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HARVARD    UNIVERSITY. 


LIBRARY 


MUSEUM  OF  COMPARATIVE  ZOOLOGY. 


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ISL  '\5^ 


BULLETIN  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  KANSAS 


Vol.  XV. 


MARCH  15,  1914. 


No.  9. 


Science  Bulletin, 


Vol.  VIII,  Nos.  I-IO. 


(Coutinuatioii  of  Kansas  University  Quarterly.) 


ENTOMOLOGY  NUMBER. 


LAWRENCE,  KANSAS. 

Published  Semimonthly  from  January  to  June  and  Monthly  from  July  to 
December,  inclusive,  by  the  University  of  Kansas. 


Entered  as  second-claas  matter  December  29,  1910,  at  the  post  ofBc*  at  Lawrence,  Kansas, 
under  the  act  of  July  16, 1894. 

6-838 


NOTICE  TO  EXCHANGES. 


The  attention  of  learned  s&cieties  and  other  institutions 
which  exchange  scientific  publications  with  the  University  of 
Kansas  is  called  to  the  list  of  publications  of  this  University  on 
the  third  page  of  the  cover  of  this  issue. 

Those  marked  "Supply  exhausted"  can  not  be  furni=>hed  at 
all;  those  marked  "Supply  small"  can  not  be  furnished  sep- 
arately; those  marked  "Supply  large"  will  gladly  be  furnished 
to  any  of  our  exchanges  who  may'  need  them  to  complete  their 
files. 

Back  numbers  of  the  Kansas  University  Quarterly  and  Geo- 
logical Survey,  as  far  as  possible,  will  be  sent  to  those  of  our 
newer  correspondents  who  are  able  and  willing  to  reciprocate. 


ANNOUNCEMENT. 

The  Kansas  University  Science  Bulletin  (continuation  of 
the  Kansas  University  Quarterly)  is  issued  in  parts  at  irregu- 
lar intervals.  One  volume,  containing  from  300  to  400  pages  of 
reading-matter,  with  necessary  illustrations,  is  issued  each 
year.  The  subscription  price  is  $3  per  volume.  Exchanges 
with  other  institutions  and  learned  societies  everywhere  are 
solicited.  All  exchanges  should  be  addressed  to  the  Library 
OP  THE  University  of  Kansas. 

All  communications  should  be  addressed  to 

The  Kansas  University  Science  Bulletin, 

lawrence,  kan. 


EDITORIAL  BOARD. 

W.  J.  Baumgaetneb,  Managing  Editor. 

U.  G.  MITCHELL,  Exchange  Editor. 
F.  E.  KESTER. 

W.  C.  STEVENS. 

E.  H.  8.  BAILEY. 

S.  J.  HUNTER. 


THE 

KANSAS  UNIVERSITY 
SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 


DEVOTED  TO  THE   PUBLICATION   OF  THE  RESULTS  OF  RESEARCH 
BY   MEMBERS  OF   THE   UNIVERSITY   OF    KANSAS. 


VOL.  VIII. 
ENTOMOLOGY  NUMBER. 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE   UNIVERSITY, 

LAWUENCE,    KANSAS. 

1914. 


■J  ^ 


^ 


DEDICATED 

IX)  THE  MEMORY 

OF 

FRANCIS  HUNTINGTON  SNOW, 

BY 

'I'liK  GuAiHJATK  Students  ok  the  Depautment  of  EntoiMoj.ouy  of  the 
ITniversity  of  Kansas,  in  Appreciation  of  the  Oppor- 
tunities   FOR    Research    Made    Possible 
BY  Him. 


CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  VIII. 


No.  1. — Depai-tnient  of  Entomology.     Historical  Accovint.  .  .    S.  ,/.  Hunter. 

2. — The   Study   on   the   Segmentation   of  the   Head   of   Insects. 

Plates  I-IV    Rubtj  Hosford. 

3. — Morphology   and    Biology   of   the    Membracidae   of    Kansas. 

Plates  V-XXI   Hazel  Branch. 

4. — Monograph  of  the  Larridje  of  Kansas.     Plates  XXII-XXX. 

F.  X.  Williams. 

o. — Notes  of  Three  Sesiidae  (Lepidoptei'a)  affecting  the  "Mis- 
souri Gourd"  (Ciicurbita  fcetidissima  H.  B.  K.).  Plates 
XXXI  and  XXXII   F.  X.  Williavts. 

6. — Notes  on  the  Habits  of  Some  Wasps  that  Occur  in  Kansas, 
with  the  Description  of  a  New  Species.     Plate  XXXIII. 

F.  X.  William.^. 

7.— Eumenidae  of  Kansas.     Plates  XXXIV-XXXVII.  .   Dwight  Isely. 

8.— Sand  Fly  and  Pellagra .S'.  ./.  Hunter. 

9. — Morphology    and    Biology    of    Siiiinliuiii     I'ittataiii.      Plates 

XXXVIII-XLII H'.   T.  Einenj. 

10.--Anatomy     of     Simtdiaiii     viftatum.       Plates     XLIII-XLV. 

H.  B.  Hungerfurd. 


THE 

KANSAS  UNIVERSITY 
SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 


Vol.  VIII,  No.  1— July,  1913. 

(Whole  Series,  Vol.  XVIII,  No.  1.) 


CONTENTS: 


Department  of  Entomology  of  the  University  of  Kansas — 

Historical  Account S.  J.  Hunter. 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  UNIVERSITY, 
UWRENCE,  KAN. 


Entered  at  the  post-office  in  Lawrence  as  second-class  matter. 


5-838 


KANSAS  STATE  PRINTING  OFFICE. 

W.  C.  Austin,  Stale  Printer. 

TOPEKA.      1913. 


THE  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY 
SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 

VoL.VIII,No.  I]         JULY,  1913.  [y<,rx 


LE    Series 
XVIIl.NO   1 


Department  of  Entomology  of  the 
University  of  Kansas. 

HISTORICAL  ACCOUNT. 

BY   S.    J.    HUNTER. 

THIS,  the  second  entomology  number  of  this  Journal,  is  in- 
troduced by  an  account  and  bibhography  of  the  work  of 
the  department  of  entomology  of  the  University  of  Kan- 
sas. The  volume  itself  is  intended  as  a  tribute,  in  a  small  meas- 
ure, to  the  work  of  the  founder  of  the  department.*  Doctor 
Snow,  a  member  of  the  faculty  of  the  University  of  Kansas 
from  the  foundation  of  the  University,  was  for  many  years 
professor  of  natural  history,  and  his  impress,  especially  on  the 
museum  side,  on  so  many  branches  of  this  subject,  is  such  that 
those  who  are  now  going  over  his  work  marvel  at  the  wonder- 
ful capacity  of  the  man.  He  was,  as  well,  a  great,  desirable 
teacher.  Entomology  is  very  early  shown  to  have  been  his 
favorite  branch.  It  is  especially  fitting  that  the  accomplish- 
ments in  his  favorite  work  should  be  recorded,  and  it  seems 
best  to  present  these  chronologically. 

The  scope  and  activity  of  the  department  of  entomology  of 
the  University  of  Kansas  is  therefore  probably  best  shown  by  a 
transcript  from  the  rfecords  of  the  department  giving  the  work 
accomplished  and  official  publications  issued. 

*  It  is  regretted  by  the  author  that  the  arrangement  ujider  which  this  Journal  is  now 
published  is  such  that  prolonged  delays  sometimes  prevent  its  regular  appearance.  But 
for  this  reason  this  issue  would  have  appeared  at  a  much  earlier  date. 

(3) 


4  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

1866. — Frank  H.  Snow,  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Sciences. 
In  the  senior  year  of  the  college  instruction  was  given  in  zoology, 
and  the  principal  branch  of  the  subject  treated  was  the  insect  fauna 
of  the  state. 

This  course  was  continued  until  1886,  when  there  began  to  be 
given  special  courses  devoted  exclusively  to  the  subject  of  ento- 
mology. 

1867. — Doctor  Snow  relinquishes  mathematics  and  becomes  professor  of 
natural  history. 

1872. — Dr.  F.  H.  Snow,  of  the  University,  was  appointed  chairman  of 
the  entomological  commission  of  the  Kansas  Academy  of  Science, 
and  was  continued  in  this  position  for  many  years. 

1874. — Doctor  Snow  begins  publication  of  entomological  papers  in 
Transactions  of  Kansas  Academy  of  Science. 

1875. — An  account  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  locust,  published  in  the 
Transactions  of  the  Kansas  Academy  of  Science.  The  same  year 
Doctor  Snow  published  a  paper  on  a  moth  of  economic  importance,  in 
the  same  Transactions.  Another  paper  of  this  same  year,  which 
clearly  shows  the  scope  of  the  departmental  work,  is  "The  best 
means  of  defense  against  the  insect  enemies  of  the  horticulturist," 
also  published  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Kansas  Academy  of 
Science. 

Mr.  George  F.  Gaumer,  an  assistant,  issued  a  publication  on  the 
lai^ae  of  certain  insects. 

1876. — A    publication   by    Doctor    Snow    from    the    University,    entitled 
"List  of  Coleoptera  collected  in  Colorado." — Trans.  Kan.  Acad.  Sci. 
Another   paper,   which   dealt   largely   with   the   relation   of  birds 
and  insects  to  agriculture,  was  issued  this  same  year. 

1877. — A  publication  appeared  in  the  Transactions  of  Kansas  Academy 
of  Science,  giving  a  list  of  the  insects  of  Wallace  county,  Kansas. 
Two  other  papers  the  same  year  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Kansas 
Academy  of  Science  gave  an  account  of  a  large  tiger  beetle  of  un- 
usual scientific  importance. 

1880. — Appears  a  discussion  by  Doctor  Snow  on  the  webworm. 

1882. — An  account  of  the  house  fly  is  published  in  Psyche,  III. 

1883. — Was  a  year  of  unusual  activity  among  injurious  insects,  and  we 
find  four  papers  of  rather  wide  scope,  on  three  noxious  insects;  on 
three  injurious  insects;  on  the  habits  of  the  screw  worm;  and  on 
how  to  destroy  these  injurious  insects.  These  were  published  in 
the  first  and  second  reports  of  the  Kansas  State  Board  of  Agri- 
culture and  in  Psyche. 

1884. — We  find  another  year  of  activity,  as  is  shown  by  the  publications 
in  the  reports  of  the  Kansas  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  on  insects 
injurious  to  wheat  and  on  the  value  of  several  insecticides. 

1885. — This  was  an  even  more  active  year  among  insects  injurious  to 
crops.     At  this  time  there  appeared  in  the  Kansas  State  Board  of 


hunter:   department  of  entomology.  5 

Agriculture  reports  a  paper  on  injurious  insects  from  July  to  Septem- 
ber; on  the  chinch  bug;  on  pear  blight;  and  on  further  injurious  in- 
sects— the  Hessian  fly,  the  ivheat-straw  worm,  and  the  webworm. 
1886. — This  year  the  department  begins  to  offer  specially  adToneed  courses 
in  entomology. 

1887. — There  appeared  in  Science  an  article  on  the  purslane  -worm. 

1888. — This  year  began  extended  work  of  inyestigation  with  the  chinch 
bug;  an  account  of  it  is  given  in  the  report  of  the  Kansas  State  Board 
of  Agriculture.  Another  paper  on  insects  injurious  to  wheat  ap- 
peared in  this  same  report. 

1889. — Work  had  developed  so  that  a  number  of  departments  were  estab- 
lished. Doctor  Snow  now  professor  of  botany,  entomology  and 
meteorology. 

Further  reports  on  the  chinch  bug  were  issued  in  the  Board  of 
Agricultural  reports;  and  one  on  the  experiments  for  the  artificial 
dissemination  of  a  contagious  disease  among  chinch  bugs  was  pub- 
lished in  the  Transactions  of  the  Kansas  Academy  of  Science. 

V.  L.  Kellogg,  assistant  professor  in  the  department  of  entomology, 
published  some  notes  on  bird  lice,  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Kansas 
Academy  of  Science. 

1890. — Doctor  Snow  becomes  chancellor  of  the  University. 

Two  reports  on  the  experiments  for  the  artificial  destruction  of  the 
chinch  bug  were  published  in  the  reports,  and  one  on  the  general 
question  of  the  chinch  bug. 

1891. — This  year  House  bill  No.  639  was  passed,  "An  act  to  establish  an 
Experimental  Station  at  the  State  University  of  Kansas,  to  promote 
and  conduct  experiments  for  the  destruction  of  chinch  bugs  by  con- 
tagion or  infection,  and  making  appropriation  therefor." 

Director  of  the  Experiment  Station  of  the  Unirersity  of  Kansas 
was  created,  and  Doctor  Snow  was  elected  to  this  position. 

Papers  on  insects  injuring  Kansas  wheat,  on  the  results  of  the  ex- 
periments carried  on,  and  on  the  contagious  diseases  of  the  chinch 
bug  were  published  in  the  State  Board  report,  in  Insect  Life,  and  in 
the  first  annual  report  of  the  Experiment  Station  of  the  University 
of  Kansas. 

1892. — J.  M.  Aldrich,  a  graduate  student  in  the  department,  published  six 
papers  on  Diptera. 

Three  more  papers  on  the  chinch  bug  and  its  contagious  diseases 
appeared,  one  in  the  second  annual  report  of  the  Experiment  Station, 
another  in  Insect  Life,  and  the  third  in  the  report  of  the  Kansas 
State  Board  of  Agriculture. 

With  the  assistance  of  V.  L.  Kellogg,  Doctor  Snow  published  a 
paper  on  two  grain  insects,  in  the  bulletin  of  the  department  of 
entomology  of  the  University  of  Kansas.  Later  the  same  year  Doctor 
Snow  published  another  article  on  the  chinch  bug  in  Psyche. 

Assistant  Professor  V.  L.  Kellogg  published  two  articles — notes  on 
the  comparative  anatomy  of  insects;  two  on  insects  injurious  to  drugs; 


6  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

insect  notes,  in  Transactions  of  the  Kansas  Academy  of  Science;  a 
117-page  bulletin — an  account  of  cortimon  injurious  insects  of  Kansas; 
and  assisted  Doctor  Snow  with  his  bulletin  on  two  grain  insects. 
1893. — Doctor  Snow  published  'Another  report  of  the  diseases  of  the 
chinch  bug,  in  the  third  annual  report  of  the  Experiment  Station  of 
the  University  of  Kansas. 

Mr.  Kellogg  published  a  paper  on  the  horn  fly  of  cattle,  with 
Doctor  Snow,  in  the  bulletin  of  the  department  of  entomology.  He 
also  published  a  paper  on  the  destruction  of  insects  by  fungi. 

In  this  year  W.  A.  Snow  succeeded  to  the  position  of  assistant 
professor,  and  Mr.  Kellogg  became  head  of  the  department  of  ento- 
mology at  Leland  Stanford  University. 
1894. — Doctor  Snow  published  his  fourth  annual  report  of  the  Experiment 
Station,  giving  an  account  of  his  work  with  the  chinch  bug  for  that 
year.  He  also  gave,  in  Insect  Life,  an  account  of  the  work  in  eco- 
nomic entomology  at  Kansas  University  for  the  season  of  1894. 

Some  further  papers  of  Kellogg's  were  published — two  more  arti- 
cles on  insects  injuring  drugs,  one  on  the  anatomy  of  insects,  and  one 
on  European  experiments  with  insect  diseases. 

Mr.  Hugo  Kahl  was  appointed  systematic  entomologist,  assistant 
in  Entomological  Museum. 
1896. — A  further  report  by  Doctor  Snow  on  the  contagious  diseases  of  the 
chinch  bug,  in  the  sixth  annual  report  of  the  Univei-sity  Experiment 
Station. 

S.  J.  Hunter  published  some  notes  on  injurious  insects,  in  Trans- 
actions of  Kansas  Academy  of  Science. 

Mr.  Hunter,  who  became  assistant  professor  at  this  time,  went  to 
the  western  part  of  the  state,  where  he  began  a  special  study  of  the 
grasshopper  problem. 

At  request  of  Kansas  nursei'ymen,  S.  J.  Hunter  began  the  annual 
inspection  of  Kansas  nurseries. 

Mr.  Kahl,  systematic  entomologist,  and  curator  of  entomological 
collections.. 
1897. — Doctor  Snow,  together  with  S.  J.  Hunter,  published  a  bulletin  on 
the  more  destructive  grasshoppers  of  Kansas.  Disking  of  alfalfa 
first  advocated,  now  a  valuable  practice. 
1898. — Doctor  Snow's  title  iio»v  becomes  professor  of  organic  evolution 
and  entomology. 

Mr.  Hunter  published  a  bulletin  on  scale  insects  injurious  to 
orchards.  Two  papers  by  Hunter  appeared  in  Psyche ;  they  treated  of 
the  grasshoppers  in  Kansas  and  Colorado.  Another  paper  on  the 
influence  of  the  parasites  on  gi-asshoppers  appeared  in  the  Kanscis 
Universicy  Quarterly,  and  the  same,  with  additions,  as  a  bulletin  of 
the  department  of  entomology.  Hunter  also  began  his  book  on  the 
Coccidae  of  Kansas,  publishing  part  I  in  the  Kansas  University 
Quarterly. 


HUNTER:     DEPARTMENT   OF  ENTOMOLOGY.  7 

1899. — Assistant  Professor  Hunter  published  an  account  of  his  work  in 
western  Kansas  in  the  bulletin  entitled  "Alfallfa,  grasshoppers,  bees; 
their  relationships."  Part  II  of  the  Coccidas  of  Kansas  appeared  this 
year.  In  the  report  of  the  Kansas  State  Board  of  Agriculture  was 
published  an  article  on  the  fertilization  of  the  alfalfa  blossom  by  bees, 
an  important  note  for  growers  of  alfalfa.  "The  nurseryman  and  the 
entomologist"  was  given  before  the  American  Asociation  of  Nursery- 
men. "Entomological  legislation  in  the  interests  of  horticulture" — 
Transactions  Kansas  State  Horticultural  Society. 

This  year  shows  the  broadening  of  the  field  of  the  work  of  the 
department  among  the  nurserjrmen  of  the  state.  The  governor,  at 
request  of  Kansas  nurserymen,  appointed  S.  J.  Hunter  state  inspector 
of  nurseries.  This  appointment  was  continued  until  1907. 
1900. — The  third  part  of  Coccidae  of  Kansas,  by  S.  J.  Hunter,  was  pub- 
lished in  Kansas  University  Quarterly,  vol.  IX,  No.  2. 

"Alfalfa  culture  and  insect  life"  appeared  in  the  Kansas  State 
Board  of  Agriculture  report. 

"Some  entomological  problems  in  horticulture,"  by  S.  J.  Hunter, 
was  published  in  the  report  of  the  Colorado  State  Board  of  Horti- 
culture, vol.  XI. 

An  article  on  spraying  was  given  in  the  report  of  the  Kansas  State 
Board  of  Horticulture. 
1901. — Doctor  Snow  returns  to  his  old  title,  professor  of  natural  history 
and  director  of  the  museum. 

The  fourth  part  of  the  Coccidae  of  Kansas  appeared  in  the  Kansas 
University  Quarterly,  vol.  X. 

An  article  on  selection,  natural  and  artificial,  was  published  in  the 
Western  Fruit  Grower  for  October  of  this  year. 

The  American  Journal  of  Physiology  published  the  results  of  Pro- 
fessor Hunter's  summer  study  of  sea  urchin  eggs,  at  Woods  Hole, 
Mass. 

Marguerite  E.  Wise  instructor  in  botany  and  entomology. 

Prof.  S.  J.  Hunter  becomes  head  of  the  department  of  entomology 
at  the  University. 
1902. — Doctor  Snow's  title  becomes  professor  of  organic  evolution,  sys- 
tematic entomology  and  meteorology. 

Professor  Hunter  published  a  textbook  dealing  with  the  insect 
fauna  of  Kansas. 

Mr.  E.  S.  Tucker  was  appointed  museum  assistant  in  systematic 
entomology. 
1903. — The  various  papers  on  the  Coccidse  of  Kansas  were  brought  to- 
gether as  a  textbook  for  use  in  identification  of  the  scale  insects. 

Results  of  further  biological   investigations   of  Professor  Hunter 
were  published  in  the  Biological  Bulletin,  vol.  V,  No.  3. 
1904. — C.  E.  Sanborn,  an  advanced  student  in  the  department,  published 
a  paper  on  Kansas  plant  lice. 

Another  student  a't  this  time,  Mr.  W.  J.  Meek,  published  a  paper 
on  the  structure  of  some  insects,  in  the  Kansas  University  Science 
Bulletin,  vol.  II. 


8  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

1906. — C.  E.  Sanborn  published  a  further  account  of  plant  lice  of  Kansas, 
giving  a   list  of  them  and  of  their  host  plants.     This   paper  is  of 
great  use  in  distinguishing  the  beneficial  and  injurious  forms. 
1907. — Report   of  the   entomologist   of  the   Kansas    State   Horticultural 
Society.— Trans.  Kan.  Acad.  Sci.,  vol.  XXIX. 

The  legislature  designated  the  professor  of  entomology  at  the 
University  as  state  entomologist. 

The  Kansas  millers,  grain  men,  and  wheat  growers  raised  a  fund 
of  about  $2500  and  asked  this  department  to  cope  with  the  green-bug 
invasion. 

P.  A.  Glenn  was  made  assistant  professor  of  entomology. 
Chaptek  386,  Laws  of  1907. 
Creating  a  State  Entomological  Commission  and  Making  an  Appro- 
priation  Therefor. 
An   Act   for   the   protection   of   the   horticultural    and    agricultural 
interests  of  the  state  of  Kansas  by  the  suppression  and  extermina- 
tion of  San  Jose  scale  and  other  injurious  insect  pests  and  plant 
diseases;    to  create   the   Kansas   Entomological    Commission,   two 
state  entomologists;  and  to  proTide  for  the  punishment  for  viola- 
tions thereof,  and  making  appropriations  therefor. 
Sec.  4.    That   it   shall   be  the   duty   of   said   state   entomologists, 
under  the  control  of  the  State  Entomological  Commission,  to  seek  out 
■nd   suppress  pernicious  insect  pests  and  injurious  and   contagious 
plant  diseases  hereinbefore  mentioned   as  destructiTe  to  the  horti- 
cultnral  and  agricultural  interests  ef  this  state,  and  conduct  experi- 
ments when  necessary  to  accomplish  that  end. 

1908. — September  20,  Doctor  Snow's  death  must  here  be  recorded. 

"Experiments  with  and  knowledge  of  the  green  bug  to  date"  is 
found  in  the  report  of  the  Kansas  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  vol. 
XXVII,  No.  105,  by  S.  J.  Hunter. 

Report  of  the  state  entomologist  of  Entomological  Commission  of 
Kansas. — State  report. 
1909. — There  was  published  a  complete  report  of  the  green  bug  and  its 
natural  enemies  and  telling  how  to  combat  it.     By  S.  J.  Hunter  and 
P.  A.  Glenn. 

Professor  Hunter,  jointly  with  Prof.  T.  J.  Headlee,  sent  out  a 
circular  of  information  regarding  the  San  Jose  scale,  enemy  of  the 
fruit  grower. 

Began  a  systematic  survey  of  orchard  culture  and  management 
Ib  Kansas. 
1910. — The  department  of  entomology  and  the  department  of  botany 
work  upon  a  fundamental  investigation  of  the  efficiency  of  the  arti- 
ficial distribution  of  the  chinch-bug  fungus.  Professor  Billings  for 
botany.  Professor  Glenn  for  entomology,  working  jointly. 

Orchard  survey  continued. 
1911. — At  request  of  Kansas  millers,  conducted  special  investigation  on 
green  bug  en  southern  tier  of  counties. 

Extended  orchard  surrey  to  practically  all  of  the  apple-growing 
districts  of  the  southern  half  of  the  state. 


hunter:   department  of  entomology.  9 

Professoi'  Glenn  called  upon  by  the  state  entomologist  of  Minne- 
sota to  conduct  entended  investigations  on  the  grasshopper  in  Minne- 
sota. 

H.  B.  Hungerford  appointed  instructor  in  entomology. 
Departments  of  entomology  and  botany  published  for  the  United 
States  Department  of  Agriculture  a  comprehensive  bulletin  dealing 
with  the  diseases  of  the  chinch  bug,  Professors  Billings  and  Glenn 
authors. 

At  the  request  of  the  State  Board  of  Health,  the  department 
undertook  a  serious  investigation  of  the  relations  existing  between 
the  newly  introduced  disease  of  pellagra  and  the  sand  fly. 

H.  W.  Lohrenz  appointed  Griesa  research  fellow  in  entomology. 
1912. — Head  of  department  gives  an  address  before  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  American  Association  of  Nursei-ymen  at  St.  Louis. 

Results  thus  far  of  work  of  sand  fly  and  pellagi-a  published  in  the 
Journal  of  the  American  Association  Medicine,  Chicago. 

R.  Eraser,  Toronto,  Canada,  appointed  to  research  fellowship  in 
entomology. 

Head  of  department  appointed  one  of  a  committee  of  five,  repre- 
senting all  parts  of  the  United  States,  to  cooperate  in  drafting  and- 
aiding  the  passage  of  a  federal  law  protecting  this  country  against 
further  introduction  of  injurious  insects  and  plant  diseases  from 
foreign  countries.  The  plans  formulated  by  all  interests  concerned 
were  accepted,  and  incorporated  in  the  law,  which  became  effective 
August  20  of  this  year. 

Head  of  department  represented  Kansas  at  the  third  triennial 
conference  of  the  National  Association  for  the  Study  of  Pellagra. 

Supreme  court  handed  down  a  decision,  all  judges  concurring, 
establishing  the  constitutionality  of  the  law  under  which  the  economic 
work  of  this  department  is  carried  on. 

Hungerford  and  Williams  published  a  paper  on  "Some  Kansas 
parasitic  bees." 

In  response  to  a  request  from  the  governor  of  the  state,  the  chan- 
cellor appointed  the  head  of  the  department  as  chairman  of  a  com- 
mittee to  investigate  the  horse  plague  then  present  in  western  Kansas. 
1913. — Orrel  M.  Andrews,  of  Fairmount  College,  appointed  research  fel- 
low in  entomology. 

Dwight  Isely,  who  has  just  received  his  master's  degree  in  this 
department,  appointed  to  Schuyler  fellowship  in  entomology,  Cornell 
University,  Ithaca,  New  York. 

Mr.  H.  B.  Hungerford  made  assistant  professor  of  entomology. 


2-Univ.  Sci.  Bull..  Vol.  VIII.  No.  1. 


10  kansas  university  science  bulletin. 

The  Entomological  Museum,  Established  in  1870. 
historical  summary  of  its  development. 

1870. — Collected  by  Doctor  Snow:   500  specimens  (250  species)  of  insects. 
1872. — Donated  by  students  of  the  University  of  Kansas,  under  direction 
of  Professor  Snow:    800  specimens  of  Kansas  insects,  of  which  600 
were  contributed  by  Geo.  F.  Gaumer,  and  150  by  Samuel  Carson. 
1873. — Donations : 

By  students  of  the  University:    300  specimens  Kansas  insects. 
By  Professor  F.  H.  Snow:    400  specimens  Kansas  insects. 
1874. — Important  aid  in  the  study  of  natural  history  is  afforded  by  the 
cabinet  collections,  which  contain  upwards  of  12,000  specimens,  illus- 
trating chiefly  the  departments  of  botany,  entomology,  and  geology. 
Donations : 

By  Geo.  F.  Gaumer:    300  specimens  of  Kansas  insects. 
By  E.  B.  Noyes:    200  specimens  of  Kansas  insects. 
1876. — "The  collections  in  entomology  have  been  greatly  increased  dur- 
ing the  past  year,   chiefly  through   the  voluntary   contributions   of 
University  students,   and   now   include  upwards  of  2000   species   of 
Kansas  insects. 
Donations : 

By  Prof.  F.  H.  Snow:   4000  Kansas  insects;  200  foreign  insects. 
By  Geo.  F.  Gaumer:    3000  Kansas  insects. 
By  Collin  Timmons:    800  Kansas  insects. 
By  Andrew  Atchison :    500  Kansas  insects. 
"The  first  collecting  trip  that  Doctor  Snow  made,  outside  of  the 
vicinity   of   Lawrence   and   Douglas   county,  was   in   1876,   to   Colo- 
rado  Springs   and   Pike's   Peak.     Five  members   of  the   graduating 
class  of  that  year  organized  a  scientific  expedition  for  'exploration 
in   Colorado.'     Professor   Snow   was   invited  to   accompany   the  ex- 
pedition.    During  the  first  week  of  August  the  student  members  of 
the  party  returned  home.     Professor   Snow   and  his  wife   and   son 
Willie  remained  until  September  1." 
1877. — The  collections  in  entomology  have  been  greatly  increased  during 
the  past  year,  chiefly  through  voluntary  contributions  of  the  scien- 
tific expedition  to  Colorado  in  the  summer  of  1876.     The  cabinets 
now  include  upwards  of  3000  species  of  Kansas  insects. 
Donations: 

By  Prof.  F.  H.  Snow:    6000  Colorado  insects. 
By  Geo.  F.  Gaumer:    900  Colorado  insects. 
By  Elmer  B.  Tucker:    400  Colorado  insects. 
By  Charles  W.  Smith:  300  Colorado  insects. 
In  the  summer  of  this  year  Professor  Snow  and  two  students, 
Richard  Foster  and  John  H.  Walker,  made  an  expedition  to  Wallace 
county,  where  they  collected  about  1500  specimens  of  the  then  rare 
tiger  beetle  Amblychila  cylindriformis,  and  reduced  the  market  price 
of  these  specimens  from  $15  to  $1. 


HUNTER:     DEPARTMENT   OF  ENTOMOLOGY.  11 

1878. — The  entomological  collection  contains  more  than  5000  species,  rep- 
resenting all  the  different  orders  of  insects.  They  are  of  practical 
value  to  the  agricultural  and  horticultural  interests  of  the  state,  as 
well  as  to  the  students  of  the  University,  in  the  determination  of 
the  names  and  habits  of  our  insect  friends  and  foes. 
Donations : 

By   Geo.   P.   Gaumer:     All   the   duplicates   of  his   collection   of 

Diptera,  about  1000  specimens. 
By  Prof.  P.  H.  Snow:    3000  Kansas  insects  and  plants. 
During  August  Professor  Snow,  with  Richard  Foster  and  L.  L. 
Dyche,  two  students  in  the   University,  made  a  trip   into  Colorado 
to  "Dome  Rock,"  Platte  canyon,  where  they  collected  insects. 
1879. — The    entomological    collections    contain    more    than    6000    species, 
representing  all  the  different  orders  of  insects. 

Professor  Snow,  with  his  family  and  two  student  assistants.  Miss 
Annie  Mosley  and  L.  L.  Dyche,  made  another  trip  to  Colorado  and 
camped  for  six  weeks  near  Idaho  Springs.  They  secured  a  fine  col- 
lection of  butterflies  and  moths. 
1880. — The  entomological  collections  contain  more  than  7000  species, 
representing  all  the  different  orders  of  insects. 
Donations : 

By  Lewis  L.  Dyche:    Collection  of  Colorado  Lepidoptera,  about 

1000  specimens. 
By  W.  G.  Raymond :    148  species  of  Kansas  Coleoptera. 
Professor  Snow  and  the  same  party  of  1879  went  to  Santa  Fe 
canon.   New  Mexico,  and  in  four  weeks  they  collected  237   species 
and  varieties  of  Coleoptera,  many  of  them  new  to  science  and  rare, 
and  also  many  other  insects. 
1881. — The  entomological  collections  contain  more  than  8000  species,  rep- 
resenting all  of  the  different  orders  of  insects. 
Donations : 

By  J.  C.  Cooper,  Esq.,  Topeka:    Extensive  and  valuable  ento- 
mological collections  made  by  his  son,  the  late  Geo.  P.  Cooper. 
Professor  Snow,  with  Prof.  H.  H.  S.  Smith  of  the  physics  depart- 
ment, and  Professor   Snow's  son  Willie,  and  L.   L.   Dyche,  made  a 
trip  into  New  Mexico  to  the  Magdalena  mountains,  collecting  insects. 
1882. — The   entomological   collections  contain  more  than   10,000   species, 
representing  all  of  the  different  orders  of  insects. 

Professor  Snow,  his  family,  and  three  students  of  the  University, 
W.  W.  Russ,  Miss  Mary  Dyche,  and  L.  L.  Dyche,  spent  nine  weeks 
near  the  Las  Vegas  Hot  Springs,  New  Mexico.  A  general  collection 
of  insects  was  made. 
1883. — The  entomological  collections  of  the  University  contain  more  than 
10,000  species.  These  have  been  greatly  increased  during  the  last 
few  years  by  the  voluntary  contributions  of  the  exploring  parties  in 
western  Kansas,  Colorado,  and  New  Mexico.  By  means  of  the  ma- 
terial thus  accumulated,  a  system  of  exchanges  has  been  established 
with  leading  institutions  and  naturalists  in  all  parts  of  the  United 


12  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

States,  so  that  the  cabinets  contain  a  very  satisfactory  representation 
of  the  insects  not  only  of  the  state  of  Kansas,  but  also  of  the  whole 
of  North  America. 
Donations : 

By  Frank  Thompson :    Collection  of  beetles  from  Mexico. 

By  Doctor  Fritz   Gaertner:     A  collection  of  Lepidoptera  from 

Honduras. 
By   J.    C.    Cooper,    Esq.,   Topeka :     A    collection   of   Coleoptera 

from  western  Kansas  and  Colorado. 
By  L.  L.  Dyche:    Insects  from  New  Mexico. 
Doctor  Snow,  with  three  students  of  the  University,  W.  H.  Brown, 
W.   C.   Stevens,  and  L.   L.   Dyche,  made  an  expedition   to   the  same 
locality  as  in  1882,  collecting  insects. 
1884. — This  year  the  collecting  party,  which  again  visited  New  Mexico, 
was  divided  into  two  sections.     Professor  Snow,  W.  C.  Stevens  and 
Willie  Snow  collected  on  Walnut  creek,  near  Silver  City;  and  L.  L. 
Dyche  and  W.  H.  Brown  collected  part  of  the  time  on  Baldy  movintain 
and  the  rest  of  it  on  the  headwaters  of  the  Pecos  river. 
1885.— Donations : 

By  W.  H.  Brown  and  W.  C.  Stevens:    New  Mexican  insects. 
Appropriation  of  $50,000  by  the  legislature  for  the  erection  of  a 
building  on   the   University   grounds   for   use   of  the   department  of 
natural  history. 
1887.— Donation : 

By  M.  Braverman :    An  alcoholic  collection  of  California  insects. 
1888.— Donations : 

By  Ed.  Graham :    Entomological  specimens. 
By  W.  R.  Cone:    A  collection  of  insects  from  California. 
1889. — Donations : 

By  Prof.  L.  L.  Dyche:    A  collection  of  Kansas  insects. 
By  Mrs.  L.  L.  Dyche:    A  collection  of  New  Mexico  Coleoptera. 
By  J.    N.    Scott,   Joseph   Thoburn,   M.   E.    Hickey,   and   W.    E. 
Brewer:    An  extensive  collection  of  cocoons  and  silk  products 
from  the  state  silk  station  at  Peabody,  Kan. 
By  V.  L.  Kellogg:    A  set  of  25  microscope  slides,  illustrating 

the  genera  and  species  of  Mallophaga. 
By  Miss  Gertrude  Crotty:   A  collection  of  Coffey  county  Orthop- 
tera. 
Professor  Snow  made  a  collecting  trip  to  Estes  Park,  Colorado. 

1890. — Donations: 

By  W.  G.  Smith :    A  collection  of  Colorado  insects. 
Professor  Snow  made  a  collecting  trip  to  Bailey,  Platte  canyon, 
Colorado. 
1891. — Donations : 

By  H.  R.  Linville,  Ness  City:    Collection  of  locusts  from  Ness 

county. 
By  H.  P.  Krehbiel :    Specimens  of  burrowing  bees  and  nests  of 
same. 
Professor  Snow  made  a  collecting  trip  to  Manitou  Park,  Colorado. 


HUNTER:     DEPARTMENT   OF  ENTOMOLOGY.  13 

1892. — Pi'ofessor  Snow  made  a  collecting  trip  to  Estes  Park,  Colorado. 
1894. — Donations : 

By  W.  A.  Snow:    2000  Illinois  Diptera. 

By  Prof.  L.  Bruner,  Lincoln,  Neb. :    Rare  Nebraska  Diptera. 

By  S.  W.  Williston:    Collection  of  Nevada  Diptera. 

By  Dr.  S.  W.  Williston:    Collection  of  Diptera,  Douglas  county; 

20  types  of  new  species  of  North  American  Diptera. 
By  C.  Faulkner,  Atchison,  Kan.:    300  species  of  Kansas  Micro- 

diptera. 
By  Prof.  J.  M.  Aldrich,  Moscow,  Idaho:    Diptera  from  South 

Dakota  and  elsewhere,  with  types  of  new  species. 
By   Dr.    Geo.    F.    Gaumer:     1000    specimens    of   United    States 

Diptera;  5000  Yucatan  insects. 
By  Nathan  Banks,  Sea  Cliff,  N.  Y.:    Neuroptera  and  Diptera 

from  New  York. 
By  C.  W.  Johnson,  Philadelphia :    100  specimens  of  Diptera  from 
eastern  United  States. 
Doctor  Snow  made  a  collecting  trip  to  the  Magdalena  mountains. 
New  Mexico. 
1896. — S.  J.  Hunter  went  to  western  Kansas  to  make  a  study  of  the  grass- 
hopper problem,  and  collected  insect  specimens  amounting  to  about 
10,000  specimens. 
1897. — Professor  Snow  made  a  collecting  trip  to  Estes  Park,  Colorado. 
1898. — Professor    Hunter   conducted    a    collecting   expedition    to    western 
Kansas. 

1899. — Professor  Hunter  conducted  a  collecting  expedition  to  western 
Kansas. 

1900. — Professor  Hunter  collected  on  the  Atlantic  coast. 

1902. — Doctor  Snow  conducted  a  collecting  expedition  to   Hamilton  and 

Morton  counties,  Kansas. 

Doctor  Snow  also  made  a  collecting  trip  to  Oak  Creek  canyon,  and 

Humphrey's  Peak,  Arizona. 

1903. — Doctor  Snow  conducted  a  collecting  expedition  to  Clark  county, 
Kansas. 

Doctor  Snow  also  conducted  a  collecting  expedition  to  Martinez, 
or  Congress  Junction,  and  Williams  Fork  of  Colorado  river. 

1904. — Doctor  Snow,  with  his  regular  assistant,  Mr.  E.  F.  Tucker,  and 
Dr.  C.  F.  Adams  spent  three  weeks  at  Galveston,  Tex.,  making  a 
general  collection  of  insects. 

Doctor  Snow  also  visited  Oak  Creek  canyon,  Coconino  county,  Ari- 
zona, being  assisted  by  Prof.  W.  H.  Johnson  and  two  students,  Eugene 
Smythe  and  Judah  Drisco. 

1905. — Doctor  Snow  spent  a  month  at  Brownsville,  Tex.,  and  was  assisted 
by  Mr.  Tucker  and  an  undergraduate  student,  Mr.  E.  G.  Coi-wine. 

Later  this  same  summer  Doctor  Snow,  Eugene  Smythe,  Ebb. 
Crumb  and  RoUin  Perkins  spent  five  weeks  at  San  Bernardino 
ranch,  on  Sycamore  creek,  Cochise  county,  Arizona. 


14  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

1906. — Doctor  Snow,  assisted  by  L.  A.  Adams,  S.  E.  Crumb  and  Eugene 
Smyth,  spent  June  and  July  in  Pima  county,  Arizona,  making  a 
general  collection  of  insects. 

1907. — Doctor  Snow  made  his  last  collecting  trip  to  the  Santa  Rita  moun- 
tains, Arizona.  He  was  assisted  on  this  expedition  by  W.  J.  Baum- 
gai-tner,  W.  R.  B.  Robertson,  Fred  Farragher,  and  Eugene  Smythe. 

1908. — By  act  of  the  board  of  regents,  the  collections  were  called  "The 
Francis  Huntington  Snow  Entomological  Collections,"  in  acknowl- 
edgment of  the  work  done  by  Doctor  Snow. 

1909. — A  valuable  collection  of  exotic  Coleoptera  and  Lepidoptera  was 
added,  part  donated  by  Miss  Barteldes,  part  by  Mr.  Sedgwick. 

1910. — Mr.  Francis  X.  Williams,  of  Leland  Stanford  University,  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  curator  of  the  entomological  collection. 

Mr.  F.  X.  Williams  conducted  a  party,  consisting  of  Messrs. 
Slagle,  Bradbury  and  Hungerford,  into  northwestern  Kansas,  and 
made  a  biological  and  systematic  survey  of  thirteen  counties,  and 
brought  back  30,000   specimens. 

1911. — Mr.  F.  X.  Williams  and  Messrs.  Lockwood,  Lovejoy  and  Ray 
Miller  spent  the  whole  of  the  summer  in  southwestern  Kansas,  con- 
tinuing the  systematic  survey  and  collecting  specimens,  and  brought 
back  25,000  specimens. 

1912. — Mr.  F.  X.  Williams  and  a  party  consisting  of  Messrs.  Isely, 
Mallory,  O'Roke  and  Jennings  spent  the  summer  in  the  eastern  half 
of  the  northwestern  quarter  of  Kansas,  continuing  the  systematic 
survey  and  bringing  back  a  large  number  of  specimens. 

1913. — Professor  Hunter,  the  curator,  Assistant  Professor  Hungerford, 
Mr.  Collett,  fellow,  and  Mr.  Vansell,  assistant,  made  up  the  expedi- 
tion which  collected  along  Rock  river,  Wyoming,  and  Beaver  creek, 
Montana. 


HUNTER:     DEPARTMENT  OF  ENTOMOLOGY.  15 


SCIENTIFIC  EXPEDITIONS  OF  THE  ENTOMOLOGICAL  MUSEUM 
OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  KANSAS  FROM  1876  TO  THE  PRES- 
ENT TIME. 

1876. — Colorado  Springs  and  Pike's  Peak,  Colorado. 

1877. — Wallace  county,  Kansas. 

1878. — Gove  county,  Kansas. 

1879. — "Dome  Rock,"  Platte  canyon,  Colorado. 

1879. — Idaho  Springs,  Colorado. 

1880. — Santa  Fe  canyon.  New  Mexico. 

1881. — Magdalena  mountains,  twenty-five  miles  west  of  Socorro. 

1882. — Las  Vegas  Hot  Springs,  New  Mexico. 

1883. — Gallinas  canyon,  near  Las  Vegas  Hot  Springs,  New  Mexico. 

1884.— New  Mexico. 

1889.— Estes  Park,  Colorado. 

1890. — Bailey,  Platte  canyon,  Colorado. 

1891. — Manitou  Park,  Colorado. 

1892.— Estes  Park,  Colorado. 

1894. — Magdalena  mountains.  New  Mexico. 

1897. — Estes  Park,  Colorado;  Edwards,  Finney,  and  Hamilton  counties, 

Kansas. 
1898. — Hamilton,  Wallace  and  Greeley  counties,  Kansas. 
1899. — Cheyenne  and  Sherman  counties,  Kansas. 
1900. — Woods  Hole,  Massachusetts. 
1901.— Buzzard's  Bay. 

1902. — Hamilton  and  Morton  counties,  Kansas. 
1902. — Oak  Creek  canyon  and  Humphi'ey's  Peak,  Arizona. 
1903. — Clark  county,  Kansas. 
1903. — Martinez,  or  Congress  Junction,  and  Williams  Fork  of  Colorado 

river. 
1904. — Galveston,  Texas. 

1904. — Oak  Creek  canyon,  Coconino,  Arizona. 
1905. — Brownsville,  Texas;   San  Bernardino  ranch,  on   Sycamore  creek, 

Cochise  county,  Arizona. 
1906. — Pima  county,  Arizona. 
1907. — Santa  Rita  mountains,  Arizona. 
1910. — Gove,    Logan,    Sheridan,    Rawlins,    Decatur,    Thomas,    Cheyenne, 

Sherman,  Wallace,  Greeley,  Wichita,  Scott,  and  Lane  counties, 

Kansas. 
1911. — Pratt,  Kiowa,  Meade,  Haskell,   Grant,   Stanton,   Morton,   Stevens, 

Seward  and  Clark  counties,  Kansas. 
1912. — Barton,  Rush,  Ness,  Trego,  Ellis,  Russell,  Osborne,  Rooks,  Gra- 
ham, Norton,  Phillips,  and  Smith  counties,  Kansas. 
1913. — Rock  river,  Wyoming;  Beaver  creek,  Montana. 


16  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 


Insect  Types  and  Cotypes  in  Entomological  Museum. 

Order  NEUROPTERA. 

Hemerobidse. 
Glenuyus  snowii  Banks. 

Order  ORTHOPTERA. 

Mantidx. 
Stagomantis  gracilipes  Rehn. 

Tryxalinx. 
Coidillacris  pinia  Rehn. 

(Edipodinw. 

Lactista  arphoides  Rehn. 
Ti'imerotropis  snowii  Rehn. 

Acridiinx. 
Melanoplus  blatchleyi  Scudd. 
bruneri  Scudd. 
gladstoni  Brunn. 
intermedins  Brunn. 
snowi  Scudd. 

Locustidse. 
Ceuthophilus  tuckeri  Rehn. 
Plagiostira  gracilis  Rehn. 
Ceutophilus  paucispinosa  Rehn. 
Phrixocnemis  franciscanus  Rehn. 
Phrixocnemis  socorrensis  Rehn. 
Udeopsylla  serrata  Rehn. 

Order  HEMIPTERA. — Heteroptera. 

Co7-eidx. 
Alydus  setosus  V.  D. 

Berylidse. 
Jalysus  wickhami  V.  D. 

Capsidie. 
Xestocrus  nitens  Reut. 
Diaphnidia  debilis  Uhl. 
Orthoptylus  translucens  Tucker. 
Oncotylus  sericatus  Uhl. 

Tingitidx. 
Corythuca  pergandei  Held. 

Order  HEMIPTERA.— Homoptera. 
Coccidse. 
Aspidiotus  fernaldi  ckll.  var.  albiventer  Hunter, 
tesculi  Johns,  sub.  sp.  solus  Hunter. 
Diaspis  snowii  Hunter. 
"Lecanium  kansasense  Hunter, 
aurantiacum  Hunter, 
cockerelli  Hunter. 
Lecaniodiaspis  (?)  parrotti. 


hunter:   department  of  entomology.  17 

Order  HEMIPTERA.— Homopteka. 

Fulgoridss. 

Scolopsella  reticulata  Ball. 
Oecleus  snowii  Ball. 

Bythoscopidss. 
Pediopsis  erythrocephalus  G.  &  B. 
Idiocerus  snowii  G.  &  Pr. 

perplexus  G.  &  B. 

rufus  G.  &  B. 
Agallia  gilletei  0.  &  B. 

Jassidx. 
Memnoinia  consobrina  Ball. 

fraterna  Ball. 
Parabolocratus  brunneus  Ball. 
Deltocephalus  flexuosus  Ball. 
Athysanus  alpinus  Ball. 
Eutettix  scitula  Ball, 
insana  Ball, 
striata  Ball, 
texana  Ball, 
snowi  Ball, 
osborni  Ball. 
Phlepsius  graphicus  Ball, 
cumulatus  Ball, 
denudatus  Ball, 
turpiculus  Ball. 
Scaphoideus  blandus  Ball. 
Lonatura  noctuaga  Ball. 

salsura  Ball. 
Thamnotettix  cockerelli  Ball. 

osborni  Ball. 
Empoasca  atrolabes  Gill, 
unieolor  Gill, 
alboneura  Gill, 
nigroscuta  G.  &  B. 

Order  COLEOPTERA. 
Elateridse. 
Cardiophorus  arizonensis  Fall. 

Cleridse. 
Cymatodera  arizon»  Wolcott. 

subsimilis  Wolcott. 
Clerus  snowi  Wolcott. 

bioculatus  Skinner. 
Hydnocera  ornata  Wolcott. 

caeruleipennis  Wolcott. 

Searabeidse. 
Ochodaeus  kansanus  Fall. 

Cerambyddx. 
Leptostylus  yuceae  Fall. 

Chrysomelidse. 
Pachybrachys  notatus  Bow. 
discolor  Bow. 

Meloidx. 
Hornia?     gigantea  Wellman. 

3-Univ.  Sci.  Bull..  Vol.  VUI.  No.  1. 


18  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Order  DIPTERA.     (North  American  List.) 
Tipulidse. 
Eriocera  eriophoia  Will. 

obscura  Will. 
Rhaphidolabis  debilis  Will. 
Tipula  acuta  Doane. 

dorsimacula  Walker, 
dorsolineata  Doane. 
retusa  Doane. 
unincineta  Doane. 
spectabilis  Doane. 
streptocera  Doane. 
sulphurea  Doane. 

Psychodidse. 
Psychoda  slossoni  Will. 

Chironomidx. 
Tersesthes  torrens  Towns. 
Ceratopogon  dimidiatus  Adams. 

flavus  Will. 
Chironomus  anonymus  Will. 

flaviventris  Johan. 

longimanus  Will. 

lucifer  Johan. 

microcerus  Will. 
Alabesmyia  aurea  Johan. 

Culicidas. 
Culex  affinis  Adams, 
apicalis  Adams, 
particeps  Adams. 

Mycetophilidas. 
Ceroplatus  apicalis  Adams. 
Platynuia  gracilis  Will, 
notabilis  Will, 
pulchra   Will. 
Sciophila  angulata  Adams. 

nigricauda  Adams. 
Syntemna  mutor  Adams. 
Neoglaphyroptera  cuneola  Adams, 
lineola  Adams, 
striata  Will. 
Macrocera  diluta  Adams. 
Eugnoriste  occidentalis  Coq. 

Cecidomyidx. 
Asphondylia  atriplicis  Towns. 
Cecidomyia  radit»  Snow. 

Simuliidie. 
Simulium  argus  Will. 

notatum  Adams. 

Stratiomydx. 
Scoliopelta  luteipes  Will. 
Hermetia  comstocki  Will. 

eiseni   Towns. 
Ptecticus  sackeni  Will. 
Chrysochroma  albipes  Towns. 
Macrosargus  clavis  Will. 


HUNTER:     DEPARTMENT   OF  ENTOMOLOGY.  19 

Order  DIPTERA.    (North  American  List.) 

Stratiomydx — continued. 

Odontomyia  americana  Day. 
flava  Day. 
pilosa  Day. 
pubescens  Day. 
Euparyphus  albipilosus  Adams, 
limboventris  Will, 
mutabilis  Adams, 
ornatus  Will, 
septemmaculatus  Adams. 
Clitellaria  argentata  Will. 
Nemotelus  abdominalis  Adams, 
bruesii  Mel. 
kansensis  Adams, 
trinotatus  Mel. 

Tabanidse. 
•Pangonia  dives  Will, 
fera  Will. 
Silvius  pollinosus  Will. 
Chrysops  bistellatus  Djeck. 
discalis  Will, 
frazari  Will, 
pachyceras  Will. 
-Chrysops  pertinax  Will. 

sequax  Will. 
'  Tabanus  baal  Towns, 
fenestra  Will, 
fratellus  Will, 
fur  Will, 
guttatues  Towns, 
hyalinipennis  Hine. 
laticeps  Hine. 
osborni  Hine. 
parvulus  Will, 
produetus  Hine. 
pygmseus  Will, 
sodalis  Will. 
■  Snowiellus  atratus  Hine. 

Leptidie. 
Xylophagus  decorus  Will, 
gracilis  Will, 
nitidus  Adams. 
Xylomyia  parens  Will. 
Arthroceras  pollinosum   Will. 
Leptis  palpalis  Adams, 
pleuralis  Adams. 
Chrysopila  bella  Adams. 

flavibarbis  Adams, 
lucifera   Adams. 
Symphoromyia  flavipalpis,  Adams, 
pachyceras   Will, 
plangens  Will. 

Nemestrinidse. 
Hirmoneura  flavipes  Will. 
Rhynchocephalus  sackeni  Will, 
volaticus  Will. 

Cyrtidie. 
Acrocera  liturata  Will. 


KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Order  DIPTERA.    (North  American  List.) 
Bombylidie. 
Anthrax  aemulus  O.  S. 
agrippina  0.  S. 
alta  Tucker, 
comparata  Tucker, 
cuniculus  O.  S. 
faustina   O.    S. 
livia  0.  S. 
moneta  0.  S. 
sabina  O.  S. 
Triplasius  novus  Will. 
Heterostylum  sackeni  Will. 
Anastoechus  melanobalteralis  Tucker, 
fulvipennis  Tucker, 
melanobalteralis  var. 
Lordotus  pulcherrimus  Will. 
Eclimus  auratus  Will, 
lotus  Will, 
melanosus  Will, 
sodalis  Will. 
Desmatoneura  argentifrons  Will. 
Aphoebantus  carbonarius  0.  S. 
conurus  O.  S. 
Cyclops  O.  S. 
Desmatomyia  anomala  Will. 
Dolichomyia  gracilis  Will. 

Therevidn'.. 

Psilocephala  acuta  Adams. 

lateralis  Adams, 
occipitalis  Adams. 
Thereva  anomala  Adams, 
ci'assiconiis  Will. 

Scenopinidas. 

Scenopinus   electa  Adams. 

mirabilis  Adams. 

Mydaidss. 

Ectypus  townsendi  Will. 

luteolus  Will. 
Mydas  abdominalis  Adams, 
scitulus  Will. 

Apioceridx. 

Rhaphiomydas  mellifex  Towns, 
xanthos  Towns. 

Asilidx. 

Stenopogon  aeacidinus  Will. 
Triclis  tagax  Will. 
Myelaphus  rufus  Will. 
Dioctria  pusio  O.  S. 
nitida  Will, 
sackeni  Will. 
Cyrtopogon  dasyllis  Will, 
dubius  Will. 
?gibber  Will, 
preepes  Will. 
Lasiopogon  terricola  Johnson. 
Holopogon  snowii. 


HUNTER:     DEPARTMENT   OF  ENTOMOLOGY.  21 

Order  DIPTERA.    (North  American  List.) 
Asilidse — continued. 
Saropogon  albifrons  Black. 
Dei'omyia  perplexa  M.  A.  C. 
Taracticus  brevicoi-nis  Will. 
Cophura?  breviconis  Will, 
fur  Will, 
scitula  Will. 
Atonia  mikii  Will. 
Nicocles  abdominalis  Will. 

rufus  Will. 
Nusa  chalybea  Will. 
Laphria  canis  Will. 

carbonai'ius  Will, 
ferox  Will, 
pubescens  Will, 
ruficauda  Will, 
ventralis  Will. 
vivax  Will. 
Xanthippe  Will. 
Ommatius  nigromaculosus  Back. 
Proctacanthus  amo  Towns. 
Erax  dubius  Will, 
jubatus  Will, 
latrunculus  Will. 
leucocomus  Will, 
similis  Will 
stamineus  Will, 
varipes  Will. 
Mallophora  guildiana  Will. 
Promachus  albifaces  Will, 
princeps  Will, 
ruflpes  Fabr. 
Stenoprosopus  arizonensis  Will. 
Neoitamus  affinis-  Will. 

distinctus   Will. 
Tolmerus  delusus  Tucker, 
callidus  Will, 
mesae  Tucker. 
Philodicus  rufipennis   Hine. 
Asilus  angustifrons   Will. 

astutus  Will. 
Rhadiurgus  leucopogon  Will. 

Dolichopodidx . 
Psilopodinus  insularis  Aid. 
Diaphorus  contiguus  Aid. 

dubius  Aid. 

flavipes  Aid. 

simplex  Aid. 

spectabilis  Loew. 
Asyndetus  fratellus  Aid. 
Chrysotus  albipalpus  Aid. 

excisus  Aid. 

hirsutus  Aid. 

niger  Aid. 

proximus   Aid. 
Eutarsus  sinuatus  Aid. 
Parasyntormon  occidentale  Aid. 
Sympycnus  frater  Aid. 
Anepsiomyia  linearis  Aid. 
Neurigona  lateralis   Say. 


22  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Order  DIPTERA.    (North  American  List.) 
DoUcliopodidx — continued. 
Thinophilus  pectinifei'  Wheeler. 
Thrypticus  cupuliferus  Aid. 

singularis   Aid. 
Hydrophorus   canescens   Wheeler. 
Liancalus  hydrophilus  Aid. 

similis  Aid. 
Dolichopus  albicoxa  Aid. 

ciliatus  Aid 

coloradensis   Aid. 

convei'gens  Aid. 

dakotensis  Aid. 

duplicatus   Aid. 

grandis  Aid. 

angustatus  Aid. 

idahoensis   Aid. 

kansensis  Aid. 

marginatus    Aid. 

obeordatus  Aid. 

occidentalis   Aid. 

plumosus  Aid. 

tenuipes  Aid. 

vigilans  Aid. 

willistonii  Aid. 
Herocostomus  latipes  Aid. 
Paraclius  filifer  Aid. 

venustus  Aid. 
Sarcionus  lineatus  Aid. 
Pelastoneurus  argentifer  Aid. 
kansensis  Aid. 

Empididw. 
Drapetis  flavida  Will. 
flaviceps  Will. 
Paraxhalassius  aldrichi   Mel. 
Thinodromia  inchoata   Mel, 
Hilara  nugax  Mel. 
Rhamphomyia  sociabilis  Will. 

Phoridx. 
Aphiochaeta  halictoi'um  Mel.  &  Brues. 

Platypezidie. 
Callimyia  venusta  Loew. 
Calotarsa  ealceata   Snow. 

ornatipes   Towns. 
Platypeza  abscondita   Snow. 

cinerea  Snow. 

pulchra  Snow. 

tseniata  Snow. 

umbrosa  Snow. 

unicolor  Snow. 

Pipunculidx. 
Pipunculus  fuscitaris   Adams. 

Syi-phid<e. 
Microdon  lanceolatus   Adams, 
melgaogaster  Snow, 
pallipennis  Snow, 
violens  Towns, 
xanthophilus  Towns. 


HUNTER:     DEPARTMENT   OF  ENTOMOLOGY.  23 

Order  DIPTERA.    (North  American  List.) 
Syrphidx — continued. 
Callicera  montensis  Snow. 
Nausigaster  seutellaris   Adams. 
Chilosia  chalybescens  Will. 

lucta  Snow. 

nigripennis  Will. 

tarda   Snow. 

willistonii   Snow. 
Baccha  bella  Will. 
Platychirus  palmulosus   Snow. 
Melanostoma  coerulescens  Will, 
concinnum  Snow, 
kelloggi   Snow. 
Syrphus  creper  Snow. 

disgregus   Snow. 

montivagus  Snow. 

pullulus  Snow. 

luficauda   Snow. 
Xanthogi'amma  habilis  Snow. 
Sphsei-ophoria  melanosa  Will. 
Brachyopa  cynops  Snow. 
Volucella  apicifera  Towns. 
Eristalis  montanus  Will. 
Tropidia  incana  Towns. 
Helophilus  dychei  Will. 
Mallota  albipilis  Snow. 
Criorhina  lupina  Will. 
Spilomyia  kahlii  Snow. 
Ceria   snowi  Adams. 

to\vnsendii  Snow. 

Conopidx. 

Conops   bellus  Adams, 
fronto  Will, 
sylvosus  Will, 
gracilis  Will, 
xanthopareus  Will. 
Physoeephala  affinis  Will. 

burgessi  Will, 
furcillata  Will. 
Zodion  albitus  Adams, 
bicolor  Adams, 
parvum  Adams, 
pictulum  Will, 
pygmaeum  Will, 
scapulare  Will. 
Stylogaster  neglecta  Will. 
Dalmannia  picta  Will. 
Oncomyia  baroni  Will. 
modesta^Will. 

modesta,  var.  melanopoda  Will, 
propinqua  Adams. 
Myopa  pictipennis  Will, 
pilosa  Will, 
plebeia  Will, 
tectura  Adams. 

Tachinidse. 

Cistogaster  pallasii  Towns. 
Phorantha  occidentis  Walk. 
Alophora  sneoventris  Will. 


24  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Order  DIPTERA.    (North  American  List.) 
Tachinidse — continued. 
Euscopolia  dakotensis  Towns. 
Trichopoda  subcilipes  Towns. 
Ceratomyiella  conica  Towns. 
Rhinophora  m^xicana  Towns. 

valida  Towns. 
Anisia  vanderwulpi  Towns. 
Euryceromyia  robei-tsonii  Towns. 
Hypostena   floridensis  Towns, 
indecisa  Towns, 
vanderwulpi   Towns. 
Hyalurgus  juhnsoni  Towns. 
Folidea  americana  Towns. 
Eumyothyria  illinoisensis  Towns. 
Leucostoma   atra  Towns. 

neomexicana  Towns, 
senilis  Towns. 
Clytiomyia  flava  Towns. 
Wahlbergia  atripennis  Towns. 
Epigrymyia  floridensis  Towns, 
geniculata  Towns, 
lucens  Towns, 
polita  Towns, 
robertsonii  Towns. 
Ginglymyia  acrirostris  Towns. 
Plagiprospherysa  floridensis  Towns. 

valida  Towns. 
Plagia  aurifrons  Towns. 
Siphoplagia  anomala  Towns. 
Goniochffita  plagioides  Towns. 
Chffitoglossa  picticornis  Towns. 

violae  Towns. 
Pachyophthalmus  aui-ifrons  Towns, 
floridensis  Towns. 
Pseudotractocera  neomexicana  Towns. 
Belvosia  vanderwulpi  Will. 
Malanophrys  flavipennis  Will. 
Aphria  ocypterata  Towns. 
Ocyptera  argentea  Towns. 
Neniorsea  hyphantria  Towns, 
nigricornis  Towns. 
Gymnochffita   ruticornis  Will. 

vivida  Will. 
Hyphantrophaga  hyphantriae  Towns. 
Exorista  eudryadis  Towns, 
lagose  Towns, 
plagioides  Towns. 
Euphorocera  tachinomoides  Towns. 
Phorocera  comstocki  Will, 
lophyri  Towns, 
puer  Will. 
Hypertrophocera  parvipes  Towns. 
Prontina  archippivora  Will. 

frenchii  Will. 
Sturmia  nigrita  Towns. 
Masicera  eufitchise  Towns, 
exilis  Coq. 
hemarides  Towns. 
Pi'ospherysa  promiscua  Towns, 
websterii  Towns. 


HUNTER:     DEPARTMENT   OF   ENTOMOLOGY.  25 

Order  DIPTERA.    (North  American  List.) 

Tachhiidx — continued. 

Vanderwulpia  atrophopodoides  Towns. 

sequens  ,  Towns. 
Tachina  flavidensis  Towns, 
spinulosa  Towns, 
robusta  Towns. 
Dseochaeta  harveyi  Towns. 
Neotractocera  anomaJa  Towns. 
Paraphyto  gillettei  Towns. 
Blepharipeza  nigrisquaniis  Towns. 

rufescens  Towns.         .,  ■ 
Muscopteryx  chaetosula  Towns. 
Paradidyma   braueri  Will. 

singularis  Towns. 
Atrophopalpus  angusticornis  Towns. 
Phorich»ta  sequax  Will. 
Metopia  luggeri  Towns. 
Hilarella  decens  Towns, 
elita  Towns, 
polita  Towns. 
Brachycoma  chihuahuaensis  Towns, 
intermedia  Towns, 
sarcophagina  Towns. 
Euthyrosopa  petiolata  Towns. 
Gonia  porca  Will, 
exul  Will, 
senilis  Will, 
sequax  Will. 
Spallanzania  finitima  Snow. 
Cnephalia  pansa  Snow. 
Eucnephalia  gonoides  Towns. 
Amobia  distincta  Towns. 
Archytas  hystricoides  Will. 
Echinomyia  dakotensis  Will, 
hystricosa  Will. 
Epalpus  bicolor  Will. 

maeulatus  Will, 
signiferus  Wlk. 
Jurinella  exilis  Towns, 
soror  Will. 

Dexiidse. 

Hystrichodexia  roederi  Will. 
Melanodexia  tristis  Will. 

Sarcopliagidie. 

Sarcophaga  chaetopygialis  Will. 

cimbicis  Towns. 

concinnata  Towns. 

helicis  Towns. 

leucaniae  Towns. 

micropygialis  Will. 

(Tephromyia)  hunteri  Hough. 
Sai'codexia  sternodontis  Towns. 

Musicidx. 

Chrysomyia  desvoidyi  Hough. 
Morellia  nigricosta  Hough.  (S.  Am.) 
Haematobia  alcis  Snow. 

4— UniT.  Sci.  Bull.,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  1. 


26  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Order  DIPTERA.    (North  American  List.) 

Borboridss. 

Aptilotus  politus  Will. 
Liniosina  exigua  Adams. 

evanescens  Tucker. 

setigera  Adams. 

Sciomyzidse. 
Tetanocera  inopa  Adams. 

Saproniyzidss. 

Pachycerina  dolorosa  Will. 
Sapromyza  ingrata  Will. 

octovittata  Will. 

polita  Will. 

puella  Will. 

sororia  Will. 

Ortalidx. 

Rivellia  brevifasciata  Johnson. 
Euxesta  apicalis  Will. 

Trypetidx. 

Spilographa  diffusa  Snow. 
Trypeta  occidentalis  Snow. 
Polymorphomyia   basilica    Snow. 
ffidaspis  minuta  Snow. 

montana  Snow. 
Rhagoletis  zephyria  Snow. 
Eutreta  longicornis  Snow. 
Eurosta  fenestrata   Snow, 
reticulata   Snow. 
Xenochaeta  dichromata  Snow. 
Icterica  fasciata  Adams. 
Tephritis  dupla  Cress. 

pallidipennis  Cress, 
obscuripennis    Snow, 
variabilis   Doane. 
Euaresta  bellula  Snow. 

latipennis. 
Urellia  conjuncta  Adams, 
flava  Adams, 
occidentalis  Adams. 

Micropezidse. 

Micropeza  turcana  Towns. 
Calobata  pleuritica  Johnson. 

Ephydridse. 

Notiphila  decoris  Will. 
Paralimna  multipunctata  Will. 

obscura  Will. 
Discomyza  dubia  Will. 
Discocerina  obscura  Will. 
Ochtheroidea  atra  Will. 
Ephydra  pygmsa  Will, 
tarsata  Will. 


HUNTER:     DEPARTMENT   OF  ENTOMOLOGY.  27 

Order  DIPTERA.    (North  American  List.) 
Oscinidx. 

Chlorops  albifacies  Adams. 

appropinqua  AdaiTiE. 

bilineata  Adams. 

cinereipennis  Adams. 

halteralis   Adams. 

ingrata  Will. 

liturata  Adams. 

parva  Adams. 

recurva  Adams. 

rubicunda  Adams. 
Hippelates  splendens  Adams. 
Elachiptera  bilineata  Adams. 
Oscinis  collusor   Towns, 
incipiens  Will. 

Drosophilidx. 

Drosophila  coffeata  Will. 

ornatipennis   Will. 
pallida  Will. 

Agromyzidie. 

Agromyza  lateralis    Will. 

sorosis  Will. 
Opthalmomyia  lacteipennis  Loew. 
lobioptera  Will. 

Hippoboscidie. 
Trichobius  dugesii  Towns. 

Nycteribiidx. 
Nycteribia  antrozoi  Towns. 

Order  LEPIDOPTERA. 
Hesperidae. 

Pyrgus  nessus  Edw.     (Cotype  I 

polingii   Barnes. 

oceidentalis  Skinner. 
Heteropia  melon,  var.  arizonensis  Skinnei. 
Megathymus  polingii  Skinner. 

Satumiidse. 

Hyperchiria  zephyria  Grt. 

Syntomidx. 

Cosmosoma  rubrogutta  Skinner. 

Syntomeida  befana  Skinner. 

Scepsis  packardii,  var.   cockle!   Dyar. 

Litihosiidx. 

Ruscino  arida  Skinner. 

Arctiidx. 

Alexicles  aspersa  Grt. 
Pygoctenucha  funerea  Grt. 
Hemihyalea   labecula   Grt. 
Bertholdia  trigona  Grt. 


KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Order  LEPIDOPTERA. 

Noctuidse. 

Cyathissa  quadrata  Sm. 
Perigaea  rnorsa  Smith. 
Hadena  burgessi  Morr. 
Oncocnemis  major  Grt. 
Acopa  perpallida  Grt. 
Aleptina  flavomedia  Sm. 
Rhynchagrotis  minimalis  Grt. 

bimarginalis  Grt. 
mirabilis  Grt. 
Peridroma  grandipennis  Grt. 
Noctua  conchis  Grt. 

beata  Grt. 
Chorizagrotis  terrealis  Grt. 
Feltia  circumdata  Grt. 
Porosagrotis  catenula  Grt. 
Euoxa  olivalis  Grt. 

ura  Sm. 

flavidens  Sm. 

csenis  Grt. 

munis  Grt. 

infausta  Wlk.,  var.  rufula  Sm. 

verticalis   Grt. 

basalis    Grt. 

anacosta  Sm. 
Richia  parentalis  Grt. 

decipiens  Grt. 

distichoides  Grt. 
Mamestra  prodeniformis   Sm. 
artesta  Sm. 
arida  Sm. 
aesculi  Sm. 
Barathra  occidenta  Grt. 
Trichorthosia  parallella  Grt. 
Anarta  mimula  Grt. 
Hydroecia  juvenalis  Grt. 
Pyrrhia  stilla  Grt. 
Heliothis  suavis  Hy.  Edw. 
Rhodosea  Julia   Grt. 
Rhododipsa  mimana.  Grt. 
Grotella  dis  Grt. 
Bessula  luxa  Grt. 
Autographa  snowi  Hy.  Edw. 
Marasmalus  inficita  Wlk.,  var.  histrio  Grt. 
Eucalyptra  gigantea  Grt. 
Excaria  clauda  Grt. 
Metoponia  nanata  Neum. 
Minofala  instans   Sm. 
Homopyralis  miserulata  Grt. 

cinctus  Sm. 
Euclidia  intercalaris  Grt. 
Caliptera  bucetum  Grt. 
Renia  rigida  Sm. 
Hypenula  cominalis  Sm. 
Palthis  albisinuatus  Sm. 
Rhescipha  snowi   Skinner. 

Lasiocanipidx. 

Gloveria  diasoma  Grt. 


HUNTER:     DEPARTMENT   OF  ENTOMOLOGY.  29 

Order  LEPIDOPTERA.' 

Geometridx. 

Coenocalpe  fervifactaria  Grt. 
formosata  Strck. 
Emplocia  inconstans  Geyer. 
.  Fernaldella  stalachtaria  Strck.,  var.  alternaria  Grt. 
Deilinia  elimaria   Hulst. 

perpallidaria  Grt. 
Sciagraphia  cruciata  Grt. 
Caripeta  equalaria  Grt. 
Glaucina  puellaria  Dyar. 
Phaeoura  mexicanaria  Grt. 
Eucaterva  variaria  Grt. 

(var.)    sabesaria  Grt. 
Lychnosea  helveolaria   Hulst. 
Therina  vitraria  Grt. 
Hyperitis   indiscretata   Hy.    Edw. 
Metanema   e.xcelsa   Strck.,   var.    simpliciaria   Grt. 
Sabulodes  sulphurata  imitata  Hy.   Edw. 
catenulata  Grt. 

Sesiidx. 

Melittia  snowii  Hy.  Edw. 

Pyralidie. 

Symphysa   simplicialis   Kearf. 
Evergestis  obliquilis  Grt. 
Elophila  avernalis   Grt. 
Prionapteryx  baboquinariella  Kearf. 
Crambus  dimidiatellus  Grt. 
Dioryctria  aurantiacella  Grt. 

Tortr^idse. 

Proteoteras  arizonse  Kearf. 
Epinotia  snowiana  Kearf. 

Ypono>meutidse. 
Plutella  yumaella  Kearf. 

Blastobasidx. 
Holocera  arizoniella  Kearf. 

Tineidx. 
Trichophaga  crescentella  Kearf. 

Order  HYMENOPTERA. 

Tenthredinidse. 
Hyiotoma  conspiculata  MacG. 

Evaniidx. 
Hyptia  texana  Brad. 

Ichnenmonidx. 

Ichneumon  arizonensis  Vier. 

egregiafasciali.s  Vier. 
citrinifacialis  Vier. 
flavicornis  Cress, 
varriola  Cres. 
oryxiocornis  Vier. 


30  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Order  HYMENOPTERA. 

Ichneumoiiidx — continued. 

Ichneumon  nigrosignatus  Vier. 
hemimelanarius  Vier. 
humphreyi  Vier. 
flavofascialis  Vier. 
(Barichneumon)  flavofascialis  Vier. 
maurus  Cress. 
Syndipnus  erythrogaster  Vier. 
Platylabus  omniferrugineus  Vier. 
Phygadeuon  oryxicornis  Vier. 
spinicoxus  Vier. 
Cryptus  citrinimaculatus  Vier. 
consobrinus  Vier. 
politicalypterus  Vier. 
Nematopodius  exclamans  Vier. 
Mesostenus  discoidaloides  Vier. 
Hemiteles  manitouensis  Vier. 

laphroscopoides  Vier. 
Pezomachus  homalommoides  Vier. 
testaceicoxus  Vier. 
alogus  Vier. 
Ophion  idoneum  Vier. 
Eremotylus  felti  Vier. 
Thyreodon  morio  Fabr.,  var.  transitionalis  Vier. 

snowi  Vier. 
Nototrachys  reticulatus  Cress. 
Anomalon  fulvescens,  var.  iiemimelas  Vier. 

paeneferrugineum  Vier. 
Atrometus  angitioides  Vier. 
Campoplex   piiotomorphus  Vier. 
wyomingensis  Vier. 
Limnerium   lawrencei  Vier. 
vigile  Vier. 
perdistinctum  Vier. 
Idechthis  biconjunctus  Vier. 

psenerivalis  Vier. 
Amorphota  perrivalis  Vier. 

psenexareolata  Vier. 
confluens  Vier. 
confluens  Vier.,  mutation  a. 
confluens  Vier.,  mutation  b. 
confluens  Vier.,  mutation  c. 
augusta  Vier. 
galvestonensis  Vier. 
nocturna  Vier. 
relativa  Vier. 
ferruginosa  Vier. 
autumnalis  Vier. 
Ischnoscopus  taeniatus  Vier. 
Angitia  autumnalis  Vier. 
Mesochorus  noctivagus  Vier. 
Olesicampa  melanerythrogastra  Vier. 
Thersilochus  hamiltonensis  Vier. 
snowi  Vier. 
egi'egiacolor  Vier. 
'  mimeticus  Vier. 

quintilis  Vier. 
Metopius  grandior  Vier. 
Boethus  aenigmaticus  Vier. 


HUNTER:     DEPARTMENT   OF   ENTOMOLOGY.  31 

Order  HYMENOPTERA. 

Ichneumonidas — continued. 

Synchnoporthus  tuckeri  Vier. 
Callidiotes  kansensis  Brues. 
Seopiarius  monticola  Brues. 
Agathobanchus  bradleyi  Vier. 
Pimpla  parvialba  Vier. 

landerensis  Vier. 
Gljrpta  aprilis  Vier. 

brunneisigna  Vier. 

egregiafovea  Vier. 

succineipennis  Vier. 
Arenetra  leucotsenia  Vier. 
Pristomerus  appalachianus  Vier. 

appalachianus,  var.  dorsocastaneus  Vier. 
Harrimaniella  paeneimitatrix  Vier. 
Lampronota   occidentalis  Cress. 

Braconidie. 

Bracon   kansensis  Vier. 

piceipes  Vier. 
Lysiphlebus  succineus  Vier. 
Melanobracon  ulmicola  Vier. 
Vipio  erythrus  Vier. 

piceipectus  Vier. 
Rhogas  fuscicaudus  Vier. 
melanothoi'ax  Vier. 
cockerelli  Vier. 
Chelonus  altitudinis  Vier. 
egregicolor  Vier. 
exogyrus  Vier. 
nucleolus  Vier. 
texanoides  Vier. 
Microgaster  tuckeri  Vier. 
Diachasma   appalachicola  Vier. 

secunda  Vier. 
Boisteres  indotatus  Vier. 
Ichneutidea  preteroptoides  Vier. 
Cardiochiles  nigroclypeus  Vier. 
Ascogaster  mimeticus  Vier. 
Agathis  wyomingensis  Vier. 
Microdus  agathoides  Vier. 

nigrotrochantericus  Vier. 
pimploides  Vier. 
castaneicinctus  Vier. 
wichitanensis  Vier. 
Crassomicrodus  nigricaudus  Vier. 
Lytopylus  azygos  Vier. 
Meteorus  campestris  Vier. 
relativus  Vier. 
noctivagus  Vier. 
Dinotrema  signifrons  Vier. 
Brachistes  nocturnus  Vier. 
Zele  crassicalcaratus  Vier. 
Coenocelius  politifrons  Vier. 
Iphiaulax  perepicus  Vier. 
propinquus  Vier. 
militaris  Vier. 
melanogaster  Vier. 
cinnabarinus  Vier. 
triangulifera  Vier. 


32  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Order  HYMENOPTERA. 
Braconiche — continued. 

Opius  aberrans  Vier. 

basiniger  Vier. 

luteiceps  Vier. 

nigrocastaneus  Vier. 
Aphaereta  delosa  Vier. 

subtricarinata  Vier. 
Aspilota  Columbiana  Vier. 
Hormiopterus  claripennis  Brues. 
Phaenodus  caddous  Vier. 
Hedysomus  wichitus. 
Doryctes  femur-rubrum  Vier. 

apacheus  Vier. 
Doryctomorpha  shoshonea  Vier. 

Chalcididx. 

Leucospis  bicincta  Vier. 

(Proctotrupidse)   Serphidx. 

Scelio  monticola  Brues. 
striaticollis  Brues. 
venata  Brues. 

Chrysididx. 

Notozus  connexus  Vier. 
Chrysis  equidens  Vier. 

kahli  Vier. 

kansensis  Vier. 

petronella  Vier. 

snowi  Vier. 

Mutillidas. 

Mv.tilla  crepuscula  Vier. 

nigricauda  Vier. 

prognoides  Vier. 

apachea  Vier. 

montivagoides  Vier. 

quintilis  Vier. 

imperialiformis  Vier. 
Brachycystis  stictinotus  Vier. 

Scoliidx. 

Elis  pollenifera  Vier. 

pollenifera  Vier,  var.  A.  Vier. 

(Pompilidx)  Psammocharidx. 

Anoplius  snowi  Vier. 
Cryptochelius  paeneparcus  Vier. 
Aporus  ferrugineipes  Vier. 
Pepsis  angustimarginata  Vier. 

Sphecidx. 

Sphex  ashmeadi  Pernald. 
Parasphex  ferrugineus  Fox. 

Larridee. 

Larropsis  minor  Williams, 
ater  Williams, 
paenerugosa  Vier. 
tachysphecoides  Vier. 
vegetoides  Vier. 
zerbeii  Vier. 


hunter:   department  of  entomology.  33 

Order  HYMENOPTERA. 
Larridss — continued. 

Tachysphex  clarkonis  Vier. 

crassiformis  Vier. 

robusterior  Williams. 

consimiloides  Williams. 

sculptiloides  Williams. 

nigrocaudatus  Williams. 

plenoculiformis  Williams. 

crenuloides  Williams. 

dentatus  Williams. 

sepuleralis  Williams. 

glabrior  Williams. 
Tachytes  intermedins  Vier. 
Plenoculus  apicalis  Williams. 
Niteliopsis  kansensis  Williams. 
Niteliopsis  foxii  Vier. 

Nyssonidx. 

Gorytes  gulielmi  Vier. 

papagorum  Vier. 

subaustralis  Vier. 
Nysson  clarconis  Vier. 

intermedius  Vier. 

Philanthidx. 

Philanthus  clarconis  Vier. 

magdalenae  Vier. 
Dideneis  crassicornis  Vier. 

Pemphredon  ides. 

Passaloecus  equalis  Vier. 
Diodontus  brunneicornis  Vier. 

Crabronidx. 

Trypoxylon   quintilis  Vier. 
regularis  Vier. 
Crabro  canonicola  Vier. 
cinctibellus  Vier. 
clarconis  Vier. 
Crabro  papagorum  Vier. 
Oxybelus  exclamans  Vier. 

viciniformis  Vier. 
Notoglossa  calligaster  Vier. 

p»nemarginatus  Vier. 
tsenigaster  Vier. 

Eumenidx. 

Eumenes  bolliformis  Vier. 
enigmatus  Vier. 
cruciferarum  Vier. 
globulosiformis  Vier. 
marginilineatus  Vier. 
Odynerus  yumus  Vier. 

amphichrous  Vier. 
anormiformis  Vier. 
cochisensis  Vier. 
congressus  Vier. 
delodontus  Vier. 
egregius  Vier. 

5-Univ.  Sci.  BulL.Vol.  VIII.  No.  1. 


34  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Order  HYMENOPTERA. 

Euvienidm — continued. 

Odynerus   excentralis  Vier. 
gulielmi  Vier. 
leionotus  Vier. 
pimorum  Vier. 
microstictus  Vier. 
maricoporum  Vier. 
papagorum  Vier. 
paenevagus  Vier. 
percampanulatus  Vier. 
rectangulis  Vier. 
sulfuritinctus  Vier. 
pulverulenta  Vier. 
spectabiliformis  Vier. 
hidalgiformis  Vier. 
subtoltecus  Vier. 
canaliculatus  Vier. 
provisoreus  Vier. 
tempiferus  Vier. 

Vespidx. 

Polistes  exclamans  Vier. 

Apoidea. 

Andrena  alasliensis  Vier. 

delosa  Vier. 
Perdita  klagesi  Vier. 
Melissodes  duplocincta  Ckll. 

galvestonensis  Ckll. 

herrickii  Ckll. 

hexacantha  Ckll. 

nigrosignata  Ckll. 

pallidisignata  Ckll. 

prjelauta  Ckll. 

portivagans  Ckll. 

semitristis  Ckll. 

tenuitarsis  Ckll. 
Xenoglossa  pruinosa,  var.  limitaris  Ckll. 
strenua,  var.  Kanensis  Ckll. 
Anthophora  montaniformis  Vier. 
Synhalonia  gilletti,  sub.  sp.  snowii  Ckll. 
fuscotincta  Ckll. 
lippise,  var.  sublippiae  Ckll. 
Diadasia  afflicta  perafflicta  Ckll. 
Exomalopsis  snowii  Ckll. 
Psithyrus  tricolor  Franklin. 

consultis  Franklin. 

Order  DIPTERA.    (African.) 

Tabimdx. 

Hinea  flavipes  Adams. 
Tabanus  tarsalis  Adams. 

Asilidx. 

Promachus   flavibarbis  Adams. 

apicalis  Adams. 

solus  Adams. 

negligens  Adams. 
Sisyrnodites  major  Adams. 

nigrifimbriis  Adams. 


HUNTER:     DEPARTMENT   OF  ENTOMOLOGY.  35 

Order  DIPTERA.    (African.) 

Bombyliidx. 

Systropus  snowi  Adams. 

Syrphidx. 

Melanostoma  bituberculata  Adams. 
Eristalis   longicornis  Adams. 

aequalis  Adams. 

communis  Adams. 

dissimilis  Adams. 

Conopidas. 

Conops   fumipennis  Adams, 
bellus  Adams, 
semifumosus  Adams. 

Muscidx. 

Paracompsomyia  houghi  Adams. 

splendida  Adams, 
verticalis  Adams. 

Sciomyzida:. 

Sepedon  ornatifrons  Adams, 
scapularis  Adams. 

Diopsidx.  * 

Diopsis  affinis  Adams, 
nitidus  Adams, 
pollinosus  Adams. 


36 


KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 


CONTENTS  OP  MUSEUM. 


North   American   Coleoptera    

Lepidoptera    

Diptera   

Hymenoptera    

Hemiptera    

Orthoptera    

Neuroptera 

Exotic  Coleoptera   

"        Lepidoptera     

Collections  for  studies  in  geographic  distribu- 
tion, variations  and  economic  problems.  . 

Grand  totals   ' 20,803 

Grand  total  in  Museum 


Number  of 

species 

varieties 

in  regular 

named 

collections. 

Number  of 
specimens 
in  regular 

named 
collections. 

8,089 

35,052 

3,756 

12,208 

2,244 

6,741 

1,304 

3,912 

1,064 

3,724 

492 

1,845 

293 

2,600 

8,450 

981 

1,716 

182,000 

20,803 

255,640 

276,451 

SUMMARY  OP   TYPES  IN   SNOW  ENTOMOLOGICAL 
COLLECTIONS. 

Neuroptera    1 

Orthoptera     15 

Hemiptera   45 

Coleoptera   12 

Diptera     490 

Lepidoptera     100 

Hymenoptera    258 

African  Diptera 25 


Total 946 


hunter:   department  of  entomology.  37 


What  the  University,  Through  its  Department  of 
Entomology,  is  Doing  for  the  State.* 

1.  For  the  State  in  General. 

2.  For  Each  One  of  the  105  Counties  in  Particular. 

FOR  THE  STATE. 

1.  Extended  investigations  in  alfalfa  culture  and  insect  life,  with 
special  reference  to  native  grasshoppers. 

2.  Increased  alfalfa  yield  one-third  by  methods  of  culture  devised 
by  this  department  and  now  uniformly  used  over  the  entire  state. 

3.  Demonstrated  that  bees  largely  increase  the  alfalfa  seed  yield. 

4.  Four  thousand  copies  of  manual,  fully  illustrated,  on  bee  culture 
and  management,  distributed  free   over  the  state. 

5.  Fifteen  thousand  copies  of  directions  for  dealing  with  injurious 
grasshoppers,   distributed   over  the   state. 

6.  Eight  thousand  fully  illustrated  bulletins  on  alfalfa  culture  dis- 
tributed over  the  state. 

7.  Eight  thousand  nine  hundred  and  thirty-two  boxes  of  green-bug 
parasites  distributed  over  the  state,  a  check  to  the  inroads  of  this  most  de- 
structive wheat  insect. 

8.  Fifteen  thousand  bulletins,  fully  illustrated,  on  the  green  bug  and 
how  to  control  it  by  proper  culture  and  use  of  parasites.  Assisted  by 
Professor  Glenn  and  advanced  students. 

9.  Ten  thousand  bulletins,  fully  illustrated,  on  insects  most  injurious 
to  fruit  trees,  with  Professor  Headlee  of  the  Agricultural  College. 

10.  Two  thousand  circulars  of  detailed  information  dealing  with  spe- 
cial current  problems. 

11.  Detailed  survey  of  orchards,  1,142,466  trees,  in  seven  counties,  and 
the   directions   given   owners   for  their   management. 

12.  Investigations  looking  toward  control  of  woolly  aphis  and  crown 
gall,  two  of  the  most  serious  menaces  to  the  nursery  business. 

13.  Eradication  of  San  Jose  scale  from  seven  counties. 

14.  Directed,  in  the  past  two  years,  1910-'12,  work  of  spraying  162,585 
fruit  trees. 

15.  Annual  examination  of  nursery  stock,  making  possible  its  sale  and 
shipment. 

16.  Inspection  of  all  imports  of  nursery  stock  from  foreign  coun- 
tries. In  this  there  has  been  detected  and  destroyed  about  5000  brown- 
tail  moths,  an  insect  which  is  costing  some  of  the  eastern  states  in 
remedial  measures  thousands  of  dollars  annually. 

17.  Survey  each  spring  of  wheat  areas  to  detect  presence  of  green 
bug.     This  at  the  request  of  the  millers  and  grain  men. 

*_At  the  close  of  each  biennium  the  Department  is  called  upon  for  this  information, 
and  it  has  accordingly  been  deemed  advisable  to  place  this  data  here  in  permanent  form 
for  future  reference.  Since  1907  the  activities  of  the  Department  along  economic  lines, 
in  accordance  with  the  assignment  of  the  Kansas  State  Entomological  Commission,  has 
been  confined  to  the  southern  half  of  the  state. 


38  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

18.  Furnishing  high  schools  with  mounted  collections  without  cost. 

19.  Detailed  survey  of  insect  life  of  thirty-five  counties.  Distin- 
guishing the  beneficial  from  the  injurious.  Assisted  by  Mr.  F.  X. 
Williams  and  advanced  students. 

20.  In  past  fifteen  years,  performed  entomological  work  of  prac- 
tical value  in  105  counties. 

21.  State  entomologist,  entomologist  to  Kansas  State  Board  of  Agri- 
culture. Entomologist  to  Kansas  State  Board  of  Horticulture,  honorary 
member  of  Western  Association  of  Nurserymen. 

22.  Addresses  before  various  state  societies  on  problems  of  economic 
value. 

23.  Answer  from  5000  to  8000  letters  annually  to  citizens  of  the  state, 
giving  information  sought  by  them. 

24.  Federal  act  of  August  20,  1912,  requires  all  importations  of 
trees,  plants,  shrubs,  bulbs,  etc.,  to  be  inspected  at  point  of  destination 
by  properly  authorized  state  authority.  This  department  performs  this 
service  for  the  south  half  of  the  state. 

25.  Extended  investigation  on  probable  cause  of  the  human  disease 
pellagra. 

26.  Chairman  of  University  research  commission  on  the  horse  plague. 
The  results  of  this  work  were  to  locate  the  cause  in  improperly  cured 
forage,  and  to  demonstrate  conclusively  that  a  change  to  properly  cured 
forage  eliminated  the  disease.  At  the  time  when  the  University  under- 
took this  work  there  were  many  theories  advocated  regarding  the  cause, 
and  now  practically  all  investigators  engaged  on  the  problem  agree  with 
the  University's  diagnosis. 

27.  Construction  of  federal  legislation  in  interest  of  horticulture,  and 
assistance  in  passage  of  same.  For  some  ten  years  the  federal  authorities 
and  horticultural  interests  had  been  unable  to  agree  on  federal  legislation 
to  protect  this  country  against  importations  of  foreign  pests.  There  is 
now  a  federal  statute,  and  Kansas  has  proper  protection  thereby.  Two 
trips  were  made  to  Washington  and  frequent  conferences  held  with  the 
members  of  House  Committee  on  Agriculture  in  connection  with  this 
work. 

28.  The  large  problems  which  concern  the  state  from  time  to  time, 
such  as  the  native  grasshoppers,  chinch  bugs,  Hessian  fly,  green  bug,  and 
codling  moth,  as  the  preceding  pages  show  from  year  to  year  during  the 
past  forty  years  as  occasion  required,  have  been  the  subject  of  special  in- 
vestigations by  the  department. 

For  example,  in  the  year  1913  the  department  cooperated  with  county 
commissioners  in  the  distribution  of  170  tons  of  the  dry  poison  for  the 
extermination  of  grasshoppers. 


HUNTER:     DEPARTMENT   OF  ENTOMOLOGY.  39 

FOR  THE  STATE,  ARRANGED  BY  COUNTIES. 
Allen  County. 
Eradicated  infestation  of  San  Jose  scale. 

Made  examination  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition  of  about  $5000 
worth  of  nursery  stock  during  one  year. 
Distributed  green-bug  parasite. 

Anderson  County. 
Directed  the  treatment  of  insects  injurious  to  forest  trees. 
Distributed  green-bug  parasite. 
Inspected  nursery  stock. 
Conducted  experimental  work  on  chinch  bug. 

Atchison  County. 
Distributed  green-bug  parasites. 

Made  examination  of  the  orchards  with  reference  to  a  serious  out- 
break of  apple  blight,  and  reported  same  to  the  United  States  Department 
of  Agriculture. 

Barber  County. 
Made  e.xamination  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition  of  about  $5000 
worth  of  nursery  stock  each  year. 
Distributed  green-bug  parasites. 

Barton  Couyity. 

Made  annual  examination  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition  of 
about  $15,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  during  the  last  eight  years. 

Established  and  maintained  a  distributing  station  for  the  distribution 
of  the  green-bug  parasite.- 

Made  a  detailed  survey  of  the  insect  life  of  the  county. 

Gave  individual  assistance  to  farmers  in  fighting  grasshoppers. 

Bourbon  County. 

Made  annual  examination  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition  of 
about  $75,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  at  four  points  during  each  of  the 
last  ten  years,  making  possible  its  sale  and  shipment. 

Distributed  green-bug  parasites. 

Investigations  of  the  sand  fly  with  reference  to  its  connection  with  the 
distribution  of  pellagra. 

Brown  County. 

Made  examination  of  orchards  with  reference  to  serious  outbreak  of 
apple  blight,  and  reported  same  to  the  United  States  Department  of 
Agriculture. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Butler  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Chase  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Chautauqua  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 


40  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Cherokee  County. 
Made  annual  examination  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition  of 
about  $5000  worth  of  nursery  stock  during  each  of  the  last  two  years. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Cheyeyine  County. 
Made  a   detailed   study  of   insect   life,   with   special   reference  to  the 
species  injurious  and  beneficial  to  agriculture,  requiring  the  time  of  four 
men  for  one  year. 

Clark  County. 
Made  a  detailed  survey  of  the  insect  life,  with  special  reference  to  the 
species  injurious  and  beneficial  to  agriculture. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Clay  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites.     Special  green-bug  investigation 
conducted  here. 

Cloud  County. 

Made  examination  of  orchards,  with  reference  to  a  serious  outbreak  of 
apple  blight,  and  reported  same  to  United  States  Department  of  Agri- 
culture. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Coffey  County. 

Made  annual  examination  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition  of 
about  $30,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  during  each  of  the  last  ten  years, 
enabling  the  owner  to  offer  same  for  sale  and  shipment. 

Inspection  of  orchards  and  shade  trees. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Comanche  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Cowley  County. 
Made  annual  examinations  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition  of 
about  $400,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  during  each  of  the  last  sixteen 
years. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Craivford  County. 
Made  annual  examination   and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition   of 
about  $40,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  at  three  points  during  each  of  the 
last  eight  years,  making  possible  its  sale  and  shipment. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Survey  of  orchard  and  forest  trees  and  advising  owners  as  to  methods 
of  treatment. 

Decatur  County. 

Made  demonstrations  of  the  value  of  the  disc  harrow  in  alfalfa  culture, 
increasing  thereby  the  alfalfa  yield  one-third. 

Made  detailed  survey  of  insect  life,  with  special  reference  to  species 
injurious  and  beneficial  to  agriculture. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 


hunter:   department  of  entomology.  41 

.    Dickinson  County. 
Made  annual  examination   and   certified   to  the  healthy  condition   of 
about  $10,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  during  each  of  the  last  eight  years. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Doniphan  County. 

Made  examination  of  the  orchards  with  reference  to  a  serious  outbreak 
of  apple  blight,  and  reported  same  to  the  United  States  Department  of 
Agriculture. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Douglas  County. 

Made  annual  examination  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition  of 
about  $300,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  at  five  different  points,  during 
each  of  the  last  sixteen  years. 

Eradicated  a  serious  infestation  of  San  Jose  scale. 

Detected  of  foreign  importations  seven  nests,  amounting  to  about 
1500  of  the  brown-tail  moth. 

Erected  an  inexpensive  plant  for  the  manufacture  of  orchard  sprays, 
demonstrating  to  farmers  their  independence  of  any  spray  manufacturing 
concern. 

Took  immediate  charge  of  the  spraying  and  management  of  one 
orchard  and  directed  the  work  in  two  other  large  orchards. 

Demonstrated  in  experimental  orchard  the  efficacy  of  sprays  in  pro- 
ducing sound  fruit  and  in  increasing  yield  and  market  value  of  orchards. 

Edwards  County. 

Established  and  maintained  for  many  years  experiment  station  for  the 
exclusive  study  of  alfalfa  culture  and  insect  life,  with  special  reference 
to  grasshoppers. 

Developed  and  established  on  a  firm  basis  the  cultural  value  of  the 
disc  harrow  in  the  production  of  alfalfa. 

Demonstrated  that  disking  and  cross-harrowing  in  the  spring  in- 
creased the  alfalfa  yield  about  one-third. 

Made  annual  examination  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition  of 
about  $.5000  worth  of  nursery  stock  during  each  of  the  last  seven  years. 

The  department  here  profited  by  the  cooperation  of  Professor  Dean,  of 
the  Agricultural  College,  in  campaign  against  the  grasshopper. 

Elk  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Ellis  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Made  detailed  survey  of  insect  life  of  the  county,  with  special  refer- 
ence to  species  injurious  and  beneficial  to  agriculture. 

Ellsworth  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

6-Univ.  Sci.  Bull.,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  1. 


42  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Finney  County. 

Conducted  experiments  with  reference  to  the  part  played  by  bees  in 
the  production  of  alfalfa  seed. 

It  was  shown  that  bees  increased  the  alfalfa  seed  yield  fully  two- 
thirds. 

It  was  further  shown  that  alfalfa  was  the  best  honey-producing  plant 
in  the  state. 

Survey  of  orchard  and  forest  trees  and  direction  of  means  of  taking 
proper  care  of  them. 

Survey  of  the  insect  life  of  the  county  with  special  reference  to  the 
species  injurious  and  beneficial  to  agriculture. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Cooperated  with  county  commissioners  in  campaign  against  grass- 
hoppers.    Distributed  poison — 4000  pounds  Paris  green  and  40  tons  bran. 

Ford  County. 

An  extended  demonstration  through  three  seasons  proved  the  value 
of  the  disc  harrow  in  the  production  of  alfalfa. 

A  detailed  survey  of  the  shade  and  fruit  trees  of  Dodge  City,  and  the 
direction  of  the  necessary  spraying  of  the  trees  infested  with  San  Jose 
scale. 

Annual  examination,  without  cost  to  the  state,  at  the  State  Forestry 
Station. 

Survey  of  the  insect  life  of  the  county. 

Cooperated  with  county  commissioners  in  campaign  against  grass- 
hoppers. Distributed  4500  pounds  Paris  green,  45  tons  bran.  The  de- 
partment profited  here  by  the  cooperation  of  Professor  Dean,  of  the 
Agricultural  College,  the  Santa  Fe  and  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agri- 
culture. 

Franklin  County. 

Made  annual  examination  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition  of 
about  $350,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  during  each  of  the  last  sixteen 
years,  enabling  owners  to  off'er  same  for  sale  and  shipment. 

Prepared  4500  gallons  of  spray  for  one  orchardist. 

Examined  some  fifteen  shipments  of  foreign  importations  of  nursery 
stock,  detecting  thereon  and  destroying  twenty-seven  nests  of  the  brown- 
tail  moth,  amounting  in  all  to  5000  insects  so  highly  destructive  to  forest 
and  fruit  and  shade  trees. 

Fumigated  about  $40,000  worth  of  nursery  stock. 

Made  detailed  survey  of  fruit  and  shade  trees  and  advised  concern- 
ing methods  of  caring  for  them. 

Investigations  of  sand-fly  distribution  with  reference  to  its  con- 
nection with  the  dissemination  of  pellagra. 

Geary  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Gove  County. 
Made  a  detailed  study  of  insect  life  with   special  reference  to  the 
species  beneficial  and  injurious  to  agriculture,  requiring  the  entire  time 
of  four  men  during  the  entire  season. 


hunter:    department  of  entomology.  43 

Graham  County. 

The  extended  demonstration  through  three  seasons  proved  the  value 
of  the  disc  harrow  in  the  production  of  alfalfa. 

Distribution  of  gi-een-bug  parasites. 

Study  of  the  insect  life  with  special  reference  to  species  beneficial 
and  injurious  to  agriculture. 

Grant  County. 
Made  a  detailed  study  of  insect  life  with  special  reference  to  species 
beneficial  and  injurious  to  agriculture. 

G7-ay  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Cooperated  with  county  commissioners  in  campaign  against  grass- 
hoppers.   Distributed  poison — 1700  pounds  Paris  green,  17  tons  bran. 

Greeley  County. 
Made  a  detailed  study  of  insect  life  with  special  reference  to  species 
injurious    and    beneficial   to    agriculture,    requiring   the    entire   time    of 
four  men  during  a  part  of  the  year  and  of  two  men  the  entire  season. 

Greenwood  County. 
Made  annual   examination   and   certified   to  the  healthy  condition   of 
about  $2.5,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  during  each  of  the  last  six  years. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Hamilton  County. 

Maintained  and  established  a  station  for  five  years,  dealing  vnth  alfalfa 
culture  and  insect  life,  with  special  reference  to  native  grasshoppers,  in- 
creasing thereby  the  alfalfa  yield  one-third. 

Demonstrated  that  bees  were  not  only  profitable  for  honey,  but  also 
for  their  part  in  increasing  the  alfalfa-seed  yield  fully  two-thirds. 

Gave  individual  assistance  to  the  farmers  in  fighting  grasshoppers. 

Harper  County. 
Eradicated  infestation  of  San  Jose  scale. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Harvey  County. 

Made  annual  examination  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition  of 
about  $25,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  during  each  of  the  last  sixteen  years. 

Corrected  false  report  sent  out  by  agent  of  Department  of  Agriculture 
on  infestation  of  San  Jose  scale.  This  report,  if  allowed  to  stand,  would 
have  brought  about  great  pecuniary  loss  to  the  nurserymen. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Haskell  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Made  detailed  study  of  the  insect  life,  with  special  reference  to  the 
species  injurious  and  beneficial  to  agriculture. 


44  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Hodgeman  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Cooperated  with  county  commissioners  in  campaign  against  grass- 
hoppers.    Distributed  poison — 1000  pounds  Paris  green,  10  tons  bran. 

Jackson  County. 

Made  annual  examination  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition  of 
about  $15,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  during  each  of  the  last  twelve  years. 

Study  of  sand-fly  distribution,  with  reference  to  its  possible  connection 
with  the  dissemination  of  pellagra. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Jefferson  Cotinty. 
Field  laboratory  for  green-bug  investigation. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 
Direction  of  work  on  orchard  culture. 

Jewell  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 
Kept  a  man  in  the  field  directing  work  against  the  green  bug. 

Johnson  County. 

Owner  of  large  young  orchard  at  Lenexa  asked  the  department  to 
assume  direction  of  its  scientific  management,  and  this  the  department 
did. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Kearny  County. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Study  of  insect  life,  vsrith  special  reference  to  species  injurious  and 
beneficial  to  agriculture. 

Cooperated  with  county  commissioners  in  campaign  against  grass- 
hoppers.    Distributed  poison — 2500  pounds  Paris  green,  25  tons  bran. 

Kingman  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Inspection  of  nursery  stock  annually,  making  possible  its  sale  and 
shipment. 

Inspection  of  shade  and  fruit  trees  for  San  Jose  scale. 

Kiowa  County. 

Established  and  maintained  a  field  station  for  the  distribution  of  the 
green-bug  parasite. 

Labette  County. 

Eradicated  San  Jose  scale,  the  most  serious  menace  to  horticulture  in 
one  portion  of  the  county. 

Made  detailed  examinations  of  shade  and  fruit  trees  at  Parsons,  and 
directed  sj^-aying  with  the  purpose  of  eradicating  this  scale  from  the  city. 

Made  annual  examination  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition  of 
about  $300,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  at  three  points  during  each  of  the 
last  twelve  years,  making  possible  its  sale  and  shipment. 

Investigation  of  sand  fly,  with  reference  to  its  connection  with  the 
transmission  of  pellagra. 


hunter:   department  of  entomology.  45 

Lane  County. 

Made  a  detailed  study  of  insect  life,  with  special  reference  to  species 
injurious  and  beneficial  to  agriculture,  i-equiring  the  entire  time  of  four 
men  during  the  entire  summer. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Gave  individual  assistance  to  the  farmers  in  fighting  grasshoppers. 

Leavenworth  County. 
Made  annual   examination   and   certified   to   the  healthy   condition    of 
about  $40,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  during  the  last  ten  years. 
Distribution  of  gieen-bug  parasites. 

Lincoln  County. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Linn  Cotinty. 

Made  annual  examination  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition  of 
about  $40,000  worth  of  nursery  stock,  making  possible  its  sale  and  ship- 
ment. 

Made  annual  examination  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition  of 
about  $2000  worth  of  greenhouse  stock,  enabling  owner  to  offer  same  for 
sale  and  shipment. 

Distributioa  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Inspected  orchards  and  advised  owners  as  to  methods  of  culture  and 
management. 

Logan  County. 

Made  a  detailed  study  of  the  insect  life  with  special  reference  to  species 
injurious  and  beneficial  to  agriculture. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Lyon  County. 

Made  annual   examination   and   certified   to   the   healthy   condition    of 
about  $10,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  during  the  last  six  years. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Marion  County. 

Made  annual  examination  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition  of 
about  $10,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  during  each  of  the  last  sixteen  years. 

Established  and  maintained  an  experiment  station  on  green  bug  and 
other  insects  damaging  the  wheat. 

Marshall  County. 

Made  examinations  of  orchards  with  reference  to  a  serious  outbreak 
of  apple  blight  and  reported  same  to  the  United  States  Department  of 
Agriculture. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

McPherson  County. 
Made   annual   examination   and   certified   to   the   healthy   condition    of 
about  $5000  worth  of  nursery  stock  during  each  of  the  last  four  years. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 


46  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Meade  County. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Study  of  the  distribution  of  sand  fly  in  its  connection  with  the  possible 
transmission  of  pellagra. 

Study  of  insect  life  with  special  reference  to  species  injurious  and 
beneficial  to  agriculture. 

Cooperated  with  county  commissioners  in  campaign  against  grass- 
hoppers. Distributed  poison — 1500  pounds  Paris  green,  30,000  pounds 
bran. 

Miami  County. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Mitchell  County. 

Kept  a  man  in  the  field  directing  work  against  the  green  bug. 
Montgomery  County. 

Made  annual  examination  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condilion  of 
about  $10,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  at  two  points  during  each  of  the 
last  ten  years. 

Study  of  the  sand  fly  with  its  possible  connection  with  the  transmission 
of  pellagra. 

Survey  of  orchards  and  shade  trees,  giving  advice  as  to  methods  of 
culture  and  management. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Morris  County. 
Made  annual   examination,  and  certified   to   the   healthy   condition   of 
about  $40,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  during  the  last  eight  years. 
Directed  the  spraying  of  a  125-acre  orchard  during  three  years. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Morton  County. 
Made  special  study  of  insect  life  vvdth  special  reference  to  species  in- 
jurious and  beneficial  to  agriculture. 

Nemaha  County. 

Made  examination  of  orchards  with  reference  to  serious  outbreak  of 
apple  blight,  and  reported  same  to  United  States  Department  of  Agi'i- 
culture. 

Made  annual  examination  and  certified  to  healthy  condition  of  about 
$6000  worth  of  nursery  stock  during  each  of  the  last  twelve  years. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Neosho  County. 

Made  annual  examination  and  certified  to  healthy  condition  of  about 
$50,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  during  each  of  the  last  twelve  years, 
enabling  the  owner  to  make  sale  and  shipment. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Survey  of  shade  trees  and  fruit  trees  and  direction  of  methods  for 
control  of  tent  caterpillar  pest. 


hunter:   department  of  entomology.  47 

Ness  County. 
Investigation  of  horse  plague  in  western  Kansas. 
Study  of  insect  life  with   special  reference  to   species  injurious  and 
beneficial   to   agriculture. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Gave  individual  assistance  to  the  farmers  in  fighting  grasshoppers. 

Norton  County. 

The  extended  demonstration  through  three  seasons  proved  the  value 
of  the  disc  harrow  in  the  production  of  alfalfa. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Study  of  the  insect  life  with  special  reference  to  species  injurious 
and  beneficial  to  agriculture. 

Osage  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Osborne  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Study  of  insect  life  with  special  reference  to  species  injurious  and 
beneficial  to  agriculture. 

Ottawa  County. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Pawnee  County. 
A  detailed  survey  in  the  city  of  Lamed  of  shade  and  fruit  trees,  and 
directing  the  spraying  of  the  area. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Phillips  County. 
Kept  a  man  in  the  field  directing  work  against  green  bug. 

Pottawatomie  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Pratt  County. 
Eradicated  infestation  of  San  Jose  scale. 

Made  examination  of  and  certified  to  healthy  condition  of  about 
$5000  worth  of  nursery  stock. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Study  of  insect  life  with  special  reference  to  species  injui'ious  and 
beneficial  to  agriculture. 

Gave  individual  assistance  to  the  farmers  in  fighting  grasshoppers. 

Rawlins  County. 
Made  a  detailed  study  of  insect  life  with  special  reference  to  species 
beneficial  and  injurious  to  agriculture. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Republic  County. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Made  examination  of  orchards  with  reference  to  serious  outbreak  of 
apple  blight,  and  reported  same  to  the  United  States  Department  of 
Agriculture: 


48  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Reno  County. 

Made  detailed  examination  of  the  orchards. 

Directed  spraying  of  infested  orchards  until,  as  far  as  our  obser- 
vation goes,  the  San  Jose  scale  has  been  eradicated  from  that  county. 

Made  annual  examination  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition  of 
about  $10,000   worth  of  nursery  stock  during  the   last  six  years. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Rice  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Riley  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Rooks  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Study  of  insect  life  with  special  reference  to  species  beneficial  and 
injurious  to  agriculture. 

Rush  County. 

Made  a  detailed  survey  of  insect  life  with  special  reference  to  species 
beneficial  and  injurious  to  agriculture. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Russell  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Saline  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Scott  County. 

Study  of  insect  life,  with  special  reference  to  species  injurious  and 
beneficial  to  agriculture. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Cooperated  with  county  commissioners  in  campaign  against  grass- 
hoppers.   Distributed  poison — 1000  pounds  arsenic,  10  tons  bran. 

Sedgwick  County. 

A  detailed  examination  of  ten  townships,  giving  specific  directions  to 
owners  in  each  case  on  the  best  methods  of  orchard  management,  amount- 
ing in  all  to  305,082  fruit  trees.    Out  of  this  number  52,032  were  sprayed. 

Made  annual  examination  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition  of 
about  $45,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  during  each  of  the  last  ten  years. 

Examined  four  large  greenhouse  plants  during  the  last  six  years,  mak- 
ing possible  the  sale  and  shipment  of  their  goods. 

Fumigated  annually  about  $10,000  worth  of  stock  during  the  last  six 
years. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Seward  County. 
Study  of  insect  life,  with  special  reference  to  species  injurious  and 
beneficial  to  agriculture. 


hunter:   department  of  entomology.  49 

Shawnee  County. 

Eradicated  infestation  of  San  Jose  scale. 

Made  annual  examination  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition  of 
about  $500,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  at  seven  different  points  during 
each  of  the  last  sixteen  years. 

Fumigated  about  $30,000  worth  of  nursery  stock,  enabling  owners  to 
ship  same  into  states  requiring  such  treatment. 

Examined  a  large  number  of  importations  of  foreign  nursery  stock, 
and  destroyed  thereon  about  6000  brown-tail  moths. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Sheridan  County. 
Study  of  insect  life,  with  special  reference  to  species  beneficial  and  in- 
jurious to  agriculture. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Sherman  County. 
Study  of  insect  life,  with  special  reference  to  species  beneficial  and  in- 
jurious to  agriculture. 

Smith  County. 
Study  of  insect  life,  with  special  reference  to  species  beneficial  and  in- 
jurious to  agriculture. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Stafford  County. 
Established  and  maintained  a  distributing  station  for  the  distribution 
of  green-bug  parasites. 

Gave  individual  assistance  to  the  farmers  in  fighting  grasshoppers. 

Stanton  County. 
Study  of  the  insect  life,  with  special  reference  to  species  beneficial  and 
injurious  to  agriculture. 

Stevens  County. 
Study  of  insect  life,  with  special  reference  to  species  beneficial  and  in- 
jurious to  agriculture. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Sumner  County. 

Made  annual  examination  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition  of 
about  $150,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  at  four  different  points  during  each 
of  the  last  fourteen  years. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Thomas  County. 

Made  a  detailed  study  of  insect  life,  with  special  reference  to  species 
injurious  and  beneficial  to  agriculture,  requiring  the  entire  time  of  four 
men  during  the  entire  season. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

7— Univ.  Sci.  Bull..  Vol.  VIII.  No.  1. 


50  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Trego  County. 
Study  of  insect  life,  with  special  reference  to  species  beneficial  and  in- 
jurious to  agriculture. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Wabaunsee  County. 
Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Wallace  County. 
Made  a  detailed  study  of  insect  life,  with  special  reference  to  species 
beneficial  and  injurious  to  agriculture. 

Wasliington  County. 

Made  examination  of  orchards  with  reference  to  a  serious  outbreak  of 
apple  blight,  and  reported  same  to  the  United  States  Department  of  Agri- 
culture. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Wichita  County. 

Made  a  detailed  study  of  insect  life,  with  special  reference  to  species 
injurious  and  beneficial  to  agriculture,  requiring  the  time  of  four  men 
during  the  entire  season. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Gave  individual  assistance  to  the  farmers  in  fighting  grasshoppers. 

Wilson  County. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Examination  of  fruit  and  shade  trees  and  direction  of  methods  for 
care  and  management. 

Woodson  County. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Wyandotte  County. 

Made  annual  examination  and  certified  to  the  healthy  condition  of 
about  $125,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  during  each  of  the  last  sixteen 
years,  making  possible  its  sale  and  shipment. 

Fumigated  about  ?75,000  worth  of  nursery  stock  in  order  that  same 
might  be  sold. 

Made  detailed  examination  of  the  conditions  of  all  orchards,  125  in 
number,  amounting  to  129,422  fruit  trees,  in  Shawnee  township,  giving 
explicit  directions  to  the  owners  in  each  case  on  profitable  management. 

Held  two  public  spraying  demonstrations  in  larger  orchards,  which 
were  attended  by  over  300  horticulturists,  some  coming  from  other 
counties.  At  these  demonstrations  the  fruit-growers  were  shown  how  to 
make  and  apply  the  various  sprays. 

Distributed  over  1000  bulletins  on  orchard  spraying. 

Directed  the  work  of  spraying  35,000  fruit  trees. 

Distribution  of  green-bug  parasites. 

Total  number  of  counties 105 

Total  number  of  items 240 


HUNTER :     DEPARTMENT   OF   ENTOMOLOGY.  51 


Some  of  the  Graduates  of  the  University 

WHO   TOOK   THEIR   MAJOR   WORK   IN   THE 
DEPARTMENT   OF   ENTOMOLOGY. 

Adams,  C.  F.,  Director  and  Entomologist  of  Arkansas  Agricultural  and 
Mechanical  College,  Fayetteville,  Ark. 

Aldrich,  J.  M.,  Entomologist,  U.  S.  Department  Agriculture. 

Andrews,  Orrel  M.,  Science  Illustrator,  Illinois  State  University,  Ur- 
bana.  111. 

Burrows,  M.  T.,  Professor  Department  Pathology,  Medical  School,  Cor- 
nell University,  Ithaca,  N.  Y. 

Claassen,  p.  W.,  Assistant  State  Entomologist  on  Kansas  Entomological 
Commission,  Southern  Division. 

Crumb,  Ebb.  S.,  Member  Staff  of  U.  S.  Entomologist. 

Emery,  W.  T.,  Investigator  for  State  Board  of  Health. 

Glenn,  P.  A.,  Chief  Inspector,  Office  of  State  Entomologist,  Urbana,  111. 

Hungeeford,  H.  B.,  Assistant  Professor  in  Entomology,  Kansas  Uni- 
versity. 

Hunter,  S.  J.,  Head  of  Department  of  Entomology,  University  of  Kansas. 
State  Entomologist,  Southern  Division. 

HoSFORD,  Ruby,  Assistant  in  Laboratory  and  State  Work,  University  of 
Kansas. 

ISELY,  DwiGHT,  Holder  Schuyler  Fellowship  in  Entomology  at  Cornell 
University,  Ithaca,  N.  Y.     1913-'14. 

Kellogg,  V.  L.,  Professor  of  Entomology  and  Binomics,  Leland  Stanford 
University. 

McDaniel,  Eugenia,  Instructor  in  Entomology,  Michigan  Agricultural 
College. 

Meek,  W.  J.,  Associate  Professor  of  Physiology,  Wisconsin  University. 

Palmer,  Miriam,  Instructor  in  Entomology,  Colorado  Agricultural  Col- 
lege, Fort  Collins. 

Parrott,  p.  J.,  Entomologist  New  York  Experiment  Station,  Geneva,  N.Y. 

Sanborn,  C.  E.,  Head  of  Department  of  Entomology,  Oklahoma  Agricul- 
tural and  Mechanical  College,  Stillwater,  Okla. 

Scheffer,  T.  H.,  Member  Staff  of  United  States  Biological  Survey. 

Spangler,  a.  J.,  Chief  Inspector,  Minnesota  State  Nursery  and  Orchard 
Inspection  Sei-vice,  State  Experiment  Station,  St.  Anthony  Park,  Minn. 

Weeks,  Ella,  Biological  Artist,  Kansas  Agricultural  College. 

The  above  list  does  not  include  those  graduates  who  took  their  majors 
in  the  department  and  are  now  practicing  physicians  and  teachers  of 
science  in  high  schools. 


52  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 


Publications  of  Department  of  Entomology. 

Adams,  C.  F. 

1.  1903 — Dipterological    Contributions;    K.    U.    Science    Bui.,    vol.    II, 

No.  2. 

2.  1904 — Notes    on    and    Descriptions    of  North    American    Diptera; 

K.  U.  Science  Bui.,  vol.  II,  No.  14. 

3.    Descriptions    of    Six    New    Species    of    Diptera   of    Kansas; 

K.  U.   Science  Bui.,  vol.  11,  No.  5. 

4.  1905 — Diptera  Africana,  part  I;  K.  U.  Science  Bui.,  vol.  Ill,  No.  6. 

Aldrich,  J.  M. 

5.  1892 — A  new   Genus   and   Species   of   Tabanidje;    Psyche,   pp.   236, 

237;  1  fig. 

6.    A  New  Species  of  Phora;   Canadian  Entomologist,  pp.  142- 

146. 

7.    The  Systematic  Position  of  the  Diptera;  Science,  New  York. 

8.    Revision    of   the    Genera    Dolichopus    and    Hygroceleuthus; 

K.  U.  Science  Quarterly,  pp.  1-26;   1  pi. 

9.    New  Genera  and  Species  of  Psiloponae;  K.  U.  Science  Quar- 
terly, pp.   47-50. 

10.    The  Dolichopodid   Genus   Liancalus   Loew;   Psyche,  pp.   569- 

571. 

11.  1894 — New  Genera  and   Species  of  Dolichopodidffi;   K.   U.   Science 

Quarterly,  pp.  151-157. 

12.    Courtship  Among  the  Flies;  Amer.  Nat.,  pp.  35-37. 

13.  1895 — The    Tipulid    Genera    Bittacomorpha    and    Pedicia;    Psyche, 

pp.  200-202;    1   fig. 

14.  1896 — A  Collection  of  Diptera  from  Indiana  Caves;   21st  Annual 

Report  of  the  Geology  and  Natural  Resources  of  Indiana; 

1   fig. 

15.    The     Dipterous     Genera    Tachjrtrachus     and     Macellocerus; 

Trans.  Amer.  Ent.  Soc,  pp.  81-84. 

16.    On  the  Diptera  of  St.  Vincent  (Dolichopodidse  and  Phoridae)  ; 

Trans.  Ent.  Soc.  Lond.,  pp.  309-345  and  435-439. 

17.  1899 — A    Balloon-making    Fly     (published    with    L.    A.    Turley)  ; 

Amer.  Nat.,  pp.  809-812,  with  illustrations. 

18.    Goniops  and  other  Synonyms;  Ent.  News,  p.  351. 

19.  1902— DohchopodidsB  of  Grenada,   W.   I.;   K.   U.   Sci.   Bui.,   vol.   I, 

No.  3. 

Branch,  Hazel  E. 

20.  191.3 — Morphology    and  .Biology    of   the    Membracidae   of    Kansas; 

pis.   V-XXI,   this  Journal. 

Brown,  Barnum. 

21.  1897 — Two  New  Species  of  Asilids  from  New  Mexico;  K.  U.  Quart., 

vol.  IV,  pp.  103,  104. 


hunter:   department  of  entomology.  53 

Gaumer,  George  F. 

22.  1875 — Observations  on  the  Habits  of  Certain  Larvae;  Trans.  Kans. 

Acad.  Sci.,  IV,  pp.  22-24. 

Glenn,  P.  A. 

23.  1909 — The  Influence  of  Climate  upon  the  Green  Bug  and  its  Para- 

sites; Univ.  of  Kansas  BuL,  vol.  IX,  No.  2,  pp.  165-200. 

HosFORD,  Ruby  C. 

24.  1913 — The   Study   on   the   Segmentation   of   the    Head   of   Insects; 

pis.  I-IV,  this  .lournal. 

HUNGERFORD,    H.    B. 

25.  1912 — Biological  Notes  on  Some  Kansas  Hymenoptera;  Ent.  News, 

vol.     XXIII,    June,    pp.     241-261;     pis.     14,    15,     16     (with 
Williams). 

26.    Orchard  Problems  and  How  to  Solve  Them:  Circular  No.  3. 

27.  1913 — The  Success  of  a  Two-spray  Calendar  in  a  Kansas  Orchard; 

Jour.   Economic   Ent.,  April,  pp.  165-173. 

Hunter,  S.  J. 

28.  1892 — The   Corn-root    Worm,    Diabrotica   longicornis    Say;    Trans. 

Kan.  Acad.  Sci.,  XIII,  pp.  131-133. 

29.  1893 — Insects  Injurious  to  Drugs;  Proc.  Kans.  Pharm.  Assoc,  pp. 

99-102  (with  L.  E.  Sayre)  ;  Amer.  Jour.  Pharm.,  July,  1893. 

30.  1896 — Notes   on   Injurious  Insects;   Trans.   Kans.   Acad.   Sci.,   XV, 

pp.  50-53. 

31.  1897 — The  More  Destructive  Grasshoppers  of  Kansas;   Bui.  Dept. 

of  Entom.,  Oct.,  pp.  1-111,  pis.  I-IV   (with  F.  H.  Snow). 

32.  1898 — Scale    Insects    Injurious    to    Orchards;    Bui.    Dept.    Entom., 

pp.  1-62,  figs.  1-7. 

33.    On    the    Occurrence    of    Dissosteira    longipennis    Thomas; 

Psyche,  VIII,  pp.  291-292. 

34.    Dissosteira  in  Colorado;   Psyche,  VIII,  p.  299. 

35.    Parasitic  Influence   on   Melanoplus;   K.   U.  Quart.,  VII,  pp. 

205-210,  Oct.,  figs. 

36.    The  same,  with  additions;   Bui.   Dept.   Entom.,   No.   64,   pp. 

32-47. 

37.    The  Coccid»  of  Kansas,  I;  K.  U.  Quart.,  VIII,  A,  pp.  1-15, 

pis.  I-VII   (separates,  Dec). 

38.  1899— Alfalfa,     Grasshoppers,     Bees;     Their    Relationships;     Bui. 

Dept.  Entom.,  pp.~  1-164,  pis.  I-XIII,  figs.  1-59. 

39.    The  Coccidas  of  Kansas,  II;  K.  U.  Quart.,  VIII,  A,  pp.  67-77, 

pis.  XIII-XVII. 

40.  1899 — Fertilization  of  the  Alfalfa  Blossom  by  Bees;  Quart.  Report 

Kansas  State  Bd.  Agric,  March,  pp.  219-223,  3  figs. 

41.    The   Nurseiyman   and   the   Entomologist;    24th   Proc.   Amer. 

Assoc.  NurserjTifien,  pp.  28-34. 

42.    The  Commotion  in  Kansas  and  Missouri  upon  the  Appearance 

of  Dissosteira  in  Colorado;  Psyche,  VIII,  pp.  384-386. 


54  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Hunter,  S.  J. — continued. 

43.  1899 — Entomological  Legislation  in  the  Interests  of  Horticulture; 

Trans.  Kans.  State  Hort.  Soc,  vol.  XXXIV,  pp.  65-67. 

44.  1900— Coccida  of  Kansas,  III;  K.  U.  Quart.,  vol.  IX,  No.  2,  pp.  101- 

107,  pis.  XVIII-XXIV. 

45.    Alfalfa  Culture  and  Insect  Life;   Quart.  Rep.  Kans.  St.  Bd. 

Agric,  March,  pp.  41-51,  5  pis.,  3  figs. 

46.    Some  Entomological  Problems  in  Horticulture;  Rep.  Colo.  St. 

Bd.  Hort.,  vol.  XI   (1899-1900),  pp.  54-57,  66-69. 

47.    The  Melanopli  of  Kansas,  part  I ;  Psyche,  vol.  IX,  pp.  63-64, 

June,  1900  (with  W.  S.  Sutton). 

48.    The  Blelanopli  of  Kansas,  part  II ;  Psyche,  vol.  IX,  pp.  76-78, 

July,  1900   (with  W.  S.  Sutton). 

49.    The  Melanopli  of  Kansas,  part  III;  Psyche,  vol.  IX,  pp.  88- 

90,  Aug.  1900  (with  W.  S.  Sutton). 

50.    Spraying;   Rep.   Kans.   St.   Hort.   Soc,   1900,  vol.   XXV,   pp. 

55-57. 

51.  1901 — On  the  Production  of  Artificial  Parthenogenesis  in   Arbacia 

by   the    Use    of    Sea    Water    Concentrated    by    Evaporation; 
Amer.  Journal  Physiology,  vol.  VI,  pp.  178-180,  Nov.  1901. 

52.    Coccidffi  of  Kansas,  IV;   K.  U.   Quart.,  vol.  X,  pp.   107-145, 

pi.  VIII,  July,  1901    (issued  Jan.  1902). 

53.    Selection,  Natural  and  Artificial;  Western  Fruit  Grower,  Oct. 

1901,  pp.  12,  13. 

54.  1902 — Elementary  Studies  in  Insect  Life   (a  textbook)  ;  369  pages, 

264  illustrations,  April,  1902. 

55.  1903 — The  Coccidae  of  Kansas  (a  text  for  students  in  taxonomy) ; 

120  pages,  15  plates,  August,  1903. 

56.    On  the  Condition  Governing  the  Production  of  Artificial  Par- 
thenogenesis in  Arbacia;  Biol.  Bui.,  vol.  V,  No.  3,  Aug. 

57.    The  Study  of  Animal  Life;  Its  Place  in  the  Public  Schools; 

Education,  vol.  XXIV,  pp.  209-218,  Dec.  1903. 

58.    On  the  Morphology  of  Artificial  Parthenogenesis  in  the  Sea 

Urchin,  Arbacia. 

59.  1904 — The  Blean  Proportional  in  the  Problems  of  State  Education; 

Education,  vol.  XXIV,  pp.  485-495. 

60.  1907 — Report  of  the  Entomologist  of  the  Kansas   State   Horticul- 

tural Society;  Trans.  Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  vol.  XXIX,  pp.  160-162. 

61.  1908 — Experiments  with  and  Knowledge  of  the  Green  Bug  to  Date; 

Rep.  of  Kans.  St.  Bd.  of  Agric,  vol.   XXVII,  No.   105,  pp. 
35-57,  March,  1908. 

62.    Report  of  State  Entomologist  to   Entomological  Commission 

of  Kansas;  state  report. 

63.  1909— The  Green  Bug  and  Its  Natural  Enemies;  Bui.  Univ.  Kans., 

vol.  IX,  No.  2,  220  pages,  11  plates,  65  text  figures. 

64.    Circular  of  Information  in  Regard  to  San  Jose  Scale   (with 

T.  J.  Headlee)  ;   Kans.  State  Entom.  Comm.  Circular  No.  3. 

65.  1910 — The  Green  Bug  and  Its  Natural  Enemies;  Science,  vol.  XXXI, 

No.  788,  Feb.  4,  1910. 


hunter:   department  of  entomology.  56 

Hunter,  S.  J. — continued. 

66.  1910 — On  the  Transition  fi-om  Parshenogenesis  to  Gamogenesis  in 

Aphids  and  Braconids;  Science,  vol.  31,  No.  795,  Mar.  25, 1910. 

67.    Report  of  tlie  State  Entomologist  to  Entomological  Commis- 
sion of  Kansas;  state  report. 

68.    Report  of  the  Entomologist  of  the  Kansas  State  Horticultural 

Society;  report  of  the  State  Board  of  Horticulture. 

69.  1911 — Report  of  the   Entomologist  of  the  Kansas   State   Board   of 

Horticulture. 

70.  1912— The  Sand  Fly  and  Pellagra;  Jour.  Am.  Med.  Assoc,  Feb.  24, 

vol.  LVIII,  pp.  547,  548. 

71. Report  of  the  Entomologist  to  the  Entomological  Commission 

of  Kansas;  state  report. 

72.    Report  of  the  Entomologist  of  the  Kansas  State  Horticultural 

Society;  report  of  the  State  Board  of  Horticulture. 

73.  1913— Pellagra  and  the  Sand  Fly,  II;  Jr.  Ec.  Ent,  Feb.,  pp.  96-101. 

74.    Apparatus  for  Maintenance  of  Thermal  Climatic  Conditions; 

Jour.  Ec.  Ent.,  April,  pp.  196,  197. 

75.    Pellagra  and  the  Sand  Fly;   report  of  National  Association 

for  the  Study  of  Pellagra. 

76.    Department  of  Entomology,  Historical  Account,  this  Journal. 

ISELY,   DWIGHT. 

77.  1913 — Eumenidse  of  Kansas;  this  Journal. 

Kellogg,  V.  L. 

78.  1889— Some  Notes  on  the  Mallophaga ;  Trans.  Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  XII, 

pp.  46-48,  fig.  1. 

79.  1892 — Notes  on  the  Elementary  Comparative  Anatomy  of  Insects; 

pp.  1-12. 

80.    Kansas  Notes;  Insect  Life,  V,  pp.  114-116. 

81.    Insects  Injurious  to  Drugs;  Meyer  Bros'.  Druggist,  XIII,  pp. 

234-236,  1  pi.  (with  L.  E.  Sayre). 

82.    Notes  on  the  Elementary  Comparative  External  Anatomy  of 

Insects;  Trans.  Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  XIII,  p.  111. 

83.    Insect  Notes;  Trans.  Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  XIII,  pp.  112-115. 

84.    Common  Injurious  Insects  of  Kansas;  pp.  1-117,  figs.  1-61. 

85.    Two  Grain  Insects;  Bui.  Dept.  Entom.,  Univ.  of  Kansas,  pp. 

1-10,  pi.  (with  F.  H.  Snow) . 

86.    Insects   Injurious   to   Drugs;    Proc.    13th   Ann.   Meet.   Kans. 

Pharm.  Assoc,  pp.  105-110  (with  L.  E.  Sayre). 

87.   Notes  on  Melitera  dentata  Grote;  K.  U.  Quart.  No.  1,  pp. 

39-41. 

88.  1893— The  Sclerites  of  the  Head  of  Danais  archippus  Lab.,  K.  U. 

Quart.,  II,  No.  2,  pp.  51-57,  1  pi. 

89.    The  Horn  Fly  of  Cattle;  Bui.  Dept.  Entom.,  Univ.  of  Kansas, 

pages  1-7  (with  F.  H.  Snow) . 

90.    The  Destruction  of  Insects  by  Fungi;  Trans.  St.  Hort.  Soc. 

of  Calif,  for  1893,  pp.  29-32. 

91.  1894 — The  Taxonomic  Value  of  the  Scales  of  the  Lepidoptera;  K.  U. 

Quart.,  II,  pp.  45-89,  17  figs.,  2  pis. 


56  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Kellogg,  V.  L. — continued. 

92.  1894 — Insects  Injurying  Drugs;  Proc.  Kans.  Pharm.  Assoc,  for  1894, 

pp.  69-70  (with  L.  E.  Sayre). 

93.    An  European  Experiment  with  Insect  Diseases;  Third  Ann. 

Rep.  Kans.  Univ.  Exper.  Sta.,  pp.  227-339. 

94.    Insects  Injuring  Drugs  at  the  University  of  Kansas;  Insect 

Life,  VII,  pp.  31-32. 

95.    Notes  on  the  Elementary  Comparative  External  Anatomy  of 

Insects;  pp.  1-20. 

96.  1903 — Two  New  Genera  of  Mallophaga;  BioL  Bui.  of  Marine  Biol. 

Lab.,  vol.  5,  No.  2. 

LOHRENZ,   H.  W. 

97.  1911 — The  Woolly  Aphis,  Schizoneura  lanigera;  Jour.  Ec.  Ent.,  vol. 

IV,  April,  pp.  162-172. 

Meek,  W.  J. 

98.  1903— On  the  Mouth  Parts  of  the  Hemiptera;  K.  U.  Sci.  Bui.,  vol. 

II,  No.  9. 

Palmek  Miriam. 

99.  1905 — On   the   Dorsal   Glands   as   Characters   of   Constant    Specific 

Value  in  the  Coccid  Genus  Parlatoria;  K.  U.  Sci.  Bui.,  vol. 

III,  No.  5. 

Sanborn,  Chas.  Emerson. 

100.  1904 — Kansas  Aphididse,  with  Catalogue  of  North  American  Aphid- 

ida;  and  Host-plant  List;  K.  U.  Sci.  BuL,  vol.  Ill,  No.  L. 

101.  1906 — Kansas  Aphididse,  with  Catalogue  of  North  American  Aphid- 

idse  and  Host-plant  and  Plant-host  List,  part  II;  K.  U.  Sci. 
Bui.,  voL  III,  No.  8. 

Scheffer,  Theophilus  H. 

102.  1895 — Notes  and  Observations  on  the  Twig  Girdler,  Oncideres  cin- 

gulata  Say;  Insect  Life,  VII,  pp.  345-347. 

Snow,  Francis  H. 

103.  1875 — The    Rocky    Mountain    Locust,    Caloptenus    spretus    Uhler; 

Trans.  Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  IV,  pp.  26-28. 

104.    The  Larva  and  Chrysalis  of  the  Sage  Sphinx,  Sphinx  lugens 

Walker  (eremitoides  Streckerr)  ;  Trans.  Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  IV, 
pp.  28,  29. 

105.    Catalogue   of   the    Lepidoptera   of   Eastern    Kansas;    Trans. 

Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  IV,  pp.  29-59  (503  species  enumerated). 

106.    The  Best  Means  of  Defense  against  the  Insect  Enemies  of 

the  Horticulturist;  Trans.  Kans.  State  Hort.  Soc,  V,  pp. 
104-112. 

107.  1876 — List  of  Coleoptera  Collected  in  Colorado  in  June,  July  and 

August  by  the  Kansas  University  Scientific  Expedition; 
Trans.  Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  V,  pp.  16-20  (enumerates  304 
species) . 

108.  1877 — Amblychila  cylindriformis  Say;  Trans.  Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  VI, 

pp.  29-32. 


hunter:   department  of  entomology.  57 

Snow,  Francis  H. — continued. 

109.  1877 — The  Insects  of  Wallace  County,  Kansas;  Trans.  Kans.  Acad. 

Sci.,  VI,  pp.  61-71  (Coleoptera,  316  species;  Lepidoptera,  45 
species) . 

110.    Hunting  Amblychila;  Amer.  Nat.,  XI,  pp.  731-735. 

111.    List  of  Lepidoptera  Collected  in  Colorado  in  June,  July  and 

August  by  the  Kansas  University  Scientific  Expedition; 
Trans.  Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  VI,  70-75  (enumerates  104  species) . 

112.  . — List  of  Coleoptera  Collected  Near  Dome  Rock,  Platte  Canyon, 

Colorado,  by  the  Kansas  University  Scientific  Expedition; 
Trans.  Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  VI,  pp.  75,  76  (enumerates  94 
species) . 

113.  1880 — List  of  Lepidoptera  Collected  near  Idaho  Springs,  Colo.,  by 

the  Kansas  University  Scientific  Expedition  for  1879;  Trans. 
Kans.  Acad.  Sci.  VII,  pp.  61-63  (enumerates  180  species). 

114.  — ■ List  of  Coleoptera  Collected  in  Santa  Fe  Canyon,  N.  M.,  by 

the  Kansas  University  Scientific  Expedition;  Trans.  Kans. 
Acad.  Sci.  VII,  pp.  70-73  (enumerates  237  species) . 

115.    Douglas  County  Additions  to  the  List  of  Kansas  Coleoptera 

in  1879-'80;  Trans.  Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  VII,  pp.  78-79  (enumer- 
ates 144  species) . 

116.    Preliminary    List   of   the    Hymenoptera   of   Kansas;    Trans. 

Kans.  Acad  Sci.,  pp.  VII,  pp.  97-101  (enumerates  186  species) . 

117.    Additions  to  the  List  of  Kansas  Lepidoptera;  Trans.  Kans. 

Acad.  Sci.,  VII,  pp.  102-105  (enumerates  140  species). 

118.    Larva   of  Eurycreon   ran  talis   Guen.    (Web-worm)  ;    Psyche, 

III,  p.  127. 

119.  1881 — List  of  Lepidoptera  and  Coleoptera  Collected  in  New  Mexico 

by  the  Kansas  University  Scientific  Expedition;  Trans.  Kans. 
Acad.  Sci.,  VIII,  pp.  35-46  (315  species  Lepidoptera,  53  sp. 
nov. ;  514  Coleoptera,  17  sp.  nov.). 

120.  1882 — Additions   to   the    List   of    Kansas    Coleoptera    in    1881-'82; 

Trans.  Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  VIII,  p.  58  (49  species). 

121.    On    Musca    domestica    versus    Vespa    occidentalis    Cresson; 

Psyche,  III,  pp.  339. 

122.    A  New  Museum  Pest,  Trogoderma  tarsale;  Psyche,  III,  pp. 

361,  352,  June. 

123.  1883 — Three   Noxious    Insects — The    Forest    Handmaid    Moth,   the 

Maple  Worm,  and  the  Codling  Moth;  Second  Quarterly  Re- 
port Kans.  St.  Bd.  Agric,  pp.  93-101. 

124.    Homonivorous    Habits    of    Lucilia    macellaria,    the    Screw 

Worm;  Psyche,  IV,  pp.  27-30. 

125.    Three  Injurious   Insects — the   Tree   Cricket,   the   Raspberry 

Saw  Fly,  and  the  Screw  Worm;  Mo.  Rep.  Kans.  St.  Bd. 
Agric.  for  May,  pp.  6-12. 

126.    Injurious  Insects  and  How  to  Destroy  Them;   First  Qaurt. 

Rep.  Kans.  St.  Bd.  Agric,  pp.  39-48. 

127.  1884 — Insects   Injurious  to   Wheat;    Fourth   Bien.   Rep.   Kans.    St. 

Bd.  Agric,  IX,  pp.  604-611,  pis.  I,  II. 
8-Unlv.  Sci.  Bull..  Vol.  VIII,  No.  1. 


58  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Snow,  Francis  H. — continued. 

128.  1884 — Preparatoiy   Stages  of  Hyperchiria  zephyria   Grote;   Trans. 

Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  IX,  pp.  61-62. 

129.    Lists    of    Lepidoptera    and    Coleoptera    Collected    in    New 

Mexico  by  the  Kansas  University  Scientific  Expedition  of 
188.3-1884;  Trans.  Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  IX,  pp.  e.'i-eo  (Lepi- 
doptera 82,  Coleoptera  148). 

130.    Paris  Green,  London  Purple  and  Pyrethrum  as  Insecticides; 

Mo.  Rep.  Kans.  St.  Bd.  Agric.  for  April,  pp.  19-27. 

131.  1885 — Injurious  Insects  from  July  to  September — the  Hessian  Fly, 

the  Wheat-straw  Worm,  the  Corn-root  Worm,  the  Straw- 
berry-root Worm,  and  the  Grape  Phylloxera;  Quart.  Rep. 
Kans.  St.  Bd.  Agric.  for  quarter  ending  Dec.  31,  pp.  152-157. 

132.    The  Chinch  Bug;  Fifth  Bien.  Rep.  Kans.  St.  Bd.  Agric,  X, 

pt.  11,  pp.  153-157. 

133.    Injurious  Insects — the  Hessian  Fly,  the  Wheat-straw  Worm, 

and  the  Webb  Worm;  Mo.  Rep.  Kans.  St.  Bd.  Agric.  for 
June,  pp.  5-18. 

134.  1887 — The   Purslane   Worm,   Copidryas  gloveri   Grote;    Science,  X, 

p.  204. 

135.  1888— The   Chinch  Bug,   Blissus   leucopterus   Say;    Rep.   Kans.   St. 

Bd.  Agric.  for  quarter  ending  March,  pp.  127-131;  Sixth 
Bien.  Rep.  same,  pp.  205-208. 

136.    Insects  Injurious  to  Wheat — the  Hessian  Fly  and  the  Fall 

Webb  Worm;  Fourth  Bien.  Rep.  Kans.  St.  Bd.  Agric,  pp. 
604-611. 

137.  1889— The   Chinch   Bug;   Proc   18th   Ann.    Meeting   Kans.   St.   Bd. 

Agric,  Jan.,  pp.  78-81. 

138.  On  Experiments  for  the  Artificial  Dissemination  of  the  Con- 
tagious Diseases  Among  Chinch  Bugs;  Trans.  Kans.  Acad. 
Sci.,  XIII,  pp.  34-37. 

139.  1890 — Experiments  in  1890  for  the  Destruction  of  Chinch  Bugs  in 

the  Field  by  the  Artificial  Dissemination  of  Contagious  Dis- 
eases; Seventh  Bien.  Rep.  Kans.  St.  Bd.  Agric,  XII,  part  II, 
pp.  184-188. 

140.    Experiments    in    1890    for    the    Artificial    Dissemination    of 

Contagious  Diseases  among  Chinch  Bugs;  Trans.  Kans. 
Acad.  Sci.,  XII,  pp.  119-122;  Proc  Eighteenth  Ann.  Meeting 
Kans.  St.  Bd.  Agric,  pp.  142-144. 

141.  ■ The   Chinch    Bug;    Fifth    Bien.    Rep.   Kans.    St.   Bd.   Agric, 

April,  p.  155. 

142.  1891 — Insects  Injuring  Kansas  Wheat;   St.  Bd.  Agric,  April,  pp. 

7-10. 

143.    Experiments    for   the    Destruction    of   Chinch    Bugs    in   the 

Field  by  the  Artificial  Introduction  of  Contagious  Diseases; 
Insect  Life,  III,  pp.  279-284. 

144.    Contagious   Diseases   of  the   Chinch   Bug;    First  Ann.   Rep. 

Exp.  Sta.  Univ.  of  Kans.,  pp.  1-219,  pis.  I-III. 


HUNTER:     DEPARTMENT   OF  ENTOMOLOGY.  59 

Snow,  Francis  H. — continued. 

145.  1892 — Contagious  Diseases  of  the  Chinch  Bug;   Second  Ann.  Rep. 

Dir.  Univ.   Exp.  Sta.,  pp.  1-56. 

146.    The  Chinch-bug  Disease  and  Other  Notes;   Insect  Life,  IV, 

pp.  69-72. 

147.    Chinch   Bugs,    Experiments   in    1892    for   Their    Destruction 

by  Diseases;  Eighth  Bien.  Rep.  Kans.  St.  Agric,  part  II, 
pp.  248-255. 

148.    Two  Grain  Insects;   Bui.  Dept.  Entom.   Univ.  of  Kans.,  pp. 

1-10,  pi.   (with  V.  L.  Kellogg). 

149.  Experiments  for  the  Destruction  of  Chinch  Bugs  by  In- 
fection; Psyche,  VI,  pp.  225-233. 

150.  1893— The   Contagious   Diseases   of  the   Chinch   Bug;    Third   Ann. 

Rep.  Exp.  Sta.  Univ.  of  Kans.,  pp.  1-247,  pi.  IV. 

151.  1894 — Contagious  Diseases  of  the  Chinch  Bug;   Fourth  Ann.  Rep. 

Exp.  Sta.  Univ.  of  Kans.,  pp.  1-50,  pis.  I-IV. 

152.    Work   in    Economic    Entomology    at   Kansas    University   for 

Season  of  1894;  Insect  Life,  VII,  pp.  141-144,  figs. 

153.    Results  of  Chinch-bug  Experiments;   Quar.  Rep.   Kans.  Bd. 

Agric,  March,  pp.   108-115. 

154.  1896 — Contagious   Diseases   of  the   Chinch    Bug;    Sixth    Ann.    Rep. 

Dir.  Univ.  of  Kans.  Exp.  Sta.,  pp.  1-30,  pis.  I-IV. 

155.  1897 — The  More  Destructive  Grasshoppers  of  Kansas;   Bui.   Dept. 

Entom.,   Oct.,  pp.  1-17,  pis.  I-IV    (with  S.  J.  Hunter). 

156.  1904 — Lists  of  Coleoptera,  Lepidoptera,  Diptera  and  Hemiptera  Col- 

lected in  Arizona  by  the  Entomological  Expeditions  of  the 
University  of  Kansas  in  1902  and  1903;  K.  U.  Sci.  Bui.,  vol. 
II,  No.  12,  May,  1904. 

157.    Lists  of  Coleoptera  and  Lepidoptera  Collected  in  Hamilton, 

Morton  and  Clark  Counties,  Kansas,  in  1902  and  1903;  K.  U. 
Sci.  BuL,  vol.  II,  No.  4,  June,  1904. 

158.    A  Preliminary  List  of  the  Diptera  of  Kansas;  K.  U.  Sci.  Bui., 

vol.  II,  No.  5. 

159.  1905 — Some  Results  of  the  University  of  Kansas  Entomological  Ex- 

peditions to  Texas,  1901  and  1905;  Trans.  Kans.  Acad.  Sci., 
vol.  20,  part  1,  p.  136. 

160.    Some    Results   of   the    University   of    Kansas    Entomological 

Expeditions  to  Arizona,  1904  and  1905;  Trans.  Kans.  Acad. 
Sci.,  vol.  XX,  part  1,  p.  155. 

161.  1906 — List  of  the  Species  of  Hymenoptera  Collected  in  Arizona  by 

the  University  of  Kalisas  Entomological  Expeditions  of  1902, 
1903,  1904,  1905,  and  1906;  Trans.  Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  vol.  XX, 
part  2,  pp.  127-139. 

162.  Result  of  the  University  Entomological  Collecting  Expedi- 
tions to  Pima  County,  Arizona,  in  June  and  July,  1903; 
Trans.  Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  vol.  XX,  part  2,  pp.  140-164. 

163.  List  of  Coleoptera  Collected  in  New  Mexico  by  the  Ento- 
mological Expeditions  of  the  University  of  Kansas;  Trans. 
Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  vol.  XX,  part  2,  pp.  165-189. 


60  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Snow,  W.  A. 

164.  1891 — The  Moose   Fly,  a   New   Haemotobia;   Can.   Entom.,   London, 

Ont,  XXIII,  pp.  87-89. 

165.  1892 — Notes  and   Descriptions  of  Syrphidae;    K.   U.   Quart.,   I,   pp. 

33-38. 

166.  1894 — Descriptions  of  North  American  Trypetidae,  with  Notes;  K.  U. 

Quart.,  II,  pp.  159-174,  pis.  VI,  VII. 

167.    American  Platypzidse;  K.  U.  Quart.,  Ill,  pp.  143-152,  pi. 

168.  1895 — American  Platypzidae,  second  paper;   K.  U.  Quart.,  Ill,  pp. 

205-207. 

169.    Diptera  of  Colorado  and  New  Mexico;  K.  U.  Quart.,  Ill,  pp. 

225-247. 

170.    Supplementary   List  of   North   American    Syrphidae;    K.   U. 

Quart.,  Ill,  pp.  249-262. 

171.    Cnephalia  and  Its  Allies;  K.  U.  Quart,  III,  pp.  178-186. 

172.    A  New  Species  of  Pelecocera;  K.  U.  Quart.,  Ill,  p.  187. 

173.    On  Toxoteypana  of  Gerstacker;  K.  U.  Quart.,  IV,  pp.  117-119. 

174.  1896 — List  of  Asilidae,  Supplementary  of  Osten  Sacken's  Catalogue 

of  North  American  Diptera,  1878-'95;  K.  U.  Quart.,  IV,  pp. 
173-190. 

Stough,  Howard  B. 

175.  1910 — The  Hackberry  Psylla,  Pachypsylla  celtidis-mammse  Riley — 

A  Study  in  Comparative  Insect  Morphology;  K.  U.  Sci.  Bui., 
vol.  V,  No.  9. 

Sutton,  W.  S. 

176.  1900— The  Melanopli  of  Kansas,  part  I;  Psyche,  vol.  9,  pp.  63,  64, 

June,  1900   (with  S.  J.  Hunter). 

178.    The  Melanopli  of  Kansas,  part  II;  Psyche,  vol.  9,  pp.  76-78, 

July,  1900  (with  S.  J.  Hunter).   , 

179.  ■ The  Melanopli  of  Kansas,  part  III;  Psyche,  vol.  9,  pp.  88-90, 

-A^ug.  1900   (with  S.  J.  Hunter). 

180.    The    Melanopli    of    Kansas,    part    IV;    Psyche    (with    S.    J. 

Hunter) . 

TucKBK,  Elbert  S. 

181.  1905 — Determination    of    Some    Texas    Coleoptera,    with    Records; 

Trans.  Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  vol.  XX,  part  1,  p.  85. 

182.    Collecting  Insects  at  Night;  Trans.  Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  vol.  XX, 

part  1,  p.  108. 

183.  1906 — Contributions  towards  a  Catalogue  of  the  Insects  of  Kansas; 

Trans.  Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  vol.  XX,  part  2,  pp.  190-201. 

184.    Conditions  to  be  Met  by  the  Insect  Collector;   Trans.  Kans. 

Acad.  Sci.,  vol.  XX,  part  2,  pp.  230-232. 

185.  1907 — Some  Results  of  Desultory  Collecting  of  Insects  in  Kansas 

and  Colorado;  K.  U.  Sci.  Bui.,  vol.  IV,  No.  2. 

186.    Concerning  Some  Insects  Collected  and  Bred  from  Dead  and 

Dying  Elm;  Trans.  Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  vol.  21,  part  1,  p.  158. 


hunter:   department  of  entomology.  61 

Williams,  Francis  X. 

187.  1905 — The  Larva  of  Hepialus  sequoislus  Behrens;  Ent.  News,  Jan., 

pp.  19-20. 

188.    Notes  on  the  Larvse  of  Certain  Lepidoptera ;  Ent.  News,  May, 

p.  153. 

189.    A  Trip  to  Mt.  Diablo  in  Search  of  Lepidoptera    (with  Grin- 

nell)  ;  Ent.  News,  Sept.,  pp.  2.35-238. 

190.    Notes  on   the   Synonymy   and   Preparatory   Stages  of   Illice 

fanstinula  Bdv.;  Ent.  News,  Oct.,  pp.  257-279. 

191.    Notes  on  the  Life  History  of  Hepialus  sequoislus  Behrens; 

Ent.  News,  Nov.,  pp.  283-286. 

192.  1908 — A   New   Eriocrania    (Lepidoptera)    from  the   Pacific   Coast; 

Ent.  News,  Jan.,  pp.  14,  15. 

193.    The  Life  History  of  Lycaena  autracis  Bdv.,  with  Other  Notes 

on  Other  Species;  Ent.  News,  Dec,  pp.  476-483. 

194.  1909 — On  the  Life  Histories  of  Certain  Wood-boring  Lepidoptera; 

Ent.  News,  Feb.,  pp.  58-62. 

195.    The  Butterflies  and  Some  of  the  Moths  of  the  Mt.  Shasta 

Region;  Ent.  News,  Feb.,  pp.  62-75. 

196.    Notes  on  the  Life  History  of  Cecidomyia  resinicoloides ;  Ent. 

News,  XX,  1-8. 

197.  1910 — The   Butterflies   of   San   Francisco,   Cal.;    Ent.    News,   Jan., 

pp.  30-41. 

198.    Anatomy  of  the  Larva  of  Cecidomyia  resinicoloides;  Annals 

Ent.  Soc.  Amer.,  Ill,  No.  1,  pp.  45-57. 

199.  1912 — Biological  Notes  on  Some  Kansas  Hymenoptera;  Ent.  News, 

vol.  XXIII,  June,  pp.  241-261 ;  pis.  14,  15,  16   (with  Hunger- 
ford)  . 

200.  1913 — Monograph  of  the  Larridas  of  Kansas;  this  Journal. 

201.    Notes  of  Three  Sesiidffi  Affecting  the  "Missouri  Gourd";  this 

Journal. 

202.    Notes  on  the  Habits  of  some  Wasps  that  Occur  in  Kansas; 

this  Journal. 


THE 

KANSAS  UNIVERSITY 
SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 


Vol.  VIII,  No.  2— July,  1913. 

(Whole  Series,  Vol.  XVIII,  No.  2.) 


CONTENTS: 


Study  on  the  Segmentation  of  the  Head  of  Insects,  Based 
UPON  Comparisons  as  Outlined  in  Comstock  and  Kochi,  "The 
Skeleton  of  the  Head  of  Insects,"      ....     Ruby  C.  Hosford. 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  UNIVERSITY, 
LAWRENCE,  KAN. 


Entered  at  the  post-office  in  Lawrence  as  second-class  matter. 


5-838 


KANSAS  STATE   PRINTING  OFFICE. 

W.  C.  Austin,   State  Printer. 

TOPEKA,      1914. 


THE  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY 
SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 

Vol.  VI II ,  No .2]       J  ULY,  1 9 1 3.  [  vI\TiirNa  2. 


Segmentation  of  the  Head  of  Insects. 

Plates  I  to  IV. 
BY   RUBY   C.    HOSFORD. 

THE  question  of  the  segmentation  of  the  head  of  insects 
has  been  much  discussed,  with  the  result  that  different 
observers  have  recognized  from  one  to  seven  segments 
therein. 

Savigny  (1816)  made  a  very  important  step  toward  the' 
solution  of  the  problem  by  suggesting  that  the  movable  ap- 
pendages of  the  head  were  homodynamous  with  legs.  Com- 
parative anatomists,  then,  accepting  this  and  seeing  that  each 
segment  in  the  body  of  an  insect  has  only  one  pair  of  appen- 
dages, have  concluded  that  there  are  at  least  four  segments  in 
the  head :  i.  e.,  the  antennal,  the  mandibular,  the  maxillary,  and 
the  second  maxillary  or  labial.  They  also  suggest  that  since 
the  eyes  in  certain  Crustacea  are  borne  on  movable  stalks,  they 
may  be  the  appendages  of  a  fifth  segment. 

From  this  point  the  embryologist  carries  on  the  study.  He 
has  found  that  in  the  embryo  there  exist  distinct  segments, 
each  corresponding  to  a  pair  of  mouth  parts.  It  has  also  been 
found  that  in  some  stages  of  development  there  are  at  least 
three  pairs  of  distinct  ganglia  which  go  to  make  up  the  sub- 
cesophageal  ganglion.  Each  of  these  pairs  of  ganglia  corre- 
sponds to  a  pair  of  mouth  parts. 

Wheeler  ('93)  observed  rudimentary  intercalary  or  pre- 
mandibular  appendages,  which  others  have  homologized  with 
the  crustacean  second  antennse.     Folsom  has  found  rudimen- 

Received  for  publication  March  20,  1913. 

(65) 


66  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

tary  chitinized  intercalary  appendages  in  adults  of  Tomocerus, 
Orchesella,  and  other  Collembola. 

Folsom  in  his  study  of  the  embryo  of  Anurida  found  seven 
pairs  of  primary  ganglia,  the  extra  one  being  the  fifth,  between 
those  of  the  mandibular  and  maxillary  segments.  This  is  called 
the  superlingual  segment.  According,  then,  to  the  conclusions 
set  forth  from  the  study  of  comparative  anatomy  and  embry- 
ology, the  insect  head  is  composed  of  seven  segments:  the 
anten^ial,  the  mandibular,  the  maxillary,  the  second  maxillary 
or  labial,  the  premandibular  or  intercalary,  the  ocular,  and  the 
superlingual. 

The  order  of  arrangement  of  these  segments  may  be  de- 
termined by  the  position  of  the  primitive  ganglia  that  inner- 
vates them. 

The  supracesophageal  ganglion,  or  the  brain,  is  composed  of 
three  pairs  of  primary  ganglia :  the  protocerebrum  innei-vates 
the  compound  eyes  and  the  ocelli  or  the  ocular  segment;  the 
deutocerebrum,  the  antennje  or  antennal  segment;  and  the 
tritocerebrum,  the  labrum  or  premandibular  segment.  The 
.suboesophageal  ganglion  is  composed  of  four  pairs  of  primary 
ganglia :  the  first  innervates  the  mandibles  or  mandibular  seg- 
ment; the  second,  the  superlingute  or  superlingual  segment; 
the  third,  the  maxillae  or  maxillary  segment;  and  the  fourth, 
the  labium  or  second  maxillary  segment. 

We  have,  then,  the  following  order : 

1. — Ocular. 
2. — Antennal. 
3. — Intercalary. 
4. — Mandibular. 
5. — Superlingual. 
6. — Maxillary. 
7. — Labial. 

Having  now  decided  that  there  are  seven  segments  united 
to  form  the  head  capsule  of  insects,  we  wish  to  determine  what 
sclerites  belong  to  the  different  segments.  Using  the  work  of 
Gomstock  and  Kochi  as  a  working  outline,  I  have  endeavored 
by  a  series  of  comparisons  to  form  for  myself  an  opinion  on  at 
least  some  of  the  following  points : 

Areas  of  the  external  skeleton  of  the  head ;  the  structure  of 
a  typical  segment;  and  the  sclerites  belonging  to  each  head 
segment. 


hosford:  head  segmentation  of  insects.  67 

I.   Areas  of  the  External  Skeleton  of  the  Head. 

By  making  a  comparative  study  of  the  following  insects: 
Orthoptera- — cricket,  cockroach,  Corydalis  (larva  and  adult), 
walking-stick,  mantis,  Dahinia,  Orchelimiim,  Decticinse,  and 
grasshopper;  and  Coleoptera — Amblychila,  I  have  made  the 
following  observations : 

1.  (E.  SU.)  The  Epicranial  Suture,  though  indistinct  and 
small  in  Dahinia,  Orchelimiim,  and  Decticinse,  is  present  in  all 
of  the  Orthoptera  and  can  easily  be  traced  in  the  Amblychila. 

2.  (F.)  The  Front,  the  first  single  sclerite  between  the 
arms  of  the  inverted  Y  {E.  SU.),  is  always  present.  It  is  en- 
larged by  pushing  up  of  E.  SU.;  smallest  in  larva  of  Corydalis. 
In  the  orthopterous  forms  it  includes  the  paired  ocelli  and 
median  ocellus  when  present.    The  beetle  studied  has  no  ocelli. 

3.  (CI.)  The  Clypeus,  the  second  of  the  single  sclerites 
between  E.  SU.  and  the  mouth,  is  sometimes  separated  from  F. 
by  a  deep  suture,  and  sometimes  seems  but  a  continuation  of 
it,  the  suture  being  absent.  The  point  of  separation  between 
the  two  is  always  to  be  determined  by  the  invaginations  of  the 
anterior  arms  of  the  tentorium. 

The  clypeus  is  often  divided  by  a  transverse  suture  into 
clypeus  first  and  clypeus  second. 

The  clypeus  is  really  composed  of  three  parts  in  a  transverse 
row,  the  part  on  the  median  line  being  C.  proper,  the  lateral 
ones  on  the  frontal  margin  being  A^itecoxal  pieces  of  the  man- 
dibles. This  division  is  shown  especially  well  in  the  larva  of 
the  Corydalis.  They  can  be  located  in  the  other  specimens 
merely  by  their  assumed  position. 

4.  (L.)  The  Labrum,  upper  lip  of  the  mouth,  last  single 
sclerite  between  E.  SU.  and  the  mouth,  often  appears  as  an 
appendage,  but  is  really  a  portion*  of  one  of  the  head  segments. 
In  some  cases  the  markings  make  it  appear  as  composed  of 
two  parts. 

5.  (E.)  The  Epicranium  in  the  forms  studied  includes  the 
paired  sclerites  of  the  skull.  These  sclerites  constitute  the 
sides  of  the  head  and  that  part  of  the  dorsal  surface  that  is  be- 
hind the  arms  of  the  epicranial  suture  (E.  SU.). 

6.  (V.)  The  Vertex,  the  first  pair  of  paired  sclerites  be- 
hind the  arms  of  E.  SU.,  the  dorsal  portion  of  the  epicranium; 
or  that  portion  which  is  next  the  front  and  between  the  com- 


68  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

pound  eyes.  In  the  heads  of  Orchelimum,  Decticinas  and  grass- 
hopper these  sclerites  are  much  smaller  than  in  the  other  speci- 
mens studied.  The  smaller  the  frontal  sclerite  the  larger  the 
vertex. 

7.  (0.)  The  Occi'put,  the  part  of  the  head  behind  the  ver- 
tex and  surrounding  the  occipital  foramen.  This  is  not  always 
a  distinct  sclerite,  but  when  it  is,  as  in  the  Corydalis,  it  ap- 
pears to  be  formed  from  the  tergal  portion  of  the  united  post- 
gense.  This  is  present  in  the  grasshopper,  Corydalis  and 
Amhlychila. 

8.  (G.)  The  Gense,  the  lateral  portions  of  the  epicranium 
just  back  of  and  below  the  compound  eyes. 

9.  (P.  G.)  The  Postgenie.  Each  gense  was  divided  by  a 
more  or  less  well-marked  suture,  and  the  part  back  of  this 
forms  the  postgenx.  Comstock  thinks  that  it  is  the  upper 
part  or  continuation  of  these  that  forms  the  occiput.  Packard 
thinks  the  postgense  are  distinct  from  the  occiput,  which  he 
considers  as  a  part  of  the  labial  segment.  I  favor  Comstock's 
view,  for,  in  the  grasshopper  especially,  the  occiput  seems  so 
evidently  a  continuation  of  the  postgense. 

10.  (Gu.)  The  Giila,  which  is  often  absent,  when  present 
forms  the  ventral  wall  of  the  hind  part  of  the  head,  and  bears 
the  labium  or  second  maxillae. 

11.  The  Cervical  Sclerites,  the  sclerites  of  the  neck.  Of 
these  there  are  dorsal,  ventral,  and  lateral  ones. 

There  are  two  dorsal  cervical  sclerites  in  the  neck  of  the 
cockroach.    In  Amhlychila  I  distinguished  none. 

Melanophis  has  two  lateral  cervical  sclerites  on  each  side. 
Between  these  is  a  prominent  apodeme.  I  also  found  what  ap- 
peared to  be  a  smaller  apodeme  on  each  side.  In  Amblychila 
there  are  two  small  chitinized  spots,  one  on  each  side,  which 
are  probably  vestiges  of  the  lateral  cervical  sclerites. 

In  the  cockroach  there  are  two  ventral  cervical  sclerites ;  in 
the  cricket  there  are  five,  arranged  in  two  series ;  in  Stenopcl- 
matus  there  are  three,  arranged  in  two  series ;  in  Corydalis  and 
Amhlychila  these  sclerites  are  not  found,  but  the  gula  is 
present. 

Snodgrass  thinks  that  these  cervical  sclerites  do  not  belong 
to  the  head,  but  to  thorax.  He  designates  them  as  the  micro- 
thorax. 


hosford:  head  segmentation  of  insects.  69 

12.  (OS.)  The  Ocular  Sclerite.  "Each  compound  eye  is 
situated  in  the  axis  of  an  annular  sclerite  which  may  be  the 
basal  segment  of  the  ocular  appendages."  These  annular 
sclerites  are  the  ocular  sclerites.  They  show  especially  well  in 
the  cricket  and  Amblychila. 

13.  (AS.)  The  Antennal  Sclerites,  annular  sclerites  at  the 
base  of  each  antenna. 

14.  (Tr.)  The  Trochantin  of  the  Mandible,  a  distinct 
sclerite  between  the  mandible  and  the  gense  in  some  insects; 
indeed,  in  all  that  I  studied. 

II.    The  Structure  of  a  Typical  Segment. 

Since  the  abdominal  segments  have  lost  their  appendages, 
it  is  evident  that  a  reduction  of  certain  parts  has  taken  place 
there,  which  makes  it  impossible  to  use  them  as  typical  seg- 
ments.   The  thoracic  segments  are  the  more  typical. 

The  parts  of  a  thoracic  segment  as  generally  recognized  are 
as  follows:  a  ventral  part,  sternite;  two  lateral  parts,  pleu- 
rites;  and  a  dorsal  part,  tergite.  Each  segment  is  composed 
of  two  subsegments.  "The  line  separating  the  subsegments 
passes,  on  the  pleural  aspect,  between  the  episternum  and  the 
epimeron ;  and,  on  the  tergal  aspect,  between  the  scutum  and 
scutellum";  on  the  sternal  aspect,  between  the  sternum  and 
sternellum. 

The  line  of  union  between  the  episternum  and  epimeron  is 
the  apodeme,  which  is  an  invagination  of  the  body  wall.  The 
division  on  the  sternal  aspect  of  most  insects  is  not  easily 
recognized,  but  it  shows  plainly  on  the  metathorax  of  Steno- 
pelmatus  and  the  nymph  of  Pteronarcys.  As  the  apodemes 
show  the  division  of  the  pleural  subsegments,  so  the  furca 
shows  their  division  on  the  sternite. 

Embryologists  have  also  proven  that  each  segment  "is  com- 
posed of  a  median  and  two  lateral  fields,  and  that  the  append- 
ages are  developed  as  evaginations  of  the  lateral  fields." 

III.    Sclerites  Belonging  to  Each  Head  Segment. 
1.     Ocular  or  Protocerebral. 

Tergal  sclerites.    No  trace. 

Sternal  sclerites.  Front.  Contains  ocelli  which  are  inner- 
vated by  protocerebrum.  Decided  ridge  in  Mantis  front  may 
indicate  sternum  and  sternellum. 


70  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Pleural  sclerites. — One-half  of  vertex  and  corresponding 
gena.  These  probably  represent  lateral  elements  of  sternum, 
because  they  enclose  the  ocular  sclerite,  which  represents  the 
appendage  of  this  segment. 

Appendages.    Ocular  sclerite. 

2.    Deutocerebral  or  Antennal. 

Tergal  sclerites. — No  trace. 

Sternal  sclerites. — Clypeus.  Formed  from  portion  of  pro- 
cephalon,  the  central  swelling  of  the  cephalic  end  of  the  body 
of  embryo  insects.  It  is  not  the  first  segment  nor  does  it  con- 
tain the  mouth,  which  falls  in  the  tritocerebral  segment,  but  is 
between  the  front  and  the  mouth ;  therefore,  it  is  a  sclerite  of 
the  second  segment. 

Pleural  sclerites. — Antennal  sclerites.  Lateral  elements  of 
sternite,  because  the  antennae  arise  from  them.  Even  when  an- 
tennae seem  to  be  postoral  the  basal  part  of  the  rudiment  of  the 
antennal  sclerite  appears  to  abutt  against  the  procephalon. 

Appetidages. — Antennae. 

3.    Tritocerebral  or  Second  Antennal. 

Tergal  sclerites. — No  traces. 

Sternal  sclerites. — Labrum.  Formed  from  procephalon; 
contains  mouth,  which  is  in  third  segment. 

Pleural  sclerites. — None  determined. 

Appendages. — Second  antennae,  when  found. 

i.    Mandibular. 

Tergal  sclerites. — Occiput.  Continuation  of  the  postgenae 
which  form  the  pleural  sclerites.  Packard  considers  this  as 
belonging  to  the  sixth  or  labial  segment,  but  as  far  as  my  ob- 
servations have  gone  I  agree  with  Comstock.  It  seems  to  me 
to  be  a  continuation  of  the  postgenae,  which  Packard  also  con- 
siders as  belonging  to  the  mandibular  segment. 

Sternal  sclerites. — Pharyngeal  sclerites.  Found  in  the  floor 
of  the  mouth  cavity  of  Melanoplus  on  each  side  just  behind  the 
superlinguae.  They  are  back  of  the  superlinguse,  which  shows 
that  they  must  precede  superlingual  sclerites  in  the  course  of 
the  invagination  of  the  mouth.  They  are  also  closely  con- 
nected with  the  mandible.  Since  in  this  region  sclerites  are 
frequently  developed  secondarily,  Comstock  does  not  think 


hosford:  head  segmentation  of  insects.  71 

that  much  stress  should  be  laid  on  this  supposed  homology. 
I,  myself,  do  not  think  the  evidence  brought  forward  on  this 
point  is  very  conclusive. 

Pleural  sclerites. — Postgense.  A  suture  which  is  the  more  or 
less  open  mouth  of  an  apodeme  divides  the  postgense  as  does 
the  apodeme  the  pleurites  of  the  thoracic  segments.  The  man- 
dibles, like  the  coxse  of  the  legs,  fit  into  the  openings  where 
the  apodemes  begin. 

The  antecoxal  pieces.  In  Gryllus  and  the  larvse  of  Corydalis 
the  mandibles  articulate  with  a  sclerite  distinct  from  the 
clypeus.  This  corresponds  to  the  antecoxal  piece  in  the  tho- 
racic segments. 

Appendages. — Mandible  and  trochantin,  a  small  sclerite  at 
base  of  mandible  in  Orthoptera  and  Amblychila. 

5.    Superlingual. 

Tergal  sclerites. — None  found. 

Sternal  sclerites. — Represented  by  that  part  of  the  floor  of 
the  mouth  cavity  which  bears  the  superlinguse. 

Pleural  sclerites. — Represented  by  that  part  of  the  floor  of 
the  mouth  cavity  which  bears  the  superlinguse. 

Appendages. — Superlinguse. 

6.    Maxillary. 

Tergal  sclerites. — None  found. 

Sternal  sclerites. — Lingua.  This  is  the  unpaired  portion  of 
the  hypopharynx,  and  evidently  pertains  to  the  sternite  of  this 
segment,  because  it  arises  between  the  rudiments  of  the 
maxillse. 

Pleural  sclerites. — Maxillary  pleurites.  There  is  a  narrow 
band  or  sclerite  that  runs  around  the  posterior  margin  of  the 
epicranium.  This  is  the  posterior  pleurite.  The  anterior  one 
is  scarcely  visible  except  in  a  few  insects,  as  in  the  cockroach 
and  cricket.  Between  these  two  sclerites  is  an  apodeme,  which 
forms  the  posterior  arm  of  the  tentorium.  In  Amblychila  this 
apodeme  and  the  two  sclerites  are  very  clearly  seen. 

Appendages. — Maxillse. 

a-Univ.  Sci.  Bull..  Vol.  VIII.  No.  2. 


72  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 

7.    Labial  or  Second  Maxillary. 

Tergal  s'clerites. — Probably  dorsal  cervical  sclerites. 

Sternal  sclerites. — Ventral  cervical  sclerites  and  gula.  The 
ventral  sclerites  are  often  arranged  in  two  series,  showing  the 
subsegments,  and  divided  into  two  or  three  in  each  segment, 
showing  the  lateral  and  median  fields.  In  some  insects,  as 
adult  of  Corijdalis  and  Amblycliila,  they  have  united  to  form 
the  gula. 

Pleural  sclerites. — Lateral  cervical  sclerites.  These  sclerites 
are  best  shown  in  Melanoplus.  These  under  high-power  lenses 
showed  one  prominent  apodeme  and  one  smaller  one.  Corn- 
stock  mentions  but  one  apodeme,  and  thinks  that  it  helps  to 
prove  that  these  are  the  epimeron  and  episternum  of  a  seg- 
ment. The  posterior  of  these  sclerites  articulates  with  the  epi- 
sternum of  the  prothorax,  and  the  anterior  one  with  what  we 
believe  to  be  the  epimeron  of  the  maxillary  segment.  I  do  not 
know  what  the  smaller  apodeme  signifies. 

Appendages. — Second  maxillae  or  labium. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY. 
COMSTOCK  AND  Kellogg.    Elements  of  Insect  Anatomy. 
CoMSTOCK  AND  KocHl.    The  Skeleton  of  the  Head  of  Insects. 

FOLSOM,  J.  W. 

(a)     The  Anatomy  and  Physiology  of  the  Mouth  Parts  of  the  Collem- 

bolan  Orchesella  cincta. 
(6)     The    Segmentation    of    the    Insect    Head.      Psyche,    vol.    VIII, 

p.  391. 
(c)     The   Development  of  the   Mouth   Parts   of  Anurida   maritima. 
Bui.  Mus.  Comp.  Zool.,  vol.  XXVI. 
KoRSCHELT  AND  Heider.     Textbook  of  the  Embryology  of  Invertebrates. 
Packard.    Textbook  of  Entomology. 
Snodgrass,  R.  E.     a  Comparative  Study  of  the  Thorax  in  Orthoptera, 

Euplexoptera  and  Coleoptera.     1907  Proceedings  of  the  Ent.  Soc. 
Wheeler,  W.  M.    A  Contribution  to  Insect  Embryology. 


THE 

KANSAS  UNIVERSITY 
SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 


Vol.  VIII,  No.  3-July,  1913. 

(Whole  Series,  Vol.  XVIII,  No.  3.) 


CONTENTS: 


Morphology  and  Biology  of  the  MembrAcid^  of  Kansas, 

Hazel  Brayich. 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  UNIVERSITY, 
LAWRENCE,  KAN. 


Entered  at  the  post-office  in  Lawrence  as  second-class  matter. 


5  838 


KANSAS   STATE   PRINTING  OFFICE. 

W.  C.  Austin,  State  Printer. 

TOPEKA,      1914. 


THE  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY 
SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 

Vol.  VIII,  No.  3]         JULY,  1913.  [voT.\TiitNT.. 


Morphology  and  Biology  of  the  Membracidse 
of  Kansas.* 

BY   HAZEL   ELISABETH    BRANCH,    A.    B. 
(Submitted  in  partial  fulfillment  of  the  requiremeuts  for  the  degree  of  master  of  arts. > 

Plates  V  to  XXI. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT. 

THE  writer  wishes  to  express  her  thanks  to  all  those  who 
have  assisted  her  in  the  preparing  of  this  paper,  and 
especially  to : 
Prof.  S.  J.  Hunter,  under  whose  guidance  the  work  has  been 
carried  on,  for  his  continued  encouragement  as  well  as  kindly 
criticisms  and  suggestions. 

Mr.  Mark  F.  Massey,  for  his  assistance  in  the  photographs 
and  the  loan  of  specimens  from  his  own  collection. 

Dr.  E.  P.  Van  Duzee,  for  information  concerning  geograph- 
ical distribution. 

Messrs.  H.  B.  Hungerford  and  Francis  X.  Williams  and  Miss 
Ruby  Hosford,  for  their  ready  criticisms  in  the  identification 
of  specimens,  and  suggestions  in  the  systematic  paper. 

Membracid^  : 
1. — Morphology  and  Ecology  of  Entylia  sinuata  Fab. 
2. — Taxonomy  of  Kansas' Forms. 

*  This  is  one  of  a  series  of  studies  on  Kansas  Homoptera.  The  head  of  the  department 
has  assigned  each  of  the  different  families  to  a  graduate  student.  Some  of  these  have 
already  been  published,  others  are  to  follow. 

(75) 


76  kansas  university  science  bulletin. 

Membracid^. 

(Order  Hemiptera. — Suborder  Homoptera.) 
The  family  Membracidse,  although  entirely  phytophagous  in 
its  habits,  confines  itself  for  the  most  part  to  weeds  and 
grasses.  It  is  not  a  large  family,  as  it  includes  not  more  than 
1500  described  species,  but  it  is  of  wide  distribution. 
Geographical  Distribution. 
Frogatt  states  that  the  Membracidaj  is  a  group  confined  to 
the  tropical  regions  and  well  represented  in  Australia,  but  bet- 
ter in  South  America,  where  the  forms  are  large  and  more 
profuse.  Notwithstanding  this  statement,  this  family  is  found 
all  over  the  United  States  and  Canada,  Great  Britain,  Austra- 
lia, New  Zealand,  Philippine  Islands  and  New  Guinea,  Sumatra 
and  Ceylon;  in  Brazil,  Amazons  and  Ecuador;  on  temperate 
slopes  of  the  Himalaya  mountains,  and  on  high  ground  in  Cen- 
tral Africa.  The  distribution  seems  to  follow  the  isothermal 
lines  of  temperature  rather  than  the  boundaries  of  the  zones. 
However,  a  peculiar  instance  is  noted  in  that  Europe,  excluding 
the  British  Isles,  is  void  of  the  family,  with  the  exception  of 
three  species  of  Centropida. 

On  account  of  its  jumping  habits,  it  is  difficult  to  collect,  and 
there  are  many  localities,  no  doubt,  where  the  form  remains 
unobserved.  Those  forms  in  the  tropics  are  more  prolific  than 
those  in  the  temperate  zones ;  are  larger  and  of  more  brilliant 
colorings  than  the  more  noilhern  species. 

In  the  United  States  the  following  states  have  reported  col-  • 
lections:  Alabama,  Arizona,  Colorado,  North  Carolina,  Cali- 
fornia, Florida,  Georgia,  Vermont,  Missouri,  Oregon,  Virginia, 
New  York,  Texas,  New  Jersey,  Wyoming,  Illinois,  and  Kansas. 
In  Kansas  the  following  counties  have  yielded  specimens : 
Neosho,  Reno,  Douglas,  Finney,  Rawlins,  Gove,  Cheyenne, 
Cowley,  Sedgwick,  Woodson,  Wilson,  Allen,  Seward,  and 
Sheridan. 

Description  of  Family. 
The  family  Membracidfe,  commonly  called  tree  hoppers,  be- 
longs to  the  suborder  Homoptera  of  the  order  Hemiptera,  and 
is  placed  by  Buckton  between  Cicadidse  and  Cercopidae.  The 
classification  as  given  by  Comstock  in  "Introduction  to  Ento- 
mology" is  as  follows : 

Beak  evidently  arising  from  the  mentum;  tarsi  three  jointed;  antennae 
minute,  setiform;  ocelli  only  two  in  number  or  wanting;  males  without 
musical  organs;  prothorax  prolonged  into  a  horn  or  point  above  the 
abdomen  Membracid^. 


BRANCH:     BIOLOGY   OF   KANSAS    MEMBRACID^.  77 

The  head  is  usually  perpendicular,  and  when  viewed  from 
the  front  appears  somewhat  triangular,  with  large  globular 
eyes  protruding  on  either  side.  On  the  face  or  cephalic  aspect 
of  the  head  and  between  the  compound  eyes  are  situated  the 
two  small  ocelli. 

In  all  genera  the  prothorax  is  abnormal,  being  produced  up- 
ward and  backward  or  forward  into  numerous  shapes.  In  the 
Kansas  forms,  at  least,  it  extends  well  back  over  the  abdomen, 
concealing  the  mesothorax  and  metathorax,  and  frequently 
continuing  as  far  back  as  the  tips  of  the  tegmina.  It  rises 
from  the  head  in  a  perpendicular  line,  and  is  as  wide  as  the 
head,  extending  back  of  the  compound  eyes  and  under  the 
mesothorax  for  a  short  distance,  by  means  of  small  lateral 
arms.  (See  fig.  34,  pi.  X.)  Frequently  the  prothoracic  legs 
are  removed  with  the  prothorax,  as  they  are  connected  to  the 
lateral  arms  by  a  delicate  membrane.  Back  of  the  compound 
eyes  the  prothoracic  lateral  margin  rises  and  turns  caudad 
suddenly  under  the  suprahumerals,  thus  forming  the  lateral 
angles,  or  humeri.  (See  fig.  7,  pi.  VI.)  Fastened  into  this 
angle  is  a  tiny  sclerite,  which  seems  to  help  in  the  protection 
of  the  tegmina. 

In  the  prothorax  there  are  four  main  divisions,  the  meto- 
pidium,  procephalon,  dorsum,  and  posterior  process,  although 
there  are  no  definite  sutures  to  mark  the  divisions. 

Metopidium  is  the  sloping  portion  of  the  front  of  the  pro- 
thorax extending  from  the  head  to  the  front  of  the  doi'sum, 
and  bearing  the  suprahumeral  processes  (fig.  5,  a,  pi.  VI).  It 
may  extend  in  a  horn  over  the  head  as  in  Campijlenchia  cw- 
vata  (fig.  11,  pi.  VII),  or  it  may  be  void  of  any  protuberance 
on  the  top.  The  suprahumeral  processes  are  the  lateral  pro- 
tuberances seen  at  the  sides  over  the  compound  eyes  and 
humeri  (fig.  5,  e;  fig.  7,  x,  pi.  VI).  These  suprahumerals  are 
variable  in  shape,  and  are  sometimes  so  obscure  as  to  appear 
absent  until  the  hand  lens  is  used.  The  procephalon  is  the 
portion  above  the  metopidium.  In  the  exotic  forms  it  may 
extend  backward  as  a  horn  and  be  branched  into  several  spines, 
but  among  the  Kansas  species  this  form  is  not  found.  The 
procephalon  is  not  present  in  our  forms  except  in  the  two 
genera  Enchcnopa  and  Campylenchia  (figs.  11,  12,  pi.  VII). 
The  dorsum  is  the  portion  from  the  suprahumerals  to  the 
tail.     It   is   convex   in   the   Kansas   forms   and   without   any 


78  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

processes,  usually  surmounted  by  a  prominent  longitudinal 
median  carina. 

Posterior  process  is  the  sharply  constricted  portion  at  the 
caudal  extremity  of  the  prothorax.  It  continues,  frequently, 
to  the  tips  of  the  tegmina,  and  usually  ends  in  a  sharp,  black 
point.    (Fig.  5,  at  c,  pi.  VI.) 

The  prothorax  is  almost  always  pitted  and  is  sometimes 
pilose.  It  is  highly  developed  and  may  take  on  various  shapes 
and  forms;  in  fact,  the  family  has  been  hkened  to  Brownies 
on  account  of  the  queer  facial  expression  and  the  grotesque 
appearance  of  the  prothorax.  There  are  some  forms  with  two 
"humps,"  one  caudad,  or  back  of  the  other,  as  in  Etitylia 
sinuata  (fig.  61,  pi.  XVI),  while  other  forms  bear  only  one 
spine  or  "hump,"  as  in  Enchenopa  binotata  (fig.  13,  pi.  VII), 
and  Canipyl-enchia  curvata  (fig.  11,  pi.  VII). 

In  some  cases  this  single  protuberance  may  be  over  the  head 
and  be  a  formation  of  the  metopidium,  called  the  procephalon, 
as  in  the  two  foregoing  species;  or  it  may  be  a  crest  on  the 
dorsum  over  the  abdomen,  as  in  Telaniona  (fig.  31,  pi.  VIII; 
fig.  73,  pi.  X).  Frequently  the  pronotum  rises  high  in  front, 
and  by  sloping  backward  from  the  metopidium  forms  a  high 
tectiform  hood  over  the  abdomen,  sloping  down  posteriorly  to 
the  posterior  process,  as  in  Archasia  (figs.  22,  23,  pi.  IX)  and 
Stictocephalu  (fig.  17,  pi.  VII;  fig.  29,  pi.  IX). 

In  all  the  above-mentioned  forms  the  suprahumerals  are 
obtuse  and  minute,  but  in  Ceresa  the  prothorax  bears  a  promi- 
nent lateral  horn  on  either  side  just  back  of  the  head  (figs.  5. 
6,  9,  10,  pi.  VI) .  In  a  few  cases  the  pronotum  may  not  present 
any  protuberance  except  obscure  suprahumerals,  and  the 
metopidium  may  rise  only  sufficiently  high  to  cover  the  thorax. 
It  thus  seems  to  form  a  close  protection  for  the  thorax  and 
abdomen,  as  in  Micfutalis  and  Acutalis  (figs.  18,  19,  20,  21, 
pi.  VIII)  and  Vanduzea  (figs.  14,  1.5,  pi.  VIII).  Among  the 
genera,  other  than  those  found  in  Kansas,  the  pronotum  may 
not  cover  the  abdomen,  and  in  some  cases  does  not  conceal  the 
mesothorax  and  metathorax,  but  ends  in  elevated  and  pro- 
truded spines  or  balls  of  odd  shapes. 

Tegmina.  The  tegmina  are  elongate  or  lanceolate,  mem- 
branous throughout,  transparent  in  the  main,  but  sometimes 
coriaceous  and  smoky  in  regions.  The  tegmina  are  unequally 
divided  into  corium,  or  embolium,  and  clavus  (see  fig.  75,  pi. 


branch:    biology  of  kansas  membracid^.  79 

XIX),  which  are  separated  by  a  fold  (indicated  in  the  draw- 
ing by  a  dotted  line).  The  corium  is  the  anterior  portion  of 
the  tegmen,  and,  according  to  Coding,  has  a  costal  and  three 
longitudinal  veins  proceeding  from  the  base.  In  no  case  in 
the  Kansas  forms  does  this  hold  good,  there  being  no  more 
than  two  longitudinal  and  the  costa,  and  frequently  only  one 
longitudinal,  and  the  costa,  proceeding  from  the  base  of  the 
corium.  Coding  names  the  veins  as  costa,  radia,  and  two 
ulnar.  In  case  of  Cyrtolobus  vau  and  Campylenchia  curvata, 
this  is  consistent  if  the  two  ulnars  are  fused  at  the  base,  but 
in  the  majority  of  forms  there  is  but  one  vein  other  than  the 
costa  proceeding  from  the  base  of  the  corium. 

In  the  study  of  the  nymphal  pad  some  of  this  fusing  and  the 
disappearance  of  several  veins  is  cleared  up.  In  the  nymphal 
pad  there  are  two  veins  in  the  costal  region,  the  costa  and 
subcosta ;  these  fuse  in  the  adult  and  are  usually  referred  to 
as  the  costa.     (See  fig.  75,  pi.  XIX.) 

Frequently,  as  in  Ceresa  bubalus,  the  one  longitudinal  vein, 
other  than  the  costa,  is  branched  soon  after  leaving  the  base, 
and  forms  the  radial  and  one  ulnar  vein.  In  the  njonph  pad 
is  found  one  other  vein  "media,"  which  is  fused  with  the  radia 
in  the  adult. 

The  clavus  has  usually  two  anal  veins,  one  of  which  fre- 
quently forms  the  posterior  margin  of  the  tegmen  for  some 
distance;  the  other  anal  vein  usually  joins  the  marginal  vein 
at  about  its  middle  point.  Much  more  discussion  of  the  veins 
in  tegmina  of  different  species  could  be  given,  but  observations 
on  the  drawings  of  the  tegmina  will  give  a  conception  as  to 
the  variation  of  the  venation. 

Cells  of  the  tegmen  (and  in  this  instance  I  take  Ceresa  buba- 
lus as  a  typical  illustration,  as  it  appears  to  be  nearly  constant) 
have  four  basal  cells,  the  third  of  which  is  frequently  referred 
to  as  the  sutural  area,  as  it  contains  the  sutural  fold  between 
the  clavus  and  corium.  (See  fig.  75,  pi.  XIX.)  The  costal 
cell  in  all  forms  is  long  and  slender,  proceeding  to  the  first 
apical  cell  without  the  intervention  of  a  discoidal  cell. 

The  cells  between  the  apical  cells  and  the  basal  cells  are 
known  as  discoidal  cells,  and  usually  number  three. 

The  apical  cells  are  typically  five  in  number,  although  sonie 
genera  may  have  only  four,  as  in  Micrutalis.  These  cells  are 
marginal  and  are  surrounded  by  nervules,  no  nerves  or  nervules 


80  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

extending  to  the  outer  edge  of  the  tegmen  in  this  region ;  but 
are  surrounded  by  an  unveined  membrane,  the  limbus.  (See 
fig.  75,  pi.  XIX.)  The  third  apical  cell  is  characteristic  in 
genera,  and  often  forms  the  basis  for  classification.  The 
tegmina  are  not  covered  laterally  by  the  pronotum,  but  are 
free,  united  to  the  thorax  below  the  humeri  of  the  pronotum. 
When  at  rest,  the  tegmina  lie  with  the  costal  region  downward, 
as  in  the  Aphididse. 

The  Wings  are  more  or  less  spatulate  and  broad ;  smaller 
than  the  tegmina,  the  anterior  margin  being  about  equal  to  the 
posterior  margin  of  the  tegmina.  When  at  rest  the  wings  are 
folded  once  and  lie  between  the  tegmina  and  abdomen,  the 
costal  region  downward. 

The  wing  is  uniformly  transparent  and  clearly  veined.  Here 
is  again  found  the  division  into  the  corium  and  clavus,  the  ce- 
rium usually  having  the  costa  and  two  other  longitudinal  veins 
(radia  and  ulnar)  proceeding  from  its  base.  Here  the  costa 
does  not  always  form  the  anterior  margin  as  in  the  tegmina, 
almost  the  entire  nerve  area  being  bounded  by  the  narrow 
limbus. 

In  the  clavus  are  two  anal  veins,  the  second  of  which  fre- 
quently lies  in  the  posterior  margin.  There  are  three  and 
sometimes  four  basal  cells,  in  the  third  of  which  is  a  sutural 
fold.  There  are  no  discoidal  cells,  and  frequently  only  three 
apical  cells,  although  there  may  be  more  in  some  genera. 

The  Hind  Legs  are  fitted  for  jumping.  The  femora  are 
cylindrical  and  curved,  the  tibiae  quadrangular,  prismatic  or 
spatulate.  In  the  metathoracic  leg  the  tibia  is  densely  spined, 
with  the  points  of  the  spines  downward,  toward  the  end  of  the 
claws.  The  tarsi  are  composed  of  three  segments,  the  first  one 
longer  than  the  other  two.  The  last  segment  of  the  tarsus 
ends  in  a  pair  of  sharp,  black  claws.     (Fig.  2,  pi.  V.) 

Color.  Buckton  figures  some  of  the  species  in  brilliant  reds, 
yellows,  and  vivid  greens,  but  the  Kansas  forms  are  modest  in 
their  colorings.  Some  few  are  pale  green  when  alive,  as 
Ceresa  hubalus,  Ceresa  taurina,  and  Stictocephala,  turning 
tawny  when  dried.  A  great  number  are  mottled  brown  and 
tan,  with  touches  of  black  or  white,  sometimes  both.  (See 
Entylia  sinuata,  figs.  61,  62,  pi.  XVI;  Ceresa  diceros,  fig.  6,  pi. 
VI;  Vanduzea,  fig.  15,  pi.  VIII;  and  Telamona,  fig.  73,  pi.  X.) 
The  only  bright  colors  met  with  in  the  Kansas  species  occur  in 


branch:     biology   of   KANSAS    MEMBRACIDiE.  81 

the  ocelli,  which  in  life  are  usually  a  cherry  red,  and  fre- 
quently remain  so  when  dried.  Enchenopa  binotata  (fig.  13, 
pi.  VII)  has  two  yellow  spots  near  the  region  of  the  median 
carina.  Some  species  are  polished  black,  and  may  be  out- 
lined with  palish  yellow,  as  Micrutalis  calva,  while  others  are  a 
dull  black  with  rouch  surface.  A  few  forms,  Micrutalis  oc- 
cidentalis,  for  instance,  are  frequently  orange  with  more  or 
less  dark  marking  toward  the  head.  Pablilia  ynodesta  is  dia- 
morphic,  and  during  a  season  may  produce  forms  almost  white 
with  a  downy  surface. 

Size.  According  to  Buckton  the  forms  may  be  as  large  as 
two  English  inches  (about  50  mm.)  in  wing  expanse;  but  20 
mm.  will  include  our  largest  species,  Ceresa  bubalm  and 
Talamona  ampelopsides,  which  are  9  to  10  mm.  from  tip  of  teg- 
mina  to  front  of  head.  Our  smallest  species,  Micrutalis  oc- 
cidentalis.  is  not  more  than  3  mm.  in  length.  The  sizes  vary 
greatly  within  the  species,  and  the  male  is  almost  invariably 
smaller  than  the  female. 

Life  History  of  Entylia  sinuata. 

Plate  XVI. 

As  far  as  the  writer  has  observed  or  can  ascertain  from  re- 
ports, the  genera  of  the  Kansas  forms  of  Membracidse  live  on 
the  leaves  and  twigs  of  shrubs,  bushes,  and  weeds.  No  form 
has  been  found  living  in  ants'  nests,  as  the  members  of  the  sub- 
family Tragopidse  do,  but  numerous  species  of  ants  are  found 
on  the  vegetation  with  the  Membracidse,  supposedly  attending 
to  their  wants  and  being  repaid  in  honey  dew  exuded  from  the 
anus.  At  least  three  species  of  Formicidse  have  been  collected 
with  Membracidse,  namely  Formica  fusca,  and  another  of -the 
same  genus,  but  the  species  is  not  determined;  the  third  is 
Prenolepis  imparis. 

Entylia  sinuata  are  found  in  great  numbers  upon  the  under 
sides  of  the  leaves  of  Cnicus  altissimus  Willd. 

Notes.  Food  plant,  Cnicus  altissimus.  Place,  a  shady  grove 
on  the  east  slope  of  a  hill.  Temperature  records  were  kept  on 
a  self-recording  thermometer,  and  during  the  observations, 
from  June  29  to  July  23,  the  minimum  was  72°  F. ;  the  maxi- 
mum 91.9°  F. 

On  June  29,  1909,  a  pair  is  noted.  In  the  morning  (June 
30)   the  male  is  missing,  but  the  female  sits  quietly  on  the 


82  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

midrib  on  the  underside  of  the  leaf  with  her  head  pointed  to- 
ward the  apex  of  the  leaf.  In  the  evening  of  the  same  day  the 
female  is  missing,  and  two  dark  longitudinal,  parallel  lines 
about  10  mm.  in  length  are  discernible  on  the  midrib.  With 
a  hand  lens  (12  y)  the  eggs  can  be  made  out.  They  are 
embedded  in  the  midrib,  but  the  ends  of  the  eggs  are  visible, 
appearing  clearly  and  of  a  white  color.  (See  a,  fig.  56,  pi. 
XVI.) 

There  is  no  perceptible  change  until  four  days  later  (July 
4),  when  the  slits  are  found  burst  open  and  the  sides  of  the 
eggs  are  exposed  to  view.    (Fig.  56,  pi.  XVI,  at  B.) 

On  the  ninth  day  of  July  the  slit  is  spread  further,  and 
hatching  is  in  progress.  The  egg  is  %  rnm.  in  length,  and 
has  a  small  protuberance  at  the  "hatching  end,"  which  is  the 
last  end  to  leave  the  ovipositors  and  is  that  portion  visible  in 
the  midrib  after  the  egg  has  been  deposited. 

When  first  hatched  the  nj-mph  is  pale  yellow,  or  nearly 
colorless,  but  after  a  period  of  thirty  minutes  the  color  and 
markings  begin  to  appear.  The  head,  first  thoracic  segment 
and  tip  of  abdomen  become  dark  brown,  while  dark  markings 
are  noticeable  on  the  second,  third,  fourth  and  fifth  rings  of 
the  abdomen.  The  other  portion  of  the  dorsal  aspect  of  the 
body  is  pale  green.  The  ventral  portion  of  the  thorax  and 
abdomen  is  white,  with  legs  of  a  pale,  transparent  yellow. 
Each  of  the  abdominal  segments,  except  the  first,  bares  two 
dorsal  and  two  lateral  spines  or  tubercles,  one  on  each  side, 
tipped  with  black  hairs.  The  second  and  third  segments  of 
the  thorax  (the  undeveloped  mesothorax  and  metathorax) 
bear  hairs  in  place  of  spines.  The  mesothorax,  though  light  in 
color,  bears  a  dark  spot  on  the  front  edge.  On  the  cephalic 
or  front  edge  of  the  head  are  four  hairs,  and  there  is  a  hair 
cephalad  and  one  caudad  of  each  compound  eye.  The  nymph, 
when  one  hour  old,  measures  IVn  mm.  and  is  extremely  active. 

The  antennse  are  pale  and  transparent,  delicately  haired, 
and  are  very  nearly  equal  to  the  length  of  the  antennse  on 
the  adult  forms,  being  about  one-half  the  length  of  the  nymph. 
(See  fig.  58,  pi.  XVI.) 

The  prothoracic  segment,  which  is  dark  brown,  is  a  third 
wider  than  the  mesothoracic  segment  and  as  wide  as  the  head. 
This  prothoracic  enlargement  is,  no  doubt,  the  beginning  of  the 
overdevelopment  of  the  prothorax  to  be  seen  in  the  maturing 


branch:     biology   of   KANSAS    MEMBRACID^.  83 

and  adult  forms.  In  this  first  instar,  it  is  interesting  to  note 
that  there  is  an  articulation  between  this  segment  and  the 
head.  The  head,  which  is  dark  and  shiny,  is  extremely  large 
in  proportion  to  the  body;  in  fact,  it  is  larger  in  a  line  from 
back  to  front  in  dorsal  aspect  than  in  the  adult  forms.  (Fig. 
58,  pi.  XVI.) 

The  mouth  parts  are  enlarged  out  of  all  normal  proportion, 
the  distal  end  of  the  beak  reaching  to  the  end  of  the  sixth 
abdominal  ring.  (See  fig.  57,  pi.  XVI.)  The  ocelli  are  found 
in  about  the  normal  position. 

On  the  twelfth  day  (counting  from  the  date  of  oviposition 
and  on  the  third  day  of  the  life  of  the  nymph),  July  12,  oc- 
curs the  first  moult.  In  this  second  instar  the  enlargement 
of  the  prothorax  takes  on  a  shape  similar  to  that  in  the  adult 
form,  except  that  it  does  not  extend  back  over  the  abdomen, 
but  it  does  extend  far  enough  to  cover  the  mesothorax.  The 
prothorax  bears  the  shovel-like  horn  and  the  notch  which 
forms  the  dorsal  hump.  The  head  is  reduced  in  size  in  this 
instar.  The  second,  third,  fourth,  fifth,  sixth,  seventh  and 
ninth  abdominal  segments  bear  two  dorsal  hirsute  spines,  the 
lateral  ones  having  disappeared.  The  third,  fourth  and  fifth 
segments  are  marked  with  dark  dorsally  and  about  half  way 
down  the  lateral  face.  The  nymph,  in  the  second  instar,  meas- 
ures 2i/>  mm.  in  length. 

A  curious  fact  noticed  is,  that  in  the  nymphal  stages  the 
forms  do  not  exhibit  any  jumping  power,  but  run  very  rapidly. 
■\Vhen  four  days  old  the  measurement  is  3  mm.,  but  they  have 
not  moulted. 

On  the  fifth  day  after  hatching  (July  14)  the  second  moult 
occurs.  In  this  third  instar  a  differentiation  of  color  is 
observed.  A  number  of  the  forms  are  dark  with  black  "hoods," 
while  others  are  light  with  tan  hoods.  Upon  further  observa- 
tions, this  color  difference  seems  to  be  the  indication  of  the 
sex  to  be  formed  in  the  adult  stage,  the  dark  ones  emerging 
as  males  and  the  light  ones  as  females.  In  this  instar  also  the 
wing  pads  appear.  (See  fig.  59,  pi.  XVI.)  When  nine  days 
old  (July  18)  the  third  moult  occurs.  In  this  fourth  instar 
we  have  the  stage  which  is  comparable  to  the  pupa  stage  in 
forms  having  complete  metamorphosis.  In  figure  60,  plate 
XVI,  is  seen  the  "pupa,"  with  the  prothoracic  enlargement 
spilt  open  ready  for  the  emergence  of  the  adult.     This  emer- 


84  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

gence  occurred  when  the  nymph  was  fourteen  days  old  (July 
23).  The  imago  is  transparent,  of  a  pale  greenish-gray  tinge, 
void  of  markings.  It  is  active  and  will  jump  immediately 
upon  emerging.  Some  were  observed  kicking  off  the  old  shell 
or  jumping  away  from  it.  Within  twenty  minutes  or  half  an 
hour  the  color  markings  begin  to  appear,  and  in  less  than 
an  hour  the  imago  is  not  discernible  from  the  individuals 
many  days  older. 

Summary. 

Egg  stage  9  days 

Larva  stage — First  instar    3  days 

Second  instar 2  days 

Third  instar 4  days 

Pupa  or  fourth  instar   5  days 

Total     23  days 

Twenty-three  days  are  necessarily  consumed  from  time  of 
the  oviposition  of  the  egg  until  the  form  reaches  the  adult 
stage.  As  nine  days  are  used  in  the  development  of  the  em- 
bryo, we  have  two  weeks  as  the  time  from  hatching  until  the 
form  emerges  as  an  imago.  Mrs.  Rice,  in  her  report  on  the  life 
history  of  Entylia  sinuata,  states  two  weeks  as  the  time  from 
hatching  to  adult  stage  if  ants  are  present,  and  one  week  if  un- 
disturbed by  ants.  In  my  experiments  indoors,  without  the 
presence  of  ants,  the  forms  seemed  unable  to  moult  success- 
fully and  died  before  reaching  maturity.  This  fact  leads  me 
to  believe  that  the  ants  are  necessary  factors  in  the  life  of  an 
individual  membracid. 

From  three  to  four  days  after  emergence  the  female  com- 
mences to  lay  eggs.  It  has  not  been  absolutely  ascertained, 
but  has  been  more  or  less  satisfactorily  observed,  that  one  fe- 
male lays  more  than  one  egg  during  her  life,  each  mass  aver- 
aging about  thirty-five  eggs. 

The  number  of  eggs  is  also  indefinite,  but  as  forms  have  been 
observed  late  in  May  and  nymphs  found  as  late  as  the  first  of 
November,  and  as  it  takes  approximately  four  weeks  from  the 
time  an  egg  mass  is  laid  until  a  female  from  that  generation 
begins  to  deposit  her  eggs,  the  writer  feels  justified  in  estimat- 
ing six  or  seven  broods  in  a  sea«on. 

As  to  the  winter  state,  it  is  conjectured  that  it  is  spent  either 
in  the  egg  stage  or  as  adult,  protection  being  obained  from  the 
fallen  leaves.  On  October  24  adult  forms,  a  few  nymphs  in 
the  pupa  stage  and  newly  emerged  adults  were  observed,  not- 


branch:     biology   of   KANSAS    MEMBRACID^.  85 

withstanding  the  occurrence  of  two  heavy  frosts.  On  Novem- 
ber 1  several  nymphs  and  adults  were  found  on  a  food-plant 
stalk  which  had  been  taken  to  the  laboratory  for  search  of 
egg  masses.  No  evidence  of  the  theory  that  the  form  passes 
the  winter  in  the  egg  stage  has  been  ascertainable  up  to  this 
date. 

Morphology. 

■  EXTERNAL   ANATOMY. 

Head. 

The  head  of  a  membracid  is  arranged  in  two  planes;  one 
vertical  and  parallel  with  the  transverse  planes  of  the  body  of 
the  insect,  the  other  set  at  an  angle  of  about  95  degrees,  or 
little  more  than  a  right  angle,  to  the  vertical  plane.  (Fig.  38a, 
pi.  XI.) 

This  vertical  plane  (which  is  continued  by  the  cephalic  face 
of  the  metopidium),  when  viewed  in  cephalic  aspect,  appears 
as  an  isosceles  triangle.  The  suture  between  the  head  and  the 
metopidium  of  the  prothorax  forms  the  base,  and  the  globular 
eyes  form  the  equal  angles.  The  ventral  edge  of  the  face, 
which  is  formed  by  the  clypeus,  is  the  vertex  of  the  triangle; 
the  sides  of  the  lorse  extend  from  clypeus  to  compound  eye, 
and  form  the  sides  of  the  triangle.    (See  fig.  62,  pi.  XVI.) 

Before  the  head  can  be  viewed  in  its  entirety  the  prothorax 
must  be  removed,  as  the  top  of  the  head  is  concealed  by  the  prse- 
scutum.  The  suture,  although  in  an  approximately  straight 
line,  slopes  slightly  downward  toward  the  sides,  thus  giving 
the  base  of  the  metopidium  a  curved  appearance.  (See  fig.  62, 
pi.  XVI.)  This  suture  is  not  articulate  in  the  adult  forms, 
and  although  easily  opened,  care  must  be  taken  in  removing 
the  prothorax,  as  there  are  tiny  arms  produced  from  the  front 
of  the  lateral  angles  of  prothorax,  which  surround  the  head 
back  of  the  compound  eyes.  Frequently,  if  these  arms  are  not 
first  broken  away,  the  head  will  pull  off'  with  the  prothorax. 
These  arms  extend  almost  around  the  union  of  the  head  with 
the  thorax,  and  reach  to  the  coxae  of  the  prothoracic  legs,  to 
which  the  arms  are  attached  by  a  delicate  membrane.  (Fig. 
34,  pi.  X.)  The  prothorax  removed,  the  head  or  cephalic 
aspect  thereof  can  be  viewed.  This  ventral  plane  is  flat  when 
viewed  laterally,  but  is  really  curved  slightly  backward  on  the 
sides,  the  middle  of  the  curve  being  the  central  line  dividing 
the  face  into  bilateral  halves.     In  this  aspect  three  divisions 


86  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

of  the  head  can  be  seen,  namely :    Epicranium,  clypeus,  and 
lorse.    (Fig.  35,  pi.  XI.) 

The  Epicranium,  in  the  generalized  insect,  is  the  dorsal 
part  of  the  head  lying  back  of  an  inverted  Y-shaped  suture 
(Comstock  and  Kochi).  In  this  family  the  suture  is  clearly 
marked,  the  main  suture  branching  at  the  top  of  the  clypeus 
and  the  arms  of  the  suture  formed  by  the  lateral  edges  of  the 
clypeus.  The  top  of  the  epicranium  is  almost  flat,  although 
there  is  a  slight  indentation  at  the  suture  and  the  line  curves 
down  slightly  to  meet  the  compound  eyes.  In  dorsal  view 
(fig.  1,  pi.  V)  the  epicranium  narrows  from  front  to  back, 
rolling  gently  backward  and  then  dropping  suddenly  to  the 
occiput  (fig.  40,  pi.  XII).  The  vertex  of  the  epicranium  is 
just  back  of  the  suture  between  the  head  and  prothorax. 

The  compound  eyes  are  considered  the  outgrowth  of  the 
epicranium,  and  are  situated  at  the  extreme  lateral  edges  of 
the  sclerite.  They  are  large  and  globular  and  composed  of 
thousands  of  hexagonal  facets.  As  the  ventral  surface  of  the 
eye  contains  approximately  as  many  facets  and  is  as  large  in 
area  as  the  cephalic  surface,  it  would  seem  that  the  downward 
vision  of  the  insect  would  equal  its  forward  vision.  (Fig.  35 
at  c,  and  37a  at  c,  pi.  XI.) 

Ocelli. — Situated  in  the  front  of  the  head,  in  an  unsutured 
division  of  the  epicranium,  named  the  Frons,  and  nearer  the 
clypeus  than  the  vertex,  lying  either  side  of  the  epicranial 
suture,  are  the  brilliant  little  ocelli.  (Figs.  35  and  37a  at  a, 
pi.  XL) 

LOR^.  Separated  by  no  apparent  suture,  but  nevertheless 
a  division  of  the  epicranium,  are  the  lorse.  Their  lateral  edges 
extend  from  the  base  of  the  compound  eyes  to  the  ventral  point 
of  the  lateral  edge  of  the  clypeus.  This  division  line  is  about 
midway  of  the  lateral  edge  of  the  clypeus  in  an  oblique  line 
upward  to  the  base  of  the  compound  eye.  There  is  thus  formed 
a  small  triangle  with  two  long  and  one  short  side,  the  short 
side  being  next  to  the  clypeus.    (Fig.  35  at  I,  pi.  XI.) 

Clypeus.*  This  sclerite  has  been  discussed  and  pointed  out 
by  the  foregoing  descriptions  until  it  needs  very  little  ex- 
planation. In  this  cephalic  aspect  it  is  triangular  and  with  a 
curved  base,  the  apex  of  the  triangle  at  the  epicranial  suture. 

*  In  the  nomenclature  of  the  mouth  parts  the  author  follows  Muir  &  Kershaw  (2S) 
in  that  slie  considers  what  many  systematists  call  frons,  clypeus  and  lahrum,  respectivel/ 
the  clypeus,  labrum  and  epipharynx. 


branch:    biology  of  kansas  membracid^.  87 

The  ventral  edge  is  densely  hirsute.  The  whole  cephalic  face 
is  deeply  pitted  or  punctate  and  frequently  mottled  with  dark 
patches.     (Fig.  35  at  y,  pi.  XI.) 

The  plane  at  an  angle  of  95  degrees  to  this  cephalic  face 
is  also  a  triangle,  the  base  being  the  ventral  edge  of  the  ce- 
phalic face  and  the  apex  the  distal  end  of  the  epipharynx.  (See 
Fig.  37a,  pi.  XI.) 

In  this  plane  are  found  the  mouth  parts  proper,  and  here 
are  situated  all  the  typical  sclerites  of  a  suctorial  mouth, 
namely,  clypeus,  labrum,  epipharynx,  mandibular  and  maxil- 
lary sclerites  with  their  respective  setae,  and  the  labium  or 
beak. 

Situated  also  in  this  plane  are  the  gense  or  cheeks,  and  the 
antennal  sockets  with  the  delicate  antennae.  The  compound 
eyes  are  also  visible  in  this  plane.  When  at  rest  the  beak  lies 
between  the  coxse  of  the  legs  of  the  insect  and  close  to  the 
sternum,  but  when  in  use  it  is  lowered  onto  the  food  plant  by 
special  muscles. 

The  GENiE  (fig.  37a  at  g,  pi.  XI)  are  irregular  quadrangu- 
lar plates  surrounded  by  the  compound  eyes,  the  mandibular 
and  maxillary  sclerites  and  the  overhanging  lorse.  These  gense, 
with  the  maxillary  sclerites,  form  the  lateral  edges  of  this 
plane  of  the  head. 

Antennal  Socket.  (Fig.  35  at  x,  pi.  XI.)  Situated  on 
the  inner  edge  of  the  genae,  and  lying  against  the  ventral  face 
of  the  clypeus  and  under  the  overhanging  edge  of  the  lorae,  is 
the  circular  socket  or  antennal  sclerite,  its  edge  next  to  the 
genae  being  the  quadrant  of  a  circle. 

Antenn.^.  (Figs.  36  and  37a,  pi.  XI.)  The  antennae  are 
pale  in  color  and  extremely  minute  and  bristle-like.  So  minute 
and  delicate  are  they  that  they  are  scarcely  discernible  with 
a  pocket  lens;  in  fact,  they  are  frequently  absent  in  mounted 
specimens,  as  they  are  easily  broken  off. 

The  antenna,  which  measures  0.45  mm.  in  length,  is  com- 
posed of  three  segments — two  stout  basal  segments  (to  and  n, 
fig.  36,  pi.  XI) ,  the  second  and  heavier  of  which  bears  sensoria; 
the  third  segment  is  spur-like,  having  a  thickened  base  and 
gradually  becoming  slender  until  the  distal  end  is  hair-like. 
This  spur,  although  unsegmented,  has  more  than  fifty  small 
divisions,  the  last  one  much  longer  than  the  others.  (Fig.  36, 
X,  pi.  XI.)     The  antennae  are  very  deeply  set  into  the  socket. 


88  •  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

there  being  found  upon  dissection  an  interior  spine  nearly  as 
long  as  the  two  basal  segments. 

In  caudal  aspect  the  head  presents  a  concave  surface,  smooth 
and  unhaired  or  punctured.  Only  small  margins  of  the  com- 
pound eyes  can  be  seen.     (Fig.  40,  pi.  XII.) 

Branching  out  from  the  occipital  plates  w^hich  surround 
the  cavity  are  seen  the  tentoria  {t,  fig.  40,  pi.  XII)  ;  from  these 
is  a  narrow  chitinized  bar  with  three  pairs  of  branches — one 
pair  inward  to  support  the  oesophagus  and  attached  to  the 
cephalic  face,  just  above  the  suture  for  clypeus,  the  second 
pair  toward  the  thorax  to  help  join  the  head  to  the  thorax,  and 
the  third  pair  join  to  meet  the  bar  which  supports  the  labium. 

Mouth  Parts. 

In  ventral  aspect  (fig.  37a,  pi.  XI)  the  clypeus  appears  as 
a  fleshy,  swollen  cushion,  very  large  in  proportion  to  the  other 
sclerites,  and  rising  in  a  dome.  It  is  haired  and  its  lateral 
edges  fit  down  tightly  upon  the  other  sclerites.  (See  fig.  37a 
at  y,  pi.  XL) 

Labrum.  Lying  against  the  distal  edge  of  the  clypeus  is  the 
labrum,  light  in  color,  and  also  fleshy  and  slightly  elevated,  but 
smooth  and  unhaired.  It  is  elongated,  with  lateral  edges  curv- 
ing inward  distad.  (See  lb,  fig.  37a,  pi.  XL)  In  its  under 
side  the  edges  are  seen  to  curve  inward  to  support  the  epi- 
pharynx.    The  distal  edge  is  pilose. 

Epipharynx.  Arising  beneath  and  extending  beyond  the 
labrum  is  the  external  portion  of  the  epipharynx.  It  is  pointed, 
and  grooved  on  its  inner  surface,  fitting  closely  over  the  open- 
ing in  the  first  segment  of  the  beak,  and  making,  with  the 
labium,  an  almost  perfect  tube  (fig.  38b,  pi.  XII)  for  the  setae, 
which  come  together  and  enter  the  beak  at  this  point.  It  ex- 
tends exteriorly  to  the  joint  between  the  first  and  second  seg- 
ments. (Fig.  37a,  pi.  XL)  On  its  inner  or  under  side  the 
epipharynx  is  grooved  and  extends  in  a  slender,  thin  plate  to 
the  hypopharynx,  which  will  be  discussed  later.  (Fig.  39, 
pi.  XII.) 

Mandibular  Sclerites.  (Fig.  37a  at  m,  pi.  XL)  Lying 
laterad  of  the  clypeus  is  a  slender,  curved  plate  immovably 
sutured  with  the  clypeus.  Muir  and  Kershaw  seem  to  con- 
sider this  sclerite  as  a  lateral  projection  of  the  clypeus. 
They  figure  a  mandibular  suture  but  no  scelerite.  I  find 
this  suture  between  the  clypeus  and  the  projected  plate  of 


branch:     biology    of    KANSAS    MEMBRACID^.  89 

Muir  and  Kershaw  easily  opened  and  the  two  sclerites  sepa- 
rated. In  figure  42,  pi.  XII,  can  be  seen  this  sclerite  with 
the  labriim  remoA'ed.  It  has  a  delicate  di.stal  process,  which  is 
covered  and  protected  by  the  labriim.  The  cross  on  figure  42 
shows  where  the  seta  is  joined  to  the  sclerite  on  its  inner  sur- 
face. This  sclerite  is  also  sparsely  covered  with  hairs.  It  can 
not  be  seen  in  caudal  aspect  until  the  maxillary  sclerite  has 
been  removed.     (Fig.  41,  pi.  XII.) 

Maxillary  Sclerites.  (Fig.  37a  at  n,  pi.  XI.)  Situated 
laterad  and  below  the  mandibular  sclerites  are  the  maxillary 
sclerites.  They  too  are  curved,  but  on  the  front  face  are  much 
narrower  than  mandibular  sclerites.  They  form  the  lateral 
surface  of  the  plane,  however,  and  in  caudal  aspect  are  wide. 
(Fig.  40  at  X,  pi.  XII.)  Each  sclerite  bears  two  processes, 
one  above  the  other,  and  both  grooved  on  their  outer  edges  to 
assist  the  set£e  better  on  their  way  into  the  head.  The  proc- 
esses are  also  concealed  under  the  labrum.  Figure  39,  plate 
XII,  shows  the  inner  surface  of  the  clypeus,  mandibular 
sclerites,  labrum,  and  epipharynx.  Situated  on  the  distal  edge 
of  the  clypeus  and  at  the  base  of  the  epipharynx  is  the  heart- 
shaped  hypopharynx.  Its  function  seems  to  be  to  cover  the 
setse  as  they  merge  together  and  continue  the  tubular  structure 
of  the  pharynx  and  enter  the  grooved  trough  of  the  epi- 
phamyx. 

Labium.  (Fig.  37a,  pi.  XI;  fig.  38b,  pi.  XII.)  This  is  the 
beak  in  which  lie  the  setse.  It  is  composed  of  three  segments, 
the  second  of  which  in  cephalic  view  appears  longest,  but  in 
lateral  aspect  seems  to  be  joined  to  the  distal  segment  by  a 
sort  of  socket  joint,  the  dorsal  edges  of  which  are  formed  by 
this  second  segment  and  the  distal  segment  set  into  this  socket 
thus  formed.  (Fig.  38a,  pi.  XII.)  The  first  segment  of  the 
beak,  as  it  passes  under  the  labrum,  clypeus  and  maxillary 
sclerites,  broadens  until  it  seems  to  form  the  base  of  the  caudal 
cavity  of  the  head.  This  segment  forms  the  floor  of  the  mouth, 
and,  although  chitinized,  it  is  flexible.  It  is  "supported  down 
the  middle  by  a  chitinized  rod  (fig.  40  at  r,  pi.  XII)  coming 
from  the  bar  and  joining  the  tentorial  sclerites.  This  rod  ex- 
tends the  entire  length  of  the  beak,  ending  in  the  third  seg- 
ment. On  dorsal  side  the  labium  is  closed  and  flat,  but  on  the 
ventral  side  its  edges  curve  inward  to  form  a  groove  or  trough 
for  the  setae.    The  first  two  segments  of  the  beak  are  slightly 

2-Umv.Sci.  Bull..  Vol.  VUI.  No.  3. 


90  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

hirsute,  but  the  distal  one  is  furnished  with  heavy  spines  or 
sensorial  hairs.  The  end  of  the  beak  is  rounded  and  heavily 
chitinized,  probably  thus  protected,  as  this  portion  rests  upon 
the  food-plant  during  feeding. 

Set^.  The  setse  are  four  in  number,  one  pair  assigned  to 
the  mandibular  processes  and  the  other  pair  to  the  maxillary. 

The  inner  pair  of  maxillary  setse  are  separated  with  diffi- 
culty, as  they  appear  to  be  tightly  grooved,  forming  a  tube. 
The  distal  end  of  this  pair  extends  beyond  the  other  pair  and 
projects  out  of  the  distal  end  of  the  beak.  (Fig.  38b,  pi.  XII.) 
The  distal  ends  of  the  maxillary  setse  are  smooth  and  hair-like, 
but  curved  slightly  at  the  extreme  tip.  They  lie  between  the 
other  pair  until  the  first  segment  of  the  head  is  reached,  when 
they  become  caudad  in  position  and  separate  from  each  other 
on  either  side  of  the  pharynx,  disappearing  into  the  head 
cavity.  The  inner  end  of  each  seta  is  thickened  and  is  joined 
to  the  inner  surface  of  the  top  of  the  head  by  heavy  muscles. 
From  this  muscle  descends  a  muscle  to  the  inner  face  of  the 
maxillary  sclerite.     (Fig.  41,  pi.  XII.) 

Mandibular  Setse. — These  are  heavier  than  the  maxillary 
setae,  although  not  as  long.  The  distal  end  is  blunt  and  its  outer 
edge  or  surface  bears  eight  black  teeth.  (Fig.  37b,  pi.  XII.) 
The  setse  lie  laterad  of  and  surround  the  maxillary  setse  in 
their  passage  into  the  head,  but  on  entering  the  head  they  lie 
cephalad.  These  mandibular  setse  are  thickened  in  the  head 
and  connected  to  the  sclerites  by  a  well  articulating  joint. 
(Figure  41  at  v,  pi.  XII.)  From  this  joint  extends  a  heavy 
muscle,  which  branches  into  two  as  it  nears  the  top  of  the 
head. 

For  further  investigation,  observations  must  be  based  on 
sections,  both  transverse  and  longitudinal.  In  making  obser- 
vations on  sections  to  ascertain  the  structures  of  mouth  parts, 
it  seems  to  be  advisable  to  begin  at  the  distal  end  of  the  beak 
and  carry  our  observations  into  the  head,  piece  by  piece. 

The  general  shape  of  the  beak  or  labium  is  transversely 
elliptical,  the  outline  varying  somewhat  in  the  different  seg- 
ments. The  back  or  dorsal  side  of  the  labium  (the  side  which 
lies  against  the  sternum)  is  protected  and  strengthened  by  a 
chitinized  rod.  (Fig.  40,  pi.  XII.)  The  labial  wall  on  the  ven- 
tral side  comes  almost  together,  and  then  curves  inward,  form- 
ing a  groove  in  which  the  setse  lie. 


branch:    biology  of  Kansas  membracid^.  91 

In  a  section  near  the  tip  of  the  beak  (fig.  46,  pi.  XIII)  the 
groove  is  shallow  and  opens  in  front,  allowing  the  setae  free 
and  unhampered  movement.  In  this  section  the  maxillary  set« 
are  found,  as  they  are  longer  than  the  mandibular  setae,  which 
do  not  always  extend  to  the  end  of  the  beak ;  in  fact,  the  max- 
illary setae  are  frequently  a  full  mm.  longer  than  the  beak.  In 
this  third  segment  the  shape  near  the  tip  is  circular.  The 
supporting  rod  is  not  visible  in  the  figure,  but  the  dorsal  wall 
is  indentated  slightly  in  the  middle,  and  the  rod  probably  plays 
in  this  indentation.  The  maxillary  setae  here  appear  as  one, 
but  upon  closer  observation  this  structure  appears  to  be  made 
up  of  two  sections  tightly  grooved  on  their  inner  surfaces. 
One  seta  is  situated  above  the  other  throughout  the  entire  line 
of  the  beak. 

A  section  near  the  middle  of  the  third  segment  is  shown  at 
figure  45,  plate  XIII.  Here  the  shape  is  elongated  dorso-ven- 
trad.  (Fig.  38a,  pi.  XI.)  In  this  section  we  notice  the  pres- 
ence of  the  mandibular  setae ;  they  are  crescent-shaped,  folding 
around  the  maxillary  setae.  As  the  sections  proceed  toward 
the  head,  the  labium  becomes  more  circular  in  shape  until  near 
the  upper  end  of  the  second  segment  it  seems  to  be  almost  a 
perfect  circle.  (Fig.  44,  pi.  XIII.)  A  clearer  conception  of 
the  various  parts  may  be  seen  in  figure  43,  plate  XIII.  The 
shape  is  elliptical  laterad  and  the  strengthening  rod  is  very 
clearly  present.  The  epipharynx  completely  closes  the  tube  and 
protects  the  setae.  The  mandibular  setae  show  an  opening 
which  has  been  noticeable  in  the  other  sections.  The  shape  of 
the  setae  is  circular  on  its  outer  edge,  but  on  the  inner  edge  it  is 
triangular.  (See  e,  fig.  43,  pi.  XIII.)  The  ventral  curve  folds 
around  the  maxillary  setae.  The  maxillary  setae  show  the 
grooved  structure  on  their  inner  edges. 

By  making  observations  on  figure  38a,  plate  XI,  the  reader 
will  ascertain  that  a  cut  made  transversely  on  the  beak  will 
also  cut  transversely,  or  nearly  so,  across  the  mandibular  and 
maxillary  sclerites.  Such  a  section  is  shown  at  figure  47, 
plate  XIII.  The  setae  have  become  much  larger  than  they  were 
in  the  beak.  The  maxillary  setae  have  separated  from  each 
other  (.T  and  d,  fig.  47,  pi.  XIII).  The  clypeus  shows  its  vari- 
ous braces  and  pharyngeal  muscles. 

In  a  longitudinal  section — that  is,  across  the  vertical  plane — 
the  cut  will  be  parallel  to  the  longitudinal  line  of  the  maxillary 


92  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

and  mandibular  sclerites.  Such  a  section  is  shown  at  figure 
48,  plate  XIV. 

Maxillary  Set^.  As  the  setae  enter  the  head  they  separate, 
going  either  side  of  the  pharynx  and  extending  to  the  top  of 
the  epicranium.  The  setae  widen  as  they  approach  this  ex- 
tremity. Each  seta  is  fastened  to  the  epicranial  wall  by  a 
heavy  muscle  (a,  fig.  48,  pi.  XIV),  from  which  arises  another 
muscle,  which  is  attached  to  the  upper  side  of  the  seta  and 
forms  the  refractory  muscle.  Attached  to  the  lower  edge  of 
the  widened  extremity  of  the  seta  is  a  pair  of  muscles,  one  of 
which  is  branched.  This  pair  of  muscles  proceeds  along  the 
line  of  the  seta  and  are  attached  to  the  inner  surface  of  the 
maxillary  sclerite  at  its  distal  end,  thus  forming  the  pro- 
tractory  muscles. 

Mandibular  Set^.  The  mandibular  setae,  in  the  head,  lie 
laterad  of  the  maxillary  setae.  They  do  not  extend  as  far  into 
the  head,  as  they  are  joined  to  the  mandibular  sclerite  by  an 
articulating  joint.  The  seta  is  connected  to  the  epicranial  wall, 
however,  by  a  very  strong  muscle,  the  retractor  {t,  fig.  48,  pi. 
XIV).  The  protractor  is  shown  at  n;  this  muscle  is  branched 
at  the  end  attached  to  the  sclerite.  This  attachment  is  not 
visible  in  the  figure.  In  this  same  section  is  shown  a  longi- 
section  of  the  salivary  ejaculator  or  pump  of  the  suctorial  ap- 
paratus. (See  c,  fig.  48,  pi.  XIV.)  Connected  to  this  pump 
are  the  ducts  which  supposedly  lead  to  the  salivary  glands, 
although  the  glands  have  not  been  satisfactorily  located  by  the 
writer. 

The  Pharynx  may  be  seen  in  both  the  transverse  and  longi- 
tudinal sections,  as  it  enters  the  head  in  such  a  manner  that  a 
cross  section  of  it  is  obtained  near  the  back  of  the  head  in  a 
transverse  section  (fig.  47,  pi.  XIII)  and  turns  downward, 
passing  over  the  oesophagal  ganglion,  and  is  found  again  in 
longi-section. 

Ganglia.  In  longi-section  and  through  the  compound  eyes 
near  the  top  of  the  head  (see  fig.  49,  pi.  XIV)  the  suboesophagal 
and  supercesophagal  ganglion  are  shown,  with  the  maxillary 
setEe  on  either  side  of  the  subganglion  over  which  the  pharynx 
passes.  The  superganglion,  or  upper  brain,  is  extremely  large 
in  proportion  to  the  head,  and  lies  forward  toward  the  front 
surface  of  the  face  or  epicranium.  Branching  out  on  either 
side  of  this  ganglion  is  a  large  optic  nerve  which  leads  to  the 
■compound  eye.     (See  o,  fig.  49,  pi.  XIV.) 


BRANCH:     BIOLOGY   OF   KANSAS   MEMBRACID^.  93 

An  endeavor  has  been  made  to  locate  the  nerves  governing 
*^^he  mouth  parts,  but  as  yet  without  success. 

Clypeus.  In  sections  shown  at  figure  47,  plate  XIII,  and 
figure  48,  plate  XIV,  the  heavy  muscular  tissues  on  the  interior 
of  the  clypeus  are  seen.  They  are  transverse  and  longitudinal 
muscles,  which  presumably  regulate  the  muscular  contraction 
and  retraction  of  the  upper  part  of  the  pharynx,  and  for  this 
reason  are  called  the  pharangeal  muscles. 

Summary. 
In  a  median  lateral  longitudinal  section  of  the  entire  head 
and  beak,  a  final  and  more  comprehensive  conception  of  the 
entire  structure  is  presented.  A  careful  study  of  this  section, 
combined  with  the  others  just  referred  to,  give  the  following 
results  (fig.  50,  pi.  XV)  : 

The  Pharynx  enters  the  head  in  a  plane  at  an  angle  of 
about  60  degrees  with  the  vertical  or  cephalic  face  of  the  head. 
It  passes  over  the  suboesophagal  ganglion,  and,  turning  sud- 
denly downward,  passes  under  the  superoesophagal  ganglion 
(see  b) .  The  pharynx  proceeds  toward  the  ventral  face  of  the 
head  until  near  the  base  of  the  distal  end  of  the  clypeus  (z) , 
when  it  turns  sharply  downward  in  a  line  parallel  to  the  ven- 
tral face  of  the  clypeus.  At  this  turn  the  upper  wall  of  the 
pharynx  is  formed  by  the  hypopharynx  (h) ,  which  joins  itself 
to  the  epipharynx  ig),  lying  beneath  the  labrum  (l).  The 
upper  wall  of  the  pharynx  is  expanded  and  compressed  by  the 
heavy  muscles  in  the  clypeus  and  labrum  (t,  u,  n).  The  max- 
illary setfe  (;r)  lie  either  side  of  the  pharynx,  gradually  ap- 
proaching each  other  until  they  meet,  one  lying  over  the  other, 
forming  a  complete  tube  to  continue  the  alimentary  canal  to 
the  end  of  the  maxillary  setae. 

Pump.  (Fig.  50,  p,  pi.  XV.)  Situated  below  the  pharynx  is 
a  fleshy  bundle  of  muscles  with  an  opening  into  a  short  duct, 
wihch  appears  closed  at  the  forward  end.  From  this  duct  are 
two  smaller  ducts  (k  and  o,  fig.  50),  one  leading  into  the 
pharynx,  and  the  other  presumably  leading  from  the  salivary 
glands. 

Beak  or  Labium.  The  floor  of  the  mouth  is  formed  by  the 
extension  of  the  first  segment  of  the  beak  (/,  fig.  50,  pi.  XV), 
and  is  supplied  with  muscles  near  the  curve  of  the  first  seg- 
ment. These  muscles  are  presumably  used  in  lowering  and 
raising  the  beak.     Each  segment  has  three  pairs  of  lateral 


94  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

muscles,  and  there  are  numerous  muscles  running  longitudi- 
nally, which  are  not  shown  at  figure  50,  but  may  be  seen  in 
cross  sections  in  figures  46  and  45  at  m,  m,  plate  XIII. 

Running  along  the  exterior  surface  of  the  floor  and  down  the 
dorsal  side  of  the  beak  is  the  chitinous  rod  used  as  a  brace. 

Thorax.  The  head  is  fastened  to  the  prothorax  by  two 
muscles  (m-m,  fig.  40,  pi.  XII).  It  is  fastened  to  the  meso- 
thorax  by  a  pair  of  lateral  muscles.  The  union  with  the  meso- 
thorax  is  completely  covered  by  the  prothorax  with  its  lateral 
arms,  back  of  the  compound  eyes. 

Shape. — The  prothorax  may  be  seen  in  figure  61,  plate  XVI. 
It  is  compressed  and  the  metopidium  rises  into  a  compressed 
and  greatly  elevated  procephalon,  which  in  lateral  view  is 
"spade-shaped."  The  dorsum  is  deeply  sinuated  at  about  one- 
third  the  way  toward  the  posterior  end.  This  sinuation  forms 
the  back  of  the  procephalon  and  also  the  front  edge  of  the  dor- 
sal hump.  The  color  of  the  prothorax  is  a  dull  tan  and  brown, 
varying  in  the  sex.  The  color  markings  differ  in  some  re- 
spects, but  this  is  fully  discussed  under  the  head  of  Entylia 
sinuata,  in  the  systematic  paper  at  the  close  of  this  treatise. 
The  mesothorax  and  metathorax  are  shown  in  dorsal  aspect  at 
figure  1,  plate  V.  Here  the  bullse,  or  lobes,  are  to  be  seen;  also 
the  articulation  of  the  tegmina  and  wings  with  the  body.  In 
each  section  (meso  or  meta)  the  scutum  or  bullse  are  elevated 
and  polished;  much  enlarged  in  comparison  with  the  other 
segments,  as  they  contain  muscles  used  in  flying.  The  prse- 
scutum,  scutum,  scutellum  and  postscutellum  are  marked  and 
indicated  on  figure  1. 

Tegmina. 

The  tegmina  of  Entylia  sinuata,  like  all  of  the  genera  of  the 
tribe  Polyglytini,  are  punctate  and  darkly  coriaceous  in  the 
costal,  radial  and  first  basal  cells.  In  Entylia  sinuata  the 
punctating  is  dense  and  heavy,  as  is  shown  in  figure  1,  plate  V, 
and  figure  83,  plate  XX. 

The  veins  in  the  tegmen  seem  to  be  pushed  anteriorly,  leaA'- 
ing  a  wide,  unveined  area  below  the  first  ulnar  vein.  The 
second  ulnar  vein  disappears  soon  after  leaving  the  base,  but 
reappears  near  the  posterior  margin,  where  it  appears  in  a 
hook-shaped  line  curving  into  the  anal  vein  of  the  clavus. 
(Fig.  64,  pi.  XVII.) 


branch:    biology  of  Kansas  membracid^e.  95 

The  discoidal  cells  are  small  and  only  two  in  number,  unless 
the  vacant  unveined  portion  be  considered  a  discoidal.  The 
first  three  apical  cells  are  small,  the  third  one  petiolate,  while 
the  third  and  fourth  are  abnormally  large.  There  is  one,  and 
possibly  two,  anals  proceeding  out  of  the  base  of  the  clavus. 
The  tegmen  is  3.8  mm.  from  base  and  1.2  mm.  wide  in  broadest 
portion. 

Wings. 
The  wing  is  typical  of  the  family,  having  the  three  longi- 
tudinal veins — costa,  radia  and  ulnar — in  corium,  and  two  in 
clavus.  It  is  difficult  at  times  to  see  the  second  anal  vein.  The 
limbus  surround  the  veined  portion  except  at  the  base  and 
along  the  costal  area.  Wing  measures  2.2  mm.  from  base 
to  tip. 

Legs. 
The  prothoracic,  mesothoracic  and  metathoracic  legs,  in  all 
genera,  differ  greatly.  The  prothoracic  leg  has  a  heavy  coxa, 
which  is  joined  to  the  arm  of  the  prothorax  by  a  heavy  mem- 
brane. The  prothoracic  leg  is  almost  as  large  as  the  meso- 
thoracic. The  tibia,  however,  appears  heavier  in  the  pro- 
thoracic leg,  presumably  because  the  prothoracic  leg  is  more 
developed  through  the  aid  it  gives  during  feeding  time.  The 
femur  of  the  prothoracic  leg,  as  well  as  that  of  the  meso- 
thoracic, is  much  curved,  especially  the  outer  margin.  The 
tibiae  are  slender  and  quadrangular,  haired  and  spineless.  The 
claws  are  longer  than  those  in  the  metathoracic  leg ;  are  sharp, 
bearing  a  soft,  spongy  cushion  between  them.  This  cushion  is 
perhaps  used  as  a  suction  in  clinging  to  the  plant,  as  the  insect 
shows  strong  clinging  abilities  and  is  not  easily  shaken  off  its 
plant.  In  the  prothoracic  leg  the  tibia  is  scarcely  longer  than 
the  femur,  but  in  mesothoracic  it  is  one  third  longer. 

The  metathoracic  leg,  or  "jumping  leg,"  is  the  member  with 
which  the  insect  does  its  rapid  work  in  locomotion.  The  femur 
is  cylindrical,  but  is  not. as  curved  on  the  outer  edge  as  the 
femur  in  the  prothoracic  or  mesothoracic  leg.  It  is  narrower 
in  the  middle  than  on  either  end,  having  a  more  forceful  lever 
power  than  in  the  other  shape.  The  tibia  is  at  least  twice  the 
length  of  the  femur.  It  is  quadrangular,  with  numerous  black, 
shining  spines  on  the  four  angular  edges  and  also  on  the  planes 
between.  There  are  also  dark  spines  around  the  distal  end 
of  the  tibia  and  on  the  first  joint  of  the  tarsus.     (See  fig.  2, 


96  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

pi.  V.)  The  tibia  and  tarsi  are  densely  haired,  and  the  tibia 
is  larger  at  its  distal  end  than  in  any  other  portion  of  its 
length. 

The  Abdomen. 

The  abdomen  is  composed  of  the  typical  ten  segments  (eight 
and  the  two  forming  the  genitalia).  It  is  compressed  and  has 
a  ridge  on  its  medial  dorsal  area.  Each  of  the  eight  segments 
bears  a  pair  of  dark  markings  either  side  of  the  ridge.  The 
first  segment  is  narrower  than  the  metathorax,  thus  giving  the 
Insect  a  marked  constriction  just  back  of  the  wings.  The  body 
line  curves  outward,  the  fourth  segment  being  some  little 
wider  than  the  first  or  eighth.  Viewed  laterally  the  spiracles 
can  be  seen.     (See  fig.  54,  pi.  XV.) 

The  genitalia  form  a  part  of  the  abdomen  and  must  here 
be  discussed. 

The  Male  Genital  Organs,  viewed  laterally,  present  all 
the  typical  sclerites.     (Fig.  52,  pi.  XIV.) 

The  supra-anal  plate  (g,  fig.  52,  pi.  XIV)  is  joined  to  the 
eighth  abdominal  segment  by  a  heavy  membrane.  Proceeding 
from  the  ventral  side  of  the  lateral  face  of  the  supra-anal  plate 
is  a  sclerite  which  extends  caudad  beyond  this  plate.  Its  ven- 
tral edge  curves  upward,  forming  an  apex  with  the  dorsal 
edge  on  the  caudal  extremity  of  the  sclerite.  It  is  densely 
haired  and  flexible.  This  sclerite  is  a  cercus,  and  has  a  mate 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  insect.  (Fig.  52,  p,  pi.  XIV.)  These 
are  used  as  claspers. 

Clasper. — The  most  ventral  plate  in  lateral  aspect  is  a 
clasper.  It  is  narrowed  posteriorly,  hirsute,  and  also  has  a  mate. 
(See  r,  at  figs.  52  and  51,  pi.  XIV.)  Proceeding  from  the 
inner  side  of  the  claspers  are  four  polished,  claw-like  append- 
ages (two  on  a  side).  The  posterior  pair  are  larger  than  the 
other  pair,  which,  on  the  other  hand,  are  darker  than  the 
posterior  pair  (x,  fig.  52,  pi.  XIV). 

In  ventral  aspect  the  subgenital  plate  (see  g,  fig.  51,  pi.  XIV) 
is  seen.  It  is  a  fleshy  sclerite,  dentate  twice  on  its  ventral 
edge.  The  two  pairs  of  claw-like  organs  are  attached  to  the 
cerci  beneath  this  plate. 

The  anal  plate,  in  lateral  aspect,  is  boot-shaped,  pale,  and 
hirsute.  It  is  joined  to  the  supra-anal  plate  by  a  membrane. 
(See  y,  fig.  52,  pi.  XIV.) 


branch:   biology  of  Kansas  membracid^.  97 

The  copulatory  organ  is  little  seen  in  lateral  aspect,  as  it  is 
situated  on  the  ventral  side  of  the  anal  plate,  and  is  closely 
attached  thereto.  In  ventral  aspect  this  organ  is  seen  lying 
against  the  anal  plate  {k,  fig.  51,  pi.  XIV) .  It  is  highly  chitin- 
ized  and  dark,  bearing  a  set  of  conspicuous,  polished  elevations. 

The  Female  Genital  Organs.  Ovipositors. — The  last  ven- 
tral segment  is  triangular  in  its  caudal  edge,  the  sides  sloping 
obliquely  from  the  middle.  Proceeding  from  under  this  sclerite 
is  a  pair  of  long,  slender,  highly  chitinized  plates  (o,  fig.  53, 
pi.  XV).  Near  the  ventral  plate  of  the  abdomen  these  plates 
enlarge  or  broaden  and  surround  the  vaginal  opening.  These 
slender  sclerites  are  pointed  at  the  caudal  extremity,  situated 
close  together,  forming  a  groove  for  the  placing  of  the  eggs. 
These  are  the  ovipositors. 

Either  side  of  the  ovipositors  is  another  long,  slender  scle- 
rite. This  with  its  mate  form  the  egg  guides  (r,  fig.  53, 
pi.  XV). 

In  lateral  aspect  (fig.  54,  pi.  XV)  are  seen  the  supra-anal 
plate  at  g,  the  subgenital  at  gs.  the  cerci  or  claspers  at  r,  and 
the  egg  guides  at  e.  The  ventral  plate  is  shown  at  v.  In  the 
female  the  subgenital  plate  lies  beneath  the  anterior  edge  of 
the  ovipositors.  On  its  posterior  edge  it  is  double  curved  (fir, 
fig.  53,  pi.  XV). 

Techmque. 

Three  processes  of  killing  were  used.  First,  the  hot-water 
method:  Boiling  water  was  poured  over  the  specimens  and 
allowed  to  stand  without  further  heating,  for  five  minutes.  At 
the  end  of  this  time  dehydration  was  commenced,  using  in- 
creasing grades  of  alcohol  from  30  per  cent  to  70  per  cent,  and 
left  in  70  per  cent  for  keeping. 

The  second  method:  Gilson's  solution — acetic  alcohol  with 
sublimate  (see  Lee's  Vade  Mecum) — ^was  poured  over  speci- 
mens and  allowed  to  stand  from  fifteen  to  thirty  minutes.  The 
solution  was  washed  out  with  claret  solution  or  iodine  in  85 
per  cent  alcohol.  This  washing  must  be  repeated  several  times 
for  an  hour  or  two  until  no  trace  of  the  odor  of  acetic  acid  can 
be  detected.  If  this  acetic  acid  remains  in  the  specimen  it  will 
cause  the  insect  to  swell,  and  there  is  danger  of  the  abdomen 
bursting.  The  claret  solution  is  replaced  by  70  per  cent  alco- 
hol for  keeping. 


98  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

The  third  method  was  to  kill  in  picro-aceto-sublimate  (see 
Vade  Mecum). 

The  last  two  methods  were  found  more  efficient  in  external 
and  coarse  dissection,  as  the  sutures  were  more  distinct  and 
the  muscles  less  brittle  than  in  the  water-killing.  Before  much 
work  could  be  done  in  external  anatomy  of  the  head,  it  was 
necessary  to  clear  the  heads  by  boiling  for  fifteen  minutes  in 
one  part  saturate  solution  potassium  hydrate  and  ten  parts 
water. 

For  sectioning,  any  one  of  the  three  fixative  methods  seemed 
equally  good.  On  account  of  the  difficulty  through  the  chitin, 
the  material  had  to  be  softened  in  sodium  hypochlorite  solution 
(saturate  solution,  one  part  to  ten  parts  water,  was  found 
satisfactory) .  The  writer  left  the  specimens  over  night  (about 
fourteen  hours)  in  this  solution,  and  then  dehydrated  up  to 
85  per  cent  alcohol,  from  which  the  specimens  were  put  into 
cedar  oil  for  twenty-four  hours  or  longer. 

For  infiltration,  watch  glasses  were  partially  filled  with 
melted  paraflSn.  The  specimens,  before  being  placed  in  the 
paraffin,  were  drained  on  blotting  paper.  This  process  makes 
the  change  of  paraffin  unnecessary.  The  infiltration  continued 
for  ninety-six  hours. 

Sections  were  cut  ten  microns,  stained  three  to  four  hours  in 
Mayer's  carmulum,  and  mounted  in  Canada  balsam. 

Taxonomy. 
The  following  synoptical  table  of  the  subfamilies  of  the 
Membracidse  is  taken  from  Van  Duzee   (41),  who  uses  that 
given  by  Canon  Fowler,  who  founded  his  work  formally  on 
that  of  Stal : 

Scutellum  wanting  or  entirely  concealed  by  pronotum 1 

Scutellum  distinct  and  more  or  less  uncovered,  with  its  apex  nearly 
always  excavated  or  broadly  sinuated  and  furnished  on  each  side 
with  acute  angles Centrotin^  Stal. 

1.  Tarsi  of  equal  length,  or  posterior  pair  longest 2 

Posterior    tarsi    much    shorter    than    the    anterior    and    interme- 
diate     HOPLOPHORIN^   Stal. 

2.  Tibiae,    at    least    the    anterior    and    intermediate,    dilated    or    foli- 

aceous  // — Membracin.e  Stal. 

Tibise  simple  or  very  slightly  dilated,  never  foliaceous 3 

3.  Third    apical    or    terminal    areola   of   the    corium    elongated,    never 

petiolate  Darning  Stal. 

Third  apical  or  terminal  areole  of  the  corium  petiolate,  the  adjacent 
areoles  contiguous  before  it , 4 


BRANCH  :     BIOLOGY   OF   KANSAS    MEMBRACID^.  99 

4.    Elytra  externally  broadly  coriaceous  and  opaque,  with  the  veins  of 
the    coriaceous    portion    scarcely    distinguishable,    and    the    free 

margin  broad   Tragopin^  Stal. 

Elytra  entirely  membranous,  with  the  veins  distinct  or  coriaceous 
and  punctured  at  the  base  only / — Smiliin^  Stal. 

I.— Subfamily  SMILIIN^*  Stal. 
The  Smiliida  are  more  northern  in  their  contribution  and  form  by  far 
the  greater  portion  of  our  North  American  fauna  in  this  family. 

Elytra  free,  with  the  clavus  uncovered,  its  interior  margin  touching  the 

external  margin  of  the  pronotum 1 — Cerasini  Godg. 

Clavus  and  frequently  a  part  of  the  corium  covered  by  the  pronotum . .   1 

1.  Wings  with  the  terminal  areole  sessile,  its  base  truncated. 

2 — ^Telamonini  Godg. 
Wings  with  the  terminal  areole  triangular,  stylate 2 

2.  Base  of  the  corium  with  two  closely  contiguous  veins. 

S — POLYGLYPTINI   Godg. 

Base  of  the  corium  with  three  veins,  usually  contiguous. 

Jf — Smiliini  Godg. 
1. — Tribe  Cerasini. 
Corium  with  two  veins  contiguous  at  base,  sometimes  united  in  one. ...    1 
Corium  with  two  distinct  veins  at  base,  contiguous  at  most,  but  for  a 

short  space  at  base,  where  they  are  subobsolete 2 

1.  Pronotum  armed  with   suprahumeral   horns,   sometimes  reduced   to 

mere  tubular  angles 1 — Ceresa  A.  &  S. 

Pronotum  without  suprahumeral  horns,  the  sides  of  the  metopidium, 
at  most,  obtusely  angled 2 — Stictocephala  Stal. 

2.  Elytra  with  five  apical  areoles,  veins  distinct. . .  .3 — Acutalis  Fairm. 
Elytra  with   four  apical  areoles,  veins  indistinct. 

4 — Micrutalis  Fowler. 
1. — Genus  Ceresa  A.  &  S. 
In   North   America   we  find   fifteen   species,  of  which   only  three   are 
recorded  from  Kansas.    I  give  below  a  small  key,  based  somewhat  on  that 
of  Van  Duzee  (4)  : 

A.    Suprahumer.ils  broad,  stout   and  triangular. 

B.    Elytra    infuscated,    metopidium   pale,    prothorax  brown,    transversely  banded 
with    pale    near    middle     and     a    narrower     pale    marking    near    posterior 

process     2 — dieeros    Say 

AA.  Supraluimcrals  acute,  distinctly  produced  as  horns,  triangular,  sometimes  short. 
Elytra  very  transparent.  -Species  green  when  alive,  turning  to  tawny  or  green 
mottled  with  tawny  when  dried.      Prothorax  covered  with  small  white  dots. 

B.     Metopidium  slightly  curved  cephalad  between  the  Buprahumerals ;    produced 
at  times  into  an  obtuse  angle;  sometimes  flat  but  never  concave. 

C.    Clypeus  short  at  apex,  continuing  contour  of  cheeks,  1 — bubalus  Fabr, 
BB.    Metopidium   concave  between   the   suprahumerals,    sometimes   flat   or   u   trifle 
convex  in  the  very  middle.     Suprahumerals   (viewed  from  above)  subterete, 
sloping  upward  and  curving  slightly  backward. 

C.     Clypeus  produced  at  apex,  forming  an  angle  in  contour  of  cheeks. 

3 — tauriana  Fitch 

*  To    accord    with   the   general    custom   of    term    endings    in    subfamily    names,    I    have 
changed  the  ending  from  ID.\  to  IN.E. 


100  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

1. — Ceresa  bubalus  Fabr.     Figs.  5,  7,  10,  87. 

Green  when  alive,  turning  to  a  tawny  or  an  ochreous  hue  when  dried. 
Finely  punctured  with  obscure  whitish  dots.  Pronotum  bearing  later- 
ally two  large  horns  called  suprahumerals,  in  front  of  the  lateral  angles. 
These  suprahumeral  processes  point  outward  but  never  upward;  are  dark 
brown  at  the  tips  and  along  the  upper  margin  as  far  as  the  union  with  the 
prothorax.  The  metopidium  rises  perpendicularly  from  the  head,  but 
slopes  gently  toward  the  sides,  leaving  an  apparent  carina  down  the 
middle  of  the  face  of  the  metopidium.  The  metopidium  slopes  backward 
as  well  as  slightly  upward,  and,  with  the  dorsal  margins  of  the  supra- 
humerals, forms  an  equilateral  triangle,  the  apex  of  which  is  at  the 
dorsal  carina.  Laterally,  the  suprahumerals  slope  inward  and  backward, 
forming  the  lateral  edges  of  the  prothorax.  The  prothorax  is  produced 
into  a  sharply  constricted  point  at  the  posterior  process.  The  prothorax 
extends  nearly  to  the  tip  of  the  tegmina  but  does  not  cover  them  laterally. 
The  sides  of  the  pronotum  slope  inward  and  upward,  meeting  the  dorsal 
carina  and  forming  a  high  tectiform  hood.  From  the  apex  of  the  plane  of 
the  metopidium,  the  dorsum  slopes  downward  and  backward  until  it 
meets  the  sharp,  black  point  of  the  posterior  process.  The  pronotum, 
caudad  of  the  metopidium,  possesses  a  strong  median  longitudinal  precur- 
rent  carina,  slightly  piceous  in  spots.  The  lateral  edges  of  the  prothorax 
are  strongly  carinated.  The  clypeus  is  not  produced  beyond  the  face  but 
the  lateral  edges  continue  the  contour.  Tegmina  ta\vny  but  transparent. 
The  base  of  the  clavus  slightly  coriaceous.     Tibiae  quadrangular. 

Length,  8  to  10  mm.     Described  from  thirty  specimens. 

HABIT.4T:  Brownsville,  Tex.;  Buffalo,  Colo.;  Kansas  City,  Mo.;  Man- 
chester, Vt.;  Douglas,  Sedgwick,  Finney,  Graham  and  Rawlins  counties, 
Kansas;  Eastern  United  States,  Southern  Canada,  and  extending  west  to 
California. 

2. — Ceresa  diceros  Say.     Figs.  6,  88. 

Prothorax  brown,  finely  punctured  and  mottled  or  banded  with  light 
tawny  spots,  usually  two  on  each  side,  one  pair  about  the  middle  of  the 
dorsum  and  the  other  pair  near  the  posterior  process.  This  process  is 
black  and  polished.  The  general  shape  of  this  species  agrees  with  that  of 
Ceresa  bubalus,  but  the  suprahumerals  are  broader  and  thicker.  The 
front  margin  of  the  metopidium  is  not  produced  into  an  obtuse  angle,  but 
the  cephalic  margin  of  the  suprahumerals  curves  gently  outward  and 
backward  until  near  the  middle  of  the  front  margin,  when  the  line 
abruptly  proti-udes  forward,  producing  a  slight  bump.  The  metopidium 
is  pilose  and  is  tawny  in  color.     Tips  of  suprahumerals  black. 

Length,  8  to  10  mm.     Described  from  seventeen  specimens. 

Amyot  and  Serville  described  this  species  as  C.  post  fasciata. 

Habitat:  Colorado  Springs,  Colo.;  Pennsylvania;  New  York;  Nova 
Scotia;  Kansas  City,  Mo.;  Douglas  county,  Kansas. 

3. — Ceresa  taurina  Fitch.     Figs.  8,  9. 

Green  when  alive,  turning  tawny  when  dry.  Agi'eeing  in  many  particu- 
lars with  Ceresa  bubalus,  but  the  species  is  more  slender  and  smaller. 
Suprahumerals  more  acute,  curving  upward  and  a  little  forward,  making 


branch:     biology   of   KANSAS    MEMBRACID^.  101 

the  front  margin  of  the  metopidium  present  a  concave  line.  Clypeus 
usually  produced  below  the  face,  causing  a  break  in  the  contour  of  the 
ventral  line. 

Length,  7  to  8  mm.     Described  from  twelve  specimens. 

Habitat:  Oak  Creek  canyon,  Arizona;  Lush,  Wyo.;  Columbia  and 
Kansas  City,  Mo.;  Welland  county,  Ontario;  Colorado;  North  Carolina; 
Douglas,  Sedgwick  and  Rawlins  counties,  Kansas. 

2. — Genus  Stictocephala  Stal. 
This  genus  comprises  a  large  number  of  species.  Van  Duzee  gives 
eleven  species  for  North  America,  three  of  which  occur  in  Kansas.  The 
members  of  this  genus,  like  Ceresa,  are  green  when  alive,  turning  to  a 
yellow  or  orange  hue,  frequently  mottled,  when  dry,  and  covered  over 
with  small  white  dots.  Its  characteristic  differentiation  from  Ceresa 
is  the  absence  of  the  produced  horn-like  suprahumerals. 

A.     Carinate  sides  of  the  metojiidium  meeting  before  the  middle  of  the  bod.v. 

B.    Metopidium,  viewed  from  before,  obviously  widened  upward  to  the  rounded 
suprahumeral  angles.     Length  of  insect,  7.5  to  8  mm. 

C.  Lorai  continuing  ihe  rounded  contour  of  the  cheeks;  the  clypeus 
scarcely  longer  than  the  cheeks.  Last  ventral  segment,  of  the  female 
broadly   and   subangularly   excavate   behind.      Inhabits   a   region   east 

of  the  continental  divide 1 — iiicrmis  Fabr. 

A  A.    Carinate  sides  of  the  metopidium  with  no  distinct  meeting  before  the  middle  of  the 
body. 

B.    Metopidium,    viewed    from    before,    widened    upward    to    the    obtuse    supra- 
Immeral  angles. 

C.  Dorsum,  viewed  laterally,  distinctly  arcuate ;  metopidium  high,  its 
sides  angulate  or  subangulate;  distinctly  carinate,  uniting  some- 
what behind  the   middle  of   the  dorsum.      Face   evenly   and   regularly 

punctate,  cariuEe  frequently  rufous 3 — festina  Say 

BB.    Metopidium  regularly  narrowing  above  the  suprahumerals. 

C.  Carinate  sides  of  the  metopidium  meeting  at  or  near  the  middle. 
Dorsum  elevated.  Face  smoothly  corrugated,  evenly  and  closely 
punctate.  Clypeus  and  lora^  little  produced.  Length  of  insect,  6  to 
6.5  mm. 

D.    Pectus    and   outer   face   of   femora    black ;    clypeus   briefly   but 
obviously  produced  beyond  the  lines  of  the  cheeks. 

2 — hitea  Walk. 

1. — Stictocephala  inermis  Fabr.     Figs.  16,  17,  66  and  89. 

This  is  the  largest  species  of  the  genus.  In  cephalic  aspect,  the  meto- 
pidium shows  slight  obtuse  suprahumerals,  but  these  are  in  no  case  pro- 
duced as  in  Ceresa.  The  metopidium  rises  from  the  head  in  a  perpen- 
dicular plane,  which  almost  immediately  inclines  slightly  forward,  causing 
the  front  of  the  metopidium,  when  viewed  laterally,  to  present  a  curved 
surface.  The  metopidium,  above  the  line  of  the  suprahumerals,  curves 
gently  backward.  Cephalad  of  the  middle  of  the  pronotum,  the  plane  of 
the  metopidium  is  terminated  by  the  union  of  the  dorsal  carinje  of  the 
suprahumerals,  thus  forming  an  isosceles  triangular  plate  as  in  Ceresa. 
From  this  point  the  dorsum  slopes  gently  downward  and  backward  to 
meet  the  posterior  process,  which  is  usually  dark  and  always  acute.  The 
dorsum  bears  a  longitudinal  median  carina,  which  is  sometimes  rufous  or 
dotted  with  light  brown.  The  sides  of  the  pronotum  are  concave  or  in- 
wardly arcuated,  and  the  ventral  line,  which  is  carinated,  slopes  rapidly 


102  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

to  meet  the  constricted  posterior  process.  The  tegmina  are  slightly  colored 
with  dark  coriaceous  spots  at  the  base.  The  pectus  and  outer  face  of 
femora  black,  but  frequently  light  and  concolorous. 

Length,  7  to  9  mm.     Described  from  twenty-five  specimens. 

Habitat:  Oak  Creek  canyon,  Arizona;  Trenton  Falls,  N.  Y.;  Kansas 
City,  Mo.;  Oregon  (Canada  mountains)  ;  Douglas  and  Cowley  counties, 
Kansas. 

2. — Stictocephala  lutea  Walk.    Figs.  28,  29,  90. 

This  species,  although  commonly  found  and  reported  from  Kansas,  has 
not  been  collected  by  the  wi-iter.  Therefore,  this  description  is  based  on 
museum  material  only.  It  is  somewhat  smaller  than  S.  inermis,  but  as 
the  two  species  intergrade  to  a  considerable  degree,  it  is  difficult  to  draw 
a  fast  and  positive  line  between  them.  The  specific  differentiation  of 
lutea  from  inermis  lies  in  the  convex  metopidium  (with  its  slightly  and 
delicately  carinated  edges) ,  which  in  S.  lutea  has  its  apex  caudad  of  the 
middle  of  the  pronotum.  The  dorsum  is  high  and  the  sides  well  arcuated. 
The  pectus  and  outer  face  of  the  femora  are  black. 

Length,  7  to  7.5  mm.     Described  from  twelve  specimens. 

Habitat:  Alabama;  Mississippi;  Arizona;  Hayti;  Sedgwick  and  Doug- 
las counties,  Kansas. 

3. — Stictocephala  festiyia  Say. 

The  material  at  my  disposal  was  accidentally  injured,  so  that  no  de- 
tailed description  can  be  given  at  this  time. 

3. — Genus  Acutalis  Fairmaire. 

'This  genus  is  distinguished  from  Micrutalis  by  the  fact  that  the  Acu- 
talis tegmina  have  five  apical  cells,  while  Micrutalis  has  but  four.  (See 
figs.  80,  81,  82.)  There  has  been  some  question  among  investigators  con- 
cerning the  advisability  of  separating  these  two  into  different  genera. 
The  tegminal  characters,  however,  would  seem  to  be  of  generic  value. 

Van  Duzee  gives  three  species  common  to  North  America,  but  up  to 
this  time  only  one  has  been  collected  in  Kansas. 

Acutalis  tartarea  Say.     Figs.  18,  19,  80. 

Pronotum  black  and  shiny.  Metopidium  rising  perpendicularly  for  a 
short  distance  and  then  curving  gently  back  over  the  abdomen.  Small, 
inconspicuous  supi-ahumerals,  light  in  color.  Lateral  edges  of  pronotum 
light,  extending  to  the  posterior  process,  which  is  compressed  into  a  point. 
Posterior  process  pale.  Face  black  and  shiny;  compound  eyes  and  ocelli 
light.  Tegmina  black  with  a  purpHsh  iridescence  as  far  as  the  apical 
region,  where  the  tegmina  become  transparent;  nei-vules  heavy.  Meta- 
thoracic  legs  are  heavily  spined  and  of  a  greenish  hue;  other  legs  pale 
yellow,  hirsute,  and  with  a  dark  spot  on  the  distal  end  of  the  tibiae. 

Length,  4  to  5.5  mm.     Described  from  fifteen  specimens. 

Habitat:  Virginia  and  Douglas  county,  Kansas.  Van  Duzee  gives 
the  species  as  common  throughout  the  Middle  Atlantic  States,  and  north- 
ward through  New  York  to  Canada. 


BRANCH  :     BIOLOGY    OF    KANSAS    MEMBRACID^.  103 

4. — Genus  Micrutalis  Fowler. 

This  genus  has  only  four  apical  cells  in  the  tegmina.  Frequently,  as 
in  M.  dorsalis  (a  species,  according  to  Van  Duzee,  not  reported  from 
Kansas),  there  is  a  fifth  terminal  areole;  but  this  is  not  formed  in  the 
regular  way,  but  by  the  crowding  of  this  nervure  against  that  fonning 
the  apex  of  the  costal  areole.  In  the  Francis  Huntington  Snow  collection 
at  the  University  of  Kansas  the  genus  does  not  seem  to  be  represented. 
It  is  there,  however,  but  included  in  Acutalis,  on  account  of  the  older 
manner  of  classification.  The  specimens  labeled  Anitalis  calva  and 
Acutalis  occidentalis  the  writer  classifies  Micrutalis,  on  account  of  the 
four  apical  cells. 

Van  Duzee  records  six  species  from  North  America. 

In  the  smaller  and  more  typical  species  of  this  genus  the  terminal 
areole  may  be  small,  or  even  wanting. 

Genus  Micrutalis  Fowler. 
A.     Size  small;  less  than  4  mm.,  but  more  than  2.5  mm. 

B.    Pacific   coast   species,    pronotum,    when    viewed    dorsally,    slightly    rounded,    at 
least   not  acute,  on  edges  before  posterior  process. 

C.  Color  pale,  the  dorsum  sometimes  marked  with  a  brown  median  line, 
which    may    be    expanded    between    the    suprahumerals    and    before    the 

ape.\    1 — occidentaliji   Godg. 

BB.  Eastern  species,  with  pronotum,  viewed  dorsally,  with  edges  continuing  the 
line  directly  with  that  of  the  posterior  process.  Pronotum  relatively  more 
acute  than  in  the  former. 

C.  Black  marking  much  extended ;  the  pronotum  usually  entirely  black 
e-^icept  at  tip.  In  pale  specimens  the  color  of  the  dorsum  is  gathered 
anteriorly,  and  does  not  form  a  dorsal  line  widening  before  the 
apex 2 — ealva  Say 

1. — Micrutalis  occcidentalis  Coding.     Fig.  81. 

Although  this  species  seems  to  be  accredited  to  the  Pacific  coast,  the 
F.  H.  S.  collection  records  it  from  Brownsville,  Tex.  This  fall  (1911) 
the  writer  found  one  specimen  in  sweepings  at  Lawrence,  Kan. 

It  is  a  small,  pale  species,  in  some  cases  almost  void  of  color  mark- 
ings. In  cases  of  this  kind  there  is  a  slight  collection  of  light  brown 
color  near  the  cephalic  end  of  the  pronotum.  In  other  specimens  this 
color  may  be  dark  and  extend  about  midway  to  the  tip  of  the  pro- 
notum. 

Length,  2.8  to  3.2  mm.     Described  from  seven  specimens. 

Habitat:    Brownsville,  Tex.;  Riverside,  Cal.;  Lawrence,  Kan. 

2. — Micrutalis  calva  Say.     Figs.  20,  21,  82. 

Prothorax  smooth,  black,  and  shiny.  Posterior  process,  face  and  com- 
pound eyes  pale.  There  are  small,  obscure,  obtuse  suprahumerals  out- 
lined with  a  pale  yellow  carina.  Femora  black.  Tibiae  bear  dark  spots 
near  femora.     Tegmina  clear,  with  pale  but  distinct  neuration. 

Length  3  to  3.5  mm.  Described  from  ten  specimens.  Redescribed  as 
Smila  flavipinnis  by  Germar. 

Habitat  (Van  Duzee)  :  Of  wide  distribution  from  southern  New  York 
to  Florida,  and  west  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  F.  H.  S.  collection  records 
specimens  collected  in  Texas,  Missouri,  and  Kansas. 


104  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

2. — Tribe  Telamonini  Godg. 

A.     Pronotum  unarmed. 

B.    Dorsum  strongly  compressed  foliaceous 1 — Archasia    Stal 

AA.     Pronotum  armed  with  a  horn  or  dorsal  crest  more  or  less  developed. 

B.  Dorsum  armed  with  a  compressed  horn,  which  is  erect  or  nearly  so,  with  a 
dorsal  crest  more  or  less  elevated. 

C.  Dorsal  crest  arising  from  behind  the  suprahumerals.  If  distinctly  ele- 
vated, wider  than  high.  Corium  coriaceous,  and  if  at  all  punctured, 
only  for  a  short  space  at  the  base. 

D.     Dorsal   crest   rounded;    obtusely   pointed,    truncate   or   sinuate    at 
apex,  sometiuu's  scarcely  elevated 2 — Tclamona  Fitch 

1. — Genus  Archasia  Stal. 
A  genus  whose  species  are  green  when  alive,  turning  oreheous  or 
tawny  in  museum  specimens.  Prothorax  punctate  and  finely  althougli 
obscurely  dotted  with  white  specks.  Longitudinal  median  carina  piceous 
in  spots.  Prothorax  very  highly  elevated  and  compressed  into  a  sharp 
helmet  above  the  head. 

Archasia  galeata  Fabricus.     Figs.  22,  23. 

This  is  the  only  species  of  this  genus  reported  from  Kansas.  There 
are  two  species  classified  by  Van  Duzee,  but  the  F.  H.  S.  collection  yields 
but  one  specimen  of  each  of  the  two  species,  and  A.  belfragi  is  not  re- 
ported from  Kansas.  On  account  of  the  scanty  material,  very  little  study 
could  be  made. 

Contour  of  the  prothorax  entire,  not  having  elevations  or  sinuations. 
Metopidium  bears  short,  obtuse  suprahumerals. 

Habitat:  Van  Duzee  reports  the  species  from  Colorado  and  Georgia, 
stating  that  it  is  less  abundant  than  A.  belfragii  Stal  in  the  Northern 
States,  but  is  a  prevailing  form  in  the  South.  The  specimen  in  the 
F.  H.  S.  collection  is  from  Douglas  county,  Kansas. 

Length,  9.5  mm. 

2. — Genus  Telamona  Fitch. 

This  genus  contains  the  largest  form  found  in  Kansas,  it  measuring 
sometimes  11  mm.  in  length.     The  male  is  much  smaller  than  the  female 
and  also  darker  in  color. 
.V.    Crest   (viewed  laterally)  pyramidal,  rather  slender  and  narrowed  upward. 

B.  Crest  narrowing  above  to  a  rounded  point,  posterior  angle  scarcely  if  at  all 
indicated,  its  front  sloping  from  the  metopidium  without  a  sinus  at  the  an- 
terior base    1 — pyramidata  Uhl. 

A-\.    Crest   (viewed  laterally)   rectangular,  broad,  but  little  narrowed  above. 

B.  Crest  nearly  vertical  before  or  sometimes  overhanging.  Gray  or  brownish 
species  more  or  less  distinctly  banded  or  dotted  with  dark  brown,  sometimes 
almost  black. 

C.     Crest  truncated  above,  the  angles  nearly  or  quite  right  angles. 

■2 — ampelopsides  Harris 

1. — Telamona  pyramidata  Uhler.     Figs.  30,  31,  84. 

Color  varying  from  a  pale,  tawny  concolorous  specimen  through  green- 
ish ochre  to  brown  with  darker  markings.  In  cephalic  aspect  the  form  is 
very  broad  and  somewhat  flat;  the  metopidium  curves  backvrard  after 
rising  perpendicularly  for  a  short  distance,  and  gently  upward,  forming 
a  dorsal  elevation  back  of  the  suprahumerals.  This  elevation  or  pro- 
tuberance slopes  abrubtly  downward  and  then  proceeds  in  an  almost  hor'- 


BRANCH :     BIOLOGY   OF   KANSAS    MEMBRACID^.  105 

zontal  line  to  the  posterior  pi'ocess.  The  dorsal  carina  is  prominent  and 
piceous  as  far  as  the  elevation,  but  caudad  it  becomes  concolorous  and 
obscure.  There  is  frequently  a  dark  color  marking  extending  from  back 
of  the  elevation  to  the  lateral  edge  of  the  prothorax,  slanting  slightly 
caudad.  End  of  prothorax  diffused  with  dark.  Tegmina  transparent, 
except  for  the  dark  tip  and  slight  coriation  of  base.  Cephalic  portion  of 
the  prothorax  pale.     Suprahumerals  sometimes  dark  at  the  tips. 

Haritat:  Colorado  Springs,  Colo.;  Cheyenne,  Douglas  and  Gove 
counties,  Kansas;  Missouri. 

Length,  10.2  to  8.5  mm.     Described  from  twenty-five  specimens. 

2. — Telamona  ampelopsides  Harris.     Figs.  73,  74. 

Redescribed  as  Thelia  cyrtops  by  Fairmaire. 

Color  dark  dusty  brown,  some  specimens  having  a  greenish  cast  in 
the  lighter  portions.  Metopidium  rising  similar  to  that  in  T.  pyramidata, 
but  instead  of  sloping  gently  backward  it  rises  abruptly  to  form  the  high 
rectangular  dorsal  elevation.  The  dorsal  contour  of  this  protuberance 
runs  backward  in  an  almost  horizontal  yet  slightly  descending  plane  un- 
til past  the  middle  of  the  prothorax,  when  it  slopes  suddenly  downward 
and  then  extends  caudad,  forming  a  lanceolate  posterior  process.  Color, 
dark  brown,  the  cephalic  face  of  the  suprahumerals  bearing  a  splotch 
which  extends  toward  but  does  not  attain  the  median  carina.  This 
median  carina  is  piceous.  The  cephalic  edge  of  the  elevation  has  color 
markings  which  extend  downward  and  backward  to  meet  the  splotch  at 
the  caudal  edge  of  the  elevation  on  the  side  of  the  prothorax.  This 
color  may  or  may  not  extend  as  far  as  the  posterior  process,  which  is 
dark.  Median  carina  is  dark  and  prominent  for  its  entire  length.  Fe- 
mora dark  on  dorsal  side.  Tegmina  smoky  and  darker  at  tip;  clear  in 
costal  region.  The  males  in  this  species  are  much  darker  than  the  fe- 
males, being  at  times  almost  black,  but  with  the  markings  visible. 

Length,  11  mm.  to  8.8  mm.     Described  from  forty  specimens. 

Habitat:  Menand,  N.  Y.;  Kansas  City,  Mo.;  Manchester,  Vt.;  Doug- 
las county,  Kansas. 

3. — Tribe  Polyglyptini  Goding. 

A..    Pronotum  usually  not  produced  anteriorly;  if  at  all,  only  very  slightly. 

B.    Dorsum  regularly   rounded   transversely,   punctate ;    prothorax   not  elevated    in 
rugee.     The  furcation  forming  the  base  of  the  terminal  areole  is  a  straight  line 

or   nearly  so 1 — Vandusea   Goding 

BB.  Dorsum  more  or  less  elevated:  the  surface  with  longitudinal  rugse.  which  may 
become  more  or  less  reticulated:  the  furcation  forming  the  base  of  the  terminal 
areole  forming  an   angle. 

C.    Dorsum  strongly  elevated,  compressed,  with  a  deep  sinus  whose  base  is 

rounded    2 — Entylia  Germ. 

CC.     Dorsum  but  slightly  elevated :   a  little  sinuated  before  the  middle,  the 
base  of  the  sinuation  being  fiat  or  angled,  not  regularly  rounded. 

3 — Publilia  Stal 

1. — Genus    Vanduzea   Goding. 
This  genus  may  be  distinguished  by  the  absence  of  wrinkes  or  rugae 
on  the  prothorax  and  by  the  peculiar  shape  of  the  terminal  areole  or 
third  apical  cell,  which  has  a  straight  vein  for  a  base  instead  of  the 

3— Univ.  Sci.  Bull.,  Vol.  VIII.  No.  3. 


106  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

usual  angle  toward  the  base  of  the  tegmen.  The  metopidium  is  not  pro- 
duced any  higher  than  is  absolutely  necessary  to  cover  the  mesothorax 
and  metathorax. 

In  the  species  common  to  Kansas  the  dorsum  is  transversely  rounded 
and  punctate.  Van  Duzee  states  that  some  species  of  this  genus  have 
the  dorsum  carinated  and  sinuated. 

The  color  of  the  species  of  the  genus  Vaiiduzea  is  mottled  with  dark, 
either  dark  bi-own  or  black,  with  whitish  or  light  oblique  vittae.  The 
pi'othorax  is  pilose,  the  legs  dark  brown  to  black,  with  light  hairs.  The 
tegniina,  except  in  the  costal  region,  is  transparent,  the  nervules  with 
black  or  bi'own  dotted  lines.     The  tip  of  the  limbus  is  infuscated. 

Vanduzea  arquata  Coding.     Figs.  14,  1.5,  68,  69,  78. 

Color  reddish  brown,  verging  to  black.  There  are  white  or  light 
yellow  markings  or  vittae,  an  oblique  spot  joining  the  lateral  margin, 
and  a  line  just  before  the  posterior  process.  Sometimes  there  is  a  small 
white  spot  on  the  dorsum  almost  concurrent  with  the  spots  on  the  sides. 
The  pronotum  bears  no  procephalon  or  crest  and  is  smoothly  rounded 
transvei'sely.  The  metopidium  rises  slightly  from  the  head  and  then 
curves  gently  backward  to  the  dorsum,  which  is  slightly  arcuated  to  the 
posterior  process.  The  metopidium  (in  cephalic  view)  is  broad,  with 
short,  obtuse  suprahumerals.     Head  and  body  and  legs  dark  and  pilose. 

Length  5.1  to  4..5  mm. 

Habitat:  Galveston  and  Brownsville,  Tex.;  Douglas  and  Congress 
Junction,  Ariz.;  Kansas  City,  Mo.;  Kansas  City,  Kan.;  Morton,  Clark, 
Douglas,  Stevens.  Seward  and  Haskell  counties,  Kansas. 

According  to  the  determination  in  F.  H.  S.  collection,  there  are  two 
species  common  to  Kansas,  V.  arquata  and  V".  vestita.  Van  Duzee  sepa- 
rates these  species  by  the  costal  region  of  the  tegmina.  V.  arquata  has 
the  costal  cell  coriaceous  and  punctured  for  nearly  its  whole  length; 
V.  I'estita  has  the  costal  areole  or  cell  coneolorous,  sparsely  punctate 
near  the  base.  If  this  classification  be  true — and  I  have  every  reason  to 
consider  it  such — then  there  is  but  one  species  in  the  F.  H.  S.  collection, 
as  all  the  specimens  agree  with  V.  arquata.  In  Van  Duzee's  description 
of  V.  arquata  he  states  that  the  suprahumerals  are  more  prominent  than 
in  V.  arquata.  With  this  description  as  a  basis,  the  specimens  here  can 
not  be  V.  vestita,  as  there  is  no  ascertainable  diiference  in  the  promi- 
nence of  the  suprahumerals. 

Genus  EntyUa  Germ. 

This  genus  has  received  a  considerable  list  of  sjmonyms,  which  I 
append  at  the  close  of  the  description  of  species.  It  is  widely  distributed 
east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  some  species  occur  in  considerable 
numbers,  the  writer  having  found  extensive  colonies  in  Kansas  and 
Vermont. 

The  metopidium  of  the  prothorax  rises  in  a  high  elevation  to  form  a 
distinct  procephalon,  almost  perpendicular  or  sloping  slightly  forward 
on  its  cephalic  edge.  This  procephalon  is  greatly  compressed  and  ex- 
tends rectilinearly  caudad  for  a  short  distance,  descending  suddenly  and 
abruptly   into   a   deep   sinus  smoothly  curved   at   the   base.     This   sinus 


BRANCH:     BIOLOGY   OF   KANSAS    MEMBRACID^.  107 

forms  also  the  front  of  a  second  elevation,  or  the  dorsal  hump,  which 
does  not  rise  as  high  as  the  procephalon,  but  is  equally  compressed, 
slopes  down  rapidly,  making  the  dorsal  hump,  in  lateral  aspect,  appear 
somewhat  rectangular.  After  dropping  for  a  distance  about  equal  to 
the  depth  of  the  curved  sinus,  the  dorsal  line  proceeds  gently  backward 
and  downward  to  meet  the  blunt  posterior  process. 

Eiitylia  sittHatu  Fabr.     Figs.  61,  62,  64,  83. 

In  looking  over  the  individuals  of  this  genus  in  F.  H.  S.  collection,  1 
find  two  species,  or  rather  one  species  and  a  variety,  Eiifylia  sinaata 
and  Entylia  sinuata  var.  bactriana.  Upon  closer  examination  the  writer 
finds  that  those  determined  as  E.  bactriana  are  all  males,  and  those 
determined  as  E.  sinuata  are  all  females.  In  the  life-history  obseiva- 
tions  (recorded  in  this  paper)  the  writer  found  the  males  agreeing  with 
bactriana  and  the  females  agreeing  with  sinuata.  F.  C.  Crawford,  asso- 
ciate curator,  division  of  insects.  United  States  National  Museum,  states 
that  there  are  both  males  and  females  of  both  species  and  variety  in  the 
collection  there.  From  this  information,  and  the  study  of  life  history, 
it  may  be  inferred  that  there  has  been  an  error  in  the  determination  of 
the  material  in  the  F.  H.  S.  collection.  Whether  that  is  a  correct  .state- 
ment or  not,  the  fact  remains  the  same — that  the  writer  has  not  found 
any  E.  sinuata  var.  bactriana  in  Kansas. 

It  is  not  neces.=ary  to  redescribe  the  procephalon  and  dorsum  of  this 
species,  as  it  agrees  with  that  given  in  the  generic  characters.  The  sides 
of  the  prothorax  bear  three  lateral  carinse,  the  centi-al  one  being 
branched  at  its  base  in  such  a  manner  as  to  frequently  appear  as  two. 
The  lower  one  forms  the  edge  of  the  prothorax,  while  the  upper  branches 
into  the  posterior  elevations.  These  carinas  frequently  appear  white,  es- 
pecially in  the  males.  There  is  a  prominent  dorsal  carina  which  extends 
from  the  base  of  the  metopidium,  follows  the  elevations  in  their  sinua- 
tions,  and  finally  fades  out  on  the  posterior  process.  The  prothorax 
extends  beyond  and  covers  the  tips  of  teg-mina.  The  tegmina 
are  transparent  except  in  the  basal  region  of  the  three  longitudinal 
veins  in  the  corium;  this  region  is  dark  and  heavily  coriaceous.  The 
discoidal  cells  are  small  and  pushed  costad  and  distad,  leaving  the  lower 
part  of  the  corium  unveined.  The  tips  of  the  tegmina  are  infuscated. 
The  suprahumerals  are  distinct,  obtuse,  and  not  formed  by  any  marked 
invaginations  in  the  outline  of  the  prothorax. 

The  male  is  dark,  almost  black,  with  procephalon  slightly  less  ele- 
vated than  in  the  female.  The  face  heavily  punctate.  As  a  rule,  the 
male  is  smaller  than  that  of  the  female.  The  female  is  light  brown  or 
tan,  mottled  with  dark  ariteriorly.  The  front  of  the  head  and  pro- 
cephalon is  densely  spotted  with  irregular  dark  markings,  and  there  is 
an  arcuate  dark  mark  on  the  sides  of  the  prothorax  behind  the  middle, 
with  the  posterior  end  infuscated.  The  body  usually  accords  in  shade 
to  the  main  color  of  the  prothorax;  the  legs  pale.  There  are  variations 
in  this  color  marking,  as  the  front  of  the  face  and  prothorax,  including 
the  cephalic  elevation  or  procephalon,  may  be  pale,  as  usual,  but  the 
sides  of  the  prothorax,  including  the  dorsal  hump,  may  be  very  dark,  the 
caudal   third   of  the   prothorax   being   light,   infuscated    at  the   extreme 


108  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

tip.  Legs  pale;  body  dark.  Sometimes  the  color  markings  do  not  take 
definite  shape,  but  appear  in  mottled  splotches.  Again,  the  procephalon 
may  be  light  in  color,  continuing  on  to  the  sides  of  the  prothorax  and 
forming  a  cephalocaudal  band  meeting  the  light  caudal  third,  thus  leav- 
ing only  the  tip  of  the  cephalic  elevation  and  the  sides  of  the  dorsal  ele- 
vation dark. 

Length:  Males,  3.3  to  5.1  mm.;  females,  5.2  to  6.1  mm.  Described 
from  sixty- three  specimens. 

Habitat:     Manchester,   Vt.;   Maine;   Kansas  City,   Mo.;   Brownsville, 
and   Galveston,   Tex.;    Douglas,    Sedgwick,   Reno   and   Neosho   counties, 
Kansas;  New  York. 
Synonyms  : 

1798 — Membracis  sinuata  Fabr.     Ent.  Syst.  Suppl. 

1798 — Memhrads  emarginata. 

1803 — Membracis  emarginata  Fabr.     Syst.  Phyng. 

1851 — Entylia   concisa   Walk.      List.    Horn.    B.    M. 

1851 — Entylia    decisa    Walk.      List.    Horn.    B.    M. 

1851 — Entylia   accisa   Walk.     List.   Hom.    B.   M. 

1851 — Entilia  torva  var.  Fitch.     Cat.  Horn.  N.  Y. 

1851— Entilia  torva  Walk.     List.  Hom.  B.  M. 

1876 — Entilia  carinata  Glover.    Rep.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agril.  No.  29. 

At  the  close  of  the  Synonimical  Catalogue  occurs  the  following 
habitat:  New  York,  Missouri,  New  Hampshire,  Virginia,  District  of  Co- 
lumbia, South  Carolina,  North  Carolina,  Pennyslvania,  Michigan,  Iowa, 
Maryland,  Florida,  Illinois. 

3. — Genus  Publilia  Stal. 
This  genus  has  been  formed  by  Stal  for  the  reception  of  those  species 
formally  classed  as  Entylia,  where  the  elevations  are  not  high  enough  to 
put  the  form  strictly  into  genus  Entylia,  but  in  which  the  dorsum  is  sim- 
ilarly sinuated.     Kansas  contributes  two  species  to  the  genus. 

A.    Dorsum   straight   or   feebly   bowed,   scarcely    if    at    all   sinuated,   form   slender,    pro- 
thorax  punctate,  not  wrinkled 2 — modesta  Uhler 

AA.    Dorsum  elevated,  obviously  sinuated. 

B.    Sides  of  the  prothorax  with  longitudinal  wrinkles  which  form  a  network  along 
the   dorsum    l^concava    fay 

1. — Publilia  concava  Say.     Figs.  26,  27,  65. 

A  small,  dark  form  with  a  very  roughly  punctated  and  coarsely  re- 
ticulated pronotum,  which  almost  covers  the  tegmina  laterally.  The 
metopidium  is  slightly  elevated,  being  compressed  and  in  cephalic  aspect 
appears  as  a  heavy  carina  or  minute  procephalon  above  the  cephalic  face 
of  the  metopidium.  The  sinus  on  the  dorsum  is  obvious,  although  not  as 
marked  as  in  Entylia  sinuata;  the  base  is  flat  or  angulated,  not  a  regular 
curve.  The  dorsal  crest  is  not  abrupt  caudad,  but  curves  gently  to  the 
posterior  process.  Along  the  sides  of  the  prothorax  are  distinct  carinas, 
which  become  forked  anteriorly  and  dorsally,  forming  a  network  of  veins. 

This  species  is  dark,  mottled  slightly  with  pale,  and  there  is  a  light 
vitta  on  the  side  below  the  sinus,  and  a  large  spot  on  the  lateral  edge 
behind  the  middle,   extending  upward  toward   the  dorsal   crest,  but  not 


BRANCH:     BIOLOGY   OF   KANSAS    MEMBRACID^.  109 

extending  to  it.     At  the  back  of  the  dorsal  crest  is  a  narrow  transverse 
line  of  a  pale  color,  or  there  may  be  a  reticulation. 
Length,  6  to  5  mm.     Described  from  ten  specimens. 
Habitat:     Maine;    Kansas   City,   Mo.;    New   York;    Douglas    county, 
Kansas. 

2. — Publilia  modeMa  Uhler.     Figs.  32,  33. 

A  comparatively  pale  species,  with  prothorax  entirely  covering  the 
abdomen  and  tips  of  tegmina,  leaving  only  the  costal  region  exposed.  The 
dorsal  sinus  is  very  slight,  sometimes  almost  entirely  absent.  The  meto- 
pidium  is  not  elevated  into  a  procephalon  of  any  degree,  but  is  trans- 
versely rounded,  the  dorsal  crest  not  apparent.  Dorsum  only  slightly 
arcuated.  Body  dark,  with  femora  black  and  shiny;  frequently  body 
light  and  legs  pale.  Pronotum  with  lateral  carinas  indistinct,  and  very 
slight,  if  any,  reticulation;  closely  punctate. 

Color  variable.  There  are  some  individuals  which  are  pale  green,  virith 
only  the  front  of  head  and  metopidium  mottled  with  dark,  or  the  form 
may  be  brownish,  with  face  still  darker.  The  sides  of  the  prothorax  with 
two  pale  spots,  one  large  one  near  the  front,  and  an  oblique  line  near  the 
posterior  process,  concurrent  across  the  dorsum.  Frequently  these  pale 
spots  are  a  light  yellow.  There  is  a  white  or  grey  variation,  with  head 
and  front  of  metopidium  dark  grey,  the  posterior  process  and  an  oblique 
band  on  the  prothorax  also  grey.  A  few  forms  are  almost  pure  white, 
being  only  inconspicuously  mottled,  and  this  on  the  dorsal  carina.  In 
these  vary  pale  specimens  the  costal  region  of  the  tegmina  is  the  same 
shade  as  the  ground  color  of  the  pronotum,  and  is  coriaceous. 

The  nymphs  have  sharp,  shiny  dorsal  tubercles  on  the  abdomen.  The 
enlargements  of  the  head  and  prothorax  are  hirsute.  P.  bicinctura  Godg., 
as  determined  in  P.  H.  S.  collection,  appears  to  agree  with  the  grey 
variation  of  P.  modesta. 

Length,  4.5  to  5.1  mm.     Described  from  seventeen  specimens. 

Habitat:  Albuquerque,  N.  M.;  Colorado  Springs,  Colo.;  Gove  and 
Rawlins  counties,  Kansas. 

■i. — Tribe  Smiliini  Coding. 

In  this  tribe  we  find  four  genera — Smiliia  Germ.,  Ophiderma  Fairnm., 
Antianthe  Powler,  and  Cyrtolobns  Coding.  Of  these,  only  Cyrfolobus  is 
reported  from  Kansas.  The  last  three  genera  are  separated  from  the 
first,  Smiliia,  by  the  presence  of  a  transverse  nervule  between  the  two 
inner  longitudinal  veins,  which  is  absent  in  Smilia.  Cyrtolobus  and 
Antianthe  are  separated  from  Ophiderma  by  the  strongly  compressed 
pronotum,  as  Ophiderma  is  not  at  all  compressed  and  the  dorsum  is 
rounded  transversely.  Again,  Cyrtolobus  is  differentiated  from  Antianthe 
by  the  absence  of  the  strongly  produced  suprahumerals  so  evident  in 
Antianthe.  In  Cyrtolobus  there  are  small  suprahumerals  and  the  dorsum 
is  highest  at  about  the  middle. 

Students  in  this  subject  have  seen  fit  to  divide  the  genus  Cyrtolobus 
into  the  subgenera  Xantholobus  V.  D.,  Evashmeadea  Godg.,  Atymna  Stal, 
and  Cyrtolobus  Godg.  Xantholobus  is  separated  from  the  others  by  its 
posteriorly    inflated    pronotum.      Atymna    and    Cyrtolobus    differ    from 


110  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Evashmeadea  Godg.  by  the  lack  of  sinuation  on  the  dorsal  crest.  Atymita 
and  Cyrtolobus  are  differentiated  by  the  position  of  the  highest  portion 
of  the  crest.  In  Atymna  the  highest  portion  of  the  crest  is  anterior  to 
to  dorsum,  rising  above  the  humeral  angles,  while  in  Cyrtolobus  the 
highest  portion  of  the  crest  is  near  the  middle  of  the  dorsum. 

Of  this  subgenus  Kansas  has  recorded  but  one  species,  Cyrtolobus  can 
Say.     Figs.  24,  2.5,  79. 

This  species  is  pale  brown  or  tan;  frequently  banded  with  both  darker 
and  lighter  shades  than  the  ground  color.  The  crest  is  evenly  arcuated, 
and  in  some  cases  very  little  elevated.  The  metopidium  is  transversely 
rounded,  the  crest  beginning  to  rise  back  of  the  humeral  angles.  The 
dor.sum  is  rounded  from  its  ventral  edges  and  the  crest  is  formed  by  a 
sharp  compression.  At  times  this  crest  is  made  manifest  only  by  a 
distinct  and  prominent  median  dorsal  carina.  The  pronotum  does  not 
extend  to  the  tips  of  the  tegmina,  but  covers  the  abdomen.  The  carina 
is  usually  darker  than  the  rest  of  the  pronotum.  The  color  marking, 
when  present,  consists  of  three  dark  spots  along  the  lateral  side  of  the 
dorsum,  cut  into  by  two  streaks  of  light  on  the  crest  or  carina,  but  joined 
together  on  the  lower  edge  of  the  side  of  the  dorsum.  Posterior  process 
is  light  if  the  color  markings  are  present;  otherwise  it  is  light  and  con- 
colorous  with  the  pronotum.  The  face  is  usually  void  of  color  markings, 
and  is  short,  with  a  broad  clypeus  rounded  at  the  apex,  and  black,  shiny, 
compound  eyes.  Legs  pale  and  slender;  pectus  pale.  Tegmina  distinctly 
veined  and  transparent  except  near  the  tip,  where  it  commences  to  be- 
come smoky,  and  continues  so  to  the  very  tip. 

Length,  6.5  to  5  mm. 

Habitat:  Colorado  Springs,  Colo.;  Kansas  City,  Mo.;  Columbia.  Mo.; 
Pennsylvania.;    Douglas  county,  Kansas. 

II.— Subfamily  MEMBRACIN^  Stal. 

This  subfamily  is  differentiated  from  the  others  by  the  dilated  or 
foliaceous  tibia.  In  this  subfamily  are  placed  the  two  genera  Eiichenoim 
and  Caiiipyleiichia,  which  together  are  separated  from  the  other  mem- 
bers of  the  subfamily  by  the  pronotum  being  distinctly  compressed  and 
elevated  toward  the  front  into  a  prominent,  usually  oblique  process. 
This  process  is  further  characterized  by  the  lateral  carina  attaining  the 
middle  of  the  posterior  process. 

The  two  genera  are  separated  from  each  other  by  the  position  of  the 
lateral  carinae: 

.\.     Lateral   carin:*.  of  tlie  anterior  jiroces-s   simple,   placed    about   equally  distant    fniin   tlie 
upl)er  atid  lower  niaririns.     Carina-  foliaceous.      Pronotum  without  pubescence. 

1 — Enehpnopa  A,   &   S. 

A.\.     Lateral  carina?  of  the  anterior  process  with  several  branches.     Caringe  placed  a  little 

nearer    the   dorsal    margin :    the   inferior    carina    not    foliaceous.      Pronotum    with 

appressed  pubescence    2 — Campf/lfiwhia   Stal 

1.— Genus  Evcheno-pa  A.  &  S.     Figs.  12,  13,  71,  85. 

In  this  genus  Kansas  has  recorded  but  one  species.  This  one,  however, 
is  very  common  and  of  wide  distribution.  Enchenopa  biiiotata  Say  may 
be  distinguished  from  the  other  species  of  this  genus  by  its  dorsal  carina 
being  very  prominent  posteriorly.     The  insect  is  of  a  reddish  brown,  while 


BRANCH  :     BIOLOGY   OF   KANSAS    MEMBRACID.^.  HI 

its  near  relative,  permutata,  is  pale  yellow.  The  color  of  the  prothorax 
may  at  times  be  almost  black.  The  dorsal  carina  is  extremely  elevated  and 
continues  prominent  to  the  tip  of  the  posterior  process. 

The  metopidium  bears  a  procephalon  or  anterior  horn,  which  is  usually 
larger  at  its  anterior  extremity  than  where  it  joins  the  pronotum.  This 
horn  seems  to  rise  obliquely  forward  from  the  pronotum  for  some  distance 
and  then  turn  suddenly  forward  in  a  line  parallel  with  the  dorsal  carina, 
thus  forming  a  "bump"  at  the  end  of  the  horn.  The  procephalon  is  dis- 
tinctly compressed,  and  the  dorsal  carina  extends  into  the  procephalon 
and  follows  the  median  line  even  into  the  cephalic  face. 

On  the  sides  of  the  prothorax,  but  so  close  to  the  dorsal  carnia  that 
they  extend  over  and  meet  the  spots  on  the  opposite  side,  are  two  long, 
slender  spots,  extending  for  some  distance  laterally.  This  is  the  character 
which  probably  gives  the  species  its  name.  The  posterior  process  is 
dark  and  very  acute.  The  tegmina  are  entirely  dark  reddish  brown  with 
a  smoky  translucency.  The  wings  are  transparent.  The  body  and  pectus 
dark  reddish  brown.  The  tibiae  of  the  prothoracic  and  mesothoracic  legs 
are  dilated;  the  metathoraeic  grooved  on  its  outer  side  and  spined  along 
the  two  outer  edges. 

Described  by  Buckton  as  Enche)wpa  pvorecta,  and  by  Walker  as 
Eiiclienopa  bievii. 

Length,  5.5  to  7.4  mm.     Described  from  over  100  specimens. 

Habitat:  Missouri;  Pennsylvania;  Taxas;  Manchester,  Vt. ;  Canada; 
Douglas  and  Sedgwick  counties,  Kansas. 

2. — Campyleiichia   cnrvata   Fabr.     Figs.  70,  11,  86. 

This  species  is  a  dusky  reddish  brown,  with  a  procephalon  or  horn 
protruding  obliquely  over  the  face  for  a  distance  about  equal  to  the 
pronotum,  measuring  from  the  suprahumerals  posteriorly.  The  dorsal 
carina  is  not  greatly  elevated,  but  the  lateral  carina  are  distinct  and  ex- 
tend from  the  tip  of  the  procephalon  into  the  posterior  process,  which 
is  acute.  The  pronotum  is  concolorous;  the  tibiae,  as  in  Enchenopa 
binotata,  are  dilated.  The  tegmina  smoky,  coriaceous  in  the  costal  region 
and  on  the  basal  cells.     Pectus  dark  and  eyes  light. 

Length,  8  to  9  mm.     Described  from  over  100  specimens. 

Habitat:    Colorado;  Missouri;  Canada;  Douglas  county,  Kansas. 


112  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 


INDEX  TO  SPECIES. 

page 

Acutalis  tartarea  Say    102 

Archasia  galeata  Fabr 104 

Cavvpylenchia  curvata  Fabr Ill 

Ceresa  bubalus  Fabr 100 

Ceresa   diceros    Say 100 

Ceresa  taurina  Fitch 100 

Crytolohiis  vau  Say    110 

Enchenopa  binotata  Say   110 

Entylia  shiuata  Fabr 107 

Micrutalis    calva    Say    103 

Micrutalis  occidentalis  Godg 103 

Publilia   concava   Say    108 

Publilia  -nwdesta  Uhl 109 

Stictocephala  festina  Say   i 102 

Stictocephala  inermis  Fabr 101 

Stictocephala  lutea  Say  102 

Telamona  ampelopsides  Harr 105 

Telamona  pyramidata  Uhl 104 

Vanduzea  arquata  Godg 106 


BRANCH :     BIOLOGY   OF   KANSAS    MEMBRACID^.  113 

FOOD   PLANTS. 
Ceresa  bubalus. 

Osage  orange Madura  aurantiaca  Nutt. 

Horse  radish    Nasturtium   armoraeia   Fries. 

Gama  grass    Tripsacum  dactyloides  L. 

Sunflower    Helianthus  animus  L. 

Alfalfa   Medicago  sativa  L. 

(Reported  by  Riley  on  iipple  and  poiato.) 
A(Mtalis  tariaria. 

Horse   ragweed    Ambrosia  trifida  L. 

Ceresa  taurina. 

Horse  radish   Nasturtium  armoraeia  Pries. 

Choke  cherry    Primus  arbutifolia  L. 

Ceresa  diceros. 

Elderberi-y   bushes. 
Campylenchia  curvata. 

Goldenrod    Solidago  canadensis  L. 

Sensitive    rose    Cassia  nicitans  L. 

Enchenopa  binotata. 

Goldenrod    Solidago  canadensis  L. 

Pin  oak   Quercus  palustris  Du  Roi. 

Bittersweet    Solanum  dulcamara  L. 

Entylia  sinuata. 

Sweet  clover Melilotus  alba  Lam. 

Thistle   Cniciis  altissimnis  Willd, 

Cat-tail  grass Phleum  alpintim  L. 

Sunflower    Helianthus  annuus  L. 

Alfalfa  Medicago  sativa  L. 

Spikenard    Ambrosia  .?p. 

Publilia  concava. 

Pin  oak   Quercus  palustris  Du  Ror. 

Sycamore     Platanus   occideiitalis   L. 

Publilia  modesta. 

Berlandiera  texana.  . 

Stictocephala  inermis. 

Gama  grass    Tripsacuvi   dactyloides   L. 

Telamoiia  ampelopsides. 

Woodbine  or  Virginia  creeper Ampelopsis  quinuefolia  Michx. 


Alfalfa Medicago   sativa. 

Ceresa  bubalus. 

Entylia  sinuata. 
Berlandiera  texana. 

Publilia  modesta. 
Bittersweet   Solanum,  delcamara. 

Enchenopa  binotata. 
Cat-tail   grass    Phleum  alpinum. 

Entylia  sinuata. 

4-Univ.  Sci.  Bull..  Vol.  VIII.  No.  3. 


114  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Choke  cherry   Prunus   arbutifolia. 

Ceresa  taurina. 
Gama  grass    Tripsacum  dactyloides. 

Ceresa  bubalus. 

Stictocephala  inermis. 
Goldenrod    Solidago  canadensis. 

Campylenchia  curvata. 

Enchenopa  binotata. 
Horseradish    Nasturtium  armoraeia  Fries. 

Ceresa  bubalus. 

Ceresa  taurina. 
Osage  orange Maclura  aurantiaca. 

Ceresa  bubalus. 
Pin  oak Quercus  palustris. 

Enchenopa  binotata. 

Publilia  concava. 
Sweet   clover    Melilotus  alba. 

Entylia  sinuata. 
Sensitive   rose    Cassia  nictans. 

Campylenchia  curvata. 
Sycamore    Platanus  occidentalis. 

Publilia  concava. 
Sunflower    Helianthus  annuus. 

Ceresa  bubalus. 

Entylia  sinuata. 
Thistle   Cnicus  alt4^simus. 

Entylia  sinuata. 
Virginia  creeper   Ampelopsis  quinquefolia. 

Telamona  am.pelopsides. 
Woodbine — See  Virginia  creeper. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

1.  Amyot  and  Serville,  1843.     Hemip.  Hist.  Nat.  des  Insects. 

2.  BucKTON,  G.  W.,  1903.    A  Monograph  of  the  Membracidae. 

3.  BuRMEiSTER,  1838.    Handb.  der  Entom. 

4.  COMSTOCK,  J.  H.,  1901.     Manual  for  the  Study  of  Insects. 

5.  DiMMOCK,  Geo.,  1881.     Anatomy  of  the  Sucking  Apparatus  of  Some 
Diptera. 

6.  Edwards,  James,  1896.     Hemiptera-Homoptera  of  Brit.  Islands. 

7.  Edwards,   James,    1886.      A    Synopsis    of    Brit.    Homop.    Cicadinii. 
Trans.   Ento.  Soe.  London,  vol.  24. 

8.  Fabricus,  1787.     Syst.  Rhyngotorum. 

9.  Fairmaire,  1846.     Ann.  Society  Entomol.  de  France. 

10.  FoLSOM,  J.  W.,  1906.  Entomology:  Its  Biological  and  Economic 
Aspects. 

11.  FoLSOM,  J.  W.,  1899.  Mouthparts  of  the  Collembolan  Orchesella 
cincta.  Bui.  of  Mus.  of  Comparative  Zoo.,  Harvard  College,  vol. 
XXXV,  No.  2. 


BRANCH:     BIOLOGY   OF   KANSAS    MEMBRACID^.  115 

12.  Fowler,  W.  W.,  1894.    Biologia  Centrali  Americana  Rhyn.    Hemip., 
vol.  11. 

13.  Frogatt,  W.  W.     Australian  Insects. 

14.  Garman,  H.,  1890.     The  Mouthparts  of  Thysanoptera.     Bui.  Essex 
Inst.,  vol.  XXII,  Nos.  1  and  3. 

15.  Germar,  1835.     Silberman's  Revue  Entomol. 

16.  GODING,    F.    W.,    1903.      A   monograph    of    Australian   Membracidse. 
Pro.  of  the  Linn.  Soc,  New  South  Wales. 

17.  GoDiNG,  F.  W.,  1887-'95.     Bui.  111.  State  Lab.  of  Nat.  Hist,  vol.  III. 

18.  Coding,  F.  W.,  1892.     Syn.  of  North  Amer.  Membracidse.     Trans,  of 
Amer.  Ento.  Soc,  vol.  XIX. 

19.  Harris,  T.  W.,  1862.    Insects  Injurious  to  Vegetation. 

20.  Howard,  L.  0.,  1905.    The  Insect  Book. 

21.  Kellogg,  Vernon  L.,  1905.    American  Insects. 

22.  KiRBY,  W.  F.,  1892.     Elementary  Textbook  of  Entomology. 

23.  KiRBY,  W.  F.,  1829.     Mag.  Nat.  Hist. 

24.  Latreille,  1802.     Hist.  Naturelle  Hemip. 

25.  Lee.     Vade  Mecum. 

26.  Leon,  N.,  1887.    Bertrage  zur  Kenntinis  der  Mundteile  der  Hemip- 
tera. 

27.  Linn^us,  1755.     Systema  Naturae. 

28.  MuiR,  F.,  and  Kershaw,  J.  C.,  1911.    Homologies  and  Mechanism  of 
Mouthparts  of  Hemip.     Psyche,  vol.  XVIII. 

29.  Marlatt,    C.    L.,    1895.      Hemip.      Mouth.      Pro.    of    Ento.    Soc.    of 
Washington,  vol.  Ill,  No.  4. 

30.  Mahlatt,   C.   L.     Ceresa  bubalus  and  Ceresa  taurina.     Insect  Life, 
vol.  VII,  and  U.  S.  Dept.  Agri.,  Cir.  23. 

31.  Meek,  W.  J.,  1903.     Mouthparts  of  the  Hemip.     Kan.  Univ.  Science 
Bui.,  vol.  II,  No.  9,  whole  series,  vol.  XI. 

32.  Packard,  A.  S.,  1890.     Entomology  for  Beginners. 

33.  Rice,  Mrs.  M.  E.    Entilia  simiata.    Insect  Life,  vol.  V. 

34.  Riley,  Chas.     Insect  Life,  vol.  V. 

35.  Say,  Thomas.     American  Entomology,  vol.  I. 

36.  Say,  Thomas.     Journ.  of  Acad.  Natur.  Scien.,  Philadelphia. 

37.  Stal,  C,  1864.     Hemiptera  Fabricana,  vol.  IV. 

38.  Stoll,  Caspar,  1787.     Representation  des  Cigalles. 

39.  Sharp.     Cambridge  Natural  History,  vol.  VI,  part  II;  1899. 

40.  Stough,  H.  B.,  1910.     Hackberry  Psylla.     Kan.  Univ.  Sci.  Bui.,  vol. 
v.,  No.  9,  whole  series,  XV,  No.  9. 

41.  Van  Duzee,  Edward  P.,  1908.     Studies  in  North  American  Mem- 
bracids.     Bui.  Buffalo  Soc.  of  Nat.  Sciences,  vol.  IX,  No.  1. 

42.  Walker,  F.,  1851.    List  of  Hemp,  in  Brit.  Mus.,  and  Supplement. 


THE 

KANSAS  UNIVERSITY 
SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 


Vol.  VIII,  No.  4— July,  1913. 

(Whole  Series,  Vol.  XVIII,  No.  4.) 


CONTENTS: 

Monograph  of  the  LARRiDyE  of  Kansas Francis  X.  Williams 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  UNIVERSITr, 
LAWRENCE,  KAN. 


Entered  at  the  post-office  in  Lawrence  as  second-class  matter. 


KANSAS   STATE   PRINTING  OFFICE. 

W.  C.  Austin,   State  Printer. 

TOPEKA,      1914. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

page: 

Introduction    • 121 

External  Anatomy  of  Tachytes  distinctus 125 

Systematic  Larrid^  137 

Key  to  the  family.  .  ■ 137 

Key  to  the  genera 139 

Larra    1 40 

Notogonia    141 

Larropsis   141 

Tachytes    . 149 

Tachysphex     !  58 

Lyroda    174 

Plenocidus   174 

Niteliopsis   1 76 

Miscophus    179 

Bothynostethus    119 

Recapitulation  and   comment 180 

Notes  on  the  Biology  of  the  Larrid.e 183 

Introduction 183 

Specific  biology    183 

Summary     210 

Table  of  the  prey  of  the  Larridas 2H 

Bibliography   211 

Explanation  op  Plates. 

(119) 


THE  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY 
SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 

Vol.  VIII,  No.  4]         JULY,  1913.  [voT"^^!frC4. 


The  Larrid^  of  Kansas. 

BY   FRANCIS   X.    WILLIAMS. 

(Submitted  in  purti-Tl  fultilliiient  of  the  requirements  for  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  at 
the  University  of  Kansas.) 

Plates  XXII  to  XXX. 

Introduction. 

THIS  paper  is  the  result  of  about  two  years  of  study  on 
that  group  of  insect-catching  wasps  known  as  the  Lar- 
ridae.  The  work  done  embraces  the  field  observations 
and  collections  of  three  consecutive  summers  (1910-'12),  spent 
chiefly  in  the  western  portion  of  Kansas ;  a  large  amount  of 
laboratory  work  at  the  University;  and  a  trip  to  the  United 
States  National  Museum  and  Philadelphia  Academy  of 
Sciences  during  the  winter  of  1912-'13. 

It  may  be  here  stated  that  the  Larridae  belong  to  the  order 
Hymenoptera,  and  constitute  one  of  the  families  of  a  large 
series  of  wasps  known  as  the  Fossores,  or  digger  ivasps,  so 
named  because  of  their  habit  of  excavating  burrows  in  the 
earth.  The  Fossores  in  turn  are  included  in  and  form  the 
largest  portion  of  that  great  assemblage,  the  solitary  ivasps. 
These  are  distinguished  from  their  social  brethren  by  having 
the  species  represented  only  by  the  male  and  the  fully  devel- 
oped female,  whereas  the  latter  group  possesses  three  castes  or 
forms — males,  egg-laying  females,  and  undeveloped  females, 
or  workers.  Furthermore,  each  female  solitary  wasp  con- 
structs and  uses  her  own  nest,  unless  parasitic,  while  social 
wasps  have  one  common  abode,  and  are  therefore  of  communal 
habit. 

(121) 


122  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

The  Larridae  are  rather  stoutly  built  insects,  for  the  most 
part  of  somber  coloration,  and,  in  the  United  States,  range 
from  about  one-eighth  of  an  inch  to  nearly  an  inch  in  length. 
Being  very  swift  of  movement  and  inobtrusive  in  habit,  they 
are  seldom  seen  by  the  the  casual  observer.  Generally  speak- 
ing, they  store  their  burrows  with  long-  or  short-horned  grass- 
hoppers, crickets,  and  bugs,  which  are  subdued  by  stinging. 
The  wasp  lays  an  egg  in  each  provisioned  cell,  closes  it,  and 
then  leaves  her  offspring  to  work  out  its  own  salvation  in  this 
dark  chamber.  Upon  hatching,  the  grub  devours  the  food  pro- 
vided (this  is  often  in  a  decomposing  condition),  and  reaches 
maturity,  to  spin  or  form  a  sort  of  cocoon.  From  this  cocoon 
the  wasp  emerges  in  due  season,  to  continue  the  life-cycle. 

Those  of  us  who  have  not  had  the  good  fortune,  the  patience 
or  the  inclination  to  watch  one  of  these  digger  wasps  at  work 
have  missed  the  opportunity  of  observing  an  insect  of  re- 
markable instincts,  great  perseverance,  and  notable  tfemerity 
in  attacking  its  often  huge  prey.  Few  persons  have  any  idea 
of  the  vast  amount  of  good  done  by  these  Hymenoptera,  for 
the  noxious  insects  destroyed  by  the  solitary  wasps  is  very 
great,  and  plays  an  important  part  in  maintaining  the  balance 
in  nature. 

The  external  anatomy  of  the  large  species,  Tachytes  dis- 
tinctus,  which  is  worked  out  in  this  paper,  has  presented 
features  of  interest  to  the  writer,  while  the  classification  of 
the  group,  because  of  its  ill-defined  limits  and  the  close  rela- 
tionship which  many  of  the  species  (of  which  fifty-eight  have 
been  found  in  Kansas)  bear  to  one  another,  is  rendered  at  the 
same  time  both  attractive  and  perplexing. 

This  paper  is  of  necessity  far  from  complete,  particularly  so 
is  the  chapter  devoted  to  biology ;  nor  can  the  writer  hope  that 
it  is  free  from  errors. 

The  identifications  have  been  made  with  care,  and  if  the 
status  of  a  species  is  uncertain  it  is  so  indicated  in  the  text. 
The  types  of  the  new  species  are  in  the  Snow  entomological 
collections,  at  Kansas  University,  at  Lawrence. 

While  in  most  cases  the  keys  are  largely  modifications  of 
those  of  Sharp,  Cresson,  Fox,  Ashmead,  and  others,  the  writer 
frequently  emphasizes  characters  heretofore  but  little  used  in 
classification  in  the  American  keys  to  species,  so  that  this 
portion  of  the  work  is  not  lacking  in  originality.  The  generic 
and  often  the  specific  descriptions  are  in  a  great  measure 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  123 

taken  from  those  in  Fox's  "North  American  Larridse"  (Proc. 
Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.,  1893).  These  are  usually  abridged,  ex- 
cept in  the  case  of  new  species,  and  often  refer  more  particu- 
larly to  the  Kansas  specimens. 

No  attempt  has  been  made  to  cite  much  of  the  literature 
relating  either  directly  or  indirectly  to  the  Larridae.  This  is 
largely  because  of  the  inaccessibility  of  many  of  these  writ- 
ings, chiefly  those  of  Europe,  which  are  very  important,  and 
because  of  the  limited  scope  of  this  paper.  In  the  systematic 
portion  reference  is  made  to  the  original  descriptions,  and  very 
frequently  also  to  the  best  or  more  accessible  diagnoses.  The 
drawings  are  original,  often  of  camera  lucida  outline,  and 
where  possible  are  made  from  the  type  specimen. 

In  conclusion  I  desire  to  extend  my  thanks  to  the  various 
members  of  the  Kansas  University  Entomological  Survey  who 
assisted  me  in  the  field  work;  to  the  oflScers  of  the  United 
States  National  Museum,  for  the  favors  extended  me  while 
there,  especially  to  Mr.  S.  A.  Rohwer,  of  that  institution,  for 
the  very  efficient  aid  given  me  in  identifying  species,  etc.;  to 
the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  for  similar 
kindness,  and  in  particular  to  Mr.  Wm.  J.  Fox,  for  copying 
portions  of  literature  inaccessible  to  me,  and  for  comparing 
specimens ;  to  Prof.  Myron  H.  Swenk,  of  Nebraska  University, 
for  the  loan  of  certain  Larridse;  to  Mr.  H.  B.  Hungerford,  of 
Kansas  University,  for  criticizing  the  manuscript ;  and  finally 
to  Prof.  S.  J.  Hunter,  in  whose  department  this  work  was 
done,  for  many  helpful  suggestions  and  for  his  patience  and 
criticism  in  going  over  the  manuscript. 

Francis  X.  Williams. 
Kansas  University,  Lawrence,  Kan. 
March  13,  1913. 


PART  I. 

The  External  Anatomy  of  Tachytes  distinctus. 

Inasmuch  as  the  external  anatomy  of  each  genus  of  the 
North  American  Larridae  could  not  be  examined,  the  writer 
has  selected  a  large  and  common  species,  Tachytes  distinctus, 
a  typical  example  of  the  family,  as  the  basis  for  the  short 
study  herewith  presented. 

The  female  of  this  insect  is  fully  twice  as  large  as  our 
common  honey-bee  (Apis  mellifica),  of  stout  build,  though 
rather  elongate,  and  in  general  of  a  dull  black  color,  partly 
concealed  by  pubescence.  The  yellowish  wings  are  smoky 
apically;  the  legs  spinose,  and  largely  of  a  ferruginous  color. 
The  male  is  smaller,  and  usually  more  slender  than  the  female. 
A  specific  description  of  the  insect  will  be  found  in  the  sys- 
tematic portion  of  this  paper,  while  notes  on  its  habits  are 
given  on  pages  194-197  (96-101)  of  the  biologic  section. 

In  order  to  bring  to  light  more  clearly  the  often  none-too- 
well  defined  areas  and  sclerites,  the  pubescence  and  pile  should 
be  removed  from  the  head  and  thorax  of  the  insect. 

Head. 

(PI.  XXII,  fig.  6,  front  view.) 
Areas  and  Sclerites. 

The  head  of  this  type  of  insect  does  not  present  the  com- 
paratively generalized  condition  to  be  found  in  the  cockroach, 
for  example,  where  some  of  the  sclerites  are  definitely  bounded 
by  sutures.  On  the  other  hand,  they  have  very  largely  dis- 
appeared by  fusion  with  one  another. 

Compound  Eyes.  The  large,  greenish  compound  eyes  con- 
verge towards  the  upper  portion  (vertex)  of  the  head,  with 
the  effect  of  making  the  interocular  space  at  that  point  only 
about  one-half  as  wide  as  the  space  between  the  eyes  at  the 
base  of  the  mandibles,  to  which  they  nearly  extend.  This 
interocular  space  at  the  vertex  varies  in  different  species,  and 
is  for  that  reason  of  considerable  taxonomic  value. 

(125) 


126  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY  SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Clypeus.  This  sclerite  occupies  the  lower  portion  of  the 
face  below  the  insertion  of  the  antennae.  Its  area  is  indicated 
by  c  in  the  figure.  Its  free  (distal)  end  is  prolonged  into  a 
lobe,  from  beneath  which  depends  the  labrum  (I).  The  bound- 
ary between  the  clypeus  and  the  frons,  the  next  sclerite  above, 
is  indicated  by  a  suture,  which,  extending  obliquely  upwards 
from  near  the  base  of  the  compound  eyes,  proceeds  first  to  the 
outer  side  of  the  antennal  sockets,  then  obliquely  downwards 
to  just  below  the  latter,  and  finally  transversely  before  them. 
The  angle  thus  formed  by  these  oblique  sutures  is  marked  by 
a  small  pit,  the  base  of  the  hollow  ingrowth  of  each  meso- 
cephalic  pillar  or  arm  of  the  tentorium,  which  constitutes  the 
endoskeleton  of  the  head. 

Frons.  The  frons,  or  front,  (/)  as  we  have  just  seen,  is 
bounded  definitely  below  by  a  suture,  but  its  upper  limits  are 
quite  disputable,  for  here  it  can  hardly  be  said  to  do  more 
than  to  give  way  to  the  vertex,  since  the  suture  between  these 
two  areas  is  obsolete  or  nearly  so.  The  frons  is  of  course 
bounded  laterally  by  the  compound  eyes ;  it  bears  the  antennae, 
and  perhaps  the  anterior  ocellus,  at  least.  The  sockets  into 
which  the  antennae  fit  are  quite  proximate;  there  is  a  short 
raised  area  immediately  above  them,  while  laterad  of  this 
elevation  are  the  two  rather  large,  smooth  antennal  fossae  or 
depressions.  There  is  an  interrupted  line  extending  from  the 
upper  portion  of  the  head  to  near  the  antennal  sockets.  This 
is  the  median  line  of  the  head. 

Vertex.  The  vertex  is  defined  in  Smith's  Glossary  of  Terms 
Used  in  Entomology  as  "the  top  of  the  head  between  the  eyes, 
front  and  occiput;  in  bees  that  part  adjacent  to  and  occupied 
by  the  ocelli."  If,  at  least  in  the  more  specialized  families  of 
Hymenoptera,  as  the  one  under  consideration,  the  vertex  is  to 
be  regarded  solely  as  an  area  of  position,  it  would  occupy  the 
top  of  the  head,  as  the  name  would  imply,  and  this,  at  least  in 
most  Larridse,  would  place  the  lower  boundary  of  the  vertex 
about  at  the  top  of  the  paired  (posterior)  ocelli.  Regarding 
the  vertex  as  a  sclerite,  we  would  find  in  certain  Hymenoptera 
that  the  median  impressed  line  of  the  frons  often  forks  at  or 
just  before  the  anterior  ocellus,  but  these  branches  do  not 
extend  laterally  to  the  compound  eyes,  and  thus  would  not  shut 
off  the  upwards-extending  frons  (?)  from  the  vertex.  Ac- 
cording  to   Comstock   and    Kochi    (Am.    Nat.,    XXXVI,    28; 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  127 

1902)  we  read  that,  "in  the  more  specialized  orders,  wherever 
we  have  been  able  to  distinguish  between  the  front  and  the 
vertex,  we  have  found  the  paired  ocelli  in  the  vertex."  The 
solid  line  /,  figure  6,  probably  represents  the  upper  limit  (on 
the  median  line)  of  the  frons  and  the  lower  limit  of  the  vertex 
(vx),  from  a  morphological  point  of  view,  while  the  paired 
dotted  lines  /  and  vx,  in  the  same  figure,  represent  these  two 
areas  as  frequently  considered  by  the  systematist.  Behind 
the  paiied  ocelli  is  a  somewhat  wedge-shaped  depression  point- 
ing posteriorly.  This  may  mark  the  posterior  limit  of  the 
vertex.  This  depression  is  well  marked  in  those  genera  among 
the  Larridae  having  the  posterior  ocelli  distorted,  and  is  ap- 
parently associated  with  that  distortion. 

Geng;  mid  Occiput.  The  gense,  or  cheeks,  refer  to  that  por- 
tion of  the  head  behind  the  compound  eyes,  and  limited  poste- 
riorly by  the  occipital  ridge.  The  occiput  is  represented  by  a 
more  or  less  circular  depression*  occupying  the  posterior  por- 
tion of  the  head  and  opening  into  the  foramen  magnum,  which 
is  the  passage  for  the  esophagus,  trachse,  etc.,  from  the  thorax 
into  the  head.  It  is  evident  from  descriptions  of  species,  and 
from  generic  descriptions  as  well,  that  at  least  the  dorsal  por- 
tion of  the  occiput  is  not  usually  considered  as  confined  by  the 
raised  line  bounding  the  depression,  but  that  it  extends  more 
anteriorly,  viz.,  as  far  as  the  line  drawn  from  the  posterior 
borders  of  the  eyes,  to  meet  the  vertex. 

Ocelli.  These  are  three  in  number,  but  in  Tachytes,  as  in 
other  typical  Larridse,  only  the  anterior  one  is  rounded,  per- 
fect, and  presumably  functional;  the  posterior  ocelli  in  the 
species  under  consideration  are  drawn  out  and  curved  hook- 
like behind,  where  they  are  quite  proximate.  A  smooth, 
shining  area  extends  along  the  outer  edge  of  the  attenuated 
ocelli  but  does  not  seem  to  be  a  portion  thereof,  for  if  the  part 
of  the  head  containing  the  ocelli  be  submitted  to  the  caustic 
action  of  KOH,  and  then  exposed  to  light,  the  nearly  circular 
outline  for  the  anterior  ocellus  is  revealed,  while  the  posterior 
pair  show  elongate,  imperfectly  S-shaped  slits. 

Appendages. 
Antennie.     (PI.  XXVI,  fig.  41.)     The  antennse,  as  heretofore 
noted,  arise  close  together  from  the  frons,  just  above  the 
clypeus.    They  consist  in  the  male  of  thirteen  joints,  and  in  the 

*  This  is  referred  to  in  Say's  American  Entomology  as  the  jugulum. 


128  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY  SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

female  of  twelve.  They  are  conveniently  divided  into  three 
parts:  the  scape  (s),  the  largest  and  stoutest  of  the  joints, 
which  is  differentiated  into  a  small  bulbous  basal  portion  (b), 
fitting  snugly  into  the  socket,  and  the  main  limb,  which  is  quite 
densely  hairy ;  the  pedicel  (p) ,  a  short  joint  springing  from  the 
scape ;  and  lastly,  the  flagellum  or  filament  F,  constituting  the 
remaining  many-jointed  and  commonly  uniform  portion. 

Mouth  Parts. 
(PI.  XXIII,  figs.  7-10.) 

The  large  oral  cavity  bears  the  complicated  type  of  mouth 
parts  found  in  most  Hymenoptera.  If  we  consider  the  clypeus 
to  be  the  dorsal  (upper)  edge  of  the  oral  cavity,  we  have  depend- 
ing therefrom,  though  but  little  exserted,  the  labrum.  This  is 
indistinctly  bilobed,  and  bears  some  short,  stout  bristles.  From 
the  ventral  (opposite  or  lower)  side  of  the  oral  cavity  hang 
the  cardines  of  the  maxillse  (fig.  7,  C),  contributing  to  and  sup- 
porting the  latter,  which  may  in  turn  partly  enclose  and  pro- 
tect the  median  composite  labium,  or  lower  lip.  The  latter, 
unlike  the  maxillse,  is  not  directly  secured  to  the  head  skeleton, 
but  is  separated  from  it  by  an  intervening  membrane. 

Epipharijnx.  (PI.  XXIII,  figs.  8  and  10,  EPH.)  The  epi- 
pharynx  is  a  slightly  bilobed  and  pilose  membrane  which 
hangs  down  from  the  base  of  the  labrum.  Laterally  it  is  pro- 
tected by  a  thin,  weakly  chitinized  plate,  which  extends  for 
a  short  distance  into  the  mouth  opening.  The  epipharynx  may 
be  termed  the  roof  of  the  mouth.  At  the  pharyngeal  entrance 
is  the  pharyngeal  plate,  which  is  opposite  the  epipharynx.  It 
is  a  transverse  chitinized  piece,  extending  from  each  side  an- 
teriorly as  a  pair  of  broader  subparallel  portions,  and  poste- 
riorly as  a  narrow  pair  (fig.  10,  r),  which  converges  to  the 
oesophagus.  These  (r)  are  termed  by  Sharp  the  epipharyngeal 
sclerites.  The  piece  s,  figures  8  and  10,  is  stouter  than  r,  and 
extend  from  the  dorsal  (under)  side  of  the  mentum  (Af)  up  to 
the  anterior  of  the  pharyngeal  processes.  The  pair  s  is  termed 
by  Sharp  the  hypopharyngeal  sclerites,  and  would  seem  largely 
to  support  the  oral  tissue,  and  in  a  great  measure  keep  the 
mouth  cavity  open  when  necessity  demands. 

The  mouth  parts  thus  far  described  do  not  differ  very  ma- 
terially from  those  of  the  bumblebee  as  given  by  Sharp  (Camb. 
Nat.  Hist.  Ins.,  II,  14;  1901). 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  129 

Maxillse.  (PI.  XXIII,  figs.  7,  9  and  10.)  The  maxillae  closely 
appre.'^s  the  labium  on  either  side.  They  are  of  rather  compli- 
cated structure,  in  that  they  are  composed  of  a  number  of 
separate  sclerites.  As  with  the  same  structure  in  the  honeybee 
(Apis),  the  distal  part  in  Tachytes  is  considerably  shortened, 
though,  if  anything,  more  complex  in  the  wasp. 

Loinim.  The  lorum,  which  is  conspicuous  enough  in  Apis  and 
Bomhus  (among  others),  could  not  be  made  out  with  certainty 
here.  It  is  possible  that  each  loium  is  lepiesented  in  Tachytes 
by  that  broad  upper  inner  poition  of  the  cardines  which  is  here 
thin  and  less  heavily  chitinized  than  the  lower  part,  though  it 
is  in  no  wise  separated  therefrom.  (See  pi.  XXIII,  fig.  9,  N 
and  C.) 

Stipe.  (PI.  XXIII,  figs.  7,  9  and  10,  S^.)  Articulated  to  the 
distal  end  of  each  cardo  is  the  stipe,  which  comprises  the  larg- 
est portion  of  the  maxillse.  Figure  9  represents  an  inner  view 
of  one  of  the  maxillse ;  it  will  be  observed  that  the  stipe  is 
heavily  chitinized  and  composed  of  several  pieces.  Near  the  tip 
of  each  stipe  arises  the  large  six-jointed  maxillary  palpus. 

Galea.  (PI.  XXIII,  figs.  7,  9  and  10,  MX.)  The  large  blade- 
like galea  of  the  honeybee  is  here  represented  by  a  short,  stout 
lobe  articulated  to  the  stipe.  It  is  armed  with  stout  as  well  as 
with  fine  hairs. 

Lacinia.  (PI.  XXIII,  fig.  9,  L.)  Arising  from  a  spur  of 
chitin  on  the  inner  side  of  the  galea,  near  its  distal  extremity, 
is  a  well-formed,  curved  lobe,  which  would  seem  to  represent 
the  lacinia.  When  in  position,  each  of  these  lobes  is  seen  to 
overlie  the  more  basal  of  the  two  dorsal  pairs  of  chitinized 
lobes  or  scales  of  the  labium.  (See  pi.  XXIII,  fig.  8,  k.)  Mac- 
Gilliviay  (Ann.  Ent.  Soc.  Am.,  V,  No.  3,  231-8;  1912)  de- 
scribes and  illustrates  the  lacinia  in  several  groups  of  Hymen- 
optera,  where,  as  in  Tachytes.  it  consists  of  a  thin  pilose  lobe 
far  smaller  than  the  galea.  The  inferior,  distal  edge  of  the 
stipe  and  the  basal  portion  of  the  galea  are  thin  and  flap-like 
(fig.  9). 

Labium.  (PI.  XXIII,  figs.  7,  8  and  10.)  Commencing  from 
its  base,  the  labium  is  composed  of  the  submentum  (SMt)  ; 
mentum  (M)  ;  and  the  ligula,  which  comprises  the  fused 
glossae  (GL) ,  the  paraglossse  (PGL) ,  and  several  small  sclerites. 
The  submentum  is  a  small,  delicate,  V-shaped  sclerite  lying  in 


130  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

the  membrane  between  the  stipes,  cardines  and  mentum.  It 
does  not  appear  to  be  articulated  to  or  otherwise  connected 
with  the  large  mentum,  but  lies  immediately  behind  it.  The 
mentum  is  the  large,  heavily  chitinized  piece  forming  the  body 
of  the  labium.  Just  before  and  on  each  side  of  its  wedge- 
shaped  extremity  are  the  four-jointed  labial  palpi  (LP).  On 
either  side,  at  about  the  middle  of  its  length,  the  mentum  sends 
an  extension  dorsad,  which  is  secured  in  a  degree  to  the  inner 
lateral  edge  of  the  stipe  of  the  maxillae. 

Glossa.  Anterior  to  and  arising  from  the  mentum  is  the 
largely  membranous  ligula,  consisting  of  the  fused  glosste  and 
the  free  paraglossaB.  It  is  tongue-like  at  its  tip  (labellum) .  At 
the  base  of  the  ligula  is  the  translucent  ventral  supporting 
plate  of  the  ligula,  which  is  grooved  to  the  extremity  of  the 
ligula  (fig.  7,  gl,  gr) .  The  dorsal  extremity  of  the  latter  (fig.  8, 
GL)  is  beset  with  rather  appressed,  apically  expanded  hairs 
arranged  in  transverse  rows. 

Hypopharynx.  The  glossse  are  sometimes  termed  the  hypo- 
pharynx,  but  Snodgrass  (Anat.  of  the  Honeybee,  U.  S.  D.  A. 
tech.  ser.  No.  18,  pp.  49-50;  1910)  has  shown  that  the  honey- 
bee does  not  possess  a  hypopharynx.  To  quote  this  author: 
"The  duct  of  the  salivary  glands  of  insects  in  general  opens 
upon  the  base  of  the  labium  in  front  of  the  hypopharynx.  In 
the  honeybee  the  salivary  opening  is  on  the  dorsal  side  of  the 
base  of  the  ligula,  between  the  paraglosste.  .  .  .  This 
alone  would  show  that  the  glossa  is  not  the  hypopharynx  of 
the  bee,  as  many  authors  have  supposed,  for  otherwise  the 
opening  of  the  salivary  duct  should  be  ventrad  to  the  base  of 
the  glossa.  In  fact,  this  makes  it  clear  that  the  bee  does  not  pos- 
sess a  hypopharynx.  There  is,  however,  a  conspicuous  chi- 
tinous  plate  located  on  the  anterior  part  of  the  floor  of  the 
pharynx,  having  two  terminal  points  hanging  downwards  over 
the  lower  lip  of  the  oral  aperture ;  but,  although  this  plate  is 
truly  hypopharyngeal  in  position,  it  is  not  the  homologue  of 
the  organ  called  the  hypopharynx  in  other  insects." 

This  statement  appears  to  apply  as  well  to  Tachytes,  which 
has  the  opening  of  the  salivary  glands  similarly  situated  be- 
tween the  scales  of  the  paraglossse  (pi.  XXIII,  fig.  8,  near  h) . 
The  portion  above  and  beyond  the  mentum,  being  largely  mem- 
branous, bears  several  strengthening  sclerites  of  small  size 
(pi.  XXIII,  fig.  8,  g,  h,  e)  ;  g,  the  most  anterior  of  these,  lies 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  181 

at  the  dorsal  base  of  the  glossai  and  is  somewhat  V-shaped  in 
cross  section,  sending  out  a  ventral  arm  (/)  to  either  side  to 
connect  the  piece  with  the  thin  paired  plates  (e,  figs.  7  and  8). 
These  are  situated  at  the  base  of  the  mentum  and  are  also 
connected  with  the  two  lateral  pieces  (d).  There  is,  in  addi- 
tion, a  more  or  less  central  arched  piece,  throujjh  the  curve  of 
which  the  tube  of  the  salivary  glands  passes. 

Paraglossai.  (PI.  XXIII,  figs.  7  and  8,  PGL.)  These  arise 
from  the  two  partly  free  dorsal  chitinized  lobes  (i),  and  ex- 
tend ventrad  on  either  side  as  thin  transparent  processes 
(fig.  8,  PGL).  The  curved  sclerite  (h)  lies  in  the  inner  mem- 
brane of  the  piece  i,  and  is  secured  to  g  near  the  base  of  its 
posterior  arm  (/).      • 

Mandibles.  (PI.  XXIII,  fig.  7,  MD,  base;  pi.  XXV,  figs.  21 
and  22.)  These  are  large  and  stout,  bidentate  within,  and 
with  a  distinct  emargination  exteriorly  (on  the  lower  side) 
before  the  middle.  In  the  male  the  mandibles  are  more  slen- 
der than  in  the  female. 

How  Food  is  Taken. 
It  may  be  well  to  mention,   in  the  first  place,  that  this 
process  was  not  observed ;  the  writer  having  given  the  mouth 
parts  considerable  study,  believes  that  his  views  are  correct.  • 
To  see  how  food  is  taken  up  by  the  mouth  parts  and  conveyed 
to  the  oesophagus,  constant  reference  must  be  made  to  figures  8 
and  11.   The  former  figure  we  have  just  considered;  the  latter 
is  a  somewhat  diagrammatic  dorsal  view,  chiefly  of  the  labium. 
As  before  stated,  the  epipharynx  hangs  down  as  a  lobe  from 
the  labrum,  while  ventrad  of   (opposite)    the  former  is  the 
floor  of  the  pharynx.    It  is  between  these  two,  therefore,  that 
the  passage  (o)  to  the  esophagus  extends.     The  anterior  end 
of  the  pharynx  (p,  fig.  11)  is  free;  that  is,  extends  forward  as 
a  horizontal,  let  us  say,  lobe,  below  and  behind  which  is  a  thin- 
floored  blind  sac  or  pouch   (t,  fig.  8).     Between  the  paired 
lobes  i  and  k  is  a  longitudinal  channel  or  groove   (fig.  11), 
which  terminates  posteriorly  just  before  the  aforesaid  lobe 
(p).     The  ligula  at  this  point  slopes  down  rather  abruptly 
(x,  fig.  11)  ;  this  is  just  about  ventrad  of  p,  figures  8  and  11, 
the  slope  ending  in  the  form  of  an  emargination  or  arc   (c), 
with  its  center  or  inclined  floor   (as  viewed  from  above)   di- 
rected anteriorly.     The  anterior  edge  of  the  pharyngeal  lobe 
(both  figures)  can  be  made  to  fit  this  emargination  or  curve 


132  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

very  nicely  (for  here  the  membrane,  falling  oil  steeply,  allows 
the  lobe  7?  to  rest  flush  or  coincide  with  c,  figure  11 ) ,  and  when 
serving  such  a  purpose  shuts  off  the  passage  (b)  to  the  blind 
sac  below.  By  comparing  the  two  figures  with  one  another 
and  following  the  arrows  in  figure  11,  commencing  with  the 
apical  arrow  (A),  which  is  seen  departing  from  the  ventral 
groove  of  the  ligula  (as  seen  in  figure  7,  gr) ,  and  keeping  in 
mind  that  the  dotted  portions  of  the  arrows  are  below  or 
behind  the  transverse  lines  which  they  intersect,  it  can  be 
seen  how  nectar  or  other  liquids  ma.y  by  a  ventral-to-dorsal 
route  be  drawn,  presumably  by  capillarity,  into  the  mouth 
opening  <o).  If  the  insect  raises  the  pharyngeal  lobe,  the 
lower  passage  b  (fig.  11)  leading  to  t  (fig.  8)  is  opened;  the 
latter  is  frequently  found  filled  with  pollen,  which  is  probably 
taken  at  or  near  the  pouch,  and  does  not  follow  the  same 
initial  course  as  the  liquids. 

The  glossa,  of  course,  can  be  lengthened  or  shortened  by  the 
insect  by  blood  pressure  and  the  action  of  muscles,  this  action 
playing  an  important  part  when  the  wasp  is  taking  food. 

Thoeax. 

(PI.  XXII,  fig.  1,  lateral  view;  fig.  3,  dorsal;  fig.  4,  ventral.) 
The  compact  form  as  well  as  the  hardness  of  the  thorax  does 
not  permit  its  three  divisions  to  be  as  readily  determined  as 
one  would  desire,  while  the  fusion  of  the  first  abdominal  seg- 
ment (IT)  with  the  thorax  has  led  many  systematists  into  the 
error  (or  convenience?)  of  considering  the  former  a  part  of 
the  metathorax.  The  latter  is  here  the  smallest  division  of 
the  thorax. 

Prothotu'x  (1).  This  is  of  moderate  size,  but  comparatively 
larger  than  in  the  honeybee,  and  somewhat  drawn  in  under 
the  scutum  of  the  metathorax.  Its  notal  (dorsal)  portion  has  a 
transverse  anterior  notch,  while  a  second  notch  behind  the 
first  divides  the  prothorax  into  the  proscutum  and  proscutel- 
lum.  The  proscutum  forms  a  complete  ring,  which  narrows 
v€ntrad,  while  the  proscutellum  terminates  apparently  at  the 
.shoulder  tubercles  (L).  The  latter  are  also  known  as  the  pro- 
thomcic  lobes  or  posterior  lobes  of  the  pronotum.  They  pro- 
tect the  first  thoracic  spiracles,  and  are  of  some  importance  in 
the  classification  of  the  Hymenoptera  into  the  larger  divisions 
or  series.  Fernald  (Chlorioninse  of  N.  A.  and  West  Indies, 
Proc.  U.  S.  N.  M.,  XXXI,  p.  300;  1906)   terms  tire  anterior 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  133 

dorsal  and  lateral  division  of  the  prothorax  the  neck,  and  the 
more  elevated  posterior  portion  the  collar.  The  pleural  or  side 
sclerites  (propleuron)  are  represented  by  the  large  episternum 
(Eps) ,  which  is  partly  covered  by  the  overlapping  pronotum. 

Mesothorax  (2).  This  is  the  largest  of  the  three  thoracic 
divisions.  Dorsally  it  is  composed  of  the  convex  scutum  {Set) , 
and  the  succeeding  shorter  piece,  the  scutellum  (Scl) .  These 
combined  constitute  the  mesonotum.  From  the  anterior  bor- 
ders of  the  scutum,  posteriorly,  run  the  parapsidal  furrows. 
The  scale-like  tegulse  (tg)  which  cover  the  base  of  the  fore 
wings  are  situated  under  the  lateral  edge  of  the  scutum.  The 
pleural  portion  of  the  mesothorax  consists  of  the  large  an- 
terior episternum  (Epn)  and  the  more  posterior  epimeron 
(Epm).  The  episterna  do  not  meet  on  the  mid-ventral  line,  as 
do  the  epimera,  for  their  whole  length  (fig.  4,  Epm)  ;  there  is 
therefore  no  suture  in  this  case  separating  the  pleural  from 
the  sternal  portions.  The  mesosternum  proper  (S,  fig.  4)  is 
situated  caudal  of  the  epimera  and  between  the  middle  coxje. 

Metathorax  (3).  This  is  very  small.  Dorsally  it  consists  of 
the  wing-bearing  notum  (N),  behind  which  is  the  yet  smaller 
postnotum.  The  side  of  this  segment  (pi)  is  evidently  not  di- 
vided into  the  two  usual  pieces  by  suture,  such  as  exists  in  the 
mesothorax.  The  small,  grooved  metasternum  lies  immedi- 
ately behind  the  larger  metasternum. 

Appendages  of  the  Thorax.  Wings.  (PI.  XXIV,  fig.  14.) 
The  wings  are  inserted  between  the  notal  and  pleural  elements 
of  the  mesothorax  and  metathorax,  respectively,  and  inasmuch 
as  the  fore  wings  are  the  chief  organs  of  flight  the  mesothorax 
is  strongly  developed  at  the  expense  of  the  inconspicuous 
metathorax. 

The  veins  (fig.  14)  and  the  cells  (fig.  15,  Tachysphex  propin- 
qmis)  follow  the  usual  nomenclature,  the  lettering  being  from 
Fernald's  Chlorioninse.  The  system  is  comparatively  simple, 
and  while  it  may  not  be  as  logical  as  some  others,  it  is  easily 
remembered  and  applied,  and  for  that  reason  used  here.  An 
enlarged  figure  of  the  inner  margin  of  the  primaries  (pi.  XXV, 
fig.  33)  shows  the  fold  for  the  reception  of  the  hooks  on  the 
costal  margin  of  the  secondaries.  One  of  these  hooks  is  illus- 
trated in  figure  12.  By  this  device  the  wings  are  united  to 
move  in  unison. 

2  -Univ.  Sci.  Bull..  Vol.  VIII.  No.  4. 


134  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Legs.  (PI.  XXII,  fig.  5,  posterior  leg  of  female ;  pi.  XXVIII, 
figs.  83  and  85,  femur  of  male.)  These  are  stout  and  spinose, 
more  so  in  the  female  than  in  the  male.  The  fore  legs  are  used 
largely  for  digging.  The  fore  and  middle  tibise  each  bear  but 
a  single  apical  spur  (calcar),  while  the  hind  tibise  have  two. 
These  spurs  are  fringed  inwardly  with  short,  stiff"  hair ;  those  of 
the  anterior  pair  have  the  basal  portion  emarginate  inwardly 
and  armed  there  with  a  short  comb,  which,  cooperating  with  a 
similar  one  in  an  emargination  at  the  base  of  the  first  tarsal  joint, 
serve  as  antennal  cleaners,  the  antennae  being  drawn  between 
them.  This  structure  is  show  in  figure  88,  in  the  genus  Noto- 
gonia.  Figure  89  shows  this  modification  in  Astata,  which  is 
sometimes  classified  with  the  Larridse,  but  is  perhaps  more 
allied  to  the  Nyssonidse.  Notice  that  the  spur  is  here  bifurcate, 
while  it  is  simple  in  all  the  Larridse  which  I  have  examined. 

The  male  of  Tachytes  distinct  us  has  each  fore  coxa  armed 
inwardly  with  an  elongate  process,  which  bears  some  bristles 
apically  (pi.  XXIII,  fig.  13  H).  while  the  fore  femora  of  the 
same  sex  are  excavate  on  the  under  side  near  the  base;  these 
conditions  are  good  examples  of  secondary  sexual  characters, 
and  do  not  occur  in  all  the  species  of  the  genus  Tacliijtes. 

ABD3MEN  (fig.  2).  Pfopodeum  (figs.  1  and  3,  IT).  This 
portion  is  also  known  as  the  median  segment,  and  erroneously 
as  the  metathorax  (in  part).  Inasmuch  as  it  is  the  first 
abdominal  segment,  the  author  sees  no  reason  for  calling  it  a 
part  of  the  thorax ;  therefore,  the  word  propodeum  is  here 
used  for  that  part  morphologically  belonging  to  the  abdomen, 
however  much  it  may  appear  to  be  a  portion  of  the  thorax, 
while  what  is  really  the  second  abdominal  segment  will  in  the 
taxonomic  portion  of  this  paper  be  referred  to  as  the  first  seg- 
ment of  the  abdomen.  The  abdomen,  including  the  propodeum, 
has  seven  visible  segments  in  the  female  and  eight  in  the  male. 
The  second  segment,  though  tapering  narrowly  to  the  propo- 
deum, is  practically  sessile;  the  next  two  segments  are  the 
widest;  the  last  one  in  the  female  has  a  more  or  less  wedge- 
shaped  disc  bounded  laterally,  except  at  the  base,  by  a  carina, 
and  covered  with  an  even  appressed  pubescence.  This  surface 
is  Ivnown  as  the  pygidium  (fig.  2,  pg.  and  92) ,  and  is  of  consid- 
erable taxonomic  importance ;  it  is  a  generic  as  well  as  a  spe- 
cific character.  Beneath  the  pygidium  is  the  sheathed  sting. 
The  male  has  a  smaller,  blunter  pygidium,  while  the  eighth 
ventral  segment  is  well  emarginate  (fig.  Ill) . 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  135 

As  has  been  remarked,  the  species  just  considered  is  a  typi- 
cal example  of  the  family.  In  studying  the  various  Larridse 
it  will  be  found  that  certain  groups  depart  rather  widely  in  a 
number  of  anatomical  points  from  the  genus  Tachytes.  For 
example,  certain  Larridse  have  three  perfect  ocelli,  others  lack 
the  pygidial  area,  while  the  shape  of  the  head  and  thorax  and 
the  neuration  of  the  wings  may  differ  to  a  considerable  degree, 
to  say  nothing  of  size.  These  various  characters  are  noted  in 
the  systematic  portion  of  this  paper,  in  the  keys  and  generic 
descriptions. 


PART  II. 
Systematic  Larridae. 

The  following  keys  will  serve  to  separate  the  family  Larridae 
from  other  aculeate  wasps : 

Fore  wings  longitudinally  folded  in  repose Series  Diploptera 

Fore  wings  not  longitudinally  folded  in  repose Series  Fossores 

FOSSORES. 
Pronotum   and   tegute   in   contact;    a   transverse   chink   between   ventral 

abdominal  segments  1  and  2 Scoliid^  and  Mutillid^ 

Pronotum  and  tegulae  in  contact;   no  transverse  chink  between  ventral 

abdominal  segments  1  and  2 PompiliDjE 

Pronotum  and  tegulse  not  in  contact Sphegoidea  (Spegid^  sens,  lat.) 

Sphegoidea. 

1.  Middle  tibia  with  two  apical  spurs. .  Sphegid^,  Nyssonid^,  Stizid^, 

Mellinid^e 
Middle  tibje  with  but  one  apical  spur  or  with  none 2 

2.  Abdomen  with  a  strong  constriction  between  first  and  second  seg- 

ments, the  first  segment  much  narrower,  therefore,  at  apex  than 

the  second Philanthid^ 

Not  having  the   above   characters 3 

3.  Abdomen  elongate  and  clavate,  the  first  segment  petioliform;  eyes 

deeply  and  narrowly  emarginate  within;  fore  wings  with  usually 

but  one  well-defined  submarginal   cell Trypoxylonid.*: 

Abdomen  not  as  above ;  eyes  never  deeply  emarginate  within 4 

4.  Only  one  complete  submarginal  cell  in  the  primaries;  head  very  ro- 

bust, subquadrate;  metathorax  sometimes  spinose.  .Crabronid^e 
At  least  two  complete  submarginal  cells  in  the  primaries,  the  second 
of   these   cells   sometimes   petiolate;    head   normal,    rarely   vei-y 
stout;   metathorax   never   spinose 5 

5.  Abdomen  petiolate  or  subpetiolate,  the  petiole  or  subpetiole   (which 

is  often  quite  short)  distinctly  marked  off  from  the  remainder 
of  the  abdomen,  not  cylindrical ;  first  discoidal  cell  of  fore  rarely 
if  ever  longer,  usually  distinctly  shorter,  than  the  marginal  cell; 
marginal  cell  lanceolate,  its  apex  pointed  on  the  costal  margin  of 
the  wing;  two  submarginal  cells,  the  second  not  petiolate;  stigma 

strong,  often  very  marked;   ocelli  perfect Pemphredonid^ 

Abdomen  tapering  to  a  point  at  its  junction  with  the  thorax;  sub- 
petiole,  if  present,  not  clearly  differentiated  from  the  rest  of  the 
abdomen;  first  discoidal  cell  of  primaries  usually  distinctly  longer 
than  the  marginal,  which  is  more  often  truncate  or  rounded  at 
apex;    two   or    three    submarginal    cells,   the    second   sometimes 

petiolate ;   ocelli  variable 6 

(137) 


138  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

■6.  Labrum  large,  longer  than  wide,  conspicuously  exserted;  ocelli 
aborted,  represented  by  cicatrices ;  mandibles  not  notched  beneath ; 
transverse-median  nervure  of  hind  wings  sinuate  or  somewhat 

jJ-shaped Bembecid^ 

Labrum  small,  largely  or  entirely  hidden  beneath  the  clypeus;  at 
least  the  anterior  ocellus  perfect;  mandibles  frequently  notched 
beneath;  marginal  cell  of  fore  wings  usually  appendiculate  at 
apex;  transverse-median  nervure  of  hind  wings  straight;  not 
^-shaped;  fore  tibial  spur  not  furcate Larrid^ 

The  Larridse  have  a  world-wide  distribution.  They  are  well 
represented  in  the  temperature  zones  of  both  hemispheres.  A 
large  number  of  species  have  been  described  from  the  oriental 
Region.  Some  of  the  neotropical  species  are  conspicuous  for 
their  size  and  coloration. 

The  limits  of  the  family  are  not  clearly  defined,  so  that  the 
group  may  be  said  to  be  in  an  unstable  condition.  Kohl,  Sharp 
and  others  treat  it  as  a  subfamily  or  group  of  the  Sphegidse, 
but  Cre.sson,  Ashmead,  and  Mercet  (in  Spain)  are  among  those 
who  give  these  wasps  full  family  rank. 

The  writer  has  not  examined  all  of  the  genera  of  the  North 
American  Larridse,  and  has  seen  but  few  extra-American 
species.  For  this  reason  he  is  not  prepared  to  enter  at  any 
length  into  its  family  characteristics,  and  consequently  bases 
his  conclusions  very  largely  upon  North  American  species  and 
literature.  As  considered  here,  the  genera  T-rypoxijlon  and 
Pison  (which  have  deeply  emarginate  eyes  and  the  abdomen 
subclavate),  Dienophis,  Astata,  Dinetus  and  Diploplectron 
(which  have  the  middle  tibiae  with  two  apical  spurs),  some- 
times considered  as  belonging  to  the  family,  are  here  excluded 
from  the  Larridse. 

The  type  of  the  genus  Larva  and  of  the  family  Larridse  is 
Larva  anathema  (Rossi),  a  large,  handsome  species  of  the  Old 
World,  and  not  differing  greatly  from  our  own  Larva  analis. 

The  family  can  be  conveniently  divided  into  two  groups  or 
subfamilies : 

Those  having  the  posterior  ocelli  imperfect — Larrinse. 
Those  having  three  perfect  ocelli;  these  may  be  called  Atypical  Larridae. 
The  type  genus  belongs  to  the  Larrinse. 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^    OF   KANSAS.  139 

Key  to  the  Genera  of  Kansas  Larrid>e. 

1.  Three  perfect  ocelli   2 

The  two  posterior  ocelli  more  or  less  distorted 7 

2.  Second  submarginal  cell  petiolate;  mandibles  entire  or  excised  be- 

neath ;  small  forms    3 

Second  submarginal  cell  not  petiolate;  mandibles  excised  beneath; 
larger  forms  Lyroda 

3.  Only  two  submarginal  cells;  marginal  cell  not  appendiculate,  acute 

at  apex  4 

Three  submarginal  cells   5 

4.  Two   recurrent  nervures    Miscophus 

Three  recurrent  nervures    Miscophinus 

5.  Mandibles  strongly  excised  beneath;  pygidial  area  of    ^    well  de- 

defined,  broad  and  shining;  clypeus  of    j-    with  a  fringe  of  hair 

on  either  side  Plenocidns 

Mandibles  not  or  very  feebly  excised  beneath ;  pygidium  of  j 
hardly  or  not  shining 6 

6.  Hind  femora  thickest  apically;   pygidial  area   well  defined,  pilose 

in  both  sexes;  marginal  cell  lanceolate,  not  appendiculate. 

Bothynostethus 
Hind  femora  normal,  more  or  less  fusiform;  pygidial  area  poorly 
defined  or  lacking;  marginal  cell  usually  truncate  and  appen- 
diculate at  apex    Niteliopsis 

7.  A  transverse  swelling  or  ridge  before  the  superior  ocellus,  thereby 

forming  an  angle  with  the  upper  portion  of  the  head  and  the 
front;  posterior  ocelli  quite  small,  sometimes  indistinct,  proxi- 
mate and  transversely  arranged  or  nearly  so;  a  long  facial  de- 
pression on  each  side  of  the  frons  for  the  reception  of  each 
antenna;  fore  femora  of    j    not  emarginate  beneath  near  the 

base   i^ 

A  more  or  less  dome-shaped  circular  swelling  behind  the  anterior 
ocellus  (no  transverse  swelling  before  it)  ;  posterior  ocelli  larger, 
oblique  to  nearly  longitudinal  in  position;  forehead  rounded; 
fore  femora  of  j  emarginate  near  the  base,  except  in  some 
Tachytes 9 

8.  Mandibles   distinctly   dentate   within;    pronotum   hardly   depressed 

beneath  the  level  of  the  mesonotum;  posterior  margin  of  the 
pronotum  nearly  straight  (transversely)  ;  pygidium  of  g  prac- 
tically bare   , Larra 

Mandibles  more  or  less  distinctly  bidentate  within;  pronotum  some- 
what depressed  beneath  the  level  of  the  mesonotum;  posterior 
margin  of  pronotum  angled  mesad  into  the  mesonotum;  pygid- 
ium pubescent  in  both  sexes   Notogonia 


140  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

9.  A  more  or  less  distinct  swelling  or  fold  along  the  inner  eye  margins; 
posterior  ocelli  placed  obliquely,  elongate  and  curved  poste- 
riorly; pygidium  of  ^  well  defined,  its  apical  portion  rather 
sparsely  pubescent;  insects  never  densely  pilose Larropsis 

No  swelling  along  the  inner  eye  margins;  pygidium  of     /    and    o 

entirely  naked  to  densely  clothed  with  pubescence 10 

10.  Posterior  ocelli  very  elongate,  anteriorly  almost  longitudinal  in 
position,  their  posterior  end  curved  into  a  hook  or  flat  spiral 
pygidium  covered  with  bristles  or  pubescence  (usually  metallic), 
that  of  2  always  well  defined;  fore  tarsal  comb  of  j  com- 
posed of  short  spines;   insects  often  bee-like    Tachytes 

Posterior  ocelli  reniform  or  oblong;  pygidium  of  o  usually  well 
defined  and  naked;  fore  tarsal  comb  of  o  with  long  flexible 
spines;  insects  never  densely  pubescent  nor  bee-like,  Tachysphex. 

The  genus  Miscophinus,  which  is  inserted  in  the  above  key, 
has  not  as  yet  been  reported  from  Kansas,  though  it  is  prob- 
able that  it  occurs  in  the  state. 

Order  of  treatment :  Larra,  Notogonia,  Larropsis,  Tachytes, 
Tachysphex,  Lyroda,  Plenoculus,  Niteliopsis,  Miscovhus,  and 
Bothynostethus. 

Larra  Fab. 

Fab.;  Ent.  Syst.  t.  II,  p.  220;  1793. 
Syn.  Larrada  Sm.     1856. 

Form  rather  stout,  sparsely  pubescent.  Head  wider  than  thorax,  with 
a  longitudinal  fold  along  the  inner  eye  margin,  and  somewhat  angulate 
and  depressed  above;  antennae  rather  stout,  usually  in  a  distinctly 
elbowed  position,  each  rather  long  scape  fitting  into  a  longitudinal  facial 
impression;  anterior  ocellus  small  and  round,  in  a  depression  which  forms 
an  obtuse  angle  with  the  rest  of  the  face;  posterior  ocelli  indistinct,  oval 
and  transverse,  situated  on  the  posterior  edge  of  a  transverse  fold  from 
eye  to  eye;  mandibles  emarginate  beneath,  in  our  species  indistinctly 
dentate  within.  Thorax  long;  pronotum  not  angled  into  the  mesonotum, 
and  not  or  very  slightly  depressed  below  the  level  of  the  latter;  pro- 
podeum  long,  truncate  posteriorly;  marginal  cell  of  the  fore  wings 
truncate  and  wdth  an  evident  appendiculation ;  legs  stout  and  spinose. 
Abdomen  slightly  depressed. 

o  .  Pygidium  well  defined,  shining,  naked  except  for  a  very  few 
hairs  along  the  marginal  furrow;  comb  of  fore  tarsi  not  well  defined. 

J  .  More  pilose  than  the  g  ;  pygidial  area  margined;,  fore  femora 
entire  beneath  at  the  base;  eighth  ventral  segment  with  a  shallow  emar- 
gination. 

Larra  analis  Fab. 

(Fig.  16,  wings;  24,  mandible;  107,  pygidium,    5)  .) 
Larra  analis  Fab.;  Syst.  Piez.,  1804,  p.  220.      j  . 
Larra  analis  Fox;  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.,  481-482;  1893.      5  . 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID.E   OF   KANSAS.  141 

A  large  deep  black  species,  with  the  apical  portion  of  the  abdomen 
bright  red.  The  j  of  this  species  is  more  pilose,  has  the  abdomen  en- 
tirely black  and  the  pygidial  area  pilose. 

From  Cheyenne  and  Douglas  counties.     Rare. 

NOTOGONIA  Costa. 

Costa;  Ann.  Mus.  Zool.  Univ.  Napoli  (Ann.  IV),  p.  80  et  82;  1867. 
Syn.  Larrada  Sm.    1856. 
Larra  Patt.    1880. 

Form  rather  slender  to  stout.  Head  slightly  wider  than  thorax,  the 
facial  folds  and  depressions  much  as  in  Lnrra;  antennae  comparatively 
slender,  the  scape  rather  long;  ocelli  bordering  on  a  low  swelling,  pos- 
terior ocelli  small,  oval,  flattened  and  transverse;  mandibles  emarginate 
beneath,  with  two  more  or  less  distinct  teeth  within.  Thorax  rather 
long;  pronotum  angled  into  the  mesonotum  and  somewhat  depressed 
below  the  level  of  the  latter;  propodeum  long  and  truncate  posteriorly; 
marginal  cell  of  fore  wings  truncate,  the  appendiculation  fairly  distinct; 
legs  elongate,  spinose.     Pygidial  area  pilose. 

J  .  Comb  of  fore  tarsi  hardly  differentiated,  with  only  a  few  spines; 
pygidial  area  with  well-defined  sides,  rounded  triangular,  and  pubescent 
except  at  extreme  base. 

7  .  Fore  femora  entire  beneath  at  base;  pygidial  area  not  well  de- 
fined, finely  though  not  densely  pubescent  throughout;  eighth  ventral 
segment  rounded. 

This  genus  is  close  to  Larra.  and,  like  it,  is  poorly  represented  in  the 
United  States. 

Notogonia  argentata  (Bve.). 

(Fig.  .34,  ocellar  area;  49,  thorax;  88,  antennal  cleaner;  80,  fore  tarsus; 

97,  pygidium,    j  .) 
Larra  argentata  (Bve.)  ;  Ins.  Afr.  at  Amer.,  p.  119,  taf.  Ill,  f.  9;  1805. 
Notogonia  argentata  Fox;  Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil., 485-486;  1883.    ^    j  . 
An  easily  recognized   steel  gray   species,  with   subhyaline  wings  and 
long  legs.     Barton,  Russell,  Phillips  and  Douglas  counties;  June-Septem- 
ber.   More  common  in  eastern  Kansas. 

Larropsis  Patt. 

Patton;  Ent.  News,  III,  90;  1892. 

Syn.  Ancistromma  Fox;  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.,  487;  1893. 

Form  moderately  stout,  naked  or  sparsely  pubescent.  Head  usually 
short,  regularly  rounded,  distinctly  wider  than  thorax;  antennae  usually 
longer  than  in  either  Tachytes  or  Tachyapliex,  the  scape  being  com- 
paratively shorter  and  stouter  than  in  the  above  genera;  head  in  front 
distinctly  raised  along  the  inner  eye  margin ;  ocelli  bordering  a  swelling 
which  is  less  distinct  and  more  weakly  furrowed  than  in  Tachytes  or 
Tachysphex;  foi'e  ocellus  round,  the  posterior  pair  flattened,  elongate  and 
hooked  posteriorly,  shorter  and  more  obliquely  arranged  than  in  Tachy- 
tes; mandibles  emarginate  beneath,  with  two   teeth   interiorly.     Thorax 


142  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

moderate;  propodeum  somewhat  truncate  posteriorly;  marginal  cell  more 
or  less  truncate,  with  an  appendiculation.  Pygidial  area  at  least  partly 
pilose. 

o  .  Comb  of  fore  tarsi  of  stout  thorns,  perhaps  a  little  longer  than  in 
Tachytes;  pygidial  area  with  the  borders  well  defined,  covered  with 
sparse  pubescence  for  its  apical  half  or  two-thirds. 

g  .  Fore  femora  emarginate  near  the  base  beneath,  the  inner  border 
of  this  emargination  forming  a  distinct  tooth,  more  acute  than  in  the 
other  genera  having  this  emargination;  pygidial  aiea  without  raised 
borders,  sparsely  putescent;  eighth  ventral  segment  of  the  abdomen 
rounded  out,  in  a  few  species  very  shallowly  emarginate. 

This  genus  is  represented  in  our  state  by  twelve  species.  These  in- 
sects are  seldom  seen.  They  are  sometimes  taken  about  the  burrows  of 
animals. 

Key  to  the  Species  of  Larropsis. 
Females. 

1.  Interocular  space  at  vertex  less  than  or  about  equal  to  the  length 

of  antennal  joints  2  and  3  united,  and  about  equal  to  one-third 

the  interocular  space  at  the  base  of  the  clypeus 2 

Interocular  space  at  verte.x  distinctly  wider  than  the  length  of 
antennal  joints  2  and  3,  and  two-thirds  to  three-fourths  the 
interocular  space  at  the  base  of  the  clypeus 3 

2.  Disc  of  propodeum  with  delicate  striae  which  diverge  from  beyond 

the  base ;   wings  nearly  clear distincta 

Disc  of  propodeum  granulate  or  with  very  indistinctly  diverging 
striae;  wings  smoky   aurantia 

3.  Antenna  long  and  setaceous,  longer  than  head  and  thorax   (except 

in   divisa,   where   they  are   about   equal   to   head   and    thorax)  ; 
fourth  antennal  joint  three  to  four  times  as  long  as  its  middle 

diameter     4 

Antennae  shorter  and  stouter,  shorter  than  head  and  thorax;  fourth 
antennal  joint  about  two  times  as  long  as  its  middle  diameter.  .   6 

4.  Pygidium  well  polished,  sparsely  large   punctate,  almost  naked ;  form 

slender;  abdomen  black  and  red;  wings  light  smoky.  . .  .conferta 
Pygidium  rough,  rather  densely  punctate,  pubescent;  foi-m  stouter, 
with  dark,  fuscous  wings  5 

5.  Antennae  longer  than  head  and  thorax;   second  abdominal  segment 

reddish ;  tarsi  black  or  nearly  so rugosa 

Antennae  about  as  long  as  head  and  thorax;  abdomen  varying  from 
red  and  black  to  red;  tarsi  testaceous divisa 

6.  Wings    smoky;     insect    black;     ocellar    space    very    closely    punc- 

tate     vegef  aides 

Wings  pale  yellowish  hyaline;  most  of  the  thorax,  and  the  abdomen 
entirely,  pale  brownish  red;  ocellar  space  rather  sparsely  punc- 
tate     chilopsidis 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  143 

Males. 

1.  Intel-ocular  space  at  vertex  not  wider  than  length  of  antennal  joints 

2  and  3;  wings  clear '-^ 

Interocular  space  at  vertex  decidedly  wider  than  the  length  of  an- 
tennal joints  2  and  3;  wings  clear  to  fuscous 3 

2.  Disc  of  propodeum  with  delicate  striae,  which  diverge  from  beyond 

the  base;  third  antennal  joint  one-third  shorter  than  4.  .disHncta 
Disc  of  propodeum  finely  granulate;  antennal  joints  3  and  4  sub- 
equal    aurentia 

3.  Wings  clear  or  nearly  so ■* 

Wings   fuscous    ° 

4.  Abdomen  entirely,  legs  and  venation  largely,  dull  yellowish  brown; 

length,  8  mm tachysphecoides 

Abdomen  not  entirely  red  or  yellowish  brown;  venation  dark  brown 
or  black    ^ 

5.  Second    submarginal    cell    almost    triangular,    the    first    transverse 

cubitus  therefore  very  close  to  the  second  on  the  radius;  first 
recurrent  almost  interstitial  with  the  first  transverse  cubitus; 
a   rather  distinct   sulcation   from   the  anterior  ocellus  forward; 

abdomen  black   pxnerugosa 

Venation  normal,  not  as  above;  sulcation  from  anterior  ocellus  in- 
distinct or  wanting 6 

6.  Abdomen  red  and  black,  rarely  entirely  red eonferta 

Abdomen  black;  punctation  a  little  coarser  than  in  eonferta 7 

7.  Disc  of  propodeum  with  a  longitudinal  sulcus  only  on  apical  half, 

and  with  some  rather  indistinct  raised  lines  diverging  from  the 
base  to  the  sides  nearly  to  its  middle  length;  punctation  of 
scutum  rather  coarse  and  so  close  as  to  give  it  an  opaque  appear- 
ance; length,  6  mm minor 

Disc  of  propodeum  with  a  longitudinal  sulcus  usually  extending  its 
entire  leng-th,  the  diverging  lines  wanting  or  very  short;  puncta- 
tion of  scutum  rather  fine,  the  punctures  well  separated;  scutum, 
therefore,  rather  shining  and  smooth;  length,  8-11  mm.,  .bruneri 

8.  Antennae  distinctly  shorter  than   head  and  thorax  together;   basal 

abdominal  segments  red  dwisa 

Antenna  as  long  as  head  and  thorax,  or  nearly  so;  at  most  the 
second  segment  red   9 

9.  Entirely  black;   scutum  closely  but  distinctly  punctured,  therefore 

shining;  abdomen  also  shining  and  with  indistinct  apical  fasciae 

on  segments   ". ttis*" 

Second  abdominal  segment  red;  scutum  so  closely  punctured  as  to 
give  it  a  granulate  opaque  aspect;  no  sericeous  fasciae  on 
abdomen    riigosa 


144  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Larropsis  distincta  (Smith). 

Larra  pennsylvanica   (?)   Bve. 

Larrada  distincta  Smith;  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.  Hym.,  IV,  292.  ^  . 
Larra  distincta  Patton;  Proc.  Host.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XX,  390;  1880.  ^  j  . 
Ancistroma  distincta  Fox;  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.,  491-2;  1893.  g  g  . 
J  .  Rather  stout;  anterior  margin  of  clypeus  narrowly  emarginate 
mesad,  bidentate  laterally,  though  not  strongly;  antennas  somewhat  shorter 
than  head  and  thorax,  not  stout,  joint  3  shorter  than  4;  vertex  with  fine, 
close  punctures,  which  are  more  separate  on  scutum;  disc  of  propodeum 
with  diverging  stria,  posterior  face  with  transverse  sti'iae  and  a  strong 
sulcus;  tarsal  comb  not  strong;  longer  spur  of  hind  tibiae  nearly  as  long 
as  the  first  joint  of  the  hind  tarsi.  Abdomen  finely  punctate;  pygidium 
long  and  narrow,  -deep  punctate,  rather  blunt  apically.  Black;  tarsi  dull 
browTiish,  wings  nearly  clear,  venation  brown,  abdomen  with  the  apical 
margins  of  segments  1  and  2  particularly  with  indications  of  red. 
Scarcely  pubescent;  pygidial  bristles  brownish.     Length,  11-13  mm. 

J  .  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  emarginate  mesad,  indistinctly  biden- 
tate laterally;  sculpture  about  as  in  o  .  Abdomen  black  or  red  and 
black.     More  pubescent  than  in    o  .     Length,  8-12  mm. 

Three   ^    j    from  Norton  county;  Aug.  24  to  Sept.  4,  1912.    The    o    o 
are  eastern  examples. 

Larropsis  aiuantia   (Fox). 
(Fig.  36,  ocellar  area.) 
Larra  aurantia  Fox;  Ent.  News,  II,  194;  1891.      o  . 
Ancistromma  aurantia  Fox;    Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.,  490 ;    1893.     j    o. 

2  ■  Stout.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  subtruncate,  a  little  notched 
mesad,  the  lateral  angle  drawn  out  into  a  large  pointed  tooth,  a  small 
tooth  just  inside  the  same;  antennas  long,  slender  and  acuminate,  joints 
3  and  4  subequal;  front,  vertex  and  scutum  very  finely  and  closely  punc- 
tate, a  little  more  separately  on  scutellum;  disc  of  propodeum  rugose- 
granulate,  sometimes  with  indications  of  diverging  striae,  a  median  im- 
pressed line;  posterior  face  coarsely  transverse-striate,  with  a  median 
furrow;  legs  rather  strongly  spinose;  abdomen  shining;  pygidium  rather 
sparsely  punctate.  Black:  tarsi  largely  dull  reddish  brown;  wings  fuscous, 
venation  blackish ;  abdomen  orange.  Short  sparse  pubescence  on  tibiae 
and  tarsi;  pile  on  pygidium  pale  yellowish  brown.     Length,  11-15  mm. 

J  .  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  more  narrowly  rounded  out,  emargi- 
nate mesad,  a  stout  tooth  laterally;  the  clypeus  sparsely  coarse-punctate; 
punetation  of  head  somewhat  coarser  than  in  o  ,  that  of  scutum  about  as 
in  that  sex;  legs  rather  feebly  spinose;  wings  clearer  than  in  o  ,  sub- 
hyaline;  apical  abdominal  segments  black;  head,  thorax  and  abdomen 
with  silvery  pile,  which  is  rather  sparse  except  on  face;  pygidial  pubes- 
cence yellowish  brown.     Length  10-11  mm. 

Four  2  5  and  1  ^  ;  Norton,  Phillips,  Thomas  and  Lane  counties; 
July  3  to  Aug.  24,  1910-'12. 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  145 

Larropsis  conferta    (Fox). 
Ancistromma  conferta  Fox;  Proe.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.,  494-5;  1893.     ^    2  ■ 

0  .  Rather  slender.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  broadly  rounded  out, 
indistinctly  dentate  laterally;  joint  3  of  antennse  one-third  to  one-fourth 
shorter  than  4,  the  interocular  space  at  vertex  very  little  less  than  antennal 
joints  3  and  4;  head  and  scutum  finely  and  distinctly  punctate;  disc  of 
propodeum  with  a  median  furrow  (widened  apically)  and  rather  fine 
transverse  striae;  posterior  face  finely  gi-anulate-striate,  with  a  median 
sulcus;  legs  slender,  moderately  spinose;  pygidial  area  shining,  sparsely 
punctate  and  hairy.  Black;  tibiae  and  tarsi  more  or  less  brownish,  wings 
fusco-hyaline,  yellowish  in  age,  venation  dark;  basal  abdominal  segments 
and  usually  apex  of  pygidium  reddish.  Insect  with  sparse  sericeous  pile. 
Length,  10-1.5  mm. 

J  .    Antennse  stouter  and  sculpture  coarser  than  in    ^  ;  colored  as  in 
that  sex,  but  slightly  more  pilose.     Length,  8-11  mm. 
Seven    o    o    and  two    ^    j  ;  western  Kansas. 

Larropsis  hruneri   (Smith). 
(Fig.   101,  eighth  ventral  plate  of    ^  .) 
Ancistromma  bruneri  Smith,  H.  S.;  Ent.  News,  XVI,  249;  1906.      ^  . 

1  .  In  form  like  conferta.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  strongly 
rounded  out;  front  and  vertex  not  quite  as  closely  punctate  as  in  conferta; 
joint  3  of  antennae  a  little  shoi-ter  than  4,  the  interocular  space  almost 
equal  to  joints  2-4;  thorax  with  fine  separate  punctures;  disc  of  propodeum 
rather  coarsely  granulate-striate  mesad  (elsewhere  simply  granulate) 
where  it  is  depressed,  and  often  distinctly  carinate,  sides  granulate,  pos- 
terior face  granulate-striate,  and  with  a  deep  dorsally  widened  sulcus; 
wings  almost  clear.  Black;  apex  of  tarsi  reddish.  Sparsely  pilose  and 
fasciate.     Length,  7-11  mm. 

A  fair  series  from  the  western  part  of  the  state.  They  were  compared 
with  a  paratype  from  Nebraska. 

Larropsis  pieneriigosa   (Vier.). 

(Fig.  46,  tip  of  fore  wing.) 
Ancistromma  psenerugosa  Viereck;   Trans.   Am.   Ent.   Soc,  XXXII,  210; 

1906.      J  . 

^  .  Very  like  bruneri,  from  which  it  may  be  distinguished  by  the 
somewhat  broader  interocular  space  at  vertex,  the  more  distinct  median 
impression  before  the  ocellar  space,  and  by  the  fact  that  the  first  and 
second  transverse-cubitus  veins  are  very  proximate  on  the  radius,  and 
the  first  transverse-cubitus  and  first  recurrent  veins  are  nearly  or  quite 
interstitial.  Black;  wings  clear;  colored  and  ornamented  as  in  bruneri. 
Length,  8  mm.  (type) . 

One  J  ,  University  of  KansTs.  Collected  in  Clark  county,  Kansas; 
June;  F.  H.  Snow. 


146  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Larropsis  minor  n.  sp. 

^  .  Somewhat  slender.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  rounded  out,  not 
dentate  laterally,  strongly  and  closely  punctate;  antennae  rather  stout, 
almost  as  long  as  head  and  thorax;  joint  3  somewhat  shorter  than  4,  the 
interocular  space  at  vertex  about  equal  to  joints  2-4;  front  and  vertex 
very  closely  punctate,  the  punctures  not  very  fine,  however;  scutum  and 
scutellum  rather  coarsely  and  very  closely  punctate,  giving  these  regions 
a  granulate  aspect;  pleurae  about  as  dorsum;  disc  of  propodeum  granu- 
late, with  an  apical  sulcus;  indications  of  transverse  strise  and  basal 
strise,  which  diverge  to  about  the  middle  length,  sides  and  posterior  face 
granulate,  the  latter  with  a  large  fovea  near  the  top;  legs  weakly  spinose; 
venation  normal;  abdomen  finely  punctate;  pygidial  area  with  large, 
separate  punctures;  eighth  ventral  segment  rounded.  Black;  fore  femora 
at  base,  tibiae  slightly,  and  tarsi  in  part,  ferruginous;  venation  dark  brown. 
Face  in  part,  pleurae  and  sternum  in  part,  and  the  abdomen  with  pale 
pile;  the  abdomen  rather  indistinctly  pale  sericeous- fasciate.  Length, 
6  mm.  (type) . 

One   ^  ,  Seward  county,  Kansas,  August  18,  1911. 

Related  to  bnineri  and  pseverugosa,  from  which  it  differs  in  being  much 
smaller,  in  having  generally  coarser  and  closer  punctures,  etc. 

Larropsis  divisa   (Patton). 

(Fig.  99,  pygidium    ^  .) 
Larra  divisa  Patton;  Bull.  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  V,  368;  1879.      5  . 
Ancistromma  divisa  Fox;  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.,  49-5;  1893.      ^    j  . 

o  .  Stout.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  broadly  rounded  out,  biden- 
tate  laterally;  antennae  long  and  slender,  joint  3  a  little  longer  than  4; 
front  rather  coarsely  but  closely  punctate;  scutum  compactly  punctate; 
disc  of  propodeum  sulcate  mesad  and  there  rather  coarsely  transverse- 
striate,  posterior  face  granulate-striate  and  with  a  median  impressed  line ; 
legs  tolerably  spinose;  pygidial  area  of  the  usual  form,  well  punctate. 
Black;  tarsi  in  part  brownish  red,  wings  dark  fuscous,  \enation  brown  to 
dark  brown;  first  segment  of  abdomen  largely  black,  the  rest  orange  red 
or  the  abdomen  all  red.  Pubescence  of  pygidium  light  yellowish  brown. 
Length,  14-16  mm. 

^  .  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  not  dentate  laterally;  antennje 
shorter  than  in  o  ,  distinctly  shorter  than  head  and  thorax;  sculpture 
generally  coarser;  metathorax  transversely  rugose.  First  three  abdomi- 
nal segments  red.     Sparse  silvery  pile.     Length,  12-13  mm. 

Eleven  g  o  ;  from  Wallace,  Stanton,  Seward,  Stevens  and  Morton 
counties;  July  30  to  August  18,  1910-'ll. 

Larropsis  ater  n.  sp. 
(Fig.  100,  ventral  plate  of  j-  .) 
J  .  Medium  stout.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  rounded  out,  not 
dentate  laterally,  strongly  punctate,  much  more  sparsely  and  coarsely 
so  distally;  antennae  rather  stout,  nearly  as  long  as  head  and  thorax 
together,  joint  3  somewhat  shorter  than  4,  the  interocular  space  at 
vertex  about  equal  to  joints   2-4;   front  and  vertex  finely  punctate,   in 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  147 

fact  almost  granulate,  punctures  sparser  on  anterior  part  of  vertex 
and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  anterior  ocellus;  scutum  and  scutellum  closely 
punctate,  the  punctures  not  very  fine  but  distinct;  pleurae  closely  punc- 
tate; disr  of  pi-opodeum  with  some  irregular  median  transverse  striae 
and  a  shallow  median  depression  which  is  stronger  and  widened  apically; 
the  reit  of  the  disc  is  granulate,  sides  of  propodeum  finely  granulate,  the 
posterior  face  granulate-striate,  a  narrow  median  sulcus  near  the  top 
of  the  posterior  face  and  a  raised  line  near  the  bottom  (pedicel  of  ab- 
domen) ;  legs  moderately  spinose;  venation  normal;  abdomen  finely  punc- 
tate, the  pjgidium  coarsely  so,  eighth  ventral  segment  I'ounded  out. 
Black;  apex  of  tarsi  somewhat  testaceous,  as  also  a  part  of  tegulae;  wings 
dark  fuscous,  venation  still  darker.  Sparse  erect  brownish  pile  on  upper 
portion  of  frons  and  on  the  vertex  and  sides  of  propodeum;  abdomen 
with  weak  dorso-lateral  silvery  fasciae  of  pile;  pygidium  sparsely 
pubescent.     Length,  11.5  mm.  (type)  ;  range,  8.5-11.5  mm. 

Twenty-three  specimens  from  Meade,  Morton,  Wallace,  Norton,  Grant, 
Stanton  and  Seward  counties.  There  are  also  specimens  from  Montana, 
etc.,  in  the  Philadelphia  Academy  of  Sciences. 

This  insect  has  been  regarded  by  Fox  as  a  black  variety  of  rngosa, 
from  which  it  differs  constantly  in  a  large  series  of  both  species.  Ater 
has  the  scutum  shining  and  less  punctate,  as  opposed  to  the  almost 
opaque  and  granulate  scutum  of  riigosa.  It  also  averages  smaller  than 
rugosa  and  the  antennae  appear  a  little  stouter;  the  median  impressed 
line  of  the  disc  of  the  propodeum  is  not  polished  apically,  as  is  somewhat 
the  case  vnth  rugosa,  while  the  abdomen  is  weakly  fasciate  in  the  new 
species.     It  is  related  to  rugosa  and  teiiuicor-nis. 

Larropsis  rugosa  (Fox). 

Ancistrovmia  rugosa  Fox;  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.,  496-7;  1893.  ^. 
q  .  Moderately  slender.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  broadly  rounded 
out,  with  two  rather  obtuse  lateral  teeth ;  mandibles  slender,  bidentate 
within;  antennae  long  and  slender,  the  apical  joints  particularly,  joints 
3  and  4  subequal;  front  and  vertex  finely  and  closely  punctuate,  ap- 
pearing almost  granulate;  pronotum  and  mesonotum  punctate  about  like 
head;  disc  of  propodeum  finely  granulate,  but  with  rather  irregular 
transverse  striae  on  the  shining,  rather  broad  and  slightly  depressed 
median  line  which  widens  apically;  the  narrow  sulcus  on  the  posterior 
face  widens  dorsally;  the  face  itself  is  finely  granulate;  legs  rather 
delicately  spinose;  the  tarsal  comb  of  weak,  slender  spines;  longer 
metatibial  spur  shorter  than  first  joint  of  hind  tarsi;  abdomen  finely 
and  closely  punctate;  pygidiClm  rather  narrow,  its  sides  very  slightly 
bowed  out,  rather  broadly  rounded  apically  and  somewhat  closely  punc- 
tate and  ai-med  with  short  bristles  for  its  apical  two-thirds  or  more. 
Black;  mandibles  dark  red  in  the  middle;  tip  of  tegulae  brownish;  tarsi 
somewhat  brownish;  wings  dark  fuscous  iridescent;  second  abdominal 
segment  orange  red;  pygidial  bristles  bro\vnish.  Practically  devoid  of 
pubescence  or  pile.     Length,  16  mm. 


148  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

J  .  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  more  narrowly  rounded  in  this  sex, 
not  dentate;  antennje  stouter;  sculpture  somewhat  coarser;  the  disc  of 
the  propodeum  more  distinctly  furrowed;  pygidium  less  pilose.  Colored 
like  the    o  . 

One  o  ,  Norton  county;  eleven  ^  g  ,  Wallace,  Morton  and  Wichita 
counties;  August  5-24.  Thei'e  is  also  a  g  (this  sex  I  do  not  find  de- 
scribed) in  the  collection  of  the  Philadelphia  Academy  of  Sciences.  The 
species  is  easily  recognized  by  the  orange-red  band  on  the  abdomen  and 
by  the  opaque  notum. 

Larropsis  vegetoides  (Vier.) 

Ancistromma  vegetoides   Viereck;    Trans.    Am.    Ent.    Soc,   XXXII,   208; 

1906.     2  . 

o  .  Very  like  vegeta.  Of  moderate  build.  Clypeus  rounded  out  an- 
teriorly, sparsely  coarse  punctate,  two  obscui-e  lateral  teeth;  antennEB 
not  long,  of  fairly  uniform  thickness,  joints  3  and  4  subequal;  inter- 
ocular  space  at  vertex  about  equal  to  antennal  joints  2-4;  front  and 
vertex  very  finely  punctate;  scutum  and  scutellum  appearing  granulate, 
the  sides  finely  granulate-punctate;  disc  of  propodeum  rather  indis- 
tinctly and  finely  transverse-striate;  a  median  sulcus,  which  is  quite 
deep;  posterior  face  finely  granulate-striate,  the  median  sulcus  deep; 
legs  well  spined,  the  fossorial  comb  well  developed;  abdomen  hai'dly 
punctate  above,  a  few  large  punctures  below;  pygidium  smooth,  with 
some  large  separate  punctures,  its  sides  somewhat  arcuate.  Black; 
tarsi  becoming  brown  apically;  vdngs  rather  dark  fuscous;  apex  of 
pygidium  brownish.  Insect  covered  with  veiy  short,  inconspicuous  pile; 
pygidium  with  sparse  bristles  on  apical  half.     Length,  12  mm. 

Two  o  p  ,  Clark  county,  Kansas;  June;  F.  H.  Snow.  One  of  these 
specimens  is  the  type. 

Larropsis  tachysphecoides  (Vier.) 
Ancistromma  tachysphecoides   Viereck;    Trans.    Am.    Ent.    Soc,   XXXII, 

209-10;  1906.     ^  . 

"Belongs  near  chilopsidis,  from  which  it  is  very  different." — Vier. 
T  .  Somewhat  slender.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  rounded  out, 
no  teeth  laterally;  antennae  not  slender,  of  rather  uniform  thickness, 
third  joint  about  one-quarter  shorter  than  fourth ;  interocular  space  at 
vertex  only  a  little  less  than  at  clypeus  and  greater  than  length  of  an- 
tennal joints  2-4;  punctui-es  well  separated  on  the  middle  of  front  and 
vertex,  more  closely  punctate  laterally;  scutum  and  scutellum  with 
rather  large  separate  punctures,  the  mesopleurje  with  large  shallow 
ones;  disc  of  propodeum  transversely  striate  at  the  median  furrow 
po.sterior  face  granulate,  with  a  wide  and  deep  fovea  near  the  top,  the 
sides  rather  finely  rugose-striate;  legs  moderately  spinose;  third  sub- 
marginal  cell  of  fore  wings  wider  than  the  second  along  the  radius; 
last  dorsal  segment  of  abodmen  with  shallow  punctures,  the  eighth  ven- 
tral slightly  emarginate  mesad.  Black;  tegulae  and  venation  testaceous; 
legs,  except  coxae,  trochanters,  and  a  part  of  the  middle  femora,  and 
the  abdomen  brownish  testaceous.  Very  slightly  pubescent.  Length, 
8  mm.   (type). 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID.^   OF   KANSAS.  149 

Clark  county.  Kansas;  F.  H.  Snow.  There  is  also  a  j'  in  the 
U.  S.  N.  Museum  from  Mesilla  Park  (New  Mex.). 

This  may  eventually  prove  to  be  the  j  of  chilopsidis,  which,  be- 
sides having  the  same  habitat,  it  resembles  a  good  deal. 

Larropsis  chilopsidis  (Ckll.  &  Fox). 

Ancistromma  chilopsidis  Ckll.  &  Fox;  P.  Ac.  Philad.,  137;  1897.      5  . 
Ancistromma   zerbeii   Viereck;    Trans.    Am.    Ent.    Soc,    XXXII,   208-9; 

1906.     2  • 

o  .  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  rounded  out,  slightly  and  narrowly 
emarginate  mesad,  obtusely  bidentate  laterally,  with  large  sparse  punc- 
tures; front  and  vertex  with  well-separated  and  moderately  small  punc- 
tures; antenna  not  long,  of  nearly  uniform  thickness,  joint  3  very  slightly 
longer  than  4;  interocular  space  at  vertex  more  than  the  length  of  anten- 
nal  joints  2-4;  prothorax  and  mesothorax  very  finely  and  closely  punc- 
tate, nearly  granular;  mesopleurse  closely  punctate;  disc  of  propodeum 
with  very  fine  striae,  which  are  transverse  in  the  middle  and  more  or  less 
diverging  at  the  base  and  apex;  the  propodeum  hardly  sulcate  except  at 
base  and  apex,  the  posterior  face  with  a  sulcation,  this  face  and  the  sides 
indistinctly  fine  striate;  legs  strongly  spinose,  the  fossorial  comb  of  quite 
long  bristles;  abdomen  shining,  a  few  punctations  ventrad;  pygidial  area 
polished,  rather  broad,  the  sides  bowed  out,  quite  sparsely  punctate  and 
pilose  at  apex.  "Testaceo-castaneus;  head  black  excepting  the  greater 
part  of  the  clyjjeus,  mandibles  and  antennse,  which  are  castaneous"  (Vier., 
for  zerbeii)  ;  antennae  darker  apically;  sternum  of  thorax  largely  black, 
also  a  portion  of  the  base  of  cox»;  wings  yellowish  hyaline,  venation 
yellowish.  Pronotum  and  mesonotum  with  considerable  shoit,  pale,  brown- 
ish pile;  pygidium  with  a  few  pale  reddish-brown  hairs  at  apex.  Length, 
10-12  mm. 

Five  J  5  ,  Clark  county,  Kansas;  F.  H.  Snow.  One  of  the  above 
specimens  has  the  thorax  nearly  all  black  and  the  apical  half  of  the 
antennae  nearly  black. 

While  at  the  Philadelphia  Academy  of  Sciences  last  winter,  the  writer 
noticed  the  resemblance  of  zerbeii  Vier.  to  chilopsidis  Ckll.  &  Fox.  Not 
having  the  first  species  with  me  to  compare,  notes  were  taken  on  the  type 
chilopsidis.  These  were  found  to  fit  zerbeii  well,  and  a  specimen  of  the 
latter  sent  to  Mr.  Fox,  at  Philadelphia,  to  compare  with  chilopsidis  proved 
in  his  opinion  to  be  the  same  as  cltilopsidis.  The  insect  is  allied  to  veg- 
etoides,  notwithstanding  the  difference  in  color,  etc.,  between  the  two. 

Tachytes  Panzei'. 

Panzer;  Krit.  Rev.,  II,  p.  129;  1806. 
Syn.  Lyrops  Illig.;  1807. 

Form  stout  to  rather  elongate,  more  or  less  pubescent,  sometimes  bee- 
like. Heal  as  wide  as  to  slightly  wider  than  thorax;  antennae  usually 
rather  stout;  ocelli  bordering  on  a  swelling  which  is  more  or  less  furrowed 
longitudinally,  the  po.=terior  pair  vei'y  elongate,  flattened  and  hooked 
posteriorly,  their  anterior  portion  almost  longitudinal  in  position;  man- 
dibles  emarginate   beneath,   with    one   or   two   teeth    within;    propodeum 

S— Univ.  Sci.  Bull  .  Vol.  VIll,  No.  4. 


150  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

rounded  posteriorly;  marginal  cell  obtuse  at  apex,  the  appendiculation 
rather  indistinct ;  legs  -stout,  spinose ;  abdomen  often  depressed ;  pygidial 
area  always  with  appressed  pile  or  bristles,  which  are  usually  metallic  in 
color. 

J'  .  Comb  of  fore  tarsi  composed  of  stout  thorns;  pygidial  area  well 
defined  by  carinate  borders. 

2  ■  Fore  femora  simple  or  emarginate  beneath;  fore  coxse  with  or 
without  an  elongate  process;  pygidium  with  or  without  carinate  borders; 
its  pubescence,  in  all  the  species  which  I  have  seen,  is  silvery;  eighth 
ventral  segment  emarginate. 

This  genus,  which  Fox  divides  into  two  sections,  is  well  represented  in 
our  state.     These  are  perhaps  the  most  commonly  seen  of  our  larrids. 

Key  to  the  Species  of  Tachytes. 
Females. 

1.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  produced  in  the  middle  into  a  rather 

narroiv  lobe  (figs.  52  and  56)  ;  lateral  margins  of  clypeus  dis- 
tinctly dentate;  legs  (femora  and  tibije)  largely  ferruginous.  .  2 
Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  not  produced  into  a  lobe,  though  most 
frequently  rounded  out,  .sometimes  slightly  emarginate  mesad 
and  usually  dentate  laterally;  legs  (except  in  the  large,  yel- 
lowish-winged species  distinctus)   black 3 

2.  Pygidium  scarce  constricted  preapically,  covered  with  fine  golden 

pile   validiis 

Pygidium  somewhat  constricted  before  apex  (fig.  90),  its  bristles 
bronzy mandibiilaris 

3.  Clypeus  armed  with   a  large  prong  on   either  side    (fig.  61)  ;   py- 

gidium triangular  (fig.  93),  with  rather  sparse,  stout,  appressed 

bristles,  which  are  pale  golden  or  silvery 7nergus 

Clypeus  without  a  lateral  prong;  pygidium  well  covered  with  pile 
or  fine  bristles   (figs.  91  and  92) 4 

4.  Clypeus   rounded  out,  armed   laterally  with   more  or   less   distinct 

teeth ;  abdomen  black  or  black  and  ferruginous 5 

Clypeus  without  teeth  (fig.  54),  its  anterior  margin  subtruncate, 
with  a  slight  production  mesad;  abdomen  black  with  brassy  or 
silvery  fascise;  wings  light  fuscous obductits 

5.  Metatibije  with  at  least  the  basal  half  of  the  outer  posterior  row  of 

spines  short,  blunt  and  thorn-like,  the  row  much  stouter  than 
those  on  the  first  joint  of  the  hind  tai'si,  and  usually  extending 
to  quite  near  the  base  of  the  tibiae  (fig.  82)  ;  pygidium  (at  least 
in  fresh  specimens)  with  some  erect  hair  in  addition  to  the  fine 

appressed  pile;  species  rather  small 6 

Metatibiffi  with  the  spines  not  short  as  in  the  above,  usually  well 
pointed  and  differing  but  little  from  those  of  the  first  joint  of 
the  hind  tarsi,  and  usually  ending  (or  beginning)  at  a  good 
distance  before  the  base  of  the  tibise;  no  erect  hair  on  pygidium, 
the  latter  golden  or  bronzy 7 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  151 

6.  Mandibles    very    narrowly    notched    exteriorly     (fig.    25)  ;     black 

species    obsciirus 

Mandibles  with  the  notch  normal;  the  first  two  or  three  segments 
of  the  abdomen  ferruginous   abdo»ihialis 

7.  Abdomen  in  part  red 8 

Abdomen  entirely  black   9 

8.  Clypeus  not  or  very  slightly  emarginate  niesad;   pygidium  not  at 

all  constricted  ne:ir  the  apex,  bronzy;  species  with  considerable 

erect  pile  on  head  and  thorax fulviveiitris 

Clypeus  shallowly  emarginate  mesad  (fig.  53)  ;  pygidium  a  little 
narrowed  before  apex;  erect  pubescence  rather  sparse. 

rufofasciatus 

9.  Abdomen  with  four  silvery  fascia;  wings  hyaline;  legs  black 10 

Abdomen    three- fasciate;     wings    yellowish,    dark    apically;    legs 

largely  ferruginous;  pygidium  with  fine  pubescence.  .  .distinctus 
10.    Pygidium  silvery;  spines  on  legs  yellowish  white;  abdomen  greasy- 
sericeous   sericatus 

Pygidium  bronzy;  spines  on  legs  brown;  abdomen  hardly  greasy- 
sericeous   pepticus 

Males. 

1.  Fore  coxae  simple;  fore  femora  near  the  base  entire 2 

Fore  coxae  with  an  elongate  posterior  process    (fig.   13,  H)  ;   fore 

femora  beneath  near  the  base  emarginate  (figs.  83  and  85)  ...  .   5 

2.  Joints  9-11   of  antennje  visibly  broadened   on   one   side    (fig.   42), 

thereby  contrasting  with  the  two  apical  joints;  abdomen  partly 

red  or  entirely  black fulviventris 

Joints  9-11  of  antenna  normal,  not  broadened  (figs.  40  and  41)  ...  .   3 

3.  Flagellum   with    the   basal   joints    distinctly   rounded    out   beneath 

(fig.  40)  ;  thorax  with  long  and  rather  dense  golden  pubescence; 

legs   partly   ferruginous 4 

Flagellum  with  the  basal  joints  not  or  very  slightly  rounded  out 
beneath  (fig.  41)  ;  the  long  pubescence  of  thorax  not  dense; 
clypeus  broadly  rounded  out  (fig.  59)  ;  legs  black pepticus 

4.  Eighth    ventral    segment    rather    narrowly    emarginate,    the    lobes 

bi-oad   and  rounded validus 

Eighth  ventral  segment  rather  broadly  emarginate,  the  lobes 
usually  narrow  and  more  pointed   (fig.  108) mandibularis 

5.  Pygidium  with  pile  largely  suberect;  small  black  species 6 

Pygidium  with  pile  all  appressed ;  usually  larger  species 7 

6.  Silvery  fascias  of  abdomen  distinct;  body  well  covered  with  pile; 

thorax  scarcely  shining, with  larger,  coarser  punctures,  .obscurus 

Silvery  fascia  of  abdomen  not  very  well  defined;   insect  sparsely 

pilose;    thorax    shining,    the    punctures    there    finer    and    more 

separate  intermedius 

7.  Wings   yellow,   their  apical   portion   dark,   abdomen   black;    larger 

species    distinctus 

Wings  pale  yellowish  hyaline,  not  dark  apically;  abdominal  seg- 
ments 1  and  2  usually  fulvous;  rather  small  species. 

mfcfa-i-ia'm 


152  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

T.  sericatus  is  not  represented  in  the  collection  by  a  male.  This  sex 
resembles  ohscurus  a  good  deal,  but  the  sericeous  pubescence  is  more 
abundant  in  sericatus. 

Tachytes  validus  Cress. 
Tachytes  validus  Cresson;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  IV;  1872.       r     g  . 
Tachytes  validus  Fox;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  XIX,  237;  1892.      ^     j  . 

2  ■  Stout  and  broad.  Clypeus  with  a  quadrate  median  production, 
three  small  lateral '  teeth ;  third  joint  of  antennae  longer  than  fourth: 
vertex  with  rather  strong  separate  punctations;  scutum  very  finely 
punctate;  scutellum  scarcely  impressed;  disc  of  propodeum  wdth  a  slight 
impressed  line,  a  subcircular  subapical  fovea,  and  a  strong  median 
sulcus  on  posterior  face;  hind  tibiae  with  moderately  stout  spines;  abdo- 
men rather  broad,  depressed;  pygidium  convex,  depressed  along  the 
sides  of  its  apical  portion.  Black;  legs,  except  coxae,  trochanters  and  most 
of  femora,  yellow-ferruginous  (sometimes  this  color  is  more  widespread)  ; 
wings  pale  yellowish-hyaline,  venation  ferruginous;  pygidium  with  fine 
silvery  pile.  Pubescence  of  head  and  thorax  pale  golden;  abdomen  with 
four  silvery  fascise.     Length,  18-22  mm. 

T  .  More  slender  as  a  rule  than  g  .  Joints  1-5  of  flagellum  strongly 
rounded  out  beneath;  scutellum  with  a  distinct  median  impressed  line; 
eighth  ventral  plate  rather  nai-rowly  emarginate.     Length,  15-19  mm. 

One  o  ,  labeled  "Kans.,"  identified  by  E.  T.  Cresson,  December,  1878. 
The  abdomen  is  lacking  in  this  specimen. 

Tachytes  mandibularis  Patt. 

(Fig.  40,  antenna;   52,  clypeus;   90,  pygidium,     g  ;    108,  eighth  ventral 

segment,    j  .) 
Tachytes  mandibularis   Patton;    Proc.    Bo:t.    foe.   Nat.    Hist.,   XX,   394; 

1880.      ^      2  ■ 
Tachytes    mandibularis    Fox;     Trans.    Am.     Ent.     Soc,    XIX,    237-238; 

1892.      ^     2  ■ 

g  .  Stout.  Clypeus  with  the  median  process  narrower  than  in  vah- 
fliis,  three  distinct  lateral  teeth;  third  joint  of  antennae  somewhat  longer 
than  fourth;  vertex  finely  and  closely  punctate;  scutum  likewise;  scutel- 
lum scarcely  impressed;  disc  of  propodeum  with  a  wide  median  sulcus  or 
furrow,  a  subtriangular  fovea  before  apex,  posterior  face  with  a  strong 
median  furrow;  spines  on  posterior  tibise  rather  slender;  abdomen  broad, 
somewhat  depressed;  pygidium  subpyriform,  somewhat  narrowed  before 
apex,  the  short  bristles  not  concealing  the  disc.  Black:  basal  half  of  man- 
dibles, scape  beneath,  apex  of  femora,  tibiae  and  tarsi,  ferruginous;  wings 
pale  yellowish  hyaline,  venation  pale  brown;  pygidial  area  with  bronzy 
bristles.  Pubescence  dense,  rather  dull  golden;  abdomen  with  four  silvery 
fasciae.     Length,  14-17  mm. 

T  .  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  drawn  out  mesad,  a  large  distinct 
lateral  tooth;  joints  1-5  of  antennas  rounded  out  beneath;  hind  tarsi  not 
spinose;  eighth  ventral  segment  rather  broadly  emarginate.  Length,  12- 
14  mm. 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  153 

Douglas,  Pratt,  Kiowa,  Russell,  Rawlins,  Osborne  and  Rooks  counties; 
June-August. 

A  rather  uncommon  species  in  our  state.  The  western  Kansas  ex- 
amples are  rather  large,  and  agree  in  some  respects  with  propinquus  Roh. 

Tachytcs  obduct/is  Fox. 
(Fig.  54,  clypeus,    ^  ;  91,  pygidium,    ^  .) 
Tachytes  ohduetus  Fox;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  See,  XIX,  250;  1892.      j  . 

o  .  Moderately  stout.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  produced  into  a 
moderately  broad  subtruncation,  which  itself  is  slightly  produced  mesad ; 
frons  and  vertex  rather  finely  and  closely  punctate;  joints  3  and  4  of 
antennas  subequal;  scutum  punctate  about  like  vertex;  scutellum  not  im- 
pressed; disc  of  propodeum  very  finely  granulate-reticulate,  the  sides 
more  shining  and  very  finely  punctate,  the  median  impressed  line  broad 
and  indistinct,  obscurely  ti'ansversely  striate  and  terminating  in  a  strong, 
rather  pyriform  subapical  fovea,  posterior  face  with  an  impressed  line; 
legs  not  very  spinose,  metatibial  spines  moderately  stout,  fore  tarsal 
comb  short;  pygidium  with  the  sides  nearly  straight  (much  as  in  36- 
scums) .  Black;  spines  of  legs  brown  to  black,  wings  light  fuscous; 
pygidium  with  fine  bright  golden  pile.  Pubescence  yellowish  white  or 
pale  yellow;  aldomen  with  segments  1-5  brassy  fasciate  or  with  silvery 
fascia.     Length,  10.5  mm. 

Four    o    o  ;  Osborne  county,  Kansas,  August  3,  1912.     It  appears  to  . 
be  a  rather  rare  insect.    The   j    does  not  seem  to  have  been  described. 

Tachytes  abdominalis    (Say). 
(Fig.  55,  clypeus,    g  ;  82,  metatibia.) 

Larra  abdominalis  Say;  West.  Quar.  Rep.,  II,  77;  1823.  j  . 
Tachytes  abdominalis  Fox;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  XIX,  248-9;  1892.  j  . 
o  .  Rather  elongate.  Clypeus  rounded  out,  very  slightly  and  nar- 
rowly emarginate  mesad,  two  lateral  teeth ;  third  antennal  joint  not 
longer  than  fourth;  vertex  with  fine,  close  punctations;  scutum  ^vith 
more  separate  punctations;  scutellum  not  impresed;  disc  of  propodeum 
with  or  without  a  slight  impressed  line,  the  subapical  fovea  rather 
shallow,  posterior  face  with  a  rather  narrow  sulcus;  metatibial  spines 
stout,  the  more  basal  one  blunt  and  thorn-like;  the  two  recurrent  veins 
usually  quite  proximate  on  the  cubitus;  abdomen  rather  long,  pygidium 
rather  broadly  rounded  apically,  its  pile  dense  and  diverging.  Black: 
apex  of  tarsi  more  or  less  reddish;  wings  subhyaline;  abdominal  seg- 
ments 1  and  2  or  1  to  3  ferruginous;  pygidium  as  a  rule  silvery  golden 
basally,  becoming  bronzy  to  darker  apically.  Pubescence  of  head,  thorax 
and  legs  pale  golden  to  nearly  silvery;  abdomen  with  four  pale  golden 
fascise.     Length,  9-13  mm. 

A  good  series  from  western  Kansas.  The  j  has  not  as  yet  been 
found  or  recognized. 


151  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Tachytes  intermedium  (Vier.) 

Tachysphex  intermediuf!  Viereck;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  XXXII.  211-12; 

1906.  ^'  . 
7  .  Slender.  Clypeus  well  produced  and  rounded,  not  dentate  later- 
ally; third  joint  of  antenn»  a  little  shorter  than  fourth;  vertex  with 
fine  separate  punctations,  as  also  scutum,  which  is  shining;  scutellum 
not  impi-essed;  disc  of  propodeum  finely  granulate,  without  an  impressed 
line,  apical  fovea  shallow  and  rather  indistinct,  a  strong  sulcus  on 
posterior  face;  abdomen  smooth  and  slender,  eighth  ventral  segment 
rather  broadly  emarginate.  Black;  marked  like  obscums;  wings  hya- 
line, venation  testaceous.  Pubescence  sparser  than  in  obscurus;  that  of 
head,  thorax  and  abdomen  white  or  silvery;  suberect  pile  on  pygidium; 
that  of  legs  with  a  golden  tint.     Length,  8.25  mm.    (type) . 

One    7'  ;  Douglas  county,  Kansas;  F.  H.  Snow. 

This  is  not  a  Tachysphex,  as  first  described,  and  is  therefore  not  re- 
lated to  Tachysphex  puiictifrons  or  sethiops,  as  stated  by  its  describer, 
but  is  close  to  obscurus;  the  clypeus  is  more  produced  than  in  that 
species,  however,  the  punctation  more  delicate,  the  thorax  and  abdomen 
more  polished,  and  the  pubescence  sparser. 

Tachytes  obscurus  Cress. 
(Fig.  2.5,  mandible,    ^  ;  58  clypeus,    ^  .) 
'  Tachytes  obscurus  Fox;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  XIX,  249;  1892.     ^    j  . 
Tachytes  texanus  Cresson;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  IV,  217;  1872.     j-  . 
Tachytes  obscurus  Fox;   Trans.  Am.   Ent.,  XIX,  249;   1892.      ^    5  . 

o  .  Rather  slender.  Clypeus  rounded  out,  two  blunt  lateral  teeth; 
joints  3  and  4  of  antennae  subequal;  mandibles  broad  with  a  very  narrow 
exterior  notch;  vertex  and  scutum  with  fine  separate  punctations;  scu- 
tellum not  impressed;  disc  of  propodeum  very  finely  granulate,  and  with 
sparse  shallow  punctures,  subapical  fovea  distinct,  as  is  also  the  sulcus 
on  the  posterior  face;  metatibial  spines  quite  stout  and  thorn-like,  stouter 
than  the  same  in  abdorninalis;  abdomen  rather  long,  somewhat  depressed, 
pygidium  nearly  straight,  much  like  that  of  abdorninalis,  covered  with 
fine  appressed  pile  and  sparse  erect  hair.  Black;  wings  subhyaline; 
pygidium  with  the  pile  somewhat  silvery  at  base,  bronzy  apically.  Pubes- 
cence of  head  and  thorax  silvery;  abdomen  with  four  silvery  fascia. 
Length,  13-14  mm. 

J  .  Mandibles  normally  notched;  spines  on  posterior  tibia  not  stout 
as  in  o  ;  eighth  ventral  segment  of  abdomen  broadly  emarginate. 
Length,  9-11  mm. 

Four  o  o  and  numerous  j  7  from  western  Kansas,  besides  a 
few  from  Douglas  county,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state.  I  have 
:found  the    o    to  be  very  rare. 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  155 

Tachytes  rufofasciatus  Cress. 

(Fig.  53,  clypeus,    j  .) 

Tachytes,  rufo-fasciata    Cresson;    Trans.    Am.    Ent.    Soc,  IV,   217-18; 
1872.     ^. 

Tachytes    rufofasciaius    Fox;     Trans.     Am.     Ent.     Soc,     XIX,     247-8; 

1892.      ^    5  . 

o  .  Rather  slender  to  moderately  stout.  Clypeus  rounded  out  an- 
teriorly, a  little  emarginate  mesad  and  bidentate  laterally;  joint  3  of 
antenna  longer  than  4  (subequal  in  some  slender  specimens)  ;  vertex 
and  thorax  finely  and  closely  punctate;  scutellum  not  impressed;  disc 
of  propodeum  with  shallow,  indistinct  punctures,  subapical  fovea  rather 
shallow,  the  sulcus  on  the  posterior  face  deep ;  spines  on  posterior  tibia 
not  stout;  abdomen  sometimes  rather  long;  pygidium  a  little  con- 
stricted before  the  apex,  the  pile  fine  and  dense.  Black;  wings  nearly 
clear;  apical  portion  of  legs  more  or  less  reddish,  spines  pale;  abdomen 
vaiying  from  entirely  to  scarcely  at  all  ferruginous,  the  ferruginous 
commencing  from  the  base  as  in  fulviveiitris;  pygidium  bright  golden. 
Pubescence  of  head  and  thorax  whitish  or  nearly  so,  the  erect  hair 
sparce;  abdominal  fascia  golden.     Length,  11-1.5  mm. 

J  .  Clypeus  rather  narrowly  produced;  eighth  ventral  segment 
broadly  emarginate;  apex  of  trochanters,  all  the  tibiae  and  tarsi  ferru- 
ginous; apex  of  segments  1  and  2  of  abdomen  ferruginous  or  testaceous. 
Length,  11-15  mm. 

The  identification  of  these  few  Kansas  specimens  is  somewhat  doubt- 
ful. One,  a  J  ,  is  quite  small,  and  here  the  clypeus  is  not  emarginate 
as  in  the  larger  specimens.  This  small  one  is  from  Morton  county; 
the  others,  which  are  stouter  as  well  as  larger,  were  taken  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  state.     The    f    t    hail  from  Texas. 

Tachytes  fulviventns  Cress. 

(Fig.  53a,  clypeus.    ^  ;  42,  antenna,    ^  .) 

Tachytes  fidviventris  Cresson;  Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  Phil.,  IV,  466;  1865:  j  . 
Tachytes  cselebs  Patton;  Bull.  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.,  V,  355.  ^  . 
Tachytes  fvlviventris  Fox;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  XIX,  243;  1892.  j  ^  . 
g  .  Stout,  a  little  less  so  than  pepticus.  Clypeus  broadly  produced 
anteriorly,  the  two  lateral  teeth  obscure  or  prominent;  third  joint  of 
antenna  longer  than  fourth;  vertex  finely  punctate,  scutum  likewise; 
scutellum  not  impressed;  disc  of  propodeum  without  an  impressed  line, 
subapical  furrow  shallow  but  distinct  and  transversely  striate,  a  strong 
sulcus  on  posterior  face;  spines  on  posterior  tibia  moderately  stout; 
abdomen  hardly  broadened;  pygidium  convex,  the  sides  nearly  straight, 
covered  with  fine  pile.  Black;  mandibles  slightly  reddish  mesad,  last 
four  tarsal  joints  I'eddish;  wings  hyaline,  venation  pale  brown;  seg- 
ments 1-3  of  abdomen  reddish,  pygidial  area  with  black  and  bronzy  pile. 
Appressed  pile  pale  golden  to  whitish,  the  rather  dense,  erect  pubescence 
pale  griseous;  abdomen  with  three  silvery  fascia.     Length,  12-17  mm. 


156  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

J  .  Clypeus  broadly  produced  anteriorly  and  rounded  much  as  in 
pepticus;  joints  of  antenna  9-11  widened  on  one  side;  abdomen  red  an-J 
blacli  or  entirely  black.    Length,  11-14  mm. 

Rather  common  in  western  Kansas.  In  the  black  variety  (  ^  )  the 
antennal  joints  9-11  are  not  always  distinctly  widened,  sometimes  mak- 
ing it  hard  to  separate  from  pepticus. 

Tacky tes  pepticus   (Say). 

(Fig.  59,  clypeus,    ^    j  ;  109,  eighth  ventral  plate,    j  .) 

Lyrops  peptica  Say;  Bost.  Jour.  Nat.  Hist.,  I,  371;  1837.      ^    j  . 
Tachyets  pepticus  Fox;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  XIX,  242;  1892.      ^    ^  • 

o  .  Stout.  Clypeus  broadly  produced,  slightly  emarginate  mesad, 
two  lateral  teeth;  mandibles  short  and  stout;  third  joint  of  antennse 
longer  than  fourth;  vertex  finely  and  closely  punctate,  scutum  likewise, 
and  depressed  anteriorly;  scutellum  very  slightly  impressed;  disc  of  pro- 
podeum  with  or  without  a  very  faint  line,  a  shallow  subapical  furrow,  a 
strong  median  sulcus  on  posterior  face;  spines  on  posterior  tibiaa  rather 
blunt;  abdomen  short,  rather  broad;  pygidium  rather  narrow,  its  sides 
nearly  straight.  Black;  tarsi  largely  ferruginous;  wings  very  slightly 
fuscous  or  yellowish,  venation  brownish.  Pubescence  of  face,  collar,  be- 
tween the  divisions  of  the  thorax,  and  legs,  silvery;  scutum  and  scutel- 
lum with  very  sparse,  dark,  erect  pubescence,  pale  on  propodeum;  ab- 
domen with  four  silvery  fascia;  pygidium  with  fine  bronzy  bristles. 
Length,  13-16  mm. 

^  .    Anterior  margin  of  clj^peus  broadly  produced  and  rounded;  joints 

3  and  4  of  antenna  narrowed  basally;  subapical  fovea  of  propodeum  shin- 
ing and  more  distinct  than  in  o  ;  emarg^nation  of  eighth  ventral  segment 
broad.     Length,  9-11  mm. 

Numerous  specimens  from  western  Kansas.  The  o  o  are  decidedly 
black  and  rather  naked. 

Tachytes  sericatus  Cress. 
(Fig.  60,  clypeus,    g  .) 

Tachytes  sericatus  Cress;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  IV,  216;  1872.     ^    o  . 
Tachytes  sericatus  Fox;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  XIX,  247;  1892.     j>    j  . 
o  .     Rather  stout.     Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  rounded  out,  a  little 
emarginate  mesad,  bindentate  laterally;  antennae  rather  short,  joints  3  and 

4  nearly  equal;  punctation  of  head  and  thorax  fine;  disc  of  propodeum 
with  a  very  indistinct  median  line,  the  apical  fovea  not  large;  pygidium 
somewhat  triangular,  not  constricted  apically,  the  sides  very  little  bowed 
out.  Black;  apical  joints  of  tarsi  brownish;  wings  clear;  pygidial  pile 
silvery.  Head  and  thorax  with  long  suberect  whitish  pubescence;  legs 
with  silvery  pile  and  medium  stout  whitish  spines;  abdomen  four-fasciate, 
the  fine  appressed  silvery  hair  giving  it  a  rather  greasy  appearance. 
Length,  12-14  mm. 

J  .  "Form  more  slender  than  j  ";  joint  3  of  antennae  shorter  than  4; 
eighth  ventral  segment  roundly  emarginate.  Less  silvery  than  o  . 
Length,   10-11   mm. 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  157 

One    o  ;  Hamilton  county,  Kansas;  F.  H.  Snow. 

Fox,  in  his  monogi'aph  of  the  genus  Tachytes,  states  that  the  o  has  a 
bronzy  pygidium,  while  Cresson  in  his  description  of  the  species  states, 
"apical  segment  dull  silvery."  The  Kansas  specimen  agrees  with  the 
latter  statement. 

Tachytes  distuictns  Sm. 

(PI.  XXII  and  XXIII,  external  anatomy;  fig.  14,  wings;  41,  antenna  j  ; 
57,  clypeus;  79,  83,  85,  legs;  92  and  94,  pygidium,  ^  j  ;  111,  eighth 
ventral  segment,    ^  .) 

Tachytes  disUnctiis  F.  Smith;  Cat.  Hym.  Brit.  Mus.,  IV,  307;  1856.      g  . 
Tachytes  distinctus  Fox;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  XIX,  246;  1892.      g  . 
Tachytes  elongatus  Fox;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  XIX,  246;  1892.      ^  . 

2  ■  Stout  but  rather  elongate.  Clypeus  broadly  produced,  sometimes 
slightly  emarginate  mesad,  two  obtuse  lateral  teeth;  third  joint  of  anten- 
nas longer  than  fourth;  vertex  very  finely  punctate;  scutum  punctate 
about  like  vertex;  scutellum  not  impressed;  disc  of  propodeum  with  or 
without  a  very  faint  impressed  line,  a  distinct  pyrifonn  subapical  fovea, 
a  very  strong  median  sulcus  on  posterior  face;  meta tibial  spines  stout, 
not  blunt;  abdomen  long  and  depressed;  pygidium  convex,  subtriangular, 
very  slightly  constricted  before  apex,  its  pile  short,  fine  and  dense.  Black; 
basal  portion  of  mandibles,  scape  beneath  at  apex,  tegulae,  legs  except 
sometimes  basal  portion  of  femora,  ferruginous;  wings  yellowish  hyaline, 
apically  darker,  venation  light  brown;  pygidial  area  with  long  bronzy  and 
blackish  pile.  Pubescence  of  head,  thorax  and  legs  pale  golden;  collar 
sometimes  silvery;  abdomen  with  three  silvery  fascis.  Length,  15-22  mm. 
J-  .  More  slender  as  a  rule  than  5  .  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus 
broadly  produced;  eighth  ventral  segment  of  abdomen  broadly  emarginate; 
femora  largely  black;  pubescence  more  griseous  than  (j  ;  abdomen  four- 
fasciate.     Length,  11-17  mm. 

A  common  and  easily  determined  species;  the  largest  of  our  larrids. 
Taken  throughout  the  western  half  of  the  state;  June-September. 

Tachytes  mergus  Fox. 
(Fig.  26,  mandible;  61.  clypeus,    j  ;  93,  pygidium,    o  .) 
Tachytes  mergus  Fox;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  XIX,  250;  1892.     g  . 

2  ■  Somewhat  slender.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  with  a  distinct 
lateral  prong;  mandibles  decidedly  slender;  antennas  likewise,  the  third 
joint  longer  than  the  fourth;  vertex  and  scutum  finely  punctate;  disc  of 
propodeum  with  a  distinct  impressed  line  and  a  subpyriform  subapical 
fovea,  sulcus  on  posterior  face  ."trong;  pygidium  triangular,  with  sparse 
stout  bristles.  Black;  at  least  the  apical  joints  of  tarsi  reddish;  wings 
clear.  Pubescence  silvery;  bristles  of  pygidium  silvery;  to  pale  golden. 
Length :    9  mm. 

Two  2  5  >  from  Osborne  county,  Kansas,  August,  1912.  A  very  dis- 
tinct and  apparently  rare  species. 


158  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Tachysphex  Kohl. 

Kohl;  Berl.  Ent.  Zeitschrift,  XXVII,  166,  1883. 
Fox;  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.,  504-5;  1893. 
Syn.  Larrada  Sm. 
Larra  Patton. 

Form  slender  to  stout,  pubescence  short  and  usually  sparse.  Head 
usually  distinctly  wider  than  the  thorax,  face  bituberculate  behind  the 
antenna,  the  latter  moderate,  usually  more  slender  in  the  o  than  in 
Tachytes;  ocelli  bordering  on  a  longitudinally  furrowed  swelling,  the 
anterior  ocellus  round,  the  posterior  pair  more  or  less  reniform,  flattened 
and  quite  obliquely  placed;  mandibles  more  strongly  emarginate  than  in 
Tachytes;  thorax  rather  short;  propodeum  rounded  posteriorly;  marginal 
cell  of  fore  wings  more  or  less  distinctly  truncate;  legs  rather  slender, 
spinose. 

2  ■  Comb  of  fore  tarsi  of  long,  flexible  spines;  pygidial  area  naked 
and  shining,  usually  with  delicate  carinate  borders. 

J'  .  Fore  femora  emarginate  beneath  at  base;  pygidial  area  not  well 
defined,  with  sparse  pile;  eighth  ventral  segment  well  emarginate;  some- 
times with  a  median  tooth. 

This  genus  is  represented  in  Kansas  by  twenty-two  species.  From  a 
systematic  standpoint,  it  is  the  most  diflicult  group  of  the  family,  a:- 
many  of  the  species  resemble  one  another  very  closely.  By  paying  strict 
attention  to  the  clypeus,  pygidium,  venation,  antenn*  and  sculpture,  the 
tables  should  prove  helpful. 

The  length  of  the  pygidial  area  in  the  0  0  seems  to  have  been  over- 
estimated by  some  writers.  The  author  compares  the  basal  width  with 
the  length,  which  is  taken  to  extend  from  where  the  lateral  carinas  end 
(toward  and  not  at  the  base  of  the  segment)  to  the  narrowed  tip  of  the 
disc.  His  figures  here  given  will  be  found  to  differ,  therefore,  materially 
from  those  of  Fox  in  his  monograph  of  the  Larridse. 

Key  to  the  Species  of  Tachysphex. 
(Use  a  compound  microscope  here.) 
Females. 
1.    Interocular  space  at  vertex  always  distinctly  more  than  one-half 
the  interocular  space  at  the  lower  edge  of  the  eyes;  face  with 
long  pile;  vertex  with  long,  erect  pile,  which  is  at  least  as  long 
as  the  diameter  of  an  antennal  joint;  vertex  and  thorax  always 
with  well-separated  punctures,  polished.     Immediately  behind 
each  posterior  ocellus  is  a  convexity  which  resembles  a  second 
ocellus,  then  follows  the  transverse  postocellar   impression.  .  .    .- 
Interocular  space  at  vertex  never  distinctly  as  much  as  one-half 
the  same  space  at  the  lower  edge  of  the  eyes;  vertex  glabrous 
or  with  very  short  pile;  vertex  and  thorax  often  with  very  fine 
and  close  punctures,  often  subopaque.    Immediately  behind  each 
posterior  ocellus  the  slope  is  scarce  or  not  interrupted  to  the 
ti-ansverse  postocellar  impression 4 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  159 

2.  Sides  of  propodeum  not   striate,  or  at  most  with  striations  only 

along  either  edge ;  dorsum  of  abdomen,  all  red cla^xonis 

Sides  of  propodeum  distinctly  striate  for  the  entire  length ;  only 
the  tip   of  the   abdomen   red 3 

3.  Antennae  with  longer  joints,  joint  3  nearly  three  times  the  length 

of  its  diameter,  and  about  as  long  as  joint  4  (fig.  32,  6)  ; 
anterior  margin  of  clypeus  with  a  low  blunt  tooth  or  lobe,  .fusus 
Antennae  with  shorter  joints,  joint  3  about  two  times  as  long  as 
its  diameter  and  distinctly  shorter  than  joint  4  (fig.  32,  o)  ; 
anterior  margin  of  clypeus  without  a  median  lobe  or  else  very 
slightly   produced    mesad terminatus 

4.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  with  a  prominent   median  tooth    (fig. 

67)  ;  pygidium  broad  and  nearly  flat,  impunctate  or  nearly,  the 
bounding  carina  low,  tip  broadly  rounded   (fig.  106)  .  .deiitatus 
Anterior   margin   of  clypeus   without  a  median  tooth;    pygidium 
usually  narrow  and  more  or  less  punctate 5 

5.  Abdomen  red  or  red  and  black 6 

Abdomen  black 16 

6.  At  least  the   tibiae  and   tarsi   reddish,   femora   more   or  less   red; 

punctation  of  thorax  very  fine  and  close 7 

Tibia  and  femora  always  black,  tarsi  more  or  less  so;  punctation 
of  thorax  fine  or  coarse 8 

7.  Clypeus  rounded  out  for  nearly  its  entire  width,  a  little  elevated  on 

its  anterior  edge  mesad,  where  it  is  shallowly  emarginate,  no 
lateral  teeth  (fig.  73)  ;  clypeus,  sometimes  thorax  in  part, 
femora  and  abdomen  ferruginous;  interocular  space  at  vertex 
a  little  wider  than  the  length  of  antennal  joints  2  and  3. 

propinquus 

Clypeus   distinctly  notched   mesad   on   its   anterior   edge,   the  two 

lateral  teeth  distinct   (fig.  66)  ;   femora  largely,  and  the  apex 

of   abdomen,   ferruginous;    interocular   space   at   vertex   about 

as  wide  as  the  length  of  antennal  joints  2  and  3 belfragei 

8.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  with  a  distinct  median  emargination 

or  incision,  and  two  lateral  teeth  (fig.  68)  ;  upper  portion  of 
frons  with  rather  shallow  punctures  and  a  finely  reticulate 
surface ;  pygidium  not  at  all  twice  as  long  as  wide .  .  crenuloides 
Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  without  an  emargination  or  with  orly 
a  small,  shallow  one,  and  with  at  most  one  lateral  tooth,  or 
without  teeth;  pygidium  longer,  from  almost  two  to  two  and 
one-half  times  as  long  as  its  basal  width 9 

9.  Sides  of  propodeum  distinctly  though  not  always  deeply  striate, 

or  striate  and  punctate  combined,  shining;  scutum  frequently 

with  close  but  separate  punctures 10 

Sides  of  propodeum  finely  granular,  subopaque ;  scutum  very  finely 
and  closely  punctate,  thereby  sometimes  appearing  granulate.  .15 


160  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

10.  Disc  of  propodeum  granulate,  and  in  addition  has  irregular  though 

strong  more  or  less  longitudinal  striae  extending  from  one  end 
of  the  disc  to  the  other;  clypeus  with  one  lateral  tooth;  upper 
portion  of  frons  with  separate  punctures,  finely  reticulate  be- 
tween punctures;  abdomen  all  red scidpHloides 

Disc  of  propodeum  coarsely  wrinkled ;  abdomen  with  only  first  and 
second   segments   red qvehecensis 

Disc  of  propodeum  not  as  above;  wholly  or  in  part  red 11 

11.  Clypeus  entire;  medium-sized  to  rather  large  species 12 

Clypeus   with   one   lateral    tooth    (fig.    72)  ;    small    species,    about 

6  mm.  long 13 

12.  Abdomen  entirely   red ;   the   second   submarginal   cell   usually   dis- 

tinctly broader  than  the  third  along  the  radius;  truncation  of 
marginal  cell  only  a  little  oblique  and  a  little  less  than  one-half 
as  long  as  the  distance  from  the  third  submarginal  (along  the 
radius)    to  truncation    (fig.  47)  ;  clypeus  not  produced  mesad; 

length,  7.5-10  mm texanus 

Abdomen  black  apically;  second  and  third  submarginal  cells  usu- 
ally subequal  along  the  radius;  truncation  of  marginal  cell  de- 
cidedly oblique,  and  always  more  than  one-half  as  long  as  the 
distance  from  the  third  submarginal  cell  to  truncation ;  an- 
terior   margin    of    clypeus    a    little    produced    mesad;    length, 

7  mm consimilisl 

13.  Abdomen  black  apically;  slender  species nigrocamlatus 

Abdomen   entirely   red 14 

14.  Form  stout;   as  viewed  laterally  the  abdomen  is  not  or  scarcely 

longer  than  thorax  and  propodeum crassiformis 

Form  slender;  abdomen  tapering  gradually  eaudad,  distinctly 
longer  than  thorax  and  propodeum plenoculiformis 

15.  Abdomen  entirely  red    (clear  or  obscure)  ;   clypeus  with  one  lat- 

eral tooth    (fig.  62),  and  sometimes  with  a  shallow  emargina- 

tion  mesad ;  length,  8-11  mm tarsatus 

Abdomen  black  apically;  clypeus  entire;  scutum  finely  granular- 
punctate,  subopaque ;  length,  7.75  mm consimiloides 

16.  Wings  subfuscous,  venation  heavy,  marginal  cell  broadly  truncate, 

the  third  submarginal  cell  along  the  radius  as  broad  as  the 
length  from  the  third  submarginal  cell  to  truncation  (fig.  48)  ; 
frons  very  finely  granulate,  ocellar  region  (as  viewed  through 
a  hand  lens)  opaque;  clypeus  entire  or  with  an  indistinct  tooth 

laterally    amta 

Wings  clear  or  nearly  so,  venation  not  heavy,  third  submarginal 
cell  along  the  radius  seldom  as  broad  as  the  length  from  the 
third  submarginal  to  truncation;  ocellar  region  shining 17 

17.  Clypeus  broadly  though  not  strongly  rounded  anteriorly,  entire. 

sepulcralis 
Clypeus  subtruncate  anteriorly,  produced  a  little  mesad,  two  lat- 
eral teeth  (including  the  rather  drawn-out  edge  of  clypeus). 

glabrior 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID.^    OF    KANSAS.  161 

Males. 

1.  Inteiocular  space  at  vertex  about  two-thirds  or  more  the  inter- 

ocular  space  at  the  lower  edge  of  the  eyes;  upper  portion  of 
frons  and  vertex  with  rather  long,  sparse,  erect  pile,  which  is 
about  as  long  as  the  diameter  of  an  antennal  joint,  head  rather 
sparsely    punctate    and     polished,    pseudo-ocelli     present     (as 

in     o    o  )  ;  abdomen  red-tipped,  rarely  entirely  black 2 

Interocular  space  at  vertex  one-half  or  less  (seldom  a  little  more 
than)  the  same  space  at  the  lower  edge  of  the  eyes;  no  long, 
erect  pile  on  vertex;  no  pseudo-ocelli  behind  the  posterior 
ocelli   3 

2.  Front  with  rather  fine,  close  punctures terminatus 

Front  with  larger  separate  punctures fusus 

3.  Abdomen  red,  or  red  and  black 4 

Species  entirely  black  12 

4.  Sides  of  propodeum  distinctly  striate  throughout,  often  punctate 

between  striae   5 

Sides  of  propodeum  not  striate,  or  striate  only  at  edges,  coriace- 
ous, finely  granulate  or  reticulate 9 

5.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus   slightly   emarginate   mesad ;    disc   of 

propodeum  coarsely  and  irregularly  wrinkled;  length,  9  mm. 

qucbccensii 
Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  not  emarginate  niesad;  disc  of  propo- 
deum not  as  above 6 

6.  Apex  of  femora,  tibiae  and  tarsi  entirely,  reddish  yellow.  .  .minimus 
At  most  the  tarsi  are  partly  reddish  or  reddish  brown 7 

7.  Small,  slender  species;  length,  about  6  mm.;  apical  half  of  abdo- 

men   black    nigrocaudatus 

Larger,  stouter  species;  abdomen  all  red 8 

8.  Third  antennal  joint  not  twice  its  apical  width,  antennse  rather 

stout,  a  little  thickened  mesad;  thorax  and  propodeum  shining, 

sparsely  pilose    te.xanus 

Third  antennal  at  least  twice  its  apical  width,  antenns  hardly 
thickened  mesad;  thorax  and  propodeum  with  rather  abun- 
dant pile   farsatus 

9.  Abdomen  entirely  red;   clypeus  subtruncate    (fig.  62);   stout  spe- 

cies     tarsatus. 

Abdomen  dark  or  black  apically;  clypeus  rounded  or  subtruncate.  .10 
10.    Stout  species;   length,   6.75  mm.;   scutum  very  finely   and   closely 
punctate ;  longer  spur'of  metatibiae  as  long  as  first  joint  of  hind 
tarsi;  abdomen  about  equally  red  and  black;  an  even  growth  of 

brassy  pile  on  disc  of  scutum robustior 

Slender  species;  longer  spur  of  metatibse  distinctly  shorter  than 
first  joint  of  hind  tarsi;  abdomen  more  red  than  black 11 


162  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

11.  Scutum  with  very  fine  close  punctures,  appearing  granulate;  frons 

granulate-punctate;  anterior  edge  of  clypeus  rather  narrowly 
rounded,  not  raised  mesad  (fig.  71),  its  apical  half  sparsely 
punctate  and  shining;   antennal  joints  not  strongly  ciliate;  a 

little  brassy  pile  on  middle  of  scutum Uubius 

Scutum  and  frons  with  deep  separate  punctui'es;  anterior  edge  of 
clypeus  rounded  out  for  most  of  its  interocular  width,  a  little 
raised  mesad,  sometimes  slightly  emarginate  (fig.  70),  its 
apical  half  very  finely  reticulate,  and  in  addition  there  are 
some  large,  sparse  punctures;  antennae  strongly  ciliate  (fig. 
31)  ;  scutum  with  the  pile  all  white propinquus 

12.  Width   of  third   submarginal   cell   along  the   radius   equal   to  the 

radius  from  the  third  submarginal  cell  to  the  truncation   (fig. 

48)  ;  wings  subfuscous acuta 

Width  of  third  submarginal  cell  along  the  radius  not  as  much  as 
the  length  of  the  radius  from  the  third  submarginal  cell  to  the 
truncation ;  wings  nearly  or  entirely  clear 13 

13.  Apex  of  femora,  and  tibiae  and  tarsi  entii-ely,  reddish  yellow. 

inininius 
At  most  tarsi  in  part  reddish  brown 14 

14.  Scutum  strongly  depressed  anteriorly  in  the  middle;  disc  of  pro- 

podeum    rather    coarsely    though    uniformly    granulate,    only 

striate   at   base sepidcralis 

Scutum  scarcely  or  not  at  all  depressed  anteriorly  in  the  middle; 
disc  of  propodeum  coarsely  granulate  and  with  irregular  (dis- 
tinct or  obscure)  longitudinal  strise  or  raised  lines  throughout 
the  middle  of  the  disc glabrior 

Taehijsphex  intermedins  Vier.  belongs  to  the  genus   Tachytes,  where 
I  have  placed  it. 

Tachysphex  propinquus  Vier. 

(Fig.  1.5,  wings;  31,  portion  of    j    antenna;  70  and  73,  clypeus;  81,  fos- 

sorial  comb,    o  ;    104,  pygidium,    g  .) 
Tachysphex  propiiiqiins  Viereck;  Ent.  News,  XV,  87-8;  1904.     o  . 

o  .  Rather  slender.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  rounded  out,  a  little 
wavy,  slightly  elevated  mesad,  where  it  is  a  little  emarginate,  no  lateral 
teeth,  rather  large  sparse-punctate;  front  finely  and  vei-y  closely  punctate; 
antennae  slender,  joint  2  about  one-half  as  long  as  3,  which  is  three- 
fourths  or  more  the  length  of  4;  interocular  space  just  a  little  more  than 
the  length  of  antennal  joints  2  and  3 ;  scutum  and  scutellum  finely 
and  very  closely  punctate,  the  former  well  depressed  anteriorly  in 
the  middle,  sides  with  shallow  contingent  punctures;  disc  of  propodeum 
coriaceous  (very  finely  and  evenly  granulate),  the  sides  largely  coriaceous, 
posterior  face  finely  striate  and  with  a  median  almond-shaped  fovea;  legs 
slender,  the  tarsal  comb  pronounced;  venation  rather  delicate,  the  mar- 
ginal cell  rather  narrowly  and  obliquely  truncate;  abdomen  very  finely 
reticulate;  pygidial  area  convex,  sparse  punctate,  long  and  narrow,  con- 
stricted preapically  and  just  a  little  more  than  two  times  as  long  as  its 
basal  width.     Ferruginous;  head  except  clypeus,  scape  at  least,  and  the 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID.E   OF   KANSAS.  163 

thorax  more  commonly,  black  (the  thorax  more  rarely  all  ferruginous). 
Face  and  thorax  well  covered  with  sericeous  pile;  abdomen  silvery 
fasciate.     Length,  8-12  mm.     Related  to  posterns  and  ashmeadii. 

^  .  Slender.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  broadly  rounded  out,  not  or 
just  a  little  emarginate  and  elevated  apically;  no  lateral  teeth,  distally 
with  a  few  large  punctures  and  finely  reticulate  in  addition,  basally  very 
finely  and  closely  punctate;  antenna  somewhat  thickened  in  the  middle, 
strongly  ciliate  along  one  side  joint  2  about  two-thirds  the  length  of  3, 
which  is  about  two-thirds  or  more  the  length  of  4;  interocular  space 
nearly  or  quite  equal  to  antennal  joints  2-4;  front  finely  granulate, 
less  so  above  and  at  vertex,  postocellar  depression  moderately  deep; 
scutum  and  scutellum  with  rather  large,  separate  punctures;  the  punc- 
tures are  a  little  coarser  on  the  pleurae;  disc  of  propodeum  coriaceous,  the 
sides  closely  punctate,  posterior  face  rather  coarsely  striate,  with  a  deep 
fovea;  legs  weakly  spinose,  the  larger  metatibial  spur  distinctly  shorter 
than  first  joint  of  hind  tarsi;  marginal  cell  broadly  truncate;  abdomen 
rather  narrow,  finely  and  indistinctly  punctate,  much  move  strongly  punc- 
tate on  the  apical  segments,  eighth  ventral  segment  broadly  emarginate 
and  with  a  low  and  indistinct  tooth  mesad.  Black;  a  spot  on  the  scape 
apically,  the  margin  of  the  clypeus  and  the  three  basal  abdominal  seg- 
ments, reddish;  tarsi  partly  brownish.  White  pile  on  face  and  thorax; 
abdomen  silvery  fasciate.     Length,  7.5-9.5  mm. 

Numerous  j  j  and  a  few  ^  j  ,  chiefly  from  southwestern  Kansas; 
July-August,  1911  and  1912. 

Tachijsphex  dubius  Fox. 
(Fig.  71,  clypeus,    ^  .) 
Tarhijsphex  dubms  Fox;  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.,  515;  1893.      >  . 

T  .  Rather  slender.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  rather  narrowly 
rounded  out  (imperfectly  subtruncate) ,  the  lateral  angles  rather  sharp 
to  obtuse,  nearly  smooth  on  its  apical  one-third,  the  rest  finely  punctate; 
antennae  somewhat  thickened  and  pilose,  joint  3  distinctly  shorter  than  4, 
the  interocular  space  somewhat  less  than  3  and  4;  front  finely  granulate; 
vertex  finely  and  closely  punctate;  thorax  a  little  depressed  anteriorly  in 
the  middle,  finely  and  closely  punctate;  disc  of  propodeum  finely  granu- 
late, the  sides  reticulate-granulate,  posterior  face  granulate  and  with 
indications  of  larger  stride,  a  transverse  carina  separates  this  face  from 
the  disc,  posterior  fovea  large  and  wedge-shaped;  legs  feebly  spinose, 
larger  metatibial  spur  much  shorter  than  first  joint  of  hind  tarsi;  mar- 
ginal cell  rather  widely  obliquely  truncate;  abdomen  fairly  long,  finely 
reticulate,  eighth  ventral  segment  with  a  wide  emargination  and  a  low 
median  tooth,  the  sides  dentifoVm.  Black;  first  three  abdominal  segments 
red;  the  apical  segments  largely  reddish  brown  or  darker;  all  the  tarsi 
more  or  less  testaceous  apically;  wings  clear.  Well  covei-ed  with  pile, 
which  on  the  middle  of  the  scutum  is  vei-y  sparse  and  of  a  brassy  hue; 
abdomen  distinctly  fasciate.     Length,  7.5-9  mm. 

A  fair  series  from  north  central  Kansas  presents  some  variations.  The 
insect  seems  very  close  to  consimilis. 


164  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Tachysphex  belfragei  (Cress.). 
(Fig.  66,  clypeus,    (j  .) 
Larrada  belfragei  Cresson;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  IV,  215;  1872.     q  . 

o  .  Medium  stout.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  well  rounded  out,  and 
with  a  narrow  mesal  emargination  and  two  lateral  teeth;  joint  3  of 
antenna  slightly  shorter  than  4,  the  interocular  space  equal  to  2  and  3  or 
perhaps  a  little  less;  front  and  vertex  very  finely  and  closely  punctate, 
scutum  likewise;  disc  of  propodeum  strongly  reticulate,  the  sides  finely 
and  the  posterior  face  coarsely  striate,  the  posterior  fovea  acute  beneath 
and  broad  above;  marginal  cell  rounded-truncate;  pygidial  area  moder- 
ately well  punctate,  a  little  constricted  preapically,  about  two  and  one- 
fourth  times  or  less  as  long  as  broad  at  base.  Black;  spot  on  scape  at  tip, 
apex  of  femora,  the  tibiae  and  tarsi,  reddish;  venation  testaceous;  seg- 
ments 1,  2  and  3  more  or  less,  and  the  apex  of  pygidium,  reddish.  Moder- 
ate silvery  pubescent.     Length,  9-10  mm. 

A  single    j  ;    Ellis  county;  July  19,  1912. 

Tachysphex  robustior  n.  sp. 

T  .  Quite  stout.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  rather  narrowly  sub- 
truncate,  the  lateral  angles  sharp ;  clypeus  with  large  separate  punctures , 
antennse  but  little  thickened  mesad,  joint  2  nearly  two-thirds  of  3,  which 
is  shorter  than  4;  interocular  space  very  little  less  than  joints  3  and  4; 
front  with  shallow  punctures  and  very  finely  reticulate;  ocellar  space 
deeply  and  separately  punctate,  the  vertex  finely  punctate;  postocellar  pit 
not  very  deep;  dorsum  of  thorax  very  finely  and  closely  punctate,  the  sides 
indistinctly  and  shallowly  so;  disc  of  propodeum  very  finely  granulate, 
apically  broadly  subtruncate,  sides  with  fine  shallow  punctures,  posterior 
face  striate,  with  a  rather  smooth  fovea;  legs  moderately  spinose,  longer 
spur  of  metatibiae  a  little  longer  than  first  joint  of  hind  tarsi ;  wings  large, 
venation  delicate,  marginal  cell  narrowly  subtruncate,  the  appendiculation 
weak,  the  second  and  third  submarginal  cells  subequal  along  the  radius; 
abdomen  short  and  stout,  with  fine,  shallow  punctations  for  the  reception 
of  the  pile;  eighth  ventral  segment  broadly  emirginate,  no  median  tooth. 
Black;  tarsi  reddish  brown;  venation  testaceous;  abdominil  segments  1 
and  2  reddish,  the  latter  obscurely  so;  the  rest  of  the  abdomen  is  not  deep 
black.  Frons  with  dense,  silvery  pile  which  extends  up  to  the  ocelli;  the 
thorax,  legs  and  abdomen  with  a  good  amount  of  silvery  pile  (t'.ie  ab- 
domen being  fasciate  with  silvery)  ;  pile  of  the  dorsum  of  the  thorax  with 
a  pale  brassy-yellow  tinge.  Length,  5.75  mm. 
One   ^  ;  Grant  county;  July,  1911. 

Tachysphex  consimilis  Cress. 
Tachysphex  consimilis  Fox;  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.,  526-7,  1893.    t    c 
A  single    ^    from  Norton  county  is  doubtfully  referred  here. 

Tachysphex  consimiloides  n.  sp. 

2  .    Moderately  stout.     Anterior  margin   of  clypeus  broidly  but  nol 

strongly  rounded  out   (subtruncate),  the  lateral  angles  not  very  sharp,  nc 

teeth,  apical  half  spirsely  and  irregularly  Hrge  punctate,  the  lenainde. 

vei'y  closely  punctate;  antennse  slender,  joint  2  is  one-half  of  3,  which  is 


WILLIAMS:     LARRIDiE   OF   KANSAS.  165 

three-fourths  of  4;  interocular  space  almost  as  great  as  the  length  of 
joints  3  and  4;  frons  quite  finely  granulate;  vertex  finely  and  closely 
deep-punctate,  rather  opaque,  postocellar  depression  moderately  deep; 
thorax  a  little  depressed  anteriorly  mesad,  veiy  finely  granulate;  disc  of 
propodeum  even  more  finely  granulate  than  rest  of  thorax,  nearly  coriace- 
ous, the  sides  about  like  disc,  posterior  face  more  irregularly  and  coarsely 
granulate,  with  traces  of  striations  and  a  broad,  moderately  deep,  almond- 
shaped  fovea;  legs  moderate,  longer  spur  of  metatibiae  shorter  than  first 
joint  of  hind  tarsi;  venation  moderately  heavy,  the  marginal  cell  rather 
narrow  and  scarcely  obliquely  truncate;  abdomen  short;  pygidium  slightly 
convex  and  with  large  scattered  punctures  in  addition  to  being  finely 
reticulate,  barely  twice  its  basal  width.  Black;  wings  clear,  venation 
brownish  testaceous,  first  three  abdominal  segments  red.  Insect  well  sup- 
plied with  sericeous  pile;  abdomen  silvery  fasciate.  Length  of  type, 
7.7.5  mm. 

There  are  several  paratypes,  all  of  which  are  in  fresh  condition,  from 
Barton  county,  Kansas;  June  20,  1912. 

This  species  seems  to  be  most  nearly  related  to  coimuuli^  and  inundiis; 
it  diff'ers  from  the  former  in  not  having  the  sides  of  the  propodeum  striate, 
and  in  having  the  abdomen  silvery  fasciate;  it  can  be  separated  from 
mundus  by  the  entire  clypeal  margin,  etc.  The  sculpture  is  even  finer  than 
in  the  larger  tarsatns. 

Tachysphex  tarsatus   (Say). 
(Fig.  36,  ocellar  area;  62,  clypeus,    j    ^  ;  87,  fore  femur,    >  .) 
Larra  tarsata  Say;  Western  Quar.  Report,  II,  78;  1823.      o  . 
Tachysphex  tarsatus  Fox;  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Phil.,  512;  1893.      ^    q  . 

2  .  Stout.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  subtruncate,  often  slightly 
emarginate  mesad,  unidentate  laterally,  the  rim  wide;  joint  2  of  antennae 
only  a  little  more  than  one-half  the  length  of  3,  which  is  a  little  shorter 
than  4;  interocular  space  about  equal  to  joints  2  and  3,  perhaps  a  little 
greater;  head  quite  finely  granulate,  the  thorax  decidedly  so;  disc  of  pro- 
podeum coriaceous,  sides  likewise,  posterior  face  finely  striate,  the  fovea 
deep;  legs  moderately  spinose;  wings  nearly  clear,  marginal  cell  obliquely 
subtruncate;  pygidium  about  twice  as  long  as  its  basal  width,  and  sparsely 
punctate.  Black;  tarsi  largely  obscure  reddish,  venation  dark  brown;  ab- 
domen entirely  red.     Sparse  appressed  silvery  pile.     Length,  8-11  mm. 

^  .  Clypeus  subtruncate,  not  dentate;  interocular  space  about  equal  to 
joints  3  and  4;  front  coarsely  granulate.  Colored  as  in  o  .  Length, 
7-10  mm. 

Common  in  the  western  part  of  the  state.  Rather  easily  recognized  by 
its  very  fine  sculpture,  size,  unidentate  clypeus,  etc. 


■4-Univ.  Sci.  Bull..  Vol.  VIII.  No.  4- 


166  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY    SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Tachysphex  texanus  (Cress.) 
(Fig.  47,  tip  of  wing.) 
Larrada  texana  Cresson;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  IV,  214;  1872.     ^    j  . 
Tachysphex  texanus  Fox;  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.,  513-14;  1893.    ^    j  . 

o  .  Stout,  nearly  as  large  as  tarsatus,  which  it  resembles  superficially. 
Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  subtruncate,  without  teeth,  the  lateral  angles 
sharp,  rim  rather  wide;  clypeus  quite  convex  and  with  a  few  large  punc- 
tures on  its  anterior  half;  joint  2  of  antennae  about  one-half  of  3,  which 
is  a  little  shorter  than  4;  the  interocular  space  about  equal  to  joints  2  and 
3,  perhaps  a  little  greater;  frons  finely  and  quite  closely  punctate  basally, 
the  punctures  larger  higher  up;  vertex  shining,  with  rather  large  and  deep 
separate  punctures;  disc  of  propodeum  rather  coarsely  granulate,  the  sides 
striate,  the  posterior  face  more  coarsely  so,  its  fovea  large  and  shining, 
wedge-shaped;  legs  moderately  spinose;  venation  rather  delicate,  mar- 
ginal cell  obliquely  subti-uncate,  the  second  submarginal  cell  usually  a 
good  deal  wider  than  the  third  along  the  radius ;  abdomen  finely  reticulate ; 
pygidium  about  two  times  as  long  as  the  basal  width,  well  margined,  a 
little  constricted  preapically,  the  whole  finely  reticulate  and  with  sparse, 
irregularly  disposed  punctures.  Black;  legs  brownish  red  apically;  wings 
clear;  abdomen  all  red.     Moderately  pilose.     Length,  7. .5-10  mm. 

^  .  Stout.  Clypeus  subtruncate,  a  little  produced  mesad;  punctures 
coarser  in  this  sex;  interocular  space  a  little  more  than  the  length  of 
antennal  joints  3  and  4;  eighth  ventral  segment  of  abdomen  broadly 
emarginate,  and  with  no  median  tooth.  Colored  as  in  j  .  Length, 
6.5-7  mm. 

A  good  series  of  o  o  from  western  Kansas;  two  ^  ^  from  Stevens 
and  Norton  counties  seem  to  belong  here. 

Tachysphex  sculptiloides  n.  sp. 
o  .  stout,  somewhat  like  a  small  te.vaims.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus 
subtruncate,  not  emarginate  mesad,  a  distinct  lateral  tooth;  clypeal  rim 
broad  and  with  large  punctures  at  its  base,  apical  half  (with  the  excep- 
tion just  mentioned)  smooth  and  shining;  antennae  moderately  slender, 
joint  2  one-half  as  long  as  3,  which  is  a  little  shorter  than  4;  interocular 
space  nearly  as  vidde  as  is  the  length  of  antennal  joints  2  and  3;  frons 
with  moderately  fine,  shallow  and  well  separated  punctures,  the  interspace 
finely  reticulate;  vertex  shining,  with  medium-sized,  deep  punctures; 
ocellar  depression  deep;  dorsum  of  thorax  shining,  with  large,  rather 
close  punctures;  disc  of  propodeum  rather  coarsely  granulate,  and  with 
ii-regular,  more  or  less  longitudinal  and  parallel,  well  separated  lines  (not 
so  evident  in  the  two  cotypes),  giving  the  disc  an  imperfectly  striate 
effect;  sides  rather  coarsely  and  strongly  striate;  a  carina  separates  the 
disc  from  the  posterior  face,  which  is  coarsely  striate  and  with  a  large, 
deep  wedge-shaped  fovea;  legs  moderately  spinose;  marginal  cell  rather 
narrowly  and  not  very  obliquely  truncate;  abdomen  shining;  pygidium 
about  two  and  one-fourth  times  as  long  as  its  basal  width,  scarce  con- 
stricted preapically,  smooth  and  very  sparsely  punctate,  the  bounding 
carina  fairly  prominent.  Black;  wings  clear,  except  that  they  are  slightly 
fuscous  apically;   abdominal   segments   1-3   largely  reddish   brown.     Pile 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID_.E   OF   KANSAS.  167 

rather  sparse  except  on  pleura;  on  the  head  not  extending  high  up  on 
the  frons;  abdominal  fascias  not  very  strong.     Length    (type),  7.25  mm. 
Three  specimens  from  Barton  county;  June,  1912. 

Tachysphex  nigrocaudatus  n.  sp. 

2  .  Moderately  slender.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  subtruncate,  a 
low  lateral  tooth;  the  clypeus  much  resembling  that  of  crassiformis  and 
pleiwctiiiformis,  only  a  little  convex,  rim  rather  wide,  apical  portion  of 
clypeus  very  little  punctate,  shining,  the  basal  part  rather  closely  punc- 
tate; antennaa  rather  stout  and  blunt,  joint  2  is  about  one-half  of  3,  which 
is  moi-e  than  three-fourths  of  4;  interocular  space  about  equal  to  joints  3 
and  4;  frons  with  medium-sized,  shallow  punctures,  which  are  separated 
from  one  another  by  about  their  width,  these  interspaces  finely  reticulate; 
vertex  shining,  with  deeper,  moj-e  separate  punctures,  ocellar  area  moder- 
ately cleft,  the  postocellar  depression  moderately  deep;  dorsum  of  thorax 
shining,  hardly  depressed  anteriorly  mesad,  with  large,  deep  punctures, 
their  width  or  less  apart;  disc  of  propodeum  medium  granulate,  with 
short  basal  striae,  sides  rather  coarsely  but  shallowly  striate-granulate ; 
an  imperfect  carina  between  the  disc  and  posterior  face,  the  latter 
coarsely  striate  and  with  a  large  wedge-shaped  fovea;  legs  moderately 
spinose;  third  submarginal  cell  along  the  radius  a  little  longer  than  the 
second,  and  nearly  equal  to  the  remainder  of  the  radius  to  the  moderately 
oblique  truncation  of  the  marginal  cell;  abdomen  polished;  pygidium  well 
defined,  smooth,  about  two  and  one-fourth  times  as  long  as  its  basal  width, 
the  sides  nearly  straight,  a  little  constricted  preapically,  narrowly  sub- 
truncate  apically,  and  with  a  few  medium-sized  deep  punctures  towards 
the  sides.  Black;  wings  a  little  dusky;  first  two  and  one-half  segments  of 
the  abdomen  red.  Insect  rather  sparsely  pilose;  abdomen  scarcely  fasciate. 
Length   (type),  6.-5  mm. 

Rush  county,  Kansas;  June,  1912.  There  are  two  others  from  Barton 
and  Ness  counties;  one  of  these  has  the  pygidium  a  little  more  strongly 
punctate  than  the  type. 

^j  .  Moderately  slender.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  truncate,  no 
lateral  teeth;  antenna  stout,  rather  blunt  apically,  pilose,  joint  2  more 
than  one-half  the  length  of  3,  which  is  about  three- fourths  of  4;  inter- 
ocular space  about  equal  to  antennal  joints  2-4;  sculptured  about  as 
in  2  '  the  wedge-shaped  fovea  on  the  posterior  face  of  the  propodeum 
broad  and  deep;  eighth  ventral  segment  broadly  emarginate;  first  two  or 
three  abdominal  segments  reddish.  Pile  rather  abundant;  the  abdomen 
thereby  well  fasciate.     Length,  4.5-7  mm. 

A  good  series  of  this  decidedly  small  larrid  from  western  Kansas. 

Tachysphex  plenociiliformis  n.  sp. 
<j>  .  Rather  slender.  Anterior  mai'gin  of  clypeus  subtruncate,  with 
one  lateral  tooth  (here  greatly  resembling  crassiformis,  fig.  72),  some 
confluent  punctures  at  base  of  the  rim,  the  apical  half  (with  the  above 
exception)  smooth,  polished  and  inpunctate,  the  basal  half  closely  punc- 
tate, only  moderately  convex;  frons  with  veiy  close,  shallow  punctures, 
which  are  sepai-ated  by  less  than  their  width,  the  whole  rather  finely 
reticulate;  vertex  polished,  with  rather  fine,  close,  but  shallow  punctures; 
ocellar  area  not  very  much  impressed  medially,  the  postocellar  depression 


168  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

deep;  antennae  moderate,  clothed  with  silvery  pile,  joint  2  about  one-half 
of  3,  which  is  somewhat  shorter  than  4;  interocular  a  little  less  than  joints 
3  and  4;  scutum  a  little  depressed  anteriorly  mesad,  and  with  quite  close, 
moderate-sized  punctures;  disc  of  propodeum  evenly  granulate,  the  sides 
rather  strongly  striate,  the  posterior  face  separated  from  the  disc  by  an 
imperfect  carina,  the  face  shining,  rather  coarsely  and  shallowly  striate 
and  with  a  wide,  deep,  almond-shaped  fovea;  legs  rather  slender,  only 
moderately  spinose;  venation  rather  weak,  marginal  cell  not  veiy  obliquely 
truncate;  abdomen  slender,  subconie,  shining;  pygidial  area  well  defined, 
a  little  constricted  preapically,  and  with  distinct,  well-scattered  punctures, 
the  pygidium  about  two  times  as  long  as  wide  at  its  base.  Black;  apex  of 
mandibles  largely  reddish  brown ;  abdomen  all  red.  Sericeous  white  pile 
sparse  except  on  face;  abdomen  not  well  fasciate.     Length,  7  mm.  (type). 

One  2  ;  Ness  county;  July  1,  1912.  Six  paratypes;  length,  5.5- 
7.25  mm.;  southwestern  Kansas  and  Norton  county,  Kansas. 

The  insect  appears  to  be  rather  closely  related  to  rvheeleri  Roh.,  and 
resembles  crassiformis  Vier.  in  some  particulars.  It  is  more  slender  than 
the  latter  and  a  little  more  finely  punctate. 

Tachysphex  crassiformis  Vier. 

(Fig.  72,  clypeus,    g  .) 

Tachysphex  crassiformis  Viereck;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  XXXII,  210-11; 

1906,    2  ■ 

o  .  Stout.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  subtruncate,  a  little  pro- 
duced mesad,  with  one  lateral  tooth;  antenna  not  very  slender,  joint  3  a 
little  shorter  than  4 ;  interocular  space  a  little  more  than  the  length  of 
joints  2  and  3  but  less  than  3  and  4 ;  front  finely  punctate  below,  more 
sparsely  so  under  the  fore  ocellus;  vertex  finely  and  closely  punctate; 
scutum  and  scutellum  polished,  with  moderately  fine  separate  punc- 
tures, especially  of  the  sides,  pleura  finely  punctate;  disc  of  propodeum 
finely  and  evenly  granulate,  the  sides  strongly  striate,  posterior  face 
distinctly  striate,  with  a  deep  oval  fovea;  legs  moderately  spinose;  wing 
venation  not  heavy,  marginal  cell  a  little  obliquely  truncate,  moderately 
wide,  second  submarginal  cell  just  a  little  wider  than  the  third  along  the 
radius;  abdomen  stout;  pygidium  fully  two  times  as  long  as  its  basal 
width,  the  sides  a  little  bowed  out  and  slightly  constricted  preapically, 
disc  with  large  sparse  punctures.  Black;  scape  at  apex  and  distal  tarsi 
reddish;  abdomen  reddish.  Pile  moderate;  abdominal  fascia  moderate. 
Length,  7  mm.   (type). 

Hamilton  county,  Kansas.  Five  others,  from  Stevens,  Morton  and 
Stanton  counties;  July-August,  1911. 

Related  to  aiitennatHS,  according  to  Viereck. 

Tachysphex  crenuloides  n.  sp. 
(Fig.  68,  clypeus;  105,  pygidium,  j  .) 
0  .  Robust.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  rounded,  rather  narrowly 
but  distinctly  emarginate  mesad,  two  distinct  lateral  teeth  and  a  slight 
indication  of  a  third  broader  and  inner  one;  a  row  of  coarse,  more  or  less 
confluent  punctures  behind  the  rim  of  the  clypeus,  which  slopes  up  from 
that  point,  the  clypeus  shining  and  almost  inpunctate;  joint  2  of  antenna 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  1(;9 

about  one-half  of  3,  which  is  a  little  shorter  than  4;  interocular  space 
just  a  little  greater  than  antennal  joints  2  and  3;  frons  finely  punctate, 
the  vertex  more  sparsely  so  behind  the  ocelli;  scutum  and  scutellum  with 
moderately  fine  and  close  separate  punctures,  these  punctures  being 
more  separate  on  the  sides;  disc  of  propodeum  very  finely  granulate,  the 
sides  finely  punctate-striate,  posterior  face  distinctly  striate  and  with  a 
large  wedge-shaped  fovea  with  its  apex  pointing  ventrad;  legs  tolerably 
spinose;  venation  normal,  the  marginal  cell  narrowly  rounded-truncate; 
abdomen  inpunctate  above  except  towards  apex,  the  last  ventral  plate 
with  confluent  punctures  on  its  apical  half;  pygidium  wide,  a  little  less 
than  twice  as  long  as  its  basal  width  (the  type  and  cotype  have  the 
pygidium  only  partly  extruded),  its  strong  margins  strongly  bowed  out, 
scarcely  constricted  preapically,  apically  moderately  broad-truncate,  the 
disc  quite  sparsely  punctate.  Black;  tarsi  brownish  red;  wings  clear; 
abdomen  red  (this  color  is  neither  bright  nor  clear).  Head,  thorax,  legs 
and  apex  of  abdominal  segments  with  a  good  supply  of  silvery  pile. 
Length,  8  mm.  (type). 

Morton  county;  August  5,  1911.  Two  paratypes,  Morton  and  Grant 
counties. 

Related  to  crenulatus,  to  which  it  runs  down  in  Fox's  key.  The  latter 
species,  besides  being  a  good  deal  the  larger,  has  the  frons  more  finely 
punctate  and  less  sericeous,  the  abdomen  bright  red,  and  the  clyp3us 
more  regularly  crenulate. 

Tachysphex  dentatus  n.  sp. 
(Fig.  67,  clypeus;  106,  pygidium.) 

o  .  Robust.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  with  a  long,  distinct  median 
tooth,  and  a  low,  rather  distinct  one  on  either  side  (in  addition  to  the 
sharp  lateral  angle) ,  a  curved  shining  fold  or  ridge  behind  the  median 
tooth;  joint  3  of  antenna  just  a  little  shorter  than  4;  interocular  space 
not  greater  than  antennal  joints  2  and  3;  front  coarsely  (thimble-like) 
granulate;  vertex  with  finer  separate  punctures;  scutum  and  scutellum  so 
closely  punctate  as  to  appear  granulate,  the  sides  about  as  dorsum;  disc 
of  propodeum  finely  granulate,  the  sides  finely  striate-punctate,  the 
posterior  face  strongly  striate  and  with  a  large  wedge-shaped  fovea ; 
legs  tolerably  spinose;  wings  with  the  marginal  cell  rather  broadly  and 
obliquely  truncate;  abdomen  with  a  few  punctures  on  the  apical  seg- 
ments; pygidial  area  nearly  flat  and  almost  inpunctate,  well  margined, 
the  apex  broadly  rounded,  the  disc  about  one  and  one-third  times  or  a 
little  less  than  its  basal  width.  Black;  tarsi  more  or  less  reddish  brown; 
wings  clear;  abdomen  all  red.  Head  and  thorax  with  a  fair  amount  of 
whitish  sericeous  pile,  which  is  sparse  on  the  abdomen.     Length,  9  mm. 

A  single    g    from  Morton  county;  August  5,  1911. 

A  very  distinct  species. 

Tachysphex  sepidcralis  n.  sp. 

o  .  Moderately  stout.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  rather  broadly 
rounded  out,  no  lateral  teeth,  the  lateral  angles  sharp  though  not  acute, 
the  clypeus  coarsely  and  sparsely  punctate  apically,  closely  so  basally, 
rim  wide;  antennae  moderately  slender,  joint  2  is  one-half  of  3,  which  is 


170  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

fully  three-fourths  of  4  and  more  than  twice  its  apical  diameter;  inter- 
ocular  space  a  little  more  than  joints  2  and  3;  frons  finely  and  very 
closely  punctate,  but  less  so  about  the  ocelli;  vertex  with  rather  large, 
deep  and  separate  punctures,  postocellar  depression  deep;  scutum  well 
depressed  anteriorly  mesad  for  at  least  one-half  its  length,  a  little  polished 
and  compactly  punctate;  disc  of  propodeum  granulate,  the  sides  not  very 
distinctly  punctate  and  striate,  the  posterior  face  distinctly  striate,  the 
sulcus  long  and  narrow;  legs  moderately  spinose;  venation  not  strong, 
marginal  cell  moderately  truncate,  the  second  submarginal  cell  distinctly 
longer  than  the  third  along  the  radius,  the  distance  from  the  third  to 
the  truncation  much  more  than  the  length  of  the  third  along  the  radius; 
abdomen  shining;  pygidium  barely  two  times  the  length  of  its  basal  width, 
its  strongly  margined  sides  nearly  straight,  very  little  constricted  pre- 
apically,  very  finely  reticulate,  and  with  sparse,  well-distributed  punc- 
tures. Black;  legs  a  little  lighter  colored  apically;  wings  a  little  darkened 
toward  the  tip;  venation  brown.  Rather  abundant  silvery  pile,  with 
which  the  abdomen  is  well  fasciate.     Length,  9  mm.   (type). 

Phillips   county,   Kansas;   Aug.   30,   1912.     Three   paratypes    (one   of 
which  is  10  mm.  long)  ;  Barton  and  Russell  counties. 

J  .  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  subtruncate,  somewhat  produced  in 
the  middle  (more  strongly  so  than  in  crass j/orm is ) ,  the  lateral  angles 
sharp;  antennae  a  little  thickened  mesad,  joint  2  more  than  one-half  of 
3,  which  is  a  little  shorter  than  4;  interocular  space  equal  to  joints  2-4, 
or  nearly;  frons  with  very  close,  more  or  less  confluent  punctuies,  those 
of  the  vertex  larger  and  separated  from  each  other  by  their  diameter  or 
more,  vertex  when  viewed  from  behind  a  little  depressed;  thorax  rather 
coarsely  and  closely  punctate,  well  depressed  mesad  for  nearly  the  whole 
length  of  the  scutum;  disc  of  propodeum  somewhat  coarsely  granulate, 
and  with  a  few  basal  striae,  the  sides  punctate-striate,  posterior  face 
coarsely  striate,  the  fovea  broad;  legs  scarcely  spinose,  wings  about  as  in 
the  Q  ,  except  that  the  second  and  third  submarginal  cells  are  subequal 
along  the  radius;  abdomen  shining;  pygidial  area  pilose,  emargination 
of  eighth  ventral  segment  broad.  Colored  as  in  the  j  .  Pile  moderate, 
abdomen  well  silvery  fasciate.     Length,  7. .5  mm. 

Baiton  county,  Kansas;  June,  1912. 

Related  to  apicalis. 

Tadujsphex  glabrior  n.  sp. 
(Fig.  65,  clypeus,  j;  .) 
2  .  Moderately  stout.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  rather  narrowly 
subtruncate,  a  little  produced  mesad  (as  in  crasaiformis) ,  in  addition  to 
the  lateral  angles  there  are  two  distinct  lateral  teeth ;  antennae  a  little 
stouter  than  in  sepitlcralis,  joint  2  about  one-half  of  3,  the  latter  is 
hardly  two  times  its  own  diameter  at  apex  and  two-thirds  to  three- 
fourths  the  length  of  4 ;  interocular  space  about  equal  to  antennal  joints 
3  and  4;  frons  finely  punctate;  vertex  with  the  punctures  more  separate, 
the  sculpture  being  a  little  finer  than  in  sepucralis;  disc  of  propodeum 
moderately  grranulate,  with  poor  indications  of  basal  striae,  the  sides  well 
striate,  the  posterior  face  coarsely  so,  the  almond-shaped  fovea  large; 
legs  moderately  spinose;   venation  rather  weak,  marginal   cell  with  the 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  171 

truncation  moderate,  width  of  third  submarginal  cell  along  the  radius 
less  than  the  distance  therefrom  to  the  truncation;  abdomen  shining; 
pygidium  much  as  in  sepulcralis,  barely  two  times  as  long  as  the  basal 
width,  polished  (finely  reticulate  in  a  paratype),  punctures  large,  sparse, 
but  well  distributed.  Black;  legs  of  lighter  color  apically;  wings  a  little 
smoky  towards  the  tip;  abdominal  segments  narrowly  testaceous  apically. 
Moderately  pilose;  abdomen  well  silvery  fasciate.    Length,  8  mm.  (type). 

Phillips  county,  Kansas;  August,  1912.  Two  paratypes,  Ellis  county. 
J  .  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  rounded-subtruncate,  the  lateral 
angles  somewhat  dentiform;  antennas  long,  joint  2  more  than  one-half 
the  length  of  3,  which  is  three-fourths  the  length  of  4 ;  interocular  space 
hardly  as  much  as  joints  2-4;  frons  dull,  almost  granulate,  but  finely 
reticulate  in  addition;  vertex  more  polished,  with  fine  separate  punctures; 
thorax  rather  dull,  closely  punctate;  disc  of  propodeum  granulate  and 
with  irregular  raised  lines,  the  sides  more  or  less  striate,  posterior  face 
with  a  few  coarse  strije,  a  strong  fovea,  and  a  carina  separating  that 
face  from  the  disc;  eighth  ventral  segment  broadly  but  shallowly  emar- 
ginate.     Colored  as  in  the     g  .     Length,  5-6  mm. 

Rush,  Ellis,  Osborne  and  Pratt  counties. 

.Apparently  allied  to  acuta  Patt.  and  siniilis  Roh. 

Tachysphex  acuta  (Patt.). 
(Fig.  48,  tip  of  wing,     o  .) 
Larra  acuta  Patton;  Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  XX,  390;  1880.      5  . 

o  .  Stout.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  broadly  rounded-subtruncate, 
laterally  not  acute,  with  an  indistinct  lateral  tooth  or  entire,  the  apical 
portion  sparsely  and  large  punctate,  the  basal  portion  very  closely  punc- 
tate, the  rim  rather  narrow ;  antennae  slender,  joint  3  just  a  little  shorter 
than  4;  interocular  space  perhaps  a  little  wider  than  the  length  of 
antennal  joints  2  and  3;  frons  finely  granulate;  vertex  very  closely 
punctate,  postocellar  depression  not  marked;  thorax  very  closely  punctate; 
disc  of  propodeum  finely  reticulate-granulate,  the  sides  granulate  and 
striate,  the  posterior  face  more  coarsely  so,  and  with  a  rather  broad, 
shallow  fovea;  legs  moderately  spinose;  wings  broad,  venation  rather 
heavy,  marginal  cell  broadly  and  obliquely  truncate,  the  width  of  the 
third  submarginal  cell  along  the  radius  about  equal  to  the  length  of  the 
radius  therefrom  to  the  truncation;  abdomen  stout,  finely  reticulate; 
pygidium  about  two  and  one-half  times  as  long  as  its  basal  width,  smooth 
and  polished  and  with  an  irregular  row  of  deep  punctures  near  its 
strong  margins,  disc  a  little  constricted  preapically.  Black;  wings  sub- 
fuscous.  Pile  sparse  (the  specimens  are  worn)  ;  abdomen  more  or  less 
fasciate.     Length,  7.5  mm. 

J  .  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  subtruncate,  rather  broadly  pro- 
duced mesad  (here  the  smooth  rim  is  broadened),  the  lateral  angles 
sharp;  antennae  a  little  thickened  mesad,  joint  3  shorter  than  4;  inter- 
ocular space  hardly  equal  to  joints  2-4;  frons  granulate;  vertex  with 
distinct  punctures;  thorax  rather  coarsely  close  punctate;  propodeum 
with  rather  indistinct  longitudinal  striations,  the  sides  not  distinctly 
striate  nor  granulate,  posterior  face  with  a   distinct  transverse  carina 


172  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY    SCIENCE    BULLETIN. 

which  separates  it  from  the  disc,  the  face  coarsely  gi'anulate  and  with 
large  sparse  striae  and  a  median  fovea;  eighth  ventral  segment  broadly 
emarginate.     Colored  as  in  the     o  .     Length,  6-6.5  mm. 

Five  J"  J  and  two  o  o  ;  Smith,  Barton  and  Russell  counties; 
June-September.  The  specimens  fit  Fox's  description  fairly  well  and 
likewise  that  of  Patton,  the  describer  of  the  species.  I  have  not  .seen 
the  type.  The  two  o  o  are  identical  with  a  specimen  in  the  col- 
lection of  the  Philadelphia  Academy  of  Sciences,  where,  however,  there 
are  at  least  two  species  in  the  series  labeled  acuta.  It  seems  to  be  al- 
lied to  nigrescens  o  ,  of  Rohwer,  which,  however,  has  a  different 
clypeus. 

Tachysphex  terminatus  (Smith). 
(Fig.  63,  clypeus    j  ;  32a,  antenna,    o  .) 

Larrada  terminata  Smith;  Cat.  Hym.  Brit.  Mus.,  IV,  291;  18.56. 
Tachysphex  terminatus  Fox;  Pr.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.,  520;  1893.      g    j  . 

o  .  Greatly  resembles  fusus,  from  which  it  differs  in  not  or  in 
scarcely  having  the  clypeus  drawn  out  mesad  on  its  anterior  margin; 
the  antennje  are  a  little  stouter,  the  third  joint  is  decidedly  shorter 
than  the  fourth ;  the  front  is  much  more  closely  punctuate,  in  fact  al- 
most granulate;  the  disc  of  the  propodeum  is  a  little  more  finely  gran- 
ulate; the  pygidium  is  nearly  two  and  one-fourth  times  as  long  as  its 
basal  width.     Colored  as  in  fusus. 

J  .  Like  fiisus,  but  the  front  is  more  closely  punctate,  for  whereas 
in  ftisus  the  punctures  just  below  the  anterior  ocellus  are  well  sep- 
arated, sparse,  and  the  face  shining  there,  the  same  are  quite  close 
to  almost  granular  in  teryninatus.  The  lateral  angles  of  the  clypeus  are 
said  to  be  sharp  and  almost  dentiform.     Length,  6  mm. 

Fairly  plentiful  in  western  Kansas,  where  it  has  the  same  habitat 
as  fusus. 

Tachysphex  fusus  Fox. 

(Fig.  64,  clypeus,    o  ;  326,  antenna,    o  .) 

Tachysphex  fusus  Fox;  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.,  519-20;  1893.      j    j  . 

o  .  Moderately  stout.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  subtruncate, 
slightly  produced  mesad,  no  lateral  teeth;  antennal  joints  3  and  4  sub- 
equal;  frons  rather  coarsely  punctate,  vertex  a  little  more  sparsely  so, 
occiput  rather  depressed;  scutum  with  strong  separate  punctures,  meso- 
pleurffi  likewise;  disc  of  propodeum  strongly  granulate,  the  sides 
finely  striate,  posterior  face  more  coarsely  and  rather  indistinctly 
striate,  with  a  median  fovea;  marginal  cell  rather  narrowly  and 
obliquely  truncate;  abdomen  smooth  and  shining;  pygidium  about  two 
times  as  long  as  wide  at  its  base,  sparsely  punctate.  Black;  apex  of 
abdomen  red.     Silvery  pubescence  rather  dense.     Length,  9-11  mm. 

J'  .  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  subtruncate,  with  sharp  lateral 
angles;  frons  with  large  confluent  punctures;  flagellum  a  little  thick- 
ened; thorax  with  strong  separate  punctures;  propodeum  somewhat 
more  coarsely  sculptured  in  this  sex.  The  inse?t  is  sometimes  entirely 
black.     Length,  6-8  mm. 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  173 

Fairly   ;ommon  in  western  Kansas,  where  it  frequents  sandy  places; 
one  fresh    o  ,  taken  at  Lawrence,  Douglas  county,  Kansas,  June  12,  1913. 

Tachysphex  clarconis  Vier. 
(Fig.  69,  clypeus,    5  .) 

Tachysphex    clarconis    Viereck;    Trans.    Am.    Ent.    Soc.    XXXII,    211; 

1906.      5  . 

o  .  Not  stout.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  broadly  subtruncate, 
.slightly  produced  mesad,  not  dentate  laterally,  very  closely  punctate  at 
base;  antennse  moderately  slender,  joint  two  about  one-half  the  length 
of  3,  which  is  three-fourths  of  4 ;  interocular  space  about  equal  to 
joints  2-4;  frons  finely  and  shallowly  granulate,  becoming  separate 
punctate  towards  ocelli;  vertex  with  sparse  punctations,  ocellar  line 
deep,  a  shining  fold  behind  each  posterior  ocellus  has  somewhat  the 
appearance  of  a  second  pair  of  ocelli ;  vertex  depressed  a  little  below 
the  level  of  the  eyes;  thorax  polished,  with  rather  fine,  shallow  and 
separate  punctures;  disc  of  propodeum  moderately  granulate,  with  an 
indication  of  a  median  impressed  line,  sides  shining,  shallowly  fine- 
punctuate  or  imperfectly  reticulate,  the  posterior  face  shining,  nearly 
smooth,  with  a  deep  wedge-shaped  fovea;  legs  feebly  spinose;  venation 
rather  weak,  the  marginal  cell  rather  narrowly  and  very  little  obliquely 
truncate,  second  submarginal  cell  a  little  wider  than  the  third  along  the 
radius;  pygidium  well  defined,  hardly  two  times  as  long  as  its  basal 
width,  sparse  punctate,  very  Kttle  constricted  preapically.  Black:  legs 
dull  brownish  apically;  abdomen  red,  largely  black  on  the  ventral  seg- 
ments 1-5;  apex  of  pygidium  dark  brown.  Pile  sparse  except  on  face. 
Length,  7  mm.   (type) . 

One     o  ;   Clark  county,  Kansas;   May;   F.   H.   Snow. 

"Related  to  terminatus." — Vier. 

Tachysphex  quebecensis  (Prov.). 

Larva  qiiebecencis  Prov.;  Faun.  Ent.  Can.,  II,  633.    ^    g  . 

Tachysphex    quebecencis    Fox;     Proc.     Acad.     Nat.     Sci.     Phil..     .527-8; 

1893.      ^    2  ■ 

This  species  is  reported  by  Bridwell,  who  collected  it  near  Baldwin. 
Douglas  county,  Kansas. 

Tachysphex  a;thiops  (Cress.)  ^  is  reported  from  northwestern  Kan- 
sas, September.  1877  (S.  W.  WilHston,  Coll.)  by  W.  H.  Patton  (Bull. 
U.  S.  Geol.  and  Geog.  Sur.  Terr.,  V,  No.  3.349-70;  1879-'81.)  His  de- 
scription of  the  specimen,  however,  is  far  from  agreeing  with  that  of 
Fox  for  the  ^  ,  and  leads  "me  to  believe  that  the  insect  taken  in  1877 
is  really  a  Larropsis,  which  fits  in  description,  as  far  as  it  goes. 

Tachysphex  minimus  (Fox). 
Tachytes  minimus  Fox;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  XIX,  248;   1892.      ^  . 
Tachysphex  minimus  Fox;  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.,  532-3;  1893.      j  . 
Bridwell    (Kan.  Acad  Sci.,  208;   Dec,  1898)    reports  this  insect  from 
Kansas.     The  abdomen  varies  from  entirely  black  to  red  at  the  base.     Tt 
occurs  also  in  Nebraska. 


174  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Lyroda  Say. 

Say;  Jour.  Nat.  Hist.,  I,  p.  ,370;  1836. 

Form  rather  slender,  sparsely  pubescent.  Head  distinctly  wider  than 
thorax,  long  and  evenly  rounded;  antennae  medium,  scape  rather  stout; 
eyes  not  converging,  their  inner  margins  parallel;  three  round  ocelli, 
arranged  in  a  lovif  triangle;  mandibles  emarginate  beneath  and  dentate 
within.  Thorax  slender,  due  largely  to  the  rather  long,  narrow  pro- 
notum  which  is  medially  produced  posteriorly  (subtuberculate)  ;  pro- 
podeum  rounded-truncate,  with  a  more  or  less  evident  carina  at  its  dorso- 
lateral angles  (this  carina  is  present  at  least  at  the  apex)  ;  marginal  call 
of  fore  wings  truncate  and  distinctly  appendiculate,  second  submarginal 
cell  not  petiolate;  legs  rather  long,  spinose.  Abdomen  rather  narrow, 
fusiform,  first  abdominal  segment  slender,  more  gently  rounded  and  weli 
tapering. 

o  .  Fore  tarsal  comb  not  strong;  pygldium  well  defined,  rounded- 
triangular,  and  covered  with  short  pile. 

^  .   Fore  femora  entire;  pygidial  area  hardly  defined,  pubescent. 

Key  to  the  Species  of  Lyeoda. 
Form  stout;   color  deep  black,  without  silvery  pile  on  abdomen;  wings 

dark  fuscous ;  length,  14-15  mm triloba    5 

Form  rather  slender;  not  deep  black;   silvery  pile  on  abdomen;   wangs 

dusky  only  at  tip;  length    g  ,  7-8  mm.;    j  ,  11-13  mm subita 

Lyroda  subita  Say. 

(Fig.  96,  pygidium,    5  .) 
Lyroda  subita  Say;  Joui-.  Nat.  Hist.,  I,  p.  372;  1836.      g  . 
Lyroda  subita  Fox;  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.,  533-4;  1893.      j-    5  . 

A  small  series  of  both  sexes;  Douglas,  Norton,  Rooks,  Trego  and 
Decatur  counties;  June-August. 

Lyroda  triloba  Say. 
(Fig.  37,  ocellar  area.) 
Lyroda  triloba  Say;  Jour.  Nat.  Hist.,  I,  p.  372,  1836.      5  . 
Lyroda  triloba  Fox;  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.,  533-4,  1893.      5  . 
2     o    o  ;   Clark  and   Smith   counties;   August-September. 
Seemingly  a  rare  insect.     I  find  no  record  of  the    ^  . 

Plenoculus  Fox. 

Fox;  Psyche,  VI,  554;  1893. 

Head  wider  than  thorax;  eyes  converging  towards  vertex;  antennae 
short,  stout  and  subclavate;  ocelli  round,  arranged  in  a  subequilateral 
triangle;  mandibles  strongly  excised  beneath,  dentate  within.  Pronotum 
below  the  level  of  the  scutum;  propodeum  short;  marginal  cell  truncate, 
second  submarginal  cell  petiolate,  first  and  second  submarginals  each 
receiving  a  recurrent  nervure,  submedian  cell  shorter  than  the  median 
cell  on  the  externo-median  nervure;  legs  stout  and  spinose. 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  175 

o  .    Pygidium  well  defined,  naked  and  broadly  triangular. 
7  .    Pygidium  smaller  and   less  distinct  in  this  sex;   eighth  ventral 
segment  rounded  out  or  at  most  slightly  emarginate. 

A  genus  represented  by  small  species,  of  which  there  are  about  a 
dozen  in  the  United  States. 

Key  to  the  Species  of  Plenoculus. 

Abdomen   black    davisi 

Abdomen  red,  black  apically apicalia 

Plenoculus  davisi  Fox. 

Plenoculus  davisi  Fox;  Psyche,  Nov.  1893,  p.  5-54. 

Plenoculus  davisi  Fox;  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.,  .537;  1893.    ^    5  . 

o  .  Clypeus  emarginate  mesad;  three  to  five  lateral  teeth;  thorax 
minutely  punctate;  propodeum  finely  granulate,  a  median  impressed  line 
and  some  short  transverse  striae  at  base,  sides  delicately  striate.  Black; 
mandibles,  e.xcept  tip,  tegulae,  tibias  and  tarsi,  more  or  less  yellowish, 
abdominal  segments  apically  testaceous,  the  last  segment  reddish  at  tip. 
Length,  .5-6  mm. 

7  .  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  strongly  rounded  out  or  slightly  pro- 
duced mesad;  ventral  abdominal  segments  3-6  with  a  transverse  row  of 
tubercles.  Black;  clypeus  and  scape  beneath,  tubercles,  tegulse  and  disc 
of  prothorax,  apex  femora,  tibiae  except  the  inner  side  of  the  two  an- 
terior pairs,  and  tarsi,  bright  yellow.    Length,  4.5-5  mm. 

Structurally  much  like  pvojnngnus  and  apicalis. 

A  single  :f  taken  in  Graham  county,  August  16,  1912,  seems  to  be- 
long here.  The  clypeus  has  its  lateral  angles  sharp,  the  median  portion 
produced  much  as  in  apicalis,  and  the  light  yellow  markings,  disposed 
rightly  for  the  species,  are  here  light  yellowish-brown  to  brownish  in- 
stead of  yellow.     Length,  4.25  mm. 

Plenoculus  apicalis  n.  sp. 

(Fig.  20,  wings;  43-45,  antennae;  76  and  77,  clypeus;  102,  pygidium, 
g  ;  103,  tip  of  J-  abdomen.) 
o  .  Anterior  margin  of  the  clypeus  with  four,  or  an  additional  fifth 
tooth  on  each  side  of  the  median  emargination ;  front  finely  granulate; 
median  impressed  line  from  behind  fore  ocellus  not  extending  to  base  of 
antennae,  where  it  is  partly  replaced  by  a  raised  line;  a  .short  curved 
furrow  between  each  posterior  ocellus  and  eye;  first  joint  of  flagellum  a 
very  little  shorter  than  either  second  or  third;  scutum  and  scutellum  with 
fine,  close  punctures,  the  sides  finely  and  indistinctly  gi-anulate-striate; 
disc  of  propodeum  finely  grahulate,  the  strong  median  furrow  traversed 
by  a  few  separate  and  indistinct  striae;  the  disc  largely  naked,  its  base 
with  some  short  radiating  stria»,  the  sides  about  like  the  thorax,  posterior 
face  with  a  wedge-shaped  depression  and  polished  median  impression 
within;  legs  stout,  rather  spinose,  tarsal  comb  moderate,  the  spines 
thereon  about  as  long  as  the  diameter  of  the  first  tarsal  joint;  venation 
normal;  abdomen  inpunctate,  except  toward  the  apex  (at  the  origin  of 
the  hairs)  ;  pygidial  area  shining,  sparsely  large-punctate,  the  bounding 
carinae  low.     Black;  mandibles,  except  tip  and  lower  edge,  yellowish  to 


176  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

brownish;  apex  of  scape  beneath  narrowly  yellowish;  wings  clear,  ir- 
idescent, venation  testaceous,  the  tegulae  paler;  apex  of  fore  femora,  fore 
tibise  except  beneath,  and  the  upper  basal  portion  of  middle  and  hind 
tarsi,  pale  yellow;  tibiae  brownish;  first  two  or  two  and  one-half  abdominal 
segments  clear  red,  the  black  on  apical  segments  often  more  extended 
ventrally,  apical  margins  of  segments  more  or  less  testaceous,  tip  of 
pygidium  reddish.  Appressed  silvery  pile  plentiful.  Length  of  type, 
4.25  mm.;  range,  3.50-4.75  mm. 

Phillips  county,  Kansas;  August  30,  1912. 

^  .  Like  the  J  in  many  respects.  Clypeus  rather  narrowly  sub- 
truncate  mesad,  the  truncation  itself  a  little  produced  in  the  middle,  no 
lateral  teeth;  propodeum  usually  a  little  more  coarsely  sculptured  than  in 
o  ;  abdomen  more  pilose,  ventral  segments  3-6  tuberculate;  the  clypeus 
is  yellow,  the  second  abdominal  segment  above  often  with  a  black  band 
and  a  few  spots  of  the  same  color  ventrad,  last  segment  often  reddi.'-h. 
Facial  pile  frequently  with   a  golden  tinge.     Length,   3.50-4.25   mm. 

Twenty-two  ^  ^  and  fifteen  5  j  ;  from  Norton  and  Phillips  coun- 
ties; end  of  August,  1912. 

J  .      Var.    Yellow  markings  replaced  by  reddish  bro^vn;  the  last  four 
segments  are  blackish,  the  rest  have  some  large  spots  of  the  same  color. 
Facial  pile  more  silvery  than  in  the  usual  form. 
One    ^  ;    Graham  county;  August  16,  1912. 

Apparently  most  closely  related  to  davisi,  from  which  it  differs  in  color 
and  in  being  smaller.  The  clypeal  mai-gin  in  the  g  is  subject  to  a  little 
variation. 

NITELIOPSIS  Saunders. 
Saunders;  Trans.  Ent.  Soc.  London,  III,  p.  410;  1873. 

Small  insects,  nearly  naked  or  covered  with  short  pile.  Head  rather 
long,  wider  than  thorax;  antennse  slender  to  quite  stout  and  subclavate; 
mandibles  not  or  very  slightly  emarginate  beneath;  eyes  rather  strongly 
converging  to  the  top ;  three  perfect  ocelli.  Thorax  stout,  fusiform ;  pro- 
podeum rounded  posteriorly;  legs  rather  feebly  spinose;  marginal  cell 
rather  elongate,  truncate,  the  appendiculation  rather  obscure,  second  sub- 
marginal  cell  petiolate,  the  transverse-median  and  recurrent  varying  in 
relative  position. 

g  .    No  tarsal  comb;  pygidial  area  pilose,  poorly  or  not  defined. 
J  .   Fore  femora   simple  beneath   at  base;   no  pygidial   area;   eighth 
ventral  segment  at  least  sometimes  emarginate. 

The  four  Kansas  species  do  not  readily  fall  in  this  genus.  Using 
Ashmead's  key,  and  granting  first  of  all  that  the  insects  have  a  distinct 
pygidial  area  (which  is  not  evident  to  me),  foxii  would  run  to  the  genus 
Niteliopsis,  while  the  rest,  on  the  same  condition,  would  run  to  Silaon. 
All  of  our  species  have  been  placed  in  the  latter  genus  by  Rohwer  (Proc. 
U.  S.  N.  Museum,  vol.  40,  586;  1911).  Here  the  question  hinges  on  the 
species  not  having  the  mandibles  emarginate  exteriorly  (Silaon  ) ,  or  hav- 
ing the  mandibles  distinctly  or  shallowly  emarginate  exteriorly.  The  author 
is  not  sufficiently  acquainted  with  the  group  to  arrive  at  any  definite  con- 
clusion in  the  matter  than  to  state  that  the  group  to  which  Nit.  foxii, 
vierecki,  and  probably  fossor,  belong,  differs  widely  from  the  rest  and  should 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  177 

be  separated  therefrom.  The  three  above  mentioned  are  nearer  the  Larrinae 
than  the  rest,  and  differ  a  good  deal  in  the  rntennae,  venation,  et?.  (See 
figs.  29  and  30.)  Whether  the  camera  lucida  drawing  of  the  mandible  of 
the  type  of  Nit.  foxii,  fig.  28,  shows  this  mandible  to  be  shallowly  emar- 
ginate  or  not  emarginate  exteriorly  would  1  e  herd  to  decide.  The  writer 
can  do  no  better  than  to  include  all  the  Kansas  species  under  the  genus 
Niteliopsis  in  awaiting  a  more  perfect  arrangement  of  the  group  than 
the  present. 

Key  to  the  Species  of  Niteliopsis. 

1.  Second  joint   (pedicel)   of  antennae  about  one-half  or  less  the  length 

of  the  third,  which  is  at  least  three  times  as  long  as  its  apical 
diameter  (fig.  29);  antennse  not  at  all  clavate;  first  recurrent 
ncivuro  running  well  into  the  second  submarginal  cell  (fig.  18)  ; 

abdomen  red   foxii    j 

Second  joint  of  antennae  from  one-half  the  length  to  as  long  as  the 
thii-d  joint,  which  is  not  more  than  two  times  its  apical  diameter; 
antenna  somewhat  clavate  (fig.  30);  second  recurrent  nervure 
running  into  the  first  submarginal  cell,  or  at  most  just  received 
into  the  second  submarginal;  abdomen  black 2 

2.  As  viewed  from  above   (under  a  compound  microscope),  abdominal 

segments  1  and  2,  at  least,  are  finely  reti:ulate  or  appear  scaled, 
the  punctures  for  the  reception  of  the  pile  being  very  shallow 
and   therefore   not    pit-like;    abdomen    evenly   rounded;    females 

4.2.5  mm.  or  less  long,  males  3  mm.  long affinis    ^    j 

Abdominal  segments  1  and  2  with  deep  separate  punctures,  there- 
fore not  reticulate;  abdominal  curve  somewhat  interrupted  by 
the  intersegmental  constrictions;  length,  4-6  mm 3 

3.  Pronotum,  postscutellum  and  all  the  tibiae  marked  with  creamy  yel- 

low; transverse-median  vein  commonly  arising  beyond  the  basal 
vein;  disc  of  propodeum  without  a  distinct,  broad  and  bounded 
sulcus  apically,  and  with  well-separated  longitudinal  to  some- 
what diverging  striae,  reaching  usually  to  apex;  no  transverse 

apical  striae   inerme    ^    5 

Pronotum  and  sometimes  apex  of  tubercles  of  pronotum  with  creamy 
yellow,  or  the  pronotum  all  black;  transverse-median  vein  basad 
of  or  interstitial  with  basal  vein ;  disc  of  propodeum  with  a  well- 
marked  broad  apical  sulcus,  and  with  a  few  short  or  indistinct 
striae  from  the  base,  transverse  apical  striae  present. 

kansensis    o 

Nit.  sayi  of  Colorado  is  sculptured  on  the  abdomen  like  affinis,  while 
niger,  from  the  same  locality,  'resembles  inerme  in  that  respect. 

Niteliopsis  foxii  Vier. 
(Fig.  18,  venation;  28,  mandible;  98,  pygidium.) 
Niteliopsis  foxii  Viereck;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  XXXII,  207-8;  1906.  5  . 
The  type  comes  from  Clark  county,  Kansas;  June;  F.  H.  Snow.  An- 
other 2  '*^as  taken  in  Haskell  county;  July,  1911.  It  was  running  over 
tV'e  ground,  now  and  then  entering  holes  and  crannies.  The  species  is  very 
close  to  if  not  identical  with  .Y.  vierecki  Roh.,  which  occurs  in  Colorado. 


178  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Niteliopsis  affinis  Roh. 

Niteliopsis    affiyiis    Rohwer;     Trans.     Am.     Ent.     Soc,     XXXV,     11.3-4; 

1909.      ^    5  . 

This  is  a  very  small,  shining  black  species,  described  from  Colorado. 
It  seems  rare  in  Kansas,  where  it  was  taken  in  Gi'aham,  Norton,  Ellis, 
Ness  and  Rush  counties;  June- August,  1912. 

Niteliopsis  inerme  (Cress.). 

Nyssonl  inerme  Cresson;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  IV,  224;  1872.  ^  .  Tex. 
Niteliopsis    inermis    Rohwer;    Trans.    Am.    Ent.    Soc,    XXXV,    110-11; 

1909.     ^  . 

A  good  series  from  western  Kansas;  Grant,  Barton,  Norton,  Phillips, 
Ellis,  Ness  and  Rush  counties;  June-August.  The  insect  is  rather  easily 
recognized  by  its  pale  yellow  markings. 

Niteliopsis  katisensis  n.  sp. 

o  .  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  narrowly  lobed  mesad;  antennae  sub- 
clavate,  joint  2  stouter  than  either  .3  or  4;  3  and  4  subequal,  the  fourth 
narrow  at  the  base;  front  not  vei-y  finely  granulate-punctate,  the  carina 
to  clypeus  distinct,  a  slight  impressed  line  from  ocellus  forward;  vertex 
granulate-punctate,  scutum  moderately  so,  the  pleurae  inclined  to  be 
coarse-punctate;  disc  of  propodeum  coarse-rugose,  with  indications  of 
longitudinal  striae  at  the  base;  a  broad,  rough,  moderately  deep  fovea 
for  more  than  the  apical  half  of  the  disc,  some  coarse  transverse  apical 
striae,  sides  finely  striate,  posterior  face  granulate-striate,  a  strong  median 
fovea;  legs  feebly  spinose;  second  recurrent  nervure  received  in  the  second 
submarginal  near  its  tip;  transverse-cubital  vein  arising  a  little  basad 
of  the  basal  vein,  marginal  cell  narrowly  truncate.  Segements  of  the 
abdomen  somewhat  constricted  basally,  basal  segments  most  distincly 
punctate;  pygidial  area  lacking.  Black;  mandibles  rather  dark  rufous 
near  the  middle;  tubercles,  a  spot  posteriorly  on  each  side  of  the  median 
line  of  the  pronotuni,  apex  of  femora  (and  also  the  middle  femora  very 
slightly),  and  the  hind  tibiae  at  their  base  outwardly,  yellow;  clypeus  and 
lower  part  of  the  face,  thoracic  pleurae  and  sterna,  .<rilvery  pilose;  ab- 
domen somewhat  pilose.     Length,  4.75  mm.    (type). 

Norton  county,  Kansas;  August,  1912. 

A  second  o  is  entirely  black,  excepting  for  the  apical  portion  of  the 
tubercles.  This,  the  cotype,  is  from  Barton  county;  June  22,  1912.  It  is 
allied  to  plenoculoides  and  niger;  from  the  first  it  differs  in  being  smaller, 
in  lacking  the  carinate  pronotum,  in  having  a  coarser  sculpture  on  the 
propodeum,  and  a  somewhat  different  venation;  from  niger  it  may  be 
distinguished  by  the  finer  punctation  and  in  not  being  all  black  (except 
for  a  portion  of  the  mandibles) . 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  179 

MiscopHUS  Jurine. 

Juiine;  Nouv.  Meth.  Class.  Hym.,  p.  205. 

Head  wider  than  thorax;  mandibles  strongly  excised  beneath,  not 
dentate  within;  antennae  quite  slender.  Marginal  cell  lanceolate,  not  ap- 
pendiculate;  two  submarginal  cells,  each  receiving  a  recurrent  nervure; 
armature  of  legs  variable.     No  pygidial  area. 

^    Has  a  feebler  tarsal  comb  and  stouter  antennae  than  the    o  . 

The  genus  is  poorly  represented  in  the  United  States. 

Miscophus  americanus  Fox. 

(Fig.  75,  clypeus,    o  .) 

Miscophus   americanus    Fox;    Ent.    News,   I,   138;    1890;     o  .      II,    196; 
1891;    $. 

This  is  a  small  black  insect,  3  to  4.5  mm.  long,  having  the  clypeus 
three-lobed,  the  wings  infuscated  apically,  and  the  abdomen  shining. 
The  type  was  taken  in  Camden  county,  New  Jersey.  The  three  7  t  and 
one  2  in  the  Snow  collection  come  from  Rush  and  Barton  counties; 
June,  1912. 

BOTHYNOSTETHUS  Kohl. 

Kohl;  Verh.  Zool.-bot.,  Gesell.  Wien,  p.  344,  taf.  XVIII,  f.  5  ef  6;  1883. 
Fox;  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.,  550;  1893. 

Body  stout.  Head  as  wide  or  wider  than  thorax;  eyes  diverging  to- 
wards vertex;  antennas  rather  stout;  ocelli  large,  arranged  in  a  low 
triangle;  mandibles  not  emarginate  beneath.  Pronotum  almost  on  the 
same  level  as  the  scutum,  which  is  large;  propodeum  rather  short;  stigma 
of  primaries  quite  large,  marginal  cell  lanceolate  at  apex,  no  appen- 
diculation,  first  submarginal  cell  very  large,  the  second  petiolate,  receiving 
one  or  both  recurrent  nervures:  submedian  and  median  cells  of  the  same 
length  on  the  externo-median  nervure;  legs  stout,  feebly  armed,  hind 
femora  broadest  apically.  A  broad  and  well-defined  pilose  pygidial  area 
in  both  sexes. 

As  far  as  I  am  aware,  this  genus  is  represented  in  the  United  States 
by  a  single  species.  It  is  an  anomalous  larrid,  and  seemingly  far  removed 
from  any  other  genus  of  the  family.  The  large  stigma  of  the  fore  wings 
resembles  that  of  some  of  the  Pemphredinidae.  The  apically  thickened 
hind  femora  easily  separates  it  from  the  other  genera. 

Bothynostethtis  distinctus  Fox. 

(Fig.  17,  venation;  50,  disc  of  propodeum,    j-  ;  74,  clypeus,    g  ;  86,  hind 

femora,   j-  ;  95,  pygidium,    ^  .) 
Nysson  distinctus  Fox;  Ent.  News,  II,  31;  1891.      ^    j  . 
Bothynostethus    distinctus     Fox;     Proc.     Acad.     Nat.     Sci.     Phil.,     551; 
1893.     2    ^. 

Two  ^  ^  oi  this  shining  black  wasp  were  taken  in  Logan  county, 
end  of  June,  1910.  They  are  5.50  mm.  long.  The  insect  seems  quite 
variable,  both  the  venation  and  the  margin  of  the  clypeus  differing  in 
the  two  Kansas  specimens.     The  venation  as  illustrated  in  figure  17  does 


180  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

not  quite  agree  with  that  as  given  in  Fox's  diagnosis  of  the  genus.  The 
peculiarly  and  strongly  sculptured  propodeum  should  serve  to  distinguish 
distinctus. 

The  insect  is  well  distributed  in  the  United  States. 

Recapitulation  and  Comment. 

The  Larridse  of  Kansas  number  fifty-eight  species,  which  are 
included  in  ten  genera.  All  but  two  of  these  species  have  been 
taken  within  the  state  by  the  Biological  Survey  of  Kansas 
University,  between  the  years  1875  and  1913. 

The  following  table  shows  what  proportion  of  the  Larridte 
of  the  United  States,  as  represented  by  the  ten  genera,  is 
possessed  by  Kansas.    The  varieties  are  omitted  here. 

Number  of  species. 
Geiiiis.  U.  S.  LarridcB.      Kansas  L.'irrirtEe. 

1.  Larra 1  1 

2.  Notogonia    3  1 

.3.  Larropsis    21  12 

4.  Tachvtes    31  12 

.3.  Tachysphex    69  22 

6.  Lyroda    2  2 

7.  Plenoculus    12  2 

8.  Niteliopsis    13  4 

9.  Miscophus   2  1 

10.  Bothynostethus   1  1 

Total 155  58 

The  above  enumeration  may  be  a  little  underestimated.  It  is 
possible  that  a  few  species  (under  these  ten  genera)  have  been 
omitted.  There  is  no  doubt,  however,  that  inasmuch  as  in 
many  instances  species  are  described  from  one  sex  only,  or  by 
comparing  the  insect  with  the  descriptions  only  instead  of 
with  known  or  related  species,  the  list  is  not  free  from  syno- 
nyms. As  far  as  tmdescribed  material  goes,  there  is  a  good 
deal  of  such  in  various  collections  in  the  country.  There  are  a 
few  genera  of  Larridse  in  this  country,  such  as  Miscopliinufi 
and  Pisonopis,  which  have  not  as  yet  been  reported  from  this 
state ;  these  represent  comparatively  few  species,  however,  and 
should,  even  with  their  addition,  still  maintain  the  total  num- 
ber of  species  for  the  United  States  below  the  200  mark. 

Of  the  Kansas  species,  th^'rteen  are  described  here  as  new. 
Of  these  nine  belong  to  the  genu^  Tachysphex,  two  to  Larrop- 
sis, and  one  each  to  the  genus  Plenoculus  and  Niteliopsis. 

Miscophus  and  Plenoculus  are  now  reported  from  Kansas 
for  the  first  time. 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  181 

The  Larrld^  of  the  genus  Tachytes  include  our  largest  and 
most  bee-like  species.  Tachysphex,  though  by  far  the  best 
represented  of  the  genera,  is  made  up  of  rather  inconspicuous 
wasps  which  can  be  secured  in  variety  only  by  dint  of  close 
collecting.  Genera  such  as  Niteliopsis,  Plenoculus  and  Mis- 
cophus  are  composed  of  small  forms;  it  is  by  reason  of  this 
diminutive  size,  their  activity,  as  well  as  special  habitat,  that 
many  more  species  will  eventually  be  discovered. 

The  Larridfe  of  the  United  States  range  from  3  mm.  to 
about  2.3  mm.  in  length. 

The  ocelli  or  simple  eyes  present  characters  of  first  im- 
portance within  the  family;  the  mandibles  perhaps  stand  next 
in  order ;  which  is  the  case  because  these  two  organs  are  sim- 
ilar or  nearly  so  in  both  sexes.  Venation,  while  of  great 
importance  within  the  family,  is  often  variable,  particularly 
in  the  smaller  forms.  Considered  on  a  broad  basis,  the  above 
characters  may  be  said  to  be  of  supergeneric  value.*  The 
more  relative  form  and  position  of  the  ocelli,  the  variation  in 
the  mandibles,  legs,  venation,  pygidium,  eighth  ventral  seg- 
ment (  J  ) ,  the  convergence  or  divergence  of  the  compound 
eyes,  are  commonly  of  generic  importance.  The  often  pro- 
nounced sexual  differences,  found,  for  example,  in  the  an- 
tennae, pygidium,  armature  of  legs,  and  the  clypeal  outline, 
are  of  generic  and  specific  value.  It  is  owing  to  these  marked 
structural  as  well  as  color  differences,  and  to  the  frequent 
absence  (apparent  or  real)  of  good  characters  common  to  both 
sexes,  that  renders  impracticable,  in  those  genera  containing 
a  goodly  number  of  species,  the  construction  of  one  specific 
key  to  include  both  sexes.  Very  important  specific  characters 
are :  The  character  of  the  anterior  margin  of  the  clypeus ;  the 
width  of  the  interocular  space  at  the  vertex ;  the  distinctness, 
shape,  armature  and  punctures  of  the  pygidium ;  the  compara- 
tive length  of  the  antennae  and  their  joints,  as  well  as  the  form 
of  any  of  the  latter;  the  sculpture  of  the  head,  thorax  and 
propodeum  (closeness  and  size  of  the  punctures,  striations, 
granulation,  etc.) ,  and  the  color.  The  latter,  while  remarkably 
constant  in  some  groups,  is  quite  variable  in  others,  and  should 
therefore  be  used  with  care. 


*  There  may  prove  to  be  characters  even  more  far-reachins  than  those  just  mentioned 
(and  as  suggested  by  eerlain  writers)  to  be  found  in  the  sternal  region  of  the  thorax  The 
nnnith  parts,  which  for  their  proper  study  would  require  careful  and  tedious  dissections 
could  possibly  furnish  clews  as  regards  the  status  of  the  Larridn?. 

5-Univ.  Sci.  Bull..  Vol.  VHI.  No.  4. 


182  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

The  Larridse  are  accorded  different  values  by  different 
authors.  By  some  they  are  treated  as  a  family;  by  others 
they  are  given  subfamily  rank.  All  are  not  agreed  upon  what 
genera  should  be  included  and  w^hat  excluded  from  the  group. 
While  this  state  of  things  may  in  part  be  the  resultant  of  in- 
sufficient study  and  faulty  interpretation,  it  can  also  follow 
from  the  continuity  of  Nature,  in  that  it  does  not  always  permit 
of  well-defined  divisions  to  be  made  in  its  realm. 


PART  111. 

Studies  on  the  Biology  of  the  Kansas  Larridae. 

The  very  general  and  fragmentary  nature  of  our  knowledge 
concerning  the  habits  of  the  North  American  Larridae  has  in- 
duced the  author  to  publish  the  results  of  his  observations  on 
this  group  of  insects.  These  studies  are  quite  incomplete,  since 
they  embrace  but  a  small  proportion  of  the  Kansas  species, 
and  treat  almost  solely  of  the  habits  of  the  adults,  for  while 
the  actions  of  the  latter  were  in  many  cases  observed  in  detail, 
the  early  stages  have  been  practically  neglected. 

The  entomological  division  of  the  Biological  Survey  of  the 
University  of  Kansas  made  collections  in  the  northwestern 
portion  of  the  state  during  the  summer  of  1910,  in  the  south- 
western area  in  1911.  and  in  the  north  central  part  in  1912. 
Not  very  much  attention  was  given  the  Larridte  during  the 
first  of  these  surveys;  in  1911,  however  (when  the  writer  de- 
cided to  monograph  the  Kansas  forms),  the  habits  of  several 
species  were  studied  in  detail  and  a  large  series  of  the  insects 
secured,  while  during  the  ensuing  year  I  was  enabled  to  make 
numerous  additional  observations. 

Ever  alert  and  watchful  in  the  hot  sunshine,  the  Larridae  are 
among  the  swiftest  of  insects,  and  readily  evade  any  incautious 
attempt  on  the  part  of  the  collecter  to  secure  them;  on  cool, 
cloudy  days  they  are  quite  sluggish,  and  certain  species,  largely 
males,  may  then  be  taken  on  various  flower  heads.  In  the 
western  portion  of  the  state,  species,  mostly  of  the  genus 
Tachytes  and  Larropsis,  appeared  to  favor  the  blossoms  of 
snow-on-the-mountain  (Euphorbia  marginaia)  and  stinking 
clover  (Cleome  serndata),  both  of  which  occurred  in  large 
patches,  while  the  Russian  thistle  (Salsola)  and  a  small  pros- 
trate species  of  Euphorbia,  found  in  sandy  situations,  proved 
attractive  to  others.  The  latter  plant  was  found  to  harbor 
the  smaller  Larridae,  such  as  those  of  the  genera  Tachysphex, 
Niteliopsis,  and  Plenocidus. 

Many  of  the  Larridae,  particularly  of  the  genus  Tachytes, 
which  contain  some  of  our  larger  forms,  produce,  when  on  the 
wing,  a  high-pitched  buzz,  sufficiently  characteristic  in  a  few 

(183) 


184  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

species  to  enable  the  listener  to  distinguish  between  them. 
Thus  Tachytes  mandibiilan'a  has  a  higher-keyed  hum  than  the 
larger  T.  distinctits.  The  hum  of  these  wasps  is  therefore  of 
great  assistance  to  the  observer  who  is  desirous  of  seeing  them 
hunting  their  orthopterous  prey ;  for  whereas  the  wasp  is  often 
lost  to  view  while  flying  among  the  weeds,  her  audible  buzz 
enables  one  to  follow  her  with  some  degree  of  certainty. 

Some,  notably  Tachytes,  commonly  fly  quite  far  from  their 
burrows  in  search  of  their  prey,  while  many  of  the  Tachysphe.r, 
having  shorter  wings  but  longer  legs  than  the  species  of  the 
foregoing  genus,  are  largely  cursorial,  and  seek  their  victims 
at  no  great  distance  from  their  tunnels,  and,  since  these  wasps 
seldom  move  far  in  a  straight  line,  their  course  will  often 
bring  them  again  before  their  nests. 

Prey. 

The  prey  of  the  Larridse  consists  very  largely  of  orthop- 
terous and  hemipterous  insects.  These  wasps  are  therefore  of 
some  economic  importance.  Where  the  insect  attacked  is  an 
orthopteron,  it  may  frequently  be  far  larger  than  its  aggressor 
(fig.  112),  and  is  then  able  to  offer  it  stout  resistance  before 
being  subdued,  and  not  infrequently  escapes  altogether.  In 
other  cases  the  fated  victim  is  no  match  for  the  wa«p,  which, 
clasping  it  with  its  legs,  readily  administers  the  fatal  sting 
under  the  thorax. 

As  a  consequence  of  an  older  and  more  peopled  country,  the 
Larridse,  in  common  with  many  other  groups  of  insects,  have 
been  better  studied  in  Europe  than  in  America.  In  the  former 
country,  Fabre  observed  Tachytes  obsolctus  provisioning  its 
nest  with  the  larva  of  Oildipoda.  T.  tarsina  captures  a  larval 
acridian,  while  T.  pompiliformis  seems  to  furnish  her  progeny 
with  a  more  diversified  menu,  having  been  seen  by  diff'erent 
entomoloGists  to  capture  lepidopterous  larvae,  as  well  as 
Crthoptera  of  the  fam.ilies  Acridiidfe  and  Gryllidje.  Sharp 
(Carnb.  Nat.  Hist.  Ins.,  pt.  2,  p.  117;  1901)  speaks  of  "a 
species  of  Tachytes  in  the  south  of  France,"  which  selects  as 
its  prey  one  of  the  ferocious  Mantidse,  stinging  this  capable 
insect,  at  an  available  opportunity,  in  the  "nerve  center  be- 
tween the  formidable  arms;  .  .  .  subsequently  the  rac/(y- 
tes  paralyzes  each  of  the  other  pair  of  legs,  and  then  carries 
off  its  victim."  Larra  anathema,  a  large  and  powerful  species 
of  the  Old  World,  provisions  its  nest  with  mole-crickets.    The 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID-^   OF   KANSAS.  185 

small  wasps  of  the  genus  Miscophus  have  been  noted  to  prey 
on  spiders ;  this  also  holds  true  of  our  species  in  this  genus,  so 
far  as  observed. 

The  writer  has  had  access  to  but  a  small  portion  of  the 
European  literature  relating  to  fossorial  wasps. 

In  America,  Taclnjtes  Iiarpax  and  mandibularis  use  Locus- 
tidse  of  the  genus  Xiphidium.  Acridiidte  furnish  the  prey  of 
the  other  species  of  the  genus,  in  so  far  as  it  was  noted.  The 
Tachijsphex  were  observed  to  seek  Acridiidfe,  which  may  be 
of  the  subfamilies  Acridiinse,  Tryxalinse,  or  (Edipodinse.  An 
lachysphe.r  hitei  Roh.,  in  the  collection  of  the  U.  S.  National 
Museum,  was  captured  with  a  young  cursorial  mantid,  Lita- 
neutria  minor  Scudd.  An  interesting  observation  has  been 
made  in  Texas  by  Hartman,  who  took  Tachjisphex  tc.vmia  in  the 
act  of  c?,ptur'ng  a  fly  larger  than  herself.  (See  Bull.  65,  Sc'en- 
tific  Series,  U.  of  Tex.,  p.  55-6;  1905.)  The  other  genera  of 
Larridse  furnished,  on  the  whole,  rather  fragmentary  data  as 
regards  theu'  prey.  In  the  case  of  Notogonia  argentata,  youmj 
Gryllida  are  used ;  some  of  the  Larropsis  prey  upon  Ceutophili 
(Locustidte),  while  Plenoculus  and  several  of  the  Niteliopsift 
store  their  nests  with  small  Heteroptera.  It  is  to  be  noted  that 
the  prey  of  some  certain  one  of  these  wasps  is  frequently 
limited  only  to  a  family  of  insects,  and  that  therefore  these 
"fossorials"  are  not  as  select  as  regards  their  victims  as  is 
often  held  to  be  the  case. 

Nests. 

According  to  m.y  observations,  the  Larridse  almost  invari- 
ably excavate  their  own  burrows.  On  rare  occasions  they 
were  found  to  have  taken  advantage  of  a  crack,  and  perhaps 
also  of  a  strange  tunnel,  to  lessen  the  work  of  digging.  A  few 
of  the  smaller  species  make  their  nests  in  brambles,  but  the 
great  majority  burrow  in  the  earth.  Tacky sphex  digs  shallow 
one-celled  tunnels,  and  must  often  make  several  in  one  day. 
Tachiites  and  Notogonia  make  far  more  elaborate  burrows, 
which  are  deeper  and  contain  from  a  few  to  many  cells.  Sup- 
plying such  nests  as  these  requires  several  days,  and  in  certain 
cases  perhaps  as  much  as  eight  or  ten.  The  very  incomplete 
observations  on  the  genera  Larra.  Larropsis,  Plenoetdus  and 
Lijroda  seem  to  indicate  that  their  nests  are  neither  du3:  nor 
provisioned  in  a  single  day. 


186  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY  SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

OVIPOSITION. 

Except  in  the  case  of  Miscophus,  the  egg  of  the  Larridse  is 
placed  transversely,  or  nearly  so,  across  the  base  of  the  pro- 
thorax  of  the  orthopteron  or  hemipter,  as  the  case  may  be,  and 
is  securely  fastened  at  its  cephalic  end  in  the  soft  membrane, 
behind*  and  a  little  inside  of  one  of  the  fore  coxae.  It  may  be 
well  to  mention  here  that  Priononyx,  one  of  the  Sphecidse 
which  preys  on  Orthoptera,  glues  her  egg  on  the  membrane  at 
the  exterior  base  of  one  of  the  hind  coxse,  the  egg  lying  along 
the  base  of  the  posterior  femur,  instead  of  across  the  thorax, 
as  in  the  first  case.  In  either  case,  however,  it  is  well  protected 
by  its  position  from  any  movement  which  the  often  sprightly 
entombed  victim  may  make.  According  to  Ferton  (Actes  de  la 
Soc.  Lineenne  de  Bordeau,  xlviii,  266-8;  1895),  the  egg  of  Mis- 
cophus bicolor  is  secured  to  the  anterior  face  of  the  spider's 
abdomen,  and  is  vertical  in  position. 

The  Larridse  do  not  display  as  much  specialization  in  nidifi- 
cation,  perhaps,  as  do  many  of  the  Sphecidae,  and  far  less  than 
is  exhibited  in  the  Eumenidse.  They  are,  however,  persever- 
ing workers,  and  at  times  show  much  valor  (if  such  it  may  be 
called)  in  attacking  their  often  huge  prey. 

Habits  of  the  Males. 

The  foregoing  remarks  apply  solely  to  the  female  Larridse, 
for  seldom,  if  ever,  do  the  males  assist  in  the  work  of  nidifica- 
tion,  and,  not  being  furnished  with  a  sting,  are  wholly  in- 
capable of  subduing  such  an  insect  as  is  overcome  by  the 
female. 

While  it  is  true,  generally  speaking,  that  the  males  are  seen 
more  frequently  than  the  other  sex,  the  explanation  of  this 
may  be  found  in  the  habits  of  the  former.  They  are  often 
found  at  flowers,  or  resting  on  a  tree  trunk,  whence  they  make 
frequent  sallies  at  passing  insects,  much  in  the  same  manner- 
as  some  of  the  more  pugnacious  butterflies.  The  above  applies 
largely  to  the  genus  Tachytes. 

A  few  Larropsis  males  can  be  taken  at  flowers ;  it  is  likely, 
however,  that  they  occur  in  greater  numbers  in  the  vicinity  of 
holes  made  by  various  animals,  such  as  rabbits,  gophers,  and 
badgers.    In  the  walls  at  the  entrance  of  such  burrows  numer- 

*  The  Peckhams  (Wasps  Social  and  Solitary,  p.  263 ;  1905)  speak  of  a  Tachysphex 
(Larra)  quebecensis  storing  her  nest  with  several  little  grasshoppers  and  laying  the  e?g 
in  front  of  the  first  pair  of  legs.  C.  M.  Weed,  in  his  Life  Histories  of  American  Insects, 
p.  150,  fig.  55,  shows  a  young  tryaline  locust  with  a  Tachysphex  egg  placed  behind  the 
fore  coxEe. 


WILLIAMS:     LARRIDJi   OF   KANSAS.  187 

ous  small  galleries  may  be  found,  and  these  are  frequently 
entered  and  enlarged  by  such  Larropsis  as  ater  and  brnneri.  It 
is  certain  that  some  of  these  holes  are  made  by  the  male  in- 
sects, probably  as  a  place  of  retirement  during  unfavorable 
weather  and  at  night.  A  black  species  of  Tachysphex,  prob- 
ably fusus  or  terminatiis,  was  observed  digging  a  hole  in  the 
sand  during  the  hot  afternoon  hours,  closing  its  retreat  from 
within.  Plenoculus  apicalis  and  Niteliopsis  affinis  have  much 
the  same  habits  as  the  above. 

Enemies  of  the  LarridjE. 
Among  the  enemies  of  the  adult  wasps  may  be  mentioned : 
Asilidse,  or  robber  flies,  which  are  very  abundant  on  the  Great 
Plains,  and  which  capture  the  largest  Larridse ;  various  species 
of  ants,  which,  roaming  everywhere,  have  been  seen  to  cause 
considerable  annoyance  to  the  wasp  as  she  was  digging,  and 
at  times  they  took  possession  of  her  prey ;  lizards  are  probably 
a  source  of  minor  hazard,  in  that  they  give  chase  to  the  wasp 
while  dragging  her  heavy  load  over  the  ground.  Small  tachina 
flies  destroy  large  numbers  of  wasps  by  appropriating  the 
food  of  the  hymenopteron  for  their  own  young. 

Stinging  and  Malaxation. 
It  would  appear  that  the  Larridse,  and  probably  numerous 
other  wasps  as  well,  sting  their  victims  not  primarily  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  them  their  quietus,  so  that  their  oifspring 
may  feed  with  safety  thereon,  but  in  order  that  the  wasp  her- 
self may  successfully  manipulate  her  prey,  and  suffer  the 
least  inconvenience,  delay  or  injury  thereby.  When  a  little 
Tachysphex,  for  example,  attacks  an  acridian  far  larger  than 
herself,  or  the  sphecid  Priononyx  pounces  upon  a  large  Melano- 
plus  or  Mermiria,  as  often  happens,  it  would  seem  logical  that 
in  the  violent  struggle  which  ensues  that  the  wasp  seeks  to 
overcome  her  prospective  victim  as  speedily  as  possible.  The 
more  time  employed  in  this  rough  occupation,  the  greater  the 
oppoi'tunity  for  the  grasshopper's  escape,  and  so  the  wasp  en- 
deavors to  quiet  it  with  a  well-directed  sting  under  the  thorax, 
presumably  penetrating  one  of  the  large  ganglia  of  that  region. 
Usually,  if  not  always,  one  or  more  subsequent  stings  are 
given,  these,  perhaps,  with  a  view  to  the  welfare  of  the  young. 
But  it  must  be  confessed  that  some  of  the  entombed  victims 
may  become  exceedingly  lively  if  taken  out  and  disturbed, 
though  they  seem  to  have  lost  the  sense  of  direction  and  co- 


188  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

ordinate  action.  Again,  I  have  found  fresh  as  well  a.s 
putrefying  Orthoptera  in  a  single  closed  cell,  showing  that  the 
wasps  administer  their  stings  with  varying  degrees  of  cer- 
tainty, sometimes  with  the  effect  of  killing,  at  other  times  onlv 
paralyzing.  Furthermore,  the  egg  is  placed  in  such  a  secuie 
position  that  it  can  not  be  readily  if  at  all  dislodged  by  any 
movement  of  the  victim,  and  the  larva,  on  hatching,  remains 
for  some  time  in  the  same  position  as  the  egg. 

Malaxation. 

A  number  of  species  of  wasps  have  been  observed  by  differ- 
ent entomologists  to  "malaxate"  their  prey  after  it  has  been 
stung.  To  malaxate  {malasso — to  knead,  to  soften),  as  T'e- 
ferred  to  these  insects,  consists  in  that  process  of  biting  or 
chewing  at  their  victims  for  a  purpose  which,  to  my  knowledge, 
has  not  been  satisfactorily  explained.  The  procedure  has  been 
carefully  observed  by  Marchal,  in  Europe,  who  considers  it 
very  important.  He  noted  it  in  the  case  of  the  philanthid  wasp 
Cerceris  ornata,  which  pricks  and  squeezes  the  neck  of  the  bee 
Halictus,  licking  off  the  juice  which  exudes.  In  this  case 
malaxation  was  found  to  quiet  the  victim  more  than  if  merely 
stung,  having  therefore  a  tendency  to  shorten  its  life. 

I  have  seen  Notogonia  and  Tachysphex  and  Taclnjtef<  bite  the 
prosternum  of  their  prey,  going  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  the 
prostrate  insect.  In  one  case  the  wasp  remained  with  its  dis- 
tended jaws  applied  the  orthopteron's  neck,  suggesting,  per- 
haps, that  she  was  lapping  up  a  liquid.  Ferton  is  of  the 
opinion  that  Miscophus  malaxates  her  spider  prey  to  obtain 
such  a  fluid.  It  is  doubtful,  however,  if  the  wasp's  jaws  are 
always  sufficiently  powerful  to  draw  out  any  nourishment  in 
that  manner.  Malaxation,  as  the  Peckhams  have  observed,  is 
not  done  in  every  case.  It  would  seem,  therefore,  to  be  sec- 
ondary in  importance  to  the  act  of  stinging,  and  appears  to  be 
of  doubtful  purpose. 


williams:    larrid^  of  kansas.  189 

Habits  of  the  Species. 
Typical  Larridx,  or  Larrime. 

(Witlt  only  one  pevfei  t  ocelhis.) 
Larra  aniericana  Cresson. 

The  above  insect,  as  far  as  I  can  ascertain,  is  the  same  as 
Larva  analis,  our  large  shining  species.  Hartman  (Bull.  Univ. 
of  Tex.,  No.  65,  pp.  61-62;  1905)  has  found  americana  pro- 
visioning its  several-celled  burrow  with  crickets.  The  wasp 
has  a  peculiar  way,  we  are  informed,  of  digging  her  ne?t, 
backing  out  and  using  her  head  and  fore  legs  as  a  kind  of 
scraper.  The  insect  is  rare  in  Kansas,  where  nothing  was 
observed  of  its  habits. 

Notogonia  argeiifata  Bve.    (Fig.  118,  egg  in  situ.) 

This  rather  long-legged  wasp  was  studied  on  the  Univer- 
sity campus,  at  Lawrence,  at  the  end  of  August,  1911.  Con- 
siderable time  was  spent  in  locating  the  burrow,  but  the  first 
insects  observed  gave  me  no  results  aside  from  noting  that, 
from  their  habit  of  investigating  holes  and  crannies,  the  prey 
should  probably  be  one  of  the  Gryllidfe.  This  surmise  was  soon 
verified  when  at  2  P.  M.  September  2  a  Notogonia  was  seen  fly- 
ing about  the  stone  steps  of  the  Museum  building,  carrying  un- 
der her  body  a  young  G/y^i!»,s  about  the  size  of  an  ordinary 
Nemobius  cricket.  She  let  go  her  prey  at  my  approach,  but 
soon  grabbed  it  again  by  the  base  of  the  antennae,  and,  taking 
wing,  flew  about  the  steps  and  cement  walk  in  a  rather  unde- 
cided manner.  She  appeared  either  to  have  lost  her  nest  or 
to  be  searching  for  one,  for  she  fu'sed  around  for  fiftsen  min- 
utes, never  kttini  £0  of  her  burden  the  while,  attempting  at 
t'mes  to  enter  cracks  which  were  not  sufficiently  spacious  to 
admit  both  cricket  and  wasp  at  one  time.  Finally,  at  2  :  15  P.  M  , 
she  dropped  the  Grylltis  and  entered  the  crack,  but  on  coming 
out  after  a  stay  of  half  an  hour  the  orthopteron  was  totally 
ignored.  At  about  this^time  another  wasp  of  the  species  was 
flying  about  near  by.  She  would  alight,  p'ck  up  a  pebble  in 
her  mandibles,  to  drop  it  again,  having  to  all  appearances  no 
definite  aim.  At  3:10  P.  M.  a  th'rd  Notogcnia  was  seen  to  fly 
heavily  with  a  cricket  about  as  large  as  herself,  alight  near  a 
crack  in  the  cement  walk,  and  run  into  this  crevice  with  her 
prey  beneath  her.  Th^s  being  forbidden  ground  for  the  knife 
and  trowel,  I  searched  the  earthy  slopes  along  a  very  sm-^ll 
stream  which  flowed  through  the  golf  links  near  by. 


190  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Here,  on  September  4,  I  located  what  seemed  to  be  a  small 
settlement  of  these  wasps,  the  males  being  the  ones  more 
commonly  seen.  At  2 :45  A.  M.  I  watched  a  Notogonia  hunt'ng 
about  the  grass  near  a  bank  of  loose  earth.  On  the  whole, 
her  movements  were  not  as  quick  as  those  of  Tachijsphex,  ex- 
cepting, perhaps,  when  she  shifted  her  hunting  grounds  by  a 
rapid  little  flight.  Now  and  then  she  would  stop  and  pry  un- 
der the  dead  and  flattened  grass,  with  the  effect,  at  2 :45  P.  M., 
of  arousing  a  young  Gnjllus.  The  latter,  by  means  of  con- 
tinued and  vigorous  hopping,  made  good  its  escape,  her  enemy 
searching  about  excitedly  in  the  meantime.  At  a  favorable 
opportunity  I  caught  the  fugitive  and  let  it  fall  near  the 
wasp.  She  pounced  upon  it  like  lightning,  and  stung  it  im- 
mediately, apparently  under  the  thorax.  After  cleaning  her- 
self, as  usual,  with  her  fore  legs,  she  seized  her  prey,  and, 
turning  it  over  on  its  dorsum,  chewed  at  its  soft  neck.  This 
operation  completed,  the  young  Gryllus  was  placed  on  its  ven- 
ter again,  and,  Notogonia  striding  it,  seized  it  by  the  base  of 
the  antennse,  and,  by  a  series  of  runs  and  short  jumps,  with 
an  occasional  rest,  she  carried  her  booty  in  a  good  straight 
line  for  a  distance  of  thirty  feet,  to  run  at  3 :  03  P.  M.  into  a 
hole  in  the  bank.  The  opening  was  somewhat  concealed,  and 
was  placed  at  about  two  vertical  feet  below  the  grassy  area. 
There  was  no  soil  heap  before  it,  as  in  the  case  of  the  tunnels 
of  Tachysphex,  and  it  seemed  probable  (after  digging  out  the 
gallery)  that  it  had  been  only  partly  excavated  by  the  wasp  in 
question.  Notogonia  remained  within  for  a  minute  or  two, 
coming  out  to  walk  in  the  vicinity  for  a  longer  period.  Re- 
entering at  about  3:09,  she  did  not  appear  until  3:30.  She 
was  probably  working  on  a  cell  during  the  interval,  for  at 
4 :05  she  was  biting  out  small  lumps  of  earth  at  a  distance  of 
two  or  three  inches  from  the  hole.  Working  thus  for  a  short 
time,  she  entered,  to  remain  within  until  5:10,  when  she 
emerged,  seized  a  little  stick  in  her  jaws  and  brought  it  in  her 
burrow.  At  5:25  she  was  still  inside,  and  probably  passed 
the  night  in  that  security. 

At  9  A.  M.  the  next  morning  I  saw  her  enter  her  burrow, 
and  at  9:30  she  was  hunting  in  various  holes  and  about  grass 
clumps,  four  or  five  feet  from  the  nest.  At  9:35  she  attacked 
a  small  Gryllus,  which  leaped  valiantly,  but  this  time  to  no 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF  KANSAS.  191 

avail,  for  it  was  soon  rendered  helpless  by  a  sting  under  the 
thorax.  It  was  malaxated  on  the  ventral  side  of  the  neck,  as 
in  the  first  instance,  and  carried  venter  down.  The  wasp 
made  little  runs  and  short  flying  jumps  from  grass  blades  with 
her  burden,  and  though  very  near  her  burrow,  took  consid- 
erable time  in  locating  the  same,  which  she  entered  at  9  :40. 
Five  minutes  later  she  came  out,  and  after  a  short  pause  took 
w^ing,  but  returned  unnoticed.  At  10:08  she  was  very  busy 
filling  up  her  tunnel,  working  rapidly,  gathering  little  lumps 
of  earth  and  other  material,  such  as  twigs,  thorns,  and  Orthop- 
tera  excrement.  This  material,  though  varied  in  character, 
was  selected  with  some  care,  and  at  first  brought  in  from 
some  little  distance.  Her  first  trips  averaged  a  little  more  than 
two  per  minute;  her  final  ones  (which  were  made  mostly  on 
the  wing),  from  six  to  seven  per  minute.  Shen  then  remained 
inside  for  a  little  more  than  twenty  minutes.  As  the  burrow 
became  filled  her  trips  for  material  were  more  hurried  and 
shorter,  and  instead  of  picking  up  loose  earth  she  would  fre- 
quently bite  off'  a  piece,  for  a  time,  from  two  separate  places 
a  few  inches  away.  At  11 :18  her  burrow  was  so  shallow  that 
when  she  entered  she  could  be  seen  within  depositing  her  load, 
occasionally  emitting  a  squeaky  little  buzz.  She  seemed  to 
become  rather  excited  as  her  work  neared  completion,  being 
then  somewhat  easily  frightened,  and  at  a  movement  from 
the  observer  would  turn  about  and  regard  him  doubtfully, 
as  it  were.  She  frequently  carried  lumps  of  earth  of  at  least 
her  own  weight.  None  of  this  material  is  tamped  down,  but 
lightly  placed  at  the  bottom  of  the  tunnel.  The  Ammophilas 
and  Isodontias  among  the  Sphecidse,  and  many  of  the  larrids, 
pack  the  soil,  at  least  when  their  burrows  are  nearly  filled.  At 
11:35  A.  M.  Notogonia,  having  finished  the  work  of  filling  the 
burrow  and  disguising  the  site,  flew  away.  The  location  of 
the  tunnel  was  thus  fairly  well  hidden,  largely  by  excrement ; 
in  addition  there  were  a  few  twigs  and  some  soil.  Its  diameter 
at  the  entrance  was  one-half  inch  high  by  nine-sixteenths  of  an 
inch  wide.  The  earth  packing  extended  only  for  an  inch  or  two 
below  the  surface.  The  shaft,  at  first  subhorizontal  and 
widened  in  an  irregular  manner,  soon  narrowed  and  sloped 
quite  steeply.  I  soon  lost  the  main  tunnel,  but  upon  digging 
deeper  found  three  neat  shafts,  each  terminating  in  a  rounded 
tell.    The  first  of  the  latter  was  at  a  depth  of  about  five  inches 


192  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 

and  seven  from  the  mouth  of  the  main  tunnel.  It  contained  an 
immature  Giyllus,  with  the  smooth,  shining,  whit'sh  NotogGrda 
egg  transversely  arranged  on  the  prosternum  (fig.  118,  E). 
The  second  cell  was  similarly  provisioned,  while  the  third 
yielded  two  crickets,  one  of  which  was  quite  small.  One  of 
the  victims  from  this  nest  was  decidedly  active  when  touched, 
though  its  leaps  were  neither  continued  nor  well  directed. 
Digging  still  deeper  revealed  no  further  cells. 

There  are  several  things  worthy  of  note  regarding  the  habits 
of  this  insect.  Although  not  seen  in  the  act  of  excavating  her 
burrow,  she  never  used  her  feet  in  filling  up  the  hole,  as  is 
done  by  Tachijsphex.  The  latter  insect,  however,  has  the  long- 
fringed  fore  tibife  and  tarsi,  admirably  adapted  for  digging 
in  the  loose,  sandy  soil  (see  fig.  81),  while  the  heavy  black 
earth  in  which  Notogonia  was  working  did  not  very  readily 
permit  digging  with  the  feet,  which  in  this  case  are  not  long- 
fringed  (fig.  80).  The  immature  Gryllus  used  were  so  young 
(or  of  a  diff"erent  species)  as  to  be  pallid  beneath;  darker, 
slightly  larger  Gryllus,  as  well  as  mature  Nemobiiis,  were 
scarcely  noticed  when  thrown  down  before  the  very  nose,  so 
to  .speak,  of  the  hunting  wasp. 

Ashmead  {Psyche,  p.  63;  April,  1894)  says:  "In  the  south 
I  have  seen  Larva  argentata  provision  its  cells  with  a  small, 
immature  cricket,  which  it  completely  paralyzes  before  stor- 
ing it  away  in  its  clay  cell.  From  a  single  cell  I  have  taken 
as  many  as  six  of  these  small  crickets." 

Larropsis  divisa   Patton. 

The  females  of  the  species  of  Larropsis  were  not  found  to  be 
num.erous  in  any  locality,  and  consequently  the  method  of 
searching  their  prey  was  seldom  noted.  At  Leoti,  Wichita 
county,  August  19,  1910,  at  8:53  A.  M.,  one  of  these  active  in- 
sects was  seen  to  enter  its  nest,  which  was  situated  at  the  upper 
edge  of  an  old  brick-clay  pit,  largely  choked  with  Russian 
thistle.  The  entrance  to  the  tunnel  was  by  no  means  neat,  and 
the  insect  had  taken  advantage  of  a  small  horizontal  crack  in 
the  earth,  as  if  to  lessen  the  labor  of  excavation.  Lavropsi'^ 
flew  with  her  burden,  which  was  evidently  an  immature  Ceuto- 
philus  (Locustidse,  but  rested  several  times  e)i  route,  carrying 
the  "cave"  cricket  well  forward  beneath  her.  Thus  she  entered 
the  hole,  very  soon  to  reappear  and  take  wing.  Other  Ceuto- 
phili  were  brought  in  at  9  :06,  9  :15,  9  :35. 11 :03  a.  m..  and  1:10 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID.-E   OF   KANSAS.  193 

and  1 :42  P.  I.l.  She  returntd  empty  handed  at  least  twice  be- 
tween these  hours,  and  sometimes  remained  a  considerable 
time  within  her  burrow. 

An  attempt  to  follow  the  tunnel  failed.  I  should  judge,  how- 
ever, that  the  affair  was  of  good  depth  and  several-celled.  The 
wasp  herself  not  being  captured,  her  identity  is  uncertain,  for 
besides  divisa,  the  similarly  colored  but  larger  aurantia  was 
taken  in  the  same  pit.  At  Kirwin,  Phillips  county,  in  August, 
1912,  however,  the  former  species  was  seen  to  enter  a  hole  the 
size  of  that  made  by  a  mouse.  She  reappeared  very  shortly, 
carrying-  a  small  Ceutophilitt<  under  her.  Fearing  to  lose  this 
wasp,  she  was  captured. 

The  fact  that  at  least  some  of  the  wasps  of  this  genus  occur 
very  frequently  about  holes  dug  by  animals  would  perhaps  in- 
dicate that  the  "cave"  cricket  is  the  common  food  of  more  than 
one  species.  These  Orthoptera  fairly  swarm  in  such  retreats 
during  the  day,  where  they  can  often  be  seen  congregated  in 
numbers  along  the  sides  and  ce'ling.  It  is  not  improbable  that 
the  wasps  commonly  nest  in  the  vicinity  of  some  such  hole,  and 
that  the  lack  of  marked  pilosity  of  the  species  of  the  genus 
Larropsis  may  be  partly  accounted  for  by  their  habits. 

Tachytes. 

In  comparison  with  the  members  of  the  genus  Tachijsphex, 
the  act'ons  of  these  wasps  are  slow.  They  do  not  run  over  the 
ground  in  such  mad  haste  as  do  their  smaller  relatives,  and 
excavate  their  burrows  in  a  more  dignified  manner,  pushing 
out  the  soil  with  the  abdomen  instead  of  throwing  it  out  be- 
hind them  in  a  stream  like  the  Tachysphex. 
Tachytes  abdominalis  Say. 

Rly  notes  on  this  species  are  very  fragmentary.  The  in- 
sect was  not  infrequently  seen  hunting  her  prey  in  moist  places 
where  immature  Tettigidje  (grouse  locusts)  appeared  to  be 
the  common  object  of  pursuit;  she  was  also  seen  in  stubble 
fields,  where  she  captured  young  MelauopU.  The  wasp  moved 
rather  slowly  and  often  appeared  to  experience  some  difficulty 
in  stinging  her  prey,  due  perhaps  to  the  small  size  of  the  latter. 
I  located  a  single  nest  of  this  species  in  Trego  county,  July, 
1912,  but  failed  to  trace  the  tunnel  for  more  than  five  inches, 
for  which  length  it  was  approximately  vertical. 


194  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Tachytes  distinctits  Sm.  (Figs.  113-116,  early  stages  and  nest-mound.) 
It  was  not  until  the  summer  of  1912  that  I  was  able  to  locate 
the  burrow  of  this  large  and  common  species.  Many  times  had 
I  watched  her  hunting  her  prey  among  the  weeds,  while  on 
several  occasions  she  was  seen  to  pounce  upon  the  immature 
acridian,  but  here  my  observations  were  ended,  for  distinctus, 
holding  the  locust  beneath  her,*  would  fly  away  and  be  soon 
lost  to  view.  At  times  she  would  rise  high  in  air  with  her 
burden  before  starting  in  the  direction  of  her  burrow,  and 
again  she  would  pursue  her  journey  homewards  at  an  elevation 
of  only  a  few  feet  over  the  weeds.  Her  mode  of  hunting  also 
was  not  uniform,  for  where  one  female  would  crawl  over  the 
vegetation,  another  examined  the  weeds  while  on  the  wing. 
Perhaps  the  latter  mode  is  the  more  common  in  the  species,  and 
was  well  exemplified  by  a  distinctus,  which  was  seen  inspecting 
a  large  patch  of  stinking  clover  (Cleome)  for  her  orthopterous 
prey.  The  locusts  on  these  weeds  did  not  relish  the  presence  of 
their  fierce  foe,  and  would  oftentimes  hasten  behind  a  stem  for 
shelter.  Passing  from  plant  to  plant,  however,  she  finally 
selected  a  good-sized  Melanoplus  nymph,  poised  briefly  before 
her  intended  victim,  and,  pouncing  upon  it,  dispatched  it  with 
her  sting. 

In  Rooks  county,  northern  Kansas,  these  wasps  were  abun- 
dant, and  here  several  of  their  burrows  were  located.  One 
morning,  in  early  August,  a  distinctus  was  seen  to  fly  with  a 
heavy  acridian  to  a  hole  in  a  sandy  slope,  and  enter  it  with  her 
burden  beneath  her.  At  this  juncture  I  left  the  spot  and  did 
not  return  until  4  P.  M.  A  short  period  after  this  hour  dis- 
tinctus came  flying  heavily,  carrying  beneath  her  a  good-sized 
locust,  venter  up.  She  alighted  heavily  once  or  twice  in  the 
bush  near  by  before  entering  her  abode.  Stopping  up  the 
entrance,  I  commenced  digging  with  my  trowel.  The  soil  was 
rather  loose  and  sandy,  and  moist  to  a  depth  of  about  six 
inches,  where  it  was  replaced  by  firm,  black  earth,  and  finally 
by  a  hard,  dry  stratum.  The  circular  entrance  to  the  wasp's 
tunnel  was  six-sixteenths  of  an  inch  in  diameter  and  went 
through  a  heap  of  sand  one  and  one-sixth  inches  high  by  two 
and  fifteen-sixteenths  inches  wide  at  the  base.  The  outer  cov- 
ering of  this  mound  was  composed  of  small,  loose  lumps,  per- 

*  It  may  be  said  here  that  the  wa&p  is  quite  particular  as  res:ards  the  method  of  carry- 
ing her  prey.  She  sometimes  fusses  considerably  before  grasping  it  in  the  right  manner, 
i.  e.,  holding  the  orthopteron's  antenna  in  her  jaws  and  clasping  the  body  beneath  her 
with  her  legs. 


WILLIAMS:     LARRIDyE   OF    KANSAS.  195 

haps  recently  thrown  out  of  the  nest;  under  this  the  soil  was 
firmer,  as  though  rain-packed.  The  whole  affair  had  some- 
what the  appearance  of  a  mud  tube,  such  as  are  made  by 
crayfish.  The  hillock  is  illustrated  in  figure  116.  Tachytes 
mandibidaris  is  reported  by  W.  H.  Patton  to  make  similar 
tubes.  I  had  not  dug  long  before  a  confined,  squeaky  buzz 
was  heard,  and  soon  the  proprietor  was  brought  to  light  from  a 
hole  fully  ten  inches  below  the  surface  of  the  ground  and  four- 
teen inches  from  the  entrance.  The  latter  I  followed,  and 
found  it  to  slant  at  an  angle  of  about  60  degrees,  the  tunnel 
being  lost  before  I  reached  any  of  the  cells.  About  two  inches 
beyond  the  wasp  lay  two  nymphs  of  a  species  of  Melanoplus. 
One  of  these  had  the  long,  curved  Tachytes  egg  (fig.  113) 
transversely  placed  on  the  prosternum,  its  cephalic  end  se- 
cured in  the  membrane  behind  and  somewhat  inside  of  the  base 
of  one  of  the  fore  coxae.  I  dug  carefully  for  nearly  two  hours, 
during  which  time  twenty  cells  and  fifty-six  acridians  were 
found.  The  main  shaft  of  the  nest  was  soon  lost,  but  the  cells 
appeared  strung  along  its  length  in  a  rather  irregular  man- 
ner. With  the  exception  of  the  one  in  which  the  wasp  was 
found,  they  were  closed  with  earth.  They  were  rather  small 
and  often  very  close  to  one  another.  The  locusts  were  dis- 
tributed in  these  chambers  as  follows : 

2  cells  contained  1  acridian   each. 

4  cells  contained  2  acridians    each. 

10  cells  contained  3  acridians   each. 

4  cells  contained  4  acridians   each. 

20  56 

Fifty-one  of  the  victims  belonged  to  the  tribe  Melanopli.  and 
of  these  only  one  was  mature ;  the  five  remaining  insects  were 
small  species  of  full-grown  Tryxalinfe,  viz. :  four  Ageneotettix 
deoruyn  and  one  Orplmella  near  speciosa. 

A  few  of  the  locusts  moved  their  antennge  in  a  feeble  man- 
ner, while  with  fresh  specimens  could  be  found  others  dark- 
ened and  well  on  the  road  to  decomposition.  The  cells  were 
penetrable  by  a  heavy  rain,  and  in  nearly  every  case  contained 
a  Tachytes  egg  or  larva.  Some  of  the  latter  were  of  good 
size;  one  seemed  about  two-thirds  grown.  The  larvae  usually 
lay  in  a  curve  over  their  food.  The  freshly  hatch sd  specimens 
appeared  much  like  the  egg-,  in  beinT  of  rather  uniform  thick- 
ness and  showing  very  little  indication  of  any  segmentation. 
The  largest  larva,  however,  had  deep  intersegmental  incisions, 


196  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

a  stout  form,  and  some  mammse-like  processes  on  the  thoracic 
region  (fig.  114).  Some  of  the  grubs  showed  a  reddish  hufj 
through  the  thin  skin,  while  several  were  quite  green,  the 
color  being  probably  dependent  upon  that  of  the  juice  of  the 
victim. 

Two  other  nests  of  distinctus  were  located.  One  of  these 
was  but  a  few  feet  removed  from  the  one  just  considered. 
There  was  no  cone  of  soil  surrounding  the  aperture  as  in  the 
first  case,  but  only  a  little  heap  of  sand  before  it.  The  slope 
was  about  40  degrees,  and  the  tunnel  seemed  blocked  for  u 
distance  of  two  and  one-half  inches  down.  Sixteen  cells,  con- 
taining in  all  thirty-eight  locusts,  were  found.  From  one  lO 
five  (usually  two  or  three)  were  placed  in  each  cell.  The 
locusts  were  of  the  genera  Hvsperotettix  and  Mclanopliis ;  one 
of  the  latter,  a  male  femur-nihyum,  was  mature.  The  wasp. 
which  I  presently  caught,  was  an  old  one,  with  noticeably 
frayed  wings  and  the  end  of  her  abdomen  coated  with  dried 
mud.  Nest-building,  however,  had  not  progressed  as  much 
here  as  in  the  first  case. 

Shorty  before  5  P.  M.  one  evening  a  female  distinctus  was 
observed  flying  about  an  open  area  which  was  carpeted  largely 
with  bufi'alo  grass.  She  would  alight  now  and  then  to  creep 
among  the  stems  and  roots,  where  she  sometimes  disappeared 
from  view.  At  4:55  P.  M.  she  entered  what  seemed  to  be  the 
commencement  of  a  small  hole,  and  began  digging  with  a 
lather  slow  movement,  emitting  now  and  then  the  squeaky 
buzz  common  to  the.'^e  and  many  other  Hymenoptera.  In  work- 
ing she  loosens  the  soil  with  her  jaws,  pushes  it  by  v/ith  he^' 
fore  legs,  and  finally  shoves  the  earth  outside  with  the  end  of 
her  abdomen  (this  explains  the  frequently  mud-covered  py- 
gidium),  but  never  comes  outside  the  hole  with  a  load  of  dirt, 
as  do  some  of  the  Tacliysphex.  Finally,  at  5 :23  p.  M.,  she 
emerged,  took  wing,  and  with  ever-widening  circles  disap- 
peared. There  was  quite  a  heap  of  soil  around  the  hole  bv 
this  time,  and  much  more  by  8 :35  the  next  morning,  showinj^ 
that  Tachytes  had  done  considerable  excavat'ng  during  th^ 
nterval.  I  watched  her  bring  in  a  small  MelanoiAi  at  8:43 
A.  M.  At  11 :53  I  found  the  aperture  blocked  with  soil,  tho 
wasp  being  at  work  within.  On  returning  at  1 :30  P.  M.  the 
hole  was  again  open,  and  at  1:42,  1:52  and  2:17  I  saw  her 
bring  in  Melanopli  nymphs,  the  hole  being  barely  large  enough 
to  admit  wasp  and  prey  simultaneously.     She  then  rema'nei 


WILLIAMS:     LARRIDiE   OF   KANSAS.  197 

inside  for  nearly  an  hour,  perhaps  making  or  closing  a  cell 
the  while.  I  did  not  see  her  during  the  next  two  days.  She 
probably  met  her  death  or  deserted  her  nest,  which  contained 
but  three  cells.  The  soil  here  was  of  a  rather  hard  nature;  in 
consequence  the  tunnel  was  comparatively  short.  The  first 
cell  was  five  inches  below  the  surface  and  five  inches  to  one 
side  of  the  entrance ;  the  remaining  two  were  not  far  removed 
from  the  first.  The  nest  contained  eight  locusts  (some  of 
which  were  becoming  quite  moldy)  and  some  small  distinctns 
larvse. 

Tachytes  distinctus  must  be  ranked  among  the  beneficial 
insects,  preying  as  she  does  upon  those  most  destructive 
Orthoptera  which,  though  outnumbering  these  wasps  very 
greatly,  are  checked  to  a  degree  by  the  combined  forces  of  foes. 

Tachytes  fttlviveittris  Cress. 

This  wasp  was  seen  to  store  its  nest  with  full-grown  Alpha 
cremdat.a  (Tryxalinse),  a  small  and  rather  fragile  insect  com- 
mon on  the  high  and  dry  plains  of  Kansas.  The  nesting  habits 
were  observed  near  the  town  of  Meade,  in  the  county  of  the 
same  name.  Here  on  June  10,  1911,  a  small  colony  of  bright, 
fresh  specimens  was  located.  Their  burrows  were  made  in 
the  mouth  of  a  deserted  prairie-dog  hole,  which  was  situated 
at  the  edge  of  a  clearing  surrounding  the  mound-nest  of  the 
agricultural  ant    {Pogonomyrmex  occidentalis) . 

At  10:40  A.M.  I  noticed  one  of  these  wasps  carrying  her 
prey,  venter  down,  beneath  her,  fly  swiftly  and  directly  to  her 
tunnel,  which  she  entered  head  first  with  her  burden.  The 
wasp  held  the  base  of  the  antennse  in  her  mandibles  and 
clasped  the  locust's  body  with  her  legs.  At  10:42,  10:44 
and  10:48  A.M.  other  Alpha  were  brought  in,  probably  by 
more  than  one  Tachytes.  In  watching  these  several  wasps  a 
little  variation  in  behavior  was  noticed.  One  wasp  alighted 
nepr  the  burrow  with  her  load  before  entering;  another 
paused  not  at  all,  but  flew  to  her  nest  with  a  high-pitched 
buzz  and  rushed  in  directly.  Again  one  was  seen  to  carry  her 
burden  on  its  side ;  the  bearer  in  this  case  experienced  some 
difiiculty  in  finding  the  exact  location  of  its  burrow.  While 
keeping  a  firm  hold  on  the  tryxalid,  she  flew  about  a  small 
area  and  alighted  once  or  twice  before  finding  her  abode. 

Not  being  able  to  keep  watch  on  this  colony  that  afternoon, 
nor  during  the  next  day,  the  spot  was  revisited  on  July  12  (a 

6-Univ.  Sci.  Bull.,  Vol.  VIU.  No.  4. 


198  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

cloudy  day),  when  three  of  these  wasps  were  dug  out  of 
steeply  inclined  holes  several  inches  in  length.  Two  cells, 
seemingly  the  terminations  of  separate  tunnels,  were  brought 
to  light.  The  first  contained  four  Alpha  and  one  small  wasp 
larva;  the  other  cell  revealed  at  least  two  Alpha  and  five  fly 
maggots,  somewhat  larger  than  those  of  the  common  house 
fly.  These  soon  pupated,  but  never  produced  adults.  It  !s 
not  improbable  that  the  burrows  of  these  wasps  are  several- 
celled  when  completed. 

Tachytes  mandihularis  Patton. 

This  handsome  species,  with  its  decided  buzz,  was  observed 
but  once  in  capturing  her  prey.  This  was  in  the  Saline  river 
valley.  The  wasp  was  flying  low  over  the  weeds,  resting  now 
and  then,  examining  plants,  scrutinizing  some  with  more  care 
than  others.  Had  it  not  been  for  her  buzzing  I  would  have 
soon  lo.st  her  in  her  rapid  flight.  She  finally  pounced  upon  an 
immature  locustid  of  green  color,  probably  a  species  of 
Orchelimnm. 

Young  Locustidse  being  far  less  numerous  than  immature 
Melanopli,  Tachytes  mandihularis  would  usually  have  a  more 
protracted  hunt  for  her  prey  than  her  ally  distinctus.  Can  the 
more  sustained  flights  from  plant  to  plant  in  the  former  spe- 
cies explain  the  stouter  form  and  probably  greater  wing 
power  of  mandihularis  over  distinctus'! 

The  large  bembecid  wasp  Stizus  hrevipenne  hunts  in  a  man- 
ner quite  similar  to  mandihularis,  examining  the  stems  of 
Helianthus,  etc.,  as  she  flies  and  finally  finds  her  prey,  a  large 
Xiphidium. 

Tachytes  ohductus  Fox. 

This  apparently  rare  little  species  frequented  the  muddy 
sand  shores  of  the  south  fork  of  the  Solomon  river,  in  Osborne 
county.  Here  a  few  specimens  were  seen  searching  for  im- 
mature Tettigidse.  The  wasp  runs  over  the  ground  at  a  mod- 
erate speed,  stopping  rather  often  to  clean  herself  (this  prob- 
ably because  of  the  moist  nature  of  the  sand).  She  was  seen 
to  capture  her  prey  on  two  occasions.  The  grouse  locusts  were 
very  small  and  easily  borne  away  on  the  wing.  No  burrows 
could  be  located. 

Tachytes  mcrgits,  also  a  rare  insect  and  of  swifter  move- 
ments than  her  golden  neighbor,  had  the  same  hunting  grounds 
and  probably  the  same  prey  as  ohductus,  since  Tettigidse  ap- 
peared to  be  the  only  suitable  victims  in  the  locality. 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  If 9 

Tachytes  ohscurus  Cress. 

This  wasp  was  taken  but  once  with  her  prey — a  very  small 
acridian. 

Tachytes  rufofasciatus  Cress. 

This  Tachytes,  which  has  much  the  same  appearance  as 
fuhnventris,  was  observed  in  Trego  county,  near  those  pictur- 
esque chalk  cliffs  which  skirt  the  sandy  bed  of  the  Smoky  Hill 
river.  Here  on  July  13,  1912,  several  of  these  insects  were 
watched  hunting  their  prey  along  the  edge  of  a  dense  and 
wide-spreading  field  of  Russian  thistle,  dragging  the  victims  a 
short  distance  over  these  weeds  and  then  over  the  adjoining 
plowed  ground  to  their  burrows  in  the  latter.  The  thistle  sup- 
ported an  abundant  population  of  largely  immature  Melanopli. 

Early  in  the  morning  a  rufofasciatus  was  observed  flying 
from  plant  to  plant  and  running  hastily  over  the  thistle  tops  in 
quest  of  her  prey.  At  8 :  18  A.  M.  she  caught  and  stung  a  locust 
and  dragged  it  laboriously  over  the  disturbed  soil  to  her  nest. 
At  8  :22  she  secured  another,  with  which  it  took  her  thirteen 
minutes  to  reach  her  burrow.  Upon  reaching  the  same  she  let 
go  her  prey,  entered,  and  partly  emerging  head  first,  pulled 
it  in  by  the  antennae.  The  wasp  remained  within  forty  min- 
utes. This  time  was  employed,  perhaps,  in  closing  a  stored 
cell  or  in  excavating  another.  She  was  off  hunting  again  at 
9  :18  and  five  minutes  later  captured  a  small  Melanopli  nymph, 
with  which  she  flew  to  her  abode.  This  was  the  only  instance 
in  the  locality  where  the  smaller  size  of  the  victim  permitted 
of  its  being  borne  away  in  flight.  Tachiftcs  was  off  again  to  the 
weeds,  and  at  9  : 55  pounced  upon  another  Melanopli  of  a  green 
color.  She  clung  strongly  to  the  dorsum  of  the  struggling  in- 
sect, and,  stinging  it  under  the  thorax,  soon  quieted  it.  After 
biting  ( ?)  it  awhile  under  the  thorax  she  straddled  the  insect 
(which  lay  in  an  upright  position),  seized  its  antennae  near 
their  base  in  her  mandibles,  and,  holding  the  acridian  as  well 
with  her  third  pair  of  legs,  began  her  journey.  Here  she  made 
use  of  her  first  two  pafr  of  legs  and  augmented  her  progress 
every  now  and  then  with  a  buzz  of  her  wings.  While  in  the 
weeds  the  heavily  laden  insect  strives  to  keep  on  top  of  the 
Russian  thistle,  whence  a  leap  (which  she  frequently  essays  in 
an  effort  to  make  better  headway)  often  brings  her  only  a 
little  distance  in  advance  and  far  down  among  the  stems. 
Nothing  daunted,  however,  she  struggles  to  the  summit  of 
another  plant,  perhaps  to  repeat  the  performance.     Several 


200  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

other  nifofasciatiis  were  watched  while  stinging  and  trans- 
porting their  prey.  In  two  cases  the  latter  were  mature 
Melanoplus  of  about  the  size  of  a  male  fcmtn--ruhrinn — heavy 
burdens  indeed  for  these  wasps.  The  larrids  frequently  hunted 
at  about  the  middle  height  of  the  thistle,  where,  though  at 
times  lost  to  view,  they  could  be  heard  colliding  with  the  plant. 
In  seizing  her  intended  victim  she  seemed  to  forget  all  else, 
and  the  pair  often  fell  to  the  ground  during  the  struggle.  The 
locust  once  overcome,  the  wasp  does  not  delay  the  journey 
nestwards  for  long,  nor  does  she  always  rid  herself  of  the  dust 
incurred  during  the  fray,  as  many  other  species  of  the  Larridse 
do  with  great  care. 

The  wasp  worked  in  a  rather  desultory  manner  during  the 
later  afternoon  hours.  One,  which  had  the  appearance  of 
being  very  tired,  was  noticed  hunting  at  five  p.  M.  The  day 
was  exceedingly  waiTn,  and  rufofasciaUis  did  not  appear  to  rel- 
ish the  task  of  dragging  her  prey  over  the  dry  and  dusty  field, 
which  offered  numerous  impediments  to  her  progress  in  the 
form  of  a  multitude  of  furrows,  loose,  shifting  soil  and  other 
irregularities.  Often,  indeed,  would  the  tired  wasp  gain  the 
summit  of  some  small  ridge,  only  to  tumble  headlong  with  her 
prey  into  the  furrow  which  she  had  but  left.  Thus  covered 
with  dust,  the  weary  insect  would  sometimes  abandon  her  prey 
and  fly  up  in  the  air  in  a  slow  manner.  Small  parasitic  flies 
sometimes  follow  these  and  other  wasps  in  hopes  of  depositing 
their  young,  at  a  favorable  opportunity,  upon  the  captured 
acridian.  Madame  Wasp,  however,  is  not  always  unmindful 
of  the  presence  of  these  pests,  for  once  she  was  seen  to  make 
a  short  dash  at  the  dipteron,  and  turning  again  from  her  work, 
regard  the  unwelcome  insect. 

I  attempted  to  dig  out  three  burrows,  but  owing  to  the  loose 
and  unstable  chaiacter  of  the  soil  met  with  no  success.  There 
\vas  rttle  or  no  evidence  of  a  soil  heap  before  the  tunnels. 
which  might  lead  one  to  infer  that  the  wasp  did  much  tamping 
and  pishing  and  but  little  ejecting  of  the  soil.  The  nests  are 
probably  several-celled. 

Tachysphex. 

These  comprise  a  goodly  number  of  small  or  rather  small 
wasps,  largely  cursorial  in  habits.  They  are  much  less  pilose 
than  Tachytes,  and  are  exceedingly  active  in  their  movements. 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  201 

Tachysphex  fusns  Fox  and  to-mmatus  Smith. 

Though  neither  of  these  red-tipped  species  was  rare,  little 
was  noted  of  their  habits.  A  T.  fiisiif;  was  fallen  in  the  town  of 
Pratt,  in  southwest  Kansas,  endeavoring  to  fly  from  the  cement 
walk  with  an  immature  Melanoplua,  somewhat  larger  than  her- 
self. In  Ness  county,  another  of  these  wasps,  having  dug  lier 
nest  in  a  nearly  vertical  bank  of  earth,  stored  it  with  two  im- 
mature Tryxalinfe.  The  hole  was  two  and  one-half  inches 
long  and  contained  a  single  cell.  Terminatu.^,  which  is  very 
closely  related  to  fusus,  seems  to  have  about  the  same  habits  as 
the  latter,  being  taken  once  with  a  young  tryxalid.  A  Tachi/- 
sphex,  which  had  the  appearance  of  being  either  of  the  above 
species,  was  noticed  nesting  in  the  sand,  in  Graham  county, 
August,  1912.  She  had  evidently  closed  her  burrow  before 
going  to  the  hunt,  for  I  arrived  in  time  to  see  her  open  it  and 
enter,  to  reappear  immediately  to  reach  for  a  very  small  acrid- 
ian  which  she  had  deposited  before  the  hole.  This  orthopteron 
completed  the  store  of  provender,  for  she  commenced  filling  up 
the  burrow.  At  this  juncture  a  small  velvet  ant  (Mutilla)  was 
attracted  to  the  scene  of  operations,  and  lingered  about  the 
nest.  Tachijsplic.v  did  not  appreciate  the  visitor,  for  she  would 
approach  this  hard-shelled  insect,  and  to  all  appearances  try  to 
bite  it.  When  the  latter  ventured  to  enter  her  partly  filled 
tunnel  she  would  assist  Mittilla  in  no  gentle  manner  to  make 
her  exit  therefrom.  The  hole  was  at  length  filled  without 
accident,  and,  smoothing  over  the  site,  the  wasp  took  wing. 
The  tunnel  was  the  usual  short  affair  of  the  genus  Tachysphex, 
its  single  cell  containing  several  acridians  of  very  small  size. 

Tachysphex  plcnoculiforini-s   Williams. 

It  was  early  one  hot  July  afternoon  in  1911,  in  barren 
Haskell  county,  that  this  rather  diminutive  new  species  was 
seen  to  alight  on  the  sandy  soil,  holding  under  her  body  a  very 
young  tryxalid  locust.  Thus  burdened  she  ran  into  a  hole 
near  a  small  plant  of  Russian  thistle.  She  did  not  tarry  in- 
side, but  was  out  in  a  minute  or  two,  and  after  circling  about 
a  little  flew  afield.  At  1 :41  P.  M.  she  returned,  to  all  appear- 
ances empty-handed,  but  decidedly  immature  tryxalids  were 
brought  in  on  the  wing  at  1 :47,  1 :51,  1 :58  and  2 :08  P.  M.  In 
every  case  but  one  (when  she  released  her  burden  to  rest  for 
a  short  time)  she  flew  directly  to  the  tunnel  with  her  prey.  At 
2:13  she  commenced  to  fill  the  burrow  from  within,  backing 


202  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

in,  and  at  the  same  time  directing  a  load  of  sand  inside.  Now 
and  then  she  interrupted  her  labors  by  flying  to  an  adjoining 
weed  and  resting  thereon  for  a  very  short  time.  When  her 
work  had  the  appearance  of  being  nearly  done  she  was  cap- 
tured and  the  nest  dug  out.  The  latter  was  about  one  and 
four-fifths  inches  long  and  one  and  two-thirds  inches  deep, 
and  the  rather  enlarged  terminus  contained  six  young  locusts, 
which  exhibited  signs  of  life  by  a  very  slight  movement  of 
their  legs  and  antennse.  No  egg  was  found,  though  it  may  well 
have  been  lost  when  I  dug  out  the  tunnel. 

This  small  insect,  with  its  quick  flight  and  jerky  motions,  is 
quite  difficult  to  follow,  and  flies  to  and  from  her  nest  in  a 
manner  that  defies  pursuit. 

Tachysphex  p'>'opinquus  Viereck.      (Fig.   112,  wasp   and  prey.) 

In  the  hot  sandy  country  which  borders  the  Cimarron  river, 
in  southwestern  Kansas,  this  striking  species  was  frequently 
observed  digging  her  shallow  burrow  with  nervous  haste  or 
running  over  the  ground  with  wonderful  agility  in  search  of 
her  prey. 

The  following  notes,  taken  in  Grant  county  at  the  end  of 
July,  1911,  should  serve  to  illustrate  the  wasp's  habits  to  a 
good  extent.  On  July  26  at  10  :41  A.  M.  I  saw  a  little  Tachy- 
sphex running  over  the  sand.  Coming  upon  a  mature  Alpha 
crenulata  (Tryxalinse)  she  pounced  upon  it  and  subdued  it 
with  a  sting.  At  this  juncture  a  small  lizard  spied  the  wasp 
dragging  her  booty,  and  hurried  toward  the  pair.  The  reptile 
I  frightened  away,  and  likewise  the  Tachysphex,  which  never 
returned  to  her  prey.  Another  wasp,  however,  was  found 
near  by,  hunting.  This  was  at  10:55  a.m.  After  a  brief 
search,  during  which  she  ran  and  flew  a  shoit  distance  and 
explored  the  patches  of  short  grass  with  due  diligence,  she 
captured  and  stung  to  helple.ssness  an  Alpha,the  latter  hopping 
manfully  during  the  struggle.  Then  propinquus  went  off  to 
one  side,  where  she  brushed  and  cleansed  herself  and  rested 
for  a  short  time.  Then  she  placed  herself  astride  her  prey 
(which  lay  on  its  back),  seized  it  by  the  base  of  the  antennse, 
carried  it  a  short  distance,  to  let  go  her  hold  to  malaxate  (?) 
her  victim,  remaining  quietly  over  the  latter  with  her  man- 
dibles opened  to  their  full  extent  and  appressed  to  the  Alpha's 
neck,  or  head,  the  attitude  suggesting  that  the  wasp  might  be 
engaged  in  lapping  up  a  fluid.    She  soon  resumed  her  journey. 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF    KANSAS.  203 

Resting  now  and  then,  she  proceeded  by  active  httle  jumps 
and  very  quick  running  and  went  directly  into  her  hole,  bur- 
dened as  she  was.  She  was  soon  seen  working  the  soil  down- 
wards from  inside,  backing  in  and  throwing  in  the  dirt  simul- 
taneously with  her  long-fringed  fore  feet,  at  times  vibrating 
her  whole  body  longitudinally  and  swaying  it,  as  described  later 
in  tarsatus.  After  working  herself  almost  to  the  surface  she 
did  some  leveling,  attacking  the  remainder  of  the  soil  heap  and 
directing  the  dirt  toward  the  now  nearly  filled  tunnel.  At 
short  intervals  she  turned  around  and  looked  briefly  in  the 
direction  she  had  been  throwing  the  dirt,  as  if  to  make  sure 
that  her  efforts  were  being  applied  in  the  right  direction. 
When  she  had  nearly  completed  her  work  she  was  captured. 
The  tunnel  was  in  good  sandy  soil  and  located  in  a  footprint.* 
The  gallery  was  packed  with  soil  down  to  the  locust,  upon 
which  the  long,  curved  egg  was  placed  as  usual.  But  a  short 
time  is  required  to  dig  the  nest,  and  when  she  is  nearly  or 
quite  through  with  this  work  she  emerges  head  first,  instead  of 
backing  out  as  is  done  when  in  the  midst  of  her  excavating. 

Propinquus  is  not  very  select  in  choosing  her  prey,  for  in 
addition  to  Alpha  crenulata  as  food  for  the  grub,  Ageneotettix 
deorum,  Mestobregma  kiowa  and  what  appeared  to  be  an 
immature  Opeia  were  also  captured.  Some  of  these  Orthop- 
tera  are  giants  in  size  in  comparison  with  their  captor;  the 
latter  frequently  has  a  strenuous  time  of  it  in  subduing  and 
dragging  them  to  her  burrow.  The  locusts  sometimes  escape. 
On  one  occasion  a  Derotmena,  having  been  startled  by  one  of 
these  wasps,  spread  out  and  elevated  its  bright  red  wings 
somewhat  as  an  open  fan,  the  insect  thus  presenting  an  un- 
usual if  not  a  startling  efl'ect. 

The  measurements  taken  of  four  tunnels  are  as  follows: 
Length,  21/2,  2,  3,  and  2Vi  inches ;  depth,  2,  1,  2,  and  II/2  inches. 
Tachysphex  tarsatus  Say.     (Fig.  117,  egg.) 

Rather  extended  observations  were  made  on  this  perse- 
vering and  industrious  little  insect.  In  a  certain  limited  area 
in  Meade  county  the  burrows  were  scattered  somewhat  indis- 
criminately over  the  ground,  and  might  thus  be  termed  a  loose 
settlement  of  tarsatus.  The  weeds  were  rather  sparse  here, 
making  it  easy  for  the  observer  to  follow  the  actions  of  the 

*  It  may  be  -nell  to  state  that  these  wasps,  as  well  as  some  of  the  Sphecidse,  seem  to 
realize  that  the  impression  made  by  a  foot  or  hoof  affords  an  easy  start  in  digging  where 
the  crust  of  soil  is  broken,  and  accordingly  such  spots  are  often  selected. 


204  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

insect.  Her  mode  of  procedure  consisted  in  running  very 
rapidly  in  a  rather  zigzag  fashion  (when  she  much  resembled 
a  male  Mutillidse,  or  velvet  ant),  with  occasional  little  fly'ng 
jumps,  and  more  rarely  with  a  lightning-like  flight  of  a  few 
feet,  to  a  new  hunting  ground,  when,  as  one  would  be  led  to 
believe,  she  deemed  the  old  one  explored  or  unproductive.  The 
insect,  as  if  mindful  of  the  burden  she  must  carry,  does  not 
wander  far  from  her  burrow. 

One  July  morning  at  9:15  A.  M.  I  watched  this  little  Tachy- 
sphex  hunting.  She  ran  rapidly  over  the  ground,  passing  by 
the  larger  Acridiidse,  which  would  often  lift  up  their  legs  in  a 
threatening  manner  at  the  wasp's  approach.  An  insect  which 
she  deemed  unsuitable  she  would  inspect  with  scarce  a  pause, 
but  a  desirable  one  she  often  pursued  in  flight.  Every  now 
and  then  she  would  stop  and  rest  for  a  few  seconds.  Her 
powers  of  vision  did  not  appear  to  be  particularly  good,  for  on 
occasions  she  passed  within  an  inch  or  two  of  a  terrified 
nymph,  which,  evidently  aware  of  the  nature  of  the  hymenop- 
teron,  would  leap  away  at  her  approach,  dodge  behind  a  plant 
stem,  or  lift  up  its  defensive  legs.  This  last  action  was  more 
than  a  threat,  for  more  than  once  have  I  seen  a  Taclnjsphex 
repulsed  for  a  time  by  a  well-directed  kick  from  the  frantic 
orthopteron.  However,  the  aggressor  would  return  instantly 
to  the  fray  if  her  prospective  prey  had  not  already  made  good 
its  escape. 

At  9:27  A.  M.  the  tarsaUis  under  consideration,  after  a  brief 
pursuit,  pounced  upon  a  Melanoplus  nymph,  clinging  te- 
naciously to  the  same  as  it  struggled,  and  finally  quieted  it 
with  a  sting  under  the  thorax.  After  a  brief  pause,  during 
which  she  cleansed  herself  and  rested,  she  placed  herself 
astride  her  heavy  victim  (which  lay  on  its  back),  seized  it  by 
the  base  of  the  antennae,  and,  using  her  first  two  pairs  of  legs 
for  running,  clasping  her  prey  with  the  third,  proceeded  thus 
at  a  run,  varied  with  a  frequent  buzzing  hop,  to  her  nest, 
about  twenty  feet  distant.  She  overran  her  destination,  how- 
ever, by  four  or  five  feet,  but  retracing  her  steps  soon  located 
her  burrow,  placed  the  locust  within,  and  verj'  shortly  after 
filled  up  the  hole.  Then  she  concealed  the  site  to  a  fair  degree, 
exhibiting  less  skill  in  this  than  the  careful  Ammophila.  Her 
work  was  completed  at  9  :51  A.  M.,  or  twenty-four  minutes  after 
the  capture  of  her  prey. 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  205 

I  dug  out  this  nest.  It  was  a  little  more  than  one  and  one- 
half  inches  long  and  terminated  not  quite  an  inch  below  the 
surface  of  the  ground.  The  tunnel  was  rather  loosely  packed 
with  soil  down  to  the  Melanoplus,  which  lay  on  its  back,  quite 
immovable,  its  head  toward  the  slightly  enlarged  end  of  the 
tunnel.  A  long,  pale  greenish  and  somewhat  curved  egg  of 
Tachyspliex  was  fastened  transversely  across  the  prosternum 
(fig.  117). 

The  habits  of  this  specimen  typically  exemplify  those  of 
several  other  tarsatus  observed.  The  tunnel,  which  is  always 
dug  before  the  hunt  begins,  is  left  open  while  Tachysphex  is 
afield.  It  is  of  comparatively  large  bore,  slightly  inclined,  and 
not  more  than  two  inches  long.  As  a  rule,  a  single  locust  suf- 
fices for  one  wasp  grub  in  this  species ;  I  have  never  seen  more 
than  two  acridians  to  one  nest.  Though  more  often  the  prey 
is  one  of  the  Melanopli  (immature),  Qildipodinfe  as  well  as 
Tryxalinjp  are  also  used.  These  are  frequently  placed  imme- 
diately before  the  burrow,  which  the  wasp  first  enters,  to 
reach  out  again,  seize  the  locust  by  the  antennse  and  drag  it 
within.  If  the  prey  is  quite  small,  and  therefore  not  sufficient 
food  for  the  wasp's  progeny,  two  are  used,  in  which  case  the 
tunnel  may  not  be  spacious  enough  to  admit  Tachyspliex  and 
victim  together. 

This  insect,  among  others,  suffers  considerably  from  the  at- 
tacks of  a  very  small  tachinid  fly  (Diptera),  an  exceedingly 
quick  and  watchful  creature,  which  deposits  her  own  young 
usually  upon  the  food  intended  for  the  larrid  grub,  and  as  at 
least  some  of  the  tiny  maggots  are  found,  immediately  after 
their  deposition,  on  or  near  the  wasp's  egg,  the  latter  is  doubt- 
less destroyed.  Whilst  a  tarmtus  was  hunting,  this  minute 
dipteron  was  seen  to  follow  her  closely,  alighting  near  by  when 
the  wasp  rested,  or  poising  directly  behind  her.  The  wasp's 
first  search  being  fruitless,  she  returned  to  the  burrow  empty- 
handed.  This  seemed  to  suit  the  little  fly,  however,  for  she  re- 
mained near  the  revealed  hole  while  Tachyspliex  sallied  forth 
again,  this  time  to  meet  with  success.  As  she  was  nearing  her 
tunnel,  astride  her  prey,  a  little  fly  flew  out  to  meet  and  follow 
her.  At  the  hole  were  two  other  similar  flies,  evidently  in  a 
state  of  excitement  over  the  advent  of  the  wasp  and  prey.  The 
owner,  depositing  the  locust  before  the  entrance,  immediately 
went  within.  At  this  juncture  one  of  the  tachinids  alighted 
for  a  second  or  less  on  the  thorax  of  the  paralyzed  victim. 


206  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 

which  was  quickly  pulled  into  the  burrow  by  the  wasp,  but 
here  the  two  remaining  flies  followed  within,  and  after  a  very 
short  stay  there  came  out.  I  examined  the  orthopteron  as  soon 
after  this  event  as  possible  (probably  within  two  minutes), 
to  discover  four  very  minute  fly  maggots  on  and  about  the 
larrid's  egg. 

In  the  case  where  tarsattts  entered  her  burrow  without  any 
pause,  carrying  her  prey  beneath  her,  a  fly  followed  her  and  did 
not  tarry  therein  for  more  than  a  second  or  two.  Failing  on 
one  occasion  to  viviposit  on  the  orthopteron  which  tarsatiis 
was  dragging  within  her  tunnel,  the  little  tachinid  balanced 
herself  on  the  top  edge  of  the  hole  and  dropped  one  or  more 
maggots  directly  in  front  of  the  opening.  The  wasp  being 
within  at  the  time,  would,  perhaps,  in  filling  up  her  burrow, 
throw  the  maggots,  along  with  some  sand,  towards  the  locust. 
It  seems  doubtful,  however,  if  these  larvse  would  be  able  to 
reach  the  latter.  Rapid  as  these  wasps  are,  the  flies  are  often 
able  to  follow  them  in  their  short,  lightning-like  flights. 

In  fining  up  her  tunnel  tarsatus  occasionally  produced  a 
squeaky  little  buzz.  She  gets  up  on  the  mound  of  extracted  soil 
and  backs  into  the  hole,  throwing  the  earth  therein  with  her 
fore  feet,  coming  out  now  and  then  to  get  more  soil.  When  the 
tunnel  was  nearly  filled  it  was  easy  to  observe  in  what  manner 
the  wasp  works.  Throwing  in  the  dirt,  she  backs  in  and 
vibrates  or  shakes  her  whole  body  longitudinally  against  the 
latter,  thus  pounding  in  the  soil  with  the  tip  of  her  abdomen. 
She  would  also  sway  her  body  from  side  to  side  while  vibrat- 
ing, with  the  evident  purpose  of  embracing  all  the  necessary 
area  in  the  operation.  This  process  reminds  one  of  a  minute 
steam  hammer  at  work.  As  soon  as  Tachysphex  deems  the 
site  of  her  burrow  sufficiently  disguised  she  takes  wing,  prob- 
ably to  repeat  the  oft  tedious  process  of  providing  for  her  off"- 
spring. 

Tachysphex  texanus  Cresson. 

This  insect,  which  bears  a  superficial  resemblance  to  tarsa- 
tus, was  seen  but  once,  in  Barton  county,  carrying  her  prey,  an 
immature  cedipode  of  very  small  size. 

Atypical  Larridie. 
We  now  come  to  what  may  be  termed  the  atypical  Larridae, 
which  differ  from  the  true  Larridae  (Larrinse)  in  having  three 
perfect  ocelli.    Less  is  known  of  the  habits  of  this  group  than 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OP   KANSAS.  207 

of  the  Larrinse,  just  reviewed.  In  addition  to  Orthoptera, 
Hemiptera  and  spiders  are  captured  by  certain  of  the  wasps 
to  be  considered. 

Lyroda  subita  Say. 

Mr.  W.  H.  Patton  (Ent.  News,  III,  p.  90;  1892)  says,  con- 
cerning this  species :  It  "is  peculiar  for  its  nonfossorial  tarsi, 
and  its  method  of  carrying  Nemobius,  which  it  catches  to  feed 
its  young,  is  interesting.  It  holds  the  cricket  by  clasping  the 
base  of  the  antennse  between  its  mandibles  and  clypeus,  the 
minute  teeth  preventing  the  antennse  from  slipping;  this  ex- 
plains the  use  of  the  teeth  on  the  clypeus." 

The  Peckhams  (Instincts  and  Habits  of  the  Solitary  Wasps) 
have  observed  that  this  insect  uses  small  crickets  to  store  her 
rather  deep  nest,  and  that  she  closes  her  burrow  before  seeking 
her  prey.  That  she  also  feeds  her  young  from  day  to  day  is 
also  their  belief. 

L.  subita  was  seen  on  a  few  occasions  searching  for  her  prey, 
traveling  at  a  rather  slow  gait  for  a  larrid,  occasionally  en- 
tering cracks  or  shifting  her  locality  by  a  short  swift  flight. 
Plenocuhis  apicalis  Williams.    (Fig.  120,  larva  in  situ.) 

This  active  little  fellow  (about  4.25  mm.  long)  was  not  un- 
common in  Phillips  county  during  the  latter  part  of  August, 
1912.  Here  a  small  sandy  hollow  in  the  midst  of  a  sandy 
pasture  furnished  a  fair  supply  of  Plenoculus.  The  small, 
mat-like  Euphorbia  plants  were  quite  attractive  to  the  smaller 
Larridse,  while  an  occasional  Plenoculus  could  now  and  then  be 
seen  running  up  and  down  the  stalks  of  sunflower  plants,  as  if 
engaged  in  seeking  their  hemipterous  prey.  Not  far  removed 
from  this  locality  a  broad  and  sandy  pathway  leading  from 
"bottom  land"  up  to  the  bluff,  and  possessed  of  a  good,  sunny 
exposure,  was  still  more  productive  in  this  species  of  larrid, 
and  here  I  was  fortunate  in  observing  a  little  of  their  nesting 
habits. 

During  the  early  part  of  the  afternoon  of  August  31  two 
female  wasps  were  seen  storing  their  nests  with  mature  as 
well  as  immature  Atomoscelis,  probably  seriatus  Rent.  (Cap- 
sidfe),  which  they  readily  carried  on  the  wing.  The  bugs, 
which  are  green  and  about  3  mm.  long,  were  carried  beneath 
the  body  of  its  captor,  but  just  in  what  manner  could  not  be 
determined.  I  watched  one  of  these  Plenoculus  make  four 
trips,  bringing  in  bugs  at  1 :22,  1 :2.5,  1 :34,  and  1 :40  P.  M.,  the 


208  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

hole  being  always  left  open  when  the  insect  was  afield.  Catch- 
ing the  two  wasps,  I  endeavored  to  dig  out  their  nests.  This 
proved  to  be  a  difficult  task,  owing  to  the  sandy  soil  and  to  a 
severe  shower  which  came  up.  The  nest  aperture  was  not 
neat,  and  the  shaft  sloping.  The  latter  I  soon  lost,  but  a  little 
later  succeeded  in  running  across  several  cells  an  inch  or  two 
beneath  the  surface,  in  firm,  moist  sand,  quite  warm  in  the 
afternoon  sun.  One  of  these  chambers  contained  about  six 
bugs,  another  five,  and  in  all  I  obtained  about  thirty-four 
Hemiptera  from  this  nest.  The  cells  were  at  least  six  in  num- 
ber, rather  large  and  well  packed  with  victims,  upon  one  of 
which  was  a  half-grown  wasp  larva  transversely  arranged 
with  its  mouth  parts  in  the  skin  immediately  back  of  one  of 
the  fore  coxse. 

The  Peckhams  (Wasps  Social  and  Solitary,  p.  95-6)  found 
PI.  peckhami  building  her  nest  in  the  stems  of  raspberry 
bushes,  partitioning  its  cells  with  earthen  granules,  which  are 
later  used  by  the  larvse  in  forming  the  case  of  the  cocoon.  As 
many  as  nine  cells  were  found  in  one  nest  of  this  insect.  It 
provisions  the  cells  with  immature  bugs  of  the  genus  Pamera 
(Lygasidas). 

XiteHopsis  inerme  Cresson.  (Fig.  119,  egg  in  ^itti.) 
Although  this  dusky  little  insect  was  not  uncommon  in  cer- 
tain localities,  very  little  could  be  ascertained  about  its  habits. 
Specimens  were  taken  at  Rush  Center,  Rush  county,  June  19, 
1912,  flying  low  and  quite  swiftly  over  hard,  sparsely  vegetated 
ground.  They  alighted  but  rarely.  At  Hays,  Ellis  county, 
about  .July  18,  1912,  I  located  an  inerme  burrow  in  a  small 
area  of  bare  clayey  soil.  When  I  arrived  on  the  scene  of  action 
she  had  already  stored  her  nest  and  was  filling  the  same  with 
pellets  of  earth.  With  these  she  at  first  descended  out  of  sight, 
but  as  the  hole  was  being  rapidly  filled,  she  was  soon  exposed 
to  view.  She  worked  with  great  rapidity,  flying  to  and  fro 
a  distance  of  a  foot  or  less,  selecting  bits  of  earth.  Fearing  to 
lose  her,  she  was  netted  before  her  work  was  completed. 

The  tunnel  was  neat  and  round,  almost  vertical,  one  and  one- 
half  inches  long,  and  cohesively  silk-lined  for  about  half  its 
length.  I  suspect  its  original  proprietor  must  have  been  a 
spider.  The  bottom  of  the  hole  was  not  enlarged  into  a  cell, 
but  perpendicularly  filled  with  five  immature  green  Hemipter?. 
of  the  family  Capsidse.     One  of  these  (fig.  119)  had  a  large, 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^E   OF   KANSAS.  203 

curved  wasp  egg  transversely  arranged  and  secured  at  its 
cephalic  end  behind  the  first  pair  of  legs.  The  curve  of  this 
egg  conformed  rather  nicely  to  the  convexity  of  the  bug's 
venter,  and  was  stouter  than  the  egg  of  either  Tachytefi  or 
Tachyspex. 

Niteliopsis  fossor,  a  large  species  in  another  division  of  this 
genus,  has  been  taken  by  Mr.  Rohwer,  of  the  United  States 
National  Museum,  with  an  immature  cedipode  ( Orthoptera ) . 
This  wasp  has  not  thus  far  been  found  in  Kansas. 

MiSCOPHUS    Spp. 

Nothing  on  the  biology  of  our  native  species  was  observed ; 
more  is  known  of  the  habits  of  this  genus  in  Europe. 

Saunders  (Hymen.  Aculeata,  p.  84;  1896)  tells  us  that 
Miscophus  concolor  Dahlb.  "provisions  its  nest  with  a  small, 
white-bodied  spider,  whicli  is  found  commonly  on  heath 
(Smith)." 

Ferton  (Actes  de  la  Soc.  Lineenne  de  Bordeau,  XLVIII, 
266-8  ;  1895)  has  notes  relating  to  several  species.  M.  (jaUicu>f, 
niger,  nicolar  and  honifaticieni<is  were  observed  to  store  their 
tunnels  (which  were  quite  shallow  and  excavated  in  sand) 
with  small  spiders.  From  seven  to  twelve  of  the  latter,  which 
may  belong  to  several  families,  were  found  in  one  cell  of 
M.  bicolor.  The  author  informs  us  that  Miscophus  bears  her 
paralyzed  prey  in  her  mandibles,  and  proceeds  with  little  hops 
afoot,  or  with  flying  leaps.  Sometimes  she  malaxates  her  prey, 
without  doubt,  as  Ferton  says,  for  the  purpose  of  extractin?' 
a  liqu'd  ("pour  tirer  sans  doute  une  liquid").  The  spider  may 
survive  in  a  helpless  state  for  as  long  as  two  months,  as  Ferton 
has  shown.  The  cocoon  is  very  strong  and  composed  of  ag- 
glutinized  grains  of  sand. 

Hartman,  in  his  Observations  on  the  Habits  of  Some  Solitary 
Wasps  of  Texas  (Bull.  65,  Scientific  Series,  Univ.  of  Texas, 
p.  55-6;  1905)  speaks  of  a  Miscophus  preying  upon  "young 
epeirids  of  convenient  size.  These  are  carried  on  the  wing  or 
afoot,  depending  on  the  weight  of  the  victims.  To  quote  th's 
author:  "This  wasp  grasps  the  paralyzed  spider  with  her 
mandibles  by  two  or  more  of  its  legs,  slings  it  on  her  back 
and  marches  ofl  with  it,  walking  forward,  the  spider  hanging 
rather  to  one  side  in  an  uncomfortable  and  rather  awkward- 
looking  manner."  The  nest  is  very  small,  one-celled,  and,  as 
in  the  European  species,  is  closed  while  the  owner  is  away. 


210  kansas  university  science  bulletin. 

Summary. 

The  Larridse  are  very  active  insects ;  on  the  whole,  more 
partial  to  sandy  situations  than  to  those  having  rich  heavy 
soil.  They  are  therefore  more  abundant  in  western  than  in 
eastern  Kansas. 

The  males  are  frequently  seen  on  flowers  or  basking  in 
the  sun.  They  were  only  observed  to  work  when  excavating 
short  tunnels,  in  which  they  probably  passed  the  night. 

The  prey  of  the  larger  wasps  (Larrinje)  consists  of  orthop- 
terous  insects,  of  which  more  than  one  genus,  or  even  sub- 
family, may  serve  as  food  for  a  single  species.  The  prey  of 
the  smaller  ones,  having  three  perfect  ocelli,  seems  to  consist 
for  the  most  part  of  hemipterous  insects,  although  some  use 
Orthoptera  and  a  few  Arachnida   (spiders). 

The  Larridse  hunt  on  the  wing  or  afoot,  and  may  drag  or 
even  fly  with  their  prey.  The  latter  is  frequently  far  larger 
than  the  wasp,  and  is  subdued  by  a  sting  under  the  thorax. 

The  nests  are  almost  always  terrestrial,  consisting  in  certain 
genera  of  one  cell,  in  others  of  several,  to  many  cells;  they 
may  therefore  require  from  an  hour  or  two  to  several  days 
for  their  construction  and  provisioning.  They  are  usually  left 
open  when  the  wasp  is  afield. 

The  egg  of  the  wasp,  with  the  exception  of  Miscophus,  is 
placed  transversely  across  the  prosternum  of  the  prey — a  sit- 
uation where  it  is  unlikely  to  be  injured. 

The  Larridfe  suffer  heavily  from  the  attacks  of  small 
Tachinid^,  which  follow  the  female  to  her  nest  and  viviposit 
on  or  near  the  food  intended  for  the  young  wasp. 

Most  frequently  the  insects  nest  in  small,  loose  colonies. 
When  nesting  they  are  not  usually  timid,  and  can  be  studied 
from  a  very  short  distance. 

The  writer  has  found  nothing  in  the  habits  of  those  or  other 
Hymenoptera,  however  wonderful  they  may  appear,  that  can 
be  attributed  to  intelligence. 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  211 

Table  to  Show  the  Prey  of  the  Larrid^. 


Wasp. 

Prey. 

Order  to  wh  ch 
prey  belongs. 

Gryllidse 

Larra  an  itheiiia  (Europe) 

Mole-crickets  (Gryllidfe) 

Notogonia  argentata.    

Larropsis  divisa 

Irr.mature  Gryllus  (GryllidEe) 

Ceutophilus  sp.  (Locustidas) 

Immature  Teit'pinffi  ai.d  Acridiinse.. . 

Var.ou-  Melanop  i,  M.femui-rubium, 
usually   immature:    Ageneotettix 
deorum.    mature    (Acridiinfe   and 
TryxaliriEe)  .    . . 

Tachytes  disti   ctus 

Tachytes  fulviventris 

Mature  Alpha  crenulata  (Tryxalinse) 
Xiphidium  brevii.enne  (Locus  idae),. 
XiphidiumardimmatureUrchelimum, 
Immnture  Tettiginse  (?) 

Tachy te-^  harpax 

Tachytes  mandibularia  . . 

Tachytes  mergus 

Tachytes  obductus 

Tachytes  obsoleius  (Eurone) 

Tachy.eap  mpihformis  (Europe).. 

Tachy  es  rufofascatus , 

Ynung  CEdipoiina; 

Immature  Gryllus    ■  ufua,    grasshop- 
pers   (Chortipus);    lepidopterous 
larvae* 

Immature  Melanoplus  cyanipes.  ma- 
ture   and     immature    Melanopli 
(Acridiin^).    

Almost  exclu- 

Tachytes  tarsina  (Europe) 

Tachysphex  fusus   

Tachysphex  hitei 

Immature  Acridiidas 

Immature  Melanopli  (Acridiin^) 

Immature   Litaneutria   minor    (Man- 
tid^) 

tera;  the  two 
exceptions^)  are 
Lepidoptera 

Tachysphex  panzeri  fEurope) 

Tachysphex  plenoculiformis 

Ma  ur-.'  Alpha  crenulata.  Ageneotet- 
tix     deorum     and      Mestobregma 
l<iowa;  immature  Opeia  sp.  (Tryx- 
alinae  and  CEdip  dinae) 

Immaturt- Acridiir:e     

Immature  Melanoplus  spretus 

Immature  AcridiiuEe.   Tryxalinse  and 
CEdip  dina? 

Chortophaga     viridifasciata      imma- 
ture Tryxalinffi 

Immature  CEdipdinae.  flies  (Diptera)* 

Nemobius;  small  crickets  (Gryllidge).. 

Matur*^   and     immature   Atomoscelis 
sp.  (Capsidse) 

Immature  Pamei  asp.  (Lygseidae)    .. 

Immature  (EdipodinteT 

Immature  Capsidae 

Various  small  spiders.  Epeiridaet    . 

Tachysphex  quebecensia 

Tachysphex  semirufa 

Tachysphex  tarsatus 

Tachysphex  terminatus 

Tachysphex  texanus. ..   . 

Lyroda  subita 

Plenoculus  apicalis 

Plonoculu-  peckhami 

Niteliopsis  fossor 

.  Hemiptera.  —  Ex- 
ceptions: (1)  Or- 
thopteraand  Ar- 
achnids. 

Miscophus  spp.  (Europe  and  U.  S.) 

BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

Systematic. 
185.3-'58— Smith.     Brit.   Mus.  Cat.  Hym.,  I-VI. 
1865— Cresson,   E.   T.     Cat.   Hym.   in   Coll.   Ent.   Soc.   Phil.,  from   Colo. 

Terr.     Proc.   Ent.   Soc.  Phil.,  IV,  426-488. 
1872 — Cresson,  E.  T.     Hymenoptera  Texana.     Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  IV, 

153-292. 

1873— Saunders,  S.  S.  On  the  Habits  and  Economy  of  Certain  Hy- 
menopterous  Insects  which  Nidificate  in  Briars;  and  their  Para- 
sites. Trans.  Ent.  Soc.  London,  II,  3d  ser.,  410-11.  (Genus 
Niteliopsis.) 

]879-'80 — Patton,  W.  H.  List  of  Aculeate  Hymenoptera  Collected  in 
Noi-thwestern  Kansas.  Bull.  U.  S.  Geol.  and  Geograph.  Surv. 
Terr.,  V,  No.  3,  349-70. 

1879-'80— Snow,  P.  H.  Prelim.  List  Kansas  and  Colo.  Hym.  Trans. 
Kans.  Acad.  Sci.,  VII,  93-8. 


212  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

1880 — Patton,  W.  H.     List  of  the  N.  A.  Larrid».     Proc.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat. 

Hist.,  XX,  385-97.     (Key  to  genera,  etc.) 
1880 — Saunders,  E.     Synop.  Brit.  Heterogyna  and   Fossorial   Hymenop. 

Trans.  Ent.  Soc.  London,  XVIIII,  ser.  3,  201-304. 
1887 — Cresson,  E.   T.   Synop.   Fam.  and  Gen.   Hymenop.  America   N.   of 

Mex.     Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  supplementary  vol. 
1892— Patton,  W.  H.     Notes  upon  Larrida;.     Ent.  News,  III,  89-90. 
1892 — Fox,  W.  J.     Notes  on  the  Larridse,  by  Wm.  H.  Patton.     Ent.  News, 

III,  1.38. 
1892 — Fox,  W.  J.     Monograph  of  the  N.  A.  Species  of  Tachytes.     Trans. 

Am.  Ent.  Soc,  XIX,  234-52. 
1893 — Fox,   W.   J.      The   North    American    Larrida.      Proc.    Acad.    Nat. 

Sci.  Phil.,  467-551. 
1894 — Reed,    E.    C.      Los    Fosores    6    Avispas    Cavadores    (Entomolojia 

Chilena).     Annales   de   la   Universidad,    Santiago   de   Chile,    Ban- 
dera 73. 
1896 — Saunders.     Hymenoptera  Aculeata. 
1896 — Kohl,  F.  F.  Die  Gattungen  der  Sphegiden.     Ann.  Hofmus.  Wien, 

XI,  234-516. 
1898 — Bridwell,  J.  C.     A  List  of  Kansas  Hymenop.     Trans.  Kans.  Acad. 

Sci.  XVI,  203-16. 
1899 — ^Ashmead,  W.  H.     Four  New  Species  Belonging  to  the  Genus  Ple- 

noculus   (and  key  to  spp.).     Psyche,  337-9. 
1899 — Ashmead,    W.    H.      Classification    of    Fossorial,    Predaceous    and 

Parasitic  Wasps.     Can.  Ent.,  XXXI. 
1901 — Ashmead,    W.    H.      Synopsis    of    the    Families    of    Hymenoptera. 

Proc.   U.  S.  N.   M.,  XXIII,  191-205. 
1901— Sharp,  D.     Camb.  Nat.  Hist.  Ins.,  pt.  2,  107-118. 
1906 — Viereck,    H.    L.      Notes    and    Descriptions    of   Hymenoptera    from 

Western  U.  S.     Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  XXXII,  17.3-247. 
1906 — Smith,   H.   S.     Some  New   Larridae  from  Nebraska.     Ent.   News. 

XVII,  246-8. 
1908— Smith,  H.  S.     The  Sphegoidea  of  Nebraska.     Univ.  Studies,  No.  4, 

U.  of  Neb. 
1909 — Rohwer,  S.  A.     New  Hymenpotera  from  Western  United  States. 

Trans.  Am.  Ent.  Soc,  XXXV,  99-136.    (Table  to  sp.  of  Niteliopsis.) 
1909 — Rohwer,  S.  A.     Notes  and   Descriptions  of  Wasps  of  the  Genus 

Tachytes.     Ent.  News  XX,  197-200.     (Key  to  groups.) 
1910 — Mercet;  R.  G.     Los  Larridos  de  Espana.     Boletin  de  la  Soc  Espnn. 

de  Hist.  Nat.,  tomo  X,  num.  2-3,  p.  160-166. 
1911— Rohwer,  S.  A.     New  Species  of  Wasps.     Proc  U.  S.  N.  M.,  XL., 

570-87.     (Key  to  groups  and  species.) 

Biologic. 

1880— Patton,  VV.  H.     List  of  the  N.  A.  LairiJas.     Iroc  Bo:t.  Si:.  N.u. 
Hist..  XX,  396-7.    (Tachytes  harpax,  etc.) 


WILLIAMS:     LARRID^   OF   KANSAS.  213 

1892— Patton,  W.  H.     Notes  upon  LarridK.     Ent  News,  III,  89-90. 
1894 — Ashmead,  W.  H.     The  Habits  of  Aculeate  Hymenoptera.     Psyche, 

63-4. 
1895 — Ferton.     Sur.  les  Moers  des  Miscophus.     Actes  de  la   Soe.   Linn. 

de  Bordeau,  XLVIII,  266-8. 

1897 — Weed,    C.    M.      Life    Histories    of    American    Insects,    p.    147-151, 

New  York.    (Tachysphex?) 
1898— Peckham,    G.    W.    and    E.    G.     Instincts    and    Habits   of    Solitary 

Wasps.     Bull.  No.  2,  Scien.  Ser.  No.  1,  Wis.  Geol.  and  Nat.  Hist. 

Surv. 

1800 — Peckham,  G.  W.  and  E.  G.  Additional  Observations  on  the  In- 
stincts and  Habits  of  the  Solitary  Wasps.  Bull.  Wis.  Nat.  Hist. 
Soc.  I,  new  ser.,  No.  2,  p.  85-93. 

1901— Sharp,  D.     Camb.  Nat.  Hist.  Ins.,  pt.  II,  116-118,  etc. 

1905 — Hartman,  C.  Observations  on  Some  Solitary  Wasps  of  Texas. 
Bull.  U.  of  Tex.,  Scientific  Ser.  No.  6. 

1905— Peckham,  G.  W.  and  E.  G.     Wasps  Social  and  Solitary. 

A  natotnic. 

1887 — Cresson,  E.  T.  Synop.  Fam.  and  Gen.  Hymenop.  Amer.  Trans. 
Am.  Ent.  Soc.,  supplemntary  vol.,  p.  1-7. 

1901— Sharp,  D.     Camb.  Nat.  Hist.  Ins.,  pt.  II,  p.  5,  13-18. 

1902 — Comstock  and  Kochi.  The  Skeleton  of  the  Head  of  Insects.  Am. 
Nat.,  XXXVI,  No.  421,  pp.  13-45. 

1903— Packard,  A.  S.     Textbook  of  Entomology,  New  York. 

1906— Fernald,  H.  T.  The  Digger  Wasps  of  N.  A.  and  West  Indies 
Belonging  to  the  Subfamily  Chlorioninse.  Proc.  U.  S.  N.  M., 
XXXI,  295-307. 

1910— Snodgrass,  R.  E.  The  Thorax  of  Hymenoptera.  Proc.  U.  S. 
N.   M.,  XXXIX,  37-91. 

1910— Snodgrass,  R.  E.  The  Anatomy  of  the  Honey  Bee.  Bull.  18, 
Tech.  Ser.,  U.  S.  D.  A.,  Bureau  of  Ent. 

1912 — MacGillivray,  A.  D.  Lacinia  in  Hymenoptera.  Ann.  Ent.  Soc. 
Am.,  V,  231-8. 


7-Univ.  Sci.  Bull.,  Vol.  VIII.  No.  4. 


THE 

KANSAS  UNIVERSITY 
SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 


Vol.  VIII,  No.  5— July,  1913. 

(Whole  Series,   Vol.   XVIII,   No.   5.) 


CONTENTS: 


Notes  on  Three  Sesiid^  (Lepidoptera)  Affecting  the 
"Missouri  Gourd"  (Cucurbita  fcetidissima  H.  B.  K.) 
in  Kansas   Francis  X.  WilHanui 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  UNIVERSITY, 
LAWRENCE,  KAN. 


Entered  at  the  post-office  in  Lawrence  as  second-class  matter. 


5-83S 


KANSAS  STATE   PRINTING  OFFICE. 

W.  C.  Austin,  State  Printer. 

TOPEKA,      1914. 


THE  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY 
SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 

Vol.  VIII,  No.  5]         JULY,  1913.  W^frCs. 


Notes  on  Three  Sesidse  (Lepidoptera)  Affect- 
ing the  "Missouri  Gourd"  {Cucurbita 
foitidissima  H .  B.  K  )  in 
Kansas. 

BY   FRANCIS   X.    WILLIAMS. 
Plates  XXXI  and  XXXII. 

Melittia  gloriosa  Hy.  Edwards. 
(Bull.  Brook.  Ent.  Soc,  III,  71;   1880.)      PI.  XXXI,  fig.  6. 

THIS,  a  near  relative  of  our  common  "squash-vine  borer," 
is  a  very  large  and  handsome  "clearwing"  moth,  with 
brilliant    red,    pale    yellow,    and    blue-black    markings, 
strongly  tufted  legs,  and  an  alar  expanse  in  some  of  the  large 
females  of  somewhat  more  tlian  65  mm. 

As  far  as  I  am  aware,  M.  gloriosa'has  not  been  reported  here- 
tofore from  Kansas,  where  it  was  taken  on  the  Kansas  Uni- 
versity Biological  Survey,  in  two  counties,  viz.,  Seward,  in  the 
southwe.st,  during  August,  1911,  and  Graham,  more  towards 
the  northwestern  portion  of  the  state,  in  August,  1912.  In 
the  latter  county  but  one  specimen  was  taken,  while  upwards 
of  two  dozen  were  secured  in  Seward  county.  An  extensive 
field  of  sandy  soil  on  the  banks  of  the  Cimarron  river  supported 
a  number  of  large,  wide-spreading  Cncurbita,  and  it  was  about 
these  ill-.smelling  vines  that  glnrio.m  was  taken.  The  majority 
of  the  moths  were  in  fresh  condition,  for  many  were  just 
emerging.  This  seemed  to  take  place  during  the  morning 
hours,  and  at  least  as  early  as  8  A.  M.,  for  at  8  :30  a  fine  $  ,  but 
a  few  minutes  from  the  pupa,  was  found  sitting  on  a  ripe 

(217) 


218  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

gourd,  her  still  soft  wings  raised  above  her  back,  while  beside 
the  fruit  was  the  extruded  pupal  shell.  The  latter  were  oc- 
casionally found  among  the  vines,  sometimes  near  the  main 
stem,  and  on  other  occasions  as  far  as  six  feet  removed  there- 
from. 

Owing  to  the  multitude  of  grasshoppers,  particularly  of  the 
genus  Melanoplus,  it  was  often  dii!icult  to  approach  the  moth, 
which  would  be  rudely  disturbed  or  forewarned  of  my  coming 
by  some  bungling  acridian.  The  flight  of  the  female  moth 
was  heavy,  and  accompanied  by  a  humming  sound.  Whatever 
may  be  said  of  the  protective  mimicry  of  these  insects,  in  that 
they  resemble  various  wasps,  certainly  did  not  apply  in  the 
case  observed  by  me,  in  which  one  of  these  Melittias  was  pur- 
sued, captured  and  greedily  gobbled  up  by  a  kingbird. 

Two  specimens  were  observed  laying  their  eggs  rather  in- 
discriminately, on  both  green  and  withered  parts  of  the  vine. 

No  larvae  were  found,  though  considerable  digging  was  re- 
sorted to.  The  "Missouri  gourd,"  like  the  manroot  {Megar- 
rhiza)  in  California,  and  upon  which  the  sesian  likewise  feeds, 
has  a  colossal  root,  penetrating  the  soil  to  no  little  depth. 

The  lepidopterist,  Henry  Edwards,  took  a  specimen  of  this 
moth  at  San  Leandro,  Cal.,  resting  "on  a  tree  in  a  field  of 
melons."  It  occurs  likewise  in  Arizona,  Texas,  and  New 
Mexico. 

The  adult  moths,  like  most  Lepidoptera  whose  larvae  are 
internal  feeders,  should  be  "degreased"  by  detaching  the 
abdomen  and  immersing  the  same  in  benzine  until  the  fatty 
matter  is  dissolved. 

Melittia  satyriniformis  Hubner. 
(Zutr.  Exot.  Schmett.,  F.  453;  1825.) 
The  "squash-vine  borer"  was  taken  in  the  adult  state  about 
Cucvrbita  fcetidissima  vines  in  Pratt,  Barton  and  Rush  coun- 
ties, 1911-1912.  It  was  also  collected  by  Dr.  F.  H.  Snow  in 
Clark  and  Douglas  counties.  It  is  considerably  larger  than  the 
next  species,  and  unlike  it  lacks  the  dark  dorsal  stripe  of  the 
abdomen ;  nor  does  the  larva  of  satyriniformis,  as  far  as  I  am 
aware,  produce  galls  on  the  vines  attacked,  which  is  the  case 
with  the  larva  of  snowi. 


WILLIAMS:     LEPIDOPTERA   AFFECTING  THE  GOURD.  219 

Melittia  snowi  Hy.  Edwards. 
(Papilio,  II,  53;   1882.)      PI.  XXXI,  figs.  1-5;   pi.  XXXII,  figs.  7  and  8 

(galls). 

Snowi  expands  about  23  mm.  It  was  found  to  occur  where- 
ever  the  "Missouri  gourd"  was  growing.  This  includes  at 
least  two-thirds  of  Kansas,  beginning  from  its  western  border. 
The  type  of  the  species,  however,  was  taken  in  eastern  Kansas 
(Douglas  county)  by  Doctor  Snow,  prior  to  1883. 

The  following  notes  were  made  on  this  species  secured  at 
Hays,  Ellis  county,  July  16-22,  1912 : 

In  the  earlier  part  of  the  season  the  galls  or  swellings  on 
Cucurhita  fcetidissima  are  comparatively  small  and  nearly 
solid,  and  the  larvae  within  quite  young.  Both  grow  quite 
rapidly,  however,  and  the  caterpillar  soon  eats  out  most  of  its 
abode,  leaving  the  same  little  more  than  a  shell.  At  the 
above  date  numbers  of  the  larvse  are  deserting  the  galls  by  a 
ventral  or  nearly  ventral  aperture,  to  enter  the  earth.  By 
July  19  nearly  all  the  galls  have  been  vacated,  and  a  few  small 
terminal  swellings  containing  young  larvse  remain. 

Each  gall  contains  but  one  larva,  and  is  entire  until  the  exit 
hole  is  made.  As  can  be  seen  from  plate  XXXII,  the  galls  are 
usually  longer  than  wide;  they  may  be  of  nearly  uniform 
coloration,  or  else  striped  like  the  gourd.  Though  perhaps 
most  frequent  on  the  radiating  and  trailing  stems,  they  may 
be  developed  from  a  leaf  petiole,  and  more  rarely  from  a  ten- 
dril stem  (fig.  8).  They  were  found  to  vary  in  dimensions 
from  about  one  to  four  inches  (25-102  mm.)  long,  and  from 
two-thirds  to  one  and  a  quarter  inches  (17-32  mm.)  in  diam- 
eter. 

Hardly  has  the  larva  abandoned  the  gall  than  small  blackish 
flies  enter  it  and  lay  their  eggs  therein.  The  numerous  mag- 
gots resulting  soon  devour  the  remaining  tissue,  so  that  the 
gall  dries  up  rapidly  and  in  a  measure  collapses.  Subsequently, 
small  Staphylinidse  and  spiders  may  be  found  within. 

In  but  one  instance  was  the  gourd  itself  attacked,  and  in  this 
case  it  appeared  as  though  the  large  larva  had  entered  it  but 
recently. 

The  larva  (fig.  2)  when  mature  is  about  26  mm.  long,  quite 
stout,  with  a  small  brown  head,  and  of  a  dirty  white  color. 
Leaving  the  shelter  of  the  gall,  it  burrows  into  the  soil,  there 
to  construct  a  very  tough  cocoon,  about  17  mm.  long,  of  silk 

2— Univ.  Sci.  Bull..  Vol.  VIII.  No.  6. 


220  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 

and  grains  of  earth.  Some  of  these  cocoons  disclosed  moths 
within  a  few  weeks  (August  16  to  about  30) ,  the  pupa  working 
its  way  to  the  surface.  A  goodly  number,  however,  hibernated 
in  their  cocoons  as  shortened,  pale  yellow  larvse.  Two  of  these 
cocoons,  which  were  cut  open  in  December,  1912,  showed  the 
inmates  with  the  head  pointing  toward  the  narrower  end  of 
the  cell.  These  hibernating  cocoons  produced  imagines  in 
1913,  from  April  22  to  June  14.  The  height  of  the  season  for 
this  spring  brood  appeared  to  be  during  the  first  half  of  May, 
the  June  specimens  being  stragglers.  This  brood  was  reared 
in  the  laboratory,  and  consequently  under  artificial  conditions. 

The  insect  is  therefore  imperfectly  double-brooded.  No 
adults  were  taken  in  the  field,  but  a  reared  specimen  laid  a 
number  of  flattened  oval  eggs,  somewhat  depressed  on  the  disc 
and  at  the  broader  end.  They  are  about  .8  mm.  long,  of  a 
brownish  color,  and  under  the  compound  microscope  present 
a  shallowly  reticulate  surface;  in  addition  they  are  finely 
granulate. 

It  is  not  unlikely  that  Melittia  snowi,  if  not  already  a  cucurb 
pest,  like  its  ally,  satyriniformis,  in  some  sections,  will  sooner 
or  later  become  of  economic  importance. 


THE 

KANSAS  UNIVERSITY 
SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 


Vol.  VIll,  No.  6— July,  1913. 

(Whole  Series,  Vol.  XVIII,  No.  6.) 


CONTENTS: 


Notes  on  the  Habits  of  Some  Wasps  that  Occur  in  Kansas, 
WITH  THE  Description  of  a  New  Species F.  X.  Willa/ms. 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  UNIVERSITY, 
LAWRENCE,  KAN. 


Entered  at  the  post-oflRce  in  Lawrence  as  second-class  matter. 


IKANSAS   STATE    PRINTING  OFFICE. 

W.  C.  Austin.  State  Printer. 

TOPEKA.      1914. 


THE  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY 
SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 

VoL  VIII,  No.  6]         JULY,  1913.  [voI'xTntNTe. 


Notes  on  the  Habits  of  Some  Soliiary  Wasps 

that  Occur  in  Kansas, 

With  the  Description  of  a  New  Species, 

BY    F.    X.    WILLIAMS. 
Plate  XXXIII. 

Family  Nyssonid^e. 

Harpactus  gyponse  n.  sp. 

PI.  XXXIII,  fig.  4,  adult  2  ;  fig.  .5,  Gypona  cinerea  (its  prey.) 
o  .  Form  moderately  stout.  Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  broadly 
subtruncate,  the  sides  rounded  (when  the  clypeus  is  viewed  a  little  from 
below  it  is  broadly  and  shallowly  emarginate),  rim  narrow;  labrum  a 
little  bilobed  mesad;  inner  eye  margins  parallel;  frons  (up  to  the  an- 
terior ocellus)  a  little  longer  than  broad,  and  with  a  faint  indication 
of  an  impressed  median  line;  ocelli  forming  a  low  triangle;  antennae 
rather  slender,  somewhat  thickened  apically,  joint  3  one-fourth  longer 
than  4;  head  shining,  with  large  scattered  punctures  and  very  fine  close 
ones.  Scutum  and  scutellum  punctate  about  as  in  head,  the  suture  be- 
tween the  two  sclerites  foveolate;  pleura  with  fine  close  punctures  and 
large  scattered  ones;  mesopleurae  and  metapleur*  with  a  distinct  suture 
between  them;  mesopleurae  separated  from  the  mesosternum  by  a  carina 
extending  from  the  middle  coxae  to  the  prothoracic  tubercles.  Wings 
not  extending  to  tip  of  abdomen;  primaries  with  a  rather  weak  stigma; 
the  marginal  cell  pointed  apically,  the  second  submarginal  cell  receiving 
both  recurrent  nervures,  the  third  submarginal  extending  a  little  be- 
yond the  marginal,  and  the  submedian  cell  longer  than  the  median  along 
the  externo -medial  nervure;  secondaries  with  the  cubitus  originating  well 
beyond  the  submedian  cell.  Legs  moderately  stout  and  spinose,  the 
fossorial  comb  (on  fore  legs)  well  developed.  Disc  of  propodeum  with 
the  enclosed  triangle  bearing  about  fourteen  carinse,  all  basad  except 
the  two  forming  the  median  furrow;  these  two  extend  rather  irregularly 

(223) 


224  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

beyond  the  apex  of  the  triangle  to  anastomose  and  form  the  median 
carina  in  the  longitudinal  depression  of  the  posterior  face;  along  the 
outer  sides  of  the  triangle  are  a  number  of  short  carinse;  the  rest  of  the 
propodeum  is  finely  punctate  and  has  large  sparse  punctures  in  addition. 
Abdomen  polished,  evenly  rounded,  strongly  punctate  except  the  first  two 
dorsal  segments,  whi?h  have  fine  close  punctures  and  large  sparse  onej; 
segment  2  has  large  coarse  punctures  laterally  and  ventrally;  first  ventral 
segment  strongly  carinate  mesad  at  base  and  at  sides ;  ventral  segments  1 
and  2  have  their  opposing  margins  somewhat  raised  and  separate 
mesad;  viewed  laterally,  ventral  segment  2  is  transversely  excavate 
behind  its  thickened  anterior  margin    (see  cut)  ;  pygidium  bare,  rather 


Fio.    1. 

slender  and  narrowly  rounded  apically,  with  large  coarse  punctures 
and  a  distinct  lateral  carina  for  more  than  its  apical  half,  the  sides 
nearly  straight.  Light  rufovLs,  except  the  dark  ocelli,  the  black  tip  of 
mandibles,  sometimes  the  venter  of  the  abdomen  in  part  (which  is 
dusky  in  the  paratype),  and  a  large  creamy  yellow  lateral  spot  along 
the  posterior  margin  of  the  second  abdominal  tergite  and  a  weaker 
spot  mesad  on  the  basal  half  of  the  fifth  tergite.  Wings  clear  (with 
a  faint  infuscation  in  marginal  and  submarginal  cells),  yellowish  in 
age;  stigma  creamy  yellow,  venation  dark  brown.  Face  almost  bare, 
some  silvery  pile  on  clypeus,  and  plenty  of  it  on  pleurae  of  thorax  and 
propodeum  and  on  the  abdominal  spots,  especially  the  two  lateral  ones; 
elsewhere  the  pile  is  sparse.     Length  of  type,  7.5  mm. 

Two  2  2  '  Grant  county,  Kansas;  2800  feet;  July  25,  1911;  F.  X. 
Williams.     Type  in  University  of  Kansas. 

In  Fox's  key  to  the  North  American  species  of  Gorytes, 
which  genus  is  to  some  extent  synonymous  with  Harpactvs 
(Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.,  517 ;  1895) ,  this  insect  runs  either 
to  G.  pictifrons  Fox,  or  nigrifrons  Sm.,  depending  on  whether 
the  wings  are  entirely  clear  or  subapically  infuscate.  I  do  not 
believe  it  to  be  closely  related  to  either  of  the  above  species, 
however. 

Two  specimens  of  this  short-winged  and  rather  terrestial 
species  were  observed  on  the  flood  plain  of  the  north  fork  of 
the  Cimarron  river,  Grant  county,  Kansas,  at  the  end  of  July. 
1911. 


WILLIAMS:     HABITS  OP  WASPS.  225 

The  soil  here  was  sandy  and  interspersed  with  small  weeds 
and  buffalo  grass;  in  the  latter  Gypona  cinerea  Uhl.  (fig.  5)/ 
the  prey  of  Harpachts  occurred.  This  bug,  which  belongs  to 
the  homopterous  family  Jassidse,  is  an  insect  of  stout  form, 
and  pale  grayish  brown  color.  It  appeared  to  be  partial  to 
buffalo  grass. 

Harpactus  does  not  wander  far  from  her  burrow  in  search 
of  her  prey.  She  proceeds  at  a  rather  slow  and  deliberate  gait, 
inspecting  the  clumps  of  grass  in  a  thorough  manner.  She 
veiy  seldom  ventures  up  a  stem,  and  when  a  bug  is  found  it 
is  easily  captured  and  subdued.  In  some  cases  the  bugs,  as  it 
unsuitable,  are  not  transported  to  the  wasp's  burrow,  but  left 
afield. 

The  first  wasp  of  this  species  seen,  after  stinging  (?)  and 
malaxating  a  bug,  selected  a  nesting  site,  where  she  dug  for 
one  hour  and  twenty-five  minutes.  After  all  this  time  and 
labor,  however,  she  failed  to  make  use  of  the  burrow. 

The  second  wasp  was  first  noted  at  8:54  A.  M.,  when  she 
was  carrying  a  bug,  holding  it  venter  up  beneath  her,  using 
her  middle  pair  of  legs  for  this  purpose."  Thus  burdened  she 
disappeared  into  a  rather  large  and  sloping  tunnel. 

At  9:02  she  carried  in  another  Gypona,  this  time  venter 
down.  In  this  case  she  experienced  considerable  difficulty  in 
locating  her  burrow,  although  she  had  found  it  immediately 
on  her  former  trip.  Harpactus  remained  within  her  nest  for 
half  an  hour.  Some  of  this  time  must  have  been  employed  in 
making  another  cell,  for  she  finally  backed  out,  throwing  out 
the  soil  with  her  well-fringed  fore  feet,  but  carrying  out  the 
larger  pieces  of  dirt  in  her  jaws.  She  ran  in  and  backed  out 
several  times,  and  finally  came  out  head  first  (an  almost  in- 
variable sign,  in  a  number  of  Sphecoidea  observed,  that  work 

1.  Identified  by  Prof.  E.  D.  Ball. 

2.  It  is  interesting  as  well  as  instructive  to  note  the  several  methods  of  carrying  theii' 
prey  employed  by  the  solitary  wasps.  The  Porapilidae,  or  spider  wasps,  most  frequently 
seize  the  spider  by  one  of  its  leg^s  and  proceed  backward  with  if ;  a  smaller  number  of 
species  bite  off  one  or  more  of  the  victim's  legs.  The  Larrida*.  which  store  their  nests  with 
saltatorial  Orthoptera.  seize  their  victim's  antennee  with  their  mandibles  and  hold  the  body 
with  one  or  more  pairs  of  legs;  some,  as  certain  Tarhysphex.  employ  the  first  and  second 
pairs  of  legs  in  dragging  their  prey  over  the  ground — here  the  smoothest,  and  therefore 
the  surface  of  least  resistance,  viz.,  the  dorsum  of  the  orthopteron,  is  next  the  ground.  The 
Sphecida?,  as  shall  be  seen,  have  much  the  same  habits  as  the  above.  A  species  of  Diodon- 
tus  (Pemphredonida?)  seizes  its  small,  weak  victim  (a  plant  louse)  with  her  jaws  by  the 
ventral  part  of  its  prothorax,  Miscophvs  (Larridaf),  as  has  been  observed  by  C.  Hartman. 
grasps  "the  paralyzed  spider  with  her  mandibles  by  two  or  more  of  its  legs,  slings  it  on 
her  back  .ind  marches  off  with  it,  walking  forward,  the  spider  hanging  rather  to  one  side 
in  an  uncomfortable  and  rather  awkward  looking  manner."  In  the  Nyssonidie.  Harpactiis 
gypona-  carries  the  bug  beneath  her,  holding  it  with  the  middle  pair  of  legs,  but  she  does 
not  seize  it  in  addition  with  her  mandibles  by  its  antennie,  which  are  very  small  and 
slender.  It  appears  that  this  diversity  in  habit  is  in  each  case  the  best  method  of  carrying 
the  prey,  which  for  various  species  of  wasps  often  differ  considerably  in  size  and  structure. 


226  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BXJLLETIN. 

within  is  completed),  made  a  short  locality  study,  and  sallied 
forth.  Within  half  an  hour  she  captured  another  bug  at  a 
distance  of  fourteen  feet  from  her  burrow.  She  had  hardly 
gone  one-third  the  distance  to  the  latter  when  a  roving  tiger 
beetle  (Cic.  jninctulata)  spied  her,  and,  giving  chase,  drove 
her  off. 

On  digging  out  the  tunnel,  it  was  found  to  slope  steeply  for 
a  short  distance  below  the  surface ;  the  wasp  within  was  about 
three  inches  down,  seemingly  employed  in  excavating  a  cell. 
Still  further  down  were  two  neat  and  well-separated  sub- 
spherical  cells,  each  containing  four  bugs.  From  the  ventral 
side  of  the  abdomen  of  what  I  believe  was  the  only  immature 
homopteron  of  the  lot,  protruded  what  appeared  to  be  one  of 
the  Stylopidse;  on  another  bug,  below  its  lateral  line  and  se- 
cured just  outside  of  one  of  the  hind  coxae,  its  free  end  pointing- 
cephalad,  was  the  wasp's  egg. 

Being  unable  to  rear  an  imago  from  this  egg,  my  observa- 
tions on  the  species  were  here  ended. 

Family  MlMESiD^. 
Mimesa  argentifrons  Cress. 

PI.  XXXIII,  fig.  1,    o  ;  fig.  3,  Athysanus  exitiosa. 

This  is  a  slender  red  and  black  wasp  about  10  mm.  long,  not 
uncommon  in  Kansas.  One  of  these  insects,  located  in  Ness 
county  early  in  July,  had  excavated  her  tunnel  in  sandy  soil 
at  the  very  base  of  a  large  cottonwood  tree.  Over  the  nest 
rose  a  cone  formed  of  agglutinized  grains  of  sand,  quite  frail 
and  crude  when  compared  with  the  tubes  of  certain  Odyneri. 
The  base  of  the  cone  was  surrounded  by  loose  ejected  sand; 
the  height  of  the  whole  affair  above  the  ground  was  one  and 
three-eighths  inches;  the  width  at  base,  two  and  one-fourth 
inches.  Argeritifrons  stores  her  cells  with  Athysanus  exitiosp- 
\]h\,^  a  small  species  of  Jassidse,  which  she  holds  in  the  same 
manner  as  does  Harpactus  gyponw,  but  the  prey  of  the 
mimesid,  being  small  in  comparison  with  the  wasp,  is  always 
borne  on  the  wing.  When  obstacles  were  placed  over  the  en- 
trance to  the  nest,  the  wasp  would  pry  them  off  or  scratch 
under  them,  never  releasing  her  hold  on  the  bug,  however. 

The  tunnel  was  nearly  vertical,  and  at  least  eight  inches 
deep ;  I  was  able  to  locate  but  one  cell,  and  this  contained  a 
number  of  bugs. 

3.    Identified  by  Prof.  E.  D.  Ball. 


WILLIAMS:     HABITS   OF  WASPS.  227 

Family  SPHECID^. 
Palmodes  mfiventris  Cress,  and  Iseviventris  Cress. 
These  are  both  active  wasps  about  20  mm.  long.  Both  have 
dark,  smoky  wings ;  rufiventris  has  the  abdomen  reddish,  while 
Iseviventris  is  all  shining  black.  Both  of  these  wasps  were 
noted  in  western  Kansas,  where  they  preyed  upon  Stipator, 
probably  stevensonii,  one  of  the  Orthoptera  of  the  subfamily 
Decticinffi,  or  shield-back  grasshoppers. 

Priononyx  thorn le  Fab. 

This  is  a  quite  common  and  rather  slender  wasp  with  sub- 
hyaline  wings,  red  abdomen,  head  and  thorax  more  or  less 
ornamented  with  silvery  pile,  and  with  a  length  of  about 
15  mm.  The  insect  has  much  the  same  habits  as  P.  atrata,  a 
larger  and  entirely  black  species.  Like  the  latter,  thomse  has 
the  habit  of  depositing  her  prey  in  a  place  of  safety  while  she 
excavates  her  one-celled  tunnel.  Of  the  two  specimens  ob- 
served nesting,  both  secured  a  tryxaline  locust  for  their  bur- 
row, one  belonging  to  the  genus  Amphitornus,  the  other  to 
Aulocara. 

These  wasps,  at  least  in  the  male  sex,  in  common  with  many 
other  Specidse,  congregate  in  some  numbers  on  weeds,  where 
they  pass  the  night  or  remain  during  unfavorable  weather. 
Such  "clumps"  of  wasps  are  a  common  sight  on  Russian  thistle 
in  western  Kansas. 

Priononyx  atrata  St.  Farg. 
PI.   XXXIII,   fig.   2,   vertical   section   of   burrow  containing  an   Aulocara 
locust;  fig.  6,  dorsal  view  of  Melanoplus  lakiviis,  showing  wasp  egg  (E) 
in  situ;  fig.  7,    o  . 

A  number  of  these  very  interesting  shining  black  wasps  were 
studied  afield.  Their  highly  specialized  habits  are  scarcely  if 
at  all  inferior  to  those  of  the  well-known  Ammophilas. 

P.  atrata  occurs  plentifully  throughout  western  Kansas,  but 
it  was  in  the  southwestern  portion  of  the  state  that  this  species 
was  best  observed. 

It  preys  upon  several  species  of  the  short-horned  grass- 
hoppers or  locusts  (Acridiidse),  insects  always  far  weightier 
than  the  wasp  in  question.  Only  one  locust  is  stored  in  the 
short,  steep  burrow.  But  the  prey  is  captured  before  the  nest 
is  begun  (the  contrary  is  true  in  all  the  Larridse  I  have  ob- 
served), and  usually  placed  on  some  slight  elevation,"*  as  a  tuft 
of  grass,  while  atrata  excavates  her  burrow. 

4,    The  Peckams  have  noted  a  similar  habit  in  some  of  the  Pompilidae. 


228  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

The  nesting  activities  were  in  a  few  cases  watched  from 
beginning  to  end,  and  the  following  field  notes  will  serve  to 
illustrate  in  a  degree  the  habits  of  the  female  wasp : 

Grant  countjs  July  21,  1911.  While  walking  in  the  sandy 
valley  of  the  north  fork  of  the  Cimarron  river,  I  came  across 
a  Priononyx  atrata,  at  2:35  P.  M.,  astride  a  locust  {Aulocara 
elliotti) ,  which  lay  venter  down  on  the  ground.  The  wasp  held 
the  base  of  the  locust's  antennse  in  her  jaws  and  was  dragging 
it  to  a  tuft  of  grass  near  by.  She  placed  it  on  this  slight  eleva- 
tion, and  after  a  short  search  selected  a  hoof  print  hard  by  in 
the  sand  as  her  nesting  site.  Bracing  herself  well  with  her 
second  and  third  pair  of  legs,  she  dug  very  rapidly  under  the 
broken  crust  of  sand  with  her  jaws  and  fore  legs.  At  inter- 
vals she  ceased  from  her  labors  to  examine  the  locust  on  the 
tuft  of  grass,  two  feet  away.  This  being  a  region  infested  with 
ants,  the  precaution  was  well  taken.  She  was  apparently 
worried  at  being  able  to  locate  her  prey  only  after  quite  a 
search,  and  so  when  she  finally  found  the  same  she  seized  it, 
and,  bringing  it  much  nearer  her  incomplete  burrow,  again 
placed  it  free  from  the  ground,  on  a  bent  grass  stem.  In  a 
short  time  the  burrow  was  finished  and  the  locust  stored 
within,  but  not  before  a  tachinid  fly  had  viviposited  upon  the 
latter. 

Priononyx  filled  up  the  tunnel  by  backing  in,  throwing  in 
the  soil  at  the  same  time,  subsequently  using  her  head,  more 
specifically,  her  clypeus  and  jaws  as  a  packer  or  ram.  While 
thus  engaged  she  sometimes  assumed  an  almost  vertical  posi- 
tion. She  dug  a  little  in  the  opposite  side  of  the  hoof  print  in 
order  to  supply  more  soil  to  fill  in  with ;  when  this  was  ac- 
complished she  did  considerable  leveling,  smoothing  over  the 
tunnel  site  with  brisk  strokes  or  her  feet.  This  done  to  her 
satisfaction,  she  sought  to  further  disguise  the  place  by  de- 
positing thereon  pieces  of  soil  (often  several  t^mes  her  own 
weight) ,  twigs,  etc.  She  did  this  last  work  very  carefully.  At 
about  4:10  P.  M.  the  task  was  complete.  After  taking  a  short 
rest  she  sallied  forth  afoot  in  search  of  her  prey.  Her  right 
of  way  was  unquestioned ;  indeed,  the  various  locusts  in  her 
path  leaped  away  at  her  approach,  and  on  two  occasions  an 
affrighted  Hadrotettix  (a  large  oedipode  locust)  spread  out  its 
wings  in  a  startling  fashion,  while  still  other  acrid'ans  raised 
their  hind  legs  in  a  defensive  attitude.  Finally,  at  4:20  p.  M., 
she  found  her  prey — a  mature  Aulocam.     Pounc.'ng  upon  it. 


WILLIAMS:     HABITS   OF   WASPS.  229 

she  clasped  the  under  side  of  its  thorax,  her  head  toward  the 
caudal  end  of  her  leaping  prey,  her  jaws  applied  to  the  latter's 
body.  She  clung  on  tenaciously  and  soon  quieted  it  with  a 
sting,  administered  somewhere  on  the  locust's  neck.  After 
this  brief  but  strenuous  period  she  took  a  short  rest ;  then  pull- 
ing her  prey  up  a  Russian  thistle  plant  until  the  former  was 
about  one  and  one-half  inches  above  the  ground,  she  set  to  work 
locating  a  nesting  site.  This  she  soon  found,  only  six  inches 
away.  She  commenced  to  dig  at  4  :26  P.  M.  She  visited  her 
prey  on  the  Russian  thistle  three  times  before  the  hole  was 
excavated,  which  was  at  5  P.  M.  Finally  grabbing  the  Aulocara 
by  the  antennse,  she  dragged  it  to  just  before  her  burrow, 
into  which  she  backed.  A  little  Tachina  fly  which  had  been 
carefully  watching  the  wasp  while  digging  her  tunnel,  and 
even  following  her  on  her  occasional  tours  of  inspection  to  the 
weed  where  the  Aulocara  lay,  now  availed  herself  of  the  op- 
portunity presented  her  by  the  wasp's  disappearance  in  the 
tunnel  to  viviposit  at  the  base  of  the  locust's  elytron.  Hardly 
was  the  parasite's  work  accomplished  when  Prwnonyx,  emerg- 
ing, seized  her  victim  by  the  antennae  and  dragged  it  within. 
She  remained  inside  long  enough  to  lay  her  egg  on  the  locust. 
She  filled  her  burrow  as  in  the  first  instance,  and  completed 
her  work  at  5  :25  P.  M.,  or  one  hour  and  fifteen  minutes  after 
she  had  filled  up  her  first  nest.  Like  the  first  tunnel,  this  one 
was  in  a  depression  where  the  soil  crust  had  been  broken.  The 
wasp  was  caught  and  her  nest  dug  up.  This  sloped  quite 
steeply  up  to  the  subhorizontal  cell ;  here,  on  its  venter,  lay  the 
locust,  the  rather  long,  curved  wasp  egg  {E.  fig.  6)  secured  in 
the  membrane  just  anterior  to  one  of  the  hind  femora  and 
immediately  dorsad  the  hind  coxa.  This  position  is  always 
chosen  by  this  wasp.  The  hole  was  of  rather  large  bore  and 
measured  two  inches  deep  by  two  and  one-half  inches  long. 

These  wasps  sometimes  occur  in  small,  ill-defined  colonies, 
and  while  at  work  at  their  tunnels  could  often  be  located  by 
reason  of  the  squeaky  buzz  which  they  emitted  from  time  to 
time,  and  which  was  plainly  audible  from  a  distance  of  a  dozen 
feet.  In  Morton  county,  where  the  soil  was  rather  wet  and 
heavy  from  recent  heavy  rains,  the  wasp  used  her  jaws  to  a 
large  extent  and  brought  out  considerable  loads  of  earth,  which 
she  held  between  her  open  jaws  and  her  fore  legs.  She  carried 
out  as  many  as  four  or  five  loads  per  minute.    The  tunnels  are 

3-Univ.  Sci.  Bull.. Vol.  VHI,  No.  6. 


230  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

quite  uniform  in  structure,  but  may  not  be  more  than  one  and 
one-half  inches  deep  and  less  than  two  inches  long. 

The  orthopterous  prey  of  Priononux  atrata  is  rather  varied. 
As  far  as  observed,  the  victims  were  always  mature  and 
usually  of  the  smaller  species  of  Melanoplus  (including  laki- 
nus).  A  large  specimen  of  atrata  was  observed  by  one  of  the 
members  of  the  Entomological  Survey  of  1911,  with  a  5 
Melanoplus  dijfcrcntiaUs,  an  insect  of  considerable  strength 
and  magnitude.  The  author  took  an  atrata  in  Seward  county 
which  had  captured  a    5   Mermiria  neomexicana. 

While  the  evidence  at  hand  is  incomplete,  it  seems  more  than 
probable  that  the  common  red-banded  bembecid  wasp,  Stiziis 
unicinctus  Say,  plays  the  pai't  of  a  burglar  and  uses  the  locust 
captui'ed  by  Priononyx  atrata  as  food  for  her  own  young. 
Unicinctus  is  a  rather  compact  insect,  somewhat  inferior  in 
size  to  and  less  powerful  than  the  sphecid.  It  occurred  plenti- 
fully in  western  Kansas,  where  it  was  sometimes  seen  flying 
low  over  the  ground,  alighting  now  and  then  as  if  inspecting 
the  locality  for  a  nest  of  some  sort.  In  Stanton  county  one  of 
these  wasps  was  observed  to  hover  about  a  freshly  made  tunnel, 
apparently  that  of  a  Priononyx.  which  it  entered  while  the 
sphecid  was  away.  The  latter  had  brought  an  Aitlocara  near 
this  burrow,  which,  being  occupied  by  Stizus,  was  finally  de- 
serted by  the  disgusted  Priononyx. 

In  Morton  county,  July  7,  1911,  I  came  upon  Stiziis  uni- 
cinctus engaged  in  smoothing  over  a  spot  with  her  feet.  I  un- 
earthed what  proved  to  be  a  filled-up  burrow,  which  in  form 
and  dimensions  resembled  that  of  a  Priononyx.  In  the  single 
cell  lay  a  Melanoplus.  But  where  the  Priononyx  egg  was  to  be 
expected  on  this  locust  was  only  a  small  bit  of  soft  matter, 
probably  the  remnant  of  the  specid  egg  destroyed  by  the 
Stizus,  while  cephalad  of  these  remains  was  a  short  wasp  egg, 
doubtless  that  of  Stizus. 

Certainly  the  short-legged  Stizus  unici)tctus  does  not  appear 
to  be  a  sufficiently  powerful  insect  to  capture  and  subdue 
locusts  of  the  size  and  vigor  as  those  which  serve  as  the  prey 
of  Priononyx. 

Further  observation  upon  the  interrelation  of  these  two 
in.sects  is  needed,  so  that  their  complete  life  history  may  be 
brought  to  light.  Although  much  has  been  written  on  the 
solitary  bees  and  wasps,  the  data  on  their  postembryonic  devel- 
opment is  exceedingly  meager,  and  no  doubt  ofl'ers  a  wide  and 
interesting  field  for  the  investigator. 


THE 

KANSAS  UNIVERSITY 
SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 


Vol.  VIII,  No.  7-July,  1913. 

(Whole  Series,  Vol.  XVIII.  No.  7.) 


CONTENTS: 

The  Biology  of  Some  Kansas  Eumenid^ Dwight  Isely. 


^ 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  UNIVERSITY, 

LAWRENCE,  KAN. 


Entered  at  tbe  post-office  in  Lawrence  as  second-class  matter. 


KANSAS   STATE   PRINTING  OFFICE. 

W.  C.  Austin,  State  Printer. 

TOPEKA.      1914. 


CONTENTS. 

PACE 

Introduction   235- 

Purpose  of  Thesis 23& 

Systematic  Position  and  Distribution 237 

Review  of  Literature 238 

Description  of  Species 247 

Detail  of  Observations  : 

Field   of  Observation 254 

Tube-building  Burrowers: 

Odynerus  papagorum    25ft 

Odynerus  arvenais  27 1 

Odynerus  annulatus    277 

Non-tube-building  Burrowers: 

Odynerus  dorsalis    281 

Pterochilus  5-faciatus   294 

Users  of  Deserted  Nests: 

Odynerus  h  ildagi   29& 

Odynerus  sulphuritinctus    299 

Potters : 

Eumenes  bolli  299 

Eumenes  fraternus    301 

Eumenes  sp 301 

Summary    301 

Bibliography   30(> 

Explanation  of  Illustrations. 

(233) 


THE  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY 
SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 

Vol.  VIII,  No.  7]         JULY,  1913.  [vol":gv1fr!NS%. 


The  Biology  of  Some  Kansas  Eumenidse. 

BY   DWIGHT   ISELY. 

(Submitted  in  partial  fulfillment  of  the  requirements  for  the  degree  of  master  of  arts.) 
Plates  XXXIV  to  XXXVII. 

Introduction. 

THIS  paper  is  based  on  field  observations  and  collections 
made  by  the  author  while  connected  with  the  Biological 
Survey  of  the  University  of  Kansas,  in  northwestern 
Kansas  during  the  summer  of  1912.  Specimens  of  fully  de- 
veloped insects,  upon  which  biological  notes  were  based,  were 
identified  by  means  of  the  Snow  Entomological  Collections. 
The  caterpillars,  parasitic  larvs,  and  cocoons,  were  identified 
to  species  or  family,  as  the  case  might  be,  by  Francis  X.  Wil- 
liams, assistant  curator  of  the  Snow  Entomological  Collections. 
The  drawings  of  nests  were  made  by  the  author,  first  in  the 
field,  and  then  were  copied  in  the  laboratory.  They  were  inked 
by  Miss  Orrel  M.  Andrews,  a  graduate  student  in  entomology. 
Four  drawings  of  wasps,  made  from  specimens  in  the  collec- 
tion, are  entirely  her  work. 

The  author  takes  this  opportunity  to  thank  Prof.  S.  J.  Hunter, 
head  of  the  department  of  entomology,  to  whom  he  is  indebted 
for  general  oversight  of  the  work  and  much  helpful  criticism. 
He  also  wishes  to  thank  Mr.  Francis  X.  Williams  for  help  in 
studying  the  Eumenidte  both  in  the  field  and  in  the  laboratory; 
Mr.  H.  B.  Hungerford,  instructor  in  entomology,  and  Miss 
Ruby  C.  Hosford,  a  graduate  student  in  the  department,  for 
reading  and  criticizing  the  manuscript;  and  Miss  Orrel  M. 
Andrews  for  assistance  in  illustration. 

(235) 


236  kansas  university  science  bulletin. 

Purpose  of  Thesis. 

An  account  of  the  biology  of  almost  any  wasp  must  be,  for 
the  most  part,  an  account  of  nesting  activities.  Nest  building 
and  provisioning  is  the  mother  wasp's  life  work.  Her  in- 
terrelations with  other  insects,  the  food  habits  of  her  offspring, 
and  consequently,  to  a  large  extent,  her  economic  importance, 
are  directly  connected  with  her  nest  and  its  contents.  A  study 
of  the  larva,  its  habits  and  modifications  in  structure,  refers 
back  to  the  nest.  Those  activities  which  in  no  way  relate  to 
the  nest — the  mother  wasp's  search  for  food  for  herself,  her 
avoidance  of  perils  daily,  and  the  idle  male's  pastimes — those 
activities  are  but  incidents  in  the  story.  The  main  plot  centers 
about  the  nest. 

The  study  of  wasps,  bees  and  ants  owes  much  of  its  fascina- 
tion to  their  nesting  habits.  The  features  in  the  accounts  of 
their  lives  are  more  than  growth  and  development.  A  range 
of  talents — useless  to  ordinary  insects — are  demanded  of  them 
in  the  building  and  provisioning  of  their  nests.  Their  ecology 
becomes  more  complex.  The  nest  builders'  lives  are  made 
purposeful ;  their  chief  aim  becomes  more  than  to  eat  and  avoid 
being  eaten.  By  this  labor  for  their  progeny  a  fascinating  and 
highly  developed  display  of  instincts  is  called  forth. 

The  Eumenidse  have  received  my  special  attention  both  be- 
cause of  their  attractive  habits  and  because  of  their  conven- 
ience for  study.  The  varied  architectural  skill  of  the  eumenids 
makes  them  attractive,  for  within  the  group  are  potters,  min- 
ers, masons,  carpenters,  and  more  or  less  degenerate  builders. 
As  solitary  insects  they  offer  advantages,  in  that  the  activities 
of  the  individual  insect  can  easily  be  isolated  and  studied. 
This  solitary  habit  also  removes  the  opportunities  for  imita- 
tion, and  thus  makes  instincts  more  clearly  defined.  In  west- 
ern Kansas  the  Eumenidse  is  an  important  group,  being  well 
represented  both  in  species  and  numbers. 

A  study  of  the  nesting  habits  of  Kansas  Eumenidse,  then,  is 
the  chief  burden  of  this  paper.  Nine  species  are  to  be  dis- 
cussed. So  much  is  it  a  study  of  nesting  habits,  that  no  wasps 
whose  nesting  habits  have  not  been  observed  are  considered. 
However,  with  the  account  of  nesting  habits  are  notes  on  all 
the  other  activities  of  these  nine  wasps  that  I  observed,  and 
some  notes  on  immature  stages.  In  addition  to  the  biological 
notes,  I  have  included  descriptions  of  the  species  discussed.    I 


isely:   eumenid^  of  Kansas.  237- 

have  also  added  brief  summaries  of  some  of  the  literature 
available  on  the  biology  of  the  Eumenidfe. 

In  my  study  my  purpose  was  only  to  study  and  record  ac- 
curately the  activities  of  these  wasps.  While  the  study  of  in- 
stinct is  fascinating,  it  has  not  been  my  aim  to  accumulate  evi- 
dence that  would  have  a  bearing  on  the  theories  of  insect  in- 
stinct and  intelligence.  Some  data,  however,  relating  to  these 
theories  have  been  collected,  but  their  collection  has  been  in- 
cidental and  often  accidental — it  was  a  by-product  of  the  work. 

Systematic  Position  and  Distribution. 

The  family  Eumenidae  is  placed  by  systematists  with  the  so- 
cial Vespidje  and  the  parasitic  Masaridse  in  the  superfamily 
Vespoidea.  Members  of  this  superfamily  can  readily  be  dis- 
tinguished from  the  fossorial  wasps  by  the  anterior  wings, 
which  are  folded  in  plaits  when  at  rest.  Because  of  the  club- 
shaped  antennae,  the  family  Masaridje  is  set  apart  from  the 
other  two  families,  which  have  more  or  less  filiform  antennae. 
A  single  spur  on  the  middle  tibia,  instead  of  two  spurs,  and 
unidentate  tarsal  claws,  are  the  chief  morphological  differences 
between  the  Eumenidae  and  the  Vespidaj.  These  differences 
are  not  considered  by  all  to  be  of  sufficient  importance  to  be 
used  in  the  division  of  families.  Sharp  says :  "We  anticipate 
that  the  Eumenidae  and  the  Vespidse  will  ultimately  be  found 
to  constitute  one  family."  De  Saussure  did  not  consider  the 
morphological  differences  of  sufficient  importance  to  make  even 
two  distinct  tribes  of  the  solitary  wasps  and  the  social  wasps ; 
he  divided  them  because  of  the  difference  in  habits. 

In  habits  there  is  little  likelihood  of  confusing  these  allied 
families.  The  social  wasps,  like  the  social  bees,  have  three 
castes — queens,  drones,  and  workers.  The  brood  cells  in  the 
nests  of  the  community  are  built  in  combs.  The  solitary  wasps 
have  only  two  forms,  and  all  the  work  is  done  by  fully  devel- 
oped females.  There  is  no  division  of  labor,  for  each  wasp 
builds  its  own  nest.  Both  groups  are  predacious,  but,  accord- 
ing to  De  Saussure,  the  solitary  wasps  are  the  more  so. 

The  Eumenidse,  according  to  Sharp,  are  distributed  widely 
over  the  world  in  temperate  and  tropical  regions.  Representa- 
tives of  the  genus  Odynerus  are  found  even  on  the  isolated 
Hawaiian  Islands.  About  eight  hundred  species  have  been 
described. 


238  kansas  university  science  bulletin. 

Review  of  Literature. 

The  habits  of  the  Eumenidse  vary  widely.  Even  after  my 
summer's  study  on  the  Biological  Survey,  I  had  no  conception 
of  the  extent  of  variation,  for  previous  to  that  summer  I  had 
made  no  study  of  the  group  either  by  reading  or  otherwise. 
After  returning,  a  review  of  the  available  literature  on  the 
subject  greatly  widened  my  view  and  cast  light  on  many  de- 
tails that  I  had  entirely  overlooked.  Therefore,  before  be- 
ginning an  account  of  my  limited  observations  of  a  single  sum- 
mer I  shall  briefly  summarize  the  work  of  others  fi'om  various 
parts  of  the  world,  paying  special  attention  to  American  ob- 
servers. 

De  Saussure^  says  that  the  members  of  the  genus  Zethiis 
by  their  habits  seem  to  establish  a  "lien"  between  the 
Odynerinje  and  the  social  wasps.  He  writes :  "Certain  species 
(of  Zethus)  manifest  a  tendency  toward  social  habits.  They 
form  small  agglomerations  of  nests,  which  resemble  a  little 
the  irregular  nests  of  bumblebees,  but  grouped  yet  more  con- 
fusedly. But  there  always  prevails  this  difference  between 
cells  formed  by  the  social  and  those  made  by  the  solitary  Hy- 
menoptera,  that  the  first  have  a  cylindrical  inner  space,  while 
the  seco'nd  are  rather  extended  masses  which  are  not  in  regu- 
lar juxtaposition,  so  that  they  seem  to  be  more  like  spheres 
and  ellipsoids  joined  together  than  cells  constructed  side  by 
side  on  a  general  plan.  In  other  words,  the  solitary  never 
seek  to  form  a  comb,  although  they  sometimes  form  an  ag- 
glomeration of  cells." 

In  the  genera  Zethus  and  Eumenes,  according  to  Ashmead,^ 
are  potters.  They  build  globular  cells  of  clay  and  mud,  which 
are  attached  by  a  pedicel  to  a  twig.  The  cell  of  E.  fraternus  is 
usually  attached  beneath  the  large  leaves  of  the  scrub  pal- 
metto. According  to  Doctor  Harris,  it  feeds  upon  canker- 
worms  in  Massachusetts.  In  Florida  it  feeds  on  other  small 
caterpillars.  From  these  cells,  in  Florida,  were  bred  Phippi- 
phorus  dimidiatus. 

An  instructive  summary  of  the  habits  of  a  number  of  eu- 
menids  is  given  by  Sharp.''  His  account  of  nestmg  habits  of 
Eumenes  is  as  follows . 

1.  Syn.  Am.  Wasp  Sol.,  pp.  13-14. 

2.  Psyche,  May,  1894.  pp.  76  78 

3.  Sharp;  Cambridge  Nat.  Hist.,  vol    VJ    pp.  71;  78. 


ISELY:     EUMENID.-E   OF   KANSAS.  239 

Fabre  has  sketched  the  habits  of  a  species  of  Eumenfs,  probably  E. 
pomiformis.  This  Eiimenes  constructs  with  clay  a  small  vase-like  earthen- 
ware vessel,  in  the  walls  of  which  small  stones  are  embedded.  This  it 
fills  with  food  for  the  young.  The  food  consists  of  caterpillars  to  the 
number  of  fourteen  or  si.xteen  for  each  nest.  These  caterpillars  are 
believed  to  be  stung  by  the  parent  wasp  (as  in  the  case  of  the  fossorial 
Hymenoptera) ,  but  complete  evidence  of  this  does  not  seem  to  be  extant, 
and  if  it  be  so,  the  stinging  does  not  completely  deprive  the  caterpillars 
of  the  capacity  of  movement,  for  they  possess  the  power  of  using  their 
mandibles  and  of  making  strokes  or  kicking  with  the  posterior  part  of 
the  body.  It  is  clear  that  if  the  delicate  egg  of  Eumenes  or  the  delicate 
larva  that  issues  from  it  were  placed  in  the  midst  of  a  mass  of  this  kind 
it  would  probably  suffer  destruction;  therefore,  to  prevent  this,  the  egg 
is  not  placed  among  the  caterpillars,  but  is  suspended  from  the  dome 
covering  the  nest  by  a  delicate  thread,  rivaling  in  fineness  the  web  of 
the  spider,  and,  being  above  the  mass  of  food,  it  is  safe.  When  the 
young  larva  leaves  the  egg  it  still  makes  use  of  the  shell  as  its  habi- 
tation, and  eats  its  first  meals  from  the  vantage  point  of  suspension. 
Although  the  mass  of  the  food  grows  less  by  consumption,  the  little 
larva  is  enabled  to  reach  it  by  the  fact  that  the  egg  shell  splits  up  into 
a  sort  of  a  ribbon,  and  thus  adds  to  the  length  of  the  suspensory  thread, 
of  which  it  is  the  terminal  portion.  Finally  the  heap  of  caterpillars 
shrinks  so  much  that  it  can  not  be  reached  by  the  larva  even  with  the 
aid  of  the  augmented  length  of  the  suspensory  thread;  by  this  time, 
however,  the  little  creature  has  so  much  increased  in  size  and  strength 
that  it  is  able  to  take  its  place  amongst  the  food  without  danger  of 
being  crushed  by  the  mass,  and  it  afterwards  completes  its  metamor- 
phosis in  the  usual  manner. 

E.  unguiculata,  according  to  Ferris,"  constructs  an  earthen 
nest  of  irregular  shape,  containing  three  cells  in  one  mass. 
E.  coarctata/-  a  British  species,  attaches  its  nest  to  a  twig  of 
a  shrub,  while  both  previously  mentioned  species  of  this  genus 
build  their  nests  upon  a  flattened  surface.  E.  conica,  accord- 
ing to  Home,'  constructs,  in  Hindustan,  clay  nests  with  very 
delicate  walls.    It  is  much  attacked  by  parasites. 

The  likeness  of  the  earthen  nests  of  Eumenes  to  pottery 
has  been  spoken  of  by  many  authors.  Howard*  writes :  "Prof. 
0.  T.  Mason  says  that  certain  beautifully  shaped  Indian  vessels 
and  baskets  have  precisely  the  same  form  as  these  cells,  and 
he  thinks  that  the  observant  aborigines  may  have  deliberately 
copied  the  insect  design." 

4.    Insect  Book,  p.  31. 

3-Univ.  Sci.  Bull.,  Vol.  VIII,  No.  7. 


240  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Sharp's  account  of  the  habits  of  0.  reniformis,  drawn  from 
Fabre,  is  as  follows : 

This  insect  (O.  reniformis)  provisions  its  cell  with  small  caterpillars 
to  the  number  of  twenty  or  upwards.  The  egg  is  deposited  before  the 
nest  is  stocked  with  food;  it  is  suspended  in  such  a  manner  that  the 
suspensory  thread  allows  the  egg  to  reach  well  down  towards  the  bottom 
of  the  cell.  The  caterpillars  placed  as  food  in  the  nest  are  all  cuiled 
up,  each  forming  a  ring  approximately  adapted  to  the  caliber  of  the 
cell.  Fabre  believes  these  caterpillars  to  be  partly  stupefied  by  stinging, 
but  the  act  has  not  been  observed  either  by  himself,  Reaumur,  or  Du- 
four.  The  first  caterpillar  is  eaten  by  the  wasp  larva  from  its  point  of 
suspension.  After  this  meal  has  been  made  the  larva  is  supposed  to 
undergo  a  change  of  skin;  it  then  abandons  the  assistance  of  the  sus- 
pensory thread,  taking  up  a  position  in  the  vacant  chamber  at  the  end 
of  the  cell  and  drawing  the  caterpillars  to  itself  one  by  one.  This 
arrangement  permits  the  caterpillars  to  be  consumed  in  the  order  in 
which  they  were  placed  in  the  cell,  so  that  the  one  that  is  the  weakest 
on  account  of  its  longer  period  of  starvation  is  first  devoured.  Fabre 
thinks  that  all  the  above  points  are  essential  to  the  successful  develop- 
ment of  this  wasp  larva,  the  suspension  protecting  the  egg  and  the 
young  larva  from  destruction  by  pressure  or  movement  of  the  cater- 
pillars, while  the  position  of  the  larva  when  it  leaves  the  thread  and 
takes  its  place  on  the  floor  of  the  cell  ensures  its  consuming  food  in  the 
order  of  introduction. 

The  species  of  Odynerus-  are  very  subject  to  the  attacks  of 
parasites.  They  are  destroyed  to  an  enormous  extent  by 
Chrysididfe  and  by  a  fly,  Argyromoeba  sinnata.  Mr.  R.  C.  L. 
Perkins  observed  0.  callosns  forming  their  nests  in  a  clay  bank 
and  provisioning  them  with  larvte,  nearly  all  of  which  were 
parasitized. 

Perkins-'  has  also  observed  some  of  the  species  of  Hawaiian 
Odynerus  make  a  single  mud  cell  very  like  the  pot  of  an 
Enmenes,  but  cylindrical  instead  of  spherical.  This  little  ves- 
sel is  often  placed  in  a  curled-up  leaf,  which  also  shelters  both 
spiders  and  young  mollusks  of  the  genus  Achatinella.  0.  punc- 
tum,  an  East  Indian  species,  according  to  Home,  nests  in  holes 
in  door  posts. 

Many  of  the  genus  Odynerus,  according  to  Ashmead,-  appro- 
priate galleries  and  cells  made  by  different  bees,  and  old  mud 
daubers'  nests.  0.  errings,  in  Florida,  was  observed  making 
its  nest  in  a  door  lock  and  in  holes  in  a  board  fence.  He 
also  reared  it  in  cells  constructed  in  old  oak  galls  of 
Amphibolips  cinerea.  Nine  specimens  of  varying  size  were 
reared  from  a  single  gall.     0.  alio phaler alius  has  been  bred 


ISELY:     EUMENIDyE   OF   KANSAS.  241 

from  a  gall  of  A.  confluens.  0.  fulvipes  was  observed  by 
Walsh  building  in  a  spool.  0.  capra  was  observed  by  Rev. 
T.  W.  Fyles  provisioning  its  nest  with  the  larch  sawfly 
(Nematns  eviclisonii) . 

Odynervs  is  parasitized  by  Chrysididse  and  by  two  or  three 
ichneumonids.  Linoccras  junceusi  is  the  only  ichneumonid 
reared  from  them  in  this  country.  Walsh  records  having  bred 
Chrysis  ccerulans  var.  hella  from  E.  fraternus.  Cocoons  of 
Meteorus  and  Microgaster  have  been  found  in  cells  of  Odyne- 
rus.    These  may  have  been  parasitic  on  caterpillars  stored. 

A.  Davidson'  gathered  twigs  of  Nama  parryi  on  Mount  Wil- 
son, California,  which  contained  cocoons  of  0.  riifobasilaris. 
The  cocoons  resembled  finely  grained  caddis-fly  cases.  The 
outer  surfaces  were  covered  with  sand ;  one  end  of  the  cocoon 
was  truncate  and  the  other  rounded.  The  wasp,  presumably, 
after  provisionmg  each  cell,  adds  a  quantity  of  sand,  which  is 
afterward  utilized  by  the  larva.  From  ten  cells  four  parasites 
(Epistenia  odyneri,  a  chalcid)  emerged. 

0.  renifbrmis  is  described  by  Dufour''  as  a  wasp  which  bur- 
rows in  a  firm  sand  bank  or  in  a  clay  terrace.  An  egg  is  laid 
at  the  bottom  of  each  burrow,  over  which  is  placed  green 
caterpillars,  rolled  together,  yet  living.  Over  the  entrance  of 
the  burrow  is  an  arcuate  earthen  tube.  Dufour  also  described 
the  habits  of  0.  Ixvipes.  which  makes  its  nest  in  a  dry  bramble 
twig.  This  wasp  also  deposits  its  egg  at  the  bottom  of  the 
cell  and  stores  lively  caterpillars  above  it. 

Some  of  the  genus  Odynerus,  according  to  Froggatt,  build 
clay  nests  in  various  shapes,  sometimes  forming  a  finger- 
shaped  row  of  clay  cells,  or  rounded,  cup-shaped  chambers. 

Observations  on  the  nesting  habits  of  five  species  of  Odyne- 
rus are  recorded  by  the  Peckhams."  Three  of  these  wasps 
nested  in  plant  stems,  one  excavated  a  burrow  in  the  ground, 
and  the  fifth  made  her  nest  in  the  mouthpiece  of  a  horn. 

0.  perennis  nests  in  July  in  raspberry  and  blackberry  stems 
and  partitions  the  ceir  with  mud.  In  one  cell  were  sixteen 
caterpillars,  nearly  one-third  of  which  were  dead. 

A  one-celled  nest  of  0.  conformis  and  a  two-celled  nest  of 
0.  anormis  were  found  in  stalks.  Both  nests  were  freshly 
provisioned,  and  in  all  three  the  egg  was  hung  from  the  side 

5.  Psyche,  vol.  VII,  p.  335. 

6.  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.,  ser.  2,  vol.  11;  1838.     Transl.  by  Verhceff,  Ent.  Nach.,  XIX,  p.  49. 

7.  "Wasps,  Solitary  and  Social,  pp.  89-95. 


242  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

about  one-third  way  down.  In  the  nest  of  conformis,  from 
which  all  but  one  of  the  caterpillars  had  fallen  out  of  the  cell, 
the  egg  hung  loosely  against  the  wall.  "In  the  other  nests," 
the  account  reads,  "the  lower  part  was  packed  tightly  with 
sixteen  small  larvse,  upon  which  lay  the  egg,  supported  in  a 
horizontal  position,  although  attached  to  the  side  wall  exactly 
as  conformis,  and  above  were  eight  more  caterpillars,  the 
whole  forming  a  compact  mass  shut  in  by  the  usual  partition 
of  mud.  So  closely  were  they  crammed  in,  that  after  counting 
them  we  were  unable  to  get  them  all  back  again,  and  although 
motionless  in  their  narrow  quarters  they  became  quite  active 
when  relieved  from  pressure.  This  is  an  entirely  different 
arrangement  from  that  of  0.  reniformis  (described  by  Fabre) , 
and  since  the  larva  is  in  contact  with  the  caterpillars  from  the 
moment  of  hatching,  the  manner  of  the  egg-laying  has  no 
significance  in  relation  to  the  safety  of  the  young. 

Conformis,  upon  hatching,  sloughed  off"  the  skin  but  re- 
mained attached  to  it,  thus  doubling  the  length  of  the  thread 
by  which  it  hung.  The  larvse  of  anormis,  upon  hatching,  broke 
from  their  attachment.  They  cocooned  on  the  fifth  day  after 
hatching. 

O.  vagus  was  noted  bringing  pellets  from  a  "sharp-edged" 
hole  in  the  ground,  dropping  these  ten  or  twelve  inches  from 
the  burrow.  This  wasp  was  much  disturbed  by  a  red-headed 
match  stuck  in  the  ground  two  inches  away  from  her  burrow. 
For  half  an  hour  she  refused  to  work  until  the  offending  ob- 
ject was  removed. 

A  three-celled  nest  of  0.  capra  was  found  in  the  mouthpiece 
of  a  tin  horn.  The  cells  contained  a  larva  and  a  supply  of  very 
lively  caterpillars,  of  which  ten  wei"e  in  the  cell  most  lately 
formed.  One  egg  was  found  in  another  cell  before  it  was  pro- 
visioned. In  four  days  the  larva  made  its  appearance,  slough- 
ing off  the  skin,  and  being  free  to  crawl  away. 

Habits  of  two  eumenids,  O.  dorsalis  and  0.  arvensia,  which  I 
have  studied,  have  been  described  by  Mr.  Carl  Hartman  in  a 
bulletin  published  by  the  Lniversity  of  Texas,  entitled  "Ob- 
servations on  the  Habits  of  Some  Solitary  Wasps  of  Texas."^ 
These  observations  were  made  near  Austin,  Tex.,  during  the 
summer  of  1903. 

Mr.  Hartman  writes :  "O.  dorsalis  builds  pretty  mud  cells  on 
the  ground,  choosing  a  place  hidden  from  view  by  a  clump  of 

8.     Bui.  Univ.  Tex.,  No.  6.5,  pp.  6-10. 


isely:   eumenid^  of  kansas.  243 

grass.  The  cells  are  broadly  spindle  shaped,  pointed  at  one 
end,  which  is  left  open  until  the  cell  is  stored.  The  chambers 
do  not  touch  each  other  for  more  of  their  length  than  is  neces- 
sary for  their  mutual  agglutination.  This  almost  entire  inde- 
pendence of  the  cells  entails  a  considerable  waste  of  building 
material  as  compared  with  the  habit  of  Peloj^seus  cenentarivf>. 
which  builds  its  cells  side  by  side  in  rows  and  tiers  of  rows." 

A  day's  work  with  O.  dorsaUs  is  to  provision  one  cell  and 
construct  another.  The  newly  constructed  cell  is  used  as  a 
resting  place  for  the  wasp  herself  during  the  first  night. 

In  order  to  take  a  picture  of  the  nest,  Mr.  Hartman  pulled 
away  some  grass  blades  and  set  up  his  camera.  This  disturbed 
the  wasp  very  little.  "After  once  flying  away  for  a  minute," 
he  writes,  "and  circling  about  once  or  twice,  she  settled  and 
placed  the  caterpillar  in  the  nest.  .  .  .  This  done,  she 
cleaned  her  antennae  and  flew  away  without  seeming  to  take 
her  bearings." 

Very  small  caterpillars — cotton  worms — were  stored.  Of 
seven  found  in  one  cell  four  responded  perceptibly  to  stimula- 
tion. The  author  believes  that  Odynerus  occasionally  takes  a 
caterpillar  for  her  own  delectation.  He  also  observed  this  wasp 
picking  up  unwary  ants  that  passed  too  near  her  as  she  was 
lying  in  her  cell  one  morning  before  going  to  work. 

From  six  cells  four  wasps  emerged  in  thirty-nine  days  each. 
The  length  of  the  stage  for  the  egg  and  larva  together  was 
twenty  days.    The  other  two  wasp  larvae  were  killed  by  mites. 

I  shall  quote  nearly  the  whole  of  Mr.  Hartman's  notes  on 
0.  arvensis.    He  writes : 

This  species  of  Odynerus  does  not  possess  the  architectural  skill  of  its 
cousin  just  described.  Its  home  is  not  such  an  elaborate  domicile,  built, 
as  it  were,  for  show  as  well  as  for  use,  but  consists  of  any  convenient 
crevice  in  a  wall  or  fence  post.  The  nest  is  completed  by  closing  the  open- 
ing of  the  crevice  with  mud,  much  after  the  fashion  of  Trypoxylon.  I  have 
made  a  few  observations  on  two  nests  of  this  Odynerus;  those  on  the  con- 
ditions of  the  caterpillars  found  are  of  particular  interest.  In  general 
the  following  facts  do  not  justify  Fabre's  conclusion,  which  he  based  on 
the  habits  of  O.  rcniformis. 

At  noon  August  4  a  female  ai-vensis  was  closing  her  nest  in  the  niche 
of  a  brick  wall.  A  few  days  before  a  Trypoxylon  had  emerged  from  the 
very  niche  now  intended  to  be  the  cradle  of  another  wasplet.  I  immedi- 
ately opened  the  nest  and  drew  out  eight  caterpillars,  all  of  which  were 
alive— six  of  them,  in  fact — so  lively  that  they  wriggled  around  in  the 
small  vial  to  which  I  had  transferred  them.  I  found  no  egg  at  first,  but 
looking  carefully  into  the  dark  recess,   I  discovered  the  egg  suspended 


244  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

from  the  ceiling  of  the  little  room.  After  breaking  the  suspensory 
thread  with  a  knife  and  brushing  the  egg  out,  I  placed  it  among  the 
caterpillars  in  the  bottom  of  the  vial.  Very  few  wasp's  eggs  could 
stand  the  rough  handling  which  this  egg  received.  The  explanation  of 
its  endurance  lies  in  the  toughness  of  its  shell.  The  larva  hatched  in  two 
and  one-half  days,  having  shed  a  tough  translucent  shell  which  could 
safely  be  handled  with  a  forceps.  After  fifteen  hours  the  larva 
had  attached  itself  to  a  writhing  caterpillar  and  had  grown  percep- 
tibly.    .     .     . 

The  length  of  the  egg  stage  of  O.  arvensis  is  about  two  and  a  half 
days;  of  the  larval  stage,  four  and  a  half  days;  of  the  pupal  stage, 
eighteen  days. 

Another  nest  which  I  observed  an  arvensis  store  and  close  on  August 
14  I  opened  nearly  a  month  later  (September  9).  I  was  expecting  to  see 
a  wasp  emerge  by  this  time,  and  had  placed  a  bottle  over  the  entrance 
to  receive  it.  I  found  in  the  nest  no  offspring  of  the  wasp,  but  a  red 
pupa  of  a  fly  and  fourteen  caterpillars,  of  which  four  had  dried  up,  throe 
were  dead  though  in  good  condition,  and  seven  were  actually  alive. 

Three  caterpillars  lived  forty-three  days,  one  forty-six  days,  and  one 
remained  for  fifty-eight  days  in  a  condition  good  enough  to  be  added  to 
any  waspling's  bill  of  fare. 

A  survey  of  these  few  facts  would  seem  to  indicate  that  while  the 
suspension  of  the  egg  and  the  young  larvje  is  a  desirable  condition  and 
increases  their  chances  of  successful  development,  yet  it  is  not  an  essen- 
tial condition,  as  Fabre  contended.  Nor  is  it  essential,  in  consideration  of 
the  longevity  of  the  paralyzed  prey,  that  the  caterpillars  be  devoured  in 
the  order  in  which  they  were  stored. 

Three  Kansas  Eumenidse — 0.  annulatus,  O.  geminns,  and  0. 
foraminatufs — were  observed  by  Messrs.  Hungerford  and  F.  X. 
Williams''  in  northwestern  Kansas,  while  on  the  Kansas  Uni- 
versity Biological  Survey  during  the  summer  of  1910.  0.  an- 
nulatus is  one  of  the  species  whose  nesting  habits  I  observed.  I 
collected  a  number  of  specimens  of  0.  geminus,  but  did  not  ob- 
serve any  of  its  nesting  activities. 

The  excavation  of  two  nests  of  0.  annulatus  was  observed 
by  the  authors.  These  nests  were  burrows  dug  in  open  spaces 
in  the  prairie ;  over  the  burrow  was  constructed  a  short,  al- 
most vertical  tube.  The  wasp  moistened  the  earth,  before 
digging,  with  water  from  a  lagoon;  in  digging  .she  employed 
her  mouth  parts  and  fore  legs.  Excavated  earth  was  used  in 
tube  construction,  and  the  rest  carried  off  and  dropped  several 
feet  away.  "It  is  noteworthy,"  they  write,  "that  Odijnerus  in 
disposing  of  the  pellets  of  earth  (which  she  does  on  the  wing) 
does  not  cast  them  about  indiscriminately,  for  it  was  observed 
that  one  wasp  dropped  them  at  a  distance  of  from  four  to  six 

9.     Ent.   News,   vol.   33,   pp.   250-255. 


ISELY:     EUMENID^   OF   KANSAS.  245 

feet  from  the  nest,  while  the  other  disposed  of  hers  at  a  dis- 
tance of  about  three  feet  northwest  of  the  burrow." 

The  nests  were  opened  three  days  later.  Both  nests  were 
one-celled.  One  tube  was  nine-sixteenths  inch  high ;  the  other 
was  one  and  one-thirtieth  inches  high.  Its  diameter  was  nearly 
one-fourth  inch,  inside  measurement.  In  one  case  the  tunnel 
was  vertical  for  one  and  one-fourth  inches,  and  from  that 
depth  curved  in  a  westerly  direction.  The  terminal  cell  was 
slightly  greater  in  diameter  than  the  gallery,  and  was  hori- 
zontal. One  cell  contained  an  egg  and  two  caterpillars ;  evi- 
dently provisioning  had  just  begun.  In  the  other  cell  were 
nine  caterpillars  and  a  small  grub.  The  cell  was  closed  with 
"a  wad  of  packed  soil  one-fifth  inch  thick." 

0.  geminus  is  a  burrowing  wasp,  but  does  not  cover  the  en- 
trance with  a  tube.  A  part,  if  not  all,  of  the  pellets  are  dropped 
within  two  or  three  inches  of  the  hole.  "The  tunnels  of 
geminus,  which  were  often  rather  closely  associated,  were 
in  barren  soil  or  more  or  less  sandy  loam,  with  plenty  of 
lagoons  in  the  vicinity."  These  burrows  included  a  number 
of  cells,  some  as  many  as  eight.  The  authors  suggested  that 
possibly  geminus  utilizes  its  holes  for  a  second  brood,  for  none 
of  those  examined  would  indicate  that  they  were  newly  made. 
One  nest  contained  refuse  of  old  cocoons,  one  presumably  of 
a  parasite,  another  revealed  three  pupal  cells  of  a  muscoidean 
fly.  The  lepidopterous  larvse  stored  was  probably  Pholisora 
catullus. 

In  comparing  the  nest  of  the  two  species,  0.  annulatus  and 
0.  geminus,  the  authors  suggest  that  the  tube  of  the  former 
protects  the  nest  from  attacks  of  insect  parasites. 

Several  specimens  of  0.  foraminatus  were  dug  out  of  a  de- 
cayed stump,  which  also  sheltered  a  nest  of  Crahro  inter- 
1-uptus.  The  brood  was  apparently  just  emerging.  The  cells 
of  foraminatus  were  separated  by  mud  partitions. 

Monobia  quadrideyis^"  nests  in  an  old  burrow  of  a  carpenter 
bee  (Mylocopa  virginica).  The  sides  of  the  burrow  are  ren- 
ovated by  a  thin  veneering  of  clay;  then  the  buri-ow  is  filled 
with  clay  cells  from  the  bottom  upward.  More  than  one  wasp 
had  been  seen  coming  and  going  out  of  a  single  burrow.  It 
preys  on  large  cutworms.  According  to  Comstock,"  this 
species  bores  in  solid  wood. 

10.  Psyche,  May,   1894,  pp.   76-78. 

11.  A  Manual  for  the  Study  of  Insects,  p.  660. 


246  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

The  Australian  genus  Abispa^^  constructs  a  nest  with  a 
funnel-shaped  entrance  and  of  so  large  a  size  that  it  might 
pass  for  the  nest  of  a  colony  instead  of  a  solitary  wasp. 

The  females  of  Rhynchium  oculaUim,^^  according  to  Lichten- 
stein,  construct  from  fifteen  to  twenty  cells  in  pithy  plants, 
and  destroy  from  150  to  200  caterpillars  each.  The  East 
Indian  R.  carnatium  uses  hollow  stems  of  bamboo.  R.  nitichi- 
lum  constructs  clay  cells  similar  to  those  of  Eitmenes,  and 
fixes  them  firmly  to  wood. 

A  number  of  observers  have  recorded  food  habits  of  variou.s 
Eumenid«.  Riley^^  writes  that  the  fraternal  potter  wasp, 
Eumenes  fraternus,  according  to  Harris,  stores  its  cell  with 
cankerworms.  Its  clay  nests  are  always  closely  packed  with 
eighteen  to  twenty  worms.  These  nests  are  attached  to  golden- 
rod  or  other  plants  in  the  open,  or  they  are  cemented  under 
loose  bark  of  some  trees.  Sometimes  they  are  even  attached 
to  leaves  of  deciduous  trees. 

E.  B.  Southwick"  also  writes  regarding  Eumenes  fraternus, 
which  is  one  of  the  worst  enemies  of  the  parsnip  worm  {De- 
pressaria  heracliana) .  He  says :  "One  of  these  wasps  would 
alight  on  the  umbel  in  which  a  web  was  situated,  and  would 
begin  to  peer  into  it  first  at  one  end  and  then  at  another, 
all  the  time  getting  rnore  and  more  excited.  On  discovering 
the  worm  within,  it  would  commence  to  run  its  abdomen  into 
the  end  of  the  web  with  its  head  toward  the  opposite  end,  as 
if  trying  to  eject  the  occupant,  and  every  now  and  then  darting 
at  the  orifice  as  the  worm  would  approach  it.  In  this  way  it 
would  work  for  a  long  time,  first  at  one  end  and  then  at  the 
other,  no  doubt  each  time  thrusting  out  its  sting."  In  this 
way  the  cell  was  packed  at  each  end  until  it  became  too  short 
to  cover  the  larva.  When  it  showed  itself  it  was  grabbed  by 
the  mandibles  of  the  wasp  and  dragged  forth  with  more  or 
less  difficulty.  By  repeated  jerks  and  stings  the  larva  was 
dislodged,  then  stung  again  and  carried  away  by  the  wasp. 

Nests  were  found  on  an  old  goldenrod  stalk  in  an  open  wood. 
Four  cells  were  all  filled  with  larvse,  many  of  which  were  larvae 
of  the  parsnip  webworm. 

M.  J.  Lichtenstein^^  writes  of  0.  crassicormis.    This  wasp, 

12.  Cambridge,  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  VI,  pp.  72-78. 

13.  Rep.  U.  S.  Ent.  Coram.,  Ill,  p.  177. 

14.  Ins.  Life,  vol.  V,  p.  107. 

15.  Bull.  Ent.  Sor.  Fr..  vol.  IV,  p.  86. 


isely:   eumenid^  of  Kansas.  247 

he  says,  stores  its  nest  with  coleopterous  larvae  of  the  genus 
Phytonomus  (one  of  the  Curculionidse),  either  P.  variabilis 
or  P.  ruspiciosur,  which  are  common  on  Lucerne. 

Marlatt"'  described  the  food  habits  of  a  small  Odynerus. 
A  small  Odynerus  was  observed  to  examine  the  leaves  of  the 
black  locust  (Robinia  pseudacacia) .  Some  of  these  leaves  were 
sewed  together  by  the  larva  of  Pompelia  gleditschiella.  The 
wasp  eventually  rested  on  the  upper  surface  of  one  of  these 
tied-together  leaves ;  then  ran  to  the  under  side  and  vigorously 
bit  through  the  lower  leaf.  The  hole  was  cut  through  in  a 
few  seconds.  Then  it  grasped  Pompelia,  gave  it  a  few  turns 
with  its  mandibles,  and  flew  away.  Examination  showed  that 
the  tree  had  been  thoroughly  worked  over  by  Odyneri. 

Schwarz^'  said  that  the  cells  of  Odynerus  which  are  in  old 
burrows  of  Anthrophora  around  Washington  are  always  stored 
with  tortricid  larvae. 

The  Hawaiian  species,  according  to  Perkins,^*  prey  on  larvae 
of  the  Pyralidas,  Noctuidse,  and  Microlepidoptera. 

Descriptions  of  Species. 

There  are  nine  species  of  the  Eumenidae  upon  whose  nesting 
habits  I  have  made  observations.  There  are  Eumenes  bolli, 
fraternus;  Odynerus  arvensis,  anmdatus,  dorsalis,  hildagi, 
papagorum,  sulphuritincUis ;  and  Pterochilus  5-faciatus.  I 
shall  now  give  a  table  to  distinguish  these  species,  and  detailed 
descriptions  of  them. 

There  is  little  claim  for  originality  for  these  descriptions. 
For  the  most  part  I  have  compiled  them  from  those  prepared 
by  De  Saussure,  Cresson,  and  Viereck.  In  some  places  I  have 
quoted  these  authors  directly,  while  in  others  I  have  para- 
phrased their  descriptions,  making  some  additions  and  sub- 
tractions. 

The  changes  which  I  have  made  are  mostly  of  minor  im- 
portance. My  chief  aim  in  revising  these  descriptions  at  all 
is  to  give  them  more  uniformity  in  regard  to  arrangement, 
terminology,  and  parts  described,  which  would  scarcely  be 
possible  in  unaltered  work  of  three  different  authors.  Also,  I 
wish  the  descriptions  to  conform  to  the  Kansas  varieties,  and 
am  endeavoring  to  make  the  former  descriptions  as  brief  as 
possible,  for  this  paper  is  primarily  biologic,  not  taxonomic. 

16.  Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  Wash.,  toI.  IV,  pp.  172-173. 

17.  Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  Wash.,  vol.  IV,  p.   173. 

18.  Fauna  Hawaiiensis,  vol.   1,  pt.   1.  p.  31. 


248  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

The  genera  represented  by  the  species  discussed   can   be 
separated  by  the  following  table : 

Anterior   wing  plicate  in  repose;   middle  tibite  with  a   single  terminal   spur;    tarsal   claws 

unidentate    Eumenid/E 

A.    Abdomen  petiolate ;    labial  palpi   normal,   four-articulate Eumenes 

AA.    Abdomen  sessile  or  subsessile. 

B.     Labial    palpi    three-articulatp,  hipectinate,  fringed  with  long  hairs. 

PterocHUt^ 
BB.     Labial   palpi   four-articulate,    normal Odynerus 

The  following  should  separate  the  two  species  of  Eumenes: 

A.    Wasp,  largely  black fralernue 

Wasp,    largely   yellow    ferruginous holli 

The  following  table  should  separate  the  species  of  Odynerus: 

A.     First  abdominal  segment  punctate  dorsally. 

B.     Small  wasps,  8  mm.  long;  a  free  yellow  lateral  spot  on  second  abdominal 

segment      paiiar/orinn 

BB.    Medium-sized  wasps,  13  mm.  long;   no  free  yellow  lateral  spot  on  second 

abdominal    segment     suliihuritind.ns 

XX.     Fii-st  abdominal  segment  not  punctate  dorsally. 

B.    Margin  of  second  abdominal  segment  reflexed  dorsally hildaffi 

BB.    Margin  of  second  abdominal  segment  not  reflexed  dorsally. 

C.     Large  species,  17  mm.  long;  clypeus  finely  punctate.  .  .  .    durnalis 
CC.    Medium-sized   species,    12   to   15   mm.   long. 

D.     Largely  black  wasp;  clj-peus  strigate  punctate.,    arvensis 
DD.     Largely  ferruginous  wasp ;   clypeu.s  simply  punctate. 

aiinulatu^ 

0.  arvensis  Sauss. 

O.  arvensis  Sauss.;  Rev.  de  Zool.  XX;  1869. 

O.  arvensis  Sauss.;  Syn.  Am.  Wasps  Sol.,  pp.  270-272;  1870. 

p  .     Total  length,  14  mm.;  wing,  11  mm. 

^  .     Total  length,  12  mm. ;  wing,  9  mm. 

o  .  A  medium-sized,  mostly  black,  coarsely  punctured  wasp.  Clypeus 
widely  pyriform  strigate  punctate;  truncate  at  tip,  one-toothed  at  sides 
of  truncated  margins.  Thorax  slightly  widened  in  front;  scutellum  with 
low,  indistinct  medium  carina;  postscutellum  transversely  crenulate,  the 
laterosuperior  ridges  blunted  or  effaced;  the  lateral  edges  of  the  hinder 
plate  produced  into  a  dentiform  angle.  The  first  abdominal  segment 
smooth,  truncate  and  a  little  rounded  at  the  base;  the  second  segment 
short,  densely  punctured,  its  posterior  border  offering  a  wide  depressed 
zone,  widened  in  the  middle,  very  coarsely  cribrose;  the  following  seg- 
ments similarly  punctured.  Insect  black.  Mandibles  red;  a  spot  at  their 
base  and  a  broad  basal  band  in  the  clypeus  yellow;  inner  border  of 
orbits,  a  spot  behind  each  eye  and  a  spot  on  the  front  either  yellow  or 
reddish;  scape  of  the  antennae  red,  with  a  black  line  above.  Anterior 
border  of  the  notum  yellow,  often  followed  with  red;  tegulae  yellow  or 
red;  postscutel  and  a  spot  on  each  side  of  the  metathorax  above,  yellow; 
segments  of  the  abdomen  apically  bordered  with  yellow,  the  first  having 
its  border  on  each  side  widened  or  confounded  with  a  spot  or  oblique  band, 
which  is  yellow  surrounded  with  red,  leaving  above  a  black,  square  spot. 
Legs  yellow,  black  at  the  base.  Wings  smoky  or  a  little  reddened,  with 
a  light  violet  reflection. 


isely:   eumenid^  of  Kansas.  249 

^  .  Smaller.  Clypeus  polygonal,  yellow,  wider  than  long,  truncate 
on  its  anterior  border,  offering  a  very  small  tooth  on  each  extremity;  its 
anterior  portion  a  little  prolonged,  so  that  the  polygon  is  not  regular; 
hook  of  the  antennse  black  or  ferruginous;  mandibles  and  ornaments  of 
the  head  yellow  or  orange;  a  red  dot  on  the  flanks  before  the  tegulae;  often 
the  posterior  border  of  the  prothorax  red.  Fifth  abdominal  segment  often 
bordered  with  yellow. 

Habitat:  "The  United  States,  particularly  the  south,"  writes  De 
Saussure.  He  records  specimens  from  New  York,  Hlinois,  Kansas,  and 
Tennessee.  Both  Hartman  and  Cameron  have  recorded  specimens  taken 
in  Texas. 

O.  annulatus  Say. 

A.  annulatus  Say;  Long's  Sec.  Exp.,  Append.  29,  II,  348. 
Rhynchium  annulatum  Say;  Bost.  Journ.  I  (1837),  351,  4. 
0.  bairdi  Sauss..;  Revue  Zool.  X;  1858. 
O.  annulatus  Sauss.;  Syn.  Am.  Wasps  Sol.,  273-27;  1875. 

o  .    Total  length,  12  mm.;  wing,  10  mm. 

J  .    Total  length,  10  mm.;  wing,  8  mm. 

0  .  A  medium-sized,  rather  slender,  largely  rufous  wasp  with  coarse 
and  dense  punctures.  This  wasp  closely  resembles  O.  arvcnsis  in  form, 
from  which  it  differs  chiefly  as  follows:  somewhat  smaller  and  more 
slender;  clypeus  broadly  pyriform  but  not  as  broad  as  that  of  O.  arvensis; 
surface  of  clypeus  simply  punctate.  Head  rufous,  except  vertex,  base  of 
scape  and  flagellum,  which  are  black;  a  spot  on  anterior  portion  of  pro- 
thorax  scutellum,  a  spot  on  scutum,  tegulae,  yellow ;  rest  of  thorax  rufous, 
except  scutum  and  sides  of  mesothorax,  which  are  black,  and  a  spot 
below  tegulae,  postscutellum,  and  a  spot  one  each  side  on  the  metathorax 
above,  and  sometimes  the  anterior  margin  of  the  prothorax,  part  of  the 
tegulae  and  spots  on  the  scutellum,  which  are  yellow;  usually  there  is  a 
rufous  spot  in  middle  of  scutum.  Abdominal  segments  rufous,  1-5 
bordered  with  yellow,  the  first  having  its  border  widened  on  each  side, 
usually  extending  forward  to  the  anterior  margin  of  the  segment;  yellow 
maculas  on  sides  of  second  segment;  often  a  black  spot  on  the  middle  of 
the  dorsum  at  the  base  of  each  segment.  Legs  rufous.  Wings  light 
smoky. 

1  .  Clypeus  broader  than  high,  more  regularly  octagonal ;  its  an- 
terior margin  straight,  having  two  distinct  teeth  on  either  side.  Man- 
dibles, clypeus,  a  triangle  on  the  forehead,  and  a  sinus  of  the  eyes,  a  line 
on  the  scape,  bright  yellow;  hook  of  the  antennae  and  postocular  spots 
rufous.     Otherwise  as  female. 

This  species  is  very  variable  in  size  and  in  coloration.  I  have  speci- 
mens that  measure  15  mm.  in  length.  In  coloration  the  Kansas  forms 
vary  particularly  in  the  amount  of  black  on  the  abdomen.  In  many 
specimens  the  black  entirely  replaces  rufous  on  the  third  and  following 
abdominal  segments.  De  Saussure  describes  three  varieties — a  "black 
variety,"  a  "rufous  variety,"  and  a  "Mexican  variety"  in  which  yellow 
predominates.     The  Kansas  forms  are  nearly  like  the  "rufous  variety." 

Habitat:     According   to    De    Saussure,   this    species   is   found   on    the 


250  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

prairies  from  Missouri  to  Texas,  in  New  Mexico  and  the  Mexican  Cor- 
dilleras. In  the  Snow  collections  are  also  many  specimens  from  Arizona 
and  Kansas.    Cameron  reports  specimens  taken  from  Colorado. 

0.  dorsalis  Fabricus. 

Vespa  dorsalis  Fabr.;  Syst.  Ent.,  367,  25;  1775. 
Polistes  dorsalis  Fabr.;  Syst.  Piez.,  273,  19. 
Rhynchium  balteatum  Say;  Bost.  Jour.  I   (1837),  383,  1. 
Monobia  sylvatica  Sauss. ;  Et  Vespid.  Ill,  168. 
Rhynchium  louisianum  Sauss.;  Et  Vespid.  I,  106,  7;  1852. 
Rhynchium  dorsale  Sauss.;  Et  Vespid.  Ill,  171. 
O.  dorsalis  Sauss.;  Syn.  Am.  Wasps  Sol.,  257-260;  1875. 
2  .    Total  length,  17  mm.;  wing,  14  mm. 
^  .    Total  length,  15  mm.;  wing,  12  mm. 

o  .  Large  brownish  wasp,  ornamented  with  yellow.  Clypeus  a  little 
wider  than  high,  subpyriform;  anterior  margin  truncate  or  even  a  little 
rounded,  finely  punctate.  Head  and  thorax  densely,  strongly  punctate; 
prothorax  retracted  anteriorly;  postscutellum  truncate,  bearing  a  crenu- 
lation  interrupted  in  the  middle;  metathorax  rugose  upon  its  borders, 
quite  variable,  according  to  specimens;  its  hinder  plate  flattened,  striate, 
forming  on  each  side  a  dentiform  angle  (at  times  blunted)  ;  its  superior 
borders  sometimes  quite  trenchant,  sometimes  effaced.  Abdomen  wide, 
conical;  the  first  segment  truncate  apically,  but  rounded  basally;  the 
second  finely  punctured,  offering  along  its  posterior  margin  a  wide  rugose 
band,  a  little  depressed,  garnished  with  coarse  punctures;  this  band  a 
little  widened  in  the  middle;  the  very  margin  is  smooth;  the  following 
segments  are  strongly  punctured  with  the  extreme  margin  smooth. 

"Rufous  Variety. — The  whole  insect  rufoferruginous,  except  scape 
beneath,  middle  of  prothorax,  tegute,  a  line  in  the  postscutellum,  border 
of  the  first  segment  of  the  abdomen,  yellow;  feet  mostly  yellow;  the 
flagellum  of  the  antennae  black. 

"Black  Variety. — Insect  black;  mouth,  clypeus,  a  spot  behind  each 
eye,  articles  one  to  three  of  the  antenna,  rufous;  prothorax,  tegulae, 
scutel,  equally  rufous";  yellow  ornamentation  as  on  rufous  variety; 
"legs  black;  knees,  tibia  and  tarsi  yellow.  Wings  of  a  deep  brown  violet." 
These  two  varieties  are  described  by  De  Saussure,  from  whom  I  have 
taken  the  descriptions  bodily.  Both  varieties  and  every  gradation  be- 
tween them  is  found  in  western  Kansas.  The  rufous  variety  is  much  the 
better  represented  of  the  two. 

7>  .  Smaller.  Clypeus  as  long  as  wide.  Metathorax  less  blunted  on 
the  laterosuperior  borders  of  the  concavity,  the  superior  edges  more 
elevated,  forming  lines  of  salient  rugosity,  and  separated  from  the  post- 
scutellum on  each  side  by  a  fissure.  Abdomen  more  conical;  border  of 
second  abdominal  segment  deeply  channeled  and  rugose.  Clypeus,  man- 
dibles, inner  borders  of  orbits,  spot  on  the  frons,  a  line  on  the  scape  of. 
the  antenna,  borders  of  abdominal  segments  2-4,  yellow.  Wings  not  so 
deeply  colored  as  in  female.     Otherwise  marked  as  female. 

Habitat:  According  to  De  Saussure,  this  species  inhabits  "the  United 
States,  especially  the  south."  He  records  specimens  from  Pennsylvania, 
Illinois,  Tennessee,  Louisiana,  South  Carolina,  and  Mexico.  In  the  Snow 
collections  are  specimens  from  Kansas  and  Texas. 


isely:    eumenidje  of  Kansas.  251 

0.  hildagi  Sauss. 

O.  hildagi  Sauss.;  Rev.  et  Mag.  de  Zool.  IX,  (1857),  275. 
O.  hildagi  Sauss.;  Syn.  Am.  Wasps  Sol.,  252-254;  1875. 

o  .    Total  length,  13-14  mm.;  wing,  10-11  mm. 

^  .     Total  length,  11  mm.;  wing,  8  mm. 
A  medium-sized,  rufous,  black  and  yellow  wasp. 

o  .  The  following  description  is  taken  directly  from  De  Saussure, 
with  two  slight  omissions:  Clypeus  punctured,  widely  truncate,  its 
inferior  part  rather  flattened  and  laterally  bicarinate.  Thorax  in  the 
form  of  an  elongate  square,  not  contracted  posteriorly,  densely  and 
coarsely  punctured.  Postscutel  sharply  truncate,  strongly  crenulate. 
Metathorax  very  rough  in  its  superior  lateral  face,  its  posterior  con- 
cavity strigose,  shining;  margined  with  sharp  edges,  which  form  on  each 
side  a  very  strong  dentiform  angle,  and  which  terminates  superiorly  in 
two  eminences  '  separated  from  the  postscutel  by  deep  fissures.  Abdo- 
men silky,  quite  conical,  not  ovate;  its  first  segment  large,  as  wide  as  the 
second,  sharply  truncate  anteriorly,  the  margin  of  the  second  and  follow- 
ing segments  quite  coarsely  cribrose;  the  border  of  the  second  and  third 
segments  reflexed.  Insect  rufous  and  black  and  yellow,  head  black; 
mandibles,  clypeus,  margins  of  the  orbits  entirely  or  interrupted  at  the 
vertex,  a  spot  on  the  foiehead,  and  at  the  base  of  the  antennae  rufous; 
mesonotum  black;  prothorax,  scutellum,  metathorax  and  tegute  rufous; 
anterior  margin  of  prothorax  and  a  spot  below  the  tegulse  refous  or 
yellow.  Abdomen  rufous,  all  segments  margined  with  yellow;  the  mar- 
gin of  the  first  segment  widened  at  the  base;  triangular  black  spots  at  the 
base  of  the  first  and  second  segments;  on  second  this  spot  is  very  large, 
sometimes  covering  half  of  the  dorsal  surface. 

7  .  Clypeus  octagonal.  Mandibles,  orbits,  a  triangular  spot  on  the 
forehead,  a  line  on  the  scape  of  the  antenna,  yellow.  Margin  of  pro- 
thorax, scute!,  a  spot  under  the  base  of  wing,  and  tibia,  often  yellow. 

Habitat:  De  Saussure  records  species  from  New  York,  Louisiana, 
and  Mexico.  In  the  Snow  collections  are  specimens  from  Kansas,  New 
Mexico,  and  Arizona. 

0.  papagorum  Vier. 
O.  papagonm  Vier;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.  88,  394-395;  1907. 

o  .     Total  length,  9  mm.;  wing,  7.5  mm. 

f  .     Total  length,  8  mm. ;  wing,  7  mm. 

A  small  black  wasp,  ornamented  with  yellow. 

o  .  Clypeus  pyriform,  terminated  apically  by  a  very  small  concave 
edge,  rather  coarsely  punctured.  Thorax  elongate;  metathorax  narrowed; 
its  concavity  strigate-punctate ;  its  superior  lateral  margins  effaced  by 
punctations.  Abdomen  ovate;  the  first  segment  subcampanulate,  much 
narrower  than  second  segment;  cell  segment  punctate,  most  coarsely  on 
borders.  Black.  The  following  yellow :  edges  of  the  clypeus  except  a 
bleak  laterally  on  each  side,  a  frontal  spot,  a  mark  immediately  above  the 
insertion  of  the  antennse,  a  mark  in  the  emargination  of  the  eyes,  a 
postocular  line,  the  anterior  border  of  the  pronotum,  a  spot  below  the 
tegulse,  a  dot  near  the  posterior  margin   of  the   scutum,   postscutellum. 


252  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

superior  lateral  edges  of  the  concavity  of  the  metathorax,  posterior 
borders  of  all  abdominal  segments,  and  a  spot  on  each  side  of  the  second 
abdominal  segment.  Wings  subhyaline,  deepened  to  fuscous  in  cells 
along  anterior  edge;  interior  and  middle  femora  black,  browTi  and  luteous, 
posterior  femora  black  and  brown;  tibia  and  tarsi  reddish  brown;  middle 
and  posterior  tibia  ornamented  with  a  luteous  strip  on  external  aspect. 
J  .  Smaller.  Clypeus  polygonal,  deeply  emarginate  anteriorly,  finely 
punctured,  a  supraclypeal  mark  extending  to  posterior  margin  of  the 
clypeus,  and  middle. and  posterior  coxae  or  a  spot  on  those  coxae,  yellow. 
Types  o  and  t  in  Snow  collections.  This  museum  possesses  speci- 
mens from  Kansas  and  Arizona. 

O.  sulfuritinctiis  Vier.' 
O.  siilfuritmctus  Vier;  Trans.  Am.  Ent.,  88,  389-390;  1907. 

2  ■     Total  length,  13  mm.;  wing,  11. .5  mm. 

J  .     Total  length,  10  mm.;  wing,  10  mm. 
A  medium-sized  black  wasp,  much  ornamented  with   yellow. 

o  .  Clypeus  pyriform,  longer  than  wide,  anterior  edge  emarginate. 
Thorax  elongate,  narrowed  behind;  the  concavity  of  the  metathorax 
striate,  its  lateral  margins  forming  on  each  side  a  dentiform  angle.  Ab- 
domen ovate;  first  segment  half  as  long  as  second;  second  segment  re- 
flexed.  Entire  body  distinctly  and  densely  punctate;  punctures  finest  on 
first  abdominal  segment  and  base  of  second  segment.  Wasp  covered  with 
sparse  golden  pubescence.  Black.  Yellow  confined  as  follows:  a  line 
on  the  basal  half  of  the  mandibles,  clypeus  excepting  the  margins  of  the 
anterior  half  and  a  ti-iangular  space  in  the  middle,  a  spot  between  the 
insertion  of  the  antenna,  the  anterior  aspect  of  the  scape,  a  postocular 
spot;  on  the  thorax  a  wide  anterior  border  of  the  prothorax,  portion  of  the 
tegulae,  a  spot  below  the  tegulae,  postscutellum,  a  spot  on  the  superior 
lateral  margins  of  the  concavity  of  the  metathorax;  on  the  abdomen,  all 
segments  broadly  bordered  apically  with  yellow,  this  border  continuing 
laterally,  on  the  first  and  second  segments,  to  basal  margins  of  the  seg- 
ment. Coxas  and  base  of  femora  black;  apical  end  of  femora  and  tibia  yel- 
low; tarsi  yellowish,  with  tendency  toward  brownish,  especially  in  pos- 
terior pair.     Wings  brownish  vidth  yellow  reflections. 

T  .  Smaller.  Differs  from  female  as  follows:  clypeus  entirely  yel- 
low, no  yellow  marks  in  metathorax;  yellow  marks  on  anterior  coxse; 
tibia  and  tarsi  more  brownish  than  yellow. 

Types    o    and    ^t    in  Snow  collections,  University  of  Kansas. 

Habitat:    The  museum  possesses  specimens  from  Kansas  and  Arizona. 

Eumenes  bolli  Cress. 

E.  bolli  Cress.;  Hymenoptera  Texana,  Trans.  Am.  Ent.,  4;  1872. 

o  .    Total  length,  1.5  to  17  mm.;  wing,  13  mm. 

^  .     Total  length,  13    mm.;  wing,  11  mm. 

o  .  Clypeus  octagonal ;  the  anterior  side  deeply  emarginate,  terminat- 
ing on  each  side  in  two  teeth,  the  parallel  lateral  sides  with  the  anterior 
oblique  sides  forming  dentifonn  angles;  surface  convex,  finely  punctured. 
A  short  but  prominent  carina  between  the  antennae.     Head  and  thorax 


ISELY:     EUMENID^   OF   KANSAS.  253 

coarsely  punctured;  posterior  margin  of  scutellum  convex.  Petiole 
lengthened,  pyriform;  finely  punctate;  a  medium  furrow  at  apical  end; 
second  abdominal  segment  globose,  densely  punctate,  with  circular  de- 
pression at  the  apical  middle.  Clothed  with  a  short,  dense  yellow 
pubescence.  Head  black.  Clypeus,  labruni,  a  spot  between  the  antennae,  a 
line  in  the  emargination  of  the  eyes,  a  postocular  line,  yellow;  mandibles 
fulvous;  antennae  with  scape  and  two  or  three  basal  points  of  the  flagellum 
rufofulvous;  prothorax  yellow  ferruginous,  more  or  less  yellowish  in  front; 
mesothorax  black,  sometimes  tinged  laterally  with  ferruginous;  scutellum 
ferruginous,  black  posteriorly;  postscutellum  yellow;  metathorax  yellow 
ferruginous,  black  on  basal  middle  to  apex ;  pleurae  ferruginous  vdth 
anterior  and  posterior  margins  black;  petiole  ferruginous,  basal  half 
with  a  broad  median  black  stripe,  sometimes  nearly  as  wide  as  the 
dorsum;  second  segment  yellow,  with  a  large  blackish  angular  band, 
sometimes  quite  .broad,  starting  from  the  basal  middle  and  forking  pos- 
teriorly at  about  the  basal  third,  reaching  the  lateral  margin  at  the  apex; 
remaining  segments  ferruginous,  tinged  with  yellow  above.  Legs  yellow 
ferruginous;  wings  brownish  with  yellowish  reflections. 

g  .     Smaller,  less  robust;  clypeus  narrower;  third  and  following  seg- 
ments black,  banded  with  yellow. 
Habitat:     Texas  and  Kansas. 

Euntenes  fratemus  Say. 

E.fraterna  Say;  Long's  Sec.  Exped.,  11,  344   (Append.  77)  ;  182.5. 

E.fervens  Sauss.;  Vespides  I,  40,  15;  1852. 

E.vixrops  Sauss.;  ibid.  I,  41,  18   (var.?)  ;  1852. 

E.minufo  Sauss.;  ibid.  I,  39,  14  (Syn.  exclus.). 

E.  fratemus  Sauss.;   Syn.  Am.  Wasps  Sol.,  95-98;   1875. 

2  ■     Total  length,  17  mm.;  wing,  12  mm. 

g  .     Total  length,  1?  mm. 

2  .  In  form  resembling  E.  bolli.  Longer  and  more  slender.  Clypeus 
less  deeply  emarginate;  petiole  longer  at  second  segment,  more  grad- 
ually globose,  flat  underneath,  very  convex  above,  finely  punctured,  its 
posterior  border  with  double  leaves.  All  the  body  covered  with  short 
gray  pile.  Insect  shining  black;  two  oblique  spots  on  the  basal  margin 
of  the  clypeus,  the  carina  between  the  antennse,  a  postocular  spot,  a 
spot  on  the  anterior  aspect  of  the  scape,  anterior  border  of  the  pro- 
thorax,  po.=;tscutellum,  a  spot  under  the  tegulae,  a  spot  on  each  side  of 
the  postscutellum  on  the  summit  of  the  metathorax,  apical  margins  of 
first  and  second  and  sometimes  third  and  fourth  abdominal  seg-ments, 
and  a  variable  dot  on  each  side  of  the  second  abdominal  segment,  ci-eamy 
yellow.  Legs  black;  tibia  variable  with  creamy  yellow;  wings  brownish 
with  violet  reflections. 

^  .  Clypeus  deeply  emarginate,  narrower  than  that  of  female;  en- 
tirely cream  yellow  or  with  black  dot  in  middle;  scape  of  antennas 
marked  with  a  yellow  line;  hook  of  antennae  ferruginous. 

Habitat:  "The  eastern  part  of  the  United  States,"  writes  De  Saus- 
sure.  "Very  common."  De  Saussure  records  specimens  from  Louisiana, 
South  Carolina,  New  York,  Tennessee,  Wisconsin,  Pennsylvania,  Illinois, 


254  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

and  Connecticut.  Ashmead  records  having  found  it  in  Florida,  and 
Harris  in  Massachusetts.  In  the  Snow  collections  of  Kansas  Univer- 
sity all  the  specimens  are  from  Kansas. 

Pterochilus  5-faciatus  Say. 

Pt.  5-faciatus  Say;  Long's  Exp.  to  Sources  of  the  St.  Pet.  Riv.,  II,  Supp. 

70;  1824. 
Rhynehium  5-faciatiam  Say;  Bost.  Jour.  I    (1837),  385. 
Pt.  5-faciatus  Sauss.;  Syn.  Am.  Wasps  Sol.,  371-372;  1875. 
o  .     Total  length,  17  mm.;  wing,  15  mm. 
^  .     Total  length,  12  mm.;  wing,  11  mm. 

Q  .  Mandibles  large,  armed  with  four  lobiform  teeth  besides  apical 
point,  their  external  sides  strongly  ciliated  with  long  hair.  Clypeus 
transverse,  sparsely  punctate;  postei'iorly  convex;  somewhat  produced 
in  the  middle;  anteriorly  rapidly  narrowing  toward  apex,  which  is 
deeply  emarginate;  points  of  emargination  toothed.  Whole  body  punc- 
tate; head  and  thorax  densely  so;  basal  halves  of  first  and  second  ab- 
dominal segments  finely  and  sparsely,  punctations  increasing  in  density 
and  coarseness  towai-d  distal  margins  of  the  segments;  pygidium  densely 
punctate.  Thorax  globular.  Abdomen  ovate,  subsessile;  second  seg- 
ment with  a  transverse  carina  at  the  base.  Apical  segments  of  the  ab- 
domen, posterior  edges  of  tibia,  and  tarsi  covered  with  sparse  light 
brown  pubescence.  Black;  strikingly  marked  with  ferruginous  and 
yellow.  Head  black,  except  mandibles,  clypeus,  first  and  second  joints 
of  antenna  and  a  postocular  spot,  ferruginous.  Thorax  black,  except 
prothorax,  tegulae,  a  spot  on  the  anterior  margin  of  the  scutum,  sides 
of  metathorax,  lateral  margins  of  its  concavity,  and  sometimes  a  spot 
below  the  tegulae,  ferruginous;  two  large  spots  on  scutum,  the  post- 
scutellum,  and  sometimes  a  spot  under  the  tegulse,  yellow.  All  the  ab- 
dominal segments  broadly  margined  with  yellow.  First  abdominal  seg- 
ment ferruginous,  with  a  wide  black  line  along  the  center  of  the  dorsum; 
second  segment  black  with  large  ferruginous  spots,  sometimes  touching 
the  anterior  margin,  on  either  side.  The  remaining  segments  black. 
Wings  smoky.  Coxae  sometimes  black;  otherwise  the  legs  are  fer- 
ruginous. 

^  .  Smaller.  Clypeus  hexagonal,  seven-sided,  the  anterior  side 
deeply  notched;  widest  anteriorly;  yellow.  Anterior  margin  of  pro- 
thorax,  a  spot  below  the  tegrulae,  and  a  postocular  line,  yellow.  On  the 
first  abdominal  segment  there  is  a  small  yellow  spot  in  the  large  fur- 
ruginous  spot  on  the  sides. 

Habitat:    Kansas,  Missouri,  and  Texas. 

The  Field  of  Observation. 
The  observation  and  collections  upon  which  this  paper  is 
based  were  made,  as  I  have  previously  stated,  in  twelve  coun- 
ties of  northwestern  Kansas,  in  connection  with  the  Biological 
Survey  of  the  University  of  Kansas.  The  survey  was  made 
under  the  direction  of  Prof.  S.  J.  Hunter.     Mr.  Francis  X. 


ISELY:     EUMENID^   OF   KANSAS.  255 

Williams  was  the  head  of  the  expedition.  The  party  consisted 
of  four  men,  besides  the  chief,  all  graduate  students  in  the  de- 
partment of  entomology. 

The  purpose  of  the  survey  was  to  study  Insect  distribution 
in  the  territory  covered  and  to  add  to  the  Snow  entomological 
collections  in  the  Museum  of  Natural  History  at  the  University 
of  Kansas.  This  plan  necessitated  that  the  major  portion  of 
the  time  should  be  spent  in  general  collection.  However,  when- 
ever a  eumenid  colony  or  a  single  nest  was  located,  I  was  given 
all  the  time  necessary  to  devote  to  the  study  of  the  wasp's  ac- 
tivities. Many  nests,  which  I  would  not  have  otherwise  had  op- 
portunity to  observe,  were  first  located  by  Mr.  Williams,  who 
directed  me  to  them.  He  also  made  many  helpful  suggestions 
regarding  my  observations  and  the  method  of  conducting  them. 
All  the  eumenids  collected  on  the  trip  were  placed  in  my  charge, 
in  order  that  I  might  have  suflicient  material  for  a  systematic 
study  of  the  group. 

The  counties  covered  by  the  survey  are  included  by  an  al- 
most square  area,  occupying  the  eastern  half  of  the  northwest- 
ern quarter  of  the  state.  About  one  week  was  spent  in  each 
county.  Camp  was  pitched,  generally  in  some  central  point 
near  a  stream,  and  from  this  center  radiated  the  daily  collect- 
ing trips.  Eumenidse  was  collected  in  every  county  but  one — 
Barton. 

The  itinerary  in  detail  was  as  follows :  Barton  county,  June 
19  to  25;  camp  near  Great  Bend,  on  the  Arkansas  river.  Rush 
county,  June  25  to  July  2 ;  camp  near  Rush  Center,  on  Walnut 
creek.  Ness  county,  July  2  to  9 ;  camp  near  Ness  City,  on  Wal- 
nut creek.  Trego  county,  July  9  to  16 ;  camp  in  southern  part 
of  county,  on  the  Smoky  Hill  river.  Ellis  county,  July  16  to  23 ; 
camp  near  Hays,  on  Big  creek.  Russell  county,  July  23  to  31; 
camp  near  Russell,  on  the  Saline  river.  Osborne  county,  July 
31  to  August  6 ;  camp  near  Osborne,  on  the  south  fork  of  the 
Solomon  river.  Rooks  county,  August  6  to  13;  camp  near 
Stockton,  on  the  south  fork  of  the  Solomon  river.  Graham 
county,  August  13  to  20;  camp  near  Hill  City,  on  the  south 
fork  of  the  Solomon  river.  Norton  county,  August  20  to  27; 
camp  near  Lenora,  on  the  north  fork  of  the  Solomon  river. 
Phillips  county,  Augu-st  27  to  September  2 ;  camp  near  Kirwin, 
on  the  north  fork  of  the  Solomon  river.  Smith  county,  Septem- 
ber 2  to  6 ;  camp  near  Smith  Center,  on  Rock  Island  lake. 

S— Univ.  Sci.  Bull..  Vol.  VIII.  No.  7. 


256  KANSAS   UNn'ERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Most  of  the  land  on  which  we  collected,  except  in  the  river 
bottoms,  was  rolling.  In  Trego,  Russell  and  Rooks  counties  it 
was  very  hilly,  with  many  prominent  stone  outcrops.  Along 
the  rivers  in  those  counties  were  cliffs  varying  from  80  to  150 
feet  in  height. 

Except  along  watercourses  and  around  dwellings,  the  coun- 
try had  little  timber.  Even  in  the  former  situation  the  timber 
was  either  sparse,  or  a  narrow  strip,  sometimes  100  yards 
wide,  along  the  stream.  The  amount  of  virgin  soil  varied  in 
the  different  situations  from  25  to  90  per  cent. 

The  season  was  unusually  humid  for  that  part  of  Kansas.  It 
rained  at  least  once  during  every  week  but  two  while  we  were 
in  the  field. 

Odynerus  papagoinim  Viereck. 

Edges  of  streams  and  pools  and  the  sunny  sides  of  high 
cliffs  are  the  situations  in  which  I  found  wasps  of  this  species 
most  easily.  I  first  noticed  them  at  a  cattle  crossing  on  a 
creek.  Coming  and  going  continuously,  each  wasp,  no  doubt, 
made  many  trips  a  day  to  that  stream  for  its  load  of  water. 
Some  of  this  activity,  I  later  found,  was  centered  in  home- 
building  in  the  side  of  a  clay  bank.  I  also  soon  learned  to  find 
them  hunting  on  the  heads  of  the  sunflower  and  gaillardia — 
the  feeding  ground  of  their  caterpillar  prey. 

I  collected  wasps  of  this  species  in  five  counties,  and  found 
their  nests  in  four  of  them.  When  in  Ness  county,  from  July  2 
to  July  9,  these  wasps  were  abundant,  and  the  nesting  season 
seemed  to  be  at  its  height.  Hundreds  of  them  were  at  work 
there  in  the  high  banks  of  light  earth.  It  was  in  that  place  that 
I  gave  the  most  time  to  observing  this  species.  The  first 
colonies  found  were  near  Rush  Center,  in  the  banks  of  Walnut 
creek,  on  June  28.  In  Ellis  county,  from  July  16  to  23,  and  in 
Osborne  county,  from  July  31  to  August  6,  I  found  a  few  old 
nests  and  took  a  few  specimens,  but  no  nest-building  was  in 
progress.  A  few  specimens  were  also  taken  in  Trego  county, 
from  July  7  to  16. 

Along  Walnut  creek,  near  Ness  City,  in  a  bank  rising  about 
thirty  feet  above  the  water,  was  the  favorite  nesting  site  of 
0.  papagoriim.  The  lower  half  of  the  bank  was  sloping  talus ; 
the  upper  half  was  practically  perpendicular.  In  this  upper 
half  the  nests  were  excavated.  Most  of  these  were  at  least 
three  feet  above  the  talus,  although  occasionally  I  found  nests 


ISELY:     EUMENID^   OF   KANSAS.  257 

within  a  foot  of  it.  I  did  not  observe  a  single  nest  within  four 
feet  of  the  top  of  the  chff.  Perhaps  the  deep  roots  of  the 
prairie  grass  interfered  with  digging  there.  All  of  the  colonies 
were  situated  along  western  or  southwestern  exposures.  There 
were  other  cliffs  facing  north  and  east,  apparently  exactly  like 
those  facing  west,  but,  I  believe,  without  a  single  nest.  A  bank 
in  which  there  was  much  clay  seemed  to  be  avoided,  although 
I  did  find  a  few  nests  in  very  hard  clay.  I  did  not  find  a  single 
one  in  banks  that  were  shaded  by  trees. 

In  choosing  a  location  on  the  face  of  the  cliff  many  wasps 
seemed  to  prefer  a  partially  sheltered  place.  Little  earthen 
ledges  which  protruded  an  inch  or  more  sheltered  many  en- 
trances to  burrows.  A  crevice  or  a  hole  in  the  face  of  the 
cliff  often  had  one  or  two  nests  near  its  outer  edge.  Even  in 
the  sides  of  the  deserted  burrows  of  the  large  digger  bee, 
Anthrophora  occidentaKs,  some  of  these  wasps  excavated  their 
homes. 

Two  colonies  were  located  on  Walnut  creek,  in  Rush  county. 
One  colony  with  about  twenty  nests  was  in  a  sunny,  west- 
fronting  cliff  along  the  creek.  All  the  nests  were  below  the  sod 
root  line.  The  cliff  was  similar  in  both  appearance  and  in 
character  of  earth  to  the  favored  nesting  site  in  Ness  county. 
The  other  colony  was  located  in  an  artificial  bank  at  the  en- 
trance of  a  dugout  cave  near  the  creek.  This  colony  was  from 
three  and  a  half  to  five  feet  above  the  ground,  and  the  highest 
nests  were  two  feet  from  the  top  of  the  bank. 

In  Osborne  county  only  small  colonies — the  largest  had  only 
seven  nests — were  noted.  This  was  in  spite  of  the  fact  that 
the  cliffs  which  furnished  nesting  sites  were  similar  in  ap- 
pearance to  those  in  Ness  county.  They  differed  from  that 
favorite  nesting  site,  in  that  the  earth  at  Osborne  was  much 
more  sandy.  Also,  as  far  as  I  observed,  these  banks  were 
always  shaded  by  trees,  except  on  a  few  north  exposures.  It 
was  in  these  unshaded  places  that  I  found  the  colonies. 

In  Ellis  county  I  found  the  remains  of  an  old  colony — four 
tubes  over  empty  burrows — in  the  sides  of  a  pit.  They  were 
about  two  feet  from  the  surface  and  were  on  the  side  facing 
east. 

The  home  of  0.  papagorum,  as  previously  stated,  is  ex- 
cavated in  the  face  of  an  earthen  bank.  Excavated  larval  cells 
are  connected  with  each  other  and  the  outside  world  by  a  bur- 
row.   These  cells  do  not  always  open  directly  into  the  burrow, 


258  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

but  are  sometimes  arranged  in  galleries,  the  lower  cells  open- 
ing into  the  upper.  Over  the  entrance  of  this  nest  is  built  a 
fragile  earthen  tube,  in  diameter  about  one-eighth  of  an  inch, 
the  same  as  that  of  the  burrow,  and  in  length  varying  from 
one-fourth  of  an  inch  to  two  inches. 

The  number  of  cells,  to  a  nest,  in  those  which  I  investigated, 
varied  from  one  to  fourteen.  In  Rush  county,  among  eleven 
nests  the  average  number  of  cells  per  nest  was  a  fraction  less 
than  four.  The  largest  number  of  cells  to  a  single  nest  found 
there  was  eight.  In  Ness  county  the  average  number  of  cells 
per  nest,  among  sixteen  nests  opened,  was  six.  There  I  found 
one  nest  with  fourteen  cells  and  another  with  ten  cells.  There 
were  no  others  with  more  than  eight.  At  Osborne  the  average 
among  the  four  nests  excavated  was  three.  Of  all  the  nests 
excavated  during  the  entire  summer  I  found  but  three  with 
only  one  cell. 

In  the  larger  nests  the  cells  were  invariably  arranged  in 
galleries.  The  average  number  of  cells  to  a  gallery  was  be- 
tween two  and  three.  Of  all  the  nests  that  I  opened  I  found  but 
■one  gallery  with  four  cells. 

The  burrow  led  into  the  bank  either  in  a  horizontal  direc- 
tion or  pointing  downward;  it  never  pointed  upward.  At 
various  distances  from  the  entrance,  from  one-half  inch  to 
five  inches,  there  were  openings  from  the  main  burrow  into 
cells  or  into  branch  burrows  leading  to  cells. 

There  was  little  uniformity  in  the  arrangement  of  the  cells. 
Yet  I  have  found  a  number  of  nests  in  which  symmetry  pre- 
vailed. This  was  the  case  in  the  largest  nest  that  I  found,  one 
with  fourteen  cells.  These  were  arranged  in  seven  galler  ies  of 
two  cells  each.  The  burrow  terminated  in  one  gallery.  The 
other  six  galleries  were  arranged  in  pairs  at  intervals  along 
the  burrow.  On  the  other  hand,  I  found  many  nests  in  which 
all  the  cells  came  from  the  same  side  of  the  burrow.  Still  other 
nests  had  a  varying  number  of  cells  to  the  gallery. 

The  size  and  shape  of  the  cells  was  nearly  uniform  in  all  that 
I  measured.  They  were  barrel-shaped  excavations  five-six- 
teenths of  an  inch  in  diameter.  The  long  axis  of  these  cells 
generally  pointed  downward.  In  20  per  cent  of  the  cells  thft  I 
noted  the  long  axes  were  nearer  horizontal  than  vertical.  In 
a  few  cases  the  long  axis  was  actually  horizontal. 

The  burrow  and  the  entrances  to  the  cells  were  about  one- 
«ighth  of  an  inch  in  diameter.  The  burrow  was  just  big  enniio-v> 


ISELY:    EUMENID^  of  KANSAS.  259 

for  the  wasp  to  enter,  but  did  not  permit  its  turning  around 
while  in  the  nest.  The  length  of  the  burrow  varied  greatly, 
from  one-fourth  of  an  inch  to  five  inches.  The  average  dis- 
tance for  the  first  entrances  to  cells  to  the  opening  into  the 
burrow  was  one  and  three-sixteenths  inches.  In  one  case 
which  I  noted  the  burrow  opened  into  the  first  cell  within  one- 
fourth  of  an  inch  of  the  outer  entrance. 

The  earthen  walls  of  the  cells  and  burrows  were  packed  and 
smooth.  They  were  always  harder  than  the  surrounding 
earth,  forming  a  layer  distinct  from  it,  due  to  the  fact  that 
water,  and  perhaps  saliva,  was  applied  to  them. 

Earthen  tubes  projecting  from  the  face  of  a  bank  over  the 
entrances  of  burrows  attracted  my  attention  to  the  first 
Odynerus  colony  that  I  ever  observed.  These  tubes  were  small 
and  fragile,  being  only  about  one-fourth  of  an  inch  in  diameter, 
inside  measurement.  In  length  they  varied  from  one-fourth 
of  an  inch  to  nearly  two  inches.  Most  of  those  over  one-half 
inch  in  length  curved  downward  at  the  distal  end.  In  texture 
the  tube  appeared  to  be  made  of  a  network  of  earthen  cords, 
which  were  laid  close  together  longitudinally,  and  with  enough 
wide  crossbands  to  hold  them  together.  I  did  not  note  a  single 
tube  in  which  the  direction  of  the  strands  of  network  were 
much  longer  at  the  distal  end  of  the  tube  than  near  the  basal 
end.  At  the  base  the  tube  walls  were  solid  or  with  only  very 
small  openings.  The  width  of  the  spaces  at  the  distal  end  of 
the  tube  was  about  the  same  as  the  width  of  the  earthen  cords- 

In  spite  of  the  apparent  fragility  of  these  tubes,  they  were 
quite  durable  when  exposed  only  to  natural  conditions.  While 
they  were  so  brittle  that  I  had  diflSculty  in  removing  them 
from  the  bank  with  a  pair  of  tweezers  without  breaking  them, 
yet  rain  and  wind  appeared  to  have  little  effect  upon  them. 
I  have  excavated  nests  in  which  all  the  cells  were  empty  ex- 
cept for  pupal  skins,  and  over  some  of  these  burrows  were 
tubes  one  and  one-half  inches  long.  They  had  been  built  at 
least  a  month  before,  probably  much  longer  than  that,  and  had 
been  exposed  to  several  rains.  The  rains  left  no  record  of  the 
percentage  of  tubes  they  may  have  destroyed.  The  fact  that 
the  wasps  often  select  sheltered  spots  as  nesting  sites  indicates 
that  the  weather  may  affect  the  durability  of  the  tube.  Yet  I 
believe  that  many  of  these  tubes  endure  for  longer  than  the 
nest  has  inhabitants,  and  far  longer  than  their  fragile  appear- 
ance would  warrant.     This  durability  is  due,   I  believe,  as 


260  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE'  BULLETIN. 

Sharp  suggests  regarding  Eumenes,  to  saliva  or  some  other 
buccal  secretion  which  the  wasp  may  mix  with  the  earth  and 
water  during  the  construction  of  the  tube. 

One  purpose  of  this  tube,  as  has  been  suggested  by  Messrs. 
Hungerford  and  Williams  regarding  the  tube  of  0.  mmultatus, 
is  to  hinder  parasites  from  finding  the  entrance  to  the  burrow. 
I  shall  discuss  this  in  my  notes  on  parasites. 

The  very  beginning  of  nest-building — that  is,  the  location  of 
the  site — I  observed  but  once,  in  Ness  county.  Here  a  wasp 
was  walking  rapidly  back  and  forth  on  the  face  of  the  cliff, 
covering  an  area  of  a  few  square  inches.  Occasionally  she 
would  stop  and  test  the  surface  with  her  mandibles.  After 
two  or  three  minutes  of  this  surveying  she  took  wing  and  zig- 
zagged up  and  down  a  few  inches  in  front  of  the  area  over 
which  she  had  been  running.  She  alighted,  then  repeated  the 
uncertain  flight  in  front  of  the  cliff,  and  again  alighted  in  the 
same  place.  Again  she  took  wing,  this  time  making  a  few 
large  zigzag  circles  before  the  face  of  the  cliff,  and  then  flying 
away. 

I  had  watched  her  performance  with  curiosity,  but  did  not 
realize  its  importance  until  she  had  returned  a  minute  later 
with  water.  She  flew  almost  directly  to  the  place  she  had  so 
carefully  surveyed,  wet  a  spot,  and  began  digging. 

0.  papagorum  dug  rapidly  both  with  her  mandibles  and  her 
fore  feet,  pulling  the  moist  earth  to  the  edge  of  the  burrow, 
and  there  pressing  it  against  the  bank,  making  a  thick  founda- 
tion for  the  tube  wall.  While  her  head  and  fore  legs  were 
constantly  at  work  within  the  burrow,  the  rest  of  her  body 
also  was  in  motion,  swinging  around  the  burrow  entrance. 
At  one  instant  the  wasp  was  facing  the  lower  side  of  the  bur- 
row ;  the  next  instant  she  might  have  changed  her  position  so 
as  to  be  facing  the  opposite  way.  The  burrow  was  an  axis 
about  which  the  wasp's  body  swung  back  and  forth. 

Soon  the  tube  became  so  long  that  it  was  impossible  to  pull 
the  earth  to  its  edge  without  backing  out.  Then  Mrs.  Wasp 
began  to  form  the  excavated  earth  into  pellets,  which  she  car- 
ried out  in  her  mandibles  to  add  to  the  length  of  the  tube. 
She  would  then  press  the  tip  of  her  abdomen  against  the  out- 
side of  the  tube  while  she  worked  with  her  fore  feet  and 
mandibles  within. 

After  she  had  been  digging  for  three  and  one-half  minutes 
she  went  for  more  water.     This  trip  occupied  forty  seconds. 


isely:   eumenid^  of  Kansas.  261 

The  next  three  successive  trips  for  water  were  made  at  in- 
tervals of  approximately  four  minutes  each. 

After  fifteen  minutes'  work  the  wasp  was  completely  hidden 
in  the  tube  when  digging.  After  fifty  minutes  the  tube  was 
one  and  one-fourth  inches  long,  and  near  the  tip  it  was  curved 
downward.  She  then  began  discarding  the  excavated  pellets, 
no  longer  using  them  to  add  to  the  tube.  She  would  back  out 
of  the  tube  with  the  pellet  in  her  mandibles,  poise  on  wing  a 
moment,  just  long  enough  to  drop  the  pellet,  then  she  would  re- 
enter at  once.  When  she  began  dropping  the  pellets  I  supposed 
that  the  tube-building  was  finished.  However,  when  I  re- 
turned, within  only  two  hours  after  the  excavations  had  been 
started,  the  tube  was  two  inches  long.  At  this  time  it  was 
finished,  I  believe. 

I  left  her  then,  still  dropping  pellets.  She  had  begun  dig- 
ging at  2 :30  P.  M.  July  5.  The  next  morning  when  I  took  my 
place  before  the  clifl"  she  was  provisioning  her  nest  with  cater- 
pillars. But  the  nest-building  had  not  been  completed,  for  in 
the  afternoon  of  July  6  she  was  again  excavating,  probably 
adding  more  rooms  to  her  house. 

I  have  observed  many  of  these  wasps  at  work  on  their  nests ; 
a  few  of  them  I  noted  when  the  excavation  began ;  and  the  rou- 
tine of  work — the  method  of  digging,  the  building  of  the  tube, 
the  dropping  of  pellets,  and  the  occasional  trip  for  water — was 
essentially  the  same. 

There  was  little  regularity  about  when  time  should  be  spent 
on  tube-building.  The  tube  was  always  started  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  work.  Often  it  was  finished  before  any  of  the 
pellets  of  earth  excavated  from  the  burrow  were  thrown  away. 
On  the  other  hand,  I  have  noted  a  number  of  instances  in  which 
the  tube  was  scarcely  more  than  started  when  building  it 
further  seemed  to  be  abandoned ;  the  excavated  earth  was  dis- 
carded. After  one  or  two  cells  had  been  dug  and  provisioned, 
work  on  the  tube  would  again  begin. 

Earth  used  in  tube-building,  as  I  have  stated  previously,  is 
usually  excavated  from  the  burrow.  There  are  rare  instances, 
however,  in  which  this  is  not  the  case.  I  noted  one  wasp  dis- 
card most  of  the  earth  taken  from  her  burrow  one  afternoon. 
The  next  afternoon  she  laboriously  collected  particles  of  earth 
from  the  side  of  the  bank  several  feet  below  her  nest  with 
which  to  lengthen  her  tube.  I  noted  another  wasp  set  about 
lengthening  her  tube  after  she  had  wasted  much  soft  earth 


262  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

excavated  from  her  burrow.  This  wasp  was  less  scrupulous 
than  the  one  just  mentioned,  for  she  stole  soft  earth  freshly 
excavated  from  its  burrow  from  the  tube  of  a  neighbor — the 
digger  bee,  Arithrophora  occidentalis.  These  cases,  of  course, 
are  exceptional,  for  such  poor  economy  is  rare  among  the 
Odij>ie7~i. 

When  the  nest  has  been  provisioned  its  entrance  is  sealed 
with  mud.  There  seems  to  be  no  rule  as  to  exactly  where  it 
shall  be.  Of  eight  closed  nests  that  I  investigated  in  Rush 
county,  three  were  sealed  in  the  basal  end  of  the  tube  at  the 
entrance  to  the  burrow ;  two  others  were  only  at  the  distal  end ; 
the  remaining  three  were  in  two  places,  both  at  the  distal  and 
basal  ends  of  the  tube.  Earth  for  closing  the  nest  was  gen- 
erally taken  from  the  cliff  near  the  nest. 

In  all  their  excavations  and  masonary  these  wasps  use  water. 
Even  when  collecting  earth  from  the  sides  of  cliffs  to  close 
their  tubes  they  make  frequent  visits  to  streams. 

After  the  excavation  of  the  nest  it  is  provisioned  with  food 
for  the  wasp  grub.  In  all  the  nests  that  I  opened  a  noctuid 
caterpillar,  apparently  of  the  group  Heliothinse,  was  used. 
The  largest  of  these  caterpillars  that  I  took  from  nests  were 
13  mm.  in  length.  Some  were  as  short  as  10  mm.  Their  dorsal 
color  was  dark  red  or  reddish  purple,  with  four  longitudinal 
white  stripes.  Ventrally  they  were  greenish  or  purplish  white. 
I  found  this  caterpillar  feeding  on  the  heads  of  several  species 
of  sunflower  {Heliantfms  sp.),  the  gaillardia  (Gaillardia 
lutea) ,  and  the  purple  cone-flower  (Bramieria  purpurea) . 

The  number  of  caterpillars  stored  in  each  cell  varied  from 
five  to  ten.  The  average  per  cell  in  Rush  county  was  a  little 
more  than  seven  caterpillars ;  in  Ness  county  the  average  was 
nearly  nine.  According  to  these  estimates,  the  average  num- 
ber of  caterpillars  that  should  have  been  stored  in  an  average- 
sized  Rush  county  nest  is  thirty.  The  average  number  of 
caterpillars  in  an  average  Ness  county  nest  should  have  been 
fifty-four.  The  largest  nest  that  I  found — one  with  fourteen 
cells — should,  according  to  the  Ness  county  average,  have  con- 
tained 126  caterpillars. 

The  largest  number  of  caterpillars  that  I  actually  found  in 
a  single  nest  was  fifty.  This  nest  had  eight  cells.  In  two  of 
these  cells  there  were  no  caterpillars,  for  the  wasp  grubs 
within  were  full  grown.  In  another  cell  there  were  seven 
caterpillars  and  a  small  wasp  grub.     In  the  other  cells  the 


isely:    eumenid^  of  kansas.  263 

wasps  had  not  hatched,  and  consequently  the  larder  remained 
untouched.  Three  of  these  cells  contained  eight  caterpillars 
each,  one  contained  nine,  and  another  ten.  The  nest  un- 
doubtedly at  one  time  had  contained  at  least  fifteen  or  twenty 
more  caterpillars  than  it  did  at  the  time  when  I  opened  it. 

Why  should  the  average  number  of  caterpillars  per  cell  have 
been  so  much  higher  in  Ness  county  than  in  Rush  county? 
There  were  two  conditions  that  may  have  affected  this  differ- 
ence. The  caterpillar  prey  was  much  more  abundant  in  Ness 
county ;  so  were  the  wasps.  A  more  important  item  is,  that  the 
cells  opened  in  Ness  county  which  I  could  consider  in  this  count 
were  stored  on  an  average  a  week  later  than  those  that  had 
been  in  the  same  condition  in  Rush  county,  for  any  cell  that 
had  been  stored  more  than  three  days  before  we  opened  it  was 
likely  to  have  its  larder  more  or  less  depleted  by  the  hungry 
wasp  grub.  The  weather  had  been  considerably  warmer  while 
we  were  in  Ness  county,  and  the  activity  of  the  wasps  was  cor- 
respondingly increased.  This  may  also  have  been  one  reason 
for  the  larger  number  of  cells  in  the  nests  in  Ness  county. 

I  noted  these  wasps  frequently  on  their  hunting  ground — 
containing  the  food  plants  of  their  caterpillar  prey.  But  in 
spite  of  the  comparative  abundance  of  both  the  wasps  and  the 
caterpillars,  I  saw  the  capturing  of  prey  only  twice.  On  one 
occasion  a  wasp  seized  a  caterpillar  near  the  anal  end,  and  by 
repeated  jerks  pulled  it  from  its  hiding  place  between  the  disk 
flowers  in  the  gaillardia  head.  When  the  caterpillar  finally 
let  go  both  rolled  from  the  flower  to  a  leaf  below.  For  an 
instant  they  were  out  of  my  sight.  When  I  saw  them  again 
the  wasp  was  holding  the  caterpillar  by  the  neck  and  was 
stinging  it  under  the  thorax.  I  noted  two  thrusts.  Then  the 
wasp  quickly  bestrode  its  prey  and  began  maxalation.  Some 
movement  of  mine  must  have  disturbed  the  wasp,  for  it 
stopped  suddenly,  watched  me  for  a  moment,  and  then  flew 
away,  leaving  its  victim  on  the  leaf.  The  caterpillar  appeared 
to  be  dead,  and  did  riot  respond  to  any  irritation.  Unfortu- 
nately I  did  not  keep  it  to  observe  further  developments. 

On  another  occasion  I  noted  a  wasp  on  a  sunflower  astride 
a  caterpillar  and  maxalating  it.  Then  she  turned  the  cater- 
pillar ventral  side  up  and  continued  chewing  and  twisting  its 
neck ;  then  she  flew  away  with  it. 


264  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

When  hunting,  this  wasp  sometimes  runs  quite  rapidly  over 
the  flower  heads.  More  often  her  progress  is  very  slow,  as  she 
peers  carefully  among  the  disk  flowers. 

I  was  anxious  to  observe  the  wasp's  attack  upon  her  prey 
more  closely,  and  thought  to  bring  this  about  by  artificial 
means.  With  nails  I  pinned  two  sunflower  heads  in  the  midst 
of  a  colony.  Upon  these  sunflowers  I  placed  about  a  dozen 
caterpillars  upon  which  0.  papagormn  preyed.  There  were 
the  same  species  of  caterpillars  for  which  the  wasps  had  been 
searching  so  diligently  in  the  field,  within  a  few  inches  of  the 
thresholds  of  the  wasps'  storehouses ;  but  my  efforts  were 
fruitless.  Not  a  caterpillar  was  attacked.  Not  only  did  the 
wasps  ignore  the  caterpillars  I  had  placed  there  for  their  con- 
venience, but  they  seemed  even  to  be  wholly  unmindful  of  the 
sunflowers.  They  flew  directly  to  and  from  their  nests  as  if 
nothing  had  been  changed  in  the  site  of  their  colony. 

The  caterpillar  is  carried  ventral  side  upward.  With  her 
mandibles  the  wasp  grasps  the  caterpillar's  neck.  One  pair  of 
legs  are  also  used  in  holding  the  caterpillar's  body  under 
her  own. 

Upon  reaching  her  nest,  the  wasp  with  her  mandibles  and 
legs  quickly  moves  the  caterpillar,  head  first  and  ventral  side 
upward,  into  the  tube.  Then  she  follows  it  in.  As  far  as  I 
have  observed,  the  wasp  always  pushes  the  caterpillar  with 
her  head.  After  the  caterpillar  is  stored  she  backs  out  and 
again  goes  on  the  hunt. 

Storing  caterpillars  was  not  always  an  easy  matter.  On 
one  occasion  I  saw  a  wasp  have  considerable  difficulty  in  push- 
ing a  caterpillar  ahead  of  her  into  the  tube.  The  caterpillar  did 
not  seem  to  be  thoroughly  paralyzed,  for  as  soon  as  it  was 
pushed  ahead  of  the  wasp  it  would  try  to  curl  up  or  hold  to 
the  sides  of  the  tube.  After  several  attempts  the  wasp  started 
it  into  the  burrow.  About  four  minutes  later  she  backed  out, 
bringing  the  unruly  caterpillar  with  her.  She  alighted  on  the 
side  of  the  cliff  and  vigorously  bit  its  neck  and  first  thoracic 
segment.  After  belaboring  it  for  about  a  minute  she  pushed 
it  in  again,  this  time  with  no  apparent  trouble. 

Of  all  the  caterpillars  that  I  took  from  cells,  not  one  that  I 
noticed  was  dead.  Even  those  that  had  been  in  cells  so  long 
that  nearly  all  of  their  partners  had  been  devoured  by  the  wasp 
grub  still  responded  to  stimulation.  The  caterpillars  were 
paralyzed  with  varying  degrees  of  success.     Some  would  only 


isely:    eumenid^  of  Kansas.  265 

move  their  abdominal  segments  when  irritated,  while  others 
could  make  their  way  out  of  the  cell  after  it  had  been  opened. 
One  caterpillar  that  I  had  seen  captured  in  the  field  was  ap- 
parently dead  or  totally  paralyzed.  This  was  the  only  excep- 
tion. It  has  since  occurred  to  me  that  this  state  may  have 
been  only  temporary.  0.  papagorum  may  totally  paralyze 
caterpillars  when  she  captures  them,  thus  making  them  more 
easily  managed  during  the  storing  process.  After  it  is  stored 
the  caterpillar  may  partially  recover  from  the  paralysis. 

Most  of  the  cells  freshly  stored  were  packed  with  a  tangled 
mass  of  caterpillars.  Usually  there  was  no  vacant  space  in 
the  cell. 

On  removing  the  mass  of  caterpillars  from  the  cell  I  often 
found  the  egg  suspended  from  the  roof  of  the  cell  by  a  white 
thread.  It  was  not  suspended  above  the  caterpillars.  As  far 
as  I  observed,  it  was  always  in  the  part  of  the  cell  farthest 
from  the  entrance  to  the  burrow.  Sometimes  it  was  attached 
to  the  roof  at  the  lower  end  of  the  burrow,  so  that  the  egg  was 
nearly  in  the  bottom  of  the  cell.  In  spite  of  the  thread  attach- 
ment, in  most  cells  the  caterpillars  must  have  been  fairly  piled 
upon  the  egg. 

Oviposition  may  take  place  before  any  caterpillars,  or  after 
only  a  few,  are  stored.  The  usual  position  of  the  egg  would 
indicate  that  it  was  deposited  at  least  before  many  caterpillars 
were  stored.  I  did  not  open  a  single  empty  cell  in  which  I  found 
an  egg.  However,  I  did  find  eggs  suspended  in  only  partially 
stored  cells;  in  one  case  the  cell  had  but  two  caterpillars. 

The  length  of  time  required  to  make  and  store  a  nest  depends 
chiefly  upon  the  number  of  its  cells,  and  upon  the  weather. 
In  cold,  damp  weather  the  wasps  are  vei-y  sluggish  and  work 
but  little.  Wind  also  has  a  discouraging  effect  upon  work. 
On  hot,  sunny  days  they  were  most  active.  I  noted  one  three- 
celled  nest  that  was  finished  in  two  days.  On  the  other  hand, 
I  opened  larger  nests  which  contained  larvae  and  pupae  of  ages 
that  must  have  been  at  least  ten  days  or  two  weeks  apart.  The 
length  of  time  required  for  nest-building  also  depends  to  a 
certain  extent  upon  the  individual  wasp,  as  some  are  much 
faster  workers  than  others.  It  is  also  difficult  to  make  an 
estimate  of  the  length  of  time  required  to  store  a  cell,  as  I 
have  found  wasps  with  as  many  as  three  cells  open  at  one  time 
?nd  storing  caterpillars  in  all  of  them. 


266  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

An  extract  from  my  field  notes  may  show  about  how  fast  an 
average  wasp  works  on  a  favorable  day.  It  reads  as  follows: 
"0.  papagoriim  left  nest  at  8 :40  A.  M.  Returned  in  eleven  min- 
utes with  a  caterpillar.  Storing  it  required  three  minutes. 
Returned  with  second  caterpillar  in  twenty  minutes.  Stored  . 
it  in  five  minutes.  Hunt  for  third  caterpillar  took  twenty-five 
minutes.  Spent  eight  and  one-half  minutes  storing  it.  Re- 
turned in  fifty-three  and  one-half  minutes.  Stored  it  in  three 
minutes.  Came  out  and  backed  into  tube  (perhaps  to  ovi- 
posit). Stayed  inside  five  minutes.  Returned  with  cater- 
pillar in  twenty-six  minutes.  Storing  it  required  thirteen  min- 
utes." Thus  three  hours  and  forty-five  minutes  were  spent  in 
capturing  and  storing  five  caterpillars. 

The  egg  of  0.  papagorum  is  cylindrical,  slightly  tapering  to- 
ward the  rounded  ends.  It  is  creamy  white  in  color.  The 
filament  attachment  is  white  and  about  the  same  length  as  the 
egg.  The  egg  is  21/2  mm.  long  and  %  mm.  in  its  greatest 
diameter. 

The  larva  is  a  very  stout  grub,  much  larger  posteriorly  than 
anteriorly.  Its  ventral  outline  is  slightly  curved,  and  when 
mature  is  about  10  mm.  in  length.  Its  dorsal  outline  is 
strongly  curved  and  is  ISi/o  mm.  in  length.  Its  greatest  diam- 
eter is  41/2  mm.  In  color  the  grub  is  whitish.  The  pupa  is  also 
whitish,  and  is  9  to  10  mm.  in  length. 

Closely  associated  with  0.  papagorum  was  a  cuckoo  bee, 
Chrysis  pattoni.  The  green  parasitic  bees  were  ubiquitous  on 
the  faces  of  cliff's  in  which  the  wasps  nested.  They  often 
seemed  more  numerous  than  the  wasps  themselves. 

These  chrysidids  spent  most  of  their  time  searching  the  face 
of  the  cliff's,  investigating  every  hole  or  crevice  in  the  bank, 
and  sometimes  finding  their  way  into  the  tube  of  0.  papa- 
gorum. These  same  cliffs  were  also  used  as  nesting  sites  for 
small  andrenid  bees.  While  I  seldom  saw  a  cuckoo  bee  pass 
one  of  these  burrows  by  without  stopping  to  look  into  it,  I 
never  saw  one  actually  enter  an  andrenid  nest.  They  seemed 
to  be  searching  for  the  storehouse  of  Odynerus. 

The  tube  over  the  entrance  to  the  burrow  was  of  considerable 
importance,  I  believe,  in  keeping  these  undesirable  guests  out 
of  the  nest.  Because  of  this  tube,  cuckoo  bees  seemed  at  least 
to  have  great  difficulty  in  finding  their  way  into  the  burrow. 
When  a  cuckoo  bee  would  come  in  contact  with  a  tube  it  would 
generally  pass  it  by,  while  it  would  easily  have  found  an  open 


isely:   eumenid^  of  Kansas.  267 

burrow.  However,  when  it  found  the  entrance  to  the  tube  it 
would  go  in  at  once,  even  though  the  wasp  might  happen  to  be 
within  the  nest.  In  the  latter  case  the  chrysidid  would  come 
out  in  great  haste. 

On  one  occasion  I  saw  this  Chrysis  pattoni  break  open  a 
tube  with  its  mandibles.  The  tube  had  been  sealed  the  day 
before  by  the  wasp.  Chrysis  did  not  try  to  break  the  tube  at 
the  base,  where  it  was  thickest,  but  at  the  distal  end.  I  took 
Chrysis  out  of  the  nest  after  it  had  penetrated  to  the  main 
burrow. 

0.  papagorum  occasionally  showed  signs  of  hostility  toward 
the  cuckoo  bee  by  darting  at  it  when  the  latter  was  too  near 
its  nest.  The  cuckoo  bee  always  made  good  its  escape.  It  also 
showed  signs  of  fear  when  it  entered  the  wasp's  nest  and  found 
the  owner  at  home.  Most  of  the  time,  however,  each  of  these 
insects  ignored  the  other's  presence. 

In  spite  of  the  abundance  of  this  cuckoo  bee,  I  found  little 
evidence  of  parasites  in  any  of  the  nests  that  I  opened.  Pupal 
cases,  probably  of  some  chrysidid,  were  sometimes  found  in 
nests.  I  found  one  nest  with  an  unfamiliar  grub  in  it  feeding 
in  the  same  cell  with  the  Odynerits  grub. 

Joint  proprietors  with  0.  papagorum  of  the  cliffs  in  which 
the  large  colonies  were  located  were  Anthrophora  occidentalis, 
several  andrenid  bees,  several  species  of  philanthids,  Try- 
poxylon  sp.,  and  0.  hildagi.  No  advantages  or  disadvantages 
to  0.  papagoruw,  seemed  to  result  from  this  proximity  of  other 
insects  except  of  Anthrophora.  Twice  I  noted  Odynerus  tak- 
"ng  mud  from  this  bee's  tube,  and  the  vacated  burrows  of  the 
Lee  sometimes  furnished  shelters  for  the  bases  of  the  tubes  of 
Odyyierus.  Had  they  been  more  numerous,  O.  hildagi  might 
have  become  a  rival  for  food,  as  they  preyed  on  the  same 
caterpillars. 

This  wasp  was  strongly  colonial  in  habit.  It  may  have  been 
due  to  a  certain  extent  to  the  scarcity  of  ideal  nesting  sites. 
This  does  not  seem  to  me  to  be  sufficient  explanation,  however. 
In  Rush  county  a  colony  was  located  on  an  earthen  wall  at  the 
entrance  of  a  dugout  cave.  This  wall  presented  an  area  of 
bout  thirty-five  square  feet,  artificially  made  smooth.  It  was 
in  one  plane  and  all  parts  were  almost  equally  exposed  to  the 
weather,  as  there  were  no  ledges  of  earth  for  the  protection  of 
tubes  to  prejudice  the  location  of  a  colony  in  a  certain  place. 
Yet  a  colony  of  ten  nests  was  located  on  a  space  seven  by 


KANSAS  UNIVERSITY  SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

twenty-one  inches.  The  great  colony  in  the  cliffs  in  Ness 
county  was  made  up  of  many  small  colonies  of  twenty  to  thirty 
nests,  while  spaces  between  these  colonies,  which  offered  situ- 
ations for  nesting  of  essentially  the  same  character,  were 
untenanted. 

I  could  not  observe  any  advantage  gained  by  this  colonial 
habit.  However,  the  wasps  must  have  been  influenced  by  each 
other,  for  there  was  a  tendency  in  a  colony  for  all  to  do  the 
same  kind  of  work  at  the  same  time.  When  I  saw  one  wasp 
bring  a  caterpillar  to  her  nest  I  knew  that  the  rest  of  the 
colony  was  probably  also  on  a  hunt.  When  I  saw  one  wasp 
back  out  of  her  tube  with  a  pellet  of  earth  I  expected  to  see 
others  also,  either  excavating  or  otherwise  engaged  in  nest- 
building. 

The  time  of  day  also  seemed  to  be  a  dividing  factor  in  the 
kind  of  work  0.  papagorutn  would  do.  Mornings  were  gener- 
ally spent  hunting  and  storing  caterpillars.  Afternoons  were 
generally  given  to  nest-building. 

0.  papagoriim  began  working  between  7:30  and  8  a.m. 
during  my  stay  in  Ness  county.  She  began  hunting  at  once  in 
earnest,  in  contrast  to  some  other  Odyneri  who  would  work 
only  in  a  desultory  way  until  the  morning  was  half  gone.  Late 
in  the  afternoon  some  of  these  wasps  would  quit  working. 
Others  I  noted  were  still  busy  just  before  sunset.  The  night 
was  spent  in  the  nest. 

During  the  busy  season  these  wasps  must  make  many  trips 
a  day  for  water.  Their  familiarity  with  water  does  not  make 
them  incautious  about  approaching  it.  Sometimes  they  will 
alight  upon  still  water,  in  tanks,  pools,  or  in  tracks  beside 
streams,  but  I  have  never  seen  them  alight  upon  running 
water,  or  even  float  upon  it.  When  taking  water  from  streams 
they  alight  at  the  water's  edge.  Often  they  will  take  water 
from  the  wet  sand  at  the  edge  of  a  stream. 

When  O.  papagoriim  aliglits  on  water  or  on  the  side  of  a 
cliff,  or  when  hunting  on  a  flower  head,  it  always  keeps  it? 
wings  spread  and  held  up  obliquely  from  the  thorax,  thus  con- 
stantly keeping  them  in  a  position  to  take  flight  at  any  time. 
This  is  characteristic  of  all  the  Odyneri  that  I  have  observed. 

On  their  homecomings  these  wasps  always,  if  undisturbed, 
flew  directly  to  their  tubes,  paying  no  attention  to  the  tubes 
of  others  in  the  colony.  Was  this  due  to  a  sense  of  direction  or 
to  a  memory  of  the  nest's  surroundings?    I  had  noted  a  wasp 


ISELY:     EUMENID^   OF   KANSAS.  269 

making  a  zigzag  flight  before  a  small  area  in  the  face  of  the 
cliff  in  which  she  located  her  nest.  This  zizgzag  flight  I  had 
supposed  was  a  "locality  study,"  to  aid  the  wasp  in  finding  the 
exact  spot  again.  This  idea  I  owed  to  a  suggestion  fi-om  the 
Peckhams ;  I  considered  it  analogous  to  the  many  locality 
studies  they  had  observed. 

When  I  pinned  two  sunflower  heads  on  the  face  of  the  clitf 
in  the  midst  of  a  colony,  as  I  have  previously  described,  and  the 
wasps  absolutely  ignored  these  decorations,  my  confidence  in 
their  observational  ability  was  shaken.  The  wasps  flew  di- 
rectly to  their  tubes  as  if  there  had  been  no  change  in  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  side  of  the  colony. 

That  afternoon  I  purposely  knocked  off  two  long  tubes 
when  the  owners  of  the  nests  were  away.  When  the  wasps 
returned  they  flew  without  the  slightest  hesitation  directly 
into  their  uncovered  burrows.  I  went  to  another  colony  and 
paritally  mutilated  three  other  nests  by  knocking  off  the  tubes 
and  cutting  out  a  part  of  the  burrow,  and  then  with  my  knife 
I  made  gashes  in  the  bank  for  several  inches  around  the  en- 
trances of  these  nests.  Two  of  the  wasps  flew  directly  to  their 
burrows  and  entered  as  usual.  The  other  wasp  lit  a  few  inches 
at  the  side  of  the  burrow,  hesitated  a  moment,  and  then  walked 
directly  into  it.  When  observing  these  wasps  they  seldom 
seemed  to  resent  my  presence.  Usually  they  did  not  appear 
to  notice  me  at  all. 

These  wasps  whose  homes  I  had  mutilated  were  not  blindly 
unaware  of  the  change.  At  the  time  I  broke  the  tubes  the 
wasps  were  enlarging  their  respective  burrows.  Apparently 
the  tubes  were  finished.  But  within  ten  minutes  after  I  had 
broken  the  tubes  all  of  the  wasps  were  building  new  ones. 
Only  one  of  them  began  work  on  the  new  tube  at  once ;  all  of 
the  others  continued  discarding  their  excavated  pellets  for 
several  minutes.  All  three  of  the  wasps  whose  nests  I  had 
mutilated  with  my  knife  inspected  by  depredations  several 
times  before  beginning  the  rebuilding  of  the  tube. 

The  effect  of  a  strong  wind  upon  the  work  of  these  wasps 
I  had  opportunity  to  observe  on  the  afternoon  of  July  4.  A 
gale  was  blowing  furiously  from  the  southwest,  striking 
diagonally  the  face  of  the  cliff  in  which  the  Odyncnis  colonies 
were  located.  The  temperature  was  high,  as  usual,  and  ordi- 
narily I  would  have  expected  to  see  the  colonies  very  active. 


270  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY  SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 

For  two  hours  I  stationed  myself  in  front  of  a  small  colony 
of  eight  burrows.  During  that  time  I  saw  five  of  the  owners 
of  these  burrows. 

The  first  v^'asp  came  from  the  field  unburdened,  and  entered 
its  tube.  In  two  minutes  it  came  out  and  backed  in.  It  stayed 
in  this  position  for  forty-three  minutes,  although  three  times 
it  showed  its  head  at  the  entrance  of  the  tube.  At  last  it  came 
out,  but  reentered  at  once  head  first.  Eight  minutes  later  it 
again  came  out  and  backed  into  the  nest.  The  rest  of  the  time 
I  was  there  it  occasionally  showed  its  head  at  the  entrance  of 
the  tube,  but  never  ventured  out. 

The  second  wasp  came  home  with  a  caterpillar.  She  had 
difficulty  in  alighting,  for  several  times  as  she  poised  to  grasp 
the  tube  with  her  feet  the  wind  would  dash  her  against  the 
cliff.  When  at  last  she  was  successful  in  alighting  she  had  dif- 
ficulty in  pushing  the  caterpillar  ahead  of  her.  Ten  minutes 
later  she  came  out  of  the  tube  and  backed  in.  Twice  after 
that  she  showed  herself  at  the  entrance,  in  thirty-seven  min- 
utes after  she  had  backed  into  the  tube,  and  again  ten  minutes 
later. 

Wasp  number  three  stayed  at  home  all  afternoon.  Once  she 
showed  her  head  at  the  entrance. 

The  fourth  wasp  was  excavating  when  I  arrived.  She  would 
drop  a  pellet  about  every  thirty  seconds.  After  bringing  out 
six  or  seven  pellets  she  would  go  for  water  and  battle  with 
the  wind  on  her  return.  Only  twice  she  made  the  trip  without 
mishap.  Usually  when  she  was  about  to  alight  the  wind  would 
dash  her  against  the  cliff,  sometimes  apparently  causing  her 
to  lose  her  load  of  water,  for  she  would  again  fly  to  the  creek. 
After  working  in  this  way  for  thirty-five  minutes  she  backed 
into  her  tube  to  stay,  although  she  showed  herself  at  least  two 
times. 

The  fifth  wasp  tried  to  work  the  whole  afternoon  in  spite 
of  the  gale.  For  some  reason  she  was  collecting  earth  from 
the  side  of  the  cliflf  and  carrying  it  into  her  nest  a  few  feet 
away,  perhaps  to  seal  some  cells.  She  was  very  unsuccessful 
in  her  work,  for  nearly  every  t'me  she  would  tiy  to  alight  on 
the  end  of  her  tube  she  would  lose  her  poise,  be  blown  against 
the  cliflf,  and  would  drop  her  load  of  earth.  She  would  then 
go  back  for  another.  When  I  first  noted  her  she  would  gather 
a  load  of  earth  in  her  mandibles  and  fly  to  the  tube,  anprox'- 


ISELY:     EUMENID^   OF   KANSAS.  271 

mately  every  fifty  seconds.  Later  in  the  afternoon  she  was 
much  slower.  She  was  collecting  earth  when  I  first  observed 
her,  and  made  seven  attempts  before  she  succeeded  in  alight- 
ing with  her  load.  She  backed  out  part  way  in  seven  minutes, 
then  disappeared  again.  Five  minutes  later  she  came  out  and 
started  for  a  second  load  of  earth.  In  four  minutes  she  suc- 
ceeded in  alighting  with  a  load.  She  came  out  and  backed  in. 
Six  minutes  later  she  again  began  work.  It  was  fifteen  min- 
utes before  she  succeeded  in  landing.  She  remained  in  the 
nest  only  four  minutes.  The  next  successful  trip  required 
twenty  minutes  of  struggle.  When  I  left  she  was  still  battling 
with  the  wind. 

Odynerns  arvensis  Saussure. 

Odynerus  arvensis  is  one  of  the  most  numerous  of  the 
eumenids  in  western  Kansas.  I  collected  it  in  every  county 
covered  by  the  survey,  except  the  first  one.  It  was  common 
throughout  the  summer,  being  taken  regularly  between  June  26 
and  September  6.  It  was  most  readily  found  in  lowland  fields 
and  pastures  or  near  water. 

Along  the  edges  of  streams,  throughout  the  entire  summer, 
this  wasp  was  by  far  the  most  conspicuous  of  the  Odyneri. 
At  crossings  for  live  stock  on  streams,  at  the  edges  of  sand  or 
mud  bars,  where  the  insect  can  walk  directly  to  the  water's 
edge,  I  always  expected  to  find  an  assemblage  of  these  wasps. 
Where  the  approach  to  water  in  a  stream  was  in  any  way 
abrupt  I  never  found  them;  like  0.  papagomm.  0.  arvensis 
never  floats  on  running  water.  However,  they  were  common 
floating  on  water  in  cattle  tracks  at  crossings  or  in  small  pools. 
At  these  situations  wasps  were  constantly  coming  and  going. 
They  were  the  busy  females  getting  water  for  nest-building. 

On  sandy  beaches  along  watercourses  I  sometimes  observed 
dozens  of  wasps,  also  of  this  species,  apparently  playing  in  the 
sunshine.  In  contrast  to  those  just  described,  they  seemed  to 
have  no  particular  business  except  to  chase  each  other  up  and 
down  the  beach.  They  were  very  wary  and  active,  like  sand 
robber  flies,  and  were  hard  to  take  with  a  net.  I  collected 
fourteen  of  these  idlers  one  afternoon  in  Rooks  county,  and 
without  exception  they  proved  to  be  males.  They  could  not 
have  been  waiting  there  for  females  to  come  for  water,  for 
nowhere  along  that  sandy  beach  was  there  a  place  frequented 

4-Univ  Sci.  Bull  .  V,  1  VIII.  No.  7. 


272  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

by  females.  I  believe  that  males  wait  for  females  at  the  en- 
trance of  burrows  when  the  latter  are  about  to  emerge.  At 
any  rate,  one  was  brought  to  me  by  Mr.  Mallory  which  he  had 
taken  waiting  at  the  entrance  of  a  burrow  in  which  was  a 
female  almost  ready  to  come  out. 

Both  males  and  females  of  this  species  were  frequent  in 
lowland  fields  and  pastures,  but  I  seldom  saw  one  on  a  hillside. 
In  some  places  they  were  common  on  lamb's-quarter  and  croton 
plants.  The  former  was  the  food  plant  of  one  of  its  caterpillar 
prey.  The  latter  also  may  have  been  frequented  for  the  same 
reason,  but  quite  often  I  saw  this  wasp  on  the  croton  flower, 
apparently  seeking  nectar. 

O.  arvensis  does  not  have  the  colonial  nesting  habit,  nor  does 
it  favor  one  nesting  site  to  the  exclusion  of  all  others,  as  does 
0.  papago7-um.  Consequently  its  nests  were  less  easily  found 
and  its  habits  not  so  readily  studied. 

0.  arvensis,  as  I  found  her,  was  always  a  burrowing  was].. 
Her  burrows  were  the  least  carefully  made  of  the  digging 
Eumenidse  that  came  under  my  observation.  The  variation 
that  may  occur  in  the  nesting  habits  of  a  single  species  of  wasp 
is  here  shown.  This  same  species,  when  observed  by  Mr.  Hart- 
man  in  Texas,  made  her  domicile  in  any  convenient  crevice  ir. 
a  wall  or  fence  post. 

An  open  space  near  water  seemed  to  be  the  only  char- 
acteristic common  to  all  the  nesting  sites  I  observed.  During 
the  summer  I  noted  eighteen  nests  in  the  course  of  construc- 
tion or  finished.  Of  these  six  were  located  in  the  talus  at  the 
base  of  cliffs  along  the  edge  of  streams,  two  in  moist  flats 
within  a  few  feet  of  the  water's  edge,  five  were  in  cow  paths 
in  pastures,  three  in  open  spaces  in  pastures,  one  in  an  open 
space  in  fallow  land,  and  one  other  in  the  dry  bed  of  an  inter- 
mittent stream.  One  of  these  burrows  opened  in  a  short 
growth  of  grass,  while  the  others  were  in  spaces  practically 
free  from  grass  or  weeds.  One  was  located  in  a  cow  path 
running  through  a  narrow  strip  of  timber,  while  all  the  others 
were  in  sunny  places.  All  the  nests  were  within  thirty  yards 
of  water  but  one,  which  was  about  a  hundred  yards  from  water. 
The  character  of  the  soil  in  which  the  nest  was  located  seemed 
to  be  a  matter  of  no  consequence.  There  was  every  gradation 
from  a  hard  clay  mixed  with  limestone — so  hard  that  I  could 
scarcely  dig  into  it  with  my  knife — to  the  soft  alluvial  soil  of 
the  flats  beside  the  streams. 


isely:    eumenid^  of  Kansas.  273 

Observations  on  nesting-  habits  were  made  at  intervals 
throughout  the  summer.  Nests  were  noted  in  Rush  and  Ness 
counties;  from  July  16  to  July  30  nests  were  found.  None 
were  found  in  the  next  three  counties,  but  in  the  last  three 
visited — Norton,  Phillips,  and  Smith — from  August  20  to  Sep- 
tember 6,  nests  were  again  located.  Females  were  as  num- 
erous at  a  pool  near  Smith  Center,  September  3,  as  they  had 
been  at  any  place  visited  previously,  indicating  that  the  nesting 
season  was  still  in  full  progress  at  that  time. 

The  general  direction  of  the  digging  of  0.  arv-ensis,  whether 
she  is  working  in  level  ground  or  in  talus,  is  downward,  and 
not  horizontal  like  0.  papagorum.  At  the  bottom  of  her  more 
or  less  vertical  burrow  are  the  larval  cells.  Over  the  entrance 
of  the  burrow  is  built  a  thick  upright  earthen  tube. 

Of  all  the  nests  that  I  observed,  in  only  eight  had  the  burrow 
been  excavated  as  far  as  the  brood  cell  when  I  opened  it.  Of 
these  only  two  were  entirely  finished  before  I  interrupted  the 
process.  These  burrows  ranged  from  three  and  one-half  to 
seven  inches  deep.  The  average  was  five  and  one-fourth 
inches.  The  average  diameter  of  the  burrow  was  one-fourth 
of  an  inch.     This  long  burrow  was  never  absolutely  straight. 

The  number  of  larval  cells  to  a  nest  varies  greatly.  In  six 
instances  I  found  only  one  cell  to  the  nest ;  in  another  instance 
I  found  three  cells ;  in  still  another  instance  I  found  six  cells. 

Of  those  nests  in  which  I  found  but  one  cell,  only  one  burrow 
had  been  sealed  by  the  wasp.  Most  of  the  others  were  still 
being  stored  with  caterpillars,  and  might  have  had  other  cells 
added  later.  In  two  of  these  nests  the  cell  was  directly  at  the 
bottom  of  the  burrow;  in  the  other  four  the  burrow  made  a 
sharp  turn  before  entering  the  larval  cell.  All  of  these  nests. 
were  situated  in  soil  comparatively  easy  to  dig  in. 

The  nest  with  six  cells  was  excavated  in  the  hard  clay  talus 
at  the  base  of  cliifs  along  the  Saline  river.  The  cells  were 
arranged  in  three  galleries,  two  in  each  gallery,  one  cell  being 
directly  above  the  other.  When  I  opened  the  nest  five  cells 
were  closed  and  one  was  empty,  serving  as  a  hiding  place  for 
the  mother  wasp.  The  other  nest  consisted  of  three  cells  ar- 
ranged one  above  the  other.  It  too  was  in  the  clay  talus.  It 
was  located  by  Mr.  Mallory. 

All  but  two  of  the  cells  in  these  nests  were  shaped  like  short 
cylinders  with  somewhat  rounded  ends.  The  diameter  of  these 
cells  averaged  one-half  inch,  and  the  length  ranged  from  nine- 


274  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

sixteenths  to  five-eighths  of  an  inch.  In  two  cases  the  cells 
were  lengthened  and  the  ends  rounded  to  such  an  extent  that 
they  had  the  shape  of  ellipsoids. 

The  cells  and  burrows  of  0.  arvensis  were  roughly  exca- 
vated. The  walls  were  packed  a  little,  but  are  not  always 
smooth  as  in  the  case  of  0.  papagorum.  They  never  formed  a 
layer  of  earth  around  the  nest  distinct  from  the  surrounding 
earth. 

The  tube  which  0.  arvensis  built  over  its  nest  was  an  erect, 
or  bent,  cylindrical,  earthen  chimney.  In  length  it  varied  from 
one  to  one  and  one-fourth  inches.  The  interior  diameter  of 
the  tube  at  its  base  is  about  the  same  as  that  of  the  burrow, 
one-fourth  of  an  inch.  As  the  wall  decreases  in  thickness 
toward  the  terminal  end  of  the  tube,  these  inside  measure- 
ments of  the  tube  grow  larger.  The  tube  has  a  substantial  ap- 
pearance. At  the  base  the  walls  are  about  one-eighth  of  an 
inch  in  thickness.  The  tube  wall  is  solid,  not  a  network  as  the 
tube  of  0.  papagorum.  Its  exterior  has  a  granular  appear- 
ance. The  shorter  tubes  are  generally  strai^fht,  while  the 
larger  ones  are  bent. 

In  spite  of  its  solid  appearance,  this  tube  is  only  a  temporary 
structure.  A  light  rain  will  dissolve  it.  If  it  escapes  the  rain, 
Mrs.  Wasp  tears  it  down  when  the  nest  is  finished  and  stuffs 
it  into  the  burrow.  Thus  the  burrow,  which  could  easily  be 
betrayed  by  the  large  tube,  is  quite  securely  hidden.  The  tube 
is  probably  a  temporary  defense  against  parasites  while  the 
provisioning  of  the  nest  is  in  progress. 

The  nest-building  I  observed  on  five  occasions,  and  in  its 
very  beginning  twice.  In  a  dry  bed  of  an  intermittent  stream 
in  Russell  county,  I  noted  a  black  Odyncnis  make  a  "locality 
study" — a  few  irregular  circles  over  an  area  about  eighteen 
inches  in  diameter — and  then  fly  away.  In  less  than  two  min- 
utes she  was  digging  in  a  spot  over  which  she  had  been  flying. 
She  had  moistened  the  spot  and  was  working  with  her  fore 
feet  and  mandibles.  The  excavated  earth  was  used  in  tube- 
building.  She  worked  much  as  did  O.  papagorum,  putting  the 
freshly  excavated  earth  in  place  with  her  mandibles,  then 
working  with  her  mandibles  and  fore  feet  inside  the  tube, 
while  the  tip  of  her  abdomen  pressed  against  the  outer  wall. 
After  the  earth  was  in  place  she  would  quickly  run  down  the 
burrow  again  for  another  load.  Every  three  minutes,  as  regu- 
larly as  if  she  had  timed  herself  by  a  clock,  she  went  to  the 


isely:   eumenid/e  of  Kansas.  275 

river  for  water.  This  trip  took  from  one  minute  and  forty 
seconds  to  two  minutes.  After  the  tube  was  half  an  inch  high 
she  began  dropping  pellets  a  few  inches  from  the  burrow. 

I  had  watched  her  from  7:50  A.  M.  until  8:20  A.M.  As  I 
had  other  work  for  the  morning,  I  left  her.  When  I  returned 
about  noon  she  had  deserted  the  nest.  This  observation  was 
made  July  24.  The  building  of  this  nest  was  fairly  typical,  as 
far  as  I  observed,  of  the  ne.st-building  of  the  species. 

When  the  nest  is  stored  the  cells  are  sealed,  the  tube  is  torn 
down  with  the  aid  of  several  loads  of  water,  and  is  tamped 
into  the  burrow.  Loose  earth  around  the  burrow  is  also  pushed 
into  it  until  it  is  entirely  filled.  This  process  I  observed  but 
once. 

Four  species  of  caterpillars — three  pyralids  and  one  noctuid 
— ^were  found  in  the  nests  of  0.  arvensis  that  I  opened.  I  did 
not  find  more  than  a  single  species  of  caterpillar  stored  in  one 
nest,  or  even  taken  in  one  locality.  On  the  other  hand,  with 
each  change  of  locality  there  was  a  change  in  the  caterpillar 
prey.  One  of  the  caterpillars  upon  which  this  wasp  preys, 
Loxostege  sticticalis,  is  of  considerable  economic  importance. 

The  caterpillars  in  every  instance  were  alive  in  the  nest 
when  I  opened  it.  0.  arvensis  was  often  very  careless  about 
the  state  of  mobility  in  which  she  left  her  prey.  Once  several 
caterpillars  actually  climbed  the  sides  of  the  glass  vial  in  which 
I  had  collected  them,  worked  their  way  through  the  cotton 
stopper,  and  were  crawling  actively  about  on  the  inside  of  my 
collecting  bag. 

All  of  the  caterpillars  which  this  wasp  collected  were  rather 
slender.  All  were  larger  than  the  wasp,  varying  from  16  to 
18  mm.    I  never  found  more  than  seven  caterpillars  in  a  cell. 

A  black  Odynerus  storing  caterpillars  in  her  nest  I  observed 
in  Norton  county,  August  22.  Mr.  Williams  had  found  this 
wasp's  tube  in  a  small  open  space  on  a  fallow  hillside,  and 
called  me  to  see  it.  I  waited  twenty-five  minutes  before  the 
owner  of  the  nest  appeared  with  a  caterpillar.  She  deposited 
it  quickly,  backed  out  of  the  nest,  and  again  went  to  the  field. 
In  thirty-five  minutes  she  returned  with  a  second  caterpillar. 
I  then  interrupted  the  proceedings  by  taking  the  wasp  and 
opening  the  nest. 

Her  manner  of  entering  the  nest  with  the  caterpillar  differea 
somewhat  from  any  of  the  others  of  this  genus  that  I  have 
observed.     She  flew  to  the  tube  and  rushed  into  it  at  once. 


276  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

dragging  the  caterpillar  under  her  body,  not  stopping  to  push 
it  ahead  of  her.  Her  method  of  carrying  the  caterpillar,  its 
ventral  side  up,  the  wasp's  mandibles  grasping  the  caterpillar's 
neck,  is  similar  to  that  of  others  of  this  genus.  This  was  the 
only  time  that  I  observed  the  storing  of  caterpillars. 

In  this  cell  I  found  three  very  lively  caterpillars.  I  also 
found  an  egg  suspended  from  the  cell  roof,  as  far  as  possible 
from  the  entrance.  Although  this  egg  was  suspended,  it  was 
hanging,  not  above  the  caterpillars,  but  among  them.  Had 
two  or  three  more  caterpillars  been  added  they  would  have 
been  piled  above  the  egg.  I  assumed  that  in  this  case  oviposi- 
tion  had  taken  place  before  the  storing  of  the  cell  had  begun. 
At  least  I  had  seen  two  of  the  three  caterpillars  stored,  and 
ovi  position  had  not  taken  place  while  I  was  there.  I  found 
the  egg  of  this  wasp  on  one  other  occasion.  It  was  suspended 
from  the  roof  of  the  cell  as  far  as  possible  from  the  entrance. 
I  had  not  seen  the  egg-  until  several  caterpillars  had  been  re- 
moved, but  the  cell  was  so  full  that  it  must  have  hung  among 
them.    This  cell  had  been  fully  stored  before  I  found  it. 

This  wasp  may  not  always  be  active  from  the  time  her  nest 
is  begun  until  it  is  finished.  The  wasp  with  the  celled  nest, 
previously  described,  gave  no  sign  of  industry  during  the  time 
I  waited  before  her  nest,  which  extended  at  intervals  through 
three  days.  She  visited  the  nest  occasionally,  but  brought  no 
load.  On  one  occasion  she  started,  apparently,  to  enlarge  her 
nest,  bringing  out  three  pellets  in  one  minute  and  forty  seconds. 
After  dropping  the  third  pellet  she  flew  away.  When  I  opened 
the  nest  I  found  the  wasp  with  her  head  in  the  entrance  of  the 
one  empty  unsealed  cell. 

The  five  closed  cells  were  completely  ravaged  by  a  little 
brown  ant  (Solinopsis  sp.).  A  few  caterpillars'  skins  were 
left  in  one  of  the  cells,  but  the  others  were  empty  except  for 
the  ants.  This  is  .the  only  suggestion  of  an  insect  foe  of 
O.  arvensis  that  I  noted  except  a  cuckoo  bee  that  I  dug  out  of  a 
nest  in  Ness  county.  I  was  unable  to  take  it,  and  so  can  not 
give  the  species. 

As  far  as  I  observed,  0.  arvensis  never  had  any  trouble  find- 
ing her  way  to  her  nest.  She  never  seemed  to  be  sensitive  to 
observation. 


ISELY:     EUMENID^  of  KANSAS.  277 

Odynerus  annidatus  Say. 

I  found  no  general  rendezvous  for  the  workers  of  this  species. 
This  wasp  is  never  found,  unlike  0.  arvensis  and  0.  papagorum, 
coming  and  going  in  considerable  numbers  for  water  to  a  par- 
ticular mud  bar  or  cattle  crossing  in  a  stream.  0.  annidatus  is 
not  usually  cautious  about  approaching  running  water.  Many 
times  I  have  seen  her  alight  fearlessly  on  a  river  roughened  by 
the  wind,  and  ride  over  a  riffle  without  mishap.  She  can  take 
water  at  almost  any  place  along  a  stream.  Why  should  she 
need  a  special  watering  place? 

The  males  of  this  species,  however,  like  the  males  of  0. 
arvensis,  do  assemble  for  a  dance  in  the  sunshine.  I  noted 
this  but  once.  On  the  west  side  of  a  stone  outcrop,  about  fifty 
yards  east  of  a  small  creek,  was  a  long  sand  bank.  Up  and 
down  this  sand  bank  played  a  number  of  male  wasps  of  this 
species.  I  collected  six  of  them.  This  observation  was  made 
August  15,  in  Graham  county. 

This  wasp  was  taken  in  all  of  the  counties  covered  by  the 
survey  in  which  eumenids  were  collected.  It  was  less  numer- 
ous than  0.  arvensis  and  0.  dorsalis.  It  appeared  in  greatest 
numbers  in  Trego  and  Graham  counties,  both  in  the  western 
tier  of  counties  covered.  These  counties,  in  the  vicinity  of  our 
camps,  were  more  nearly  treeless  than  any  others  visited. 

The  variation  of  this  wasp  in  nesting  habits  are  as  striking 
as  its  variations  in  color  pattern.  Sometimes  she  is  a  digger 
wasp,  with  a  burrow  and  tube  much  like  that  of  O.  arvensis. 
Messrs.  Hungerford  and  Williams  described  her  as  a  builder 
of  one-celled  nests  in  open  spaces  in  a  prairie.  I  have  found 
but  three  nests.  One  had  three  cells ;  it  was  dug  through  a  sod, 
in  an  alluvial  flood  plain  of  a  stream.  Another  had  twenty-two 
cells ;  it  was  dug  in  a  barren,  hard  clay  talus  at  the  base  of  a 
cliff".  The  third  nest  had  been  used  previously  by  Pelopeus  sp., 
and  was  appropriated  by  a  lazy  or  economical  member  of  this 
species.  Because  of  the  entirely  different  conditions  connected 
with  each  of  these  nests  I  shall  deal  with  each  separately. 

The  wasp  that  used  the  old  nest  of  Pelopeus  I  collected  in 
Trego  county,  July  12.  About  100  yards  from  the  Smoky  Hill 
river,  near  our  camp,  were  chalk  rock  cliffs  110  feet  high  above 
the  flood  plain.  In  cavities  of  these  rocks  and  under  ledges 
were  many  nests  of  Pelopeus.  While  climbing  among  these 
rocks  I  saw  a  eumenid,  which  proved  to  be  0.  annidatus,  carry- 


278  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

ing  a  caterpillar  into  one  of  these  nests.  I  could  not  climb  up 
to  the  place,  so  I  took  the  nest,  wasp  and  all,  in  my  net.  She 
had  stored  five  caterpillars  in  one  cell.  All  the  caterpillars 
were  Loxostege  sticticalis. 

At  the  base  of  the  cliffs  in  Ness  county,  in  which  this  great 
colony  of  0.  papagonim  was  located,  was  a  nairow  alluvial 
flood  plain,  which  was  matted  with  a  variety  of  sedges  and 
grasses.  In  the  midst  of  this  tangle  of  vegetation  0.  anniilatus 
excavated  a  nest. 

My  attention  was  first  attracted  to  this  nest  on  the  afterr 
noon  of  July  4,  about  five  o'clock.  The  wasp  had  evidently  not 
been  at  work  long,  for  the  tube  she  was  building  was  only 
about  one-third  of  an  inch  high.  I  watched  her  for  nearly  an 
hour.  During  that  time  she  made  fifty-one  trips  into  the  bur- 
row to  remove  earth.  Ordinarily  one  of  these  trips  was  made 
in  thirty  seconds,  though  occasionally  more  time  was  required ; 
two  required  over  a  minute  each.  She  also  made  ten  trips  for 
water.  She  did  not  fly  directly  to  the  creek  for  water, 
as  did  all  the  others  of  this  species  that  I  observed,  but 
went  downstream  to  a  sand  bar.  In  most  of  these  instances 
she  would  return  to  the  nest  in  forty  seconds,  but  would  not 
always  alight.  She  seemed  greatly  disturbed  by  my  presence, 
although  I  would  always  lie  prostrate  on  the  grass  when  she 
went  for  water.  Several  times  on  her  return  from  the  creek 
she  would  fly  away  again  without  alighting,  and  would  return 
several  minutes  later,  hoping,  no  doubt,  that  I  would  be  gone. 
One  time  she  was  gone  eight  minutes.  She  was  also  bothered 
by  the  wind,  which  had  nearly  stopped  the  activities  of  the 
colony  of  O.  papagorum  earlier  in  the  afternoon.  She  would 
always  alight  on  the  grass  above  the  entrance  of  her  burrow, 
and  seemed  to  do  so  with  considerable  difficulty.  Before  alight- 
ing she  would  always  make  a  number  of  horizontal  ellipses  in 
the  air  above  her  nesting  site.  Perhaps  these  flights  above  the 
nesting  site  were  to  locate  the  exact  position  of  the  burrow. 

This  wasp  worked  much  as  did  0.  arvensis.  She  always 
backed  out  of  her  burrow  with  the  pellet  of  earth,  and  applied 
it  to  the  chimney  with  her  mandibles  and  fore  feet.  Shortly 
before  I  left  she  began  dropping  pellets  in  a  pile  about  three 
inches  from  the  nest. 

The  next  afternoon  I  returned  to  watch  this  wasp.  She 
left  the  nest  soon  after  I  arrived,  and  returned  in  one  hour 
and    twenty    minutes    with    a    caterpillar.      She    spent    five 


isely:   eumenid^  of  Kansas.  279 

minutes  in  the  nest,  and  in  fifty-seven  minutes  she  brought 
another  caterpillar.  Like  others  of  this  genus,  she  carried  it 
head  foremost,  ventral  side  up,  grasping  it  with  her  man- 
dibles and  one  pair  of  legs.  She  entered  the  tube  dragging 
the  caterpillar  under  her  body. 

The  next  afternoon  I  found  her  digging  again.  I  took  her 
for  identification  and  opened  the  nest.  The  height  of  the  tube 
was  a  little  over  one-half  inch  and  its  diameter  was  one-fourth 
inch.  The  tube  was  but  slightly  bent.  Its  walls  were  three- 
sixteenths  of  an  inch  thick,  and  their  exterior  surface  was 
coarsely  granular,  like  that  of  0.  arvensis. 

The  burrow  was  nearly  perpendicular.  Including  the  cells, 
its  depth  was  three  inches.  There  were  three  cells,  two  in  one 
gallery,  which  were  stored  and  sealed  up,  and  a  single  cell 
which  was  being  excavated  at  the  time  I  took  the  wasp.  The 
cells  were  nearly  globular  and  were  one-half  inch  in  diameter. 
Those  that  were  stored  were  closed  with  thin  mud  caps.  The 
walls  of  the  burrow  and  the  cells  were  packed,  but  did  not 
form  a  layer  of  earth  distinct  from  that  surrounding  them. 

The  two  closed  cells  were  stored  with  caterpillars,  four  and 
six  respectively.  Neither  cell  was  packed.  The  caterpillar 
used  was  a  naked  green  noctuid  with  three  rows  of  dots  on 
its  sides.  It  averaged  15  mm.  in  length.  I  did  not  find  the 
egg. 

The  third  wasp  of  this  species  whose  nesting  activities  I 
observed  worked  in  the  hard  clay  talus  on  a  cliff,  by  the  Saline 
river.  She  was  an  unusually  large  wasp  for  this  species.  The 
nest  was  first  found  by  Mr.  Williams,  July  24.  He  marked 
the  place  and  showed  it  to  me  that  afternoon. 

The  burrow  opened  under  a  small  flat  stone — rather  a  flat 
pebble — which  formed  a  protective  ledge.  From  the  entrance 
of  the  burrow,  under  the  stone,  the  wasp  built  a  horizontal 
tube  similar  in  texture  to  the  tube  of  the  nest  previously  de- 
scribed. It  was  about  one-third  of  an  inch  long.  The  clay 
in  which  the  nest  was  excavated  was  very  hard,  so  that  I 
could  scarcely  dig  in  it  with  my  digging  knife. 

The  wasp  was  carrying  out  pellets  when  I  first  saw  her. 
She  would  back  out  of  the  burrow,  fly  four  or  five  feet  and 
drop  the  pellet,  and  then  return  directly  to  work.  Each  ex- 
cavation of  a  pellet  required  from  two  minutes  and  ten  sec- 
onds to  two  minutes  and  thirty  seconds.     After  every  third 


280  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

trip,  usually — sometimes  after  every  fourth — she  would  go 
for  water.  This  required  twelve  to  fifteen  seconds.  She  would 
fly  directly  to  the  river  below  and  alight  on  the  agitated  water. 
Sometimes  she  remained  on  the  water  for  as  short  a  period 
as  six  seconds.  She  continued  to  work  in  this  way  for  an  hour 
and  forty  minutes,  and  then  flew  away.  In  twenty-five  min- 
utes she  returned  to  work,  and  was  still  there  when  I  left. 

At  different  times  during  the  afternoon  the  wasp  had  mani- 
fested marked  uneasiness  because  of  my  presence.  If  I 
crawled  within  eight  or  ten  feet  of  the  burrow  she  would  in- 
variably see  me  when  she  same  out  to  drop  a  pellet,  and  then 
she  would  not  continue  work  until  I  had  withdrawn  several 
feet.  She  never  offered  to  fly  away,  as  did  the  wasp  previously 
mentioned.  She  showed  her  uneasiness  by  keeping  up  a  zig- 
zag flight  about  the  nesting  site,  usually  between  me  and  the 
burrow.    As  soon  as  I  would  retire  she  would  return  to  work. 

The  next  afernoon  I  found  her  digging  again.  I  caught 
her  for  identification  and  opened  the  nest.  Opening  the  nest 
was  a  tedious  task.  Careful  digging  was  very  slow.  I  had 
expected  to  find  a  nest  about  three  inches  deep  and  with  not 
more  than  four  cells.  In  spite  of  that  hard  clay,  this  nest 
was  seven  and  one-half  inches  deep  and  had  twenty-two  cells ! 
What  industry !  What  a  Herculean  labor  for  a  wasp !  And 
her  work  had  not  been  finished. 

The  cells  were  arranged  in  five  main  galleries;  some  of 
these  had  small  branches.  The  galleries  diverged  obliquely 
in  different  directions  from  the  burrow,  outlining  a  sort  of  a 
cone  in  the  talus.  The  first  division  of  the  burrow  into  gal- 
leries was  three  inches  below  the  entrance.  The  diameter  of 
the  burrow  was  one-fourth  inch. 

The  cells  were  like  ellipsoids.  The  diensions  of  an  aver- 
age cell  were  nine-sixteenths  by  seven-sixteenths  of  an  inch. 
The  largest  number  of  cells  in  a  single  gallery  was  six.  The 
walls  of  the  cells  and  of  the  burrow  were  very  smooth,  almost 
forming  a  layer  of  earth  distinct  from  the  surrounding  talus. 

The  nest  had  been  in  the  course  of  construction  so  long  that 
a  part  of  the  brood  had  already  emerged.  Eight  cells  con- 
tained only  pupal  exuviae.  Nine  cells  contained  pupse  in 
various  stages  of  development,  one  of  which  emerged  the  next 
day  in  a  glass  vial.  Four  cells  contained  grubs,  three  of  which 
were  evidently  mature.    In  one  cell  with  the  other  grub  were 


ISELY:    EUMENID^  of   KANSAS.  281 

parts  of  two  greenish  caterpillars.  Judging  from  the  length 
of  time  it  took  others  of  this  genus  to  develop,  it  had  probably 
been  stored  not  more  than  a  week  or  ten  days  previously. 
There  were  no  freshly  stored  cells.  One  cell  contained  twelve 
cast-off  pupal  cases  of  some  small  dipteron.  This  is  the  only 
indication  that  I  found  of  interference  with  the  activities  of 
th's  wasp  by  another  insect. 

The  larvce  and  pupae  of  0.  annulatus  were  like  the  larvse  and 
pupae  of  0.  papagorum,  only  larger.  The  mature  larva  was 
15  mm.  long  and  very  stout,  being  7  inm.  in  width  at  the 
widest  part.    The  pupae  were  about  13  mm.  long. 

The  capturing  and  subduing  of  the  caterpillar  prey  by  this 
species  I  observed  but  twice.  In  both  instances  the  cater- 
pillar was  Loxostege  sticticalis.  The  first  caterpillar  was 
taken  on  Russian  thistle  and  the  second  on  alfalfa.  These  ob- 
servations were  made  in  Trego  county  on  July  12  and  13. 

In  the  first  instance  the  wasp  spent  five  minutes  dislodging 
the  caterpillar  from  its  nest.  At  last  she  seized  the  cater- 
pillar by  its  anal  end  and  deliberately  dragged  it  backward 
over  the  thi.stle  stem  for  several  inches,  until  they  both  fell 
to  the  ground.  The  wasp  then  quickly  grasped  the  cater- 
pillar's neck,  stung  it  three  times  under  the  thorax,  and  began 
maxalation.  This  process  continued  for  four  and  one-half 
minutes.  The  wasp  often  rested,  cleaning  its  abdomen  and 
antennae  with  its  legs.     When  she  started  to  fly  I  caught  her. 

In  the  other  instance  the  wasp  worked  much  more  rapidly. 
She  tore  open  the  caterpillar'.?  web,  grasped  it  by  the  anal  end, 
and  they  both  dropped  to  the  ground.  The  wasp  quickly  seized 
the  caterpillar's  neck  and  stung  it  three  times  under  the  thorax. 
She  then  maxalated  the  caterpillar  and  started  to  drag  it  away. 
After  she  had  dragged  it  about  five  yards  she  took  wing,  cir- 
cled high  in  the  air,  and  disappeared.  The  entire  process  had 
taken  two  minutes. 

0.  anyiulatus  was  common  hunting  on  the  Russian  thistle 
and  alfalfa  in  Trego  county. 

Odynerus  dorsalis  Fabricus. 
This  large  brown  wasp  was  common  in  eleven  of  the  twelve 
counties  covered  by  the  survey,  being  collected  regularly  be- 
tween June  26  and  September  6.  I  have  collected  this  wasp 
as  late  as  September  25  in  Douglas  county,  on  the  State  Uni- 
versity campus.  Like  0.  arvensis,  it  was  most  readily  found 
in  lowland  pastures  or  by  streams. 


282  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

0.  dorsalis,  as  I  found  her,  was  a  burrowing  wasp.  I  did 
not  know  that  she  ever  built  cells  above  ground  until  I  read 
Mr.  Hartman's  paper.  Usually  she  preferred  to  make  her 
home  in  an  open  spot  in  a  lowland  pasture,  in  a  path  or  in  a 
well-traveled  road.  These  nests  were  never  found  in  sod, 
although  sometimes  a  few  blades  of  grass  might  be  found  in 
the  space  in  which  the  nest  was  located.  Even  the  vegetation 
around  the  space  was  always  short,  except  in  one  instance. 
This  exceptional  nest  I  found  in  a  stony  knoll.  The  small 
space  in  which  the  nest  was  located  was  surrounded  by  a  tall 
growth  of  mesquite  grass  (Bouteloua  oligostachya) .  The  soil 
in  which  the  nests  were  excavated  was  always  firm.  The  nest 
was  always  a  vertical  or  nearly  vertical  burrow,  at  the  bottom 
of  which  were  one  or  two  cells.  No  tube  was  built  over  the 
entrance.     This  situation  was  the  usual  one. 

A  variation  from  this  form  of  burrow  I  found  in  the  face 
of  a  vertical  earthen  bank  of  the  Saline  river.  I  found  there 
a  colony  of  eight  nests,  whose  burrows  led  obliquely  or  hori- 
zontally for  one  or  two  inches  into  the  bank,  and  then  down- 
ward. The  number  of  cells  to  each  nest  varied  from  three  to 
seven. 

The  two  types  of  excavated  nests  present  a  contrast  to  the 
earthen  cells  of  the  Texan  dorsalis,  built  under  a  tuft  of  grass, 
which  are  described  by  Mr.  Hartman. 

The  nesting  season  of  0.  dorsalis  was  at  its  height  in  the 
month  of  August.  A  wasp  carrying  a  caterpillar  was  brought 
to  me,  July  24,  by  Mr.  Williams.  This  was  the  earliest  indica- 
tion of  nesting  activities  that  came  to  my  notice.  In  Osborne 
county,  on  August  4  and  5,  the  excavating  and  storing  of 
seven  nests  were  observed.  At  our  next  camp,  in  Rooks 
county,  from  August  6  to  13,  four  nests  came  under  my  ob- 
servation. In  Graham  county,  from  August  13  to  20,  I  counted 
thirty-six  nests  either  being  built  or  stored.  I  might  have 
found  many  more,  but  they  were  so  common  I  did  not  hunt  for 
them.  In  Norton  county,  from  August  20  to  27,  I  believe  they 
were  no  less  numerous,  but  I  took  no  count.  There  was  a 
decided  decrease  in  this  line  of  activity  in  the  next  county, 
Phillips,  where  we  were  from  August  27  to  September  2.  I 
found  but  two  nests  there.     None  was  found  after  that. 

The  dates  including  the  period  of  nesting  activities  of 
0.  dorsalis  may  indicate  the  nesting  period  of  only  one  gen- 
eration.   The  colony  located  July  29,  in  the  bank  of  the  Saline 


isely:    eumenid^  of  kansas.  283 

river,  was  mature.  When  I  found  it  some  of  the  wasps  were 
emerging  from  their  larval  cells.  I  had  no  way  of  telling 
whether  these  nests  were  excavated  earlier  in  the  year,  or 
whether  they  had  been  built  the  year  before  and  the  emerging 
wasps  had  wintered  there.  Throughout  the  month  of  July  I 
had  found  0.  dorsalis  quite  common  about  the  watering  places, 
but  found  no  sign  of  nest  building. 

The  nests  of  0.  do7'salis  found  along  roads  or  in  open  spaces 
in  pastures,  were,  as  I  have  stated,  burrows,  vertical  or  nearly 
so,  at  the  bottom  of  which  the  larval  cells  were  located,  one 
above  the  other.  The  depth  of  the  burrow  to  the  bottom  of  the 
cells  was  sometimes  four  inches;  the  depth  above  the  highest 
cell  varied  from  three-fourths  of  an  inch  to  two  inches.  The 
diameter  of  the  burrow  was  one-fourth  inch. 

In  three-fourths  of  the  nests  that  I  opened  were  two  cells; 
the  remainder  of  the  nests  had  only  one  cell.  The  cells  were 
always  one  below  the  other  in  the  direct  line  of  the  burrow, 
never  at  one  side. 

In  form  the  cell  varied  from  globular  to  barrel-shaped.  In 
size  there  was  also  considerable  variation.  Cells  excavated  in 
the  same  locality,  in  the  same  kind  of  soil  and  under  the  same 
conditions  showed  noticeable  variations  both  in  shape  and  size. 
Sometimes  cells  in  the  same  nest  differed  markedly  from  each 
other.  The  extent  of  this  variation  may  be  shown  by  a  com- 
parison of  measurements  of  cells  of  four  nests  located  in  open 
spaces  in  a  pasture  within  seventy-five  feet  of  each  other.  The 
descriptions  of  these  cells  as  given  in  my  notes  are  as  follows: 

Nest  1. — Two  cells;  globular.  Cell  1 — vertical  diameter,  ^"ie 
in. ;  horizontal  diameter,  same.  Cell  2 — vertical  diameter,  'He 
in. ;  horizontal  diameter,  ^%;  in. 

Nest  2. — One  cell ;  globular.  Vertical  diameter,  '"ie  in. ; 
horizontal  diameter,  "/io  in. 

Nest  3. — Two  cells;  barrel-shaped.  Cell  1 — vertical  diame- 
ter, ma  in. ;  horizontal  diameter,  1/2  in. 

Nest  4. — One  cell ;  barrel-shaped.  Vertical  diameter,  %  in. ; 
horizontal  diameter,  1/2  in. 

No  tube  was  built  over  the  entrance  of  this  burrow,  as  is  the 
case  with  so  many  of  this  genus,  but  the  earth  excavated  was 
not  left  about  the  nest.  The  pellets  are  dropped  in  piles  from 
e'ghteen  inches  to  two  feet  from  the  entrance. 

When  the  nest  was  stored  with  caterpillars,  O.  dorsalis  did 
not  stuff  the  burrow  with  earth.     She  simply  closed  the  cell, 


234  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

and  then  sealed  the  entrance  to  the  burrow,  always  leaving  a 
long  vacant  space  in  the  burrow  above  the  upper  cell.  The 
thickness  of  this  mud  plug  which  she  puts  in  the  entrance  of 
the  burrow  I  have  found  to  vary  from  one-eighth  to  seven- 
sixteenths  of  an  inch.  The  plug  with  which  the  cells  were 
closed  varied  in  thickness  from  one-eighth  to  five-sixteenths- 
of  an  inch. 

The  locality  of  the  nest,  after  it  was  closed,  was  often  be- 
trayed by  a  small  basin-like  depression,  of  which  the  closed 
entrance  to  the  burrow  was  the  center.  The  depression  varies 
from  one-half  to  three-fourths  of  an  inch  in  diameter.  It  was 
caused  by  the  removal  of  earth  from  the  edges  of  the  burrow 
entrance,  to  be  used  in  sealing  the  burrow. 

The  nests  whose  entrances  opened  in  the  face  of  the  earthen 
bank  were  similar  to  those  already  described,  in  that  the  cells 
were  arranged  one  above  the  other  as  a  series  of  enlargements 
of  the  burrow  at  its  lower  end.  The  cells  were  nearly  all 
vertical,  as  was  most  of  the  burrow  above  the  cells,  although  it 
entered  the  bank  horizontally. 

The  number  of  cells  to  each  nest  was  a  marked  difference 
between  the  nests  of  this  colony  and  those  previously  de- 
scribed. The  eight  nests  had  a  total  of  thirty-seven  cells ;  the 
smallest  number  of  cells  in  one  nest  was  three;  the  largest 
number,  seven.  With  one  exception,  the  cells  were  arranged  in 
a  single  gallery.  The  cells  of  the  one  nest  which  did  not  con- 
form were  in  two  galleries  of  four  and  three  cells  each,  one 
excavated  directly  behind  the  other. 

The  cells  in  this  colony  were  quite  nearly  alike  in  shape  and 
size.  All  resembled  barrels  with  rounded  ends.  The  average 
height  was  fifteen-sixteenths  of  an  inch ;  the  average  diameter 
one-half  inch.  The  burrow  before  it  reached  the  cells  was 
from  one  to  three  inches  long.  Its  diameter  averaged  nine- 
thirty-seconds  of  an  inch.  The  depth  depended  upon  the  num- 
ber of  cells  in  the  nest.  In  one  in  which  there  were  six  cells 
the  base  was  eight  inches  below  the  entrance.  The  entrances 
to  the  burrows  and  the  cells  were  sealed  with  mud  plugs  vary- 
ing from  one-eighth  to  one-fourth  inch  in  thickness. 

Let  us  now  observe  the  building  of  a  nest.  A  female  dorsalis, 
running  nervously  over  an  open  space  about  the  size  of  my 
hand,  in  an  Osborne  county  bottom-land  pasture,  attracted  my 
attention.  She  would  stop  for  an  instant,  and  with  her  fore 
feet  would  sweep  dust  rapidly  under  her  body.     Then  she 


ISELY:     EUMENID^   OF   KANSAS.  285 

would  run  back  and  forth  again,  stopping  occasionally  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  open  space  to  repeat  the  sweeping.  This 
lasted  for  about  five  minutes,  when,  after  concenti-ating  her 
sweeping  on  an  area  of  about  one  square  inch,  clearing  it  of 
loose  earth  and  blades  of  grass,  she  took  wing,  made  a  circling, 
zigzag  flight  over  the  scene  of  her  activities,  and  flew  away  in 
the  direction  of  the  river. 

I  remembered  that  0.  papagorvm  and  0.  arvensis  had  be- 
haved similarly  before  beginning  work  on  a  nest,  so  I  sat  down 
on  the  grass  as  near  the  open  space  as  I  dared  and  awaited 
developments. 

In  forty  seconds  she  returned,  wet  a  spot  in  the  little  area 
she  had  cleared,  and  began  to  dig  with  her  mandibles  and  fore 
feet,  gathering  the  earth  into  a  pellet,  which  she  held  in  her 
mandibles.  After  digging  thirty  seconds  she  arose  and  dropped 
the  pellet  about  eighteen  inches  from  the  hole.  All  the  other 
pellets  she  excavated  were  dropped  about  the  same  place. 
Trips  for  water  followed  regularly  after  removing  every  five 
or  six  pellets  of  earth. 

To  ascertain  how  much  time  was  spent  in  carrying  water, 
how  much  in  extracting  each  pellet  of  earth,  and  how  much 
variation  there  was  in  the  time  spent  on  each  part  of  the 
work,  I  timed  this  wasp's  trips.  I  kept  the  time  record  in 
detail  in  my  notes,  showing  the  number  of  seconds  used  for 
each  trip  for  water  and  for  removing  each  pellet  of  earth.  I 
shall  here  give  the  first  part  of  this  record  from  my  notes.  All 
numbers,  represent  seconds.    It  follows  : 

For  water,  40;  for  removing  pellet,  30,  15,  25,  20,  20. 

For  water,  40;  for  removing  pellet,  30,  25,  15,  25,  20,  20. 

For  water,  30;  for  removing  pellet,  15,  20,  20,  15,  30,  40. 

For  water,  25;  for  removing  pellet,  10,  30,  25,  35,  15. 

For  water,  35;  for  removing  pellet,  30,  30,  30,  15,  20,  etc. 

Madam  Dorsalis  worked  very  steadily,  never  pausing  while 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  burrow.  She  would  take  wing  the  in- 
stant she  backed  out  of  the  burrrow,  and  on  dropping  the  pel- 
let would  fly  directly  back  to  it. 

She  worked  steadily  from  10:35  A.M.  until  11:15  A.M. 
During  those  forty  minutes  she  had  removed  eighty-six  pellets 
and  made  sixteen  trips  for  water.  Most  of  the  time  she  had 
been  completely  hidden  while  digging.  When  she  returned 
from  her  seventeenth  trip  for  water  she  flew  to  the  burrow 
and  started  to  enter,  but  when  half  way  in  she  stopped  sud- 


2S6  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

denly  and  backed  out.  For  a  minute  or  two  she  seemed  un- 
decided. Several  times  she  put  her  head  into  the  burrow  but  did 
not  enter.  Then  she  located  a  new  nesting  site,  two  and  one- 
half  inches  from  the  first  one,  clearing  the  ground  by  sweeping 
with  her  front  feet,  as  before.  At  11 :19  she  brought  her  first 
load  of  water  and  began  work  on  her  second  burrow. 

The  depth  of  the  deserted  burrow,  which  this  wasp  had  dug 
in  forty  minutes,  the  result  of  a  total  of  102  trips  for  water  and 
for  removing  earth,  was  one  and  three-fourths  inches.  I  could 
find  no  cause  for  the  desertion  of  this  nest. 

O.  dorsalis  worked  on  the  second  burrow  as  industriously 
as  she  had  on  the  first,  and  much  in  the  same  manner.  At 
1 :05  P.  M.  she  stopped  digging  and  flew  away  over  the  pasture 
in  search  of  caterpillars,  storing  six  in  one  hour  and  five 
minutes.  After  depositing  the  sixth  caterpillar  she  came  out 
of  the  burrow,  then  backed  into  it,  staying  inside  about  three 
minutes — I  supposed  to  oviposit.  Then  she  flew  away  toward 
the  river,  and  on  returning  entered  the  burrow.  Later,  when 
I  opened  the  nest,  I  found  that  she  had  used  earth  from  the 
sides  of  the  burrow  to  furnish  material  with  which  to  seal  the 
entrance  to  the  cell. 

Sealing  the  mouth  of  the  burrow  was  the  next  work.  Earth 
at  the  edges  of  the  burrow's  entrance  was  moistened,  then  re- 
moved and  applied  to  the  sides  of  the  burrow's  entrance.  When 
enough  earth  had  been  removed  to  completely  close  the  bui*- 
row  a  basin-like  depression  was  left.  The  process  of  sealing 
the  entrance  to  the  burrow  occupied  nine  minutes.  Two  trips 
for  water  were  made,  each  occupying  thirty  seconds. 

This  wasp  had  completed  the  entire  work  of  excavating  her 
nest,  storing  and  closing  it  in  three  hours  and  five  minutes. 
The  burrow,  which  was  two  and  one-eighth  inches  deep,  was 
excavated  in  one  hour  and  forty-five  minutes. 

One  of  the  wasps  I  observed  dug  somewhat  faster  than  the 
one  just  described.  In  one  hour  and  twenty-five  minutes  she 
excavated  a  burrow  with  one  cell,  three  inches  deep,  in  con- 
trast to  one  hour  and  forty-five  minutes  required  to  excavate 
a  burrow  two  and  one-eighth  inches  deep.  For  eight  and  one- 
half  minutes  I  timed  her  trips.  During  that  time  she  went  for 
water  four  times  and  removed  twenty-two  pellets.  The  trips 
for  water  required  about  the  same  time  as  those  of  the  first 
wasp,  but  the  removal  of  a  pellet  of  earth  required  only  seven- 
teen seconds  on  the  average,  while  with  the  first  wasp  this 


isely:    eumenid^  of  kansas.  287 

average  was  twenty-two  seconds.  The  two  wasps  worked 
under  the  same  conditions,  as  far  as  that  is  possible.  Both 
nests  were  in  the  same  open  space,  being  within  three  inches 
of  each  other.  They  also  had  the  same  advantages  of  tempera- 
ture, for  I  was  watching  both  nests  at  the  same  time.  The 
second  wasp  began  worl\ing  ten  minutes  after  the  first  one 
had  begun  her  second  nest.  Although  the  second  wasp  worked 
more  rapidly  in  digging,  it  took  her  twice  as  long  to  store  six 
caterpillars  in  her  nest. 

Two  other  nests,  whose  progress  I  had  kept  note  of  from 
their  commencement  until  their  completion,  required  a  much 
longer  time  for  this  process.  One  was  closed  twenty-one  hours 
after  it  had  been  begun ;  the  other  was  closed  twenty-five 
hours  after  its  commencement.    Both  were  nests  with  two  cells. 

Two  hesperid  caterpillars  were  preyed  upon  by  0.  dorsalis. 
The  larvfe  of  the  spotted  skipper  (Pyrgus  tesselata)  was  taken 
by  0.  dorsalis  exclusively  in  Russell  and  Osborne  counties;  the 
larvae  of  the  black  skipper  (Philosara  catidlus)  was  the  only 
caterpillar  that  I  found  in  its  burrows.  The  first  caterpillar 
was  common  on  the  poppy  mellow  (Callirhoe  involucrata) ,  an 
abundant  and  conspicuous  plant  in  many  lowland  pastures. 
I  always  found  the  larvae  in  a  nest  made  of  a  crumpled  leaf  or 
two,  whose  edges  were  held  together  by  a  silken  web.  Some- 
times this  web  was  in  the  heart  of  the  plant.  The  black  skip- 
per larva  Mr.  Williams  collected  on  the  pigweed  (Ama)/ranthiis 
retroflexus) . 

One  afternoon  of  the  first  week  in  August,  at  about  3  :20 
o'clock,  I  stationed  myself  before  a  burrow  to  watch  particu- 
larly the  storing  of  prey.  In  fifteen  minutes  the  wasp  visited 
the  burrow,  but  brought  nothing.  She  left  the  nest  quickly, 
and  in  two  and  one-half  minutes  returned  with  a  caterpillar. 
Two  minutes  were  required  in  storing  it.  She  brought  an- 
other caterpillar  in  fifteen  minutes,  again  staying  in  the  nest 
three  minutes.  The  next  caterpillar  was  brought  in  two  and 
one-half  minutes.  Shelhen  spent  twelve  minutes  in  the  field, 
and  returned  with  nothing.  She  brought  a  fourth  caterpillar 
in  fifteen  minutes  and  stored  it  in  three  minutes  more. 

Evidently  the  cell  was  full,  for  when  she  came  out  Mrs. 
Wasp  flew  in  the  direction  of  the  river  and  returned  in  a 
minute  with  her  mouth  parts  glistening.  She  stayed  in  the 
burrow  two  minutes,  presumably  to  close  the  cell.     Then  she 

.1— Univ.  Sci.  Bull..  Vtl.  VIII.  No.  7. 


288  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

came  out  and  quickly  backed  into  the  nest.  Probably  she 
backed  in  to  oviposit  in  the  empty  upper  cell.  She  stayed  in 
two  minutes,  and  then  went  to  the  field  again.  In  two  minutes 
she  had  brought  a  caterpillar.     Here  I  left  her  for  the  day. 

The  next  morning  soon  after  7  o'clock  I  was  waiting  at  the 
door  of  the  burrow.  At  7  :35  her  head  appeared  in  the  door- 
way. Evidently  she  had  backed  into  her  burrow  and  spent  the 
night  there.  She  waited  there  until  7  :48,  and  then  took  wing. 
Her  morning's  hunt  was  entirely  unsuccessful  as  far  as  I 
observed  it.  Perhaps  the  comparative  coolness  of  the  morning 
affected  her.  She  made  six  successive  trips  to  the  field  and 
returned  each  time  without  prey.  The  time  required  for  these 
trips,  respectively,  was  as  follows:  16,  12,  21,  15,  12  and  15 
minutes.  The  purpose  of  her  return  seemed  to  be  to  inspect 
the  nest.  After  her  second  trip  to  the  field  it  appeared  that 
she  was  about  to  begin  further  excavations  in  her  burrow.  She 
carried  out  three  pellets,  the  removal  of  each  one  requiring 
about  a  minute.    She  then  returned  to  the  hunt. 

After  her  sixth  "empty-handed"  return  to  her  nest  I  fol- 
lowed the  wasp  to  the  field,  to  learn,  if  possible,  the  cause  of 
her  lack  of  success.  She  seemed  to  be  in  earnest  about  hunt- 
ing. She  would  fly  from  one  mallow  plant  to  another,  running 
over  the  leaves  and  stems.  Twice  she  found  a  caterpillar  and 
struggled  with  its  web,  but  did  not  seem  able  to  dislodge  the 
inmate.  In  one  of  these  instances  she  worked  four  minutes 
trying  to  tear  open  a  caterpillar's  nest  before  she  gave  it  up. 
Another  time  she  was  successful  in  dislodging  a  caterpillar, 
stung  it  twice,  and  then  dropped  it.  She  then  continued  hunt- 
ing on  the  same  plant,  and  once  actually  walked  over  the  pros- 
trate caterpillar,  but  did  not  appear  to  notice  it.  After  fol- 
lowing her  for  twelve  minutes  I  left  her.  I  returned  to  the 
nest  an  hour  and  a  half  later  and  found  her  closing  it.  She 
at  once  located  a  new  nesting  site  within  a  few  inches  of  the 
first  one  and  began  excavations  for  another  nest.  By  noon 
and  throughout  the  afternoon  she  was  again  carrying  caterpil- 
lars as  busily  as  she  had  been  the  day  before.  Both  nests  were 
two-celled. 

0.  dorsalis  was  easy  to  follow  while  hunting  in  a  mallow 
patch.  The  plants  were  small  and  spreading  and  could  not 
hide  her  movements.  Her  flights  from  plant  to  plant  were 
short,  and  she  spent  considerable  time  running  over  each  plant. 
She  seldom  seemed  sensitive  to  observation,  and  her  large  size 


ISELY:     EUMENID^   OF   KANSAS.  289 

made  her  conspicuous.  The  situation  in  Osborne  county  was 
made  still  easier  for  study  because  the  nests  of  0.  dorsalis  were 
located  in  a  pasture  overgrown  with  the  poppy  mallow.  This 
often  made  it  possible  for  me  to  follow  a  wasp  from  the  nest 
to  the  field,  and  after  having  observed  the  capture  of  a  cater- 
pillar to  run  back  to  the  nest  before  she  had  pushed  the  cater- 
pillar in. 

When  0.  donaUs  would  come  upon  a  crumpled  leaf  contain- 
ing the  larva  of  the  spotted  skipper,  she  would  commence  tear- 
ing energetically  at  the  silken  nest,  first  at  one  end,  then  at 
the  other.  Although  the  wasp  worked  furiously  and  without 
pausing,  sometimes  more  than  five  minutes  were  required  to 
dislodge  the  caterpillar.  Usually,  however,  in  less  than  a 
minute  the  caterpillar  would  be  jerked  violently  from  its 
cover,  seized  by  the  neck,  and  stung  two  or  three  times  under 
the  thorax.  Once  I  saw  a  wasp  seize  a  caterpillar  by  the  tip 
of  the  abdomen  to  jerk  it  out  of  its  nest,  and  sting  it  under  one 
of  the  last  abdominal  segments.  Then  she  quickly  seized  its 
neck  and  gave  it  three  thrusts  under  the  thorax.  A  vigorous 
maxalation  invariably  followed  the  stinging.  The  capture  of 
a  caterpillar  generally  occasioned  considerable  excitement  on 
the  part  of  the  wasp.  Sometimes  she  would  lose  her  footing, 
and  both  insects  would  roll  from  the  leaf  to  the  ground  before 
the  victim  could  be  subdued. 

After  maxalation,  without  further  delay  the  caterpillar  is 
carried  to  the  nest.  0.  dorsalis  always  carried  the  caterpillar 
in  the  same  manner  as  did  all  the  others  of  the  genus  that  I 
have  observed.  The  caterpillar,  head  foremost  and  ventral 
side  up,  is  grasped  by  the  wasp's  mandibles  and  one  pair  of 
legs.  The  wasp  always  flew  directly  to  the  burrow.  Her 
flight  was  usually  quite  slow,  for  the  caterpillar  seemed  to  be 
a  heavy  burden.  On  alighting  the  caterpillar  was  pushed  ahead 
of  her  into  the  burrow,  and  the  wasp,  seizing  its  last  abdominal 
segment,  followed  it  in.    O.  doi'salis  was  always  in  a  hurry. 

The  number  of  caterpillars  in  a  cell,  with  the  exception  of 
three  cells,  varied  from  five  to  seven.  In  Graham  county, 
August  19,  I  opened  a  nest  with  two  cells  containing  three  and 
two  caterpillars,  respectively.  A  week  later,  in  Norton  county, 
I  opened  a  two-celled  nest,  containing  five  and  two  in  each  cell, 
respectively.  The  caterpillars  were  all  about  the  same  size. 
They  were  stored  in  a  more  or  less  tangled  mass.     In  many 


290  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

instances  the  cell  was  packed ;  sometimes  I  would  find  a  fair- 
sized  space  above  the  caterpillars. 

All  of  the  caterpillars  that  I  took  from  nests  of  0.  dorsalis 
showed  signs  of  life.  The  abdominal  segments  invariably  re- 
sponded to  stimulation.  However,  I  found  none  as  active  as 
some  stored  by  0.  papagorum  and  0.  arrcnsls. 

The  egg  was  usually  suspended  from  the  ceiling  of  the  cell 
by  a  white  thread,  sometimes  as  long  as  the  egg  itself.  In  an 
exceptional  case  the  egg  was  on  a  caterpillar,  being  attached 
bj^  a  thread  to  its  seventh  abdominal  segment.  This  caterpillar 
was  on  the  bottom  of  the  cell  and  was  probably  the  first  one 
stored. 

Although  attached  to  the  ceiling,  the  egg  is  not  always  su- 
spended above  the  caterpillars.  It  was  only  in  exceptional 
cases — in  unusually  large  cells — that  I  found  it  so.  I  have 
found  it  hanging  among  the  caterpillars.  Usually  I  could  not 
find  the  egg  at  all  until  some  of  the  caterpillars  had  been  re- 
moved. 

The  time  of  oviposition,  in  relation  to  the  storing  of  the  nest, 
probably  varies.  On  one  occasion  I  noted  a  wasp  back  into  its 
cell  after  it  had  been  stored,  supposedly  for  oviposition,  and 
just  before  it  had  been  sealed  up.  I  concluded  then  that  ovi- 
position takes  place  after  the  storing  of  the  caterpillars.  My 
conclusion  was  upset  when  I  saw  a  wasp  back  into  a  new  cell 
in  which  nothing  had  yet  been  stored.  Several  times  I  found 
eggs  suspended  in  cells  only  partially  stored,  and  twice  in  cells 
that  were  entirely  empty.  I  also  opened  a  number  of  empty 
cells  in  which  I  found  no  egg. 

The  egg  of  0.  dormlis  is  ellipsoidal  and  rounded  at  the  ends. 
Its  length  is  about  4.5  mm.  and  its  greatest  diameter  is  1.5  mm. 
It  was  more  nearly  flattened  at  the  end  of  attachment  to  the 
thread.  It  was  also  less  rounded  on  one  side  than  on  another. 
Its  shape  reminded  me  of  that  of  a  cucumber.  In  color  the 
egg  was  creamy  white.  The  thread  attachment  was  white  and 
about  the  same  length  as  the  egg. 

But  one  0.  dorsalis  grub  came  under  my  observation.  Mr. 
Williams  saw  a  wasp  closing  its  nest  on  the  afternoon  of 
August  7.  He  marked  the  place  and  showed  it  to  me.  Five 
days  later  I  opened  the  nest.  It  had  one  cell  containing  seven 
caterpillars  and  a  grub,  which  I  should  judge  was  about  one- 
third  grown.    In  appearance  this  grub  was  like  those  of  other 


ISELY:     EUMENID^   OF   KANSAS.  291 

species  of  this  genus,  very  stout,  being  larger  near  the  anal  end, 
and  whitish  in  color. 

The  last  of  the  pupal  stage  I  had  opportunity  to  observe  in 
the  bank  colony  of  nests.  Two  pupa;,  almost  ready  to  disclose 
wasps,  were  taken  from  the  lower  two  cells  in  a  gallery  of 
four.  In  another  nest  in  the  lowest  cell  another  pupa  was 
taken.  The  rest  of  the  nests  were  empty.  I  placed  these  pupae 
in  glass  vials.  One  disclosed  the  next  day  and  the  other  two 
disclosed  on  the  third  day  after  I  had  taken  them.  All  were 
females.  These  pupae  were  colored  almost  like  the  adults,  ex- 
cept that  the  rufous  on  the  abdomen  was  lighter,  and  the  yel- 
low ornaments  were  pallid.  All  were  resting  on  the  tips  of 
their  abdomens,  with  their  heads  upward. 

My  attention  was  attracted  to  the  location  of  the  bank  colony 
by  a  number  of  males  of  0.  dovsalis  which  collected  on  the  face 
of  the  bank  around  openings  to  these  nests  from  which  wasps 
had  emerged.  Occasionally  one  of  the  males  would  inspect 
the  entrance  of  all  the  open  burrows  in  the  bank.  At  two  of 
the  burrows  these  males  always  stopped  to  put  in  their  heads, 
and  sometimes  one  would  enter  part  way.  While  he  would  fly 
to  the  others  in  the  course  of  his  circuit,  Mr.  Wasp  would  stop 
at  them  only  momentarily,  and  then  take  wing  again.  The 
two  burrows  in  which  the  males  manifested  such  a  special  in- 
terest proved  to  be  the  ones  which  contained  the  female  pupae 
nearly  ready  to  be  disclosed. 

These  males  were  very  quarrelsome.  Often  when  one  would 
put  his  head  into  the  burrow  another  would  dash  at  it,  and 
together  they  would  fall  to  the  base  of  the  cliff.  Occasionally 
they  would  dash  at  each  other  without  any  evident  provocation. 

From  the  fact  that  only  females  were  found  in  the  lower  cells 
of  these  nests,  and  that  males  were  waiting  apparently  for 
their  emergence  at  the  mouths  of  the  burrows,  I  should  judge 
that  males  emerge  first,  as  in  the  case  of  others  of  this  genus. 
Perhaps  the  upper  cells  of  the  galleries,  which  were  empty, 
had  contained  these  males. 

In  a  number  of  the  empty  cells  of  this  colony  I  found  heads  of 
caterpillars,  probably  hesperids,  evidently  discarded  by  the 
wasp  grub. 

0.  dorsalis  had  an  abundance  of  insect  enemies.  The  find- 
ings in  the  cells  of  the  bank  colony  may  suggest  the  extent  to 
which  other  insects  interfere  with  their  increase  of  numbers. 


292  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Of  thirty-seven  cells  opened  at  least  eighteen  did  not  produce 
0.  dorsalis.  In  one  of  these  eighteen  cells  I  found  the  pupa  of 
a  bombyliid,  probably  of  the  genus  Anthrax.  In  one  of  these 
cells  was  an  empty  pupal  case,  probably  of  a  chrysidid.  In  the 
walls  of  two  other  cells  I  found  tachinid  flies.  These  flies  had 
endeavored  to  break  their  way  out  of  the  cells  by  burrowing 
into  the  wall,  and  had  perished.  In  the  remaining  fourteen 
cells  were  found  many  dipterous  pupal  cases,  perhaps  also 
tachinid.  These  flies  may  have  been  parasitic  upon  the  cater- 
pillars stored,  but  at  any  rate  they  prevented  the  development 
of  the  wasps. 

I  opened  a  two-celled  nest  in  Rooks  county  in  the  upper  cell 
of  which  were  seven  recently  stored  caterpillars ;  in  the  lower 
cell  were  only  caterpillar  skins  and  many  almost  minute  spring- 
tails.  I  once  took  a  mutillid  (Miitilla  simillinia)  in  a  nest. 
The  cuckoo  bee  (Chrysis  intrica)  was  so  closely  related  to  the 
nesting  activities  of  0.  dorsalis  that  I  shall  deal  with  it  sep- 
arately. I  have  taken  a  large  robber  fly  (Deromya  sp.)  carry- 
ing this  wasp. 

Chrysis  intrica  always  attended  the  excavation  and  storing 
of  the  nests  of  O.  dorsalis.  I  never  watched  the  domestic 
activities  of  this  wasp  but  that  a  cuckoo  bee  was  present.  The 
Odynerus  could  scarcely  begin  digging  before  one  of  these 
ubiquitous  parasites  would  appear.  Chrysis  would  wait  pa- 
tiently, facing  the  nest,  on  the  tip  of  a  grass  blade  a  few  inches 
away.  It  manifested  its  interest  in  the  proceedings  by  dart- 
ing into  the  burrow  occasionally,  and  then  hurriedly  resuming 
its  position  on  the  grass  blade.  Sometimes  it  would  even  enter 
the  burrow  when  the  wasp  was  within.  Often  there  would  be 
two  or  three  cuckoo  bees  waiting  around  one  burrow. 

Ordinarily  the  wasp  and  the  cuckoo  bee  seemed  to  pay  little 
attention  to  each  other.  The  cuckoo  bee  was  nearly  always 
motionless  in  the  wasp's  presence.  When  the  wasp  did  dash  at 
the  cuckoo  bee  it  would  take  wing  or  drop  into  the  grass.  The 
wasp  was  never  successful  in  catching  it.  When  the  wasp 
would  go  back  to  work  the  cuckoo  bee  would  resume  its  posi- 
tion. Three  times  I  saw  0.  dorsalis  carry  Chrysis  out  of  her 
nest  with  her  mandibles ;  but  each  time  she  dropped  the  para- 
site like  a  pellet  of  earth,  and  left  it  apparently  unharmed. 

On  one  occasion  Mr.  Williams  and  I  watched  Chrysis  break 
into  a  nest  of  0.  dorsalis  after  it  had  been  sealed  up.  The  wasp 
had  closed  its  burrow  entirely  and  had  gone  for  water  with 


isely:   eumenid^  of  Kansas.  293 

which  to  melt  some  mud  for  the  finishing  touches.  Suddenly 
the  cuckoo  bee,  that  had  been  passively  waiting  for  some 
time,  seemed  to  realize  that  she  was  about  to  be  shut  out.  She 
flew  to  the  nest,  and  with  little  difficulty  made  an  opening  in 
the  cap,  and  disappeared  just  before  the  owner  of  the  nest 
returned.  Upon  alighting  the  wasp  paused  a  moment.  She 
saw  instantly  that  something  was  wrong.  She  then  tore  out 
entirely  the  cap  she  had  so  carefully  made,  and  rushed  into  the 
burrow.  She  soon  reappeared  with  the  intruder  in  her  man- 
dibles, and  dropped  her  on  a  pile  of  pellets.  She  then  went 
for  another  load  of  water  and  again  sealed  up  the  burrow. 
Chrysis  took  her  position  on  the  grass  blade  and  watched  the 
proceedings,  but  did  not  again  interfere. 

0.  dorsalis  had  a  tendency  to  nest  in  colonies.  I  sometimes 
found  an  isolated  nest,  but  usually  the  nests  were  in  small 
groups,  sometimes  as  many  as  eight.  Usually  only  two  or  three 
wasps  would  share  an  open  space  in  a  pasture,  each  wasp 
digging  one  or  two  nests.  I  never  found  them  in  populous 
colonies  like  those  of  0.  }mpagoru7n. 

These  wasps  sometimes  manifested  considerable  curiosity 
in  each  other's  work.  This  characteristic  I  first  noticed  in  two 
wasps  digging  in  an  open  space  within  three  inches  of  each 
other.  When  one  was  gone  for  water  the  other  would  som_e- 
times  leave  its  work  and  inspect  the  work  of  the  absent  party 
by  putting  its  head  into  the  entrance. .  However,  I  never  saw  a 
visitor  presuming  to  enter.  The  visitor  would  always  hastily 
return  to  its  own  burrow  at  the  near  approach  of  the  owner 
of  the  inspected  burrow.  I  never  saw  the  females  of  this 
species  quarrel. 

O.  dorsalis  was  always  most  active  during  the  heat  of  the 
day.  On  bright  sunny  days  during  the  nesting  season  the  wasp 
was  apparently  busy  from  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  until 
near  sundown. 

0.  dorsalis  seemed  tabe  the  most  cautious  of  all  the  members 
of  this  genus  about  floating  upon  water.  Some  individuals 
would  float  upon  pools,  but  never  upon  running  water.  On  a 
gravel  bar  on  the  Solomon  river  I  watched  one  of  these  wasps 
come  for  water.  She  would  alight  about  six  inches  from  the 
water's  edge  and  would  walk  out  to  it.  When  on  water,  or  at 
work  elsewhere,  0.  dorsalis  always  kept  its  wings  spread  and 
raised  at  an  oblique  angle  from  the  thorax,  ready  to  take  flight 
at  any  instant. 


294  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

I  sometimes  collected  males  of  this  species  on  sand  or  gravel 
bars  by  streams,  where  they  were  apparently  sunning  them- 
selves. They  were  never  abundant  there,  however,  as  was 
0.  arvensis. 

0.  dorsalis  never  seemed  to  have  any  difficulty  in  finding  h(n- 
way  to  her  burrow  after  a  trip  to  the  field.  Usually  she  flew 
directly  to  it;  I  never  saw  her  do  otherwise  when  she  was  re- 
turning from  the  field  with  prey.  At  times  when  she  returned 
from  the  field  unladen,  I  have  seen  her  pause  at  another  bur- 
row in  the  colony.  This  action  may  have  been  prompted  by 
curiosity  instead  of  being  a  mistake  in  location.  I  have  noted 
a  number  of  these  wasps  make  a  locality  study  above  a  spot 
selected  for  a  nesting  site. 

Although  not  generally  sensitive  to  observation,  0.  dorsalis 
was  more  responsive  to  changes  in  the  surroundings  of  her 
burrow  than  was  O.  papagorum.  A  few  marks  with  a  knife,  to 
assist  in  locating  a  nest  at  a  later  time,  seemed  to  disturb  one 
wasp  considerably.  On  her  return  to  the  nest  she  made  a  pro- 
longed observation  fiight  of  irregular  circles  above  her  nest, 
while  she  had  been  in  the  habit  of  alighting  without  any  hesita- 
tion. On  another  occasion  I  mutilated  slightly  the  entrance  to 
a  burrow.  Upon  the  wasp's  return  she  circled  around  the 
burrow  a  few  times  and  then  alighted  about  two  inches  from 
the  entrance.  She  flew  away  and  returned  in  about  a  minute 
and  repeated  the  observation  performance.  Again  she  flew 
away  and  returned  without  entering.  This  time  she  appar- 
ently deserted  the  nest. 

Pterochilus  5-faciatus  Say. 

In  the  middle  of  a  sandy  road,  beside  the  Saline  river,  Mr. 
Williams  and  Mr.  Mallory  noticed  a  large  eumenid  dragging 
a  long  caterpillar  under  her  body.  I  was  only  a  short  distance 
away,  and  they  called  me  to  see  it.  The  eumenid  entered  a 
thicket  of  Chenepodium,  dragged  the  caterpillar  to  a  large 
hole  about  two  feet  from  the  roadside,  and  entered  it  quickly, 
still  dragging  the  caterpillar  under  her  body. 

We  left  Pterochilus  5-faciatus  there — for  she  was  so  identi- 
fied later — and  continued  on  our  way  to  locate  and  pitch  a 
temporary  camp.  This  observation  was  made  at  12:30  P.  M., 
July  24. 

I  returned  to  the  nesting  site  at  3 :40  p.  M.,  and  Pterochilus 
appeared  twenty-five  minutes  later.    She  brought  nothing,  biT 


ISELY:     EUMENIU^   OF   KANSAS.  295 

alighted  in  the  middle  of  the  road,  ran  into  the  weeds  to  her 
burrow  and  entered.  A  minute  later  she  came  out,  not  back- 
wards as  do  the  members  of  the  genus  Odynerus,  but  head 
foremost.  She  always  came  out  in  this  manner.  She  walked 
deliberately  to  the  open  road  before  she  took  flight.  Again  in 
twelve  minutes  she  came,  unburdened  as  before,  and  repeated 
her  visit  to  the  nest,  staying  a  minute.  In  fifteen  minutes  she 
returned  with  a  caterpillar.  In  my  eagerness  to  observe  every 
movement  I  moved  forward  slightly  and  she  seemed  to  notice 
me.  She  poised  a  moment,  then  flew  high  in  the  air  and  out 
of  sight.  She  returned  in  fifteen  minutes,  but  without  prey. 
This  time  she  stayed  about  three  minutes.  She  again  flew 
away  and  had  not  returned  by  six  o'clock,  when  I  left  for  camp. 

Madam  Ptcrochilvs  was  filling  her  nest  with  sand  when  I 
returned  the  next  morning  at  8:30  o'clock.  With  her  front 
feet  she  would  vigorously  scrape  together  a  heap  of  loose  sand 
near  her  burrow,  and  then  push  it  with  her  front  feet  into  the 
entrance.  After  pushing  in  several  heaps  she  would  go  down, 
no  doubt  to  press  it  in  place  more  firmly.  In  less  than  five 
minutes  the  burrow  was  practically  filled.  I  took  her  then  for 
identification.    No  water  had  been  used  in  closing  the  burrow. 

I  then  opened  the  nest.  It  was  excavated  in  very  sandy  soil. 
The  burrow  led  to  two  horizontal  galleries,  one  of  which  termi- 
nated in  a  single  cell  and  the  other  in  three.  The  main  bur- 
row was  two  and  three-fourths  inches  deep  and  seven-six- 
teenths of  an  inch  in  diameter — almost  twice  the  diameter  of 
the  burrow  of  0.  dorsalis,  a  wasp  of  nearly  the  same  size.  Tlie 
direction  of  the  burrow  was  obliquely  downward,  with  but  one 
break  in  its  course.  None  of  the  cells  were  in  the  direct  line 
of  the  main  burrow,  nor  did  any  of  them  open  directly  into 
the  burrow.  At  its  bottom  the  burrow  branched  abruptly  into 
two  horizontal  burrows  leading  in  opposite  directions.  One 
side  burrow  was  only  one  inch  long  before  it  reached  the 
single  cell.  The  other  side  burrow  was  two  and  one-fourth 
inches  long  before  it  reached  the  first  cell  of  the  gallery.  Whea 
packed  with  sand  the  burrows  were  quite  hard  to  follow. 

The  cells  were  shaped  like  short  casks,  lying  on  their  sides. 
In  the  gallery  with  three  cells  they  were  arranged  one  behind 
the  other.  The  cells  averaged  three-fourths  of  an  inch  in 
length  by  ten-sixteenths  of  an  inch  in  diameter.  The  partitions 
between  them  were  of  sand,  and  were  from  one-sixteenth  to 


296  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

one-eighth  of  an  inch  in  thickness.  The  particles  of  sand  in 
the  partitions  seemed  to  adhere  much  better  than  the  sand  in 
the  tube.  This  led  me  to  think  that  some  fluid  had  been  added 
to  it. 

All  of  the  cells  were  supplied  with  caterpillars.  In  one  cell 
two  were  stored;  in  another  were  four,  and  in  each  of  the 
others  were  three.  The  caterpillar  was  a  rather  stout,  naked 
noctuid.  In  color  it  was  light  green ;  it  had  two  rows  of  black 
dots  on  each  side  and  many  white  lines  on  its  back  and  sides. 
It  was  from  23  mm.  to  25  mm.  long. 

Two  eggs  were  found.  They  were  suspended  from  the  ceil- 
ing of  the  cells  at  the  end  farthest  from  the  entrance.  The 
eggs  were  shaped  like  those  of  Odynerus.  They  were  3.75 
mm.  long  by  1.2  mm.  in  diameter.  The  threads  by  which  they 
were  suspended  were  about  the  same  length  as  the  eggs. 

This  wasp's  manner  of  return  to  her  nest  was  noteworthy. 
She  would  always  alight  in  the  middle  of  the  sand,  and  then 
go  directly  through  the  weeds  to  her  burrow.  She  did  not 
always  fly  directly  to  the  road,  however,  on  her  return  trips. 
On  several  occasions  she  circled  over  the  Chenipodvum  patch 
before  alighting.  Perhaps  she  was  disturbed  by  my  presence. 
When  leaving  the  nest  she  always  went  into  the  open  before 
taking  wing.  On  coming  to  the  nest  she  would  always  appear 
high  in  the  air,  and  on  leaving  she  would  always  rise  high  at 
the  start.  This  high  flight  may  have  been  because  her  hunting 
ground  was  a  long  distance  from  her  nest. 

Another  burrow  of  Pterochilus  5-faciatus  I  found  in  a  sandy 
bank  by  the  Smoky  Hill  river.  While  walking  along  the  edge 
of  the  stream  I  saw  a  large  wasp  dash  from  a  burrow.  Think- 
ing she  was  a  bembecid,  I  swept  at  her  with  my  net  and  quickly 
put  her  in  my  killing  bottle,  and  so  spoiled  the  opportunity  for 
observation. 

When  I  saw  that  I  had  taken  a  eumenid  I  opened  the  burrow. 
I  found  just  a  straight  burrow  three  inches  deep  leading  ob- 
liquely into  the  sand.  This  burrow  was  located  in  a  barren 
bank  of  loose  sand  about  four  feet  above  the  river  and  not  ten 
feet  from  its  edge.    The  observation  was  made  July  12. 

Odynerus  hildagi  Saussure. 
While  watching  the  nest-building  of  0.  papagornm  in  clifl's 
in  Ness  county,  my  attention  was  attracted  to  a  medium-sized 
Odynerus  also  entering  a  burrow  in  the  face  of  the  cliff'.  Later 


ISELY:     EUMENID^   OF   KANSAS.  297 

investigations  proved  this  wasp  to  be  0.  hildagi.  The  follow- 
ing observations  were  made  on  the  afternoon  of  July  6  after 
4:30  o'clock. 

This  mother  wasp  was  busy  storing  her  nest  with  cater- 
pillars when  I  observed  her.  She  used  the  same  caterpillar 
that  was  the  prey  of  0.  papauorum.  It  was  very  small  in  pro- 
poition  to  the  wasp  and  was  handled  with  apparent  ease. 

The  wasp  always  flew  directly  to  the  burrow,  carrying  the 
caterpillar,  ventral  side  up,  under  her  body.  She  grasped  the 
caterpillar  by  the  neck  with  her  mandibles,  and  also  held  it 
about  the  abdomen  with  her  middle  pair  of  legs.  When  she 
reached  the  burrow  she  hastily  thrust  the  caterpillar  ahead 
of  her,  holding  one  of  its  last  segments  with  her  mandibles  as 
she  disappeared. 

After  she  had  stored  eight  caterpillars  in  my  presence, 
Madam  Wasp  returned  from  her  ninth  trip  with  a  pellet  of 
mud,  evidently  from  the  creek.  She  worked  inside  the  burrow 
five  minutes,  backed  out,  paused  a  moment  at  the  entrance, 
and  went  in  again.  Again  she  came  out  and  reentered  without 
taking  wing.  When  she  came  out  the  next  time  she  stood  on 
the  edge  of  the  burrow  and  tried  to  back  in,  presumably  to 
oviposit.  But  she  failed  to  back  in,  for  .she  thrust  the  tip  of 
her  abdomen  against  the  side  of  the  cliff  instead  of  into  the 
burrow. 

Then  followed  the  most  ludicrous  performance  I  had  ever 
known  a  eumenid  to  be  responsible  for.  Eleven  times  in  suc- 
cession this  wasp  stood  with  all  six  legs  on  the  rim  of  the 
burrow  entrance  and  tried  to  curve  her  abdomen  under  her, 
apparently  to  thrust  it  into  the  burrow.  Instead  of  doing 
this,  each  time  she  thrust  the  tip  of  her  abdomen  against  the 
cliff  side  at  the  burrow's  edge.  After  each  failure  she  would 
turn  around  and  peer  wonderingly  into  the  burrow  to  see  what 
the  trouble  might  be.  Sometimes  she  would  go  half  way  into 
the  burrow.  After  each  investigation  she  would  again  poise 
on  the  rim  of  the  burrow  and  again  try  to  back  into  it. 

Her  twelfth  attempt  was  partially  successful.  She  would 
have  succeeded  had  she  pushed  the  tips  of  her  wings  into  the 
burrow  as  well  as  her  abdomen;  but  one  of  them  caught  in 
the  edge.  She  could  back  into  the  burrow  only  to  the  point  of 
the  wing's  attachment  on  her  thorax.  Three  minutes  of 
struggling  failed  to  free  the  wing  or  to  bend  it.    She  came  out 


298  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

and  reentered  the  burrow  head  first.  Twice  more  she  tried 
to  enter  the  burrow  and  failed.  Then  in  evident  disgust  she 
flew  away. 

In  eight  minutes  she  returned,  entered  the  burrow,  came 
out  quickly,  and  again  tried  backing  into  it.  Her  third  at- 
tempt was  successful.  This  time  both  of  her  wings  caught 
outside  of  the  rim  of  the  burrow,  but  by  several  minutes  of 
pulling  and  twisting  she  bent  them  so  that  she  could  enter. 

She  stayed  in  the  burrow  four  minutes,  and  then  at  once 
began  storing  more  caterpillars.  After  her  sixth  trip  I  caught 
her  for  identification. 

This  wasp  was  the  fastest  worker  of  all  the  members  of  this 
genus  that  I  had  observed.  The  time  she  spent  inside  the  bur- 
row storing  her  caterpillar  varied  from  five  to  eight  seconds. 
She  entered  the  burrow  quickly  and  did  not  waste  a  moment, 
starting  on  the  hunt  as  soon  as  she  had  backed  out.  Also  she 
was  the  quickest  to  return  to  her  nest  with  prey.  Seven  of 
the  hunting  trips  which  she  made  before  trying  to  oviposit  I 
timed  as  follows :  7,  6,  3,  4,  4,  6,  and  7  minutes,  respectively. 
After  oviposition  the  time  of  the  trips  was  as  follows:  5,  IVi, 
3,  4,  8,  and  7,  respectively.  This  wasp  could  go  to  the  field, 
bring  in  a  caterpillar  and  store  it  in  the  average  time  re- 
quired by  0.  papagorum  for  the  storing  process  alone. 

After  taking  the  wasp  I  opened  the  nest.  It  contained  four 
cells,  three  in  one  gallery,  and  one  cell  directly  behind  this 
gallery.  As  the  burrow  entered  the  cliff  it  pointed  in  hori- 
zontally and  then  curved  downward.  The  cells  were  prac- 
tically vertical,  and  were  arranged  one  above  the  other. 

The  base  of  the  lowest  cell  was  about  three  inches  below  the 
entrance  of  the  burrow.  The  burrow  at  the  entrance  was 
nearly  one-fourth  of  an  inch  in  diameter.  The  cells  were  ten- 
sixteenths  of  an  inch  long  and  six-sixteenths  of  an  inch  in 
their  widest  diameter. 

These  cells  were  built  in  the  cliff;  they  were  not  simply  ex- 
cavated, but  were  distinct  from  the  earth  that  surrounded 
them,  so  that  when  it  was  removed  I  was  able  to  take  out  the 
cells  and  remove  them  to  a  box.  When  removed,  these  so 
closely  resembled  the  much  larger  cells  of  Anthrophova  occi- 
dentalis  that  I  was  led  to  bel'eve  that  the  wasp  did  not  build 
this  nest,  but  preempted  a  nest  of  one  of  the  smaller  digger 


ISELY:     EUMENID^   OF   KANSAS.  299 

bees.  The  nest  was  lined  with  a  kind  of  paper,  and  so  was 
the  burrow. 

The  upper  of  these  cells  contained  the  six  caterpillars  that 
I  had  seen  stored,  and  an  egg  suspended  from  the  roof  of  the 
cell,  in  a  manner  similar  to  that  of  the  other  eumenids  that 
I  observed.  The  next  cell  was  packed  with  caterpillars, 
eighteen  of  them,  but  I  did  not  find  the  egg.  All  the  cater- 
pillars that  I  investigated  responded  to  stimulation. 

The  two  remaining  cells  I  left  unopened  and  kept  in  a  tin 
box.  On  September  14  a  male  wasp  emerged  from  one  of 
them,  at  least  two  months  and  eight  days  after  the  cell  had 
been  stored.  Instead  of  breaking  open  the  cap  of  the  cell 
when  he  emerged,  this  wasp  cut  out  a  circular  hole  in  the  side 
of  the  cell.  He  was  influenced  in  this,  no  doubt,  because  the 
cell  lay  on  its  side  in  the  box  instead  of  upright  as  it  should 
have  done  naturally.  The  length  of  time  spent  by  the  wasp 
within  the  cell  may  also  have  been  affected  by  the  abnormal 
conditions. 

O.  hildagi  is  a  rare  wasp  in  western  Kansas.  But  four 
specimens  were  taken  during  the  summer's  trip. 

Ochjnerus  sulphuritinctiis  Vierick. 
A  single  female  of  this  species  was  taken  by  Mr.  Williams, 
coming  out  of  an  old  mud  dauber's  nest,  located  under  a  ledge 
in  the  chalk  cliffs  on  the  Smoky  Hill  river  in  Trego  county. 
It  was  the  only  specimen  of  this  species  taken  during  the  sum- 
mer.    It  was  taken  -July  10. 

Eumenes  bolli  Cresson. 

On  tall  prairie  grass  and  weeds  in  a  ravine  in  a  Ness  county 
I  found  a  favorite  night  resort  for  thread-waisted  sphecids  of 
the  genus  Ammopliila.  There,  more  or  less  protected  from 
wind,  they  would  collect  in  the  evening  to  spend  the  night, 
grasping  the  grass  stems  with  their  mandibles  and  legs,  hold- 
ing their  bodies  rigidly  away  from  the  stems.  A  number  of 
scoliids  was  also  collected  in  this  ravine,  resting  on  horizontal 
branches  of  weeds  and  on  grass  blades.  There  also  I  found  a 
solitary  Eumenes  bolli. 

This  wasp  was  hanging  on  a  horizontal  branch  of  Dalea  sp. 
It  did  not  hold  its  body  rigid  and  in  line  with  the  stem  as  did 
the  Ammophila,  but  held  itself  at  right  angles  to  the  stem,  with 
its  long  petiolate  abdomen  curled  under  it.     With  its  legs  it 


300  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

held  the  branch  above  and  with  its  mandibles  it  griped  the  leaf 
which  was  attached  to  the  branch  between  its  fore  legs.  This 
was  taken  July  6. 

Two  others  of  this  species  were  taken  the  next  week  in 
Trego  county.  One  was  flying  along  the  dry  bed  of  an  inter- 
mittent stream  and  the  other  was  taken  on  the  leaves  of  a 
solitary  cottonwood  tree.  This  species  was  observed  on  two 
other  occasions  during  the  summer— once  by  Mr.  Williams,  on 
August  2,  in  Osborne  county,  flying  over  a  prairie  hillside. 
On  the  other  occasion,  August  26,  in  Norton  county,  I  noted 
Eumenes  bolli  take  water  at  a  stock  tank  in  an  open  pasture. 
She  did  not  alight  directly  on  the  water,  but  on  a  sunflower 
leaf  floating  in  the  tank. 

Three  jug-shaped  nests  of  Eumenes  were  found  during  the 
summer.  The  first  was  found  by  Mr.  Williams  on  July  24,  in 
Russell  county.  This  nest  was  in  a  ravine,  attached  to  a 
branch  of  Onosmodium  molle,  about  eighteen  inches  above  the 
ground.  The  nest  had  apparently  been  built  and  then  de- 
serted. A  second  nest  I  found  on  August  8,  in  Rooks  county, 
in  a  ravine,  attached  to  a  branch  of  Euphorbia  marginata. 
This  nest  had  a  circular  opening  in  its  top — not  through  the 
mouth  of  the  jug — from  which  the  wasp  had  evidently 
emerged.  The  next  day  I  found  a  third  nest,  attached  to  a 
twig  of  Rhus  canadensis,  about  two  and  one-half  feet  above 
the  ground.  This  shrub  was  growing  on  the  side  of  a  sand 
dune.  From  this  third  nest  a  male  Eumenes  bolli  emerged 
August  28.  One  of  these  nests  was  within  50  yards  of  water. 
The  other  two  were  each  about  400  yards  from  water. 

Nests  of  Eumenes  have  previously  been  described  by  others 
as  jug-shaped  cells.  The  cells  of  E.  bolli  were  like  shortened 
jugs,  which,  not  considering  the  mouth,  were  nearly  globular. 
The  side  which  was  attached  to  the  more  or  less  upright  plant 
stem  was  somewhat  flattened.  The  flaring  mouth  opened  near 
the  middle  or  above  the  middle  of  the  side  opposite  the  point 
of  attachment.  The  diameter  of  the  jug  varied  from  one-half 
to  nine-sixteenths  of  an  inch.  The  entrance  in  the  mouth  was 
three-sixteenths  of  an  inch  in  diameter.  On  the  exterior  of 
the  jug  were  small  rounded  ridges  and  some  rounded  promi- 
nences, showing  how  the  layers  of  earth  had  been  added  by 
the  potter.  However,  the  surface  was  smooth,  not  granular. 
These  nests  are  made  of  earth,  but  I  have  thought  that  some- 


ISELY:     EUMENID^   OF   KANSAS.  301 

thing  besides  water — perhaps  saKva — must  be  mixed  with 
the  earth  to  insure  the  permanence  of  the  nests  through  vari- 
ous kinds  of  weather. 

Eumertes  fraternus  Say. 

A  two-celled  nest  of  E.  fraternv^  was  found  by  C.  H.  With- 
ington  on  a  dogwood  branch,  March  6,  1909.  At  the  time  the 
nest  was  taken  it  contained  full-grown  larvae.  Two  female 
wasps  emerged  May  10,  1909.  The  nests  and  wasps,  with  an 
explanatory  note,  were  placed  in  the  Snow  collections. 

The  cells  of  this  ne.st  were  two  earthen  jugs  attached  to 
each  other  so  that  one  lateral  wall  served  for  both.  They  were 
similar  in  shape  and  size  to  the  nests  of  E.  bolli,  but  were 
flattened  beneath  where  they  were  attached  to  the  horizontal 
branch  of  dogwood.  While  alike  in  general  plan,  these  nests 
showed  considerable  variation  in  structure.  One  was  higher, 
more  covex  above  and  more  nearly  round ;  the  other  was  con- 
siderably larger.  One  nest  was  placed  with  its  long  axis  at 
right  angles  to  the  direction  of  the  branch ;  the  other  obliquely 
to  it. 

Eumenes  sp. 

A  jug-shaped  cell,  somewhat  like  those  of  0.  bolli,  was 
brought  to  me  by  Will  H.  Collins,  a  student  of  entomology  at 
Kansas  University,  October  21.  This  nest  he  had  found  at- 
tached to  the  upper  surface  of  a  flat  stone,  in  a  wood  about 
three  miles  south  of  the  University  campus.  The  lower  side 
of  the  cell,  where  it  was  in  contact  with  the  stone,  was  much 
flattened.  Otherwise  it  was  similar  in  appearance  to  the  nest 
of  E.  bolli.  Two  reperesentatives  of  this  genus  have  been  taken 
in  Douglas  county — E.  fraternus  and  E.  smithi. 

Summary. 

I  shall  now  summarize  some  of  the  data  that  can  readily 
be  grouped. 

Eumenidas  are  friends  of  plant  life.  The  adult  insects  are 
to  a  certain  extent  flower  pollenizers.  From  Mr.  Hartman's 
observations  on  0.  dorsalis  we  learn  that  the  adults  sometimes 
also  take  animal  food  for  themselves.  The  food  of  the  wasp 
grubs,  as  far  as  is  known,  is  exclusively  plant-feeding  larvae 
of  other  insects.  Some  of  these  larvje  preyed  upon  are  obscure 
species,  making  the  work  of  wasps  that  prey  upon  them  neutral 
so  far  as  economic  importance  goes.     There  are  many  other 


302  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

instances  of  eumenids  destroying  insects  of  considerable  eco- 
nomic importance.  Representatives  of  the  following  families 
are  recorded  as  being  destroyed  by  eumenids :  Lepidoptera — • 
Notuidse,  Pyralidse,  Hesperidse,  Tortricidse,  Geometridse,  and 
CEcophoridse ;  Coleoptera — Curculionidje  and  Scurabidse ;  Hy- 
menoptera — Tenthredinidse. 

The  economic  insects  destroyed  by  eumenids  that  are  noted 
in  this  paper  are  as  follows :  Cutworms,  destroyed  by  Monobia 
quad  rid  ens,  noted  by  Ashmead ;  canker-worms,  noted  by  Harris 
and  the  parsnip  web-worm  (Depressaria  hearcliana) ,  noted  by 
Southwick,  both  destroyed  by  Eumeites  fraternus;  the  Larch 
sawfly  [Nematns  erichsonii),  destroyed  by  0.  capra,  observed 
by  Fyles ;  Pempelia  gleditschiella,  destroyed  by  a  small  Ody- 
nerus,  observed  by  Marlatt;  the  cotton  worm,  destroyed  by 
0.  dorsalis,  obsei-ved  by  Hartman ;  Loxostege  stricticalis,  de- 
stroyed by  0.  ammlatus,  observed  by  Hungerford  and  Wil- 
liams; the  same  caterpillar,  destroyed  by  0.  arvensis,  observed 
by  myself. 

A  comparison  of  four  species  that  I  observed  indicates  that 
the  tube  which  some  species  construct  over  the  entrance  of 
their  buri'ows  is  of  value  in  excluding  parasites.  The  observa- 
tions are  too  few  to  serve  as  anything  more  than  an  indication 
of  this.  0.  dorsalis,  which  built  no  tube,  was  heavily  para- 
sitized, while  O.  papagornm,  0.  arvensis.  and  O.  annidatus, 
all  tube  builders,  seemed  little  troubled  with  parasites. 

The  mo.st  persistent  parasites  of  the  Eumenidse  are  in  the 
family  Chrysididse.  Other  families,  representatives  of  which 
have  been  found  in  nests  of  eumenids,  are :  Diptera — Bomby- 
liidpe  and  Tachinidse ;  Hymenoptera — Ichneumanidse,  Bracon- 
idse,  Mutilidse,  and  Myrmicidse.  Aptera — robber  flies  (Asilidse) 
— may 'also  be  listed  as  enemies  of  the  Eumenidae,  although 
they  have  not  been  taken  in  nests  of  eumenids. 

The  purpose  of  the  suspension  of  the  egg  from  the  roof  of 
the  cell  can  not  be,  for  all  species,  as  Fabre  suggests,  to  pre- 
vent the  egg  from  coming  in  contact  with  the  writhing  larvae. 
If  this  is  the  purpose  of  the  suspensory  thread,  it  is  unsuccess- 
ful in  many  cases.  In  the  observations  of  the  Peckhams  on  the 
nests  of  0.  anorrms,  and  in  my  own  observations  on  four 
species,  0.  papaporum,  O.  do)'saUs.  0.  annidatus  and  0.  ar- 
vensis,  the  egg  was  found  among  the  caterpillars.  Riley  refers 
to  Harris  as  stating  that  the  nest  of  E.  fraternus  was  packed 


ISELY:     EUMENU)^   OF   KANSAS.  303 

with  caterpillars,  which  suggests  that  the  egg  could  scarcely 
have  been  suspended  above  them.  Mr.  Hartman's  experiment 
with  the  egg  of  0.  arrenftis  showed  that  being  among  a  number 
of  very  lively  caterpillars  did  not  injure  the  egg  or  the  young 
wasp  larvae,  at  least  in  that  instance. 

The  arrangement  of  caterpillars,  as  in  the  nest  of  0.  reni- 
formis  which  Fabre  described,  so  that  the  wasp  larvje  could 
eat  caterpillars  in  the  order  in  which  they  were  stored,  can 
scarcely  apply  to  many  species  of  Odynerus.  In  all  of  the 
nests  that  I  observed  the  caterpillars  were  not  stored  so  that 
the  wasp  larvae  would  be  able  to  select  them  in  the  order  in 
which  they  were  stored.  With  some  wasps  that  stored  their 
cells  within  one  or  two  hours,  the  order  of  storing  could  have 
made  little  difference  in  the  relative  strength  of  the  different 
caterpillars. 

I  collected  some  data  on  the  observing  ability  of  four  eumin- 
ids.  This  evidence  is  not  sufficient  to  base  any  conclusions 
upon,  and  a  part  of  it  is  contradictory. 

O.  papagoimn,  O.  arvensis  and  O.  dorsalis  all  made  locality 
studies  before  beginning  work  on  a  burrow.  This  one  locality 
study  before  the  beginning  of  work  was  the  only  one  I  ever 
observed  any  of  these  wasps  make,  if  undisturbed.  They  al- 
ways flew  directly  to  the  burrow,  because,  I  had  supposed,  they 
had  an  accurate  memory  of  their  immediate  surroundings. 
0.  amiulatus  frequently  made  a  short  locality  study  before 
alighting  at  her  burrow. 

When  I  put  sunflowers  in  the  midst  of  a  colony  of  O.  papa- 
gorum,  mutilated  a  number  of  nests  in  another  colony,  and 
disfigured  the  face  of  the  cliff  for  several  inches  around  the 
colony,  none  of  the  owners  of  nests  seemed  to  be  disturbed,  and 
at  first  only  one  wasp  seemed  to  even  notice  the  change.  They 
flew  as  directly  to  their  nests  as  before.  If  these  wasps  had 
any  observational  ability  at  all,  why  were  they  not  alarmed  by 
the  depredations  about  their  nests?  How  did  they  know  that 
those  nests  that  they  entered  so  confidently  were  their  own? 
Could  they  have  been  guided  by  a  sense  of  direction  and  not 
by  memory  of  the  surroundings  of  their  nests? 

0.  dorsalis  usually  noticed  a  few  marks  about  her  nest,  but 
only  once  did  she  seem  to  resent  changes  for  any  length  of 
time.  In  this  instance  I  had  cut  away  a  part  of  the  entrance 
to  her  burrow,  and  she  deserted  it.    The  same  was  true  of  this 

6-Univ.  Sci.  Bull..  Vol.  VIII.  No.  7. 


304  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

species  as  observed  by  Mr.  Hartman.  When  he  pulled  up  the 
grass  before  her  nest  she  was  disturbed  only  for  the  moment. 
Neither  0.  papagorum  nor  0.  dor  sails  objected  to  being  ob- 
served. 

0.  annulatus  was  sensitive  even  to  my  presence  in  the 
vicinity  of  her  nest,  and  sometimes  delayed  work  because  of  it. 
None  of  these  species  were  as  extreme  in  sensitiveness  as 
0.  vagus,  mentioned  by  the  Peckhams,  which  delayed  work  for 
half  an  hour  because  of  a  red  match  head  within  two  inches  of 
her  burrow. 

It  was  interesting  to  me  to  note  that  0.  annulatus,  which 
seemed  to  be  the  most  plastic  in  habits  of  all  the  species  I  ob- 
served, was  also  apparently  the  best  observer.  0.  papagorum, 
whose  habits  seemed  inflexible,  at  least  in  the  choice  of  a  nest- 
ing site,  appeared  to  be  a  very  poor  observer. 

A  fact  that  greatly  impressed  me  in  my  study,  and  that 
sometimes  astonished  me,  was  the  variability  in  habits  exhib- 
ited by  members  of  this  family.  I  had  expected  the  different 
species  of  the  family  to  differ  from  each  other,  but  a  wide 
variation  was  often  exhibited  by  members  of  a  species. 

Within  the  species  O.  annulatus  I  found  one  lazy  individual 
that  used  a  vacated  mud  dauber's  nest  as  her  storehouse;  an- 
other individual  of  the  same  species  laboriously  excavated  a 
twenty-two-celled  nest  in  the  hardest  of  clay.  The  variation 
among  individuals  of  0.  dorsalis  is  not  less  striking.  I  was 
surprised  when  I  found  that  this  wasp  dug  its  nest  in  two  situ- 
ations, as  either  in  the  side  of  a  bank  or  in  level  ground.  My 
surprise  grew  to  astonishment  when  I  read  Mr.  Hartman's 
account,  stating  that  0.  dorsalis  also  constructs  cells  above  the 
ground.  O.  arvensis,  too,  varies  widely  in  its  choice  of  nesting 
sites ;  I  found  her  to  be  a  burrower  in  various  situations,  while 
Mr.  Hartman  credits  her  with  building  in  convenient  holes  and 
crevices. 

As  far  as  I  observed,  0.  papagorum  is  in  many  ways  a  dis- 
senter from  this  rule  of  variation,  at  least  in  regard  to  nesting 
sites  and  the  type  of  nest  used.  She  appeared  to  have  but  one 
favored  nesting  site,  and  that  was  limited  by  a  number  of  con- 
ditions. I  believe  her  to  be  less  plastic  also  in  her  other  habits 
than  the  species  mentioned.  Yet  within  this  most  stable 
species  variations  were  on  every  hand.  For  instance,  consider 
the  cells,  their  variability  in  number  in  a  nest,  in  arrangement, 
and  in  the  direction  of  their  long  axes.     Or  consider  excep- 


ISELY:     EUMENID^   OF   KANSAS.  305 

tions — the  wasp  that  had  not  sufficiently  subdued  her  cater- 
pillar; the  wasp  that  discarded  the  earth  she  excavated  and 
stole  fresh  earth  from  the  Anthrophora  tube  to  build  her  own, 
or  the  wasp  that  struggled  to  carry  earth  into  her  nest,  in  spite 
of  a  windstorm  that  forced  the  other  members  of  the  colony  to 
stop  work.  In  many  of  the  minor  activities  connected  with 
the  nest,  the  other  species,  as  well  as  0.  papagorum,  showed  a 
wide  range  of  variability. 

Yet  these  variations  are  not  without  a  limit.  There  were 
in  most  cases  certain  habits,  typical  of  a  species — just  as  there 
are  type  specimens  in  structure  and  coloration  for  each  species 
— about  which  the  variations  centered.  As,  for  instance,  while 
there  might  be  a  great  difference  between  the  shape  of  two  cells 
of  a  species,  representing  the  two  extremes  in  variation;  yet 
the  majority  of  cells  would  be  between  the  two  extremes,  and 
the  difference  between  many  of  them  could  be  known  only  by 
careful  and  minute  measurements.  Again,  caterpillars  in 
varying  states  of  mobility  were  stored  by  individuals  of  a 
species;  yet  this  difference  in  most  instances  can  scarcely  be 
known  without  a  close  comparison  of  individual  caterpillars. 
I  know  of  no  mean  between  the  two  extreme  types  of  nests  of 
0.  dorsalis — the  burrow,  and  the  cells  above  ground;  perhaps 
when  our  knowledge  of  this  species  is  more  complete  this  mean 
will  be  found. 

In  spite  of  this  variability  in  many  habits,  there  were  cer- 
tain other  habits  that  characterized  the  family — habits  that 
seemed  inflexible  and  that  occurred  in  all  the  species  observed. 
There  were  certain  other  fixed  characteristics  that  belonged 
only  to  a  species  or  to  a  genus.  In  the  genus  Odynerus  the 
wasps  do  not  turn  around  in  the  nest ;  if  a  wasp  has  gone  into 
a  nest  head  foremost  it  comes  out  backwards.  All  that  I  ob- 
served used  water  in  nest-building.  Members  of  this  genus 
always  take  wing  after  taking  out  a  pellet  from  a  burrow, 
and  drop  the  pellet  while  in  the  air.  I  have  noted  no  variations 
from  these  habits. 

I  shall  mention  some  of  the  habits  of  the  family  that  are  least 
flexible  of  those  I  noted.  The  food  of  the  wasp  grub  was 
always  a  plant-feeding  larva.  With  no  exception,  all  of  the 
lepidopterous  larvse  whose  envii'onment  I  observed  or  that  I 
have  read  of  were  spinners.  Why  such  should  be  preferred  I 
can  not  imagine.  As  far  as  I  observed,  the  caterpillar  was 
always  carried  in  the  same  way — its  head  foremost  and  its 


306  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

ventral  side  up.  All  the  eumenids  suspend  their  eggs  by  fila- 
ments from  the  cell  wall.  A  single  individual  of  0.  dorsalis 
violated  this  rule,  possibly  accidentally,  by  attaching  an  egg  to 
the  caterpillar.  When  floating  on  water  or  at  work  elsewhere 
a  eumenid's  wings  are  always  held  open  and  at  oblique  angles 
to  its  thorax;  it  is  always  in  position  to  take  flight  at  any 
moment. 

These  habits  were  conspicuous  among  the  activities  of  the 
wasps  that  I  observed,  because  of  their  uniformity  both  among 
the  species  and  the  individuals.  To  me  they  have  seemed  to  be 
invariable  characteristics  of  the  Eumenidse. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

AXFHEN,   G. 

1892—0.  murarius;  habits.     Ent.  Nachr.  XVIII,  p.  270. 

ASHMEAD,  W.  K. 

1894 — Habits  of  Eumenidae.    Psyche,  pp.  76  to  78. 
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AURIVILLIUS,   C. 

1886 — 0.  murarium;  nests,  habits,  and  metamorphoses.     Bit  So.  Ak. 

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Alderz,  Gottfrid. 

1907 — Eumenes  coaretata;  habits.     Ark.  Zool.  Ill,  No.  17,  pp.  1-3. 
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Berg,  C. 

1900 — Apuntes  sobre  das  expecies  del  genero  Odynerus  de  la  Tierra 
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BiGNELL,  G.  C. 

1881 — O.  pictus;  note  on  nest  and  larvas.    Ent.  XIV,  pp.  188-189. 
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BiLLUPS. 

1883—0.  reniformis;  note.     Ent.  M.  M.  XVI,  pp.  68-69. 

Bingham,  C.  T. 

1889 — E.  conica;  habits.    J.  Bombay  Soc.  XII,  p.  585. 

BONNEFOIS,  A. 

1894 — E.  pomiformis;  habits  of  larvae.     Ann.  Ent.  Soc.  Pr.,  pp.  8-11. 

BORKIES. 

1897 — A.  ovivantris.     Natural  history,  Vid  Medd,  pp.  160-163. 

Brethes,  J. 

1902 — O.  argentinus;  nesting  habits.     Revist.   Mus.  La  Plata  X,  p. 
204,  pi.  I. 


isely:   eumenid^  of  kansas.  307 

Bkuch,  Carlos. 

1904 — Le  nid  de  1  Enmenes  caniculata  (Sauss.)  et  observations  sur 
deux  de  ses  parasites.  Revist.  Mus.  La  Plata  XI,  pp.  317-323, 
pis.  MIL 

Carpentier,  L. 

1889—0.  spinipes  L;  habits.     Mem.  Soc.  L.  N.  Pr.  VII,  67-69. 
1892 — 0.  spinipes  L;  parasites.     Bull.  Soc.  L.  N.  Fr.  X,  p.  326. 
Chretien,  P. 

1896 — E.    pomiformis,    E.    arbustorum    and    O.    spiricornis;    habits. 

Bull.  Soc.  Ent.  Fr.,  pp.  410-411. 
1897 — E.  pomiformis.     Naturaliste,  pp.  35-37. 
COMSTOCK,  J.   H. 

1904 — Eumenidae.     Manual  for  Study  of  Insects,  pp.  658-660. 
Creton,  E. 
.    1903 — Some   observations   on   E.   dimidiatipennis.     J.   Bombay   Soc, 
820-823. 
Davidson. 

1899 — Ancistrocerus  birenimaculatus ;  habits.     Ent.  News  X,  p.  180. 
De  Saussure,  Henri. 

1875 — Synopsis  of  American  wasps.     Sm.   Misc.  Coll.,  No.  254. 
1899 — Biology  of  Madagascar  wasps.     Abb.   Sanckenb.   Ges.  XXVI, 
pp.  203-246. 
DuFouR,  Leon. 

1838 — Memoire  pour  servir  a  I'histoire  de  I'industrie  et  des  meta- 
morphoses des  Odyneres.    Ann.  Sc.  Nat.,  ser.  2,  vol.  11,  2. 
Escalera,  Manuel  M.  de  la. 

1910 — E.  arbustorum;  habits.    Assoc.  Espan.  4,  ser.  3,  p.  351. 
Escher-Kundig. 

1902 — E.  amedei;  notes  on  habits.    Mt.  Schweiz.  Ent.  Ges.  X,  p.  374. 
Fabre,  J.  Henri. 

1883 — E.  amedei,  E.  pomiformis  and  allies;  architecture,  habits  of 

larvae,  etc.     Nouv.  Souv.  Ent.,  pp.  57-58. 
1883— Odynerus.     Nouv.  Souv.  Ent.,  pp.  78-98. 
1891—0.  nitulator;  habits.     Souv.  IV,  chap.  X. 
Fernton,  C. 

1896 — Observations  sur  I'instinct  de  quelques  Hymenopteres  du  genre 

Odynerus.    Act.  Soc.  Lin.  Bordeaux  48,  pp.  219-220. 
1902 — E.  pomiformis;  oviposition,  larval  habits.    Ann.  Soc.  Ent.  Fr., 
pp.  521-527. 
Friese,  H. 

1895 — E.  pomiformis;   larva  destroyed  by  Mesotemus.     Ent.  Nachr. 
XXI,  p.  123. 
Froggart,  W.  W. 

1894— Abispa  splendida;  habits.     P.  Linn.  Soc.  N.  S.  Wales  IX,  p.  29. 
GiRAUD,  J. 

1865 — Economy  of  three  species  of  Odynei-us  inhabiting  dry  bramble 
twigs.     Ann.  Soc.  Ent.  Fr.  (4),  ser.  XI,  pp.  463-466. 


308  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Gribodo,  G. 

1897 — Eumenes;  notes  on  East  African  species.     Mem.  Ace.  Bologna, 
pp.  89-93. 
HoRNE,  Charles. 

1871 — E.  conica,  E.  esuriens  and  0.  punctum.    Tr.  Z.  S.  VII,  pp.  166- 
168. 
Hartman,  Carl. 

190.5 — 0.  dorsalis,  arven^is.     Bull.  Univ.  Tex.,  No.  65,  pp.  6-10. 
Hoppfner,  H. 

1902 — 0.    exilis,    laevepipes;    nesting    habits.      Allg.    Zeitchr.    Ent., 
pp.  180-184. 
Howard,  L.  O. 

1905 — The  EumenidiB.     Insect  Book,  pp.  30,  31. 
Hungerford,  H.  B.,  and  Williams,  P.  X. 

1912 — O.    annulatus,    geminus,    foraminatus.      Ent.    News,    XXIV, 
pp.  250-255. 
Kellogg,  V.  L. 

1904 — American  Insects,  pp.  498-502. 
King. 

1892—0.  muriarius.     Sci.  Goss.,  pp.  196-198. 
Kriechbaumer. 

1879— Eumeniden  Studien.     Ent.   Nachr.  V,  pp.  1-4,  57,  59,  85,  89, 
201,  204,  309-312. 
Laloy,  L. 

1905 — Les  Odyneres.     Naturaliste,  273-275. 
1906 — Les  Eumenes.     Naturaliste,  153,  154. 
Lichtenstein,  J. 

1872 — O.  crassicornis;  habits.     Bull.  Ent.  Soc.  Fr.  (5)   IV,  p.  86. 
1879— E.  amedei;  noticed.     Pet.  Nouv.  XI,  p.  311. 
Lucas,  N. 

1877 — E.  germaini.     Ann.  Soc.  Ent.  Fr.   (5)  VI,  300. 
1877 — E.  germaini;    transformations.     Bull.   Ent.   Soc.   Fr.    (5)    IX, 
p.  45. 
Lucas,  N.,  and  Lichtenstein,  J. 

1883— E.  amedii;  nidification  described.    Bull.  Soc.  Ent.  Fr.  Ill,  p.  93. 
Maindran,  M. 

1882 — Histoire  des   Guepes   solitaires   de  I'Archipel   Indien   et   de  la 
Nouvelle  Guinee.     Ann.  Soc.  Ent.  Fr.    (6)   II,  pp.  69-71,  169- 
188,  267-286,  pis.  Ill,  V. 
Manterno,  Giacomo. 

1910 — Illustrazione  dei  nidi   di   aluni   Eumendl  americani   possedute 
dal   Museo   Civico   di   nat  di   Genova.     Ann.    Mus.   Genova   4, 
pp.  539-541. 
Marlatt,  C.  L. 

1894 — Food  habits  of  Odynerus.     Proc.  Ent.  Soc.  Wash.,  vol.  VI,  3, 
pp.  172,  173. 


isely:   eumenid^  op  Kansas.  309 

morice,  t.  d. 

1906— Nidifications  of  O.  reniformis.     Ent.  Mag.  Ill,  pp.  216-218. 
Peckham,  G.  W.,  and  E.  G. 

1905 — Habits  of  six  of  genus  Odynerus.     Wasps,  Social  and  Solitary, 
pp.  89-95. 
Perez,  J. 

1895 — O.  reaumurii  and  a  Cripted;  relations  as  regards  food.     Bull. 
Soc.  Ent.  Fr.,  p.  254. 
Perkins,  R.  C.  L. 

1899 — Eumenidse.     Faun  Hawaiiensis,  vol.  I,  part  1,  pp.  30,  31. 
Radoszkowski. 

1887 — 0.  ornatus;  note.     Hor.  Ent.  Ross.  XXI,  p.  100. 
Reginhaet,  M. 

1874 — O.  rubicola;   habits  and  metamorphoses.     Feuil.  Nat.  No.  44, 
p.  899. 
Riley,  C.  V. 

1870 — Odynerus;  habits  and  parasites.    Am.  Ent.  Ill,  p.  154. 
1883 — E.   fraterna;   destructive  to   canker-worms.     Rep.   U.   S.    Ent. 
Comm.  Ill,  p.  177,  fig.  3. 

RUDOW. 

1894 — E.    arbustorum,    poniformis,    coaretatus;    nests.      Ent.    VIII, 
pp.  59,  60. 
Saunders,  E. 

1879 — Notes  on  British  species  of  the  genus  Odynerus.     Ent.  M.  M. 
XV,  pp.  249,  250. 
Saunders,  W. 

1882 — E.  fraterna;  note.     Rep.  Fruit  Growers'  Ass.  Ont.,  p.  281. 
Shakp,  David. 

1909— Eumenida.    Camb.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  VI,  pp.  72-78. 

SOUTHWICK. 

1892— E.  fraterna;  habits.    Ins.  Life  V,  p.  107. 
Tandy,  M. 

1908— Monobia  quadridens.     Ent.  News  19,  pp.  231-232. 
Van  Jhering. 

1892 — Nortonia  sp.,  modification.    Congr.  Zool.  1,  p.  251. 
Verhoeff,  C. 

1889—0.  parietum;  varietal  note.     Ent.  Nach.  XVI,  p.  337. 

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XLVIII,  pp.  15-16,  40-57. 

1893 — Dufour's  memoir  on  habits  translated  into  German,  with  re- 
marks.    Ent.  Nach.  XIX,  pp.  49-54,  65-74. 

1893 — O.    parietium;    habits.      Berlin    Ent.    Zeitschr.    XXXVII,    pp. 
467-478. 
Xambeau,  p. 

1907 — Nidifications  des  Eumendies.     Naturaliste  29,  pp.  57-58. 


THE 

KANSAS  UNIVERSITY 
SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 


Vol.  Vlll,  No.  8-July,  1913. 

(Wlu.le  Scrips,   Vol.   XVIII.   Xo.   .S.) 


CONTENTS: 

University  Experiments  with  Sand  Fly  and  Pei.laora.  .S.  ./.  Hunter. 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  UNIVERSITY, 


Enlered  at  the  pObt-oiTice  in  Lawreuce  as  second-class  matter. 


,  S;;S 


KANSAS   STATE   PRINTING  OFFICE. 

W.  C.   Austin,  Slale  Printer. 

TOPEKA.      1914. 


THE  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY 
SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 

Vol.  VIII,  No.  S]         JULY,  1913.  [  ^^^^^^b 


University  Experiments  with  Sand  Fly 
and  Pellagra. 

An  account  of  endeavors  to  substantiate  the  Sambon  theory  of  the  trans- 
mission of  pellagra  by  the  sand  fly,  Simuliu))i. 

BY   S.   J.    HUNTER. 

THE  etiology  of  pellagra  has  been  a  subject  of  serious 
inquiry  for  over  two  hundred  years.  Formerly  an  old- 
world  problem,  it  is  now  found  widely  distributed  in  this 
country.  The  date  of  its  first  appearance  in  North  America  is 
not  well  established. 

Three  theories  have  been  advanced  as  to  the  cause  of  this 
disease:  (1)  The  zeistic  theory,  based  on  the  work  of  Bal- 
lardini,  in  1845,  giving  corn  poison  due  to  the  excessive  use 
of  corn  products  as  the  cause,  supplanting  the  old  theory  of 
faulty  metabolism;  (2)  the  cottonseed  products  poison  theory 
of  Mizell,  in  1911;  and  (3)  the  sand-fly  theory  of  Sambon, 
dating  from  1910.  The  first  two  rest  on  malnutrition ;  the 
last  on  the  action  of  a  parasite. 

Since  this  paper  deals  only  with  the  parasitic  theory  of  Sam- 
bon, the  grounds  on  which  Sambon  bases  his  theory  may  prop- 
erly be  outlined  here : 

A.  The  endemic  centers  of  pellagra  in  Italy  have  remained 
the  same  since  the  disease  was  first  described. 

B.  The  season  of  the  recurrence  of  pellagra  coincides  with 
the  season  of  the  appearance  of  the  full-fledged  sand  fly,  even 
to  the  extent  that  if  the  spring  is  early  or  late  the  sand  fly  is 
early  or  late  in  appearing,  and  pellagra  cases  are  correspond- 
ingly early  or  late  in  their  appearance. 

(313) 


314  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

C.  In  centers  of  pellagra  infection  whole  families  are  at- 
tacked at  times  simultaneously. 

D.  In  nonpellagrous  districts  the  disease  never  spreads  to 
others  with  the  advent  of  a  pellagrin  from  a  pellagrous  district. 

E.  In  the  case  of  a  family  which  has  removed  from  a  pel- 
lagrous to  a  nonpellagrous  district,  the  children  bom  in  the 
former  district  are  pellagrins,  while  the  children  born  subse- 
quent to  removal  to  a  nonpellagrous  district  do  not  develop 
the  disease. 

F.  The  disease  is  not  hereditary,  although  infants  a  few 
months  old  may  become  infected,  especially  if  taken  to  the 
fields  in  pellagrous  districts,  where  their  mothers  work  during 
the  season  when  sand  flies  are  in  evidence. 

G.  Pellagra*  is  not  contagious  but  is  transmitted  to  each 
individual  by  an  infected  sand  fly.^ 

In  Kansas  the  latter  part  of  July,  1911,  the  first  authentic 
cases,  those  of  a  mother  and  child,  were  diagnosed  by  Dr.  E.  E. 
Liggett,  of  Oswego,  the  attending  physician.  Dean  Crumbine, 
of  the  medical  school  of  the  University  of  Kansas  and  secretary 
of  the  State  Board  of  Health,  expressed  an  earnest  desire  to 
have  the  presence  of  the  sand  fly  ascertained  for  that  locality. 
Accordingly  the  author  began,  on  August  1,  a  survey  of  the 
region.  The  streams  were  high  and  muddy  from  recent  rains, 
so  that  adults  were  first  sought.  An  extended  opportunity 
which  I  enjoyed  for  study  of  this  insect  some  years  ago  in  the 
Mississippi  valley,  between  Keokuk  and  Fort  Madison,  Iowa, 
rendered  familiar  the  workings  of  the  adult  females  on  horses, 
especially  young  colts,  on  which  after  warm  rains  the  attacks 
were  so  numerous  and  severe  as  to  denude  the  animals'  ears 
and  throats,  exposing  patches  of  raw  flesh. 

At  the  beginning  of  this  investigation  there  was  only  one 
Simulium  in  the  University  collection  recorded  from  Kan- 
sas. The  investigation  then  from  the  beginning  has  been 
prosecuted  along  three  lines:  (1)  The  survey  on  the  distribu- 
tion of  the  sand  flies  in  Kansas ;  (2)  a  detailed  investigation  of 
their  life  habits  and  conditions  under  which  they  exist  in 
Kansas;  (3)  their  biting  and  feeding  habits  and  the  possibili- 
ties of  inoculation. 

The  first  two  lines  have  been  treated  in  the  following  paper 
(No.  9)  by  my  graduate  student,  Mr.  W.  T.  Emery,  who  h;is 
been  my  assistant  throughout  these  experiments.     The  third 

1.     Sand-fly  Transmission  of  Pellagra,  The  Journal  A.  M.  A.,  Nov.  26,  1910,  p.   1898. 


hunter:    experiments  with  sand  fly.  315 

subject  requires  the  consideration  of  the  digestive  tract,  and 
this  Assistant  Professor  Hungerford  has  presented  in  paper 
No.  10,  of  this  number. 

The  Thompson-McFadden  Pellagra  Commission,  with  head- 
quarters at  Spartanburg,  S.  C,  is  conducting  an  exhaustive 
survey  into  all  possible  factors  which  might  reveal  the  cause 
of  this  disease,  and  the  Bureau  of  Entomologj^  is  cooperating 
with  this  commission  along  entomological  lines.  The  depart- 
ment of  entoinology  at  the  University  is  concerned  only  with 
the  entomological  side  of  the  question,  and  has  thus  far  dealt 
only  with  the  sand  fly.  The  responsibility  for  the  entomologi- 
cal side  of  the  question  rests  with  the  author,  and  the  patho- 
logic side,  as  manifested  by  the  monkeys  subjected  to  the  bite 
of  the  sand  fly,  rests  with  Dean  Crumbine  of  the  medical 
school.  In  this  connection  it  might  properly  be  noted  that 
recently  Doctor  Harris  has  published  an  article  in  which  he 
states  he  has  been  successful  in  producing  pellagra-  experi- 
mentally in  monkeys.  Based  upon  his  experiments,  then,  the 
monkej'  becomes  a  susceptible  animal. 

The  line  of  investigation  followed  was:  transfusions  on 
guinea  pigs  and  monkeys,  and  transference  of  flies,  exposed  to 
the  pellagrins,  to  monkeys  and  guinea  pigs.  In  the  experi- 
ments with  each  exposed  animal  there  was  a  check  or  unex- 
posed animal. 

The  transfusions  and  inoculations  gave  no  positive  results. 
Temperatures  of  the  guinea  pigs  and  monkeys  were  taken 
twice  a  day  without  any  appreciable  change.  As  this  subject 
has  been  covered  in  a  paper  by  Anderson  and  Goldberger,- 
who  obtained  similar  results,  we  will  pass  to  what  we  con- 
sider the  more  important  phase  of  the  Sambon  theory,  viz., 
the  role  of  the  sand  fly. 

His  theory  is  protozoal,  and,  from  analogy  with  the  etiology 
of  malaria,  the  parasite  of  pellagra  in  all  probability  would 
have  to  pass  one  stage  in  the  body  of  its  intermediate  sand-fly 
host  before  it  could  restime  its  life  in  the  human  body.  This 
hypothesis  being  true,  transfusions  obviously  would  be  without 
results. 

Taking  up  the  sand  fly,  then,  the  only  species  found  generally 
distributed  in  Kansas  thus  far  is  Simiiliiim  viftatiim,  as  de- 
termined by  Johannsen.    S.  reptans  is  the  species  referred  to 

2.  Jour.  A.  M.  A.  Lx.  No.  25.  June  21,  1913,  1948-1949. 

3.  Public   Health    Rep.,    1911,    XXVL,    1003-1007. 


316  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

)oy  Sambon,  and  reported  on  this  continent  from  Greenland 
only.  Since  several  species  of  the  genus  Anopheles  transmit 
malaria,  it  would  seem  permissible  to  consider  another  species 
belonging  to  the  genus  Simulium  than  that  of  S.  reptans,  re- 
ferred to  by  Sambon.  S.  vittatnm  is  distributed  in  Kansas,  as 
shown  by  Emery  in  a  map  in  the  following  paper. 

For  the  location  of  the  pellagrins  we  have  Allen,  Chautau- 
qua, Montgomery,  Labette,  Shawnee,  Sumner  and  Meade  coun- 
ties. All  cases  are  in  the  midst  of  the  sand-fly  territory,  ex- 
cept the  Meade  county  case,  and  this  man,  a  resident  of  that 
region  for  twenty  years,  spent  the  year  of  1910  in  the  South. 
The  Allen  and  Labette  county  cases  are  endemic.  None  of 
these  patients  have  ever  been  out  of  the  state,  so  it  would  seem 
that  the  cause  now  exists  in  the  state. 

For  our  experimental  work  in  1911,  the  Oswego  pellagrin,  a 
woman  aged  about  35,  now  in  the  second  season  of  the  disease, 
was  used,  and  she  very  willingly  did  her  part. 

In  all,  1282  live  sand  flies  were  used,  and  this  phase  of  the 
work  extended  from  August  21  to  November  4.  The  plan  was 
to  divide  the  number  of  flies  intended  for  each  experiment 
into  two  lots,  the  one  lot  to  be  exposed  to  the  pellagrin  and 
then  to  the  subject  of  experimentation,  and  the  other  exposed 
to  the  check. 

Ten  guinea  pigs  and  two  monkeys  were  used,  and  the  tem- 
perature of  all  was  taken  morning  and  evening  daily.  The 
number  of  live  flies  exposed  to  the  pellagrin  and  then  to  the 
guinea  pigs  was  499 ;  the  number  of  live  flies  exposed  to  the 
pellagrin  and  then  the  monkeys  was  197.  A  part  of  those  ex- 
posed to  the  pellagrin  were  reserved  for  fixation  and  sectional 
microscopic  examination  in  the  laboratory.  Since  only  the 
females  bite,  the  relative  number  of  the  sexes  is  important.  In 
a  count  of  488  specimens,  219,  or  42  per  cent,  were  females. 

Earlier  in  the  season  the  flies  did  not  .seem  to  bite  the 
patient,  but  beginning  with  October  12  they  attacked  her, 
biting  freely,  drawing  the  blood  perceptibly  from  the  pella- 
grin's arms.  These  flies  were  then  divided,  part  placed  in  the 
flyproof  cage  with  the  male  monkey  ;  part  with  the  guinea  pigs. 
Repetitions  of  the  same  experiment  were  made  almost  daily 
during  the  stated  period. 

This  closed  on  November  2,  1911,  the  work  at  Oswego,  Kan., 
and  it  was  transferred  from  Oswego  to  the  University  labora- 


hunter:    experiments  with  sand  fly.  317 

tory.  On  November  7  the  male  monkey  used  to  receive  inocu- 
lation became  suddenly  ill,  growing-  flaccid  and  motionless,  save 
for  a  high  rate  of  i-espiration.  He  was  later  placed  in  charge 
of  Doctor  Boughten,  pathologist,  and  Doctor  Skoog,  neurol- 
ogist, of  the  University.  He  was  chloroformed,  autopsied,  and 
the  brain  and  spinal  cord  were  studied  by  Doctor  Skoog.  This 
monkey  was  taken  from  the  University  hospital  group.  It 
now  appears  that  some  eighteen  months  before  this  monkey 
was  exposed  to  poliomyelitis.  While  the  time  is  remote,  never- 
theless the  exposure  obviously  introduces  a  complication  which 
will  make  it  unsafe  to  depend  on  this  instance,  unless  sub- 
stantiated by  many  pure  culture  corroborations. 

This  closed  the  work  for  the  year  1911,  and  as  far  as  our 
knowledge  goes  is  the  first  recorded  instance  of  an  endeavor 
to  apply  the  Sambon  theory  in  this  manner. 

The  following  year,  1912,  the  same  method  of  work  was  con- 
ducted, and  to  avoid  any  possibility  of  contamination  six 
monkeys  were  imported  direct  from  India  for  this  work. 

The  season  previous  the  flies  were  very  abundant.  The  sea- 
son of  1912  they  were  notably  rare,  due  principally  to  the 
flooded  conditions  of  the  creeks  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
state  and  improper  amount  of  moisture  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  state.  The  almost  total  absence,  therefore,  of  flies  in 
July,  as  well  as  a  want  of  pellagrins  in  the  proper  stage,  pre- 
vented any  successful  inoculations  at  that  time. 

P^rom  the  fall  brood,  however,  inoculations  were  made  with- 
out waiting  for  the  flies  to  bite  the  monkeys,  but  securing  in- 
oculations through  maceration  attended  by  the  proper  aseptic 
precautions.  The  last  inoculation  was  made  on  a  female 
monkey  on  December  16,  17,  18,  1912,  using  flies  that  had 
emerged  on  the  12th  and  bitten  the  pellagrin  on  the  14th. 

Work  for  1913  was  conducted  under  a  special  fund  fur- 
nished by  the  Board  of  Educational  Administration. 

Special  attention  has  been  given  this  season  to  the  biting 
habits  of  Simulium  in  nature.  Hei*etofore  we  have  experi- 
enced little  difficulty  in  encouraging  the  sand  fly  to  bite  the 
patient,  but  no  extended  study  had  been  given  to  the  biting 
habits  in  nature. 

During  1912  it  was  found  that  they  would  bite  during  the 
mornings  and  evenings,  sometimes  entering  the  tent.  The  sea- 
son of  1913,  however,  was  not  favorable  in  Kansas  for  the 
development  of  the  sand  fly  during  the  summer. 


318  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

In  August,  therefore,  this  part  of  the  study  was  transferred 
to  Madison  river,  in  the  southern  part  of  Montana,  where  ail 
stages  of  the  fly  were  unusually  abundant.  Here  it  was  ob- 
served that  the  fly  would  bite  the  exposed  parts,  and  was  more 
active  on  cool  days  while  the  temperature  was  below  70°  F. 

Of  special  importance  was  the  observation  made  by  four 
members  of  the  party  that  the  bite  of  the  fly  was  not  always 
noticeable.  For  example,  the  writer  sat  through  an  entire 
evening  meal  in  the  tent  with  the  sand  fly  biting  on  the  face 
near  the  base  of  the  nose.  He  was  not  aware  of  its  presence 
there  until  informed  at  the  close  of  the  meal  by  his  companions 
regarding  the  length  of  the  time  it  had  been  there.  The  spot 
reddened  in  this  case  was  about  the  size  of  a  flax  seed. 

It  seems  probable  also  that  it  succeeds  in  attaching  itself 
to  the  host  through  its  mouth  parts,  because  when  once  settled 
down  to  feeding  it  sticks  to  the  host  and  is  not  readily 
detached. 

Biting  is  not  uniformly  painless,  as  sometimes  the  insect 
could  be  detected  by  its  first  contact. 

Regarding  the  morphology  of  the  mouth  parts,  Mr.  W.  T. 
Emery,  who  has  been  my  graduate  student  assistant  in  this 
work,  has  the  paper  following,  dealing  with  that  phase  of  the 
subject. 

A  second  point  to  be  here  recorded  is  that  the  monkey, 
which  we  used  all  last  year  to  receive  inoculations  from  the 
sand  fly,  and  which  received  its  last  inoculation  on  December 
22,  1912,  as  recorded  in  my  previous  paper,  late  in  November, 
1913,  began  to  show  a  marked  stomatitis,  accompanied  by  a 
diarrhoea.  She  has  continued  to  lose  in  weight  and  the  color 
of  the  face  is  changing  from  the  normal  to  a  pale  ashy  gray. 

Summing  up  the  evidence,  then,  in  the  work  thus  far  for 
and  against  the  Sambon  theory : 

1.  The  number  of  sand  flies  has  been  directly  proportional 
to  the  number  of  cases  of  pellagra. 

2.  The  first  appearance  of  the  cases  of  pellagra  is  coinci- 
dent with  the  principal  broods. 

.3.  .Just  succeeding  the  time  of  the  principal  broods  the  flies 
appear  to  bite  more  vigorously. 

4.  Sand  flies  which  have  fed  on  human  blood  live  several 
days  longer  than  those  which  have  not  been  so  nourished,  thus 
favoring  an  incubation  period  for  a  parasite,  if  such  there  be. 


hunter:    experiments  with  sand  fly.  319 

5.  Pellagra,  thus  far  in  Kansas,  has  appeared  almost  en- 
tirely in  one  restricted  locality.  Of  the  nine  cases  recorded 
last  year  five  were  traced  back  to  one  town.  In  this  region 
flies  are  widely  distributed  and  unusually  abundant. 

6.  No  direct  evidence  has  thus  far  been  found  which  would 
in  any  way  warrant  any  conclusion  with  reference  to  an 
association  of  the  sand  fly  in  the  determination  of  the  etiology 
of  pellagra. 

As  far  as  our  history  of  this  subject  goes,  the  appearance 
of  pellagra  in  Kansas  is  of  recent  occurrence.  Nearly  all  of 
the  cases  are  those  of  natives  that  have  never  been  out  of  the 
state.  From  this  it  would  seem  that  the  etiology  of  pellagra 
exists  in  Kansas. 

The  situation  here  is  not  complicated  through  long-standing 
conditions.  It  is  the  purpose,  therefore,  to  continue  this  phase 
of  the  work,  and  with  it  the  correlation  of  the  clinical  and 
pathological  phases  l)y  the  medical  school  of  the  University. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY— THE   SAND   FLY  AND   PELLAGRA. 

1910— Pellagra  and  Its  Cause.     Nature,  vol.  LXXXIII,  p.  378. 

Lavinder,  C.  H.     The  Theory  of  the  Parasitic  Origin  of  Pellagra. 

Public  Health  Reports,  vol.  XXV,  pp.  7.35,  736. 
Sand-fly  Transmission   of  Pellagra.     Jour.   Am.   Med.   Assn.,   vol. 

LV,  p.  1898. 

Recent  Investigations  on  Pellagra.     Nature,  vol.  LXXXIV, 

pp.  538,  539. 

Sambon,  Louis  W.  Progress  Report  on  the  Investigation  of  Pel- 
lagra. Jour.  Tropical  Medicine  and  Hygiene,  vol.  XIII,  pp. 
271-282,  287-300,  30.5-315,  319-321. 

King,  Howard  D.  The  Etiologic  Controversy  Regarding  Pellagra. 
Jour.  Am.  Med.  Assn.,  vol.  LIV,  No.  11,  p.  859. 

Sambon,  L.  W.  Cause  and  Transmission  of  Pellagra.  Policlinico, 
June,  1910.     (Review^,  in  Jour.  Amer.  Med.  Assn.,  July,  1910.) 

1911 — Howard,  L.  O.     SijuuHum  and  Pellagra.     Report  of  entomologist 
for  1911,  p.  34,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agri. 

Hewitt,  C.  Gordon.  Sinmlium  Flies  and  Pellagra.  Nature,  vol. 
LXXXV,  pp.  169,  170. 

Shelford,  R.     SiiitvHnin  and  Pellagra.     Nature,  vol.  LXXXV,  p.  41. 
Crumbine,   S.  J.     Pellagra  in   Kansas.     Bulletin   State   Board  of 
Health,  October,  1911,  p.  190. 

Carletti,  M.  V.  Sand-fly  Transmission  of  Pellagra.  Gazetta 
degli  Ospedali  e  delle  Cliniche,  Milan,  May  28,  1911,  XXXII, 
No.  64. 

■.J-Univ.  Sci.  Bull..  Vol.  VIII.  No.  8. 


320  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

1911 — JoHANNSEN,  C.  A.    SiinnliuiH  and  Pellagra.     Bui.  187,  Maine  Agri- 
cultural Exp.  Station,  January,  1911. 

Sambon,  L.  W.  Progress  Report  of  the  Investigation  of  Pellagra, 
U.  S.  Dept.  Agri.  Ex.  Station  Record,  vol.  XXVI,  abstract  No.  8. 

Wall,  F.  Recent  Pellagra  Investigations  by  the  British  Pellagra 
Commission.     Jour.   Trop.   Med.  and  Hyg.,  December  15,  1911. 

Roberts,  S.  R.  Sambon's  New  Theory  of  Pellagra,  and  its  applica- 
tion to  conditions  in  Georgia.  Jour.  Amer.  Med.  Assn.,  vol. 
LVI,  pp.  171.3-171-5. 

Thorington,  Chilton.     Some  Suggestions  as  to  the  Etiology  of 

Pellagra.    Virginia  Medical  Semimonthly,  vol.  16,  p.  185. 
Beall,  K.  H.     The  Etiology  of  Pellagra.     Jour.  Am.  Med.  Assn., 

vol.  LVII,  p.  1683. 
Alcock,  A.     Entomology  for  Medical  Officers,  pp.  123-131. 
Grimm,  R.  M.     Pellagra:    A  Report  on  an  Epidemiologic  Study. 

Pub.  Health  Reports,  vol.  XXVII,  No.  8,  pp.  255-264. 
Caccini,  a.    Pellagra  as  we  See  it  in  Italy :  Old  and  New  Theories. 

Report  of  cases  seen  in  New  York  City.     Med.  Record,  Mar., 

1911. 

1912 — Hunter,  S.  J.    The  Sand  Fly  and  Pellagra.    Jour.  Am.  Med.  Assn., 

vol.  LVIII,  pp.  547-548. 
Hunter,  S.  J.     The  Sand  Fly  and  Pellagra.     Jour.  Econo.  Ent., 

vol.  V,  pp.  61-63. 
Nicholls,  Lucius.     Pellagra,  "Sand   Fly  and  Protozoon"  versus 

"Maize"  Theory.     Jour.  Trop.  Med.  and  Hyg.,  vol.  15,  No.  20, 

Oct.  15,  1912,  pp.  305-306. 
Forbes,  S.  A.     On  Black  Flies  and  Buffalo  Gnats   (Shnulmm)   as 

Possible  Carriers  of  Pellagra  in  Illinois.     27th  Rept.  State  En- 
tomologist of  Illinois,  p.  21-52. 
Garman,  H.    A  Preliminary  Study  of  Kentucky  Localities  in  which 

Pellagra  is  Prevalent.    Bull.  159,  Ky.  Agric.  Exper.  Station. 
Roberts,  Stewart  R.     Pellagra :    History.  Distribution,  Diagnosis, 

Prognosis,  Treatment,  Etiology.    C.  V.  Mosby  Co.,  St.  Louis. 
Niles,  George  M.    Pellagra.    W.  B.  Saunders  Co.,  Philadelphia. 
Ravitch,   M.   L.     a   Plea  for  an   Earlier   Diagnosis  of  Pellagra. 

Jour.  Am.  Med.  Assn.,  vol.  LIX,  pp.  33-35. 
Wood,  E.  J.    A  Treatise  on  Pellagra.    Appleton  &  Co.,  New  Y'ork. 

1913 — Hunter,  S.  J.     Pellagra  and  the  Sand  Fly.     Jour.  Econom.  Ent., 

vol.  VI,  No.  1,  pp.  99-101. 
Roberts,  S.  R.    The  Analogies  of  Pellagra  and  the  Mosquito.    Am. 

Jour.   Med.   Science,  vol.   CXLVI,  No.   2,  Aug.,   1913,   No.   479, 

p.  233. 
Jennings,  A.  H.,  and  King,  W.  B.    An  Intensive  Study  of  Insect.s 

as  a  Possible  Etiologic  Factor  in  Pellagra.     From  Am.  Jour,  of 

Med.  Sciences,  vol.  146,  No.  3,  p.  411. 


THE 

KANSAS  UNIVERSITY 
SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 


Vol.  Vlll,  No.  9-July,  1913. 

(Wliole  Scrius,  Vol.  XVIII,  No.  <).) 


CONTENTS: 


Morphology  anp  Biology  of  Simulium  vittatum  anfi  Its 

Distribution    in    Kansas, 11'.    T.    Emrri/. 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  UNIVERSITY, 
LAWRENCE,  KAN. 


Entered  at  the  post-office  in  Lawrence  as  second-class  matter. 


5-838 


KANSAS   STATE   PRINTING  OFFICE. 

W.  C.  Austin,  State  Printer. 

TOPEKA.      1914. 


THE  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY 
SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 

Vol.  VIII,  No.  9]        JULY,  1913.  [  vr'^^'^ntNa 9. 


The  Morphology  and  Biology  of  Simulium 

vittatum . 

AND  ITS  DISTRIBUTION  IN  KANSAS. 

BY   W.   T.    EMERY. 

Plates  XXXVIII  to  XLII. 

Subniitted  in  partial  fulfillment  of  tlie  requirements  for  the  degree  of  master  of  arts. 

PREFACE. 

THE  following  paper  was  written  from  the  data  and  ma- 
terial collected  as  a  result  of  a  request  from  Governor 
Stubbs  of  Kansas,  1911,  through  the  State  Board  of 
Health,  and  Dr.  S.  J.  Crumbine,  dean  of  the  school  of  medicine, 
and  Prof.  S.  J.  Hunter,  professor  of  entomology,  at  Kansas 
University,  to  locate  sand  flies  (Simuliiim)  in  their  geograph- 
ical location  to  pellagra  cases  in  the  state. 

Here  I  wish  to  thank  Prof.  S.  J.  Hunter  for  his  kind  as- 
sistance in  conducting  the  investigations,  and  for  his  many 
helpful  suggestions  in  working  out  the  problems,  both  in  the 
field  and  in  the  laboratory.  We  are  indebted  to  Dr.  0.  A. 
Johannsen  for  determining  the  species  Simulium  vittatum. 
iVIr.  H.  B.  Hungerford  was  kind  in  helping  me  secure  litera- 
ture on  Simulium.  I  also  appreciate  the  assistance  of  Messrs. 
F.  X.  Williams,  A.  E.  Mallory,  E.  C.  O'Roke  and  H.  R.  Jennings 
of  the  Kansas  Biological  Survey  of  1911,  for  collecting  speci- 
mens of  Simulium  and  observing  their  habits  and  breeding 
places.  I  thank  Dr.  Grace  M.  Charles  of  Kansas  University 
botany  department  for  determining  the  algas  in  the  alimentary 
canal  of  Simulium  larvae.  Mr.  L.  M.  Peace  made  the  photo- 
graphs of  the  Simulium  figures  used  in  the  text. 

(323) 


324  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 


Morphology  and  Biology  of  Simulium  vittatum  and  its 
Distribution  in  Kansas. 

On  casual  observation  Simulium  flies  are  about  the  size  of 
the  common  fungus  gnats  (Mycetophilidse)  which  we  often  see 
on  a  piece  of  apple  peeling  or  on  decaying  fruit.  However, 
upon  closer  examination  they  are  found  to  be  distinctly  dif- 
ferent both  in  form  and  color.  These  little  flies  are  gray  to 
black  in  color  and  are  from  two  to  four  millimeters  in  length, 
depending  on  the  species  and  sex.  They  have  a  conspicuously 
prominent  thorax,  hump-backed  in  appearance,  and  their 
heads  are  drawn  down  in  front  of  them.  This  latter  charac- 
teristic adds  to  the  prominence  of  their  thorax,  so  much  so 
that  they  have  received  the  popular  name  of  buffalo  gnats. 
In  the  South  they  are  called  turkey  gnats,  in  the  North  black 
flies,  and  in  Europe  sand  flies. 

Perhaps  the  most  conspicuous  characteristics  of  Simulium. 
flies  are  their  comparatively  heavy  cone-shaped  antennae  that 
protrude  from  between  the  eyes  at  the  base,  diverging  like  a 
pair  of  horns.  They  are  about  the  length  of  the  head,  ten 
jointed,  with  the  joints  closely  articulated  except  the  two  basal 
ones,  which  are  differentiated.  Other  noticeable  character- 
istics are  their  relatively  broad  and  slightly  veined  wings, 
their  prominent  thorax,  and  the  structure  of  their  mouth  parts. 

The  latter  to  be  seen  well  must  be  dissected  and  placed  under 
a  compound  microscope.  These  I  shall  describe  further  on  in 
the  paper.  At  the  time  of  emergence  their  eyes  have  a  reddish 
tinge.  They  have  no  ocelli.  Compared  with  other  flies  of 
their  size  the  legs  are  thick  and  heavy  set. 
LIFE    history — habitat. 

Nearly  every  one  has  observed  mosquito  wigglers  in  rain 
barrels  and  pools  of  standing  water,  but  unlike  this  habit  of 
mosquitoes,  Simulium  flies  breed  only  in  running  water,  such 
as  ripples  and  waterfalls.  It  seems  that  its  aquatic  larval 
nature  demands  well  aerated  water  if  it  is  going  to  live  and 
complete  its  life  cycle.  For  instance,  if  a  Simulium  larva  is 
placed  in  a  vessel  of  standing  water  it  soon  dies,  apparently 
for  the  want  of  sufficient  oxygen.  When  S.  vittatum.  is  washed 
from  the  rocks  in  shallow  ripples  into  deep  water  it  will  drown, 
unless  it  floats  with  the  current  to  another  ripple  or  waterfall 
where  it  can  attach  itself  to  a  stone  or  vegetation. 


emery:     SIMULIUM  VITTATUM   in   KANSAS.  325 

As  a  rule,  in  regions  where  S.  vittatum  occurs  the  larvae 
are  found  in  the  ripples  and  falls  of  creeks  and  small  streams, 
not  rivers,  that  flow  the  year  round.  The  most  essential  con- 
dition for  the  well-being  of  these  aquatic  creatures  is  rapid 
motion  of  the  water  in  which  they  live.  Not  only  did  the 
writer  find  this  to  be  the  condition,  but  in  the  Kansas  Bio- 
logical Survey  notes  for  1912,  Mr.  E.  C.  O'Roke  writes,  at 
Hays  City:  "While  scouting  about  for  a  camping  place  we 
observed  larvae  and  pupse  of  sand  flies  on  a  concrete  dam  and 
on  the  rocks  below  it  in  Big  creek."  In  another  part  of  the 
notes  Mr.  A.  E.  Mallory,  at  Rush  Center,  says :  "We  found 
many  Simuliiim  larva?  and  pupje  in  the  ripples."  In  the  same 
field  notes  Mr.  F.  X.  Williams,  at  Ness  City,  writes:  "In  a 
small  branch  of  Walnut  creek,  where  the  ripples  are  weak  and 
the  bottom  is  pebbly,  but  with  no  stones,  I  found  Simulium 
larvae,  pupse  and  eggs  plentiful  on  the  sedges  lying  flat  in  the 
ripple."  This  last  note  shows  that  while  there  were  no  stones 
to  break  the  flow  of  the  water,  yet  the  sedges,  on  which  the 
Simulium  lived,  were  washed  by  the  current. 

As  to  the  character  of  the  water  in  their  breeding  places,  it 
is  generally  clear  and  well  aerated,  though  sometimes  it  con- 
tains considerable  organic  matter.  Two  of  the  breeding 
places  observed  in  Kansas  where  the  flies  were  very  numerous 
were  streams  that  carried  sewage.  One  was  at  Rosedale, 
Kan.,  a  suburb  of  Kansas  City,  and  the  other  was  at  Oswego, 
Kan.  Doctor  Forbes,  of  Illinois  University,  states,  in  his 
report  on  SimnUnm  of  that  state,  that  the  larvae  were  found 
in  the  sewage  drains  far  up  into  the  city  of  Chicago. 

Since  their  habitat  is  in  ripples  or  in  places  where  the  water 
is  accelerated  by  an  obstruction,  it  is  interesting  to  observe 
what  takes  place  in  standing  water.  Our  observations  in  the 
laboratory  showed  that  they  died  in  about  an  hour;  at  least 
they  would  not  respond  to  stimulation  after  that  time  in  a 
vessel  of  water.  Consequently,  in  a  stream  when  the  larvae 
are  swept  into  quietly  running  water,  they  drown  unless  they 
can  maintain  themselves  in  the  current  long  enough  to  float 
to  another  ripple.  In  a  little  stream  near  Oswego,  in  which 
there  were  two  ripples  about  fifty  yards  apart,  the  second 
ripple  or  the  one  below  was  narrowed  so  I  could  observe  ap- 
proximately the  number  of  larvte  on  the  stones.  After  dis- 
turbing about  fifty  or  more  larvae   in  the  upstream  ripple, 

3-Univ.  Sci.  Bull..  Vol.  VHI.  No.  9. 


326  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

causing  them  to  let  go  their  holds  on  the  rocks  and  drift  into 
the  quiet  slow-running  water,  I  was  unable  to  detect  any  in- 
crease in  the  number  of  larvaj  in  the  small  narrow  ripple  be- 
low. However,  after  a  rain  which  caused  a  swifter  current 
between  the  ripples,  I  could  sometimes  find  more  larvae  than 
usual  in  the  lower  ripple.  Ordinarily  the  current  was  sluggish 
between  the  ripples. 

From  our  observations,  there  are  three  principal  broods  of 
S.  vittatuvi  each  year.  One  occurs  in  early  spring,  the  fore 
part  of  April;  one  in  mid-summer,  from  the  middle  to  the 
latter  part  of  July ;  and  one  in  mid-autumn,  the  latter  part  of 
October,  the  time  for  these  broods  varying  with  the  earliness 
or  lateness  of  the  seasons.  The  general  time  for  the  spring 
and  fall  broods  seems  to  be  at  the  heavy  frost-line  period.  This 
period  varies  with  different  species  and  in  different  states. 

Mr.  Otto  Lugger,  the  state  entomologist  of  Minnesota,  in 
his  report  of  1896,  pages  201  and  203,  says  in  part  on  Simu- 
lins  flies:  "The  first  species  seen  and  felt  occurs  early  in  the 
spring  soon  after  the  snow  disappears.  This  species  (name 
not  given)  flies  from  May  13  to  June  1.  A  little  later  in  the 
season,  but  chiefly  during  June  and  July,  a  somewhat  larger 
species,  S.  decorum  Walker  (.synonymous  with  vittatmn  Zet- 
terstedt,  according  to  Coquillett)  becomes  numerous."  Mr. 
C.  V.  Riley,  in  the  report  of  the  United  States  Entomologist 
for  1886,  pages  342  and  343,  refers  to  Mrs.  Sara  J.  McBride, 
of  Mumford,  N.  Y.,  as  stating  in  one  of  her  articles  that  "the 
perfect  flies  issued  about  April  1st."  In  the  American  Journal 
of  Science,  volume  I,  1913,  under  the  heading,  "A  Destructive 
Insect,"  mention  is  made  that,  "Contrary  to  the  custom  of 
other  insects,  it  {S.  pecuarum)  always  appears  when  cold 
weather  commences  in  December,  and  as  invariably  disappears 
on  the  approach  of  warm  weather,  which  is  about  April  1 
(Choctaw  county,  Mississippi),  and  continued  to  return  at  the 
same  season  from  year  to  year." 

In  the  report  of  the  Commissioners  of  Agriculture  for  1886, 
Entomologist  C.  V.  Riley  says,  in  speaking  of  the  southern 
buffalo  gnat  (S.  pecvarum) ,  as  to  its  time  of  appearance: 
"The  first  swarms  were  observed  last  year  in  Louisiana  on 
March  11,  in  Mississippi  and  Tennessee  May  1,  and  in  Indiana 
and  Illinois  May  12.  Small  local  swarms  may  appear  some- 
what earlier  or  later  in  the  neighborhood  of  their  breeding 


EMERY:     SIMULIUM   VITTATUM    IN    KANSAS.  327 

places.  The  turkey  gnat  {S.  meriocUonale  Riley)  appears 
usually  later,  although  in  1886  it  appeared  near  Memphis, 
Tenn.,  as  early  as  April  5.  The  swarms  were  quite  local,  how- 
ever, and  strictly  confined  to  the  vicinity  of  the  creeks  that 
produced  them.  The  greater  majority  of  the  species  of  this 
genus  are  northern  insects,  and  appear  there  in  the  winged 
foi-m  all  through  the  summer.  The  larv«  require  cold  water 
for  development.  As  we  go  farther  south  the  cold  water  can 
only  be  found  in  the  more  elevated  regions  or  in  winter  or  in 
the  earlier  months  of  spring.  Earliness  of  season  or  high  al- 
titude are  the  substitutes  for  the  lower  temperature  of  the 
more  northern  latitude."  All  this  goes  to  show  that  the  time 
of  the  appearance  of  SimuUum  broods  varies  with  different 
species  and  in  different  states. 

That  S.  rittatnm  emerges  throughout  the  summer  is  shown 
from  my  field  notes  on  that  species  in  our  experiments  to  de- 
termine whether  or  not  it  is  capable  of  transmitting  the  dis- 
ease pellagra.  We  collected  pupte  as  they  formed  on  the  rocks, 
and  placed  them  under  a  trap  which  was  over  the  ripples  so 
as  to  secure  as  many  flies  as  possible  (fig.  1).  The  following 
dates  show  uneven  emergence  of  the  flies  from  the  breeding 
traps  and  how  they  increase  in  numbers  as  cooler  weather  ap- 
proaches, until  the  creek  freezes  : 

Oswego,  Kan.,  1911. 


No. 

Teoiperatui 

■e.  F. 

Date. 

flies. 

Mx. 

Mn. 

Sep.    7 

9 

84 

65 

8 

5 

83 

68 

9 

3 

83 

67 

10 

5 

89 

68 

11 

6 

91 

70 

13 

24 

94 

73 

14 

4 

92 

73 

19 

6 

73 

57 

20 

17 

71 

58 

21 

11 

74 

52 

22 

9 

82 

53 

24 

6 

89 

67 

25 

4 

90 

68 

27 

10 

90 

68 

28 

9 

91 

70 

29 

16 

81 

70 

30 

6 

83 

61 

328  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Oct.  2 70  90  65 

3 70  88  71 

4 100  78  58 

5 150  84  CO 

6 120  83  62 

7 54  63  '51 

8 150  65  48 

9 105  61  50 

10 60  69  43 

11 40  81  54 

14 108  85  57 

16 40  77  46 

17 56  71  43 

18 22  73  45 

20 4  55  40 

23 25  68  30 

24 5  69  37 

25 12  67  45 

26 12  73  36 

30 2  53  34 

February  15,  1912,  Rosedale,  Kan. — Full-grown  Simulium 
vittatum  larvae  covered  the  under  sides  of  the  rocks  in  the 
ripples  in  Turkey  creek  where  it  enters  the  city. 

June  7,  1912,  Rosedale,  Kan. — Simulium  larvae  were  less 
numerous  and  smaller  than  those  observed  February  15.  This 
is  a  good  evidence  that  a  brood  must  have  come  off  early  in 
the  spring,  leaving  these  stragglers  to  emerge  later.  Some  of 
these  later  larvae  I  placed  in  a  ripple  in  the  laboratory  at 
Kansas  University,  getting  them  to  pupate  and  emerge  later. 
From  a  few  pupa?  that  I  brought  to  the  laboratory  at  that  time 
eight  flies  emerged  on  June  8.  From  the  larvae  that  pupated 
in  the  laboratory  twenty-four  flies  emerged  June  19. 

Of  the  midsummer  S.  vittatum  brood  that  emerged  from  a 

small  stream  on  the  University  campus  the  following  dates 

and  number  of  flies  taken  were  accounted  for: 

Jul.  13  40  flies. 

16  15  " 

21  2  " 

.     22  1  " 

25  3  " 

27  3  " 

28  5  " 

29  4  " 

Aug.   4  2  " 

5    2     " 

7   2     " 

Observations  on  Simulium  could  not  be  carried  through  the 
summer  at  Rosedale  nor  at  Oswego  because  the  streams  at 
those  places  dried  up  during  the  drouth,  and  as  a  consequence 
the  Simulium  there  ceased  to  propagate  themselves. 


EMERY:     SIMULIUM    VITTATUM    IN    KANSAS.  329 

The  following  number  of  Simulinm  flies  were  trapped  in  the 
Little  Arkansas  river  at  Wichita,  Kan. : 

Nov.  10    12  flies. 

11    5     " 

12   33     " 

13    20     " 

Simulium  flies  may  emerge  during  a  warm  spell  in  the 
winter,  as  our  experiments  in  December,  1912,  show.  My 
field  notes  read  as  follows:  "Dec.  11,  Wichita,  Kan. — Took  50 
to  60  S.  pupje  from  partly  frozen  river  and  placed  them  in  a 
laboratory,  using  city  water.  Dec.  12. — 14  S.  flies  emerged. 
Dec.  13. — 10  S.  flies  emerged." 

A  moderate  or  cool  temperature  seems  to  aflFect  not  only  the 
length  of  an  individual  S.  vittatinn  fly's  life,  but  also  its  biting 
habits  or  blood-thirsty  nature.  "If  cold  weather  follows  their 
appearance,  the  gnats  become  semidormant;  they  are  not 
killed  by  it  nor  by  rain,  but  revive  and  become  aggressive  again 
with  the  first  rays  of  the  sun.  Hot  weather,  however,  soon 
kills  them."' 

During  the  months  of  September  and  October,  1911,  we  used 
over  1200  flies  in  our  experiments  with  pellagra.  Not  until  the 
cooler  weather,  the  later  part  of  October,  did  we  succeed  in 
getting  the  flies  to  bite.  At  this  time  the  temperature  was  about 
20°  cooler  than  when  they  had  refused  to  bite.  According  to 
the  local  U.  S.  government  weather  station,  the  temperatui'e 
frequently  ran  above  90°  in  September,  with  an  average  maxi- 
mum of  86.1°  and  minimum  of  65.7°,  while  in  October,  at  the 
time  of  biting,  the  maximum  was  67°  and  the  minimuin  was 
45°  F.  Again  in  the  middle  of  November  the  following  year, 
1912,  I  caught  S.  vittatiun  at  Wichita,  carried  them  over  150 
miles  to  Topeka,  and  succeeded  in  getting  them  to  bite.  One 
month  later  I  took  Simulium  pupje  from  the  Little  Arkansas 
river,  which  was  partly  frozen  over,  placed  them  in  a  labora- 
tory with  water  running  over  them  at  a  temperature  of  60°  F., 
and  secured  twenty-four  flies.  They  were  then  taken  about 
200  miles  to  Parsons,  where  we  succeeded  in  getting  four  of 
them  to  bite  a  supposed  case  of  pellagra.  (Only  sixteen  flies, 
one-half  of  which  were  males,  made  the  trip). 

Before  this  time  I  had  supposed  that  perhaps  the  flies  had  to 
oviposit  before  they  would  bite,  but  from  the  above  experi- 

1.     Dept.  Agri,   1886. 


330  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

merits  it  appears  to  be  a  matter  of  stirring  them  to  that  ac- 
tivity by  the  proper  temperature  during  their  life  cycle.  At  no 
time  have  I  been  able  to  find  eggs  deposited  on  the  rocks  under- 
neath the  traps  w^here  the  flies  emerged  that  did  the  biting. 
Literature  on  the  subject  of  their  habits  of  biting  refers  to 
them  as  being  the  worst  to  bite  in  early  spring  and  late  fall,  in 
the  early  morning  and  on  cold  rainy  days.  The  argument  in 
the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture  Year  Book,  1886,  quoted 
in  bulletin  5,  1896,  is  that  SimuUmn  flies  oviposit  before  going 
out  in  swarms  to  seek  warm-blooded  animals,  that  when  once 
gorged  with  blood  they  soon  die,  and  that  microscopical  ex- 
aminations have  failed  to  reveal  any  eggs  in  the  ovaries  com- 
posing these  swarms,  therefore  they  evidently  oviposit  before 
biting. 

Our  experiments  brought  out  the  fact  that  Simulium  will 
bite  in  captivity  and  in  houses,  also  that  they  can  be  shipped 
long  distances  and  kept  alive  for  two  and  three  days  without 
feeding.  As  for  keeping  Simulium  alive  in  captivity,  the  males 
died  soonest,  living  one  to  two  days,  while  the  females  would 
live  two  to  four  days.  When  filled  with  blood  (human)  we 
kept  one  female  alive  seven  and  one-half  days,  from  Friday 
afternoon  of  one  week  until  Friday  morning  of  the  followin;? 
week,  at  which  time  the  fly  was  destroyed  in  our  experiments. 
Just  how  long  they  can  be  kept  alive  by  refeeding  I  do  not 
know.  They  are  said  to  feed  on  maggots  and  caterpillars. 
(British  Diptera,  p.  165.) 

It  is  interesting  to  watch  the  flies  oviposit  on  the  stones  in 
ripples.  The  female  selects  a  stone  in  the  ripple  where  a  film 
of  water  seeps  upon  the  lower  downstream  side  in  very  small 
vibratory  waves.  In  these  tiny  waves  she  places  the  tip  of  her 
abdomen  and  wings  and  deposits  from  200  to  300  eggs  strung 
back  and  forth  as  she  moves  along,  in  rows  close  together  so 
as  to  form  a  mass,  usually  from  one-fourth  to  three-eighths  of 
an  inch  long  and  from  one-sixteenth  to  one-eighth  of  an  inch 
wide.  Here  the  waves  constantly  wash  the  tip  of  the  abdomen 
and  afterwards  keep  the  egg  mass  moist.  From  five  to  ten 
minutes  is  spent  in  the  process.  In  midstream,  where  the  cur- 
rent made  the  small  waves  best,  several  egg  masses  were  piled 
upon  one  another  and  alongside  adjoining,  sometimes  covering 
the  whole  downstream  side  of  the  rocks.  Frequently  a  fly 
would  cease  ovipositing  and  go  away  to  finish  on  another  rock 
or  perhaps  to  return  to  finish  on  the  same  rock. 


emery:     SIMULIUM   VITTATUM   in   KANSAS.  331 

Some  of  the  eggs  were  laid  on  old  leaves  in  the  ripple.  N.  Y. 
St.  Mus.  Bui.  47,  p.  408,  gives  the  following  on  oviposition : 
"The  place  selected  is  always  at  the  edge  of  a  little  waterfall, 
on  a  surface  that  is  intermittently  washed  by  the  swaying  cur- 
rent, and  so  kept  wet.  Here  the  females  flock  and  pile  up 
great  white  masses  of  eggs,  which  with  a  little  age  turn  yel- 
lowish. Waves  dash  over  them  while  ovipositing,  and  often 
sweep  them  away,  but  they  at  once  return  to  their  task." 

The  description  of  an  egg  mass  is  given  in  my  field  notes 
for  October,  1911,  as  follows:  "SimiiUum  eggs  when  first  de- 
posited are  whitish  or  creamy  in  color.  In  two  or  three  days 
they  begin  to  turn  yellowish,  becoming  later  a  rusty  yellow, 
then  brownish  to  a  dark  brown,  almost  black  at  time  for 
hatching.  All  this  time  they  retain  a  shiny  appearance.  The 
empty  shells  after  the  larvse  have  hatched  look  dull,  tattered, 
torn,  and  sunken  in,  soon  breaking  to  pieces  in  the  rippling 
water.  When  first  hatched  a  larva  is  so  small  and  light  in 
color  that  one  can  hardly  see  it  on  a  rock  with  the  unaided 
eye.  On  account  of  the  reflections  of  a  wet  rock  it  is  even 
difficult  to  see  with  a  12  )<  lens  if  the  larva  is  not  moving." 

A  variation  in  the  length  of  the  incubation  period  is  shown 
in  my  field  notes.  "October  26,  1911. — Discovered  very  small 
larv^,  1  mm.  long,  on  rock  with  egg  mass  that  I  found  October 
19.  Yesterday  the  eggs  were  full;  to-day  many  of  them 
were  sunken  in.  October  28. — Found  more  small  larva;  on 
rock  with  eggs  discovered  October  19.  October  30. — Part  of 
the  eggs  laid  on  the  rock  that  I  placed  in  the  ripple  for  that 
purpose  October  23  are  rusty  yellow  and  very  shiny.  No- 
vember 2. — Creek  partly  frozen  over.  Eggs  of  October  23  ap- 
parently still  unhatched,  but  covered  with  a  dirty  slime  like 
empty  shells.  Part  of  them  were  hatched,  though  I  could  find 
no  young  larvse  with  them. 

The  dates  from  October  19  to  26  show  a  period  of  eight  days, 
while  that  from  October  23  to  November  2  shows  a  period  of 
eleven  days  for  incubation.  That  variation  is  due,  no  doubt,  to 
the  decrease  in  seasonal  temperature  to  freezing. 

Now  the  length  of  the  larval  stage  may  also  vary.  Taking 
the  periods  between  the  broods  previously  mentioned — that  is, 
from  the  fore  part  of  April  to  the  middle  of  July,  and  from 
mid-July  to  the  latter  part  of  October — we  find  the  length  of 
life  cycle  during  the  warmer  months  to  be  approximately 
three  months  and  one  week.    Allowing  five  to  six  days  for  the 


332  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

length  of  the  pupal  stage,  as  we  observed  it  in  September,  1911, 
and  eight  days  for  the  incubation  of  the  eggs,  we  get  the  length 
of  the  larval  stage  in  the  warmer  months  to  be  about  two 
months  and  three  weeks.  For  the  life  cycle  of  the  spring  brood, 
that  leaves  a  period  from  the  latter  part  of  October  to  the  first 
part  of  April,  or  about  five  and  one-half  months.  Since  it  is 
in  the  larval  stage  that  they  winter  over,  it  would  indicate  that 
the  winter  temperature  prolongs  the  length  of  the  larval  stage 
for  the  spring  brood. 

Newly  hatched  larvae  are  a  pale  creamy  color,  and  about  one 
millimeter  in  length.  They  possess  indications  of  the  same 
general  characteristics  of  form  and  structure  that  the  full- 
grown  larvse  have.    The  color  soon  darkens  to  a  slaty  green. 

A  full-grown  S.  vittatum  larva  measures  from  five-sixteenths 
to  three-eighths  of  an  inch  in  length.  The  body  is  somewhat 
attenuated  in  the  second  abdominal  segment  and  gradually  in- 
creases in  size  in  the  third,  fourth,  fifth  and  sixth  segments. 
Beginning  with  the  seventh  segment  there  is  a  much  increased 
or  abrupt  expansion  that  gives  the  larva  a  widened  and  flat- 
tened appearance. 

The  metathoracic  and  mesothoracic  segments  and  the  first 
six  abdominal  segments  are  cylindrical.  The  prothoracic  is 
thickened  dorso-ventrally  by  the  attachment  of  the  single  pro- 
thoracic  leg.  (Plate  XXXIX,  fig.  11.)  The  head  is  semi-flat- 
tened, with  a  slightly  constricted  neck,  and  is  about  the  length 
of  the  thorax. 

On  the  head  are  some  very  unusual  prehensile  organs,  used 
to  collect  food  from  the  rippling  water.  They  are  fan-like  in 
shape,  with  forty  filaments  or  rays  in  S.  vittatum.  (PI.  XLT, 
fig.  31.)  \Vhen  disturbed,  or  when  the  larva  is  taking  food 
from  the  rays  with  its  mandibles  and  maxillae  into  the  mouth, 
the  fan  is  closed  so  that  the  tips  of  the  rays  come  just  to  the 
oral  opening.  These  rays  are  scythe-shaped,  ciliate  on  the 
inner  side,  with  longer  setse  at  regular  intervals.  (PI.  XLI, 
fig.  31.)  The  rest  of  the  mouth  parts,  labrum,  mandibles, 
maxillpe,  hypopharynx  and  labium,  together  with  the  antennae, 
are  shown  individually  and  compositely  arranged  on  plate 
XLI,  figures  32-35.  Between  the  fans  are  the  slender  five- 
jointed  antenna;  the  fifth  joint  is  a  pointed  process  at  the  end 
of  the  fourth.  Back  of  the  fans  on  each  side  of  the  head  ar=; 
two  narrowly  separated  black  spots.  These  may  be  eyes,  or 
light  organs.     Besides  the  leg  or  foot,  on  the  sides  of  the 


emery:    simulium  vittatum  in  Kansas.  333 

thorax  there  appears  on  the  full-grown  larva  black  spots  which 
are  the  pupal  gills,  folded  and  drawn  up  beneath  the  skin. 

At  the  caudal  end  is  a  sucker-like  aperture  used  to  hold  the 
larvse  to  the  stones  and  debris  in  the  ripples.  It  is  made  up  of 
a  series  of  rows  of  tiny  hooks.  On  the  dorsal  side  the  sucker- 
like organ  is  produced  into  a  V-shape.  (PI.  XLI,  fig.  35a.) 
Cephalad  of  this  are  the  breathing  gills.  In  vittatum  these 
are  three-branched,  as  membranous  sacs,  finger-like,  when 
the  larva  is  undisturbed  in  the  water. 

In  preserved  specimens  the  gills  can  not  be  seen  unless  forced 
to  distend  by  pressure  from  a  dissecting  needle  placed  cephalad 
of  them. 

The  larvae  intermediate  in  size  appear  to  seek  the  swifter 
ripples,  while  those  about  ready  to  pupate  and  the  smaller  ones 
seek  the  less  violently  agitated  parts  of  the  ripples.  When 
moving  about  on  the  stones  they  have  a  looping  motion,  similar 
to  that  of  a  geometrid  larva.  They  more  frequently  make 
their  looping  motion  laterally  instead  of  dorsally.  In  doing 
this  they  first  attach  their  thoracic  leg,  then  draw  their  caudal 
sucker  forward  and  attach  it.  Frequently  one  can  see  the  silken 
thread  they  spin  as  they  move  about.  It  looks  as  though  they 
always  kept  the  thread  attached,  because  at  any  time  they  are 
washed  from  the  stones  or  debris  they  will  float  away  from  one 
to  ten  inches,  holding  fast  to  the  thread,  which  they  spin  as 
they  go. 

The  larva  possesses  two  silk  glands,  laterally  placed,  ex- 
tending about  three-fourths  the  length  of  the  body,  then  re- 
curved, U-shaped,  extending  back  to  the  thoracic  segments. 
The  outlets  are  the  two  ducts  which  lead  into  the  hypo- 
pharynx.-  Besides  being  used  as  a  means  of  security,  the 
thread  is  used  to  float  out  in  the  ripple  while  feeding,  and  for 
building  the  pupa  case.  Ordinarily,  while  feeding,  the  larvse 
attach  their  caudal  sucker  to  the  object  in  the  ripple  and  let 
the  rest  of  their  body  and  head  float  at  an  angle  of  sixty  to 
ninety  degrees.  I  have  watched  them  in  the  water  draw  their 
fans  in  and  scrape  them  with  their  mandibles  as  though  col- 
lecting food. 

With  the  kind  assistance  of  Dr.  Grace  M.  Charles,  of  Kansas 
University,  we  found  several  species  of  diatoms  and  the  fol- 
lowing kinds  of  algse  in  the  digestive  tract,  which  I  take  to  be 
the  food  of  S.  vittatum:   Conferva,  Scendesmus,  Chlanydomo- 

2.    N.  Y.  St.  Mus.  Bui.  68. 


334  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

nas,  Engrena,  and  Charcium.  Besides  these  I  found  several 
kinds  of  bacteria  in  a  smear  made  from  the  alimentary  tract 
of  a  SimuUiim  larva. 

"According  to  the  unpublished  observations  of  Miss  R.  Phil- 
lips (of  the  class  of  1890,  Cornell  University)  the  larva  feeds 
on  algEE,  as  Notltix,  Chaldophora,  Vaucheria,  on  diatoms,  and 
parts  of  phanerogamous  plants.  Sand  also  has  been  found  in 
the  digestive  canal."  (N.  Y.  St.  Mus.  Bui.  68.)  "A  searching 
investigation  of  the  water  in  their  breeding  places  revealed 
the  fact  that  it  was  swarming  with  animal  life  and  was  filled 
wih  the  larval  forms  of  small  crustaceans  belonging  to  various 
fam.ilies,  but  chiefly  to  those  of  copepods  and  isopods.  Larvse 
of  the  southern  buffalo  gnat  (peeuanvm)  kept  in  glasses  were 
observed  to  swallow  these  minute  crustaceans,  and  none  of 
this  food  was  seen  to  be  expelled  again.  A  number  of  square 
diatoms,  jointed  together  in  a  chain,  have  also  been  observed 
by  the  aid  of  the  microscope."  (U.  S.  Dept.  Agri.  Yr.  Bk., 
1886,  quoted  in  Bui.  5,  n.  s.)  The  above  would  indicate  that 
Simulivm  larvfB  are  both  herbivorous  and  carnivorous. 

A  very  interesting  part  of  Simulmm  larvas's  and  pupae's 
habits  was  learned  when  we  discovered  their  ability  to  keep 
alive  in  a  wet  pack  of  cloth  or  snow  for  several  hours.  Our 
first  experiment  with  that  was  on  February  15,  1912,  when  I 
packed  some  Simvlhim  larvae,  on  the  rocks,  in  wet  snow 
wrapped  in  cheese  cloth.  The  time  of  packing  was  5  P.  M.,  the 
place  Rosedale,  Kan.  From  there  I  transported  the  mass  in 
an  old  suitcase  to  Lawrence  and  placed  them  in  a  ripple  in  the 
laboratory  at  8  p.  M.  The  snow  pack  was  frozen  when  I  un- 
packed the  larvae,  but  they  were  active  and  continued  to  live 
afterward  in  the  laboratory. 

The  next  time  we  tried  that  experiment  was  June  7,  1912, 
when  I  packed  the  larvae  and  pupae  on  rocks  in  wet  cheese 
cloth  at  Rosedale  at  -5  P.  M.,  brought  them  to  Lawrence  and 
placed  them  in  the  laboratory  ripple  alive  at  11  P.  M.  Some 
of  the  larvae  left  in  the  wet  cloth  were  still  alive  at  10  A.  M.  the 
next  day,  June  8.  This  made  a  total  of  seventeen  hours  that 
the  larv;e  kept  alive  in  the  wet  pack.  The  pupae  continued  to 
live,  so  that  imagoes  emerged  June  14.  The  larvae  soon  trans- 
formed to  pupae,  and  twenty-four  flies  emerged  June  19. 

Again  on  August  3,  1912,  I  brought  to  Lawrence  from 
Rosedale  several  pupae  torn  from  the  rocks  and  several  larvae 
off  the  rocks  in  a  wet  pack  in  a  tin  box.     Those  larvae  lived 


EMERY:     SIMUUUM   VITTATUM    IN    KANSAS.  335 

through  that  ordeal  all  right,  and  two  flies  emerged  from  the 
pupje  August  4.  However,  at  this  time  the  Lawrence  city 
water  was  so  impure  that  they  were  using  strong  chemicals 
to  purify  it.  This  seemed  to  kill  the  larvae,  so  that  they  were 
all  gone  from  the  ripple  August  5.  No  more  flies  emerged 
from  the  pupte.  Larvae  newly  hatched  from  the  eggs  in  the 
laboratory  ripple  soon  died.  On  July  2,  I  placed  SimnUum 
eggs  in  the  laboratory  ripple,  and  on  the  5th  and  7th  I  found 
newly  hatched  larvas,  but  the  city  water  seemed  to  kill  them 
after  hatching;  at  least  they  disappeared. 

Our  experiments  had  been  so  badly  interfered  with  in  the 
laboratory  by  drugged  water,  and  the  several  streams  in  the 
state  where  we  were  conducting  experiments  went  dry  during 
the  drouth  of  the  summer,  so  that  our  experiments  looked 
dubious.  Fortunately  I  located  a  good  brood  of  larva?  in  the 
Little  Arkansas  river  at  Wichita.  Knowing  that  Simidiiim 
breed  in  sewer  ditches,  and  desiring  to  establish  a  permanent 
brood  near  our  laboratory,  I  decided  to  take  a  number  of  the 
larvae  from  the  stream  at  Wichita  and  place  them  in  the  sewer 
exit,  in  good  ripples  and  a  fall,  at  Lawrence  where  it  empties 
into  the  Kaw  river.  On  October  8  I  collected  several  hundred 
nearly  grown  larvae,  from  4  to  5:30  P.  M.,  transported  them  in 
a  wet  pack  off  the  rocks  to  Lawrence,  where  I  placed  them 
alive  in  the  sewer  at  7:15  A.  M.  October  9.  October  10  a  lot  of 
the  larvaj  had  disappeared.  October  11  most  of  the  larvae 
had  disappeared.  A  piece  of  cloth  that  I  had  left  in  the  sewer 
with  larvae  on  it  smelled  strongly  of  kerosene  and  had  a  white 
sediment  on  it.  The  rest  of  the  larva  soon  disappeared.  Since 
that  time  I  have  succeeded  in  keeping  a  SimnUum  larvte  alive 
in  a  tin  box  with  a  wet  cloth  for  more  than  seventy-two  hours. 

Simnlium  pupae,  when  first  formed,  are  a  yellowish  brown 
color,  later  becoming  darker  as  the  dirt  in  the  water  discolors 
them  and  as  the  imago  develops  within  the  case.  With  the 
filamentary  breathing  gills  a  pupa  measures  atout  one-eighth 
of  an  inch  long.  (PI.  XXXIX,  fig.  7.)  Their  gills  or  respira- 
tory filaments  arise  from  a  common  base  on  each  side.  In 
S.  vittatnm  the  base  of  one  gill  divides  into  two,  and  from  each 
of  these  arise  four  branches,  these  again  each  dividing  into 
two,  making  sixteen  tracheal  filaments  for  each  gill. 

According  to  observations  made  by  Miss  Phillips  and  re- 
corded  in  her  thesis,   1890,   the  spinning  of  the   cocoon   of 


336  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

S.  pictipes  is  described  as  follows:  "In  spinning,  the  thread 
issues  from  the  mouth  and  is  placed  in  the  different  positions 
by  the  thoracic  proleg.  The  head  is  bent  down,  and  with  the 
proleg-  the  thread  is  drawn  around  the  body,  except  the  head. 
The  skin  of  the  head  is  then  cast  off,  and  the  insect  then  pulls 
itself  out  of  the  .skin  of  the  body,  leaving  it  whole.  The  cast 
skin  may  often  be  found  in  the  cocoon  with  the  pupae.  The 
cocoons  are  commenced  at  the  upper  margin  and  spun  con- 
tinuously down  to  the  caudal  end,  where  several  threads  are 
drawn  from  the  cocoon  and  attached  to  the  last  one  or  two 
of  the  body  segments  of  the  pupse.  The  threads  hold  the  pupa 
very  firmly  and  are  always  found  when  the  pupa  is  pulled  out 
of  its  case." 

I  found  it  very  difficult  to  watch  vittatum  spin  their  cocoons, 
because  the  adult  larvaj  almost  invariably  go  to  the  under  side 
of  the  rocks  and  debris  or  seek  a  protected  place  in  the  ripples 
for  pupating.  Vittatum  pupae  are,  when  first  formed,  drawn 
back  into  their  cases  so  that  only  the  pupal  gills  show  from  a 
dorsal  view.  Inside  of  a  day  or  two  they  begin  to  push  out  a 
little,  showing  the  head  bent  down  and  the  origin  of  the  gills. 
On  the  fifth  day  after  pupating  I  observed  some  pupse  that  had 
swung  free  from  their  cases  and  faced  in  the  opposite  direc- 
tion alongside  of  them. 

They  were  still  attached  by  two  threads  that  ran  into  the 
pupse  cases.  A  description  of  the  same  habit  of  slipping  from 
their  cases  is  given  in  the  United  States  Department  of  Agri- 
culture Year  Book,  1886,  p.  508.  We  observed  a  pupa  in  a 
vessel  of  water  turn  over  in  its  case.  It  was  seen  to  do  thi;; 
several  times,  always  turning  on  its  ventral  side. 

When  the  pupa  is  drawn  from  its  case,  upon  close  examina- 
tion one  can  see  two  small  black  blunt  hooks  on  the  dorso- 
caudal  end  of  the  pupa,  and  eight  similar  hooks  on  the  dorsal 
front  marginal  side  of  the  abdominal  segments,  four  in  a  row 
on  each  side,  parallel  to  the  margin  of  the  segments ;  they  are 
a  part  of  a  membranous  covering  as  shown  in  plate  XXXIX, 
figure  9.  By  means  of  them  it  attaches  itself  to  the  silky 
threads  of  the  pupa  case. 

A  general  external  view  of  the  individual  pupa  on  a  rock  is 
shown  in  plate  XXXIX,  figure  7.  One  can  see  the  origin  of 
the  pupal  gills,  and  the  head  tucked  beneath,  also  the  prom- 

3.    N.  Y.  St.  Mus.   Bui.   68. 


emery:     SIMULIUM   VITTATUM   in   KANSAS.  837 

inence  of  the  thorax  within  the  case.  Plate  XXXIX,  figure  7, 
shows  a  pupa  with  the  imago  within  more  developed  and  its 
habit  of  withdrawing  from  the  case  as  it  matures.  Plate 
XXXIX,  figure  8,  shows  a  newly  formed  pupa  removed  from 
its  case;  This  shows  the  wing  pads  in  their  early  develop- 
ment. Plate  XXXIX,  figures  7  and  9,  show  lateral  and  dor- 
sal views  with  the  wing  pads  more  developed. 

Emergence  of  the  Adult. 

It  is  very  interesting  to  watch  the  fly  emerge  from  its  pupal 
skin.  The  skin  is  split  longitudinally  on  the  fore  part  of  the 
hump  of  the  pupa.  First  the  fly  gets  its  head  and  fore  legs 
out,  then  by  pulling  itself  forward  it  gets  the  middle  legs  and 
part  of  the  wings  out,  continues  to  crawl  forward,  freeing  its 
wings,  hind  legs,  and  abdomen.  The  whole  process  took  about 
five  seconds  on  a  stone  that  I  held  in  my  hand  out  of  the  water. 
It  left  the  old  pupal  skin  fast  in  the  case  with  the  respiratory 
filaments  intact. 

Empty  skins  soon  wash  out  of  the  their  cases,  which  are 
left  as  little  tough  empty  pockets  to  fill  with  dirt  and  eventually 
be  washed  away. 

Mr.  E.  C.  O'Roke,  in  his  field  notes  of  the  Entomological  Sur- 
vey, 1912,  writes  the  following  about  newly  emerged  S/w  «//»»?; 
"They  would  dry  their  wings  about  five  seconds,  then  fly."  He 
watched  them  emerge  from  a  board  which  he  held  out  of  the 
water.  On  the  same  survey  Mr.  F.  X.  Williams  notes :  "Almost 
immediately  on  reaching  the  surface  (of  the  water)  the  fly 
(S.  vittatum)  would  make  efforts  to  rise  on  its  still  flexible 
wings;  sometimes,  being  unable  to  do  so  immediately,  would 
skim  along  the  water  for  a  way."  His  notes  continued  to  say 
that  unless  they  arose  after  skimming  and  floating  around  a 
short  time  they  were  devoured  by  some  small  fishes  a  few  feet 
below  the  place  of  emergence.  Mr.  H.  R.  Jennings,  on  the  same 
survey,  notes :  "The  adult  fly  would  first  show  up  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  water,  having  emerged  from  a  pupa  case  among  the 
spirogyra,  and  then  passed  to  a  place  free  enough  from  spiro- 
gyra  to  allow  it  to  come  to  the  surface.  Once  at  the  surface,  the 
fly  would  float  on  down  the  stream  until  it  caught  on  the  spiro- 
gyra, and  was  there  able  to  wait  until  its  wings  were  thor- 
oughly ready  before  attempting  flight,  or,  if  carried  by  the 
current  into  a  place  free  of  spirogyra  or  other  surface  obstruc- 
tions, the  fly  would,  when  permitted  to  float  upon  the  surface 


338  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

of  the  water,  wait  until  ready  for  flight."  This  shows  that  the 
flies  do  not  take  flight  immediately  after  emerging  from  their 
pupse,  either  when  in  the  open  air  or  when  emei'ging  beneath 
the  water.  Instead,  they  wait  a  short  time  for  their  wings  to 
dry  and  harden. 

Predaceotis  Enemies  of  Simiilmm. 

Like  most  insects,  Simulium  flies  have  their  predaceous  en- 
emies, and  may  have  some  parasitic  ones,  though  little  is  known 
of  the  latter.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agri.  Bui.  5,  n.  s.,  1896,  gives  an  ac- 
count of  some  of  the  natural  enemies  of  bufi'alo  gnats,  as  fol- 
lows :  "But  few  birds  have  been  observed  to  feed  upon  them, 
though  for  the  southern  forms,  the  mockingbird,  winter  wren, 
and  especially  barnyard  fowls,  after  the  flies  become  gorged 
with  blood,  feed  upon  them.  Dragon  flies  (Libellulidse)  and 
robber  flies  (Asilidas)  have  been  observed  to  catch  them.  The 
larvse  are  devoured  in  large  numbers  by  the  smaller  fishes,  min- 
nows, etc.,  and  probably  the  carnivorous  beetles,  bugs,  and 
other  aquatic  insects  prey  upon  them." 

Perhaps  the  best  observations  of  predacious  enemies  of 
Simulium  larva,  says  in  part:  "I  observed  some  small  carabid 
by  Messrs.  E.  C.  O'Roke  and  H.  R.  Jennings  on  their  Ento- 
mological Survey  of  1912.  Mr.  O'Roke,  in  writing  about 
Simulium  larvae,  says  in  part:  "I  observed  some  small  carabid 
beetles,  the  kind  you  see  along  mud  on  stream  banks  all  over 
this  section  of  country  (Ellis  county),  feeding  on  the  sand-fly 
larvae.  Two  would  take  hold  of  a  small  larvae  and  pull  it  much 
like  two  chickens  pull  an  earthworm.  This  was  after  I  had 
removed  the  larvse  from  the  water  on  a  stone." 

Mr.  Jennings,  in  writing  of  the  chances  a  sand"  fly  has  of 
getting  away  from  the  water  upon  emerging  from  their  pupai 
where  fish  exist,  says  in  part:  "Any  fly  unfortunate  enough 
to  remain  on  the  surface  until  the  water  was  deep  enough  for 
fish,  and  also  free  from  algas,  was  very  certain  of  having  an 
immediate  and  fishy  grave.  Repeatedly  I  saw  flies  disappear 
from  the  surface  in  this  manner,  and  to  make  sure  that  it  was 
not  by  flight,  I  crippled  some  of  them  and  took  care  that  they 
floated  within  reach  of  the  fish,  when  their  disappearance  was 
both  immediate  and  certain.  In  fact,  very  few  flies  which  got 
into  the  current  were  allowed  to  leave  the  surface  of  the  water 
in  flight,  and  these  few  probably  owed  their  existence  to  the 
fact  that  a  strong  wind  was  blowing  directly  upstream,  and 


emery:     SIMULIUM   VITTATUM    in    KANSAS.  339 

hence  against  the  current.  This  would  frequently  delay  the 
downstream  journey  of  the  fly,  and  occasionally  long  enough 
for  safety." 

Mr.  Williams  said  he  saw  a  hydrobatid  suck  the  life  blood  out 
of  a  fly.  Here  we  have  fish  and  beetles  preying  upon  the  adults 
and  larvae. 

METHODS   OF   CATCHING   AND    HANDLING   SIMULIUM    FLIES. 

Trapping  Simnlinm  flies  is  an  interesting  proposition  from 
the  nature  of  their  habits  and  habitat.  Ordinarily  we  can 
catch  a  great  many  kinds  of  insects  with  a  net.  In  the  case 
of  SimitUitm  flies,  unless  they  are  in  swarms  or  are  very  nu- 
merous over  the  water,  it  is  difficult  to  get  many  of  them  that 
way. 

In  order  to  carry  on  our  experiments  it  was  necessary  to 
have  them  alive  and  in  large  numbers.  Swarms  of  them  were 
not  to  be  found,  and  only  a  very  few  individuals  were  hovering 
over  the  ripples  at  any  time.  We  at  once  decided  to  trap  them 
in  the  ripples  as  they  emerged  from  their  pupse,  and  thereby 
secure  flies  free  from  any  contagion  that  might  interfere  with 
our  experiments. 

On  account  of  the  habits  of  the  pupse  requiring  simply  mois- 
ture to  keep  their  gills  wet,  I  had  good  success  getting  the 
flies  to  emerge  by  placing  stones  with  pupte  on  them  in  straight 
running  water,  and  then  setting  a  trap  over  them.  The  trap 
consisted  of  a  small  wooden  box  about  one  foot  deep,  one  and 
one-half  feet  wide,  and  two  feet  long,  without  a  top.  This  was 
turned  bottom  side  up  and  a  hole  eight  inches  in  diameter  cut 
in  it.  In  this  hole  I  tacked  a  cone  made  out  of  window  screen- 
ing covered  with  cheese  cloth.  Then  by  cutting  notches  in  the 
ends  of  the  box  to  let  the  water  run  through  without  leaving  a 
hole  for  the  flies  to  crawl  out,  the  trap  was  complete.  The  box 
being  dark  inside,  the  flies  upon  emerging  came  up  into  the 
light  in  the  cone  and  rested  on  the  inside  of  it.  Plate  XXXVIII, 
figure  3,  shows  the  structure  of  such  a  trap. 

At  first  I  tried  the  screening  alone  without  covering  it  with 
cloth,  but  the  flies  crawled  through  the  meshes  and  escaped. 
Another  thing  I  tried  was  a  small  screen  cone  inside  a  larger 
cone,  like  one  sees  in  traps  used  nowadays  to  catch  house  flies, 
but  this  inner  cone  was  useless  because  the  Simulium  flies 
dropped  back  through  the  opening  in  the  top  of  it  when  I  tried 
to  take  them  from  the  outer  cone. 


340  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Now  Simuliiim  flies  are  stuborn  creatures  to  handle,  for  the 
reason  that  frequently  they  seem  unaffected  by  light  stimuli, 
at  least  will  remain  in  a  darkened  chamber  instead  of  coming 
into  the  lighter  one.  It  frequently  took  an  hour  to  get  a  few 
flies  to  go  from  a  cone  in  a  trap,  darkened  by  covering  it  with 
a  double  thickness  of  black  cloth,  into  a  lighter  chamber.  The 
flies  were  more  active  and  much  more  easily  handled  in  the 
early  morning  while  it  was  cool  than  later  in  the  day  after 
the  temperature  had  risen.  The  heat  of  the  day  seemed  to 
make  them  sluggish  and  inactive,  so  much  so  that  it  was  ex- 
tremely difficult  to  induce  them  to  go  from  one  cage  to  another 
at  midday.  Again  in  the  evening,  when  the  heat  of  the  day 
had  subsided,  they  became  more  active.  Literature  refers  to 
them  as  being  a  cool-weather  fly,  as  most  offensive  with  their 
biting  in  the  early  morning  and  on  cool  days.  Other  places 
they  are  spoken  of  as  not  biting  in  warm  weather  during  the 
summer. 

When  Simidium  flies  move  they  generally  go  very  quickly 
and  fly  with  a  great  deal  of  force.  At  first  we  removed  them 
from  a  trap  into  a  glass  bottle,  but  they  flew  against  the 
transparent  sides  of  the  bottle  with  such  force  that  it  seemed 
to  stun  them.  Their  antennse  are  comparatively  large  and 
protrude  forward,  so  that,  in  flying  against  the  glass,  their 
antennse,  which  are  probably  their  sense  organs  of  touch  and 
perhaps  of  sound  and  smell,  received  a  shock  that  seemed  to 
make  the  flies  more  stupid.  We  then  tried  taking  them  into  a 
gauntlet-shaped  wire  cage  covered  with  cheese  cloth.  In  this 
they  had  more  room  and  softer  walls  to  butt  their  antennse 
against.    Here  they  were  more  quiet  and  more  easily  handled. 

Plate  XXXVIII,  figure  3,  shows  the  method  of  taking  them 
out  of  a  trap  into  a  bottle,  except  that  we  placed  a  black  cloth 
around  the  cone  to  darken  it  at  that  time.  We  substituted 
the  gauntlet  cage  for  the  bottle.  In  this  manner,  when  the 
pupse  were  numerous,  we  were  enabled  to  secure  plenty  of 
flies  for  our  experiments. 

ECONOMIC  IMPORTANCE  OF  SIMULIUM. 
Considerable  literature  has  been  written  on  the  depredations 
of  "black  flies,"  "buffalo  gnats,"  "turkey  gnats,"  and  "sand 
flies"  (Simulium)  since  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury, in  Europe,  and  since  the  pioneer  days  of  settlement  in 
the  Mississippi  river  valley  of  America.     Theobold   (British 


emery:     SIMULIUM   VITTATUM   in   KANSAS.  341 

Flies,  vol.  I,  p.  165)  says:  "In  England  we  do  not  suffer  much 
from  these  flies,  but  in  other  parts  of  Europe  they  are  very  ob- 
noxious; Schonbauer  (Gesch.  der  Shadl.  Kolumbatezermucken, 
Wien,  1895;  and  Kollar's  'Treatise  on  Injurious  Insects,'  p.  68) 
gives  an  account  of  one,  S.  columbaschensis,  which  is  one  of 
the  greatest  scourges  to  man  and  beast  in  the  Bannat  of 
Temeswar,  in  Hungaiy.  Fries  (Observ.  Entom.  [Sivinlium], 
Stockh.,  1824;  Fries)  also  describes  the  molestations  of  these 
'sand  flies'  in  Lapland." 

In  America  accounts  have  been  written  from  time  to  time  on 
the  ravages  of  the  different  species  of  Simiilium.  The  black 
fly  of  the  North  (S.  molestum  Harris)  has  been  described  by 
Dr.  A.  S.  Packard  (Amer.  Nat.,  vol.  II,  pp.  589-590)  as  even 
more  formidable  a  pest  than  the  mosquito,  that  in  the  northern 
subarctic  regions  it  opposes  a  barrier  against  travel.  "The 
Labrador  fishennan  spends  his  summer  on  the  seashore, 
scarcely  daring  to  penetrate  the  interior  on  account  of  the 
swarms  of  these  flies."* 

The  southern  buffalo  gnat  {S.  pecuarmn  Riley)  and  the 
turkey  gnat  (S.  mevidionale  Riley),  in  the  lower  Mississippi 
valley  and  tributary  regions,  and  the  western  buffalo  gnat 
{S.  occidentale  Townsend) ,  along  the  valley  of  the  Rio  Grande, 
have  been  the  cause  of  a  great  deal  of  suffering  to  humans  by 
their  bites,  and  the  loss  of  hundreds  of  head  of  live  stock,  in- 
cluding poultry.  Accounts  of  these  conditions  are  given  by  Dr. 
C.  V.  Riley  in  the  Year  Book  for  1886,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agri.,  Div. 
Ent,  pp.  492-517;  in  Bui.  No.  5,  1896,  pp.  31-58;  in  later 
publications  by  0.  A.  Johannsen,  1903,  N.  Y.  St.  Mus.  Bui. 
68,  Ent.  18,  Aquatic  Insects  in  N.  Y.  State;  and  by  Dr. 
S.  A.  Forbes,  State  Entomologist  of  Illinois,  1912,  "On  Black 
Flies  and  Buffalo  Gnats  (Simuliimi)  as  Possible  Carriers  of 
Pellagra  in  Illinois." 

Simidmni  flies,  S.  reptans  in  particular,  have  been  accused 
of  transmitting  the  humandisease  pellagra,  by  Dr.  L.  W.  Sam- 
bon.  Doctor  Sambon  formulated  the  tsetse  fly  theory  of  sleep- 
ing sickness,  which  has  proved  true.  In  1910  he  was  detailed 
for  three  months  in  Italy,  where  he  studied  pellagra.  He  says, 
in  a  brief  report  on  the  investigations  of  pellagi'a :  "The  many 
analogies  existing  between  the  epidemiology  of  pellagra  and 

4.  Insects  Affecting  Domestic  Animals,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.,  Div,  of  Ent,  Bu!,,  No.  5, 
n,  s.,  p,  40, 

3-Univ.  Sci,  Bull.,  Vol.  VIII.  No,  9. 


342  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 

that  the  best-known  insect-bonie  diseases;  the  constant  as- 
sociation of  the  disease  with  Simidium-mfested  streams ;  the 
absence  of  any  other  arthropod  with  similar  distribution  that 
might  account  for  it;  the  striking  correlation  between  the  fly 
and  the  disease  in  wide  geographical  distribution,  peculiar 
topographical  exigencies,  are  all  facts  which  strongly  point  to 
Simidium  as  the  necessary  carriers  of  pellagra."-' 

Further  elucidation  of  this  theory  is  reviewed  by  Prof. 
S.  J.  Hunter  in  a  paper.  The  Sand  Fly  and  Pellagra,  presented 
before  the  Entomological  Branch  of  the  American  Association 
for  Advancement  of  Science,  Washington,  D.  C,  December  27, 
1911,  and  published  in  The  -Journal  of  the  American  Medical 
Association,  February  24,  1912,  vol.  8,  pp.  547-548.  A  part  of 
this  review  is  as  follows : 

"A.  The  endemic  centers  of  pellagra  in  Italy  have  remained  the  same 
since  the  disease  was  first  described." 

"B.  The  season  of  the  recurrence  of  pellagra  coincides  with  the  sea- 
son of  the  appearance  of  the  full-fledged  sand  fly,  even  to  the  extent  that 
if  the  spring  is  early  or  late,  the  sand  fly  is  early  or  late  in  appearing, 
and  pellagra  cases  are  correspondingly  early  or  late  in  their  ap- 
pearance." 

"C.  In  centers  of  pellagra  infection  whole  families  are  attacked  at 
limes  simultaneously." 

"D.  In  nonpellagrous  districts  the  disease  never  spreads  to  other.*; 
with  the  advent  of  a  pellagrin  from  a  pellagrous  district." 

"E.  In  the  case  of  a  family  which  has  removed  from  a  pellagrous  to 
a  nonpellagrous  district,  the  children  born  in  the  former  district  are 
pellagrins,  while  the  children  born  subsequent  to  removal  to  a  non- 
pellagrous  district  do   not   develop   the   disease." 

"F.  The  disease  is  not  hereditary,  although  infants  a  few  months 
old  may  become  infected,  especially  if  taken  to  the  fields  in  pellagrous 
districts,  where  their  mothers  work  during  the  season  when  sand  flies 
are  in  evidence." 

"G.  Pellagra  is  not  contagious,  but  is  transmitted  to  each  individual 
by  an  infected  sand  fly." 

Doctor  Sambon  found  three  species  of  Simulhim  in  Italy, 
S.  reptmift,  S.  ornatum,  and  S.  piibescens,  chiefly  the  last.  In 
the  United  States  S.  reptans  has  not  been  discovered,  but  the 
Kansas  State  Board  of  Health,  through  the  State  University 
and  its  department  of  entomology,  has  carried  on  investi- 
gations as  to  the  presence  of  Sitnulhim  flies  in  localities  where 
pellagrins  live,  and  with  the  most  common  species,  S.  vittatum, 

5.  L.  W.  Sambon  (.Joiirn.  Trop.  Meil.  and  Hys.,  London,  13,  1910,  Nos.  18,  pp.  271- 
282,  19,  pp.  287-300;  20.  pp.  SO.-i^lS;  21,  pp.  319-321).  Progress  report  of  the  investiga- 
tion of  pellagra,  as  given  in  U.  S.  Dept.  Agri.  Experiment  Station  Record,  vol.  2G, 
abstract  No.  8. 


emery:     SIMULIUM   VITTATUM   in   KANSAS.  343 

has  made  experiments  to  ti'ansmlt  pellagra  to  a  monkey,  by 
first  letting  the  flies  bite  a  pellagrin  and  then  bite  a  monkey. 
The  full  significance  of  the  relation  of  Simulmm  to  the  trans- 
mission of  pellagra  has  not  yet  been  determined. 

MOUTH   PARTS   OF   SIMULIUM    VITTATUM. 

The  question  of  determining  the  mouth  parts  of  S.  vittatiim 
I  have  attempted  to  answer,  both  by  their  location  or  place  of 
attachment  and  by  their  function  as  given  for  the  mouth  parts 
of  insects  in  general,  and  especially  those  of  Diptera,  by  Dim- 
mock,  Krsepelin,  Packard,  Meinert,  and  J.  H.  Smith. 

Mandibles. 

Packard  says :  "Mandibles  are  wanting  in  the  imago  male 
Diptera  and  the  females  of  all  flies  except  Culicidse  and 
Tabanida?."" 

In  "The  Skeleton  of  the  Head  of  Insects,"  by  Comstock  and 
Chujiro  Kochi,  it  says,  "To  this  part,"  the  clypeus,  "one  con- 
dyle (the  ventral)  of  the  mandible  articulates."  Now  there  is 
such  an  attachment  as  this  in  Sirmdaim  mouth  parts,  as  is 
shown  in  plate  XXXIX,  figure  21,  plate  XLI,  figure  28,  female, 
and  plate  XLI,  figure  29,  for  the  male.  This  forms  an  excep- 
tion to  Packard's  statement  quoted  above.  In  Simulmm  the 
mandible  has  a  basal  piece  similar  to  the  stipes  of  the  maxilla. 
(PI.  XL,  fig.  22c.)  The  .serrate  edge  of  the  mandible  has 
about  thirty-two  saw-like  teeth  on  its  end  and  sides. 

Labrum  and  Hypopharynx. 

The  next  part  in  question  is  the  presence  of  a  labrum. 
Krsepelin  says:  "The  labrum  (oberlippe)  appears  as  the 
direct  continuation  forward  of  the  upper  anterior  margin  of 
the  basi-proboscis.  It  has  a  groove  on  its  under  surface,  and 
is  in  fact  an  inverted  semicylinder  with  double  walls.""  Pack- 
ard quotes  Meinert  as  follows :  "The  hypopharynx,  most  gen- 
erally free,  more  or  less  produced,  acute  anteriorly,  forms 
with  the  labrum  the  tube  of  the  pump  (antlife)."'^ 

A  careful  dissection  of  S.  vittatura  mouth  parts  shows  that 
the  part  Smith  called  rods  of  the  mandibles  (pi.  XXXIX, 
fig.  23,  L,  and  pi.  XLI,  fig.  28)  is  the  labrum,  and  that  it  is 
connected  at  its  base  with  the  hypopharynx.     Plate  XXXIX, 

6.  Packard,  k.  S.,  A  Text  Book  of  Entomology,  p.  62. 

7.  Krsepelin's  Proboscis  of  Musca. 

S.    Packard,  A.  S.,  A  Text  Book  of  Entomology,  p.  78, 


344  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

figure  23,  AB,  shows  its  attachment  and  plate  XLI,  figure  27, 
its  place  of  attachment  after  the  labrum  has  been  removed. 
In  making  this  dissection  for  plate  XLI,  figure  28,  I  was 
unable  to  tear  the  hypopharynx  away  from  the  labrum  with- 
out destroying  the  composite  arrangement  of  the  other  parts. 
To  keep  the  parts  intact  I  turned  the  hypopharynx  under  and 
backward.  The  end  of  it  shows  in  the  upper  part  of  the  figure. 
The  muscular  attachments  of  the  labrum  are  shown  in  dotted 
outline  in  plate  XL,  figure  14,  composite  view.  Since  the  ap- 
pendage which  I  have  called  the  labrum  does  unite  with  the 
hypopharynx  to  form  the  opening  of  the  pharynx,  and  since 
Krjepelin  states  that  "the  so-called  epipharynx  has  no  exist- 
ence,"" and  that  the  labrum  has  a  lower  wall  which  was  once 
deemed  a  distinct  piece,  the  epipharynx,  I  am  persuaded  that 
this  appendage  is  the  labrum.  Those  two  chitinized  points 
that  Smith  has  called  mandibles  are  closely  connected  to  the 
end  of  the  labrum,  but  not  muscularly  attached.  (PI.  XL, 
fig.  16.)     Their  origin  is  conjectural. 

The  parts  of  the  labrum  A  and  B,  plate  XL,  figure  24,  are 
attached  at  their  bases  to  the  base  of  the  hypopharynx  at  A' 
and  B',  plate  XL,  figure  24.  That  part  of  the  labrum  C,  plate 
XL,  figure  24,  seems  to  be  of  a  muscular  nature,  or  tendonous. 
It  is  firmly  attached  to  the  clypeus,  so  firmly,  in  fact,  that  I 
have  been  unable  to  tear  it  loose  without  tearing  to  pieces  the 
clypeus.  (See  plate  XL,  figure  14.)  Furthermore,  it  seems  to 
be  free  and  unattached  except  at  its  ends. 

Maxillie  of  the  "First  Maxillse." 
According  to  Packard,  the  first  maxillse  are  inserted  in  the 
sides  of  the  head  just  behind  the  mandibles  and  mouth.  The 
three  basal  pieces  supporting  the  maxillse,  the  cardo,  stipes, 
and  palpifer,  in  the  order  given,  may  be  distinguished  as 
shown  in  plate  XL,  figure  17,  cs,  PF.  "The  three  distal  di- 
visions of  the  maxillse  are  called,  respectively,  beginning  with 
the  innermost,  the  lacina,  galea,  and  palpifer,  the  latter  being 
a  lobe  or  segment  bearing  the  palpus."" 

From  our  dissections  these  parts  are  found  to  be  present  in 
the  order  given,  and  bearing  a  like  description  of  typical  seg- 
ments of  the  same,  except  the  galea,  which  is  wanting.  The 
lacina  is  attached  inside  the  palpifer  to  the  stipes.  The  palpi- 
fer bears  a  palpus  and  is  also  connected  to  the  stipes.  (PI.  XL, 
fig.  17,  PE,  PA.) 

9.    Packard,  A.  S.,  A  Text  Book  of  Ent.,  pp.  62,  63. 


EMERY:     SIMULIUM    VITTATUM    IN    KANSAS.  345 

A  further  description  by  Packard  is  as  follows:  "The 
lacina  is  more  or  less  jaw-like  and  armed  on  the  inner  edge 
with  either  flexible  or  stiff  bristles,  spines  or  teeth."  (PI.  XL, 
fig.  15.)  In  S.  vittatum  the  lacina  is  produced  into  a  piercing 
organ  with  an  arrow-like  end,  with  about  26  barb-like  forma- 
tions turned  backward  on  its  upper  side,  and  it  appears  to 
have  a  like  set  on  the  lower  side.  These  two  piercing  organs 
(the  lacinte  and  mandibles)  together  with  the  nub-like  chitin- 
ized  points  on  the  end  of  the  labrum,  are  evidently  used  to 
scrape  and  tear  away  the  skin  in  biting.  The  i-eason  sand 
flies  or  buff'alo  gnats  are  so  tenacious  about  holding  when 
they  are  sucking  blood  may  be  due  to  the  barbed  ends  of  the 
lamina  caught  in  the  wound.  The  palpi  are  four-jointed,  the 
first  joint  being  irregular  in  shape  but  about  the  same  length 
as  the  second  and  third  joints.  The  fourth  joint  is  more  slen- 
der than  the  second  or  third  and  is  about  two  and  one-half 
times  the  length  of  one  of  them.  From  plate  XLI,  figure  28, 
they  can  be  seen  to  be  sparsely  covered  with  setae. 

"Second  Maxilla,"  or  Labium. 

Plate  XLI,  figure  30,  shows  the  so-called  second  maxillae, 
labium  or  under  lip  removed.  It  will  be  noticed  the  palpi  are 
wanting.  It  shows  the  other  typical  divisions  of  a  labium, 
the  mentum,  glossa,  and  paraglossa.  The  labium  in  S.  vittatum 
serves  as  a  sheath  for  the  other  mouth  parts.  This  is  shown 
in  plate  XLI,  figure  26,  and  plate  XL,  figure  14,  composite. 
It  is  situated  in  front  of  the  gula  or  gular  region  and  is 
bounded  on  each  side  by  the  gena.  See  Packard,  A  Textbook 
of  Entomology,  p.  68. 

Clypeus. 

Plate  XL,  figure  14f,  shows  the  clypeus  of  the  female  Simu- 
lium.  According  to  Packard,  the  clypeus  "is  that  part  of  the 
head  situated  in  front  of  the  epicranium,  and  anterior  to  the 
eyes,  forming  the  roof  of  the  posterior  part  of  the  mouth." 
This  describes  the  position  and  location  of  that  part  of  the 
head  of  Simidium  I  have  called  the  clypeus.  Plate  XLI,  fig- 
ure 29,  shows  a  part  of  the  clypeus  of  a  male  Simidium  vit- 
tatum. It  is  smaller  and  less  developed,  as  are  all  the  mouth 
parts  of  the  males  in  comparison  to  those  of  the  females. 
Plate  XL,  figures  20,  c,  21,  and  plate  XLI,  figure  28,  show  the 
torn  clypeus  of  the  female. 


346  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

After  arriving  at  the  above  conclusions  in  naming  the  mouth 
parts  of  S.  vittatiim  my  attention  was  called  to  a  paper  by  W. 
Wesche,"'  which  describes  and  figures  the  mouth  parts  of 
S.  reptans  L.  The  parts  he  has  figured  in  plate  IV  of  his  paper 
are  the  maxilla  with  its  palpus  and  palpifer,  the  mandible,  the 
labrum  with  its  two  minute  teeth,  the  hypopharynx,  and  the 
labium.  He  classes  Simulidse  in  a  group  of  Diptera  in  which 
all  mouth  parts  are  distinguishable  except  the  labial  palpi, 
which  are  aborted.  I  felt  very  much  gratified  at  finding  his 
paper  to  corroborate  my  conclusions. 

The  descriptions  of  the  female  and  male  of  Simiilium  vitta- 
fum,  the  list  of  North  American  species  of  the  family  Simu- 
liidfe,  and  the  key  to  the  species  of  Simulium  larvae,  pupaj  and 
imagines  given  below  are  taken  from  0.  A.  Johannsen's  work 
in  the  New  York  State  Museum  Bulletin  68,  Aquatic  Insects  in 
New  York  State. 

S.  vittatum  Zetterstedt. 

Ins.  Lapponica  (1844),  p.  803. 
(S.  tribulatuni  Lugger.) 

According  to  Coquillett,  decoruvi  Walk.  (1848)  and  argus  Will.  (1893) 
are  synonyms. 

Female.  Gray;  nearly  bare;  dorsum  of  thorax  with  five  black  stripes, 
the  median  one  entire,  the  intermediate  pairs  interrupted,  the  exterior 
pair  spot-like.  Each  segment  of  the  abdomen  with  a  dorsal  stripe  and 
basally  on  each  side  with  a  black  spot,  the  penultimate  segment  black. 
Wings  whitish  hyaline;  halteres  white;  legs  fuscous  black,  the  front 
side  of  anterior  tibiae,  the  base  of  the  middle  and  hind  tibiae,  and  the 
base  of  the  middle  and  hind  metatarsi  white.     Length  3  mm.    Zetterstedt. 

Female.  The  abdomen  grey,  bases  of  segments  3  to  7  or  8  marked 
with  a  velvet-black  fascia  produced  backward  in  the  middle  and  at  the 
ends.  Length  2  to  4  mm.  New  York,  Minnesota,  Nebraska,  Kansas, 
California. 

Male.  Hind  tarsi  bicolorous,  mesonotum  gray  on  sides  and  hind 
margin,  center  largely  velvet  black;  without  gray  streak  extending  in- 
ward from  humerus;  sides  of  the  abdominal  segments  4  to  7  with  silvery 
white  hairs.    Coquillett.ii 

The  markings  of  the  female  of  this  species  seem  somewhat 
variable.  The  thoracic  markings  are  usually  quite  distinct. 
The  median  stripe  is  nearly  of  uniform  width  excepting  at  the 
posterior  end,  where  it  becomes  narrower;  the  intermediate 
stripes  are  f-shaped,  the  extremities  larger,  the  intermediate 

10.  Wesi'he,  W.,  The  Month  Parts  of  the  Nemocora  and  their  Kelation  to  the  other 
Families  in  Diptera ;  Journal  of  the  Royal  Microscopical  Society,  pp.  28-47,  1904,  pub- 
lished in  London. 

11.  Bui.  10,  m.  s.  1898,  p.  63. 


emery:    simulium  vittatum  in  Kansas.  347 

portion  usually  a  hair  line,  sometimes  obsolete;  the  exterior 
pair  usually  elongated  spots.  The  abdominal  markings  are 
as  described  by  Coquillett,  though  occasionally  there  are  ad- 
ditional disconnected,  velvet-black  lateral  spots,  one  on  each 
side  on  segments  3,  4,  and  7,  and  a  pair  on  5  and  6.  Sometimes, 
also,  owing  either  to  the  contracted  condition  of  the  abdomen 
or  to  the  fasciae  being  narrow,  only  the  black  projections  of  the 
fascife  are  visible  on  the  more  posterior  segments,  giving  the 
appearance  of  three  spots  on  each.  The  legs  are  often  gray; 
the  femora  and  tibiae  paler  at  the  base,  the  tibiae  black  at  tip. 
the  tarsi  deep  black  except  basal  portion  of  middle  and  hind 
metatarsi.  Fore  tibise  with  one  spur,  middle  and  hind  with  a 
pair.    Tarsal  claws  of  female  simple. 

Some  specimens  from  Brookings,  S.  D.,  received  from  Pro- 
fessor Aldrich,  and  .which  are  the  males  of  vittatum,  possess 
the  following  characters : 

Male:  Velvety  black,  antennje  and  palpi  dark  brown;  dorsum  of 
thorax  velvety  black  with  the  anterior  and  lateral  margins  narrowly,  and 
posterior  margins  in  front  of  scutellum  widely  silvery  gray;  also  two 
narrow  longitudial  gray  stripes  on  dorsum.  Or  the  dorsum  might  have 
been  described  as  silvery  gray  with  three  very  wide  velvety-black  longi- 
tudinal stripes,  abbreviated  behind.  Pleura  black,  bare;  scutellum 
velvety  black;  metanotum  silvery  gray;  abdomen  velvet-black,  the  sides 
of  first  two  or  three  segments  of  the  ventral  surface  with  a  silvery  re- 
flection in  some  lights;  legs  black,  the  tips  of  the  fore  femora,  the  basal 
half  of  fore  and  hind  tibise  (sometimes  the  middle  one  also),  the  basal 
two-thirds  of  hind  metatarsi,  and  the  extreme  base  of  the  second  hind 
tarsal  joint,  yellow.  Fore  tibiae  with  a  single  spur,  middle  and  hind 
tibite  with  each  two;  tarsal  claws  tridentate.  Halteres  bright  orange- 
yellow.     Wings  hyaline,  the  vein  yellow.     Length  3  mm. 

In  an  article  by  Lugger,  it  is  stated  that  in  S.  tribidatum  the 
male  is  much  smaller  than  the  female,  having  very  large,  bril- 
liant, red  eyes  that  meet  on  top  of  the  head;  the  body  is 
velvety  black  with  bright  golden-yellow  and  blue  spots;  the 
female  is  gray  with  black  markings.  This  species  is  said  to 
be  the  most  abundant  in  Minnesota,  where  it  is  called  the 
"black  fly."  No  further  description  is  given ;  the  figures  of 
the  male  and  female  agree  with  the  description  of  S.  vittatum. 
Some  specimens  sent  by  Mr.  Washburn  of  the  Minnesota  Ex- 
periment Station,  labeled  S.  tribiilatvm,  which  were  sent  to 
me  by  Professor  Needham,  he  having  obtained  them  from  Mr. 
J.  C.  Bradley,  of  Philadelphia : 

Larva  (of  S.  vitfatum) .  Somewhat  mottled  gray,  the  side  of  each 
segment  blackish.     The   larv«   and   pupae  were   collected   by   Mr.   J.   C. 


348  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 

Bradley,  Philadelphia,  1901.  The  head  is  of  the  usual  reddish -brown 
color;  the  pale  yellow  antenna  long  and  cylindric.  the  second  joint  about 
one-third  the  length  the  first;  the  third  is  a  pointed  process  at  the  tip  of 
the  second.  The  fans  have  about  forty  rays,  the  cilia  being  relatively 
minute.  The  mandibles  are  provided  with  three  large  apical  teeth  be- 
sides the  row  of  secondary  ones;  the  apical  pair  of  bristles  are  present. 
Z'he  maxillary  palpus  has  a  few  spines,  and  a  tuft  of  a  few  spines  on 
the  basal  joint.  Hypopharynx  and  labrum  apparently  like  those  of  other 
species.  The  labium  has  an  elongated  middle  tooth,  those  at  the  end  nearly 
as  long,  the  intei'mediate  ones  short  (pi.  35,  fig.  2),  and  there  are  six 
bristles  in  each  of  the  two  longitudinal  rows  on  the  ventral  surface.  The 
three  blood  gills  at  caudal  end  are  unbranched. 

Pupa.  The  thoracic  respiratory  filaments  each  consist  of  a  single 
main  trunl;,  from  which  arise  eight  branches,  each  of  which  divides  into 
two,  thus  making  sixteen  twigs  in  all  (pi.  35,  fig.  1).  Near  the  basal 
margin  of  the  last  two  abdominal  segments  are  a  few  caudal-projecting 
dorsal  hooks  and  on  the  tip  of  the  last  segment  is  a  pair  of  blunt  spines. 
The  pupal  case  is  of  the  wall-pocket  type,  fr-om  which  the  respiratoiy 
filaments  of  the  pupa  project.  Judging  from  the  number  of  respiratory 
filaments  of  the  pupa,  the  species  described  by  Osten  Sacken  in  Ameri- 
can Entomologist,  volume  2,  seems  to  belong  here. 

List  of  the  North  American  Species  of  Simuliid^,  Genus 

SiMULIUM. 
Latreille,  Hist.  Nat.  Crust.  Ins.    (1804),  14:294. 
^argtis  Williston.  N.  Am.  Fauna.  No.  7,  May,  1893,  p.  2.53.     Cal.    (Syn. 
of  S.  vittatnvi  Zett.,  according  to  Coquillett,  Harriman  Exp.   1900, 
p.  393.) 
avgyropeza.     See  rcptans. 
*hracteatum  Coquillett,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agri.  Div.  Ent.  Bui.  10,  n.  s.  1898, 

p.  69.     Mass.,  Cal.,  N.  Y.,  Kan.,  Mich. 
calceatum.  Harris.     A   catalogue  name,   according  to  Riley,   Am.    Ent. 

1870,  p.  467. 
cwcta.     See  reptaiis. 
*cinereiim  Bellardi,  Saggio  di  ditterologia  Messicana,  1:13.    Cal.   (Town- 
send,  Baja,  etc.,  1893),  Mex.   (Bellardi). 
columbacheiisis  Fabricius  nee.   Schonhauer.     See  reptans. 
decorum  Walker.     List   of   Dipterous  Insects,   etc.,   ptl.,   1848,   p.    112. 
Hudson   Bay   Ter.     (Syn.   of  S.   vittatum,  Zetterstedt,   according  to 
Coquillett,  n.  s.,  Bui.  10,  1898,  p.  68.) 
elegans.     See  reptans. 
erythrocephala.     See  reptans. 
*fi(lrnm  Coquillett,  U.  S.  Nat.  Museum  Proc.  1902,  25:96. 

1898  ochracenm  Coq.  not  Walk.     Mont.,  Id.,  Col.,  N.  M.,  Alaska. 
*glacum  Coquillett,  U.  S.  Nat.  Museum  Proc,  1902,  25:97.     Missouri. 
*griseum  Coquillett,   U.   S.   Dept.   A.gric.   Div.    Ent.   Bui.    10,   n.  s.   1898, 
p.  69.    Col. 

Note. — Those  names  marked  *  I  consider  either  a  distinct  species,  or  not  sufficiently 
described  to  warrant  placing  as  the  synonym  of  another. 


emery:    simulium  vittatum  in  Kansas.  .         349 

*hirtipes  Fries,  Obs.  Entomol.  Pars,  Monogr.  Simuliar,  1824,  p.  17,  5. 
Tfl.  1,  f.  1.  N.  Y.,  Id.,  Cal.  The  following  synonymy  is  according 
to  Schiner: 

1830  rufipes  Meigen,  Syst.  Beschr.,  6:311-17. 
1830  hirtipes  Fries,  Meigen,  Syst.  Bescher,  6:312-18. 
1850   hirtipes    Fries,   Zetterstedt,    Dipt.   Scand.,   9:3426-28. 
iiinoxiinn  Comstock.     See  S.  pictipes  Hagen. 
*inveiiiistiim.  Wallier,  List  of  Dipterous  Insects,  etc.,  1848,  p.  112.     Hud- 
son Bay  Ter.     (■pct'iiai'iim  Riley  is  a  synonym  of  this,  according  to 
Coquillett,  1898). 
'"irritatuvi   Lugger.      Figured   but   not   described   in    Univ.   Minn.   Agrie. 

Sta.  Bui.  1896,  p.  203. 
''meriodio)Mle  Riley,  Dept.  Agric.  An.  Rep't  for  1886,  1887,  p.  512.     1891. 
occidentaLe    Townsend,    Psyche,    July,    1891,    p.    107.      Mass.,    Miss., 
Neb.,  Tex.   (synonym  and  localities  according  to  Coquillett,  Bull.  10, 
n.  s.  1898).    N.  J.   (Johnson)    Kan.  and  Id. 
* metallicum.  Bellai-di,  Saggio  di  ditterologia  Messicana,  1859,  1:14.    Mex. 
*mexicanu»i    Bellardi,    Saggio    di    ditterologia    Messicana,    Appendix    6, 
1862.     Mex. 
ininuttuii   Lugger,   Minn.   Agric.     Exp.   Sta.    Bui.    1896,    p.   202.      Minn. 

(Figured  but  not  described.)    See  vittutiiiii. 
inolestiim  Harris.     See  venustuvL 

novicum  Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  to  Veg.  p.  601.     This  is  a  Ceratopoyou. 
occidentale  Townsend.     See  meriodionale. 
*ochraceu?iL  Walker,  Ent.  Soc.  London.    Trans,  n.  s.  3:33.     Mex. 
'-pecuarum  Riley    (synonym  of  iiireiiustum,  according  to  Coquillett). 

1887  pecuarum  Riley,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agric.  Rep't  for  1886,  p.  512. 

N.  H.,  N.  Y.,  Mass.,  Ct.,  D.  C,  Mich.,  Miss.,  La.  (synonym 

and  localities  according  to  Coquillett,   U.   S.   Dept.   Agric. 

Bui.  10,  n.  s.  1898).    N.  J.   (Johnson). 

*pictipes  Hagen.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.  Proc.  1880,  20:305.     N.  Y.,  Tex., 

Cal.   (Coquillett,  1898),  Id. 

1895  iiiiio.vintn  Comstock.  Name  given  in  Manual  for  tlie 
Study  of  Insects. 

piscicidiu7n   Riley.     See  venustwm. 
posticata  Meigen.     See  reptavs. 
*pulchruin  Philippi,  Chilian  Diptera,  1865,  p.  633.    S.  Am.  and  St.  Vin- 
cent, W.  I. 

1896  tarsale  Williston,  Diptera  of  St.  Vincent,  W.  I.,  p.  268. 
Synonymy  according  to  Hunter,  Catalogue  of  S.  Am.  Dip- 
tera.   1900. 

*qnadriviftatum  Loew,  Berl.  Ent.  Zeit.   1862,  Centur.  2,  p.  2.     Cuba. 
*reptaiis   Linn»us,   Fauna   Suec.   1893.     Europe,   Greenland    (Lundbeck, 
1898)    1761.     Synonymy  according  to  Schiner: 

1767  sericca  LinnKus,  Syst.  Nat.,   12:978,  58. 

1776  erythrocephala  DeGeer,  Ins.,  6:161,  37    (Tipula). 

1781  reptans  L.  Schrank,  Enum.  Ins.  Austr.,  p.  985   (Culex). 

1787  colombatchennis  Fabricius,  Mantissa  Ins.  2:333    (Rhagio). 

1804  argyropeza  Meigen,  Classif.,  1:96. 


350  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

1818  reptaiis  Meigen,  Syst.  Beschr.,  1:291-92. 

1818  sericea  Meigen,  Syst.   Bei'chr.,  1:296-98. 

1818  elegans  Meigen,  S>st.  Beschr.,  1:296-99. 

1818  variegata   Meigen,   Syst.   Beschr.,   1:292-93. 

1823  reptwis   Fries,   Obs.    Entomol.   Pars.    1    Monogr.   Simuliar, 

p.   13. 
1830  cincta  Meigen,  Syst.  Beschr.,  6:311,  14. 
1838  posticata   Meigen,   Syst.   Beschr.,   7:52,  21. 
rufipes  Meigen.     See  hirtipes. 
sericea  Linnaeus.     See  reptans. 
*tamaitlipciise  Townsend,  N.  Y.   Ent.   Soc.  Jour.   1898,  v.  7.    Tex. 
tarsale   Williston.     See   piilchniiii   Phillipi. 

t7-ibnlat)nn,  Lugger,  Minn.  Agric.  Exp.  Sta.  Rep't  1896,  p.  20.5-7.  Prob- 
ably equals  vittatiim  (p.  385,  Seq.)  (Figured  but  not  described.) 
*venustu'm.  Say,  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil.  Jour.,  3:28:  Compl.  Wr.  2:51 
Wiedemann,  Auss.  zw.  Ins.,  1:71.  Ohio,  D.  C.  (Osten  Sacken,  cata- 
logue), N.  J.  (Johnson),  Can.,  N.  H.,  N.  Y.,  Mich.,  Minn.,  Wyo., 
B.  C,  Cal.,  Tex.,  La.,  Miss.,  Fla.  (Coquillett) ,  Id.  The  following 
synonymy  is  according  to  Coquillett,  1898 : 

1862  vwlestum  Harris,  Ins.  Inj.  to  Vegetation.    (Not  described.) 
1870  piscicidium  Riley,  Am.   Ent.  2:367.    Mumford,  N.  Y. 
*virgatiim  Coquillett,  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  Proc.  1902,    25:97.    N.  M. 
*vittafum  Zetterstedt,  Ins.  Lapponica.    1840.    p.  803. 
stagger    Grcenl.    Antl.    Greenland     (O.'ten    Sacken's    catalogue),    N.    J. 
(Johnson),  Alas.    (Coquillett  1900),  Cal.,  Kan.,  Minn.,  N.  Y.,  Neb. 
(Coquillett  1898),  Id.,  S.  Dak.     The  following  synonymy  according 
to  Coquillett: 

1848  decorum  Walker,  List.  Ins.  p.  112.     Hudson  Bay  Ter. 
1893  argus  Willi.ston,  N.  Am.   Fauna,  No.  7,  p.  2.53.     Cal. 

KEY   TO   SPECIES   OF   SIMULIUM. 

liARWJE. 

1.  Mature  larva  of  6  or  7  mm.  long,  with  the  dorsal  surface  of  the 

head  nearly  white;  the  rays  of  the  fan  number  about  30.     Larva 
from  Santa  Cruz  mountains,  Cal.  (p.  387). 
Head  usually  brown;  rays  of  the  fan  usually  40  or  more   2 

2.  The  top  of  the  head  with  six  black  blotches  or  spots.     Larvae  from 

New  Mexico   (p.  386). 
Head  without  six  dark  spots 3 

3.  The  Caudal  blood  gills  are  three  simple  papillae 4 

The  three  main  branches  are  again  subdivided   6 

4.  The  middle  tooth  of  the  labium  is  simple  and  pointed,  labium  with 

six  pairs  of  setse  on  its  ventral  surface   (pi.  35,  fig.  8). 

Peniarum   (-inveiiiifsfi(iii) 
G.    Full-grown   larva  10-12  mm.   in  length,  black  in  color,  its  labium 

with  an  elongate  middle  tooth    (pi.  36,  fig.  3) pictipcn 

Paler  larvse  less  than  10  mm.  in  length  7 


emery:     SIMULIUM   VITTATUM    in   KANSAS.  351 

7.  No  setae  on  the  last  joint  of  the  maxillary  palpus,  middle  tooth  of 

the  labium  longer  than  the  two  lateral  ones,  four  pairs  of  sets 
on  its  ventral  surface.  The  pair  of  apical  setae  of  the  mandible 
not  differentiated  from  the  hairs  which  overhang  the  apex. 

vieribionale 
Mandible  with  a  pair  of  apical  bristles,  palpus  of  the  maxilla  with 
setae     8 

8.  Middle  tooth  of  the  labium  enlarged,  ventral  surface  of  labium  with 

five  pairs  of  setae    (pi.  37,  fig.   6)     venustum 

Middle  tooth  not  enlarged   (varieties  of  vemistiiin) 9 

9.  Labium  with  four  pairs  of  ventral  setae   (pi.  37,  fig.  14)  .  . .  .var.  a 
With  seven  pairs  of  setse  (fig.  5) var.  piscicklhim 

PVPJE. 

(Arranged  according  to  llic  number  of  fil.amenls  in  each  respiratory  tuft.) 

1.  With  six  filaments: 

a.  Legs   in  their  cases  appear  bicolored  *    venustum 

b.  Legs  unicolored    meridionale 

2.  With  eight  filaments: 

a.    Pupa  4.5  mm.  long;  Arizona  species.     Pupa  described  in  Airi. 

Ent.  Soc.  Trans.,  p.  45;   1893. 
6.    Less  than  4  mm.  long;  eastern  species. 

venustum,  var.  pisciciiiuim 

3.  With  nine  filaments.    Pupal  case  like  that  on  plate  35,  figure  5. 

pictipes 

4.  With   ten   filaments    var  a  of  venustum 

5.  With  twelve  filaments.     Pupal  case   (pi.  35,  fig.  5).     From  Santa 

Cruz  mountains,  California   (p.  387). 

6.  With  sixteen  filaments    vittatnm 

7.  With  twenty-four  to  forty-eight  filaments  (pi.  33,  fig.  10). 

pecuanun 

8.  With  sixty  or  more  filaments   hirtipes 

Imagines. 

1.  Ground  color  of  the  thorax  and  abdomen  deep  yellow 2 

Gray  or  black ;  its  hairs  may  be  pale  3 

2.  "Femora  with  black  tip,  length  of  fly  2  mm."  Mexico. .  .ochraccum 
"Femora  with  black  tips.    Length  3  to  4.5  mm.    Rocky  Mountains." 

fulvKin 

3.  Hind  tarsi  with  its  basal  joint  partly  yellow;  legs  bicolored :) 

Hind   tarsi   unicolored  f 4 

4.  Halteres  dusky;  thorax  not  striped  5 

Halteres  white  or  yellow;  the  female  with  striped  thorax  and  bifid 

tarsal   claws    6 


*  In  order  to  see  this  it  will  be  necessary  to  c-xamine   nearly  mature  specimens,    and 
perhaps  to  draw  them  from  their  pupal  skins. 

t  The  main  of  the  pu-li/irs  sometimes  has  legs  nearly  unicolored;  it  is,  however,  included 
iu  the  preeedinf?  section. 


352  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

5.  Body  black;   the  female  with  dense  yellow   pile,  her  tarsal   claws 

simple;  the  male  with  dense  hair  on  the  legs,  his  tarsal  claws 
trifid.     The  wing  with  its  radius  three  branched.     Length  3  to 

4.5   mm hirtipes 

"Body  gray,  legs  reddish  gray,  feet  black;  length  3  mm."     This  is 
said  by  Mr.  Coquillet  to  be  the  same  as  pecuarum  Riley. 

inveimstum. 

6.  Males,  eyes  contiguous   7 

Females,  eyes  separated  by  a  distinct  line 8 

7.  Thorax  velvety  black;  legs  reddish  with  black  tarsi.     Length  1..5  to 

2  mm.    Compare  here  also  bracteatuvi  (male) ,  "with  legs  wholly 
brown"     nwridionale 

Thorax  brownish  black;  legs  usually  pale;  tip  of  tarsi  not  black. 
Length  from  2  to  4  mm pecuarwin 

8.  Thorax  with  silvery- white  pubesence;  legs  brownish  black,  covered 

with  whitish  hairs.     A  small  variety    (less  than  2  mm.  long) 
fi'om  New  Mexico  has  been  named  occidcntale  Town.     (q.  v.) 

meriodionalc 

Thorax  with  yellow  hairs;  legs  reddish  brown,  covered  with  yellow 

hairs;  tip  of  tarsi  blackish  pecuarvin 

9.  Male,  eyes   contiguous Ill 

Females,  eyes  separated  20 

10.  "Mesonotum  wholly  velvet  black;  gray  spot  on  sides  of  the  second, 

fifth,  sixth,  and  seventh  segments  of  abdomen.     Length  1..5  mm." 

bracteatum 
Metanotum  striped,  or  with  grayish  or  metallic  reflections 11 

11.  Dorsum  of  thorax  with  one  or  more  longitudinal  stripes   12 

Dorsum  unstriped    11 

12.  Thorax    with    four   longitudinal   stripes;    posterior   margin   white; 

abdomen  black.     Sex  not  given.     Cuban  species.  .quadrivittaUnn 
Thorax  not  so  marked    13 

13.  Front   and    middle    femora    and    tibiae    wholly    yellow;    center    of 

mesonotum  with  a  black  vitta,  elsewhere  gray.     Length  1..5  mm. 

Colorado    species    griseum 

Femora  and  tibiae  wholly  or  partly  brown  13a 

13a.  "Femora  and  front  tibae  yellow,  their  apices  brown,  middle  tibiae 
brown,  a  yellow  ring  beyond  the  base,  hind  tibiae  brown,  the  ex- 
treme base  yellowish.  Mesonotum  marked  with  a  narrow  median 
and   laterally   with   a  very  broad   velvet-black  fascia."     Length 

3  mm.     New  Mexico    virgattim 

Front  femora  brown,  tibiae  brown  on  apical  part   136 

136.  Mesonotum  with  two  narrow  gray  stripes  (sometimes  quite  in- 
distinct)  on  a  velvet-black  ground,  in  which  there  are  scattered 

golden    hairs    vitfatum 

"Mesonotum   marked   with    a    narrow   median    and    slightly   wider 
lateral  black  vittae."     Length  2.5  mm.  Missouri glaucwm 

14.  Anterior  femora  yellow.     Mexican  species    15 

Anterior  femora  black   17 


emery:    simulium  vittatum  in  Kansas.  353 

15.  Abdomen  with  the  base  of  the  second  segment  and  the  sides  of  the 
third,  fourth,  and  fifth  yellowish  white;  tibiae  fuscous  black  with 

yellow  bases.    Length  4  mm mexicanum 

Abdomen  black   16 

IC.  Metallic  bluish  black  species;  middle  portion  of  fore  tibiae,  base 
of  middle  and  hind  tibite,  base  of  first  and  second  joints  of  mid- 
dle and  hind  tarsi,  whitish.     Length  2  mm metallicmn 

Thorax  fuscous  and  cinereous  poUinose;  the  humeri  pallid,  fore 
coxas  pale,  middle  and  hind  ones  dark;  femora  pale  at  the  base, 
black  at  the  tip;  tibiae  black.     Length  3  mm cinereiun 

17.  An  oblique  metallic  streak  extending  inward  from  each  humerus; 

posterior  part  of  the  thorax  metallic.     Length  2  to  2.5  mm. 

venustum 
Humei-al  spots  not  metallic   IS 

18.  Anterior  coxje  yellow;  long  hair  on  femora  and  hind  tibiae;  thorax 

velvet  black  with  white  pruinose  margin   (Greenland)    .  .reptaiis 
Anterior  coxae  black    19 

19.  Thorax   velvet  black,   with   oblique   cinereous   humeral   spots,   and 

usually  two  tiny  metallic  spots  between  them.    Length  3  to  4  mm. 

pictipes 
Thorax  velvety  black  with  two  very  narrow  gray  stripes  and  pos- 
terior margin;  hind  tibise  usually  yellow  at  the  base,  hair  on  legs 
sparse    vittatum 

20.  Thorax  striped   21 

Thorax  without  stripes    25 

21.  Dorsum  of  thorax  with  four  longitudinal  lines,  posterior  margin, 

white  pollinose;  abdomen  opaque  black.     Cuban  species. 

quadrivittatum 
Not  with   four  stripes 22 

22.  Dorsum  of  the  thorax  with  five  stripes,  the  outer  ones  spot-like, 

the  intermediate  ones  clubbed  at  the  ends;  abdomen  with  black 
fascia  on  each  segment,  produced  posteriorly  at  the  middle  and 
the  ends.     Sometimes  the  last  few  segments  have  only  three  or 

five  spots    vittatum 

Toe  with  one  or  three  stripes  23 

23.  With  three  stripes   24 

"With  an  indication  of  a  darker  median  vitta"  (see  31)    .  .griseum 

24.  Small  species,  length  about  1.5  mm.     "Abdomen  silvery,  third  and 

fourth  segments  wholly  brownish,  sometimes  with  a  median  spot 
on   each;   legs  yellowish,   tarsi   blackish  or   brownish."     Species 

from   Texas    tamaulipense 

Laiger  species  3  mm.  or  more  in  length 24a 

24a.  Middle  tibise  brown  with  a  yellow  ring  around  the  base;  vitt»  of 
mesonotum  brownish,  the  median  vitta  dilated  posteriorly,  wider 

than  either  of  the  lateral  ones.     New  Mexico   virgatum 

Femora  and  tibiae  grayish,  sometimes  quite  pale,  tips  of  tibiae 
black.  Laterdorsal  thoracic  stripes  clubbed  at  the  anterior  end. 
Third,  fourth,  fifth,  and  part  of  the  sixth  and  seventh  abdominal 
segments  with  velvet-black  fasciae;  center  of  6,  7,  8,  grayish  or 
dull  brown   pictipes 


354  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

25.    Abdomen  without  distinct  black  spots   26 

Abdomen  spotted    31 

20.    Abdomen  black,  covered  with  long  yellow  pile,  legs  yellow,  the  tips 
of  the  femora  and  tibiae,  and  all  the  tarsi  except  basal  two-thirds 

of  the  hind  metatarsi,  brown    bracteatnm 

Abdomen  nearly  bare  27 

27.  Body  gray  or  cinereous   28 

Body  brown  or  black    29 

28.  "Body  gray  with  a  milky  white  lustre,   specially  the  pleura  and 

pectus.  Legs  tawny,  femora  and  tibi»  with  irregular  piceous 
bands,  tarsi  piceous.  Length  2. .5  mm.  Hudson  Bay  Ter."  This 
is  a  synonym  of  vittatum  Zett.,  according  to  Mr.  Coquillet  (1898). 

decorum 
Thorax  fuscous  or  cinereous  pollinose,  humeri  pallid,  pleura  pale 
cinereous,  scutellum  pale  at  the  tip;  abdomen  blackish;  fore 
coxje  pale,  middle  and  hind  ones  cinereous;  femora  pale  at  the 
base,  black  at  the  tip,  tibias  black.  Length  3  mm.  Mexican 
species     cinereiini 

29.  Abdomen  somewhat  shinning,  yellowish  gray  or  whitish  at  the  sides, 

and  yellow  at  the  base;  legs  brown,  tibiae  and  fore  coxeb  white, 
tip  of  tibiae  and  all  tarsi  black.     European  species,  also  occurring 

in  Greenland    reptans 

Basal  segments  of  abdomen  opaque,  distal  four  segments  somewhat 
shining  black  or  brown.  Two  long  hairs  at  the  tip  of  the  first 
and  third  fore  tarsal  joints    30 

30.  Legs  reddish  yellow,  tarsi  black,  except  proximal  half  of  middle 

and  hind  metatarsi  which  are  light  yellow.  Length  2  mm.  (St. 
Vincent  Island.)     This  is  a  synonym  of  pulch.ruiii  Phil.,  according 

to    Hunter    tarsale 

Legs  black;  base  of  tibia,  first  joint  of  middle  and  hind  tarsi  and 
sometimes  ba.se  of  femora  yellow;  extensor  .surface  of  all  the 
tibi*  more  or  less  whitish.  A  widely  distributed  and  variable 
species    venustum 

31.  Length  1.5  mm.    Front  and  middle  femora  and  tibiae  wholly  yellow; 

hind  ones,  except  apices,  also  yellow.     (Colorado)    grisemn 

Length  2.5  mm.  Legs,  brownish  black,  distal  part  of  femora,  base 
of  tibia,  and  greater  part  of  metatarsi  light  yellow  (California). 

argiis 

Some  of  the  characters  used  in  this  table  have  been  taken 
from  the  key  given  in  the  United  States  Department  of  Agri- 
culture, Division  of  Entomology,  Bulletin  10,  new  series,  1898, 
page  68,  by  Mr.  Coquillet.  In  the  table  given  above  I  have  in- 
cluded all  the  North  American  species.  For  the  southwestern 
and  Mexican  species  it  should,  however,  be  used  with  caution, 
as  I  did  not  have  specimens  of  some  of  these. 


emery:   simulium  vittatum  in  Kansas.  355 


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* A  Virginia  Simulium  called  "Cholera  Gnat."    Insect  Life, 

vol.  I,  p.  14. 

* An  Application  for  Buffalo  Gnat  Bites.     Insect  Life,  vol.  I, 

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Buffalo   Gnats   Attacking  Man.     Insect   Life,   vol.   I,   pp. 


60,  61. 
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* Formula  for  Buffalo-Gnat  Application.     Insect  Life,  vol.  I, 

p.  143. 


emery:     SIMULIUM  VITTATUM   in   KANSAS.  357 

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* Buffalo  Gnat.s  on  the  Red  River.     Insect  Life,  vol.  I,  pp. 

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Tomosvary.    S.  columbacensis,  metamorphoses;  Glasnik  Naravosl. 
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358  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

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S.  griseum,   bracteatum,  n.   sp.,   N.   America;    Bui.   Dept. 

Agri.  Ent.,  X,  p.  69. 
1900 — Strobl.     S.  argenteosfriata,  n.  sp.,  Bosnia;  Wiss.  Mitt.  Bosnian, 
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18-20;  also  pp.  393,  574. 
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*  190.3— Packard,  A.  S.    A  Textbook  of  Ent.,  pp.  78,  129,  668,  678. 

JoHANNSEN,  O.  A.  Notes  on  Some  Adirondack  Diptera  Collected 
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*  Aquatic  Nematocerous  Diptera.     Aquatic  Insects  in  New 

York  State,  pt.  6,  Bui.  68,  N.  Y.  State  Mus.,  pp.  336-388. 

Aigner-Abolfi,   L.   v.     Die  Kolumbacser   Fliege;   Allg.   Zeitschi. 

Ent  VIII,  pp.  93-96,  124-176,  pi.  11. 
Theobald.  S.  damnosum,  E.  Africa,  the  "Jiuja  Fly,"  p.  40. 
S.  grisecolKs,  Egypt,  Becker,  p.  78,  Mt.  Mus.  Berlin,  2  .q,  n.  sp. 
1904 — Webster,  F.  M.  The  Suppression  and  Control  of  the  Plague  of 
Buffalo  Gnats  in  the  Valley  of  the  Lower  Mississippi  River, 
and  the  Relation  thereto  of  the  Present  Levee  System,  Irriga- 
tion in  the  Arid  West  and  Tile  Drainage  in  the  Middle  West 
Proc.  25th  An.  Meeting,  Soc.  Promotion  of  Agri.  Sci.,  pp.  108, 
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1904 — Weed,   Clarence   M.     Experiments   in   Destroying   Black   Flies. 
Bui.  112,  N.  H.  Agri.  Exper.  Sta.,  p.  4. 

.  An    Experiment   with    Black   Plies.     Bui.    46,    Div.    Ent., 

U.  S.  Dept.  Agri.,  pp.  108,  109. 
*Wesche,  W.     The  Mouth  Parts  of  the  Nemocera  and  their  Rela- 
tion to  the  Other  Families  of  Diptera.     Jour.  R.  Micro.  Soc, 
1904,  pp.  28-107,  pis.  III-VIII. 
Wahlgren.     Simulium,  criticism  of  Zetterstedt's   species;   Ai'kv. 
Zool.   11,  No.   7,  pp.   17-19;    S.  tephordes  n.   n.   for  cinereum 
Bell.;  Speiser,  p.  148,  Ins.  Borse  1904. 
*  Adams.     iS.  notatum,  Arizona;  Kansas  Uni.  Sci.  Bull.  11,  n.  sp., 
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1905— Washburn,  F.  L.     Simulida;.     Black  Flies,  Buffalo  Gnats.     Tenth 
Ann.  Rep.  State  Ent.  Minn.,  pp.  70-76. 
Aldrich,  J.  M.    A  Catalogue  of  North  American  Diptera.     Smith- 
sonian  Miscellaneous   Collections,   vol.   XLVI,   pp.   168-171. 
GOELDi.     S.  amazonicuni,  n.  sp.  Amazons;  Mem.  Mus.  Goeldi,  IV, 
p.  138. 
'1906 — Headlee,   T.   J.     Blood    Gills   of  Simulium  pictipes.      Am.    Nat., 
vol.  XL,  pp.  875-885. 
Roubaud.      Simulium    divided    into    Prosimulium    subg.    n.    and 
Eusimulium  subg.  n.;   Paris  C.  R.  Acad.  Sci.,  1905,  vol.   143, 
pp.  519-521. 

S.  neireti  and   iiiierhiie,  n.   sp.,   Madagascar;   Bull.   Mus. 

Paris,  1905,  pp.  425,  426. 

S.    rufipes    and    sp.?    Nippon;    Bull.    Mus.    Paris,    1906, 

pp.  24-27. 

S.  jolyi  Nouvelles  Hebrides,  n.  sp.,  and  damnosmn,  distri- 
bution, etc.;  Bull.  Mus.  Paris,  vol.  12,  pp.  107-109. 

S.    perflavnm    Brazil,    loeUmani    Angola,    beckeri    Biskra, 


intermedium  Canaries,  victorix  Australia,  buissoni  Marquis 
islands,  n.  sp.;  Bull.  Mus.  Paris,  1906,  pp.  518-521. 

Austen.  S.  damnosum  Theob.,  grisecollis  Becker,  Sudan  Khar- 
toum Rep.  Wellcome  Res.  Lab.,  vol.  2,  pp.  52,  53. 

S.  reptans;  Brit.  Blood-Sucking  Flies,  p.  29,  pi.  X. 

Noel.    S.  kolumbaczensis,  ravages  in  Hungary;  Naturaliste,  1906, 
p.  13. 
1907 — Roubaud.    S.  beckeri,  n.  sp.,  Biskera;  Zs.  Hymenopt.,  vol.  7,  p.  241. 

S.  reptans  du  Congo  note  biologique  sur  un  type  adapte; 

Am.  Inst.  Pasteur,  vol.  21,  pp.  670,  671. 

Branchies  rectales  ehez  les  larves  de  S.  damnosum  Theo., 

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362  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

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THE 

KANSAS  UNIVERSITY 
SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 


Vol.  Vlll,  No.  10-July,  1913. 

iWliolc  Series.  Vol.  XVIII.  No.   10.) 


CONTENTS: 

Anatomy  of  Simulium  vittatum H.  B.  Hvngerford. 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  UNIVERSITY, 

LAWRENCE,  KAN. 


Entered  at   thf  post-oltice  in  Lawrence  as  second-class  matter. 


KANSAS   STATE  PRINTING  OFFICE. 

W.  C.  Austin,   State  Printer. 

TOPEKA.      1914. 


THE  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY 
SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 

Vol.  VIII,  No.  10]         JULY,  1913.  [vorx^fi!^Nrio. 


Anatomy  of  Simulium  vittatum. 

BY   H.   B.    HUNGERFORD. 

(Submitted  in  partial  fulfillment  of  the  lequii'ements  for  the  degree  of  master  of  arts.) 

Plates  XLIII-XLV. 

Acknowledgments. 

THE  preparation  of  this  paper  was  undertaken  in  connec- 
tion with  the  experimental  work  upon  the  sand  fly  and 
pellagra  being  carried  on  by  Professor  Hunter  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Kansas. 

The  anatomical  studies  were  taken  up  at  the  suggestion  of 
Professor  Hunter,  and  the  writer  desires  herewith  to  express 
his  appreciation  to  him  for  his  kindly  interest  and  helpful  sug- 
gestions during  the  progress  of  the  work. 

He  also  wishes  to  acknowledge  the  aid  given  him  by  Mr. 
F.  X.  Williams  in  reviewing  and  correcting  the  manuscript, 
by  Miss  Ruby  Hosford  in  loaning  material  for  sectional  study, 
and  by  Mr.  W.  T.  Emery  in  collecting  and  preserving  material 
for  the  work. 

ANATOMY  OF  SIMULIUM  VITTATUM. 

Introduction. 

The  recent  widespread  interest  in  the  sand  fly  as  the  possible 

carrier  of  the  disease  "pellagra"  has  given  the  writer  a  desire 

to  know  something  of  the  anatomy  and  histology  of  the  form 

common  in  Kansas',  nainely  Simulium  vittatuui. 

The  study  of  the  gross  structures  of  Simuliuut  has  been  of 
some  scientific  interest  aside  from  its  possible  connection  with 
pellagra,  for,  so  far  as  the  writer  has  been  able  to  find,  no 

(365) 


3G6  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

morphological  study  of  the  adult  has  been  made  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  paper  by  F.  H.  Taylor,  1902,  on  the  "Tracheal 
System  of  Simidinm,"  and  studies  of  the  mouth  structures  by 
Smith,  Meinert  and  MacCloskie. 

A  number  of  writers  have  studied  the  larvse  and  pupse  in 
connection  with  some  general  problems  dealing  with  a  group 
of  related  forms.  Thus  Osten  Sachen,  '70,  made  a  study  of  the 
transformations  of  Si»udin»i  species,  and  Packard,  '72,  in  his 
"Embryological  Studies  on  Hexapodous  Insects"  studied  the 
development  of  Siniulium.  Kellogg  and  Vaney  (1901)  used 
the  Simtdinm  along  with  Chironomids  and  like  forms  in  their 
study  of  "Phagocytosis  in  the  Postembryonic  Development  of 
Diptera."  Vaney  (1902)  continuing  his  studies  of  the  fat 
bodies  examined  sand  flies  and  other  inferior  Diptera  as  he 
calls  them  (Culex,  Chironomids,  etc.).  Weismann  in  studying 
imaginal  buds  referred  to  .S.  sericea,  and  Miall  (1900)  in  his 
researches  on  the  respiratory  appendages  of  pupse  figures  a 
Simvlium  sp.  Headlee,  '06,  made  a  study  of  the  blood  gills  of 
the  larva  of  S.  pictipes,  and  Dutt  in  an  unpublished  article 
at  Cornell  recorded  his  work  upon  the  silk  glands  of  SimuUum 
larvse.  So  scattered  and  fragmentary  has  been  the  morpho- 
logical work  upon  this  important  insect  pest  that  it  has  been 
the  desire  of  the  writer  to  make  a  careful  study  of  this  form 
in  all  its  stages.  However,  it  is  the  purpose  of  this  paper  to 
present  but  briefly  the  more  salient  facts  regarding  the  anat- 
omy of  the  adult  female  fly. 

TAXONOMIC  POSITION  AND  DESCRIPTION  OF  FORM  STUDIED. 

Simulium  vittatnm  is  a  small,  compactly  built  fly  belonging 
to  the  family  "Simuliidse." 

The  Simuliid^  are  known  in  the  vernacular  as  "turkey 
gnats,"  "buffalo  gnats,"  "black  flies,"  and  "sand  flies."  They 
are  related  in  a  general  way  to  the  mosquitoes,  crane  flies, 
fungus  gnats,  and  punkies,  but  may  be  readily  distinguished 
from  them  by  their  general  stoutness  of  body  and  broadness 
of  wing.  The  legs  of  the  mosquitoes  and  of  most  gnats  are 
long  and  rather  slender,  but  those  of  the  sand  flies  are  short 
and  stout.  Their  general  form  is  so  characteristic  that  they 
are  easily  recognized.  They  possess  very  broad  wings.  Their 
bodies  are  short  and  the  thorax  so  much  arched  that  they  ap- 
pear, as  Johannsen  expresses  it  "humpbacked."  (See  Fig.  1, 
Plate  XLIII.) 


hungerford:    anatomy  of  simuliuai  vittatum.     367 

Technically  the  adults  of  this  family  are  distinguished  by 
the  following  characteristics : 

Antennae  are  but  little  longer  than  the  head,  flattened  or 
cylindrical,  10-jointed;  the  two  basal  joints  differentiated,  the 
others  closely  united  and  never  plumose. 

The  eyes  are  round  or  reniform  and  holoptic  in  the  male; 
ocelli  absent. 

Proboscis  is  not  elongated,  possessing  small  horny  labella 
and  four-jointed  palps.  The  first  joint  of  the  palp  is  short, 
the  two  following  of  equal  length,  and  the  last  one  longer  and 
more  slender  than  the  preceding. 

The  thorax  is  arched,  without  a  suture,  and  the  scutellum 
small. 

The  abdomen  is  cylindrical,  made  up  of  7  or  8  (or  more) 
segments,  and  the  genitalia  are  concealed. 

The  legs  are  strong  and  not  elongate,  the  femora  broad  and 
flat,  tibia  usually  with  terminal  spurs ;  first  joint  of  tarsi 
longer  than  the  following  and  usually  dilated  in  the  male,  the 
last  joint  small ;  wings  large  and  broad,  with  distinct  alute, 
anterior  veins  thickened,  the  others  slender,  auxiliary  vein 
terminating  in  the  costa  about  the  middle  of  the  wing  which 
is  not  continuous  beyond  the  tip  of  the  wing.  (See  Fig.  1. 
Plate  XLIII.)  Second  longitudinal  vein  wanting,  the  first  and 
third  lying  close  to  each  other,  the  third  arising  from  the  first 
rectangularly  before  the  end  of  the  auxiliary  vein;  anterior 
cross  vein  very  short,  fourth  vein  curved,  forked  nearly  oppo- 
site the  anterior  cross  vein,  the  forks  terminating  near  the 
tip  of  the  wing.     (See  Fig.  1,  Plate  XLIII.) 

Similiiim   vittatum — Zetterstedt.* 
[Trihiilatiim   Lugger,  Decoraiii    (Walk),  argas    (Will). 

Adult — Female.  Gray,  nearly  bare;  dorsum  of  thorax 
with  five  black  stripes,  the  median  one  entire,  the  intermediate 
pairs  interrupted,  the  exterior  pair  spotlike.  Each  segment 
of  the  abdomen  with  a  black  dorsal  stripe,  and  basally  on  each 
side  with  a  black  spot,  the  penultimate  segment  black. 

Wings  whitish  hyaline;  halteres  white;  legs  fuscous  black; 
the  front  side  of  the  anterior  tibite,  the  base  of  the  middle  and 
hind  tibiae,  and  the  base  of  the  middle  and  hind  metatarsi 
white;  length  3  mm.     (Zetterstedt.) 

*  .Tohannsen. 

2-Univ.  Sci.  Bull..  Vol.  VIU.  No.  10. 


368  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Coquillett  adds  the  following:  "Female.  Abdomen  gray, 
bases  of  segments  3  to  7  or  8  marked  with  a  velvet-black  fascia 
produced  backward  in  the  middle  and  at  the  ends,  length  1 
to  4  mm.  Found  in  New  York,  Minnesota,  Kansas,  Illinois, 
and  California." 

Male.  Hind  tarsi  bicolorous,  mesonotum  gray  on  sides  and 
hind  margin,  center  largely  velvet-black  without  gray  streak 
extending  inward  from  humerus,  sides  of  abdominal  segments 
4  to  7  with  silvery  white  hairs.  (Coquillett.)  To  this  Johann- 
sen  adds:  "The  markings  of  the  female  of  this  species  seem 
somewhat  variable,  the  thoracic  markings  are  usually  quite 
distinct,  the  median  stripe  is  nearly  of  unifoi-m  width  except- 
ing at  the  posterior  end  where  it  becomes  narrower;  the  in- 
termediate stripes  are  y  shaped,  the  extremities  larger,  the 
intermediate  portion  usually  a  hair  line,  sometimes  obsolete, 
the  exterior  pair  usually  elongated  spots.  The  abdominal 
markings  are  as  described  by  Coquillett,  though  occasionally 
there  are  additional  disconnected,  velvet-black  lateral  spots, 
one  on  each  side  on  segments  3,  4  and  7,  and  a  pair  on  5  and  6. 
Sometimes,  also,  owing  either  to  the  contracted  condition  of 
the  abdomen  or  to  the  fasciae  being  narrow,  only  the  black 
projections  of  the  fasciae  are  visible  on  the  more  posterior 
segments,  giving  the  appearance  of  three  spots  on  each.  The 
legs  are  often  gray,  the  femorse  and  tibiae  paler  at  the  base,  the 
tibiae  black  at  tip,  the  tarsi  deep  black  except  basal  portion  of 
middle  and  hind  metatarsi,  fore  tibiae  with  one  spur,  middle 
and  hind  with  one  pair.    Tarsal  claws  of  female  simple. 

Larv^.  Caudal  blood  gills,  3  simple  papillae;  the  middle 
tooth  of  the  labium  simple  and  pointed,  labium  with  six  pairs 
of  setae  on  its  ventral  surface;  somewhat  mottled  gray,  the 
sides  of  each  segment  blackish;  the  head  is  of  the  usual  red- 
dish-brown color,  the  pale  yellow  antenna  long  and  cylin- 
drical, the  second  joint  about  one-third  of  the  length  of  the 
first;  the  third  is  a  pointed  process  at  the  tip  of  the  second. 
The  fans  have  about  40  rays,  the  cilia  being  relatively  minute ; 
the  mandibles  are  provided  with  three  large  apical  teeth  be- 
sides the  row  of  secondary  ones ;  the  apical  pair  of  bristles  is 
present;  the  maxillary  palpus  has  a  few  spines,  and  a  tuft 
of  a  few  spines  on  the  basal  joint;  hypopharynx  and  labrum 
apparently  like  those  of  other  species ;  the  labrum  has  an  elon- 
gate middle  tooth,  those  at  the  end  nearly  as  long,  the  inter- 
mediate ones  short  and  there  are  six  bristles  in  each  of  the 


hungerford:    anatomy  of  simulium  vittatum.      369 

two  longitudinal  rows  on  the  ventral  surface;  the  three  blood 
g-ills  at  caudal  end,  unbranched. 

Pupa.  The  thoracic  respiratory  filaments  each  consist  of  a 
single  main  trunk,  from  which  arise  eight  branches,  each  of 
which  divides  into  two,  thus  making  16  twigs  in  all.  Near 
the  basal  margin  of  the  last  few  abdominal  segments  are  a 
few  caudal-projecting  dorsal  hooks,  and  on  the  tip  of  the  last 
segment  is  a  pair  of  blunt  spines.  The  pupal  case  is  of  the 
wall-pocket  type,  from  which  the  respiratory  filaments  of  the 
pupa  project. 

GENERAL   HABITS  AND  LIFE   HISTORY  OF  THE  FAMILY. 

The  habits  of  the  adults  are  quite  generally  known  because 
in  many  places  they  are  fully  as  troublesome  as  mosquitoes. 
They  are  so-called  "bloodsuckers,"  feeding  upon  the  blood  of 
horses,  cattle,  and  man,  sometimes  to  such  an  extent  as  to  be 
of  considerable  economic  importance.  (See  Riley  in  N.  Y. 
State  Mus.  Bull.  No.  68.)  They  lay  their  eggs  on  the  surface 
of  rocks  over  which  shallow  water  is  flowing  rapidly,  as  on 
the  rocks  of  shallow  rapids  and  the  ledges  of  waterfalls.  Their 
eggs  are  laid  in  masses  one  layer  deep.  In  about  eight  or  ten 
days  they  hatch  into  larvse  which  attach  themselves  by  their 
caudal  end  to  the  rocks  or  stems  of  aquatic  plants. 

The  larvae  retain  their  position  in  the  swiftest  current  by 
means  of  a  disc-like  sucker  on  the  posterior  end  of  the  body. 
When  they  desire  to  move  to  a  new  location  they  may  do  so  by 
anchoring  a  silken  thread  to  the  support  and,  releasing  their 
hold,  spinning  out  their  silk  as  they  are  washed  downstream, 
but  retaining  control  of  it  very  much  after  the  fashion  of 
spiders  suspending  themselves  in  mid-air,  or  they  may  travel 
over  the  surface  of  the  rocks  with  a  looping  gait  similar  to 
that  of  a  measuring  worm. 

They  are  said  to  feed  upon  algsB,  diatoms,  and  parts  of 
phaneragamous  plants.*  ~  In  those  I  have  examined  diatoms 
have  comprised  most  of  the  material  found  in  the  digestive 
cannal. 

When  the  larva  is  ready  to  transform  it  spins  a  tough  pupal 
case  firmly  attached  to  the  rock  and  changes  to  a  strangely 
shaped  pupa.  Then  in  due  time  the  fly  comes  from  the  pupal 
skin,  rises  to  the  surface  of  the  Avater  and  shortly  takes  flight. 

"  Miss  R.  Phillips,  1890,  cf  Cornell  ri\iversity.  roports  that  amoiiE  the  alga?  taken  by 
the  larvae  are  Nothix,  Cladtjihora,  and  Vatichera.  Walter  T,  Emery  adds  Conferva. 
Soenedesnuis,   Chlaniydonionaj ,   J^iUglena. 


370  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

Mr.  Emery  in  his  paper  on  the  "Morphology  and  Biology  of 
Simulmm  vittatmn"  gives  some  interesting  data  regarding  the 
biology  of  this  insect,  to  which  the  reader  is  referred. 

TECHNIQUE   FOR   THE   STUDY   OF  GROSS   ANATOMY. 

Most  of  the  studies  of  the  gross  anatomy  of  the  Simulium 
fly  were  made  by  means  of  free  dissections  under  the  binocu- 
lar.* Quite  a  number  of  the  body  tissues  of  the  fly  are  trans- 
parent, and  for  a  study  of  these  the  direct  sunlight  gave  the 
best  illumination.  A  spot  light  made  by  focusing  sunlight 
through  a  reading  glass  gave  excellent  illumination.  These 
studies  were  verified  by  serial  microtome  sections. 

The  comparatively  small  size  of  the  fly  (3  mm.)  necessitated 
the  use  of  a  technique  somewhat  more  delicate  than  is  usually 
necessary,  and  inasmuch  as  the  majority  of  students  of  small 
forms  have  failed  to  record  their  methods  of  study,  I  have 
felt  it  desirable  to  give  a  brief  account  of  the  technique  used 
in  these  studies. 

The  needles  used  in  the  dissection  work  were  made  by 
placing  the  base  of  minuten  nadeln  points  (used  in  mounting 
small  insects)  in  handles  of  wood  and  grinding  the  points  on 
emery  paper  until  they  were  small  enough  for  use. 

The  flies  were  held  in  any  given  position  by  paraffin.  To 
do  this,  some  paraffin  was  placed  in  a  small  shallow  porcelain 
staining  dish,  and  warmed  to  melting  point.  The  fly  was  then 
placed  about  half  its  width  in  the  paraffin  in  the  desired  posi- 
tion and  the  paraflSn  cooled. 

The  dish  was  then  filled  with  either  normal  salt  solution  or 
with  50  per  cent  alcohol,  depending  upon  whether  the  material 
was  fresh  or  fixed.  With  careful  work  and  a  steady  hand  one 
could  determine  the  various  systems  with  considerable  ac- 
curacy. One  fly  would  usually  serve  for  several  days'  dissection 
study,  and  by  covering  the  dish  with  a  lid  and  inverting  a 
tumbler  over  all  to  prevent  evaporation  of  the  alcohol  the 
specimen  would  be  ready  for  further  study  without  the  usual 
delay. 

Most  of  the  dissections  were  made  with  the  fly  on  its  side. 
The  large  muscles  of  the  thorax  and  the  deep  incision  of  the 
exoskeleton  between  the  thorax  and  the  abdomen  made  dorsal 
dissections    quite    unsatisfactory.      Ventral     dissections  were 

*  I  used  a  Zeiss  machine  and  found  that  the  No.  2  nnd  No.  4  eye  pieces  used  with  tlie 
A2  objective  gave  by  far  the  most  satisfactory  results  for  the  study  of  general  anatomy. 


hungerford:    anatomy  of  simulium  vittatum.      371 

used  only  to  verify  the  other  studies  by  giving  a  different 
point  of  view. 

SECTIONAL   STUDY. 

Killing  and  Fixing.  In  order  to  determine  the  best  method 
of  fixing  and  staining  the  adult  flies  it  was  necessary  to  try 
a  number  of  fixations  and  stains. 

The  flies  were  divided  into  lots  and  killed  and  fixed  in  the 
following  ways : 

Six  lots  were  treated  with  picro-aceto-sublimate  for  12,  18, 
and  24  hours  respectively.  When  they  had  been  in  the  fluid 
the  specified  length  of  time,  the  liquid  was  carefully  drawn  oflF 
with  a  pipette,  and  the  vials  filled  with  70  per  cent  grain 
alcohol.  At  the  end  of  24  hours  the  alcohol  was  changed  by 
the  pipette  method  as  above,  and  this  process  of  changing  the 
alcohol  repeated  for  3  days.  At  the  end  of  that  time  the  70 
per  cent  was  replaced  with  85  per  cent  alcohol  and  the  lots 
stored. 

Six  lots  were  captured  and  placed  in  picro-formal  for  12 
hours,  18  hours,  and  until  they  sank,  respectively.  They  were 
then  washed  out  with  70  per  cent  alcohol  as  for  the  picro- 
aceto-sublimate  and  stored  in  85  per  cent  alcohol. 

Two  lots  were  fixed  in  Fleming's  stronger  mixture.  The 
flies  were  allowed  to  remain  in  the  fixing  fluid  until  they  sank. 
Then  they  were  changed  to  water  and  washed  for  three  days. 
From  the  water  they  were  transferred  to  95  per  cent  alcohol. 

Six  lots  of  live  sand  flies  were  fixed  in  Gilson's  chloro-aceto- 
sublimate  for  10  minutes,  20  minutes,  and  until  they  sank. 
They  were  then  washed  in  70  per  cent  alcohol  for  several  days 
and  stored  in  85  per  cent  alcohol. 

Six  lots  were  fixed  in  Zenker's  fluid  for  6  hours,  12  hours, 
and  until  they  sank,  respectively.  They  were  then  washed  out 
in  water  and  transferred  to  alcohol  containing  tincture  of 
iodine. 

In  the  above  series  the  chloro-aceto-sublimate  gave  the  best 
fixation. 

C.  G.  Hewett,  '07,  in  his  work  with  the  house  fly  used  Hen- 
ning's  solution  made  up  as  follows:  Nitric  acid  16  parts, 
chromic  acid  (.5  per  cent)  16  parts,  picric  acid  saturated  in 
water  12  parts,  and  absolute  alcohol  42  parts.  After  fixing 
the  material  he  washed  out  in  iodine  water.  This  method  he 
finds  not  only  fixes  but  to  a  certain  extent  softens  the  chitin, 


372  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

which   facilitates   sectioning,   providing   the   material   is   not 
allowed  to  be  imbedded  too  long. 

Hot  alcohol  and  hot  Gilson's  both  give  very  good  results 
for  larval  forms,  as  has  been  noted  by  Headlee,  '06,  in  his 
work  on  Simulitim  blood  gills. 

Specimens  killed  in  hot  Perenyi's  fluid,  cut  and  removed  to 
fresh  fluid  for  six  hours  and  then  transferred  to  70  per  cent 
alcohol,  were  well  fixed. 

But  the  best  fixation  that  I  have  tried  was  obtained  by  the 
use  of  Kable's  Fixation.  This  was  recommended  to  me  by 
Dr.  Brues,  of  Harvard,  who  used  it  as  a  fixation  for  the  Sto- 
moxys  calcitrans.  It  is  made  up  as  follows :  30  parts  water, 
15  parts  normal  95  per  cent  alcohol,  6  parts  formaline  (40 
per  cent),  1  part  of  glacial  acetic  acid.  The  flies  are  killed 
in  this  hot  solution  and  transferred  when  cold  to  70  per  cent 
alcohol. 

Since  the  Gilson's  mixture  mentioned  above  gave  very  satis- 
factory results  it  might  also  be  well  to  give  directions  for 
making  it.    To  make  up  a  two-liter  bottleful  use: 
30  cc.  of  80  per  cent  nitric  acid. 

8  cc.  of  glacial  acetic  acid. 
40  grs.  corrosive  sublimate. 
200  cc.  of  60  per  cent  alcohol. 
1760  cc.  of  distilled  water. 

Infiltrating  and  Imbedding.  When  the  specimens  were 
desired  for  study,  they  were  graded  up  from  the  85  per  cent 
alcohol  to  absolute  alcohol  in  small  glass  dishes  covered  with 
ground  glass  covers.  If  they  were  stored  in  85  per  cent  alcohol 
they  were  slipped  up  to  95  per  cent  and  left  for  48  hours  to 
harden.  Then  from  this  they  were  transferred  to  absolute  and 
left  for  a  like  time.  From  this  they  were  transferred  to  a 
vial  which  had  been  half  filled  with  xylol  and  then  filled  with 
absolute  alcohol.  Here  they  were  left  for  24  hours,  after  which 
they  were  returned  to  a  glass  dish  of  pure  xylol.  The  dish  was 
then  placed  on  the  top  shelf  of  an  electric  drying  oven,  and  a 
few  flakes  of  paraffin  dropped  into  it.  When  dissolved  more 
were  added  and  the  dish  placed  nearer  the  heat.  Bits  of  par- 
affin were  added  from  time  to  time  for  the  following  six  hours. 
By  the  end  of  that  time  the  flies  could  be  transferred  to  pure 
melted  paraffin  and  left  there  for  24  hours  or  longer. 


HUNGERFORD:     ANATOMY   OP   SIMULIUM   VITTATUM.        373 

Cutting  and  Mounting.  When  the  flies  were  infiltrated  they 
were  imbedded  and  cut  in  serial  sections  of  from  4  to  15 
microns  in  thickness. 

The  dry  paraffin  ribbons  were  placed  on  an  absolutely  clean 
slide  and  floated  with  prepared  egg  albumen.  The  albumen 
was  then  drained  ofi"  and  the  slide  held  just  enough  below  the 
surface  of  tepid  distilled  water  to  float  out  the  folds  and  allow 
the  ribbons  to  be  arranged.  The  slides  were  then  air-dried 
for  one  week,  after  which  they  were  warmed  enough  to  melt 
down  the  paraffin  and  placed  in  xylol  for  ten  minutes.  From 
the  xylol  they  were  passed  down  through  the  alcohols  to  the 
grade  used  in  the  stain. 

Staining.  Five  stains  were  used  in  the  studies  made  with 
the  Simitlium  fly. 

I.  For  thin  sections  to  be  studied  for  parasitic  forms 
Gemsa's  Lasung  was  used.  This  stain  was  diluted  1  drop  to 
1  cc.  of  water  made  faintly  alkaline  with  weak  potassium 
carbonate  (1%).  The  sections  were  stained  with  this  for 
fifteen  minutes.  (With  this  stain  chromatin  is  stained  blue 
and  protozoa  and  bacteria  pinkish.)  Dift'erentiation  was  made 
with  tap  water.  After  dehydrating  in  the  alcohols  they  were 
transferred  to  xylol  and  from  the  xylol  to  the  balsam  mount. 

II.  For  ordinary  work  the  sections  of  any  thickness  were 
run  down  to  50'v  alcohol  and  stained  for  twelve  hours  in 
borax  carmine,  dift'erentiated  in  acid  alcohol,  dehydrated  and 
mounted  as  above. 

III.  Iron  hsematoxylin  was  used  in  the  usual  way. 

IV.  Good  results  were  obtained  by  overstaining  with  Dela- 
field's  hsematoxylin  and  difi'erentiating  with  acid  alcohol  as 
suggested  by  Hewett. 

V.  The  best  results  were  obtained  by  running  the  sections 
dovvm  to  25%  alcohol  and  staining  in  ferric  alum  for  4  hours, 
then  Hjedenhain's  hsematoxylin  (5%  aq.  solution)  for  12 
hours.  Following  this  they  were  bleached  in  ferric  alum, 
placed  in  orange  g.  and  dipped  back  and  forth  in  the  two 
stains  till  proper  results  were  obtained  as  determined  by  fol- 
lowing the  action  of  the  stains  under  the  low-power  compound. 
Then  they  were  rehydrated,  passed  up  through  xylol,  and 
mounted. 


374  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

THE  THORAX  OF  SIMULIUM. 

The  thorax  of  dipterous  insects  always  presents  a  problem. 
The  fact  that  they  possess  but  one  pair  of  wings  has  led  to  the 
adjusting  of  the  thoiacic  box  to  meet  these  conditions.  Thus 
the  mesothoracic  division  which  bears  the  wings  is  greatly  de- 
veloped while  the  prothoracic  and  metathoracic  divisions  are 
reduced.  Time  has  not  permitted  a  detailed  leport  on  the 
homologies  of  the  several  sclerites  making  up  the  prothorax. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that  the  prothoracic  cylinder  is  not  typical,  the 
sclerites  conforming  not  at  all  to  our  conception  of  the  norma! 
arrangement  of  parts.  The  mesothoiax,  on  the  other  hand,  is 
a  simpler  matter.  The  notum  is  large,  occupying  the  whole 
of  the  dorsal  side  of  the  thorax.  It  is  not  transversed  by  well- 
marked  sutures  that  could  mark  the  prsescutum,  scutum,  scu- 
tellum,  and  po.stscutellum.  As  a  whole  it  is  a  convex  shield. 
It  is  this  sclerite  that  gives  to  Simulium  its  characteristic 
"humpedback"  shape. 

Laterally,  we  have  the  alar  membrane  for  the  wing  attach- 
ment above  and  the  episternum  and  epimeron  below.  The 
mesosternum  is  large  and  well  marked.  The  metathorax  bears 
the  haltere  and  the  metathoracic  spiracle  on  its  pleural  aspects. 

Wings.  The  two  wings  are  borne  at  the  sides  of  the  scutum 
of  the  mesothorax.  They  are  attached,  by  means  of  the 
sclerites  at  the  base  of  the  wings,  to  the  alar  membrane.  They 
are  broad  and  characterized  by  having  only  the  veins  of  the 
anterior  portion  of  the  wing  developed,  the  other  veins  show- 
ing only  as  thickened  but  transparent  tracings.  (See  Fig.  1, 
PI.  XLIII.)  Following  the  nomenclature  of  Johannsen  for 
this  family  I  describe  the  venation  of  the  wing  as  follows : 
The  anterior  edge  of  the  wing  is  reenforced  by  the  costa  which 
extends  to  a  point  some  little  distance  before  the  tip  of  the 
wing.  The  siibcosta  joins  the  costa  at  a  point  about  one-third 
the  distance  from  the  base  of  the  wing  to  the  tip.  Radius  is 
all  but  fused  with  fnibcosta,  showing  up  a  clear  line  along  the 
posterior  edge  of  subcosta  for  ''5  of  its  length,  (subcosta), 
it  then  appears  as  a  separate  vein.  R.  joins  costa  a  little  be- 
yond the  point  where  subcosta  meets  costa.  This'  point  is 
marked  by  a  slight  emargination  in  the  costal  margin  of  the 
wing.  R2-3-Jf-5  extends  for  a  considerable  distance,  finally 
meeting  costa  shortly  before  its  termination  (costa).  The 
base  of  media  is  well  marked.     This  well-marked  portion  ex- 


HUNGERFORD:     ANATOMY   OF   SIMULIUM   VITTATUM.        375 

tends  for  the  first  Ve  of  the  length  of  the  vein.  There  a  cross 
vein  connects  media  with  radius  and  the  vein  becomes  trans- 
parent, soon  branching  into  M^  and  M,,  Mj  extending  to  the 
tip  of  the  wing  and  M.  running  out  along  the  posterior  side 
of  the  wing.  Cubitus  is  represented  more  as  a  fold  than  as  a 
vein.  There  are  two  clearly  marked  anal  veins,  anal  1  being 
straight,  and  anal  2  curved;  the  anal  area  lying  posteriorly 
to  the  anal  veins  is  creased  by  two  folds. 

Legs.  The  legs  of  SimuUum  are  stouter  than  those  of  most 
of  the  related  forms.  The  following  segments  are  present: 
Coxa,  a  strong  cylindrical  segment;  trochanter  narrow  and 
somewhat  irregular;  femur,  rather  stout;  tihia,  about  the 
length  of  femur,  also  stout;  tarsi,  5-jointed,  joint  one  about 
as  long  as  the  remaining  joints  taken  together,  the  last  bear- 
ing simple  claws. 

ALIMENTARY  CANAL. 

The  alimentary  canal  is  a  comparatively  straight  tube  ex- 
tending from  the  buccal  cavity  to  the  anal  opening  in  the  last 
segment.    (Fig.  2,  PI.  XLIII.) 

The  Proboscis.  This  is  made  up  by  the  close  application  of 
the  hypopharynx  to  the  so-called  labrum  and  ensheathed  by 
the  fleshy  labium.  This  strongly  chitinized  tube  (Ph.,  Fig.  12, 
PI.  XLV)  is  well  provided  with  muscular  attachments  as 
shown  by  the  projection  drawing  of  a  section  of  the  head 
(Fig.  12,  PI.  XLV) .  At  its  upper  end  it  meets  the  oesophagus, 
which  passes  back  between  commissures  connecting  the  brain 
and  suboesophagial  ganglion. 

It  is  joined  near  its  base  with  the  duct  of  the  salivary  glands 
by  an  apparatus  shown  in  Fig.  11,  and  called  by  Meinert  the 
"receptaculum"  or  salivary  receptacle  (Fig.  11,  PI.  XLV). 

The  (Esophagus.  The  oesophagus  joins  the  pharynx  at  right 
angles,  this  union  being  banded  by  a  strongly  chitinized  collar 
(Fig.  11,  C).  It  is  smaller  than  the  pharyngeal  box,  and  is 
flanked  by  chitinized  plates  from  which  arise  muscles  that 
correspond  to  Meinert's  musculature  of  Tabanus  and  have  a 
similar  function. 

There  arises  from  the  dorsal  wall  of  the  oesophagus,  caudad 
of  the  chitinized  portion,  a  muscle  that  extends  upward  and 
backward  to  take  its  insertion  in  the  wall  of  the  vertex  of  the 
head.    The  oesophagus  narrows  as  it  passes  from  the  head  to 

S-Univ.  Sci.  Bull..  Vol,  VIII,  No.  10. 


3.76.  KANSAS   UNR'ERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

the  thorax,  being  at  this  point  little  larger  than  the  nerve  cord 
just  below  it.  Upon  reaching  the  thorax  it  may  change  its 
direction  slightly  and  continue  its  way  through  the  thorax  to 
the  abdomen,  or  it  may  make  a  sudden  bend  dorsally  and  as 
abruptly  bend  back  again,  then  continuing  its  course  from 
there  on  as  in  the  other  case.  In  any  event  the  slender  por- 
tion of  the  tube  suddenly  enlarges,  forming  a  tube  of  three 
times  its  diameter,  the  union  of  these  two  parts  being  marked 
by  an  enlargement,  or  a  series  of  three  enlargements.  From 
the  ventral  side  of  this  enlargement  there  arises  a  thin-walled 
duct  (Fig.  11,  PI.  XLV)  that  leads  backward  beneath  the  canal 
and  expands  into  a  rather  large  pouch.  This  duct  can  not 
strictly  be  defined  as  such,  for  it  is  simply  the  cephalic  end  of 
a  sac  which  gradually  narrows  till  it  joins  the  digestive  canal 
at  the  point  shown  in  the  figui-e  (Fig.  11).  The  walls  of  this 
pouch  are  extremely  thin  and  transparent  when  distended  and 
at  such  times  it  occupies  a  considerable  space  in  the  abdomen. 
As  shown  in  fig.  11  Fr.  and  in  fig.  2  Fr.  the  pouch  is  some- 
what contracted  and  shows  muscle  fibres.  This  sac  by  virtue 
of  its  position  and  union  with  the  proventriculus  leads  to  the 
conclusion  that  it  must  function  as  a  food  reservoir.* 

The  Stomach.  The  digestive  tract  upon  passing  into  the 
abdomen  usually  turns  dorsally  for  a  short  distance,  where  it 
enlarges  to  form  an  oval-shaped  organ,  the  ventriculus  or 
stomach.  No  ccecal  tubesf  have  been  found,  but  the  surface 
of  this  mid-intestine  is  somewhat  irregular,  and  it  may  be  that 
the  glandular  areas  in  the  wall  of  this  organ  will  prove  to 
function  as  coecal  glands.J 

Malpighiau  Tubes.  Immediately  below  the  mid-gut  there 
arise  on  either  side  two  tubes.  These  four  tubes  are  of  con- 
siderable length,  and  lie  folded  and  doubled  back  on  them- 
selves above  the  mid-intestine  and  above  and  around  the  hind 
gut.  These  are  the  Malpighian  tubules.  Their  natural  position 
in  the  body  is  shown  in  fig.  2  pi.  XLIII.  Each  tubule  extends 
forward  to  cephalic  end  of  stomach  where,  after  making  a 
loose  double  loop,  it  turns  back  to  end  with  a  half  turn  around 
rectal  pouch.  They  are  best  studied  in  the  male  and  freshly 
emerged  female  or  in  specimens  treated  for  some  time  in  15 

*  Gordon  Hewitt  refers  to  a  similar  organ  in  the  house  fly  as  the  crop. 

t  They  are  recorded  as  present  in  the  larva  of  Simulium  by  iiiall  and  Hammond. 

t  Haseman,  1910,  considers  a  group  of  cells  in  the  region  of  OBSophageal  valve  of 
Psychola  alternata  as  a  reduced  coecal  gland. 


hungerford:    anatomy  of  simulium  vittatum.     377 

per  cent  chloral  hydrate.  Vaney,  '02,  finds  that  these  tubes 
pass  from  the  larva  to  the  adult  without  any  transformation, 
so  that  an  examination  of  the  larva  gives  a  fair  idea  of  their 
position  in  the  adult.  Just  caudad  of  the  region  where  the 
Malpighian  tubules  are  attached,  the  hind  gut  takes  a  turn 
dorsally  to  a  point  below  the  junction  of  the  fifth  and  sixth 
segments,  and  then  bends  caudad  at  right  angles  to  about  the 
seventh  segment  where  the  tube  becomes  first  constricted  and 
then  dilated,  especially  on  the  lower  side,  which  gives  the  ap- 
pearance shown  in  r.  p.  fig.  2,  pi.  XLIII.  This  rectal  enlarge- 
ment is  a  transparent  sac,  the  wall  of  which  is  distinctly 
striated  (see  Fig.  3,  PI.  XLIII)  and  contains  suspended  from 
its  upper  or  cephalic  end  six  cone-shaped  papillse  or  glands, 
the  rectal  glands  (see  Fig.  3,  RP) .  Each  of  these  is  made  up  of 
glandular  cells  containing  large  nuclei.  An  examination  of 
the  rectal  pouch  after  treating  it  for  some  little  time  with 
caustic  potash  shows  not  only  the  estodermal  origin  of  the 
papillae  but  the  presence  of  tracheal  filaments  as  well. 

Rectal  papillae  have  been  observed  in  a  number  of  insects. 
Chironomus  has  two,  the  house  fly  four,  the  stable  fly  four, 
most  Hymenoptera,  Neuroptera  and  Orthoptera  six,  Lepidop- 
tera  60-200,  and  Coleoptera  and  Hemiptera  none.* 

Salivaru  Gkinds.  The  salivary  glands  are  a  pair  of  organs 
which  lie  in  the  fore  part  of  the  thorax  on  either  side  of  but 
dorsally  to  the  oesophagus.  (Fig.  4.)  They  are  connected 
with  the  common  duct  beneath  the  oesophagus  by  means  of 
slender  ducts.  (See  Fig.  4,  PI.  XLIV.)  They  lie  so  close  to  the 
prothoracic  wall  and  so  near  to  the  large  tracheal  trunks  of 
the  mesothoracic  spiracle  that  they  are  often  difficult  to  demon- 
strate. They  lie  on  either  side,  between  the  second  oblique  and 
first  longitudinal  layer  of  muscle.  Structurally  they  are  in 
two  parts.  There  is  an  upper  part,  which  when  stained  shows 
itself  to  be  glandular  (see  Fig.  4,  PI.  XLIV)  and  a  nonglandular 
part  or  sac.  The  glandular  part  is  shown  in  sections  to  con- 
sist of  thick-walled  pouches,  the  cells  of  which  contain  large 
nuclei.  In  structure  they  resemble  somewhat  the  acinous 
glands  figured  by  Packard  (after  List).  They  do  not  at  all 
resemble  the  trilobed  glands  of  the  mosquito  or  the  slender 
glands  of  Stomoxys.  They  appear  to  be  somewhat  similar  to 
those  figured  by  Newstead  for  Phlebotmus. 

^  Miall   ;ni(l   HaniiiunKl. 


378  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

The  Heart.  This  is  shown  in  fig.  2  h.,  pi.  XLIII.  It  lies  along 
the  dorsal  wall  of  the  abdomen  till  near  the  thorax,  where  it 
dips  ventrally  to  a  position  just  above  the  alimentary  canal 
and  extends  forward,  passing  through  a  cellular  mass  above 
the  region  of  the  oesophagial  valve  and  on  into  the  head.* 

The  Fat.  Body.  The  fat  body  often  occupies  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  abdomen  and  is  made  up  of  many  lobes.  Figure 
9  shows  the  fat  bodies  of  a  female  fly  after  being  fixed  in 
alcohol  for  a  time  (ventral  view) . 

The  Nervous  System.  The  nervous  system  is  less  specialized 
than  in  many  other  Diptera.  The  three  thoracic  ganglia  are 
large  while  the  five  ganglia  of  the  abdomen  are  comparatively 
small,  the  last  two  being  close  together  and  the  terminal  one 
larger  than  the  others.  (For  general  position  and  relative  size 
see  Fig.  6,  PI.  XLIV.) 

THE  RESPIRATORY  SYSTEM. 
The  respiratory  system  (Fig.  5,  PI.  XLIV)  consists  of  two 
longitudinal  trunks  running  from  the  head  to  the  posterior 
end  of  the  abdomen.  These  are  connected  in  the  thorax  by  a 
large  commissure,  and  in  the  head  by  a  small  one.  The  head 
and  thorax  are  well  supplied  with  large  tracheal  branches 
while  the  abdomen  possesses  a  great  network  of  tiny  thread- 
like tubes  arising  from  the  rather  small  tracheal  trunks. 
These  little  tubes  ramify  to  all  parts  of  the  abdomen,  bind- 
ing together  the  loosely  joined  ova  of  the  female,  interlacing 
the  many  loops  and  folds  of  the  Malpighian  tubes  and  tying 
the  fat  body  with  all  to  the  digestive  canal.  Thus  we  find  in 
the  abdomen  on  either  side  a  longitudinal  tracheal  trunk, 
and  throughout  a  mat  of  slender  tracheal  filaments.  These 
tracheal  trunks  are  not  straight  tubes,  but  curved  at  the  six 
points  where  the  branches  leading  to  the  abdominal  spiracles 
are  given  oft',  namely,  at  the  points  between  the  second  and 
third,  third  and  fourth,  fourth  and  fifth,  in  the  fifth  and  in  the 
sixth  segments ;  the  spiracular  openings  being  located  on  the 
lateral  surface  of  the  body  as  follows:  first  one  in  the  second 
segment  near  the  junction  of  second  and  third,  second  one  in 
third  near  the  junction  of  second  and  third,  third  one  in  middle 
of  segment  4,  fourth  one  near  the  middle  of  segment  5,  fifth 
one  near  the  middle  of  segment  6,  sixth  one  in  seventh  seg- 
ment near  its  union  with  segment  6.    These  spiracles  show  up 

*  Goi'don  Hewett  states  that  the  dorsnl  vpkspI  of  the  horse  fly  tei'minafes  in  a  mass  of 
cells  on  dorsal  side  of  ventriculus, 


hungerford:    anatomy  of  simulium  vittatum.      379 

indistinctly  as  dark  dots  on  the  gray  surface  of  the  insect  but 
show  plainly  in  specimen  treated  with  caustic  potash.  They 
are  not  functional  in  the  larva  and  pupa,  their  work  being 
taken  over  by  the  blood  gills  in  the  larva  and  by  the  cuticular 
gills  in  the  pupa. 

Taylor,  '02,  finds  that  the  general  scheme  of  tracheation  is, 
however,  about  the  same  in  the  larva  and  pupa  stages  as  in  the 
adult,  save  for  method  by  which  the  air  is  brought  into  the 
system  mentioned  above.  His  studies  were  upon  Simulium 
latipes,  and  in  his  researches  he  records  but  five  abdominal 
spiracle  branches,  failing  to  find  the  one  in  the  second  segment, 
which  he  thinks,  however,  must  exist  in  view  of  the  fact  that 
the  cast  pupal  skin  shows  an  attached  remnant  of  such  a 
branch.  He  also  infers  that  one  exists  in  the  first  in  some 
vestigial  form,  but  I  am  unable  to  confirm  this. 

In  the  thorax  there  is  a  tendency  of  the  tracheal  branches 
to  be  dilated,  and  the  fact  that  there  are  several  large  trunks 
or  branches  originating  at  the  metathoracic  spiracle  and  ex- 
tending forward  in  different  planes  of  the  thorax  makes  it 
difficult  to  distinguish  the  main  trunk  from  the  others.  In 
fact,  if  my  interpretation  is  not  incorrect,  the  main  trunk  is 
much  smaller  than  the  very  large  branches  that  are  sent  off. 
(See  Fig.  5,  PI.  XLIV.)  This  main  trunk  extends  from  the 
metathoracic  spiracle  underneath  the  large  oblique  thoracic 
muscles  and  runs  along  dorsolaterally  to  the  fore  gut,  turning 
up  before  the  first  oblique  muscle  to  meet  the  other  branches  ex- 
tending from  the  mesothoracic  spiracle.  It  then  continues  to 
the  head  where  it  breaks  into  many  branches.  These  main 
trunks  are  connected  in  the  thorax  by  one  prominent  com- 
missure arising  from  the  caudal  end  of  the  anterior  third  and 
looping  up  over  the  alimentary  canal  to  the  top  of  the  second 
longitudinal  muscles  and  thence  back  in  the  same  plane  be- 
tween the  right  and  left  longitudinal  thoracic  muscles,  joining 
the  corresponding  trunk  on  the  other  side.  From  the  meta- 
thoracic spiracle  there  arise  the  following  branches:  one  ex- 
tending dorso-cephalad  laterally  to  the  main  muscles  of  the 
thorax  for  some  distance,  then  narrowing  suddenly,  it  turns  in 
under  or  between  the  outer  oblique  muscles,  four  and  five,  and 
gives  off  one  small  branch;  another  has  the  same  general  di- 
rection but  lies  in  the  plane  between  second  oblique  and  first 
longitudinal  and  extends  to  the  thoracic  wall,  where  it  turns 
ventro-cephalad  at  right  angles  and  drops  beneath  the  sixth 


380  KANSAS  UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 

longitudinal  muscle;  another  in  this  same  plane  extends  ven- 
trally,  supplying  the  legs;  while  another  leads  forward  to  join 
the  system  again  at  the  mesothoracic  spiracle. 

At  the  mesothoracic  spiracle  we  find  a  number  of  branches, 
the  direction  of  which  may  be  best  observed  by  referring  to 
the  drawings. 

The  mesothoracic  spiracle  lies  well  toward  the  front  of  the 
thoracic  box  and  might  well  be  mistaken  for  prothoracic  in 
origin,  but  Taylor  gives  the  following  reason  for  considering 
it  mesothoracic :  Immediately  in  front  of  the  anterior  thoracic 
spiracle  of  the  fly  a  well-marked  apodeme  or  thickening  of  the 
cuticle  runs  obliquely  backward  to  the  mid-ventral  line,  where 
it  unites  with  a  similar  thickening  on  the  other  side.  The  fore 
leg  of  the  fly  is  inserted  on  the  body  in  front  of  this  apodeme, 
and  muscles  from  the  leg  are  attached  to  it.  As  the  apodeme 
approaches  the  mid-ventral  line,  it  bears  the  ante-furca,  which, 
wherever  it  occurs,  marks  the  junction  of  the  pro  and  meso 
thorax.  The  anterior  spiracle  of  the  thorax  lies  close  behind 
the  apodeme  which  carries  the  antifurca,  and  is  therefore 
mesothoracic  in  position. 

Sexual  Organs  of  the  Female.  The  female  Simulium,  like 
most  other  related  forms,  possesses  two  ovaries,  which  lie 
on  either  side  of  the  alimentary  canal.  (See  Figs.  6  and  9.) 
These  may  occupy  only  the  caudal  third  of  the  abdomen  in 
case  of  the  freshly  emerged  female,  or  take  up  all  the  available 
space  in  the  abdominal  cavity,  even  crowding  into  the  thorax 
around  the  fore  gut  in  case  of  females  ready  to  oviposit. 

When  the  newly  emerged  female  is  examined,  the  ovary  ap- 
pears as  a  transparent  pouch  showing  practically  no  differen- 
tiation. But  when  this  is  removed  and  stained  with  borax 
carmine  the  ova  are  deeply  stained  and  are  seen  to  lie  in 
regular  order  within  the  ovarian  .sheath.  As  the  ova  mature 
they  lose  their  regularity  of  order  and  uniformity  of  shape, 
so  that  by  the  time  they  mature  they  are  but  loosely  joined 
together  and  extremely  irregular  in  outline.  The  latter  is 
brought  about  by  their  crowded  condition  in  the  body  of  the 
insect.  The  eggs  at  maturity  are  relatively  large,  and  when 
we  are  able  to  count  as  many  as  276  ova  packed  in  the  body 
of  a  single  female  we  do  not  wonder  that  they  are  so  angular 
in  form. 


hungerford:    anatomy  of  simulium  vittatum.     381 

The  oviduct  connecting  the  ovarian  sac  with  the  exterior  is 
comparatively  easy  to  trace  in  the  early  adult  stage.  Here  the 
oviducts  are  seen  to  join,  forming  a  short  tube,  "the  vagina," 
which  passes  to  the  genicular  opening  on  the  ventral  side  of 
the  body  between  the  penultimate  and  antipenultimate  seg- 
ments. (Fig.  8.)  Dorsocaudad  of  the  vagina  lies  a  small 
chitinized  spherical  pouch,  the  spermathecse.  (Fig.  7.)  This 
spermatheca  is  .09  mm.  in  diameter  and  dark-brown  in  color, 
with  a  thick  chitinous  covering.  It  is  attached  to  the  distal  end 
of  the  common  oviduct  by  a  white  cylindrical  tube.  The  attach- 
ment of  this  white  tube  to  this  hard  brown  sphere  reminds 
one  of  a  germinating  seed.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  with 
this  fly  there  is  but  one  functional  spermatheca.  In  all  the 
related  species  of  flies  that  have  been  studied  there  are  two — 
Phlebotomus,  Musca  domestica,  S.  calciti-ans,  Culex  and  the 
chironomids  have  two.  When  the  genital  apparatus  is  dis- 
sected and  stained  with  borax  carmine  the  two  accessory 
pouches  shown  in  figure  7  are  found  to  be  glandular  in  nature. 

In  concluding  this  brief  sketch  of  the  anatomy  of  the  sand 
fly  it  may  be  well  to  state : 

1st.  That  the  three  blood-sucking  species  studied  for  com- 
parison of  internal  structures  conform  quite  closely  to  the  one 
here  reported. 

2d.  That  the  digestive  tract  has  three  enlargements:  the 
fore  part  of  the  proventriculus,  the  stomach,  and  the  rectal 
pouch  which  contains  six  glandular  rectal  papillse. 

3d.  That  it  is  joined  in  the  pharynx  by  the  common  duct  of 
a  pair  of  salivary  glands  which  are  located  cephalo-dorsad  to 
the  proventriculus  and  well  forward  in  the  shoulder  of  the 
thorax,  and  at  the  junction  of  mid  and  hind  gut,  by  four  Mal- 
pighian  tubules. 

4th.  That  the  reproductive  organs  are  similar  to  those  of 
related  insects,  save  that  but  one  spermatheca  is  found  and 
this  lies  to  the  left  side. 


382  KANSAS   UNIVERSITY   SCIENCE   BULLETIN. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

1870 — Osten   Sachen;   Transformations  of  Simulium;   Am.  Ent.,  vol.  II, 

p.  229. 
1880 — Meinert,  F.;  Sur  la  construction  des  organs  buccaux  chez  les  Dip- 

tera;  Mit.  Fidshr.  1,  pp.  1.50-153. 
1881 — Dimmoch,  G. ;  Anatomy  of  mouth  parts  and  sucking  apparatus  of 

Diptera;   Psyche,  III,  4-60,  p.  281. 
1889 — Lowne;  Anatomy  of  Insects;  A.  Quek.  Club,  III,  pp.  373-386. 
1890 — Smith,  J.  B.;  Mouth  parts  of  Diptera;  Am.  Ent.  See.  XVIIi,  p.  319. 
1893 — Wheeler;  Malpighian  Tubes,  their  primitive  number,  homologies; 

Psyche,  VI,  pp.  457-561. 
1895 — Townsend;  Blood-sucking  Diptera;  Jr.  N.  Y.  Ent.  Soc.  Ill,  p.  134. 
1896— Smith,  J.  B.;   Morphology  of  mouth  parts;   Am.   Phil.   Soc.  XIX, 

pp.  175-198. 

1900 — Giles,  G.  M.;  Anatomy  and  Life  History  of  the  Culicidae,  Hand- 
book;  London,   1900. 
Kellogg;  Comparative  anatomy  and  homologies  of  the  mouth  parts 
of  Diptera;  Psyche,  VIII,  p.  303. 

1902 — Taylor;  Tracheal  System  of  Simulium,  larva,  pupa,  imago;  Trans. 
Ent.  Soc.  London,  1902,  pp.  701-716. 

1904 — Wesche;  Trophi  of  Diptera,  the  labial  and  maxillary  palpi  of  Dip- 
tera; Trans.  Linnean  Soc.  London,  IX,  pp.  219-230. 

1905 — Wesche ;  The  mouth  parts  of  Nemocera  and  their  relation  to  other 
families  of  Diptera.  Jour.  R.  Micro.  Soc.  1904,  pp.  28-107. 
Dell,  J.  A.;  Structure  and  life  history  of  Psychoda  sex- punctata; 
Trans.  Ent.  Soc.  London,  p.  293. 

1906 — Tullock;  Internal  anatomy  of  Stomyxs;  London,  Proc.  R.  Soc,  77  B, 
1906,  pp.  523-531. 

1908 — Hewitt,  C.  G.;  Anatomy  of  house  fly;  Quart.  J.  Micro.  Sci.,  London, 

51,  p.  395. 
1910 — Haseman,   Leonard;    Structure  and  metamorphosis  of  alimentary 

canal  of  the  larva   of  Psychoda   altervata;   Ann.   Ent.   Soc. 

Am.,  pp.  3-277. 
1912 — Brain,  C.  K.;  Stomyxs  calcitrans;  Ann.   Ent.   Soc.  of  Am.,   Dec, 

1912. 
1913 — Papataci   Flies    (Phlebotomus)    of  the  Maltese  Islands;  Bui.  Ent. 

Research,  May,  1911. 

GENERAL  Texts. 

Packard — Textbook  of  Entomology. 

Folsom — Entomology. 

Miall  and  Hammond — Harlequin  fly. 

Henneguy — Les  Insectes. 

Williston — Diptera. 

Johannsen — Aquatic  Insects. 


PLATE  I. 

Fig.  1. — Head  of  Cricket. 

This  drawing  shows  the  epicranial  suture  (E.  SU.)  which  divides  the 
paired  sclerites  from  the  single  ones. 

F. — The  front,  the  first  of  these  single  sclerites,  between  the  arms  of 
the  inverted  Y  of  the  suture,  bears  here  the  median  ocellus  and  also  the 
paired  ocelli. 

C. — The  clypeus.  The  suture  between  the  front  and  the  clypeus  is 
distinct.  The  clypeus  is  partly  divided  by  a  transverse  suture;  the  part 
next  the  front  is  designated  as  first  clypeus  (ci),  and  that  next  the 
labrum  as  second  clypeus  (c2). 

L. — The  labrum  is  the  last  of  the  three  single  sclerites  between  the 
arms  of  the  epicranial  suture  and  the  mouth.  It  is  a  single  movable 
flap,  constituting  the  upper  lip  of  the  mouth,  having  the  appearance  of  an 
appendage,  but  in  reality  is  a  single  sclerite,  a  portion  of  one  of  the  head 
segments. 

Tr. — The  trochantin  of  the  mandible  is  a  small  sclerite  at  the  base  of 
the  mandible  (M). 

Fig.  2. — Head  of  Cockroach. 

E.  SU. — The  epicranial  suture  is  here  present. 

F. — The  front  bears  the  paired  ocelli,  but  the  median  ocellus  is  absent. 

C. — The  clypeus.  There  is  no  suture  between  the  front  and  the  cly- 
peus, but  the  tentorium,  invaginations  (at)  are  quite  distinct,  and  the 
dotted  line  connecting  these  points  indicates  the  position  of  this  obsolete 
suture.  There  is  no  distinct  transverse  suture  dividing  the  clypeus,  but 
the  shading  (indicated  by  second  dotted  line)  gives  the  appearance  of  two 
parts. 

L. — The  labrum  is  present. 

Tr. — The  trochantin  of  the  mandible  is  present. 

Fig.  3. — Head  of  the  Larva  of  Corj/dalis. 

E.  SU. — The  epicranial  suture  here  is  very  low  down  toward  the 
mouth. 

F. — The  fro7it  is  greatly  reduced  in  comparison  with  the  two  forms 
already  studied.     The  median  and  paired  ocelli  are  wanting. 

C. — The  clypeus.  Suture  between  front  and  clypeus  is  absent.  Cly- 
peus divided  into  three  sclerites  in  transverse  row,  one  on  median  line 
called  clypeus  proper,  lateral  sclerites  called  antecoxal  pieces  of  man- 
dibles (ac).  Clypeus  proper  is  divided  by  definite  transverse  suture  into 
first  and  second  clypeus  {cl  and  c2). 

Trochantin  of  mandible  not  visible. 

At. — Tentorium  invaginations  present. 

L. — Labrum  present. 

O.  O. — The  occiput  as  a  definite  area,  formed  of  the  upper  portion  of 
the  postgenae,  is  here  shown  back  of  vertex   (y). 


PLATE  I — continued. 

Fig.  4. — Head  of  Walking-stick. 

E.  SU.- — Epicranial  suture  present  but  not  so  distinct. 

F. — The  front  bears  the  ocelli. 

C. — The  clypeus.  The  suture  between  the  front  and  the  clypeus  is 
obsolete,  but  the  invaginations  of  the  tentorium,  though  faint,  are  suffi- 
cient to  mark  the  line  of  division.  Transverse  suture  of  the  clypeus 
visible. 

Ac. — Antecoxal  pieces  of  the  mandibles  small. 

Tr. — Troehantin  of  the  mandible  small  but  present. 

L. — Labrum  present. 

Fig.  5. — Head  of  Mantis. 

E.  SU. — Epicranial  suture  small  and  indistinct. 

F. — The  front  bears  the  median  and  paired  ocelli.  Transverse  ridge 
of  front  so  prominent  that  it  appears  at  first  sight  to  be  division  between 
front  and  clypeus. 

C. — The  clypeus.  Presence  of  tentorium  invaginations  show  that 
there  is  a  strongly  marked  suture  between  the  clypeus  and  front,  instead 
of  the  upper  ridge  being  the  division.     Clypeus  undivided  by  sutures. 

Ac— Antecoxal  pieces  of  mandibles  small,  merely  indicated. 

Tr. — Troehantin  of  mandibles  present  but  very  small. 
Fig.  6. — Head  of  Dahinia. 

E.  SU. — Epicranial  suture  very  indistinct;  arms  of  Y  form  nearly 
straight  line.     Front  might  easily  be  considered  part  of  epicranium. 

F. — Front.    Ocelli  absent. 

At. — Tentorium  invaginations  discernible.  Suture  between  front  and 
clypeus  strongly  marked. 

C. — Clypeus  divided  by  transverse  suture. 

Ac. — Position  of  antecoxal  pieces  apparent. 

L.^-Lahrum  apparently  consisting  of  two  parts,  much  like  labrum  of 
grasshopper. 

Tr. — Troehantin  of  mandible  present. 

Fig.  7. — Head  of  Orchelimum. 

E.  SU. — Epicranial  suture  present  only  as  fastigium  of  vertex   (v). 

F. — Front  increased  by  pushing  up  of  E.  SU.;  bears  median  ocellus. 

C. — Clypeus.  No  suture  between  front  and  clypeus,  but  invaginations 
of  tentorium  very  distinct."  No  transverse  suture  dividing  clypeus,  .,o 
that  front  and  clypeus  appear  as  one  sclerite. 

At. — Tentorium  invaginations  distinct. 

Ac. — Antecoxal  pieces  not  really  discernable;  position  simply  inferred 
on  frontal  margin  of  clypeus. 

Tr.^^Trochantin  of  mandible  present. 

L. — Labrum  large. 


PLATE  I— concluded. 

Fig.  8. — Head  of  Decticinas. 

E.  SU. — Epicranial  suture  as  in  Orchelimutn. 

F. — Front  containing  trace  of  median  ocellus. 

C. — Clypeus.  All  divisions  of  clypeus  indicated.  Suture  between 
front  and  clypeus  present. 

At. — Tentorium  invaginations  present. 

L. — Labrum  present. 

Tr. — Trochantin  of  mandible  present. 

Fig.  9. — Head  of  Grasshopper. 

E.  SU. — Epicranial  suture  pushed  up  to  point  of  vertex  (v). 

F. — Front  large;  bears  ocelli. 

C. — Clypeus.  Suture  between  front  and  clypeus  present.  Divided  by 
transverse  suture  into  first  and  second  clypeus. 

Ac. — Anteco.val  pieces  indicated. 

At. — Tentorium  invaginations  present. 

L. — Labrum  appears  to  be  divided  into  two  parts  by  transverse  suture. 

Tr. — Trochantin  of  mandible  small  but  present  as  a  distinct  sclerite. 
Fig.  10. — Head  and  Neck  of  Cockroach. 

This  drawing  shows  the  lateral  view  of  the  epicranium,  which  includes 
all  of  the  paired  sclerites  of  the  skull  and  sometimes  also  the  front.  The 
paired  sclerites  constitute  the  sides  of  the  head  and  that  portion  of  the 
dorsal  surface  that  is  behind  the  arms  of  the  E.  SU.  These  sclerites  are 
so  closely  united  that  Straus-Durckheim  considered  them  a  single  piece. 

V. — Verte.v,  the  portion  of  the  epicranium  which  is  next  the  front  and 
between  the  compound  eyes.  In  some  insects  it  bears  the  paired  ocelli, 
but  not  in  the  Plecoptera. 

G. — Gense,  lateral  portions  of  the  epicranium. 

Pg. — Postgense.  The  gense  are  divided  by  a  well-marked  suture,  which 
in  the  specimens  at  hand  ended  definitely.  The  part  back  of  this  suture 
is  known  as  the  postgena.  When  this  suture  continues  to  the  epicranial 
suture  the  upper  parts  form  the  occiput. 

Tr. — Trochantin  of  the  mandible. 

Md. — Mandible. 

Mx. — Maxilla. 

Mem. — Maxillary  epimeron.  A  very  small,  narrow  sclerite  just  back 
of  the  postgense. 

This  drawing  also  shows  one  dorsal,  two  lateral,  and  one  ventral  cer- 
vical sclerite. 

Fig.  11. — Head  of  Adult  Corydalis,  Ventral  Aspect. 

This  drawing  shows  a  gula,  a  sclerite  forming  the  ventral  wall  of  the 
hind  part  of  the  head  in  certain  orders  of  insects  and  bearing  the  labium 
or  second  maxillae. 

In  the  more  generalized  orders  this  sclerite  or  the  one  corresponding 
to  it  does  not  form  a  part  of  the  skull. 


PLATE  I. 


Pig.    10. 


Fig.    9. 


rig.  11. 


PLATE  II. 

Fig.  12. — Embryo  of  a  Damsel  Fly   {Calopteryx) . 

(After  Brandt.) 

The  question  of  the  number  of  segments  in  the  head  of  an  insect  has 
been  much  discussed.  Savigny  (1816)  first  made  the  suggestion,  which 
has  been  accepted  by  all,  that  the  movable  appendages  of  the  head  were 
homodynamous  with  legs. 

By  methods  of  comparative  anatomy,  therefore,  it  has  been  found  that 
there  are  at  least  four  segments  in  the  head:  i.  e.,  the  antennal,  the  man- 
dibular,  the  maxillary,  and  the  second  maxillary  or  labial.  The  presence 
of  a  fifth  segment  (the  ocular)  has  been  suggested,  as  the  compound  eyes 
are  borne  on  movable  stalks  in  certain  Crustacea,  which  might  therefore 
place  them  among  the  movable  appendages  of  the  head. 

The  embryologists  have  taken  up  the  question  and  Brandt  (fig.  12) 
has  shown  in  the  embryo  of  the  damsel  fly  that  there  are  distinct  seg- 
ments, each  corresponding  to  a  pair  of  mouth-parts:  a,  antennal;  md, 
mandibular;  mx,  maxillary;  2mx,  second  maxillary. 

The  labial  and  maxillary  segments  appear  to  be  body  segments  rather 
than  cephalic.  It  is  thought  that  perhaps  "this  represents  a  phylogenetic 
stage  in  which  the  head  proper  consisted  of  fewer  segments  than  it  does  in 
existing  insects." 

Fig.  13. — Embryo  of  Hydrophilus. 

(After  Heider.) 

Heider  found  that  the  suboesophageal  ganglion  which  innervates  the 
mandibles,  maxilte  and  labium  is  formed  by  the  union  of  at  least  three 
pairs  of  primitive  ganglia.  His  figure  represents  a  stage  in  the  develop- 
ment of  Hydrophilus,  in  which  these  ganglia  are  still  distinct,  each  pair 
of  ganglia  corresponding  to  a  pair  of  mouth  parts. 

Fig.  14. — Head  of  Embi-yo  of  Anurida. 

(After  Folsciin.  I 

Fig.  15. — Section  of  the  Head  of  an  Embryo  of  Anurida. 

(  Af  .er  Fo!su:ii. ) 

The  embryologists  having  confirmed  the  conclusions  of  comparative 
anatomy,  have  further  demonstrated  the  existence  of  vestiges  of  seg- 
ments. They  have  discovered  a  pair  of  ganglia  between  those  of  the 
mandibular  and  maxillary  segments.     (Fig.  14,  si;  and  fig.  15,  5.) 

Fig.  16. — Head  of  Embryo  of  Acilius. 

:. After  Patten.) 

As  long  ago  as  1888  Patten  figured  the  suboesophageal  ganglion  as 
consisting  of  four  pairs  of  primary  ganglia. 

Some  thought  that  the  second  of  these  four  pairs  of  primary  ganglia 
referred  to  the  mandibular  ganglia,  because  they  are  immediately  in 
front  of  the  maxillary;  but  according  to  the  results  of  Folsom   (figs.  14 


PLATE  II— continued. 

and  15)  and  Uzel,  the  lingua  arises  between  the  maxillse,  and  the  super- 
lingua  between  the  maxilte  and  the  mandibles.  Therefore,  it  is  more 
probable  that  the  first  of  these  four  pairs  of  ganglia  (fig.  16,  1-i)  be- 
longs to  the  mandibular  segment  and  that  the  second  pair  are  the  homo- 
logues  of  the  superlingual  ganglia. 

Fig.  17. — Diagrams  of  the  Elements  of  the  Head. 

(After  Comstoek  and  Kochi. ) 

A. — Lateral  aspect. 

B. — Ventral  aspect. 

To  illustrate  the  morphological  relations  of  the  arrangement  of  seg- 
ments of  the  head,  they  are  represented  as  distinct,  of  uniform  size,  and 
in  a  direct  line: 

First.    Outline  of  segments  made. 

Second.  Longitudinal  line  representing  line  of  separation  of  sternal 
and  pleural  elements  of  segments. 

Third.    Chain  of  ganglia  added,  1  pair  for  each  segment. 

Fourth.  Compound  eyes  and  the  ocelli  were  represented  in  the  first 
segment  because  innervated  by  the  protocerebrum. 

Fifth.  Position  of  the  appendages  indicated,  a  pair  to  each  segment 
except  first.  Antennae  to  second  segment  because  innervated  by  deuto- 
cerebrum. 

Sixth.  Mouth  represented  as  opening  in  ventral  wall  of  third  seg- 
ment. 

Fig.  18. — Ventral  Aspect  of  the  Metathorax  of  a  Nymph  of  Pteronarcys. 
(After  Comstoek  and  Kochi.) 

Fig.  19. — Ventral  Aspect  of  the  Metathorax  of  Stenopelmatus. 

(After  Comstoek  and  Kochi.) 

The  position  of  the  furca  within  the  body  is  represented  by  a  dotted 
line. 

A  typical  segment  is  composed  of :  a  ventral  part,  sternite ;  two  lateral 
parts,  pleurites ;  and  a  dorsal  part,  tergite. 

Each  thoracic  segment  is  composed  of  two  subsegments.  The  line 
separating  these  subsegments  passes,  on  the  pleural  aspect,  between  the 
episternum  and  the  epimeron ;  and  on  the  tergal  aspect,  between  the 
scutum  and  scutellum.  The  division  on  the  sternal  aspect  is  not  so  easily 
recognized,  but  it  is  clearly  evident  in  the  nymphs  of  Pteronarcys  and 
Stenopelmatus.     (Figs.  18  and  19,  s  and  s2.) 

The  invaginations  forming  the  furca  lie  in  the  suture  between  the  two 
sclerites,  and  are  therefore  a  landmark  for  determining  the  division 
between  them. 

Fig.  20. — Ventral  Aspect  of  the  Meso-  and  Meta-thorax  of  Gryllus. 
The  position  of  the  furcas  within  the  body  are  indicated  by  dotted  lines. 


PLATE  U— concluded. 

Fig.  21. — Diagram  of  a  Seginent  of  an  Embryo. 

(After  Heymons. ) 

Figure  20  shows  that  the  sternellum  is  often  obsolete,  so  that  the  furcae 
appear  to  arise  from  the  caudal  margin  of  the  segment. 

Figure  21. — Heymons  has  shown  that  in  a  comparatively  early  em- 
bryonic stage  each  segment  of  the  body  is  composed  of  three  parts:  a 
median  field  (mf),  and  two  lateral  fields  (If),  and  that  the  appendages 
are  developed  as  evaginations  of  the  lateral  fields  {Ig). 

Figure  20. — The  abdominal  sternites  of  the  adult  gryllus  show  the 
lateral  elements  of  the  sternites,  the  portion  lying  between  the  appendage 
and  the  median  field  (//). 

As  a  rule  each  sternite  is  an  undivided  sclerite. 

Fig.  22. — Ental  Surface  of  the  Pleiirites  of  the  Meso-  and  Meta-thorax 
of  Melanoplus,  Showing  the  Lateral  Apodemes. 
The  lateral  apodemes  show  the  line  of  union  of  the  subsegments  on  the 
pleural  aspect  of  a  thoracic  segment. 

Fig.  23. — The  Base  of  a  Leg  of  a  Cockroach. 
This  shows  the  relations  of  the  appendages  to  a  typical  segment: 
X,  Point  of  pleural  articulation  of  the  coxa,  ventral  end  of  the  foot  of 

the  lateral  apodeme  of  the  segment,  the  ventral  end  of  the  episternum 

(es),  and  epimeron  (em). 

y,  Ventral  articulation  of  the  coxa;  sp,  spiracle;  ap,  apodeme;  ac,  ante- 

coxal  piece;  2ac,  second  antecoxal  piece;  tr,  trochantin;  es,  episternum; 

em,  epimeron. 


PLATE  II. 


fig.    12. 


rig.   15. 


Fig.    19. 


Fig.    18. 


Fig.    17. 


Fig.    20- 


It  mt  If 


Fig.    23. 


Fig.    22 


PLATE  III. 

Fig.  24:.— Head  of  a  Cricket,  Ental  Surface  of  flic  Dorsal  Wall. 
This  shows:  as,  the  ocular  sclerites,  which  may  be  the  basal  segment 
of  the  ocular  appendage;  as,  the  antennal  sclerite,  which  represents  the 
lateral  field  of  the  antennal  segment. 

Fig.  25. — Head  of  the  Nymph  of  Pteroiarcijs. 

(After  f'omstock  iiud  Koctii.j 

In  this  the  antennal  sclerites  (as)  are  distinct  and  closer  to  the  cly- 
peus  than  in  the  more  specialized  insects,  showing  that  it  is  possible  that 
they  were  once  closely  connected  with  the  clypeus  (c)  and  a  part  of  the 
same  segment. 

Fig.  26. — Lateral  Cervical  Sclerites  of  Melu)topliis. 

These  are  taken  to  represent  the  epimeron  (em)  and  episternum  (c) 
of  the  labial  segment. 

There  is  present  a  prominent  apodeme  U'P),  and  the  epimeron  con- 
nects with  the  episternum  of  the  prothorax,  and  the  episternum  (es) 
with  what  is  considered  the  epimeron  of  the  maxillary  segment. 

Fig.  27. — Head  of  Sienopclmatus,   Ventral  Aspect. 

(AI'Ut  ('omsloi'k  ami   Koi-hi.) 

This  shows  the  ventral  cervical  sclerites  in  two  transverse  series, 
S  and  S2.  These  may  be  regarded  as  the  sternum  and  sternellum  of  the 
labial  segment. 

Fig.  28. — Ventral  and  Laicial  Cerrical  Sclerites  of  I'eriplaiiata. 
This  shows  the  two  single  cervical  sclerites — the  sternum   (s)   and  the 
sternellum   (si'}   of  the  labial  segment;  also  the  lateral  cervical  sclerites 
— the  episternum   (es)  and  the  epimeron  (em)  of  the  labial  segment. 

Fig.  29.— \'cntral  Cervical  Sclerites  of  Grijlliis. 

In  Grylhis,  as  in  Stcnopelmatus  the  ventral  cervical  sclerites  are  ar- 
ranged in  two  transverse  series. 

Fig.  .30. — Hi/popliaryiu-  of  Melariopliis. 

This  shows  the  lingua  (/)  and  the  superlinguae  (si),  the  sole  remain- 
ing traces  of  the  superlingual  segment.  These  are  small  sclerites,  prob- 
ably representing  the  appendages  of  that  segment. 

This  also  shows  the  pharyngeal  sclerites  (;as),  the  sternal  elements  of 
the  mandibular  segment. 

Fig.  si.— Head  of  a  Cricket,  Caudal  Aspect. 
Pg. — Postgenae. 
Es. — Episternum. 
Em. — Epimeron. 
M.  ap. — Mandibular  apodeme. 
Bt. — Body  of  tentorium. 
Ex.  h. — Extensors  of  the  head. 
D.  ap. — Dorsal  apodeme. 

This  is  to  show  the  parts  that  are  considered  as  belonging  to  the 
mandibular  segment. 


PLATE  UI— concluded. 

M.  ap.  is  the  acetabulum  into  which  a  condyle  of  the  mandible  fits, 
and  which  is  the  beginning  of  a  suture  which  divides  the  pg.  into  two 
parts,  the  episternum  and  the  epimeron.  "The  mandible  is  the  basal 
segment  (coxa)  of  an  appendage,  which  articulates  with  the  ventral  ends 
of  two  sclerites  (episternum  and  epimeron),  between  which  there  is  a 
lateral  apodeme." 

Fig.  32. — The  Tentorium  of  a  Cockroach.  Dorsal  Aspect. 
Pt. — Posterior  arm  of  tentorium. 
Bt. — Body  of  tentorium. 
Fp. — Frontal  plate  of  tentorium. 
Dt. — Dorsal  arm  of  tentorium. 
T.  oe. — Tendons  of  oesophageal  muscles. 
At. — Anterior  arm  of  tentorium. 
C. — Clypeus. 
L. — Labrum. 

Fig.  3.3. — Head  of  Melanoplus,  Caudal  Aspect. 
V. — Vertex. 
O. — Occiput. 
Pg. — Postgenje. 

Pt. — Posterior  arm  of  tentorium. 
Bt. — Body  of  tentorium. 
Mx. — Maxilte. 
2nd  Mx. — Second  maxillae  or  labium. 

Fig.  34. — Tentorium  of  Melanoplus,  Cephalic  Aspect. 
The  distal  ends  of  the  dorsal  arms  detached. 
O. — Occiput. 
Pg.- — Postgenje. 

Pt. — Posterior  arms  of  tentorium. 
Bt. — Body  of  tentorium. 
At. — Anterior  arms  of  tentorium. 
C. — Clypeus. 
L. — Labrum. 


PLATE  III. 


rig.  24. 


Pig.    30 


Jig.    25. 


Fig.    28. 


Fig.    26. 


Fig.    31. 


Fig.    33. 


Fig.    34. 


PLATE  IV. 

Fig.  35. — Head  of  Atnblychila  cylind/riformis, 
O. — Occiput, 
y.— Vertex. 
i<'.— Front. 
C — Clypeus. 
L. — Labrum. 
G.— Gena. 

Tr. — Trochantin  of  the  mandible. 
Md. — Mandible. 

At. — Anterior  arm  of  tentorium. 
Esu. — Epicranial  suture. 

Fig.  36. — Head  of  Amblychila  cylindriformis,  Ventral  Aspect. 
Pg. — Postgenae. 
Gm.— Gula. 

Dt. — Dorsal  arm  of  tentorium. 
Em. — Epimeron. 

a.- — Small  chitinized  spots,  which  may  be  remnants  of  lateral  cervical 
sclerites. 

Fig.  37. — Head  of  Amblychila  cylindriformis. 
O. — Occiput. 
£■3. — Episternum. 
Dt. — Dorsal  arm  of  tentorium. 
Em. — Epimeron. 
Pg.- — Postgena. 
Gm.— Gula. 
a. — Chitinized  spot. 

Fig.  38. — Sclerites  of  Neck. 
Legend  as  above.     S2. — Sternellum. 

Fig.  39. — Tentorium  of  Amblychila,  Dorsal  Aspect. 
Bt. — Body  of  tentorium. 
Dt. — Dorsal  arm  of  tentorium. 
At. — Anterior  arm  of  tentorium. 
Os. — Ocular  sclerite. 


PLATE  IV. 


Fig.    36. 


Pig.    36. 


Fig.    37 


Fig.    38. 


Fig.    39. 


PLATE  V. 

Fig.  1. — Dorsal  aspect  of  Entylia  sinuata.  Prothorax  removed,  a, 
head;  d,  compound  eye.  Mesathorax:  6,  prsescutum;  c,  scutum;  /, 
scutellum ;  e,  post-scutellum.  Metathorax :  g,  prasscutum ;  /;,  scutum ; 
i,  scutellum;  k,  post-scutellum. 

Fig.  2. — Metathoracic  leg  of  Entylia  sinuata.  a,  coxa;  b,  trochanter; 
c,  femur;  d,  tibia;  e,  tarsi;  /,  claws. 


PLATE  VI. 

Fig.  5. — Dorsal  aspect  of  Ceresa  bubahis.  a,  metopidium;  6,  dorsum; 
c,   posterior  process;   d,  tegmina;   e,   suprahumeral. 

Fig.  6. — Prothorax  of  Ceresa  diceros. 

Fig.  7. — Lateral  aspect  of  Ceresa  bubalus.    x,  humeral  angle. 

Fig.  8. — Prothorax  of  Ceresa  taurina. 

Fig.  9. — Front  aspect  of  head  of  Ceresa  taurina. 

Fig.  10. — Front  aspect  of  head  of  Ceresa  bubalus.  a,  metopidium 
crest;  6,  front  of  metopidium;  c,  compound  eye;  d,  ocelli;  e,  antennas: 
/,  clypeus. 


PLATE  VI. 


^ig.   6. 


^ig.    5. 


^■ig.    8. 


^ig.    10. 


PLATE  VII. 

Fig.  11. — Lateial  aspect  of  Campy lenchia  curvata.  a,  procephalon; 
6,  metopidium. 

Pig.  12. — Cephalic  aspect  of  Enchenopa  binotata.  c,  procephalon; 
d,  metopidium;  e,  suprahumeral. 

Fig.  13. — Lateral  aspect  of  Enchenopa  binotata. 

Fig.  16. — Cephalic  aspect  of  head  of  Stictocephala  inermis.  g,  meto- 
pidium sloping  backward;  /,  front  of  metopidium. 

Fig.  17. — Lateral  aspect  of  Stictocephala  inermis. 


PLATE  VII. 


Fig.-    13 


Fig. -17- 


PLATE  VIII. 

Fig.  14. — Cephalic  aspect  of  head  of  Vandjizea  arqiuata. 

Fig.  15. — Lateral  aspect  of  Vanduzea  arquata. 

Fig.  18. — Cephalic  aspect  of  head  of  Acutalis  tartarea. 

Fig.  19. — Lateral  aspect  of  Acutalis  tartarea. 

Fig.  20. — Cephalic  aspect  of  Micrutalis  calva. 

Fig.  21. — Lateral  aspect  of  Micrutalis  calva. 

Fig.  30. — Cephalic  aspect  of  Telamona  pyramidata. 

Fig.  31.^Lateral  aspect  of  Telamona  pyramidata. 


PLATE  VIII. 


Fig. -15 


PLATE  IX. 

Fig.  22. — Cephalic  aspect  of  Archasia  galeata. 

Fig.  23. — Lateral  aspect  of  Archasia  galeata. 

Fig.  24. — Cephalic  aspect  of  Cyrtolobus  vau. 

Fig.  25. — Lateral  aspect  of  Cyrtolobus  vau. 

Fig.  26. — Cephalic  aspect  of  Publilia  concava. 

Fig.  27. — Lateral  aspect  of  Publilia  concava. 

Fig.  28. — Cephalic  aspect  of  Stictocephala  lutea. 

Fig.  29. — Lateral  aspect  of  Stictocephala  lutea. 


PLATE  IX. 


Pig. -26 


Fig.-£ 


Fig. -29 


Fig. -28 


PLATE  X. 

Pig.  32. — Cephalic  aspect  of  the  head  of  Publilia   modesta. 

Fig.  33. — Lateral  aspect  of  Publilia  modesta. 

Fig.  34. — Lateral  aspect  of  prothoracic  arm,  showing  position  and 
connection  to  coxa  of  prothoracic  leg.  b,  cavity  for  head;  c,  coxa  of  leg; 
d,  under  sclerite  of  prothoracic  arm;  e,  prothoracic  arm;  /,  indentation 
where  compound  eye  fits. 

Fig.  73. — Lateral  aspect  of  Telamona  ampelopsides. 
Fig.  74. — Cephalic  aspect  of  Telamona  ainpelopsides. 


PLATE  X. 


Fig. -34- 


Fig.    74. 


Pig-.    73 


PLATE  XL 

Fig.  35. — Cephalic  aspect  of  head  of  Entylia  sinuata.  e,  epicranium; 
s,  epicranial  suture;  o,  ocelli;  c,  compound  eye;  I,  lorae;  y,  clypeus  (cephalic 
face)  ;  a,  antennse. 

Fig.  36. — Antennae  of  Entylia  sinuata.  s,  socket;  m,  basal  segment; 
n,  second  segment  bearing  sensoria;  t,  third  segment;  x,  hairlike  termina- 
tion of  the  third  segment. 

Fig.  37a. — Ventral  aspect  of  head  of  Entylia  sinuata.  .v,  epicranium; 
o,  ocelli;  c.  compound  eye;  a,  antennae;  g,  genae;  /,  cephalic  face  of 
clypeus;  y,  ventral  face  of  clypeus;  m,  mandibular  sclerite;  *(,  maxillary 
sclerite;  lb,  labrum;  p.  epipharynx;  /,  the  thi'ee  joints  of  the  beak,  called 
labium;  .5,  maxillary  setje. 

Fig.  37b. — m,  tip  of  mandibular  setae;   n.  tip  of  maxillary  setae. 

Fig.  38a. — Lateral  aspect  of  head  of  Entylia  sinuata.  c,  compound 
eye;  d,  cephalic  face  of  clypeus;  y,  ventral  face  of  clypeus;  /,  labrum; 
e,  epipharynx;  y,  gena;  to,  mandibular  sclerite;  .r,  maxillary  sclerite; 
n,  floor  of  mouth;  k,  the  three  joints  of  the  labium. 


PLATE  XI. 


^       Fig.- 


37-A- 


Fig.-56- 


Fig.-37-B- 


Fie.-38-A- 


PLATE  XII. 

Fig.  38b. — Beak  of  Entylia  sinuata.  b,  tip  of  labrum;  p,  epipharynx; 
I,  labium;  n,  seta  of  maxillje. 

Fig.  39. — Interior  of  front  of  mouth,  y,  clypeus;  x,  mandibular 
sclerite;  n,  distal  tip  of  mandibular  sclerite;  h,  hypopharynx;  e,  grooved 
inner  surface  of  epipharynx;  z,  tip  of  epipharynx,  the  portion  beyond 
labrum;  I,  edge  of  labmm,  curving  inward  to  help  hold  setae. 

Fig.  40. — View  of  the  head  on  the  side  resting  against  the  body. 
y,  cavity  into  head;  m,  muscle  holding  head  to  thorax;  e,  epicranial 
suture;  o,  occiput;  c,  compound  eye;  t,  tentorium,  with  its  branches  which 
lead  into  the  head  and  thorax;  r,  rod  which  supports  the  labium;  n,  floor 
of  mouth;  x,  maxillary  sclerites;  /,  three  joints  of  the  labium. 

Fig.  41. — Back  of  head,  with  one  maxillary  sclerite  removed  to  show 
the  mandibular  sclerite  which  lies  in  front  of  it.  o,  occiput;  x,  maxillary 
sclerite;  p,  maxillary  process  which  guides  the  setse;  s,  maxillary  seta; 
y,  muscle  connecting  the  maxillary  seta  to  the  sclerite;  m,  mandibular 
sclerite;  6,  mandibular  seta;  v,  shows  the  articulating  joint  which  con- 
nects the  seta  to  the  sclerite;  n,  muscle  which  holds  the  mandibular  seta 
to  the  cranium. 

Fig.  42. — Cephalic  aspect  of  the  head,  with  the  mandibular  and  max- 
illary sclerites  pulled  apart,  e,  epicranium;  c,  front  face  of  the  clypeus; 
y,  ventral  face  of  the  clypeus;  d,  mandibular  sclerite;  x,  maxillary 
sclerite.     The  cross  indicates  where  the  seta  is  joined  to  the  sclerite. 


00 
lO 


•H 
ft 


PLATE  XIII. 

Pig.  43. — Section  through  the  first  segment  of  the  beak,  a,  support 
rod;  b,  inner  edge  of  beak;  c,  outer  edge  of  beak;  d,  edge  of  labrum; 
e,  mandibular  setae,  showing  opening  to  form  a  tube;  /,  maxillary  setae, 
showing  the  manner  in  which  the  two  are  grooved  together  to  form  the 
tube. 

Fig.  44. — Section  through  the  second  segment  of  the  beak,  o,  inden- 
tation for  support  rod;  6,  outer  edge  of  beak;  g,  inner  edge  of  beak;  d, 
epipharynx;  e,  mandibular  setae;  /,  maxillary  setse. 

Fig.  45. — Section  through  the  middle  of  the  third  or  last  segment  of 
the  beak,  a,  indentation  for  support  rod;  b,  inner  wall  of  beak;  c,  outer 
wall  of  beak;  /,  maxillary  sets;  e,  mandibular  setae;  m,  muscles. 

Fig.  46. — Section  through  the  tip  of  the  beak,  a,  indentation  for 
support  rod;  c,  6,  outer  wall;  x,  maxillary  setae;  m,  muscles. 

Fig.  47. — Cross  section  of  the  head,  the  plane  being  parallel  with  the 
cephalic  face,  p,  ring  of  the  pharynx;  x,  maxillary  setae;  d,  mandibular 
setae;  y,  clypeus;  m,  muscles  supporting  the  clypeus;  a;s,  maxillary 
sclerite;  ds,  mandibular  sclerite. 


PLATE  XIII. 


Fig. 43- 


rw\ 


Fig. -46- 


Fig.-44- 


Pig.-45- 


i'ig.-47- 


PLATE  XIV. 

Fig.  48. — Cross  section  parallel  with  the  beak  and  maxillary  sclerite. 
e,  compound  eye;  o,  optic  nerve;  h,  ring  of  pharynx;  x,  maxillary  seta; 
a,  muscle  holding  the  seta  to  the  cranium;  r,  retractor;  p,  protractor 
muscles;  d,  mandibular  seta;  t,  retractor;  n,  protractor;  c,  pumping 
muscles;  w,  muscles  which  operate  the  pharynx  near  the  epipharynx. 

Fig.  49. — Cross  section  near  the  back  of  the  head  parallel  with  the 
cephalic  face,  b,  lower  brain;  s,  upper  brain;  h,  oesophagus;  ni,  muscle 
which  supports  the  oesophagus;  x,  maxillary  seta;  o,  optic  nerve. 

Fig.  51. — Ventral  aspect  of  the  reproductory  organs  of  the  male. 
a,  last  abdominal  segment;  s,  subgenital  plate;  r,  claspers;  x,  z,  elaspers; 
k,  copulatory  organ;  y,  anal  plates. 

Fig.  52.- — Lateral  aspect  of  the  tip  of  the  abdomen  of  the  male,  j, 
supra-anal  plate;  p,  cercus;  r,  claspers;  x,  z,  claspers;  y,  anal  plate,  bear- 
ing the  copulatory  organ  on  its  ventral  side. 


PLATE  XIV. 


Fig. -49- 


Eig.Sa- 


Pig.-5I- 


PLATE  XV. 

Pig.  50. — Longitudinal  section  of  the  head,  a,  back  of  beak  lying 
against  the  sternum;  6,  supraoesophagal  ganglion,  or  upper  brain;  e, 
suboesophagal  ganglion,  or  lower  brain;  r,  support  rod;  p,  pumping 
muscles,  or  salivary  ejaculator;  k,  duct  leading  from  salivary  glands;  o, 
duct  from  salivary  ejaculator  (p)  to  oesophagus;  f,  floor  of  mouth;  v, 
muscles;  j,  muscles;  x,  maxillary  seta;  g,  epipharynx;  I,  labrum;  n, 
muscles  governing  pharynx;  u,  muscles  governing  pharynx;  z,  clypeus 
(ventral  face)  ;  y,  clypeus  (cephalic  face)  ;  t,  m,  muscles  supporting 
clypeus;  h,  hypopharynx. 

Fig.  53. — Ventral  aspect  of  the  tip  of  the  female  abdomen,  v,  ventral 
plate;  g,  supra-anal  plate;  r,  egg  guides;  e,  claspers;  o,  oviducts;  y,  anal 
plates. 

Fig.  54. — Lateral  aspect  of  the  tip  of  the  female  adbomen.  g,  supra- 
anal  plates;  if,  anal  plates;  gs,  subgenital  plates;  r,  claspers;  e,  egg 
guides;  v,  last  ventral  segment  of  the  abdomen. 


PLATE  XV. 


Fig. 53 


PLATE  XVI. 

Fig.  55. — Leaf  of  Cnicus  altissinms,  showing,  at  A,  the  egg  mass  laid 
by  Entylia  sinuata. 

Fig.  56. — B,  enlarged  drawing  of  vein  containing  egg  mass.    The  vein 
is  burst  open.     C,  an  egg  enlarged  31  times;  x,  miciopyle. 

Fig.  57. — Ventral  aspect  of  newly  hatched  nymph  of  Entylia  sinuata. 

Fig.  58. — Dorsal  aspect  of  nymph  of  Entylia  sinuata  after  first  moult. 

Fig.  59. — Lateral  aspect  of  nymph  of  E.  sinuata  after  second  moult. 

Fig.  60. — Lateral  aspect  of  nymph  of  E.  sinuata  after  third  moult  and 
just  preceding  the  adult  stage.     This  is  the  pupa. 

Fig.  61. — Lateral  aspect  of  E.  sinuata. 

Fig.  62. — Cephalic  aspect  of  the  head  of  E.  simiata. 


PLATE  XVI. 


Fig.    57- 


Fig. -56- 


Fig.58- 


yt 


IMMI 


Fig. -59- 


^-^,1/ 


/- 


T^ 


Fig-.    60- 


Fig.    62- 


Pig.-6I- 


PLATE  XVII. 

Fig.  63. — Tegmina  and  wing  of  Micrutalis  calva. 
Fig.  64. — Tegmina  and  wing  of  Entylia  sinuata. 
Fig.  65. — Tegmina  and  wing  of  Publilia  concava. 
Fig.  67. — Tegmina  and  wing  of  Cyrtolobiis  vau. 


> 

X 

m 

CM 


PLATE  XVIII. 

Fig.  66. — Tegmina  and  wing  of  Stictocephala  inermis. 

Fig.  68. — Tegmen  of  species  determined  in  K.  U.  collection  as  Vanduzea 
vestita. 

Fig.  69. — Tegmen  and  wing  of  Vanduzea  arquata. 

Fig.  70. — Tegmen  and  wing  of  Campylenchia  curvata. 


> 


PLATE  XJX. 

Fig.  71. — Tegmen  and  wing  of  Enchenopa  hinotata. 

Fig.  75. —  Tegmen  of  Ceresa  bubalus  with  veins  and  cells  named. 
L,  limbus  or  membrane;  c,  corium  or  embolium;  a,  costa;  b,  radia; 
u,  ulnar;  x,  z,  anals;  1,  2,  3,  basal  cells;  3,  also  sutural  area;  f,  sutural 
fold;  9,  JO,  11,  discoidal  cells;  1,,  5,  6,  7,  8,  apical  cells;  6,  terminal  apical 
cell;  y,  clavus. 


PLATE  XIX. 


PLATE  XX. 

Fig.  76. — Legs  of  E.  sinnata.  a,  prothoracic  leg;  6,  mesothoracic  leg; 
e,  metathoracic  leg. 

Fig.  77. — Legs  of  Campylenchia  curvata.  a,  prothoracic  leg — the  coxa 
and  femur  have  separated;  b,  mesothoracic  leg;  c,  metathoracic  leg. 

Fig.  78. — Tegmen  of  Vandiizea  arquata. 

Fig.  79. — Tegmen  of  Cyrtolobus  vau. 

Fig.  80. — Tegmen  of  Aaitalis  tartarea.  ^ 

Fig.  81. — Tegmen  of  MicrutaKs  occidentalis. 

Fig.  82. — Tegmen  of  Micrutalis  calva. 

Fig.  83. — Tegmen  of  Entylia  sinuata. 

Fig.  84. — Tegmen  of  Telamona  pyramidata. 


X 
X 

H 
<! 

PL, 


-PVs 


> 


I       ^ 


\. 


^ 


di 


s 


PLATE  XXI. 

Fig.  3. — Cercopidae. 

Fig.  4. — Cicadidse. 

Fig.  85. — Tegmen  of  Enchenopa  hinotata. 

Fig.  86. — Tegmen  of  Campy lenchia  curvata. 

Fig.  87. — Tegmen  of  Ceresa  huhalus. 

Fig.  88. — Tegmen  of  Ceresa  diceros. 

Fig.  89. — Tegmen  of  Stictocephala  inermis. 

Fig.  90. — Tegmen  of  Stictocephala  lutea. 


bD 

•H 


bO 

■H 


03 


bD 

P4 


ha 

■H 


\r' 


EXPLANATION  OF  PLATES. 
(All  figures  enlarged  except  figure  116,  which  is  less  than  natural  size.) 


PLATE  XXII. 

External  Anatomy  of  Tachytes  distinctus. 

Fig.  1. — Lateral  view  of  thorax;  1,  prothorax;  2,  mesothorax;  3  meta- 
thorax;  i,  propodeum  (first  abdominal  segment — median  segment);  Cx, 
coxa;  Epm,  epimeron;  Eps,  episternum;  It,  first  abdominal  segment; 
L,  lateral  lobe  of  pronotum;  N,  notum;  pi,  pleuron;  pn,  postnotum;  Scl, 
scutellum;  Set,  scutum;  Sp,  spiracle  of  first  abdominal  segment;  tg, 
tegula;  2t,  basal  portion  of  second  abdominal  segment. 

Fig.  2. — Lateral  view  of  abdomen;  2,  second  abdominal  segment;  7, 
seventh  abdominal  segment;  pg,  pygidial  area;  s,  sternum;  t,  tergum. 

Fig.  3. — Dorsal  view  of  thorax;  symbols  as  in  fig.  1;  AF,  apical  fovea 
of  propodeum;  F,  parapsidal  furrow;  FW,  base  of  fore  wing;  PF, 
posterior  sulcus  of  propodeum;  S,  socket  of  fore  wing  (the  tegula  being 
removed). 

Fig.  4. — Ventral  view  of  thorax;  symbols  as  in  fig.  1;  S,  sternum. 

Fig.  5. — Hind  leg,  anterior  lateral  view;  Cx,  coxa;  /,  femur;  Tar,  tar- 
sus; tb,  tibia;  tr,  trochanter. 

Fig.  6. — Anterior  (front)  view  of  head;  C,  clypeus;  /,  frons;  g,  glossa; 
ia,  ocellar  area;  /,  labrum;  m,  mandible;  mx,  maxilla;  p,  labial  palpus; 
Vx,  vertex. 


PLATE  XXIII. 

Tachytes  distinctus. 

Fig.  7. — Ventral  view  of  mouth  parts;  C,  cardo  (the  paler  inner  half 
may  represent  the  lorum)  ;  d,  sclerite  before  labial  palpus;  e,  sclerite 
before  tip  of  mentum,  connected  with  d;  f,  prong  ("basal  hooks  of  the 
glossa")  of  the  ventral  plate  of  the  glossa;  GL,  glossa;  gr,  ventral  apical 
furrow  of  ligula;  LP,  labial  palpus;  M,  mentum;  MD,  base  of  mandible; 
MP,  maxillary  palpus;  MX  galea  of  maxilla;  O,  ventral  portion  of  oc- 
ciput; PGL,  paraglossa;  SMT,  submentum;  ST,  stipe;  .r,  ventral  sup- 
porting plate  of  ligula. 

Fig.  8. — Lateral  view  of  mouth  parts  exclusive  of  maxillas  and  man- 
dibles; symbols  as  in  fig.  7;  b,  passage  to  the  blind  sac  t;  C,  clypeus;  D, 
salivary  duct;  EPH,  epiphaiynx;  g,  ventral  plate  of  glossa;  h,  sclerite  on 
under  side  of  the  plate  or  scale,  i,  of  paraglossa;  k,  basal  scale  of  ligula; 
L,  labrum;  o,  passage  to  pharynx;  p,  anterior  end  or  lobe  of  pharynx; 
s,  "hypopharyngeal  sclerite"  (Sharp)  ;  /,  pouch  or  blind  sac. 

Fig.  9. — Interior  lateral  view  of  maxilla;  C,  cardo;  L,  lacinia;  SMT, 
submentum;  MX,  galea;  iV,  less  heavily  chitinized  inner  portion  of  cardo, 
may  be  the  lorum;  /.<,  base  of  palpus;  St,  stipe. 

Fig.  10. — A  nearly  lateral  view  (ventral  portion  slightly  inclined 
toward  observer)  of  the  mouth  parts  exclusive  of  the  mandibles;  symbols 
as  in  figs.  7  and  8;  n,  small  sclerite  under  clypeus;  r,  "epipharyngeal 
sclerites"  (Sharp)  =  pharyngeal  rods. 

Fig.  11. — Dor.sa!  view  of  labium  (slightly  diagrammatic),  to  show  the 
path  followed  by  food  as  indicated  by  the  arrows,  lettering  as  in  fig.  8; 
A,  apical  arrow,  the  beginning  course  for  liquid  food;  6,  second  slope  of 
ligula  and  passage  to  blind  sac;  c,  lower  edge  of  first  slope  to  ligula; 
.so,  opening  of  salivary  duct;  .r,  first  slope  of  ligula. 

Fig.  12.- -One  of  the  hooks  in  the  middle  field  of  a  series  along  the 
costal  vein.  A,  of  the  second  pair  of  wings. 

Fig.  13. — Anterior  view  of  fore  coxas  of  male,  showing  the  coxal 
process,  H;  tr,  trochanter. 


PLATE  XXIII. 


PLATE  XXIV. 

Fig.  14. — Fore  and  hind  wing  of  Tachytes  distincius  o  ;  the  veins 
are  named  according  to  the  system  used  by  Cresson;  lettering  largely 
after  Fernald  (Chlorioninas  of  N.  A.)  ;  a,  anal;  am,  apical  margin;  ap, 
appendiculate  vein;  ax,  axillary;  6,  basal;  c,  costal;  cu,  cubital;  d,  dis- 
coidal;  ff,  f renal  fold;  fh,  f renal  hooks;  m,  median;  pm,  posterior  mar- 
gin; r,  marginal  or  radial;  rei,  first  recurrent;  re2,  second  recurrent; 
s,  stigma;  sc,  subcostal;  sd,  subdiscoidal;  si,  sinus;  tci,  first  transverso- 
cubital;  tc2,  second  transverso-cubital ;  tc-s,  third  transverso-cubital ;  tm, 
transverse-median. 

Fig.  15. — Fore  and  hind  wing  of  Tachysphex  propuiquus  j  ;  the 
cells  named  according  to  the  Cressonion  nomenclature;  lettering  after 
Fernald;  a,  anal;  api,  first  apical;  ap2,  second  apical;  apd,  appendiculate 
cell;  c,  costal;  cu\,  first  cubital  or  submarginal;  cu2,  second  cubital  or 
submarginal;  cms,  third  cubital  or  submarginal;  d\,  first  discoidal;  d2. 
second  discoidal;  da,  discoidal;  m,  median;  r,  radial  or  marginal;  sm, 
submedian. 

Fig.  16. — Wings  of  Larra  analis    Q  . 

Fig.  17. — Wings  of  Bothynostethus  distinctus    J  . 

Fig.  18. — Wings  of  Niteliopsis  foxii    g    (type) . 

Fig.  19. — Wings  of  Miscophus  americanus    q  . 

Fig.  20. — Wings  of  Plenoculus  apicalis. 


PLATE  XXIV. 


I         .  ^ — I — .'i    y 


sj  tm  d  c'u 


apd 


PLATE  XXV. 

Fig.  21. — Mandible  of  Tachytes  distinetus,  showing  the  emargination. 

Fig.  22. — Mandible  of  Tachytes  distinetus,  showing  the  two  teeth  within. 

Fig.  23.    Mandible  of  Larropsis  aurantia. 

Fig.  24. — Mandible  of  Larra  analis,  showing  two  indistinct  teeth  within. 

Fig.  25. — Mandible  of  Tachytes  obscurus  o  .  Note  that  the  stout 
mandible  is  quite  narrowly  emarginate. 

Fig.  26. — Mandible  of  Tachytes  niergus.    Note  its  slenderness. 

Fig.  27. — Mandible  of  Tachysphex,  showing  the  deep  and  rather  broad 
emargination. 

Fig.  28. — Mandible  of  Niteliopsis  foxii    o     (type)  ;  A,  lower  margin. 

Fig.  29. — Joints  2  to  4  of  antenna  of  Niteliopsis  foxii    o     (type). 

Fig.  30. — Antenna  of  Niteliopsis  inerme    j-    g  . 

Fig.  31. — Joints  8  and  9  of  antenna  of  Tachysphex  propinquus    ^  . 

Fig.  32a. — Joints  2  to  4  of  antenna  of  Tachysphex  terminatus    o  . 

Fig.  32b. — Joints  2  to  4  of  antenna  of  Tachysphex  fusus    o  . 

Fig.  33. — Portion  of  the  inner  (posterior)  margin  of  the  fore  wing  of 
Tachytes  distinetus,  showing  the  fold  or  upturned  edge,  F,  of  the  wing; 
AN,  anal  vein;  DN,  discoidal  vein;  SDN,  subdiscoidal  vein. 


PLATE  XXV. 


PLATE  XXVI. 

Fig.  34. — Ocellar  area  of  Notogonia  argentata.  Note  the  small,  nearly 
transverse  posterior  ocelli. 

Fig.  35.— Ocellar  area  of  Tachysphex  tarsatus.  The  posterior  ocelli 
are  in  a  reniform  or  oblong  area. 

Fig.  36. — Ocellar  area  of  Larropsis  aurantia.  Note  the  broad  ocellar 
area. 

Fig.  37. — Ocellar  area  of  Lyroda  triloba. 

Fig.  38. — Ocellar  area  of  Plenocidus  apicalis. 

Fig.  39. — Ocellar  area  of  Tachytes  distinctus.  Note  the  long  sub- 
parallel  posterior  ocelli  and  the  rather  narrow  ocellar  area. 

Fig.  40. — Antenna  of  Tachytes  mandibularis  t  ,  to  show  the  convexity 
of  the  lower  surface  of  joints  3  to  7. 

Fig.  41. — Antenna  of  Tachytes  distinctus;  b,  bulb  of  scape;  /,  flagel- 
lum;  p,  pedicel;  s,  scape. 

Fig.  42. — Antenna  of  Tachytes  fulviventris  ^  ,  to  show  the  broadened 
joints  9-11. 

Fig.  43. — Antenna  of  Plenoculns  apicalis    ^  . 

Fig.  44. — Basal  portion  of  antenna  of  Plenoculus  apicalis    j  . 

Fig.  45. — Basal  portion  of  antenna  of  Plenoculus  apicalis    j>  . 

Fig.  46. — Tip  of  fore  wing  of  Larropsis  psenerugosa    ^     (type). 

Fig.  47. — Tip  of  fore  wing  of  Tachysphex  texanus    j  . 

Fig.  48. — Tip  of  fore  wing  of  Tachysphex  acuta    j  . 

Fig.  49. — Lateral  view  of  thorax  of  Notogonia  argentata,  showing  the 
comparatively  long  propodeum. 

Fig.  50. — Semidiagrammatic  dorsal  view  of  disc  of  propodeum  of 
Bothynostethus  distinctus,  showing  the  character  of  sculpture. 

Fig.  51. — Lateral  view  of  thorax  of  Larropsis,  showing  the  compara- 
tively short  propodeum. 


I  34 


^37 


PLATE  XXVI. 

^i^''   35 

o  -  o 

O  38 


^; 


r 


36 


/^ 


45 


46 


PLATE  XXVII. 

Fig.  52. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tachytes  mandibularis    ^    o  . 

Fig.  53. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tachytes  rufofasciatus    g  . 

Fig.  53a. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tachytes  fulviventris    z  ■ 

Fig.  54. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tachytes  obductus    o  . 

Fig.  55. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tachytes  abdominalis    g  . 

Fig.  56. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tachytes  validus    p  . 

Fig.  57. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tachytes  distinctus   ^    j  . 

Fig.  58. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tachytes  obseurus    j>  . 

Fig.  59. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tachytes  pepticus    ^    j  . 

Fig.  60. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tachytes  sericatus    g  . 

Fig.  61. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tachytes  mergus    ^  . 

Fig.  62. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tachysphex  tarsatus    ^    j  . 

Fig.  6.3. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tachysphex  terminatus    g  . 

Pig.  64. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tachysphex  fusus    j  . 

Fig.  65. — Anterior  m?,rgin  of  clypeus  of  Tachysphex  glabrior   ^  . 

Fig.  66. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tachysphex  belfragei    (^  . 

Fig.  67. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tacfei/sp/iexdewtafMS  (type)  j. 

Fig.  68. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tachysphex  crenuloides 
(type)  5  . 

Fig.  69. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tachysphex  clarconis 
(type)  9  . 

Fig.  70. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tachysphex  propinquus   ^  . 

Fig.  71. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tachysphex  dub'ms    ^  . 

Fig.  72. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tachysphex  crassiformis 
(type)  5  . 

Fig.  73. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Tachysphex  propinquus    g  . 

Fig.  74. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Bothynostethus  distinctus    ^  . 

Fig.  75. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Miscophus  amerieanus    ^  . 

Fig.  76. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Plenoculus  apicalis    g  . 

Fig.  77. — Anterior  margin  of  clypeus  of  Plenoculus  apicalis  ^  .  Note 
the  tuft  of  hair  on  either  side. 


PLATE  XXVII. 


54 
55     V 


PLATE  XXVIII. 

{Figs.  78-81  with  tiie  finer  hairs  omitted.) 

Fig.  78. — Fore  tarsus  of  Larropsis  o  ,  showing  the  fossorial  comb 
of  moderate  bristles. 

Fig.  79. — Fore  tarsus  of  Tachytes  distinctus  ^  o  .  The  o  has  the 
fossorial  comb  much  better  developed. 

Fig.  80. — Fore  tarsus  of  Notogonia  argentata  o  .  Note  the  weak 
comb;  the  insect  works  more  often  in  heavy  soil. 

Fig.  81. — Fore  tarsus  of  Tachysphex  propinquiis  o  .  The  long,  flexi- 
ble spines  work  to  advantage  in  a  sandy  country. 

Fig.  82. — Hind  tibia  of  Tachytes  abdonnnalis  g  ,  showing  a  row  of 
stout,  blunt  thorns  on  outer  side. 

Fig.  8.3. — Ventral  view  of  femur  of  Tachytes  distinctus  ^  ,  showing 
emargination. 

Fig.  84. — Lateral  view  of  fore  femur  of  Larropsis  ater  j  ,  showing 
emargination  near  base.     Note  the  inner  tooth;  tr,  trochanter. 

Fig.  85. — Lateral  view  of  portion  of  fore  femur  of  Tachytes  dis- 
tinctus   ^  . 

Fig.  86. — Two  views  of  hind  femur  of  Bothy nostethiis  distinctus,  shov/- 
ing  apical  thickening. 

Fig.  87. — Lateral  view  of  fore  femur  of  Tachysphex  tarsatus    ^  . 

Fig.  88. — Antennal  cleaner  of  Notogonia  argentata;  tb,  tibia;  s,  modi- 
fied spur;  tar,  tarsus  with  fringed  emargination. 

Fig.  89. — Antennal  cleaner  of  Astata  sp.,  one  of  the  Nyssonidse,  show- 
ing the  furcation  of  the  modified  tibial  spur,  a  character  not  found  in 
the  Larridae. 


PLATE  XXVIII. 


PLATE  XXIX. 

Fig.  90. — Pygidium  of  Tachytes  mandibularis    o  . 
Fig.  91. — Pygidium  of  Tachytes  obductus    o  . 
Fig.  92. — Pygidium  of  Tachytes  distinctus    o  . 
Fig.  93. — Pyigdium  of  Tachytes  mergus    o  . 
Fig.  94. — Pygidium  of  Tachytes  distinctus    o  . 
Fig.  95. — Pygidium  of  Bothynostetkus  distinctus    j>  . 
Fig.  96. — Pygidium  of  Lyroda  subita    o  . 
Fig.  97. — Pygidium  of  Notogonia  argentata    q  . 

Fig.  98. — Pygidium  of  Niteliopsis  foxii  q  (type) .  The  area  has  no 
bounding  earing. 

Fig.  99. — Pygidium  of  Larropsis  divisa    o  . 

Fig.  100. — Eighth  ventral  plate  of  Larropsis  ater   ^  . 

Fig.  101. — Eighth  ventral  plate  of  Larropsis  bruneii    j>  . 

Fig.  102. — Pygidium  of  Plenoculus  apicalis    q  . 

Fig.  103. — Dorsal  view  of  end  of  abdomen  of  Plenoculus  apicalis  j>  , 
showing  eighth  ventral  segment. 

Fig.    104. — Pygidium  of  Tachysphex  propinguus   q  . 

Fig.  105. — Pygidium  of  Tachysphex  crenuloides    q  (cotype) . 

Fig.  106. — Pygidium  of  Tachysphex  dentatus    q  (type) . 

Fig.  107. — Pygidium  of  Larra  arialis    o  . 

Fig.  108. — Apical  portion  of  eighth  ventral  plate  of  Tachytes  mandibu- 
laris   J  . 

Fig.  109. — Apical  portion  of  eighth  ventral  plate  of  Tachytes  pep- 
ticus    J  . 

Fig.  110. — Apical  portion  of  eighth  venti'al  plate  of  Tachytes  fulvi- 
ventris    ^  . 

Fig.  111. — Apical  portion  of  eighth  ventral  plate  of  Tachytes  dis- 
tinctus    7  . 


PLATE  XXIX. 


JX 


91 


If 


mm. 


f'>'i^!?ymm^^>^f^ 


100 


104 


101 


105 


108       109      110    .111 


103 


107 


PLATE  XXX. 

Fig.  112. — Tachysphex  prophiquus  ^  ,  dragging  the  locust  Mesto- 
bregma  kiowa  ^  to  her  nest.  Grant  county,  Kansas,  August,  1911. 
The  wasp  seizes  the  locust's  antenna  with  her  mandibles  and  holds  the 
body  of  her  prey  with  her  posterior  pair  of  legs,  using  the  four  an- 
terior ones  in  travehng. 

Fig.  113. — Egg  of  Tachijtes  distinctus.  The  cephalic  end  is  the  more 
enlarged  one,  toward  the  middle  of  the  page. 

Fig.  114. — Front  and  anterior  ventral  view  of  a  full-grown  larva  of 
Tachytes  distinctus.     Rooks  county,  Kansas,  August,  1912. 

Fig.  115. — Lateral  view  of  a  half-grown  larva  of  Tachytes  distinctus. 

Fig.  116. — Entrance  to  nest  of  Tachytes  distinctus.  Rooks  county, 
Kansas,  August,  1912. 

Fig.  117. — Ventral  aspect  of  young  CEdipodinae,  showing  egg,  E,  of 
Tachysphex  tarsatus  transversely  arranged  on  prosternum,  where  it  is 
secured  behind  the  left  coxa.     Rooks  county,  Kansas,  August,  1912. 

Fig.  118. — Ventral  aspect  of  head  and  thorax  of  young  cricket  (Gryl- 
lus) ,  showing  the  egg,  E.  of  Notogonia  argentata,  secured  on  inner  side 
and  at  the  base  of  the  left  anterior  coxa.  Lawrence,  Kansas,  Septem- 
ber, 1911. 

Fig.  119. — Ventral  aspect  of  young  hemipterous  insect  (Capsidae), 
showing  the  egg,  E,  of  Niteliopsis  inerme  transversely  arranged  behind 
the  fore  legs  and  secured  behind  the  right  coxa.  Ellis  county,  Kansas, 
July,  1912. 

Fig.  120. — Ventral  aspect  of  a  young  hemipterous  insect  {Atomos- 
celis,  fam.  Capsidae)  showing  a  young  Plenondus  apicalis  larva  feeding 
on  same. 


PLATE  XXX. 


PLATE  XXXI. 

Fig.  1. — Adult  Melittia  s7iowi    p     (alar  expanse,  23  mm.). 
Fig.  2. — Mature  larva  of  Melittia  snowi  (length,  26  mm.). 
Fig.  3. — Cocoon  of  Melittia  snowi  (length,  17  mm.). 
Fig.  4. — Egg  of  Melittia  snowi  (length,  about  .8  mm.). 
Fig.  5. — Pupal  shell  of  Melittia  snorvi  (length,  18  mm.). 
Fig.  6. — Pupal  shell  of  Melittia  gtoriosa    o  (length,  47  mm.). 


PLATE  XXXI. 


PLATE  XXXII. 

Fig.  7. — Galls    on     Cucurbit  a    foetidissima,    made    by    the    larva    of 
Melittia   imowi. 

Fig.  8. — A  gall  formed  from  a  tendril  stem. 
Length  of  shoot   (fig.  7).  240  mm. 


PLATE  XXXII. 


PLATE  XXXIII. 

Fig.  1. — Mimesa  argcntifrons    o  (x3.8). 

Fig.  2. — Burrow  of  Priovonyx  atrata  ^  ■  Cell  contains  the  locust, 
Aulocara  elUotti.    About  natural  size. 

Fig.  3. — Athysaniis  exitiosa,  the  prey  of  Mimesa  argentifrons  (x  3.8). 

Fig.  4. — Harpactiis  gyponse    q  (x  3.8). 

Fig.  5. — Gypona  cinerea,  the  prey  of  Harpactus  gyponx  (x  3.8). 

Fig.  6. — Dorsal  view  of  Melanoplus  lakinus  g  ,  showing  egg  {E)  of 
Priononyx  atraia.   (x  1.6). 

Fig.  7. — Priononyx  atrata    g   (  X  1.6) . 


PLATE  XXXIII. 


wjf. 


PLATE  XXXIV. 

Fig.  1. — Vertical  section  of  a  nest  of  Pt.  5-faciatus;  eggs  suspended  in 
cells. 

Figs.  2,  3  and  4. — Vertical  sections  of  nests  of  O.  ciorsalis,  opening  in 
level  ground;  eggs  suspended  in  some  cells. 

Fig.  5. — Vertical  section  of  nest  of  O.  dofsalis,  opening  in  face  of  bank. 

Figs.  6  and  7. — Vertical  sections  of  nests  of  0.  arvensis;  tube  over 
entrance. 

Fig.  8. — Nest  of  Eumenes  on  a  rock. 

Figs.  9  and  10. — Nests  of  E.  bolli. 

Fig.  11. — Earthen  bank  inhabited  by  O.  hildapi  and  by  a  colony  of 
O.  papagorum.    Photo  by  F.  X.  Williams. 


PLATE  XXXIV. 


b.i.-oa"-^-  '• 


PLATE  XXXV. 

Fig.  12. — Vertical  section  of  nest  of  O.  hildagi. 

Fig.  13. — Cell  of  nest  of  O.  hildagi. 

Fig.  14. — Vertical  section  of  nest  of  O.  annulatus;  tube  over  entrance. 

Fig.  1-5. — Vertical  section  of  nest  of  O.  annulatus;  all  parts  brought 
into  one  plane;  tube  removed. 

Fig.  16. — Tube  over  entrance  to  nest  shown  in  figure  15. 

Fig.  17. — Tube  extending  from  bank  over  entrance  of  nest  of  O. 
papagonim. 

Figs.  18  and  19. — Horizontal  sections  of  burrows  of  O.  papagorum, 
showing  arrangement  of  entrances  of  cells  and  galeries  into  main  burrow. 

Figs.  20  and  22. — Vertical  sections  of  nests  of  O.  papagorum,  with 
tubes  over  entrance. 

Fig.  21. — Vertical  section  of  lower  part  of  a  nest  of  O.  papagorum; 
eggs  in  cells. 

Fig.  2.3.— Nest  of  E.  fraternus. 


PLATE  XXXV. 


71g.    13 


fig.    18. 


Fig.    19 


Fig.    23. 


Fig.    no. 


FlR.    21. 


PLATE  XXXVI. 
Fig.  24. — O.  papagomm. 
Fig.  25. — O.  arveiisis. 


PLATE  XXXVI. 


Pig.    24. 


Fig.    26. 


PLATE  XXXVII 

IG.  26.- 

-E.   holli. 

'IG.  27.- 

—Pt.  5-faciatus. 

PLATE  XXXVII. 


fig.    2C. 


gig.  ,Z7.I 


PLATE  XXXVIII. 

Fig.  1.  Typical  breeding  place  of  Simulmni  vittatum,  Turkey  creek, 
Oswego,  Kan. 

Fig.  2.  Pups  on  the  under  side  of  a  stone,  from  ripples  in  the  stream 
shown  in  figure  1.     (Slightly  reduced.) 

Fig.  3.  A  Sivmlium  fly  trap  in  a  ripple,  showing  the  method  of  catch- 
ing the  flies  as  they  emerge.  When  removing  the  flies  from  the  trap  a 
black  cloth  is  put  around  the  white  cone  over  which  Prof.  S.  J.  Hunter 
is  holding  a  glass  bottle  for  the  flies  to  emerge  into. 


PLATE  XXXVIII. 


Fig.    1 


Fig.   Z 


Fig.   3     . 


PLATE  XXXIX. 

P'IG.  5.    Female  S.  vittatnui.      (Greatly  enlarged). 

Fig.  6.    Male  S.  vittatiim.     (Greatly  enlarged). 

Fig.  7.  Dorsal  view  of  Simulium  pupa  removed  from  pupa  case,  t.lio.v- 
ing  pupal  breathing  gills  and  development  of  wing  pads. 

Fig.  8.  Simulium  pupa  immediately  after  transforming  from  the  lar- 
val state,  showing  the  immature  development  of  wing  pads. 

Fig.  9.  Lateral  view  of  pupa,  showing  the  membrane  which  hold.s  it 
in  the  pupa  case. 

Fig.   10.    .\d\\\i  Shimlium  larva. 

Fig.   U.    Adult  Simulium  larvae,  showing  the  proleg  at  P  and  the  caudal 
aperture  at  .4.     (See  plate  XVI,  figure  -34,  A.) 
Fig.  12.    Similium  egg  highly  magnified. 
Fig.  13.    Mass  of  Simil^^nn  eggs  magTiified. 
Fig.  21.    Mandibles  and  part  of  clypeus. 

Fig.  23.    Labrum  and  hypopharynx  united.    .4  and  B,  points  of  attach- 
ment; H,  hypopharynx;  L,  labrum. 
Fig.  25.    Wing  of  S.  vattatum. 


PLATE  XXXIX. 


^f? 


Pi«-.  5 


Tig.   8 


Fig.    10 


Fig.   21 


^^ 


Fig.   6 


F:2e.    7 


Jig.   9 


Eig.    12 


Pig.   13 


Jig.   11 


Fig.   25 


*/ 


H  Ml 

Jig.  23 


PLATEi  XL. 

Fig.  14.  Compo.site  view  of  head  and  mouth  parts  of  Siiiiiiliiiiii  vU- 
tatnui.  E,  eyes;  C.  elypeus;  MD,  mandible;  MX.  maxilla;  LA,  labium; 
uoo,  muscular  attachments  of  labrum  and  elypeus;  LM.  labium;  HPY, 
hypopharynx;  oo,  attachments  of  hypopharynx  and  labrum. 

Fig.  1.5.  Lacina  of  maxilla,  greatly  enlarged,  showing  the  barb-like 
teeth  turned  backward  on  it. 

Fig.  16.  End  of  labrum,  showing  the  chitinized  parts  and  the  two 
teeth. 

Fig.  17.  Maxilla  of  S.  rittiitntii.  C.  cardo;  S,  stipes;  PF,  palpifei-; 
L,  lacina;  PA,  palpus. 

Fig.  18.  End  of  mandible,  greatly  enlarged  to  show  the  saw-like  teeth 
on  its  end. 

Fig.  19.    Antennae  of  S.  vittatum. 

Fig.  20.    C,  elypeus;  M,  mandibles. 

Fig.  22.    Mandible.     C,   condyle  (?)    of  mandible. 

Fig.  24.  A'  B',  points  of  hypopharynx  where  A  and  B  of  the  labrum 
attach. 


PLATE  XL. 


Fig.    16 


PLATE  XLI. 

Fig.  26.  Composite  view  of  head  of  a  female  S.  viffafimi.  (.-^U  pho- 
toKi'aph.s  of  the  fly  except  the  one  of  the  pupae  on  the  stone  are  greatly 
enlarged  views  of  the  specimens. 

Fig.  27.    Hypopharynx  and  maxilla  of  S.  vittatum. 

Fig.  28.  Composite  view  of  mouth  parts,  showing  all  the  parts  intact 
except  the  labium,  which  is  entirely  removed.  The  hypopharynx  is  turned 
under  and  upward  in  the  photojrraph. 

Fig.  29.  Male  S.  vittatum  mouth  parts.  Note  the  tip  of  the  labrum 
has  the  two  teeth  coalesced.  Note  the  difference  in  the  size  of  the  facets 
of  the  eye. 

Fig.  30.  Labium  of  female.  All  mouth  parts  figured  are  of  the  female 
except  figure  28.     G,  glossa;  PG,  paraglossa;  .1-/,  mentum. 

Fig.  .31.  Ventral  view  of  head  of  SimuUum  larva,  showing  the  fan- 
like organs  spread  out. 

Fig.  32.  MD,  mandible  of  Siinnliinii  larva;  AT.  antennas  of  Siiniilivm 
larva.     (According  to  Johannsen.) 

Fig.  33.    Maxilla  of  Siinnlinin  larva,  showing  the  palpus  at  P. 

Fig.  34.    Labium  of  Simiilhim  larva. 

Fig.  3.5.  LA,  labrum  of  Siimilimn  larva;  HI',  hypopharynx  of  Siiiiii- 
liiini  larva;  A,  anal  aperture  of  Simulium  larva.  The  U-shaped  pait  lies 
dorso-cephalad  to  the  rest  of  it  in  the  larva.  Note  the  rasp-like  forma- 
tion of  this  organ.    The  larva  uses  it  to  hold  onto  the  stones  in  the  ripples. 


PLATE  XLI. 


Pi«.   33 


G      P 


lig.   31 


M 

>    rig.  30 


Pig.  32 


PLATE  XLII. 

Map  of  Kansas,  showing'  the  location  and  distribution  of  ShuiiUiiiii 
flies.  A  complete  survey  of  Kansas  for  Simulium  has  not  been  made,  but 
the  survey  that  has  been  made  to  date  as  shown  by  the  map  would  indi- 
cate that  Si'mnliniii  flies  are  generally  distributed  over  the  state  where 
there  are  year-round  flowing  streams  of  water.     S,  location  of  Simnliiim. 


X 
< 

Oh 


PLATE  XLIII. 
Fig.  1. 
Lateral  view  of  female  fly. 
Pn — Pronotuni. 
n — Notum  of  mesothorax. 
ms — mesothoracic  spiracle, 
m's — metathoracic  spiracle. 
m"s — mesosternum. 
as — abdominal  spiracles. 
tr — tarsi, 
c — ^costa. 
sc — subcosta. 

e — emargination  marking  junction  of  r  with  costa. 
r — radius. 

v-\ radius  2  +  3  +  4  +  5. 

m+m' — media  1  and  2. 
en — cupitus. 
a — anal  veins. 

Fig.  2. 

Dissection  study  of  fly  from  left  side. 

In  the  thorax  the  oblique  muscles  have  been  removed  to  show  the  left 
longitudinal  thoracic  muscle  in  place  but  shrunken — the  trachea,  t,  is 
shown  also  in  figure  5  as  dotted.  A  portion  of  the  metathoracic  integu- 
ment (in)  is  left  intact  to  show  metathoracic  spiracle. 

s — stomach. 

mp — Malpighian  tubules  of  left  side  shown. 

h — dorsal  vessel. 

rp — rectal  pouch  also  shown  in  fig.  .3. 

i — chitinized  invagination. 

th — muscle  of  thorax. 

Fig.  3. 
Rectal  pouch  showing  striations  and  three  of  the  papillas — rp.     These 
show  the  nuclei,  having  been  stained  with  borax  carmine. 

Fig.  4. 
Salivary  glands. 

d — common  duct  leading  to  salivary  receptacle, 
r — reservoir, 
g — gland  showing  nuclei — from  a  stained  specimen. 


PLATE  XLIII. 


""'tai?' 


Fw.i 


UBMunectlonl^-  J,l. 


PLATE  XLIV. 

Fig.  5. 

Intejjument  of  left  side  removed  to  show  tracheal  system.  Trachea 
dotted  in — not  visible  from  surface  view.  Portions  of  integument  left 
lo  support  the  meso-  and  meta-thoracic  spiracles. 

ms — mesothoracic  spiracle. 

m's — metathoracic  spiracle. 

in — integument  of  meta  thorax. 

tr — trachea. 

mt — main  trunk  of  trachea  in  thorax. 

Fig.  6. 

Reproductive  and  nervous  systems. 

ov — ovary   (left). 

s — salivary  gland  (left). 

nc — nerve  cord. 

st — spermatheca. 

c — chitinized  invagination. 

Fig  7. 

Female  genital  apparatus — view  from  above. 

st — spermatheca. 

or — chitinized   rod. 

ag — accessory  glands. 

rp — rectal  pouch. 

n — muscular  attachment  of  chitinized  rod. 

Fig.  8. 

v — terminal  valves. 

go — genital  pore. 

r — attachment  of  cephalic  end  of  the  chitinized  rod  shown  in  figuie   i" 
The  black  line  shows  the  arch  of  the  chitinized  rod. 

Fig.  9. 

Ventral  view  of  abdomen  of  female  showing  fat  body  and  ovaries 
in  position. 

F— fat  body. 

n — Malpighian  tubule. 

ov — ovary. 

sp — spermatheca. 

a — anus. 


PLATE  XLIV. 


Fig.  6 


JOr^ 


Fig.  8 


FW-9      ^M^i^^/^-^nl^J,/ 


PLATE  XLV. 

Fig.  10. 
Sketch  showing  attachment  of  niaxiUa  to  chitinized  brace  of  head. 

Fig.  11. 
Head  and  food  reservoir, 
c — chitinized  color. 
Ph — pharynx, 
sy — salivary  receptacle, 
oe — oesophagus. 
Per — proventriculus. 
Fr — food   reservoir. 

Fig.  12. 
Projection  drawing  of  a  microtome  section  of  head, 
tm — thoracic  muscle, 
br — brain. 

roe — oesophageal  muscle. 
Phy — muscles  of  pharynx. 
Im — muscles  of  labrum. 
sr — salivary  reservoir. 
Ph — pharynx, 
g — oesophageal  ganglion. 
Ir — labrum. 


PLATE  XLV. 


//l^.V^Jteelfoil.        yj 


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"       III,    No.  1,  supply  exhausted.     No.  2,  supply  exhausted.     No.  3,  supply 
small;   price,   75   cents.     No.   4,  supply   small;   price,   50   cents. 
Price  per  volume,  $3. 
"       IV.    No.  1,  supply  small;  price,  50  cents.     No.  2,  supply  small;  price,  75 
cents.    No.  3,  supply  exhausted.    No.  4,  supply  exhausted.    Price 
per  volume,  $3. 
"        V.    Nos.  1  and  2,  supply  exhausted.     Price  per  volume,  $2.     Volume  V 

consists  of  only  two  numbers. 
"       VI,  A.     Nos.  1,  2,  3,  and  4,  supply  exhausted.    Price  per  volume,  $3. 
"       VI,  B.    Nos.  1,  2,  3,  and  4,  supply  large;  price  per  number,  50  cents; 

price  per  volume,  $2. 
"      VII,  A.     Nos.  1,  2,  3,  and  4,  supply  exhausted.    Price  per  volume,  $3. 
"      VII,  B.    Nos.  1  and  2  (double  number),  3,  and  4,  supply  large;  price  per 

number,  50  cents;  price  per  volume,  $2. 
"      VIII,  A.     Nos.  1,  2,  3,  and  4,  supply  large;  price  per  number,  50  cents; 

price  per  volume,  $2. 
"      VIII,  B.     No.  1,  supply  small;  price  50  cents.    Publication  suspended. 
"        IX,  A.     Nos.  1,  2,  3,  and  4,  supply  large;  price  per  number,  50  cents;  per 

volume,  $2. 
"         X,  A.    Nos.  1,  2,  3,  and  4,  supply  large;  price  per  number,  50  cents;  per 
volume,  $2. 

SCIENCE  BULLETIN. 


Volume  I. 

Nos. 

1  to  12, 

price, 

$3; 

supply  large 

"        II. 

Nos. 

1  to  15, 

price. 

$3; 

supply  large 

"      III. 

Nos. 

1  to  10, 

price. 

$3; 

supply  large 

"       IV. 

Nos. 

1  to  20, 

price, 

$3; 

supply  large 

V. 

Nos. 

1  to  — , 

price. 

$3; 

supply  large. 

VI. 

Nos. 

1  to    7, 

price. 

$3; 

supply  large 

Vli.     Nos.  1  to  17,  price,  $3;  supply  large. 
"     VIII.     1,\.3.  1  to  10,  price,  $3;  supply  large. 


r  Volume  I, 

"        11, 

III, 

IV, 

V, 

VI, 


UNIVERSITY  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY  OP  KANSAS. 

1896.  General  Stratigraphy  of  Eastern  Kansas;  exhausted. 

1897.  General  Geology  of  Western  Kansas;  postage,  24  cents. 

1898.  Special  Report  on  Coal;  28  cents. 

1898.  Upper  Cretaceous  Paleontology;  32  cents. 

1899.  Gypsum  and  Gypsum  Cement  Plasters;  16  cents. 

1900.  Carboniferous  Invertebrates  and  Cretaceous  Fishes;  20  cents. 
VII,.  1902.  Special  Report  on  Mineral  Waters;  16  cents. 

VIII,  1904.     Special  Report  on  Lead  and  Zinc. 
IX,  1909.     Special  Report  on  Oil  and  Gas. 

MINERAL  RESOURCES  OF  KANSAS. 

Report  for  1897;  supply  small.  Postage,  4  cents. 
Report  for  1898 ;  supply'  large.  Postage,  8  cents. 
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Report  for  1902;  supply  small.  Postage,  6  cents. 
Report  for  1903;  supply  small.     Postage,  5  cents. 

BULLETINS   OP  THE   DEPARTMENT   OP  ENTOMOLOGY. 

The  Honey-bee  and  its  Food-plants  in  Kansas.    Postage,  4  cents. 
Alfalfa,  Grasshoppers,  Bees — their  Relationship;  supply  small.    Postage,  7  cents. 
Scale-insects  Injurious  to  Orchards;  supply  large.     Postage,  2  cents. 
The  More  Injurious  Grasshoppers  of  Kansas;  supply  large.    Postage,  2  cents. 
The  Green  Bug  and  Its  Natural  Enemies.    Postage,  10  cents. 
Report  of  Results  of  University  Research  Commission  on  Horse  Plague. 
Postage,  2  cents. 


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