Article beginning on page 391.
Psyche 7:391-392, 1894.

Full text (searchable PDF)
Durable link: http://psyche.entclub.org/7/7-391.html

The following unprocessed text is extracted from the PDF file, and is likely to be both incomplete and full of errors. Please consult the PDF file for the complete article.

Psyche, Vol. 7, 1896.
Plate 8,
-
J. W. FOI-SOM, Del.
FOLSOM, NEELUS,




================================================================================

FSYCHE.
NEELUS MURINUS. REPRESENTING A NE\V THYSAWTRAX FAMILY.
By JUSTUS WATSOX FOLSOM, CAMBRIDGE. MASS. TIlis species was common in a green-
house at Canibvi(lge ill t'ebruasy and
March of this year. It occurred only
on the under side of wet stones among
'l filmy ferns" (13ymenophyllaceae)
from Jamaica, and therefore may not be
indigenous.
flechs murimts is evidently nearly
related to the Papiriidae and Srnptlni-
fiche, especially (.he latter, but differs in important respccls. The antennae
closely resemble those of cerlain
Smynthuri having ;m unringed terniiual
segment ; the superior claw is ~~niclen- tate, an apparently constant Sm~nthin'an chariicteristic. as observed by .Mr.
iMacGillivray ; and an approach to a
horizontal head is seen in S. mqi-na-
tits Schiitt.? On the other hand, us I
have not yet been able to find any
tracheae, Neelus may, like P:ipiriiis,
have none. The psendonychia resem-
ble those of Tomocerus and the tuber-
cles of the ventral tube are similar to
those of Tomocerus, Orchcscll:~ and
other genera.
Contribntions frmx die Zo6iogkd L%bwztory of the >I,I~CU~ of c~pmtiv~ Z06logy, ~macr the direction of E. L. Mark, So. 1.X.
We may present as follows llie gen-
eric chiiracters of Neelus as contrasted with those of Siii~nil~urus and Papirius. Head horizontal, 131-oculty articulated. Thorax longer than abdomeu.
Anal tuber-
cle incot-i~pic~ions. Ventral filament'; repre- sented by two I-ouncled tubercles. Superior a pseudonjchiate. Den.tes ventrally
toothed, npicallj two lobccl. Eyes absent. Trache;ie apl-uu-entl~ absent.
The followi~~~l~;~r:~cters may collec-
tively be consklared of family value as
distinguished from tliose of Smynthuri-
clae and Papiriidae, Head horizontal.
Tlto~ax exceeding :~lxlon~en. Processes
of vcn(.ial lube tuberculate. Trucbe:~~
apparently wanting". Eyes absent.
I am glad to take this opportunity to
thank Professor Mark, of Harvard
Uiiiversi(.y, for the valuable supervision he has given me while studying this
species.
Neelus murinus n. sp. (Plate 81.-Gen-
ern1 color ochraceoiis-buff, in alcoholic spcci- mens ochi aceoub-orange ; when young, white with a dorsal l~n~it~~din~l median ill-defined



================================================================================

392 PSYCHE. [June IS@
huff stripe; head paler; antennae, legs and furcula white. Head horizontal (fig. s), in lateral view ovate. half as long as body, smooth, anteriorly with short setae. Eyes absent. Antennae (fig. 7) shorter than the width of the head, not geniculate, slender, s~gments four, their relative lengths as 1 : 3 : 4: 5; basal segment globose, naked; second subcylindrical. sparsely hairy apically ; third cylindrical, snbpetiolate, more hairy; terminal segment long-conical, with hairs curving towards the notched apex. Labrum and labium projecting, with stout setae. Mandibles with long, falcate-oblong apex (fig. I j ; termind tooth long, sinnate within ; lower incisive teeth small, three and four, compressed; below the Ixisc of the apex is a prominent rounded lobe directed forward; molar surface little convex, minutely denti- culate, bounded on one side by a longit~idinal row of four or three large. blunt teeth, re- spectively dorsal and ventral on the right and left mandibles; moliir surface with a slight posterior lobe. Maxillae (fig. 3) with EI con- spicuous, dorso-external, curved, acuminatc claw; ventral and internal to this, a wavy, linear process bearing on distal half an ex- ternal comb of long teeth; remainder of
maxilla composed of two large, oblong, con- caved appendages, each with four or five ribs terminating in as many teeth on the anterior truncated margin. Body (fi" ,?) seen from above oval, smooth; in profile with high- archeddorsal outline ; smooth excepting a few bristles on the inconspicuous anal tubercle. Prothorax compressed, broadly articulated with the head. Venti-a1 surface white, much swollen before the mannbrinnl. Ventral tube (figs. 5 and 6) equal to dentcs in length, cylindrical, crenate anteriorly, one-lobed pos- teriorly near base, ending in two semi-globose p~ipillate tubercles. Legs slender, about as long as furcula, scarcely bristly except on tibia. Superior claw (fig. 2) as long as third antennal segment, slender, internally sinuate with one sha-p tooth one-third from apex; EI .linear pseudonychium, as long as the inferior claw, arises from either side the base of the external margin of superior claw (fig. 8). Inferior claw less than lialftl~e other in lengtli. uniformly tapering, scarcely curving with the superior claw, s~nooth, not toothed ; ten- ent hairs absent. Furcul~i short, scarcely rcaching niesolhorax; scgmcnts ventrally ;is I : 1.5 : I ; manuhrium stout, swollen, with a few ventral hairs and sinuate distal articula- tion; dentes laterally a little tapering: dis- tally (fig. 9) with five hirge. latcrnl teeth at intervals, three being external, and two in- ternal, albo a Ion: subapical ventral brittle and an evident, blunt-conical, apical lobe on either side the base of tlic mncro; mucrones latersilly narrowly lanceol:ite (fig. 41, deeply concave ventrall? with each edge distinctly sen-ate and villi simple apex.
Maximum length, o.7mm. Described from
over fifty types, twenty-five of which have been given to the Museum of Comparative
Zoology at Cambridg'e, Mass.
EXPLANATION OF PLATE S.
Fig I.
ExtrerniL? of right mzindihle, from
above, x 530.
Fi:. 2. Tarsus nnd claws of one foot,
,530.
Fig. 3. Exti-cmiLy of right maxilla, from above, x 530.
Fi" 4. Side view of mucro and end of
dens, x 440.
Fig. 5. Left side of insecL, ventral tube turned backward, x 72.
Fig. 6.
Ventral tube: x 116.
Fig. 7. Antenna, x $40.
Fig. 8.
Outside of superior claw to show
pseiidonychia, x 530.
Fig. 9.
Dorso-lateral view of right mncro
and part of dens, x 440.




================================================================================

with basal two-fifths light, hind tibiae with basal half light. Tarsi with first joint light, the others fuscous. Abdomen shining', quite conspicuously punctured; the lateral hind margin of the first segment, and the follow- ing segments, with short pale pubescence. The punctures on the first segment, though rather sparse, are deep and conspicuous. Tip of abdomen with rather long brownish hairs.
Hd.-Colorado; Four-mile Hill, 8 miles
S. of Steamboat Springs, July 19;1894, 7000 feet (C. F. Baker).
Differs from verticalis by the punctured first nbdominal segment and shorter anten- nae. It is a larger species than mesillae. Prosapis divergens, 11. sp.- 8 hardly 5
min. long, black with creamy-white face, and lemon-yellow marks on body and legs, punctures of head and thorax moderately
fine, but strong and close, first segment of abdomen rather sparsely but distinctly punt- turecl. Head of ordinary size, face mod- erately narrowed below. Vertex and occiput roughly punctured ; antennae all black, scape moderately swollen. Face below antennae
creamy-white, the white color forming a
rounded projection in the median line, hardly extending upwards, but at the sides extend- ing along the orbital margin about two-thirds the length ofthe scape. From the broadest part at the base, this lateral white projec- tion extends, nearly evenly narrowing, very little notched by the antennal socket, to the terminal very narrow truncation.
Prothorax with the usual yellow patch on tubercles, and two shoit yellow stripes on hind border. Yellow of tubercles without a dark spot. Tegulae with a yellow spot. Pleura with a moderate amount of white
pubescence. Pubescence of mesothorax very short and sparse, dark in color. Base of metathoras strongly rngose.
Wings smoky hyaline, second submargi-
nal cell not narrowed one-half to marginal. Femora black; tibiae black, anterior tibiae yellow in front, middle tibiae ~~llow at. es- treme base, hind tibiae with the basal two- fifths yellow. Tarsi with the basal joint yellow, the others dark brown. First seg- ment of abdomen rather sparsely but very distinctly punctured, remaining segments nore finely punctured, more or less pnbes- cent.
Hub.- Colorado; Four-mile Hill, 8 miles
S. of Steamboat Springs, July 15, 1894, yooo feet (C. F. Baker).
Differs from woofoni by its smaller size, white fzce, and spots of tegulae; from rugo- sula by the lateral face-marks very narrowly truncate and hardly notched within, the
short median mark, etc.; from citr+tt/ro,;s by the white face, spots on tegulae, partly yellow hind border of proth^irax, etc. ; from affitlis by the smaller size, white face, spots on tegulae, etc.
Prosapis episcopalis, n. sp.- $ slightly over 6 mm. long, black with creamy-white markings, head and thorax densely punc-
tired. Head rather large, not very broadi face little narrowed below, the extreme base slightly widening. Vertex confluently punc- tured. Antennae entirely dark, scape st0111 but not dilated. Face below antennae yel- lowish-white, the upward extension iii the median line rather short and pointed, the supraclypeal yellow piece as a whole resem- bling in shape a bishop's mitre; laterally the white extends along the orbital margiiis, not half the length of the scape, somewhat broadly, shallowly excavated inwardly by the antennal socket, ending obtusely.
Prothorax with a pair of short yellowish- white stripes on hind border; the tubercles also with theusunl pale patch, lacking a dark spot, and extending inwards [upon the
tubercles] further than usual. Tegulae with a large spot. Pleura strongly punctured. Scutellum less closely punctured than meso- thorax. Base of inetathorax rugose, with large, shining pits. Wings strongly tinged with fuliginous. Femora black ; anterior tibiae yellowish-white in front, black behind ; middle tibiae white at each end. black in



================================================================================

so .SupPLEf1f.!?NT TO ‰â '1THR. [June 1396 middle; hind tibiae with the basal half white, the terminal half black. Tarsi with the first joint ycllowish-white, the others brown. First segment of abdomen sparsely but dis- tinctly punctured, and with a narrow white hair band on hind margin at sides.
Hail.-Colorado (C. F. Baker, No. 1411)
on Elk River, 10 miles north of Sieamboat Springs, July 16, 1894.
Resembles a species from Florida of which I have only the $, but that differs at once by the smooth first segment of abdomen,
immaculate tegulac, dark middle tibiae, etc. Differs from modesfa by the white face,
the narrower and more pointed supraclypeal ple Eirea, thedarker wings, etc. ; from affinis at once by the shape of the face-marks, spot on tegulae, etc.; from rugosula by the
greater size, darker wings, and pointed sitpi-a- clYpeal area; from coloraden.si.s by the darker wings, narrower lateral face-marks, etc. Prosapis coloradensis, 11 sp.- 8 about
j& mm. long, stoutly built, head and thorax closely punctured, scutellum as closely as mesothorax, black with cream-colored mark- ings. Head large, rather long, face uwder- iltely narrowed below, vertex confluently punctured, antennae all dark, flagellum
brown, scape broad, dilated, with a conspic- uous terminal hump on outer side. Face
below antennae cream-color, supraclypeal projection short and truncate, lateral upward extensions of pale color very broad, slightly excavated inwardly at base by antennal
sockets, terminating in a broad oblique trun- cation, a little higher up than the middle of the scape.
Hind border of prothorax with two very
narrow yellow lines; tubercles with the ususil pale yellow patch, convex and shining, witli- out a dark spot. Tegulae with a light spot. Pleura closely punctured. Enclosed area of metathorax rugose, without the large shining pits of some species. Pubescence. of dor- sulmn gray. Wings hyaline. Femora black; tibiae black, anterior tibiae white in front, middle tibiae with the basal and apical fifths white, hind tibiae with the basal two-fifths white and a white dot at tip. Tarsi brown, first joint and spot on second joint of four hind tarsi white. First segment of ab-
domen minutely but distinctly and rather closely punctured, with no lateral hair band. Hab.- Colorado; Chamber's Lake, Lari-
mer Co., July 18, 1895, 9500 feet (C. F. Baker).
Prosapis digitatus, n. sp.- 8 about 4h
mm. long, black with very pale yellow mark- ings, head and thorax closely punctured. Head of ordinary size, face moderately nar- rowed below, antennae dark hrown, scape
not dilated. Face below antennae very pale yellow, the yellow extending upwards in the median line as a rather narrow, conical. truncate projection; at the sides it extends in the form of narrow, straight, finger-like projections, pointing somewhat inwards,
well away from the orbital margin. Pro-
thorax, including the tubercles, wholly dark. Tegulae without a light spot. Punctuation of tne&othorax hardly so close as in some species, that of scutellum slightly wore sparse. Pleura with close, shallow punctures. Base of metathorax more or less radiately wrinkled. Wings smoky. Femora hlnck,
except a light spot at the extreme tip of the first four. Tibiae black, anterior tibiae ycl- lowish iu front, middle of extreme base, and hind tibiae for basal two-fifths. Tarsi brown- ish, more or less yellow basally. First ab- do~ninal segment shining, with very sparse, small punctures. Pubescence of abdomen
very spiu-se.
Hd.- Colorado; Steamboat Springs,
July 13, 1894 (C. F. Baker, No, 1329).
Easily known by the dark tubercles, and
lateral face-marks, which free from the orbital margin, are straight and not enlarged at their ends.
Prosapis asinina Ckll. and Csd..- 8 Tr.
Am.Ent. Soc., 1895, p. 299; n. syn. P. lilies, Ckll. and Csd. $, t. c., p. 3ou.
Prosapis rudbeckiae, race ruidosensis,
n. race, ^.--Larger, about 6 mm. long; up-



================================================================================

June 1896,] .7/å´7PPLE/l'/RIV TO PSYCHE. 31 ward lateral extensions of pale color on face more conspicuously bulbous at ends, the
hase from which they arise oblique, being lower on the orbital margin than mesad:
scape with only a small pale spot (this may be the case also in true ritdbeckiae), flagellum below brownish. Tubercles with a yellow
patch bearinga dark spot, tegulae wholly dark. Wings strongly tinged with brownish, decidedly larger. Enclosed space of meta- thorax distinctly longitudinally subret.icu- lately wrinkled, one might perhaps say can- cellate. Mesothoi-ax pubescent.
Hub.- New Mexico; Ruidoso Creek,
7500 feet. July 6, 1895, on ScropJiularia (E. 0. Wooton, no. 74).
Prosapis mdbeckiae, race subdigitata,
n. race, $.-Slightly smaller, about 4: mm. long; pale markings apricot-color (probably reddened by cyanide), upward Isiteral exten- sions of pale color on face little swollen and rather short, the base from which they arise oblique, but higher on the orbital margin than mesad. Scape wholly dark. Tubercles and tegulae wholly dark. Wings dusky-
hyaline, not yellowish or brownish. Meso- thorax with greyish pubescence. Enclosed area of inetathorax strongly rugoso-punckite, HatÌÔColorado C. F. Baker, 1658.
Foothills west of Fort Collins, June 15, 1895. The two above forms are probably valid
species, but for the present it will be a con- venience to place them under rttdbeckiae. The form named subdigitafa present char- acters intermediate between rudbeckiae and dr'gi'faiii; it differs from the latter by its pubescent mesothorax (that of diyUata be- ing virtually bare), its greyish wings (those of di'ifata being distinctly tinged brownish) its somewhat shortersecond submarginal cell. Yet, on the whole, it must be confessed that it is as near to dlyUata as to ncdbeckiae. The following table will separate the allies of of rudbsckiae.
A. Tubercles wholly dark.
I. Wings tinged greyish, mesothorax pu-
bescent . . . wbifigitata-
2 Wing's tinged brownish, mesothorax
bare. . . . . a'Qrita/a.
B. Tubercles partly yellow.
I. Compimtively large, face white, scape wholly white in front. . bakeri.
2. Face pale yellow, scape with at most a yellow mark.
u. Larger, wings tinged brownish.
niidoseasis.
6. Smaller, wings tinged greyish.
ridbe-chioe.
Prosapis triangularis, 11. sp., if .-Length 54 mm., rather stout, black with deep yel- low markings. Head fairly large, face little narrowed below; face-markings deep lemon- yellow, including clypeus, a large elongate- triangular or low-conical supraclypent mark, the apex of which is obtuse, and the usual lateral marks, deeply notched by iintennal sockets, extending thence narrowly upwards along orbital margin to a pointed termina- tion. Scape wliolly black, stout but not dilated; flagellum dark brown. Front and vertex very coarsely punctured. Mesothorax, scutellum and pleura with very large close punctures, anterior part of pleura becoming almost cancellate. Encloscd area of meta- thorax not well-defined, with large cot-ifiuent pits. Hardly any pubescence on tlioiax,
except a fringe of short white hairs at
lateral ridges of metathorax. Hind border of prothorax interrupted in middle, a large patch on tubercles, and spot on tegulae, deep yellow. The dark (hjaline) spot on patch on tubercles is inconspicuous. Anterior femora beneath, middle and hind femora at extreme tips, anterior tibiae in front, basal third of middle tibiae, basal half of hind tibiae, and extreme tips of four hind tibiae, yellow more or less suffused with rufous. Tarsi pale rufescent, first joint of four hind tarsi pale yellow. Wings fuligino~is, clear at base. Abdomen shiny, with no distinct
hair-bands. Dorsum of first segment
impunctate.
Hab.-Georgia, exact locality and collec- tor unknown. Sent by Mr. Fox. In Coll.




================================================================================

32 SUPPLEMENT TO WCHE. [June 1896.
Amer. Ent. Sac. It might be confounded
with @itis, but it is larger, the supracly- peal mark is much longer, and the wings
are chirker.
Prosapis suffusa. n. sp., 3.- Length
about 6 mm., fairly stout, black with yel- low markings. Face little narrowed below, dull lemon-yellow. Supraclypeal mark broad, rapidly narrowing to a bifid apex. Lateral marks roundly excavated by antenna1 soc- kets, produced only a short way along orbital margin to a blunt bnt narrow tip. Scape
stout but not dilated, wholly dark; flagellum dark brown, last joint with a longitudinal groove or excavation. Front and vertex
with rather small but very close punctures. Mesothorax, scutellum and pleura wilh
very close distinct punctures. Enclosed
space of metathorax deeply pitted. Pro-