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Psyche 10:171-183, 1903.
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PSYCHE
A JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY
[Established in I 87 4.1
A REVIEW 0% THE NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF NEMOTEUJS. Plate +-Axel L.
Melander . . . . . , , . . , , , , .
DESCRIPTIONS OF THREE SEW DIFTERA OF ~int GEMUS PHTHIRIA.- Chartes, W. Johnson ,. . . . . . . . , . . . , . .
THE RE-.PISCOVERY OF PHILORUS (BLEPI~AROCERA) YOSEMITE OSTEN SACKEN.- I Vernon L. Ketlogg . . . . . , . . . . . , . . Two C~cCIns FROM SAMOA,- ~~WIZ L. Kellosrg , . . . . . . . AMORY LELAND BABCOCK.- Alhe~t P. Morse, . . . . . . . , T ~ E TIPULID HYI'OPYGn-M, A STUDY IX SPECIFIC ADAPTATIONS.~.~?~~~~~ h'. Snodgrass . . . . . : , . . , , . . .
LII~E~HISTORTBS OF NORTH AMERICAN GEOMETRIDAJK. XLIII-LIL- HarWOn G.
DyV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Two NEW SPECIESOY SFHEX.-H. T. Femiild, . . . . , . . . SOMR NOTES ON THE HABITS OF CERAPACHYS AUGUSTAS.- William M. Wheeler . CLASSIFICATION OF THE GALL-WASPS AND THE PARASITIC CYNIPOIDS, OR THE SUPERFAMIT-Y CYIOTO.IUEA. 1V.- William H, As/imead . , . , , SOME APHIDS ASSOCIATED WITH AJS-TS,- Wi~mafte P. Cockwell , , . , APPEARANCE OF THE 17-YEAR CICADA IN RHODE ISLAND IN 1903.- AIPkezts S. Packard . . . . . . , . . . , . . . .
NOTES ON ACANTHOTHRII'S.~ I/. ,/. Franklin , . . , . . . . TUB HEMIPTKRA DESCRIBED BY PHILIP KEESE UHLER. IV- .!hwei Hemhaw .
INDEX TO NAMES OI? INSECTS . . . . . . , , . , . [Title page and table of Contents.]
CAMBRIDGE ENTOMOLOGICAL CLUB
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Psyche, Vol. 10. Plate 4.
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PSYCHE.
A REVIEW OF FHE NOR1 13 AMERICAS SPECIES OF N EMOTELUS. PLATE 4.
BY AXEL LEONARD MELANDER, CHICAGO, ILI
The genus NF.MOTF.I.US, or NEXATOTELUS, includes a group of rather small Stratiomyiidae generally of dark coloration, characterized by the prolongation of the lower part of the face. From the underside of this rostellum projects the slender and long drawn-out proboscis which has gained the generic name for these insects. However instead of being used as a weapon these mouth parts are admirably adapted For their function of lcediug from the long throated florets of the cone- flowers. These small flies are not rare ; where they occur they can be caught by dozens from the heads of their favorite flowers. From the few published records concerning this genus it would seem that in the Eastern States N. carfionarizt~ is the most abundant. Jn Illinois N. unicolor is the prevailing form. This species
also, has the greatest distribution, occurring to Hayti and Mexico. Nemotehis
canadensis is commonest in Colorado, N. crassus in Kansas, while the Texas species are all equally abundant.
The European species of this genus have been divided into three groups by Dr. H. Loew, as follows : -
I. All the tibiae in part black,
2. Hind tibiae only in part black,
3. All the tibiae with almost no black.
On this basis the North American species would be grouped thus : - Of these groups the first seems incongruous, but the other two are well con- structed.
The species of the second have black males, stubby faces, and as a
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172
PSYCHE [Oct.-Dec.
whole occur inland.
The third, however, is a maritime group. The males have white abdomens and the faces are produced and pointed. NemoteZ'uspa//ipes Say
is an anomalous species of the group.
It is interesting to note that apparently so trivial a character as the relative extent of the dark color on the tibiae should be correlated with much more striking differences. Another remarkable correlation was noticed for the species in the collection. Those with black males (AT unicolor, crasszis, carbotmriz~r, canadcns$ and orator) have the third vein of the wings sim- ple; those species whose males have whitish abdomens have the third vein fur- cate (A? wiheekri, trinotatus, and b~llz~lus). Nemotelus trziesii, however, is anonlalous in this as well as in other respects. With this division in mind Mr. C. W. Johnson was asked to furnish data from the types of his species. Ncmatelns i-mmaculatus is injured, but N. sZossonae and fiavicornis have the third vein simple. Although these species have the abdomen white, it is nevertheless marked with a blackish design.
We shall look forward with interest for an account of this characteristic
in the other species.
In the preparation of this paper I have had access to the Hough collection of the University of Chicago.
My own material supplemented by specimens from Dr. Wm. M. Wheeler has been of the greatest use. In conclusion I wish to thank Mr.
Charles W. Johnson of Boston for his assistance in furnishing literature not access- ible in Chicago and for the information regarding the types of his species. KEY TO THE SPECIES
Males : eyes contiguous, or nearly so . 2. Females : eyes widely separated . . 17.
a. Abdomen entirely black, or black with whitish marks 3- Abdomen whitish or whitish with black markings . . 11. 3. Antennae situated at the middle of the short and blunt rostellum ; proboscis geniculate at its outer third, the outer part pilose; eyes contiguous and impressed along line of juncture; third vein furcate; black species with golden pubescence . bruesiz, sp. n.
Antennae situated at base of the longer and more acute rostellum 4-
4.
Venter with a series of medial rufous spots ; legs beyond base of femora yel- lowish ; costal veins white ; greenish black species . . fa/Zipes Say Venter immaculate ; hind legs at least in part blackened; third longitudinal vein simple . 5 -
5.
Body black, with no pale lateral markings on the thorax 6.
Thorax with pale lateral markings . 8.
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6 Body with purplc tinge; hind tibiae black in the middle; tip of tarsi black palyppsus Say
Body shining black, not purplish . 7-
7.
Front immaculate ; eyes subcontiguous; base and apex of hind tibiae pale; anterior tibiae subfuscous . carbonaritis Loew Front bimaculate ; base of all the tibiae pale . . tristis Bigot 8. Pilose species with greenish luster , . araiof, sp. n. Bare or nearly so 9.
9. Eyes contiguous; metallic blue-black ; front spotted with white canadensis Loew
Eyes subcontignous ; front black
10.
10. Shining black species niyrimts Fallen u/zzrolor Loew
Shining blue-green species . crassus Loew I I Abdomcn with black dorsal markings; thorax black with a lateral line ; third vein simple . 12.
Abdomen wholly whitish, unspotted ; third vein furcate . .. 13- I
Thorax greenish black; abdomen with two central black spots in the fourth and fifth segments; posterior femora and tibiae brown in the middle flmico~nis Johnson
'Thorax black; abdomen with a basal black mark also; legs largely black, tip of femora, base and tip of tibiae and tarsi whitish slossonae Johnson 13. Proboscis, geniculate at the middle, the basal part enlarged; lateral line of thorax obsolete, humeral spot small . 14- Proboscis geniculate before the middle , '5- 14. Legs yellow; antennae yellow, proboscis red , . . immacukztu.~ Joiinson Femora at least blackened ; antennae black ; proboscis black trinotatus, sp. n.
15. Face comparatively short, black; thorax shining, pubescence rather erect; eyes depressed along line of meeting . . beHulns, sp. n. Face longer, yellowish above . , . 16.
16. Length 3 inm.; antennae yellow except tip; thorax greenish; front linear albirostris Macquart
Length 5 mm.; antennae blackish; thorax slaty black, suhshining, with appressed pi~bescence ; eyes contiguous, not depressed along line of rneet- ing . . wheeleri, sp. n.
17. Abdomen above with whitish lines or spots; third vein furcate I 8.
Abdomen above wh'olly black ; third vein not branched (except bruesii) 21.
18. Markings of abdomen arranged in a median series of triangular spots ; head
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PSYCHE [(kt.-Dec.
long conical flattened, antennae inserted midway between the eyes and the tip of the rostellurn; proboscis geniculate at the middle tr/?zotatus, sp. II. Markings of abdomen arranged in a double series; head in profile more or less hollowed out at the antennae ; proboscis geniculate before the middle 19.
19. Abdomen with whitish markings beneath, at least in the middle; face very long and sharp, Frequently paler above ; thorax shining ; 3 mm. aciitirostris Loew
Abdomen black beneath ; iF the face is long the thorax is not shininyo. . .
20.
thorax granular, siibsliining, sparsely pubescent ; facial projection long, acute ; humcral mark small, frontal spots p~~nctiform . . . whederi, sp. 11. Thorax polished, nearly bare ; face short, black ; humeral mark large; frontal spots transverse . , beliuhts. sp. 11.
21. With a whitish spot on each side of the front above the antennae . 22.
With no whitish spot 011 the front . . 25. 22. Facial projection shorter than width of eye; antennae inserted near its tip; lateral line of thorax olxoiete .
bruesii, sp. 11.
Facial projection equal to width of eye, antennae inserted near its base 23.
23. Lateral line of thorax well delined . 2 4. Lateral line of thorax obsolete . , t/*istis Higot 24. Head and thorax nearly bare, subaenescent cmiadensis Loew Head and thorax moderately pilose, with a greenish tinge . amtor, sp. 11. 2 j. Sides of thorax with a yellowish line 27. Sides of thorax not marked ; lil~ck shining species . 26.
26. Anterior tibiae subfusco~~s, hind ones black except extreme tip and base carbonarius Locw
All the tibiae vitiate with black , ~crr?m/s Walker 27. All the femora and tibiae black; tliorax with a greenish tinge glaber Loew
Front and middle tibiae rather yellowish , 28 28. Blue-green species . 29.
Black, shining species . . nigrinus Fallen unii'nlor Loew
29. Facial projection longer than width of eye crassus Loew Facial projection shorter Llwn diameter of eye . , . -ii-nii.oJor, var.
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DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SPECIES.
I. NEMOTELI-s CRASSUS Loew.
~Vemofelm crassus Loew, Cent. Amer. Diptei'it, iii, 10. (1) Williston, Can. ent., 1885, vol. 17, p. 128. (4 Johnson, List iris. N. J., p. 639, (3)
Female. Stout, of a greenish hlark somew1i;it metallic color, front not spotted, unten- nae black, the tip of tlic second joint yellowish, a lateral line of the thorax, the knees, the front tibiae, and all the tarsi pale yellowish. Leqth of body 2,V lines (4.2 mm.), length of wing 2 lines (4 intn.).
Rather stout, bare, highly shining, greenish black, the color of the anterior part of the front and of the face merging to bluish rather than green. Front broad, immaculate. Antennae black> the tip of the second joint brownish or ycllonish. Face produced into a rather large sharp cone. Laterd line of the thorax very slender, pale yellowish. Femora black, the Lip, however, yellowish ; the whole of the front tibiae and the broad base and narrow tip of the hinder ones yellowish, the intervening portion black; tarsi pale yellowish. Haheres white. Wings whitish, the thinner veins similar, the thicker ones very pale yel- Joivish, subtnarginal cell of an opaque color. (Truiislatio-n.) Rliodc Island (I) , Kansas 0' ; New Je~sey 17). Prolilc of head of male and female figured on plate Nemoteliis canadensis Loen, Cent., iii, 12. (1) Male and female.
Clothed with short wliilisli hairs, shining, ~~eenisb black, subme- tallic, antennae black, the lateral line of the thorax very narrow, the tip of the femora, the tibi;ie except a median ring arouinJ the hind ones, and the tarsi yellowish. Male.
Eyes contiguous. frontal triangle yellowish, face drawn out. Vema.le. Front broad, on each side with a yellowish spot, soinetinies taintlv marked, face acute.
Length of bodj 2-2& lines (4.-4.2 mm.), length of wing 2 lines (4 mm.). Clothed with short and fine whitish hair, shining, greenish black, somewhot nletallic. Head concolorous.
Eyes of male contiguous, eyes of female separated on the broad front, The anterior frontal triangle of the male pale yellow above, the front of the female marked on each side with a pale yellow spot. Face of male produced into a moderately prolonged cone, of the female into a subacute one. Lateral line of the thorax whitish yellow, very line.
Abdomen margined with a dirty yellow narrow line sometimes obsolete. Femora black, yellow at the tip; tibiae yello~, the hind ones annulate with a black ring; tarsi yellow, the last joints frequently infuscatcd or blackened. I-Ialteres white. Wings whitish, the stronger veins pale yellowish, the submarginal cell often of the same color. (Transin- tion.)
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PSYCHE
[Oct.-Dec.
Hudson^Bay Territory, Fort Resolution, (Kennicott.) (1); Colorado, (Hough collection, C. F. Baker).
Profile of head of male and female figured on plate. Nemotdus unicolor Loexv. Cent., iii, 11. (1) Williston, Can. ent., 188:. p. 128. (2)
Williston, Biologia Centr.-Airier.. SuppI, p. 251. (3) Nemotelus nigrinus Fall6n, v. d. Wulp, Tijdschr. entom., 1867, p. 126. (4) Female.
Bare, shining, black, antennae concolorous, front irnmac~ilate, a very slender lateral line on the thorax yellowish, femora black except the yellowish tip, anterior tibiae subfuscous, hind ones black, the base and extreme apex of all yellowish. Length of body 1% lines (3.,j mm.), length of wing 1% lines (3.3 mm.). Bare, shining, black. Front immaculate. Antennae black. Face produced into a rather large and sharp cone.
Lateral line of the thorax pale yellow, very thin. The hind tibiae and the femora black, the tip of the latter and the base and apex of the former yellowish ; anterior tibiae suhf~~scous, with the base broadly and apex narrowly yellowish, sometimes wholly pale yellowish; the last two joints of the yellowish tarsi sometime& infuscated Halteres whitish. Wings whitish, the stronger veins very pale yellowish. (Translation.^
Illinois, (Le Baron) (I) ; Wisconsin (4) ; Pennsylvania, Arizona (4 ; Tabasco, Mexico. (3)
The male which has not 'been described before is similar to the female. The
outline of the head is naturally different as represented on the plate. The thorax
is sometimes decidedly pubescent with very fine whitish hair. Halteres often
blackened.
Profile of head of male and female figured on plate. This is the commonest species in Illinois : Chicago, Glen Ellyn, Algonquin, McHenry are the localities from which I have specimens. May to September.
One female from Glen Ellyn has the facial prominence shorter than the head, the antennae reddish beneath and the knob of the halteres blackish. All the other females examined have a longer face, black antennae, and white halteres. Is not A? unicolor the form referred by van der Wulp to nigrimts Fallen ? The dcscrip- Lions of the European species apply very well to the North American specimens. A single specimen in the Hough collection taken in Hayti seems closely related to N. unicohr. Were it not for the extended distribution of this species and the fact that the Glen Ellyn specimen of unicolor represents a similar variation, the West Indian example might be considered another species. Its peculiarities are the following: thorax with a black bronzed tinge; antennae brownish basally; face short; in length less than the width of the eye; length 2.25 mm. See figure. The specimen scarcely seems to be the female of any of the three species occurring within its geographical range, (2% imacula-fm, sZossonae,$avico~eis.)
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å´go3 MELAADER: -NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF ATEMOTELUS I 7 7 Niwinfelm car'boMarius Loew, Cent., viii, 6. (1) Johnson, List ins. New Jersey, p. 639. (2) Male and female.
Bare, black, shining, antennae tori-colorous, front immaculate, no lateral line on the thorax, femora black except the yellowish tip, anterior tibiae subfuscous, hind ones black, base and extreme tip of all yello'vvish. Very much like Nemotclns nnicolor, but different in its smaller size and in possessing no pale line on the side of the thorax.
Halteres suhfuscous.
Eyes of the male subeontig-
uous. (Translation,}
Length of body I lines (3.3 mm.), length of wing I& lines Lenox, Massachusetts, (Osten Sacken) (I) ; New Jersey (~1- 5. NEMOTELUS TRISTIS Bigot.
XemoSeZus /riiti.s Bigot, Ann. sac. ent. Prance (6), vii, 1887, p. 30. (1) Male,
Face produced as a cone. Black over all, shining; two "whitish spots above the antennae, halteres white, knees, base of the tibia^, and the tarsi except the tip pale fulvous ; wings hyaline, tlie strong veins at the base pale yellow. Fewale. Very much the same.
Male. Face prolonged in a sharp cone, at least equal to the length of the head. Entirely shining black, two white spots situated above the base of the antennae; halteres with white knob ; extremity of the femora, the knees, base of the tibiae and of the tarsi, of a very pale reddish; wings absolutely hyaline. except that the external veins are lightly tinged with yellow. (Translation.)
Length 4 mm.
California. (1)
6. NEMOTELUS GLABER Loew.
Nemolelm ylaber Loew, Cent,, s, 10. (1)
Female.
Bare, shining, black, dorsu~n of the thorax and the scutellum faintly greenish, front immaculate, thorax with a very fine whitish lateral line, femora and tibiae black, tarsi white, the last two joints of the front ones and the last joint of the hinder ones fuscous. knob of the halteres black above.
Bare, shining, black. Front broad, unspotkd. Antennae brownish black, towards the base dull red.
Face produced into a rather stoxzt acute cone. Dorsum of the thorax and the scutelluin obsoletely green from a black ground color; the 'lateral line of the thorax very fine. whitish. Legs black, the knees dull whitish and the tarsi white, but the last two joints of the front ones and the last joint of the others fuscous. Halteres whitish, the knob black above. Wings whitish, the stronger veins very pale, the rest completely nncolored- (Translation.)
Length of body I&I$ lines, length of wing I $ -11 lines. Texas, Bclfrage.
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PSYCHE
7. NEMOTELU? CARNFUS Walker.
Nemotelus carnetis Walker, Bziniston's MSS, List clipt. ins., 3. p. ,521. (d Female. Black, antennae black, legs yellowish, fer13ors.i bllicl-i, tibiae striped with black, wings whitish. (Ti-ciu^ntt'ow.)
Body black, shining; head a little narrower than the chest; eves piceous; mouth and feelers black; scutcheon unarmed; abdomen much broader, but not. longer than the chest; legs ta\\ny; hips and thighs black; tips of thighs tawny; shanks striped with bliick; wings whitish ; wing-ribs tawny ; veins and poisers pale yellow. Length of body IA lines (3 mm.) of the wings 3 lines. St. Martin's Falls, Albany River, Hudson Bay, (G. Barnston). (I) Nemotelus$alli-pes Say, Journ. acad, nat. sci. Phila., vol. 3, 29. (1) Ed. Lcc., vol. 2, p. 52. (2)
Wiedemann, ALISS, zweifi. ins., ii, +,;, 2. (3) Mule.
Greenish black, thorax tinged with green ; nervures white, Rostelliform process blued black; polished; antennae brown, :it the base of the rostelli- form process ; front with a triangular white spot above the antennae; thorax punctured, a tcstaccous line before the wings and another each side on hasal edge; poisers and scde pure yellowish white; costal nervure vhitish; feet yellowish, base of thighs and middle of pos- terior edges of the segments of the venter rufous. Length ^y inch (3.8 mrn.)
Pennsylvania. 3 )
9. NEMOTELUS POLYPOSUS Say.
Nemotdu~-poly$osits Say: Jimm. iiciid, nat. sci. Phila., vol. 6. 160. (1) Ed. Lee., vol. 2. 356. (2)
Williston, Biol. Centi-.-Amer. Dipt. Suppl., 251. (3) Male. Rlack, feet yellowish; thighs blxl~ at base. Body black, with slight tinge of purplish, polished; wingo white ; costal and basal ner- vures yellowish; poisers vhite; feet hone! yellow; thighs except at tip black; tarsi with the terminal joint black; posterior tibiae black in the middle; venter imn~aculate. Length not more than
inch (3.7 mm.).
Mexico ( ~ 2 7); Mexico City. (3)
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Female.
Olivaceous black., shining, densely pilose with tine dusk: yellow hair; head with two transverse yellow spots above the antennae; vertex rounded into the front and on the occiput, facial projection conici!l, stout, snbcicute, moderately long, equaling the width of the eye,antennae black, inserted one third the distance out from the trontal spots; proboscis short, fleshy, geniculate at the outer third, the outer pan hairy beneath. Thorax without a hiunend m~iculc, but with a pale latcral line. Abdomen concolorous with head and thorax, inornate. Femora hlack, except the knees, hind tibiae blackened in the middle, tarsi infus- cated apically. IIalteres yellow, the pedicel black. Wings whitish hyaline, the anterior veins testaceous, third vein unbranched, fourth posterior vein arising from base of discal cell.
Male.
More pilose, v-ith a more bluish reflection. Frontal spots small, contiguous, eyes contiguous for a short distance only. where they are impressed, facial protuberance much reduced, the antennae arising from its base, proboscis short. Otherwise similar to the female.
Length 4.5-5 mm.
Described from one male and one female from a larger lot of the same species collected by Dr. Win. M. Wheeler, March 1897, in San Diego Co., California. Profile of head of male and female and figure of wing illustrated on plate. Female, Black, closely covered -with short appressed coarse silvery pubescence. Head short rounded conical; face short, two thirds the diameter of the eye, antennae inserted near (.he tip of the face, rather long, especially the First l^o joints; black, arista thick, bristly at tip; front with two narrow transverse white spots, proboscis short, but little longer than the length of the head, geniculate at it5 outer third, the outer part fleshy and hairy. Thorax with a small hiitneral spot; later~l line obsolete. Abcioinen unrui-irl~ed. Femora black except tip, tibiae darkened at middle, especially the hind ones, remainder of legs testaceous. Hd- teres blackened. Wind's hyaline, the stronger veins testaceous, third vein furcate before its end; the fourth posterior vein ai-ising at the basal third of the wider side ol the discal cell. Male differs in the fine golden pubescence; face stubby, eyes scarcely touching; frontal spots, triangular, subcontigiious.
Length 4 mm.
Described from numerous specimens collected by myself and by Mr. Charles T. Brues, my constant fellow-worker, during our stay at the University of Texas, Austin, Texas. This species is abundant during middle April, and shows special partiality for the flowers of Lepachys co/u?n/~aris, the entire collection being made from the flowers growing on the University campus. The species is soon suc-
ceeded in the local fauna by A? trzkotafus. Profile of head of male and female and arrangement of venation figured on plate.
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