pp.  50-52, 


6 Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^LIII 


as  pointed  out  by  Rothschild,  1921,  Ectoparasites,  1,  part  3,  p.  129. 
But  in  company  with  many  other  writers  on  fleas,  Hubbard  fails  to 
consider  Dermatophilus  as  used  by  Guerin-Meneville,  1838, 
Iconogr,  Regne  Animal,  Text  p.  14  {Pulex  penetrans,  Atlas,  1836, 
PI.  II,  fig.  9).  This  matter  has  been  brought  up  by  Bequaert, 
1926,  Medical  Report  of  the  Rice-Harvard  Exped.,  pp.  246-247, 
who  points  out  that  Rothschild  credited  Guerin-Meneville’s  Dernia- 
tophilus  to  Lucas  (1839),  having  evidently  overlooked  Guerin’s 
earlier  publication  of  the  name  in  1838.  It  would  probably  be  very 
difficult  to  decide  which  of  the  two  names,  Tiinga  and  Dermato- 
philus, was  actually  published  first,  and  probably  this  matter  should 
be  submitted  to  the  International  Commission  on  Zoological  Nomen- 
clature for  an  opinion. 

Tiinga  penetrans  (Linnaeus).  Hubbard  fails  to  cite  or  discuss 
a paper  entitled,  “The  Tropical  Chigoe  in  California,”  by  G.  F. 
Augustson,  1942,  Science,  96,  no.  2504,  p.  581.  In  a footnote  to 
this  paper,  it  is  stated  that  the  flea  might  be  Hectopsylla  psittaci 
Frauenfeld,  and  Hubbard  cites  the  record  under  this  latter  name, 
without  explaining  the  original  confusion  in  determination,  how- 
ever, and  without  citing  the  reference  in  his  bibliography.  In  the 
discussion  of  the  medical  importance  of  Tunga  penetrans  (page 
55),  Hubbard  cites  a reported  case  of  human  attack  by  the  larva 
of  this  species.  The  actual  reference  (not  given)  is  Faust  and  Max- 
well, 1930,  Arch.  Derm,  and  Syph.,  22,  pp.  94-97,  figs.  1-6.  Hub- 
bard states,  “Infestation  occurred  in  a man  into  whose  pubic  and 
inguinal  regions  the  larva  had  penetrated.”  Anyone  familiar  with 
the  normal  life  history  of  this  flea  realizes  that  penetration  of  larvae 
of  any  species  of  flea  into  the  skin  is  so  unusual  as  to  require  critical 
evaluation.  In  the  reviewer’s  opinion,  there  is  a strong  possibility 
that  the  original  determination  of  these  larvae  was  incorrect. 

Family  Pulicidae  Stephens,  1829.  The  key  to  genera  appears 
to  be  workable.  Under  Ctenocephalides  canis  (Curtis,  1826),  we 
read  (page  62)  that  it  has  been  reported  as  the  intermediate  host  of 
LeisJnnannia  (sic)  donovani  and  Leishmanni  (sic)  infantum. 
These  organisms  are  hemoflagellate  protozoa.  Leishmania  dono- 
vani (Laveran  and  Mesnil,  1903)  is  now  known  to  be  transmitted 
by  Phlehoto^mis  species  (Diptera:  Psychodidae — sandflies),  and 
L.  infantum  Nicolle,  1908,  which  may  be  identical  with  L.  donovani, 
although  apparently  serologically  distinguishable,  is  presumably  also 
transmitted  by  these  flies  in  the  Mediterranean  littoral  area.  The 
earlier  reports  of  flea  transmission  of  pathogenic  species  of  Leish- 
mania were  made  by  workers,  for  example  Basile  (1910),  who  were 


Fel).,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  7 


confused  by  a morphologically  similar  organism,  Lcptomouas  cteiw- 
cephali,  which  is  a normal  inhabitant  of  the  intestinal  tract  of  the 
dog  flea.  At  present  there  is  no  critical  evidence  that  fleas  can 
act  as  vectors  of  pathogenic  species  of  Leishmania. 

XenopsyUa  chcopis  (Rothschild,  1903).  In  discussing  the  medi- 
cal importance  of  this  flea  (page  66),  Hubbard  states,  “It  seems 
to  have  the  honor  of  being  the  insect  which  spreads  plague  from 
harbor  rats  to  ground  squirrels  about  San  Francisco  Bay,  Cali- 
fornia.” In  this  section  of  the  hook,  no  evidence  is  given  to  support 
this  contention.  We  must  turn  to  page  405  to  discover  that  A^. 
cheopis  has  been  taken  from  Citellus  heeclieyi  heecheyi  (Richard- 
son), the  California  ground  squirrel,  in  fhe  San  Francisco  Bay  area. 
To  the  average  reader,  this  form  of  presentation  may  seem  some- 
what illogical. 

Furthermore,  with  regard  to  the  medical  importance  of  X. 
cheopis,  it  is  stated,  “Lately  this  flea  has  been  found  to  be  a vector 
of  endemic  or  murine  typhus  fever  in  this  country.”  Experimental 
transmission  of  this  disease  by  X.  cheopis  was  reported  by  Dyer, 
Ceder,  Rumreich,  and  Badger,  1931,  Public  Health  Reports,  46, 
no.  41,  pp.  2415-2416.  It  is  possible  that  the  information  has  only 
“lately”  come  to  Hubbard’s  attention. 

Genus  Hoplopsyllns  Baker,  1905.  A key  to  the  males  of  western 
species  of  this  genus  is  provided,  but  the  primary  dichotomy  is  ac- 
cording to  geographical  range ; presumably  this  character  would 
separate  females  as  well.  Hubbard  has  omitted  reference  to  the 
division  of  Hoplopsyllns  into  the  two  subgenera  Hoplopsyllns  and 
Euhoplopsyllus  by  Ewing  and  Fox,  1943,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agric.,  Misc. 
Publ.  No.  500,  pp.  105-106;  this  involved  a suppression  to  sub- 
generic standing  of  Enhoplopsyllns,  proposed  as  a genus  by  Ewing, 
1940,  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  53,  p.  37,  type  H.  affinis  (Baker)  by 
original  designation.  In  the  reviewer’s  opinion  the  recognition  of 
these  two  subgenera  as  such  is  warranted  on  morphological  grounds, 
and  this  point  merits  some  comment  by  Hubbard. 

Hoplopsyllns  foxi  Ewing,  1924,  is  treated  as  a subspecies  of  H. 
glacialis,  and  this  decision  should  be  attributed  to  Ewing  and  Fox, 
1943,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agric.,  Misc.  Publ.  No.  500,  p.  107.  H.  tenni- 
digitus  Stewart,  1940,  is  likewise  treated  as  a subspecies  of  H. 
glacialis,  and  no  reason  is  given,  although  this  may  be  inferred  from 
Hubbard’s  statement,  “Opinion  generally  expressed  by  California 
collectors  is  that  this  flea  is  only  a slight  variation  or  dimorphic 
form  of  Hoplopsyllns  glacialis  foxi  Ewing.”  In  discussing  the 
medical  importance  of  H.  glacialis  lynx  (Baker,  1904),  he  states 


8 Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


that  there  is  the  possibility  that  this  flea  might  have  been  partially 
responsible  for  the  spread  of  tularemia  in  southern  Alaska,  although 
it  was  not  found  tularemia  positive,  at  the  time  varying  hares  were 
reported  with  this  disease  in  1937.  In  this  regard,  see  Philip,  1938, 
Jl.  ParasitoL,  24,  no.  6,  pp.  483-488. 

Cediopsylla  inaeqitalis  interrupta  Jordan,  1925.  In  discussing 
the  possible  role  of  this  species  as  a vector  of  plague,  Hubbard  states 
that  it  is  . . very  difficult,  if  not  impossible  . . to  infect  this 
flea  under  laboratory  conditions.  He  points  out  that  where  wild 
rabbits  suflfer  from  plague,  it  is  probable  that  infection  comes 
through  the  bite  of  an  infected  ground  squirrel  flea.  The  reader  is 
left  in  doubt  as  to  the  potential  role  of  rabbit  fleas  in  maintaining 
the  infection  ajter  rabbits  have  acquired  it. 

Genus  Anomiopsyllits  Baker,  1904.  Hubbard  (page  79)  cites 
Jordan  (1945,  in  litt.)  as  stating  that  this  genus  should  be  associated 
with  Stenistomera,  Callistopsyllus,  Conorhinopsylla,  and  Megar- 
throglossiis.  The  reader  will  later  find  these  genera  treated  as 
members  of  the  family  Hystrichopsyllidae,  and  he  may  rightly 
wonder  how  Anomiopsylhis  got  left  behind  in  Pulicidae,  or  equally, 
why  the  other  four  genera  were  placed  in  Hystrichopsyllidae. 

Under  Anomiopsylhis  nndatns  (Baker,  1898),  Hubbard  should 
list  the  reference,  “not  Dunn  and  Parker,  1923.”  The  reader  must 
discover  this  for  himself  under  A.  montanns  Collins,  1936.  A.  cali- 
jorniciis,  a synonym  of  A.  niidatus,  dates  from  Baker,  1904,  Invert. 
Pac.,  1,  pp.  39-40;  it  does  not  date  from  “Rothschild  1915”  and 
furthermore  this  1915  reference  should  be  to  Jordan  and  Roths- 
child, in  which  they  synonymized  A.  calijornicus  under  A.  nudatus. 
Under  A.  jalsicalijorniciis  (C.  Fox,  1929),  Hubbard  should  mention 
that  the  male  of  this  species  was  incorrectly  described  under  the 
name  A.  califoniicns  Baker  by  Fox,  1926,  Pan-Pac.  Ent.,  2,  pp.  183- 
184,  text-figs.  5 & 9. 

Family  Dolichopsyllidae  (Baker,  1905)  Oudemans  1909.  Since 
two  keys  are  given,  neither  of  which  includes  all  of  the  genera 
treated,  it  is  doubtful  that  either  will  be  helpful  to  individuals  who  do 
not  possess  identified  reference  material,  particularly  as  not  all  of 
the  characters  mentioned  are  explained  or  illustrated.  Odontopsyl- 
lus  and  Aiignstsonius  are  separated  on  the  basis  of  host  preference 
rather  than  morphological  characters;  Thrassis  and  Thrassoides 
are  not  separated  satisfactorily  from  each  other. 

Genus  Polygenis  Jordan,  1939.  Hubbard  might  have  justified 
his  assignment  of  this  genus  to  this  family.  The  species  described 
as  Rhopalopsyllus  gwyni  C.  Fox,  1914,  is  assigned  to  this  genus. 


Fei).,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Bi^ooMyn  Entomological  Society  9 


and  R.  sigmodoni  Stewart,  1930,  is  regarded  as  a synonym  of  it  on 
the  basis  of  a personal  communication  from  Dr.  M.  A.  Stewart. 

It  has  been  pointed  out  by  Traub  that  Hubbard’s  inclusion  of 
Arctopsylla  Wagner,  1930,  in  the  Dolichopsyllidae  will  meet  criti- 
cism. One  wonders  why  Hubbard  did  not  follow  Jellison  and 
Good,  1942,  and  others,  in  recognizing  the  family  Vermipsyllidae 
Wagner,  1889,  and  assigning  Arctopsylla  to  it. 

Genus  Orchopeas  Jordan,  1933.  The  reviewer  agrees  that  it  is 
difficult  to  make  a key  to  the  species  of  this  genus.  However  Hub- 
bard is  inconsistent,  in  that  he  gives  a specific  example  of  how  geo- 
graphical range  may  become  useless  as  a help  in  identification,  and 
then  he  proceeds  to  mention  range  in  his  key.  The  emendation  of 
Orchopeas  howardii  (Baker,  1895,  1899)  to  hozvardi  (sic)  is  ques- 
tionable. Hubbard  has  followed  Ewing  and  Fox,  1943,  U.  S. 
Dept.  Agric.,  Misc.  Publ.  No.  500,  p.  33,  in  deciding  that  this  name 
is  correct,  and  in  regarding  O.  zmckhami  (Baker,  1895,  1899)  as  a 
synonym.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  name  of  this  common  species 
has  been  correctly  settled. 

Genus  Opisodasys  Jordan,  1933.  The  key  to  this  genus  is  based 
on  a primary  division  into  “Northwest  species”  and  “Southwest 
species,”  followed  by  an  intermingling  of  male  and  female  genital 
characters.  That  this  geographical  division  is  of  no  help  is  shown 
by  California  records  of  Opisodasys  keeni  (Baker,  1896),  placed 
in  the  key  as  a northwest  species.  Under  O.  rohnstus  (Jordan, 
1925),  O.  spatiosus  I.  Fox,  1940,  is  listed  as  a synonym,  without 
giving  the  authority.  This  synonymy  was  first  published  by  Ewing 
and  Fox,  1943,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agric.,  Misc.  Publ.  No.  500,  pp.  37 
and  123. 

Genus  Thrassis  Jordan,  1933.  Separate  keys  to  males  and  fe- 
males are  provided  for  this  genus.  Their  usefulness  to  the  indi- 
vidual worker  will  depend  upon  his  own  resourcefulness ; the  re- 
viewer has  been  unable  to  work  them  satisfactorily.  On  page  117, 
T.  bacci  (sic)  is  a lapsus  for  T.  bacchi  (Rothschild,  1905).  Thras- 
sis spenceri  dates  originally  from  Wagner,  September,  1936,  Zeits. 
f.  Parasitenk.,  8,  pp.  654,  655.  Hubbard  gives  only  the  reference 
to  Wagner’s  paper  in  the  Canadian  Entomologist,  which  was  pub- 
lished in  October,  1936. 

The  new  genus  Thrassoides  is  proposed  (page  144),  to  include 
two  species : Thrassis  aridis  Prince,  1944,  as  genotype,  and  T. 
campestris  Prince,  1944.  The  generic  name  first  appears  in  the 
key  (page  85),  where  it  is  separated  from  Thrassis  by  the  character, 
“On  Kangaroo  rats.”  It  may  be  a valid  genus,  but  the  morpho- 
logical characters  for  distinction  from  Thrassis  are  not  clearly  de- 
fined by  Hubbard. 


10  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


Genus  Oropsylla  Wagner  and  Iof¥,  1926.  It  is  stated  (page 
169)  that  O.  alaskensis  (Baker,  1904)  is  known  only  from  the  type 
locality  at  Point  Barrow,  Alaska.  It  should  be  noted  that  this 
species  was  recorded  from  Northwest  Territories,  Canada,  by  Hol- 
land, 1944,  Canad.  Ent.,  76,  p.  246,  Plate  XVIII,  figs.  8 & 9.  Since 
one  of  Hubbard’s  figures  (page  162)  of  this  species  is  labelled 
“After  Holland,”  one  infers  that  the  record  might  also  have  been 
included. 

Genus  Foxella  Wagner,  1929.  This  genus  dates  from  1929, 
not  from  “1930.”  Hubbard  has  made  a good  attempt  to  unravel  the 
species  and  subspecies,  and  his  contribution  will  be  appreciated. 
Foxella  ignofiis  utahensis  Wagner,  1936,  is  elevated  to  full  specific 
rank  and  divided  into  two  subspecies  : F.  u.  utahensis  Wagner,  1936. 
and  a new  subspecies,  F.  u.  ari^jonensis  Hubbard,  based  on  four 
males  from  Utah-Arizona  state  boundary  at  Fredonia  and  Kanab, 
off  Thoinomys  fossor  Allen,  the  holotype  deposited  in  the  U.  S. 
National  Museum. 

Genus  Daetylopsylla  Jordan,  1929.  This  was  treated  by  Ewing 
and  Fox,  1943,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agric.,  Misc.  Publ.  No.  500,  pp.  38-43, 
as  consisting  of  three  subgenera:  Daetylopsylla  Jordan,  1929,  Fox- 
ella Wagner,  1929,  and  Spicata  I.  Fox,  1940,  the  latter  originally 
described  by  Fox  as  a subgenus.  Hubbard  has  elevated  Dacty- 
lopsylla  and  Foxella  to  full  generic  standing,  and  has  regarded  the 
subgenera  Spicata  and  Foxclloides  Hubbard,  1943,  as  synonyms  of 
Daetylopsylla.  On  page  185  there  are  two  misprints,  in  that  sub- 
generic names  are  not  commenced  with  capital  letters.  Ceratophyl- 
his  stimsoni  C.  Fox,  1914,  is  listed  (page  191)  as  a synon>un  of 
Daetylopsylla  hlttei  (C.  Fox,  1909),  without  giving  the  authority, 
which  is  Jordan  and  Rothschild,  1915,  Ectoparasites,  1,  part  1,  p.  54. 

Genus  Malaracits  Jordan,  1933.  The  key  to  species  of  this  genus 
is  useless  and  it  might  well  have  been  omitted.  Under  Malaraens 
penicilliger  dissimilis  Jordan,  1938,  Hubbard  has  failed  to  cite 
records  from  Northwest  Territories,  Canada,  published  by  Holland, 
1944,  Canad.  Ent.,  76,  p.  246,  PI.  XVIII,  fig.  10. 

Genus  Nosopsyllus  Jordan,  1933.  According  to  Jellison  and 
Good,  1942,  Nat.  Inst.  Health  Bull.  No.  178,  p.  99,  Ceratophyllus 
calijornicus  Baker,  1904,  is  a synon}an  of  Nosopsyllus  jasciatiis 
(Bose,  1801).  Hubbard  fails  to  consider  Baker’s  species,  and  the 
reviewer  is  unable  to  find  it  listed  in  the  indices  or  elsewhere.  As 
this  concerns  a species  of  public  health  importance,  it  is  a rather 
serious  omission. 

Genus  McgabotJiris  Jordan,  1933.  The  species  M.  abantis 


Fel).,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  11 


(Rothschild,  1905)  and  M.  adversiis  Wagner,  1936  are  both  re- 
garded as  valid  and  distinct  by  Hubbard.  No  mention  is  made  of 
the  fact  that  the  latter  was  shown  to  be  a synonym  of  the  former  by 
Holland,  1942,  Canad.  Ent.,  74,  p.  158.  Holland’s  records  from 
Alberta  and  British  Columbia  have  apparently  escaped  Hubbard’s 
attention. 

Genus  Monopsyllus  Kolenati,  1857.  M.  ciliatus  kincaidi  is  de- 
scribed as  a new  subspecies  from  Wallowa  Lake,  Wallowa  County, 
Oregon,  off  Eutamias  amoenus  luteiventris  Allen,  holotype  male  and 
allotype  female  deposited  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum. 

Genus  Ceratophylliis  Curtis,  1832.  C.  vagahiindus  Boheman 
dates  from  1866,  not  “1865.”  Hubbard  states  that  the  first  Alaskan 
record  of  this  species  was  “released”  by  Jellision  and  Kohls  (1939). 
It  was  actually  published  earlier  by  Philip,  1938,  Jl.  Parasitol.,  24, 
no.  6,  p.  486,  Table  2. 

Genus  Torso psylla  Wagner,  1927.  It  is  stated  that  specimens  of 
T.  coloradensis  (Baker,  1895)  listed  from  British  Columbia  belong 
to  an  undescribed  species.  Presumably  this  refers  to  the  record 
published  by  Holland,  1941,  Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  British  Columbia,  no. 
37,  p.  11,  based  on  specimens  determined  by  Wagner ; if  this  is  true, 
the  fact  should  have  been  stated. 

Genus  Odontopsyllus  Baker,  1905.  The  species  O.  multispinosus 
(Baker,  1898)  is  not  mentioned.  One  wonders  whether  it  may 
not  occur  west  of  the  lOOth  meridian,  since  it  was  recorded  from 
Oklahoma  off  jack  rabbits  by  Ward,  1934,  Proc.  Okla.  Acad.  Sci., 
14,  p.  31. 

Genus  Augitstsonius  Hubbard,  1941.  This  is  simply  a synonym 
of  Gensibia  Jordan,  1932,  genotype:  G.  torosa  Jordan,  1932,  by 
original  designation.  The  monotypic  genotype  of  Augustsonius 
was  G.  ashcrafti  Augustson,  1941,  by  original  designation.  In  the 
original  description  of  the  genus  by  Hubbard,  it  is  stated,  “This 
genus  differs  from  Geusibia  Jordan  among  other  features  in  the 
shape  and  armature  of  the  coxae.”  In  this  book  he  points  out  (page 
269)  that  synonymy  has  been  suggested.  While  Hubbard’s  book 
was  in  press,  the  genus  was  correctly  synonymized,  without  com- 
ment, by  Costa  Lima  and  Hathaway,  1946,  Pulgas,  etc.,  Mongr. 
Inst.  Osw.  Cruz,  no.  4,  p.  251. 

Family  Hystrichopsyllidae  Tiraboschi,  1904.  The  family  is  de- 
fined as  follows : “Genera  of  this  family  of  fleas  characterized  by 
presence  of  dorsal  sulcus  separating  frons  from  posterior  position 
of  head,  which  allows  motion  between  two  regions”  (page  273). 


12  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.  XLIJI 


This  definition  is  unsatisfactory,  and  furthermore  it  is  merely  a re- 
wording of  the  definition  of  the  old  suborder  Fracticipita  Oudenians, 
1908.  Inasmuch  as  Hubbard  (page  46)  had  already  decided  cor- 
rectly to  disregard  the  subdivision  of  fleas  into  suborders,  he  should 
have  given  an  adequate  definition  for  this  family.  It  must  be  real- 
ized that  Hubbard  has  included  in  this  family  the  following  genera 
which  do  not  conform  to  his  definition:  Callistopsyllus,  Conorhinop- 
sylla,  Megarthroglossus,  Trichopsylloides,  Micropsylla,  Actenoph- 
thalnius,  Parafyphloceras,  and  Rectofrontia.  Furthermore,  bat-fleas 
are  not  excluded  from  the  Hystrichopsyllidae  by  this  definition. 
These  facts  are  obvious  from  an  examination  of  the  illustrations,  or 
a study  of  known  specimens,  but  they  are  pointed  out  here  as  a prob- 
able source  of  confusion  to  the  uninitiated  beginner  who  may  at- 
tempt to  use  the  book  to  identify  his  fleas. 

In  the  key  to  western  genera  of  Hystrichopsyllidae,  Carteretta  and 
Ctenophthalmus  are  separated  on  a geographical  dichotomy,  and 
Leptopsylla  and  Micro psylla  are  distinguished  on  the  basis  of  host 
preference.  These  important  considerations  are  not  morphological 
characters,  and  they  are  out  of  place  in  a key  except  as  supple- 
mentary information. 

The  key  to  the  western  species  of  the  genus  Atyphloceras  is  un- 
satisfactory for  the  same  reason : geographical  dichotomy  is  used  to 
separate  A.  echis  and  A.  longipalpus,  and  the  key  is  inadequate  for 
the  determination  of  males. 

Genus  Callistopsyllus  Jordan  and  Rothschild,  1915.  This  genus 
appears  for  the  first  time  in  the  Hystrichopsyllidae,  having  been 
placed  in  Dolichopsyllidae  by  Jellison  and  Good,  1942,  Nat.  Inst. 
Health  Bull.  No.  178,  p.  4;  and  in  Pulicidae  by  Ewing  and  Fox, 
1943,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agric.,  Misc.  Publ.  No.  500,  p.  111.  The  reason 
for  the  present  assignment  of  this  genus  would  be  of  interest.  Hub- 
bard treats  two  species:  C.  terimis  (Rothschild,  1905)  and  C.  de- 
uterus  Jordan,  1937.  He  has  apparently  overlooked  C.  paratermus 
Wagner,  1940,  Zeits.  f.  Parasitenk.,  11,  p.  465,  figs.  5 & 6.  This 
species  was  described  from  a single  male  taken  from  Peromyscus 
maniculatiis  ssp.,  probably  aidemisiae  (Rhoads),  at  Eagle  River, 
British  Columbia,  and  Wagner  stated  that  it  might  prove  to  be  the 
male  of  C.  ferinus,  which  at  that  time  was  known  only  from  three 
females.  (See  Holland,  1941,  Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  Brit,  Columbia,  no. 
37,  p.  11.)  Since  Hubbard  records  males  of  C.  terinus  and  figures 
the  male  genitalia  and  head,  it  would  be  desirable  to  know  whether 
he  believes  that  Wagner’s  C.  paraterinus  is  conspecific  and  therefore 
a synonym. 


Feh.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  13 


Genus  Catallagia  Rothschild,  1915.  The  key  to  the  species  of  this 
genus  is  inadequate,  owing  to  the  use  of  geographical  dichotomies 
in  three  instances.  In  the  body  of  the  text  several  species  are  con- 
sidered as  distinct,  and  they  are  separated  in  the  key.  Yet  in  the 
synonymic  index  (page  519),  we  read  that  two  of  these  are  probably 
dimorphic  forms  of  two  others ; that  ''Catallagia  rutherfordi  August- 
son,  1941,  is  not  essentially  different  from  Catallagia  chamberlini 
Hubbard,  pp.  289,  292”  ; and  that  Catallagia  vonbloekeri  Augustson, 
1941,  is  probably  C.  chamberlini  and  so  forth.  This  is  highly  con- 
fusing to  the  reviewer,  and  it  is  possible  that  others  may  find  it  at 
least  slightly  so.  In  the  discussion  of  C.  rutherfordi  (page  292), 
we  note  that  a study  of  paratypes  in  Hubbard’s  collection  leads  him 
to  believe  that  it  may  be  the  same  as  C.  sculleni  Hubbard,  1940. 
Are  we  justified  in  concluding  that  several  things  equal  to  the  same 
thing  may  be  equal  to  each  other,  and  that  one  name  should  be 
applied  ? Pertinent  facts  are  that  C.  sculleni  has  only  page  priority 
over  C.  chamberlini  Hubbard,  1940,  and  that  Augustson’s  specific 
names  are  antedated  by  those  of  Hubbard’s.  Hubbard  should  have 
clarified  the  matter,  but  the  reviewer  is  unable  to  do  so,  owing  to 
lack  of  specimens  at  hand  for  study. 

Genus  Megarthroglossus  Jordan  and  Rothschild,  1915.  Ade- 
quate reasons  are  given  for  the  fact  that  a key  to  species  is  not 
provided.  M.  procus  oregonensis  Hubbard,  a new  subspecies,  is 
described  and  illustrated,  but  no  holotype  is  designed,  and  the  type 
host  and  type  locality  are  not  specified.  Types  are  said  to  be  de- 
posited in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum.  On  page  300,  M.  divisus 
divisus  is  dated  from  Baker,  1895,  directly  under  the  name  of  the 
species.  The  first  usage  of  the  name  dates  from  1898.  M.  divisus 
wallozvensis  is  described  as  a new  subspecies,  based  on  a holotype 
female  (unique  specimen)  from  Wallowa  Lake,  Wallowa  County, 
Oregon,  off  Tamiaseiurus  hudsonicus  richardsoni  Bachman,  de- 
posited in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum.  M.  bisetis  Jordan  and 
Rothschild,  1915,  is  reduced  as  a subspecies  of  M.  divisus^  although 
adequate  reasons  for  this  action  are  not  provided. 

Genus  Stenistomera  Rothschild,  1915.  Under  S.  alpina  (Baker, 
1895) , Delotelis  mohavensis  Augustson,  1941,  is  listed  as  a synonym, 
without  stating  a reason  or  citing  a previous  authority.  The  re- 
viewer is  unable  to  comment  on  the  correctness  of  this  synonymy. 

Genus  Trichopsylloides  Ewing,  1938.  The  reference  to  the  origi- 
nal description  should  be  Ewing,  1938,  Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  Wash.,  40, 
p.  94,  not  “p.  49.”  Hubbard  goes  on  record  as  agreeing  with  Jordan 
that  this  genus  is  near  Rectofrontia  and  Micro psylla,  yet  he  places  it 


14  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


l>etween  Stenistomera  and  Epitedia,  a procedure  which  seems  rather 
inconsistent.  A locality  record  for  T.  oregonensis  Ewing,  1938, 
from  “Cultis  Lake”  is  a lapsus  for  Cultus  Lake,  British  Columbia 
(Holland’s  original  spelling  was  Cultus  Lake).  The  authority  for 
regarding  Phaneris  hiihbardi  Jordan,  1939,  as  a synonym  of  this 
sj^ecies  should  be  cited  and  the  reason  given. 

Genus  Epitedia  Jordan,  1938.  The  treatment  of  this  genus  is 
confusing  and  inadequate.  Three  species  are  treated  as  apparently 
valid:  E.  zvcmnanni  (Rothschild,  1^4),  E.  stanfordi  Traub,  1944, 
and  E.  jovdani  Hubbard,  1940.  Under  the  discussion  of  E.  stan- 
fordi, Hubbard  records  observations  which,  if  correct,  could  easily 
warrent  its  reduction  as  a subspecies  or  synonym  of  E.  zvenmamii. 
The  fact  that  E.  jordani  has  been  considered  by  Good  and  by  Hol- 
land to  be  a synonym  of  E.  scapani  (Wagner,  1936)  is  mentioned. 
Adequate  reasons  for  synonymy  were  given  by  Holland,  1942, 
Canad.  Ent.,  74,  pp.  157-158;  the  reviewer  has  not  studied  Good’s 
paper.  If  Hubbard  regards  his  species,  jordani,  as  valid,  he  must 
then  treat  E.  scapani  (Wagner,  1936)  as  also  valid,  and  his  incon- 
sistency lies  in  not  doing  so.  If  he  agrees  with  the  synonymy  pro- 
])osed  by  others,  then  naturally  Wagner’s  name  takes  precedence. 
The  reviewer  hereby  accepts  the  synonymy  already  proposed.  Thus 
the  synonyms  of  E.  scapani  (Wagner,  1936)  are  E.  jordani,  on 
Holland’s  authority,  and  E.  stezvai'ti  Hubbard,  1940,  on  Hubbard’s 
authority. 

Genus  Meringis  Jordan,  1937.  In  the  key  to  species,  the  primary 
dichotomy  is  based  on  male  genital  characters ; then  females  are 
included  in  the  sub-headings.  An  attempt  to  use  the  key  reveals 
that  the  characters  are  based  on  drawings;  thus  the  reader  might 
better  have  been  referred  to  the  illustrations  and  the  key  could  have 
been  omitted.  Atheropsylla  bakeri  Stewart,  1940,  is  regarded  as 
a synonym  of  Meringis  cummingi  (C.  Fox,  1926),  without  giving 
reasons  or  citing  a previous  authority. 

Genus  Peromyscapsylla  I.  Fox,  1939.  Under  P.  ravalliensis 
(Dunn,  1923),  Hubbard  should  cite:  ‘'Ctenopsyllus  rawalliensis 
(sic)  Wagner,  1936,  Canad.  Ent.,  68,  p.  205:  lapsus.”  The  name 
has  been  cited  as  if  Wagner  had  spelled  it  correctly.  In  considering 
P.  duma  Traub,  1944,  Hubbard  states  that  this  species  may  come 
well  within  the  range  of  observed  variants  of  P.  selenis  (Rothschild, 
1906).  If  this  is  so,  then  a decision  should  be  rendered  on  the 
standing  of  Traub’s  species. 

Genus  Doratopsylla  Jordan  and  Rothschild,  1912.  The  treatment 
of  species  included  in  this  genus  needs  clarification.  The  synonymy 


Feh.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  15 


of  D.  ciirvata  ohtusata  Wagner,  1929,  and  D.  jellisoni  Hubbard, 
1940,  was  adequately  justified  by  evidence  presented  by  Holland, 
1942,  Canad.  Ent.,  74,  p.  157.  Hubbard  treats  his  own  species. 
D.  jellisoni,  as  valid,  and  merely  states  (page  345)  : “It  has  l)een 
suggested  that  this  species  is  the  same  as  D.  c.  ohtusata  Wagner 
1929.”  If  he  thinks  his  own  species  is  valid,  and  disagrees  with 
Holland’s  proposed  synonymy,  then  he  is  inconsistent  in  not  giving- 
separate  and  adequate  treatment  to  Wagner’s  species ; and  likewise 
inconsistent  in  using  the  subspecific  name,  Doratopsylla  cw^ata 
cui'vata  Rothschild,  1915,  when  ignoring  separate  treatment  of 
Wagner’s  subspecies.  These  discrepancies  can  be  avoided  simply 
by  considering  D.  jellisoni  Hubbard  as  a synonym  of  D.  c.  ohtusata 
W agner. 

Genus  Hystrichopsylla  Taschenberg,  1880.  H.  mammoth 
Chapin,  1921,  is  reduced  to  subspecific  standing  as  H.  schefferi 
mammoth,  based  on  a characteristic  eighth  sternite  of  the  male. 

Genus  Stenoponia  Jordan  and  Rothschild,  1911.  Under  S.  amer- 
icana  (page  362),  the  date  after  Baker’s  name,  “1898,’’  is  obviously  a 
misprint  for  1899. 

Genus  Corypsylloides  Hubbard,  1940.  In  describing  the  mor- 
phology of  this  genus,  Hubbard  uses  the  term  “indistinct  pseudos- 
pines” in  quotation  marks,  without  explaining  its  meaning.  The 
term  has  been  used  by  Dr.  Karl  Jordan  with  reference  to  relatively 
weakly  sclerotized,  lightly  pigmented,  spine-like  or  sometimes 
comb-like  extensions  of  the  dorsal  and/or  lateral  thoracic  exoskele- 
ton. They  occur  in  several  genera  of  fleas.  Under  Corypsylloides 
kolilsi  Hubbard,  1940,  he  has  synonymized  C.  spinata  I.  Fox,  1940, 
without  citing  as  authority  Ewing  and  Fox,  1943,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr., 
Misc.  Publ.  No.  500,  pp.  96,  123. 

Genus  Nearctopsylla  Rothschild,  1915.  Under  N.  jordani  Hub- 
bard, April,  1940,  N.  hygini  cohtmhiana  Wagner,  May,  1940,  is 
synonymized,  without  citing  as  authority  Holland,  1942,  Canad. 
Ent.,  74,  p.  158,  who  gave  adequate  reasons. 

Family  Ischnopsyllidae  Wahlgren,  1907.  The  distinctive  char- 
acters of  bat-fleas  are  mentioned,  and  a workable  key  to  the  four 
genera  recognized  in  western  North  America  is  provided. 

Genus  Myodopsylla  Jordan  and  Rothschild,  1911.  Hubbard 
treats  two  species  as  valid : M.  gentilis  Jordan  and  Rothschild,  1921, 
and  M.  collinsi  Kohls,  1937.  He  would  have  done  well  to  consider 
M.  croshyi  (Baker,  1905).  It  was  recorded  from  Steamboat 
Springs,  Colorado,  off  Myotis  evotis,  by  Hall,  1911,  Colorado  Coll. 
Publ.,  Sci.  Ser.,  12(10),  p.  346.  The  original  description  by  Baker 


16  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


was  inadequate,  and  although  its  status  is  uncertain,  it  was  main- 
tained as  a separate  and  valid  species  by  Jellison  and  Good,  1942, 
Nat.  Inst.  Health  Bull.  No.  178,  p.  94.  This  species  should  not 
have  been  ignored  by  Hubbard. 

Genus  Myodopsylloides  Augustson,  1941.  By  a process  of  in- 
voh^ed  and  ambiguous  reasoning,  Hubbard  has  arrived  at  the  correct 
conclusion  that  this  is  a valid  genus,  containing  one  species,  M. 
palposus  (Rothschild,  1904),  of  which  M.  piercei  Augustson,  1941, 
is  a synonym.  Rothschild’s  original  spelling  was  palposus,  and 
Hubbard’s  emendation  (page  376)  to  palposa  seems  unnecessary. 

Genus  Sternopsylla  Jordan  and  Rothschild,  1921.  Hubbard 
recognizes  two  valid  species  in  his  territory,  but  he  does  not  give 
a key  to  them.  He  might  have  helped  the  beginner  by  pointing  out 
the  existence  of  a deciduous  frontal  tubercle  in  this  genus,  instead 
of  stating,  “There  may  or  may  not  be  a frontal  tubercle.”  This 
fact  was  confusing  to  Ewing  and  Fox,  1943,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agric., 
Mi  sc.  Publ.  No.  500,  pp.  97-98,  but  it  has  been  clarified  in  a paper 
by  Jordan,  1945,  Proc.  Roy.  Ent.  Soc.  London,  Ser.  B.  Taxonomy, 
14,  parts  9-10,  pp.  113-116.  Hubbard  should  credit  the  synonymy 
of  Apfilopsylla  Ewing,  1940  under  Sternopsylla  to  Ewing  and  Fox, 
1943,  loc.  cit.  Finally,  the  species  carlsbadensis  Ewing,  1940,  was 
the  monotypic  genotype  of  Aptilopsylla,  whereas  Hubbard  errone- 
ously credits  the  original  description  of  the  species  to  the  genus 
Sternopsylla. 

Part  II  of  this  book  is  concluded  by  a tabular  “Geographic  Index 
to  Western  Fleas,”  omitting  the  Northwest  Territories,  Canada. 
There  is  a similar  index  to  56  species  of  eastern  fleas,  compiled 
from  Fox’s  book.  It  purportedly  includes  records  of  eastern  fleas 
published  through  1945,  but  it  is  incomplete. 

Part  HI  is  devoted  mainly  to  “The  Hosts  of  Western  Rodent 
Fleas  and  Western  Lagomorpha  Fleas.  Their  relation  to  plague, 
tularemia,  murine  typhus.”  It  opens  with  a page  of  maps,  showing 
the  known  distribution  of  plague  infection  in  the  western  United 
States.  The  discoveries  of  plague  infection  in  various  genera  of 
rodents  and  Lagomorpha  are  tabulated  in  chronological  order.  De- 
tailed information  on  host  relationships  is  given,  and  when  the  data 
are  correlated,  they  will  doubtless  be  of  great  value.  It  will  be 
apparent  that  many  of  the  data  are  based  on  personal  collections 
made  by  Hubbard  himself.  For  this  enormous  amount  of  field 
and  laboratory  work,  he  is  especially  to  be  commended.  Hubbard 
is  probably  the  outstanding  field  collector  of  fleas  in  North  America, 
and  he  has  amassed  an  immense  amount  of  information. 


Feb.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  17 


Other  hosts  of  western  North  American  fleas  are  grouped  accord- 
ing to  records  from  Carnivora;  Insectivora;  Bats  (Chiroptera)  ; 
Man  ; and  Birds.  The  significance  of  these  various  records  is 
discussed  in  each  section. 

A selected  bibliography  includes  articles  published  after  July  1, 
1939,  the  closing  date  for  entries  in  the  publication  by  Jellison  and 
Good,  1942. 

There  is  a short  “Synonymic  Index.”  From  the  taxonomic 
standpoint,  it  is  merely  confusing,  and  it  might  better  have  been 
headed  “Addenda.” 

The  remaining  indices  comprise  the  following;  “Rapid  Index  to 
Western  Fleas;”  “Western  Fleas  Indexed  According  to  Authors;” 
and  “General  Index.”  None  of  these  is  complete,  and  their  use- 
fulness and  value  are  correspondingly  decreased. 

In  conclusion,  it  will  be  recognized  that  Hubbard  has  performed 
an  extremely  valuable  service  in  making  available  a mass  of  informa- 
tion which  was  previously  rather  inaccessible.  In  spite  of  its  faults, 
his  book  is  a welcome  contribution  v/hich  will  be  appreciated  by 
workers  in  a variety  of  fields.  The  author  is  to  be  congratulated 
for  his  effort  and  enthusiasm  in  the  study  of  fleas,  and  he  is  to  be 
commended  for  his  perseverance  in  producing  this  book. 


Boxelder  Bugs  Feeding  on  Honeybees. — On  several  occa- 
sions the  writer  has  observed  adult  boxelder  bugs,  Leptocoris 
trivittatiis  (Say),  feeding  on  dead  or  dying  worker  honeybees. 
Large  numbers  of  recently  dead  and  crawling  honeybees  were  scat- 
tered about  a home  yard  at  611  Tenth  Avenue,  Salt  Lake  City, 
Utah,  on  June  9,  1946.  In  this  yard,  boxelder  bugs  also  were 
moderately  abundant,  possibly  averaging  one  for  each  two  or  three 
dead  bees  on  the  walks  and  stone  terrace.  Three  adult  boxelder 
bugs  were  observed  to  be  feeding  on  dead  bees,  while  two  others 
were  feeding  on  trembling,  almost  dead  worker  honeybees.  Two 
of  the  boxelder  bugs  thus  feeding  were  at  the  same  time  copulating. 
One  bug  still  was  feeding  quietly  on  a bee  28  minutes  after  first 
being  observed.  Two  days  later,  one  of  five  boxelder  bugs  observed 
in  a bee  yard  three  miles  west  of  Provo,  Utah,  was  feeding  on  a 
freshly  dead  worker  honeybee.  No  evidence  was  found  that  box- 
elder bugs  attack  active,  normal  bees. — G.  F.  Knowlton.  Logan, 
Utah. 


18  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^Llil 


SYNONYMICAL  NOTES  ON  NORTH  AMERICAN 
SPHECOID  WASPS:  I AND  II  (HYMENOPTERA). 

By  Karl  V.  Krombein,  Washington,  D.  C. 

This  paper  contains  I and  II  of  a series  of  notes  to  be  published 
under  this  general  title.  Note  I presents  evidence  to  show  that  the 
female  and  male  described  as  Tachytes  obscuranus  Rohwer,  1909, 
represent,  respectively,  two  distinct  species.  The  female  (type)  is 
identical  with  Tachytes  (Tachyoides)  mergiis  Fox,  1892,  and  it  is 
suggested  that  the  male  may  represent  the  hitherto  unknown  male 
of  T.  birkmanni  Rohwer,  1909.  Tachytes  minor  Rohwer,  1909,  is 
synonymized  with  T.  mergiis  Fox.  Tachyoides  Banks,  1942,  is  re- 
duced to  subgeneric  rank  and  characters  given  to  separate  it  from 
the  other  subgenera  of  Tachytes.  Note  II  presents  characters 
showing  that  Anacrabro  robertsoni  Rohwer,  1920,  should  be  con- 
sidered the  Floridian  subspecies  of  A.  ocellatns  Packard,  1866,  and 
not  a synonym  of  ocellatns  as  treated  by  Pate,  1947. 

I.  The  Identity  of  the  Male  of  Tachytes 
(Tachyoides)  mergiis  Fox. 

Several  years  ago  Banks  (Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  Zool.  89:  434,  1942) 
placed  Tachytes  obscuranus  Rohwer  (Ent.  News  20:  205,  1909)  as 
a synonym  of  T.  mergus  Fox  (Trans.  Amer.  Ent.  Soc.  19:  250, 
1892).  The  synonymy  was  indicated,  but  never  published,  by 
Rohwer,  who  had  placed  the  label  ''Tachytes  mergus  Fox,  homo- 
type, Roll.”  on  a female  paratype  of  obscuranus  [USNM].  This 
synonymy  is  correct,  but  only  in  part,  as  the  male  of  obscuranus 
(allotype)  is  another  species. 

Rohwer  based  his  association  of  sexes  in  obscuranus  on  a series 
of  five  females  and  five  males  from  Lee  Co.,  Texas  (mostly  at 
Fedor),  collected  by  G.  Birkmann  on  several  different  dates.  The 
female  holotype  of  obscuranus  is  the  same  as  mergus,  agreeing  with 
that  species  in  all  essential  particulars.  It  is  of  importance  to  note 
that  in  the  female  the  head  and  thorax  are  covered  with  abundant 
erect,  long,  silvery  hairs ; that  a shining,  glabrous,  impunctate 
narrow  strip  is  present  on  the  front  running  obliquely  from  the 
supra-antennal  prominence  toward  the  eye ; and  that  the  propodeum 
is  shining  and  punctate  on  the  dorsal  surface. 

The  true  male  of  mergus  probably  should  agree  in  most,  if  not 
all,  of  these  characters  of  integumental  sculpture  and  clothing. 
This  is  not  at  all  true  of  the  male  of  obscuranus,  which  has  the  head 


Feh.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  19 


and  thorax  covered  mainly  with  dense,  silvery,  short  to  moderately 
long,  appressed  hairs,  the  front  dull  with  dense  minute  punctures 
and  entirely  lacking  the  impunctate  strip,  and  the  dorsum  of  the 
propodeum  dull  and  coarsely  granulate. 

There  is  a male  that  does  have  the  same  characters  of  integu- 
mental  sculpture  and  clothing  as  the  female  of  nicrgits,  and  that  is 
T.  minor  Rohwer  (Trans.  Amer.  Ent.  Soc.  35:  127,  1909),  also 
described  from  Lee  Co.,  Texas.  The  differences  in  sculpture  are 
in  degree  only  and  not  in  kind,  the  puncturation  of  the  front  and 
propodeum  being  somewhat  sparser  than  in  the  female;  these  dif- 
ferences are  what  one  would  normally  expect  between  the  two  sexes 
of  a species.  The  only  noteworthy  difference  between  the  female 
mcrgus  and  male  minor,  other  than  those  of  a sexual  character,  is 
that  the  male  has  ferruginous  tibiae  and  tarsi  whereas  these  are 
black  in  the  female  except  for  the  ferruginous  apices  of  the  tarsal 
segments.  This  color  difference  is  unusual  (females  in  this  group 
usually  have  more  extensive  ferruginous  markings  when  they  are 
present),  but  mergus  is  an  anomalous  species,  so  much  so  that 
Banks  erected  a discrete  genus,  Tachyoides,  for  it  and  the  closely 
related  ariclla  Banks  from  Arizona.  Some  further  data  of  value 
in  associating  mergus  and  minor  are  to  be  found  in  the  distribution  ; 
mergus  females  are  known  from  New  Jersey  (type  of  mergus) 
[ANSP],  Georgia  (Fattig)  [USNM]  and  Texas  (type  of  obscu- 
ranus)  [USNM],  while  minor  males  are  known  from  Florida 
(Scudder)  [KVK]  and  Texas  (type  of /»/no7^)  [USNM].  Males 
of  obscuranus  are  known  from  the  type  locality  only. 

I believe  that  the  similarity  of  structural  characters  and  distribu- 
tion leaves  no  alternative  but  to  consider  minor  a synonym  of 
mergus.  This  belief  is  strengthened  by  the  fact  that  one  of  the 
characters  mentioned  above,  the  narrow  impunctate  strip  on  the 
front,  is  to  be  considered  of  subgeneric  value  and,  in  fact,  the  only 
one  which  will  separate  both  sexes  of  Tachyoides  from  Tacky nana. 

This  action  leaves  the  male  of  obscuranus  without  a name.  Per- 
haps it  should  be  described  as  new,  for  it  is  distinct  from  other 
known  nearctic  males.  However,  I suspect  that  the  female  with 
which  it  should  be  associated  probably  has  been  described,  so  I 
shall  refrain  from  creating  possible  additional  synonymy.  While 
I have  no  definite  data,  other  than  identical  distribution,  it  appears 
likely  that  the  male  of  obscuranus  may  be  the  hitherto  unknown  male 
of  birkmanni  Rohwer  (Ent.  News  20  : 199,  1909),  also  known  only 
from  Lee  Co.,  Texas.  The  two  sexes  are  similar  in  characters  of 
the  integumental  sculpture  and  clothing,  but  differ  in  the  female 


20  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


having  a ferruginous  and  the  male  a black  abdomen.  However, 
this  difference  in  coloration  of  the  two  sexes  is  normal  for  several 
species  of  T achytes. 

In  my  opinion  Tachyoides,  which  Banks  established  as  a genus 
for  mergiis  Fox  (genotype)  and  ariella  Banks,  merits  subgeneric 
rank  only.  The  male  characters  which  Banks  cites  for  Tachyoides 
are  useless,  since  they  are  based  on  the  male  of  ohscuranus,  a mem- 
ber of  T achytes  (Tachynaua) . The  distinguishing  characters  of 
Tachytes  {Tachyoides)  appear  to  be  the  elongate  fusiform  scape 
and  the  sparse  bristles  on  the  pygidium  in  the  female,  and  the  nar- 
row, oblique,  shining,  glabrous,  impunctate  strip  on  the  front  of 
both  sexes.  The  scape  of  the  male  is  not  elongate,  and  the  pygidial 
bristles  are  no  more  sparse  than  in  some  other  males  of  Tachytes; 
the  fore  femur  is  shallowly  sulcate  beneath  at  base,  and  the  process 
at  apex  of  fore  coxa  is  a small,  short,  blunt  tubercle. 

II.  The  Status  of  Anacrabro  robertsoni  Rohwer. 

In  a recent  paper  Pate  (Notulae  Nat.,  No.  185:  1,  1947)  places 
the  New  Mexican  Anacrabro  hoerhaviae  Cockerell  and  the  Floridian 
A.  robertsoni  Rohwer  as  synonyms  of  A.  ocellatus  Packard,  remark- 
ing (p.  2),  “Cockerell’s  boerhaviae  is  a very  fully  maculated  form  of 
ocellatus  and  might  be  recognized  as  a colour  variety.  Rohwer’s 
Floridian  robertsoni  is  merely  a melanic  specimen.”  I am  in  com- 
plete agreement  with  Pate’s  action  in  synonymizing  boerhaviae, 
but  I feel  that  his  synonymizing  of  robertsoni  is  not  justified  by  the 
material  before  me. 

Apparently  Pate  considered  only  the  fuliginous  wings  and  paler 
maculations  of  robertsoni  in  deciding  that  it  was  just  a melanic 
specimen  of  ocellatus,  for  he  makes  no  reference  to  Rohwer’s  re- 
marks (Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  Wash.,  22:  58,  1920)  concerning  the  less 
coarsely  punctured  abdomen  and  opaque  and  more  closely  punctured 
mesonotum  as  distinguishing  robertsoni  from  ocellatus.  Recently  I 
have  had  an  opportunity  to  study  a series  of  16  females  and  one 
male  from  Gainesville,  Florida,  Sept,  and  Oct.  1946  and  Oct.  1947 
(H.  E.  Bratley;  on  B.orreria)  and  the  unique  female  type  of  robert- 
soni [USNM]  from  Inverness,  Florida.  These  specimens  are  very 
constant  in  sculptural  characters  and  vary  only  slightly  in  the  extent 
of  maculations.  They  are  quite  different  from  ocellatus,  as  shown 
in  the  appended  key  for  separating  the  two  forms. 

Integument  of  head  and  thorax  more  shining  with  weaker  micro- 
scopic impressed  tesselation;  mesonotum  with  most  of  punc- 
tures more  separated ; mesopleuron  with  upper  half  very 


Fel.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  21 


sparsely  punctate ; puncturation  of  abdominal  tergites  coarser, 
most  noticeably  so  on  first  tergite,  second  to  fifth  tergites  in 
female  and  second  to  sixth  in  male  strongly  constricted  at  base ; 
forewing  very  weakly  infumate  beyond  stigma ; pale  markings 
bright  yellow. 

ocellatiis  ocellatus  Packard 
Integument  of  head  and  thorax  more  opaque  because  of  the  stronger 
microscopic  impressed  tesselation ; mesonotum  with  many  of 
punctures  contiguous ; mesopleuron  with  upper  half  bearing 
more  numerous  punctures,  many  of  which  are  contiguous ; ab- 
dominal tergites  more  finely  punctate,  second  to  fifth  tergites  in 
female  and  second  to  sixth  in  male  not  strongly  constricted  at 
base ; forewing  beyond  stigma  strongly  fuliginous ; pale  mark- 
ings whitish-yellow. 

ocellatus  robertsoni  Rohwer,  NEW  STATUS 

These  dififerences  are  of  degree  only,  but  are  constant  for  the 
two  forms,  and  I have  seen  no  specimens  which  I would  consider 
intergrades.  Furthermore,  the  distribution  appears  to  be  discon- 
tinuous. Typical  ocellatus  is  essentially  a more  northern  form  and 
apparently  is  to  be  found  only  at  the  higher  elevations,  and  then 
very  rarely,  as  one  goes  south  (the  most  southern  records  I have 
from  the  Southeastern  States  are  Auburn,  Alabama,  and  Stone  Mt., 
Head  River  and  Covington,  Georgia).  The  atypical  subspecies, 
robertsoni,  is  known  from  Inverness  and  Gainesville,  Florida,  sev- 
eral hundred  miles  from  the  most  southern  locality  in  which  typical 
ocellatus  has  been  taken. 


A Case  of  Synonymy  in  the  Family  Neididae  (Hemiptera- 
Heteroptera). — 

Jalysus  caducus  Distant 

Neides  caducus  (Distant)  1893,  Biol.  Centr.  Amer.,  Rhynch. 

II,  Append.,  460. 

Jalysus  enlongatus  Barber  1911,  Jl.  N.  Y.  Ent.  Soc.  XIX:  23. 

Professor  H.  M.  Harris  of  the  Iowa  State  College  of  Agriculture, 
recently  informed  the  author  that  Jalysus  elongatiis  Barber  from 
Arizona  is  the  same  as  Neides  caducus  (Distant),  described  from 
Mexico  and  Panama.  He  sent  a male  specimen  collected  by  him 
in  Guatemala  for  confirmation. — H.  G.  Barber,  Roselle,  N.  J. 


22  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLlu 


A MASS  COLLECTION  AND  POPULATION  SURVEY 
TECHNIQUE  FOR  LARVAE  OF  TABANIDAE 
(DIPTERA). 

By  Norman  S.  Bailey,  Harvard  Biological  Laboratories, 
Cambridge,  Massachusetts. 

Herein  are  recorded  observations  made  during  the  late  summer  of 
1946  concerning  the  habits  and  distribution  of  larvae  of  Tabaniis 
nigrovittatiis  Macquart.  The  chief  center  of  these  investigations^ 
was  the  salt  marsh  area  around  Pine  Island,  Newbury,  Mass. 
However,  various  points  from  Gloucester  to  Salisbury  were  fre- 
quently visited  for  study  and  comparison.  The  field  work  began  on 
July  fifteenth  and  was  continuous  until  mid-September.  There- 
after a few  trips  were  made  to  the  marshes  throughout  the  fall. 
The  last  larval  collection  was  taken  on  Plum  Island  in  early 
November. 

Larvae  of  T.  nigrovittatiis,  the  Saltmarsh  Greenhead,  are  typical 
of  the  family.  They  are  elongate-fusiform  and  those  collected 
ranged  from  two  to  twenty-four  millimeters  long  when  well  ex- 
panded by  killing  in  70-80%  alcohol.  They  were  remarkably  re- 
sistant to  the  alcohol  and  lived  six  hours  or  more  in  that  medium. 
A distinctive  feature  is  their  uniform  pale  amber  color  which  is 
noticeable  even  in  the  smaller  specimens.  Their  coloration  is  so 
similar  to  that  of  the  marsh  straw  in  which  they  are  commonly 
found  that  it  requires  some  practice  to  notice  them..  The  only  other 
species  of  the  genus  whose  larvae  are  at  all  common  in  these  salt 
marshes  is  Tabaniis  atratus  Fabricius.  Larvae  of  this  species  are 
readily  distinguished  from  the  first  by  their  larger  size  and  white- 
ness. The  anterior  margin  of  each  segment  is  also  conspicuously 
marked  with  irregular  dark  brown  to  blackish  rings.  Furthermore, 
larvae  of  T.  atratus  prefer  the  wettest  situations.  They  are  found 
under  straw  where  the  tides  regularly  flood  the  surface  and  are 
especially  abundant  under  such  debris  on  the  mud  of  undrained 
marsh  areas  like  those  adjacent  to  the  Ipswich  Town  Farm.  They 
also  occur  in  the  algae  and  other  organic  materials  in  the  ditches 
and  about  the  margins  of  shallow  pools. 

^ These  investigations  are  in  progress  under  the  direction  of  a 
joint  board  of  the  State  Department  of  Public  Health  and  the  State 
Reclamation  Board.  The  study  was  authorked  and  financed  by  the 
Massachusetts  Legislature. 


Feh.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  23 


For  the  first  six  weeks,  or  until  August  twenty-first,  larvae  were 
collected  by  digging  in  places  deemed  favorable.  Some  were  located 
under  the  thick  mat  formed  by  dead  culms  of  the  wiry  Spartina 
patens  (Ait.)  Muhlenberg  where  that  grass  is  dominant.  It  was 
easiest  to  find  them  by  turning  over  the  piles  of  straw  that  accumu- 
late near  ditches  at  the  upper  reaches  of  the  marsh.  Even  these 
simple  methods,  which  yielded  only  the  larger  individuals,  indicated 
plainly  that  Tabanns  nigrovittatns  larvae  were  very  generally  dis- 
tributed over  the  marsh. 

Through  Mr.  Robert  W.  Wales  (State  Entomologist)  the  ex- 
periences of  Mr.  Robert  L.  Armstrong  were  brought  to  my  atten- 
tion. Subsequently  we  conferred  and  still  later  Mr.  Armstrong 
(now  Superintendent  of  the  East  Middlesex  Mosquito  Control  Proj- 
ect) wrote  me  personally  of  the  experiments  which  he  had  con- 
ducted about  ten  years  ago.  At  that  time  he  had  tried  out  various 
py rethrum  preparations  as  mosquito  larvicides.  In  the  course  of 
his  work  the  effects  on  larvae  of  Tabanidae  were  noted  and  the 
value  of  such  materials  for  a study  of  their  distribution  was  appreci- 
ated. 

A few  gallons  of  py  rethrum -kerosene  emulsion  manufactured  by 
Seacoast  Laboratories,  Inc.  of  New  York  were  then  made  available 
to  me.  The  composition  is  approximately  as  follows:  65%  kero- 
sene, 0.035%  pyrethrins,  0.1%  thio-diphenyl-amine,  0.5%  sodium 
lauryl  sulfate,  and  34%  water.  Starting  August  twenty-first,  this 
concentrate  was  used  in  the  manner  suggested  by  Mr.  Armstrong 
with  the  excellent  results  tabulated  below  for  a survey  of  the  distri- 
bution and  numbers  of  T.  nigrovittatns  larvae  in  the  salt  marsh. 
For  this  study  the  larvicide  was  mixed  in  the  field  roughly  at  the  rate 
of  one  quart  of  the  concentrated  emulsion  to  7 or  8 quarts  of  water 
and  applied  by  hand  with  a rubber  bulb  seed-flat  sprinkler.  One 
pail  of  this  mixture  was  enough  to  treat  five  plots  each  a yard  square. 
The  area  to  be  lightly  soaked  with  the  larvicide  was  first  cleared  of 
straw’,  vegetation,  or  other  cover  both  to  insure  good  penetration 
and  to  make  the  larvae  more  visible.  For  cutting  the  dense,  tough 
stands  of  Spartina  on  these  small  plots  a linoleum  knife  with  its 
hooked  blade  was  found  very  serviceable.  At  the  best  it  was  slow\ 
tedious  work.  The  procedure  was  to  clear  and  spray  a series  of 
about  five  plots  in  succession.  The  sites  chosen  were  usually  in  a 
limited  area  but  each  was  selected  because  it  differed  from  the  others 
in  the  type  of  cover  or  in  the  amount  of  moisture  present.  Before 
the  last  area  was  cleared  and  treated,  larvae  would  be  coming  to  the 
surface  on  the  others  and  the  collector  could  move  in  rotation  from 


24  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Voi.  XLIII 


one  plot  to  another  recovering  the  larvae  as  they  appeared.  With- 
in half  an  hour  after  the  last  application  of  the  pyrethrum  it  was 
safe  to  consider  that  practically  all  of  the  larvae  had  been  taken. 
This  technique  fully  confirmed  the  fact  that  larvae  are  widely 
distributed  in  the  marsh  sod. 

An  important  consideration  is  that  larvae  of  this  species  rarely 
occur  where  there  is  any  standing  water.  A few  were  located  in 
litter  in  a ditch  bottom  at  low  tide.  On  the  other  hand,  they  were  as 
rarely  taken  in  places  where  the  muddy  marsh  peat  was  fully  ex- 
posed. Larger  specimens  frequently  found  in  the  straw  piles  were 
seeking  these  drier  situations  for  pupation  as  is  customary  for 
Tabanidae.  Most  of  the  pupae  and  pupal  cases  found  came  from 
similar  places.  In  general,  the  larvae  were  most  abundant  where 
there  was  a cover  of  living  plants.  Mats  of  grasses,  their  dead  culms, 
or  drifted  straw  maintain  uniform  moisture  conditions  which  keep 
the  surface  sediments  soft  and  favor  the  free  movements  of  the 
larvae.  The  cover  also  provides  shelter  for  small  crustaceans, 
snails,  and  other  animals  on  which  they  may  feed.  This  indicates 
that  marshes  ditched  for  salt  marsh  hay  production  and  for  mos- 
quito control  have  greater  expanses  of  suitable  larval  habitat  than 
natural  marshes  where  extensive  areas  support  no  plant  growth  and 
the  bare  mud  is  subject  to  alternate  drying  and  flooding.  These 
extremes  appear  to  be  equally  distasteful  to  this  species. 

The  larvae  respond  quickly  to  the  effective  pyrethrum  treatment. 
About  five  minutes  after  the  emulsion  is  applied  they  begin  to  appear 
on  the  surface.  They  are  evidently  only  an  inch  or  two  deep  when 
temperatures  and  moisture  conditions  favor  activity.  After  emer- 
gence they  writhe  in  discomfort  or  crawl  rapidly  and  aimlessly  about. 
In  a short  time  they  straighten  out,  appear  stiff  and  somewhat  swol- 
len, and  become  inactive.  The  spray  mixture  kills  other  Arthropods 
also.  Spiders,  the  numerous  marsh  amphipods,  and  such  other 
insects  as  may  be  wetted  usually  succumb  quickly.  Other  types  of 
larvae,  Culicoides  pupae,  and  small  round  worms  have  been  brought 
to  the  surface  as  well.  Indications  are  that  all  Tabanid  larvae 
present  are  killed  by  this  material  since  subsequent  applications 
fail  to  bring  more  than  one  or  two  larvae  from  plots  that  on  the 
first  occasion  yielded  an  average  number.  These  few  can  be  ac- 
counted for  by  movement  into  the  area  after  the  original  treatment. 
Also,  now  and  then  a dead  larva  is  found  on  a plot  sprayed  a day 
or  two  earlier  when  carefully  reexamined.  These  probably  came 
to  the  surface  after  the  collector  left,  and  died  from  the  effects  of 
the  pyrethrum-kerosene,  the  exposure  to  sun  and  air  which  desiccate 


Feh.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  25 


them  or,  probably,  from  a combination  of  these  factors.  From  the 
writer’s  experience,  the  pyrethrum  emulsion  is  not  to  be  considered 
a practical  control  larvicide.  It  is,  however,  a substance  which 
greatly  facilitates  the  location  and  the  collection  of  large  numbers 
of  larvae.  It  is  a useful  tool  to  be  used  for  studies  of  the  seasonal 
population  trends  and  of  the  developmental  cycles  of  such  species  as 
respond  to  it  in  the  manner  described.  The  explanation  and  figures 
that  follow  will  suggest  some  of  the  kinds  of  information  to  be 
gathered  by  this  technique.  This  data  is  of  a preliminary  nature 
and  will  serve  as  a basis  for  a more  elaborate  and  extensive  program 
to  be  carried  on  regularly  during  the  1947  season. 

The  following  types  of  evidence  are  particularly  noteworthy. 
When  a large  number  of  larvae  are  taken  in  a limited  area  there  is 
a marked  tendency  for  the  average  size  of  the  specimens  to  be  small. 
Where  relatively  few  are  present  they  are  commonly  of  larger  aver- 
age size.  This  is  to  be  expected  with  such  strongly  cannibalistic 
species.  As  they  grow  they  must  disperse  to  survive  for  two  rea- 
sons. First,  they  must  avoid  the  predatory  instincts  of  their  own 
species  and,  secondly,  they  must  find  an  adequate  food  supply. 
The  larger  doubtless  seize  and  devour  many  of  the  weaker  individ- 
uals which  further  decreases  the  local  population.  Also  of  note  is 
the  high  percentage  of  small  specimens.  This  seems  normal  for 
September.  Nevertheless,  an  unanticipated  abundance  of  large  lar- 
vae was  discovered  (e.g.,  plot  #31).  Variation  in  larval  length 
bears  importantly  on  what  now  appears  to  he  an  extended  period  of 
adult  emergence  and  a correspondingly  extended  period  of  oviposi- 
tion.  There  is  doubtless  considerable  variation  in  the  rate  of 
growth  of  individual  larvae  depending  on  such  uncertain  environ- 
mental factors  as  temperature,  moisture,  cover,  and  food  supply. 
A notable  fact  is  the  concentration  of  uniformly  small  larvae  (e.g., 
plots  #26  and  #30)  that  occur  at  points  so  far  from  known  sites 
of  oviposition  as  to  preclude  the  possibility  of  their  migration.  With 
the  exception  of  one  small  cluster,  all  Tabanid  eggs  (of  other 
species)  found  were  laid  in  the  usual  masses  on  scattered  plants 
(chiefly  Spartina  alterniflora  Loisel.  var.  pilosa  (Merr.)  Fernald) 
growing  in  the  shallow  water  near  the  edges  of  ponded  places  on 
the  marsh.  Yet  many  larvae  under  7 mm.  long  were  found  hun- 
dreds of  yards  from  such  egg  sites  on  the  Pine  Island  Marsh.  Prob- 
ably an  appreciable  number  of  these  small  specimens  were  also  over- 
looked since  they  are  very  difficult  to  see  in  the  grass  stubble.  The 
eggs  of  T.  nigrovittatus  are  known  definitely  only  from  an  infertile 
cluster  laid  by  a caged  female.  They  are  about  two  millimeters 


26  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


long  and,  therefore,  at  the  time  of  hatching  the  larva  is  approxi- 
mately the  same  length.  The  general  occurrence  of  small  larvae 
supports  the  belief  that  the  females  oviposit  widely  over  the  marsh. 
This  may  well  account  for  the  success  of  the  species  since  wide 
distribution  of  the  eggs  would  favor  a maximum  survival  of  these 
voracious  larvae. 

The  following  table  gives  about  half  of  the  1946  data  since  this 
sample  is  adequate  to  reveal  the  advantages  of  the  methods  em- 
ployed. Each  new  plot  is  numbered  in  sequence  and  a site  previ- 
ously treated  is  given  its  original  number  followed  by  R for  a repeat 
examination  and  respraying  (i.e.,  16R)  or  followed  by  r for  a repeat 
examination  only  (i.e.,  16r).  It  is  quite  significant  that  after  the 

Table  I. — Larval  collections  from  the  Pine  Island 
Marsh  in  Newbury — 1946 


Larvae 


Date 

Plot 

number 

Number 
of  larvae 

Size 

extremes 

Average 

length 

Density 
of  cover 

Relative 

wetness 

found 

before 

spraying 

9/5 

16 

90 

mm. 

5-23 

mm. 

9.8 

Straw 

Muddy 

24 

17 

18 

6-20 

12.8 

Dense 

Soggy 

18 

31 

3-17 

9.1 

Thin— dense 

Muddy 

HR 

1 

(Thin) 

(Muddy) 

1,  dead 

19 

0 

Sparse 

Muddy 

9/7 

20 

5 

12-18 

15.2 

Dense 

Moist 

21 

8 

10-16 

12.9 

Thin-dense 

Moist 

22 

4 

7-14 

11.3 

Dense 

Moist 

23 

3 

10-16 

12.6 

Straw 

Soggy 

1 

18r 

1 

12.0 

(Thin-dense) 

(Muddy) 

1 

17r 

5 

7-11 

9.8 

(Dense) 

(Soggy) 

5.  dead 

16r 

4 

6-  9 

7.5 

(Straw) 

(Muddy) 

4,  dead 

13R 

0 

(Dense) 

( Soggy) 

9/11 

24 

29 

3-21 

11.4 

Dense 

Soggy 

25 

32 

3-20 

9.7 

Thin 

Muddy 

26 

69 

5-18 

9.2 

Straw 

Muddy 

16R 

2 

9-  9 

9.0 

( Straw) 

(Muddy) 

17R 

2 

10-12 

11.0 

(Dense) 

(Soggy) 

9/12 

27 

4 

11-18 

15.3 

Straw 

Muddv 

28 

40 

3-20 

10.3 

Thin 

Muddy 

29 

27 

7-21 

13.8 

Dense 

Moist 

30 

129 

3-18 

7.6 

Sparse— thin 

Muddv 

16r 

4 

7-12 

9.8 

(Straw) 

(Muddy) 

4,  dead 

10/6 

31 

38 

6-24 

16.9 

Dense 

Moist 

initial  study  there  is  little  or  no  cover  on  a plot,  which  means  that  the 
surface  is  fully  exposed  to  sun  and  wind  and  daily  becomes  notice- 
ably drier.  This  is  emphasized  in  the  table  by  enclosing  the  key 
word  to  the  original  conditions  in  parentheses,  e.g.,  (soggy).  Re- 
moval of  the  cover  results  in  surface  drying,  exposure  to  light,  and 
higher  temperatures  which  are  all  unfavorable  to  these  larvae. 
They  therefore  avoid  such  areas.  At  first  the  spray  residues  may 


Feb.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  27 


be  the  major  factor.  But  the  larvae  tend  to  remain  scarce  in  these 
plots  weeks  later  when  the  spray  materials  must  largely  have  dis- 
sipated. Records  show  an  average  of  22.68  larvae  per  square 
yard  of  treated  marsh  based  on  a total  of  726  from  32  different 
plots.  Continuation  of  these  studies  during  the  1947  season  may 
furnish  sufficient  additional  data  to  explain  the  above  facts  and  to 
make  rather  accurate  interpretation  of  the  larvae  cycle  possible. 

Cover  density : 

Barren — no  seed  plants,  algal  mat  may  be  present. 

Sparse — scattered  plants,  soil  visible  from  a few  feet  away. 

Thin — soil  visible  from  above,  typical  of  S',  alteriiiflora 
stands. 

Dense — thick  growth  of  plants  completely  obscuring  soil, 
S',  patens. 

Straw — drifted  heaps  of  debris  over  mat  of  dead  plants  or 
on  bare  mud. 

Relative  moisture  (when  site  was  first  cleared)  : 

Dry — barren  places  after  period  of  dry  weather. 

Moist — edges  and  better  drained  parts  of  marsh. 

Soggy — usual  where  Spartina  patens  is  dense. 

Muddy — usual  for  stands  of  S',  alterniflora  or  under  straw. 

Water — shallow  depressions  where  water  collects  after 
rains  or  tidal  flooding,  impractical  to  spray  where 
there  is  more  than  an  inch. 

The  following  graphs  show  the  size  distribution  of  larvae  from 
four  of  the  plots  in  the  table  above.  The  column  at  the  extreme 
left  of  the  graphs  specifies  the  length  of  the  larvae  in  millimeters. 
The  number  of  larvae  of  each  size  is  indicated  for  the  individual 
plots  by  the  figures  at  the  left  of  the  bars  which  are  also  propor- 
tional. Larval  totals  are  given  for  the  dififerent  plots  at  the  base 
of  each  graph. 


28  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


Key  to  observed  conditions  cited  in  Table  I. 


Larva.  I 

Length  Plot  25  Plot  26 

3mm  I ■ 

4 5 L 

5 2 . 


6 i ■ 

7 2 m 

8 2 m 

9 3 ■■ 

10  3 I- 

11  2 m 

12  7 m 

13  2 m 

14  A mm 

15 

16 

17 

18  7 m 

19 

20  I ■ 

21 
22 

23 

24 


2 - 
I . 

I • 

I ■ 


32  Ur  vae69  Larvae 


Plot30 


8 

8 

19 

29 

31 

9 

13 

3 

1 

2 
I 
I 


■ 

■ 


I • 
I ■ 


129  Larvae 


Plot  31 


i > 

I • 

I > 

f r 

/ 7" 

1 ■ 

2 r 

I • 

? r" 

38  Larvae 


Summary  and  Conclusions. 

Some  observations  concerning  the  habits  and  distribution  of 
larv^ae  of  Tabanus  nigrovittatiis  Mac.  in  the  salt  marshes  of  Essex 
County,  Massachusetts,  are  reported.  The  larvae  of  this  species 
are  readily  distinguished  from  those  of  T.  atratus  Fab.,  which  are 
also  common  in  the  salt  marsh,  by  their  smaller  size,  pale  amber 
color,  and  marked  preference  for  somewhat  drier,  plant-covered 
situations.  T.  nigrovittatus  larvae  rarely  occur  where  there  is 
standing  water  or  the  marsh  peat  is  bare  of  vegetation — except  in 
heaps  of  straw.  However,  they  are  found  more  or  less  generally 
abundant  in  the  marsh  turf  where  Spartina  alterni flora  var.  pilosa 
and  especially  S.  patens  form  the  sod.  Consequently,  ditched 
marshes  are  more  favorable  since  they  offer  more  extensive  areas 
suitable  for  the  growth  of  these  grasses.  Many  nearly  mature 
larvae  were  found  in  the  straw  piles  where  most  of  the  pupae  and 
pupal  cases  were  also  located. 

xA.  method  of  plot  selection,  preparation,  and  treatment  is  de- 
scribed. By  the  use  of  a pyrethrum-kerosene  emulsion  it  is  possible 


Feh.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  29 


to  collect  large  numbers  of  the  larvae.  Other  Arthropods  present 
also  proved  susceptible  to  this  mixture.  Preliminary  results  are 
presented  in  tabular  and  graphic  form.  They  support  the  conclu- 
sion that  data  from  such  larval  studies  may  be  of  value  in  deter- 
mining larval  distribution,  population  trends,  and  the  developmental 
cycle. 

Seven  hundred  twenty-six  larvae  were  taken  from  32  plots  giving 
an  average  of  over  22.6  per  square  yard  of  treated  marsh.  Yields 
from  individual  plots  varied  from  0-129  larvae.  The  smaller  lar- 
vae are  more  numerous  in  the  moister  situations  and  occur  in  large 
concentrations.  Much  variation  in  larval  length  corresponds  with 
adult  collections  which  suggest  an  extended  period  of  emergence 
and  of  oviposition.  General  distribution  of  small  larvae  in  the 
marsh  supports  the  conclusion  that  the  eggs,  of  which  little  is  yet 
known,  are  widely  disseminated.  This  may  prove  to  be  a major 
factor  in  the  success  of  the  species. 

To  Dr.  Joseph  C.  Bequaert,  Curator  of  Insects  in  the  Museum  of 
Comparative  Zoology,  I am  greatly  indebted.  He  generously  took 
time  to  determine  the  Tabanidae  and  liberally  assisted  me  in  many 
other  ways.  The  progress  of  this  study  owes  much  to  his  friendly 
guidance. — N.S.B. 


Grasshoppers  in  Turkey’s  Crop. — Among  the  notes  in  the  files 
of  the  late  Dr.  W.  W.  Henderson,  under  date  of  July  3,  1932,  I 
found  the  following:  “Dr.  M.  H.  Knudsen  says  he  helped  to  count 
the  grasshoppers  in  one  turkey’s  crop — 816.”  Large  turkey  flocks  in 
Utah  have,  in  the  past,  eaten  great  numbers  of  nymphal  and  adult 
grasshoppers.  Often  turkeys  have  been  of  importance  in  reducing 
local  grasshopper  outbreaks  and  in  eliminating  populations  of  these 
injurious  insects  from  farms  over  which  flocks  of  several  thousand 
turkeys  have  been  allowed  to  range.  During  1945,  Utah  produced 
2,036,000  turkeys.  The  present  trend  is  to  raise  the  turkeys  with- 
out sending  them  out  on  the  range  to  feed  on  grasshoppers. — G.  F. 
Knowlton,  Logan,  Utah. 


30  Bulletm  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLlli 


BOOK  NOTES. 

Pulgas.  Bibliografia,  catalogo  e animais  por  elas  sugados. 

By  A.  da  Costa  Lima  and  C.  R.  Hathaway.  Monografias  do  Insti- 
tuto  Oswaldo  Cruz,  No.  4;  Rio  de  Janeiro,  December,  1946;  pp. 
1-522. 

Parasitism,  in  its  manifold  aspects,  is  one  of  the  major  phenomena 
of  the  organic  world.  Its  many  theoretical  and  practical  implica- 
tions cannot  be  properly  understood,  unless  the  parasites  and  their 
hosts  have  been  adequately  studied.  Parasitologists,  well  aware 
of  this,  devote  much  of  their  time  to  taxonomic  matters.  In  fact 
the  number  of  newly  described  parasites  increases  at  such  a rate 
that  it  baffles  both  the  beginner  and  the  non-specialist.  Fortunately, 
from  time  to  time  some  industrious  specialist  has  the  courage,  or 
temerity,  to  produce  an  up-to-date  catalogue  of  his  particular  group. 
It  is  my  pleasure  to  review  here  such  a catalogue  covering  the  fleas 
of  the  world. 

The  authors  have  divided  their  voluminous  tome  into  four  parts. 
The  first,  of  some  70  pages,  is  a bibliography  of  the  order,  arranged 
chronologically,  from  1544  to  1944.  The  bulk  of  these  publications 
appeared  during  the  past  two  centuries,  those  anterior  to  1746 
covering  less  than  a page.  It  may  be  noted,  moreover,  that  it  is 
doubtful  whether  the  first  work  listed,  by  Antonio  Moschetti,  actu- 
ally appeared  in  1544,  as  given  by  Hagen,  who  never  saw  it.  Horn 
and  Schenkling  (1928)  only  saw  the  1625  Venice  edition  (304  pp.). 
The  bibliography  is  marred  by  unfortunate  misspellings,  some 
authors’  names  being  unrecognizable  (f.i.,  Hoff  for  Hoof,  p.  66; 
Seg  for  Seguy,  p.  65). 

The  list  of  genera,  subgenera,  species,  and  subspecies  is  the  bulk 
of  the  work  (pp.  77  to  332).  The  genera  are  arranged  taxonomi- 
cally  under  families  and  subfamilies,  Wagner’s  (1939)  classifica- 
tion being  adopted  with  slight  modifications.  Through  an  over- 
sight Wagner’s  paper  (in  Bronn’s  Klassen  u.  Ordnungen  d.  Tier- 
reichs,  vol.  5,  Sect.  3,  Book  XHI,  pt.  f,  pp.  1-114)  was  omitted  from 
the  bibliography.  In  each  genus  or  subgenus  the  species  are  ar- 
ranged in  the  chronological  order  of  the  original  descriptions. 
References  to  the  literature  are  very  complete  and  are  one  of  the 
most  commendable  features. 

The  third  part  lists  the  known  hosts,  arranged  by  orders  and 
families,  the  genera  alphabetically  in  each  family,  with  the  fleas 
recorded  for  each  species  (pp.  333^45).  The  concluding  part  is 
an  elaborate  index  of  over  100  pages,  which  is  a real  key  to  the 


Fel).,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  31 


book,  as  it  includes  the  names  of  the  fleas  and  their  hosts,  as  well 
as  of  the  authors  cited  in  the  bibliography. 

The  only  previous  attempt  at  listing  the  fleas  of  the  world  was  by 
Dalla  Torre  in  1924.  This  was  extremely  sketchy.^  Dalla  Torre 
recognized  80  genera  with  619  species  and  subspecies.  Some 
twenty  years  later,  these  numbers  have  more  than  doubled  in  the 
present  catalogue,  to  175  for  the  genera  (with  12  subgenera)  and 
to  1189  for  the  species  and  subspecies.  All  forms  described  at 
the  close  of  1941  and  most  of  those  published  in  1942  and  1943  are 
included.  These  figures  give  an  idea,  not  only  of  the  activity  dis- 
played in  the  field,  but  also  of  the  amount  of  labor  involved  in 
compiling  the  catalogue. 

In  a work  of  this  magnitude,  some  errors  or  oversights  are 
unavoidable;  but,  so  far  as  I could  notice,  they  are  all  of  minor 
importance  and  do  not  in  any  way  detract  from  the  value  of  the 
book.  For  some  years  to  come  it  will  be  an  invaluable  guide.  The 
authors  fully  deserve  the  thanks  and  congratulations  of  their  fellow 
workers. — J.  Bequaert,  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology,  Cam- 
bridge, Massachusetts. 


New  Records  for  Stygnocoris  rusticus  Fallen. — Stygnocoris 
rustic  us  (Fall.)  is  recorded  in  Europe  as  occurring  on  Pulvinaria. 
Brother  Joseph  Ouellet  of  the  Institution  des  Sourdo-Muets,  Mont- 
real, writes  me  that  in  Canada  this  species  is  taken  in  numbers  from 
the  heads  of  the  common  yarrow.  In  addition  to  the  previous 
Maine  and  New  York  records  specimens  have  recently  been  seen 
from  Belvidere,  111.  (J.  A.  Slater)  and  Duckabush,  Wash.  (Dr.  C. 
O.  Esselbaugh. — H.  G.  Barber,  Roselle,  N.  J. 

^ Dalla  Torre  also  misspelled  several  generic  names : Gatallagia 
(p.  10)  for  Gatallagia;  Amphypsylla  (p.  18)  for  Amphipsylla ; 
Malacophsylla  (p.  18)  for  Malacopsylla;  and  Roosveltiella  (p.  24) 
for  Rooseveltiella.  These  variants  are  not  listed  in  S.  A.  Neave’s 
recent  “Nomenclator  Zoologicus.”  Only  one  of  them  {Gatallagia) 
is  noted  by  da  Costa  Lima  and  Hathavv^ay. 


32  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^Llll 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  SOCIETY 

Meeting  of  November  13,  1947. 

A regular  meeting  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  was 
held  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum  on  November  13,  1947. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  at  8 P.M.  by  President  R.  R. 
McElvare.  Members  in  attendance  were  Messrs.  Sheridan,  Nico- 
lay,  Teale,  Naumann,  Buchholz,  McElvare  and  Tulloch. 

The  minutes  of  the  meeting  of  October  16,  1947,  were  read  and 
accepted.  By  a supplementary  motion  the  minutes  of  previous 
meetings  for  the  calendar  year  were  ratified,  and  the  election  of 
officers  confirmed. 

It  was  voted  to  contribute  five  dollars  to  Zoological  Record. 

Mr.  Teale  reported  for  the  committee  appointed  to  arrange  for 
activities  associated  with  the  75th  anniversary  of  the  Society.  This 
committee  recommended  that  we  hold  the  celebration  at  the  regular 
December  meeting  and  they  presented  a program  for  the  considera- 
tion of  the  members.  They  also  recommended  that  we  signalize  the 
occasion  by  conferring  honorary  membership  on  Dr.  J.  McDun- 
nough  of  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  History  and  Dr.  Joseph 
Bequaert  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology.  The  report  of 
this  committee  was  accepted  and  they  were  given  authority  to  pro- 
ceed with  final  arrangements  for  this  celebration. 

Upon  motion  of  Mr.  Naumann  which  was  seconded  and  carried 
it  was  voted  to  appropriate  $250  toward  the  expenses  of  the  Editor 
for  the  year  1947. 

Informal  consideration  was  given  to  the  possibility  of  moving 
the  meeting  place  of  the  Society  to  a more  central  location. 

The  meeting  adjourned  at  9:  30  P.M. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

George  S.  Tulloch. 

Meeting  of  December  11,  1947. 

A regular  meeting  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  was 
held  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum  on  December  11,  1947. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  at  8 P.M.  by  President  R.  R. 
McElvare.  Members  in  attendance  were  Messrs.  Gaul,  Sheridan, 
Teale,  Buchholz,  McElvare,  Olsen,  Tulloch  and  Nicolay.  Guests 
for  the  evening  were  Dr.  James  McDunnough,  Messrs.  Hessel, 
Glanz,  Kellner,  Pallister  and  Crystal. 

The  regular  order  of  business  was  suspended  and  the  program  of 
the  evening  was  devoted  to  an  informal  celebration  of  the  75th 


Feb.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  33 


anniversary  of  the  Society.  In  his  opening  remarks  President  Mc- 
Elvare  said  in  part : 

‘‘The  Seventy-Fifth  Anniversary  of  the  Society  finds  ns  in  a 
period  of  transition  to  a new  age,  the  nature  of  which  we  can  not 
clearly  discern.  Within  the  memory  of  the  youngest  of  those 
present,  we  have  witnessed  the  end  of  an  era  that  began  with  the 
Renaissance,  a period  which  recognized  the  dignity  of  the  individual 
man  and  was  greatly  interested  in  his  experiences  and  culture. 
Latterly,  we  have  seen  a strong  trend  toward  submerging  the  indi- 
vidual in  great  masses  of  humanity,  manipulated  for  its  own  ends  by 
powerful  centralized  bureaucracy.  Under  such  circumstances  the 
work  of  professional  scientists  would  inevitably  be  circumscribed 
and  directed  into  channels  of  governmental  selection,  rendering  the 
status  of  the  amateur  increasingly  significant.  Free  to  pick  his  own 
sphere  of  interest  and  to  pursue  it  in  his  own  way,  the  amateur  can 
still  explore  his  subject  in  the  spirit  of  the  Renaissance,  despite  the 
blighting  shadow  of  totalitarian  planning.  So  tonight,  instead  of 
looking  backward  as  is  the  custom  on  anniversaries,  it  might  be 
significant,  for  a little  while,  to  look  ahead  and  consider  in  what 
phases  of  entomology  the  amateur  can  make  his  greatest  contribu- 
tion.” 

Following  these  remarks,  the  President  announced  that  the  So- 
ciety had  honored  itself  by  electing  to  Honorary  Membership,  Dr. 
James  McDunnough,  until  his  retirement.  Chief,  Systematic  Fn- 
tomology  at  Ottawa  and  currently  doing  research  at  the  American 
Museum  of  Natural  History,  and  Dr.  Joseph  Bequaert,  Head  of  the 
Division  of  Insects  at  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology  and  a 
life  member  of  the  Society. 

Mr.  Fdwin  Way  Teale  reviewed  the  history  of  the  Society.  Mr. 
Olsen  who  was  Treasurer  of  the  Society  for  many  years  added  in- 
teresting bits  of  information  concerning  some  of  the  members  who 
were  active  around  1910. 

Following  the  discussion  of  the  history  of  the  Society,  a sym- 
posium entitled  Looking  Forzvard  in  Entomology  was  held.  The 
President  posed  the  question  as  to  how  the  amateur  entomologist 
best  can  make  a contribution  to  the  science  of  entomology.  Dr. 
McDunnough  was  called  upon  for  his  thoughts  on  this  subject. 
Prefacing  his  remarks  with  a graceful  appreciation  of  election  to 
Honorary  Membership  in  the  Society,  he  pointed  out  that  although 
we  know  a great  deal  about  adult  insects,  our  knowledge  of  the  im- 
mature forms  in  many  of  the  orders  and  families  is  extremely 
meager.  He  suggested  that  life  history  studies  would  be  an  inter- 


84  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIll 


esting  and  profitable  field  of  exploration  for  the  amateur.  There 
was  an  extended  discussion  of  Dr.  McDunnough’s  suggestion  and 
it  was  generally  agreed  that  such  studies  would  he  a good  way  for 
the  amateur  to  aid  in  the  increase  of  entomological  knowledge. 

A sidelight  of  the  discussion  related  to  the  lack  of  cooperation 
hetw^een  amateur  and  professional  entomologists.  It  was  thought 
that  relations  between  these  groups  could  be  improved  only  if  the 
professional  entomologist  was  willing  and  would  be  permitted  to 
- help  the  amateur  seeking  information.  It  was  reported  that  many 
professional  entomologists  are  anxious  to  help  the  amateurs  with 
their  problems  hut  are  unable  to  do  so  because  of  institutional  or 
other  regulations. 

The  Secretary  read  a letter  from  Mr.  Henry  Bird  of  Rye,  New 
York,  in  which  he  expressed  regret  that  he  would  be  unable  to 
attend  the  anniversary  celebration.  He  stated  that  “doubtless  the 
name  of  William  T.  Davis  will  come  up  and  should  I attend  per- 
mission would  be  asked  to  read  an  excerpt  of  a letter  (a  copy  of 
which  is  attached)  reflecting  an  instance  in  the  history  of  the 
Society’s  past.  You  may  read  the  excerpt  if  you  think  it  will  fit 
in.”  The  excerpt  was  read  to  the  Society  and  the  Secretary  was 
instructed  to  incorporate  it  into  the  minutes. 

Excerpt  of  a letter  to  Williain  T.  Davis  from  Henry  Bird 
dated  November  25, 1911. 

“Maybe  you  are  not  aware  of  it,  but  I fancy  you  little  appreciate 
what  a vacancy  in  affairs  your  absence  from  town  makes.  As  I 
know  it  will  not  make  you  vain,  I want  to  show  you  to  what  an 
extent  this  is  so. 

“I  had  to  go  to  Brooklyn  the  17th,  the  date  of  the  Brooklyn  meet- 
ing and  concluded  to  take  it  in. 

“There  was  time  enough  to  run  out  to  the  Museum  in  the  after- 
noon. 

“Saw  Doll  and  asked  him  if  he  would  attend  to  hear  Mr.  Week’s 
paper  on  Acronycta  ? 

“Yes,  he  might  go,  but  there  would  be  no  one  there — Mr.  Davis 
was  out  of  town. 

“Later  saw  Schaeffer. 

“Discussed  last  New  York  Society  meeting^ — nothing  doing,  Mr. 
Davis  was  away,  nobody  there. 

“Arrived  early  at  Franck’s. 

“Very  glad  to  see  me  but  did  not  expect  much  of  a meeting.  Mr. 
Davis  was  away  and  Prof.  Smith  sick. 


Feh.,  194S  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  35 


“Soon  in  comes  Schoonmaker. 

“Very  gloomy.  Mr,  Davis  in  Florida  and  Prof.  Smidi  all  gone 
to  pieces ; wouldn’t  have  come  out  only  he  needed  some  supplies 
from  Franck. 

“Enter  Mr.  Dow. 

“Condition  ditto.  Likewise  a number  of  others. 

“Of  the  twenty-five  or  thirty  that  attended,  eight  informed  me 
without  any  leading  queries  that  the  meeting  was  to  be  a flat  failure, 
before  it  began,  all  because  Mr.  Davis  was  not  there. 

“So  you  see  it  behooves  you  to  employ  discretion  in  the  disposi- 
tion of  such  an  important  personality.” 

The  Secretary  read  a letter  from  the  New  York  Entomological 
Society  congratulating  the  Brooklyn  Society  on  this  occasion. 

The  meeting  adjourned  at  10:00  P.M. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

George  S.  Tulloch. 


EXCHANGES  AND  FOR  SALE. 

This  page  is  limited  to  exchange  notices  and  to  small  For 
Sale  advertisements  from  members  of  the  Society  and  from 
actual  paid  subscribers  to  the  Bulletin  exclusively.  Ex- 
change notices  from  members  of  the  Society  and  from  sub- 
scribers are  limited  to  three  (3)  lines  each,  including 
address;  beyond  3 lines,  there  will  be  a charge  of  $1.00  for 
each  3 lines  or  less  additional.  For  Sale  ads  will  be  charged 
at  $1.25  for  each  3 lines  or  part  of  3 lines.  Commercial  or 
business  advertisements  will  not  be  carried  in  this  page,  but 
will  go  in  our  regular  advertising  pages  at  our  regular  ad- 
vertising rates  to  everybody, 

PENTATOMIDAE : Want  to  buy  or  exchange  Pentatomidae 
from  the  United  States  and  Mexico.  Herbert  Ruckes,  College  of 
the  City  of  New  York,  17  Lexington  Ave.  N.Y.C. 

ACALYPTRATE  DIPTERA  OF  THE  WORLD  wanted  for 
determination  or  in  exchange  for  other  insects.  Geo.  Steyskal, 
23341  Puritan  Ave.,  Detroit,  Mich. 

WANTED.— MANTID  EGG  CASES  from  West  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi River.  If  interested  in  collecting,  write : Osmond  P. 
Breland,  The  University  of  Texas,  Austin,  Texas. 

WILL  PURCHASE  complete  sets  of  the  Bulletin,  Old  Series, 
Vols.  1-7,  1878-1885.  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society,  Ivy  Way, 
Port  Washington,  L.  L,  N.  Y. 

LEPIDOPTERA  AND  ORTHOPTERA  from  Florida  in  pa- 
pers and  local  specimens  mounted  to  exchange  for  other  Lepidoptera. 
— Alex  K.  Wyatt,  5842  N.  Kirby  Avenue,  Chicago  (30),  111. 

‘UEPIDOPTERISTS ! Drawer  front  labels  2 7/8"  xi  6/16" 
on  white-faced  board  at  cost!  Non-profit!  Don’t  delay,  write 
today ! Kent  H.  Wilson,  430  Ridgewood  Rd.,  Fort  Worth  7, 
Texas.” 

WANTED — Geometrid  moths,  for  cash  or  exchange.  John  L. 
Sperry,  3260  Redwood  Drive,  Riverside,  Calif. 

CERAMBYCIDAE  AND  CHRYSOMELIDAE  from  Asia 
and  Pacific  desired  for  determination;  purchase;  exchange. — J. 
Linsley  Gressitt,  Lignan  University,  Canton,  China. 

FOR  COLEOPTERA  OF  THE  WEST  INDIES  and  Chrys- 
omelidae  of  the  world,  will  collect  entomological  material  from  Cuba, 
by  previous  arrangement.  Am  interested  in  buying  literature  in 
the  above-mentioned  classes,  and  would  be  glad  to  be  advised  by 
individuals  or  institutions  of  such  articles ; or  to  send  them  to  me. 
Manuel  Barro,  Calle  12,  no.  220,  altos,  apto.  3,  Vedado,  Habana, 
Cuba. 


Vol.  XLlIl 

APRIL,  1948 

BULLETIN 

OF  THE 

Brooklyn  Entomological 
Society  ' 

NEW  SERIES 


PUBLICATION  COMMITTEE 

J.  R.  de  la  TORRE-BUENO,  Editor 

GEORGE  S.  TULLOCH  EDWIN  W.  TEALE 

Published  for  the  Society  by 

Business  Press,  Inc. 

N.  Queen  St.  and  McGovern  Ave.,  Lancaster,  Pa., 

Price,  75  cents  vSubscription,  $3.50  per  year 

Mailed  June  30,  1948 


Entered  as  second-class  matter  January  21,  1919,  at  the  post  office  at  Lancaster,  Pa., 
under  the  Act  of  March  3,  1879 


The  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 

Meetings  are  held  on  the  second  Thursday  after  the  first  Tuesday  of  each 
month  from  October  to  May,  inclusive,  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum,  Eastern 
Parkway  and  Washington  Ave.,  Brooklyn.  The  annual  dues  are  $2.00. 


OFFICEES,  1948 
Honorary  President 
J.  E.  BE  LA  TOEEE-BUENO 
President 

GEOEGE  S.  TULLOCH 

Vice  President  Treasurer 

4-  Secretary  ^ McELVAEE 

ALLAN  S.  NICOLAY  76  Ivy  Way, 

Port  Washington,  L.  I,,  N.  Y. 

Editor 

J.  E.  BE  LA  TOEEE-BUENO 

Delegate  to  Council  of  New  YorTc 
Academy  of  Sciences 
EBWIN  WAY  TEALE 


CONTENTS 


YE  SPINE  BIOLOGY— I Y,  Gaul  37 

A SPECIES  OP  WINTEE  CEANE-FLY,  Coher  42 

NEW  COLLEMBOLA,  Wray  44 

GEOMETEIB  NOTES— I,  Speriv  54 

NOTICE  TO  SUBSCEIBEES  ‘ 60 

BIEBS  EAT  SCALE  INSECTS,  Knowlton  60 

A NEW  SPECIES  OF  STENOCELLS,  Buchanan  61 

ALL  PUEPOSE  INSECT  NET,  Usinger  67 

BOOK  NOTE  68 

A SUGGESTION  TO  AUTHOES,  J.  E.  T.-B  68 

NOTES  ON  UHLEEIOLA  FLOEALIS,  Slater  69 

GEEGAEIOUS  TEEEHOPPEE,  Knowlton  71 

SPIBEE  KILLS  HONEYBEE,  Knowlton  72 

NOTICE  72 


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OF  THE 

BROOKLYN  ENTOMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY 


VoL.  XLIII  April,  1948  No.  2 


ADDITIONS  TO  VESPINE  BIOLOGY— IV:  NOTES  ON 
INTERSPECIFIC  TOLERANCE,  ORPHAN  NESTS, 
AND  ORPHAN  WASPS  (HYMENOPTERA, 
VESPIDAE). 

By  Albro  T.  Gaul,  Brooklyn,  New  York. 

This  discussion  is  to  record  a series  of  observations  and  ex- 
periments concerning  the  toleration  instincts  and  the  conduct  of 
more  or  less  deserted  nests  of  some  of  our  northeastern  Vespinae. 
The  observations  have  been  made  over  a period  of  several  years  in 
New  York,  New  Jersey  and  Connecticut. 

Interspecific  tolerance  may  be  defined  as  the  forbearance  of  indi- 
viduals of  one  species  from  attacking  intruding  individuals  of  an 
alien  species.  It  has  been  shown  that  certain  Vespinae  have  an 
almost  complete  mfraspecific  tolerance,  while  they  are  almost  com- 
pletely i/if^rspecifically  intolerant  (1,  2).*  An  experiment  was 
therefore  planned  to  determine  whether  individuals  of  one  species 
could  adapt  themselves  to  accept,  in  the  same  society,  members  of 
another  species. 

Since  ergates  kill  intruding  ergates  or  gynes  of  another  species 
(except  in  the  case  of  inquilines),  it  was  thought  impossible  to  effect 
a successful  transplantation  of  imagine  forms  into  an  alien  colony. 
Consequently,  it  was  decided  to  place  an  alien  comb  with  brood  in  a 
nest  of  a closely  related  species. 

The  first  opportunity  for  this  experiment  was  presented  on 
September  2,  1946,  when  I had  nests  of  both  Vespula  maculijrons 
Buy.  and  V.  squamosa  Drury  at  my  disposal.  It  was  thought  that 
these  two  colonies  might  present  optimum  possibilities  for  a success- 
ful brood  transplantation  because  both  species  have  the  same  nesting 
and  feeding  habits,  and  both  belong  to  the  same  subgenus. 

* Numbers  refer  to  Literature  Cited. 

37 


38  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLIII 


On  September  2,  therefore,  I anaesthetized  the  maciilifrons  and 
squamosa  colonies ; removed  a section  of  corrib  from  the  maculifrons 
colony,  and  placed  it  (with  its  eggs,  larvae,  and  pupae)  in  the 
squamosa  nest.  On  September  3,  the  squamosa  nest  was  placed 
out  of  doors  and  was  regularly  observed  thereafter. 

For  a number  of  days  there  seemed  to  be  no  deviation  from  normal 
colonial  activities.  Since  the  ergates  of  maculifrons  and  squamosa 
are  similar  in  superficial  color  pattern  and  in  size,  they  could  not 
be  determined  while  in  flight  to  or  from  the  nest.  On  September 
15  the  nest  was  again  anaesthetized  to  determine  whether  this  trans- 
plantation of  brood  had  succeeded. 

The  comb  of  maculifrons  had  been  incorporated  into  the  squa- 
mosa nest.  It  had  been  attached  to  the  original  nest  by  new  sus- 
pensors  and  was  further  fastened  to  the  envelope,  much  as  normal 
repair  on  a loosened  comb.  There  were  18  ergates  of  maculifrons 
among  the  squamosa  ergates.  Some  of  the  maculifrons  comb  con- 
tained new  eggs,  probably  deposited  by  the  squamosa  gyne.  The 
nest  was  returned  out  of  doors  and  was  not  again  disturbed  until 
it  was  found  deserted  on  October  16,  1946.  During  this  time  the 
maculifrons  brood  had  all  matured  and  the  walls  of  the  comb  cells 
had  been  stripped,  leaving  the  basement  of  the  comb.  There  were 
a few  maculifrons  males  left  in  the  nest. 

This  experiment  may  be  interpreted  in  terms  of  the  normal  in- 
stincts of  Vespine  ergates.  Except  when  social  degeneration  re- 
sults in  cannibalism,  there  is  no  instinct  to  harm  brood.  Since  there 
may  never  before  have  been  brood  of  an  alien  species  in  a Vespine 
nest  (except  inquilines)  there  would  be  no  instinct  to  harm  this 
transplanted  brood.  Following  their  normal  instincts,  the  squa- 
mosa ergates  fed  some  of  the  alien  brood  and  reared  them  to  matur- 
ity. During  this  period  they  learned  to  accept  the  brood  as  their 
own.  The  maculifj^ans  in  turn,  knew  no  other  home  and  accepted 
the  squamosa  nest  as  their  own.  On  October  6,  I observed  a lone 
maculifrons  ergate  effecting  minor  nest  repairs  ; showing  the  maculi- 
frons’ acceptance  of  their  home. 

What  factors  caused  the  partial  destruction  of  the  maculifrons 
brood  comb  after  it  was  used  is  a matter  for  conjecture.  It  has  been 
shown,  however,  that  species  which  are  mutually  intolerant  of 
intruders  can  become  tolerant  toward  the  brood  and  reared  imagines 
of  the  alien  species. 

Orphan  Nests. 

Phil  Rau  defines  orphan  nests  as  nests  from  which  all  the  adult 
forms  have  been  removed,  but  which  still  contain  immature  brood. 
His  experiments  with  orphan  nests  of  various  species  of  Polistes  (3  ) 


April,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  39 


show  that  the  first  workers  to  emerge  from  a nest  without  adults 
are  the  workers  which  assume  some  of  the  duties  of  the  queen,  and 
manage  colony  affairs. 

This  also  seems  true  among  some  Vespinae.  On  September  2, 
1946,  I removed  a large  piece  of  brood  comb  from  the  nest  of  V . 
maculijrons  previously  mentioned  in  this  paper.  I removed  all  the 
adults  and  placed  the  brood  in  a convenient  cardboard  box.  The 
box  had  a “nest  entrance”  hole  cut  in  one  end.  It  was  placed  out 
of  doors  about  seven  feet  from  the  ground.  This  position  was  not 
in  keeping  with  the  normal  nesting  habits  of  the  species  (which  is  a 
subterranean  builder). 

On  September  5,  1946,  two  adult  workers  had  emerged  and 
walked  about  on  the  nest.  As  many  individual  wasps  have  clypeal 
markings  of  somewhat  different  configuration,  I was  able  to  identify 
these  two  wasps  as  individuals.  These  ergates  could  not  have  wan- 
dered into  the  nest  from  the  original  colony,  as  the  original  colony 
had  been  removed  nearly  one  quarter  of  a mile  on  September  2. 

By  September  6,  the  two  ergates  were  making  regular,  alternate, 
foraging  trips.  One  always  remained  on  the  nest.  By  September 
10,  there  were  ten  ergates  on  the  comb.  At  this  time,  one  of  the 
original  two  ergates  had  encountered  some  catastrophe;  the  other 
remained  on  the  nest  and  did  not  leave  it  at  all.  Some  of  the 
later  arrivals  also  met  their  death,  because  on  September  12  there 
were  only  seven  ergates  left.  One  of  these  was  the  same  survivor 
of  the  first  pair  to  emerge. 

This  is  the  only  instance  which  has  come  to  my  attention  where 
there  has  been  an  orphan  nest  of  a Vespine.  I have  never  seen  such 
a condition  in  the  field.  It  would  seem  though,  that  the  behavior 
pattern  of  the  first  emerging  wasp  is  similar  to  the  pattern  outlined 
for  Polistes. 

Orphan  Wasps. 

From  time  to  time,  when  it  has  been  necessary  for  me  to  capture 
colonies  of  Vespines  during  the  daytime,  because  of  the  increased 
personal  hazard  presented  by  flying  ergates,  it  has  been  expedient 
to  remove  the  nest  from  its  site  and  to  leave  hurriedly.  This  situa- 
tion brings  to  light  a new  category  which  can  perhaps  be  best  de- 
scribed as  “orphan  wasps”  or  wasps  whose  homes  have  been  re- 
moved during  their  absence  in  the  field.  By  paying  return  visits 
to  such  nest  sites,  it  has  been  possible  to  observe  two  general  types 
of  response  on  the  part  of  these  orphans,  to  the  removal  of  their 
home. 


40  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLlli 


The  first,  and  commonest  response:  the  few  remaining  wasps 
fly  about  the  former  nest  site  for  several  days  and  then  either  die 
or  desert.  This  is  the  usual  situation  when  a comparatively  few 
ergates  remain  behind.  This  response  has  been  noted  among 
Dolichovespula  arenaria  F.,  D.  maculata  L.,  and  V.  maculifrons 
Buy.  although  it  is  probably  a common  occurrence  among  most 
Vespinae. 

The  second  response,  which  occurs  only  when  a comparatively 
large  number  of  ergates  are  left  at  the  original  nest  site,  involves 
the  construction  of  a new  nest.  Frequently,  if  enough  workers  are 
present  and  the  season  not  too  far  advanced,  they  may  even  build 
a new  comb  in  the  nest.  I do  not  know  whether  they  rear  brood 
in  this  comb.  I have  made  observations  of  this  type  on  colonial 
sites  of  D.  arenaria  and  V.  squamosa,  and  I suspect  that  the  same 
thing  will  be  observed  among  other  species. 

In  the  instance  of  the  V . squamosa  nest,  the  site  was  revisited  one 
week  after  the  capture  of  the  nest.  Since  the  nest  was  subter- 
ranean, the  ground  was  smoothed  over  and  more  or  less  tamped  into 
place  after  the  excavation  of  the  nest.  It  was  rather  surprising 
therefore  to  see  an  entirely  new,  albeit  smaller  squamosa  nest  in 
exactly  the  same  place.  The  new  nest  was  about  one  and  one  half 
inches  in  diameter,  while  the  nest  cavity  was  somewhat  larger  and 
contained  about  15  ergates. 

To  a limited  extent  this  observation  conflicts  with  opinions  on 
the  selection  of  nest  sites  by  the  foundress  queens,  who  are  reported 
by  Duncan  (4)  as  selecting  any  available  spot  having  some  sup- 
porting matter  from  which  to  suspend  a nest.  Here  is  an  instance 
in  which  the  workers  built  a nest  where  there  was  no  available  spot. 
Perhaps  the  workers  have  no  instinct  to  select  a nest  site,  and  there- 
fore had  to  rebuild  on  the  spot  they  knew;  or  (perhaps  less  likely) 
the  ground  in  the  former  nest  site  was  permeated  with  a nest  odor 
(that  boon  to  all  unanswered  questions)  which  continued  to  attract 
the  workers  to  that  spot  alone. 

A similar  instance  appears  in  my  field  notes  of  July  1939  at 
Lakeville,  Conn,  when  orphan  ergates  of  D.  arenaria  undertook 
nest  reconstruction  on  the  identical  currant  bush  from  which  the 
parent  nest  had  been  removed. 

In  conclusion,  by  experimental  methods,  brood  of  one  species  of 
Vespine  may  be  reared  by  another  species  of  Vespine  usually 
inimical  to  the  adults.  Brood  comb  having  no  adults  will  be  likely 
to  be  superintended  by  the  first  ergates  to  emerge  from  that  comb. 
Workers  who  are  orphaned  by  the  removal  of  their  nest  may  desert 


April,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  41 


the  area  or  they  may  rebuild,  depending  on  the  number  of  workers 
left  behind. 

Literature  Cited. 

1.  Gaul,  A.  T.  Experiments  in  Housing  Vespine  Colonies,  with 

Notes  on  Homing  and  Toleration  Instincts  of  Certain 
Species.  Psyche,  Vol.  XLVHI,  No.  1,  pp.  16-19.  1941. 

2.  Rau,  Phil.  Instinct  of  Animosity  and  Tolerance  in  Queen 

Polistes  Wasps.  Jour.  Comp.  Psych.,  Vol.  27,  No.  2, 
p.  259. 

3.  . Orphan  Nests  of  Polistes.  Ent.  News,  Vol.  XL, 

p.  226.  1929. 

4.  Duncan,  C.  D.  A Contribution  to  the  Biology  of  North  Ameri- 

can Vespine  Wasps.  Stanford  Univ.  Press.  Biol.  Sci- 
ences, Vol.  VHI,  No.  1,  pp.  125-130. 


42  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLlli 


A SPECIES  OF  WINTER  CRANE-FLY  NEW  TO  THE 

UNITED  STATES  WITH  NOTES  ON  THE  DISTRI- 
BUTION OF  THE  FAMILY  (DIPTERA, 
TRICHOCERIDAE). 

By  Edward  I.  Coher,  University  of  Massachusetts, 
‘Amherst,  Mass. 

While  engaged  in  a search  for  Trichocera  salmani  Alex.,  the 
author  captured  two  males  of  T.  bituberculata  Alex.,  which  has  been 
known  up  to  this  time  only  from  a unique  male  taken  in  Alaska  in 
1917.  These  flies  were  swept  from  Norway  spruce  in  the  rear  of 
Fernald  Hall,  University  of  Massachusetts,  Amherst,  on  Novem- 
ber 13,  1947.  Further  collecting  has  failed  to  produce  any  more 
specimens.  Since  figures  of  the  male  genitalia  have  not  been  pub- 
lished, they  are  included  below. 

I am  indebted  to  Dr.  C.  P.  Alexander  for  correct  identification 
of  the  specimens  and  the  following  data. 

Trichocera  bituberculata  Alex. 

Insec.  Insc.  Menst.  12:  81-82;  1924. 

Described  from  Bethel,  Alaska.  Collected  September  25,  1917, 
by  A.  H.  Twitchell. 

There  are  four  genera  of  the  Trichoceridae  in  the  world,  Dia- 
zosma  Bergroth,  which  contains  two  Holarctic  species,  being  the 
most  primitive.  Trichocera  Meigen  is  next  in  the  ascending  scale 
of  evolution,  including  many  species  which  are  mainly  Holarctic, 
most  of  these  having  a widespread  distribution.  A few  are  found 
in  Chile,  Australia,  New  Zealand,  and  elsewhere  in  the  Southern 
Hemisphere,  the  latter  representing  well-known  European  species 
that  have  evidently  been  introduced  by  man.  The  next  genus 
Nothotrichocera  Alex,  is  a southeast  Australian  group,  including 
Tasmania,  and  is  composed  of  four  species. 

From  the  point  of  geographical  distribution,  the  most  highly 
evolved  genus,  Paracladura  Brunetti  is  worthy  of  note.  There  are 
approximately  twenty-five  species  having  the  following  range. 
Eleven  in  New  Zealand,  none  in  Australia,  five  in  Chile,  very  prob- 
ably having  spread  via  Antarctica,  a single  species  is  found  in  North 
America,  P.  trichoptera  (O.S.),  occurring  in  western  United  States 
and  Canada.  Other  species  occur  in  Asia  being  distributed  through 
Japan,  Formosa,  and  the  Himalayas,  thus  forming  an  almost  com- 
plete ring  around  the  Pacific. 


April,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  43 


Bull.  B.  E.  S.,  Vol.  XLIII 


Plate  1 


PHALLOSOME 

Male  genitalia  of  Trichocera  hituberculata  Alex. 


44  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


SOME  NEW  SPECIES  AND  VARIETIES  OF 
COLLEMBOLA  FROM  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

By  D.  L.  Wray,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

During  the  preliminary  preparation  of  “The  Collembola  of 
North  Carolina”  many  collections  have  been  examined  and  the 
following  new  forms  are  so  striking  that  they  are  described  in  the 
present  paper.  Of  the  six  forms  described,  two  belong  to  the  Sub- 
order Arthropleona,  and  four  to  the  Suborder  Symphypleona. 

The  new  forms  are: — Lepidocyrtus  unifasciatus  James  var.  neo- 
fasciatus  new  variety,  Entomohrya  maizeae  n.  sp.,  Sminthurus  vir- 
ginidari  n.  sp.,  Sminthurus  yonahlossee  n.  sp.,  Deutero sminthurus 
batrachos  n.  sp.,  D enter osminthurus  macgillivrayi  Banks  var.  alta- 
montus  new  variety. 

Family  Entomobryidae. 

Genus  Lepidocyrtus  Bourlet,  1839. 

Lepidocyrtus  unifasciatus  (James)  var.  neofasciatus  new  variety 
(figs.  1-4). 

Length  up  to  1.1  mm.  General  ground  color  yellowish- 
white  or  white.  Antennae  white  except  for  very  faint  trace  of 
blue  pigment  on  Ant.  Ill  and  slightly  more  on  Ant.  IV.  With 
blue  pigment  on  Abd.  I,  II,  and  III  in  variable  amounts,  but 
sometimes  forming  a solid  band  around  body  on  these  seg- 
ments. With  blue  pigment  forming  a median  band  on  Abd. 
IV,  dorsally  and  ventrally.  Some  specimens  show  a narrow 
band  of  blue  pigment  dorsally  at  juncture  of  Abd.  V and  VI. 
Legs  yellowish-white  except  for  broad  band  of  blue  pigment  on 
hind  femora  and  traces  on  hind  coxae  and  base  of  ventral  tube. 
Furcula  yellowish- white  except  trace  of  blue  at  base  of  manu- 
brium. Dark  spot  at  base  of  antenna.  Eyes  8 on  each  side  on 
a dark  patch.  Antennae  slightly  longer  than  head  or  as  105 : 
75.  Relative  lengths  of  antennal  joints  as  17:25:22:41. 
Mesonotum  very  strongly  projected  anteriorly  over  head. 
Abd.  4 about  5 times  length  of  Abd.  3.  Unguis  (fig.  2)  with 
a pair  of  lamellae  ending  in  a tooth  on  the  inner  margin  and  a 
tooth  beyond  the  middle,  and  a pair  of  basal  lateral  teeth. 
Unguiculus  three-fourths  length  of  unguis,  lanceolate,  un- 
armed. Tenent  hair  knobbed  at  end  and  well  developed. 
Dentes  only  slightly  longer  than  manubrium.  Mucro  some- 
what elongate  with  turned  up  apical  tooth  and  a subequal  ante- 
apical  tooth  and  basal  spine  (fig.  3).  Heavily  clothed  with 


April,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  45 


scales  on  mesonotum.  Antennae,  legs,  and  body  with  many 
fringed  hairs,  and  ventral  part  of  abdomen  especially  clothed 
with  long,  fringed  setae.  Dorsally  on  body  there  is  one  very 
long  fringed  seta  to  the  segment  (fig.  1).  Dorsal  crenulations 
of  dentes  ending  three  or  less  mucro  lengths  from  mucro. 

This  form  is  closely  related  to  L.  unifasciatus  Janies  and  differs 
from  the  latter  in  the  following  respects : In  the  ratio  of  the  lengths 
of  the  antennal  segments,  the  mesonotum  projects  more  and  is 
more  densely  clothed  with  scales,  the  dorsal  crenulations  of  dentes 
ends  a shorter  distance  from  the  mucro,  the  unguiculus  is  longer  and 
narrower;  there  is  a marked  difference  in  pigmentation,  the  blue 
pigment  is  not  only  on  Abd.  4 dorsally  and  ventrally  but  is  on  Abd. 
I,  II,  and  III  sometimes  to  form  a solid  band ; there  is  less  pig- 
ment on  the  antennae,  and  there  is  blue  on  the  hind  femorae,  base 
of  manubrium,  hind  coxae,  and  base  of  ventral  tube. 

The  North  Carolina  specimens  that  I have  placed  as  L.  unijascia- 
tus  James  have  more  pigment  on  them  than  the  Ontario  specimens. 
In  the  former  the  blue  band  on  the  fourth  abdominal  segment  is 
irregular  and  narrows  dorsally  and  there  is  some  pigment  on  Abd. 
III.  This  may  be  a new  color  variety  of  L.  unifasciatus  James. 
This  difference  has  been  confirmed  by  Dr,  H.  G.  James  to  whom 
I am  much  obliged  for  comparing  my  specimens  with  his  type 
material  of  unifasciatus,  and  for  giving  me  many  helpful  suggestions 
on  this  new  form.  Also  Dr.  H.  B.  Mills  has  informed  me  that  he 
has  taken  an  a?pparently  white  form  of  unifasciatus  in  Iowa.  From 
this  there  probably  is  a series  of  color  forms  near  L.  unifasciatus 
James  which  need  to  be  worked  up. 

Localities:  Erwin,  N.  C.,  Nov.  16,  1946,  taken  from  leaf  mould 
at  edge  of  swamp;  Williamston,  N.  C.,  Jan.  29,  1947,  from  leaf 
mould  near  swamp,  D.  L.  Wray,  collector. 

Family  Sminthuridae. 

Genus  Sminthurus  Latreille,  1804. 

Sminthurus  virginidari  n.  sp.  (figs.  5-9). 

Length  2 mm.  Body  color  pattern  in  the  form  of  a mosaic 
of  a deep  velvety  purple-blue  with  a violet  tinge  on  an  ivory 
white  background,  giving  the  appearance  of  a maze  of  inlaid 
tiles  of  purple,  violet,  ivory,  orange,  tan  and  brown.  Head 
with  vertex  and  front  with  a network  of  mostly  ivory  with 
some  intermingled  orange  and  violet  tile-like  spots.  Oral 
region  ivory,  sides  of  head  and  jaws  mostly  purplish-blue, 
antennae  yellowish-orange  throughout.  Dorsum  of  body  with 
a light  purplish-violet  mid-line  extending  from  prothorax  pos- 


46  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLlll 


teriorly  for  half  the  body  length.  On  each  side  of  this  mid- 
line is  a row  of  ivory  colored  tile-like  spots  which  terminates 
in  a broad,  fan-like  area  of  mostly  ivory  and  tan  spots.  The 
anal  segments  are  purple  with  large  light  spots  anteriorly  and 
ivory  posteriorly.  Ventrally  the  body  is  purplish  and  ivory 
colored  anteriorly,  and  mostly  posteriorly.  The  coxae  and 
femora  have  purplish  and  ivory  bands.  The  tibiae  are  ivory 
colored  except  for  a purplish  band  dorsally.  Manubrium  and 
dentes  pigmented  except  distally.  Ventral  tube  unpigmented. 
Eyes  8 on  each  side,  on  black  eyespots. 

Antennae  about  2 times  the  head,  the  relative  lengths  of  the 
segments  as  4 : 9 : 18  : 50 ; Ant.  IV  with  14  or  15  subsegments 
besides  the  basal  and  distal  segments,  with  about  15  whorls  of 
hairs.  Ant.  Ill  with  several  proximal  machrochaetae  which 
are  much  longer  than  the  many  distal  setae.  Unguis  stout 
and  rather  broad  with  a well  developed  tooth  inwardly,  and 
with  large  pseudonychia,  and  a well-developed  tunica  (fig.  7). 
Unguiculus  broad  basally,  bearing  an  inner  tooth  and  a heavy, 
subapical  spine  which  extends  beyond  the  apex  of  unguis. 
Tenent  hairs  absent.  There  are  several  heavy  hairs  on  the 
inner  face  of  the  distal  end  of  the  tibiotarsus.  Dentes  with 
3 long,  erect  dorsal  spines,  with  many  intervening  spines  half 
as  long ; with  about  8 oppressed  lateral,  and  about  6 to  7 op- 
pressed ventral  spines.  Dens  about  2.5  times  the  length  of 
the  mucro.  Mucro  (fig.  8)  trough-shaped,  obliquely  trun- 
cate at  distal  end,  the  inner  margin  with  about  15  irregular 
teeth  and  the  outer  lamella  smooth.  Mucronal  bristle  present. 
Subanal  appendage  of  female  simple,  pointed,  stout,  and  curv- 
ing in  its  entire  length  (fig.  9).  Clothing  of  head  and  body  of 
long,  curving,  serrate  hairs  intermingled  with  shorter  ones. 
On  the  vertex  behind  each  eyespot  is  a large  stout  serrate  hair. 
Body  with  at  least  3 bothriotricha  on  each  side,  and  one  at  the 
base  of  the  lateral  tubercle  of  the  genital  segment.  The  lateral 
bothriotricha  form  a wide  angle,  the  middle  one  closer  to  the 
posterior  one. 

This  species  is  undoubtedly  the  most  beautifully  colored  insect 
form  that  I have  ever  examined  and  the  beautiful  colored  mosaic 
pattern  would  rival  any  of  the  highly  colored  mosques  of  India.  I 
have  named  this  species  after  the  supposedly  first  white  child  to  be 
born  in  America,  Virginia  Dare,  because  it  was  collected  within 
sight  of  the  landing  of  the  Lost  Colony  on  Roanoke  Island,  N.  C. 

Locality:  Manteo,  N.  C.,  October  24,  1946,  D.  L.  Wray.  Swept 
from  vegetation  while  insect  collecting  and  caught  in  net. 


April,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  47 


Family  Sminthuridae. 

Genus  Sminthurus  Latreille,  1804 
Sminthurus  yonahlossee  n.  sp.  (figs.  10-13). 

Length  up  to  1.3  mm.  Body  dilated  broadly  behind,  sub- 
triangular.  Color  pattern  a mosaic  of  purplish-blue  and  violet 
pigment  forming  spots,  stripes,  and  light  areas  over  the  body 
on  a white  background.  Vertex  of  head  with  a white  area 
between  the  eyes ; a pigmented  chain  between  antennal  bases ; 
with  a mid-longitudinal  stripe  and  2 stripes  on  each  side  of 
this  on  front  of  head  from  antennal  bases  down  to  base  of 
clypeus  where  there  is  a transverse  stripe ; sides  of  head  with 
light  areas  and  pigmented  spots;  dorsal  pattern  (fig.  10)  with 
a broad  light  irregular  area  down  mid-line  intermingled  with 
pigmented  spots  and  with  a faint  indication  of  a lightly  pig- 
mented mid-dorsal  stripe ; laterally  and  ventrally  the  body  is 
a mosaic  of  light  and  pigmented  spots ; the  ano-genital  segment 
with  lateral  light  spots  and  a large  ventral  light  area ; antennae 
purplish-violet  throughout ; ventral  tube  blue  basally  and  un- 
pigmented  distally ; legs  lightly  pigmented  throughout,  heavier 
on  middle  of  precoxae,  coxae,  femora,  and  tibiotarsi ; apex  of 
tibiotarsi  pigmented ; furcula  pigmented  heavier  basally,  and 
with  a trace  distally.  Eyes  8 on  each  side  on  dark  eyespots. 
Relative  length  of  antennal  segments  as  1 : 2 : 3 : 9,  the  4th  seg- 
ment with  15  or  16  subsegments  between  the  basal  and  distal 
segments.  Antennae  twice  the  head  in  length.  Unguis 
(fig.  13)  with  a tunica,  2 inner  teeth  and  a pair  of  serrate 
pseudonychia.  Tenent  hairs  absent.  Unguiculus  2/3  length 
of  unguis,  broad  basally,  with  an  inner  tooth  and  a subapical 
bristle.  On  the  inner  face  of  the  tibio-tarsus  near  the  apex 
are  several  heavy  hairs.  With  an  anterior  lobe  (fig.  12)  on 
the  fore  legs  between  the  distal  precoxa  and  the  coxa.  Mucro 
(fig.  11)  to  the  dens  as  1 :3,  trough-shaped,  obliquely  truncate 
apically,  the  inner  lamella  with  8 or  9 irregular  teeth,  the  outer 
margin  smooth  or  weakly  bidentate.  Mucronal  bristle  present. 
Female  subanal  appendage  simple,  curving.  Clothing  of  long, 
curving,  minutely  roughened  hairs.  Two  large  curving  setae 
on  inner  margin  of  each  eyespot.  At  least  3 bothriotricha 
laterally  on  body  one  on  each  side  of  ano-genital  segment. 
The  lateral  ones  are  almost  in  a straight  line,  the  middle  one 
nearer  the  posterior  one.  Integument  minutely  tuberculate. 

The  color  pattern  varies  somewhat  in  different  individuals,  but 
the  forma  principalis  is  as  figure  10.  The  subtriangular  body 


48  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  S-ociety  XLIII 


places  this  species  close  to  vS.  packardi  Folsom,  but  it  differs  in 
color  pattern,  unguis,  unguiculus ; and  is  somewhat  smaller  in  size. 

Locality:  Pineola,  N.  C.,  July  10,  1946,  D.  L.  Wray.  Taken 
sweeping  white  pine,  hemlock,  and  Rhododendron  at  an  altitude 
of  3800  feet. 

Family  Sminthuridae. 

Genus  D enter osminthiirns  Borner,  1901. 
Deuterosminthurus  batrachos  n.  sp.  (figs.  14-18). 

Length  up  to  0.7  mm.  Ground  color  bright  yellow  with 
purplish  markings  in  the  form  of  a lacework  pattern  dorsally 
and  laterally  as  follows:  antennae  yellow  except  for  purple 
pigment  on  distal  2/3  of  segment  I.  Purple  pigment  on  sides 
of  head  from  eyespot  forward  to  jaw  and  a narrow  band  across 
the  front.  A narrow  necklace  of  purple  pigment  extends  all 
around  the  ventral  side  of  neck.  Purplish  pigment  on  dorsum 
and  ventral  sides  of  body.  Ventral  and  anterior  part  of  head, 
and  venter  of  body  yellow.  Vertex  of  head  and  dorsum  of 
body  with  large  unpigmented  areas  or  spots  along  midline 
(fig.  14).  Legs  and  furcula  lighter,  unpigmented.  Behind 
middle  of  abdomen  there  is  a transverse  depression.  Eyes 
8 on  each  side  on  partially  dark  eye  patches.  Antennae  about 
twice  length  of  head,  or  as  96  : 50.  Relative , lengths  of  seg- 
ments as  8 : 12  : 22  : 54.  The  4th  antennal  segment  with  6 
definite  annulations  besides  the  basal  and  apical  joints,  and 
with  a whorl  of  hairs  on  each  annulation.  End  club  evident. 
With  a pearshaped  protuberance  posteriorly  on  each  side  of 
dorsum  of  abdomen.  With  at  least  3 bothriotricha  laterally 
on  abdomen,  and  one  on  ano-genital  segment.  The  lateral 
bothriotricha  forming  a wide  angle  with  the  middle  one  closer 
to  the  anterior  one  than  to  the  posterior  one.  Unguis  (fig.  16) 
rather  straight  with  a pair  of  lateral  teeth,  unidentate  inwardly. 
Unguisculus  nearly  straight,  lamellate.  With  at  least  7 tenent 
hairs,  well  developed.  Mucro  (fig.  18)  spoon-shaped,  to  the 
den  as  1 :3.5.  Female  anal  appendage  (fig.  17)  curved, 
ragged,  deeply  serrate  and  finger-like.  Corpus  of  tenaculi  with 
anterior  and  posterior  lobe ; anterior  lobe  with  2 apical  setae. 

Locality:  Shulls  Mills,  N.  C.,  July  17,  1946,  D.  L.  Wray.  Taken 
sweeping  foliage  of  boxwood,  hemlock,  arbor  vitae,  and  white  pine 
at  3900  ft.  altitude  near  Grandfather  Mt. ; 21  specimens  taken. 

The  general  appearance  of  this  form  is  peculiar.  The  head  is 
globular  and  joins  the  thorax  compactly  giving  the  affects  of  being 
pushed  together  so  as  to  resemble  a frog’s  body,  hence  “bathrachos” 


April,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  49 


from  the  Greek  meaning  “frog-like.”  The  prothorax  is  hidden 
and  thus  it  appears  “neckless”  in  comparison  to  the  closely  related 
forms,  D.  m.  altamontus,  and  D.  macgillivrayi  Banks  which  will 
be  discussed  later.  In  this  form  as  in  altamontus  sometimes  the 
subsegments  of  the  Ant.  IV  are  diagonal,  but  I have  found  some 
that  are  not. 

Family  Sminthuridae. 

Genus  D enter osminthurus  Borner,  1901. 

Deuterosminthurus  'macgillivrayi  (Banks)  var.  altamontus  new 
variety  (hgs.  19-23. 

Length  up  to  1.0  mm.  Ground  color  yellow  with  purplish 
markings  in  the  form  of  a lacework  pattern  dorsally  and 
laterally  as  follows : antennae  yellow  except  for  purple  pigment 
on  base  and  middle  of  segment  1.  Purple  pigment  extends 
on  sides  of  head  around  cheek  and  eyespot  to  base  of  antennae 
and  thence  in  a narrow  band  between  antennae.  A narrow 
necklace  of  purple  extends  all  around  the  ventral  side  of  neck. 
Purple  pigment  lacework  laterally  and  dorsally  on  body. 
Ventral  and  anterior  part  of  head,  and  venter  of  body  yellow. 
Vertex  of  head  and  dorsum  of  body  with  large  unpigmented 
areas  with  almost  a wide  unbroken  mid-dorsal  unpigmented 
line  excepting  pigmented  bars  across  anterior  part  of  abdomen 
(fig.  20).  Legs  and  furcula  unpigmented.  Behind  middle 
of  abdomen  there  is  a transverse  depression.  Eyes  8 on  each 
side,  distinct^  on  a deep  orange  eyespot,  with  a dark  spot 
on  inner  side.  Antennae  slightly  more  than  twice  the  head. 
Relative  lengths  of  segments  as  15  :20  :30  :65.  The  4th 
antennal  segment  with  7 diagonal  subsegments  besides  the  basal 
and  apical  joints  and  with  a whorl  of  hairs  on  each  annulation. 
With  a pear-shaped  protuberance  posteriorly  on  each  side  of 
abdomen  which  has  5 spines  at  its  base.  With  at  least  3 
bothriotricha  laterally  on  abdomen,  forming  a wide  angle  and 
with  the  middle  one  about  equidistant  from  the  anterior  and 
posterior  ones.  Unguis  (fig.  22)  rather  straight,  with  a pair 
of  lateral  teeth,  with  or  without  a feeble  tooth  inwardly.  Un- 
guiculus  nearly  straight,  lamellate.  With  6-7  tenent  hairs. 
Mucro  (fig.  23)  spoon-shaped  with  inner  corrugations,  to  the 
dens  as  1 : 3.  Female  anal  appendages  (fig.  21)  long,  broadly 
truncate,  curved,  and  serrate  distally.  Tenaculum  corpus 
with  anterior  and  posterior  lobes,  anterior  one  with  1 apical 
bristle;  lobes  extending  beyond  rami. 


50  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLIll 


Locality:  Pineola,  N.  C.,  July  20,  1946,  at  3700  ft.  altitude, 
sweeping  white  pine.  Rhododendron,  and  hemlock,  D.  L.  Wray. 
56  specimens  taken. 

This  form  is  close  to  D.  batrachos  in  morphology  of  the  various 
body  structures  as  unguis,  mucro,  etc.,  but  differs  in  size  and 
general  appearance  of  body,  in  color  pattern,  the  antennae  appear 
longer,  and  there  is  some  difference  in  the  shape  of  female  anal 
appendage.  This  form,  which  is  placed  as  a variety  of  D.  macgil- 
livrayi  Banks  for  the  time  being,  is  very  close  to  D.  batrachos  and  to 
macgillivrayi  in  certain  structures,  as  the  pear-shaped  protuberance 
on  posterior  end  of  abdomen.  The  main  difference  between  D.  m. 
altamontus  and  the  specimens  from  this  area  that  I have  referred 
as  D.  macgillivrayi  Banks  is  in  size  and  color  pattern.  My  speci- 
mens which  are  placed  as  macgillivrayi  agree  well  with  Bank’s 
description  in  color  pattern  except  that  these  are  bright  orange 
dorsally  and  there  is  a wreath  of  pearly,  opaque  spots  on  dorsum 
of  body  as — one  long  spot  across  vertex  of  head  between  eyes ; a 
long  angular  spot  extends  across  mesothorax  and  posteriorly  on 
each  side  of  the  thorax  and  back  half  way  of  the  body ; thence 
another  pair  of  elongate  spots  begins  laterally  on  the  edges  of 
dorsum  of  abdomen  and  extend  back  to  anogenital  segment;  and 
then  there  is  a large  spot  across  dorsum  of  abdomen  just  in  front  of 
ano-genital  segment. 

Family  Entomobryidae. 

Genus  Entomobrya  Rondani,  1861. 

Entombrya  maizeae  n.  sp.  (figs.  24-27). 

Length  up  to  1.7  mm.  Color  pattern  (figs.  24  & 25)  a 
bluish-purple  with  a violet  tinge  intermingled  with  many 
round-oblong  unpigmented  areas  and  spots.  Antennae  pig- 
mented throughout,  but  somewhat  lighter  at  base  of  joints. 

Explanation  of  plate  II. 

Plate  II.  Lepdiocyrtus  unifasciatus  (James)  var.  neofasciatus 
new  variety.  Fig.  1.  Lateral  view  of  L.  ti.  neofasciatus.  2.  Left 
hind  unguis.  3.  Lateral  view  mucro.  4.  Right  eye  patch. 
Sminthurus  virginidari  n.  sp.  5-A.  Dorsal  view,  B-position  of 
lateral  body  bothriotricha.  6.  Process  between  distal  precoxa  and 
coxa  of  left  midleg.  7.  Left  hind  foot.  8.  Left  mucro.  9.  Sub- 
anal  appendage  of  female.  Sminthurus  yonahlossee  n.  sp.  10-A. 
Dorsal  view,  B.  position  of  lateral  body  bothriotricha.  11.  Left 
mucro.  12.  Process  on  foreleg  between  distal  precoxa  and  coxa. 
13.  Unguis  of  middle  leg. 


April,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  51 


Bull.  B.  E.  S.,  Vol.  XLIII 


Plate  II 


52  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


Dorsum  of  head  with  a large  light  area  with  a purplish  V- 
shaped  mark  and  a pair  of  purplish  splotches.  Sides  of  head 
pigmented,  with  light  spots.  Venter  of  head  and  abdomen 
only  lightly  pigmented,  the  latter  almost  white  on  first  4 seg- 
ments. Segments  of  body  dorsally  and  laterally  bluish-purple 
intermingled  with  spots  and  with  the  anterior  edges  of  seg- 
ments light.  Dorsum  of  Abd.  IV  with  many  long,  light  spots 
anteriorly.  Legs  pigmented  but  lighter  at  end  of  joints.  Fur- 
cula  pigmented  on  basal  half  of  manubrium  only.  Eyes  8 
on  dark  eyespots.  Relative  length  of  antennal  joints  as 
20  : 40  : 40  : 55.  Unguis  (fig.  27)  long  with  an  outer,  2 
lateral,  and  3 pairs  of  inner  teeth.  Unguiculus  lanceolate, 
2/3  length  of  unguis.  Tenent  hair  stout,  slightly  longer  than 
unguis.  The  furcula  is  shorter  than  usual  for  Entomobrya. 
Mucro  (fig.  26)  with  the  apical  tooth  strong  and  roundly  up- 
curving.  The  4th  abdomenal  segment  about  3 times  the  3rd. 
The  1st  abdominal  segment  to  the  3rd  as  1:3.  Vertex  of 
head  and  dorsum  of  thorax  heavily  clothed  with  long,  clavate 
hairs.  There  are  2 very  long,  stout,  feathered  spines  dorsally 
on  3rd  abd.  segment. 

E.  maizeae  in  general  appearance  is  close  to  E.  marginata  Tullb., 
but  diflfers  in  the  color  pattern,  and  especially  of  the  dorsum  of  the 
head ; it  lacks  the  wide  straight  line  between  the  eyes  and  the  dark 
lines  laterally  on  the  thorax  as  is  found  in  E.  marginata.  Also 
there  are  differences  in  the  lengths  of  the  1st  and  2nd  antennal 
joints,  the  shape  of  mucro,  and  other  characters. 

Locality:  New  Bern,  N.  C.,  Oct.  22,  1947,  D.  L.  Wray.  Taken 
in  corn  fields  under  damp  corn-stalk  leaves. 

Cotypes  of  the  new  species  and  forms  described  herein  are  in  the 
author’s  collection.  I wish  to  express  my  sincere  thanks  and 
appreciation  to  Dr.  Harlow  B.  Mills  and  to  Dr.  H.  G.  James  for 
their  generous  help  and  suggestions,  and  for  examining  these  forms 
and  type  material. 

Explanation  of  Plate  III 

Plate  III.  Deuterosminthurus  batrachos  n.  sp.  Fig.  14-A. 
Dorsal  color  pattern,  B.  Posterior  lateral  tubercle  showing  spines. 
15.  Right  antenna.  16.  Left  hind  foot.  17.  Female  subanal  append- 
age. 18.  Left  mucro.  Deuterosminthurus  m.  altamontus  nov.  var. 
19.  Right  antenna.  20-A.  Dorsal  color  pattern,  B.  Distal  precoxal 
process  on  midleg,  C.  Distal  precoxal  process  on  hind  leg,  D.  Posi- 
tion of  lateral  body  bothriotrichae.  21.  Female  subanal  appendage. 
22.  Left  hind  foot.  23.  Left  mucro.  Entomobrya  maizeae  n.  sp. 
24.  Lateral  view.  25.  Dorsal  color  pattern.  26.  Left  mucro. 
27.  Right  hind  foot. 


April,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  53 


Bull.  B.  E.  S.,  Vol.  XLIII  Plate  III 


22 


27 


25 


54  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


SOUTHWESTERN  GEOMETRID  NOTES  AND 
NEW  SPECIES.  I 

By  John  L.  Sperry,  Riverside,  California 

The  genus  Drepamdatrix  Gump,  seems  to  present  more  than  its 
fair  share  of  problems  to  the  student  of  the  Geometridae ; for  ex- 
ample, what  is  nevadaria  Hulst?  Is  it  possible  that  this  may  be  a 
color  form  of  came  aria  Hulst  ? 

This  would  explain  the  single  line  of  the  forewings  and  if  not, 
how  has  the  species  managed  to  escape  capture  in  an  area  as  well 
collected  as  the  Sierra  Nevada  of  California?  Then  we  have 
ella  Hulst,  named  from  a single  specimen,  type  locality,  Washing- 
ton, no  sex  given.  Barnes  and  McDunnough  in  Contributions, 
HI,  3,  p.  182  give  the  sex  as  female  and  state  that  the  specimen 
seems  aberrant,  the  description  shows  it  to  be  without  maculation. 

In  this  genus  there  is  a strong  tendency,  in  most  of  the  species, 
to  produce  ochreous  female  forms  and  in  the  species  'monicaria  Gn. 
many  of  the  normal  females  are  immaculate.  My  friend,  Mr. 
Willliam  R.  Bauer,  of  Petaluma,  Calif.,  has  in  his  collection  a 
female  monicaria  taken  at  Freshwater  in  Humboldt  Co.,  Calif., 
6-21-40,  which  answers  Hulst’s  description  exactly  except  that 
the  usual  extradiscal  line  of  shady  triangles  shows  dimly  on  the 
forewing.  The  specimen  seems  to  be  an  albinic  female  and  could 
as  well  have  been  immaculate  as  are  some  normal  females  from  the 
same  locality.  It  spreads  29  mm.  and  if  one  takes  into  account 
Hulst’s  apparently  normal  practice  of  considering  the  expanse  of 
an  insect  to  be  twice  the  distance  from  pin  to  apex  of  forewing, 
this  specimen  would  expand  32  mm.,  which  is  the  distance  given 
in  Hulst’s  description.  The  author  would  suggest  that  there  is 
a very  good  chance  that  this  hypothesis  may  well  explain  ella. 

Again,  does  foeminaria  Gn.  equal  pulveraria  Hulst?  There  are 
several  specimens  in  the  Sperry  collection  which  answer  Guenee’s 
description  and  these  we  are  unable  to  separate  from  pidveraria. 
And  at  long  last,  has  anybody  seen  ida  Hulst.  We  have  a specimen 
or  two  from  Southern  California  which  match  the  species  as  it  is 
found  in  the  Cassino  & Swett  collection  in  the  M.C.Z.  but  Hulst 
gives  the  type  locality  as  Colorado  and  the  possibility  of  finding  a 
high  mountain  species  near  sea  level  in  the  southern  desert  seems 
remote. 

The  genus  needs  revision  but  it  requires  someone  who  can  take 
specimens  from  the  west,  the  habitat  of  almost  all  the  species,  to 
the  east  where  the  types  are  deposited  and  make  careful  comparisons. 


April,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  55 


There  are  at  least  three  undescribed  species  in  the  Sperry  collec- 
tion, two  of  these  must  await  more  material  or  information  or  both, 
but  the  third,  thanks  to  a good  series  received  from  our  friends. 
Dr.  A.  L.  Melander  and  Mr.  William  R.  Bauer,  is  well  represented 
and  the  author  considers  it  reasonably  safe  to  describe. 

Drepanulatrix  baueraria,  n.  sp. 

Male  : Head,  thorax,  abdomen  and  ground  color  of  forewings 
pinkish  cinnamon  (Ridgway  color),  palpi  same,  tipped  with 
black.  Antennae  heavily  bipectinate,  pectinations  longer  than 
in  secundaria  B.  & McD.,  about  the  same  as  in  monicaria  Gn. 
In  most  specimens  of  the  series  three  well-defined  black  lines 
cross  the  forewings.  The  t.a.  line,  ^ mm.  wide,  starts  at  the 
costa  3/10  out  at  right  angles,  curves  inward  to  the  cell  and 
goes  irregularly  straight  to  inner  margin  at  1/3 ; median  line 
from  narrower  than  t.a.,  curved  smoothly  subparallel  to  that 
line  just  inside  the  small  black  discal  dot.  T.p.  line  about  the 
same  width  as  t.a.  starts  at  2/3  on  the  costa,  curves  in  more 
sharply  than  the  other  lines  to  below  cell  then  roughly  parallels 
the  median  line  to  inner  margin.  Halfway  between  t.p.  and  apex 
a shade  band  starts  on  the  costa  and  curves  sharply  inward  to  be- 
low cell  approaching  the  t.p.  line  to  about  1 mm.  and  parallels  it 
roughly  to  inner  margin.  This  shade  band  consists  of  joined, 
outward  pointing,  triangular  teeth,  three  above  and  from  two  to 
four  below  the  cell,  sometimes  tipped  with  white  scales.  There 
is  a terminal  row  of  black  dots  between  the  veins.  Fringes  con- 
colorous  with  wing.  The  wing  is  sparsely  strigated  with  tiny, 
short,  black  lines. 

Secondaries  basally  lighter  than  the  primaries  but  terminally 
concolorous.  There  are  two  lines,  t.a.  and  t.p.  which,  starting  at 
inner  margin,  curve  slightly  for  two-thirds  the  way  across  the 
wing  and  disappear.  The  continuation  of  the  shade  band  of  the 
primaries  is  indicated,  there  is  a small  discal  dot  and  a row  of 
terminal  dots  between  the  veins.  Fringes  concolorous. 

Beneath,  creamy-white  sprinkled  lightly  with  dark  atoms  and 
shaded  apically  with  cinnamon.  Discal  dots  present  on  all 
wings,  larger  on  the  secondaries. 

There  is  a tendency  to  variability  in  the  strength  of  the  macu- 
lation  but  in  all  specimens  in  the  series  the  lines  are  distinguish- 
able. 

In  the  female,  although  usually  distinguishable,  the  macula- 
tion  tends  to  become  obsolete  and  there  is  usually  more  orange 


56  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLlll 


in  the  ground  color  although  some  specimens  are  colored  as  is 
the  male.  Expanse:  Male,  23  to  28  mm.  Female,  23  to 
28  mm. 

This  species  falls  next  to  monicaria  Gn.  and  the  maculation  is 
between  that  and  secundaria  B.  & McD.  It  can  be  distinguished 
from  monicaria  by  its  lighter  color  and  heavier  maculation,  which 
is  weak  and  indistinct  in  monicaria.  It  can  be  separated  from 
secundaria  by  its  longer  and  heavier  antennal  pectinations  and  by 
the  secondaries,  which  in  haueraria  are  in  part  concolorous  with  the 
primaries,  in  secundaria  light  throughout  and  almost  devoid  of  lines. 

The  male  genitalia  offer  the  best  characteristics  for  separation  of 
these  species.  In  both  monicaria  and  haueraria  the  vesica  is  un- 
armed, secundaria  has  a small,  narrow  bundle  of  short  spines  well 
below  the  center  of  the  organ. 

In  monicaria  the  aedeagus  is  short  ( mm.)  and  thick  and  curves 
to  an  apex  which  is  thickened  into  a long  bladelike  projection.  In 
haueraria  the  aedeagus  is  thin  and  longer  (2  mm.)  and  the  blade- 
like projection  is  wanting,  the  apex  being  hardly  pointed  at  all  and 
blunt. 

Holotype,  male.  Big  Sur,  Calif.,  June  18,  1947  (A.  L.  Melander), 
and  in  the  collection  of  Grace  H.  and  John  L.  Sperry. 

Allotype,  female.  Pacific  Grove,  California,  Sept.  27,  1946  (A. 
L.  Melander),  and  in  the  Sperry  collection. 

Paratypes,  13  males.  Big  Sur  and  Pacific  Grove,  Calif.  (A.  L. 
Melander),  Inverness,  Crescent  Cr.,  Petaluma  and  Orick,  Calif. 
(W.  R.  Bauer),  and  Gresham,  Ore.  (J.  Schuh),  taken  between 
June  16th  and  Sept.  29th,  1936  to  1947.  6 females.  Pacific  Grove, 
Calif.,  Sept.  29,  1946  (A.  L.  Melander),  and  Crescent  Cr.,  Mohawk, 
Inverness  and  Westport,  Calif.  (W.  R.  Bauer),  June  20  to  July 
11,  1936  to  1947,  and  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum,  Canadian 
National  Museum,  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology,  American 
Museum  of  Natural  History,  Los  Angeles  County  Museum,  British 
Museum  and  collections  Bauer  and  Sperry. 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  name  this  interesting  species  in 
honor  of  my  friend,  Mr.  William  R.  Bauer  of  Petaluma,  California, 
whose  ability  to  get  the  hard  ones  is  uncanny  and  who  in  the  prep- 
aration of  specimens  for  the  cabinet  is  without  a peer.  May  he 
travel  far  among  the  Lepidoptera  and  may  his  journeys  be  always 
interesting. 

During  the  past  several  years  it  has  been  the  indolent  practice 
of  the  author  to  allow  our  common  desert  Semiothisas  to  collect  in 
boxes  labeled  “colorata  complex”  and  ''s-signata  and  forms”  and 


April,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  57 


at  long  last  the  sheer  pressure  of  specimens  made  it  necessary  to 
clear  these  boxes  and  separate  the  species. 

Fortunately  the  male  genitalia  offer  excellent  characters  for 
separation  and  Dr.  McDunnough  has  done  such  a first-rate  job  in 
arranging  this  genus  according  to  genitalia  that  it  is  no  trouble  to 
place  the  unknowns. 

Colorata  Grote  is  perhaps  our  commonest  southwestern  geo- 
metrid  and  complicates  matters  by  flying  throughout  the  year  in  the 
same  habitat  as  parcata  Grossb.  and  sirenata  McD.  and  even  up  into 
calif orniaria's  domain. 

It  has  at  least  four  broods,  that  of  the  summer  being  small  and 
very  light  with  females  almost  immaculate,  fall  and  spring  broods 
are  moderate  in  size  and  well  maculated  and  the  winter  brood  is 
large  past  belief,  was  confused  by  Cassino  with  his  davisata,  as 
McDunnough  has  pointed  out  (1945,  Can.  Ent.,  66)  and  so  has 
been  wrongly  placed  thereunder  in  most  collections.  Parcata 
Grossb.  is  not  such  a common  species  and  may  be  separated  by  its 
lighter  color,  finer  maculation  and  the  clear  distal  dots  on  all  wings. 
Its  unexcavated  anal  plate  with  two  curved  ends  and  two  short 
tufted  octavals  separate  the  species  at  once. 

Sirenata  McD.  is  not  so  easily  separated  by  the  maculation  as  it 
is  so  variable,  most  of  our  specimens  have  a heavy  brown  suffusion 
from  base  to  beyond  the  t.p.  line  and,  contrary  to  the  description, 
are  lighter  terminally,  others  are  small  with  indistinct  maculation 
and  no  suffusion  and  a few  match  the  description,  but  the  male 
genitalia  with  the  fish  tail  projection  of  the  aedeagus  and  the  lack  of 
gnathos  separates  the  species  at  once.  Colorata  is  represented  in 
the  Sperry  collection  from  S.  Calif,  to  S.W.  Texas  and  north  to 
southern  Nevada.  There  is  a single  male  from  N.  Texas  small 
and  bright,  with  distinct  genitalia  and  further  material  will  prob- 
ably give  us  another  undescribed  species. 

S-signata  Pack.,  whose  type  locality  is  central  Texas,  is  a gor- 
geously variable  species.  Cassino  and  Swett  separated  no  less  than 
four  groups  of  these,  making  paratype  labels  but  not  describing,  in 
which  decision  they  were  probably  quite  right.  It  might  be  possible 
to  separate  the  Arizona  and  California  s-signata  from  the  Texas 
topotypes  on  the  basis  of  lighter  color  and  less  irrorated  wings  but 
the  genitalia  are  identical  or  nearly  so,  the  only  difference  that  the 
author  can  see  is  a possible  narrowing  of  the  gnathos  as  one  goes 
west.  The  females  are  almost  always  light,  sometimes  having  only 
the  curved  t.p.  line  as  maculation.  The  species  which  might  be 
confused  are  puertata  Grossb.  and  possibly  minuta  Hulst  in  very 
rubbed  specimens,  both  of  these  have  annulate  discal  dots  and 


58  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLlll 


puertata  has  a very  heavy  t.a.  line  which  is  usually  not  present  at 
all  in  s-signata. 

From  the  Baboquivari  Mts.  of  southern  Arizona,  one  of  our  best 
hot-beds  of  new  species,  we  have  a good  series  of  an  s-signata-like 
Semiothisa  which  is  apparently  undescribed. 

Semiothisa  melanderi  n.  sp. 

Palpi,  head,  thorax  and  abdomen  and  ground  color  of  wings 
light  bufif  (Ridgway  color)  sparingly  irrorated  throughout 
with  brown  atoms.  Antennae  heavily  short-ciliate ; fore  tibia 
unarmed ; hind  tibia  heavily  grooved,  with  hair  pencil,  hind 
tarsus  short.  Fore  wing  maculation  deep  brown,  very  similar 
to  s-signata,  t.a.  line  heavy  (4/10  mm.  wide)  starts  at  inner 
margin  out  from  base,  irregular,  goes  straight  to  cell  at 
right  angles  to  margin  then  starts  to  curve  inward  and  disap- 
pears before  reaching  costa  in  most  specimens,  occasionally 
narrows  and  reaches  costa  at  1/3.  In  most  specimens  there 
is  indication  of  a median  shade  line  from  a short  triangular 
costal  mark,  only  occasionally  present  at  through  the  short, 
upright  discal  dash  and  ending  on  inner  margin  about  1 mm. 
from  t.a.  line,  sometimes  entirely  absent  and  sometimes  indi- 
cated only  at  costa  and  inner  margin.  There  is  a rectangular 
blotch  on  costa  at  2/3  out  from  base,  above  and  inside  the  t.p. 
line  which  it  does  not  join.  T.p.  as  in  s-signata,  starts  at 
inner  margin  | out  and  looks  much  like  an  elongated  figure  3 
with  the  tips  of  the  number  cut  off,  with  the  curved  side  toward 
the  outer  margin.  It  is  heavier  than  the  t.a.  line,  ending  at 
vein  6 and  shaded  outwardly  by  a lighter  gray-brown  shade 
which  continues  on  to  the  costa,  subterminal  area  of  ground 
color  and  a terminal  line  of  black  points  between  the  veins. 
Fringes  concolorous,  obscurely  checkered. 

Secondaries  lighter  than  primaries,  t.a.  line  absent,  t.p.  nar- 
row, starting  at  right  angles  to  costa  at  termination  of  t.p.  of 
primaries,  straight  to  cell,  curved  slightly  inward  to  vein  2, 
then  straight  to  inner  margin  at  1/5  from  angle.  The  line  is 
lighter  than  those  of  the  primaries  and  only  about  1/5  mm.  wide 
but  is  always  evident.  There  is  a faint  shade  distad  of  this  line 
and  a slightly  darker  terminal  area,  a terminal  line  of  short 
dashes  between  the  veins.  Fringes  concolorous,  slightly  check- 
ered. Small  discal  dot  indicated.  Beneath  lighter  than  above, 
maculation  of  upper  side  dimly  reflected,  discal  dot  of  second- 
aries stronger  than  above. 

Female : Our  single  female  is  light  ochraceous  salmon  (Ridg- 


April,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  59 


way  color).  The  lines  are  as  in  the  male  but  the  irrorations 
are  lacking  and  the  shading  distad  of  t.p.  line  in  primaries  is 
barely  indicated.  Expanse:  Male,  20-22  mm.  Female,  21 
mm. 

Holotype,  male,  Baboquivari  Mts.,  Ariz.,  4-25-47  (G.  H.  & J.  L. 
Sperry)  and  in  the  Sperry  collection. 

Allotype,  female,  Baboquivari  Mts.,  Ariz.,  4-27-38  (G.  H.  & 
J.  L.  Sperry)  and  in  the  Sperry  collection. 

Paratypes,  23  males,  same  data,  Apr.  22-28,  1937,  1938  and 
1948;  1 male,  Baboquivari  Mts.,  Ariz.,  4-26-47  (A.  L.  Melander). 

Paratypes  will  be  deposited  in  U.  S.  Nat.  Museum,  Canadian 
Nat.  Museum,  British  Museum,  M.C.Z.,  Am.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist,  and 
Los  Angeles  Museum  and  in  collections  Bauer  and  Sperry. 

This  species  immediately  follows  s-signata  Pack,  in  the  list.  It 
is  separated  from  that  species  by  the  well  marked  t.a.  line  on  the 
primaries  and  from  puertafa  Grossb.  by  the  lighter  and  more  ir- 
regular lines  and  by  the  dash  shaped  discal  mark  which  is  annular 
in  puertata. 

It  is  easily  separated  from  both  these  species  by  genitalic  char- 
acters. The  aedeagus  in  puertata  is  simple,  in  s-signata  lightly 
armed  apically  and  in  melanderi  armed  apically  by  two  long  spines 
one  on  each  side  of  the  organ  and  parallel  to  the  axis  thereof,  the 
right  spine  being  somewhat  longer  than  the  left.  The  free  costal 
arm  of  puertata  is  simple,  in  s-signata  there  is  a paddle-shaped  pad 
extending  from  the  middle  of  the  costa  about  twice  the  diameter  of 
the  costal  arm  in  length,  in  melanderi  this  pad  is  much  longer,  nar- 
row and  finger-shaped,  the  pad  on  the  sacculus  is  simple  in  s-signata 
with  a small  raised  point  centrally,  that  of  melanderi  is  long  and 
finger-shaped,  unarmed,  and  curves  in  toward  the  ventral  surface. 
The  octavals  are  spinose  in  s-signata  and  heavily  chitinized  in  a 
narrow  strip  the  edge  of  which  is  smooth,  the  excavation  is  open 
and  rather  deep.  In  puertata  the  tips  are  not  spinose  and  the 
chitinization  inwardly  from  the  edge  of  the  excavation  is  weak. 

In  melanderi  the  excavation  is  much  shallower,  the  tips  of  the 
octavals  not  spinose,  the  chitinization  very  heavy,  comb  shaped  with 
heavy  teeth  lining  the  inner  edge.  This  last  feature  can  be  seen  in 
situ  by  moving  a few  scales  on  the  tip  of  the  abdomen  and  the 
spines  of  s-signata  are  often  evident  without  even  that  trouble. 

It  is  much  like  “bringing  coals  to  Newcastle”  to  name  this 
species  in  honor  of  our  friend,  Dr.  A.  L.  Melander,  who  needs  no 
introduction  to  the  Entomological  World  and  is  no  stranger  to 
Entomological  honors.  Let  it  be  therefore  a small  token  of  our 


60  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^LIII 


regard  and  in  memory  of  many  fine  collecting  trips  in  the  southwest 
and  of  many  fascinating  dry  washes,  with  backgrounds  of  desert  or 
mountain  shaded  by  palo-verde  or  pines  and  swarming  with  diptera 
by  day  and  geometrids  by  night.  May  there  be  many,  many  more 
of  these  up  which  we  may  walk  together  and  where  there  is  always 
good  hunting. 


Notice  to  all  Subscribers  through  Agencies. — We  are  con- 
stantly receiving  subscriptions  to  Entomologica  Americana  and 
Bulletin  of  our  Society  for  sundry  institutions  through  the  various 
magazine  subscription  agencies.  These  are  far  too  frequently  re- 
ceived short  paid ; or  else  they  come  to  us  misdirected  through  our 
printers ; or  else  addresses  to  which  to  send  are  wrong.  We  give 
this  notice  to  avoid  misunderstandings  with  our  valued  institutional 
subscribers,  which,  very  naturally  we  do  not  like,  and  in  the  nature 
of  things  cannot  be  responsible  for. 

Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 


Birds  Eat  Scale  Insects. — Scale  insects,  identified  by  Dr. 
Harold  Morrison  as  Orthesia  sp.,  were  present  in  the  stomachs  of 
the  following  birds : A long-tailed  chickadee,  taken  5 miles  east  of 
Orr’s  Ranch,  in  lower  Skull  Valley,  Tooele  County,  Utah,  Septem- 
ber 24,  1942 ; and  in  stomachs  of  sage  sparrows,  collected  north  of 
Kelton,  Box  Elder  County,  Utah,  September  10,  1942,  and  at 
Kelton,  Utah,  September  30,  1942.  A total  of  39  coccidae,  mostly 
scale  insects,  were  recognized  in  an  examination  of  45  sage  sparrow 
stomachs,  collected  in  rangeland  areas  of  Utah. — G.  F.  Knowlton, 
Logan,  Utah. 


April,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  61 


A NEW  SPECIES  OF  STENOSCELIS,  AND  NOTES  ON 
OTHER  CURCULIONIDAE  (COLEOPTERA). 

By  L.  L.  Buchanan,  Bureau  of  Entomology  and  Plant  Quarantine, 
Washington,  D.C. 

Only  one  species  of  Stenoscelis,  brevis  Boh.,  has  been  recorded 
from  the  United  States.  In  1943  W.  H.  Anderson  collected  a series 
of  larval  and  adult  Stenoscelis  at  College  Heights,  Md.,  and  later 
found  (Anderson,  unpublished  manuscript)  that  the  larvae  rep- 
resented two  closely  related  but  quite  distinct  species  ; and  a study  of 
the  adults  of  Anderson’s  series,  and  of  the  adults  standing  in  the 
National  Museum  collection  as  brevis,  has  shown  that  they  also 
are  of  two  species.  One  of  them  is  much  more  abundant  than  the 
other,  especially  in  the  general  region  of  the  type  locality  of  brevis 
(“Carolina”)  and,  in  the  absence  of  definite,  contrary  evidence, 
this  commoner  species  is  here  assumed  to  be  brevis  Boheman.  (The 
type  of  brevis  has  not  been  located,  though  it  may  be  in  the 
Zoological  Museum  at  Halle,  Germany,  in  the  Russian  zone. ) The 
other  species  is  here  described  as 

Stenoscelis  andersoni,  n.  sp.  (Cossoninae)  (figs.  2 and  4) 

Length  2.4-3. 1 mm.,  width  0.87-1.1  mm.  Subcylindrical, 
black  when  mature,  antennae  and  tarsi  red  or  yellow  brown, 
elytra  often  piceous  or  red  brown  and  often  paler  than  pro- 
thorax and  head.  Upper  surface  of  rostrum  minutely 
shagreened  and  contrastingly  duller  than  remainder  of  dorsum 
of  body.  Apical  declivity  of  elytra  with  the  hairs  longer  and 
the  murications  more  prominent  than  in  brevis. 

Head  finely,  rather  closely  punctate,  interocular  space  with 
short,  subappressed  golden  hairs ; eyes  very  feebly  convex, 
though  slightly  more  convex  than  in  brevis;  rostrum  very 
short,  widest  at  base  and  steadily  narrowed  anteriorly,  some- 
times continuous  with  front  but  more  often  vaguely  set  off  from 
it  by  a broad,  feeble  impression ; epistoma  usually  asymmetrical, 
its  fore  margin  being  oblique  and  having  the  right  end  slightly 
elevated  and  advanced ; basal  margin  of  epistoma  with  a trans- 
verse row  of  rather  long,  anteriorly  directed,  golden  setae, 
usually  6 in  number  and  usually  arranged  (from  right  to  left) 
1-2-2 (relatively  wide  space  without  any  of  the  long  setae )-l, 
the  single  seta  at  each  end  longer  than  the  others ; upper  surface 
of  rostrum  with  fine,  short,  subappressed,  golden  hairs,  these 
often  scarcely  perceptible  (?  through  abrasion),  in  a broad 


62  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^LIII 


median  area,  punctures  denser  than  on  head  but  not  forming 
rugae,  the  interspaces  with  a dull,  silky  sheen  produced  by  a 
microscopic  sculpture  which,  in  some  lights,  appears  as  a 
network  of  excessively  fine  lines,  and  in  others  as  minute, 
crowded  granules.  Prothorax  about  as  long  as  wide,  widest 
near  base  and  thence  either  , subparallel-sided  or  slightly  and 
gradually  narrowed  to  beyond  middle,  usually  more  abruptly 
narrowed  anteriorly  to  the  broad  but  shallow  constriction,  the 
latter  sometimes  obsolescent,  sides  broadly  emarginate  a little 
behind  middle,  upper  surface  convex  transversely  but  nearly 
flat  longitudinally,  punctures  larger  than  on  head,  rather  sparse 
to  moderately  dense  on  disk,  occasionally  absent  from  a small 
area  each  side  toward  base,  denser  and  usually  forming  a more 
or  less  evident  rugose  sculpture  at  side  margins.  Scutellum 
sunk  below  level  of  elytra,  surface  of  elytra  each  side  of  it 
transversely  rugose  and  usually  more  or  less  tumid,  the  tumid 
area  usually  smaller  than  in  brevis  and  extending  from  scu- 
tellum laterally  to  about  stria  4,  stria  2 not  reaching  base. 
Elytra  parallel-sided,  serial  punctures  large,  close-set,  and  in 
regular  rows,  striae  shallow  on  disk  but  deeper  on  declivity, 
intervals  convex  and  usually  without,  or  with  a few  feeble, 
transverse  rugosities,  each  with  a single  row  of  small,  fre- 
quently widely  spaced  punctures  and,  on  declivity,  with  a row 
of  fine,  stiff,  slanting,  golden  hairs  and  a row  of  small  but 
distinct  murications,  both  hairs  and  murications,  in  reduced 
form,  often  extending  a variable  but  usually  short  distance  to- 
ward base ; apical  half  of  interval  9 flattened  and  indexed,  and 
carinate  on  inner  edge  (next  to  stria  8)  ; basal  half  of  interval 
10  flattened  and  slightly  indexed,  and  carinate  on  inner  edge 
(next  to  stria  9) . Under  side  with  short,  sparse,  subappressed 
golden  hairs,  and  moderately  close-set  punctures  which  are 
usually  sparser  on  metasternum  than  elsewhere;  about  basal 
half  of  intercoxal  piece  of  abdominal  sternite  1 set  off  from  re- 
mainder by  a low,  transverse  ridge,  or  transverse  groove,  or 
by  a low  ridge  bordered  posteriorly  by  a groove.  Punctures  on 
anterior  face  of  femora  and  tibiae  sparse  (sparser  than  in 
brevis).  Abdominal  sternite  5 flat  to  slightly  convex  in  male, 
moderately  to  strongly  convex  in  female. 

Type  locality. — College  Heights  (near  Hayttsville) , Md.,  Feb- 
ruary 7,  1943,  W.  H.  Anderson ; in  rotting  birch  log  (19  specimens) . 

Other  localities  (paratypes). — Millburn,  N.  J.,  June  11,  1935, 
T.  H.  Jones;  in  dead  elm  pith  (4).  Falls  Church,  Va.,  March  9 
and  30,  1919,  E.  A.  Chapin  (7).  Rockhaven,  Ky.,  7-4-1893,  H. 


April,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  63 


Soltau  Collection  (1).  Louisville,  Ky.,  Soltau  Collection  (1). 
Selma,  Ala.,  Hubbard  and  Schwarz  Collection  (1)  Nicholson, 
Miss.,  January  29,  1945,  Rau;  in  wood,  Castanea  pumila  (1). 
Salina,  Kans.,  Popenoe  (2)  ; Knaus  (6)  ; Hubbard  and  Schwarz 
Collection,  December  31,  cottonwood  bark  (1).  Kansas,  Popenoe 
( 1 ) and  C.  V.  Riley  Collection  ( 1 ) . Iowa  City,  Iowa,  May  30, 
1900,  Wickham  (1).  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  June  25,  Soltau  Collection 

Type. — Female,  Catalogue  No.  58246,  United  States  National 
Museum. 

The  two  United  States  species  of  Stenoscelis  differ  as  follows: 
Larger  and  stouter  (2. 7-3.8  mm.  long  by  1. 1-1.4  mm.  wide),  up- 
per surface  of  rostrum  densely  and,  at  least  in  places,  rugosely 
punctate,  the  summits  of  the  wrinkles  and  the  interspaces 
shining ; sides  of  rostrum  usually  subparallel  in  basal  half ; 
prothorax  transverse  (about  8 to  7),  its  anterior  constriction 
deeper;  basal  tumidities  of  elytra  larger  and  more  prominent, 
and  usually  attaining  stria  5 ; punctures  on  discal  elytral  in- 
tervals more  closely  spaced,  not  in  regular,  single  rows,  but, 
in  places,  forming  a staggered  single  row  or  (especially  on 
intervals  2 and  3)  a confused  double  row  (figs.  1 and  3)  .... 
hrevis  Boh. 

Smaller  and  more  slender  (2.4-3. 1 mm.  long  by  0.87-1.1  wide), 
upper  surface  of  rostrum  with  smaller  punctures,  the  sculp- 
ture not  rugose,  the  interspaces  with  a dull,  silky  sheen ; sides 
of  rostrum  converging  from  base  forward ; prothorax  usually 
very  nearly  as  long  as  wide,  anterior  constriction  shallower, 
sometimes  obsolescent ; basal  tumidities  of  elytra  smaller, 
usually  not  extending  laterally  beyond  stria  4;  punctures  of 
discal  elytral  intervals  more  widely  spaced  and  forming  a 
regular  or  nearly  regular  single  row  on  each,  except  basally  on 
3 where  they  are  often  in  a confused  double  row  (figs.  2 and 
4)  andersoni,  n.  sp. 

When  the  two  species  are  compared  in  series,  the  more  slender 
form,  and  the  more  prominent  murications  and  longer  hairs  of  the 
elytral  declivity  of  andersoni  are  strikingly  evident.  S.  hrevis  and 
andersoni  have  been  taken  in  apparently  identical  conditions  at 
Millburn,  N.  J.,  in  dead  elm  pith,  and  at  Nicholson,  Miss.,  in  wood 
of  Castanea  pumila,  and  have  been  collected  the  same  day  at 
College  Heights,  Md.,  and  Falls  Church,  Va. 

The  numerous  specimens  of  brevis  at  hand  are  from  Ontario, 


64  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLlll 


New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  New 
York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  District  of  Columbia, 
Virginia,  West  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  Alabama,  Mississippi, 
Louisiana,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Michigan,  Minnesota,  and  Iowa.  One 
specimen  is  labeled  “Ventura  Co.,  Calif.,”  but  this  locality  is  doubt- 
ful. The  rather  long  list  of  trees  and  shrubs,  under  the  bark  or  in 
the  dead  wood  of  which  brevis  has  been  found,  includes  apple,  ash, 
bayberry,  chinquapin,  dogwood,  elderberry,  elm,  hawthorn,  hick- 
ory, holly,  hornbeam,  magnolia,  maple,  oak,  poplar,  red  bay,  snow- 
drop, sweetgum  and  tulip.  There  is  also  one  record,  based  on 
several  specimens,  of  brevis  boring  in  the  wood  of  a basement  door 
at  Sterling,  Ohio.  The  cossonine  most  frequently  reported  as 
doing  injury  indoors  is  Hexarthrum  ulkei  Horn;  and  Tomolips 
quercicola  (Boh.)  has  been  found  in  floors  and  studding  of  houses 
at  Athens  and  Savannah,  Ga. 

Rhamphocolus  tenuis  Casey,  1892,  p.  703  (Cossoninae) 

Type  locality  of  tenuis,  Columbus,  Tex.  (from  type  specimen), 
not  Austin,  Tex.,  as  stated  by  Casey. 

Phloeophagus  variolatus  Dury,  1916,  p.  14,  type  locality,  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio.  (New  synonymy.) 

Of  tenuis  I have  examined  the  type  and  5 specimens,  all  from 
Columbus,  Tex. ; of  variolatus,  2 specimens  from  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
one  of  them  labeled  “cotypes.”  The  two  type  localities  appear  to 
be  the  only  places  from  which  the  species  has  been  reported. 

Rhamphocolus  is  peculiar  in  its  conical  rostrum,  small,  flat  eyes 
which  scarcely  rise  above  the  outline  of  the  head  and  which  are 
placed  well  down  on  the  sides  of  the  head,  and  in  the  structure  of 
the  scrobe.  The  scrobe  itself — i.e.,  the  groove  in  which  the  scape 
lies  when  retracted — bends  sharply  downward  in  front  of  the  eye, 
but  its  upper  edge,  instead  of  following  the  curvature  of  the  groove, 
extends  posteriorly  toward  the  eye  at  about  its  middle  (fig.  5). 
In  Phloeophagus  the  eyes  are  convex  and  placed  higher  up  on 
the  sides  of  the  head,  and  the  upper  edge  of  the  scrobe  curves 
downward  toward  the  lower  margin  of  the  eye. 


Explanation  of  Plate  IV 

Fig.  1.  Stenoscelis  brevis,  5,  Nicholson,  Miss.;  fig.  2,  S.  ander- 
soni,  2,  College  Heights,  Md. ; fig.  3,  N.  brevis,  head  and  rostrum, 
2 ; fig.  4,  N.  andersoni,  head  and  rostrum,  2 5 fig-  5,  Rhamphocolus 
tenuis,  Columbus,  Tex.,  side  view  outline  of  head  and  rostrum. 


April,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  65 


Bull.  B.  E.  S.,  Vol.  XLIII 


Plate  IV 


3. 


5 


66  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^ol.  XLIII 


Honnops  Leconte,  1876,  p.  321  (Cylydrorhininae) 

Hormops  has  been  shifted  from  place  to  place  in  the  classi- 
fication, its  present  location  among  the  Cossoninae  reflecting  the 
latest  opinion,  that  of  Sharp,  which  was  based  chiefly  on  the  struc- 
ture of  the  male  genitalia.  Externally,  Hormops  lacks  all  the  more 
characteristic  features  of  the  Cossoninae.  The  tibiae  are  mucro- 
nate  and  not  unicinate,  the  under  side  of  the  body  is  not  plane, 
and  the  first  two  abdominal  sternites  are  only  moderately  long ; 
and  in  addition  the  structure  of  the  scrobe  and  of  the  framework 
of  the  mouth  cavity,  the  elongate-cylindrical  first  joint  of  the 
funicle,  and  the  shape  of  the  prothorax  are  not  suggestive  of  the 
Cossoninae.  In  these,  and  in  several  other  respects,  particularly 
in  the  large,  ventrally  subcontiguous  eyes,  Hormops  agrees  closely 
with  Ctenomyophila  of  the  Cylydrorhininae  (Cylindrorrhininae), 
a genus  consisting  of  9 species  from  Brazil,  Argentina,  and  Bolivia. 
Hormops  and  Ctenomyophila,  though  clearly  related,  are  readily 
separated  by  differences  in  the  structure  of  the  tarsal  claws,  these 
being  free  and  divergent  in  Ctenomyophila,  but  approximate  and 
basally  connate  in  Hormops.  In  North  American  lists  Hormops 
should  be  placed  next  to  Listroderes.  I have  examined  8 specimens 
of  Hormops  abducens  Lee.  and  5 specimens,  probably  representing 
4 species,  of  Ctenomyophila. 

Hormops  abducens  Lee.,  1876,  p.  321.  Type  locality,  Capron,  Fla. 
Hormops  latipennis  Csy.,  1924,  p.  336.  Type  locality,  Texas. 

(New  synonymy.) 

The  distinguishing  characters  of  latipennis  as  given  by  Casey 
are  largely,  if  not  entirely,  sexual  in  nature,  his  single  specimen 
being  a large  female  which  agrees  in  essentials  with  a Florida  fe- 
male of  abducens. 

Metopotoma  Casey,  1892,  p.  689  (Hylobiinae) 

Anculopus  Van  Dyke,  1927,  p.  12.  (New  synonymy.) 

Dr.  Van  Dyke  has  kindly  compared  a specimen  of  Metopotoma 
with  the  type  of  Anculopus  foveatus  V.  D.,  and  has  confirmed  the 
above  synonymy.  Only  the  two  type  species  are  known,  repens 
Csy.  from  Humboldt  County,  Calif.,  and  foveatus  Van  Dyke  from 
Humptulips,  Wash. 


April,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  67 


AN  ALL-PURPOSE  INSECT  NET  MADE  OF  NYLON. 

By  Robert  L.  Usinger,  University  of  California, 
Berkeley,  Calif. 

The  general  collector,  like  the  general  medical  practitioner,  en- 
counters many  difficulties  in  this  day  of  extreme  specialization.  So 
much  specialized  equipment  is  now  available  for  collecting  insects 
that  no  one  person  could  carry  it,  much  less  acquit  himself  well  in 
the  chase.  The  inevitable  result  of  this  dilemma  has  been  to  enforce 
specialization. 

Perhaps  the  most  important  piece  of  equipment  for  general  col- 
lecting is  the  insect  net,  yet  this  standard  piece  of  equipment  has 
always  limited  the  field  of  activity  of  collectors.  Thus  a large  net 
bag  of  light,  open  bobinet  is  fine  for  butterflies,  but  useless  for  heavy 
sweeping  of  underbrush  or  for  aquatic  collecting.  Most  collectors 
attempt  to  solve  this  problem  by  carrying  two  or  three  nets  or  by 
carrying  extra  net  bags  which  may  be  slipped  off  and  on  or  snapped 
off  and  on  according  to  the  needs  of  the  moment.  But  extra  nets 
are  inconvenient  to  carry,  and  changing  net  bags  is  time-consuming. 
In  effect,  then,  a robber  fly  or  bee  must  be  ignored  by  a collector 
when  he  is  “sweeping.” 

During  the  1947  season  an  attempt  was  made  to  solve  this  prob- 
lem by  using  a net  bag  made  of  light,  white,  relatively  open  mesh 
nylon  marquisette  or  netting.  This  material  was  purchased  in  a 
dry-goods  store  for  $1.75  a yard.  One  yard  was  sufficient.  Plain 
nylon  cloth  was  used  for  the  strengthening  band  around  the  net 
hoop.  Incidentally,  the  complicated  pattern  of  four  tapering  pieces 
recommended  in  recent  pamphlets  on  collecting  methods  is  un- 
necessary. The  bag  can  be  made  out  of  two  tapering  pieces, 
rounded  at  the  end,  if  the  pieces  are  sewed  together  using  a flat-fell 
seam.  The  flat-fell  seam  gives  added  strength  and  makes  the  net 
reversible. 

The  nylon  netting  is  as  open  and  light  as  the  usual  butterfly  net, 
it  is  perfectly  satisfactory  for  collecting  bees  and  flies,  and  yet  it 
is  strong  enough  to  be  used  as  a sweeping  net.  It  has  the  further 
advantage  over  the  usual  unbleached  muslin  sweeping  bag  that  the 
contents  of  the  bag  are  visible.  Furthermore,  the  nylon  material 
is  less  likely  to  pick  up  burrs  and  stickers  in  general  sweeping. 
Still  another  feature  of  the  nylon  bag  is  its  resistance  to  wetting. 
The  material  does  become  wet  when  used  in  the  water,  but  it  dries 
within  a very  few  minutes  and  then  is  ready  for  general  collecting 
again. 


68  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLlll 


At  the  end  of  five  weeks  of  constant  daily  use  in  general  col- 
lecting, the  net  was  intact  and  practically  as  good  as  new.  One 
small  tear  appeared  after  about  three  weeks  of  hard  use.  The  hole 
was  small  and  was  near  the  handle  of  the  net  so  it  was  left  unre- 
paired. During  the  remaining  weeks  the  tear  did  not  increase  in 
size  and  a “run”  did  not  occur. 


BOOK  NOTE. 

Edwin  Way  Teale,  our  distinguished  fellow-member,  has  a 
most  fascinating  article  on  “Audubon’s  Insects”  in  Audubon 
Magazine  for  November-December  1947.  Audubon  painted  birds, 
as  everyone  knows,  which  is  his  fame.  But  he  also  painted  them  in 
their  natural  surroundings  and  in  their  natural  activities,  showing 
plants  and  insects  associated  with  them.  Teale  examined  the 
original  paintings  for  the  435  pictures.  More  than  half  a hundred 
of  these  contain  insects  with  the  birds — moths,  butterflies,  bees, 
wasps,  beetles,  flies,  larvae.  Some  of  these  are  stylized,  but  most 
are  drawn  and  colored  with  such  care  and  accuracy  that  most 
often  they  can  be  recognized  not  only  as  to  family  but  even  to 
species. 

Twelve  of  these  Audubon  plates,  reduced  or  in  part  in  full  size, 
illustrate  this  valuable  entomological  contribution. 

J.  R.  T.-B. 


A Suggestion  to  Authors. — For  the  purposes  of  editorial  con- 
sistency in  our  publications,  we  once  more  remind  authors  that  we 
use  the  forms  of  words,  both  singular  and  plural,  to  agree  with 
“A  Glossary  of  Entomology,”  which  contains  a distillation  of 
correct  usage.  Our  end  is  to  try  to  secure  uniformity  in  usage,  at 
least  as  far  as  we  are  able  to  control  it,  emphatically  not  in  order  to 
make  this  work  a terminological  straight- jacket.  We  reserve  the 
editorial  privilege,  except  in  those  cases  in  which  an  author  in- 
dicates a preference  for  some  specific  term  or  usage. 

J.  R.  DE  LA  Torre-Bueno,  Editor 
Brooklyn  Entomological  Society, 
Tucson,  Arizona. 


April,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  69 


NOTES  ON  UHLERIOLA  FLORALIS  (UHL.)  IN 
ILLINOIS  (HETEROPTERA,  LYGAEIDAE).^ 

By  James  A.  Slater,  Urbana,  111. 

This  paper  reports  Uhleriola  floralis  from  Illinois  for  the  first 
time,  together  with  remarks  on  its  habits  and  descriptions  of  the 
fourth  and  fifth  instar  nymphs. 

On  April  12,  1947,  a hibernating  colony  of  this  species  was  dis- 
covered at  Bondville,  Illinois.  The  hibernation  site  was  under  a 
board  and  about  the  roots  of  burned  over  grass  clumps  along  a rail- 
road right  of  way.  The  insects  were  active  when  discovered  but 
still  confined  to  a small  area  of  a yard  or  two  in  extent.  Several 
hundred  individuals  were  present  at  the  site.  This  gregarious  type 
of  hibernation  was  previously  reported  by  Daniels  (1929)  who 
discovered  a similar  hibernating  cluster  beneath  a large  rock  in 
Colorado.  Gillette  and  Baker  (1895)  report  U.  floralis  from 
beneath  stones  in  company  with  the  ant  Formica  neoclara  Emery. 

Specimens  taken  from  the  hibernating  site  were  placed  in  rearing 
cages  where  they  fed  readily  upon  lettuce  and  both  fruits  and  foliage 
of  strawberries.  The  insects  copulated  but  failed  to  oviposit,  the 
last  female  dying  on  June  14.  Copulation  takes  place  in  the  “re- 
versed” or  end-to-end  position,  which  is  apparently  the  normal 
position  for  the  majority  of  Lygaeidae. 

The  general  distribution  of  U . floralis  is  western  in  the  United 
States.  Torre-Bueno  (1946)  reports  it  from  Colorado,  Montana, 
and  California;  also  from  Arizona.  That  the  range  extends  con- 
siderably eastward  is  now  established.  The  H.  M.  Harris  collection 
has  several  specimens  from  Iowa.  In  addition  to  the  locality 
discussed  above  two  other  Illinois  records  are  at  hand.  The  Illinois 
Natural  History  Survey  has  a specimen  from  Summit,  Illinois,  and 
there  is  a specimen  in  the  author’s  collection  from  Park  Ridge, 
Illinois.  Both  of  these  locations  are  in  the  northeast  portion  of 
Illinois. 

^ Contribution  No.  278  from  the  Entomological  Laboratories  of 
the  University  of  Illinois,  Urbana. 

My  appreciation  is  extended  to  the  following  persons  for  assist- 
ance in  the  formulation  of  this  paper : Mr.  Sol  Kramer  for  discovery 
of  the  central  Illinois  hibernation  site,  Mr.  C.  E.  W.  Muesebeck  and 
Dr.  Reece  Sailer  for  the  loan  of  immature  stages  from  the  collec- 
tions of  the  U.  S.  national  Museum,  Dr.  H.  H.  Ross  and  Dr.  H.  M. 
Harris  for  allowing  me  to  examine  material  in  the  Illinois  Natural 
History  Survey  and  H.  M.  Harris  Collections  respectively,  and 
Mr.  Erank  F.  Hasbrouck  for  reading  and  criticizing  the  manuscript. 


70  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^ol.  XLlIl 


Immature  Stages. 

Fourth  instar  (pinned)  : 

Similar  to  fifth  instar  in  form  and  color,  but  darker,  partic- 
ularly on  the  pronotum  which  is  ferrugineous-brown ; antennae 
bright  ferrugineous  and  concolorous ; second  abdominal  tergite 
and  basal  two-thirds  of  third  reddish-tan ; a dark  median  spot 
on  the  fifth  abdominal  tergite  connects  spots  of  second  and 
third  abdominal  scent  gland  openings. 

Mesothoracic  wing  pads  barely  attaining  the  first  abdominal 
tergite  caudad ; fore  femora  only  slightly  swollen ; fourth 
antennal  segment  fusiform.  Length  of  antennal  segments 
I:  II:  III:  IV.  0.31  mm.,  0.57  mm.,  0.52  mm.,  0.75  mm. 
Length  of  body  3.63  mm.  Width  between  eyes  0.55  mm. 

Fijth  instar  (pinned)  : 

Elongate,  very  robust ; general  color  bright  ochraceous, 
brownish  at  base  of  pronotum ; mesal  and  basal  portions  of  the 
mesothoracic  wing  pads,  exposed  mesal  portion  of  metathoracic 
wing  pads,  margins  of  conjunctiva  between  third  and  fourth 
abdominal  tergites,  a median  apical  spot  on  eighth  tergite,  all 
of  ninth  tergite,  large  spots  on  meson  of  sixth,  seventh,  and 
eighth  abdominal  sternites,  and  apical  segment  of  rostrum 
varying  shades  of  dark  brown ; conjunctiva  between  tergites 
three  and  four  broadly  margined  with  white ; abdominal  seg- 
ments from  five  to  apex  dull  reddish ; legs  ferrugineous ; small 
black  area  about  each  abdominal  scent  gland  opening. 

Head  small ; pronotum  subquadrate,  slightly  less  than  twice 
as  wide  as  long,  anterior  margin  deeply  concave,  posterior  feebly 
sinuate,  lateral  margins  broadly  explanate,  not  divided  into  two 
lobes  by  a transverse  constriction,  but  with  two  shallow  trans- 
verse depressions  near  the  posterior  margins ; mesothoracic 
wing  pads  reaching  caudad  to  the  third  abdominal  tergite, 
lateral  margins  broadly  explanate  ; abdominal  scent  gland  open- 
ings three,  on  conjunctiva  between  tergites  three  and  four,  four 
and  five,  and  five  and  six,  equal  in  size;  conjunctiva  between 
tergites  three  and  four  appearing  bifurcate  near  the  lateral 
margins,  the  above  three  conjunctiva  curving  cephalad  from 
meson  to  margin ; tarsal  segments  two,  basal  segment  of  meta- 
tarsus considerably  longer  than  apical  segment ; rostrum 
reaching  metacoxae ; body  sparsely  clothed  with  short  hairs. 
Length  of  antennal  segments  I : II : III : IV.  0.43  mm.,  0.85 
mm.,  0.75  mm.,  fourth  missing.  Length  of  body  5.45^  mm. 
Width  between  eyes  0.69  mm. 


April,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  71 


Bibliography. 

Daniels,  L.  B. — 1929.  The  Hibernation  of  Uhleriola  floralis 
(Uhl.)  (Heteroptera : Lygaeidae).  Ent.  News  40:  179. 
Gillette,  S.  P.  and  Baker,  C.  F. — 1895.  A Preliminary  List  of 
the  Hemiptera  of  Colorado.  Bull.  Colo.  Agr.  Expt.  Sta. 
31,  Tech.  Ser.  No.  1,  137  pp. 

Torre-Bueno,  J.  R.  de  la — 1946.  A Synopsis  of  the  Hemiptera- 
Heteroptera  of  America  North  of  Mexico,  Pt.  III.  Lygaeidae. 
Ent.  Amer.  22(3)  : 88-141. 


Gregarious  Treehopper. — It  is  not  uncommon  in  Utah  to  find 
nymphal  and  adult  treehoppers  of  certain  species,  congregating 
on  limited  areas  of  infested  ragweed,  sweet  clover  and  certain 
other  plants,  particularly  during  their  breeding  season.  This 
gregarious  condition  was  quite  evident  on  a number  of  blossoming 
heads  of  goldenrod  (Solidago)  along  the  roadside  three  miles  east 
of  Murray,  Utah  on  the  cold  fall  day  of  October  7,  1946.  34,  27,  14, 
9,  as  well  as  smaller  numbers  of  Pubilia  mode  sta  Uhler  were  counted 
from  among  the  phyllaries  and  along  the  main  stem,  within  the  in- 
dividual heads.  In  the  above  small  goldenrod  patch,  9 of  the  27 
stems  still  contained  heads  in  full  anthesis,  which  housed  one  or  more 
treehoppers.  In  addition,  eight  of  1 1 dry  heads  examined  sheltered 
one  or  more  of  the  treehoppers  with  26  and  17  adult  modesta 
occurring  in  the  two  most  populated  flower  heads  ; 1 to  5 occurred  in 
the  other  six  heads.  A few  treehoppers  also  were  found  to  be  pres- 
ent near  the  apex  of  still  green  goldenrod  plants,  the  tops  and 
blossoms  of  which  were  lacking,  4 to  7 being  maximum  numbers 
encountered  where  no  blossoms  were  present.  No  treehopper 
nymphs,  but  a few  sluggish  ants,  Formica  sp.,  also  were  present  on 
plants  where  treehoppers  were  most  numerous.  G.  F.  Knowlton, 
Logan,  Utah. 


72  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


Spider  Kills  Honeybee. — On  a number  of  occasions,  the  writer 
has  observed  a spider  to  be  feeding  on  a honey  bee  in  a Utah  bee 
yard.  On  July  9,  1947,  at  Holladay,  Utah,  a whitish  spider,  identi- 
fied by  Dr.  W.  J.  Gertsch  as  Misumeua  calycina  L.  (=  vatia  of  most 
authors),  was  observed  to  be  feeding  on  a worker  honey  bee  which 
was  larger  than  itself.  This  flower  spider  was  resting  on  a dande- 
lion leaf  immediately  in  front  of  a beehive  in  a commercial  bee  yard. 
When  first  observed,  the  bee  victim  was  kicking  weakly,  but  it  soon 
ceased  all  movement.  Large  number  of  bees  were  coming  to  and 
going  from  this  well  populated  hive,  but  all  appeared  to  completely 
disregard  this  spider  and  its  prey. 

A daddy-longlegs  was  observed  to  be  feeding  on  a worker  honey- 
bee ; both  were  resting  on  the  alighting  board  entrance  at  the  front 
of  a pollen  trap  which  was  being  operated  in  an  orchard  at  Farming- 
ton,  Utah,  on  October  11,  1947.  This  bee  was  recently  dead  and 
still  soft-bodied  when  observed.  Dr.  C.  J.  Goodnight  identified  this 
phalangid  as  a female  Phalanginm  opilio  L.  He  suggested  that, 
“It  is  extremely  unlikely  that  the  phalangid  killed  the  bee.  The 
phalangids  do  not  possess  chelicerae  or  palpi  of  sufficient  strength  for 
that  sort  of  feat.  However,  they  are  quite  willing  to  eat  nearly  any 
kind  of  food  when  it  is  available.  They  particularly  like  meat,  so  I 
think  this  accounts  for  your  finding  it  feeding  on  the  bee.”  G.  F. 
Knowlton,  Logan,  Utah. 


NOTICE 

Mr.  J.  R.  de  la  Torre-Bueno,  editor  of  this  bulletin  for 
more  than  thirty  years,  died  on  May  3,  1948.  Until  a 
new  editor  is  appointed  all  communications  should  be  ad- 
dressed to  George  S.  Tulloch,  22  East  Garfield  Street, 
Merrick,  New  York. 


JUNE,  1948 

BULLETIN 


No.  3 


Vol.  XLIII 


OF  THE 

Brooklyn  Entomological 
Society 


NEW  SERIES 


J.  R.  de  la  TORRE-BUENO,  Editor 

GEORGE  S.  TULLOCH  EDWIN  W.  TEALE 

Published  for  the  Society  by 

Business  Press,  Inc. 

N,  Queen  St.  and  McGovern  Ave.,  Lancaster,  Pa., 

Price,  75  cents  Subscription,  $3.50  per  year 

Mailed  July  1,  1948 


Entered  as  second-class  matter  January  21,  1919,  at  the  post  office  at  Lancaster,  Pa., 
under  the  Act  ol  March  3,  1879 


The  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 

Meetings  are  held  on  the  second  Thursday  after  the  first  Tuesday  of  each 
month  from  October  to  May,  inclusive,  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum,  Eastern 
Parkway  and  Washington  Ave.,  Brooklyn.  The  annual  dues  are  $2.00. 


OFFICERS,  1948 
honorary  President 
J.  R.  DE  LA  TORRE-BUENO 
President 

GEORGE  S.  TULLOCH 

Vice  President  Treasurer 

# Secretary  ^ McELVARE 

ALLAN  S.  NICOLAY  76  Ivy  Way, 

Port  Washington,  L.  I.,  N.  Y. 

Editor 

J.  R.  DE  LA  TORRE-BUENO 

Delegate  to  Council  of  New  York 
Academy  of  Sciences 
EDWIN  WAY  TEALE 


CONTENTS 


ADDITIONS  TO  VESPINE  BIOLOGY,  Gaul  ‘ 73 

GYROHYPNUS,  Frost  79 

NORTH  AMERICAN  RYGCHIUM,  Bohart  80 

BOOK  NOTES,  J.  R.  T.-B 87 

SOUTHWESTERN  GEOMETRIDS  II,  Sperry  88 

NEW  FUNGUS-GNATS,  Shaw  94 

APHIDS  ON  PINE,  Knowlton  97 

DOLICHOPODIDAE  NOTES,  Knowlton  98 

EDITORIAL,  J.  R.  T.-B 99 

BOOK  NOTES,  J.  R.  T.-B 100 

NOTICE  100 


Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 


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BULLETIN 

OF  THE 

BROOKLYN  ENTOMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY 


VoL.  XLIII  June,  1948  No.  3 


ADDITIONS  TO  VESPINE  BIOLOGY— V : THE  DISTRI- 
BUTION OF  LABOR  IN  THE  COLONIES  OF  HORNETS 
AND  YELLOWJACKETS.* 

By  Albro  T.  Gaul,  Brooklyn,  New  York. 

The  proper  distribution  of  labor  in  a society  is  essential  to  the 
continued  success  of  that  society.  In  this  paper  I shall  attempt  to 
discuss  the  distribution  and  plasticity  of  labor  in  the  Vespine  society. 
The  observations  recorded  here  were  made  during  the  summer  of 
1947  among  colonies  of  Vespula  maculifrons  Buy.,  V.  rufa  var. 
consobrina  Sauss.,  and  Dolichovespula  arenaria  F.  at  Alpine,  N.  J., 
and  West  Cummington,  Mass. 

Adult  members  of  the  normal  Vespine  colony  engage  in  a number 
of  occupations.  There  are  eight  categories  into  which  their  work 
many  be  divided,  all  of  which  are  essential  to  the  welfare  of  the 
society.  Roughly,  these  may  be  listed  as : Egg  production,  Forag- 
ing for  food.  Brood  nursing.  Nest  construction.  Adult  nursing. 
General  sanitation.  Colonial  defense,  and  Water  collection. 

The  distribution  of  labor  among  the  individuals  for  the  fulfillment 
of  the  labor  demands  of  the  society  may  vary  somewhat  from  day  to 
day.  During  the  course  of  a full  season  a constant  and  consistent 
quantitative  change  in  the  distribution  of  labor  may  be  noted. 

Eggs  are  produced  by  queens  and  gynaecoids.  Once  the  colony 
has  been  established,  and  under  normal  conditions,  the  queen  does 
little  except  deposit  eggs  in  the  brood  cells.  During  the  time 
when  the  incipent  colony  is  being  built,  the  mother  queen  engages  in 
all  phases  of  nest  labor;  but  she  relinquishes  almost  all  activities 
except  egg  production  concurrently  with  the  flight  of  her  first 
brood  of  ergates.  In  times  of  duress  the  queen  may  again  work 
at  a function  other  than  egg  production  (3  ).  The  gynaecoids  ap- 


* Numbers  in  parentheses  refer  to  Bibliography  at  end. 

73  .HIL  2 ” 1948 


74  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


pear  to  be  facultative  egg  producers.  Their  eggs  develop  into 
males.  The  production  of  gynaecoid  eggs  depends  upon  a com- 
plex of  social  and  biological  factors.  Upon  the  death,  or  loss  of 
egg-producing  function  of  the  mother  queen,  the  gynaecoids  will 
begin  the  production  of  their  own  eggs.  During  this  period  the 
gynaecoids  may  carry  on  other  normal  labor  functions  in  the 
nest.  Egg  production  is  the  only  colonial  function  which  requires 
physiological  specialization. 

Foraging  for  food  occupies  more  hornet  hours  of  work  than 
any  other  occupation.  It  involves  the  time  and  energy  of  the  in- 
dividual in  seeking  out  and  killing  suitable  prey  or  finding  carrion 
The  meat  is  then  chewed  into  a size  suitable  for  transit  and  is 
taken  to  the  nest  where  it  may  be  turned  over  to  a brood  nurse,  or 
distributed  to  the  larvae  by  the  forager  herself.  This  food  is 
frequently  malaxated  during  the  flight  to  the  nest,  thus  the  huntress 
obtains  some  of  the  nourishment  she  has  provided  for  the  young. 
As  soon  as  the  forager  has  yielded  the  provender,  she  returns  to  the 
field.  If  the  prey  were  not  completely  carried  to  the  nest,  the 
forager  will  return  to  it  for  another  piece.  Otherwise  she  will 
engage  in  a search  for  a new  supply  of  meats  for  the  young. 

The  brood  nurses  become  specialized  in  community  life  later 
than  the  foragers.  The  nature  of  this  work  indicates  that  it  may 
be  a subdivision  of  foraging.  This  division  of  labor  comprises  the 
acceptance  of  some  or  all  of  the  food  brought  in  by  the  foragers  and 
the  redistribution  of  this  food  to  the  larvae.  These  workers  are 
not  as  sedentary  as  one  might  suppose,  since  there  are  many  small 
larvae  in  a healthy  nest,  and  the  distribution  of  food  to  them  re- 
quires that  the  workers  crawl  into  the  brood  cells  several  hundred 
times  a day.  Brood  nursing,  while  a function  which  might  very 
well  be  left  to  the  foragers,  is  very  efficient  from  a time  study 
point  of  view.  Its  primary  purpose  is  the  proper  distribution  of 
food.  Foraging  workers  arriving  with  food  might  deliver  the 
food  to  those  larvae  nearest  at  hand,  to  the  detriment  of  the  larvae 
less  advantageously  placed  in  the  nest.  Brood  nurses  insure  that 
all  larvae  receive  their  proper  share  of  the  food,  and  the  forager 
is  relieved  of  the  necessity  of  wasting  valuable  time  in  the  nest 
when  she  could  be  collecting  perishable  food. 

Since  queen  larvae  and  worker  larvae  are  believed  to  be  dif- 
ferentiated only  by  trophogeny  (7),  and  since  the  brood  nurses 
appear  prior  to  the  development  of  queen  larvae,  and  since  the 
foragers  bring  non-specialized  meat  products  to  the  brood  nurses, 
it  is  apparent  that  the  brood  nurses  may  be  responsible  for  the 


June,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  75 


differentiation  between  these  two  castes.  It  is  further  apparent 
that  the  trophogenic  differentiation  may  be  quantitative  rather  than 
qualitative.  This  would  be  in  accordance  with  Marchal’s  theory 
of  nutricial  castration  in  accounting  for  the  caste  differences  among 
Vespidae(4) . 

Nest  repair,  expansion  and  construction  varies  in  complexity  de- 
pending upon  the  nesting  habits  of  the  species  and  the  nature  of  the 
particular  nest  site  chosen  by  the  mother  queen.  The  founding 
of  the  nest  is  done  by  the  mother  queen  as  the  first  step  in  the 
inception  of  a colony.  She  chooses  the  nest  site  and  builds  the 
first  comb  and  nest  envelope.  Upon  the  appearance  of  the  first 
brood  of  workers,  the  queen  relegates  this  activity  to  them. 

In  its  simplest  aspect,  among  colonies  of  the  genus  Dolichoves- 
pula,  nest  construction  and  expansion  involves  the  gathering  of 
wood  pulp  for  paper,  and  carrying  the  pulp  to  the  nest  and  affixing 
it  in  the  desired  place.  It  may  be  used  either  for  the  strengthening 
of  the  comb  suspensors,  for  the  enlargement  of  the  comb,  or  for 
the  enlargement  of  the  nest  envelope.  As  the  comb  reaches  a cer- 
tain size  the  inner  layers  of  the  envelope  must  be  removed  to  allow 
expansion  of  the  periphery  of  the  comb.  The  paper  removed  from 
the  inner  envelope  is  salvaged  for  further  use  elsewhere,  while 
another  layer  of  envelope  paper  is  usually  built  on  the  exterior  sur- 
face of  the  nest.  The  strengthening  of  the  nest  and  comb  sus- 
pensors is  an  important  task.  As  more  and  more  comb  is  added, 
the  nest  becomes  proportionately  heavier  and  its  supports  must 
be  strengthened  or  increased  in  number  to  maintain  an  ample  safety 
factor  against  the  weather. 

Among  species  of  the  genus  Vespula  whose  nesting  habits  are 
almost  exclusively  subterranean,  the  strengthening  of  the  nest  sus- 
pensors is  not  too  important.  The  underground  nests  are  not 
required  to  withstand  the  shocks  of  the  weather  as  in  the  arboreal 
or  surface  nests  of  Dolichovespula.  In  consequence,  the  safety 
factor  against  breaking  comb  is  much  lower  and  the  paper  is  of 
lower  quality  (2). 

The  Vespula  colonies  have  an  additional  problem  in  nest  ex- 
pansion. Being  subterranean,  the  construction  workers  must  ex- 
cavate the  earth  around  the  nest  in  order  to  allow  for  expansion. 
Excavating  activities  may  be  considered  a distinct  subdivision  of 
construction  labor.  Ergates  who  undertake  excavation  never  seem 
to  participate  in  other  nest  building  functions  while  thus  engaged. 
A fairly  small  but  consistent  percentage  of  workers  is  employed  in 
nest  expansion  and  construction.  Upon  the  occurrence  of  damage 
to  nest  structure,  the  safety  of  the  colony  demands  quick  repairs  and 


76  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


a large  number  of  workers  will  shift  their  attentions  to  the  repair 
of  the  damage  on  a temporary  emergency  basis. 

Whenever  death  comes  to  a member  of  a closely  knit,  per- 
manently located  society,  the  surviving  members  always  make  some 
provision  for  the  disposal  of  the  remains.  There  exists,  therefore, 
a group  of  Vespine  workers  who  may  be  classed  as  sanitation 
workers.  Dead  larvae  are  removed  from  their  brood  cells,  grasped 
firmly  in  the  mandibles  and  flown  away  from  the  nest.  Ergates  in 
the  “sanitation  squad”  usually  fly,  with  their  dead,  in  a large 
circle,  often  fifty  feet  in  diameter.  As  the  worker  reaches  a point 
on  the  circumference  of  this  circle  about  120°  from  the  nest,  she 
drops  the  dead  larva  and  continues  back  to  the  nest.  This  type 
of  disposal  is  common  among  V.  maculifrons,  V.  rufa  consobrina 
and  D.  arenaria.  V.  squamosa  and  D.  maculata  L.  usually  fly 
straight  from  the  nest,  dropping  their  dead  before  turning  back  to 
the  nest  (5).  Dead  larvae  are  accorded  prompt  disposal,  perhaps 
as  a result  of  the  good  culture  medium  for  pathogens  which  they 
provide.  It  is  not  impossible  that  the  colonies  who  properly  dis- 
posed of  their  dead  had  a greater  survival  rate  than  those  which 
left  the  juicy  larvae  in  the  nest. 

Frequently,  larvae  which  appear  healthy  are  removed  from  the 
nest  for  disposal.  I have  rescued  some  of  these  larvae  from  their 
would  be  morticians,  and  in  a few  cases  have  been  able  to  rear  them 
to  an  apparently  normal  maturity.  It  seems,  therefore,  that  the 
sanitation  workers  are  not  always  discriminating  in  their  selection 
of  larvae. 

Dead  adults  in  the  nest  are  seldom  accorded  such  treatment. 
They  are  permitted  to  remain  about  the  nest  for  hours  or  days 
without  being  removed.  When  they  are  removed,  they  are  simply 
dropped  from  the  nest  entrance  (in  arboreal  colonies)  or  are  pulled 
away  from  the  entrance  a short  distance  (in  surface  and  subter- 
ranean colonies).  Since  the  adults  are  relatively  dry  they  afford 
less  risk  of  starting  a colonial  contagion. 

When  adults  emerge  from  pupation,  there  is  a period  of  five  to 
seven  days  during  which  the  teneral  individuals  become  strength- 
ened and  agile.  The  exact  time  spent  in  strengthening  depends  to 
some  extent  upon  the  relative  abundance  or  scarcity  of  labor  in 
the  colony.  During  this  period  the  young  adult  must  be  fed.  A 
large  percentage  of  the  needs  may  be  accounted  for  by  trophallaxis. 
There  is  a special  group  of  ergates,  however,  whose  duties  consist 
of  foraging  for  food  for  these  new  adults.  This  phase  of  activity  is 
particularly  evident  during  the  period  when  the  brood  of  young 
queens  awaits  embarkation  on  their  nuptial  flight. 


June,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  77 


In  an  experiment,  I removed  a comb  containing  queen  pupae 
from  the  nest  (D.  arenaiHa)  and  removed  all  eggs  and  larvae.  The 
comb  was  placed  beside  the  nest  entrance.  A number  of  ergates 
immediately  attached  the  comb  to  the  nest.  Others  foraged  for 
food  and  fed  the  hatching  queens  (the  queens  did  not  enter  the 
nest,  and  thus  had  no  trophallactic  experience). 

Colonial  defense  is  an  emergency  category  in  which  many 
workers  may  take  part.  Foraging  workers,  or  workers  afield  for 
other  purposes  will  not  engage  in  defense  activities  unless  they 
happen  to  be  within  the  nest  at  the  time  it  is  disturbed.  The  num- 
ber of  workers  who  emerge  from  the  nest  with  hostile  intent  seems 
roughly  proportional  to  the  intensity  of  the  disturbing  stimulus. 
A gentle  shaking  of  the  nest  arouses  but  few  defenders,  while  a 
sharp  blow  on  the  nest  will  excite  the  entire  colonial  population. 
There  is  some  evidence  that  workers  will  become  conditioned  to 
disturbing  influences ; after  some  days  in  the  laboratory  even  a 
sharp  blow  on  the  nest  may  only  arouse  six  or  eight  individuals 
whose  typical  reaction  is  to  walk  nervously  about  on  the  nest  without 
taking  flight.  Colonial  defense  is  a very  necessary  function  in 
protecting  the  nest  from  its  natural  enemies,  the  skunk,  the  mole, 
the  fox  and  the  entomologists  (1  & 6). 

Another  emergency  labor  category  is  water  collecting.  During 
rainless  seasons,  particularly  when  accompanied  by  periods  of  low 
relative  humidity,  a number  of  ergates  will  become  emergency  water 
collectors.  They  forage  afield  for  sources  of  fresh  water.  These 
workers  use  water  taps,  rain  barrels,  mud,  ponds,  streams,  etc. 
I have  never  seen  any  Vespine  accept  salt  water.  Water  is  neces- 
sary, not  only  for  the  sustenance  of  life  among  the  larvae  and  adults  ; 
but  it  is  used  in  fairly  large  quantities  in  the  paper  making  industry. 

During  any  given  day,  the  labor  distribution  in  the  average  nest 
remains  fairly  constant.  The  same  individuals  seem  to  remain  at 
the  same  tasks  all  day,  and  in  many  instances  for  a number  of  days 
at  a time.  There  is  no  apparent  age  distinction  which  dictates  the 
type  of  work  the  ergate  should  perform.  One  frequently  finds 
young  adults  working  side  by  side  with  battered  and  frayed  in- 
dividuals among  all  the  labor  categories. 

The  distribution  of  labor,  rather,  depends  upon  the  labor  de- 
mands of  the  colony  as  a whole.  Any  emergency  within  the  nest 
brings  a quick  response  from  as  many  workers  as  are  needed  to  cope 
with  the  trouble. 

Although  the  labor  distribution  requires  certain  definite  jobs 
to  be  done,  the  behavior  of  the  individual  is  sufficiently  plastic  to 


78  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLlIl 


enable  her  to  interchange  any  activity,  except  the  physiological 
activity  of  egg  production. 

The  quantitative  distribution  of  labor  during  the  colony  history 
shows  the  development  of  labor  specialization  as  the  need  arises. 
All  quantitative  studies  were  made  with  D.  arenaria.  A large 
colony  was  taken  at  Alpine,  N.  J.,  and  brought  to  the  laboratory  in 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  where  constant  notes  and  observations  could  be 
made.  This  colony  was  maintained  under  fairly  normal  conditions  ; 
the  adults  had  free  access  to  the  outside  through  an  open  window. 

During  the  fifth  colony  week  (the  fifth  week  after  the  founding  of 
the  colony  by  the  queen  mother)  the  first  ergates  appeared.  These 
ergates  engaged  almost  exclusively  in  nest  construction  and  in 
foraging-brood  nursing  combined.  About  equal  numbers  of 
workers  were  occupied  in  these  two  tasks.  About  the  seventh 
colony  week,  the  first  distinct  brood  nurses  appeared.  Their  num- 
bers increased  disproportionately  to  the  general  population  increase. 
Until  about  the  end  of  the  eighth  week,  the  brood  nurses  took  over 
the  activities  of  the  adult  nurses.  At  this  point  the  adult  nurses 
became  differentiated. 

By  the  tenth  week  the  sanitation  workers  appeared  in  small 
numbers.  This  group  remains  small  throughout  the  life  of  the 
colony.  It  is  probable  that  this  group  expands  at  the  decline  of  the 
colony,  thereby  accounting  for  the  prevalent  cannibalism  commonly 
encountered  at  that  time. 

About  the  middle  of  the  eleventh  week  the  new  queens  appeared. 
By  the  twelfth  week,  the  colony  had  reached  the  peak  of  its  popula- 
tion. By  the  end  of  the  fifteenth  week  the  colony  was  feeble,  few 
workers  were  left,  the  brood  comb  contained  only  males.  The 
season  was  drawing  to  a close.  The  mother  queen  had  died  during 
the  tenth  week.  Cannibalism  was  rife. 

At  the  peak  of  the  season  an  accurate  tabulation  of  the  nest 
population  by  labor  categories  was  made.  It  indicates  the  number 
of  wasps  engaged  in  the  several  activities  and  the  percentages. 

Tabulation  of  D.  arenarria  labor  distribution  during  the  twelfth 


colony  week : 

Labor 

Number  of 

Per  ce 

classification 

workers 

Foragers  

.49 

40 

Brood  nurses  

35 

28 

Adult  nurses 

25 

22 

Nest  builders  

10 

8 

Sanitation  squad 

3 

2 

Teneral  adults 

23 

June,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  79 


Since  21  of  the  23  teneral  adults  in  the  above  table  were  queens, 
they  should  not  be  computed  with  the  workers  on  a percentage 
basis.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  23  adults  required  the  attention  of 
25  adult  nurses. 

In  conclusion,  it  has  been  shown  that  there  are  certain  definite 
labor  categories  in  the  typical  vespine  society.  Individual  workers 
remain  in  their  own  particular  field  of  ' activity  until  the  demands 
of  the  society  dictate  otherwise.  No  age  distinction  exists  which 
might  predetermine  the  occupation  of  any  worker.  The  wasps  in 
all  labor  groups  respond  at  once  to  any  emergency  and  can  act  in 
concert.  The  labor  groups  differentiate  as  they  are  needed,  and 
as  the  abundance  of  available  workers  permits.  It  is  likely  that 
the  brood  nurses  control  the  caste  of  their  charges  by  regulating 
quantitative  feeding. 

Bibliography. 

1.  Brooks.  Moles  Destroy  Wasp’s  Nest.  Tour.  Mammalogy,  IV, 

pp.  183,  1923. 

2.  Duncan,  C.  D.  A Contribution  to  the  Biology  of  North  Ameri- 

can Vespine  Wasps.  Stanford  Univ.  Pub.  Biol.  Sci.,  VIII, 
No.  1,  pp.  123,  1939. 

3.  Gaul,  A.  T.  Notes  on  the  Habits  of  Vespula  squamosa  Dury. 

Bull.  Brook.  Ent.  Soc.,  Vol.  XLIII,  No.  3,  pp.  91,  1947. 

4.  Marchal,  P.  La  Castration  Nutricial  chez  les  Hymenopteres 

Sociaux.  C.  R.  Soc.  Biol.  1900. 

5.  Ormerod,  E.  L.  British  Social  Wasps.  Longmans,  Green, 

Reader  & Dyer,  London,  1868. 

6.  Plath,  O.  Bee  Eating  Proclivities  of  the  Skunk.  Amer.  Nat., 

LVII,  pp.  570-74. 

7.  Wheeler,  W.  M.  Mosaics  and  Other  Anomalies  Among  Ants. 

Pp.  35-36.  Harvard  Univ.  Press,  1937. 


Gyrohypnus  emmesus  Grav. — The  first  record  of  this  species 
from  Maine  is  probably  June  27,  1945,  when  I took  three  specimens 
beneath  a slab  in  a mill  yard  at  Paris.  Two  specimens  were  taken 
at  Hopkinton,  Mass,  on  May  10,  1925,  under  bark. — C.  A.  Frost, 
Framingham,  Mass. 


80  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


NEW  NORTH  AMERICAN  RYGCHIUM  (HYMEN- 
OPTERA,  VESPIDAE). 

By  Richard  M.  Bohart,  University  of  California,  Davis,  Calif. 

A study  of  the  collections  of  the  California  Academy  of  Sciences, 
Oregon  Agricultural  College,  U.  S.  National  Museum,  Museum  of 
Comparative  Zoology  at  Harvard,  and  University  of  Kansas  has  re- 
vealed a new  species  and  several  unnamed  subspecies  of  Rygchium. 
Holotypes  have  been  deposited  in  the  California  Academy  of 
Sciences. 

Rygchium  macswaini,  n.  sp. 

Male. — Black  with  the  following  yellow  markings : mandible 
mostly,  clypeus,  scape  in  front,  large  triangular  interantennal 
spot,  lower  ocular  margin,  long  postocular  spot,  humeral  mar- 
gin, tegula,  2 pleural  spots  beneath,  2 spots  on  scutellum,  stripe 
across  postscutellum,  large  spot  on  propodeal  angle,  legs  mostly 
(last  tarsal  segment  light  reddish),  abdomen  except  for  X- 
shaped  black  marks  on  tergites  I and  II,  basal  margin  of  ster- 
nite  II  and  most  of  terminal  segment.  Wings  moderately 
stained  with  reddish  and  brownish.  Puncturation  moderate, 
fine  on  clypeus  and  first  two  tergites  except  at  apex  of  second 
where  it  is  moderately  coarse.  Pubescence  thick,  golden 
brown,  2 to  3 ocellus  diameters  below  ocelli,  about  1 ocellus 
diameter  on  summit  and  horizontal  face  of  tergite  I,  about  ^ 
ocellus  diameter  on  remainder  of  tergites.  Clypeus  somewhat 
broader  than  long,  apex  distinctly  produced  and  shallowly  con- 
cave. Last  antennal  segment  brownish,  somewhat  curved,  flat- 
tened, twisted,  reaching  base  of  segment  X.  Humeral  angle 
slightly  obtuse,  postscutellum  serrately  crested.  Propodeal 
angles  rather  blunt,  the  hind  face  weakly  margined,  hardly 
punctured  and  with  fine  indistinct  striae.  Middle  tibia  not 
depressed  at  base.  Abdomen  stout,  second  segment  about 
twice  as  broad  as  long.  Length  to  apex  of  second  tergite 
7.5  mm. 

Female. — Clypeus  with  a black  spot,  sometimes  elongate,  a 
pair  of  longitudinal  yellow  stripes  on  mesonotum.  Clypeus 
somewhat  narrowed  and  produced  apically  but  not  quite  so  de- 
cidedly as  in  male.  Vertex  depression  almost  as  broad  as 
ocellar  area.  Length  to  apex  of  second  tergite  10.0  mm. 

Holotype,  male,  Mt.  Diablo,  Contra  Costa  Co.,  California,  May 
19,  1939  (J.  W.  MacSwain). 


June,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  81 


Paratypes,  14  males  and  8 females  from  following  California 
localities:  Mt.  Diablo  (G.  and  R.  Bohart)  ; El  Portal  and  Indian 
Flat,  Mariposa  Co.  (R.  Bohart)  ; Briceburg,  Mariposa  Co.  (N.  F. 
Hardman)  ; Putah  Canyon,  Yolo  Co.  (R.  Bohart)  ; Richardson’s 
Springs,  Butte  Co.  (E.  C.  Van  Dyke)  ; Coalinga,  Fresno  Co.  (R. 
Bohart)  ; Old  Station,  Shasta  Co.  (P.  D.  Hurd)  ; Tuolumne  Co., 
3500  feet ; Corona,  Riverside  Co. 

This  species  appears  to  be  related  to  discogaster  Bequaert  but 
differs  in  the  more  produced  clypeus  in  both  sexes,  thicker  and 
shorter  abdominal  pubescence  and  more  extended  yellow  markings 
in  the  female,  particularly  the  2 mesonotal  stripes.  There  is  a 
superficial  resemblance  to  R.  foraminatum  blandinum  Rohwer  but  in 
addition  to  the  produced  clypeus  of  macswaini,  the  stouter  abdomen, 
the  more  even  pubescence,  the  more  twisted  antennal  hook  in  the 
male,  and  the  reddish  last  tarsal  segment  of  the  male  (instead  of 
brown  or  black)  all  serve  as  distinguishing  features. 

Key  to  the  Subspecies  of  Rygchium  foraminatum 
(Saussure). 

1.  Markings  black  and  red  except  for  yellow  clypeus  in  male,  first 

tergite  all  red  above,  wings  dark  brown  and  violaceous 

(central  to  southern  Florida)  apopkense  (Robt.) 

Markings  less  extensively  reddish,  first  tergite  not  red  above  . 2 

2.  Abdominal  markings  whitish ; apical  margin  of  second  tergite 

not  membranous,  not  closely  and  coarsely  punctured 
(northern  half  of  United  States)  . .leiicomelas  (Saussure) 
Abdominal  markings  yellowish  3 

3.  Wings  dark  brown  and  violaceous,  tegula  of  female  black,  apical 

margin  of  second  tergite  not  membranous  and  not  coarsely 
punctured  (S.  E.  United  States)  . . . parvirudis  R.  Bohart 
Wings  brownish  or  reddish ; tegula  of  female  not  all  black  . , 4 

4.  Apices  of  second  and  following  tergites  not  membranous  and 

rather  sparsely  punctured,  the  bands  usually  pale  yellow ; 
female  scape  entirely  dark  (N.  W.  United  States) 

oregonense  R.  Bohart 
Apices  of  second  and  following  tergites  membranous  and  well 
punctured  or  at  least  with  deep  yellow  or  orange  bands, 
female  scape  not  all  dark 5 

5.  Markings  black  and  yellow,  legs  essentially  black  and  yellow, 

apical  margin  of  second  tergite  usually  upturned  and 

membranous  6 

Markings  with  an  orange  or  reddish  tinge  or  with  legs  mostly 
red  and  yellow 7 


82  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Voi.XLlll 


6.  Sternite  II  with  free  or  attached  yellow  spots,  tergite  II  usually 

with  triangular  attached  spots,  wings  reddish  brown  (Cali- 
fornia)   hlandimim  (Roh.) 

Sternite  and  tergite  II  without  spots;  wings  brown  (Eastern 
and  central  U.  S.)  foraminatum  (Sauss.) 

7.  Tergite  II  moderately  punctured  and  not  upturned  apically; 

legs  mostly  reddish  and  yellow,  horizontal  surface  of  ter- 
gite I all  yellow  in  most  females  except  for  an  angular  trans- 
verse median  spot ; markings  of  notum  deep  yellow ; female 
frons  rather  finely  punctured  (Texas)  . jedoris  R.  Bohart 
Tergite  II  membranous  and  upturned  apically,  second  and  fol- 
lowing tergites  coarsely  punctured  toward  apex;  tergite  I 
of  female  with  a large  black  area  on  the  horizontal  surface ; 
markings  of  notum  (especially  in  female)  tinged  with  red- 
dish; female  frons  coarsely  punctured  (S.  W.  United 
States)  aequale  (Cameron) 

Rygchium  foraminatum  oregonense,  n.  subsp. 

Male. — Black  and  yellow,  abdominal  markings  tending 
toward  whitish.  Pale  markings  as  follows : clypeus,  scape  in 
front,  mandible  mostly,  small  interantennal  spot,  small  postocu- 
lar spot,  narrow  humeral  margin,  spots  on  tegula,  narrow  stripe 
across  postscutellum,  legs  partly,  apical  margins  of  tergites  I 
to  V,  sternite  II  (narrowly).  Last  tarsal  segment  of  mid  and 
hind  tarsus  dark  brown.  Wings  stained  with  reddish  brown. 
Tergite  II  not  upturned  or  membranous  apically,  its  subapical 
punctures  small  and  well  separated.  Lateroapical  margin  of 
clypeus  about  1.3  times  as  long  as  lateral  margin.  Length  to 
apex  of  second  tergite  9.0  mm. 

Female. — Clypeus,  scape,  tergite  V,  sternite  II  except  later- 
ally, mandible  and  legs  mostly,  black.  A small  spot  below 
tegula.  Restricted  basal  markings  on  clypeus  and  a very  small 
free  spot  on  tergite  II  present  in  a few  paratypes.  Length  to 
apex  of  second  tergite  9.5  mm. 

Holotype,  male.  Lick  Creek  Ranger  Station  (4600"),  Wallowa 
National  Forest,  Oregon,  August  16,  1937  ( Bolinger- Jewett ) . 
Paratypes,  5 females,  same  data  as  type;  1 male  and  3 females, 
Steens  Mts.  (7,000  ft.),  Oregon  (Bolinger- Jewett)  ; 1 male  and  2 
females,  Cornucopia,  Oregon  (Bolinger,  Jewett  and  H.  A.  Scullen). 
Other  paratypes  from  Grant  Co.,  Klamath  Lake,  Suttle  Lake, 
Wallowa  Lake,  Oregon;  and  Wawawai  and  near  Stratford,  Wash- 
ington. I have  also  studied  specimens  agreeing  in  most  respects 


June,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  83 


from  Elko  Co.,  Nevada;  Jenny  Lake,  Wyoming;  Kent  Lake  (near 
Beaver)  and  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah;  and  Mono  Lake,  California. 

This  subspecies  most  closely  resembles  typical  foraminatum, 
especially  in  the  distribution  of  thoracic  and  abdominal  markings. 
It  differs,  however  in  the  paler  yellow  color,  and  particularly  in  the 
sparsely  punctured  and  nonmembranous  margin  of  tergite  II.  The 
generally  finer  puncturation,  and  usually  black  female  clypeus  and 
scape  are  added  points  of  difference ; also  the  clypeus  of  orcgoneiisc 
averages  slightly  longer  in  both  sexes. 

Rygchium  joraminatum  parvirudis,  n.  subsp. 

Male. — Black  with  light  yellow  markings  as  follows : mandi- 
ble mostly,  clypeus,  scape  in  front,  interantennal  spot,  postocu- 
lar dot,  narrow  humeral  margin,  scape  partly,  postscutellar 
stripe,  apical  margins  of  abdominal  tergites  I to  VI  (becoming 
progressively  narrower),  narrow  margins  of  sternites  II  and 
III,  lateral  spots  on  following  sternites,  legs  partly.  Last  seg- 
ment of  mid  and  hind  tarsi  dark  brown.  Wings  dark  brown 
with  purplish  reflections.  Clypeus  well  punctured,  lateroapical 
and  lateral  margins  about  equal  in  length.  Abdominal  tergite 
II  rather  finely  punctured  toward  apex  and  without  a mem- 
branous margin.  Length  to  apex  of  second  tergite  8.0  mm. 

Female. — Clypeus  black  with  small  laterobasal  spots,  mandi- 
ble black,  scape  almost  all  black,  2 spots  of  humeral  margin  very 
narrow,  apical  band  of  second  tergite  nearly  obsolete,  following 
tergites  and  all  sternites  black.  Tegula  entirely  and  legs 
mostly  (entirely  in  1 paratype)  black.  Length  to  apex  of 
second  tergite  11.0  mm. 

Holotype,  male,  Tallahassee,  Florida,  April  1,  1944  (R.  and  G. 
Bohart).  Paratypes,  1 male,  same  data  as  holotype;  1 female,  Mc- 
Clellanville,  South  Carolina,  May  11,  1944  (H.  K.  Townes)  ; 1 
female,  Orlando,  Florida,  March  1944  (R.  and  G.  Bohart). 

This  subspecies  represents  the  darkest  phase  of  joraminatum. 
In  wing  color  it  resembles  apopkense  but  parvirudis  has  no  reddish 
markings.  It  is  the  only  form  I have  seen  with  all  dark  mandibles 
and  tegulae  in  the  female. 

Key  to  the  Subspecies  of  Rygchium  fusum  (Cresson). 

1.  Markings  principally  black  and  reddish  (Florida  and  southern 

Georgia)  rubrivestis  R.  Bohart 

Markings  with  considerable  amounts  of  yellow 2 


84  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


2.  Pronotum  above  entirely  red  and  yellow,  the  latter  covering  one- 
half  to  three-fourths  of  area ; second  sternite  mostly  yellow 
(Owens  Valley  of  California)  . . . . sanneovestis  R.  Bohart 
Pronotum  not  entirely  red  and  yellow,  or  if  so,  with  latter  cover- 
ing less  than  half  of  area,  second  sternite  of  females  and 
most  males  with  more  black  or  red  than  yellow  (most  of 

U.  S.  and  parts  of  Mexico)  fusiim  (Cresson) 

Typical  fusum  varies  from  almost  entirely  red  and  yellow  (as  in 
the  type  from  Texas)  to  specimens  with  more  black  than  red  and 
yellow  combined.  As  in  the  color  forms  of  dorsale  (Fabr.),  there 
seems  to  be  little  geographical  significance  involved.  However, 
Florida  and  California  have  distinctively  marked  subspecies  which 
are  described  below. 

Rygchium  jusiim  rubrivestis,  n.  subsp. 

Black  and  reddish,  a small  amount  of  yellow  and  deep  yellow. 
Yellow  markings  occur  in  male  only  and  are:  mandible  spot, 
clypeus,  scape  in  front,  interantennal  spot,  lower  orbit  (these 
are  all  reddish  in  female).  Deep  yellow  to  orange  yellow 
markings  are : narrow  humeral  margin,  apical  margins  of  ter- 
gites  I to  III.  Reddish  are:  facial  markings  and  scape  of 
female,  inner  side  of  flagellum  and  last  two  segments  of  male 
antenna,  postocular  spot,  most  of  pronotum  above,  tegula,  spot 
beneath,  scutellum,  most  of  postscutellum,  propodeal  angles 
broadly,  most  of  tergite  I,  lateral  spot  of  tergite  II,  legs  partly 
except  for  coxae.  Wings  stained  with  dark  brown,  violaceous. 
Length  to  apex  of  second  tergite,  male  10.5  mm.,  female 
12.5  mm. 

Holotype,  male,  Orlando,  Florida,  March  1944  (R.  and  G. 
Bohart).  Paratypes,  4 males  and  3 females  from  following  Florida 
localities:  Ft.  Meade  (J.  Nottingham),  Tallahassee  (R.  and  G. 
Bohart),  Ft.  Lauderdale  (M.  Bates),  Wildwood  (R.  H.  Beamer), 
Winter  Park,  Orlando,  Pensacola.  One  male  paratype,  Oke- 
fenokee  Swamp,  Georgia  (R.  H.  Beamer).  Paratypes  were  col- 
lected in  March,  June,  July,  August  and  October. 

Rygchium  fusuin  sanneovestis,  n.  subsp. 

Black,  marked  with  yellow  and  reddish.  Yellow  are : mandi- 
ble partly,  clypeus,  lower  orbit,  large  interantennal  spot,  scape 
in  front,  postocular  spot,  front  half  of  pronotum  (two-thirds 
in  some  paratypes),  small  spot  beneath  tegula,  scutellum 
mostly,  propodeal  angles  broadly,  legs  partly  (mid  femur  about 


June,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  85 


one-third  yellow,  two-thirds  orange),  abdomen  except  for  last 
segment  and  basomedial  dark  areas  on  tergites  I and  II  and 
sternite  II.  Orange  red  are:  Mandible  partly,  scape  partly, 
base  and  inner  side  of  flagellum  in  male,  including  all  of  last 
segment,  tinges  around  most  yellow  areas  of  body,  hind  half 
(or  one-third)  of  pronotum,  narrow  line  across  middle  of 
postscutellum,  legs  partly,  especially  on  femora,  last  abdominal 
segment.  Wings  moderately  stained  with  reddish  and  brown- 
ish. Tergite  II  with  apical  reflexed  edge  about  2.5  times  an 
ocellus  diameter.  Length  to  apex  of  tergite  II,  male  10.5  mm., 
female  12.5  mm. 

Holotype,  male.  Lone  Pine,  Inyo  Co.,  California,  June  18,  1937 
(E.  C.  Van  Dyke).  Paratypes,  1 male  and  8 females.  Lone  Pine 
and  Big  Pine,  Inyo  Co.,  California,  June  (E.  C.  Van  Dyke,  E.  P. 
Van  Duzee,  R.  Bohart). 

This  subspecies  is  homeochromic  with  R.  boscii  auraniim 
(Cameron)  which  occurs  in  the  same  area. 

Key  to  the  Subspecies  of  Rygchium  tempiferum  (Viereck). 

1.  Light  markings  mainly  orange  or  orange  and  yellow,  flagellum 


reddish,  at  least  at  base 2 

Light  markings  mainly  yellow 3 


2.  With  some  black  markings  (S.  Colorado  and  New  Mexico). 

tempiferum  ( V iereck ) 
Without  black  markings  (Oklahoma)  . .pritchardi  (Bequaert) 

3.  Yellow  markings  strongly  tinged  with  reddish,  especially  on 

tergite  I,  flagellum  entirely  black  (Utah) 

subrubeum  R.  Bohart 
Yellow  markings  not  or  only  slightly  tinged  with  reddish  ...  4 

4.  Apical  margin  of  tergite  II  reflexed  less  than  one  ocellus  diam- 

eter, margin  of  III  not  swollen  (Northwestern  U.  S.) 

eldoradeuse  (Rohwer) 
Apical  margin  of  tergite  II  reflexed  more  than  one  ocellus  diam- 
eter, margin  of  III  swollen  a little  less  than  one  ocellus 
diameter  (Charleston  Mts.,  Nevada) 

birepandum  R.  Bohart 

Rygchium  tempiferum  subrubeum,  n.  subsp. 

Male, — Pattern  black,  yellow  and  some  reddish.  Yellow 
are : mandible  mostly,  clypeus,  scape  in  front,  lower  orbit,  inter- 
antennal  spot,  legs  partly,  apical  margin  of  tergite  I,  segments 
II  to  VI  except  for  V-shaped  basal  black  spot  on  sternite  II 


86  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


and  broad  X-shaped  black  spot  at  base  of  tergite  II.  Reddish 
are:  mandible  at  tip,  scape  behind,  postocular  spot,  pronotum 
above  mostly,  tegula,  spot  beneath,  2 small  scutellar  spots, 
spots  on  propodeal  angles,  legs  partly  (femora  black,  red  and 
yellow),  large  lateral  spots  on  horizontal  surface  of  tergite  I 
(smaller  in  some  paratypes).  Wings  moderately  stained  with 
reddish  and  brownish,  slightly  violaceous.  Pubescence  at  sum- 
mit of  tergite  I as  long  as  3 to  4 ocellus  diameters.  Tergite 
II  with  apical  margin  reflexed  slightly  less  than  1 ocellus  diam- 
eter. Length  to  apex  of  second  tergite  11.2  mm. 

Holotype,  male,  Beaver  Canyon,  Utah  (6500  ft.),  June  11,  1946 
(R.  Bohart).  Paratypes,  5 males,  same  locality  and  collector  as 
type.  I have  seen  a female  referable  to  this  subspecies  from  Creede, 
Colorado  (8844  ft.),  August,  1914  (S.  J.  Hunter).  It  has  the 
dorsum  of  the  thorax  black  save  for  a narrow  orange  humeral 
margin  and  it  has  a 3-pronged  black  clypeal  mark. 

Rygchium  tempiferum  birepandum,  n.  subsp. 

Male. — Black  and  yellow,  legs  slightly  tinged  with  red. 
Yellow  are:  mandible  mostly,  clypeus,  lower  orbit,  scape  in 
front,  interantennal  spot,  postocular  spot,  broad  humeral  mar- 
gin, tegula  mostly,  coxae  and  femora  partly,  tibiae  and  tarsi, 
broad  apical  margins  of  all  abdominal  segments  except  sternite 
I,  that  on  tergite  I enlarged  laterally  to  partly  enclose  a black 
horizontal  area.  Tergite  I with  pubescence  at  summit  as  long 
as  3 to  4 ocellus  diameters.  Tergite  II  with  apical  margin 
reflexed  about  1.5  ocellus  diameters,  tergite  III  reflexed  about 
half  as  much.  Length  to  apex  of  second  tergite  11.0  mm. 

Holotype,  male,  and  5 male  paratypes.  Charleston  Mountain 
Park,  Nevada  (9,000  ft.),  June  21,  1940  (R.  Bohart). 

Rygchium  alvarado  safranum,  n.  subsp. 

Black,  marked  with  yellow  and  reddish  yellow.  Yellow  are : 
spot  on  mandible,  clypeus,  scape  in  front,  lower  orbit,  a semi- 
circular frontal  spot,  legs  partly  (including  coxae  in  front). 
Orange  or  reddish  yellow  are : mandible  and  basal  three  anten- 
nal segments  partly,  postocular  spot,  humeral  and  posterior 
margins  of  pronotum  above  tegula,  spot  beneath,  a lateral  spot 
on  scutellum,  band  across  postscutellum,  propodeal  spots,  legs 
mostly,  broad  apical  margins  of  all  tergites,  those  on  I and  II 
with  large  attached  spots,  broad  apical  margins  of  second  and 
following  sternites,  that  on  II  covering  2/3  of  segment.  Wings 


June,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  87 


lightly  stained  with  orange  and  brownish.  Last  two  antennal 
segments  of  male  reddish  brown.  Length  to  apex  of  second 
tergite,  male  10.5  mm.,  female  11.5  mm. 

Holotype,  male,  Alpine,  Texas,  June  30,  1942  (E.  C.  Van  Dyke). 
Paratypes,  1 male,  Valentine,  Texas,  July  13,  1927  (P.  A.  Readio)  ; 
1 male,  Davis  Mts.,  Texas,  July  10,  1942  (E.  C.  Van  Dyke)  ; 1 male, 
Davis  Mts., Texas,  June  28,  1942  (H.  A.  Scullen)  ; 1 female,  Chisos 
Mts.,  Texas,  June  10-12,  1908  (Mitchell  and  Cushman). 

Rygchium  alvarado  (Sauss.)  has  the  size  and  shape  of  R.  annu- 
latum  (Say)  but  differs  in  having  interocellar  tubercules  and  both 
front  and  hind  margins  of  the  pronotum  yellow.  It  occurs  in 
Mexico,  Arizona,  and  New  Mexico.  In  western  Texas  it  occurs 
as  subspecies  safranum  which  instead  of  being  essentially  black 
and  deep  ivory  yellow  is  marked  with  orange  and  reddish  yellow. 


BOOK  NOTES. 

Catalogue  of  the  North  American  Beetles  of  the  Family 
Cleridae,  by  Albert  R.  Wolcott.  Fieldiana:  Zoology,  vol.  32, 
no.  2,  pp.  61-104.  Chicago  Natural  History  Museum,  Chicago, 
Illinois. 

The  author  in  the  opening  paragraph  of  his  introduction,  states 
precisely  the  purpose  of  this  catalogue  in  these  words : “In  order  that 
certain  necessary  changes  in  nomenclature  and  systematics  may  be 
made  known  to  those  interested  in  the  North  American  Cleridae,  the 
present  revision  of  existing  catalogues  is  offered.”  This  statement 
is  followed  by  a brief  history  of  the  classification  of  the  family.  A 
number  of  changes  in  nomenclature  have  been  made  to  bring  the 
generic  and  other  names  in  line  with  the  provisions  of  the  Inter- 
national Code.  An  extensive  bibliography  closes  the  paper,  which 
in  addition  has  a general  index  of  species,  genera  and  higher  groups, 
naturally  including  synonymy. 

Mr.  Wolcott  says  nothing  of  the  tedious,  exacting  labor  of  put- 
ting  together  such  a mass  of  accurate  data ; but  this  reviewer  empha- 
sizes this  aspect,  an  aspect  to  be  remembered  by  those  leisurely 
critics,  who  look  at  the  fly  perched  on  a work  of  art,  and  not  at  the 
beauty  of  the  whole. 


J.  R.  T.-B. 


88  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLill 


SOUTHWESTERN  GEOMETRID  NOTES 
AND  NEW  SPECIES.  II. 

By  John  L.  Sperry,  Riverside,  California. 

The  collecting  season  in  the  southwest  in  1947,  although  not  the 
best  among  the  past  few  years,  furnished  some  good  hunting,  some 
surprises  and  a new  species  or  two,  and  a few  bits  of  entomological 
information  worth  recording. 

The  season  was  the  driest  in  the  history  of  the  local  Weather 
Bureau,  and  the  geometrid  catch  was  much  lighter  than  is  usual. 
In  the  A jo  Mts.  of  Southern  Arizona,  in  April,  we  obtained  small 
series  of  Chlorochlamys  zelleraria  Pack,  and  Semiothisa  hypaethrata 
Grote  and  at  Alamo  Canyon,  a good  series  of  Stenaspilates  fla- 
visaria  Grossbeck.  The  Baboquivari  Mts.  were  very  dry  and  dis- 
appointing as  were  the  White  Mts.  of  Arizona  in  June.  The  early 
September  collecting  in  Oak  Creek  Canyon,  south  of  Flagstaff, 
Arizona,  was  excellent  and  there  were  some  good  things  taken 
on  the  Upper  Santa  Ana  River  in  the  San  Bernardino  Mts.  of 
California  during  the  summer. 

Dysstroma  efhela  Hulst 

We  were  fortunate  enough  to  collect  a small  series  of  this  species 
which  answers  Hulst’s  description  exactly,  on  the  Upper  Santa  Ana 
River  in  the  San  Bernardino  Mts.  of  California  during  the  latter 
part  of  the  summer.  This  separates  rather  readily  from  kasloafa 
Tayl.  the  best  characteristic  probably  being  the  basal  area  of  the 
primaries  which  is  cream  in  ethela  and  dark  in  kasloata,  the  extra- 
basal  band  being  always  present  in  the  latter,  even  in  specimens  in 
our  collection  which  are  as  light  as  ethela.  The  “shading  of  black- 
ish scales  along  costa  at  base,”  which  Hulst  mentions,  is  present 
in  all  specimens  of  the  series  and  in  one  specimen  a hair  line  of  dots 
starts  across  the  wing  paralleling  the  curved  outer  margin  of  the 
creamy  basal  area.  It  seems  probable  that  kasloata  Tayl.  should 
be  raised  to  specific  rank  and  it  is  also  quite  probable  that  the 
author  has  distributed  specimens  of  the  latter  as  ethela. 

Genus  Parexcelsa  Pearsall. 

This  genus  was  erected  in  1912  (Can.  Ent.  XLIV,  100)  for  the 
single  species  iiltraria,  described  from  14  males  taken  at  San  Diego, 
the  female  was  unknown.  This  year  through  the  kindness  of  the 
American  Museum  of  Natural  History  and  Mr.  Albert  Zerkowitz, 
the  author  obtained  a specimen  of  this  species  and  so  was  able  to 


Ju.7ie,i948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  89 


identify  a female  which  had  been  in  the  Sperry  collection  for  some 
time.  The  author  would  therefore  add  the  following  female  char- 
acters to  complete  the  description  of  the  genus : Female.  Palpi 
moderate,  longer  than  in  the  male,  upturned,  clothed  beneath  with 
mixed  scales  and  hair.  Tongue  obsolete,  head  as  in  male.  An- 
tennae simple,  with  two  pairs  of  short  bristles  from  the  apex  of 
each  segment  on  the  under  side.  Legs  normal,  with  all  spurs. 
Venation  as  in  the  male. 

From  Northern  Arizona  we  have  a long  series  of  a small  Seri- 
cosema  which  is  apparently  undescribed. 

Sericosema  meadowsaria,  sp.  n. 

Palpi  long,  white,  drooping,  smooth  scaled.  Head  white, 
lightly  speckled  with  gray.  Antennae  fuscous,  pectinate  nearly 
to  the  tip  which  is  dentate,  in  the  male.  Female  antennae  sim- 
ple. Thorax  abdomen  and  all  wings  light  tawny,  sprinkled 
sparingly  with  gray.  The  forewings  have  a tendency  to  show  a 
rosy  tinge  in  the  ground  color  along  the  costa  and  on  the  outer 
third  of  the  wing,  especially  in  the  female.  Maculation  of  the 
upper  side  of  the  wing  is  rather  constant,  beneath  very  variable. 
On  the  forewings  the  single  line  starts  at  about  two-thirds  out 
on  the  costa,  at  right  angles  to  the  costa,  curving  gently  toward 
the  tornus  to  vein  4 where  the  curve  sharpens  curving  toward 
the  middle  of  inner  margin  to  vein  2 thence  slightly  outcurved 
or  nearly  straight  to  inner  margin  about  3 mm.  from  the  tornus, 
in  many  specimens  fading  out  at  about  vein  1.  The  area 
distad  of  this  line  is  much  more  heavily  speckled  than  the  rest  of 
the  wing  and  there  is  a dark  shading  between  veins  3 and  4 in 
many  specimens,  in  some  cases  extending  to  the  outer  margin. 
Discal  spot  absent ; fringe  usually  light  tan,  in  some  female 
specimens  reddish  and  in  many  specimens  with  checkering, 
dark  at  ends  of  veins.  Secondaries  without  maculation,  the 
speckling  thinner  than  on  primaries,  heavier  near  outer  margin. 
Maculation  of  the  under  side  sometimes  showing  dimly  through. 

Beneath  rather  variable,  ground  color  ranging  from  light  tan 
to  brick  red  more  heavily  speckled  than  on  upper  surface,  line  of 
the  upper  side  on  forewings  repeated  but  not  reaching  inner 
margin,  dark  shading  between  veins  3 and  4 usually  well 
developed.  Secondaries  usually  with  a t.p.  line  present,  curv- 
ing gently  from  about  three-fifths  out  on  costa  to  about  the  mid- 
dle of  the  inner  margin,  usually  rather  heavily  shaded  outwardly 
especially  near  the  costa,  very  rarely  broken  near  the  middle 


90  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLlll 


and  usually  obsolete  near  the  inner  margin,  sometimes  entirely 
lacking.  Discal  spots  small,  distinct  on  all  wings.  Expanse, 
male  28-30  mm.  female,  32-34  mm. 

Holotype,  male.  Todd’s  Lodge,  Oak  Creek  Canyon,  Ari- 
zona, June  15,  1941,  Grace  H.  & John  L.  Sperry,  collectors,  and 
in  the  Sperry  collection.  Allotype,  female,  same  locality  and 
collectors,  June  14,  1942,  and  in  the  Sperry  collection. 

Paratypes,  66  males,  8 females,  same  locality  and  collectors, 
taken  between  June  12th  and  25th  from  1941  to  1946,  and  in  the 
U.  S.  National  Museum,  Canadian  National  Museum,  Museum  of 
Comparative  Zoology,  Am.  Museum  of  Natural  History,  Los 
Angeles  County  Museum,  and  collections  Meadows  and  Sperry. 

This  species  is  readily  separated  from  juturnaria  and  viridirujaria 
by  its  much  smaller  size,  from  simularia  by  the  under  side  of  the 
secondaries  which  lack  the  heavy  black  terminal  area  of  the  latter, 
from  argentata  by  the  lack  of  the  silvery  sheen  on  the  under  side  of 
the  wings  and  by  meadowsaria’ s darker  maculation  and  from  zvil- 
sonensis  by  its  darker  color  and  by  the  lines  on  the  under  side  of  the 
secondaries.  In  nine  specimens  in  every  ten  this  line  is  broken  in 
the  center  in  wilsonensis,  in  one  specimen  in  sixteen  this  line  is 
broken  in  meadowsaria.  The  genitalia  are  closest  to  argentata  but 
the  long  spines  at  the  base  of  the  aedeagus  are  shorter  than  in 
argentata  and  much  longer  than  the  weak  set  in  wilsonensis  (see 
Lepidopterist  III,  152) . The  short  spines  on  the  vesica  are  shorter, 
fewer  and  farther  removed  from  the  cluster  of  long  basal  spines 
than  those  in  argentata  and  there  is  a long  curved  spine  at  the  apex 
of  the  organ  as  in  simularia  which  is  lacking  in  argentata. 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  name  this  fine  species  in  honor  of 
my  friend  Don  Meadows,  entomologist,  educator  and  lover  of  the 
good  out  doors  and  with  the  happy  faculty  of  passing  on  a part  of  his 
intellectual  curiosity  to  those  he  teaches.  May  the  call  of  the  Spring 
nights  again  become  too  strong  and  add  many  new  specimens  to  his 
already  excellent  Pyralid  collection. 

There  has  been  for  some  time  in  the  Sperry  collection,  a good 
series  of  a Phengommataea  species  which  the  author  has  hesitated  to 
describe  without  more  information  concerning  P.  duoangulata  Cas- 
sino  & Swett.  , All  other  species  listed  in  this  genus  are  represented 
in  the  Sperry  collection  or  have  been  examined  by  the  author. 
This  year  an  appeal  to  Dr.  Banks  for  information  and  his  kindness 
in  comparing  this  species  with  the  material  in  the  Museum  of  Com- 
parative Zoology  has  made  this  description  possible. 


June,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  91 


In  1923  (Lepidopterist  IV,  8)  Cassino  & Swett  described 
duoangulata  from  a single  male  taken  at  Palmerlee,  Ariz.,  without 
date.  Dr.  Banks  writes  that  there  is  no  specimen  in  the  M.C.Z. 
collection  labeled  duoangulata  but  there  is  a specimen  labeled,  in 
Cassino’s  handwriting,  angulata,  Cassino  & Swett,  holotype,  male, 
with  a locality  label  reading  Palmerlee,  Ariz.,  without  date.  I 
believe  we  must  accept  this  specimen  as  the  type  of  diwangidata. 
Hence,  with  many  thanks  for  the  kindness  of  Dr.  Banks,  and  of 
Dr.  McDunnough  and  Hahn  Capps,  who  have  also  examined  this 
species,  I venture  to  describe 

Phengommataea  mabelata,  sp.  n. 

Palpi,  creamy  buff,  tipped  with  brown ; head,  front  and  ver- 
tex chalk  white ; antennae  white ; legs  cream,  thorax  beneath 
clothed  with  short  white,  woolly  hairs.  Thorax,  abdomen  and 
ground  color  of  all  wings  creamy  buff  sometimes  basally 
Colonial  buff  (Ridgway  color). 

Primaries : lines  broad,  irregular,  chestnut-brown  ; in  rubbed 
specimens  cinnamon-brown.  T.a.  line  starts  at  costa  1/3  out 
from  base  from  a triangular  spot  mm.  wide  at  costa,  runs 
narrowing  rapidly,  toward  a point  just  above  tornus,  for  about 
3 mm.  then  angles  back  sharply  and  goes  nearly  straight  to 
inner  margin  at  1/3  out.  The  line  is  less  than  1 mm.  broad 
and  is  weak  or  wanting  in  over  half  of  the  series.  T.p.  line 
starts  at  costa,  1/7  in  from  apex,  goes  straight  in  a direction 
perpendicular  to  inner  margin,  to  line  5,  bends  slightly  out  to 
line  4 then  slightly  back  to  line  2,  thence  curves  outward  to 
inner  margin  at  \ in  from  tornus.  This  line  averages  1 mm. 
broad  and  in  fresh  specimens  is  minutely  shaded  outwardly 
with  orange-brown.  Discal  spots  small,  an  upright  dash, 
present  in  half  of  the  series. 

Secondaries : Concolorous  with  the  primaries,  t.a.  line  ab- 
sent, t.p.  line  a continuation  of  t.p.  line  of  the  primaries,  from 
costa  goes  almost  straight  toward  tornus  to  center  of  wing, 
thence  bending  slightly  back  and  curving  slightly  outward  to 
inner  margin  about  3 mm.  from  tornus.  No  discal  dot  present. 

Beneath  light  cream  with  maculation  of  upper  side  reflected 
through.  Expanse:  male  34  mm.,  female  34-36  mm. 

The  genitalic  slide  which  Mr.  Capps  kindly  made  for  us  from  the 
only  male,  shows  that  the  species  is  close  to  olifata  Guedet,  a species 
which  I have  been  privileged  to  examine  through  the  kindness  of 
its  author. 


92  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


Mabelata  differs  from  edwardsata,  lagimata,  duoangulata,  olijata, 
and  spoliata  in  its  lack  of  the  darker  shading  of  the  medial  portion 
of  the  fore  wings,  in  the  shape  of  the  lines  and  in  its  broader  wings, 
and  from  the  first  four  in  the  presence  of  a line  on  the  secondaries. 
From  dissimilis  without  maculation,  and  sericeata  with  its  very  light, 
regular  lines  (which  species  possibly  do  not  belong  in  this  genus), 
by  its  heavier  maculation  and  broader  wings,  and  Dr.  Banks  kindly 
adds  it  differs  from  diioangulata  in  color,  maculation  and  shape  of 
the  wings. 

Holotype,  female,  Todd’s  Lodge,  Oak  Creek  Canyon,  Ariz.,  Sept. 
12,  1947,  Grace  H.  and  John  L.  Sperry,  collectors  and  in  the 
Sperry  collection. 

Allotype  male,  same  data.  Sept.  16,  1941,  and  in  the  Sperry  col- 
lection. 

Paratypes,  14  females,  same  data,  June  and  September  1942  to 
1946,  in  Canadian  National  Museum,  Museum  of  Comparative 
Zoology,  Science  Museum  of  University  of  Massachusetts,  Los 
Angeles  County  Museum,  and  Sperry  collection. 

There  must  be  early  spring  and  early  fall  broods  of  this  species 
as  many  of  the  type  series  are  somewhat  worn. 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  name  this  interesting  species  in 
honor  of  our  friend,  Mrs.  Charles  P.  Alexander  of  Amherst,  Mass., 
with  her  husband,  vagabond  at  heart  and  lover  of  the  wilderness. 
Being  myself  married  to  an  entomologist,  I realize,  none  better, 
how  much  the  entomological  world  owes  to  Mabel  for  the  monu- 
mental works  of  Charles.  May  our  paths  cross  often  in  the  pleasant 
places  and  may  we  meet  again  and  again  and  many  times  again, 
under  canvas,  at  the  “back  of  beyond”  where  the  undescribed 
Tipulids  fly. 

From  Todd’s  Lodge,  in  Oak  Creek  Canyon,  south  of  Flagstaff, 
Ariz.,  a locality  which  has  proved  most  productive  of  good  things, 
we  have  yet  another  species  which  seems  to  be  undescribed.  I am 
indebted  to  Mr.  Hahn  W.  Capps  of  the  U.  S.  National  Museum 
for  the  generic  reference  and  for  his  kindness  in  comparing  this 
species  with  National  Museum  material. 

Antepione  hewesata,  sp.  n. 

Male  and  Female:  The  small,  upturned  palpi,  head,  vertex 
and  front,  legs,  thorax,  abdomen  and  ground  color  of  all  wings 
is  paper  white.  The  wings  are  very  sparingly  flecked  with 
ochraceous-orange  (Ridgway  color),  the  male  being  more 
heavily  sprinkled.  Lines  are  sharply  drawn,  narrow  (about 
J mm.  in  width)  and  almost  straight.  T.a.  line  from  the  costa 


June,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  93 


or  just  below  it  starting  1/3  out,  has  a minute  outward,  tooth- 
like angle,  thence  straight  to  line  1 in  a direction  perpendicular 
to  inner  margin,  thence  bending  slightly  inward  to  inner  margin 
at  1/3  out.  T.p.  line  starts  at  costa  1/6  in  from  apex,  goes 
perpendicular  to  costa  for  ^ mm.,  thence  nearly  parallel  to 
tornal  portion  of  outer  margin  to  inner  margin  at  1/3  in  from 
tornus.  The  lines  are  ochraceous-orange  and  without  shading. 
There  is  a minute,  black,  discal  dot. 

Secondaries : t.a.  line  absent,  t.p.  line  a continuation  of  the 
same  line  of  the  primaries,  obsolescent  at  costa,  becoming  clear 
1 mm.  below  it  and  continuing  almost  straight  across  wing  to 
inner  margin  at  7/10  out  from  the  base.  A minute  discal 
dot  in  most  specimens.  There  is  a narrow  line  of  ochraceous- 
orange  passing  through  the  base  of  the  fringe  on  both  wings, 
remainder  of  fringe  concolorous  with  ground  color  of  the  wings. 

Beneath,  white  on  both  wings  with  the  maculation  of  the 
upper  side  showing  faintly  through.  Expanse  28-33  mm. 

Holotype,  female,  Todd’s  Lodge,  Oak  Creek  Canyon,  Ariz., 
June  15,  1942,  Grace  H.  and  John  L.  Sperry,  collectors,  and  in  the 
Sperry  collection. 

Allotype,  male,  same  data,  June  10,  1942,  and  in  the  Sperry 
collection. 

Paratypes,  3 males,  7 females,  same  data,  June  10-24,  1942  to 
1946,  and  in  U.  S.  National  Museum,  Canadian  National  Museum, 
Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology  and  collections  Hewes  and  Sperry. 

The  species  belongs  in  the  arisonata  part  of  the  genus  and  is 
separated  from  thisoaria,  comstocki,  indiscretata  and  imitata  by  the 
lack  of  the  triangular  spot  on  the  costa  near  the  apex ; from  con- 
stans  by  the  sharply  defined  lines  and  by  the  ground  color  of  the 
wings  which,  in  constans,  is  dull  clay  ; from  ochraceata  and  arizonata 
by  the  color  of  the  wings  and  the  lack  of  dark  blotches  outside  the 
t.p.  lines  and  by  the  lack  of  shading  on  the  lines.  This  is  the  only 
species  as  yet  described  in  this  genus  in  which  the  ground  color  of 
the  wings  is  white. 

It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  name  this  fine  species  in  honor  of 
our  friend  Dr.  Laurence  I.  Hewes  of  San  Francisco,  California, 
possessor  of  one  of  the  finest  collections  of  Rhopalocera  on  the  West 
Coast,  and  of  the  entomological  knowledge  and  enthusiasm  to  go 
with  it.  We  look  forward  with  keen  anticipation  to  that  day  when 
the  loss  of  the  Chief  to  the  highways  of  the  west  shall  be  the  gain  of 
the  entomological  world. 


94  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^LIII 


A NEW  GENUS  AND  SPECIES  OF  FUNGUS-GNATS 
(MYCETOPHILIDAE). 

By  F.  R.  Shaw,  University  of  Massachusetts, 

Amherst,  Mass. 

In  a large  collection  of  fungus-gnats  taken  by  K.  M.  Fender 
from  McMinnville,  Oregon,  there  occurred  some  specimens  of 
unusual  interest  and  structure.  Superfically  these  insects  resemble 
species  of  the  genus  Macrocera.  They  possess  the  long  antennae 
typical  of  the  Macrocerinae.  An  examination  of  the  thorax  re- 
vealed some  differences  in  structure  from  typical  members  of  the 
genus  Macrocera  as  shown  in  Macrocera  jormosa,  fig.  2.  In  addi- 
tion the  wing  venation  is  not  typical  of  that  shown  in  other  North 
American  species  of  Macrocera  known  to  me.  On  the  basis  of  these 
differences  I am  erecting  a new  genus  which  I take  pleasure  in 
naming  for  K.  M.  Fender. 

Fenderomyia  n.  g. 

Resembles  Macrocera  in  appearance  but  differs  from  that 
genus  in  thoracic  structure  and  wing  venation.  In  all  species 
of  North  American  Macrocera  known  to  me,  the  petiole  of 
media  joins  the  base  of  Rs  before  the  fusion  of  Rs  and  M.  In 
the  new  genus,  the  petiole  of  media  is  distinct  and  appears  to 
extend  to  what  is  ordinarily  called  the  m-cu  crossvein.  In 
Fenderomyia  the  costa  is  produced  far  beyond  the  apex  of  the 
wing  almost  reaching  to  M.  The  thorax  appears  somewhat 
compressed.  In  other  species  of  this  subfamily  that  are  known 
to  me,  the  mesepimeron  extends  to  the  metapleurite.  In 
Fenderomyia,  the  pleurotergite  extends  to  the  katepisternite  so 
that  the  mesepimeron  fails  to  reach  the  metapleurite.  The 
genotype  is  F enderomyia  smithi  n.  sp.  the  description  of  which 
follows. 

Fenderomyia  smithi  n.  sp. 

Male. — Length  4^5  mm.  General  color  brownish  yellow. 

Head:  Yellow  below,  darker  above.  Antennae  long,  sixteen 
segmented,  typically  Macrocerine  in  appearance.  First  seg- 

Explanation  of  Plate  V. 

Figure  1.  Lateral  view  of  F enderomyia  smithi. 

Figure  2.  Lateral  view  of  Macrocera  formosa. 

Figur-e  3.  Wing  of  F enderomyia  smithi. 

Figure  4.  Ventral  view  of  hypopygium  of  F enderomyia  smithi. 


June,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  95 


Bull.  B.  E.  S.,  Vol.  XLIII 


Plate  V 


96  Bulletin  of  the  Bi^oohlyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


ment  with  a brownish  apex.  Mouthparts  yellowish  brown. 
Palpi  darker,  four  segmented.  Ocelli  three  forming  an  ele- 
vated prominence  triangular  in  outline  on  the  vertex. 

Thorax:  General  color  brownish  yellow  but  some  variation 
does  occur.  One  specimen  is  distinctly  yellow  with  darker 
stripes  on  the  mesonotum.  Another  specimen  is  darker  and 
there  is  not  as  much  contrast  in  the  color  of  the  mesonotum. 
In  the  paler  specimens  there  is  a darker  stripe  above  each 
wing  and  a darker  median  stripe.  Anepisternite  with  a con- 
spicuous group  of  black  setae  just  posterior  to  the  spiracle. 
Mesothoracic  epimeron  not  produced  to  the  metapleurite.  The 
pleurotergite  is  produced  anteriorly  to  meet  the  katepisternite, 
see  fig.  1.  Mesepimeron  with  a brown  mark.  Metepisternite 
with  a diagonal  strip  of  dense  black  setae.  Scutellum  with 
eight  marginal  black  setae.  Postscutellum  somewhat  com- 
pressed and  somewhat  pointed  at  the  tip.  Halteres  light  yel- 
low, knobs  appear  whitish.  Legs  yellow  with  fine  black 
setulae.  Tibia  with  one  spur.  Tarsi  slightly  darker  than  the 
rest  of  the  leg. 

Wing,  fig.  3,  5 mm.  in  length.  Hyaline,  no  crossbands. 
Veins  yellowish.  Costa  strong,  produced  beyond  apex  of  wing 
almost  reaching  M 1 + 2.  Subcosta  long,  Sc2  lacking.  R 1 + 
2 + 3 ends  nearly  opposite  the  fork  of  R4  + 5.  Petiole  of 
media  not  fused  with  Rg  but  distinct  to  the  portion  of  the  wing 
generally  considered  to  be  the  m-cu  crossvein  thereby  dififer- 
ing from  all  other  Macrocerinae  occurring  in  this  country  so 
far  as  I know.  Cih  somewhat  weak  at  the  base.  First  anal 
weak,  second  anal  strong  reaching  to  the  wing  margin. 

Abdomen : The  first  and  last  two  segments  are  brown.  The 
intermediate  segments  are  light  brownish  yellow  with  the  apex 
of  each  segment  being  slightly  darker. 

Hypopygium,  fig.  4,  brownish  yellow.  Claspers  with  two 
apical  teeth  which  are  dark  brown. 

This  species  is  described  from  three  specimens  taken  at  station 
3 A,  Peavine  Ridge,  McMinnville,  Oregon,  on  May  23,  1947  by 
K.  M.  Fender.  Type  and  paratypes  in  my  collection.  The  species 
is  named  for  Elmer  Smith  who  has  aided  me  by  preparing  the  draw- 
ings for  this  paper  as  well  as  for  some  other  publications. 


June,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  97 


A FEW  APHIDS  ON  PINE. 

By  George  F.  Knowlton,  Logan,  Utah. 

The  writer  is  indebted  to  Professor  M.  A.  Palmer  for  most  of  the 
following  identifications : 

Essigella  calif ornica  (Essig)  on  Pinus  murrayana  at  Logan,  June 
5,  1942;  on  Pinus  ponderosa  at  Flagstaff,  Arizona,  September 
23,  1944;  Verdi,  Nevada,  August  17,  1945. 

E.  fusca  G.-P.  on  Pinus  ponderosa,  Beaver  Canyon,  July  12,  1945, 
and  Amazon  Mine,  Logan  Canyon,  August  5,  1939,  in  Utah ; 
Spirit  Lake  and  Coeur  d’Alene,  Idaho,  August  1938  (L.  L. 
Hansen). 

E.  pini  Wilson  on  Pinus,  Grand  Canyon  of  the  Snake  River,  Wyo- 
ming, September  11,  1941;  Pinus  ponderosa,  Marysvale  Can- 
yon, Utah,  June  11,  1943;  Cameron  Pass  and  Gould,  Colorado, 
August  1940. 

Eulachnus  rileyi  (Williams)  on  Austrian  pine,  Logan,  Utah,  June 
20,  1942,  and  Salt  Lake  City,  July  1939 ; Pinus  sylvestris.  Plain 
City,  Utah,  October  9,  1939  (Knowlton — E.  Wayment)  ; 
Pinus  ponderosa,  Flagstaff,  Arizona,  September  23,  1944. 
Cinara  schwarzii  (Wilson)  on  Pinus  ponderosa,  Mt.  Nebo,  Utah, 
August  14,  1943;  Broadview,  Montana,  July  2,  1942  (H.  F. 
Thornley) . 

C.  sibiricae  (G.-P.)  on  Juniperus  siherica,  Uintah  Canyon,  Utah, 
August  25,  1940;  Mt.  Timpanogas,  July  26,  1945. 

C.  splendens  (G.-P.)  on  Pseudotsuga  taxiijolia,  Puyallup,  Wash- 
ington, September  3,  1937  (H.  C.  Bennion).  A species  near 
splendens,  Smithfield  Canyon,  Utah,  July  15,  1937  (Knowlton 
-C.  J.  Davis). 

C.  apini  (G.-P.)  on  Pinus  flexilis,  Beaver  Creek,  Idaho,  August 
13  and  29,  1937  (C  F.  Smith). 

C.  gracilis  (Wilson)  on  Pinus  virginiana,  Clarks  Valley,  Pa.,  May 

4,  1930  (J.  N.  Knull). 

C.  lasiocarpae  (G.-P.)  on  Abies  grandis,  Minersville,  Oregon,  May 
23,  1939  (Det.  P.  W.  Mason). 

C.  murrayanae  (G.-P.)  on  Pinus  murrayana,  Logan,  Utah,  June 

5,  1942;  pine,  Manassa,  Colorado,  June  11,  1943  (B.  A. 
Haws). 

C.  palmerae  (Gill.),  on  Picea  pungens,  Smithfield,  Utah,  July  31, 
1939;  Logan,  Utah,  July  12,  1939  (Knowlton-C.  J.  Davis). 
C,  pini  (L.)  on  Scotch  pine,  Logan,  Utah,  July  19  and  September 
17,  1938,  (Knowlton-W.  P.  Nye). 


98  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


C.  ponderosae  (Wms.)  on  Pinus  ponderosa,  Beaver  Creek  Canyon 
of  Logan  Canyon,  Utah,  July  10,  1942;  P.  contorta,  on  north 
along  Beaver  Creek,  in  So.  Idaho,  July  23,  1937  (Knowlton- 
C.  F.  Smith). 


Western  Dolichopodidae  Notes. — The  following  long-legged 
flies  were  collected  during  the  latter  part  of  July  1946,  on  a vaca- 
tion trip  to  Waterton  National  Park,  Alberta,  Canada,  to  attend 
the  International  Great  Plains  Conference  of  Entomolgists,  held 
from  July  24  to  26,  inclusive.  Collecting  area  included  Red  Rock 
Canyon  and  Cameron  Lake,  as  well  as  the  general  area  of  the  town 
which  included  Cameron  Falls.  The  writer  is  indebted  to  Lt.  F.  C. 
Harmston  for  checking  upon  the  identity  of  the  species  listed  below. 

At  Waterton  National  Park  between  July  23  and  26,  the  following 
species  were  taken : Scellus  ampins  Cur.,  N.  filiferus  Lw.,  and  S. 
vigil  O.  S. ; Dolichopus  amphericns  M.-B.,  D,  aldrichi  Whir.,  D. 
coloradensis  Aldr.,  D.  coquiletti  Aldr.,  D.  nigricoxa  Van  D.,  D. 
reindescens  M.-B.,  and  Tachytrechus  bipunctatus  Gr. 

Outside  the  National  Park  and  along  the  highway  to  Pincher 
Creek,  in  Alberta,  Scellus  ampins  Cur.,  S',  filiferus  Lw.,  Dolichopus 
bifractns  Lw.,  D.  coloradensis  Aldr.,  and  D.  procerus  Van  D.  were 
collected,  on  July  26,  1946. 

Scellus  monstrosns  O.  S.  was  taken  on  July  21,  1946,  in  Yellow- 
stone National  Park,  Wyoming.  At  Pine  Creek  Pass,  Idaho,  on 
July  20,  Dolichopus  snfflavus  Van  D.,  Diaphorus  palpiger  Whir, 
and  Sympycnus  cnprinus  Whir,  were  taken.  At  Victor,  Idaho, 
July  20,  Dilichopus  plumipes  Scop,  was  collected. — George  F. 
Knowlton,  Logan,  Utah. 


June,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  99 


TOTALITARIANISM  IN  SCIENCE. 

The  other  night  I heard  a recital  by  an  eminent  American  concert 
singer.  At  the  bottom  of  the  programme,  in  capital  letters  it  read 
somewhat  like  this:  “CITIZENS  ARTIST  SERVICE,  Inc.— Q. 
Q.  Schmidlapp,  President” ; below  “Through  Courtesy  of  Cosmic 
Recital  and  Performers  Corporation,”  with  an  address.  (All  the 
names  are  purely  fictitious  ; the  facts  are  real.) 

The  singer  was  real — ^a  person  and  an  artist  in  his  own  right,  to 
whom  the  appendages  were  of  no  importance,  and  to  whose  song 
they  added  nothing. 

What  has  this  to  do  with  entomology?  Just  this:  Institutions  to 
which  writers  on  the  subject  are  attached  appear  to  have  an  itch  to 
get  in  the  limelight  along  with  the  author,  and  so  want  to  see  their 
own  names  in  print.  For  the  writer  of  this,  whose  opinions  here 
expressed  are  purely  personal  and  individual  and  who  is  in  no  way 
speaking  officially  for  any  group  whatsoever,  all  entomological 
articles  wherever  published,  depend  for  their  force  on  the  man  who 
writes  them ; not  at  all  on  the  institution  with  which  he  is  connected. 
If  he  knows  what  he  is  writing  about,  that  is  all  that  is  required. 
He  adorns  the  institution,  and  the  institution  adds  nothing  to  his 
individual  worth. 

A diamond  alone  and  unset  is  still  a precious  jewel  pan  ass,  no 
matter  how  gorgeously  covered  with  gold  and  trappings,  still  has 
long  ears. 

These  words  are  called  forth  by  a stream  of  thought  obvious  in  its 
workings.  Often  an  author’s  name  is  followed  by  some  such  blurb 
as  this  “High  Dissector  of  the  Institute  of  Profound  Learning  of 
the  Republic  of  Andorra,  Andorra,  Andorra”  (this  name  is  purely 
fictitious).  If  the  blurb  is  omitted,  the  Director  of  the  Institute 
will  have  something  to  say.  The  control  extends  even  to  grammar, 
spelling  and  punctuation. 

We  seem  to  be  coming  to  a condition  in  which  the  institution 
swallows  the  man ; in  other  words,  to  a scientific  totalitarianism ; a 
system  in  which  the  individual  is  nothing  but  a submerged  atom  in 
the  whole. 

Such  a system  lays  the  hand  of  death  on  free  science.  An  in- 
stitution of  whatever  kind  shackles  the  free  spirit.  But  science  of 
all  kinds  has  progressed  through  the  free  acts  of  free  spirits.  If 
such  a condition  and  trend  is  not  checked,  no  one  not  in  an  institution 
will  be  allowed  to  do  any  scientific  work.  We  will  eventually  come 


100  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLllI 


to  a black  market  in  science,  served  by  secret  printing  presses,  and 
secretly  passed  around  in  fear  and  trembling. 

Is  there  anyone  so  foolish  as  not  to  realize  that  a condition  of 
government-controlled  science  is  in  force  in  the  totalitarian  state, 
by  whatever  name  we  may  call  it?  Is  there  anyone  so  foolish  as 
not  to  know  that  institutional  control  of  thought  is  death  ? 

The  remedy  lies  in  resistance.  But  how  many  are  so  placed  that 
they  can  fight  their  own  bread-and-butter? 

This  is  not  a polished,  complete,  final  statement.  It  is  meant  to 
arouse  thought  before  free  thought  perishes. 

J.  R.  DE  LA  ToRRE-BuENO, 
for  himself  only. 


BOOK  NOTES. 

The  Mosquitoes  of  Illinois,  by  Herbert  H.  Ross.  Bulletin  of 
the  Illinois  Natural  History  Survey,  vol.  24,  no.  1,  pp.  1-96,  figs. 
1-184. 

Here  we  have  a handbook  of  the  mosquitoes  of  a given  area  of  the 
central  part  of  the  United  States.  It  lists  10  genera  and  52  species, 
which  naturally  include  the  disease  vectors.  Of  the  latter,  Aedes 
aegyptii  is  found  sporadically  only.  The  monograph  gives  the 
biology,  seasonal  and  geographical  distribution,  economic  impor- 
tance, methods  of  control,  collecting  and  preserving,  and  technique 
for  study.  The  section  on  classification  keys  out  all  the  genera 
and  species,  both  as  larvae  and  adults,  with  adequate  descriptions  of 
both  for  each  species.  Whatever  deficiencies  the  work  may  have 
are  possibly  discernible  to  the  specialist.  Certainly,  the  175  line 
drawings  of  adults,  larvae  and  structures  are  all  they  should  be  and 
really  illustrate  the  text.  The  press  work  also  is  excellent  and  clear. 
Both  the  Survey  and  the  author  are  to  be  congratulated  on  this 
excellent  and  highly  useful  work. 

J.  R.  T.-B. 


NOTICE 

Mr.  J.  R.  de  la  Torre-Bueno,  editor  of  this  Bulletin  for  more 
than  thirty  years,  died  on  May  3,  1948.  Until  a new  editor 
is  appointed  all  communications  should  be  addressed  to  George 
S.  Tulloch,  22  East  Garfield  Street,  Merrick,  New  York. 


OCTOBER,  1948 

BULLETIN 


No.  4 


VoL  XLllI 


OF  THE 

Brooklyn  Entomological 
Society 


PUBLICATION  COMMITTEE 

J.  R.  de  la  TORRE^BUENO,  Editor 

GEORGE  S.  TULLOCH  EDWIN  W.  TEALE 

Published  for  the  Society  by 

Business  Press,  Inc. 

N.  Queen  St.  and  McGovern  Ave.,  Lancaster,  Pa., 

Price,  75  cents  Subscription,  $3.50  per  year 

Mailed  December  2,  1948 


Entered  as  second-class  matter  January  21,  1919,  at  the  post  ofRce  at  Lancaster,  Pa., 
under  the  Act  of  March  3,  1879 


The  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 

Meetings  are  held  on  the  second  Thursday  after  the  first  Tuesday  of  each 
month  from  October  to  May,  inclusive,  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum,  Eastern 
Parkway  and  Washington  Ave.,  Brooklyn.  The  annual  dues  are  $2.00. 


OFFICEES,  1948 
Honorary  President 
J.  E.  DE  LA  TOEEE-BUENO 
President 

GEOEGE  S.  TULLOCH 

Vice  President  Treasurer 

4-  Secretary  McELVAEE 

ALLAN  S.  NICOLA Y 76  Ivy  Way, 

Port  Washington,  L.  I.,  N.  Y. 

Editor 

J.  E.  DE  LA  TOEEE-BUENO 

Delegate  to  Council  of  New  York 
Academy  of  Sciences 
EDWIN  WAY  TEALE 


CONTENTS 

SOME  EEMAEKS  ON  THE  TEOMBICULINAE,  Fuller  101 

CANNIBALISM  IN  LEPTOCOEIS  TEIVITTATUS,  Abbot  112 


NOTICE  113 

WOED  MADNESS,  Bradley  114 

ESPEEANZA  TEXANA  IN  FLOEIDA,  Hussey 115 

THEODOEE  D.  A.  COCKEEELL,  Linsley  116 


EIGHT  NEW  SPECIES  OF  TEICHOPTEEA,  Denning  119 

A NOTE  ON  COLPOCEPHALUM  AJAJAE,  Emerson  130 

WHY  NOT  CHECK  THE  LITEEATUEE  MOEE  CAEEFULLY, 

Breland  132 

MEMOEIES  OP  J.  E.  DE  LA  TOEEE-BUENO,  Olsen  135 

PEOCEEDINGS  OP  THE  SOCIETY,  Tulloch,  Teale  138 

NOTICE  140 


Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 


Published  in 

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copies,  75  cents.  Advertising  rates  on  application.  Short  articles,  notes  and 
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BULLETIN 

OF  THE 

BROOKLYN  ENTOMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY 


VoL.  XLIII  OCTOBER,  1948  No.  4 


SOME  REMARKS  ON  THE  TROMBICULINAE 
EWING,  1929,  IN  DAS  TIERREICH,  TROM- 
BIDIIDAE,  BY  SIG  THOR  AND  WILLMANN  * 

A Critical  Review 

By  Henry  S.  Fuller,  M.D.,  The  Bowman  Gray  School  of 
Medicine,  Winston-Salem,  North  Carolina 

The  mites  of  the  subfamily  Trombiculinae  (Family  Trombi- 
culidae  Ewing,  1944)  are  of  particular  interest  to  the  parasitologist 
and  to  the  medical  entomologist.  As  larvae,  they  parasitize  a wide 
variety  of  hosts,  including  mammals,  birds,  reptiles  and  amphibia. 
Man  is  an  accidental  host,  and  several  of  the  species  which  attack 
human  beings  cause  annoyance  by  virtue  of  the  local  inflammatory 
reaction  at  the  site  of  attachment.  During  World  War  II,  many 
men  of  Allied  land  forces  were  exposed  to  the  hazard  of  scrub 
typhus  (tsutsugamushi  disease)  in  South-east  Asia  and  the  Pacific 
Islands.  Since  the  vectors  of  this  disease  are  mite  larvae  of  this 
subfamily,  the  past  few  years  have  been  marked  by  intensive  studies 
of  the  group.  At  the  beginning  of  the  War,  the  most  recent  world 
treatise  on  the  species  known  as  larvae  was  that  of  Oudemans 


* Thor,  Sig,  and  Willmann,  Carl 
Trombidiidae. 

Das  Tierreich.  Eine  Zusammenstellung  und  Kenn- 
zeichnung  der  rezenten  Tierformen.  Acarina  3.  Lieferung 
71  b.  pp.  XXIX-XXXVI,  187-541,  text-figures  253-599. 
Berlin,  1947.  Walter  de  Gruyter  & Co.  Large  octavo,  paper 
covers. 

The  writer  wishes  to  express  his  appreciation  to  Dr.  George  W. 
Wharton,  of  Duke  University,  for  the  loan  of  his  copy  of  this, 
treatise. 

101 


BEC8 


102  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLlii 


(1912).  For  this  and  other  reasons,  it  has  been  exceedingly  dif- 
ficult to  make  the  precise  identifications  which  are  so  essential  to 
critical  work  in  medical  entomology. 

The  manuscript  of  the  present  work  was  first  written  by  the 
Norwegian  acarologist,  Dr.  Sig  Thor,  who  died  October  18,  1937. 
It  was  completed  before  his  death  and  was  brought  up  to  date,  as 
of  May  30,  1941,  by  Dr.  Carl  Willmann  of  Bremen,  Germany. 
Since  that  time  there  have  been  numerous  descriptions  of  new 
species,  and  several  new  genera  have  been  proposed.  Also  the 
subfamily  Trombiculinae  Ewing,  1929,  has  been  raised  to  full 
familial  rank  by  Ewing  (1944),  and  several  subfamilies  have  been 
recognized  within  it.  The  classification  is  still  in  a fluid  state,  even 
at  the  generic  level.  The  writer  has  been  compiling  a catalogue  of 
Trombiculinae  (Trombiculidae),  and  he  has  thought  it  useful  to 
discuss  the  treatment  of  this  group  by  Sig  Thor  and  Willmann,  in 
the  light  of  the  work  of  subsequent  investigators. 

The  authors  recognize  eleven  subfamilies  within  the  family 
Trombidiidae,  of  which  the  Trombiculinae  is  the  seventh.  The 
species  known  as  larvae  are  treated  separately  from  those  known 
as  adults.  A key  is  given  to  eighteen  genera  based  on  larval  char- 
acters, including  those  treated  by  Ewing  (1938)  in  his  key  to 
genera.  Tromhicula,  as  applied  to  larvae,  is  divided  into  the  sub- 
genera Tromhicula  s.  str.,  and  Eutrombicula  Ewing,  1938.  It  is 
pointed  out  that  the  larva  of  the  genotype,  T.  minor  Berlese,  1905, 
is  unknown,  and  that  the  application  of  the  generic  name  to  larvae 
is  tentative.  The  authors  state  (p.  261)  that  the  type  of  the  larval 
group  is  T.  akamushi  (Brumpt).  Eifty-six  larval  forms  are 
treated  in  the  genus  Tromhicula,  divided  between  the  two  sub- 
genera mentioned  above.  The  key  to  these  species  is  not  entirely 
workable,  owing  mainly  to  mistakes  in  original  descriptions,  on 
which  the  authors  were  forced  to  rely  in  many  cases. 

T.  (T.)  autumnalis  var.  japonica  is  regarded  as  a variety  of  the 
well-known  European  species.  It  is  dated  from  Tanaka  (1916), 
who  published  in  Japanese,  and  who  apparently  failed  to  render  the 
scientific  name  in  Latin  characters.  According  to  Philip  (1947, 
Amer.  J.  Hyg.,  46,  no.  1,  pp.  60-65),  valid  publication  of  the  name 
dates  from  Tanaka,  Kaiwa,  Teramura  and  Kagaya  (1930). 

r.  (T.)  russica  (Oudemans,  1902).  Allothrombium  muscae 
Oudemans,  1906,  is  treated  as  a synonym  of  this  species,  following 
Oudemans  (1912).  However,  his  synonymy  was  based  on  insuf- 


Oct.,  1498  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  103 


ficiently  cleared  specimens.  The  writer’s  studies  of  the  same 
specimens,  after  proper  clearing,  have  shown  that  the  two  species 
are  abundantly  distinct,  and  that  miiscae  is  entitled  to  full  specific 
standing  in  the  genus  Trombicula.  Also  the  writer  regards  T. 
my  Otis  Ewing,  1929,  as  a subspecies  or  variety  of  T.  russica. 

T.  (T.)  akamushi  (Brumpt,  1910).  As  a synonym  of  this 
species,  the  authors  have  listed  Trombicula  intermedia  Nagayo, 
et  al.,  1920,  a species  which  is  regarded  by  other  workers  as  a dis- 
tinct entity.  They  also  list  T.  deliensis  Walch  ‘T923,”  as  a syno- 
nym, but  it  is  subsequently  given  full  specific  standing  in  the  sub- 
genus Eutrombicula.  In  the  writer’s  opinion,  based  on  studies  of 
topotypic  material  from  Japan  and  Sumatra,  it  is  no  more  than  a 
morphological  variety  of  T.  akamushi. 

The  fifth  species  is  treated  as  T.  (T.)  pseudo  akamushi  Tanaka, 
1916,  with  Microtrombidium  akamushi  Hirst,  1915,  Trombicula 
pallida  Nagayo,  1919,  and  Trombicula  akamushi  GdXtr , 1932,  listed 
as  questionable  synonyms.  Tanaka’s  usage  of  the  name  in  1916 
was  published  in  Japanese,  not  in  Latin  characters.  The  correct 
name  is  T.  pallida  Nagayo,  Miyagawa,  Mitamura  and  Tamiya, 
1919;  and  pallada  (sic)  is  a lapsus,  published  by  Ewing  (1925), 
Vitzthum  (1929),  and  Andre  (1930).  The  species  referred  to  by 
Hirst  (1915)  and  Gater  (1932)  is  considered  by  present  workers 
to  be  the  true  T.  akamushi  (Brumpt,  1910),  not  a synonym  of  T. 
pallida. 

As  species  no.  5a,  the  authors  treat  T.  (T.)  pseudo  akamushi  var. 
palparis  Nagayo,  1919,  citing  an  article  in  the  American  Journal  of 
Hygiene  which  was  actually  published  in  1921.  The  correct  name 
is  T.  palpalis  Nagayo,  Miyagawa,  Mitamura  and  Tamiya,  1919,  of 
which  palparis  (sic)  is  a lapsus,  published  by  Tanaka,  Kaiwa,  Tera- 
mura  and  Kagaya  ( 1930) . 

On  pages  259  (key)  and  268,  T.  (T.)  keukenschriveri  (sic)  is 
a lapsus  for  T.  (T.)  keukenschrijveriW^Xch,  1924. 

T.  (T.)  microti  Ewing,  1928.  Trombicula  parkeri  Radford, 
1942,  is  now  considered  to  be  a synonym  of  this  species,  as  a result 
of  studies  by  Brennan  and  the  writer. 

T.  (T.)  cermdicola  Ewing,  T.  (T.)  blarinae  Ewing,  and  T.  (T.) 
piercei  Ewing  date  from  1931,  not  “1932.”  T.  blarinae  should  be 
referred  to  Euschbngastia  Ewing,  1938,  according  to  the  writer’s 
study  of  type  material. 

T.  (T.)  setosa  Ewing,  1937.  The  writer  has  examined  the  slides 
in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum,  no.  1256,  bearing  cotypes  labelled 


104  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


as  this  species.  Unless  there  was  confusion  in  labelling,  it  is  ap- 
parent that  this  species  belongs  in  Euschongastia.  Certain  of  the 
specimens  have  clavate  pseudostigmatic  organs,  despite  the  fact 
that  Ewing  described  them,  “each  with  a few  minute  barbs.” 

Under  T.  (E.)  batatas  (Linnaeus,  1758),  the  authors  have  listed 
Microthrombidium  helleri  Oudemans,  1911,  as  a synonym,  on  the 
authority  of  Oudemans  (1927),  and  their  figure  pertains  to  the 
latter  species.  The  work  of  Van  Thiel  and  others  has  shown  that 
the  larva  commonly  attacking  man  in  Surinam,  and  described  by 
Linnaeus,  is  not  the  species  described  by  Oudemans.  Michener 
(1946)  has  reported  detailed  studies  which  show  that  the  larvae 
are  abundantly  distinct,  and  that  helleri  is  entitled  to  full  specific 
standing  in  Eutrombicula. 

T.  (E.)  tlalsahuate  (Murray,  1877).  It  is  generally  accepted 
that  the  correct  name  for  this  species  is  Eutrombicula  alfreddugesi 
(Oudemans,  1910) . Murray  applied  his  name  to  a specimen  which 
he  never  saw,  taken  in  France,  and  reported  by  Lemaire  (1867). 
The  assumption  that  this  was  an  imported  Mexican  larva  was  un- 
sound. Since  the  species  commonly  attacking  man  in  France  is 
T.  autumnalis  (Shaw,  1790),  Murray’s  name  should  probably  be 
regarded  as  a synonym  of  it,  despite  the  fact  that  he  thought  he  was 
naming  a Mexican  species.  This  matter  has  been  discussed  by 
Ewing  (1938). 

T.  (E.)  wichmanni  (Oudemans,  1905).  The  authors  do  not 
cite  other  specific  names  as  synonyms.  They  treat  T.  pseudo- 
akamushi  var.  deliensis  Walch,  1922,  as  a distinct  species  (p.  282, 
figs.  339a,  and  339b),  applying  to  it  the  name  T.  (E.)  pallida 
Nagayo,  which  is  incorrect.  They  also  regard  T.  (E.)  hirsti  Sam- 
bon,  1927,  as  distinct  (p.  285,  fig.  342a,  b,  and  c).  On  the  basis  of 
comparisons  of  topotypic  specimens,  Walch’s  and  Sambon’s  species 
are  regarded  by  the  writer  as  synonymous  with  T.  (E.)  wichmanni 
(Oudemans,  1905). 

T.  (E.)  thomasi  (Oudemans,  1910).  This  species  has  a simple 
palpal  claw,  and  it  shares  other  characters  with  T.  desdentata 
Boshell  and  Kerr,  1942,  which  was  made  the  type  of  a new  genus 
by  Ewing  (1944).  It  should  be  referred  to  Crotiscus  Ewing,  1944. 
It  is  possible  that  Crotiscus  may  eventually  be  regarded  as  a sub- 
genus of  Trombicula. 

T.  (E.)  bruyanti  (Oudemans,  1910).  This  species  was  errone- 
ously described  and  figured  by  Oudemans  (1912)  as  having  a 
bifurcate  palpal  claw.  In  collaboration  with  Dr.  Marc  Andre,  the 


Oct.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  105 


writer  examined  the  cotypes  in  the  Museum  National  d’Histoire 
Naturelle,  Paris.  The  palpal  claw  is  trifurcate,  and  there  is  no 
long,  nude,  whip-like  seta  on  tarsus  III.  This  species  is  not  a 
Eutrombicula,  and  it  is  probably  best  classified  tentatively  in 
Trombicula. 

T.  (E.)  minutissima  (Oudemans,  1910).  Although  the  palpal 
claw  is  bifurcate,  the  scutum  and  pseudostigmatic  organs  are  unlike 
those  of  any  other  described  larva  of  Trombicula  or  Eutrombicula, 
and  there  is  no  long,  nude,  whip-like  seta  on  tarsus  III.  The 
generic  assignment  is  problematical,  and  this  species  may  merit  a 
subgenus  or  genus  of  its  own. 

T.  {E.)  guineensis  (Bruyant  and  Joyeux,  1913).  The  original 
spelling  of  the  specific  name  was  guineense.  The  figure  of  the 
scutum  is  similar  to  that  of  T.  autumnalis  (Shaw,  1790).  The 
writer  is  unable  to  discern  the  number  of  prongs  of  the  palpal  claw 
in  the  figure  given  by  Bruyant  and  Joyeux.  It  is  possible  that  Sig 
Thor  and  Willmann  assumed  this  structure  to  be  bifurcate.  The 
subgeneric  assignment  seems  questionable  to  the  writer. 

T.  {E.)  gliricolens  (Hirst,  1915).  This  species  was  assigned  by 
Wharton  (1945)  to  Acariscus  Ewing,  1943,  a synonym  of  Eutrom- 
bicula. It  was  based  on  a single  specimen  which  the  writer  was 
unable  to  locate  in  the  British  Museum  (Natural  History).  The 
present  subgeneric  assignment  is  regarded  as  tentative  by  the  writer. 

As  species  no.  34,  the  authors  have  treated  “T.  {E.)  pallida 
Nagayo,”  citing  an  article  in  the  American  Journal  of  Hygiene, 
which  was  actually  published  in  1921.  They  also  cite  as  synonyms 
T.  pseudoakamushi  Tanaka,  1916  (not  validly  published)  ; and 
T.  pseudoakamushi  Hatori,  1919  (virtually  a nomen  nudum)  ; and 
T.  pseudoakamushi  var.  deliensis  Walch,  1922,  1924,  and  1927. 
This  amounts  to  a lumping  of  two  distinct  species,  and  T.  pallida 
has  been  discussed  above.  The  writer  has  compared  some  of 
Walch’s  topotypic  specimens  with  Oudemans’  original  New  Guinea 
specimens  of  T.  (E.)  wichmanni,  and  they  are  indistinguishable  for 
practical  purposes.  Thus  figures  339a  and  339b,  taken  from  Walch, 
are  incorrectly  labelled,  and  they  refer  not  to  the  species  of  Nagayo, 
et  al.,  but  to  T.  (E.)  wichmanni  (Oudemans,  1905). 

As  species  no.  35,  the  authors  have  treated  “T.  (E.)  deliensis'' 
Walch,  1922.  Synonyms  are  T.  vanderghinstei  Gunther,  1940,  and 
T.  walchi  Womersley  and  Heaslip,  1943.  The  writer  and  certain 
other  workers  regard  this  as  a morphological  variety  of  T.  akamushi 
(Brumpt,  1910).  Although  one  encounters  variants  with  bifurcate 


106  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


palpal  claw,  these  forms  are  not  close  to  Eutrombicula. 

As  species  no.  40,  the  authors  treat  T.  (£.)  hirsti  Sambon,  1927. 
The  writer  compared  Oudemans’  original  New  Guinea  specimens 
of  T.  (E.)  wichmanni  (Oudemans,  1905)  with  Sambon’s  type  in 
the  British  Museum  (Natural  History).  On  this  basis  he  regards 
Sambon’s  species  as  a synonym.  Thus  figures  342a,  b,  and  c refer 
to  wichmanni. 

As  species  no.  41,  the  authors  treat  T.  (£.)  harperi  Ewing,  1928. 
This  species  was  incorrectly  described  with  a bifurcate  palpal  claw. 
According  to  the  writer’s  examination  of  type  material,  this  struc- 
ture is  actually  trifurcate.  This  species  is  related  to  T.  microti 
Ewing,  1928,  and  it  does  not  belong  in  Eutrombicula . 

As  species  no.  42,  the  authors  treat  T.  {E.)  oregonensis  Ewing, 
1929.  The  writer  has  examined  the  type  material,  and  contrary  to 
Ewing’s  statement,  it  is  apparent  that  this  species  is  not  related  to 
T.  bruyanti  (Oudemans,  1910).  The  palpal  claw  is  composed  of 
at  least  five  prongs,  the  pseudostigmatic  organs  are  clavate,  and 
consequently  this  species  should  be  assigned  to  Euschbnqastia 
Ewing,  1938. 

T.  (E.)  myotis  Ewing,  1929,  is  a species  with  trifurcate  palpal 
claw,  as  pointed  out  by  Wharton  ( 1947) . According  to  the  writer’s 
studies  of  authentic  specimens,  it  is  very  close  to  T.  (T.)  russica 
(Oudemans,  1902). 

T.  (E.)  flui  Van  Thiel,  1930,  is  a typical  Eutrombicula.  As 
shown  by  Michener  (1946),  it  is  a synonym  of  T.  (E.)  batatas 
(Linnaeus,  1758). 

T.  (E.)  cavicola  Ewing,  and  T.  (E.)  dunni  Ewing  date  from 
1931,  not  “1932.” 

T.  (E.)  ewingi  Fonseca,  1932,  is  the  genotype  of  Fonsecia  Rad- 
ford, 1942,  and  T.  (E.)  travassosi  Fonseca,  1935,  also  belongs  to 
Fonsecia. 

T.  (E.)  hominis  Ewing  dates  from  1933,  not  “1934.”  It  is  a 
synonym  of  T.  (E.)  batatas  (Linnaeus,  1758),  as  shown  by  Mich- 
ener (1946). 

Two  species  are  listed  as  “Unsichere  T.-Arten:”  T.  papuana 
(Canestrini,  1884)  ; and  T.  lahillei  Sig  Thor,  proposed  (presumably 
first  in  this  treatise)  as  a new  name  for  Microtrombidium  brumpti 
Lahille,  1927,  preoccupied  by  Hirst,  1915. 

Pentagonella  Sig  Thor,  1936,  is  treated  as  a separate  genus, 
accompanied  by  a footnote  stating  that  perhaps  it  might  better  be 
placed  as  a subgenus  of  Trombicula.  Eight  species  are  referred  to 


Oct.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  107 


this  genus,  of  which  the  present  writer  has  studied  all  except  P. 
jahrenholsi  (Oudemans,  1910).  P.  yorkei  (Sambon,  1928)  is  not 
related  to  the  genotype,  and  its  scutum  (fig.  353)  was  incorrectly 
figured  in  Sambon’s  original  publication.  Of  the  other  species,  P. 
acuscutellaris  (Walch,  1922)  is  nearest  to  the  genotype. 

Riedlinia  Oudemans,  1914,  requires  no  comment,  except  that  in 
the  generic  key  (p.  254)  it  keys  out  on  the  basis  of  pseudostigmatic 
organs,  and  the  form  of  these  structures  is  unknown,  since  they 
were  missing  from  all  specimens  of  the  original  series. 

In  the  genus  Schbngastia  Oudemans,  1910,  the  authors  treat  19 
established  species  and  one  uncertain  species.  Since  the  time  when 
Oudemans  proposed  this  genus,  it  has  undergone  considerable  split- 
ting. Of  the  nineteen  species  under  consideration,  only  four  can 
now  be  assigned  with  certainty  to  Schbngastia:  S.  vandersandei 
(Oudemans,  1905),  the  genotype;  S',  schuffneri  (Walch,  1922)  ; 
S',  pseudoschiiffneri  (Walch,  1927),  not  “1924;”  and  S',  vieta  Gater, 
1932.  Two  species  should  be  assigned  to  Endotromhicula  Ewing, 
1931:  S',  pillersi  Sambon,  1928;  and  S',  madagascariensis  Sambon, 
1928.  Two  should  be  assigned  to  N eoschbngastia  Ewing,  1929, 
as  restricted  by  Ewing  (1946)  : S',  gallinarum  (Hatori,  1920),  not 
“1919;”  and  S',  salmi  Oudemans,  1922.  (Hatori’s  description  was 
published  in  Taiwan  Igakkai  Zasshi,  no.  209,  pp.  317-352,  March 
28,  1920).  S',  aethiopica  Hirst,  1926,  should  be  assigned  to  Asco- 
schbngastia  Ewing,  1946.  S',  oudemansi  (Walch,  1922)  is  being 

made  the  type  of  a new  genus  to  be  described  by  the  present  writer 
in  a forthcoming  paper.  S',  berlesei  (Oudemans,  1903)  was  so 
inadequately  described  that  the  writer  cannot  decide  to  what  genus 
it  belongs.  The  following  species  should  be  assigned  to  Euschbn- 
gastia  Ewing,  1938:  S',  cercopitheci  (Tragardh,  1904),  not  “1905,” 
but  1904,  according  to  Oudemans  (1912,  p.  62)  ; S',  indica  Hirst, 
1915;  S',  coorongensis  Hirst,  1929,  emendation;  S',  globularis 
(Walch,  1927),  emendation;  S',  dasycerci  Hirst,  1929;  S',  anti- 
podiana  Hirst,  1929,  emendation;  S',  westraliensis  Womersley,  1934, 
emendation;  and  S',  petrogalis  Womersley,  1934,  emendation. 
Einally,  the  authors  have  treated  Trombidium  bottegi  Parona,  1895, 
as  an  uncertain  species  of  Schbngastia;  but  because  of  the  in- 
adequacy of  the  original  description,  the  writer  cannot  decide  to 
what  genus  it  belongs. 

N eoschbngastia  Ewing,  1929.  This  genus  was  restricted  by 
Ewing  (1946),  and  by  Wharton  and  Hardcastle  (1946),  to  include 
species  with  clavate  pseudostigmatic  organs,  in  which  the  chelicerae 


108  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


are  not  serrate,  and  in  which  the  scutum  is  at  least  partially  sub- 
merged beneath  the  dorsal  integument.  Paraschongastia  Wom- 
ersley,  1939,  has  been  shown  to  be  a synonym.  Of  the  fourteen 
species  treated  by  Sig  Thor  and  Willmann,  only  two  should  be 
retained  in  Neoschongastia:  N.  americana  (Hirst,  1921),  the  geno- 
type; and  N.  scleropori  Ewing,  1931,  not  ‘T932.”  The  genotype 
of  Ascoschongastia  Ewing,  1946,  is  N.  malayensis  Gater,  1932. 
The  writer  would  restrict  this  genus  to  species  in  which  the  posterior 
lateral  setae  are  off  the  scutum.  If  this  is  done,  then  the  following 
species  will  fall  into  Euschongastia  Ewing,  1938:  N.  trouessarti 
(Oudemans,  1910)  ; N.  sciuricola  (Ewing,  1925)  ; N.  calif ornica 
(Ewing,  1925)  ; N.  peromysci  (Ewing,  1929)  ; N.  signal  or  Ewing, 
1931,  not  “1932;”  N.  brevipes  Ewing,  1931,  not  “1932;”  N.  lacun- 
osa  Gater,  1932;  N.  mutabilis  Gater,  1932;  N.  debilis  Gater,  1932; 

N.  brasiliensis  Eonseca,  1935,  not  “1937;”  and  N.  dasyproctae 
Ewing,  1937. 

Euschongastia  Ewing,  1938,  is  treated  as  containing  only  the 
genotype,  but  the  writer  and  others  have  found  that  the  number 
of  prongs  of  the  palpal  claw  can  vary  on  two  sides  of  an  individual 
specimen.  According  to  the  writer’s  concept,  this  genus  includes 
most  of  the  species'  formerly  assigned  to  Ascoschongastia  Ewing, 
1946,  but  this  is  a controversial  matter. 

Doloisia  Oudemans,  1910,  requires  no  comment.  According  to 
the  writer’s  interpretation,  it  also  includes  Neoschongastia  mani- 
purensis  Radford,  1946. 

Odontacarus  Ewing,  1929,  is  made  to  contain  three  species : 

O.  dentatus  (Ewing,  1925)  ; 0.  australis  (Ewing,  1929)  ; and  O. 
gymnodactyli  (Ewing,  1925),  the  inclusion  of  this  last  species  being 
problematical  from  the  writer’s  standpoint. 

Endotrombicula  Ewing  dates  from  1931,  not  “1932.”  In  addi- 
tion to  the  genotype,  E.  penetrans  Ewing,  1931,  not  “1932,”  this 
genus  should  include  Schbngastia  pillersi  Sambon,  1928,  and  6^. 
madagascariensis  Sambon,  1928.  This  statement  is  based  on  the 
writer’s  comparisons  of  type  material  of  all  three  species. 

Leeuwenhoekia  Oudemans,  1911,  is  made  to  include  four  species: 
L.  verduni  (Oudemans,  1910),  the  genotype;  L.  jaegerskioeldi 
Oudemans,  1911;  L.  polydiscum  (Oudemans,  1910)  ; and  L.  aus- 
traliensis  Hirst,  1925.  With  the  exception  of  the  genotype,  these 
species  have  been  referred  by  other  authors  to  Acomatacarus 
Ewing,  1942.  The  writer  is  not  clear  as  to  the  line  of  demarcation 


Oct.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  109 


between  Leeuwenhoekia  and  Acomatacarus,  and  Ewing’s  published 
criteria  for  distinction  have  not  been  helpful  when  type  material 
has  been  restudied  by  the  present  writer.  The  generic  assignment 
of  these  species  seems  problematical. 

Hannemania  Oudemans,  1911.  The  authors  should  cite  as  a 
synonym  Hannemannia  (sic)  Oudemans,  1912,  proposed  as  an 
emendation.  Fourteen  species  are  treated  as  established,  and  one 
species  is  treated  as  having  uncertain  status.  Certain  of  these  re- 
quire comment. 

Hannemania  argentina  Lahille,  1927.  On  page  326,  fig.  387  is 
incorrectly  labelled  as  this  species,  for  it  is  actually  Sambon’s  figure 
of  H.  samboni  Ewing,  1931  (=  H.  argentina  Sambon,  1928,  pre- 
occupied). H.  samboni  Ewing,  H.  hirsuta  Ewing,  and  H.  pene- 
trans Ewing  date  from  1931,  not  “1932.”  H.  hepatica  Fonseca 
dates  from  1935,  not  “1937,”  and  it  is  so  close  to  H.  argentina 
Lahille,  1927,  that  the  possibility  of  synonymy  might  well  have  been 
considered.  H.  hirsuta  is  more  closely  allied  to  the  genotype  of 
Comatacarus  Ewing,  1942,  than  it  is  to  any  other  species  of 
Hannemania. 

In  treating  Hannemania  rouxi  Oudemans,  1917,  as  “Unsichere 
Art,”  the  authors  failed  to  cite  two  important  references : Oude- 
mans, 1917,  Ent.  Ber.,  4,  no.  93,  pp.  342-343  (original  descrip- 
tion) ; and  Oudemans,  1923,  Nova  Caledonia,  3,  Livr.  I,  pp.  127- 
131,  figs.  1-10.  Oudemans’  description  and  figures  are  adequate 
for  recognition,  and  this  species  should  be  regarded  as  distinct  and 
well  established. 

Finally,  it  should  be  noted  that  Sig  Thor  and  Willmann  have 
figured  the  scutum  of  several  species  of  Hannemania  after  Sambon. 
The  writer  has  examined  Sambon’s  original  specimens  in  the 
British  Museum  (Natural  History),  and  in  every  case  it  is  ap- 
parent that  he  failed  to  depict  the  anterior  median  projection  which 
is  present  on  the  anterior  margin  of  the  scutum.  Thus  these 
figures  are  misleading. 

Hemitrombicula  Ewing,  1938,  is  treated  as  a member  of  the  sub- 
family Trombiculinae.  This  genus  contains  one  species,  H.  sim- 
plex Ewing,  1938.  The  writer  has  examined  the  type  material, 
and  he  agrees  with  Wharton  (1947)  that  it  is  not  a member  of  the 
Trombiculidae. 

Gahrliepia  Oudemans,  1912,  is  treated  as  containing  two  species: 
G.  nanus  (Oudemans,  1910),  the  genotype;  and  G.  cetrata  Cater, 
1932.  It  should  be  noted  that  Cater  (1932)  considered  Schbn- 


110  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Voi.XLlli 


gastiella  Hirst,  1915  to  be  a synonym  of  Gahrliepia.  Womersley 
and  Heaslip  (1943)  have  given  excellent  reasons  for  synonymizing 
this  genus  and  also  Gateria  Ewing,  1938,  under  Gahrliepia.  How- 
ever, Sig  Thor  and  Willmann  have  maintained  them  as  distinct 
genera,  and  the  matter  is  a controversial  one. 

Schbngastiella  Hirst,  1915,  is  treated  as  containing  vS'.  bengalensis 
Hirst,  1915,  the  genotype;  and  6'.  disparunguis  Oudemans,  1929. 
The  writer  has  studied  type  material  of  both  species.  Because  of 
its  scutal  characters,  S.  disparunguis  should  be  referred  to  Walchia 
Ewing,  1931. 

Walchia  Ewing  dates  from  1931,  not  “1932.”  It  is  treated  as 
containing  six  species:  W.  glabra  (sic,  emendation)  (Walch, 
1927),  the  genotype;  W.  lewthwaitei  Gater,  1932;  W.  rustica 
(Gater,  1932)  ; W.  turmalis  (Gater,  1932)  ; W.  enode  Gater,  1932; 
and  W.  pinguis  (sic,  emendation)  Gater,  1932,  which  is  a synonym 
of  the  genotype. 

Gateria  Ewing,  1938,  is  treated  as  containing  three  species:  G. 
fletcheri  (Gater,  1932),  the  genotype;  G.  ciliata  (Gater,  1932); 
and  G.  rutila  (Gater,  1932).  These  require  no  comment. 

Two  genera  based  on  larval  characters,  each  containing  a single 
species,  are  also  treated  as  members  of  the  Trombiculinae : Hetero- 
trombidium  Verdun,  1909,  and  Polydiscia  Methlagl,  1928.  A foot- 
note under  the  former  states  that  it  may  not  belong  to  this  sub- 
family, and  that  the  scutum  is  reminiscent  of  Podothrombium  as 
figured  by  Oudemans  (1930).  In  the  writer’s  opinion,  neither 
genus  belongs  to  the  Trombiculinae. 

A key  is  given  to  three  genera  of  Trombiculinae,  based  on  adult 
characters:  Trombicula  Berlese,  1905;  Tragardhula  Berlese,  1912; 
and  Trombiculoides  Jacot,  1938.  Twenty-one  species  of  Trom- 
bicula, known  as  adults,  are  keyed  and  discussed. 

As  adult  no.  11,  the  authors  treat  Trombicula  pallida,  referring 
also  to  T.  pseudoakamushi  var.  pallida.  This  is  not  T.  pallida  of 
Nagayo,  et  al.,  but  is  actually  T.  (E.)  wichmanni  (Oudemans, 
1905). 

Trombicula  alleei  Ewing,  1926,  was  recently  made  the  type  of  a 
new  subgenus,  Megatrombicula  Michener,  1946,  and  Michener  also 
included  T.  peruviana  Ewing,  1926. 

Sig.  Thor  and  Willmann  have  raised  T.  canestrinii  var.  moesica 
Andre,  1932,  to  full  specific  rank. 

Trombicula  cavernarum  Ewing  and  T.  trifurca  Ewing  date  from 
1933,  not  “1934.”  T.  trifurca  was  recently  made  the  type  of  a new 


Oct.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  111 


genus,  Speotrombicula  Ewing,  1946. 

Tragardhula  Berlese,  1912,  is  monotypic  for  Trombidium  niloti- 
cum  Tragardh,  1904,  based  on  an  adult.  (The  larvae  described 
under  this  name  are  discussed  subsequently.)  The  authors  date 
this  species  from  1905,  but  Oudemans  (1912)  dates  it  from  1904. 

Trombiculoides  Jacot,  1938,  is  monotypic  for  Trombidium  scab- 
rum  Say,  1821,  emended  to  scaber  by  Jacot  (1938). 

In  a section  of  the  paper  devoted  to  Trombidiidae  described 
only  as  larvae,  Sig  Thor  and  Willmann  treat  two  genera  which 
require  discussion.  Blankaartia  Oudemans,  1911,  was  proposed 
for  the  larva  which  Tragardh  had  named  Trombidium  niloticum, 
and  which  he  had  found  parasitic  upon  the  adult  mite  bearing  the 
same  name.  Sig  Thor  and  Willmann  point  out  that  it  is  improb- 
able that  a larva  would  parasitize  an  adult  of  its  own  species ; 
that  the  larva  does  not  correspond  to  any  known  larva  of  the 
T rombicula  type ; and  that  it  does  not  fulfill  Ewing’s  criterion  that 
the  larvae  of  this  subfamily  are  parasitic  upon  vertebrates.  The 
writer  believes  that  this  larva  is  not  conspecific  with  the  adult 
known  as  Tragardhula  nilotica,  and  that  the  larva  therefore  requires 
a new  specific  name  in  the  genus  Blankaartia. 

Otonissus  Kolenati,  1856  (=  Otonyssus  Kolenati,  1858,  emenda- 
tion) was  used  by  Oudemans  (1937)  to  replace  Trombicula.  Sig 
Thor  and  Willmann  point  out  that  Kolenati’s  genus  and  the  nine 
uncertain  species  assigned  to  it  are  not  recognizable  from  the  de- 
scriptions and  figures,  and  that  an  adequate  understanding  of 
Otonissus  must  await  the  collection  and  study  of  topotypic  material. 
They  state  that  0.  aurantiacus  Kolenati,  1856,  should  be  taken  as 
the  type  species.  Kolenati  did  not  designate  a genotype. 

In  conclusion,  the  present  writer  regards  this  work  as  a worth- 
while contribution,  as  it  brings  together  a mass  of  not  easily  accessi- 
ble material.  Its  general  usefulness  is  diminished  by  the  numerous 
changes  that  have  occurred  during  the  years  between  the  closing 
of  the  manuscript  and  its  publication.  Among  these  changes  are 
the  raising  of  the  subfamily  to  familial  rank,  and  the  recognition  of 
four  subfamilies  within  it,  as  reviewed  by  Wharton  (1947)  ; and 
the  descriptions  of  new  genera  and  species  by  several  workers. 
This  critical  review  is  an  attempt  to  evaluate  the  work  of  Sig  Thor 
and  Willmann  in  the  light  of  our  present  knowledge.  To  bring 
it  up  to  date  will  require  considerable  cataloguing  of  literature,  and 
restudy  of  type  material. 


112  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLlli 


CANNIBALISM  IN  LEPTOCORIS  TRIVITTATUS  SAY. 

By  Cyril  E.  Abbott,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 

It  has  been  my  experience  that  cannibalism  appears  spontaneously 
in  many  insects  which  ordinarily  do  not  exhibit  this  tendency,  when 
a situation  arises  which  deprives  the  species  of  its  usual  source  of 
food.  Apparently  there  are  two  factors  involved  in  such  cases : the 
lack  of  usual  food  material  and  the  fact  that  the  insects  involved  are 
chemically  similar  to  the  normal  food  materials.  This  is  well  illus- 
trated by  the  following  observations  on  the  Boxelder  Bug,  Lepto- 
coris  trivittatus  Say. 

During  the  summer  of  1947  I confined  for  study  a number  of 
these  insects  in  various  stages  of  development,  and  found  that  dur- 
ing ecdysis  there  appeared  to  be  an  abnormally  high  mortality  in 
cases  where  the  insects  had  not  been  regularly  fed.  Moreover,  the 
non-molting  specimens  gathered  about  the  dead  insects,  which  they 
were  probing  with  their  proboscides.  This  situation  made  the 
insects  appear  to  be  cannibals,  and  in  order  to  test  this  possibility 
the  following  experiment  was  tried. 

Thirty  bugs  were  placed  in  each  of  two  cages,  with  only  this 
difference  between  them : that  whereas  one  contained  bugs  in  var- 
ious stages  of  growth,  the  other  contained  specimens  of  approxi- 
mately the  same  stage,  i.e.,  about  5 mm.  in  length.  The  insects  in 
the  first  cage  molted  over  a period  of  three  weeks ; all  but  five  or  six 
of  those  in  the  second  cage  within  a period  of  48  hours.  In  the  first 
cage  sixteen  bugs — about  53%  of  the  total — died  or  were  killed 
during  ecdysis;  in  the  second  cage  only  six  of  the  molting  bugs 
— 20%  succumbed.  This  experiment  was  repeated  again  with  simi- 
lar results.  In  other  words,  the  rate  of  mortality  in  bugs  molting  at 
various  periods  was  nearly  four  times  as  great  as  that  among  bugs 
which  molted  at  about  the  same  time.  This  gives  strong  presump- 
tive evidence  of  cannibalism,  since  bugs  of  about  the  same  size  and 
strength  molting  at  the  same  time  cannot  successfully  attack  one 
another.  Only  when  a non-molting  bug  encounters  a smaller, 
molting  bug,  can  cannibalism  occur.  Incidentally,  in  all  of  these 
experiments,  the  insects  were  given  no  food  but  -were  plentifully 
supplied  with  water. 

The  chemical  material  which  induces  attack  appears  to  be  water- 
soluble.  This  is  evident  from  the  following  tests.  Thirty  adult 
bugs  were  soaked  in  sulfuric  ether  overnight.  The  ether  extract 


Oct.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  113 


was  then  concentrated  by  evaporation  on  a piece  of  filter  paper  of 
about  32  sq.  cm.  This  filter  paper,  dried  and  folded  was  placed  in 
a cage  containing  bugs  in  various  stages  of  development.  The 
insects  gave  no  response.  The  paper  was  then  moistened.  Two  or 
three  bugs,  encountering  the  paper,  extended  their  proboscides  for 
a few  seconds,  but  soon  walked  away.  Observations  repeated  at 
intervals  of  an  hour  for  twelve  hours  revealed  no  greater  response 
than  this.  In  the  meantime,  the  bugs  from  which  the  ether  extract 
had  been  made  were  soaked  in  zvater  overnight,  and  this  extract 
concentrated  on  filter  paper.  This  paper  was  damp  when  placed 
in  the  cage.  In  less  than  ten  minutes  the  paper  was  piled  high  with 
bugs,  probing  it  with  their  proboscides.  The  paper  was  then  re- 
moved and  dried,  care  being  taken  to  see  that  the  bugs  were  supplied 
with  water  until  the  paper  was  replaced.  The  dried  paper  produced 
less  effect,  although  bugs  did  gather  about  it,  and  attempt  to  feed 
on  it.  Usually  ten  or  twelve  bugs  were  at  this  at  one  time,  but 
individual  bugs  wandered  away  after  two  or  three  minutes,  probably 
because  they  could  imbibe  no  liquid. 

It  appears,  therefore,  that  the  insects  contain  some  water-soluble, 
chemical  substance  attractive  to  others  of  their  species,  and  suffi- 
ciently like  boxelder  sap  to  initiate  a feeding  reaction. 

In  this  connection,  it  is  interesting  that  the  red  coloring  in  Lepto- 
coris  appears  to  consist  of  carotinoids  derived  from  the  sap  of  the 
boxelder  and  concentrated  in  the  body  of  the  insect.  This  material 
is  present  in  the  internal  organs  as  well  as  the  exoskeleton.  It  is 
not,  of  course,  water-soluble.  Of  what  use,  if  any,  it  is  to  the  bug 
is  problematical. 


NOTICE 

Mr.  J.  R.  de  la  Torre-Bueno,  editor  of  this  bulletin 
for  more  than  thirty  years,  died  on  May  3,  1948. 
Until  a new  editor  is  appointed  all  communications 
should  be  addressed  to  George  S.  Tulloch,  22  East 
Garfield  Street,  Merrick,  New  York. 


114  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.XLllI 


WORD  MADNESS. 

By  J.  C.  Bradley,  Ithaca,  New  York. 

Language  exists  to  convey  ideas.  To  a scientist  it  is  a tool  that 
must  operate  with  precision ; therefore  he  finds  it  necessary  to  re- 
fine definitions  and  to  coin  technical  terms.  Yet  to  use  the  latter 
needlessly,  familiar  words  in  unfamiliar  senses,  and  unfamiliar 
words  where  a common  one  would  suffice  is  pedantry.  It  is  not 
always  merely  a cloak  behind  which  a writer  can  hide  a paucity  of 
ideas  and  still  hope  to  appear  learned ; sometimes  truly  brilliant 
minds,  yes,  even  taxonomists,  appear  to  suffer  a type  of  word- 
hunger,  and  yearn  to  bury  their  thoughts  and  satisfy  their  craving 
by  more  and  more  erudite  phraseology. 

A learned  entomologist  has  been  so  gracious  as  to  give  the 
writer  a copy  of  one  of  his  recent  papers,  a really  important  revision 
of  a genus.  I quote  some  of  its  amazing  phraseology:  “its  close 
relative,  the  eury thermal,  mesophilic,  ubiquisf^  Euplilis”,  which  is 
elsewhere  described  as  a “complex  of  hygrophilous  to  mesic  forms” 
contrasted  to  the  '‘xerophilous  stenothermal  Moniaecera”,  one  of 
two  “fossorial,  terricolous  assemblages”,  each  of  which  “has  con- 
geries of  morphological  features”.  We  read  of  the  ''nominate^ 
complex”,  of  a subgenus  with  a “polite^,  perfulgid  habitus”,  of  a 
“polite,  transverse  zone  of  carinules”,  of  a ''non-callate  post-tem- 
poral region”,  ‘'subjulgid  thorax”,  "‘perfulgid  head”,  a “fulgid^ 
abdomen”,  an  “efoveate  carina”,  and  of  “ eburneous^  sclerites”. 

I was  about  to  ask  whether  my  readers  agree  that  a taxonomist 
ought  to  be  able  to  understand  a taxonomic  paper  without  continual 
reference  to  an  unabridged  dictionary;  but  on  second  thought,  I 
wonder  to  what  unabridged  dictionary? 

I have  italicized  words  that  do  not  appear  in  my  unabridged 


^ According  to  Webster,  one  of  a school  of  Lutheran  divines. 

^ In  Webster  appears  only  as  a verb. 

^ Webster  gives  “polished”  as  an  obsolete  meaning  of  polite. 

^ Webster  gives  Pope  as  authority  for  fulgid  as  a rare  word 
meaning  shining. 

® Apparently  an  anglicizing  of  the  Latin  “eburneus”  for  which 
Webster  gives  the  already  existing  English  equivalent,  “eburnian”, 
meaning  like  ivory. 


Oct.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  115 


edition  of  Webster,  although  several  have  been  made  familiar  by 
ecologists.  But  then  my  Webster  and  I have  been  getting  old  to- 
gether, and  perhaps  if  we  were  to  come  alive  a century  from  now, 
we  would  find  taxonomists  using  a still  more  marvelous  jargon,  and 
no  one  understanding  anything,  particularly  not  himself. 


Esperanza  Texana  in  Florida  (Hemiptera,  Coriscidae). — 
One  female  of  this  little-known  species  was  taken  by  me  at  light 
in  Lakeland,  Florida,  on  July  16,  1948.  Esperanza  texana  was 
originally  described  by  Barber  in  1906  (Sci.  Bull.  Bklyn,  Inst. 
1 : 270)  from  a single  male  with  the  scutellum  imperfect,  taken 
near  Brownsville,  Texas.  In  1927  Johnston  (Bull.  Bklyn.  Ent. 
Soc.  22:  221)  recorded  a single  male  from  Delta  Point,  Louisiana, 
and  described  the  scutellum  as  having  the  apex  curved  upward  to 
form  a conspicuous  spine.  Johnston’s  paper  was  overlooked  by 
Torre-Bueno  in  preparing  his  “Synopsis”  and  the  genus  is  incor- 
rectly characterized  by  him  (1941,  Ent.  Amer.  21 : 78)  as  having 
the  scutellum  unarmed. 

In  my  female  specimen  the  apical  spine  of  the  scutellum  is  ob- 
lique and  short,  its  length  being  only  three-fourths  the  diameter  of 
the  hind  femur.  The  basal  segment  of  the  rostrum  barely  surpasses 
the  base  of  the  head,  and  is  thus  slightly  longer  than  described  by 
Barber. — Roland  E.  Hussey,  Lakeland,  Elorida. 


116  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLill 


THEODORE  D.  A.  COCKERELL. 

By  E.  Gorton  Linsley,  Berkeley,  California. 

On  January  26,  1948,  the  field  of  biology  lost  one  of  its  most 
prodigious  workers.  It  is  doubtful  if  any  man  of  his  generation 
made  so  many  original  contributions  to  the  taxonomy  of  so  many 
dififerent  fields  as  did  T.  D.  A.  Cockerell. 


Theodore  Dru  Alison  Cockerell  was  born  in  Norwood,  England, 
on  August  22,  1866.  He  has  recalled  that  as  a child  he  was  not 
strong  (“I  remember  some  one  saying,  be  kind  to  the  little  boy, 
he  will  never  grow  up”).  However,  he  did  not  allow  his  lack  of 
physical  vigor,  nor  the  occasional  recurrence  of  a chronic  ailment, 
to  discourage  him.  Rather  he  rose  above  these  handicaps  and 
turned  them  into  important  elements  which  helped  to  shape  his 
career,  determine  his  methods,  and  to  a great  extent  his  varied 


Oct.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  117 


fields  of  interest.  His  bibliography  is  so  great  and  so  diverse  that 
it  would  be  a herculean  task  to  assemble  it  in  one  list.  The  number 
of  species  of  plants  and  animals,  living  and  fossil,  which  he  has 
named  must  be  in  the  vicinity  of  seven  or  eight  thousand ! 

Cockerell’s  interest  in  natural  history  began  when  he  was  a very 
young  child.  It  was  fostered  by  friends  and  family,  natural  history 
books,  and  a visit  to  the  British  Museum.  However,  he  was  also 
concerned  with  the  arts  and  there  was  a period  in  his  youth  when 
some  consideration  was  given  to  the  possibility  of  devoting  his 
major  effort  to  an  artistic  career.  Although  he  rarely  turned  his 
pen  to  strictly  scientific  drawing,  throughout  his  life  he  pleased  or 
entertained  friends  and  correspondents  with  his  sketches  and  fre- 
quently indulged  in  his  unusual  gift  for  poetry. 

One  of  the  early  experiences  which  apparently  had  an  important 
influence  in  shaping  Cockerell’s  scientific  career  was  a three  year 
period  spend  in  Colorado  between  1887  and  1890.  Here  he  began 
a catalogue  of  the  fanua  and  flora  of  Colorado,  both  recent  and 
fossil.  This  involved  a search  of  the  literature  as  well  as  corres- 
pondence and  contacts  with  workers  in  various  fields  and  un- 
doubtedly laid  the  foundation  for  his  broad  interests  in  biology.  At 
this  time  he  was  most  concerned  with  the  Mollusca,  Macrolepidop- 
tera,  and  the  flowering  plants. 

After  a brief  stay  in  England  he  accepted  a position  as  curator 
of  the  Public  Museum  at  Kingston,  Jamaica.  It  was  here  that  he 
inaugurated  his  studies  of  the  Coccidae.  However,  in  1893  his 
health  appeared  to  require  a less  humid  climate  and  he  exchanged 
positions  with  his  friend  C.  H.  T.  Townsend  at  the  New  Mexico 
Agricultural  College.  It  was  in  New  Mexico  that  he  first  turned 
serious  attention  to  the  Hymenoptera  developing  an  interest  which 
shortly  centered  in  the  bees  and  ultimately  resulted  in  the  descrip- 
tion of  more  than  five  thousand  species  from  all  parts  of  the  world ! 
It  is  Cockerell’s  work  on  the  bees  that  is  undoubtedly  his  greatest 
contribution  to  entomology.  This  work  was  initiated  with  studies 
of  the  extremely  interesting  and  highly  oligolectic  genus  Perdita 
and  continued  until  his  death  when  he  was  working  on  the  bees  of 
Honduras.  New  Mexico  was  momentous  in  Cockerell’s  life  in 
another  way.  It  was  there  that  he  met  his  wife,  Willmatte  Porter. 
Through  the  years  Mrs.  Cockerell  was  a constant  companion  and 
strong  support,  accompanying  him  on  expeditions  and  field  trips, 
sharing  his  interests  and  collaborating  in  many  of  his  projects. 


118  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


There  is  little  doubt  that  she  had  a most  profound  influence  in  in- 
creasing the  effectiveness  of  his  scientific  career. 

In  1903,  Cockerell  returned  to  Colorado  and  accepted  a position 
in  the  Museum  at  Colorado  College,  Colorado  Springs.  He  shortly 
moved  to  the  University  of  Colorado  at  Boulder  where  he  remained 
until  his  retirement  in  1934.  During  this  period  he  not  only  con- 
tinued his  prolific  work  on  bees,  but  the  nearness  of  the  Florissant 
and  Green  River  shales  turned  his  interests  to  Paleoentomology 
and  Paleobotany.  He  also  found  time  to  study  fish  scales,  color 
variation  in  sunflowers,  anatomy  of  rodents  and  various  other 
subjects. 

Following  his  retirement  Cockerell  shared  much  of  his  time  be- 
tween Colorado  and  southern  California,  spending  winters  in  Santa 
Barbara,  Riverside  and  Palm  Springs.  It  was  during  this  period 
that  the  writer  had  most  of  his  personal  contact  with  him.  Ever 
ready  to  lend  encouragement  to  a new  comer  in  the  study  of  bees, 
he  sent  specimens  and  literature,  loaned  types  and  unpublished 
manuscript  notes,  placed  me  in  contact  with  other  workers  in  the 
field,  shared  his  home  when  I went  to  study  his  collection  and,  in 
short,  did  everything  possible  to  assist  me.  The  same  encourage- 
ment was  offered  throughout  his  career  to  anyone  who  would  ac- 
cept it.  Although  it  is  impossible  at  this  date  to  estimate  the 
magnitude  of  Cockerell’s  direct  contribution  to  the  field  of  biology 
in  general  and  to  entomology  in  particular,  his  indirect  contribution 
as  a teacher,  correspondent,  and  friend  of  other  biologists  has 
also  been  most  significant. 

Dr.  Cockerell  died  at  the  age  of  82  years  in  San  Diego,  Cali- 
fornia. He  is  survived  by  his  wife,  Wilmatte  P.  Cockerell.  He 
was  a member  of  a great  many  scientific  societies,  including  the 
American  Philosophical  Society,  Zoological  Society  of  London, 
Royal  Entomological  Society  of  London,  Entomolgical  Society  of 
America,  American  Association  of  Economic  Entomologists,  Ento- 
mological Society  of  Washington,  etc.  His  publications  have  ap- 
peared in  most  of  the  major  scientific  periodicals  of  the  world. 


Oct.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  119 


DESCRIPTIONS  OF  EIGHT  NEW  SPECIES 
OF  TRICHOPTERA. 

By  D.  G.  Denning,  Laramie,  Wyoming. 

Collections  of  Trichoptera  recently  examined  by  the  writer  have 
disclosed  a number  of  new  species  eight  of  which  are  described 
herein.  In  addition  new  and  interesting  distributional  records  of 
several  related  species  are  included.  Unless  otherwise  designated 
types  of  the  new  species  are  in  the  writer’s  collection  at  the  Univer- 
sity of  Wyoming. 

Neureclipsis  timesis,  n.  sp. 

This  species  is  most  closely  related  to  crepuscularis  (Walker) 
but  differs  markedly  from  it  and  other  described  species  in  the 
elongate  cercus,  the  bifid  tenth  tergite,  the  structure  of  the  aedeagus 
and  several  other  details  of  the  genitalia. 

Male. — Length  6.5  mm.  Color  of  wings  and  appendages  luteus. 
General  characteristic  typical  for  genus.  Genitalia  as  in  fig.  1. 
Base  of  ninth  sternite  wide,  gradually  narrowed  dorsally  to  an 
acutely  triangular  projection.  Tenth  tergite  semimembraneous, 
directed  dorso-caudad,  divided  into  a pair  of  lateral  lobes  when 
seen  from  dorsal  or  ventral  aspect,  apices  bearing  several  long 
setae;  ventral  corner  projected  caudad,  directly  above  aedeagus, 
as  an  acute,  very  lightly  sclerotized  acuminate  process,  bearing 
several  long  setae  along  margin.  Cerci  directed  ventrad,  narrow, 
elongate,  undulating  margin,  apex  broadly  rounded;  apices  con- 
vergent when  seen  from  ventral  or  dorsal  view.  Clasper  with 
ventral  margin  straight  for  about  one-half  its  length,  then  rather 
abruptly  turned  dorsad,  apex  with  a narrow  blunt  point;  mesal 
surface  of  ventral  margin  closely  studded  with  thick  dark  brown 
setae.  Aedeagus  tubular,  basal  portion  broad,  apical  part  curved 
slightly  ventrad ; apex  with  a pair  of  lateral  caudad  curved  hooks, 
and  between  them  a slender  tubular  process  which  is  directed 
caudo-ventrad. 

Holotype.  Male. — Amherst,  Massachusetts,  June  22,  1941, 
Light  trap. 

Allomyia  stylata,  n.  sp. 

This  species,  the  third  described  in  the  genus,  is  much  larger  than 
tripunctata  (Banks)  (10  mm.)  or  renoa  Milne  (7.5-8  mm.),  its 
length  being  13  mm.  Spurs  1-3^.  General  color  of  forewings 


120  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^Llll 


brown,  setae  sparse,  a large  distally  rounded  white  spot  near  fork 
of  M,  a white  spot  where  Anals  join  margin,  a narrow  white  spot 
along  r-m,  and  a series  of  small  white  spots  in  vicinity  of  R and 
Sc.  Body,  antennae  and  palpi  dark  brown,  tibia  and  tarsus  luteus 
as  in  tripunctata.  Also,  as  in  tripunctata,  the  underside  of  the 
inner  margin  of  the  forewings  with  a series  of  long  slender  black 
setae  which  reach  to  Anal  veins.  Veination  essentially  similar  to 
that  illustrated  by  Betten  (1934). 

Genitalia  as  in  fig.  2.  Ninth  segment  annular,  practically  same 
width  throughout ; ninth  tergum  gives  rise  to  a single  long,  stout, 
caudad  directed  style;  directly  beneath  this  arises  a narrow  bifid 
projection,  seen  from  dorsal  aspect,  fig.  2 A.  Basal  segment  of 
clasper  tubular,  directed  dorso-caudad,  ventral  corner  with  a group 
of  dense  setae;  apical  segment  divided  into  a long  dorsal  branch 
whose  ventral  surface  is  flattened,  and  a ventral  branch  about  one- 
half  the  length  of  the  upper  and  whose  dorsal  surface  is  flattened. 
The  dorsal  branch  of  the  apical  segment  of  the  clasper  is  directed 
dorso-caudad,  the  ventral  surface  densely  covered  with  short  stout 
teeth,  viewed  dorsally,  fig.  2,  about  the  same  width  throughout  and 
apically  rounded ; the  ventral  branch  is  directed  caudad,  its  apical 
margin  and  the  apical  portion  of  its  dorsal  face  with  dense  short 
teeth.  Base  of  clasper,  from  ventral  aspect,  fig.  2C,  bears  a long 
stout  arcuate,  apically  acute  style  which  arises  from  its  mesal  cor- 
ner. Cerci  relatively  short,  leaf-like  from  dorsal  view,  fig.  2D. 
Tenth  tergite  distally  bifid,  apically  subacute,  fig.  2D,  extending 
caudad  beyond  lower  branch  of  clasper.  Aedeagus  tubular  at 
base,  distally  narrowed  and  acute,  directed  caudad  almost  to  lower 
branch  of  clasper;  apex  bifid  from  ventral  view;  about  midway  a 
pair  of  stout  acuminate  spines  arise  from  dorso-lateral  part  of 
aedeagus  and  extend  caudad  for  one-half  remaining  length,  fig.  2B. 

Holotype.  Male. — Albany  County,  Wyoming,  University  Sum- 
mer Camp,  Snowy  Range  Mountains,  July  10,  1941,  Light  trap, 
elevation  9600  feet,  (W.  B.  Owen). 

Allomyia  tripunctata  (Banks) 

For  purposes  of  comparison  the  genitalia  of  this  species  is  figured 
from  a male  collected  at  Glacier,  British  Columbia,  July  20,  1901, 
(R.  C.  Osburn).  The  lateral  aspect  of  the  genitalia,  the  fused 
tenth  tergite,  the  ventral  aspect  of  the  basal  segment  of  the  clasper 
with  its  prominent  mesal  spine  and  the  peculiar  aedeagus  with  its 
pair  of  large  dorsal  spines  is  shown  in  figs.  3,  3 A,  3B.  The  female 
has  not  been  described. 


Oct.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  121 


Chyranda  parvula,  n.  sp. 

This  is  the  second  species  described  in  the  genus,  the  previously 
described  species,  centralis  (Banks)  being  known  only  from  the 
Rocky  Mountain  area  of  the  United  States.  This  species  can  be 
differentiated  from  centralis  by  its  much  smaller  size  and  lighter 
color,  and  in  several  details  of  the  genitalia. 

Male. — Length  11  mm.,  as  compared  to  15  mm.  in  centralis. 
Forewings  light  luteus,  body,  legs,  palpi  luteus;  in  general  con- 
siderably lighter  colored  than  centralis. 

Genitalia  as  in  fig.  4.  Since  the  genitalia  of  the  two  species  are 
similar  corresponding  portions  of  each  are  illustrated  for  com- 
parison. From  lateral  view  cerci  sub-ovate,  setae  sparse.  Tenth 
tergite,  from  lateral  view,  plate-like,  gradually  narrowed  distally, 
apex  blunt,  while  in  centralis  the  apices  are  narrowed  much  more 
acutely.  Viewed  dorsally,  figs.  4,  4A,  the  processes  of  the  tenth 
tergite  are  widely  separated  and  gradually  divergent,  the  structure 
between  their  base  having  a short  apical  incision,  while  in  centralis, 
figs.  5,  5A,  the  processes  are  close  together,  only  the  apices  are  di- 
vergent and  the  structure  between  their  base  is  subacute.  Claspers 
with  mesal  margins  convergent  and  appressed  along  caudal  aspect 
of  segment,  seen  from  caudo-lateral  view,  fig.  4B,  claspers  nearly 
rectangular,  more  so  than  in  centralis,  fig.  5B.  Aedeagus  and 
lateral  arms  very  similar  in  each  species. 

Holotype.  Male. — Brandy  Brook,  Gaspe,  Quebec,  August  6, 
1937,  1500  feet  elevation,  (C.  P.  Alexander). 

Neophylax  splendens,  n.  sp. 

This  handsome  species  is  closely  related  to  rickeri  Milne,  from 
which  it  can  be  distinguished  by  the  shorter  tenth  tergite,  the  longer 
claspers  and  several  other  details  in  the  male  genitalia.  This  species 
is  also  considerably  smaller  than  rickeri,  the  latter  species  having 
a length  of  15.5  mm.,  while  splendens  varies  from  12  to  14  mm. 

Male. — Head,  body,  antennae  and  palpi  light  brown,  legs  yellow- 
ish, inner  spur  of  hind  legs  with  a modification  very  similar  to 
rickeri, — a thin,  wide  plate  distally  divided  into  two  parts,  each 
acuminate.  Wings  dark  brown  with  a pronounced  irrorate  pattern. 
Seventh  sternite  with  a broad,  apically  rounded  mesal  process,  fig. 
6 A ; very  similar  to  rickeri.  Genitalia  as  in  fig.  6.  Ninth  segment 
narrow,  produced  on  meson  into  a triangular  projection  which  is 
directed  caudo-dorsad,  each  margin  gives  rise  to  a dense  brush  of 


122  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


yellowish  setae,  fig.  6B ; the  structure  dorsad  to  this  sternite,  the 
probable  cerci,  is  triangular,  bluntly  acute  from  lateral  aspect,  fig.  6, 
from  dorsal  aspect  the  apical  half  is  curved  mesad.  Tenth  tergite 
from  lateral  aspect  wide,  dorsal  margin  arcuate,  lightly  sclerotized, 
divided  entire  length.  Claspers  approximately  triangular,  project- 
ing caudad  beyond  any  other  part  of  genitalia,  apex  blunt,  directed 
slightly  ventrad ; from  dorsal  aspect  base  broad,  apical  portion 
curved  mesad,  fig.  6C.  From  caudal  view  the  portion  of  segment 
between  claspers  and  ninth  sternite  presents  a very  irregular  rough- 
ened surface,  as  in  rickeri,  this  surface  appears  minutely  serrate 
from  lateral  aspect. 

Female. — Very  similar  to  male  in  general  appearance.  Sub- 
genital plate  with  a mesal  pair  of  slender,  sub-acute  lobes  and  a pair 
of  long  slender  lateral  lobes,  apices  slightly  convergent  and  lightly 
sclerotized,  fig.  6D.  Dorsally  tenth  tergite  with  a narrow  emargina- 
tion. 

Holotype.  Male. — Mountain  stream  south  of  Sheridan,  Wyo- 
ming, September  17,  1947,  (R.  E.  Pfadt). 

Allotype.  Female. — Same  data  as  for  Holotype. 

Paratypes. — Same  data  as  for  Holotype,  except  collected  by  D.  G. 
Denning,  2 males  1 female.  Medicine  Bow  Nat.  Forest,  South 
Brush  Picnic  Grounds,  Carbon  County,  Wyoming,  September  23, 
1947,  (R.  E.  Pfadt),  1 female. 

One  male  Paratype  deposited  in  the  Illinois  Natural  History 
Survey  Collection. 

Neophylax  rickeri  Milne 

For  purposes  of  comparison  the  male  genitalia  of  a specimen  from 
the  type  lot,  kindly  presented  to  the  writer  by  Dr.  H.  H.  Ross,  is 
shown  in  figs.  7,  7A.  Additional  records  as  follows : 

Idaho:  Wallace,  September  27,  1935,  (Otto  Huelleman),  1 male; 
Wallace,  October  24,  1937,  (Otto  Huellemann),  1 male. 

Neophylax  aniqua  Ross 

This  recently  described  species  was  previously  known  only  from 
Quebec. 

New  Hampshire:  Ammonoosuc  Ravine,  White  Mountains,  eleva- 
tion 4700  feet,  July  2,  1944,  (J.  F.  Hanson),  1 male;  Tuckerman’s 
Ravine  Trail,  White  Mountains,  elevation  2100  feet,  September  4, 
1940,  (J.  F.  Hanson),  1 male. 


Oct.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  123 


Neophylax  autumnus  Vorhies 

Known  from  Illinois,  Michigan,  New  York,  Ontario  and  Wiscon- 
sin, according  to  Ross  (1944). 

Minnesota:  Cass  County,  September  12,  1935,  light  trap,  (R.  H. 
Nagel),  1 male. 

Pennsylvania:  Camphill,  November  15,  1916,  (E.  Daecke),  2 
males. 

Quebec:  June,  1 male. 

Neophylax  consimilis  Betten 

Previously  known  only  from  New  York,  from  which  it  was 
originally  described. 

Massachusetts:  Conway,  September  9,  1938,  (J.  F.  Hanson),  1 
male. 


Neophylax  fuscus  Banks 

In  addition  to  the  states  recorded  by  Ross  (Missouri,  Michigan, 
New  Hampshire,  and  Virginia)  the  following  record  is  added. 

Minnesota:  Savage,  Credit  River,  reared,  September  20,  1935, 
(D.  G.  Denning),  1 male. 

Neophylax  nacatus  Denning 

This  species  has  not  been  recorded  in  the  literature  since  it  was 
originally  described  from  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire. 

Massachusetts:  Paradise  Brook,  Mt.  Toby,  October  21,  1938, 
(J.  F.  Hanson),  1 male. 

Neophylax  oligius  Ross 

This  species  was  originally  described  from  Michigan  and  Wis- 
consin. 

Minnesota:  Rutledge,  Pine  County,  September  4,  1936,  (R.  H. 
Daggy),  1 male;  Lake  County,  Baptism  Creek,  August  21,  1920, 
(H.  H.  Knight),  1 female. 

New  York:  Tuxedo,  September  6,  8,  12,  15,  16,  1928,  (F.  E. 
Watson),  5 males,  5 females. 

Psilotreta  hansoni,  n.  sp. 

This  species  is  closely  related  to  indecisa  (Walker)  and  frontalis 
Banks;  it  also  bears  some  resemblance  to  lahida  Ross.  From  all 
those  species  it  can  be  differentiated  by  the  shape  of  the  tenth  tergite 


124  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


and  in  the  number  and  positions  of  the  spines  on  the  apical  segment 
of  the  clasper. 

Male. — Length  12mm.  Color  of  wings  uniformly  brownish, 
body  a trifle  darker  and  appendages  a trifle  lighter.  Second  seg- 
ment of  maxillary  palpi  with  a long  mesal  brush  extending  the 
length  of  the  third  segment,  fifth  segment  with  a dense  mass  of 
black  hair  closely  appressed  to  it  its  entire  length.  Male  genitalia 
as  in  fig.  8.  Dorsal  portion  of  ninth  segment  long  and  narrow, 
acute  distally,  fused  with  tenth.  Base  of  tenth  tergite  with  a 
pair  of  heavily  sclerotized  curved,  ventrad  directed  hooks ; a 
short  distance  beyond  the  tergite  has  a narrow  deep  incision, 
fig.  8,  and  at  this  point  the  tergite  is  divided  into  a pair  of 
thin  pointed  plates,  their  apices  divergent  from  dorsal  view,  fig. 
8A.  Cerci  rather  long,  gradually  narrowed  from  base.  Clasper 
with  basal  segment  cylindrical  and  narrowed  apically;  apical  seg- 
ment short,  bearing  4 black  heavily  sclerotized  teeth,  from  lateral 
view  a dorsal  and  ventral  tooth  of  nearly  equal  size ; from  ventral 
view,  fig.  8,  mesal  tooth  short,  only  slightly  longer  than  others. 
Basal  half  of  aedeagus  narrow,  tubular;  distal  half  suddenly  and 
greatly  enlarged,  curved  ventrad. 

Holotype.  Male. — Amethyst  Brook,  Pelham,  Massachusetts, 
June  19,  1938,  (J.  F.  Hanson). 

This  species  is  named  in  honor  of  Mr.  J.  F.  Hanson  who,  through 
his  extensive  collecting  of  the  Trichoptera,  has  made  so  many  con- 
tributions to  our  knowledge  of  the  group. 


Explanation  of  Plate  VI 

Fig.  1.  Neureclipsis  time  sis,  male  genitalia,  lateral  aspect. 

Fig.  2.  Allomyia  stylata,  male  genitalia,  lateral  aspect;  2A, 
dorsal  aspect  ninth  segment;  2B,  aedeagus;  2C,  ventral  aspect 
ninth  segment,  base  of  claspers ; 2D,  dorsal  aspect  of  tenth  tergite 
and  cerci. 

Fig.  3.  Allomyia  tripunctata,  male  genitalia,  lateral  aspect;  3 A, 
dorsal  aspect  of  tenth  tergite ; 3B,  aedeagus. 

Fig.  4.  Chyranda  parvula,  dorsal  aspect  of  tenth  segment ; 4A, 
dorsal  aspect  of  tenth  tergite ; 4B,  caudo-lateral  aspect  of  clasper. 

Fig.  5.  Chyranda  centralis,  dorsal  aspect  of  tenth  segment;  5A, 
dorsal  aspect  of  tenth  tergite;  5B,  caudo-lateral  aspect  of  clasper. 


Oct.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  125 


Bull.  B.  E.  S.,  Vol.  XLIII 


Plate  VI 


CHYRANDA  CENTRALIS 


126  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


Oecetis  pratelia,  n.  sp. 

This  species  is  closely  related  to  inconspicua  (Walker)  from 
which  it  can  be  readily  distinguished  by  the  elongate,  prominent 
tenth  tergite,  the  lateral  aspect  of  the  ninth  segment  and  minor 
differences  in  the  cerci  and  claspers.  Length  8.5  mm.  Color  of 
wings  uniformly  light  brown,  appendages  slightly  lighter  in  color. 
General  appearance  of  adult  closely  resembles  inconspicua.  Gen- 
italia as  in  fig.  9.  Basal  portion  of  ninth  segment  narrow,  dorsal 
part  slightly  wider,  apical  margin  produced  into  a sub-acute  angula- 
tion, reaching  caudad  approximately  one-half  length  of  cercus. 
Cerci,  from  dorsal  aspect,  closely  appressed  most  of  length,  ovate 
in  appearance,  covered  with  short  setae.  Tenth  tergite  large  and 
prominent,  viewed  laterally  the  ventral  corner  is  produced  into  a 
large  rounded  lobe ; from  dorsal  aspect,  fig.  9A,  lateral  lobes 
divergent,  the  mesal  portion  nearly  truncate  and  bearing  a group 
of  small  setae  at  each  corner.  Clasper  with  the  base  wide,  giving 
rise  to  a short  dorsal  lobe,  the  structure  continues  as  a narrowed, 
sub-acute,  dorso-caudad  directed  apex;  from  ventral  view  apices 
gradually  convergent ; base  of  claspers  separated  by  a small  truncate 
process.  Aedeagus  very  similar  in  appearance  to  porteri  Ross  and 
inconspicua  (Walker)  ; ventral  margin  produced  into  two  hook- 
like processes;  internal  sclerotized  rod  with  basal  part  tubular, 
apical  part  acuminate,  basal  portion  directed  caudad,  then  sharply 
curved  mesad  and  finally  ventrad  to  the  ventral  margin. 

Holotype.  Male. — La  Belle,  Florida,  July  16,  1939,  (R.  H. 
Beamer). 

Explanation  of  Plate  VII 

Fig.  6.  Neophylax  splendens,  male  genitalia,  lateral  aspect; 
6A,  mesal  process  of  seventh  sternite;  6B,  ventral  aspect  of  ninth 
sternite ; 6C,  dorsal  aspect  of  claspers ; 6D,  female  genitalia,  ventral 
aspect. 

Fig.  7.  Neophylax  rickeri,  male  genitalia,  lateral  aspect;  7A, 
dorsal  aspect  of  tenth  tergite. 

Fig.  8.  Psilotreta  hansoni,  male  genitalia,  lateral  aspect ; 8A, 
dorsal  aspect  of  ninth  and  tenth  tergites. 

Fig.  9.  Oecetis  pratelia,  male  genitalia,  lateral  aspect ; 9A, 
dorsal  aspect  of  tenth  tergite. 

Fig.  10.  Micrasema  alexanderi,  male  genitalia,  lateral  aspect; 
lOA,  sixth,  seventh  and  eighth  abdominal  tergites;  lOB,  mesal 
aspect  of  clasper. 

Fig.  11.  Micrasema  etra,  male  genitalia,  lateral  aspect;  11  A, 
mesal  aspect  of  clasper;  IIB,  sixth,  seventh  and  eighth  abdominal 
tergites. 


Oct.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  127 


Bull.  B.  E.  S.,  Vol.  XLIII 


Plate  VII 


128  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^LIII 


Micrasema  alexanderi,  n.  sp. 

This  species  is  most  closely  related  to  bactro  Ross.  In  the  recent 
key  by  Ross  (1947)  to  the  Nearctic  Micrasema  this  species  keys 
to  bactro  from  which  it  can  be  easily  separated  by  the  configuration 
of  the  sixth,  seventh  and  eighth  adbominal  tergites,  the  shape  of  the 
tenth  tergite,  the  widely  separated  cerci  and  the  three  distinct  proc- 
esses which  arise  from  the  dorso-mesal  margin  of  the  clasper. 

Male. — Length  5 mm.  General  color  black,  appendages  prac- 
tically the  same  color.  Genitalia  as  in  fig.  10.  Abdominal  tergites, 
sixth,  seventh  and  eighth  as  in  fig.  lOA,  each  with  a sclerotized 
crescentric  thickening  which  reduces  the  dorsal  half  of  each  tergite 
to  a narrow  strip,  similar  to  that  described  for  diteris  Ross  and 
bactro  Ross.  Ninth  segment  reduced  dorsally  to  a narrow  sclero- 
tized edge.  Cerci  with  their  base  widely  separated,  projected 
directly  caudad,  ventral  surface  slightly  concave.  Between  and 
ventrad  to  base  of  cerci  appears  a triangular  protuberance  which 
bears  four  large  setae,  at  its  base  arises  a prominent  spine  set  on  a 
long  slender  tubercle.  Tenth  tergite  fused  on  meson,  along  line  of 
fusion  sclerotization  very  light ; apex  emarginate,  each  lateral  lobe 
with  four  dorso-cephalad  directed  setae.  Claspers  with  base  nar- 
row, apical  part  fully  twice  as  wide  as  base;  meso-dorsal  margin 
with  three  lobes,  the  center  one  being  in  the  form  of  an  acute 
ventrally  curved  hook,  best  seen  from  mesal  aspect,  fig.  lOB,  or 
from  dorsal  view ; apex  broad  and  truncate  with  the  ventral  corner 
produced  into  a sub-triangular  lobe ; mesal  face  of  clasper  concave ; 
viewed  ventrally  apices  convergent.  Aedeagus  tubular,  apical  por- 
tion flattened  and  spatula-like,  apex  rounded. 

Holotype.  Male. — Yellowstone  National  Park,  Wyoming,  Em- 
erald Pool,  July  12,  1942,  (C.  P.  Alexander). 

I take  pleasure  in  naming  this  species  in  honor  of  the  collector. 
Dr.  C.  P.  Alexander. 

Micrasema  etra,  n.  sp. 

This  species  is  closest  to  bactro  Ross  but  differs  from  it  in  the 
sclerotized  thickenings  of  the  abdominal  tergites,  six,  seven  and 
eight,  and  also  in  differences  in  the  cerci,  tenth  tergite  and  the 
clasper.  Length  6 mm.  Wings,  body  and  appendages  dark  brown. 
Each  lateral  portion  of  the  sixth  to  eighth  abdominal  tergites  en- 
closed by  a series  of  sclerotized  thickenings,  fig.  IIB,  similar  to  but 
markedly  different  from  bactro  Ross ; sixth  sternite  with  a small 
mesal  projection.  Dorsal  portion  of  ninth  segment  reduced  to  a 
narrow  quite  heavily  sclerotized  strap ; seen  from  either  dorsal  or 
ventral  view  the  apical  margin,  at  point  where  reduction  of  segment 


Oct.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  129 


commences,  is  produced  into  a short  tubercle  bearing  several  long 
setae.  Cerci  widely  separated  at  base,  directed  dorso-caudad,  only 
the  lateral  margin  discernible  from  lateral  aspect;  ventral  surface 
slightly  concave.  Base  of  tenth  tergite  wide  at  base,  flared  dorsad 
into  a ridge  bearing  a number  of  setae,  only  slightly  narrowed  dis- 
tally,  apical  margin  emarginate,  each  lateral  lobe  slightly  upturned 
and  bearing  five  setae.  Clasper  widened  and  truncate  at  apex,  the 
apico-dorsal  margin  subdivided  into  three  lobes,  the  most  cephalad 
about  the  same  width  throughout,  the  center  one  curved  mesad  and 
then  ventrad  as  a heavily  sclerotized  hook,  the  blunt  apex  turned 
caudad,  fig.  11,  the  most  caudad  lobe  curved  mesad  and  slightly 
ventrad;  seen  from  mesal  aspect  as  in  fig.  IIA;  the  inner  surface 
strongly  concave.  Aedeagus  with  apical  portion  flattened,  apex 
sub-triangular,  basal  part  tubular. 

Holotype.  Male. — Yellowstone  National  Park,  Wyoming,  Em- 
erald Pool,  July  12,  1942,  (C.  P.  Alexander). 

Micrasema  aspilus  (Ross) 

This  species  has  not  yet  been  recorded  from  Colorado. 

Colorado:  Walden,  August  10,  1947,  (D.  G.  Denning),  1 male: 
Poudre  River,  15  miles  west  of  Ted’s  Place,  August  17,  1947, 
(D.  G.  Denning),  1 male. 

Micrasema  charonis  Banks 

This  species  was  originally  described  from  North  Carolina. 

Tennessee:  Greenbriar  Cove,  Great  Smoky  Mountains,  May  15, 
1938,  (I.  Williams),  1 male. 

Micrasema  rusticum  (Hagen) 

This  fairly  common  species  has  not  yet  been  recorded  from  Min- 
nesota, Manitoba,  and  Massachusetts. 

Minnesota : collected  from  widely  scattered  localities  in  the  north- 
ern and  central  part  of  the  state,  only  during  May. 

Manitoba:  Pigeon  River,  Sturgeon  Falls,  June  6,  1942,  (Ferris 
Neave),  1 male. 

Massachusetts:  N.  Amherst,  June  9,  1938,  (J.  F.  Hanson),  1 
male. 

Micrasema  wataga  Ross 

This  species  was  originally  described  from  Tennessee,  New  York 
and  North  Carolina. 

North  Carolina:  Fla,  May  30,  1941,  (S.  S.  Easter)  1 male. 

Minnesota:  Cloquet,  July  14,  1938,  (D.  G.  Denning),  1 male. 


130  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


A NOTE  ON  THE  IDENTITY  OF  COLPOCEPHALUM 
A JA JAE  EWING. 

By  K.  C.  Emerson,  Stillwater,  Oklahoma. 

Ewing  described  this  species  of  Mallophaga  taken  from  Ajaia 
ajaja  (Linnaeus),  the  Roseate  Spoonbill,  in  1930  (Proc.  Biol. 
Soc.  Wash.,  XLIII,  p.  126).  His  paper,  being  without  illustra- 
tions and  with  only  a description  of  the  male,  resulted  in  many 
workers  questioning  the  validity  of  the  species. 

Specimens  from  the  type  host  were  received  through  the  kind- 
ness of  Dr.  L.  E.  Rozeboom,  Johns  Hopkins  University,  which  he 
collected  at  LaVaca,  Panama.  This  series  apparently  represents 
the  first  collection  of  this  form  since  the  original  record,  so  op- 
portunity is  here  taken  to  present  illustrations  (Figs.  1-6)  and 
notes  concerning  both  sexes. 

A pair  of  heavy  spines  on  each  preocular  lobe  of  the  male  sepa- 
rate it  from  other  forms.  The  frontal  head  margin  of  the  female 
is  very  distinctive.  In  both  sexes,  the  third  sternite  has  one  comb 
of  setae  on  each  posterolateral  angle  and  each  posterior  femur  has 
three  combs  on  the  venter. 


EXPLANATION  OF  PLATE  VHI 
All  figures  refer  to  Colpocephalum  ajajae. 

Fig.  1.  Dorsal -ventral  view  of  female. 

Fig.  2.  Dorsal-ventral  view  of  male. 

Fig.  3.  Dorsal-ventral  view  of  female  genital  region. 
Fig.  4.  Male  genitalia. 

Fig.  5.  Antenna  of  female. 

Fig.  6.  Combs  on  venter  of  posterior  femur  of  female. 


Oct.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  131 


132  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


WHY  NOT  CHECK  THE  LITERATURE  MORE 
CAREFULLY? 

By  Osmond  P.  Breland,  Austin,  Texas. 

The  writer  has  recently  noticed  an  increasing  tendency  for  au- 
thors to  overlook  or  disregard  publications  that  are  directly  cor- 
related with  their  own  articles.  This  practice  has  resulted  in  the 
publication  of  identical  or  similar  results,  and  in  many  instances 
readers  receive  the  impression  that  no  related  work  has  previously 
been  done.  Such  a paper  may  be  looked  upon  as  simply  an  inci- 
dental isolated  observation,  whereas  if  the  author  had  correlated 
his  work  with  previously  published  data,  the  article  may  have  been 
one  of  lasting  value. 

There  are  probably  two  main  reasons  for  this  fault  in  scientific 
writing.  Present  day  research  workers  are  frequently  under  so 
much  pressure  to  publish  that  they  are  likely  to  rush  into  print 
without  properly  checking  the  literature.  Another  reason,  of 
course,  it  that  papers  published  in  obscure  journals,  or  those  to 
which  the  writer  does  not  have  access,  may  remain  unnoticed  until 
it  is  abstracted  in  some  publication  with  a wider  circulation. 

The  present  short  paper  is  in  the  nature  of  a plea  for  a more 
careful  study  of  the  literature  before  publication,  and  for  the  in- 
clusion in  scientific  articles  of  related  material  that  has  been  previ- 
ously reported.  The  examples  cited  below  illustrate  the  type  of 
article  which  the  writer  has  in  mind.  Most  readers  can  doubtless 
recall  similar  publications  in  their  own  fields. 

Wilson,  Barnes  and  Fellton  (1946)  published  a list  of  the 
mosquitoes  known  to  occur  in  Pennsylvania  with  biological  and 
collecting  notes  relative  to  each  species.  In  June,  1947,  the  writer 
(Breland  1947)  published  a short  article  on  Pennsylvania  mos- 
quitoes, and  reported  the  collection  of  Megarhinus  septentrionalis 
D.  & K.  in  the  state  for  the  first  time.  In  November,  1947  this 
same  species  was  reported  to  have  been  collected  for  the  first  time 
in  Pennsylvania  (Stabler  1947).  In  this  case  the  latter  paper  may 
well  have  been  submitted  for  publication  before  the  writer’s  article 
appeared,  but  a footnote  could  have  been  added  when  the  proof  was 
received  for  correction. 

Additional  notes  on  Pennsylvania  mosquitoes  were  published  in 
1948  (Stabler  1948).  One  stated  objective  of  this  paper  was  to 
modify  certain  conclusions  that  had  been  reached  by  Wilson,  Barnes 


Oct,,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  133 


and  Fellton  (1946).  However,  some  of  the  statements  are  some- 
what misleading  since  cognizance  is  not  taken  of  a later  paper. 
Stabler  states  that  Wilson,  Barnes  and  Fellton  have  recorded 
Orthopodomyia  signijera  (Coq.)  from  only  two  localities.  This  is 
true,  but  why  disregard  a third  record  (Breland  1947)  ? Psoro- 
phora  jerox  (Humboldt)  is  considered  by  Wilson,  Barnes  and 
Fellton  to  be  “extremely  rare,”  while  Stabler  points  out  that  in 
Delaware  County  the  species  is  probably  not  as  rare  as  formerly 
thought.  The  writer  in  1947  suggested  that  this  was  probably  true 
for  P.  jerox  in  Cumberland  County.  It  seems  unlikely  that  this  is 
a case  of  inaccessibility  to  the  literature,  since  the  writer’s  paper 
was  published  in  the  same  journal  as  that  of  Wilson,  Barnes  and 
Fellton. 

Bick  and  Penn  (1946)  reported  some  experiments  in  which 
pupae  of  mosquitoes  placed  on  moist  filter  paper  later  emerged  as 
adults.  They  referred  to  earlier  observations  in  which  similar 
results  were  obtained,  thereby  coordinating  several  sets  of  data  and 
causing  the  paper  to  have  considerably  more  value  for  the  reader. 
Masters  (1948)  reported  similar  results  for  another  species  of 
mosquito,  but  no  reference  was  made  to  previous  related  work. 
Observations  of  this  type  should  certainly  be  recorded,  but  such  a 
paper  would  be  much  better  if  the  data  were  correlated  with  similar 
publications.  This  particular  paper,  by  the  way,  would  have  been 
more  understandable  if  the  author  had  used  the  generally  recognized 
scientific  name  of  the  mosquito  under  discussion.  Culex  jatigans 
Wiedemann  was  the  name  he  used,  although  most  American  workers 
at  least,  consider  this  name  to  be  a synonym  of  C.  quinquefasciatus 
Say. 

It  is  quite  obvious  that  the  quality  of  entomological  writing  could 
be  greatly  improved  by  a little  extra  work  on  the  part  of  authors. 
Specific  suggestions  include  the  following. 

Before  a worker  publishes  a paper  he  should  carefully  review  the 
literature  for  related  publications.  This  is  especially  important  for 
anyone  planning  to  publish  on  some  subject  outside  the  field  of  his 
usual  research  interest.  Entomological  literature  is  so  extensive 
today  that  it  is  almost  impossible  for  a person  to  be  thoroughly 
familiar  with  all  publications  in  several  fields.  The  easiest  method 
of  making  a quick  literature  survey  is,  of  course,  by  the  use  of 
abstracting  journals  such  as  Biological  Abstracts.  Even  the  most 
careful  worker  may  occasionally  overlook  important  articles  in 
obscure  journals,  but  abstracting  journals  of  one  type  or  another 


134  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^ol.  XLIII 


are  available  to  most  workers,  and  for  this  reason  there  is  small 
excuse  for  such  papers  to  be  overlooked  indefinitely.  If  related 
work  has  been  published,  it  is  quite  helpful  to  interested  readers  for 
the  author  to  correlate  briefly  his  findings  with  those  of  other  men ; 
or  at  least  to  refer  to  these  previous  publications. 

Recent  changes  in  scientific  names  should  always  be  indicated  in 
entomological  writing;  or  if  there  is  disagreement  as  to  which  of 
two  names  should  be  used  for  a certain  species,  both  scientific  names 
should  be  noted.  Unless  this  is  done,  many  readers  will  not  recog- 
nize the  species  under  discussion.  Writers  who  are  careful  in  this 
respect  will  be  doing  their  readers  a real  service. 

In  conclusion  the  writer  wishes  to  make  it  clear  that  he  does  not 
consider  himself  entirely  free  of  the  faults  that  have  been  discussed, 
but  he  at  least  is  trying  to  correct  them. 

Literature  Cited. 

Bick,  George  H.  and  Penn,  George  Henry.  1947.  Resistance  of 
mosquito  larvae  and  pupae  to  experimental  drought. 
Ann.  Ent.  Soc.  Am.  40:  82-86. 

Breland,  Osmond  P.  1947.  Notes  on  Pennsylvania  mosquitoes. 
Mosquito  News  7 : 76-77. 

Masters,  Charles  Otto.  1948.  Notes  on  the  ability  of  mosquito 
pupae  to  survive  exposure  to  air.  Mosquito  News  8:  20. 
Stabler,  Robert  M.  1947.  Megarhinus  septentrionalis  from 
Pennsylvania.  Ent.  News  58:  232-233. 

Stabler,  Robert  M.  1948.  Notes  on  certain  species  of  mosquitoes 
from  Delaware  County,  Pennsylvania.  Mosquito  News 
8:  17-19. 


Oct.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  135 


MEMORIES  OF  EARLY  VISITS  TO  J.  R.  DE  LA 
TORRE-BUENO  AND  HIS  BUG  SANCTUARY. 

By  Chris  E.  Olsen,  West  Nyack,  N.  Y. 

A penalty  we  often  suffer,  those  of  us  who  are  privileged  a nor- 
mal length  of  life  and  do  not  pass  away  in  the  early  years  of  our 
earthly  existence,  is  the  dreadful  grief  of  having  many  of  our  dear 
and  most  beloved  pass  on  one  by  one. 

On  May  3rd  this  year,  we  suffered  another  such  shock  when 
word  reached  us  from  Tucson,  Arizona,  that  our  dearly  beloved 
veteran  entomologist,  member  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  So- 
ciety, Editor  of  the  Society’s  publications  and,  may  I add,  one  of 
my  dearest  entomological  friends,  J.  R.  de  la  Torre-Bueno  passed 
away. 

It  is  with  considerable  sadness  of  heart  that  I am  prevailed  on 
to  write  these  few  lines.  In  contacting  his  friends  here  in  the  East, 
and  his  friends  here  are  many,  all  agree  that  any  tribute  that  may 
be  extended  to  the  memory  of  this  worthy  person  would  be  but 
a small  token  for  his  arduous  and  active  life-long  service  to  ento- 
mology. Even  should  a tribute  be  written  by  a master’s  pen,  he 
would  have  richly  earned  and  well  deserved  it. 

It  is  many  years  ago,  although  it  seems  only  as  if  it  were  a short 
time  back,  that  I first  made  the  acquaintance  of  Bueno.  It  was 
when  Bueno  resided  at  number  14  Duzenbury  Place,  White  Plains, 
New  York.  It  was  at  the  time  when  his  children,  now  grown  up 
men  and  women,  were  babies  and  our  own  girls  were  mere  tots  in 
rompers.  The  picture  that  most  strongly  comes  to  mind  from  those 
early  days  is  that  of  Mr.  Bueno,  youthful,  alert,  generally  mild- 
mannered,  very  courteous  and  attentive,  surrounded  by  a growing 
family  of  children,  all  of  whom  he  adored  and  felt  proud  of  . . . 
Mrs.  Bueno,  his  charming  wife,  patient  and  of  the  splendid  motherly 
and  companiable  type  . . . she,  with  Mr.  Bueno,  taking  great 
pride  and  delight  in  being  perfect  hosts  to  their  guests  who  had 
traveled  from  Maspeth,  Long  Island,  for  a Sunday  visit  with  them 
at  White  Plains. 

Sunday  visits  to  the  Buenos  in  those  early  days  were  frequent, 
with  or  without  my  family,  but  always  for  a definite  purpose. 
Needless  to  say,  this  definite  purpose  was  Entomology — to  be  more 
specific,  it  concerned  the  “True  Bugs”.  It  was  during  those  early 
years  that  I commenced  seriously  collecting  and  studying  the 
Hemiptera. 


136  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^Llli 


On  such  visits,  when  the  family  accompanied  me,  while  the 
children  romped  together  in  the  garden,  and  the  ladies  exchanged 
their  various  views  on  family  and  home,  the  bug  enthusiasts  would 
repair  to  the  entomological  “Inner  Sanctum”  and  there  discuss  the 
whys  and  wherefores  of  bugs.  Usually  a box  of  recently  collected 
Hemiptera  came  along  for  discussion  and  identification.  Bueno’s 
assistance  in  determining  insects  was  immeasurable.  He  had  an 
uncanny  faculty  for  pointing  out  the  determining  characteristics 
instantly.  An  afternoon  at  the  Bueno’s  insect  study  saved  months 
of  hard  work  and,  to  boot,  one  would  always  come  away  with  a few 
new  things  to  add  to  the  collection  at  home  from  his  magnificent, 
well-stocked  and  well-kept  collection,  or  a few  duplicate  short 
papers  on  Hemiptera  from  his  library,  more  often  with  both. 

At  that  time,  Bueno,  an  outstanding  authority  on  aquatic  and 
other  Hemiptera,  was  a most  enthusiastic  source  of  inspiration  to 
a young  upstart  in  this  branch  of  Science.  His  ever-ready  advice, 
assistance  and  guidance  was  of  immense  value  to  a beginner.  It 
was  given  unselfishly,  genuinely  and  with  a certain  amount  of 
pride  and  pleasure.  His  love  for  and  interest  in  Entomology  were 
boundless. 

Contacts  with  a person  such  as  Bueno,  a vibrant  enthusiast,  can- 
not be  minimized,  and  they  certainly  cannot  be  described  in  words. 
Such  kindness  and  cordiality  can  only  be  measured  by  one’s  inner- 
most feelings,  and  one  is  truly  fortunate  to  have  lived  such  moments. 

In  the  field,  Bueno  was  a thorough  collector.  He  was  quick  to 
point  out  to  young  students  the  fact  that  many  bugs  feed  close  to 
the  roots  of  plants  and,  therefore,  sweeping  for  bugs  should  be 
done  close  to  the  ground.  For  this  reason,  he  had  constructed  a 
net  of  his  own  design,  a very  substantial  net,  to  withstand  the 
hard  use  of  deep  sweeping. 

Our  visits  and  collecting  trips  went  on  for  many  years.  In  be- 
tween, we  would  have  delightful  correspondence.  Bueno  was  a 
linguist  of  reputation  and  an  excellent  writer.  His  letters  were  a 
pleasure.  He  was  always  prompt  in  his  reply  and  always  to  the 
point. 

I feel  it  quite  worthy  of  mention  that,  aside  from  all  his  other 
abilities,  Bueno  had  a beautiful  speaking  voice,  with  a rare,  clear 
and  bell-like  tone.  That,  together  with  his  perfect  diction,  accom- 
panied with  a slight  Spanish  accent,  made  his  talks  interesting,  con- 
vincing and  unforgettable. 

Later  on,  when  I decided  to  give  up  the  Heteroptera  part  of 
the  Hemiptera  and  concentrate  on  Homoptera,  particularly  the 


Oct.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  137 


family  of  Cicadillidae,  friend  Bueno  very  kindly  turned  over  his 
entire  library  of  Homopterous  papers  and  books  to  me  with  his 
blessing.  It  was  indeed  a blessing  to  me.  It  gave  me  an  excellent 
start  in  the  study  I was  pursuing.  Even  to  this  day,  the  great 
bulk  of  my  Homopterous  library  is  from  Bueno. 

On  one  of  his  visits  to  my  home,  he  became  interested  in  an 
undersea  coral  reef  painting,  on  which  I was  working  at  the  time, 
and  promptly  described  it  in  poetic  fashion : 

“The  Coral  Lanes” 

“Deep  in  calm  depths  of  tropic  seas 
Glide  slender  lanes  of  golden  sands 
Between  high-branching  coral  trees. 

In  filtered  sunglow,  silver-tipped ; 

Living,  vivid,  changing  mauves  and  scarlets. 

Hedge  glowing  paths  for  rainbow  fishes 
Whose  variant  hues  flash  through 
Cobalt  waters  slowly  fading 
Into  distant  soft  celestial  blues 
Down  straight  upon  the  sand 
Like  sheets  of  aureate  summer  rain 
Rare  tapestries  in  wrought  gold  folds 
Falls  soft  the  radiant  sunshines. 

Prismatic  tones  in  marching  vistas 
Grow  dim  among  the  distant  antlered  corals 
To  lose  themselves  in  far-off  nimbused  haze. 

Silence  felt,  light  shattered  in  a thousand  tints. 

Peace,  rest,  infuse  the  waters  calm  and  clear.” 

Bueno  was,  as  mentioned,  mild-mannered,  but,  at  the  same  time 
he  was  a fearless  fellow.  He  stood  firm  for  what  he  considered 
righteousness  and  fair  play.  He  never  yielded  the  slightest  to 
anyone  who,  in  his  opinion,  was  scheming  unfairly  for  selfish  inter- 
ests, no  matter  what  this  person’s  authority  might  be.  He  would 
rather  fall  out  of  grace  with  such  an  unscrupulous  individual  and 
remain  independent.  To  those  who  knew  Bueno  and  understood 
him,  there  can  be  nothing  but  admiration  for  the  splendid  charac- 
ter he  possessed.  Those  that  did  not  know  him  or  did  not  under- 
stand him,  and  I am  sorry  to  say  that  there  were  such,  missed  the 
chance  of  knowing  and  associating  with  a very  splendid  entomologi- 
cal friend  and  person. 


138  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIll 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 

Meeting  of  January  15,  1948. 

A regular  meeting  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  was 
held  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum  on  January  15,  1948. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  at  8:00  P.M.  by  President 
R.  R.  McElvare.  Members  in  attendance  were  Messrs.  Teale, 
Naumann,  Buchholz,  McElvare  and  Tulloch.  Messers.  Crystal  and 
Kellner  were  present  as  guests  of  the  Society. 

The  minutes  of  the  meetings  of  November  13  and  December  11 
were  read  and  accepted. 

The  Treasurer  submitted  a report  for  the  period  October  1- 
December  31,  1947,  as  well  as  an  annual  report  for  the  year  1947. 
Both  of  these  reports  were  accepted.  Appreciation  was  expressed 
to  the  Treasurer  for  his  fine  services. 

The  report  of  the  publication  committee  for  the  year  1947  was 
read  and  accepted.  A vote  of  thanks  was  extended  to  the  editor 
for  his  excellent  accomplishments  during  the  year. 

The  Secretary  read  a letter  from  Dr.  Joseph  Bequaert  of  the 
Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology  thanking  the  Society  for  its  action 
in  selecting  him  for  honorary  membership. 

The  following  were  nominated  for  membership  in  the  Society, 
Mr.  Bruce  Crystal  and  Mr.  John  Kellner,  both  of  Brooklyn  and  Mr. 
Sidney  Hessel  of  Woodmere.  Mr.  Buchholz  moved  that  the  by- 
laws be  suspended  to  permit  the  election  of  the  nominees  at  this 
meeting.  This  motion  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Naumann  and  passed 
and  Messrs.  Crystal,  Kellner  and  Hessel  were  declared  elected  to 
membership  in  the  society. 

The  nominating  committee  submitted  the  following  slate  of 
officers  and  committee  members  for  1948 : 

President — G.  S.  Tulloch 

Viee  President  and  Seeretary — A.  S.  Nicolay 

Treasurer — R.  R.  McElvare 

Pu blication  Co mmittee 

J.  R.  DE  LA  Torre-Bueno,  Editor 
A.  S.  Nicolay 
E.  W.  Teale 

Exeeutive  Committee 
O.  Buchholz 
E.  T.  Naumann 
J.  M.  Sheridan 


Oct.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  139 


Delegate  to  N.  Y.  Academy  of  Science 
E.  W.  Teale 

The  report  of  the  nominating  committee  was  accepted  and  the 
Secretary  was  instructed  to  cast  one  ballot  to  certify  the  election 
of  the  nominees. 

The  meeting  adjourned  at  9:  30  P.M. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

George  S.  Tulloch. 


Meeting  of  February  11,  1948. 

A regular  meeting  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  was 
held  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum  on  February  11,  1948.  The  meet- 
ing was  called  to  order  at  8:  10  P.M.  by  President  Tulloch.  The 
following  members  were  present:  Messers  McElvare,  Teale,  Tul- 
loch, Buchholz,  Kellner,  Crystal  and  Gaul.  The  minutes  of  the 
meeting  of  January  15,  1948  were  read  and  approved.  After  a 
discussion  by  members  of  a proposed  change  in  meeting  place  and 
a report  of  the  forthcoming  collecting  trip  by  Otto  Buchholz  to 
Texas  and  New  Mexico,  the  speaker  of  the  evening,  Albro  T.  Gaul, 
presented  a paper  on  “Growth  of  Yellowjackets  and  Hornets.” 
In  connection  with  the  growth  of  Vespine  wasps,  he  found  that 
Dyar’s  rule — that  the  width  of  the  head  increases  at  each  molt  by 
a ratio  that  is  constant  for  a given  species — held  true.  However, 
Przibram’s  rule — that  the  weight  is  doubled  at  each  instar — did 
not  hold  true  for  growing  yellowjackets  and  hornets.  After  con- 
siderable discussion  by  members  of  the  Society,  the  meeting  ad- 
journed at  9:  30  P.M. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Edwin  Way  Teale, 
Secretary  pro  tern 

Meeting  of  March  11,  1948. 

A regular  meeting  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  was 
held  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum  on  March  11,  1948.  The  meeting 
was  called  to  order  at  8:  05  P.M.  by  President  Tulloch.  Members 
present  were:  Messers  McElvare,  Tulloch,  Teale,  Kellner,  Nau- 
mann  and  Nicolay.  The  meeting  was  devoted  to  a symposium  on 
collecting,  with  members  exhibiting  various  insects  taken  in  the 


140  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLlli 


field.  Dr.  Tulloch  showed  a number  of  specimens  of  ticks  and 
discussed  the  appearance  of  Rocky  Mountain  spotted  fever  in  the 
East.  He  also  exhibited  three  examples  of  fossil  insects  preserved 
in  amber.  Mr.  McElvare  showed  a series  of  Heliothid  moths 
taken  in  the  Mojave  Desert.  An  abnormal  Automeris  io  moth,  the 
right  side  female,  the  left  side  male,  with  the  dividing  line,  sharply 
defined,  running  the  length  of  the  body,  was  exhibited  by  Mr. 
Kellner.  A collection  of  insect  eggs  together  with  a large  num- 
ber of  photographs  of  insect  eggs  were  shown  by  Mr.  Teale.  Sev- 
eral of  the  unusual  aids  developed  in  recent  years  for  the  teaching 
of  entomology  were  exhibited  and  discussed.  The  meeting  ad- 
journed at  9:  55  P.M. 

Edwin  Way  Teale, 
Secretary  pro  tern 


NOTICE. 

The  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  is  pleased  to 
announce  that  Dr.  J.  Bequaert  of  the  Museum  of  Com- 
parative Zoology,  Harvard  University  has  accepted  the 
editorship  of  ENTOMOLOGICA  AMERICANA. 
All  communications  concerning  this  journal  should  be 
addressed  to  Dr.  J.  Bequaert,  Museum  of  Comparative 
Zoology,  Cambridge  38,  Massachusetts. 


Vol.  XLIII 


DECEMBER,  1948 

BULLETIN 


No.  5 


OF  THE 

Brooklyn  Entomological 
Society 


NEW  SERIES 


J.  R.  de  la  TORRE^BUENO,  Editor 

GEORGE  S.  TULLOCH  EDWIN  W.  TEALE 

Published  for  the  Society  by 

Business  Press,  Inc. 

N.  Queen  St.  and  McGovern  Ave.,  Lancaster,  Pa., 

Price,  75  cents  Subscription,  $3.50  per  year 

Mailed  January  26,  1949 

Entered  as  second-class  matter  January  21,  1919,  at  the  post  office  at  Lancaster,  Pa., 
under  the  Act  of  March  3,  1879 


The  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 

Meetings  are  held  on  the  second  Thursday  after  the  first  Tuesday  of  each 
month  from  October  to  May,  inclusive,  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum,  Eastern 
Parkway  and  Washington  Ave.,  Brooklyn.  The  annual  dues  are  $2.00. 


OFFICERS,  1948 
Honorary  President 
J.  R.  BE  LA  TORRE-BUENO 
President 

GEORGE  S.  TULLOCH 

Vice  President  Treasurer 

# Secretary  McELVARE 

ALLAN  S.  NICOLAY  76  Ivy  Way, 

Port  Washington,  L.  I.,  N.  Y. 

Editor 

J.  R.  DE  LA  TORRE-BUENO 

Delegate  to  Council  of  New  YorTc 
Academy  of  Sciences 
EDWIN  WAY  TEALE 


CONTENTS 


ENTOMOLOGY  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES,  J.  R.  T.-B 141 

THE  TORRE-BUENO  COLLECTION,  Hungerford  148 

A RESOLUTION  OF  THE  SOCIETY  149 

SOME  MORE  ENTOMOLOGISTS,  J.  R.  T.-B 150 

A NECESSARY  CHANGE  OF  NAME  (HEMIPTERA),  Hussey 153 

J.  R.  DE  LA  TORRE-BUENO,  Sherman  154 

ADDITIONAL  RECORDS  OP  BIRD  TICKS,  Bequaert 156 

OBSERVATIONS  ON  MUTILLID  WASPS,  Shappirio  157 

BOOK  NOTES,  Tulloch  159 

ADDITIONS  TO  VESPINE  BIOLOGY  VI,  Gaul  160 

BOOK  NOTES,  Tulloch 163 

PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  SOCIETY,  Teale,  Gaul  165 


Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 


Published  in 

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Subscription  price,  domestic,  $3.50  per  year ; foreign,  $3.75  in  advance  ; single 
copies,  75  cents.  Advertising  rates  on  application.  Short  articles,  notes  and 
observations  of  interest  to  entomologists  are  solicited.  Authors  will  receive  25 
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J.  It.  de  la  TORRE-BUENO,  Editor, 


BULLETIN 

OF  THE 

BROOKLYN  ENTOMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY 


VoL.  XLIII  DECEMBER,  1948  No.  5 


ENTOMOLOGY  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES 

By  J.  R.  DE  LA  Torre-Bueno,  Tucson,  Arizona.* 

In  its  early  days,  entomology  in  the  United  States  had  not 
reached  its  full  stature  as  a respected  and  remunerative  profession, 
peopled  by  graduates  from  great  institutions.  Even  its  outstanding 
men  of  true  scientific  worth  were  only  high-class  amateurs,  some 
of  whom  in  time  became  our  great  economic  entomologists  and 
founders  of  this  branch  of  applied  biology..  In  order  to  be  an 
entomologist,  one  had  to  have  an  independent  mind,  a mind  verging 
on,  and  sometimes  going  into,  eccentricity,  a mind  proof  against 
the  sneers  and  ridicule  of  the  vulgar  and  the  unlearned.  Eor,  why 
should  any  man  in  his  sane  senses  chase  nasty  bugs  when  there 
was  no  money  in  it,  was  the  question  of  the  practical  mind.  And 
many  an  insect  collector  harbored  mental  quirks. 

There  was,  for  instance,  Hans  Strecker,  who  collected  the  great 
tropical  showy  butterflies.  Gainfully,  he  carved  grave-stones  and 
monuments.  To  satisfy  himself,  he  described  these  gorgeous 
butterflies  and  gave  them  names  from  the  mythologies  of  other  days, 
as  Jupiter,  Minerva,  and  so  on.  He  even  went  to  the  Bible  and  on 
one  he  clapped  the  name  Jehovah  to  the  horror  of  all  good  religious 
people. 

Then  there  was  the  great  collector  and  describer  of  beetles. 
Colonel  Thomas  Casey,  of  the  U.  S.  Engineers  and  a graduate  of 
West  Point.  He  produced  in  the  course  of  a long,  busy  life  in  his 
profession,  numerous  ponderous  tomes  in  which  he  described 
minutely  to  the  last  little  hair  floods  of  beetles  into  the  most  abstruse 
refinements  of  categories.  And  all  this  intense  productive  scientific 

* Mr.  Bueno  died  on  May  3,  1948.  This  article  written  in  1944 
was  found  among  his  papers. 

141 


3AN3i  1948= 


142  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


work  was  done  in  his  moments  of  leisure  in  a most  exacting  branch 
of  army  service ! 

Then  there  were  the  LeContes,  father  and  son;  Dr.  John  Eatton 
LeConte,  the  father,  was  a U.  S.  Army  surgeon,  and  on  the  side  an 
enthusiastic  collector  of  beetles  and  a highly  skilled  taxonomist. 
In  fact,  he  and  his  son.  Dr.  John  LeConte,  laid  down  the  broad 
bases  for  the  classification,  most  of  which  are  in  vogue  today.  As 
these  remarks  are  not  a formal  history,  here  is  one  of  the  traditional 
episodes  of  collecting.  One  day  the  mail  brought  to  one  of  the 
LeContes  a little  parcel,  which  being  opened  revealed  a very  rare 
beetle,  out  of  his  collection — -or  so  it  seemed — and  it  was  found  to 
be  so  when  the  proper  box  was  opened,  and  the  singleton  was  not 
in  it.  A little  later,  the  mail  brought  a letter  from  a repentant 
fellow-collector,  which  explained  everything.  In  substance,  so 
the  story  goes,  the  letter  stated  that  its  writer  when  he  was  being 
shown  the  LeConte  collection,  had  seen  the  specimen,  which  he 
really  needed  to  complete  his  own.  And  while  LeConte  was  looking 
aside,  the  temptation  had  been  too  much  for  him,  so  he  had  removed 
the  specimen  and  pinned  it  inside  his  tall  hat  and  thus  hidden  had 
taken  it  away.  But  his  conscience  had  troubled  him  for  a year  and 
more,  until  he  could  no  longer  stand  it ; so  the  missing  beetle  was 
returned  very  contritely.  Dr.  LeConte  had  in  the  meantime  had  no 
occasion  to  look  at  the  box  containing  the  treasure,  so  he  had  never 
missed  it ! 

Incidentally,  in  the  more  primitive  days  of  insect  collecting,  the 
inside  or  the  outside  of  a hard  hat  was  made  the  repository  of  such 
insects  as  were  put  on  pins  in  the  field.  So,  after  a good  summer 
day,  with  plenty  of  insects  on  the  wing,  the  primitive  entomologist 
could  be  seen  returning  with  a hat  bristling  with  bugs. 

Of  current  entomologists  of  my  own  day,  whom  I knew  in  person, 
here  are  a few  of  the  most  striking  ones. 

There  was  Robert  P.  Dow,  one-time  secretary  of  the  Brooklyn 
Entomological  Society,  and  a good  secretary,  too.  His  flowing 
handle-bar  reddish  mustache,  his  tousled  hair,  his  bright  blue  eager 
eyes,  were  features  at  meetings.  He  also  was  active  editor  of  the 
Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society,  when  it  was  revived 
after  several  years  of  dormancy. 

Dow  was  a nephew  or  grandnephew  of  the  noted  early  prohibi- 
tionist Neal  Dow  of  Maine.  Withal,  he  did  not  share  his  relative’s 
views  in  the  matter — far  from  it.  In  business,  he  was  a dealer  in 
obsolete  securities,  at  which  he  made  a very  good  living.  His 
procedure  was  very  simple.  He  would  bid  in  at  auctions  of  un- 


Dec.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  143 


marketable  securities  for  estates  bundles  of  unspecified  cats  and 
dogs,  for  a song.  Then  he  would  hold  them ; and  some  day,  sooner 
or  later,  some  one  would  want  the  elegantly  printed  certificates  for 
some  financial  reason,  and  then  he  cashed  in,  sometimes  very  lucra- 
tively, but  never  at  a loss. 

His  long  suit  was  archaeological  and  historical  entomology.  The 
Bulletin  published  these  very  interesting  articles  of  his,  which 
brought  to  life  and  made  real  so  many  of  these  founders  of  the 
science,  in  their  more  human  and  less  desiccated  moments.  For 
instance,  there  was  the  great  French  entomologist,  the  founder  of 
the  scientific  study  of  the  classification  of  beetles.  Count  de  Jean, 
one  of  Napoleon’s  generals.  It  was  told  of  him  that  at  one  of  the 
battles  he  spied  a very  rare  and  desirable  beetle  perched  on  a bush. 
He  got  off  his  horse,  battle  or  no  battle,  and  popped  the  beetle  into 
his  killing  bottle,  which  he  always  carried  in  his  saddle-holster.  A 
stray  bullet  struck  the  holster,  and  scattered  fragments  of  holster 
and  bottle,  and  the  beetle.  DeJean  was  not  discouraged.  He  got 
off  his  horse  and  searched  for  the  beetle  to  the  whistling  of  passing 
bullets  until  he  had  retrieved  the  valuable  specimen  and  put  it  in 
the  other  holster ! 

Dow  also  wrote  of  Lillith  of  legend,  the  alternate  and  devlish 
wife  of  our  father  Adam;  and  of  Baal-Zebub,  the  Father  of  Flies 
and/or  of  Lies,  known  to  us  as  Beelzebub,  the  devil.  In  his  opus 
“The  Testimony  of  the  Tombs”  he  delved  into  the  entomological 
lore  of  Egypt  and  figured  insects  from  designs  on  sarcophagi  and  in 
tombs. 

He  attained  his  entomological  peak  when,  with  ineffable  com- 
placency he  gave  his  own  name  to  a genus  he  described — not  crudely 
but  quite  effectively.  He  made  a sort  of  anagram  of  his  initials, 
R.  P.  D.,  and  invented  the  name  Arpidius,  thus  embalming  himself 
unto  entomological  posterity. 

One  time,  he  and  I were  collecting  about  Todd’s  Pond,  close  by 
White  Plains,  and  now  a real  estate  development.  And  this  is  a 
dramatization  of  one  of  the  happenings. 

The  Caterpillar  and  the  Collector  (more  politely.  Entomologist) . 
Scene — The  sloping,  grassy,  weedy  north  shore  of  the  pond,  in  what 
is  now  Westminster  Ridge,  White  Plains,  N.  Y. 

Time — A late  spring  afternoon. 

Actors — The  Collector  on  his  own  two  feet,  eyes  roving  hither  and 
yon,  mustachios  fluttering  in  the  breeze;  the  Caterpillar,  name 
unknown,  calm,  collected  (and  uncollected)  on  a leaf  atop  a bushy 
weed. 


144  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  f^ol.  XLIII 


Chorus — Me. 

‘Twas  a balmy,  sunshiny  day — birds  a-twitter,  flowers  a-bloom. 
The  Collector  (and  the  Chorus)  strolling  along  finding  treasures 
and  more  or  less  basking  in  the  warm  sun. 

The  Collector  spies  the  Caterpillar  and  deftly  picks  it  off  its  place 
of  rest,  rolls  it  tenderly  between  thumb  and  fingers  and  after  in- 
spection, remarks  meditatively : “I  wonder  what  it  tastes  like  ?” 
The  Chorus — “Would  you  like  to  know?” 

The  Collector — “Yes”. 

Chorus — “Why  don’t  you  bite  it  and  find  out  ?” 

Collector — “Why  not?” 

Chorus — “Do  you  mean  to  say  you  would  eat  it  ?” 

Collector — “Yes.  I know  the  taste  of  300  kinds  of  caterpillars !” 

He  did ; and  went  on  to  say  at  length  how  every  caterpillar  has 
a distinct  flavor — the  taste  of  the  plant  it  fed  on. 

Scientific  ardor,  which  leads  us  up  strange  by-ways  of  inquisitive- 
ness, could  attain  no  greater  heights ! 

Eventually,  Dow  gave  up  entomology  and  moved  to  California, 
where  he  dealt  in  real  estate.  His  entomological  activities  were  at 
an  end. 

Still  another  eccentric.  He  was  a keen  observer  of  insects.  He 
was  also  a rapacious  collector.  One  of  the  founders  of  the  Brooklyn 
Entomological  Society,  he  seldom  missed  its  meetings;  in  later 
years,  during  the  proceedings,  he  could  be  seen  assiduously  curry- 
combing  his  finger  nails  to  remove  the  accumulated  earth  acquired 
in  digging  insects  out  of  their  hiding  places  in  the  ground  with  his 
fingers.  Those  of  us  who  knew  him  in  person,  do  not  need  his 
name ; to  the  outside  world,  he  shall  be  nameless. 

He  was  the  collector  of  fiction  and  legend  personified.  While 
scrupulously  clean  in  his  person,  his  clothes  always  were  on  the 
edge  of  disintegration  and  frightfully  in  need  of  cleaning  and  press- 
ing. I have  seen  him  running  a cultivator  on  his  Long  Island  farm 
in  topless  hat  and  bottomless  pants.  Yet,  he  was  a gentleman  of 
education  and  breeding  and  learning,  an  early  Cornell  graduate, 
descended  from  a Colonial  family  of  standing  and  wealth,  original 
Royal  Patentees  of  extensive  lands  on  Long  Island.  His  face 
showed  breed,  even  though  over-breeding  leading  to  eccentricity 
and  even  psychosis  in  his  advanced  years. 

Now  and  again,  before  the  outlying  country  about  New  York 
City  and  Brooklyn  was  built  up,  the  entomological  societies  would 
have  field  days,  when  a number  of  collectors  would  go  afield  in 
company.  These  outings  usually  took  place  in  the  spring  or 


Bee.,  1948  Bulletin  of  ike  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  145 


autumn,  faring  forth  to  the  Palisades  in  New  Jersey  or  to  the 
beaches  on  Long  Island. 

Our  protagonist’s  performances  at  one  trip  to  Rockaway  Beach 
are  worth  recording.  He  always  carried  with  him  on  such  trips — 
and  on  other  occasions  also — a genuine  pre-Civil  War  carpet-bag 
or  grip-sack  to  hold  his  takings.  In  its  recesses  lay  hidden  from 
a scoffing  world  the  usual  assortment  of  collecting  bottles  for  kill- 
ing insects  and  other  oddments  for  collecting,  and  always  a lunch 
of  sorts  wrapped  in  a greasy  piece  of  newspaper  which  had  dis- 
tinctly seen  better  days  and  which  also  had  held  other  lunches 
aforetime.  Anything  of  value  to  an  ant  was  a treasure  to  him. 
His  collecting  started  at  the  end  of  the  elevated  railroad  line,  when 
he  raced  through  the  car  picking  up  and  stowing  away  discarded 
newspapers — any  date  and  any  frowziness.  One  time  he  had  an 
actual  dispute  with  a train  guard  who  had  the  daring  to  lay  his 
unholy  and  (necessarily)  unclean  hands  on  a coveted  second  hand 
paper — and  got  away  with  it ! Each  newspaper  was  carefully 
smoothed  out,  and  into  the  belly  of  the  grip  it  went ! 

Once  the  sea-beach  was  reached,  the  really  serious  collecting 
began.  There  was  the  tide  line  strewn  with  juicy  treasures  of 
flotsam  and  jetsam — mostly  the  latter,  including  the  ship’s  garbage 
and  slops.  What  finds ! Champagne  and  wine  corks,  fishing  net 
floats,  empty  bottles,  crates  (sadly  abandoned  by  him  to  destruction 
by  the  waves  and  the  winds,  or  perhaps  destined  to  be  kindlings 
for  some  one  more  able  to  carry  them  away),  skeletonized  sea- 
horses, sand-fleas,  earwigs  and  beetles  under  boards  and  chips, 
drowned  insects  of  all  sorts  in  windrows  on  the  tide-line  and  mingled 
with  uprooted  eel-grass  and  sea-weeds — all  enticed  our  collector. 
Among  this  wreckage  he  found  a battered  flour-barrel.  After  a 
careful  inspection  of  his  trove,  said  our  collector : “The  hoops  are 
good’’ ; and  gathered  they  were  and  draped  over  his  neck  and 
shoulders.  At  the  end  of  the  trip,  the  party  arrived  eventually  at 
the  New  York  City  garbage  dump  heaps  on  Barren  Island. 

And  here  was  the  crowning  point  of  a well-spent  day ! Perched 
on  top  of  a mound  of  trash  was  an  obsolete  pair  of  pants,  all  crum- 
pled, rumpled  and  filthy.  These  were  secured,  shaken  out  and 
measured  for  length  against  himself  by  their  finder.  With  the  re- 
mark “They  are  as  good  as  those  I have  on’’,  into  the  bag  they  went, 
more  or  less  neatly  folded. 

All  these  treasures  were  carefully  sorted  out  and  stowed  away  in 
his  quarters.  At  the  Long  Island  family  place  he  had  a small  shed 
close  by  the  railroad  tracks ; on  one  side,  piled  to  the  ceiling  were 


146  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLiii 


newspapers,  on  the  opposite  side,  bottles  of  all  descriptions.  This 
shed  unfortunately  was  burned  down  in  a brush  fire,  set,  so  he  said, 
by  sparks  from  the  Long  Island  Railroad  locomotives.  Later,  he 
built  himself  a capacious  barn  on  the  property,  for  a treasure  house 
removed  from  danger  of  incineration. 

A choice  episode  was  the  sip  of  beer.  After  the  close  of  the 
meetings,  the  members  adjourned  to  a German  biergarten  nearby 
the  place  of  meeting,  going  into  the  back  room  by  the  Family  En- 
trance, where  they  were  served  sauer-fleisch  and  other  hearty 
Teutonic  food  and  delicacies,  washed  down  with  foaming  steins 
of  “echt  bier” — none  of  the  feeble  latter-day  imitations  or  “ersatz”. 
The  cost  of  the  supper  was  equally  apportioned  among  the  eaters, 
but  the  beer  was  individually  paid  for  according  to  consumption. 
Our  hero  never  joined  in  the  general  feast — he’d  dive  into  his 
omnipresent  carpet-bag  and  take  from  its  dark  recesses  his  news- 
paper-wrapped refection  and  consume  it  solo — and  no  costly  beer 
for  him,  at  a nickel  a shot.  But,  one  time,  thirst  was  too  strong 
for  him.  Tapping  one  of  the  convivials  on  the  shoulder,  he  mur- 
mured “Mr.  G.,  do  you  mind  if  I take  a sip  of  your  beer?”  To 
which  the  addressee  replied  by  ordering  for  him  a flowing  tankard 
for  his  private  delectation ! 

As  the  years  went  by — he  .was  in  his  middle  seventies  by  this 
time — he  took  up  nudism  in  a big  way  and  practised  it  in  his  own 
back-yard  to  the  horror  of  the  neighbors,  who  had  him  summoned 
before  the  court  to  explain  his  unseemliness.  But  the  case  never 
came  to  trial,  because  the  cold  winds  of  early  Fall  gave  him  a pneu- 
monia, which  took  him  off.  A sad  end  for  a fine  mind  gone  astray ! 

All  his  collectings,  including  many  fine  insects,  were  junked  by 
his  heirs.  His  excellent  collection  of  pamphlets  went  for  waste- 
paper  to  the  junkman,  a real  scientific  loss ! 

In  person  he  was  strongly  built.  His  stooped  shoulders  took 
away  from  his  height,  which  must  have  been  some  six  feet  in  youth. 
He  had  a clean-cut  face,  always  scrupulously  shaven.  But  his 
attire  was  always  slovenly,  to  be  conservative  in  statement. 

On  one  occasion,  he  spoke  before  the  Society  about  broad- 
shouldered  beetles,  scientifically  known  as  buprestids.  He  began 
quite  formally,  telling  of  their  habit  of  boring  in  dead  trees  in  their 
grub  stage.  By  imperceptible  degrees  he  went  from  dead  pines 
killed  by  forest  fires  on  Long  Island,  kindled  by  the  burning  sparks 
from  the  Long  Island  trains,  to  wind  up  in  a blaze  of  glory  on  the 
iniquities  of  this  transportation  system.  Another  talk  on  mos- 
quitoes took  him  directly  to  the  nefarious  doings  of  the  city  ad- 


Dec.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  147 


ministration,  whch  had  filched  his  ideas  for  mosquito  control  and 
then  would  not  listen  to  him  at  hearings  on  the  subject.  As  a 
cold  fact,  he  was  one  of  the  two  originators  of  the  primary  methods 
of  destroying  mosquitoes  in  their  breeding  places. 

At  any  meeting,  anywhere  and  on  any  subject,  he  could  be 
counted  on  to  inject  some  irrelevant  remarks  at  length,  somehow 
hanging  on  something  said. 

The  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society,  at  the  time  I became  a 
member,  about  1902,  used  to  meet  at  the  establishment  of  the 
American  Entomological  Company,  which  was  George  Eranck, 
then  at  1040  DeKalb  Avenue,  Brooklyn.  Dr.  John  B.  Smith,  head 
of  the  Department  of  Entomology  at  Rutgers  and  State  Entomolo- 
gist of  New  Jersey  was  president  at  that  time;  and  Mr.  Archibald 
C.  Weeks  secretary.  Both  were  of  the  early  incorporators  and 
founders  of  the  Society. 

John  B.  Smith  (nee  Schmidt)  was  one  of  our  great  economic 
entomologists,  and  had  the  distinction  of  having  cleared  the  Jersey 
marshes  of  mosquitoes  (pro  .tern.).  His  father,  an  old  time  Ger- 
man, was  a cabinet  maker  and  collector  of  insects,  and  he  devised 
and  made  the  justly  famous  Schmidt  insect  boxes.  As  I remember 
it,  his  son  was  to  be  a lawyer,  in  fact,  was  a lawyer ; but  the  insect 
urge  was  too  strong  for  him,  and  he  became  a great  entomologist, 
his  specialty  being  the  night-flying  moths.  He  had  a great  sense 
of  humor,  and  had  a truly  Teutonic  fondness  for  beer.  He  was 
short  and  rotund;  his  face  was  of  the  shape  and  color  of  the  sun 
in  full  effulgence,  and  was  surrounded  with  rather  thin  whiskers, 
his  hair  rather  thin  on  top. 

George  Eranck  also  was  German,  and  had  one  of  the  finest  flows 
of  vituperation  in  entomological  circles.  He  also  had  the  biggest 
stock  of  insects  for  sale  at  that  time,  as  well  as  all  the  requirements 
for  collectors.  One  time  he  showed  me  a $500  moth — an  insignifi- 
cant-looking little  brown  thing  from  Cuba,  which  was  the  only  other 
known  specimen  taken.  He  sold  it  by  cablegram  to  Lord  Roths- 
child, of  Tring,  England;  and  he  showed  me  the  reply  to  ship  the 
moth  at  100  pounds  sterling.  But  he  had  another  not  so  profitable 
transaction,  which  he  narrated  to  me  wifh  a splendid  flow  of  ob- 
jurgation. It  was  a locust  year,  it  seems;  and  seventeen-year 
locusts  have  always  been  in  demand  for  study  in  entomological 
courses.  A then  young  man — this  was  all  of  forty  years  ago  now — 
came  to  him  and  asked  if  Eranck  wanted  17-years  locusts.  Which 
he  did.  And  how  many?  All  you  can  bring.  Ten  thousand? 
Ten  thousand,  if  he  got  them,  at  a stipulated  price.  Eranck  thought 


148  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


the  young  man  would  have  difficulty  in  getting  them.  But  the 
young  man  knew  where  there  was  a big  brood,  so  he  showed  up 
with  10,000  in  alcohol,  and  demanded  payment.  Both  being  Ger- 
man, they  fought  over  this,  and  the  young  man  did  not  make  the 
sale.  I heard  the  final  sputterings  of  the  fire-works,  and  they 
were  colossal!  Franck  always  had  a quid  in  his  cheek,  and  had 
a fine  range  and  excellent  aim  for  the  superfluous  juice.  When  he 
got  mad,  it  flowed  and  spurted. 


NOTICE 

The  Torre-Bueno  Collection  of  Hemiptera.  Hemipterists  will 
be  interested  in  knowing  that  the  University  of  Kansas  purchased 
the  J.  R.  de  la  Torre-Bueno  collection  of  Hemiptera  and  title  to 
the  Kirkaldy  collection  shortly  before  the  death  of  Mr.  Bueno  on 
May  3,  1948.  This  large  collection  was  the  accumulation  of  forty- 
seven  years  of  active  interest  in  the  Hemiptera  and  contains  much 
exotic  material.  It  is  especially  rich  in  aquatic  Hemiptera.  The 
collection  is  being  incorporated  in  the  Francis  Huntington  Snow 
Entomological  Collections  and  each  specimen  will  bear  a “J.  R. 
de  la  Torre-Bueno  Collection”  label. 

At  the  time  of  the  delivery  of  the  collection  to  the  University 
of  Kansas,  May  2,  1948,  Mr.  Bueno  retained  some  Arizona  material 
upon  which  he  proposed  to  work  and  some  boxes  of  borrowed 
material.  Unfortunately  he  died  just  a few  days  after  the  col- 
lections left  his  home  and  the  retained  material  was  later  sent  by 
Mrs.  Bueno  to  the  University  of  Kansas.  The  borrowed  material 
will  be  returned  to  the  owners  as  Mr.  Bueno  intended. — H.  B. 
Hungerford,  Lawrence,  Kansas. 


Dec.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  149 


A RESOLUTION  OF  THE  BROOKLYN 
ENTOMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY.* 

The  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  mourns  the  loss  of  J.  R. 
de  la  Torre-Bueno. 

Mr.  Bueno  occupied  a unique  position  in  the  Society.  He  was 
the  last  survivor  of  that  group,  including  the  late  George  P.  Engel - 
hardt  and  William  T.  Davis,  which  guided  the  affairs  of  the  Society 
for  a generation.  Until  he  retired  from  business  and  moved  to 
Tucson,  Arizona,  he  participated  actively  in  its  meetings  and  field 
excursions. 

For  thirty  years  he  was  a member  of  the  Publication  Committee 
and  for  a quarter  of  a century  a most  successful  Editor  of  the 
Society’s  Journals,  to  which  he  was  also  a notable  contributor. 

His  revised  and  enlarged  edition  of  Dr.  J.  B.  Smith’s  Glossary 
of  Entomology  is  the  standard  publication  in  its  field  throughout 
the  English  speaking  world  and  its  publication  brought  new  luster 
to  the  reputation  of  the  Society. 

An  authority  on  the  Hemiptera-Heteroptera,  his  Synopsis  of  that 
order  was  published  serially  over  the  years  in  Entomologica 
Americana. 

In  appreciation  of  his  important  contributions  to  the  prestige  and 
welfare  of  the  Society  and  in  recognition  of  his  eminence  in  the 
entomological  world,  the  Society  elected  him  Honorary  Vice- 
President  and  subsequently  Honorary  President. 

Those  who  had  the  privilege  of  knowing  him  well  will  long 
remember  his  keen  wit  and  his  kindly  interest  in  all  engaged  in  the 
study  of  entomology. 

To  his  wife  and  family,  the  Society  extends  its  deepest  sympathy. 

R.  R.  McElvare 

Chairman,  Resolution  Committee 

George  S.  Tulloch 
President 

* Resolution  adopted  by  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society 
at  a regular  meeting  held  Thursday,  October  14,  1948,  at  the 
Brooklyn  Museum. 


150  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^Llll 


SOME  MORE  ENTOMOLOGISTS  * 

By  J.  R.  DE  LA  Torre-Bueno,  Tucson,  Arizona 

Foremost  among  American  entomologists  of  my  passing  genera- 
tion stands  Dr.  Leland  Ossian  Howard,  who  has  honored  me  with 
his  friendship  these  forty  years  and  more.  Wit,  raconteur,  diplomat, 
and  the  leading  economic  entomologist  world-wide,  as  successor  to 
Dr.  C.  V.  Riley,  to  whom  he  was  assistant.  Dr.  Howard  recreated 
the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Entomology  into  one  of  the  great  and  most  use- 
ful elements  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  during  his  50  years 
of  service,  most  of  them  as  Chief  of  the  Bureau.  He  always  stood  a 
friend  even  to  the  most  recalcitrant  of  his  subordinates,  some  of  them 
even  unfriends.  He  was  liberal  and  just  to  all  his  subordinates  and 
even  blind  to  departmental  pecadillos — anyone  can  violate  the  book 
of  rules  for  the  proper  conduct  of  government  employees,  in  some 
minute  detail.  Dr.  Howard  always  encouraged  independent  work 
and  publication  among  his  staff ; and  did  not  sign  his  own  name  to 
other  people’s  work.  Many  of  his  tales  of  entomology  and  entomo- 
logists are  told  in  his  three  books  of  reminiscences.  But  the  real 
enjoyment  of  these  stories  is  in  listening  to  him  telling  them  with 
joy  and  a dry  wit.  Personally,  he  is  rather  short  with  quite  a bald 
head  and  a charming  crooked  smile.  There  were  other  entomolo- 
gists of  great  attainments  during  his  active  service,  but  none  had  so 
powerful  an  impact  on  world-wide  study  of  harmful  insects,  not 
alone  in  this  country  but  likewise  in  Europe,  perhaps  to  a greater 
degree  than  here. 

As  I think  back,  I have  known  personally  all,  or  nearly  all,  the 
great  figures  of  American  entomology  in  my  day — the  great  Dr. 
John  Henry  Comstock  of  Cornell  and  his  most  charming  wife,  Anna 
Botsford  Comstock;  Dr.  James  G.  Needham,  Drs.  Matheson, 
Johannsen,  Bradley,  and  a host  of  others  in  Dr.  Comstock’s  depart- 
ment ; Dr.  Herbert  Osborn,  of  Ohio  State,  kindly  and  fine ; sweet 
Charles  W.  Leng,  who  in  the  passing  years  arose  to  be  one  of  our 
greatest  American  students  of  beetles ; William  T.  Davis,  world 
authority  on  Cicadas,  sweet  singers  of  the  groves,  and,  in  my  mind, 
one  of  our  great  field  naturalists  and  interpreters  of  nature ; Edward 
P.  Van  Duzee,  at  the  time  of  his  death  the  outstanding  hemipterist 
of  the  world,  both  in  his  studies  and  in  their  high  quality.  A host 
of  other  names  comes  to  my  mind  as  I write : Alexander  and 

* Mr.  Bueno  died  in  May  3,  1948.  This  article  written  in  1944 
was  found  among  his  papers. 


Bee.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  151 


Crampton  of  Massachusetts  College  at  Amherst ; Hungerford  of 
Lawrence,  Kans. ; Drake  and  Knight  of  Iowa  State;  Fimkhouser 
of  Lexington,  Ky.,  entomologist  and  archaeologist;  Grafe,  Grote, 
Doll,  Schaeffer,  Beutenmuller,  Blatchley,  Tale,  Engelhardt,  Barber, 
Lutz,  John  B.  Smith  of  New  Jersey,  E.  D.  Ball  of  Arizona — each 
remarkable  in  his  chosen  field.  And  I must  not  forget  that  other 
great  naturalist  Raymond  L.  Ditmars  who  started  as  an  entomolo- 
gist and  became  our  great  American  authority  on  reptiles. 

Of  the  great  foreign  entomologists,  my  acquaintance  is  naturally 
among  hemipterists  (by  interperetation,  students  of  the  sucking 
bugs).  Two  of  them  I knew  personally  and  maintained  a long 
correspondence  with  them — Dr.  Geza  Horvath,  of  Budapest,  and 
Dr.  Evald  Bergroth  of  Einland.  By  correspondence  I knew  the 
greatest  of  them  all,  the  late  Dr.  Odo  Morannal  Reuter,  of  Helsing- 
fors, Finland;  and  (lacuna)  of  London,  who  wrote  the  one  great 
book  on  Biology  of  the  Hemiptera ; Dr.  W.  L.  Distant,  curator  of 
Hemiptera  in  the  British  Museum,  and  his  present  successor,  Mr. 
W.  E.  China.  Dr.  Reuter,  beyond  being  a student  of  insects  had 
another  and  wider  claim  to  greatness — he  was  the  great  modern  epic 
poet  of  Einland. 

Dr.  Horvath  was  Director  of  the  Hungarian  National  Museum 
and  one  of  the  four  great  in  the  study  of  the  Hemiptera.  It  was  my 
privilege  to  know  him  personally  in  1907,  when  he  was  in  the  United 
States  in  attendance  at  the  great  International  Zoological  Congress 
in  Boston.  Because  of  my  correspondence  with  him  and  because  of 
my  pioneer  work  in  neglected  fields,  he  came  to  visit  me  for  a day  in 
White  Plains  (at  96  Central  Avenue).  White  Plains  then  was  the 
largest  incorporated  village  in  the  United  States  (6,000  people). 
Nearby  the  town  there  were  pleasant  bosky  woods,  rich  lush  mead- 
ow's, clear  ponds  among  the  trees,  hillsides  gay  with  flowers  i^i 
spring,  and  dark  little  cattail  and  rush  swamps,  with  clear  rills 
running  through  the  tussocks,  and  brawling  brooks  and  quiet 
streams  across  the  meadows.  And  all  these  were  certainly  full  of 
the  most  fascinating  insects  (to  an  entomologist).  But  within  a 
few  years  allwas  changed,  and  the  pleasant  face  of  nature  was 
altered.  Everywhere  there  were  real  estate  developments ; great 
parkways  were  laid  out  and  landscaped  and  everything  wild  and 
lovely  was  abolished.  Nature  was  refined  and  smoothed  away; 
swamps  were  drained,  and  the  songs  of  the  red-winged  blackbirds 
were  stilled.  Briar  clumps  where  cotton-tail  bunnies  lay  hid  were 
dug  up  and  smooth  lawns  installed,  to  be  curry-combed  the  live-long 


152  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


day  by  sweaty  laborers.  In  a word,  White  Plains  is  now  a city, 
wears  a white  collar  and  its  hair  is  trimmed  and  slicked  smooth. 

Dr.  Horvath  at  that  time  was  short  and  you  might  almost  say 
chubby,  a man  in  his  sixties.  His  face  was  round  and  faintly 
Asiatic ; his  hair  iron-grey  and  cut  more  or  less  en  brosse ; and  his 
suit  had  not  been  to  the  presser.  But  his  manners  were  impeccable, 
with  now  and  again  unconscious  lapses  when  something  surprising 
and  new  showed  up.  He  spoke  Hungarian,  German,  French,  Latin 
and  other  languages ; I spoke  only  English,  Spanish  and  some 
French;  so  our  conversations  were  in  the  last,  the  one  language 
common  to  us  both.  He  spent  a day  or  so  at  home  with  us ; and 
he  was  in  continuous  excitement.  It  began  at  our  home  lunch- 
table  ; and  my  wife’s  art  as  confectioner  of  American  food  was  the 
object  of  praise  and  questions.  The  high  point  of  our  simple  meal 
came  when  an  alligator  pear  (avocado,  aguacate — not  one  of  those 
California  nubbins,  but  the  big  Cuban  fruit)  appeared  on  the  table. 
Never  in  his  life  had  Dr.  Horvath  seen  one.  He  whipped  out  a 
small  note  book  and  a pencil  and  very  apologetically  asked  if  he 
might  see  it  before  it  was  cut.  The  green,  smooth  skin  was  ex- 
amined carefully,  and  a note  was  made.  It  was  cut ; and  the 
yellow-green  buttery  meat  was  likewise  scrutinized  and  noted. 
Then  the  round  big  seed  called  for  more  notes;  and  finally,  the 
seed  was  carefully  wrapped  up  to  be  taken  to  Hungary,  where  it 
doubtless  reposes  in  the  museum  collections.  After  lunch  came 
the  entrancing  collecting  in  a close-by  meadow,  sunken  and  damp, 
with  a streamlet  in  it.  Whatever  was  not  new  to  him,  he  had 
never  before  seen  alive  in  nature.  Swinging  a big  sweeping  net — 
a heavy  cotton  doth  bag  on  a steel  ring  and  with  a big  handle — 
he  would  fill  it  with  meadow  grasshoppers,  spiders,  beetles,  cater- 
pillars, bees  of  many  kinds,  wasps  and  bugs,  everyone  of  which  was 
either  popped  into  a killing  bottle  or  into  a vial  of  alcohol,  eventually 
to  land  in  the  collections  of  the  Hungarian  National  Museum, 
where  they  may  be  seen  labelled  “White  Plains,  N.  Y.”  Dr. 
Horvath  lived  to  be  95,  busy,  productive  and  famous  to  the  every 
last.  His  passing  was  a great  loss  to  scientific  entomology.  But 
he  is  happy  not  to  have  lived  to  see  the  enslavement  of  his  proud 
land  and  the  downfall  of  that  European  culture  and  science  he  had 
spent  a life-time  in  helping  to  erect  into  a splendid  edifice. 

Dr.  Evald  Bergroth,  whom  also  I met  personally,  and  with  whom 
I corresponded  for  many  years  until  his  untimely  death,  was  the 
great  student  of  flies  and  a practising  physician  as  well,  at  Ekenas, 
Finland.  It  was  coincidental  with  the  failure  of  the  abortive  upris- 


Dec.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  153 


ing  against  the  Czar  in  Finland  about  1908  that  I was  surprised 
to  receive  letters  from  him  from  Oregon.  Not  much  later,  other 
came  from  Duluth,  Minn.,  and  finally  from  Fitchburg,  Mass.  And 
suddenly,  he  showed  up  in  White  Plains,  to  spend  one,  or  a part 
of  one,  day  with  me  to  see  my  collection.  By  the  end  of  the  day 
he  had  been  able  to  examine  in  detail  only  about  eight  out  of  some 
hundred  or  more  boxes  full  of  bugs.  He  had  to  go,  because  his 
ship  for  Europe  left  that  night  or  in  the  very  early  hours  of  the 
following  morning.  On  leaving,  he  gave  a deep  regretful  sigh, 
with  a remark : “I  had  no  idea  you  had  such  an  important  collection, 
Mr.  Bueno”.  With  him  went  to  Abo  some  of  my  choice  speci- 
mens ; and  by  this  time,  in  all  the  turmoil  and  destruction  of  wars 
and  rebellions,  they  are  lost  to  science.  Dr.  Bergroth  was  a sharp- 
set,  decisive  man  who  wore  an  imposing  pince  nez.  He  could  be 
very  acid  indeed  in  characterizing  the  ineptitudes  of  his  entomol- 
ogical fellows,  in  German,  French  and  English,  and  I suppose  in 
his  native  Finnish  and  possibly  Russian,  not  to  mention  Latin, 
which  he  wrote. 


A Necessary  Change  of  Name  (Hemiptera,  Saldidae). — 

One  of  our  common  northern  Saldids  has  long  been  known  as 
Saida  coriacea  Uhler,  1872.  This  name,  however,  had  earlier 
been  used  by  Fabricius  (1803,  Syst.  Rhyng.,  p.  115.  8)  for  a species 
originally  described  by  himself  in  1794  under  the  generic  name 
Acanthia,  and  later  transferred  by  Stal  (1868,  Hem.  Fabr.  I,  p. 
88)  to  the  Mirid  genus  Orthocephalus. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  propose  a new  name  for  Uhler’s  species, 
as  it  was  again  described  as  new  by  Provancher  in  1872,  and  may 
therefore  be  known  as  Saida  bouchervillei  (Provancher). — Roland 
F.  Hussey,  Lakeland,  Florida. 


154  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


J.  R.  DE  LA  TORRE-BUENO 

Jose  Rollin  de  la  Torre-Bueno  was  born  in  Lima,  Peru  October 
6th,  1871.  He  came  with  his  parents  and  the  family  to  the  United 
States  when  14  years  old,  fully  acquainted  with  our  language  having 
studied  under  English  tutors  in  Peru. 


In  Columbia  University  (School  of  Mines)  in  the  class  of  1894, 
he  was  the  intimate  friend  of  the  late  William  H.  Nichols  Jr.,  who 
after  graduation  became  President  of  The  General  Chemical 
Company.  Mr.  Nichols  was  very  much  interested  in  the  news 
bulletins  and  similar  publications  of  his  company  and  delegated 
to  Jose  various  editorial  duties  and  matters  which  kept  him  busy  for 
several  years.  (The  writer  of  these  lines  was  also  one  of  this 
famous  Columbia  class  of  1894 — but  in  the  far  less  rigorous  School 
of  Arts.) 

On  June  25th,  1901,  Jose,  then  living  in  New  York  City,  married 
Miss  Lillian  Reinhardt  of  Brooklyn  and  to  them  were  born  four 
fine  sons  and  three  talented  and  charming  daughters.  Jose  was 
a devoted  husband  and  very  fond  and  justly  proud  of  these  children. 
For  several  years  the  family  lived  in  White  Plains,  New  York  but 


Dec.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  155 


in  September  1934  moved  to  Tucson,  Arizona  and  Jose  died  there 
May  3rd,  1948. 

The  entomological  activities  of  Jose  de  la  Torre-Bueno  were 
closely  connected  with  The  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  and 
its  publications.  His  fine  “Glossary  of  Entomology”  was  published 
by  the  Society  in  1937.  It  is  THE  Glossary  of  Entomology ! 

He  was  the  prime  mover  in  the  revival,  after  27  years,  of  the 
Bulletin  of  the  Society  in  1912  (New  Series,  Vol.  8)  and  in  1926 
of  the  New  Series,  (Vol.  7)  of  Entomologica  Americana  of  which 
the  final  volume  6 of  the  First  Series  was  published  in  1890.  He 
was  the  editor  of  both  series  until  he  died. 

In  1945  he  was  elected  Honorary  President  of  the  Society,  having 
served  in  various  capacities  besides  that  of  editor — a post  for  which 
he  was  eminently  well  qualified  after  his  apprenticeship  with  Nichols. 

Torre-Bueno  as  an  entomologist  was  primarily  interested  in 
the  Heteropterous  Hemiptera  and  especially  in  the  aquatic  species. 
Of  his  “Synopsis  of  the  North  American  Hemiptera  Heteroptera” 
three  initial  parts  were  published  in  1939,  1941,  and  the  last,  on 
Lygaeidae,  in  1946 — amounting  together  to  387  pages. 

Besides  these  larger  works  he  published  many  shorter  papers : 
112  titles  which  appeared  from  1902  to  1924  are  listed  by  Dr. 
Parshley  in  his  “Bibliography  of  North  American  Heteroptera” 
published  by  Smith  College  in  1925.  He  was  also  an  assiduous 
collector  and  interested  not  only  in  taxonomy  but  in  biological 
studies  as  well. 

The  new  genus  Buenoa  was  so  named  in  his  honor  by  Kirkaldy 
in  1904. 

Great  damage  to  his  collection  and  Library  was  done  by  the 
great  flood  in  Tucson  in  September  1939  but  Jose  patiently  made  all 
possible  repairs  and  his  interest  in  entomology  did  not  abate  at 
all.  Fortunately  the  contents  of  the  “Smith”  boxes  were  little 
damaged  and  although  the  bindings  of  many  books  were  ruined, 
the  contents  in  several  cases  remained  legible  for  actual  use  even 
if  not  beautiful  to  the  eye.  The  Bueno  collection  has  gone  to  The 
University  of  Kansas  where  it  will  receive  the  best  of  care  from 
Dr.  Hungerford  and  his  associates. 

We  shall  sorely  miss  this  enthusiastic,  energetic  and  gifted 
entomologist  and  editor.  Many  of  us  will  remember  him  best 
for  his  understanding  friendship,  his  interest  in  our  affairs,  hobbies 
— and  peculiarities  too,  as  well  as  in  his  own;  and  for  his  very 
wonderful  intimate  letters  covering  in  detail  a great  many  family 
and  personal  topics  besides  the  entomological  matters. 


156  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


The  Shermans  and  the  Engelhardts,  in  particular,  were  fortunate 
and  happy  indeed  to  enjoy  in  the  years  gone  by  the  friendly  and 
informal  hospitality  of  the  Bueno  home  in  White  Plains,  and  to 
share  there  the  very  popular  Sunday  night  suppers  and  other 
gatherings  with  this  most  interesting  family  and  their  many  friends. 

Mrs.  Sherman  and  the  writer  were  welcomed  in  Tucson  in 
February  1944  with  the  same  unchanged  old  time  hospitality  by 
Jose  and  his  wife,  ‘‘Torre”  in  his  sombrero  meeting  us  and  taking 
care  of  our  luggage,  and  introducing  me  at  the  University,  while 
his  wife  took  Mrs.  Sherman  to  the  meetings  of  her  societies — and 
we  were  left  in  charge  of  their  home  when  they  went  to  Phoenix 
to  visit  their  daughter,  Myra,  now  Mrs.  Charles  A.  Rollins,  who 
was  most  helpful  to  us  in  former  years  at  her  responsible  post 
with  the  McGraw-Hill  Book  Company  in  New  York  City. 

Once  more  we  salute  a good  friend.  It  was  a joy  to  have  known 
him  so  well,  and  we  are  sorry  he  is  no  longer  with  us. — John  D. 
Sherman,  Jr.,  Mt.  Vernon,  N.  Y. 


Additional  Records  of  Bird  Ticks  for  the  Northeastern 
United  States.  A small  collection  of  ticks  obtained  during  the 
past  summer  by  Mr.  Roy  Latham,  was  recently  received  for  naming. 
It  consisted  mostly  of  larvae  of  H aemaphy sails  leporis-palustris 
(Packard)  taken  from  birds  at  Orient,  Long  Island,  N.  Y. 
Among  them  were  specimens  from  three  hosts  new  for  this  tick 
in  our  territory:  Gray-cheecked  thrush,  Hylocichla  m.  minima 
(Baird)  ; Rose-breasted  Grosbeak,  Hedymeles  ludovicianus 
(Linne)  ; and  Palm  Warbler,  Dendroica  p.  palmarum  (Gmelin). 
• — J.  Bequaert,  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology,  Cambridge, 
Mass. 


Dec.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  157 


OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  BIOLOGY  OF  SOME 
MUTILLID  WASPS  (HYM.:  MUTILLIDAE)— II, 
WITH  NEW  DISTRIBUTIONAL  RECORDS 

By  David  G.  Shappirio,  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  following  new  information  on  mutillid  wasps  in  the  District 
of  Columbia  and  vicinity  has  been  obtained  while  collecting  there 
during  1943-1948,  in  connection  with  a projected  general  survey 
of  the  Aculeate  Hymenoptera  of  that  area. 

Particularly  with  respect  to  hosts  of  Mutillidae,  these  notes  are 
not  intended  to  be  conclusive.  Published  records  on  this  phase  of 
the  activity  of  other  mutillids  have  shown  that  individual  species  of 
the  family  are  not  specific  in  regard  to  hosts,  but  seem  to  live  at  the 
expense  of  related  species  in  other  families  of  Aculeate  Hymenop- 
tera. For  this  reason,  it  is  likely  that  additional  hosts  will  be  found 
for  the  mutillids  discussed  below,  and  that  further  hosts  will  be 
related  to  those  mentioned  here. 

Dasymutilla  obscura  (Bl.) 

Recently,  (Shappirio,  1947),  observations  were  made  which  led 
to  the  belief  that  Dasymutilla  obscura  (Bl.)  is  parasitic  on  Cerceris 
clypeata  Dahlb.  (Hym.  : Sphecidae).  More  recent  evidence  sub- 
stantiates this  belief  considerably,  in  addition  to  extending  it  to  at 
least  one  other  species  of  Cerceris. 

On  July  19,  1948,  at  1 :30  P.M.,  a visit  was  made  to  the  area  at 
which  the  1947  observations  were  made.  The  Cereeris  clypeata 
colony  was  still  present,  but  with  fewer  nests  than  in  1947.  Three 
D.  obscura  females  were  seen  slowly  patrolling  the  ground  among 
C.  clypeata  nests.  Their  manner  of  walking  seemed  to  indicate  that 
they  were  not  merely  accidentally  present  near  the  nests  of  the 
other  wasps.  Their  abdomens  were  contracted  and  held  high,  while 
they  continuously  emitted  their  characteristic  squeaking  noise. 
One  C.  clypeata  left  her  nest  and  sealed  it.  When  she  had  flown 
away,  a D.  obscura  female  that  had  apparently  been  watching  her 
opened  the  burrow  and  entered  it.  The  mutillid  spent  about  three 
minutes  inside  and  then  emerged,  finally  resealing  it. 

Later  the  same  afternoon,  a visit  was  made  to  another  area  where 
the  burrows  of  a very  small  species  of  Cerceris,  C.  finitima  Cr.,^ 
were  common.  An  unusually  small  female  specimen  of  D.  obscura 


Identified  by  Dr.  K.  V.  Krombein. 


158  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


was  seen  to  emerge  from  one  of  the  burrows.  Later,  a small  male 
D.  obscura  was  taken  as  it  flew  over  the  area. 

From  published  records  concerning  other  mutillids,  we  may  ex- 
pect that  variance  in  size  of  D,  obscura  specimens  is  due  to  varia- 
tion in  size  of  the  host.  There  is  an  example  by  Mickel  (1928) 
which  finds  that  the  size  of  Dasymutilla  biociilata  (Cr.)  is  larger 
or  smaller,  depending  on  whether  Bembix  or  Microbembex,  respec- 
tively, is  the  host.  Fattig  (1943)  found  the  same  to  be  true  with 
D.  occidentalis  (L.)  in  Georgia,  the  size  depending  on  whether  the 
host  was  a large  or  small  species  of  Bombus.  The  great  variability 
in  size  of  D.  obscura  specimens  was  noted  by  Mickel  (1928)  ; but 
at  that  time  it  was  not  possible  to  link  it  to  any  specific  hosts. 

Dasymutilla  nigripes  (Fab.) 

D.  m gripes,  the  commonest  species  of  Dasymutilla  in  the  District 
of  Columbia,  is  particularly  numerous  in  areas  where  the  common 
sphecid  wasp,  Philanthus  gibbosus  (Fab.),  nests.  During  July, 
1948,  several  D.  nigripes  females  were  seen  to  enter  these  nests. 
From  this  observation,  it  seems  likely  that  P.  gibbosus  is  its  usual 
host.  The  abundance  of  both  species  in  the  District  of  Columbia 
and  throughout  their  extensive  ranges  supports  such  a conjecture. 

Dasymutilla  gibbosa  (Say)  & D.  cariniceps  (Fox) 

Two  males  of  the  former  species,  the  only  black  male  Dasymutilla 
in  this  country,  have  been  captured  in  Washington,  D.  C.  on  July 
20,  1947  and  July  10,  1948.  Previously  published  records  state 
that  this  species  had  not  been  taken  further  south  than  New  York 
(Long  Island).  Thus  the  known  range  is  somewhat  extended. 

Bradley  (1916)  and  Mickel  (1928)  strongly  suggested  that 
D.  gibbosa  (unassociated  with  any  female)  was  the  male  of  D.  ca- 
riniceps (unassociated  with  any  male) . These  had  never  been  clas- 
sified under  one  name,  however,  due  to  the  fact  that  they  had  never 
been  taken  in  copula.  These  suggestions  were  made  on  the  basis  of 
distribution.  Fattig  (1943)  reported  two  D.  cariniceps  from 
Georgia ; and  during  1944-1948  twenty-five  females  have  been  taken 
in  and  around  Washington,  D.  C.  The  previous  furthest  south- 
eastern records  were  from  Delaware  Water  Gap,  Pa.-N.  J.,  so  that 
the  known  range  of  this  species  is  also  extended. 

In  Washington,  all  the  captures  of  D. cariniceps  have  been  made 
in  or  at  least  very  close  to  upland  deciduous  woods. ^ Both  the 

2 More  detailed  information  on  the  habitats  of  this  and  other  spe- 
cies of  uncommon  Mutillidae  is  to  appear  in  a forthcoming  paper  in 
this  series. 


Dec.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  159 


specimens  of  D.  gibbosa  taken  there  also  came  from  similar  areas. 
This  is  additional  evidence  in  favor  of  correlating  the  two  species. 

Timulla  vagans  rufinota  (Mick.) 

Mr.  Morton  Vogel  captured  one  male  of  Timulla  vagans  rufinota 
(Mick.)  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  on  July  2,  1943.  This  record  greatly 
extends  the  known  range  of  this  subspecies,  since  by  previous 
records,  its  distribution  was  limited  to  Florida  and  southern 
Georgia.  Its  capture  in  Washington,  D.  C.  indicates  that  it  prob- 
ably occurs  throughout  the  southeastern  coastal  states. 

Literature  Cited 

Bradley,  J.  C.  Mutillidae  of  the  Eastern  United  States,  Trans. 

Amer.  Ent.  Soc.,  XLII,  pp.  309-366.  1916. 

Fattig,  P.  W.  The  Mutillidae  of  Velvet  Ants  of  Georgia,  Bull. 

Emory  Univ.  Mus.,  No.  1.  1943. 

Mickel,  C.  E.  Biological  and  Taxonomic  Investigations  on  the 
Mutillid  Wasps,  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.,  No.  143. 
1928. 

Shappirio,  D.  G.  Observations  on  the  Biology  of  Some  Mutillid 
Wasps,  Bull.  Brooklyn  Ent.  Soc.,  XLII,  pp.  162-163. 
1947. 


BOOK  NOTES 

The  Naturalists’  Directory,  35th  Edition.  Published  by  the 
Cassino  Press,  Salem,  Mass.  (Price,  $3.00) 

A new  edition  of  this  directory  has  recently  been  published. 
It  contains  names,  addresses  and  special  subjects  of  study  of  pro- 
fessional and  amateur  naturalists  of  North  and  South  America 
and  some  foreign  countries. — George  S.  Tulloch 


160  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


ADDITIONS  TO  VESPINE  BIOLOGY  VI:  NOTES 
ON  VESPULA  RUFA  VAR.  CONSOBRINA 
SAUSSURE 

By  Albro  T.  Gaul,  Brooklyn,  New  York 

During  the  last  ten  years  I have  occasionally  observed  the  nests 
and  habits  of  Vespula  rufa  var.  consobrina  Sauss.  in  Connecticut 
and  Massachusetts.  Since  this  variety  of  V.  rufa  is  seldom  dis- 
cussed in  the  entomological  literature,  it  seems  worth  while  to 
record  my  observations  on  its  nesting  habits  and  life  history. 

Bequaert  writes  (1),  “The  var.  consobrina  extends  across  the 
American  continent,  being  mainly  an  insect  of  the  Canadian  zone. 
In  the  Transition  zone  it  is  still  fairly  common,  but  it  is  much  rarer 
in  the  Upper  Austral”.  The  abundance  of  colonies  of  this  species 
shows  a sharp  change  with  a very  small  change  in  latitude.  In 
four  summers  of  fairly  intensive  collecting  in  Lakeville,  Conn. 
(41°58'  N.Lat.,  altitude  700  to  1800  feet)  I have  observed  only 
one  colony  of  var.  consobrina.  In  two  summers  of  equally  intensive 
collecting  in  West  Cummington,  Mass.  (42°30'  N.Lat.,  altitude 
1200  to  2000  feet)  I have  collected  or  encountered  14  colonies  of 
var.  consobrina.  In  Lakeville,  the  dominant  ground  dwelling  Ves- 
pine  is  V.  maculifrons  Buy.  In  West  Cummington,  during  the 
summer  of  1947  the  number  of  colonies  of  maculifrons  and  rufa 
var.  consobrina  was  approximately  equal,  while  the  summer  of 
1948  ( after  a hard  winter  and  a wet  spring  ) revealed  that  con- 
sobrina colonies  outnumbered  maculifrons  colonies  by  more  than 
two  to  one.  Thus  at  fairly  comparable  altitudes,  a difference  of 
only  0°32'  of  latitude  seems  to  result  in  an  apparent  reversal  of 
species  dominance. 

R.  P.  Dow  (2)  has  described  a nest  of  V.  rufa  var.  consobrina 
from  Huntington,  Mass,  (about  18  miles  south  of  West  Cumming- 
ton) which  was  located  beneath  the  roots  of  mountain  laurel.  This 
nest  was  not  attached  to  any  supporting  root  or  stone.  My  ob- 
servations indicate  that  consobrina  is  almost  exclusively  a dweller 
of  the  forest  floor,  usually  situated  in  old  rodent  burrows.  The 
nests  may  or  may  not  be  protected  by  roots  of  trees  or  shrubs.  In 
no  instance  have  I seen  the  nest  suspended  or  supported  by  a 
paper  petiole. 

It  is  not  uncommon  to  find  the  comb  and  paper  envelope  of  the 
nest  buttressed  against  stones  or  roots  near  the  bottom  of  the  nest 
cavity.  These  steadying  buttresses  may  extend  from  the  earth  half- 
way to  the  top  of  the  nest.  They  are  built  of  fairly  heavy  gauge 


Dec.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  161 


paper  which  projects  outward  and  downward  as  a sheet,  usually 
at  right  angles  to  the  tangent  of  the  curve  of  the  nest. 

A more  or  less  typical  colony  was  captured  at  West  Cummington 
on  August  23,  1948.  It  was  located  in  the  forest  just  off  a little 
used  dirt  road.  It  was  almost  spherical  in  shape,  located  in  a 
nest  cavity  whose  lowest  point  was  20  cm.  below  the  surface  of  the 
soil.  The  nest  was  7.5  cm.  in  diameter.  Unlike  many  other  Ves- 
pines,  the  nest  entrance  was  very  large ; an  entrance  5 cm.  in 
diameter  was  available  at  the  bottom  of  the  nest,  where  the  en- 
velope had  never  been  completed.  There  were  two  tiers  of  worker 
brood  comb,  both  6 cm.  in  diameter.  The  nest  envelope  comprised 
six  layers  of  paper.  The  envelope  was  made  from  horizontal 
strips  of  gray  pulp,  like  the  envelope  of  Dolichovespula  maculata 
L.  and  quite  unlike  the  envelope  of  V.  maculijrons.  Colonies  of 
V.  maculijrons  within  100  meters  of  this  nest  built  their  envelopes 
of  the  typical  yellowish  pulp  in  the  ‘Tlam  shell”  pattern,  indicating 
that  the  two  species  actually  select  different  raw  materials  for  their 
paper.  From  the  entrance  to  the  nest  cavity  there  extended  a 
tunnel.  This  tunnel  led  21  cm.  along  a gentle  down  slope,  where 
it  abruptly  turned  at  right  angles  and  extended  another  29  cm 
where  it  entered  the  nest  cavity.  The  tunnel  was  unlined,  having 
no  paper  tunnel  built  within,  as  is  common  among  colonies  of  V. 
squamosa  Drury.  The  colony  contained  52  workers  and  the  queen. 

This  colony  was  established  in  an  outdoor  cage  near  the  labo- 
ratory where  the  wasps  were  allowed  their  freedom.  They  rebuilt 
the  nest  envelope  in  two  days,  but  it  was  rebuilt  from  the  periphery 
of  the  uppermost  comb  toward  the  center.  The  colony  season 
terminated  on  October  8,  1948  when  the  population  comprised 
56  new  queens,  8 males  and  27  workers.  Many  queens  had  been 
leaving  the  nest  on  their  mating  flight  during  the  previous  week. 
No  brood  was  left  in  the  combs.  The  nest  had  been  enlarged  to 
5 combs  since  August  23,  it  was  11  cm.  tall,  and  the  largest  comb 
was  12  cm.  in  diameter.  It  is  interesting  that  a colony  of  V.  maculi- 
jrons from  the  same  area  closed  its  colony  season  during  the  same 
week. 

Not  all  colonies  of  consohrina  are  founded  underground  in  the 
woods.  A healthy  colony  was  seen  in  West  Cummington  located 
inside  the  wall  of  a house,  about  12  feet  from  the  ground.  Access 
to  the  nest  was  gained  through  a loose  clapboard.  This  was  the 
only  instance  I have  noted  in  which  this  species  was  not  nested 
under  the  forest  floor. 

Among  the  15  colonies  of  this  species  which  I have  seen,  none 


162  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


have  exceeded  a population  of  an  estimated  200  individuals,  which 
is  fairly  small  compared  with  the  usual  colony  population  of  other 
species  of  the  genus. 

All  of  the  colonies  of  this  species  which  I have  kept  in  semi- 
captivity have  been  assiduous  excavators.  Ergates  frequently 
remove  lumps  of  earth  and  pebbles  up  to  2/3  their  own  weight. 
When  these  colonies  have  been  first  placed  in  cages,  they  have  all 
prepared  two  or  more  subterranean  approaches  to  facilitate  the 
removal  of  earth.  When  caged,  they  do  not  attempt  to  build  a 
long  tunnel,  but  make  a short  tunneled  entrance  in  juxtaposition  to 
the  periphery  of  the  nest.  This  indicates  that  the  foundress  queen 
selects  her  nest  site  in  a remote  corner  of  a rodent  burrow.  All 
the  colonies  which  I have  captured  in  the  wild  state  have  been 
located  at  the  end  of  tunnels  ranging  from  30  to  60  cm.  long. 

This  species  is  comparatively  mild  tempered.  I have  never  been 
stung  by  it,  even  when  intruding  into  its  nest  during  daylight 
hours.  On  one  occasion,  a friend  who  was  assisting  in  the  capture 
of  a colony  was  stung  by  an  ergate  who  had  escaped  the  effects  of 
the  anaesthetic,  with  the  resulting  normal  symptoms  of  any  Vespid 
sting. 

In  conclusion,  V.  rufa  var.  consobrina  usually  nests  in  the  forest 
floor  of  the  Canadian  zone.  Small  differences  in  latitude  may  have 
a drastic  effect  on  its  relative  abundance.  Its  nests  are  fairly 
small,  located  in  old  rodent  burrows,  and  communicate  with  the 
outside  by  rather  lengthy  tunnels.  The  length  of  the  colony  sea- 
son may  be  about  equal  to  the  colony  season  of  other  species  of 
Vespula  s.  str. 

Bibliography 

1.  Bequaert,  J.  A Tentative  Synopsis  of  the  Hornets  and 

Yellow] ackets  of  America.  Entomologica  Americana  Vol. 
XII.  No.  2 pp.  104-5  Sept.  1931. 

2.  Dow,  R.  P.  The  Nests  of  New  England  Wasps.  Bull. 

Boston  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.  No.  56  p.  12.  1930. 


Bee.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  163 


BOOK  NOTES 

A Textbook  of  Entomology.  By  Herbert  H.  Ross,  ix — 
532  pp.,  434  illustrations,  5 tables.  6x9  ins.,  cloth  bound.  1948. 
John  Wiley  & Sons,  Inc.,  New  York,  N.  Y.  (Price,  $6.00) 

The  author  states  in  the  preface  that,  ‘Tt  seems  to  me  that  there 
has  been  an  increasing  need  for  an  introductory  textbook  that 
would  bring  under  one  cover  the  fundamental  aspects  of  ento- 
mology, organized  so  as  to  give  students  a general  idea  of  the 
entire  field.  This  book  has  been  written  with  this  aim  in  mind.” 
Very  simply  and  very  directly  Dr.  Ross  explains  ( 1 ) why  he  wrote 
this  book  and  (2)  what  kind  of  a book  he  intended  it  to  be. 

The  material  is  presented  in  ten  chapters  which  are  listed  below 
along  with  a tabulation  of  the  actual  and  relative  amounts  of  space 
devoted  to  each. 


Actual 

Relative 

Title  of  chapter 

space 

space 

(pages) 

(%) 

1. 

Growth  of  North  American  Entomology 

25^ 

4.85 

2. 

Arthropoda : Insects  and  their  allies 

31 

6.12 

3. 

External  Anatomy 

41 

7.96 

4. 

Internal  Anatomy 

18 

3.49 

5. 

Physiology 

52 

10.09 

6. 

The  Life  Cycles 

45 

8.73 

7. 

The  Orders  of  Insects 

215 

41.72 

8. 

Geological  History  of  Insects 

20 

3.88 

9. 

Ecological  Considerations 

36 

6.99 

10. 

Control  Considerations 

32 

6.21 

There  are  434  illustrations  of  which  43  are  original  and  391  are 
credited  to  other  sources.  Sixteen  pages  are  devoted  to  an  index. 
The  text  is  printed  on  paper  of  good  quality  and  has  a substantial 
cloth  binding. 

The  first  thought  in  reviewing  this  book  was  to  ascertain  if  the 
fundamental  aspects  of  entomology  are  included.  The  chapter 
headings  indicate  the  broad  areas  of  entomological  knowledge  which 
are  considered  but  in  the  absence  of  a detailed  table  of  contents  or 
a complete  index  one  must  make  a page  by  page  survey  to  deter- 
mine exactly  what  the  book  includes. 

Generally  speaking,  the  fundamental  aspects  of  entomology  are 
covered  and  the  information  presented  has  been  carefully  selected 
and  excellently  organized.  The  chapters  on  external  anatomy  and 
physiology  are  outstanding  in  their  clarity.  The  chapter  on  the 


164  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^ol.  XLIII 


geological  history  of  insects  is  a comprehensive  account  of  a subject 
which,  heretofore,  has  received  scanty  treatment  by  writers  of 
entomological  textbooks.  The  chapter  on  ecological  considerations 
is  a skillful  presentation  of  pertinent  information. 

It  is  inevitable  that  there  will  be  some  slight  disagreement  con- 
cerning the  relative  emphases  on  certain  topics.  For  example,  one 
might  argue  that  the  role  of  insects  in  the  pollination  of  plants  is  of 
sufficient  importance  to  warrant  a separate  little  section  somewhere 
in  the  text  rather  than  a few  incidental  references.  The  ways  in 
which  insects  are  beneficial  to  man  over  and  above  the  role  that  they 
play  in  pollination  might  be  given  a more  complete  treatment  to 
balance,  in  part,  the  extended  account  of  the  ways  in  which  insects 
harm  man.  However,  these  items  are  matters  of  opinion  and  can- 
not constitute  a valid  basis  for  criticism. 

The  second  interest  in  examining  this  book  was  to  check  such 
technical  details  as  (1)  the  accuracy  of  the  subject  matter,  (2)  the 
usefulness  of  the  index  and  (3)  the  editorial  arrangement  of  the 
text.  Some  of  the  inaccuracies  noted  are  given  below. 

a.  The  inclusion  of  mites  under  insects  on  pages  497,  498. 

b.  The  immature  stages  of  dragonflies  are  called  ‘larvae’,  page 
461. 

c.  The  implication  that  the  male  of  Tnnga  burrows  into  the  skin, 
page  424. 

No  attempt  was  made  to  completely  check  the  text  against  the  index 
or  vice  versa  but  a sampling  revealed  the  following. 

a.  Pollination  is  not  included  in  the  index  but  there  are  at  least 
three  references  to  this  phenomenon  in  the  text. 

b.  Competition  is  not  in  the  index  yet  a separate  section  of  the 
chapter  dealing  with  ecological  considerations  is  devoted  to 
this  topic. 

c.  The  index  includes  a reference  to  typhus  on  page  418  which 
does  not  exist. 

There  are  some  editorial  errors  insofar  as  the  layout  of  the  text  is 
concerned.  For  example,  on  page  118  under  the  general  topic  of 
Specialized  Tissues  three  subtopics  of  equal  rank  are  discussed. 
The  first  one  is  flush  with  the  left  margin,  the  second  is  indented 
five  spaces  and  the  third  seven  spaces.  George  S.  Tulloch,  Mer- 
rick, New  York 


Dec.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  165 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  SOCIETY 

Meeting  of  April  15,  1948 

On  Thursday,  April  15,  1948,  a regular  meeting  of  the  Brooklyn 
Entomological  Society  was  held  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum.  President 
Tulloch  called  the  meeting  to  order  at  8:10  p.m.  Six  visitors  and 
the  following  members  were  present : Messers  McElvare,  Gaul, 
Tulloch,  Teale,  Sheridan  and  Naumann.  After  a discussion  of  the 
possibility  of  finding  a new  meeting  place  and  of  problems  in  connec- 
tion with  the  society’s  publications  due  to  the  rising  costs  of  printing, 
the  paper  of  the  evening,  “The  Language  of  the  Bees,”  was  pre- 
sented by  Edwin  Way  Teale.  The  speaker  discussed  at  length  the 
experiments  of  Prof.  K.  von  Erisch  and  his  discoveries  in  connec- 
tion with  the  methods  of  communication  used  by  honeybees.  His 
original  studies,  as  recorded  in  the  Annual  Report  of  the  Smith- 
sonian Institution,  for  1938,  were  first  presented.  This  work  was 
supplemented  by  the  results  of  further  investigations  carried  on 
during  the  past  decade.  Discussion  followed  with  Dr.  Tulloch 
reporting  on  a visit  made  by  von  Erisch  to  Harvard  in  1928.  The 
meeting  adjourned  at  9 :50  p.m.  Edwin  Way  Teale, 

Secretary  pro  tern 

Meeting  of  May  13,  1948 

A regular  meeting  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  was 
held  at  the  Brooklyn  Museum  on  May  13,  1948.  President  Tulloch 
called  the  meeting  to  order  at  8:00  P.M.  Nine  members  and  six 
visitors  were  present. 

Since  a quorum  was  present,  Mr.  McElvare  moved  for  the  ratifi- 
cation of  the  election  of  officers,  which  was  unanimously  passed. 

The  position  of  secretary  of  the  society  being  vacant,  Mr.  Gaul 
was  elected  to  this  place. 

Mr.  McElvare  presented  a brief  treasurer’s  report. 

Mr.  McElvare  reported  the  death  of  our  editor,  Mr.  J.  R.  de  la 
Torre-Bueno.  Dr.  Ruckes  read  a tribute  to  Mr.  Torre-Bueno 
which  he  had  written. 

Messrs.  Naumann,  Gaul  and  McElvare  were  requested  by  the 
chair  to  act  on  a set  of  resolutions  on  Mr.  Torre-Bueno’s  death. 

Dr.  Ruckes  suggested  that  a biographical  article  be  prepared 
for  our  Bulletin  on  the  life  of  Mr.  Torre-Bueno.  The  president 
appointed  Messrs.  Teale,  Sherman  and  Ruckes  to  prepare  this 
article. 

Mr.  McElvare  moved  that  the  executive  committee  be  empow- 


166  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


ered  to  act  upon  the  vacant  editorship  of  the  Bulletin  and  the 
Entomologica  Americana. 

Mr.  McElvare  read  a letter  from  Dr.  Krombein  proposing  Mr. 
John  G.  Eranclemont  of  the  U.  S.  National  Museum  to  member- 
ship. Since  this  was  the  last  meeting  of  the  season,  Mr.  McElvare 
moved  that  the  by-laws  be  suspended  and  that  Mr.  Eranclemont 
be  immediately  elected  to  membership.  This  motion  was  carried 
by  unanimous  ballot. 

Dr.  Tulloch  discussed  the  possibility  of  moving  our  meeting  place 
and  storehouse  for  our  publications  to  a more  satisfactory  location. 
Mr.  McElvare  made  a motion  that  the  executive  committee  be 
empowered  to  seek  a meeting  place  and  housing  for  our  publications 
provided  the  expense  of  such  a place  not  exceed  $200.00  per  year. 
This  was  favorably  acted  upon  by  the  society. 

Dr.  Risch  kindly  invited  members  to  visit  his  house  and  to 
examine  his  collections. 

Dr.  Tulloch,  as  speaker  of  the  evening  discussed  Caste  Determi- 
nation in  Ants.  Castes  appear  only  among  the  females  in  the 
Hymenoptera.  There  are  two  schools  of  thought  regarding  caste 
determination,  the  trophic  theory  in  which  castes  are  determined 
from  like  egg  cells  on  the  basis  of  selective  feeding  and  the  blast- 
ogenic  theory  in  which  castes  are  determined  by  genetic  or  chromo- 
some differences  among  the  egg  cells. 

In  the  bees  and  the  wasps  the  trophic  theory  appears  to  satis- 
factorily explain  the  production  of  castes.  In  the  ants  there  is  con- 
siderable controversy  and  the  speaker  reviewed  the  evidence  which 
both  sides  have  presented  in  the  discussions  concerning  this  phe- 
nomenon. 

The  meeting  adjourned  at  9:  45  P.M. 

Respectfully  submitted, 
A.  T.  Gaul. 

Meeting  of  October  14,  1948 

Regular  meeting  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  was  held 
at  the  Brooklyn  Museum  on  October  14,  1948.  President  G.  S. 
Tulloch  called  the  meeting  to  order  at  8 : 00  P.M.  Nine  members 
and  ten  visitors  were  present. 

The  minutes  of  the  previous  meeting  were  approved  as  read. 
The  treasurer  reported  for  the  second  and  third  quarters  of  the  year, 
and  his  report  was  accepted. 

It  was  moved  and  passed  that  the  society  send  a five  dollar 
contribution  to  the  Zoological  Record. 


Dec.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  167 


Dr.  Tulloch  announced  that  Dr.  Joseph  Bequaert  had  accepted 
the  editorship  of  Entomologica  Americana.  Dr.  Bequaert  reported 
on  the  condition  of  the  Entomologica  Americana,  and  discussed  the 
possibility  of  publishing  it  by  volumes  rather  than  by  years. 

Mr.  McElvare  read  the  resolutions  prepared  on  the  death  of  Mr. 
Torre-Bueno. 

Dr.  Tulloch  read  a letter  from  Dr.  K.  V.  Krombein  who  proposed 
Mr.  Shappirio  to  membership.  Mr.  McElvare  proposed  Major 
Sam  O.  Hill  and  Dr.  Irving  Fox  as  members.  It  was  moved  and 
passed  that  these  gentlemen  be  immediately  elected  through  suspen- 
sion of  the  by-laws. 

Mr.  Naumann  proposed  that  a committee  be  established  to  work 
out  the  problem  of  our  policy  when  people  unknown  to  the  members 
desire  to  join  the  society. 

Dr.  Joseph  Bequaert,  speaker  of  the  evening,  discussed  “Arthro- 
pods as  Ectoparasites  of  Vertebrates”. 

Three  families  of  pupiparous  diptera,  the  Nycteribiidae,  Streb- 
lidae  and  Hippoboscidae  are  external  parasites  of  some  mammals 
and  birds. 

The  Nycteribiidae,  or  spider  flies,  are  restricted  to  bats  as  hosts. 
They  have  no  halteres,  are  mainly  tropical  in  distribution  and  are 
apterous. 

The  Streblidae,  or  bat  flies,  are  also  restricted  to  bats  as  hosts. 
The  wings  are  present,  reduced,  or  may  be  lost  after  the  fly  has 
found  its  hosts.  This  family  is  mainly  tropical  in  distribution.  It 
contains  21  genera  and  80  species. 

The  Hippoboscidae,  or  louse  flies,  parasitize  mammals  and  birds 
but  not  bats.  The  head  is  typically  horizontally,  dorsally  flattened. 

The  wings  are  functional  in  some  species  and  functionless  in 
others.  They  are  practically  world  wide  in  distribution,  although 
commonest  in  the  warmer  latitudes.  The  family  comprises  22 
genera  and  150  species.  The  Sheep  Ked,  or  sheep  hick’  (there  is 
a true  sheep  tick  also)  is  representative  of  this  family.  The 
Hippoboscid  egg  hatches  in  the  uterus  of  the  female,  glands  in 
the  walls  of  the  uterus  supply  food  for  the  larva.  The  larva  does 
not  hatch,  or  leave  the  female  until  full  grown  and  ready  to  pupate. 
The  reproductive  rate  is  slow,  as  only  one  larva  at  a time  can  live 
in  the  uterus  of  the  female.  The  average  female  may  total  only  18 
to  20  offspring.  With  such  maternal  care,  few  young  ever  die. 

The  meeting  adjourned  at  9:  50  P.M. 

Respectfully  submitted, 
A.  T.  Gaul 


168  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLlii 


PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE  BROOKLYN  ENTOMO- 
LOGICAL SOCIETY. 

SPECIAL  OFFER. 

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issue,  paper  cover $69.00 

Current  VoL,  subscription  per  year $ 5.00 


An  Illustrated  Synopsis  of  the  Principal  Larval  Forms  of  the 
Coleoptera,  Boving  and  Craighead.  128  plates  with  over  2000 
figures,  stock  nearing  depletion.  Cloth  bound,  $9.00.  Domestic, 
Book  post  prepaid.  Foreign  extra. 

A Glossary  of  Entomology,  Torre-Bueno,  cloth  bound,  $5.00. 
Domestic,  Book  post  prepaid.  Foreign  extra. 

A Synopsis  of  the  Hemiptera-Heteroptera  of  America  North  of 
Mexico,  Torre-Bueno. 

Part  1,  Families  Scutelleridae,  Cydnidae,  Pentatomidae, 
Aradidae,  Dysodiidae  and  Termitaphididae.  Paper  cover, 
$3.00. 

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Pyrrhocoridae  and  Thaumastotheriidae.  Paper  cover. 


$2.00. 

Part  3,  Family  Lygaeidae,  Paper  cover,  $4.00. 

A Monograph  of  the  Melophaginae,  or  Ked-flies  of  Sheep, 

Goats,  Deer  and  Antelope,  Bequaert.  Cloth  bound $7.50 

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All  orders  for  all  publications  MUST  be  sent  DIRECT  to  Brooklyn 
Entomological  Society,  R.  R.  McElvare,  Treasurer,  76  Ivy  Way, 
Port  Washington,  L.  L,  N.  Y. 


CONTENTS 

(Arranged  alphabetically  throughout) 

COLEOPTERA 

A New  Species  of  Stenoscelis,  Gyrohypnus  emmesus  Grav.,  C. 
and  Notes  on  other  Corculion-  A.  Frost,  79 
idae,  L.  L.  Buchanan,  61 

Diptera 


A Mass  Collection  and  Popula- 
tion Survey  Technique  for 
Larvae  of  Tabanidae.  Nor- 
man S.  Bailey,  22 
A New  Genus  and  Species  of 
Fungus-Gnats,  F.  R.  Shaw,  94 


General 

A Resolution  of  the  Brooklyn 
Entomological  Society,  149 
A Suggestion  to  Authors,  J.  R. 
T.-B.,  68 

An  All-Purpose  Insect  Net, 
Robert  L.  Usinger,  67 
Book  Notes  (in  order  of  appear- 
ance) : 

Pulgas,  Bibliografia,  catalogo 
e animais  por  elas  sugados, 
J.  Bequaert,  30 
Audubon’s  Insects,  J.  R.  T.- 
B.,  68 

Catologue  of  the  North 
American  Beetles  of  the 
Family  Cleridae,  J.  R.  T.- 
B.,  87 

The  Mosquitoes  of  Illinois, 
J.  R.  T.-B.,  100 
The  Naturalists’  Directory, 
35th  Edition,  George  S. 
Tulloch,  159 


A Species  of  Winter  Crane-Fly 
New  to  the  United  States  with 
notes  on  the  Distribution  of 
the  Family  (Tricho'ceridae). 
Edward  I.  Coher,  42 
Western  Dolichopodidae  Notes, 
George  F.  Knowlton,  98 

Subject 

A Textbook  of  Entomology, 
George  S.  Tulloch,  163 
Entomology  in  the  United 
States,  J.  R.  T.-B.,  141 
J.  R.  de  la  Torre-Bueno,  John 
D.  Sherman,  Jr.,  154 
Memories  of  J.  R.  de  la  Torre- 
Bueno,  Chris  E.  Olsen,  135 
Proceedings  of  the  Society,  A. 
T.  Gaul,  Edwin  Way  Teale, 
George  S.  Tulloch,  32,  138, 
165 

Some  More  Entomologists,  J.  R. 
T.-B.,  150 

Theodore  D.  A.  Cockerell,  E. 

Gorton  Linsley,  116 
Totalitarianism  in  Science,  J.  R. 
T.-B.,  99 

Why  Not  Check  the  Literature 
More  Carefully,  Osmond  P. 
Breland,  132 

Word  Madness,  J.  C.  Bradley, 
114 


169 


170  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  XLIII 


Heteroptera 


A Case  of  Synonymy  in  the 
Family  Neididae,  H.  G.  Bar- 
ber, 21 

A Necessary  Change  of  Name 
(Saldidae),  Roland  F.  Hus- 
sey, 153 

Boxelder  Bugs  Feeding  on 
Honeybees,  G.  F.  Knowlton, 
17 

Cannibalism  in  Leptocoris  tri- 
vittatus  Say,  Cyril  E.  Abbott, 
112 


Esperansa  texa7ia  in  Florida, 
Roland  F.  Hussey,  115 
New  Records  for  Stygnocoris 
rustic  us  Fallen,  H.  G.  Barber, 
31 

Notes  on  Uhleriola  floralis 
(Uhl.)  in  Illinois,  James  A. 
Slater,  69 

The  Torre-Bueno  Collection,  H. 
B.  Hungerford,  148 


Homoptera 

A Few  Aphids  on  Pine,  Gregarious  Treehopper,  G.  F. 

G.  F.  Knowlton,  97  Knowlton,  71 

Birds  Eat  Scale  Insects,  G.  F. 

Knowlton,  60 

Hymenoptera 


Additions  to  Vespine  Biology — 
IV:  Notes  on  Interspecific 
Tolerance,  Orphan  Nests,  and 
Orphan  Wasps,  Albro  T. 
Gaul,  37 

Additions  to  Vespine  Biology — 
V : The  Distribution  of  Labor 
in  the  Colonies  of  Hornets 
and  Yellowjackets,  Albro  T. 
Gaul,  73 

Additions  to  Vespine  Biology — 
VI:  Notes  on  Vespula  7utfa 
var.  consohina  Saussure,  Al- 
bro T.  Gaul,  160 


New  North  American  Rygch- 
ium,  Richard  M.  Bohart,  80 
Observations  on  the  Biology  of 
Some  Mutillid  Wasps — II, 
with  New  Distributional  Rec- 
ords, David  G.  Shappirio,  157 
Spider  Kills  Honeybee,  G.  F. 
Knowlton,  72 

Synonymical  Notes  on  North 
American  Sphecoid  Wasps: 
I and  II,  Karl  V.  Krombein, 
18 


Southwestern  Geometrid  Notes  Southwestern  Geometrid  Notes 
and  New  Species.  I,  John  L.  and  New  Species.  II,  John  L. 
Sperry,  54  Sperry,  88 


Orthoptera 

Grasshoppers  in  Turkey’s  Crop, 

G.  F.  Knowlton,  29 


Dec.,  1948  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  171 


Smaller  Orders  and  Other  Animals 


A Note  on  Colpocephalum 
ajajae  Ewing  (Mallophaga), 
K.  C.  Emerson,  130 

Additional  Records  of  Bird 
Ticks  for  the  Northeastern 
United  States,  J.  Bequaert, 
156 

Birds  Eat  Scale  Insects,  G.  E. 
Knowlton,  60 

Descriptions  of  Eight  New  Spe- 
cies of  Trichoptera,  D.  G. 
Denning,  119 

Dr.  C.  Andresen  Hubbard  on 
Eleas  of  Western  North 
America — A Review  With 


Critical  Notes  (Siphonap- 
tera),  Henry  S.  Euller,  1 
Grasshoppers  in  Turkey’s  Crop, 
G.  E.  Knowlton,  29 
Some  New  Species  and  Varie- 
ties of  Collembola  from  North 
Carolina,  D.  L.  Wray,  44 
Some  Remarks  on  the  Trom- 
biculinae  Ewing,  1929  in  Das 
Tierreich,  Trombidiidae,  By 
Sig  Thor  and  Carl  Willmann, 
Henry  S.  Euller,  101 
Spider  Kills  Honeybee,  G.  E. 
Knowlton,  72 


NOTICE. 

The  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  is  pleased  to 
announce  that  Dr.  J.  Bequaert  of  the  Museum  of  Com- 
parative Zoology,  Harvard  University  has  accepted  the 
editorship  of  ENTOMOLOGICA  AMERICANA. 
All  communications  concerning  this  journal  should  be 
addressed  to  Dr.  J.  Bequaert,  Museum  of  Comparative 
Zoology,  Cambridge  38,  Massachusetts. 


172  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  ^Lill 


INDEX  TO  VOLUME  XLIII 

Arranged  alphabetically  throughout;  valid  species  in  Roman 
type,  synonyms  in  italics,  new  species  bold  face.  ^ indicates  other 
animals ; * plants.  Not  included  in  this  index ; extensive  list  of 
fleas  and  other  animals,  pp.  1-17 ; Synonymical  notes  on  North 
American  Sphecoid  Wasps,  pp.  18-21 ; aphids  on  pine,  pp.  97-98; 
extensive  list  of  mites,  pp.  101-111. 


Allomyia  renoa,  119 
stylata,  119 
tripunctata,  119 
Anculopus  foveatus,  66 
Antepione  hewesata,  92 
dAjaia  ajaja,  130 

Bembex,  158 
Bombus,  158 

*Castanea  pumila,  63 
Cerceris  clypeata,  157 
finitima,  157 

Chlorochlamys  zelleraria,  88 
Chyranda  centralis,  121 

parvula,  121 

Colpocephalum  ajajae,  130 
Culex  fatigans,  133 

quinquefasciatus,  133 
Culicoides,  24 

Dasymutilla  bioculata,  158 
cariniceps,  158 
gibbosa,  158 
nigripes,  158 
obscura,  157 
occidentalis,  158 
dDendroica  p.  palmarum,  156 
Deuterosminthurus  batrachos, 

48 

macgillivrayi  altamontus, 

49 

Diaphorus  palpiger,  98 
Dolichopus  aldrichi,  98 
amphericus,  98 


bifurcatus,  98 
coloradensis,  98 
coquiletti,  98 
nigricoxa,  98 
procerus,  98 
reindescens,  98 
sufflavus,  98 

Dolichovespula  arenaria,  40,  173 
maculata,  40,  76,  161 

Drepanulatrix  baueraria,  55 
carnearia,  54 
foeminaria,  54 
ida,  54 

monicaria,  54 
nevadaria,  54 
pulveraria,  54 
secundaria,  56 

Dysstroma  ethela,  88 
kasloata,  88 

Entombrya  maizeae,  50 

Esperanza  texana,  115 

Fenderomyia,  94 
smithi,  94 

Eormica,  71 

neoclara,  69 

Gyrophypnus  emmesus,  79 

dElaemaphysalis  leporis-palus- 
tris,  156 

dHedymeles  ludovicianus,  156 

Hexarthrum  ulkei,  64 


Dec.,  194S  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  173 


Hormops  abducens,  66 
latipennis,  66 

dHylocichla  m.  minima,  156 

Jalysus  caducns,  21 
elongatus,  21 

Lepidocyrtus 

unifasciatns  neofasciatus, 
44 

Leptocoris  trivittatus,  17,  112 

Megarhinus  septentrionalis,  132 
Metopotoma,  66 
Micrasema  aspiliis,  129 
bactro,  128 
charonis,  129 
diteris,  128 
etra,  128 
riisticum,  129 
wataga,  129 
Microbembex,  158 
dMisumena  calycina,  72 

Neides  caducus,  21 
Neophylax  aniqua,  122 
antnmnus,  123 
consimilis,  123 
fuscus,  123 
oligicus,  123 
rickeri,  122 
splendens,  121 

Neureclipsis  crepuscularis,  119 

timesis,  119 

Oecetis  inconspicua,  126 
porteri,  126 
pratelia,  126 
Orthezia,  60 

Orthopodomyia  signifera,  133 

Parexcelsa  ultraria,  88 
dPhalangium  opilio,  72 


Phengommataea  mabelata,  91 
Philandins  gibbosus,  158 
Phloeophagus  variolatiis,  64 
Psilotreta  frontalis,  123 
hansoni,  123 
indecisa,  123 
labida,  123 

Psorophora  ferox,  133 
Pubilia  modesta,  71 
*Pnlvinaria,  31 

Rhamphocolus  tenuis,  64 
Rygchium  alvarado  sanfranum, 
86 

annulatum,  87 
boscii 

auranum 
discogaster,  81 
foraniinatum,  81 
aequale,  82 
apopkense,  81 
blandinum,  81 
fedoris,  82 
foraminatum,  81 
leucomelas,  81 
oregonense,  81 
parvirudis,  81 
fusum,  83 

fusum,  84 
rubrivestis,  83 
sanneovestis,  84 
macswaini,  80 
tempiferum,  85 

birepandum,  85 
eldoradense,  85 
pritchardi,  85 
subrubeum,  85 
tempiferum,  85 

Saida  bouchervillei,  153 
coriacea,  153 
Scellus  amplus,  98 
filiferus,  98 


174  Bulletin  of  the  Brooklyn  Entomological  Society  Vol.  XLIII 


monostrosus,  98 
vigil,  98 

Semiothisas  californiaria,  57 
colorata,  57 
davisata,  57 
hypaethrata,  88 
melanderi,  58 
minuta,  57 
parcata,  57 
puertata,  57 
sirenata,  57 
s-signata,  57 

Sericosema  meadowsaria,  89 

Sminthurus  virginidari,  45 
yonahlossee,  47 

*Solidago,  71 

*Spartina  alterniflora,  25 
patens,  23 

Stenaspilates  flavisaria,  88 


Stenoscelis  andersoni,  61 
brevis,  62  ' 

Stygnocoris  rusticus,  31 
Sympycnus  cuprinus,  98 

Tabanus  attratus,  22 
nigrovittatus,  22 
Tachytrechus  bipunctatus,  98 
Timulla  vagans  rufinota,  159 
Tomolips  quercicola,  64 
Trichocera  bituberculata,  42 
salmani,  42 

Uhleriola  floralis,  69 

Vespula  maculifrons,  37,  73,  160 
rufa  consobrina,  73,  160 
squamosa,  37 


Number  of  New  Genera  in  this  Index,  1. 

Number  of  New  Species  and  other  forms  in  this  index,  28. 


NOTICE 

Mr.  J.  R.  de  la  Torre-Bueno,  editor  of  this  bulletin 
for  more  than  thirty  years,  died  on  May  3,  1948. 
Until  a new  editor  is  appointed  all  communications 
should  be  addressed  to  George  S.  Tulloch,  22  East 
Garfield  Street,  Merrick,  New  York. 


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PENTATOMIDAE:  Want  to  buy  or  exchange  Pentatomidae 
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the  City  of  New  York,  17  Lexington  Ave.  N.Y.C. 

ACALYPTRATE  DIPTERA  OF  THE  WORLD  wanted  for 
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WANTED.— MANTID  EGG  CASES  from  West  of  the  Mis- 
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“LEPIDOPTERISTS ! Drawer  front  labels  2 7/8"  xi  6/16" 
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WANTED — Geometrid  moths,  for  cash  or  exchange.  John  L. 
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